Chapter 32: One Good Deed Deserves Another

“God damnit,” I growled. I had no doubt the third goblin would return soon and with help too. I rose to my feet and swung around to the wolves. Both had stopped growling and were staring impassively at me.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Gnat warned. “Don’t do it. Those dogs aren’t friendly.”

Ignoring my familiar’s advice, I didn’t hesitate. My sword flashed downwards and slashed free the rope holding the doors of their cages shut.

The beasts dashed out and straight towards me, looming ominously large, and for one horrible second I thought I had made a horrible mistake. I squeezed my eyes shut, but the beasts only passed me harmlessly by with their mangled coats brushing my bare arms.

Opening my eyes, I swung around to watch the pair. The two were heading straight for the room’s exit, but the smaller one—a female I thought—was limping badly, and the larger male was forced to slow his steps for her.

“Wait!” I called.

The beasts stilled, and as one, two heads swung my way—their gazes both questioning and imperious.

“Gnat,” I asked urgently, “will the healing potions work on the wolves?”

“Yes,” the familiar replied, looking at me strangely, but not adding anything further.

It was all the confirmation I needed. The dire wolves had helped me far more than they had needed to in that encounter, even going so far as allowing the goblins to prod them with their spear tips. And even though I knew time was in short supply, I had to repay my debt.

I took a tentative step forward towards the beasts. The large dire wolf bared his teeth and growled. A warning, I thought.

“Easy,” I murmured. “I mean no harm.” Holding my palms out to show I held no weapons, I removed a moderate healing potion from my bag and knelt before the female wolf. The male watched me suspiciously all the while, but he stopped growling.

Moving slowly, I un-stoppered the potion and held it before the injured wolf. She sniffed the flask, and seeming to understand my intention, sat down on her haunches and opened her mouth. Gingerly, I upended the flask’s contents into the wolf’s waiting mouth.

You have restored 30% of a level 14 dire wolf’s lost health with a moderate healing potion. A dire wolf is no longer crippled. A dire wolf’s health is now at 100%.

The wolf’s open wounds closed as the last of the magical potion disappeared down her throat. Smacking her lips, the beast rose to her feet and tested her restored leg. It bore her weight without buckling.

A cry of alarm sounded in the passage. Both the wolves’ gazes snapped towards the entrance. The escaped goblin had found help. We were out of time.

“Go,” I hissed to the beasts. Nearly too fast to track, the wolves spun around and flowed out the room. I cast a quick glance around the room, but spotted no loot chest. I frowned, wondering why none had appeared, but had no time to consider the matter further. I would question Gnat on the subject later.

