Flashy wasn’t exactly Hump’s strong point. A fire sorcerer like Lantheer would have been far better suited for a task like this. No doubt the Chosen could have slaughtered half the kobolds on his own. Hump though had no talent for fire or lightning. And while tossing about a few rocks might look a bit intimidating, he couldn’t summon an avalanche. It wasn’t enough. Even if Hump’s master were here, he couldn’t have moved enough essence to make a spell like that work.

Which left Hump with one option.

He crept inside the little kobold hut that he’d been crouched behind, taking care not to rustle anything. There wasn’t much to the hut, just a bed of straw and a few other trinkets. He ducked under a talisman that hung from one of the beams above, made of what Hump hoped was chicken bones. A pickaxe rested up against the wall, and a bundle of the same fruit he’d seen in the grove lay on the floor, wrapped up in a silk cloth. The place wasn’t exactly a house, but it was shelter, it was private, and it was a hell of a lot too human for Hump to feel comfortable.

He had the sudden sense that he was in a place he shouldn’t be. These were intelligent creatures. They socialised, made ornaments, and had children. He was a trespasser, invading their home to murder them.

Because they’re evil, Hump told himself. Because they capture and eat humans. Don’t be an idiot.

Still, alone in their hut, listening to the chatter of kobolds outside. Kobolds that might be dead in a few minutes because of him, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this was a dark path.

But it’s a necessary one, he told himself. You’re protecting people.

When he thought about how much the kobolds had achieved in just a few weeks of existence, it terrified him. They were spawned as adults, formed by the dungeon, but this village would have been built by their own hands. Already they were strong enough to invade nearby settlements, Hump dreaded to think how many tunnels they must have all over the mountains. It wouldn’t be long before they attacked more villages, and if left unchecked, the entire mountain pass could be under their control given a few more years. Especially if Vamir was correct about their offspring growing stronger. Bledsbury wouldn’t be able to stand alone against an army of kobolds. People would suffer. Entire villages would be devastated.

Hump focused on that when he began to gather power. The world was a dark and dangerous place, full of evil and bad luck. Some things couldn’t be solved with anything but violence. He had seen what the kobolds did to his kind; the decision was simple.

He closed his eyes and drew a breath. The cold and exhaustion of yesterday’s fight still lingered, but he’d recovered enough for a few big spells.

Envisioning the river within him, he cast all doubt and distraction into its depths, and focused on his power. He felt magic stir within his body, a prickle on the underside of his skin, flowing with the river as he gathered his will. The dungeon essence was thick here, and it wrapped around him as he channelled his own essence, the stirring of one drawing the other.

His master’s staff was a clever thing; the runes helped to control and contain the essence. Alone, it would have been too much essence for him to control. If he were lucky, it would dissipate harmlessly. More likely, it would blow up in his face. Flashy, but probably not quite what Vamir intended.

The runes along his staff came alight with the clear blue light of pure essence as he willed power into the crystal focus, storing it until his spell was ready. Blue vapour steamed from the runes as the pressure built. The heart of the crystal focus shone with a dull blue glow, growing brighter and brighter as the essence within grew denser. As the earlier fight had proved, he couldn’t cast a whole lot of rushed spells. Now though, he took his time to gather the essence of the world and store it in his staff.

Time was a wizard’s ally. Chosen could call upon the blessings of their gods in a heartbeat. They could draw on the power of their god’s domain on instinct. For Hump to replicate their skills, he had to draw upon his own strength and studies. He had no pool of godly essence to rely on, just his own and what was around him.

There was nothing complicated about the blast spell. The fact it had a page in his book of spells at all was little more than a way to pad out the pages. It was the most basic of evocation spells. The first piece of battle magic that he had learnt. It converted magical energy—essence—into kinetic energy. The blue light it produced was caused by Hump’s own lack of skill. The less efficient he was, the more light the spell would produce.

His master had always found his lack of control infuriating. Theoretically, it was possible to shoot a lance of invisible energy. His master could make the light slight enough that it was hard to spot in daylight unless you were looking for it. Hump though, well, precision wasn’t really his thing.

Normally, that meant a whole lot of wasted essence. But right now, Vamir wanted flashy, so that was exactly what he needed. So, he let his focus wane, he let his intent dissipate into thin strands of objective. He did little more than guide the essence to where he wanted.

