Prologue Story

Chapter One

To the blue-skinned goblin, the shallow cave felt colder than normal. His eyes swelled as he watched the light in his master’s eyes fade. She was an excellent master. The only one out of the past twenty-five he’s had that never laid a finger on him except out of care. When they rested at inns, she would insist on giving him his own room. He would reply every time, asking to stay by her side, of which she always replied with a nod and a soft pat on his head. It was the first time he didn’t have to sleep in the stables. He didn’t sleep well around those massive hooved beasts, as he was always surprised he wasn’t trampled in the night.

He gave himself a soft pat on his head as a tear ran down his cheek. The blue goblin wiped it away and looked at his finger with confusion. He felt a cold sensation in his chest, which was odd, as Do’Kol rarely feel any kind of cold. However, this cold wasn’t natural. It had a hollow feeling to it.

The goblin shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He looked down at his hand, noticing for the first time that he was holding hers. He looked at the back of his hand where she had placed his freedom brand. A symbol that resembled angelic wings extruding out of a thick circle. He ran his finger along it, wincing slightly as it was still fresh. She had told him it meant he was free. That he was to become his last master.

The feeling of her hand softly twitch brought him back as she stared, near lifeless, into his eyes.

“My last command, Kinder, is for you to be free. But as a last request…” she breathed a soft slow breath before continuing “…return my weapon to its home with the Minotaur clans in the plains of the Predas Kingdom. Tell them who you are to me and they will know the truth.” With that, her hand fell limp as Kinder squeezed it tight.

Kinder. The name she had given him at the start of their journey. It was customary for each pack goblin master to give them a new name upon their purchase. It was a name she gave him and one he treasured over all his past ones.

For three years, he stayed by her side and every day she would tell him he could have his freedom whenever he wished. All he had to do was ask. He didn’t understand why she was so kind to him or why she wanted him to break his pact. After all, he was a pack goblin; it was his duty, his honor, to remain with his master until death.

Kinder looked down at his master. He laid her arm across the other on her chest. She seemed so peaceful. He wasn’t really sure how to perform a burial but had seen others place the dead in this way. He looked into her beautiful green elven eyes and gently wiped away a tear before covering her with her cloak. Before looking at the master's weapon, he squeezed his eyes tightly.

A war hammer, etched with intricate runic symbols. It was as tall as Kinder, with a head spanning wider than his shoulders. A normal sized human would need two hands to wield such an unwieldy weapon. Its head was shaped to resemble a tree trunk, with its branches spiraling outward as they intertwined together, creating the shaft of the hammer. Its darkened color made it appear as if made from iron even though the details and feel were that of wood. He recalled over hearing his master mention the material being called ironclad. Whatever that was.

The hammer was etched with odd symbols that glowed a faint greenish hue. While Kinder found them to be beautiful, he had no clue of their meaning. While traveling with his master, she taught him her native language, Ellarian, besides Umish, but she never taught him the language of the gods. His master had explained that the etchings were called energetics and are written using the language known as Runic. These etchings were infused with the energy of her goddess, Gaia. Kinder didn’t understand his master’s magic, but maybe his next master…

Kinder paused on that thought as he looking at his freedom brand.

She said I am to be my master…

He looked from his brand to her covered body to her war hammer in his hands to his pack, which he lifted to put on. It felt heavier than normal.

Kinder had been a pack goblin for all of his life. Objects that might appear heavy for a small creature like himself, was actually very easy to maneuver and lift. Unlike the standard abnormally large pack goblin backpack, he had a reasonably sized pack for a four-foot tall goblin. Which was a gift from her as she refused to let him carry any of her gear and told him he was to only carrying his own. Besides the backpack, she had travelers' clothes tailored for him. This confused Kinder. He always thought it was a loan that he would have to pay back through service. He never understood why a master would care so much for a replaceable piece of equipment.

He was trained as a pack goblin since he could walk and spent the past ten years as one. Kinder understood as a pack goblin he had no place in the world, no class, social standing, or property. His sole purpose was to carry anything his master commanded and if he couldn’t, he was to expect punishment. Usually as a beating.

Resting the war hammer on his shoulder, Kinder made his way out of the cave. The sun was shining and there was a warm breeze blowing through the trees of the forest. As Kinder walked, he avoided the battlefield he had dragged his dying master away from. His master and her companions had been hired to take out an ogre camp that had been terrorizing a nearby village. They had made camp in the small cave about a half a mile away. They had the perfect plan all laid out. All of it except for the betrayal. It was as if the ogre’s targeted his master. He wasn’t sure how or why, but he watched as they completely ignored his master's companions and charged directly for her. By the time the chaos had settled, his master’s companions were nowhere to be found and his master laid broken and dying.

He stopped and looked at his master’s war hammer, gripping it tight until his knuckles went white.

Kinder never had to navigate by himself before, and he wasn’t exactly sure if he should go left or right. He remembered coming from the right, but the place he was most familiar with—his old pack goblin stables—was to the left.

Kinder went left.

He had been traveling for most of the day when he came upon a small roadside tavern. He stopped as he remembered how his master would let him sleep at the foot of her bed. Whose foot of the bed would he sleep at now? His own? That was ridiculous. How could he sleep at the foot of his own bed?

The tavern door burst open as a disheveled human stumbled out. The human took a few steps out of the door, staggering before looking around and wondering off behind the tavern. A few moments later, there was a loud thud as if something heavy hit the ground hard. Squeezing his master’s hammer and taking a deep breathe Kinder hesitantly made his way to the tavern.

Entering the tavern, it suddenly went silent. Kinder felt the room grow small as he noticed everyone had stopped and stared in his direction. He slowly turned around, expecting something massive and horrifying to be behind him, but there was nothing. Then immediately realized who they were staring at.

Kinder looked around the room. One table had stopped whatever odd game they had been playing mid turn. One of them had an apple on their head and the other was mid-throw of his dagger. Another table had a group of very large, bulky humans with very shady looks to them. They appeared to have been playing some kind of card game.

