Queen of Swords 17


    There was ragged cheering from Herads band as Zelenas forces fled for their lives. The shouts of dozens of tired but joyful men and women rose into the air as they celebrated their victory. Everyone still standing was d just to have survived the long day of fighting.


    With the battle now over, the anger and the energy that hade with it quickly started to drain from cknails body. Suddenly, he could feel all his injuries again and if anything they hurt more than before!


    The hobgoblin couldnt rest just yet, though. He immediately began limping around in search of his master. cknail needed to know if he was okay, and not dead or anything.


    What was he going to do if Saeter was hurt? His chest felt unpleasantly hollow just thinking about it, and so did his stomach. His master was the one that fed him most the time!


    It didnt take long for cknail to find Saeter. The hobgoblin winced when he saw his master lying up against the side of a building.


    Immediately, cknail ran over to his side and poked him in the arm.


    Are you-ss alive? Its not-ss my fault if you died, he asked as he crouched over his master.


    Saeter coughed, opened his eyes, and red angrily at the hobgoblin.


    Im fine, stop poking me you overgrown goblin! the old scout growled weakly.


    You dont look or sound fine, cknail replied in an unconvinced tone as he tilted his head to the side.


    Now that he was closer the hobgoblin noticed that someone had wrapped some bandages around his masters chest and left arm.


    Bah, Im just taking a brief rest. Im not so weak that a blow like that could do me in. Im just out of shape is all. Now leave me alone, Saeter said as he closed his eyes again.


    cknail sighed in relief as he stood back up. Well, his master was apparently going to live, so that was good.


    The curious hobgoblin decided to ask around and find out what exactly had happened while hed been fighting. A few minutester he got his answer.


    Apparently, the blow from the now very dead thug had merely stunned Saeter, and when cknail had charged in one of his nearby tribesmen had taken the opportunity to drag the old scout back away from the front lines.


    The rescuer was a young blonde man. He was one of the new recruits that Herad had hired in Daggerpoint.


    cknail walked over to him. The young man paled slightly as he warily watched the bloodstained hobgoblin approach. cknail smiled reassuringly but that didnt seem to help for some reason.


    Whats your name-ss?cknail asked him.


    Eylias, the man stuttered in reply.


    Obviously, he was awestruck being around an amazing bandit such as cknail. The hobgoblin wasnt surprised, he was really amazing.


    The hobgoblin stepped up in front of Eylias and looked him over carefully. The blonde bandit froze and his eyes widened in utter amazement. cknail thought he looked smarter than the average human, although that wasnt saying much.


    With snake-like speed cknail leaned forward and wrapped the man in a huge hug. Elyais panicked attempts to escape were futile.


    Thank you for saving Saeter! I like you, the hobgoblin eximed happily.


    Youre very wee! the man squeaked in rm as cknail squeezed his ribs together.


    You can be my minion. Ill show you how to make rope and kill people you dont like, the hobgoblin announced cheerfully.


    All the important bandits had subordinates, so why shouldnt cknail? He was pretty much the second or third most important bandit in the entire band!


    I dont think Eylias gasped.


    Most humans-ss dont. It doesnt matter; you just have-ss to do what I say, cknail exined as he let the man go.


    Eylias stumbled unsteadily as the hobgoblin stepped back.


    I mean Im already part of Richters crew so I cant be in yours, the man quickly said after sucking down a long breath.


    Ill just ask-ss Herad to fix that. Then we can go out-ss into the woods! cknail replied.


    The woods? the man asked with dawning horror.


    Sure, you need-ss to learn to hunt, and knowing how-ss not to get eaten or torn apart is important too, the hobgoblin told him.


    No thanks, I dont really want to learn that stuff, Eylias quickly blurted out.


    cknail just shook his head and sighed; he had expected this reaction. Humans were reallyzy after all, so they needed motivation.


    Dont worry! You just have-ss to do as I say, and then nothing bad will happen to you, cknail said with a dark look and a meaningful nudge.


    For added emphasis he then made a few stabbing motions with his hand. You could never exin things to clearly too humans.


    I see, the young bandit replied a few secondster.


