wrestled against the
weight of the post. The crossbeam fought against the pressure, and at first
refused to budge. Eventually, Okyiq's own determination surpassed the stubborn
shaft. The beam creaked and crunched, but began moving in its track. Struggling
and snarling, ignoring the pain in his back and hands, the fierce goblin lunged
forward and slid the post beyond one of the brackets.
Three goblins ran to the freed
gate section and yanked at the handles. They struggled against the weight as
the iron hinges seemed to fight against their desires. When Okyiq joined them,
they were able to force the gate open enough for the goblins still under the
protection of the hills to see a clear passage into town.
Nearly a hundred goblins rushed
across the clearing. They moved in one great mass, like a patch of filthy oil
rushing forward upon the surface of an otherwise pure river. They did not try
to hide their presence from the towers, did not try to mask their numbers. They
simply drove toward the opportunity the open gate presented.
The racing pack did not go
unnoticed. The tower guards, desperately searching for an answer to the odd
assault, spotted the raiding goblins as they broke out from behind the
hillside. Signals were sent of the attack, and several of the human soldiers
fired their arrows, placing themselves in jeopardy from goblin archers who
continued their bombardment.
Several goblins dropped from the
counterattack, but the vast majority made it to the wall and threw themselves
against the partially opened gate. The force shoved the door open wider and the
full raiding force poured through the entrance. They were not surprised to see
their commander alive and ready to order them into battle.
"Breakup! Swarm area and find
cover! Force humans to come off the wall and then attack! When they are dead,
take everything you can!"
As the goblins rushed passed him,
Okyiq took the time to raise his pudgy distorted nose to the air. He sniffed
several times and then gauged the wind. With a clear direction set in his mind,
he took hold of one goblin after another and threw them to the side of the
gate. Once he had another dozen goblins, he pointed to a building at a nearby
corner. He could not read the sign that held the establishment's name of the
Spruce View Tavern, but he knew it was a place that held the food he craved.
"You will come with me!"
Okyiq demanded of the goblins he pressed aside.
The dozen creatures agreed without
hesitation, their goblin blood flowing briskly from the excitement of the raid
and the initial success of their endeavor. They hissed and snorted, chuckled in
glee as they bounded after their leader.
In near unison, the small pack
sprang across the road and toward a large wooden door at the front of the
establishment. An even larger picture window stood to the side of the entrance,
but the inside of the building was dark—all lanterns and candles within had
been extinguished.
Despite the darkened interior, the
goblins noticed movement inside the building. Humans appeared to be clamoring
in all directions, but the apparent mayhem did not for one moment melt the
goblins' desire to get at the food within.
Okyiq pushed at the entrance, but
it held against his weight and his will. He pounded and kicked at the door, but
it held firm. He cursed, but wasted no more time or effort on the futile
attempt. He knew he was fighting more than a simple lock, and he decided to
take a different approach. Grabbing hold of one of the goblins waiting
impatiently at his side, he lifted the smaller monster off its feet and flung
it violently through the center of the front window.
Suffering several deep cuts from
the razor sharp broken glass, the smaller monster looked back in shock after it
hit the ground and rolled to a stop. At first, it couldn't understand why its
leader had taken such an aggressive action against it, but it would soon
comprehend.
"Clear the door!" Okyiq
bellowed to the stunned goblin inside the
weight of the post. The crossbeam fought against the pressure, and at first
refused to budge. Eventually, Okyiq's own determination surpassed the stubborn
shaft. The beam creaked and crunched, but began moving in its track. Struggling
and snarling, ignoring the pain in his back and hands, the fierce goblin lunged
forward and slid the post beyond one of the brackets.
Three goblins ran to the freed
gate section and yanked at the handles. They struggled against the weight as
the iron hinges seemed to fight against their desires. When Okyiq joined them,
they were able to force the gate open enough for the goblins still under the
protection of the hills to see a clear passage into town.
Nearly a hundred goblins rushed
across the clearing. They moved in one great mass, like a patch of filthy oil
rushing forward upon the surface of an otherwise pure river. They did not try
to hide their presence from the towers, did not try to mask their numbers. They
simply drove toward the opportunity the open gate presented.
The racing pack did not go
unnoticed. The tower guards, desperately searching for an answer to the odd
assault, spotted the raiding goblins as they broke out from behind the
hillside. Signals were sent of the attack, and several of the human soldiers
fired their arrows, placing themselves in jeopardy from goblin archers who
continued their bombardment.
Several goblins dropped from the
counterattack, but the vast majority made it to the wall and threw themselves
against the partially opened gate. The force shoved the door open wider and the
full raiding force poured through the entrance. They were not surprised to see
their commander alive and ready to order them into battle.
"Breakup! Swarm area and find
cover! Force humans to come off the wall and then attack! When they are dead,
take everything you can!"
As the goblins rushed passed him,
Okyiq took the time to raise his pudgy distorted nose to the air. He sniffed
several times and then gauged the wind. With a clear direction set in his mind,
he took hold of one goblin after another and threw them to the side of the
gate. Once he had another dozen goblins, he pointed to a building at a nearby
corner. He could not read the sign that held the establishment's name of the
Spruce View Tavern, but he knew it was a place that held the food he craved.
"You will come with me!"
Okyiq demanded of the goblins he pressed aside.
The dozen creatures agreed without
hesitation, their goblin blood flowing briskly from the excitement of the raid
and the initial success of their endeavor. They hissed and snorted, chuckled in
glee as they bounded after their leader.
In near unison, the small pack
sprang across the road and toward a large wooden door at the front of the
establishment. An even larger picture window stood to the side of the entrance,
but the inside of the building was dark—all lanterns and candles within had
been extinguished.
Despite the darkened interior, the
goblins noticed movement inside the building. Humans appeared to be clamoring
in all directions, but the apparent mayhem did not for one moment melt the
goblins' desire to get at the food within.
Okyiq pushed at the entrance, but
it held against his weight and his will. He pounded and kicked at the door, but
it held firm. He cursed, but wasted no more time or effort on the futile
attempt. He knew he was fighting more than a simple lock, and he decided to
take a different approach. Grabbing hold of one of the goblins waiting
impatiently at his side, he lifted the smaller monster off its feet and flung
it violently through the center of the front window.
Suffering several deep cuts from
the razor sharp broken glass, the smaller monster looked back in shock after it
hit the ground and rolled to a stop. At first, it couldn't understand why its
leader had taken such an aggressive action against it, but it would soon
comprehend.
"Clear the door!" Okyiq
bellowed to the stunned goblin inside the
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