Chapter 127

Danger.

BarnacleEyes

Home. It was good to be home.

I kicked back and relaxed the minute we returned. Hawkin and Thrush organized barrels of goblin spit beer that Hawkin transported from the ethereal realm. They stacked them really high and I wanted to climb to the top so bad. If I wasn’t so tired, I would have. Just to see over the trees and look out at the whole world laid out like it was at sea. Maybe even see the sea.

I missed the sea. I wanted the port all to myself so that my boat was close by and I could sail it whenever I wanted. That would be a good start to a captain’s life! But since I didn’t climb to the top of the stack of barrels, my only view was of the clearing outside.

I had left the door to my shed open, hoping to watch more of the leaves come down. I munched on an onion and picked at the rest of the lingering sap residue from my fingernails. Hawkin had done an incredible job washing the stuff from my hands. I smiled wide. I loved having my hands washed. Best part of life. Hawkin was good at it.

That’s something I could get used to. I could even go out, find some sap and squish it between my fingers. Then come home and complain to Hawkin. He’d grumble about it, but if I asked him nicely, he’d help wash my hands.

My mind wandered for the next hour while the sun set. I lay back against a pillow of hay while I watched the sky further darken. Hawkin and Thrush had finished their task, bid me goodnight and had gone to sleep. But I was still wide awake, anticipating tomorrow. Too awake to sleep for long.

So instead of trying to go back to sleep, I marched off into the woods. Brought my clomping boots with me. My pliers. My dress. I hummed a tune as I frolicked, heading back the way we’d come yesterday. I thought maybe I could find more pine sap.

I searched until early morning, about an hour or two before the sun was going to rise. The birds were absent and I was still quite far from the pines. I knew I’d come upon a brook at some point and heard it as I crested a slope.

I did not expect to see another human. A woman.

She was kneeling by the brook, vigorously washing her hands. Trying to. She furiously rubbed them together and I dodged her line of sight by slipping behind a tree where I could observe with a little peek. I trained an ear on her.

“Seriously,” the woman muttered. “This is ridiculous. I’ve never run into sap this sticky before.”

I chuckled into my hand.

She heaved a growl and a sigh, then shook the water from her hands and stood up. Looked around.

“Well at least I’m close. I’ll just have to ask Hawkin if he’s got any soap I can wash my hands with.”

Hawkin’s good at that, I thought.

“But before I move on…” the woman said.

She withdrew a potion from her inventory. Drank a sip. A sudden hush swept through the forest like a wind. The sound gathered the way that winds gather to form a tornado. Then a cloud began to condense in front of Abigail. A cloud that collapsed and continued to compact and fill with color until it formed a man. A tall man with a beard encrusted by the salt of the sea.

“Abigail,” the man said.

“Potere. I’m close. I ran into a libation of the Mist Hidden attribute. Hawkin is in these woods.”

“Find him, Abigail. Do whatever it takes to learn what his secret is.”

“Whatever it takes,” she said.

“I need answers. My influence depends on this.” After a pause, Potere continued. “Something ancient lurks in these woods.”

His voice was low; his tone wary.

“Hawkin has control of a monster,” Abigail said. “One that makes me quite uneasy.”

“There is an overwhelming presence here,” Potere said. “I feel as though there are eyes and ears on us as we speak. I think it’s good that you feel uneasy. You should feel uneasy.”

“I should?”

“Yes, because I am also uneasy.”

“...you’re a god,” Abigail said softly.

“Be careful in these woods, Abigail. Kill if you need to. Do what it takes to survive. I don’t want to lose you to some monster.”

The man’s words echoed in my head like the seductive whispers of a throaty demon.

…Kill if you need to…

I was haunted by those words.

I gritted my teeth. Narrowed my eyes. The only monster in these woods was Thrush. Abigail and the god were threatened by him. And if she was strong enough to call a god, Thrush could be in big trouble which meant that Hawkin was definitely in trouble.

The two talked for a few moments more but I hardly listened. I was busy trying to figure out what to do next..

If only the Mist Hidden wall was up. She’d be locked out and Thrush and Hawkin would be safe!

The conversation between Abigail and Potere came to an end. After brief goodbyes, the god dissipated from Abigail’s side.

But how? How can I stop the woman?

I couldn’t fight her. I didn’t think I would survive that.

I paced as I thought. Bit my fingernails. Put all my energy into thinking.

“A goblin,” the woman said.

I stiffened. Looked around to find that I’d been pacing so hard while so deep in thought that I’d come out from undercover. My eyes went wide as I stared at her.

“Oh my god,” Abigail said. “Your boots! This makes so much sense now!”

I wrung my hands.

“Please,” she continued. “I’m looking for one of your companions. A man. His name is Hawkin. I believe he controls a monster named Thrush.”

I fidgeted.

“I won’t hurt you,” she said. “Is Hawkin your friend? The one who is preparing the Mist Hidden attribute effect? Are you familiar with that?”

It hit me like a shipwreck. All came together in a single idea. The Mist Hidden attribute was my ticket to keeping this woman out of Hawkin’s reach.

“Hawkin’s my friend,” I said. I smiled and wrung my hands.

“You have no idea how glad I am to hear you say that, little goblin—What’s your name? I’m Abigail. Abigail Yak.”

“BarnacleEyes,” I said.

“Where can I find Hawkin?” Abigail said and hopped across the brook. I waved my hands as she came near.

“No! No, wrong way,” I said. “It’s… the other way.”

“The other way?”

“Hawkin, Thrush, and I live together. On the water.” I pointed southwest. “There’s a Mist Hidden libation on the water. Our camp is around there and it’s well hidden.”

“His tracks lead north,” she said.

“Him and Thrush are—uh—hunting right now. They’ll be back at camp later. You can wait for us there.”

“I see,” she said. “Wow! This is incredible. You have no idea. I’ve been searching for him for a long time now! Thank you again, BarnacleEyes. So, I’ll head southwest to the coast. I’ll find your camp.”

I nodded and said, “can’t miss it.”

“I’m curious how a goblin befriended a human.”

“Hawkin promoted me,” I said.

Abigail cocked her head.

“Alright,” she said. “I’m curious about that. Is Hawkin a goblin too?”

I giggled and then said, “wait for us at camp, we’ll be back before you know it!”

“Alright then. See you then,” she said.

Abigail thanked me once more, popped open a beer, sipped it, and ran off in a speedy flash.

She was quickly out of sight and I began to panic.

Gotta go! Gotta go! Come on BarnacleEyes, you gotta go now! Desperate times call for desperate measures.

I took off my boots, set my pliers in one of them. Gave them a long look.

I’ll be back!

Then I sprinted back to Hawkin’s cabin, full force, unencumbered.

I tripped on roots as I went. Slid along muddy earth. Slammed head first into trees when I put my head down to try and gain speed. Leapt through the bramble like a dolphin. Came out the other end howling from the biting thorns.

I arrived, out of breath, weak-kneed. Scratched up.

It was dawn and Thrush and Hawkin were nowhere to be found. I couldn't wait for them to pour the last libations. It needed to happen before Abigail found out there was no camp on the coast. Time was of the essence!

I slipped down into the cellar beneath Hawkin’s cabin. Scurried around, looked for the Mist Hidden beers. Found them. Bolted out of the cellar. Sped out of the cabin. Sprinted for my cove.

I knew I wouldn't be able to slip by the orcs at the port, so unless I ran into Thrush or Hawkin on the way, there was only one other option.

Sail into port.