-Steelheart Saga-

Chapter XIII - Salvation Below

Krysté and Vana rejoined the combined party of Knights and Orcs early in the afternoon, the assembled legion venturing across Graja's vast expanse of woodlands, marches, and mystic swamps on their way to the abandoned settlement of O'karr. Without the connections afforded to them in their homeland, the Kristenalians and their allies had no choice but to brave the frontier on foot. Despite this setback, the party kept a steady pace.
The party traveled into the late hours of the night, stars shining overhead through the gaps of a cloudy sky. A bright flash struck the landscape, followed by roaring thunder. Rain drenched the remains of the town once known as O'Karr, its buildings crumbling, gardens withered, dark growths sprouting from mold. Rynor ignited a shining light at the end of his staff, holding it up as a torch and affording the party a glimpse of their destination. The town was beyond abandoned, it was rotting, black growths consuming the ruins further with each passing day.
"Blimey..." Said Sir Steinholm. "This place is...sick."
"March ever onward, Knights." Captain Ulrich ordered. "We're exposed out here, and vulnerable to a demon ambush. Locate the ritual site Velzix mentioned and uncover what clues may await."
"Aye." The Knights affirmed.
The legion scattered into the decaying settlement, orbiting only a few feet away from Rynor at all times.
Distant whispers picked at the ears of the Elven triumvirate, Krysté, Vana, and Rynor all fixating on an opening carved out of a natural rock formation that was visible from the town square, though beyond its borders.
"Hear something?" Ulrich asked.
"Affirmative, sir." The Lieutenant answered, pointing at what appeared to be the entrance of a cavern. "There. A sinister chattering emanates from within those rocks."
"Tis reminiscent of a demonic ritual, though different." Krysté said, gripping the hilt of her Blod'ven. "Velzix mentioned a summoning. It sounds as though the ritual is in progress."
"We mustn't dawdle." Rynor insisted, turning his staff and along with it, the attention of the group, towards the cavern. "Goddess knows what they're about to unleash!"
"ATTENTION!" Ulrich called out. "All units, to that cavern on the outskirts of town! We must interfere before the summoning is complete!" He rushed ahead, the Elven trio following close, and the rest rushing along a few paces behind.
The party funneled into the narrow split leading into the dark unknown. Each of them slowed their pace upon entering the cavern, darkness shrouding whatever lay ahead. Rynor scattered his conjured light with a few flicks, sprinkling ethereal particles onto each member of the group. With a narrow field of view, the party plunged deeper into the cave system, the Elves of the group following their ears to the ensuing ritual while remaining alert for threats.
Bats screeched and fluttered around in darkness as the party descended the labyrinthine underground of O'Karr. They wandered for what felt like an eternity before arriving at a vast section of the cavern, where an entire town had sprung up. Crude buildings constructed from salvaged metals, stone pottery, and wooden planks bolted together with rusted nails and prayer. The homes were built no higher than six or seven feet tall and the layout was excessively hoarded. Junk littered nearly every inch of the cavern floor. There were cloth rags strung up around the patchwork town, some of which had insignias painted as decoration. Various fires around the settlement kept the cavern section warm in the absence of the Goddess' light.
"A town beneath the town? Who would've guessed." Tara chorted, the vibrations of her voice resounding off the cavern walls.
"I don't hear the whispers anymore." Krysté relaxed her guard, stepping forward and studying the town.
"It's stopped." Vana stepped beside Krysté, a hand clutching her sheathed broadsword.
"So it has." Rynor tipped his hat, strapping his staff to his back and stuffing his hands into his pockets while waltzing forward.
"Remain vigilant, Knights." Captain Ulrich advised the party. "Remember, we are in enemy territory. Keep watch for hostiles at all times."
"Aye." The Knights affirmed.
"Let's have a look around and get to the bottom of this summoning query. I pray Velzix wasn't sending us on a wild Goblin chase." The Knight Captain marched on, strolling down the main road. The party followed, roaming around the town to spot the occasional Goblin in hiding. The tiny creatures were trembling and drenched in sweat.
Krysté breathed a sigh of relief. "Aye, there are Goblins, and they're terrified." She folded her arms, taking baby steps towards a cowering Goblin. "Can you understand me, creature?"
