To Forgotten ces 2


    Although some of Ilistis men wanted to visit Shelter, cknail convinced them that wasnt a good idea. Instead, he guided them back into the forest and toward his goblin settlement. The hobgoblin chieftain and the vympirs made ns as they walked. There were some grumbles from the men - they were tired from walking - but they obeyed their leaders without question.


    And you think this town of Herstcrest is our favored bet? Ilisiti asked.


    Sounds like it. Its not too far away, and it was big and rich, cknail replied. The people should still be there, but if it is gone we can just look somewhere else.


    Very well. My men could use a day or two of rest, but after that Id like to get moving as soon as possible. There is no point in lying around.


    Alright. You can camp outside my base. This is my territory. We have lots of food for you and it will be safe. Or at least cknail hoped that was the case. All the stupidzy goblins ate way too much, and they might have emptied the food stores while he was gone. Useless things.


    The walk to their destination took a few hours, but regr use had beaten down the dirt and created a fairly smooth path between Shelter and the goblin settlement. That made the going a little easier, although they still had to climb a few hills and cross some streams. When they reached the top of the hill that overlooked the settlement, there was near silence as the men and hobgoblins took a moment to take in the sight below them. The only sound was the wind blowing through the nearby trees and rustling their leaves


    It was Garen that eventually spoke up first. I dont know what I was expecting, but I must admit, in my head, your base was much smaller than this. I did not think that hobgoblins could build things such as this. He sounded slightly worried.


    There were grunts and mumbles of agreement from the other men, and cknail as well. The hobgoblin chieftain was more than a little surprised by what he saw. His base had expanded and grown during his absence. The forest around it had been chopped down and pushed back another hundred feet, and the area inside the wall was now stuffed full of buildings, except for where the rocky hills jutted out of the ground and where the training ground was. Most of the structures were made of y bricks, although there were still some that had been rigged together using wooden poles and stitched animal hides. There was very little organization to the cement of the buildings. They looked to have been built wherever there was an open patch of level ground, and what must have been hundreds of small green figures could be seen moving around inside and outside the walls.


    Sighing, cknail stared at the mess. That was a lot of mouths to feed, although it looked like Gob had worked and nted crops in most of the cleared ground outside the walls. cknail hoped that the harvest would be enough to feed everyone through the winter. It wouldnt be surprising if there were a thousand goblins living in the settlement. You could really cram a lot of goblins into a small space if you had to, but that was still a lot. Well, at least it hadnt all burned down. cknail had been a little worried about Imp and Ferrars dangerous activities, and all the other goblins and hobgoblins probably werent much better. All of them would probably enjoy burning down a few buildings just to see what happened. They didnt have his wisdom and self-control.


    As cknail watched with interest, he noticed a group of about a dozen goblins burst out of the forest below and head toward the gate, which was guarded by three hobgoblins. The goblins seemed to be yelling something that got the guards'' attention, because one of the hobgoblins ran inside, while the other two looked up at cknails position. It seemed like their arrival had been noticed. Hopefully, that was a good thing.


    cknail began to climb down the hill, and his hobgoblin minions followed him. You humans stay here. Im going to go down and exin who you are, so that no one tries to throw rocks at you, but keep your helmets on just in case.


    By the time he got near the gate, all the goblins had fled out of sight. At first, the two remaining hobgoblin guards drew their weapons and eyed him suspiciously, but then they recognized him and visibly rxed.


    What, you dont know your own leader? cknail asked them crossly. Why are you raising your weapons at me? Do you think there are lots of other enemy hobgoblins wandering around out here?


    One of the guards looked sheepish as he sheathed his de. Were sorry for not recognizing your handsome and wonderful face sooner, boss. Were at war, though, so were a bit jumpy.


    cknail frowned in confusion. Youre at war? What was that supposed to mean?


    There have been some strange goblins and hobgoblins about. They attacked some of the tribes goblins while they were out hunting, so Gob ordered everyone to keep a watch out for them.


    Before cknail could ask any rifying questions, Gob arrived with a small mob of hobgoblins in tow. He grinned in excitement when he saw cknail, and immediately bowed. This sudden movement surprised the hobgoblins running behind him, and they almost ran right into him, and had to jump back. As other hobgoblins copied Gob and bowed, their formation dissolved into confusion. cknail sighed and motioned for Gob to step forward and speak, which the hobgoblin quickly did.


    Supreme one! Your return fills me with overflowing joy! I stand ready to fulfill yourmands, Gob said as he gave cknail a sloppy salute.


    Thank you, this ce is still standing, so I suppose youve done a good job in my absence, cknail replied. Now what is this about a war?


    Gob scratched the side of his head and looked embarrassed. I had hoped to destroy these pests before your return, so I could present their skulls to you as a trophy. Im sorry for failing in this, wise leader.


    cknail rolled his eyes. Fine, but who are you talking about?


    Some of the goblins started toe back from foraging with injuries they said were from fighting other goblins. I told them to hunt inrger groups so they could drive these invaders away, but the enemy responded in kind. Now there are big fights between dozens of goblins all the time, and there are reports of hobgoblins among the enemy.


