1

“So, what do you think?” Elwin asked once they were safely out of sight. From what he had seen the situation did not seem that bad. He was surprised to see that Selby looked discouraged. Emerson was unreadable, which was never a surprise.

“I don’t know,” Selby replied shaking his head. “We saw what? Twelve or thirteen of them, just milling about hills around that little valley. I’m sure they’ve got some sort of cave system they are using for shelter.”

“There’s too many places to hide. What if they got bows? They could just pick us off,” Emerson added. He pulled his cape around him for warmth. There was a cool breeze that night. The cape was heavy and pulled around his shoulders and clasped together in front with a broach that had the imperial seal of a griffin on it. It was one of the gifts his father gave him when they left that day. He wore it proudly.

“Let’s say they do have a cave. You guys don’t think we can smoke them out of there?” Elwin questioned. He wished he had a similar cape for himself on nights like this. Spring winds could be very bitter one night and warm the next. He added. “I saw two rocky high points that flanked that valley and they left them unguarded. Anna has proven herself handy with a bow.”

Elwin was sure the Goblins did not have bows. He had not seen any of them carrying one. He was not totally sure, they could have stashed them safely away until needed, but somehow, he doubted it. He thought they may not be agile enough to use a bow effectively. In any book he had ever read the goblins did not have bows, only spears or sometimes slingshots, but they were often crude in design. From what he had experienced, which was not much he had to admit, kobolds seemed smarter and better prepared than goblins.

“It’s getting dark,” Elwin said. “I say we head back to the village and find to the others.”

“Maybe if I talk to Levka, I can find out if she’s got something in her bag of tricks that will tip the scales in our favour. If we must take on a couple dozen goblins, I want every advantage. Her magic would come in handy,” Selby added.

“Don’t worry about Levka,” Elwin said with enthusiasm. “I’ll talk to her.”

“I see you two talking a lot together,” Selby gave him a sly look.

Elwin just shrugged. “Hey, I never met someone who can use magic before. I’m curious.”

“Indeed,” Selby replied with a smirk.

2

Early that day the group of seven adventurers set out for Juniper Hills arriving sometime around noon. They went to the mayor showing him the notice they had found. They told him that they wanted to give it a try and see if they could root out the goblins infesting the nearby hills. The mayor was a tall wiry man with bushy white hair. He was excited that someone was interested in helping his peaceful village. He offered seventy in gold, plus whatever the adventurers took from the goblins was theirs to keep.

The mayor showed them around the village that afternoon. Elwin noticed that the place they all grew up in. Unlike his old home, the people here looked sullen and bitter. The streets were muddy and unkept. Children stared at them from dirty windows and worn wooden doorsteps. Few people were out. The mayor explained that numerous encounters with goblins had made them skittish. Most were unwilling to stray too far from their homes. The surrounding fields would have to be plowed and sown soon, but the people were scared to be out there unprotected. The townsfolk would be very relieved when the goblins were gone for good. The reward being offered had been scrapped together with every family in town contributing something.

This new group of seven had a curious dynamic to it. Both Elwin and Selby were leaders, but they also worked well together. Between the two of them they found out all kinds of information they would need to know. Various witnesses who had come forward to tell their story and Elwin and Selby went over all the details.

The first sightings started two weeks ago. Some of the out lying farms first reported missing livestock. Then one evening a farmer killed a goblin on his property. Two nights later his farmer was ransacked a then burned to the ground. Seven people were killed. After that the mayor immediately sent word to the local Earl, but post-civil war reconstruction was tying up all the Earl’s resources. The empire was drawing all his free money and soldiers. His response to the mayor in a written letter was to simply post a request on the public board. So, the mayor did. He was not happy with the situation, but his village lacked the fighting men need to take care of the situation on their own.

“I assure you; these goblins use magic!” The mayor affirmed, but Selby would not hear of it.

“No way,” he said shaking his head. Elwin did not quite understand, but he differed to Selby who had more experience with goblins. “Not possible. Goblins aren’t smart enough. They can barely wield swords.”