The Goblin nodded as if his life depended on the answer. "Yes! Yes..."
One by one, the party gathered around Krysté, filling into an enclosed section of homes. "Calm yourself, for we have no reason to take arms against you. At least, I should think. If you are no threat, you have nothing to fear from us." The Wo'enne Elf crouched and met the creature's eyeline. "What is your name, sir?"
The Goblin swallowed hard, glancing upon each member of the party before spitting out his answer. "Kane...I am called Kane."
"Can you tell me about this place, Kane? We were told that a ritual was taking place here, would you happen to know anything of it?" Asked the Lady Knight.
Kane shook his head, whimpering at the sight of what he perceived as 12 giants. "Nono, no ritual. Blood magic very bad. Forbidden, ha. Forbidden."
"Hm, I see." Krysté rose to her true stature, brushing off her knees. "It seems we've been misinformed. Sorry to bother you, Kane."
"Wigund!" Kane cried. "He's the one you want! W-Wigund!"
"Who's he?" Krysté asked.
"The boss! Eh, he's—he's the boss!" Kane gulped.
"Thank you." Krysté turned to the group, beckoning them away from Kane and walking to another section.
"Poor thing." Said Vana. "He was terrified!"
"That kind of weakness gets you nowhere." Kor, brother of Bran, cut in.
"This is nothing like what we learned back at the academy." Rynor scoffed.
"Whoever this Wigund character might be, we ought to see what he knows." Captain Ulrich said. "Alas, he may be our final hope of locating the Demoness."
"We've got but a name, Captain." Said Vana. "It'll require a thorough search to discover this Wigund fellow, yes?"
"Not too thorough, one should hope." Ulrich sighed. "Let us speak with these Goblins and learn all we can. Afterward, we shall reconvene and pool our intel. Our next steps will be decided then."
"Aye." The Knights chanted.
On Ulrich's word, the party split into small groups then dispersed among the scrapper town beneath O'Karr, eyes keen for hidden Goblin residents. Naturally, the Elven trio assembled once more, uniting to investigate the whereabouts of the town's alleged 'boss.'
"My poor little gobbies..." Vana frowned.
"They're not pets, you know." Krysté grumbled.
"Of course not! They are special creatures deserving of our kindness!" Vana said.
Rynor smirked at the Lady Knights, his eyes skating back and forth between them. "Never underestimate a Goblin, so they say. Be not disarmed by their unassuming stature, for appearances are not always what they seem, miladies."
"Shush, Mage!" Krysté snapped, her eyes sharp, ears flinching. "I think I hear someone..."
"You don't want that kind thing to be a problem for the world to be in!" A jolly, scratchy voice called out. The Elven trio turned, spotting a red skinned Goblin hobbling along with a twisted, toothy grin. He was taller than the others, his body boasting sturdy pecs and muscle mass like no other Goblin the party had encountered. His tongue dropped from his jaw, drool leaking onto the cavern floor as he waddled over to the Elves, a feral glint in his eyes.
"What are you saying, Goblin?" Krysté asked.
"What do I do now!? I am going back to my old place where you can see the Elves dance!" The red Goblin cracked himself up, belching at the Elves and giggling.
"Disgusting creature!" Krysté spat.
Vana halted the Wo'enne Elf with a glance, then focused on the giddy, wobbling Goblin. "Pardon her, friend. Would you happen to know where we can find Wigund?"
"Oohoohoo!" The Goblin danced himself a jig. "Where's Wigund? Where's Wigund?" He chanted.
"I tire of this buffoonery." Krysté snarled.
"Ah, I see." Rynor muttered.
"Ahh? The man thinks he knows?" The Goblin pointed his long, wrinkled finger at the Arcanist.
"Indeed I do." Rynor stepped forward, leaning over the hobgoblin. "What a fine charade you've put on for us, Wigund. A very good show indeed!" He clapped.
"You've got to be kidding." Krysté mumbled, eyes narrow as she studied the details of the Goblin 'boss.'
