An overcast sky looked down on the smelly goblin town with a promise of rain. Aside from the sound of bickering sparrows, the town was quiet as if holding its breath. Jieun and the troupe dressed quickly, she and Rocio donning their stinking cloaks as they all slipped into the kitchen. Ryo lay where they'd left him, but his pallor had warmed and his breathing had deepened. Someone had put a stalk of celery in each of his large hands.
There was no sign of Dublene or her father.
Taeyang, Shin, Chaleek, and Goda worked Ryo back onto their makeshift stretcher then the group skulked into the stables. Strider pawed at the door to his stall impatiently as they saddled the mounts. Once Ryo was secured, Candle-Eyes and Taeyang swung open the stable doors and froze. Two dozen armored figures of all shapes and sizes waited eagerly, bristling with stabby things and tools designed to flatten. Dublene sat on a fence, swinging her feet while her father lay bound in the dirt.
The tall bridge guard took a step forward, spear resting against his shoulder.
"By decree of The King, we are here to collect your northern womens."
The gathered goblins all nodded excitedly.
Chaleek sent a worried glance towards Jieun and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. Shin angled his mount in front of theirs.
"What womens? All manfolk here," Candle-Eyes said casually, gesturing for the others to come forward.
At a loss for words, the tall goblin turned to Dublene. She nodded vigorously and pantomimed removing an imaginary hood. Candle-Eyes pierced her with a steely gaze and she nervously smoothed out her wrinkles.
"You two, take off those cloaks," the guard ordered.
"No," Chaleek said calmly, drawing his sword.
Five goblins happily advanced on the barn.
"By decree of the—" His words became gurgled sounds as two arrows blossomed from his belly.
Candle-Eyes notched another arrow as Taeyang danced into the goblin vanguard.
"Head north!" Candle-Eyes shouted, narrowly missing Dublene as she cried and ran away.
"On me!"
Rocio spurred her mount and galloped out of the stables. Jieun and Chaleek followed closely, and Shin brought up the rear, using his spear to harass goblins too slow to flee. They bound out of the yard and turned towards the bridge only to skid to a halt. Two giants lumbered towards them, blocking the path. They bore the standard of The Goblin King as sashes across their chests. Jieun looked back and another giant waited on the opposite side of town.
The fighting pushed the rest of the troupe to them and they were surrounded in short order. Many of the original attackers lay bleeding in the dirt, but even more had joined the fray. True to every piece of literature Prince Kkachi had read about goblins, combat seemed to multiply their numbers.
"Parlay!" Trumpeted a lithe goblin with huge eyes and a mouth like a wide funnel. "Parlay!"
Looking to her, the goblins lowered their weapons. The Giants didn't drop their clubs, but neither did they advance.
"We come for your womens. No one need be killed."
"I call trickery, Asparagus!"
"Trickery!" The goblins broke into discordant song.
"Ah, Prince Isley Rain. You grace us with your presence." Asparagus shouted to be heard over the din. "Quiet!" Her funnel lips trumpeted.
"It's good to see you alive, Captain."
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No Land for Princes(s) (ONC2024 Entry)
AdventureThe last thing Prince Jun Kkachi wants to do is marry a woman he's never met, but his parents care little, for the safety of their nation rests on an alliance. There are worse things than a marriage of convenience, but Kkachi can't think of any. Des...