    He sounded more than a little shocked and overwhelmed. The right side of his face also seemed to be twitching slightly. Well, it wasnt every day that a nameless disposable grunt like him managed to get such a great new position in the tribe!


    Off in the distance, the sound of Herad yelling could still be heard. Even though the battle was over there was still tons of work to be done. Men were rushing around to help the wounded, load all the corpses and body parts on wagons, loot the fallen, and finish off wounded enemies.


    The hobgoblin wanted to join in the fun but he was too tired and sore. He didnt have the energy left to wander around the battlefield and look for loot to take home.


    Oh well, most of his tribesmen would undoubtedly grow tired of their prizes and leave them lying around somewhere cknail could pick them up anyway. Most the things the hobgoblin wanted ended up in his possession one way or another. He just had to keep an eye open for all the despicable thieves


    Just then a pair of men arrived with a stretcher. cknail watched with interest as they loaded his master up and began to carry him back to base. That stretcher sure lookedfy and cknail was really sore from all the fighting.


    A few dozen feet away another man was carrying a stretcher and looking for wounded to carry. cknail decided to help him. With a cheerful smile on his face he grabbed Eylias and dragged him over to the porter.


    I want to ride-ss on this. Carry me back to base, he told the man with the stretcher.


    Its um only for wounded people, the porter replied uncertainly.


    Im very wounded. I can barely walk-ss and I feel like Im going to fall over. Now carry me-ss back to base or my new minion Eis will show you-ss how wounded I am, by hurting you the same way, the hobgoblin replied threateningly with narrowed eyes.


    The porter gave Elyais a confused look. The young blond just stared back with a bewildered look on his face.


    cknail drew his knife and started to pick his nails clean with it in a very conspicuous manner while he stared intently at Eylias. He got the message.


    Right, youd better do as he says, the young bandit reluctantly said.


    The porter looked between Eylias and cknail before shrugging and setting stretcher down on the ground. The hobgoblin then cheerfully jumped on and the two men started carrying him down the road. It was just asfy as cknail thought it would be. Heid back and enjoyed the ride. He should travel everywhere like this.


    However, they didnt get very far before their trek was interrupted. cknail heard the sound of familiar light footsteps approaching and he opened his eyes to see Herad headed his way.


    At first she gazed towards Saeters prone form and scowled in dissatisfaction, but then she turned towards cknail. Her eyebrows rose slightly in surprised amusement as she took in the sight the hobgoblin sprawled over the stretcher being carried by the two men.


    Ah, theres my favorite hobgoblin. I heard that youd walked back here on your own without any obvious injuries, but the sentries clearly must have not been paying enough attention. Youre obviously wounded so Ill have to punish themter, she told him.


    cknail grinned uncertainly as he stifled azy yawn. The two men carrying him froze at their boss attention. The hobgoblin noticed that his chieftain looked unusually happy. It made him ufortable, like being in the calm center of a storm. Apparently, all it took to put her in a good mood was the deaths of hundreds of her enemies.


    Yes, Im very wounded; it hurts-ss everywhere. Bad sentries, theyre terrible at their jobs. Ow, the pain-ss, he whined dramatically as he copsed back onto the stretcher.


    I see. Well, since youre obviously not too wounded to talk I need a report on what youve been up to. I gave a mission, she told him with a trace of her usual sternness.


    The hobgoblin quickly began telling his boss all about his n to take out the assassins and how it had worked perfectly! He grinned and made suggestive hand gestures as he recounted the daring escapes and close fights that had taken ce as hed dealt with Malthus and the other two dozen assassins with him.


    but now Im so wounded. Ow, the pain-ss is everywhere inside of me, cknail finished melodramatically.


    The bandit chieftain rolled her eyes and a small grin appeared on her lips as the hobgoblin spoke. When he was finished she shook her head in disbelief.


    Since youre so wounded I guess you wont be able to get you reward for a while, Herad remarked.


    Visions of blue cheese and meat pies shed through cknails head, and his stomach grumbled loudly in response.


    I can still eat! cknail eximed quickly as he sat back up.


    Somehow I thought that might be the case, Herad remarked dryly as she started to walk away.


    After a second she seemed to hesitate and then spoke up again without looking back.