Although he was taller than a common Goblin and possessed a strong physique for his kind, he still only came up to Krysté's bosom, the Blod'ven wielder herself slightly short by Human standards. Like the others living within the cavern, he wore rags patched together from whatever fabrics could be salvaged from the surface. His nose was long and pointy, his ears tall and wicked, his breath potent enough to daze a Dragon.
"This was all a waste of time." Krysté sighed.
"Now love, we mustn't leap to conclusions." Vana hunched forward, lowering herself to Wigund's height. "A pleasure to meet you, good sir, I am Lieutenant Vana and these are my friends, Lady Krysté and Rynor the Red. We've come a very long way to speak with you."
"Weehee!" Wigund cheered, skipping down to a secluded section of the cavern. "Follow, follow, follow!" He beckoned.
The Elven trio exchanged puzzled glances before following along, entering an alcove past the town cramped with trinkets, junk, and other assorted oddities.
"Welcome, welcome!" Wigund giggled.
"My, what a lovely little home you've got here." Vana smiled, stepping over to examine Wigund's collection of broken swords, farming tools, discarded bottles, a single dirty bra, and other souvenirs from the surface world. "Say, Mr. Wigund. Would you happen to know anything of a summoning? Or perhaps, of the one known as Demoness Nora?"
Wigund's jolly frolicing ceased. His shoulders sank, eyes twitching. "You seek...Nora?"
"We do." Krysté stepped forward. "You know her, don't you? I can see it in your eyes. Share your knowledge, Sir Wigund."
Wigund shrieked, then threw hands on his head and ran around in circles. "I shan't! Not Wigund! No, not Wigund!"
"Be forthcoming, grotesque creature!" Krysté bore her teeth.
"Stand down, dear." Lieutenant Vana ordered.
Rynor sighed. "Nora must've snapped his wits. A pity."
The goblin retrieved a woodchopping axe from a pile of unsorted objects and swung for Krysté's leg with a battlecry, only for his axe to bounce off the Lady Knight's shin plate with a fleeting spark.
Krysté sent Wigund hopping back with a kick, the Wo'enne Huntress fixating on the Goblin boss while reaching for her Blod'ven's hilt. "If you wish to die, I shall oblige you! Heinous cavedweller!" She snapped.
Rynor tapped his staff against the cavern floor, casting Calm Mind on Wigund. The Goblin dropped his axe, which clattered against stone as he grasped his own head, dropping to his knees with a whimper. "Nora...No-ra? Sorry, so sorry."
Krysté stood down and relaxed her posture, folding her arms and watching her companions.
"Easy, Mr. Wigund." Vana approached with patient steps. "We are not enemies. We only wish to know about this rumored summoning, and the whereabouts of the Demoness. That is all we ask, kind sir."
"Wigund knows..." The Goblin muttered. "Demoness Nora marches for the Spire of Kings."
"Spire of Kings?" Vana repeated.
"Meaningless words." Krysté scoffed. "Rynor is right, the Goblin is surely mad. He'll say anything to save his skin now."
"Wigund can show you the way!" He scrambled to his feet, staring up at the skeptical Wo'enne Elf. "Nora was here! In the dark, and the cold! Touched Wigund's mind, she did!"
"Mere fairy tales." Krysté muttered.
"Hmm, he doesn't seem to be lying..." Rynor said, narrowing his eyes beneath the brim of his cap. "That doesn't necessarily mean he speaks the truth, however."
"What of the summoning Velzix spoke of?" Vana asked.
"Ritual summoning!" Wigund fixed his eyes on the Elven Lieutenant. "Time runs short! Weehee-hoo-hee!"
"Velzix claimed the ritual would occur here, you're saying it's being prepared at this so-called Spire of Kings?" Vana asked.
"More pertinently, what is to be summoned?" Rynor thought aloud.
"We're really trusting this lunatic?" Krysté asked her Elven partners. "We should regroup with the others and see what they've learned. All this could be an elaborate misdirection. Another ploy set by Nora to keep us off her trail."
"Agreed, although this cavern emanates faint traces of some dark presence. I was certain we'd encounter demons down here." Vana said. "Perhaps we're short a few pieces of this picture, but it's enough to lend some legitimacy to our Gob's story, no?"
"Ugh, would you stop calling them that?" Krysté grunted.