When he’d reached his limit, Hump levelled his staff toward the hut wall. He drew a breath, then shouted at the top of his voice, “Blast!”

There was no target, no clear goal, he simply pointed the energy ahead of him and let it rip.

The runes along his staff shone, light smoked off them in sweeping curls. The crystal focus flared brightly. Then a thunderous boom shook the world as raw power exploded from the end. The wooden wall evaporated in an instant, shattered into pieces that flung off in all directions. The wind howled around him, sweeping up his cloak, blowing back his hair. A wave of blue light swept through everything before him, a hurricane of force.

With the wall gone, there was nothing between him and the kobolds. Those that had been standing closest to him were blown from their feet and sent sprawling to the ground. Some were reeling from bloody wood fragments caught in their flesh, others lay unconscious or wailed in pain from the fall. Those still standing turned to him with fearful eyes.

Seeing that fear, he felt nothing but cold. Compared to what they did the villagers, this was a mercy.

“Volley!” Bud roared, before the kobolds could gather themselves, his voice coming from far to the left.

They whirled toward his voice in one startled movement. Arrows rained in from two sides. Celaine and Vamir unleashing a barrage of arrows with inhuman speed. Four kobolds dropped immediately, two dead, two screaming in agony. Other arrows struck stone and shields.

The kobolds staggered back; their formation broken at the sudden rear attack. One of the larger, yellow-sailed creatures shouted out an order, trying to gather them.

“This way!” Vamir shouted from the right. “Cut them off! Don’t let them retreat!”

More arrows. His arrows didn’t kill. They took the creatures in their stomachs and backs, incapacitating them but leaving them screaming. It was cruel, but fear was their greatest weapon when so outnumbered.

“Through the centre!” Celaine called.

“Charge!” Bud roared. “Charge!” The crazy bastard really did, his sword aflame. A lone knight running at dozens. But the kobolds were scared. They were backing up toward the shrine. Others fled toward the edge of the cavern. But at the same time, he noticed a few of the kobolds were regrouping, gathering the others to form a half-hearted attempt at a shield wall. The plan was working. The kobolds searched the shadows for imaginary foes. But they were still only four against fifty.

“Come on, Kassius,” Hump whispered to himself. If the prince didn’t figure out what they were doing, this was going to turn ugly fast. He gripped his staff tightly. “Come on!”

A couple of the kobolds threw spears at Bud, the knight cutting them aside easily. He couldn’t fight alone though. Hump needed to move. But gods, he was cold. There wasn’t much essence left in him.

He forced himself to step forward, through the space where the door had once been. He didn’t have the strength for anything fancy, so he began to chant the basic light cantrip. Over and over, loud enough for the kobolds to hear. He flooded his staff with the power of the spell, the crystal lighting up until it was bright as the sun. With each step forward, the kobolds took one back. With each word, they flinched, and chittered amongst themselves. They shielded their eyes from the light.

Behind them, the iron gate creaked. The massive silhouette of the black paladin stepped out and loomed over them. They hadn’t noticed yet, but Hump had.

He chanted louder, levelling his staff at the group and calling forth light once more. The staff flared.

The instant it did, he changed his focus. Willing up a new spell. “Blast,” he whispered. A quick jab of power. Barely enough to stir up a wind, but it sent the kobolds staggering back.

The black paladin took his first step toward them, his armour chinked. One of the kobolds noticed him and screamed. Before the others could get to grips with what was happening, the giant of a man was in their ranks, his greatsword a whirlwind of terror. Kassius dashed out behind him, his liquid armour shining as if the sun beamed above. The villagers charged with him, armed with little more than sticks and stones, but they had anger on their side.

At the same moment, Bud reached the front line and cut a kobold down through his shield, leaving a frozen wound along its body. More arrows rained in, piercing the backs of the kobolds that had now turned to face new threats. The cavern was filled with their painful screams.

Whatever fight the kobolds had in them disipated. The creatures broke. A handful at first, and then they were all running in mindless panic, scuttling off into their tunnels. Bud charged after them a ways, then stopped and raised his sword over his head, roaring a battle cry that stirred even Hump to his core. Hump joined it, roaring with all his might. Celaine’s voice too, then Vamir’s, and Kassius’.

And then the villagers let loose their anger in a chorus of voices that shook the dungeon like thunder.

Hump’s heart beat like the drums of war.