“Well Vern is no liar!” The mayor said red in the face. He had to keep pushing his spectacles up the bridge of his nose every time they threaten to fall off. “He said he saw a ball of fire hurled at the house. He would not lie to me!”

Selby looked at Elwin and shook his head again. “Not possible,” he said. To the mayor he said. “Your friend might not have seen everything. There are other ways of creating balls of fire as you put it, than magic. Whatever your friend saw, it wasn’t everything.”

The mayor did not like being challenged like this. He questioned their youth. “How do I know if you even have the experience to know what goblins can do?”

“I have been in battle with goblins many times and so have my friends. I know how they think, I know what kind of tactics they use,” No one would question Selby’s resolve. “You want to give the job to someone else go right ahead. We can move on. There’s plenty of work around here for a group of our size and experience. Come on Elwin we can find work elsewhere.”

Elwin knew the group was not truly hardened, but next to these weak and cowering villagers, they were as hard as nails. The two began to walk away.

“Look, let’s not be haste,” the mayor said to them. He sounded defeated. “I’m worried for my town is all. Just stay around, you can go to the local inn I will pay for your room.”

Selby stopped and turned around to face him. “Agreed,” he said. “Tonight, Elwin and I will go out and look at the situation. The rest of our companions will patrol the village streets to ensure the safety of the citizens. Let your people know that goblins are always more active at night and that they are safe in numbers. Don’t go anywhere alone at night until this is resolved.”

The mayor agreed.

No one was going to tell Selby he was wrong. Elwin had a lot of respect for that. Elwin clapped him on the back for support as they walked away.

“We’ll take Emerson with us for a third opinion tonight,” Selby said to him.

3

After their talk with the mayor, they walked over to the inn that the mayor said that he would pay for. The debate between Elwin and Selby went back and forth for some time. Neither of them knew exactly what they should do, but they both understood that they were burning the day. On the north side of town there was a series of rocky crags that the locals called hills. They were covered in juniper bushes, low-lying scrub and moss. The hills were surrounded by heavy forest cover. Most of the village lay to the south where flatter land was deep in fertile soil. Elwin felt that it truly was an idyllic place.

By all accounts it was believed that the goblin horde was hiding on the far side of the hills.

“Goblins come out in the evening, and they’ll post sentry, like they’re guarding a perimeter,” Selby divulged. From his light brown leather vest, he produced a small pipe. It was carved from fine ivory, and he packed it with an even finer tobacco.

Elwin was surprised. He knew about tobacco and other things, but little of that reached his former home. It was imported from over seas and cost a great deal. His home had been too isolate and poor for such an extravagance.

“When do you want to check the situation?” Elwin asked.

“At dusk. Goblins have better vision in the dark, but they probably won’t come out in force during the day,” Selby explained. If we catch them at dusk, we can see them coming out an going on guard.”

“Just the three of us?” Emerson questioned. “What will the others do.”

“Divide them up,” Selby said. “Let Levka and Tram patrol one end of the village while Rith and Anna secure the other end.”

Elwin nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”

4

Elwin came back from the scouting mission and split up from the others. He went looking for Levka and found her and Tram wandering around the south end of the village. They had weapons in hand, which was not actually needed, but it made the citizens feel safer and Selby had told him it would.

“Levka, can we talk for a minute?” Elwin asked when he approached them.

Levka looked at Tram and nodded, that it was okay. Tram wander up some other side street.

Elwin cut through the nervousness and got right down to business as soon as they were alone. “What do you know about goblins using magic?”

“They don’t,” she replied simply. “At least I’ve never heard of it.”

“Nor have I, but one of the witnesses insists they saw a fireball. Selby says that’s not possible, is he right?” Elwin questioned.

“Yes, I agree with him. I don’t believe it either,” she said simply. Elwin was becoming enamoured with her ascent. He had trouble keeping track of the conversation. Everything about her was intoxicating. The smell of lavender and spice that seemed to exude from her pours. He loved the way her mouth dimpled when she smiled.

“Goblins can’t read magic, at least I’ve never seen it. It takes study, focus, strong will to wield a wand or staff. They’re far too primitive for such things,” She gave him a funny look. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Sorry!” Elwin said. He felt the heat rise in his face. “You have a strange ascent. I find it amusing.”

