I stared at the ground carefully. I stepped on places my feet would make the least amount of sound and used the trees to steady myself. Lucky for me, they stood close enough to do that. I managed to make my way in far enough to find a familiar man stood with his back to me. He had bright red hair and a long, black cloak. Jiren. The thought of him forced bile into my mouth. If I could spit acid, I surely would. In front of him stood another person I never thought I would see. Gurth. I didn’t want to immediately think he had defected, but Jiren was quite convincing when he needed to be. There had to be a reason for them being together. I was going to find out why. But I couldn’t get close enough without them discovering me.
They turned and stepped into a tent tacked to the surrounding trees, giving me the chance I needed. I slipped through the trees, as quietly as I could manage then shimmied my way toward the back of the tent. I didn’t need to get as close to catch what they said, but I wanted to also learn what they were doing.
“This has gone too far. Your greed has brought more upset than peace. This isn’t what you promised.” He had to be Gurth, the goblin Ancient. His words came out raspy and harsh.
“You worry too much,” Jiren spoke, cocky as ever.
“You killed one of your own!” Gurth stressed again.
“You are mistaken. I placed him where he would lack the strength to leave. I’ve been going back every night to feed him and make sure he stays alive.”
“You are taking too many risks! I don’t want his blood on my hands!”
“You don’t have much choice now, do you?”
Too enthralled in figuring out the conversation, I wasn’t aware of someone approaching from behind until one arm wrapped around me and one hand covered my mouth. The glove covering the hand filled my nose with dirt and mold.
He breathed into my ears, “If you know what is good for you, you will remain quiet.”
His voice sounded familiar to me, thickly accented, but I was too surprised to think clearly. I nodded my head and relaxed. His hand removed from my mouth, but his arm remained around my body. I stared down at his arm and then twisted to view his face.
“Tobias,” I whispered.
He nodded his head once.
“You can let go of me, I’m capable of managing.”
His arm relaxed and moved.
“Did you lose something?” I held up the cloak I still carried.
“Thank you,” he said.
“I thought you died back there. What happened?”
His cat eyes, green and bright, peered at me quizzically. As if he realized my thoughts, he smiled slightly and whispered, “It was a close one, but I managed.”
I nodded. “You should have let me thank you for saving my life.”
“Commander!” A harsh and raspy voice entered the tent.
“What is it now?” asked Gurth.
“A few of my men thought they heard something before I called them in. They went searching for an intruder and found some vomit on the outside of our camp.”
Tobias stiffened behind me. I turned my gaze toward him. His jaw set firm as he slowly shook his head with cold eyes. He stood up, and I followed, nearly falling over from the rush of blood to my legs. Tobias caught me with the glare an adult would give a small child who knocked over a pile of plaster pots in the marketplace. He strapped on his cloak then grabbed my hand, pulling me behind him as he started to run. I tried to step where he stepped, but the terrain was difficult to keep my footing. I snapped a branch and sent the whole encampment on alarm.
We ran through the plains, ducking inside the small cluster of trees Tobias’s cloak got caught on. We waited until the goblins lost interest, which ended up being very quickly as a loud horn sounded through the air, calling off the search.
“You should be more careful,” Tobias said finally.
“I’m sorry. I’m not quite at my full capability yet.”
“I’m sorry as well. I learned of Marren’s fate.” He glanced at me from the corner of his eyes, “And yours as well.”
I nodded. “He’s with the elves. They won’t let me see him. I think if we could let them—”
“That is a very unwise decision.”
“Why?” I asked, my blood starting to warm with rage again.
“Because the elves don’t like to concern themselves with the affairs of the other races. They would not respond to you even if the goblins stood at their doorstep.”
“But—”
“Be patient.” He knelt down and picked up a twig, twirling it in his hands. His tail swayed back and forth. “I’ve been watching that encampment for days now. I alerted the other races. They are on their way. I’m sure Jiren will find out Marren is missing by now and will launch the attack sooner than later. So you should do yourself some good by getting as much rest as you can get. And staying here. You’ll only get yourself killed.”
“I’m a fighter, and I refuse to be treated like a child.” I wanted to stomp my feet to add to my stubborn tantrum, but I knew that would only cause him to laugh at me, if not become more determined to not give me a weapon.
“I’ve been made aware of your fighting skills, but you are still weak.”
“That’s a first,” I muttered.
“I meant you are weakened from Marren’s condition and your unborn child.” His tone became that of a patient elder, explaining the ways of the world to a child who just couldn’t understand.
“Fine.”
Chapter 21
Awakened for War