Chapter 42: Taking down a Goliath

Freeing the pups was easier than trying to restrain them.

The moment the first was uncollared, he tried bolting towards his parents. Luckily, I caught him before he got far. Clutching him to my chest, I set about freeing the other two. The second one was just as daring and made a dash for it too.

“Stop!” I hissed, out of patience with the unruly hounds. Surprisingly, it worked and the two lay meekly on the floor. After freeing the last pup, I rose to my feet and turned to the battle.

Three of the five warriors were dead, throats torn open, and the other two appeared reluctant to engage the wolves further. But the chief was nearly at the stage.

“Back,” I yelled to the two adult wolves. They were no match for the chief on their own, especially in a head-on confrontation.

The dire wolf sire raised a bloody muzzle in my direction and growled in protest.

“Now,” I barked. I didn’t free them, only so they could die. Besides, I had a plan for dealing with the chief already, but I would need the wolves’ help.

The sire whined, but didn’t protest the order again. Turning tail, the two beasts abandoned their posts at the steps and hurried to my side.

“GET THEM,” the chief roared. Left with no choice, the two remaining warriors bounded up the steps.

Drawing my swords, I rushed forward to meet the pair. I had to kill them fast, before the goblin leader reached us. Focusing on the warrior on the left, I parried away his axe with one blade, and rammed my other sword through his gut.

You have killed a goblin warrior!

The hammer of the second goblin was already racing towards me. But pivoting with my attack, I dragged the dying goblin—still pinned on my sword—into the path of the oncoming weapon and successfully foiled the blow.

The warrior growled in disgust and raised his weapon to strike again, but before he could do so, the dire wolf sire blurred through the air and ripped out his throat from behind.

“Thanks,” I panted absently. My gaze darted to the chief. He was ascending the steps. I swung back to the wolves. “Go!” I hissed, pointing to the other steps. “Retreat to the cavern’s center. We will face him there!”

Five wolves stared at me expressionlessly for a moment, then as one leapt in the direction I pointed. Damn, those beasts are smart, I thought as I watched them go.

I hurried to the back of the throne, and unclipped one of the chains that had kept the two adult wolves imprisoned. I judged it large enough for my purpose.

You have acquired a metal chain and collar set.

With item in hand, I began my own retreat. Keeping a wary eye on the chief, I backstepped towards the stairs on the far end of the stage.

The goblin leader’s face turned purple with rage as he saw me flee. He knew he was too slow to stop me. “Running again, human?” he growled. “Some player you are!”

I smiled at the chief’s attempt at goading. I had no intention of fleeing, but I would only fight him on my terms. “Oh, I don’t plan on running,” I said. “I’ve killed all your followers, and I intend on slaying you too.” I pointed to the center of the cavern. “Come face me there. If you dare.”

The chief’s gaze narrowed and he stomped forward menacingly, but he didn’t respond immediately. His gaze flitted between me, the wolves, and the spot I gestured to. Finally, he snorted. “Even together, you three are no match for me!”

I shrugged. “Let’s find out, shall we?” I said and hurried down the steps.

~~~

Despite his bold words, the chief did not follow immediately after. With his arms folded and chest heaving, the goliath eyed us furiously from the stage.

While we waited for the goblin leader to make up his mind, the dire wolf mother ushered her pups to a far corner of the room, where from her stern growls and barks, I assumed she was instructing them to stay put.

Sitting down cross-legged on the floor, I eyed the chief with studied nonchalance. The dire wolf sire sat beside me. I unwrapped two field rations, handing one to the sire. He wrinkled his nose, but didn’t reject my offering.

“You really think this plan of yours is going to work?” Gnat asked curiously.

I shrugged, “It does or it doesn’t.” My plan was simple, and I had already explained it to both dire wolves with furtive gestures and whispered words. Both beasts seemed to understand the part they were to play, but with our communication as limited as it was, I couldn’t be sure. Time will tell.

The dire wolf mother rejoined us, and I handed her a field ration too. After long minutes, the sight of us sitting unconcerned in the center of his hall grew too much for the chief, and he trudged down the stage, shouting, “I will rend the flesh from your bones you impudent wretches!”

I rolled my eyes. The chief liked the sound of his own voice a little too much, I thought. To signal our contempt, the two wolves and I remained seated while the goblin leader approached—although it was mostly pretense designed to enrage the goblin further.

The truth was I was uncertain about our chances at success, but the plan was the best one I had been able to come up with. It was either go with it, or retreat.

And the neither the wolves or I were willing to walk away. In fact, from the beasts’ burning gazes and murderous growls, I could tell both were keen to wreak vengeance on their tormentor. I wondered how many of their pack they had lost to the goblins. Too many, I thought sadly, thinking of all the hides I had seen in the leather workshop.

The chief was only ten yards away now. I stood up.

It was time.