She gave him a sceptical look. She continued. “Anyway, the rumour is worrying just the same. Goblins have been known to team up with orcs or ogres.”

“Are there magic using orcs and ogres?”

“No orcs that I know of, but ogres? They are more advanced so who knows, it could be possible?” Levka said with a shrug. “Anyway, you scouted the area, what did you see?”

“We spotted a dozen sentries guarding a small valley up in the hills. We think they might have a cave nearby. Something they could use for a defensive position. Do you know of anything that could help us in a melee?”

Her brow wrinkled as she mulled it over. “I know a variety of spells, sure. I could try something powerful like lightning or a fire strike. I could direct it into a cave entrance. It would incinerate everything in its path. If they’ve shored up a roof with wood, it could collapse. The more powerful the spell the harder it is to direct and control. I’ve got a variety of shield spells as well.”

“Anything that can kill goblins will work for our plan,” Elwin said simply.

“I will be prepared,” Levka looked around for a moment. They were standing next to A paddock for horses at the inn. No one was watching them.

Quickly she grabbed Elwin by his shirt and pulled him in close. He almost stumbled. She grabbed him in an embrace and kissed him.

He kissed her back and slowly started to work his hands around her back, but when he tried to go a little lower, she pushed him backward. He fell across a bale of hay behind him.

Levka leaned forward, leering like a spider lording over its prey. “Not so fast blackguard!” She said with a sly wink. “Did I say you could push your luck with me?”

She laughed and stepped away from him. Then she added “And by the way, I’m the one from Verant City. You’re the one with funny ascent, farm boy!”

Elwin did not know what it was about her, but she both thrilled and terrified him at the same time. Was that even possible? He wondered.

5

The next evening the sky was clear and both moons were full.

The sister moons are warring again, Elwin thought. It was never a good omen. It was a night for blood spilling. That was the traditional belief. It made Elwin feel uneasy, he could almost taste the foreboding. That dry texture to the tongue that made it feel like it was made of paper. He was not afraid of what they had to do, just anxious to be done with it.

They took the first two sentry posts as soon as it was dusk. Emerson snuck up and slit the throat of one of the goblins while Anna shot the second through the neck. Not even enough time for the creature to scream. It stood dumbfounded, blood spurting everywhere. Selby was upon the goblin, hands clutched to its throat. He made short work of it.

None of the other posts had been alerted.

They took the second post just as easily.

“Levka, can you put a silence effect on the area? Center it on the group of them,” Selby asked. They had spotted four of the goblins on guard duty at the next post.

Levka nodded. She pulled out a small wand. She closed her eyes and focus on the goblins. Elwin could not hear the words she uttered, but everyone saw the tip of her long willowy wand glow a deep green. Then she said. “It’s done.”

6

The warriors charged into the group of goblins as Anna and Rith looked on. It was a strange site. She watched the whole thing take place trying to figure out how the magic worked. There was no noise. She could see them screaming and the goblins yelling. The weapons were still clashing, but not a single sound reached her ears. Rith was standing next to her, Elwin’s orders. Rith was to stay with Anna unless they need his help.

Four goblins against four humans did not make much of a battle. It was a slaughter. Anna watched Elwin slap aside a primitive spear and impale the poor small ugly green skinned creature. Still not a sound was coming from any of them.

She shivered. It felt so eerie. She could hear the wind rustling threw the grass and trees around her. But she stood outside of the effective range of the spell.

Once the goblins were all dispatched, Levka lifted the spell.

The hills on the east side of the goblin camp were secure. Anna and Rith had to find a good spot to set up and wait. Elwin wanted her to use her bow once the main battle begun, but she needed a good place to fire from. She found a great place just in time.

7

While Anna and Rith looked for a good vantage point, the other five went around to the west, flanking the hill on the other side of the camp. They stumbled upon a group of six goblins filling jugs from a stream at the bottom of the hill. They caught the goblins completely off guard.