As Kinder took a step towards the bar, the floorboards gave out a loud squeal, as if making sure everyone knew he was there. He stopped mid step and stared at the board, too afraid to look up. Slowly, he completed his step as the board finished its wailing. Sighing deeply, Kinder slowly made his way to the bar, trying hard not to step on anymore loose floor boards. A few more squeaky floor boards later, Kinder was scaling the bar stool in order to see over the bar.

A very large hairy woman stood behind the bar. Hair? No, that was fur. Kinder, wide eyed, slowly glanced up towards the woman’s face. She had brown fur covering her entire head with a long furry snout, big brown eyes, and two small furry ears poking out of the fur. She wore a long brown dress with a white blouse. The blouse was clearly worn and stained from what he assumed was ale.

He had heard of this kind of human before, but couldn’t quite remember what they had been called. Kitsune… no, that wasn’t it. Those were the smaller furry humans. What was it..? Kuma! That’s it! He was staring at a Kuma, who was a barkeep no less. If his memory served him right, Kuma normally kept to the forests or wilderness of their region. Then again, he was in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by forests. He always thought they would be actually living in the forest, not some rundown tavern on the edge. Then again, he was a Do’Kol in the middle of a region that was prominently human and was with an elf.

“Excuse me, ma’am. Can…” Kinder paused for a moment as he saw an enormous man step up to the bar only a few paces from him. “Can I… have some… ale?” Kinder finally squeaked out nervously.

The barkeep blinked hard as if trying to come to terms with the situation but slowly moved towards the well-dressed goblin.

“You got tsu, goblin?” the barkeep’s voice was much higher and sweeter sounding than what Kinder would have guessed. He’d expected a deeper, rougher, more bear-like voice. But, then again, he’d never heard or seen a Kuma until now, so he wasn’t really sure what he should have expected. Her appearance, however, was still very intimidating. If Kinder remembered correctly, tsu was a common currency and had three different increments of gomi, sami, and saya. However, he had no clue the values of any tsu as this was the first time he ever had any. Kinder nervously reached into his pocket and placed one gomi on the bar. “Will… umm… this be enough?”

The barkeep quickly covered the gomi with her rag before pouring a tankard of ale. Ale spilled from the tankard as she set it on the bar. She picked up her rag along with the tsu in one fluid stroke.

“Thank… you, ma’am.” Kinder said, grabbing the tankard and taking a swig. The ale was warm, watered down, and tasted like something sour and possibly made from very sweaty, dirty feet.

Kinder knew what good ale tasted like because his master had included him in her celebrations after a successful adventure. She would tell him to never trust the water and always have some kind of ale, wine, or mead instead. That the water could be unclean and can make him sick.

Kinder liked the taste of ale, but this ale was undrinkable. Still holding the ale in his mouth, he took another drink, but slowly spit the ale back into the tankard.

The large hulk of a man that had been a few paces down the bar had been right next to Kinder when he lowered the tankard. Kinder jumped, nearly falling off the bar stool, dropping the tankard. The tankard hit the ground, spilling all over the man’s boots. The large burly man didn’t seem to notice.

“That’s a very fancy hammer you got for such a small fellow. What is something like you doing carrying that heavy thing? I think you should let me hold on to it for you. You probably stole it anyway.” The enormous man reached for the war hammer resting against the bar. With quicker reflexes than even Kinder knew he had, he grabbed his master’s war hammer. Shaking with fear, Kinder looked up at the man.

“Thank… you, sir, but… but… this is my master’s hammer and she… she… would be very upset if I lost it.” The man looked Kinder hard in the eyes and gazed around the room as if searching for someone.

“It’s not nice to lie, goblin. Creatures like you should learn some manners when talking to your superiors.” He grabbed at the war hammer with one hand while coming around with a left hook. Instinctually, Kinder ducked and pushed back off the stool. Years of being a pack goblin taught Kinder a few things. One major lesson was knowing how to avoid danger and stay out of harm’s way. However, this time, before Kinder realized what he was doing, he thrust the war hammer into the man’s chest as he fell backwards.

The man let out a loud grunt as he stumbled backwards, holding his chest. The floor boards squeaked as Kinder landed hard. He stared up at the large broad man with wide eyes. Huh, what!? Was all that went through Kinder’s mind as he heard the man call out for aid?

The large group of bulky men came rushing at Kinder. Without hesitation, he grabbed his master's hammer and swiftly struck one man between the legs, resulting in a loud crunch. Kinder stood up in confusion as the man collapsed, holding himself and silently screaming, struggling to breathe with his eyes rolling back.

One man dove towards Kinder to grapple him, but was quickly surprised when a hard wooden chair was shoved into his face. In the process of scrambling under a table, Kinder had kicked the chair in a ditched effort to get away. The bone crushing sound of the man’s jaw connecting with the chair was heard across the tavern.

The group leader watched as his last companion flipped the table and was attacked by a goblin with a hammer. Another loud bone crushing crunch was heard as the man toppled over, holding his ribs. Kinder slowly glanced around, trying to understand why the attacking stopped. He noticed the first man at the bar standing stunned with a look of surprise that quickly turning to rage. With a war cry, the man charged, bull rushing a visibly frightened goblin. As the man grew closer, Kinder closed his eyes and gripped his master’s war hammer tight. Well, master, I guess this is it. I hope I can be your servant in my next life, if that’s how dying works. I wish I knew where people go when they die. Then I could travel to where you are master. Then I could serve… Kinder wasn’t sure what had just collided with him. He swore it was a human a moment ago, but it felt more like a stone wall. He felt his body lift and move backward at a quick pace. His arms flying out and down but still gripping his master’s hammer tight. As he flew back, he felt a strong vibration coming from the hammer, as if it connected with something hard with significant force. Then he felt something hard and flat slam into his back just before blacking out.