~~~

The dire wolves rose their feet with me, and as planned they circled warily around the goblin leader, until we had him surrounded on all sides.

The chief eyed the circling beasts contemptuously. “This is you plan?” he laughed.

My lips thinned, but I said nothing.

The dire wolf mother darted forward suddenly. The goliath whirled in her direction and his club flashed out, but the beast’s attack had been a feint only, and she aborted her attack before falling within the range of the goblin’s club.

I reached into my backpack and pulled out the metal collar and chain. Bouncing on the balls of my feet, I readied myself. It was nearly time to act. I eyed the goliath’s eleven-foot-tall figure and planned my approach.

The wolf sire rushed forward. The chief spun his way and lashed out with his club again. It was time. I kicked off, sprinting towards the goblin.

The sire didn’t break off his attack. Slipping under the chief’s weapon—barely—he nipped at the gigantic figure’s heels. The goliath raised his weapon to strike at the wolf chewing on his armored leg.

I was less than two feet from the chief now. Launching myself into the air, I flung myself forward and crashed into the goblin’s broad back.

“WHA—?” the chief yelled in outrage.

The impact barely staggered the goliath, but the sudden addition of my weight pulled the chief off-balance and foiled his aim, and the dire wolf sire dashed away as the goblin’s weapon crashed into empty ground beside him.

“What are you doing, worm?” the chief roared, swinging his head around as he tried to catch sight of me.

I didn’t bother to reply. Using the spikes on the chief’s armor as handholds I scampered up his tall frame, leaving a bloody trail in my wake as other spikes dug into my bare flesh.

Realizing that I was up to no good, the goblin let his greatclub fall to the floor and reached up with both hands. “I will squash—” he began.

The wolf mother leapt.

Her aim was true, and her jaws clamped shut around one of the goliath’s hands, and for one fateful second, the chief was delayed in his attempt to remove me.

I pulled the metal collar free from where I had secured it on my sword belt and clamped it shut around the chief’s neck. Only a few inches from the goliath’s face, I saw his eyes widen in surprise—and bewilderment.

I smiled at his confusion, and threw the attached chain to the dire wolf sire. “Now!”

The beast leapt in the air and twisted to catch the end in his mouth. Her job done, the dire wolf mother released the chief’s hand and retreated swiftly.

The chief’s hands continued upwards and his face contorted in fury. “Impudent wretch,” he screamed.

I flung my arms around goliath’s neck. I only had to hold on for a little while longer. Assuming my plan worked of course. If it didn’t, well, I was likely dead then.

The wolf sire landed back on solid ground, and yanked on the chain. Its length snapped taut and the collar wrenched on its captive’s neck.

The goblin chief teetered. His eyes grew round and I saw the dawning comprehension on his face as he finally understood our plan. A heartbeat later, his eyes narrowed and fixed on me. “Die worm!” he spat.

The goblins hands clamped down on me and heaved. I hung on for dear life, but already I could feel myself slipping. Bloody hell, he is going to toss me!

But before that happened the wolf mother joined her mate and added her efforts to his. The goliath jerked sideways as both wolves yanked on the chain.

Gritting his teeth, the chief wrenched back on the chain, pitting his strength against the wolves, but he lacked the leverage the beasts had.

The two wolves tugged again, and this time the chief stumbled, one foot lifting off the ground entirely.

That was the beginning of the end.

The wolves heaved again, and the goliath fell forward, arms windmilling outwards as he tried fruitlessly to halt his fall. I squeezed my eyes shut and braced myself for the crash.

The chief and I hit the ground with bone-jarring impact.

My bones felt bruised and my teeth rattled, but with my fall cushioned by the goblin beneath me, I suffered no lasting injuries. Alas, the chief, suffered no great harm either. But I hadn’t expected him to.

Freeing my arms, I straddled the goblin’s neck and drew my blades. The wolves abandoned the chain and joining me, added their weight to the goblin’s back.

“GET OFF ME!” the chief screamed in outrage when he recovered from his momentary daze. He tried to roll over, but with all three of us pinning him down, he was unable to regain his feet.

I raised my swords up high, then hacked down.

You have injured a goblin goliath!

You have injured a goblin goliath!

Both blades slipped between gorget and helm, and bit into the goblin’s bare skin below. But surprising neither penetrated deeply. The chief’s skin was itself toughened and resistant to damage. Damn, this is going to take some time.

I plunged my blades downwards again.

You have injured a goblin goliath!

You have injured a goblin goliath!

The chief’s screams transformed to shrieks of pain, but I didn’t relent. I kept hacking, and bit by bit the goblin leader’s life bled away.