It happened too fast for Levka to do anything about it. The four men attacked the goblins and quickly put them down. The creatures did not even get a chance to draw their weapons. Moments later their blood was tainting the stream. But the group had not been quiet about it and the next sentry post was ready for them. It did not matter. They tried to run, but Emerson and Tram quickly ran down and killed all four of them.

That was when they heard other goblins shouting. They did not have to understand what was being said to know that it was a warning to the rest of the horde.

8

Anna and Rith had just settled into a nice place behind a bushy cedar tree where they could see the valley. She had to smirk at what Elwin called a valley. It was more like a large gully or depression surrounded by four rocky hills.

It was full dark, but with the sister moons glowing brightly Anna could clearly see a dark opening in the side of the hill opposite her. She wagered it was about a hundred paces.

Maybe a bit more, Anna thought. A hundred and fifty, but no more than that. She was certain she could hit a target from here.

She could hear a muffle shout from the other side of the hill across from her.

“What was that?” Rith hissed in her ear. She ignored him.

Six goblins poured out of the cave entrance. They looked around skittishly clutching their swords and spears. They started chattering to each other in guttural language. Anna watched transfixed for the moment while there large, pointed ears twitched with excitement. Their faces full of expression.

Several goblins climbed up the hill heading in the direction of the shouts. A few more came out. Anna could hear metal clashing.

“I don’t think it’s going according to plan!” Rith whispered to her.

“What are we to do?” She hissed back. “We have to stay here and wait. Have faith Rith, a few goblins won’t stop them.”

She turned back in time to see a real monstrosity emerge from the cave. She had no idea what it was since she had never seen anything like it before. Its huge humanoid frame stood nearly eight feet tall. The dark brown skin rippled with untold muscles. Anna guessed that it weighted five or six hundred pounds.

“What in oblivion is that?” Rith croaked. He could not keep the fear from his voice.

Rith’s fear was making her skittish. Anna did not know what to make of it. All she knew was it looked murderous. Its face appeared as if carved from granite. Its eyes were shielded by massive eyebrows covered in black hair. It wore a necklace of bones. Anna was sure that some human bones were mixed in that necklace. A large gold ring hung threw its flaring nostrils. She swallowed hard. Anna found the staff that it held in its hand was the most disturbing part of all.

She wondered for an instant if it might have been a wizard’s staff. Could it use such a thing or was it just a trinket?

The monster barked some orders to a few of the goblins. Clearly this creature was in charge. They thought scared her to her core. Her heart was racing and she could feel the blood in her head pounding. But she would not run. She stood her ground. Not moving a muscle until she needed to.

9

“Spread out don’t let them flank us!” Selby commanded. A dozen goblins were surrounding the four of them. Levka stood back out of the fray. She shielded herself with spells and looked for something she could do.

She knew that the silence spell was pointless, but she could not just lob a lightening bolt into the melee either. Surely something like that could kill one of her people. What else could she do though? Levka wondered.

A sudden darkness descended on the battle. A large globe of ink black covered everything and Levka could hear yelling coming from within.

What the fuck! She screamed in her head. A darkness area effect spell? From where? Who cast it? Goblins can not have magic like this! Impossible! She thought, yet the proof was before her. Her heart pounded. She was suddenly scared. This was not part of the plan.

She quickly tried a simple dispel magic charm. It did not work. The darkness was still there. Suddenly there was a wave of heat and a fireball blew out of the darkness as if emerging from a tar-like surface. It dispelled a few feet away from her. Even from behind the invisible magic shield she had around herself, she could feel the pressure and heat it was generating. She fell back against a tree.

She panicked. She struggled for breath. The fear was making her sweat.

She was a fool, caught totally off guard! She cursed herself. She should have paid more attention to the rumours! Somehow these goblins had used magic. Somehow! Her shield spell was starting to wear off. She would need to ready another one soon.

She got to her feet and thought of a more powerful negation spell.

Using her wand and reciting an archaic phrase in the magical language she cast a more powerful spell. This time the darkness was dispelled. The light from the two moons shone down again giving everything an evil glow.

She saw Elwin and Emerson were hiding behind a large stone. Selby was flat against the ground. She smiled. She always told him that if he was ever caught in a spell like that to get on the ground and stay there. Once the magic spells start flying you have no idea what could happen. Just hit the ground and wait it out.