Chapter Two

Arthur wasn’t sure how he felt after what had happened during the events of the last few days. He could barely make it out a live let alone with Gerard and Willabee. He thought for sure they were all going to die until Willabee created a massive ice wall and separated them from the enemy, giving them time to escape. Unfortunately, the others who traveled with him weren’t as lucky. Out of options, drained of stamina and essence, and with a heavy heart, Arthur agreed with his companions that there was nothing they could do. Arthur promised himself that he would say a prayer to Gaia as soon as he got to the next city.

“So we’ve completed the deed and I say it’s time you paid us the other half of our deal. Don’t you agree Willabee? Willabee makes no sign of acknowledgement.

Arthur looked at Gerard with a bewildered look on his face. The Onca wasn’t the nicest of Gaia’s creatures to look at. A large scar ran from his left eye across his long snout and ending on the right side of his mouth. However, even without the scar, he was still ugly. His large under bite, crocked and missing teeth, and blotches of missing black fur almost made him look sickly. His distorted mouth gave him a slight slur in his words, almost as if was constantly drunk. This mixed with his deep scratchy voice made him a very awkward person to converse with. His clothing choices weren’t any better. Stained and torn trousers with a beat up old cloak and a shirt that Arthur swore was once white but now had a dark brown tint to it. The only thing the Onca seemed to care about was his leather cuirass, long sword, and steam revolver, which were all polished clean. It was a good thing Arthur hired him for his skills and not his looks.

“What kind of man do you take me for, Gerard? Do you actually think I would keep that kind of tsu on me for this entire journey? That would be insane, impractical, and simply asking for it to be stolen. Then how would I pay you?” Arthur put his hand on Gerard’s shoulder. “Gerard, I know you are good with your sword and gun, and Willabee, you excel with energetics, but I would prefer to avoid any unnecessary violence. Hence, I have your tsu waiting for you back in Avac, hidden away in a safe place.” Gerard looked quizzically at Arthur’s hand on his shoulder. That’s right, he didn’t like being touched.

“You better, Fueya. Or you’ll learn quickly just how skilled I am with my sword and gun.” Willabee simply rested his hand on his blue metallic rod at his belt as Gerard eyed Arthur. “And I know Willabee, here won’t hesitate to keep you on ice either.” With a quick whisper from Willabee, Arthur felt the surrounding air grow colder, causing him to shiver slightly.

Willabee was one of those pretty boy faces and dressed proper. His long, pointed ears and semi-golden skin made him look almost godlike. If Arthur hadn’t learned about the Ashera elves and their culture as a child, he would have seen Willabee as someone divine. In fact, according to what he had learned, Willabee could have noble blood because of his golden skin. Ashera elves born with his skin would automatically put their family’s status into nobility. Arthur still wasn’t able to get Willabee to talk about his past or really about himself. He had given up trying to pry information out of him about four months ago when he realized he wasn’t willing to talk about his own past, so why should Willabee?

Willabee wore a deep blue robe that fit him nearly perfectly, as was the custom of his specific use of energetics. His metallic shiny blue rod, that he used as his conduit, rested securely on his belt. His spell book stored safely in his backpack, away from harm. He was a frost channeler from what Arthur had seen, a skilled one at that. A channeler who specialized in the control and manipulation of Element’s energy, specifically frost.

Arthur had never used energetics, but had always found it interesting. As a child, he would spend hours in his father’s library reading about the many ways to manipulate the energy of the gods. He read that some could allow men to fly or heal wounds that herbal medicine couldn’t. No matter how interesting he found energetics, Arthur decided a long time ago to stay away from using it because of the danger that comes with it. He learned that absorbing too much energy can cause rapid aging or worse, make you mad and attack anyone who got close. Energetics had already caused enough tragedy in Arthur’s life. He didn’t want to take that chance again.

“Please Willabee enough, I have your gomi just not with me. We must get to Avac and then you will get paid. I swear on Element’s warmth you will get what is coming.”

Gerard slapped Arthur on the back and laughed as Willabee released the cold around Arthur. “Good Fueya. Learn to relax. We’ve trusted you this long. Why not a little longer?”

They traveled in silence for the rest of their trip. It would take them a few days along the Long Road to reach their destination. They were still in the Empire of Hotto and needed to catch transportation to avoid keeping their cohorts waiting. Of which he didn’t. Their money was waiting for them as promised. He had scrimped and saved in order to get enough to pay for their professional services. He didn’t expect their journey to take a full year to complete, but it was completed none the less. And that meant it was payday, and he was the employer. Within a year, Arthur realized that their adventure kept bringing rewards that made his hired swords happy and wanting more.

That evening they reached the City of Grith, Hotto’s capital. Grith, also known as The City of Forges, is famous for its blacksmiths, who use lava from Keeper Mountain to forge equipment. The city was massive in scale and its emperor Hirotama prided himself on making sure his city was the cleanest in all of Nisumari. He even commissioned a special task force called Street Steamers that had only one task; keep the city clean. The emperor didn’t live in Grith. Not since the floating cities were discovered. Since then, the castle and royal family live in Shi’Ichi, the largest of the three.

Arthur and his companions walked through the massive gate into the city and emerged into the market district. They had arrived midday when all the venders and merchants were busy selling their wares. Arthur could hear the stall owners shouting out what they were selling. Pottery, farming equipment, and even fish from the Sea of Ice to the south–flown in using an AGE vessel to ensure only a minimum of a day old freshness.

Hotto was a unique empire in that its southern border being the Sea of Ice. Its northern border being somewhere in the Keeper Mountains, where it was always warm because of the volcanic environment. This combination of climates made for the perfect fertile land of the empire's heart. This allowed for year round farming, which resulted in being able to have a large export of agriculture. Combining their agriculture and smith skills, Hotto had become a rich, thriving, and powerful empire.

The Fat Boar tavern Gerard had recommendation was near the air docks in the sky harbor district. It was a shady neighborhood, but one that Arthur could tell was home to those like his Onca companion. Gerard's impatience with getting paid made Arthur agree to let him pick the establishment for the night. Arthur thought it might help Gerard relax if he got to call the shots. Gerard slammed open the inn door, causing everyone to look in their direction. Gerard, ignoring all the gazes, walked to the bar and immediately ordered drinks. Arthur and Willabee found a table off to the side where Gerard could be drunk without being on the way. It had become a kind of ritual for them. Gerard drinks, causes a scene, passes out, and Arthur and Willabee carry him to his room passed out drunk.

