The Academy of Vigro

Arista and Zane: The hill

We decided to find Aristas horse before we headed to the southern kingdom. Honestly I was just glad to be alone with Arista. We usually never get to be together alone. I could tell Arista was enjoying it to. Her smile seemed brighter, as she told me how to follow the trampled on brush.

I tried to get her on my horse, but she said she couldn't see the trail left if she did. Honestly I was kinda disappointed, but I do know her vision isn't 100%. One thing that does worry me though is her paleness. She clearly can't feel the effects, but they sure are visible. Now we're out in the middle of now where no knowing how long till she can truly cool off again. I can't help, but feel that our time is limited. In two ways. Clouds are gathering up above, and rain isn't my best friend.

Arista looks back to me confused. "The trail seems to end here?"

I ride up next to her. "Thats odd. There is only forest in front of us. It can't just end."

She sighs "Ya your right. However...let me see the map."

I handed it to her, and she looked it over, then looked in front of us. She asked. "Look closely what do you see?"

I looked hard, and saw what looked like the rest of the forest at first, but when closely examined looked like a hill. So I said. "A hill."

She turned to me wide eyed. "You know maybe we don't need the horse, so let's just go!"

I looked at her. "What are you hiding?"

She rolls the map up, and hands it to me. "Nothing. Now let's go."

I put it back. "Ba-."

Something fell from the trees, and I now know why she wanted to leave. Goblins. I have never seen a goblin before. They where no taller than 5 feet, and their green skin was covered in moss, and other soul dwellers. It was almost as if they themselves where the forest ground, and their clothes where of what covered it.

One of them (who might I add looked clear we the the others, but not by much) snarled at us. "Do my eyes lay on human flesh? One stranger. One returner." He showed his teeth which looked as if they belonged to a shark.

I looked to Arista. "Are you the returner?!" She smiled innocently. "I'll tell you later."

The Goblins drew their daggers. My hand went to my sword. Aristas went back to her staff that was not there for it was still in the dragon we killed long ago. She stood over by me with a sad look on her face. I got off my horse, and hugged her. "Don't worry. Right now we have bigger problems."

I turned to the goblins. The one from before was eyeing Arista. "Lets take them to Abline." The others seemed to agree. I whispered to Arista. "What should we do?"

She whispered back. "Love this is one place I really didn't want to go. Their as thick fleas here. You can't escape with any weapon once they have you when your on their turf. You see once we're prisoners they don't even cuff us. That's because everyone knows their faster than us, and they know it also."

The goblin spoke up. "Take your sword off human!"

I did as told. The Goblins got the reigns to my horse, and lead us to the hill. One pulled what looked like a hidden lever. A small part of the hill parted to form a door. The goblins pokes us with their daggers forcing us down the tunnel. For the longest of times we where packed tight sounded by dirt walls. Then the hall opened up. It opened up to a big circular like room. Only the ceiling and walls where dirt, and numerous tunnels where drilled into a wall opposite to us.

A Goblin cleaner looking than any I've seen came up to the one who spoke up earlier. They exchanged at few words then the one from earlier snarled. "Why can't we just kill them both now?!"