Written in Blood 1


    cknail was just hanging around. Also, since he had nothing better to do he was reexamining some of the choices he had made recently.


    He wasnt quite sure why things had gone the way they had, but it didnt help that he was very new at all this. He was new at reexamining things that is. Although, this was also the first time he had been hung from a tree by his ankle.


    The hobgoblin jerked around again as he tried to pull himself up and reach the rope noose around his ankle so he could cut it with his ws. Unfortunately, he couldnt muster the strength and all his efforts did was send him swaying back and forth through the air. He also started to get more than a little nauseous.


    With a hiss of frustration cknail gave up and decided to wait for Saeter toe back out of his tent. The upside down forest spun and swayed around him as he waited. He should have known better than to try and go against his master.


    cknail had thought for sure that he hade up with a good way to show Saeter that he couldnt just boss him around. Apparently, he had been wrong.


    It had all started several days ago. cknail had awoken to find himself in a strange lean-to out in the middle of the woods. This had confused him because he was fairly sure he had gone to sleep in apletely different ce. Where were all the human bandits?


    Still sleepy but somewhat rmed he had gotten up and looked around. To his relief he had spotted the familiar outline of Saeters tent off to one side, and another tent alongside it.


    cknail had quicklye to the conclusion that the fact that his masters tent was nearby meant that he hadnt been abandoned. It must have been Saeter that had brought him here while he slept.


    Curious as to why he had been moved he decided to find his master and ask. So he had tried walking over to the tents, only to immediately trip over his own feet, and find out what the nearby dirt tasted like. Bleh!


    It was then he had looked down and discovered that his body had changed.


    At first he had thought that he had simply lost a lot of weight and gotten skinnier, but he soon realized that all his limbs were actually longer. That had confused him quite a bit.


    Then he had heard a snigger ofughter and looked over to see one of the scouts from the camp grinning at him from a few feet away. He had growled at the man in annoyance. Who was he tough at cknail?


    Hey Saeter, your hobgoblins finally awake and hes grumpy as a hungry bear, the man named Varhs had yelled as he had measured cknail with his gaze. He hadnt seemed impressed.


    His master had then arrived and immediately ordered cknail to do all his usual chores. For some reason this had made cknail angry and resentful, but he had stifled his emotions and done as he was told.


    He was rewarded with arge b of meat that he had hungrily scoffed down before getting back to work. Saeter should have given him more though.


    Why I bigger? he had asked Saeter as he gutted and skinned a rabbit. His new longer and more dexterous fingers had made the work easier and faster.


    Youve turned into a hobgoblin. It happens to some goblins. They get taller and meaner, his master had exined in his usual gruff voice.


    cknail had remembered his master mentioning hobgoblins before in the past, so he had grudgingly epted that exnation. He still suspected Saeter was withholding information from him though.


    His head had felt weirdly light, and part of it had been whispering that he couldnt trust his master. cknails thoughts had strayed while he worked. Why should everyone keep telling him what to do? He had gotten smarter andrger so why shouldnt he be in charge?


    Saeter had then reached over to hand the hobgoblin a rabbit hide, but cknail had felt a stab of unease at the mans closeness and pulled away.


    Saeter had frowned at the hobgoblins reaction and scrutinized him for a second before tossing him the pelt and turning away. cknail had taken this as more evidence that his master was lying to him or tricking him somehow.


    Saeter had kept cknail busy all that day doing chores, but he had quickly figured out that they were mostly make-work. This really annoyed the hobgoblin. Why was his master doing this to him? Didnt he deserve better? Why should Saeter boss him around anyway?


    He had started to let a bit of hostility slip into his gaze as his eyes followed Saeter around. Saeter had noticed and met the gaze but hadnt said anything, instead he had simply beaten cknail repetitively with a stick.


    Of course, Saeter had imed it was some sort of training but cknail hadnt really believed him. After the chores were done to Saeters satisfaction he had thrown cknail a wooden sword, and begun to teach him swordsmanship.


    This is how every hot blooded youngster learns respect and discipline. It worked on me so it should work on you. Now I know you dont like hitting people but from now on youre going to have to, he had told cknail.


    He had then shown the hobgoblin how to hold the mock weapon, while the other man Varhs had silently watched them. cknail had noticed that Varhs had a real sword at his side, not a mock de. It had struck him as very suspicious, but he was soon distracted from his musings.


    The next part of sword training had involved Saeter yelling at cknail about how he was doing everything wrong, and the hobgoblin being smacked with the wooden de over and over again.


    This had infuriated cknail, and really hurt. Uncontroble rage had poured out from some new depth within him, and cknail had hissed and snarled as he tried to block the blows. His mouth had watered at the thought of biting into Saeters flesh, but even with a sword of his own he couldnt defend himself against Saeters skillful attacks and longer reach.


    At first he had simply tried to defend, but Saeter had yelled and hit him over and over again until cknail had grown so angry he had lost all control. He had forgotten his usual rule against harming humans and swung out at Saeters head. Saeter had given him permission anyway.


    When Saeter had easily dodged that blow cknail hadunched himself at Saeter, dropped his wooden practice sword, and reached out to tear the man apart with his bare ws. That had been a very bad idea.