    From goblins? Only a few goblins have seen anything? cknail asked Gob skeptically. This was all sounding very vague to him, and not something a true leader would be worried about.


    I sent out hobgoblins to be sure. They found some tracks, but they had toe back before they found anything else. The cowardly enemy is hiding very far away, at the edge of your territory, boss.


    How far away? cknail asked.


    Gob shrugged. About half a day of walking.


    cknail sighed again. He hadnt even known his territory was thatrge. In fact, it sounded like some of cknails ever growing horde of useless minions had entered the territory of another hobgoblin. His goblins were the invaders!


    Lets not worry about that right now. We have more important things to do. I brought a bunch of humans with me, cknail said. As far as he could tell this war existed almostpletely in his minions heads. They were being paranoid, and causing him grief.


    Yes, the sentries said they saw a lot of tough-looking humans approaching, and here you are leading them, Gob observed proudly. Are they your prisoners?


    cknail grunted. Gob sure was confident in his leader. They are some new allies I hope to use against our human enemies.


    So, you tricked them into fighting for you. I see. You are the cleverest of all hobgoblins. None are your equal, Gob replied with wide eyes full of adoration.


    Thats not not true, cknail replied thoughtfully.


    Just then, Herah pushed her way through the hobgoblins behind Gob and lunged at cknail with wide open arms. cknail raised a hand and held her back before she could hug him.


    Youre back, boss! she yelled in excitement as she struggled to get closer to him. There was a wide excited grin on her face, and she was practically drooling.


    Keeping his arm stiff, cknail studied the female hobgoblin. She hadnt changed much since hed seen herst. She was still incredibly annoying, although he had to admit she wasnt unattractive, even if the drool didnt help. He probably wouldnt have minded her attention if the idea of letting another hobgoblin get so close wasnt so off-putting. All hobgoblins were dangerous, and cknail knew that if he fooled around with Herah then he would never be rid of her. She would cling to him and never let go. Besides, he was a very busy leader, with little free time. He was always doing important things, like napping.


    Calm down, cknail said he shoved her back. He then took a step sideways so that Gob was between them.


    Gob didnt appreciate being used as a shield, but he just frowned resignedly before addressing his master again. Do you need anything from me, boss? I live to serve you.


    cknail nodded. Our guests will need food, and I dont want anyone bothering them. Take care of it.


    As youmand, greenest. I also have a message from Imp and the human mage for you. They wanted you to visit when you got back.


    Alright, cknail replied as he began to walk to the mages hut. Had Gob just called him greenest?


    cknail wanted to get off his feet, but it was undoubtedly a good idea to check on the mages as soon as possible. Who knew what they were getting up to? Probably nothing good.


    Do you have more questions for me? Gob asked as he moved up alongside his chieftain.


    Looking around at all the buildings, cknail took a moment to think before answering. There was one thing that was bothering him. How many hobgoblins are in my tribe now?


    Gob smiled proudly. A hundred and three.


    cknail stared at the other hobgoblin. He didnt understand. What was he supposed to do with a hundred hobgoblins? How was this settlement still standing? Why wasnt Shelter a burnt-out wreck? How was he going to feed them all? He could feel a headacheing on.


    How are you keeping them all in line? he asked Gob in disbelief.


    I use the wise ways you taught me. The sword training weeds out the untrainable hobgoblins and teaches them to obey, and I task the most useful with keeping the others in line. They are my direct subordinates, and not part of a home.


    cknail blinked. Part of a home?


    Gob nodded and pointed at several nearby buildings. Every home in the camp is run by a hobgoblin, who is in charge of everyone who lives there. They are like small tribes in therger tribe. Sometimes hobgoblins fight for control of a home, but we stay out of it unless it affects whole tribe. This keeps most of the other hobgoblins busy while I lead tribe for you.


    Much to cknails surprise, that sounded like it might actually work. Weird. And all the home leaders listen to you?


    I kill them if they dont, and someone else takes over their home. You have many loyal followers, but the homeheads dont get along with each other, so they have no allies. The only reason they dont fight is because we dont let them.


    Huh, its great that I thought of all that.


    Yes, boss. Youre the wisest and strongest of leaders, Gob agreed. His eyes glowed withplete sincerity, which cknail found a little unnerving.


    Suddenly, there was a loud squealing noise from just out sight. It sounded like it had been made by some sort ofrge animal.


    Whats that? cknail asked as he turned to look for the source. Dangerous animals shouldnt have been able to get into the base undetected. That was why they had a wall and guards.


    Those are your pigs, Gob replied. Weve been taking care of them, as you ordered.


    cknail frowned. It took him a moment to remember what Gob was talking about. Those beasts were still around? He hadpletely forgotten about them.


    No one ate the piglets? he asked in surprise.


    Gob scolwed fiercely. Who would dare do such a thing? Youmanded us to take care of them forever!


    True, cknail admitted, but hed only said that to annoy Khita. She hated the animals.


    Well, lets go see them, cknail said as he headed in the direction the squealing hade from. The piglets were probably big enough to eat now, and he was hungry.


