Jazhara unleashed another spell, a searing red beam that struck the face of one of the goblins approaching Kendaric. The creature screamed, dropped his sword and clawed at his eyes. The other turned toward the source of the attack, and hesitated.
Kendaric used the distraction to turn and flee, leaving the goblin isolated. Brother Solon and another man from the inn appeared in Kendaric’s place and both attacked the goblin at the same instant. The goblin saw Solon’s huge warhammer coming at him and dodged, while the other man attempted to strike out with his sword. The two attacks confounded each other, and the goblin turned and fled.
Suddenly the remaining goblins were all running for their lives. James gave a half-hearted lunge at one who managed to elude his sword-point, then stood up and surveyed the damage.
The inn was now completely in flames, and Royos and the young woman were watching it, holding onto one another. The stable-boy stood near the horses, his eyes wide with fear.
A half-dozen goblins lay on the ground.
James shook his head. “What brings goblins so close to the coast?” he wondered aloud.
Brother Solon came to stand beside James. “Goblins tend to be a stupid lot, but not stupid enough to raid for horses unless they’ve a camp nearby.”
The young girl approached and said, “Farmer Toth’s wife rode through on her way to Krondor, sir, looking for soldiers to come save her baby girl.”
“Maria!” exclaimed Goodman Royos. “You weren’t supposed to hear of such things.”
“Father,” the girl replied, “do you think you can shield me from every trouble in the world?” She turned to look at the burning inn. “Is my home not destroyed before my eyes?”
The innkeeper put his arms around her shoulders. “I forget that you are growing up, daughter.”
The other guests, two men with swords, and another with a large hunting knife, as well as two women gathered around. Royos said, “My thanks for all that you did in driving off the goblins.”
James nodded. “I wish we could have done more.”
“You saved lives,” said Royos. “Inns can be rebuilt. Customers are much harder to come by.” He kissed the top of Maria’s head. “As are daughters.” Royos and Maria turned back toward the inn, to arrange a bucket brigade to douse the remaining flames.
“Aye,” said Solon. “They were a’waitin’ for us to come out so they could butcher us.”
James scratched at his ear. “Why such a blatant raid? They have to know there’ll be a patrol up in the hills after them soon . . .”
Jazhara said, “To draw a patrol away from somewhere else?”
James looked at the young magician and motioned for her to walk with him. When they were out of earshot of the others, he asked, “Bear?”
“Perhaps. It would certainly suit his cause if soldiers were not near Widow’s Point and Haldon Head when he attempted to claim the Tear of the Gods.”
James said, “If we knew how he planned on getting to the Tear, then we’d have a better notion of where he is likely to be.”
“Were I this Bear, and failing to gain Kendaric’s spell, I would wait for Kendaric to appear and capture him.”
“Or wait for us to do the work, then take the Tear from us once we’re back on dry ground.”
“Either way, I would allow Kendaric to reach Widow’s Point,” finished Jazhara.
James said, “I don’t wish to wait, but I’m reluctant to attempt this without the reserves down in Miller’s Rest.” He glanced over to where the others waited, and called out, “Brother Solon! You seem to have some knowledge of goblins. How large a camp do you judge they’d have nearby?”
The warrior monk paused to consider, then said, “Tis hard to judge. The daft creatures do not think as you and I think. Perhaps three companies such as this one. One to hold the camp while the other two raid. They numbered chieftains and priests in this party, which is somewhat unusual.”
“To what end?” asked Kendaric, now sufficiently recovered from his fright to follow the conversation.
“Ah, that is as plain as can be,” said Solon. “They’ve taken a baby.” He glanced at the sky, where Small Moon was waning. “They’ll sacrifice the wee one in two days when the moon is dark, an offering to their god. So, these aren’t bandits out lookin’ for plunder. This is an all-out ghost-appeasement raid. Their ancestors are tellin’ them to come down and spill human blood, take human slaves and horses, then come back. Tis a very bad business.”
Jazhara said, “We must do something. If they’re going to kill the child in two nights, the soldiers will not be here in time.”
James said, “As loath as I am to think of a child dying in such a fashion, we have more pressing business elsewhere.”
Jazhara grabbed James by the upper arm and in a low, angry tone, growled, “You’d leave a baby to be butchered like a food animal?”
James rolled his eyes and shook his head. “I’m not going to win this one, am I?”
“No. I’ll go alone if I have to.”