After a few tankards of ale and some shots of whiskey, Gerard was feeling very loose. Arthur and Willabee had moved to a nearby table as soon as Gerard hit the drunk stage of the night. Willabee, not paying attention to either of his companions, was nose deep in his spell book. Arthur had been scoping the room trying to get a feel for who would join in the fighting later. He fully expected Gerard to get irritated at his new friends, which would cause one of them getting a fist in their face. Gerard’s new friends, a random group of tavern patrons, already looked uncomfortable with Gerard. He had moved to a table with a female Vashi elf with blue tinted skin, a male Ashera elf, and a female Washian, a rare sub-species to find in these parts. Washians typically stayed in their mountain cities. Their upper bodies resembled that of an Ashera elf, but instead of the golden skin, they had large feathered wings protruding from their back. Their legs were that of a bird with indented rings in their skin that ran the length of their legs and three-toed talons as feet.

The Ashera elf didn’t have the golden skin like Willabee. His skin was a deep tan from someone who spent a lot of time outdoors. Arthur knew that meant he wasn’t of noble birth, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t important. The Washian sitting next to him could be his guard because she had four wings, which meant she had a military standing in their culture. The blue-skinned elf seems like she might be the Ashera’s companion by the way they sat close to each other. Arthur grew up inland, so he had little opportunity to see Vashi elves, but he was sure she was based on the descriptions and drawings in the books he read. The gills on her neck gave it away, mostly. He read they were an aquatic sub-species that could breathe underwater. Maybe she was from the Ue Oe Empire. The bench Arthur and Willabee were sitting on made a loud noise as a massive orc joined them, causing Arthur to stop studying Gerard's friends. Its tankard, the size of Arthur's head, slammed down on the table, spilling ale down the side. At a second glance, Arthur realized the hair was actually very fine fur. Looking at the orc's face, he could see an elongated mouth, larger fangs than a typical orc, and more fur. This was no ordinary orc. This was a halfoid of onca and kuma decent.

Arthur swallowed hard at his realization. If Gerard started a fight tonight and this massive behemoth joined in, people might die. Arthur leaned over to look around the halfoid towards Willabee, who was still deep into his studies. The halfoid had been staring at Willabee with confused, yet fascinated, eyes. Willabee took one slight look out of the corner of his eye at the beast and turned back to his book, flipping through it casually. As soon as the halfoid opened its mouth to speak, Willabee whispered something Arthur couldn’t understand and the hafloid’s head fell with a thud. The massive tankard of ale bouncing up and spilling more. Arthur stared in utter confusion and shock.

“What did you do, Willabee?!” Arthur whispered to his friend. Willabee continued to study his book as a loud snoring sound came from the now sleeping giant. Arthur looked back and forth between Willabee and the sleeping giant. Huh, well, that’s a new trick. Arthur thought as he poked the snoring giant. I guess that solves the problem. Arthur thought as he turns to check on Gerard. Gerard had his fist deep in the face of the Ashera elf with the Washian pulling Gerard off his friend. The Vashi elf had grabbed her tankard and, in a quick fluid motion, recited something in a language similar to what Willabee had spoken a few moments ago. From the outstretched tankard shot a thick stream of water, knocking Gerard back away from her companions. He hit the ground hard, knocking the wind from his lungs as he spit up water and gasped for air.

Before Willabee or Arthur could move, the Washian had jumped onto Gerard pinning his arms down with her talons. Her hand gripped her sword, ready to draw and strike. The Ashera elf, wiping his nose on a cloth handkerchief and walked over to Gerard. He rested his hand on his protector’s shoulder in acknowledgement as he looked down at Gerard.

“I am sorry, sir. I will be faster next time.” The Washian bowed his head to his master.

“You did well, Vivarus. We did not know he was to be so hot tempered.” The Ashera looked down at the dazed Onca.

“Let that be a lesson to you. Not everyone enjoys hearing tales from your bedchamber. The things you say insult my wife and I will not have it.” He tossed his bloodied handkerchief on Gerard’s chest as he struggled to get free. “I suggest you give up unless you want your arms ripped from your torso. Washians are known for their powerful legs.”

“While I’m sure my companion here probably deserves to have his arms removed. Please hold off.” Arthur said as the Ashera glanced towards him. Arthur made eye contact with the Ashera. “At least not before you tell me what he has done to deserve such a grievous punishment.”

“Perhaps I shall tell you, but not here. I must confess that I am here on the behalf of someone else and wish to speak with you and Master Ferneth about this creature.” The Ashera said, nodding down towards Gerard. “Vivarus can hold him while we speak if need be. Personally, I’d prefer him to be tied and gagged, but that is Master Fereth’s call.” The Ashera elf looked at Willabee, who was still reading and had not bothered to get involved.

Arthur looked at the Ashera and then at Willabee with confusion. Master Fereth? Is he referring to Willabee? Arthur thought as Willabee calmly stored his book and stood. “Vivarus, thank you for securing Gerard. Tie him up and meet us in the back room. We can talk in private there.” Willabee said as he stepped over Gerard, handing Vivarus some rope.

“Wait a minute, Willabee! What is going on here?!” Arthur said, looking back and forth between the elves and the washian. Willabee kept walking towards the back room.

“I will explain everything in due time, Arthur. Now please, just follow me.”

Bewildered, Arthur followed Willabee. He watched as the barkeep tried to stop him, but Willabee pulled out four gold coins and set them on the end of the bar. The barkeep took the coins and went back to work. The rest of the party made their way into the back room, Vivarus dragging a now tied and gagged Gerard.