    Oh, and cknail good job pulling Saeters ass out of the fire, she told him before leaving.


    When she was gone cknail rxed and copsed back down onto the stretcher in relief.


    What-ss are you two waiting for? Get moving! he growled at the porters.


    After returning to base and getting his own injuries patched up cknail curled up on his bigfy bed and took a nap. When he heard the sound of someone trying to wake him up he did his best to ignore it. Unfortunately, that proved difficult and he soon had to roll over and open his eyes so that he could re at Khita.


    Wake up, cknail. Youve already slept for over a day and Herad wants you, the young woman said as she reached over to shake the hobgoblin.


    Touch me and Ill bite you, cknail hissed as he rolled away from her.


    She wants you to follow her to a meeting with the other chiefs in Daggerpoint, Khita exined.


    cknail grunted vaguely in reply but didnt move. That sounded really boring. He was in no hurry to get off his wonderful bed and out from under his soft sheets.


    She wants you there to scare everyone and intimidate them, Khita added.


    The hobgoblins eyes opened again as he thought her words over. That actually did sound like fun. He could practice making scary faces. With a deep sigh, cknail sat up and looked back at Khita.


    Fine, Im getting up. Go away, he grunted.


    Hurry up; you dont want to keep Herad waiting, Khita replied as she walked out the door.


    A few minutester cknail was dressed in his usual clothes but without his mask. He was fairly sure he wouldnt need it and it was still in the bush where hed thrown it anyway.


    He then dragged himself out of his room and joined Herad and her hulking bodyguards at the main entrance to the base. Herad was dressed in a fancier version of her usual ck leathers and the shadows under her eyes seemed darker as well, but she smirked when the hobgoblin arrived.


    Either the effects of winning the battle had yet to wear off or she was really looking forward to this meeting because she was still looking unusually cheerful. She wasnt even glowering at anyone and it didnt look like she was about to kill anyone at all!


    With cknail in tow the two dozen bandits headed out towards the central district. They passed by the guards that stood watch over the border without incident and entered the better part of the city. After a brief walk past increasingly better maintained andrger homes they arrived at the mansion at the center of the city.


    More sentries like those that guarded the central district stood outside of it, but Herad ignored them. She strolled right past them and they quickly shuffled out of her way withoutment. A few of them noticed cknail and scowled, but the hobgoblin just threw them a toothy smile and they didnt say anything.


    As they approached, the doors to the mansion were thrown open and they marched inside. The room on the other side impressed cknail. It was the fanciest room he had ever seen. It was much fancier than even Lupheras or Avorlus homes.


    The walls were smooth pearly white ster and long wispy white curtains framed therge ss windows. Intricate silver chandeliers hang from the roof to provide lighting. Even the tables and chairs looked like pieces of delicately crafted art.


    Greetings, mistress Herad. If you would please follow me I will take you to the conference room, a sharply dressed servant exined with a bow.


    Herad nodded in reply and the man immediately led them through a side door and into a short hallway. He then pulled open another door and motioned them inside.


    The room on the other side of the door was dominated by arge round table. A dozen men and women were seated around it while a few dozen more stood around the edges of the room. Herad motioned for her minions to take up position along the wall behind her as she swaggered over to a chair and sat down at the table.


    Once again, cknail drew a lot of attention and no one seemed happy to see him. The hobgoblin ignored them. He was busy trying to find somewhere to sit down.


    Whoever had set up this room had been very inconsiderate in not including chairs for everyone, so cknail had to do a bit of problem solving. There was a small stand up against the wall and the hobgoblin simply took all the junk on top of it and ced it on the floor before sitting down. During the process a few of the decorations, including a silver candleholder, may have somehow inexplicably ended up in his pockets.


    Ahem, now that everyone is here lets get this meeting started. As you all know several important and unusual events have recently taken ce in this city, a well dressed older man with a grey goatee announced.


    Thats a bloody understatement, Governor, one of the rougher looking men at the table replied as he threw Herad an annoyed look.


    Its a small miracle that most the citys still standing. Some people have a lot to answer for, someone else added.