    As cknail sprung towards him Saeter had slipped to the side, and brought his blunt de down in a two handed swing against cknails head. The resulting blow had hurt a lot, stunned the hobgoblin, and given him his second taste of dirt that day. It hadnt tasted very good.


    Then Saeter had yelled at cknail until he got to his feet and continued. He hadnt even been angry about being attacked, but he was angry about how bad the attack had been.


    Eventually a very tired and sore cknail had simply copsed from exhaustion, after what seemed like hours of futile attack attempts. Only then had Saeter called it a day.


    Saeter had thrown the prone hobgoblin his dinner and instructed him to go to bed, and cknail had. He had been too tired to even think of arguing.


    The next few days had been more of the same, chores in the morning and beatings at night. cknail had begun to grow frustrated and a hatred of Saeter had developed deep within him. His head had felt so strange and weird. Strange new thoughts kept popping up. He had been sure everything would feel better when he was in charge though.


    As soon as they started sparring again cknail had tried to hit his master, but could never quite manage it. So he had grown even more spiteful and hostile. Hed begun to growl and hiss every time he saw Saeter, or the other man Varhs.


    They were both obviously out to get him, and prevent him from taking his rightful ce as the alpha. They werent even hobgoblins!


    Then that morning he had awoken early, and in fit of anger he had snuck up on the tent where his master was sleeping. He hadnt known what he was going to do when he got there, only that it would involve sweet revenge. Maybe he would have stolen some things, or broken Saeters stuff. He never had a chance to find out.


    It had been a trap.


    As he had crept silently along the path to Saeters tent from his sleeping ce something had snagged the hobgoblins foot and violently flung him into the air.


    After a surprised shriek, he had quickly realized that he had stepped in something like a giant rabbit trap that had been hidden under some leaves. He had flushed in embarrassment at the thought of being as stupid as a rabbit.


    The noise caused by a startled hobgoblin being pulled into the air by a small unfurling tree had caused Saeter toe out to investigate. He had walked out of his tent, seen cknail, grunted, and then gone back inside to sleep. cknail had been too ashamed to say anything, so he had just hung there quietly for a few hours.


    At least it had given him a lot of time to think. His anger had long since faded away. Maybe it was just because hanging upside down made his head feel weird in apletely different way, but looking back he really didnt understand what he had been thinking.


    Over the past few days he had not been acting like himself at all.


    Even now some part of cknail wanted to wrap his hands around Saeters neck and choke him for tricking him like this. He would never have thought of doing that before. Was he so angry all the time because he was a hobgoblin now? Could he somehow go back to how he had been before?


    Wait a second why was he asking himself all these weird questions? He had never done that before. In fact he was still doing it; he was thinking about everything, even other things he was thinking about. What if he couldnt stop! That would be horrible. All right, stop thinking right now!


    was it working?


    Luckily for cknail his train of thought was interrupted as Saeter emerged from his tent again. He then looked up at the hobgoblin expectantly.


    Um, sorry master, cknail said as he grinned nervously.


    He thought his master looked skeptical of his apology.


    For what? Saeter asked. cknail thought about it for a minute as he hung there.


    Being angry, trying to hit master, and being sneaky. I been very bad, cknail answered with regret.


    Youre supposed to hit me during sword practice, but only during sword practice. As for being angry, can you tell me why you were acting like that? Saeter asked him.


    I angry because I grow? You say so earlier, he replied uncertainly.


    And how do I know you will stop? Saeter asked.


    cknail took another few minutes to consider the question. It was kind of a tricky question, but at least all the thinking his mind kept doingtely was proving useful.


    because you teach me how? cknail replied tentatively. His response caused a big grin to spread across Saeters face.


    Thats right. So lets get back to sword practice. There is nothing like it for teaching the undisciplined control, Saeter exined as he moved over to cut the hobgoblin down.


    cknail groaned. Hanging upside down from a tree hadnt been all that bad, maybe he should have kept his mouth shut.


    Now that he was thinking somewhat straight, the first thing the new hobgoblin did when he got down was to look himself over in a nearby bucket of water. Two short ck horns rose from his bald head. His previous short and somewhat pudgy body had been stretched out until he was almost as tall as a human.


    He was skinnier than any human though but his wiry green body was still muscled. The features of his face that used to be round, like his nose and chin, had be sharper. He looked sleeker, more like a predator.


    He smiled andrger teeth were revealed in the watery reflection before him. His thin tongue was also noticeably longer, and could be extended quite far out from his mouth.


    The routine they had established earlier with chores in the morning and sword practice in the evening continued, only this time cknail was aware of his new anger and tried to suppress it. He had very limited sess.


    No, control your rage. Dont overextend. It leaves you open, Saeter yelled sternly as his wooden de slid by cknails own and impacted painfully against the hobgoblins shoulder.


    cknail hissed angrily but tried to do as his mastermanded. Control was the key, he thought to himself. I shouldnt do what the anger tells me. He barely managed to block one of Seaters blows as he fought to remember to keep his stance solid and light.