The back room of the tavern was beautiful. Polished oak wood floors with walls that had the lower half build of smooth stone and the upper half of polished redwood. In the middle of the room, a large, deep red wood table was graced by a silver chandelier. A feather downed bed with elegant wood etched frame rested in the far corner with an equally elegant wardrobe next to it. A window against the far wall showed a beautiful view of rolling hills.

Arthur was limited on his knowledge of energetics and the world, but he’d been pretty sure they weren’t in Girth anymore, possibly not even Hotto. Vivarus tossed Gerard into a corner and stood watch. The rest of the group took seats at the table, Willabee sitting at the head. Arthur, confused and cautious, remained standing. Just as Arthur was about to speak, Willabee started.

“I understand you would have questions, Arthur, and I will answer them the best I can in due time. However, right now, I need to address my family.” Willabee turned his gaze towards the Vashi elf. “Commander Auea, while seeing you always brings me joy, I do not understand what you are doing here. I expect you will explain yourself.” Willabee’s face was serious and showed no sign of joy as he spoke.

“Master Ferenth, I am here out of concern in the stay of your parents. It has been over a year since your departure and your house fears for your safety.” Auea said, looking down, refusing to look directly at Willabee. “I am glad we found you, as that creature had claimed to plot against you. He spoke of killing you and the man you call Arthur.” She pointed to Gerard, giving him a stare that made Arthur take a step back in fear.

“Auea, do you not have faith in your student? You are the one who taught me to be cautious with others. To learn everything you can before taking a step. I was already aware of Gerard’s plans, but I also knew he was targeting Arthur first.” Arthur pressed his hands down on the table. Auea and the Ashera elf looked at Arthur as if ready to strike should he make any sudden movements. “And when were you planning on telling me this secret?” Arthur looked down, shaking his head before looking back up at the other two elves. “I take it you’re not actually married.”

“Auea, Yuthio, please rest your nerves. Arthur is no danger to us. He might have a twisted past, but he tries hard to be a good man.” The two elves looked at each other and smiled as they relaxed at their master’s command.

Arthur wasn’t sure how to process everything that had just unfolded. He sat down on the chair next to him and let out an enormous sigh. Does this golden know about my past? Does he know who I really am? No, I buried him a long time ago with my siblings. No one knows who I was… Arthur was brought back from his thoughts by Gerard’s squirms and grunts. Vivarus quickly kicked him to end his disruption.

“Forgive me, master Ferenth, I will make sure he doesn’t do that again,” Vivarus said as he gripped Gerard’s neck with his talon. “With your permission, should he try to disrupt you again, I will end him?”

“No, Vivarus, just knock him out if need be. He will be tried and hung as a murderer in the Asherian courts.” Willabee said, waving his hand to dismiss Vivarus’s talon. She withdrew her foot, but kept an even closer eye on Gerard.

Willabee stood and walked around the table to Arthur, and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I can understand your confusion and distrust for me, but I assure you, Arthur, I would not have let him execute his plan. You have become a friend to me and I do not wish to see any harm come to you.” Arthur raised his hand, about to reply, when Willabee moved towards Gerard and Vivarus. “Auea and Yuthio, you will take Gerard back to the holy lands, where he will await his sentence once I have returned. If Arthur will have me, I would like to continue my journey with him, as I feel our paths are not yet ready to part.”

Yuthio stood quickly. “Brother, I do not agree with your decision. It has been over a year since you have set foot in the holy lands. Mother and father are worried you have lost your way and no longer seek a pure connection with energy.” Yuthio moved to Willabee’s side. “Please, brother, come home. It is long past the time agreed upon.”

Willabee looked at his brother. “I am sorry, brother, but I cannot. I do not have the connection like you have. My path and its distance from my loved ones remain unknown, but I know it is not yet time for me to come back. I'll be back someday, brother, just not today.” Willabee hugged his brother and then noticed Arthur's confused expression. Yuthio motioned for Vivarus to grab Gerard as Auea was already waiting at the door.

“Young master, I hope you know what you are doing and that you find what you are looking for soon. I eagerly wait for the day of your return.” Auea said as she turned towards the door. She recited more of those strange words, but this time Arthur noticed she was holding a gemstone that, as soon as she finished, turned to dust.

“That will be a joyous day, Auea. Now go so I can talk with my friend,” Willabee said as she opened the door and stepped through. Yuthio and Vivarus, carrying Gerard, followed. Before the door had closed, Arthur saw they had walked into a thick overgrown forest. As Willabee sat back in his chair, Arthur opened the door to find it lead back into the tavern they had originally come from. He slowly closed the door and returned to his seat. It all gave him a headache, yet he was still in the dark on what was going on.

“I know this is probably a lot to take in, so let me try to explain some of it to you. Then you can ask me anything and I will answer the best I am able. Does that sound fair?” Arthur simply stared at Willabee and gave a smile and a nod.

“To start, I guess I should properly introduce myself. I am Surathia of the golden house of Ferenth. I come from the holy lands of the Ashera and I am next in line to take over my family's estates. The fellow Ashera, Yuthio, is my brother and as you can see, his was not born with a golden skin, which means he is not in high standing with society. He is a very smart and kind elf who is strongly connected to the energies but sadly because he is not of golden skin, he will never be recognized for his strength. Auea, the Vashi was my teacher when I was a child. She taught me the science of energetics. Without her, I would have been lost in the ways of energy. Vivarus, I take it you could easily tell is Yuthio’s personal guard.” Willabee let Arthur have a moment for it all to sink in before continuing.

“I left my home to learn of different cultures and ways of life. My intention was to learn and discover new possibilities. I had hoped to bring what I had learned back and apply it to my family’s trade in order to help us grow. However, that all changed when I met you.” Arthur sat up at that.

“Me? Why would meeting me change anything? I’m nobody. I told you I was an orphan and came from nothing. What could I have done to change your path?”

“You were twisted and troubled yet acted calm. While I’m sure many have believed your story of being an orphan, I did not. Your essence has been so twisted with hatred and sorrow, yet you showed so much care and compassion for those who had nothing. I don’t know your past and if one day you choose to tell me the about it I will listen. But, as you are now, I can say I am happy I have met you and that your essence, while still twisted, is no longer consumed with hate. That is why you changed my path. I want to help you straighten your essence so you can finally have peace. I believe by helping you, I will find my path along the way.”