    Ha, who are you referring to, Ran? Herad replied with a scornful chuckle. I was simply defending myself, and I wasnt the one that brought a mercenarypany into the city with the intention of conquering it. Also, anytime you want me to answer for something you can feel free to challenge me to a duel. Ill dly ept that or arger fight. With Zelena gone and Fang dead I have thergest force in the city.


    Indeed, we are not here to reprimand anyone. While I have no say in what you do amongst yourselves in the outer parts of the city I myself dont consider Herad to have broken any of the rules we agreed to when I invited all of you into the city. However, Zelenas actions require some discussion, the Governor interjected.


    What do you mean by discussion? another chieftain asked.


    I mean that Im hoping we can agree to some rifications about the rules. In particr, Im talking about Zelenas use of mercenaries. There is presently no rule against hiring such forces but I think we can all agree that in light of recent developments its uneptable, the older man exined.


    I have no problem with that. While everyone is here Id also like to remind them that most of my band is operating down south right now, and that anyone else who enters my territory will be handled without mercy, Herad added.


    And what about Herads new pet there? That thing should be put down. It certainly shouldnt be roaming the city, let alone allowed in this room! arge ugly looking female chieftain eximed.


    cknail turned and red at the speaker. He was pretty sure she was talking about him. He wasnt a pet, though. The woman was obviously not that smart but cknail still didnt like being insulted. Well, Herad had brought him here to be scary so he doubted she would care if he spoke up.


    Like-ss that weak fool Malthus, you insult-ss me. Ill be seeing you-sster, he growled in his most sinister voice as he red at the woman.


    She flinched away from him as he spoke and she wasnt the only one. Several other people in the room appeared more unnerved by his ability to speak than his looks. Herad justughed.


    Id like to see you forbid cknail from anywhere or anything. Several people who used to sit around this table learned the hard way that he goes where he wants. Even running would be futile. If you think hes dangerous in this city you havent seen anything yet. He was trained to hunt and track by Saeter himself and hes a bloody hobgoblin! There''s nothing he enjoys more than hunting people through the forest. Im sure that if you apologize hell forgive you though, she remarked cruelly.


    cknail did his best to look threatening. He scowled at the men and women at the table and around the edges of the room. If that didnt get a reaction he smiled at them and licked his pointy needlelike teeth with his long agile tongue. That seemed to be what disturbed them the most.


    The chieftains soon started to argue amongst themselves and eventually even acting scary started to grow boring. The humans just kept talking and talking! cknail was just about to get up and wander around the room when the meeting finally came to a close.


    After what seemed like hours of arguing the only thing the bandit chieftains had agreed upon was the Governors proposal to ban mercenaries. If Herad had to deal with people like this all the time it was no wonder she wanted to kill everyone.


    After a brief walk back to their base, Herad was greeted at the entrance by Saeter. cknail was d to see his master up and about. The bandit chieftain dismissed her guards and turned to the old scout as they walked deeper into the building.


    What do you want, Saeter? she asked him.


    I thought I should inform you of a discovery I made while looking over the loot Zelena left behind when she fled the city, Saeter exined forebodingly.


    Herad frowned at his words and tone of voice.


    I take it that this isnt the kind of discovery that can be converted to cash? she remarked wryly.


    Depends on what you mean. One of the things in the storeroom was an oak chest, he told her.


    I remember it, Herad replied impatiently.


    Well, I thought it looked familiar so I tried to open it. The good news is that there were several small bags of silver inside. The bad news is that I opened it with this. cknail took it from Persus when the man''s caravan visited our camp. Saeter told her as he held up a familiar golden key.


    There was an ominous silence as Herad absorbed the old scouts words and then her lips tightened into a scowl.


    Maybe they just buy chests from the same locksmith, Herad replied a secondter as she stared menacingly at the key.


    cknails master opened his mouth to say something but Herad cut him off.


    Shut up, I was being sarcastic, Saeter, she hissed at him.


    Saeter closed his mouth and looked grim.


    Demons and damnation, that fucking weasel! Well, at least this exins why Werrick seems to have unlimited funds, the bandit chieftain eximed darkly as she glowered.


    cknail had no idea what they were talking about or why they were upset. It was just a key. He kind of wanted to ask for his cheese now, but it seemed like a bad time