The Goblin's Heir

Chapter Twenty Four: My Dear Friend

"You're joking," I grumbled, glaring at my old friend. If it was a joke, it wasn't funny. "Is this part of your grand revenge scheme? At the very least, you'll be dooming me to having to listen to her and Odd's bickering the whole trip. At worst, I'll wake up to a knife between my ribs." 

"You wanted to know who we can spare. The answer is not a lot. Most of those you released have children now, grown old or have since died or...wandered away by their own choice. I know of only a dozen or so who are free to leave and who knows how long your hunt will take. It could be only a few days. It could be months. The world is a very big place. Even with thousands of elves at your command, it could take them a very long time to find Magni. We no longer have an army. Just a handful of young elves. Of them, only Dara has the experience and skill to lead them and the fortitude to deal with you."

I growled in annoyance beneath my breath. "When can they be ready to leave?"

"Dawn."

"That's too long. Magni is searching for a way to destroy the seed. Every second we waste gives him more time to find it."

"What you're doing is dangerous. Working with you is dangerous on its own. There are things that need to be seen to before they can leave with you, just in case the worst comes to pass. In the meantime, we can see what the birds have to say."

My eyebrows rose towards my hairline. "The birds?"

"As Dara said, there are few things they don't see." Tova smiled almost wickedly. "We often use them and other animals to scout prey during a hunt."

"They lead you to the ones you're going to kill? Animals are bloodthirsty, aren't they?"

"All living creatures are. So long as our arrows aren't pointed at them, they're happy to help. If our bellies are full, they're safe." She glanced at me with an annoyingly knowing look in her eyes. "Have you slept at all since it happened?" She asked with that sickening gentleness as if we didn't both yearn to watch the other die in the most horrible of ways. 

I shook my head slowly, rubbing my hands over my tired eyes. "I haven't had time." That wasn't really true. We'd had those few hours before coming to The Boughs to get ready and take what rest we could...but I couldn't bring myself to lay back down in my marital bed...and even when I tried to sleep in another room it felt wrong not having him near me. I doubted I'd ever sleep well again. Or at least, a future of peaceful sleep seemed very far from my reach with my loss still an open oozing wound. 

"Well now you do," she smiled. "Take this time to rest. I'll have a hunting party ready for you at first light."

I stood and glanced towards the hut's entrance. I could see everyone gathered around by the doorway, hear Dara and Odd snapping at each other, Floki's pleads to them to shut up, the rattle of Neasa's chains in Frit's hands. "You're being oddly...cooperative." I frowned, turning my eyes back to her. "The last time we saw each other, you'd just watched your son be eaten alive and I'd chopped off your arms. You'd think you'd give me an even harsher welcome than Dara had...or have I broken you that badly?"

"I haven't forgotten. I see him every time I close my eyes. I'd like nothing more than to rip out your throat with my teeth and eat you like your goblins did him, but life's about more than vendettas. There are few of us left and I know that if I even tried to harm you, your sons would eradicate us without any hesitation. I am not broken. I merely know how to pick my battles. Also, I'm hoping that you'll return the favor by keeping the little skinny one from terrorizing the children."

"If you know of a way to stop Odd from doing anything, short of killing him, please let me know. Unfortunately for you, he might very well be goblin king the next time we pass through The Boughs."