Arthur sat, unsure of what to say. His questions about Surathia had been answered, but there was still the question about Gerard and how he knew of his betrayal. Or what he meant about his essence being twisted. He wasn’t a channeler, so how did he have essence?

“How did you know Gerard would betray us?”

Willabee smiled at Arthur’s question. “That was easy. We both know how Gerard likes to drink. One night when you had already turned in, he kept drinking and completely forgot who I was. He must have thought I was some random stranger. I’m not sure what compelled him to open up to me, but he explained how he was going to be rich. But, before he could be rich, he would have to deal with his elf and human friends first. He actually made the finger across the throat motion. Being threatened like that, I had to hold back, killing him right there. I calmed myself and figured out when he was planning it so I could intervene when the time was right. However, my family seemed to have done it for us.”

“And when did he plan on executing me? Also, you sent him with your family to be hung as a murderer even though we’re still alive. Why condemn him for something he only planned to do but never executed it?”

“After you paid us.” Willabee stood and looked out the window. “Arthur, I recommend the next people you hire that you do some research first.”

“I had done my research… Apparently, I didn’t do enough.” Arthur said quickly.

Willabee continued. “Gerard is a hired killer. He’s committed countless murders. He’s the reason our last job went bad. In order to save himself, he struck a deal with the enemy to eliminate us. Luckily, I had been watching him and figured it out, but I was still too late. I could only save you and we lost people I had grown to care for…” Willabee stared out the window. He had a look as if lost in his thoughts.

Arthur knew it wasn’t Willabee’s fault. It was Arthurs. I caused their death, not you. Everything that happened is on my shoulders. Arthur stood clenching his fits against the table. “None of that was your fault, Willabee… I am thankful to you for saving my life, but I’m the one who set all of this in motion. I’m the one who caused everything to fall apart.” Arthur hit the table with this clenched fist. “It’s my fault they died.” He slammed his fist down again. “It’s my fault…” Arthur hit the table one final time before slowly sinking back into his chair. “I’m sorry, Willabee. I should have never hired you or Gerard. I should have never tried to kill her. I was wrong.” Willabee turned and looked at Arthur, who was staring at his fist. A small trickle of blood ran down the back side of his hand. Willabee walked over to Arthur and handed him a cloth from his pouch. Arthur took it and wrapped his hand. Willabee rested his hand on Arthur’s shoulder, unsure of what to say. Trying to change the subject yet still get his questioned answered, Arthur sat up and looked at Willabee.

“What did you mean, my essence is twisted? I’m not a channeler, so how do you know if I have essence?” Willabee took a seat next to Arthur.

“We all have essence, Arthur. Nearly every living thing and every object created by a craftsman has essence. Essence is our own energy, just like the gods are energy. Gaia granted us essence so we can do amazing things with it. Essence is also connected to our life force. Some people only have life force and have discovered how to use it as if they had essence.”

Arthur looked at Willabee, confused. “Everything has essence? Like everything?” Willabee gave a slight sigh of amusement. “Yes, everything has essence in the same way energy is everywhere. Channelers, such as myself, can take the energy in the world and mix it with our essence. This is how spells are channeled.”

“I understand that. I have read books on the basics of energetics when I was a child. But, I don’t understand how I, as someone who doesn’t channel spells, has essence. Shouldn’t I only have a life force?”

“To be blunt, Arthur, no. you have essence as do most people. They just aren’t aware of it unless they deeply study themselves or are trained to notice it. Think of it this way. When someone is in danger and you need to move something heavy out of the way in order to save them, you have this burst of energy come out of nowhere. It gives you the strength to be quicker or stronger in order to save them. That extra burst of energy is your essence. However, when that burst happens, you can notice that it doesn’t last very long. That is because most people only have a small amount of essence. Just enough for those unique situations. But most people don’t even have enough essence to even gain that small burst.”

Arthur was rubbing his chin in thought. He needed a shave and probably a bath, as they had been traveling for days without a proper rest. His beard had grown a few inches since he last shaved and it was always itchy. He hated it and envied how elves didn’t grow facial hair.

Willabee noticed the glazed over look in Arthur’s eyes.

“I didn’t break your mind, did I?”

“I might not make the best decisions, but I am no fool, Willabee. What did you mean by my essence being twisted?” Arthur gave him a sly smirk.

“You have suffered a significant loss in your past. I can see it in your eyes. That sorrow and anger you have is twisting your soul. It’s causing you to become confused and unsure of your path. I saw it when you changed your mind about why you hired Gerard and myself. But I believe you can find your path just as I am looking for mine.”

Willabee was right. Arthur knew it, but never wanted to accept it. He was broken and didn’t have a path. He didn’t know what was next. Even if he hadn’t changed his mind last minute, what would he have done after it had been done? He had no path. No destination in life. No purpose. Arthur stood up and reached his hand out to Willabee.

“Travel with me, friend. Let us work together to find each other’s paths.” Willabee stood looking at Arthur’s outstretched hand. He shook it firmly.

“I had hoped you wouldn’t reject me. There is one request I have first.”

Arthur looked at him quizzically, then widened his eyes at the realization.

“I have not forgotten about your payment, my friend. As soon as we are in Avac, it will be yours.” Willabee looked at Arthur, amused.

“Don’t worry about my payment. Money is not an issue for me. I simply accepted your offer because I wanted the experience of the journey and I have gotten what I signed up for. More actually.” Arthur looked at his friend, confused.

“Well then, what is it you need?”

“Please keep my secret. I do not wish for people to know who I really am. Also, I learn Willabee is quite a silly name. Perhaps you can call me Will instead.”