    Good, now attack, Seater yelled. At hismand cknails de swung out at Saeter but the human easily parried it.


    cknail had to fight his instinct to never attack humans, and his new hostile instincts that wanted him to leap forward and w out Saeters eyes. This mental sh made his attacks slow.


    No, too much hesitation. Keep attacking, Saeter told him. cknail obeyed andunched a rapid series of attacks, none of which hit. Saeter countered and his wooden de smacked cknail across the head.


    The hobgoblin felt himself grimace as rage built up inside of him. He wanted to leap at Saeter, to strike out at him, to feel his ws rend Saeters pinky flesh. He didnt do it though.


    He had lost control and given into rage a few times, and Saeter had simply smacked cknail down when his wild attack inevitably left him open.


    No, the only way for him to strike Saeter was to control his rage and learn to use the sword. Wait, so the only way to hit his master was to not want to hit him? Ugh, now he had a headache.


    Rx, keep loose and flow through the forms while keeping proper technique, Saeter exined to cknail for about the hundredth time over the past few days. cknail hissed angrily again but tried to as he was told. He desperately wanted to give in and go wild with rage.


    Days passed this way. Varhs began to take over the sword lessons when Saeter grew too tired. Slowly cknail progressed and began to learn. Then one morning cknail woke up to find Saeter dissembling his tent.


    Its time to head back. Youre still a crappy swordsman, but I cant stay out here and train you forever. Youve managed to learn some discipline though and hopefully that will be enough to keep you out of trouble. Just remember what happens if you screw up, Saeter told cknail.


    I get hung from tree? cknail guessed.


    No, Herad will kill you, Saeter replied.


    Oh... cknail eximed.


    He had almost forgotten about her. Briefly he mentallypared her fight against the ghouls with his own sessions with Saeter.


    The anger that taken root deep within cknail as his new hobgoblin instincts pushed him to fight and dominate everyone around him suddenly shriveled up and died. He was not going to try and fight Herad. Nope, that was never going to happen.


    Control was his new best friend. Once again cknail felt gratitude towards his wise master for working him so hard. Without his lessons he could easily imagine himself losing control, only to be mercilessly killed by Herad secondster.


    Come here cknail, I have a sort of graduation gift for you, Saeter told him.


    Whats a graduation? he asked his master. He liked the gift part though.


    Its what happens when you learn something or pass a test. This one is for learning basic swordsmanship and control. Every time you feel angry remember this training. Rage will only lead to self-destruction, Saeter exined.


    Yes, master, cknail replied gratefully.


    Saeter then handed cknail a backpack. Compelled by curiosity the hobgoblin opened the pack and pulled the contents out. It was several sets of clothes and a long hooded cloak.


    Luckily, when we were leaving camp there were a whole bunch of clothesying around that no one needed anymore. I picked some of the smaller ones out for you. Theres also some other stuff like a flint and steel in there to, Saeter exined.


    Thank you master, cknail told him with real gratitude. For some reason being given human clothes made him happy.


    Put some on, we cant have you returning to camp dressed like a savage, Saeter replied.


    cknail immediately chose a rough pair of ck pants and a brown shirt and pulled them on, after taking off his own self made shorts. They had been getting kind of tight recently anyway.


    Much better, you dont look like a feral hobgoblin that just crawled out of the woods anymore, cknails master said with a self satisfied smile.


    Ya, I dont know what he looks like now, Varhs added. cknail resisted the urge to w the mans eyes out.


    and heres the real prize. Just remember your training, or Ill kill you myself, Saeter told cknail as he pulled out a simple sheathed short sword and presented it hilt first to cknail.


    Oddly enough, thats almost exactly what my drill instructor told me the day I graduated from basic, Varhs mused quietly to himself off to the side.


    cknail took the de and purred in pleasure. Now he had a sword all of his own. His master Saeter trusted him with one, and had even shown him how to use it.


    cknail unsheathed the de and smiled at its shiny and ever so sharp edges. He ran his finger along the de so he could feel it cut into his skin. As a tiny drop of blood formed on his finger and cknail chuckled gleefully.


    Varhs was suddenly looking like he doubted this was a good idea. His eyes were slightly wide with concern, as if he expected cknail to go on a killing spree any second now. The hobgoblin decided to disappoint him.


    He felt humbled by his masters loyalty and promised himself he would return it. He would practice every day so that he would never give into his anger and disappoint his master.


    Thank you, master. cknail your loyal servant, he said as he knelt and lowered his eyes submissively.


    Get up cknail, you earned that de. Now lets get back to camp. Its been over a week, and everyone probably thinks were dead, Saeter told him.


    With a nod of eptance cknail attached his new sword and sheathe to his waist. That done he put on the dark grey cloak, and looked back to admire himself in it.


    It reminded him of Saeter and Herads cloaks, and made him feel important. He liked it. He flipped the hood up and over his face.


    Ugh, you can hardly tell hes a hobgoblin. Thats more than a little scary, Varhsmented uneasily.


    From within the depths of his cloak cknail smiled gleefully, and his long naked tongue flicked out to taste the cool air. A whole new worldy on the path before him, if he simply had the will and discipline to walk it.


    [th_113_.gif] Help a bro out, and ratethis story.