[SleepingDragon]: 268.The Staff of Illidon.Chapter Nine- Goblins

Chapter Nine- Goblins

“Wizard, are you out of your mind!” Chad exclaimed, peering around the stone pillar. “You want to go back in there!”

“We must.” William replied calmly. “There is no way back out from the courtyard.”

“Well, why don’t you use that levitation spell to move these rocks and get us out of here!”

“I am not that strong.” William said. “And the staff pieces are still inside.”

“That’s right, I forgot.” Chad retorted. “You are concerned with this war business.”

“You do not fear the dragon?” Mari asked, raising an eyebrow. “That was a black dragon. One of the worst kinds there is.”

“I believe the dragon is bound to the throne room.” William told her. “Or surely it would have followed us out. It did not attack when we were in the main hall on two occasions. We were not quiet. We should be able to explore the rest of the structure without confronting it”

“How does it feed if it cannot leave?” Mari inquired.

“It slumbers between meals and wakes for feeding when food is near.” The wizard said. “Dragons live long and can go long between feedings. And I believe it may also have a source of food here.”

“What food?” Chad asked.

It was just then that an arrow bounced off the pillar above the mercenary’s head and fell to the ground in front of Mari. The company began to hear the sound of many croaks and cackles, along with that of running feet.

“Goblins!” She hissed, looking at the black arrow in the torchlight. “Quickly! Behind the pillar!”

The three comrades ducked around the other side of the pillar, Chad and Mari glancing back in an effort to see the approaching intruders. Chad grabbed a torch from William and threw it at the sound of the running feet. William threw the other himself, in the same general direction.

As the torches landed on the stone floor of the courtyard, they could see half a dozen or more goblins by their light. Two at least had bows, and the others carried swords.
“Mari, target the archers!” Chad yelled as he ran from behind the pillar toward one of the sword-toting creatures. He parried two blows the goblin dished out as he approached, then cleaved its skull with strong downward chop. He immediately engaged a second in combat. While the goblins were armed and somewhat agile, they were quite small and no match for the mercenary and his sword skills. The second one fell as quickly as the first.

Mari took out one of the archers swiftly, but the second managed to get behind one of the nearby pillars, effectively hiding from her while it took shots at Chad. William summoned a firebolt spell and aimed it at the pillar. The goblin was caught in the blast and staggered out from behind to fall to one of Mari’s arrows.

With the archers slain, what goblins remained retreated into the darkness, groaning and gaggling as they went. Soon silence returned to the courtyard. William retrieved the torches and Mari filled her quivers with goblin arrows, as her supply was beginning to be depleted.

“Those goblins found their way out easily enough.” Chad said. “How did we miss another way?”

“Goblins tunnel through the mountain often.” William said. “These may have just found their way in.”

“Well why don’t we follow them out?” Chad asked.

“You would fight a thousand of them before you found the light of day.” William replied. “They live beneath the mountain and have many tunnels. One could be lost for years seeking the correct path.”

“Forget I asked.” Chad said.

“But this is what the spiders feed on, I believe.” William said. “And the dragon as well. There are likely many goblin tunnels near here.”

“Wonderful.” Chad muttered.

The company rested for a time then, leaning against the stone pillar. None of them spoke for a long while. William and Chad did not discuss whether to return to the main palace structure. Mari did not harass Chad about his adventures with brewhouse serving women. Each used the time to regain what strength was lost and to reconcile themselves with the situation at hand.

“So you really think this staff will do some good, wizard?” Chad finally asked after more than an hour. “Will it turn the tide of the war?”

“I do not know.” William said honestly. “It will remain to be seen who has the strength to wield it. I come here as the last wish of a dying man.”

“You are braver than I.” Chad spoke. He hesitated then before standing. “Come on. Let’s find this staff of yours.”

Chad offered William a hand up and he accepted it gratefully. He offered a hand and a smile to Mari as well and she accepted it in turn. By torchlight, the three comrades made their way back into the main structure. They neither heard nor saw any sign of the dragon. They didn’t need to go into the main hall to investigate the lower right wing, so they decided to go that way first, avoiding any possible confrontation with the creature.

“I’m guessing there is a stone in the third room.” William said. “Shall we check it first?”
All concurred, and the company made their way to the third door on the right of the corridor. William took his place to the left of the door and Mari Notched an arrow. Chad turned the handle and kicked the door in.

William was correct. The room held a stone block, and again it was broken open. Again, there was a corpse lying in front of it. This time however, in the skeletal grasp of the dead body, was a piece of the staff of Illidon.