"I shan't, darling!" Vana teased with a self satisfied grin, swaying idly while admiring her favorite girl.
"I fear we've burned enough precious time already." Rynor said. "Come, Sir Wigund. Hopefully, together we can uncover the truth of the Demoness' wicked conquest."
"Burn the witch, burn the witch!" Wigund chanted as he followed behind the Elven Mage with jolly prancing steps.
The Elven trio, accompanied by Wigund, rounded up the full infantry of Knights and Orcs from around the cavern shantytown and formed a huddle to discuss their investigation and decide their strategy accordingly.
"Bloody hell." Tara groaned. "As if that prick Velzix wasn't enough of a cock up, he couldn't even get his facts straight!"
"We don't know that for certain." Krysté said.
"Wigund knows!" The Goblin chief giggled.
"Hush, little man!" Barked Kor the Mutilator.
"Patience, brother." Bran cut in. "This one seems to have witnessed the Demoness herself. We mustn't discount his words quite yet."
"I'm with Dame Krysté. Sounds like nothing but the ravings of a mad caveling!" Sir Greyson said.
"Aye." Elnard agreed. "Though, after what we've seen, I'll believe just about anything by now."
"Whatever, lads. Let us conclude this quarrel and return to the surface with haste!" Adlebert snarled. "I tire of this creepy pit."
"Oh, grow a pair, will you?" Steinholm knocked the scrawny Knight on his back.
"Oi! What gives?" Adlebert snipped.
"Stand down, Knights." Ordered Captain Ulrich. "If the Goblin speaks true and our time runs short, we cannot afford to ignore his claims. On the same token, his word is about as good as any other hermit. Given the risk and our numbers, we'll split into two groups for the time being. One group shall stay and patrol this cavern, the other shall follow Wigund's lead to this supposed Spire of Kings. Any objections?"
He waited, but the party was silent.
"Then it's decided." The Knight Captain clasped his hands around his back, pacing around while deciding how to divide the two groups. "Hmm...Lieutenant Vana, Private Krysté, The Mage, Kor, and Legs. You'll make the trip to the Spire, the rest of us will stay here and keep watch. Sir Wigund, how long should it take to reach the Spire?"
"Oho, no more than two moons!" Wigund cheered.
"Two days there, two days back? Then we'll wait four days. If your group hasn't returned in that time, we'll make the trip and search for you all." Said Captain Ulrich. "Which direction is the Spire, Wigund?"
"Which way, Wigund, which way?" The Goblin spun a merry jig. "The way upon the land of which the heavens be to Kristenland, the ascent laid flat, guided by howling winds all the way to Gryphlund Valley!" He recited from memory.
"Rubbish!" Greyson spat.
"Is there any meaning in that, Mage?" Captain Ulrich asked the resident Arcanist and foremost Goblin expert.
"Pah! You're asking me?" Rynor threw his hands up. "How in the blue daisies should I know!? I may be a man of learning, but it's not like I can spin a riddle into scripture!"
Krysté released an irritated groan. "Tis all a clownish game, nothing more."
"Perhaps not, dear." Said Lieutenant Vana. "I can hardly place it, but our Gob's poem reminds me of a folktale my mother used to tell the children of our village. Oh, it was so long ago...What was it again?" The Elven Lieutenant paced about, grasping at her own head as if her fingers could somehow reach in and retrieve the knowledge from the depths of memory.
Tara dropped to a crouch and sat, holding her axe against the cavern floor as a sort of post. "Wonderful. Seems they'll be at it a while. Anyone for Twisted Fate?"
"Ahh, through the valley of Gryphs one may find..." Vana stared up at the stalactites, squinting as she delved deep into the recesses of her memory, combing for any trace of relevant knowledge. "At the heart of the—No, it was beneath the skies of..."
Wigund danced around, cracking up at his own antics while the party ruminated on his puzzling directions.
"Give it up already!" Krysté barked at the Lieutenant. "It's clear he intends to mislead."
"Hush now, dear, I'm thinking." Vana waved off her secret lover and stepped away to concentrate.
