The First Goblin King

Escape from the Ore Mines

"How did it go?"

    "Glor agreed, and the seven other Goblins with him did as well." Vlor responded.

    "Excellent! That should bring our numbers close to 150." Adair said. "And I know of at least 75 in the northern mine who are ready and willing. We will be ready to strike soon. Have you been able to get word to the western and southern mines?"

    "Vlann said he would see to it that word spread in the southern mine. He is trustworthy, and will do as he says. Ashlyn agreed to talk to her compatriots in the western mines. We will just have to figure out a way to get word to them when it it time to strike."

    "How will we know when the time is right?" Crag asked.

    "We will know." Adair answered.

    And know they did. The next day, the task master was drunk before fetching them.

    "You lot won't be my problem much longer," he said. "No sir, not much longer." He chuckled. "The overseer isn't happy with any of you. How hard to I have to beat you before you lot start getting results?" he lamented loudly. "I will not be made a fool of! I know you all have been holding out on me. Well, I'll not stand for it. Not one more day!"

    Adair and the Goblins shared a knowing look. Today was the day. It had to be, or else they very well may never make it back to the surface again.

    They arrived at the bottom of the mine and picked up their tools like usual. The task master resumed his customary spot at the side of the chamber, bottle in hand. Adair nodded to the others. They carefully and quietly laid out the chains binding them together against the rocks.

    They began to chip away at the wall, but with every other strike or so, aimed for the chains set upon the ground. Vlor and Adair's chains were broken hours later, followed by Crag and Sheela. Then they began working on removing their shackles.
   
    The task master was close to dozing off when he realized what was happening. He jumped up, but Adair was swifter, the king jumped aside and then hit the task master with the pickax. His eyes opened wide in surprise, blood streaming from the corners of his mouth. He grasped at Adair, and fell to the ground, the pickax still sticking out of his chest.

    Cheers erupted from the group as Adair bent to retrieve the weapon. But there was no time to celebrate, the time to strike was now. They had to get word to the other groups. Once they were found out, there would be no time, the Empire would come to stop them. Adair stole the master key from off the dead task masters body, undoing the iron circlets around their waists, and removing the manacles from their wrists. They each carried a pickax or shovel as they took off down the corridors, alerting the others that the time had come, the uprising begun.

    Vlor rounded the corner first, and almost ran headlong into another task master. He hesitated a moment, but it was almost a moment too late. Adair pushed him out of the way and began to fight with the man. The task master kicked Adair in his bad ankle, and he went down, yelling in agony. He then felt a swift kick to his ribs which robbed him of his next breath. The task master raised a large, black boot, ready to stomp on Adair's head when all of a sudden, the man stopped, mouth gaping open and closed like a fish. He fell to his knees, then to his side, and that was when Adair was able to see the pickax driven into the task master's back.

    Vlor stood there, shaking like a leaf, his hands now devoid of their weapon. Crag ran over and helped Adair up. He stood and placed a steadying hand on Vlor's shuddering shoulder. The two gave the smallest of nods, and Vlor bent to retrieve his weapon. By this time, the commotion had alerted the Goblin prisoners and their task masters alike that something was going on within the mine. Adair and his group rushed into the next corridor and began to free their compatriots. Soon their numbers were tripled.