Chapter Three

Kinder groaned softly, expecting pain as he normally had when waking up after an event like that. However, the pain didn’t come. He slowly opened his eyes and was staring at the ceiling of a cave. Concerned he was dragged off by his opponents, he immediately felt around for his master’s war hammer. Feeling around himself, Kinder could only feel soft moss. He looked around, realizing that he was lying in an enormous bed of mossy green grass. Sitting up, he noticed the mossy grass flowed around groups of multicolored flowers as if it was a lazy river slowly finding its way to the ocean. The mossy river flowed down to a pond surrounded by smooth stone slabs and a large waterfall. Above the pond, rays of sunlight pierced the darkness of the cave; illuminating the entire cave and making the waterfall sparkle. Sitting on the edge of the pond on a stone bench that looked as if it grew from the stone slabs was an elf. She had golden hair and was a combination of loose flowing strands underneath a large braid, with flowers intertwined. Resting against the bench was his master’s war hammer. The sunlight glinted off its metallic surface and made the runic symbols seem like they were glowing.

Seeing his master’s war hammer, Kinder sprang up and started towards it. He froze halfway down the mossy path as the elf turned and looked into his eyes. Kinder’s eyes swelled as he stared at her in disbelief. Kinder felt inside an overwhelming feeling of joy as his feet took off running towards the elf. Reaching her, he wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug, burring face into her silky white dress. The elf rested her hand on his bald head before lifting his head to look at him. He had his own miniature rivers flowing down his cheeks. She wiped away his tears and kissed him on his forehead.

“My sweet Kinder. Come sit beside me and listen to my words.” The elf said in a sweet and calm voice. Kinder slowly released his hug, afraid he’d lose her again if he let go. He slowly climbed onto the bench and sat beside her, wiping the remaining tears from his face before looking up at his master. She took Kinder’s hand and traced the symbol of his freedom.

“I am sorry that I could not provide you with more. I truly wish for you to understand that you were never a possession to me. You were always my companion and friend.” She gazed into his big blue eyes. “I have always loved you as a mother loves her child. You will always be special to me, Kinder, and as long as you have my hammer, I will always be with you.”

Kinder looked from his master to the hammer resting against the bench between them. He hesitantly touched the shaft and recoiled his hand as if it was painful to touch. He quickly buried his face in his hands and wept. Through sobs, Kinder apologized repeatedly for leaving her in the cave. He swore he tried everything to save her but was just a stupid pack goblin.

Kinder’s master laughed as she wrapped her arm around him. “Kinder, you have done nothing wrong. It was my time to return to the goddess and for you to take up your freedom. It is what the goddess Gaia foresaw. Do not worry about me, as I am at peace in Gaia’s realm.” Kinder looked up at her, confused.

“Master, I do not understand you are here, so how can you be with Gaia?” His mastery laughed with amusement.

“You still refuse to call me Genevieve even now that you have proof that you are a free goblin.” Kinder’s confusion intensified across his face. “But you are my master. Why would I not call you what you are? Only bad pack goblins call their masters by name…” Kinder paused as Genevieve slowly pointed to the back of his hand.

“Out of everything I have taught you, I have failed at the most important part. I never taught you what freedom means. Kinder, you are your own master now. There is no one to push you around or command you. You make your own choices now, just as any other free person does.”

“But, master, I don’t want to be free if I can’t stay with you.” Genevieve at first looked confused at this but realized her failure in her explanation. Kinder believed she was alive and had returned to him. He didn’t understand where he was.

“Kinder, where do you think you are right now?”

Kinder looked around quizzically, as if the question was silly.

“We are in a cave and you’re alive, not resting peacefully with Gaia. You are here with me and now we can be together again.”

“Do you remember when I explained to you about my war hammer and the energetics it used?”

Kinder nodded.

“Well, just like my hammer, we all have energy within us. Most of us have two forms: life force and essence. Your life force keeps you alive; it is the blood the flows through your veins. It is our connection to Gaia. Our essence is the other energy that flows through us and gives us our willpower and endurance. It is what we use to channel our god's energy into energetic effects. Like the green tentacles I would conjure when I fought. Do you understand so far?”

Kinder nodded.

“Back in the other cave where you put my body to rest, my life force was returned to Gaia—as all things living do. I am not physically here with you, as I am merely the essence of Lady Genevieve. I retain her memories and love for you but will never take a physical form again.” Kinder slumped and hung his head, staring at the benches' smooth surface.

“This… this is a dream, isn’t it, master?”

“Yes, Kinder, it is exactly that. However, remember that when you wake, I will always be with you. Take my hammer and know that you will always have a piece of me by your side.” Genevieve lifted her war hammer, placing it in Kinder’s hands. He slowly traced the runic symbols etched into the shaft.

“Come now Kinder, rest you head in my lap and let your sorrow fade for when you wake I wish for you to complete one last request from your former master.” Kinder did as she asked, resting his head in her lap as he brought her war hammer to his chest. Genevieve rested her hand on his head. “I wish for you to find peace with my passing. Seek our companions, as they still live, and find out the truth of my passing. But do not seek them for revenge, as that will not bring you peace. Seek them for the answers to the questions I know you have been ignoring. Find peace so that you can truly be free.” She leaned forward, kissing him on his head.

Kinder felt sleepy as he closed his eyes.

Chapter Four

The shake and rattle of the wagon woke Kinder with a start. He sprang up to a seated position, white knuckling his master’s war hammer. His head ached and the taste of blood was on his tongue. Without realizing he was still holding his master’s war hammer, he reached up to rub his head and smacked himself square in the face. Grunting, he looked at his master’s war hammer and then at his hands. His knuckles were white from his tight grip. It took him a few minutes to get the blood flowing before he could release his master’s hammer. Resting it on his lap, he followed the shackles on his wrists down a length of chain that was attached to the floor of the wagon. Another chain lead up opposite Kinder to a human who appeared to be a beggar or sorts.

The human wore brown stained and ripped trousers with a tunic that should have been white but was so worn it was brown and tattered. Kinder thought if the wind blew, it might rip it from the human’s chest.

“The tiny warrior awakes.” The human spoke in Umish but had a thick Grimslarian accent.