Rising to my feet, I followed after the wolves.

~~~

By the time I reached the entrance, the wolves were nearly out of sight. I managed only a half-caught of their hind-quarters and tail as they headed towards the yelling goblins.

I paused for a second on the room’s threshold to consider my own options. The goblins were not yet visible, but their shouts were coming from further up the passage, in the direction of the maze guard station.

As yet, I heard no cries of alarm from further down the passage. But I hesitated before fleeing that way. There were no rooms in which to hide in that direction, and both the goblin squad that had recently passed by and the door guards lay that way too. If they spotted me, I would be quickly overcome.

Better to help the wolves and then find another room to conceal myself, I decided. Choosing speed over stealth, I made no effort to conceal myself as I raced up the passage.

As I ran, I heard new sounds fill the air, and the goblins’ yells become intermingled with cries of pain and growls of anger. I smiled grimly. The wolves had engaged the enemy. I hurried on for a few more yards before stopping short.

A little further up the corridor, multiple shadowy forms battled one another. The two wolves, lithe and sure-footed, weaved between what looked like six goblins. I couldn’t make out the goblins’ numbers clearly—the squad the wolves had ambushed had either carried no torches or had lost it in the ruckus somehow.

The wolves clearly were unhampered by the dimness of the surroundings. The goblins, on the other hand, were obviously struggling. My own sight in the dark was good enough to make out the battling figures, but I hesitated to trust to it entirely to track the goblins’ blows in the dark.

I need to see better, I thought and willed my choice to the Game.

Your Perception has increased to rank 8.

Immediately, my vision sharpened and the somewhat-blurred forms of the goblins snapped into focus. There were seven of them, I saw.

Drawing my blades, I moved to engage the closest goblin. The warrior had his back turned to me, and distracted by the wolves raging within his squad’s ranks, he failed to notice me as I advanced on him. Without hesitation or remorse, I plunged my blades within his defenseless back.

You have killed a level 11 goblin warrior and have gained experience. Your two weapon fighting has increased to level 16.

The goblin stiffened momentarily, before dropping slumping lifelessly. Withdrawing my swords, I moved to engage the next warrior.

I was not so lucky with my next foe. Whether he spotted his companion’s demise or heard my movement, as I raised my blades to strike, the goblin swung around and parried away my descending blades with his spear.

A level 12 goblin warrior has evaded your attacks.

Grimly, I raised my swords to strike again. But before I could do so, the goblin jumped back and shouted, “He’s here! The player is here! Kill him!”

Immediately, two other goblins broke away from the wolves and turned to confront me. Faced suddenly with three opponents, I broke off my attack and danced backwards.

The goblins closed quickly, not letting me retreat. The one to my right thrust out with his spear, but with his sight marred by the darkness, the blow was ill-timed and hesitant, and I easily sidestepped the attack.

You have evaded a level 10 goblin warrior’s attack. Your dodging has increased to level 15.

Nearly simultaneously, two other blows descended upon me: another thrust spear from the front, and a slashing sword from my left. I did my best to avoid both.

You have evaded a goblin warrior’s attack. A goblin warrior has injured you.

I fended away the spear, but wasn’t able to dodge the third goblin’s attack and was struck a glancing blow. I flinched at the new line of red that appeared on my bare arm.

Buoyed by their success, the trio crowded me again. Knowing that simultaneously trading blows with all three goblins was a losing proposition, I dropped to the floor and rolled out from between them.

With their poor night vision, the goblins struggled to track my sudden motion. Caught flat-footed by the maneuver, the trio swung their heads frantically in an effort to relocate me. But the darkness hampered their efforts, enough so that I rose to my knees on the sword-wielder’s left flank. Before the goblin could react, I shoved my blades under the warrior’s hide armor.

The goblin shrieked as my swords buried themselves deep within his ribcage. Feebly, he swung around to strike at me. But his life was fast escaping and the blow carried no force behind it.

I leapt back to my feet as the dying goblin’s companions retaliated. A spear was thrust at my face. I beat it away with my left sword.

Another spear was shoved towards my hip. I swayed to the side and chopped down on the wooden shaft with second blade. The force of my blow momentarily unbalanced the goblin wielding the spear and he stumbled forward. As quick as a flash, I lunged forward and rammed the blade in my left hand through his throat.

More by instinct than anything else I sensed the last goblin thrust towards my exposed back. I swung around, knowing I was too late already.

But the blow was poorly aimed. Instead of running me through, the goblin’s spear bounced off my shoulder, gouging my skin, but not penetrating much further.

Before the warrior could recover his stance, I pushed forward and struck from up high with my left blade. To my surprise, the goblin dropped hold of his spear and grabbed onto my left arm with both hands.

Mid-motion, my blow was stopped. Gritting my teeth, I tried to force the weapon downwards, but the goblin was too strong and my blade travelled not an inch further. Seeing me straining fruitlessly, the goblin grinned triumphantly.

His pleasure was short-lived though. With the attack of my first weapon blocked, I brought the second in play, and thrust it brutally forward.

The goblin’s eyes grew round and his smile turned bloody as the blade in my right-hand tore through his innards. A moment later, the warrior’s eyes glazed over and he slipped lifelessly to the floor.

You have reached level 11! Your two weapon fighting has increased to level 18. Your dodging has increased to level 16. Your shortswords has increased to level 23.

I swung around, ready to do battle with my next foe. But none of the other goblins remained standing. The dire wolf pair had finished off the other three warriors.

Both wolves’ muzzles were bloody, and new scratches marked their faces, but otherwise the beasts appeared unharmed. Seeing that I was finished with my own opponent, the wolves bobbed their heads in my direction and wagged their tails once, before turning on their heels and sprinting off into the darkness.

I frowned. Had the wolves just said goodbye?