"What'd you say?" Krysté stormed over to her superior, glaring at her from behind the Lieutenant's shoulder. The others found themselves fixated on the pair, the Wo'enne Knight's stroke of defiance rousing speculation among them. Though they were accustomed to her frequent outbursts and common attitude problem, Lady Krysté's response was disproportionately sharp, especially one directed at a Knight of superior rank. Even stranger, one who the characteristically grumpy Lady had shown nothing but respect for.
Furthermore, what were all these affectionate little signifiers the Lieutenant had been throwing her way? A 'dear' here, a 'darling' there, a 'love' in the midst of a tactical discussion. Perhaps they'd paid it no mind before, but it was now impossible to ignore how differently the Lieutenant had spoken to the disgruntled Private.
"There won't be a problem here, will there, Ladies?" Captain Ulrich asked the Elven duo.
"Of course not, sir." Lieutenant Vana answered for them.
Krysté turned towards the party and felt their eyes upon her. Sweat beaded from her brow as the Wo'enne Elf met each of their individual gazes.
"I see." Said Captain Ulrich. "And is there anything else you'd like to share with us?"
Wigund tapped his feet and clapped his hands. "Weehee! The secret's out!" He cheered. "The secret's out!"
"Be silent!" Krysté spat at the Goblin chief, then turned her attention to her Captain. "I'm not sure I follow, sir."
"Hm, is that so?" Ulrich asked, his eyes stern.
Vana sighed. "Alright, yes."
"What're you—?" Krysté murmured.
"I believe they're onto us, cherry." Vana stunned Krysté silent with a determined stare. The Wo'enne girl saw it in her eyes. She was going to expose them.
"Well?" Ulrich said, his posture still as a statue.
Vana snapped to attention. "I must inform you, Captain, that the Private and I have become intimately attached to one another. As you may suspect, her and I have been seeing each other in private throughout this expedition. We are, indeed, in love."
Krysté felt her armor heavy against her body, sweat collecting beneath the fabric and steel plating. Her head was hot as she listened to her Lieutenant's public confession. She found it impossible to remove her eyes from the cavern floor, her cherry bangs casting a curtain over her face. Such a daring admission made so proudly, in front of everyone they've served with. It was an eventuality the Knight found herself unprepared to face. No matter what she was feeling, they knew now, and there was no changing that.
"Ahh, that explains so much!" Rynor's eyes lit up as if he'd been bestowed with an ancient secret. "I knew there was something more to your comradery! It's like no friendship I've ever seen!"
"You're pretty oblivious to this shit, mate." Tara chorted. "I literally smelled it on 'em! Their pheromones were unreal back at the Inn!"
"It's true, they reeked." Bran said. "It was like the morning after a fertility ritual back home."
"Too right!" Sir Greyson spat. "The cheeky lil' buggers, ha! I knew something was up!"
"You didn't have a bloody clue, mate!" Sir Elnard knocked the portly Knight on his shoulder. "Don't act like you haven't been making eyes at the redhead all this time!"
"Pffft, I might've known." Sir Steinholm grunted. "'Splains why Lady Krysté been so cold towards us lads, don't it?"
"That's got nothing to do with it..." Krysté mumbled, shooting an insulted glance Steinholm's way.
"No wonder they're a dying breed..." Sir Aldebert mumbled. "The man is oblivious to the two young, pristine maidens by his side and the maidens have no interest in their men."
"Frankly, it's none of our business." Ulrich said. "The Guard's word is strict on romances. Regulation states that lovers are prohibited from serving together."
"So it does." Lieutenant Vana said. "I'm aware of the codes of which the Private and I have violated, sir. Whatever your decision, Captain, I request the Private be spared the consequences of my actions. I wish to take sole responsibility, as I outrank her and still I chose to pursue my feelings."
"What? You can't do that!" Krysté jolted, fixing her attention on the Lieutenant, who stood firmly at attention.
"I wasn't finished, Ladies." Said Captain Ulrich as he began pacing. "You see, I've been serving for most of my life by now. In my younger days, I used to give all my commanders headaches because I never did care much for the rules. Now here I am, an old man serving out my duty to Kristenalia." The Knight Captain glanced at the young Elven couple. "I even had a wife. A field medic by the name of Clarabelle. Sweet girl. While the Guard taught me how to be a Knight, it was her who taught me how to be a man."