Tram stood before a massive creature. Levka recognised right away to be an ogre, but not just any ogre, this one was bigger, meaner looking and could wield magic. An ogre-mage? Was that even possible? She knew from the staff that it gripped in one hand and the fact that powerful spells were being used that it had to be. She also knew that ogres often used goblins and orcs as slaves. She had no idea that ogres could be sorcerers or that they were usually very powerful and not to be toyed with.

It all happened so suddenly she scarcely had time to think. As soon as the spell lifted the ogre saw Tram. Tram was in shock at the sight of the creature before him and he hesitated. The ogre reached out and grabbed him. Tram was hurled against a tree, flailing like a rag doll.

Levka threw caution to the wind and hurled a fireball at it. The ball of fire was over ten feet wide and gave off an intense heat. The ogre magic connected with blue lightening from the end of his staff.

The fireball was vaporized.

“No, no, no! This can’t be!” Levka shouted. She stumbled backwards but stayed on her feet. She put a lot into the spell. How could it be countered so easily? From the outside she was calm, but in her head, she was panicking.

The ogre conjured up a demon. A skeletal body shrouded in a black cloak.

It was quickly dissolved into dust by a powerful magic arrow created by Levka. Inside she tried to keep her hysterics under control. She mentally flipped threw all the spells that she could use without consulting a spell book. It was too late to research anything, she had to go with what she could conjure off the top if her head.

The ogre through a lightening bolt at her, the sparks rippled from the tip of his staff. Levka blocked it with her own wand, but it took all her strength, and she was draining fast. Her only hope was that the ogre was also draining. This beast was powerful beyond words. She used her most powerful shield spell.

Levka could see movement going on around the ogre. Where was Elwin? She could not see him anymore. She worried about Tram. He could be dead. She needed to get to him, she had healing magic. Her power was exhausting. The ogre had more endurance. She knew he could draw more power from the life force around them.

“Somebody, do something!” She screamed. “I can’t hold him off much longer!”

There was yelling.

The ogre was hit with something. It stumbled and stepped back. Then he unleashed one final fireball putting all his force into it.

Levka was drained, she dropped to one knee.

Oh no! Levka screamed in her head. It can’t be! It can’t end like this! No, no, no! Oh, sweet oblivion!

10

As soon as the creature that Anna thought of as the monstrosity was gone, she could not wait any longer. The monstrosity climbed over the hill away from her and towards the battle. It did something with the staff that made it glow and then there was a curtain of darkness that hid it from view.

“By the gods!” She whispered to herself, but Rith could clearly hear her. “Was that a wizard?”

Rith looked pale, and she was sure it was not just the moonlight.

She notched and arrow.

“What are you doing!” Rith questioned. “You want to engage them after that?”

Anna looked to the sky. “Sister moons guide my hands this night,” she prayed.

She lined up the first goblin she saw and let the arrow fly.

Anna dropped four goblins before Rith had a chance to engage in hand-to-hand fighting. Together they killed three more. Rith was swift with his war hammer killing two of them with sharp blows to the skull, shattering their spears as they tried to block him. Anna struggled to kill one with her dagger.

She could hear shouting coming from inside the darkness. There was no way to describe it. The hills and the gully had a milky glow from the moons. She could make out trees and bushes. She saw the cave entrance and dead goblins scattered about, but where the monster had disappeared, it was like a silky-smooth curtain. It fascinated her. With Rith tailing her every move, she moved a little closer to the dark curtain.

Suddenly the darkness disappeared. Anna froze unsure what to do. She saw the monstrosity within fifty paces of her.

Magic flared up. She witnessed the most incredible battle of her life between the monster and Levka. She shielded and then countered. The monster knocked her spells aside. It ws like something out of one of her books.

Was that a fireball! She thought. Lightning? What have we gotten ourselves into!

Without thinking about she notched an arrow.

“You want to draw its attention to us!” Rith said alarmed. He clutched his war hammer tightly and took a defensive stance. Against what who knows. He looked around them in terror.