Kinder cocked his head and stared at the human.

“Tiny warrior?”

The chains rattled as he lifted his hands, pointing to Kinder and the war hammer. Kinder looked at his master’s war hammer and back up at the human.

“I am not a warrior, this is my masters. I am just holding on to it…” Kinder paused as he remembered his dream. His eyes swelled slightly as he remembered resting his head in her lap.

“It was a gift from my master. I hold it safe for her now.”

The human nodded but had a quizzical look on his face as if he had a hundred questions, but didn’t know which to ask first.

“You keep saying master, but that marking on your hand would tell a different story, I think. You were once a pack goblin, were you not?”

Kinder slowly nodded as he pulled his sleeve down to cover his hand. He knew he was free, but the thought of what that meant gave him a sour stomach. He wished he was still a pack goblin sleeping at the foot of her bed. No, this marking on his hand didn’t mean freedom. It was a reminder of what he once had and a memory of when it was given.

Kinder wiped his swelling eyes as he looked away from the human. The human shrugged at the sight of a former goblin crying over a former master.

“Some masters aren’t truly masters, but more so family? I believe you have had such a situation?” The human’s words seemed empathic, but the way he stared gave the impression of curiosity and intrigue. As if he wanted to learn from Kinder’s pain. Kinder simply nodded slowly as he wrapped his arms around his master’s war hammer.

“You know the hammer will not last long on your side once we get to the place we are getting to. Maybe perhaps, the chains are a giveaway for what has happened and what will happen?” Kinder had noticed that the human was sounding different. Besides his words becoming more generalized, his accent didn’t seem to sound as thick. Maybe Kinder had hit his head a lot harder than he thought. He shook his head but quickly stopped, realizing his mistake as his ears rang and the motion sent a sharp pain down the back of his head. He quickly felt nauseous and tried to move as little as possible.

Slowly, Kinder looked down at the chains and then around to the rest of the wagon. With the pain in his head and the human distracting him, he didn’t realize the other equally tattered individuals in the wagon. All shackled and chained as himself and the human.

“What is going on? Last I knew, I was in a tavern. Not chained to a wagon.” Kinder said as he lightly tugged on his chains.

The human chuckled. It's interesting how you were freed from one type of servitude, only to end up in a different one. What is it that has caused you to be bound into this exciting and extravagant lifestyle known too many as a prisoner’s life?”

Puzzled by the way the human spoke, Kinder subconsciously tilted his head as he tried to unravel the human’s words. The human tilting his head along with Kinder as if the tilting of the head helped with the thought process. Perhaps the motion helps to stir up the brain in order to think better? “Tiny goblin, to be plain, we are prisoners and we are headed to a new home surrounded by stone and iron. I am curious to know what you have done to become chained like myself.”

Kinder’s eyes widened as he quickly realized the situation he was in. “I… I don’t know why I’m here… I… I think there is a mistake! I’m free! I have the marking! I should be free!” Panicked Kinder pulled on his chains, trying franticly to escape. The human causally placed his hand on Kinders.

“Might I suggest you calm yourself? Unless you enjoy a good old beating from the guards.” The human smiled as Kinder stopped pulling. “You don’t remember what happened at the Bear Cave tavern, do you? You’re a murderer, little goblin. Or, at least, that is what the big Kuma said to the guards. So, tell me, are you a killer, tiny warrior?”

Kinder’s expression was blank as he stared at the human. He felt numb. Did I… I couldn’t have… I was just trying to get away from those wicked men who wanted to take my master’s war hammer? I didn’t attack anyone; I was running away… Kinder thought. “I… umm… I… No… it was a tavern brawl…. They wanted to take my master’s war hammer from me. I tried to run… I… tried… to…” Kinder slumped down as his memory returned to him. In a soft quiet voice, as if speaking to himself, Kinder said, “I didn’t want to hurt anyone… I tried to get away… I… their dead?”

“Seems the Kuma had a lot of pink paste to scrap off her floor once you were done with them. I recall her saying something about only the one named John being dead. But she said something about another one, probably never having children.” The human winced. “Whether you did or whether you didn’t actually do the murderin’ part, the guards don’t care. They take the word of the bar owner over a tiny goblin any day. Especially a pack goblin gone rogue. Normally it’s the red ones who try to eat their masters, not the blue ones.”

Kinder gave a half smile at the human’s last comment. He knew the blood pack goblins were the worst, and no amount of coin was worth their service. Most of the time, they returned within a day or two with a full stomach and an even more red face. Only the really desperate and stupid bought a blood pack goblin. His kind, the blue pack goblins, were one of the best and more loyal. They would protect their masters from the cold and make sure their supplies were always ready on hand when needed. Besides the green pack goblins—who cooked for their masters—the blues were the warmest of them all.

Kinder quickly snapped back from his idle thoughts as the wagon hit a bump.

“What is going to happen to us?”

“Well… probably locked up for all eternity unless they get bored and have you put to death for your crimes. However, you’re lucky this isn’t the Grimslarian Empire. They would simple hang you as soon as we get to the capital. But, since it’s the opposite, being we are in the Umi Empire, they will try to have some kind of trial in order to make sure you did what you actually did. Seeing as there is only the Kuma to vouch for you doing the bad death kill stuff. I’d say you’re looking to be a full-blown slave, with permanent shackles and everything. “

Kinder actually understood what the human was referring to. One of his past masters sold slaves. Kinder could still remember the smell of the burning flesh as the slave shackles were seared onto to the wrists of the slaves as if it was yesterday. He shivered at the memory.

“I take it you get my gist. We don’t know, tiny goblin, what the gods have in store for you. All we can do is wait, watch, observe, and use what we gather to better ourselves. Or, that’s what I’ve heard some say.” The human said as he leaned back against the wall of the wagon, crossing his legs and closing his eyes as if this was a vacation. To Kinder, the human didn’t seem to mind the shackles, chains, or watchful eyes of the guards. Even the hard bumps that made Kinder’s head throb didn’t seem to affect the human.