"Captain?" Vana shot Ulrich a perplexed glare.
"There will be no reprimand." Said the Captain. "Private Krysté is a fine Knight, but she needs someone to soften those edges of hers. Lieutenant Vana, you're a remarkable woman yourself, but you do not thirst for battle. You fight for what you wish to protect, correct? Then, I believe the Private shall push you to fight more vigorously than ever. Splitting up this unit would be nothing short of self sabotage, I'm sure of it."
"Captain, that's..." Krysté paused. She reflected on everything the Captain had done for her. Forwarding her requests to the King anonymously, sending her to meet Vana to begin with, treating her with courtesy seldom afforded to Elves by their Human counterparts, and now going so far as to keep her relations with her Lieutenant a secret from the rest of the Kristenalian Guard. She thought it retrospectively silly the way she suspected him back in Vincia. How she'd taken his patience for granted. A pity, she thought, that Clarabelle was taken by illness. How wonderful a father Ulrich would've made to their children.
"It's for the good of the Kingdom, Private." Ulrich boasted a proud smile.
"You have my sincerest gratitude, sir." Krysté slipped her fingers through Vana's and squeezed gently.
"And mine!" Vana cheered with a vibrant smile. "Truly, Captain. You're too kind to us."
"It's nothing, honest." Said Ulrich. "Lieutenant, we still need the answer to Wigund's poem."
"Oh yes! Now what was that folktale my mother would recite way back when?" Vana broke away, wandering among the Goblins as she thought back.
Wigund giggled to himself. "Which way, Wigund, which way?"
"Is there a reason we don't just batter this runt's face until he gives us a straight answer?" Kor the Mutilator asked the Human Knight Captain.
"There is." Answered the Captain. "He's liable to lie were we to force it out of him. Given, there's no promise what we've been told is true even if we do decipher it. Dividing the unit is risky enough, however, it's in our best interest not to antagonize what lead we've got, even if he is a cryptic bugger."
"What a bastard." Kor grunted.
Much of the unit had dispersed among the cavern settlement whilst awaiting Vana's reminiscing to bear fruit. Krysté followed Vana wordlessly around the shantytown, watching every miniscule jitter and twitch as the Lieutenant stumbled on a revelation, only to realize she'd been remembering the wrong story.
"I swear, it had something to do with a valley full of Gryphs!" Vana blurted.
"...You're certain you know what Wigund was saying?" Krysté asked, her voice soft.
"Yes, cherry, I'm certain." Vana sighed, then whipped around. "Gobs are quite the tricky sort, yes?"
Krysté glimpsed Vana's alluring stare and felt her shoulders loosen as if it were instinct. "Indeed they are." She managed a smile.
Vana giggled. "Gone is that snippy attitude, I see! Why must you stare at me as if I rescued you from the wilderness, hmm?"
"You're getting distracted." Krysté remarked with a playful glint in her eye.
"Teasing me now? Darling, I think you forget how this works..." Vana stepped into her personal bubble, snatching Krysté's hips as if they were her rightful property. "You're the princess, remember?" The Lieutenant whispered, her breath sending a shiver through Krysté.
"Not in front of the others, my love..." Krysté grasped Vana's hands, gently guiding them away.
"As you wish, your highness." Vana groaned, miming a jestful bow.
"Such a gentlelady." Krysté muttered. "All this trouble has me curious. Do you think Wigund would take something else in exchange for an answer?"
"Hmm? What have you got in mind?" Vana asked.
"Perhaps it's silly, but, well..." She huffed, preparing herself before uttering her idea aloud. "This place is rather lonely, wouldn't you agree? Perhaps a kiss from either of us would be enough to convince him?"
Vana gasped. "What a daring suggestion, milady!"
"It's just an idea!" Krysté swore, staring off in a random direction. "Perish the thought. Twas a foolish proposal."
"Oh no, love! I think it's simply brilliant!" Vana giggled. "After all, what lonesome Gob wouldn't want a kiss from a girl as pretty as you!"
"Stop that!" Krysté whined. "I don't recall the Captain granting us permission to flirt while on duty!"
"True." Vana straightened her posture. "Although, I don't recall him forbidding it either."