Her first shot hit the monstrosity right in the back, but it seemed not to notice it. It was wearing a heavy leather vest and Anna thought maybe that was protecting the beast. Maybe the arrow had not gone through. She decided to go after something more exposed. The monstrosity had legs like tree trunks thick with muscles, but they were completely bare. The monster wore a heavy loin cloth instead of breeches.

Anna heard Levka’s scream for help. She took more time to steady the shot and fire. She pierced the lower leg right threw the flesh and out the other side. The monstrous creature suddenly staggered and dropped to one knee. She hit it with a second one right next to the first. It struggled unable to get back to it’s feet.

There was a bright flash.

Oh no! Another fireball! She thought.

She prayed for the safety of her friends.

11

Elwin found himself hiding behind a large rock. Emerson had grabbed him and pulled him there when the darkness spell was cast. He did not know what was going on. He briefly thought that Levka might have done it, but why? This darkness did not help their side at all.

Then there was an intense heat that flew past Emerson and him. Elwin began to understand that someone else in this battle had magic.

When the darkness finally lifted, he spotted Levka. Her wand was glowing and she was casting enchantments furiously. She hurled a fireball at the beast. Elwin was excited and turned to look hoping to see fried monster, but instead the thing dispelled the fireball and counter attacked. Levka followed up with lightening, but it was also blocked. She started building up her own defences.

Levka screamed and he heard her muttered something to herself.

Another spell maybe? Elwin considered. But she looked mazy and fearful.

There was a swift magical battle. Elwin had never seen one before. It was both fascinating and terrifying.

Elwin noticed that Levka appeared weaker, but she had the monster distracted. There was a valuable opportunity here. If they were going to kill it, they would have to work together. He moved out from cover. Emerson yelled at him to get down, but he shooed him.

When he saw the monster clutch its leg and stumble, he knew it was now or never. It was distracted and lower to the ground. Apparently, Selby had a similar idea. The monster let loose a fireball and then Elwin rushed it as the massive ball of fire passed him by.

He saw Selby come in from the opposite side.

Selby struck first plunging his sword into the upper chest. Elwin ran it threw the gut, right to the hilt with Uskker’s blade. The monster looked dazed. It stood froze on one knee like a stone statue. Elwin withdrew his sword and putting his leg onto the groin he and Selby shoved it with all of their might. Blood poured down from its mouth. The monster was thrown off balance and fell onto its back. Elwin wasted no time slitting its throat.

From behind him he could here Emerson yelling to them and that was when Elwin finally noticed the smell of charred flesh.

12

Elwin turned to see why Emerson was yelling. He stood next to Levka. Her body lay on the ground. Her limbs were awkwardly splayed out. Elwin became acutely aware of his pounding head. The blood rushed in his brain. Adrenaline shook his whole body. It was beyond his control. Levka was half burned down the right side. Her skin was cracked and curled like blackened paper.

Selby ran to her side, his sword forgotten and still protruding from the creature. He fell to his knees before her lifeless body shaking his head trying to deny what he was seeing.

Tram crawled out of a juniper bush. Elwin watched as he walked strangely, but equally surprised to still see him alive. He looked shaken. He limped over to where Selby was knelt.

From behind him he could hear Anna call him. She and Rith came running up behind him. They froze when they saw the horrible scene.

Elwin took charge as he was known to do. “Selby!” He called out. Selby did not look away for Levka. “This isn’t over yet. There could be more in the cave!”

Selby nodded that he understood and slowly got up. He never took his eyes off her. Tram clasped him on the shoulder.

Anna went running to Emerson’s side. He had not moved, standing like a statue.

None of them had seen someone killed in battle before, let alone a magic battle. It was horrible site.

Rith grabbed his brother by the arm. “We killed seven of them around the cave entrance and at least another six fled! Who knows what else is in there!”

“I’m going for the cave. Emerson, lets finish this,” Elwin said to his best friend. Emerson turned to Elwin and head warily in his direction. His face was ashen.

“You go in after me then!” Selby bellowed. His face changed from grief to grim determination. He marched over and grabbed his sword. He stormed off in the direction of cave entrance.