Dungeon corridor was spacious enough for a few orcs to walk in a line. Curan carefully stepped forward. He raised his torched as high as he could, but it didn’t help him much. The visibility was terrible. He could only see two meters ahead, which made him feel vulnerable.

He could be ambushed at any time and he stood out like a sore thumb.

“What do you know about this place?”

“Not much.”

Gob was slowly walking in front of him. He chose this position himself. Well. Even if he didn’t go up front Curan wouldn’t have it any other way, anyway. Right now the goblin was the best scout he could have.

“There are ... spikes?”

Gob spoke unsure if it was true.

“Traps?”

“More like ornaments.”

They continued to walk. The stench of the orcs was getting harder to ignore. They were getting closer.

“There are bones on the left.”

Curan focused on the left wall. An old skeleton was stuck in an old spiky trap extending from the wall. A small pressure plate carved into the stone was somewhat marked with the dried ancient bloodstain.

“Go, step on it.”

Gob wasn’t surprised by the command. He moved forward with no fear. The pressure plate clicked, yet nothing happened. Gob pressed it a few times and even jumped on it with all his force, but to no surprise the spikes didn’t budge.

It was the house of three giant orcs. They walked in and out every day for past years. They dragged giant trees and large animals they caught daily. If any traps were still functional when they first made this place their home they surely broke it.

Orcs weren’t smart, but they had the knack to destroy things.

“Fine. Let’s go.”

The walk continued. The dungeon wasn’t that big. It was Curan that was way too cautious of traps and his goblin scout. Even if he was cautious, he did relax after some time. Gob lead him in a straight line through the main corridor. As they moved, they passed a few destroyed rooms filled with trash.

They also passed the ruined staircase probably leading to the lower levels. It was filled with rubble. It seemed that the dungeon didn’t stand the test of time. As Gob tested a few remaining traps they encountered Curan finally let his guard down and sheathed his sword.

“I can see something small in the distance. Like a rat. It looks furry.”

“You can see it that far?”

“Its eyes reflect the torchlight.”

They approached them slowly. The stench was unimaginable. They were close to the orc’s stash.

As they came closer Curan saw a series of holes dug out by the creatures. He never saw anything like this. Sadly the creatures ran away the moment he got near, too soon to take a proper look. He only got a glimpse of their small brown bodies. They didn’t seem to be a threat.

The corridor opened up into a series of large round rooms linked together with each other by tight passages. It was the only way forward as the main corridor was collapsed. Curan tried to light the place a bit, but it appeared too big. He couldn’t see the other side of the main room.

Rotten meat, filth and random junk. Heaps of rubbish. It was orcs living space all right. Gob lead the way towards the smaller back rooms. There appeared to be some kind of stone altar in the center of the room. Gob could feel a fragrance of ether coming from the stones. He suddenly felt a chill that made him stop.

Curan didn’t stop. He saw a chest. It was in a small room secluded from the rest. He went forward by himself. Gob knew something wasn’t right, but he didn’t say anything. He just looked at his premonition coming into life. The passage was too tight. Orcs wouldn’t use them and he could already spot a few items he himself brought to the orcs.

He should tell the human to stop. It was an obvious trap… Gob was fighting with his conscience, but couldn’t quite bring himself to speak. Why would he help the human? What if Curan were to die on some random trap? He knew where to go to find Evie’s home. Did he need to stay here?

As his inner fight continued he saw something even he didn’t notice in the dark. A large gaping hole was made in the wall and a pair of giant eyes were following the movement of the torch. Gob now realized what the small critters he saw were. He heard of them before. He needed Curan. He really needed him now!

Looking at Curan making his way into the Bearmoles nest he finally started to talk...

“Cur...”

...But stopped mid sentence not daring to speak anymore. Something moved behind him.

Curan looked back at Gob. Stiff goblin was looking at him with fear in his eyes. The small chill he felt earlier was back. A giant Bearmole awakened by the light stood next to him. The other one was already focused on the unsuspecting human.

Curan took out his sword just before the monsters poured out of their homes.