"Whatever, let's just focus on the task at hand!" Krysté growled, though her words lacked the same venom they possessed when applied towards the men or Gormog's warriors.
"Surely!" Vana said. "I trust you'll be snoggin' the Goblin, yeah?"
"Sure." Krysté answered without hesitation. "Whatever it takes to get us back on Nora's trail."
"Ooooo, go ahead and show me how it's done, my naughty little princess!" Vana spoke with a certain radiant glee.
"Come along then." Krysté turned on her heel, walking through the Goblin town with her Lieutenant naught a pace behind. The couple picked out Wigund mingling with his fellow Goblins and marched over. "Sir Wigund?"
"Heehoo, the fiery one returns!" Wigund cheered, greeting her with a gnarly grin, his eyes bugging out.
"Indeed." Krysté said. "You see, we're all having trouble deciphering your poem, so I thought I'd make a friendly bargain, should you humor me."
"Oooo? The Elves wish to trade!?" Wigund's demeanor shifted into intrigued whimsy in a flash. "What'll it be for the deranged Wigund?"
"Ah, you see, it's—" The Wo'enne Huntress caught a whiff of his rancid breath, glimpsing the twisted glint in his lazy eye, and the slobber dribbling from his foul maw. She felt a tap on her back.
"Go on!" Vana said. "Don't be shy now, love!"
"Ahem, I was curious to know if a kiss from myself may entice you to reveal the poem's mysteries in clear terms?" Krysté called upon her deepest reserves of might to deliver her question without gagging.
The common Goblins snickered and cackled, Wigund staring up at the Elven ladies with a twisted sense of delight. "Wigund likes this bargain!"
"Uh oh, Krysté!" Vana lit up, an impish delight behind her words. "Now you'll have to smooch the Gob! For the good of the mission! What a heroic sacrifice!"
"Don't make a show of it!" Krysté snipped.
Vana gasped. "Dear, you wound me! I would never!" She whipped her head around, checking for wandering eyes and happening to spot a few of her allies watching the bargain from afar.
"The maiden never said where her lips might go! Wigund will choose!" The Goblin chief decided as he stood at the Wo'enne Huntress' feet, admiring her body from the low view his short stature afforded him.
"Hold on, I never said—"
"Ah-ah! Wigund's home, Wigund's rules!" The Goblin declared with a jolly hop and a skip. "Joyous day, joyous day!"
"You've made his day, cherry!" Vana laughed. "Where, oh where, will he choose, I wonder?"
"Will you ever tire of your juvenile torments?" Krysté muttered in earshot of her mischievous lady friend, who boasted the cheesiest grin possible. What ill fortune it was for her to fall for such a troublemaker. "Out with it already, irksome fool! Make your request." The Elven Knight shouted down the dancing, prancing Goblin chief.
"Weehee! Fair maiden, you must kiss...the finger!" He cheered, raising his right index finger high.
"Your finger?" Krysté's steely gaze melted into amused relief. "That's what you want?"
"Mmm-hmm!" Wigund nodded, waddling up to the fearsome Lady Knight.
"Aww, the little gentleman!" Vana giggled. "Merciful, no?"
Krysté hunched over, leaned down and puckered her lips, planting a swift peck on the Goblin's finger. "Mwah!"
Wigund and his Goblins burst into raucous laughter. "She kissed the filthy finger! Teeheehee!"
"What did you say?" Krysté's eyes flared at the Goblins.
"You don't know where that finger's been!" A Goblin laughed.
"He doesn't wash that one!" Another cackled.
Krysté spat onto the cavern floor. "Disgusting runts!"
"A deal is a deal, Wigund!" Vana stomped over to the Goblin chief, staring him down with hands on her hips. "You promised the Lady an answer, no? Then I believe she is owed. Now then, would you like to settle your debts with the Lady, or shall I settle this affair myself?"
"North of O'Karr, West of the Tainted River!" Wigund squealed.
"Good boy. Now, you wouldn't happen to be lying, would you?"
Wigund nodded and whimpered, his eyes locked with the Elven Lieutenant. Vana peered down at the trembling Goblin chief.
"I hope not, because if so I'll see to it the appropriate punishments are delivered. Now, come along, Gob. We've a Demoness to vanquish."