    As soon as they circled around one of the nearby brick houses, a different kind of structure came into sight. It was a small shack made of wood and bark, and there was a crude post fence around it. The inside of the fence was full of mud and several pigs. cknail blinked in surprise when he saw the animals. They were huge. None of them were the size of the giant boar cknail had fought, but some of them were looked like they weighed more than a hobgoblin already. As he studied them, one of the beasts looked back. It regarded him beady ck eyes set above a twitching pink snout. Its thick fur was dark brown, and two long yellow tusks jutted out of its mouth.


    They must eat a lot, cknail observed. He knew hed been saying that a lot, but it was important. Somebody had to make sure there was enough food to go around, and for the asional feast.


    Gunkit lets them roam around outside the walls, Gob exined. The pigs tear up the ground and eat their fill there, which helps with the nting. They also eat the bushes. They are very thorough.


    cknail was about to ask who Gunkit was, when a hobgoblin appeared at the edge of fence. cknail had failed to notice him before because he was covered in mud from the tip of his head to his toes. The hobgoblin  presumably Gunkit  saluted, and cknail leaned sideways as mud was thrown into the air and almost hit him.


    So, youre in charge here? cknail asked the hobgoblin. He had a weird hunched-over posture that made him seem much shorter than most hobgoblins.


    Gunkit smiled and grunted proudly. I tamed them, boss! They are good beasts. I fed and yed with them every day. Together, we roll around in the mud and dig up roots out of the ground for eating.


    Gunkit lives here with them, Gob added.


    cknail scratched his head. It sort of seemed like the beasts had tamed Gunkit, instead of the other way around. With his mud sttered body and hunched-over posture he was almost more of a boar than a hobgoblin. Two of the pigs made an almost affectionate noise as they ran over to the fence and stared at cknail.


    They remember you, Gunkit eximed happily.


    cknail walked over to the fence and gave both the pigs a quick pat on the head. They were soft to the touch, and their snouts tickled him as they sniffed his hand, before he withdrew.


    Well, keep up the good work, cknail told Gunkit before turning to leave with Gob. It didnt seem like he would be eating roasted pig anytime soon.


    Hes a little weird, isnt he? cknail remarked to Gob as they resumed walking over to Imps hut.


    Gob shrugged. He is a hobgoblin who is both useful and loyal, boss.


    True, that is very weird, cknail agreed. He couldnt reallyin about his minions being odd.


    It didnt take them very long to cross the vige and arrive at their destination. Imps shack had changed a lot. In fact, it was obviously apletely new shack, since it wasrger and all the wood had been reced by mud bricks. Gob shouted to signal their arrival and Imp almost immediately appeared in the door.


    Oh, youre back. Good, good, the hobgoblin mage eximed happily as he squinted at Backnail. I have a lot to tell you, I do.


    I see youve improved your hut, cknail observed after he told Gob to leave and take care of the tasks he had given him.


    Imp smiled and waved him inside. Ah, yes. Brick is good. Less likely to burn down. Although, you could still melt it with green fire


    cknail hesitated in the doorway, but then stepped inside. The interior of the building was bright. It had tworge windows that let in sunlight, two active mage lights, and a small fire burning in a bowl on a table. The walls were lined with shelves that held all of Imps magical equipment, and there was arge table in the center of the room. cknail was pleased to see Avorlus standing near a shelf. He hadnt been sure if the bearded human mage was going to be here.


    Its about time you got back, Avorlus grumbled. I dont appreciate being left here so long. I may have learned some interesting things, but this ce is a heap. Walking back here from the vige is tiring, and I cant risk doing any real work somewhere those ignorant peasants might stumble upon it.


    Before cknail could reply he spotted another person sitting at the table behind Avorlus. Surprisingly, it was a human woman. She scowled angrily at cknail as he nced her way, and he recognized her. It was the mage he had captured during the fight with the raiders.!


    What is she doing here? he asked Avorlus.


    Where else would she go? the mage replied with a shrug. She knows she cant escape from a hobgoblin encampment out in the Deep Green, so she is trying to extend her life as much as possible by being as helpful as she can.


    She is useless. We have much better mages than her, cknail remarked coldly. She was a just abat mage. They were soldiers, and they knew far less about magic than Imp or Avorlus.


    Be that as it may, she can still contribute. Im too old to be cutting myself and drawing blood from my veins, and having another pair of human hands around doesnt hurt.


    Use a goblin.


    I remain unconvinced that goblin blood and that of humans are perfect substitutes. There might be minute differences in theirposition that could taint my careful form.


    cknail sighed. He had mostly understood what Avorlus had just said. Fine, whatever. I see you gave her clothes back.


    There was wordless growl of rage from the woman, and Avorlusughed. Yes, having her around in the nude would have been quite the distraction.


    Is she what you wanted to show me?


    Avorlus grinned and pulled several vials of dark liquid out of his coat pocket. Ah, no. She is of little import. I wanted you to know that I havepleted my part of the bargain, and taught Imp here how to make your Elixir. These are the first fruits of hisbor, and we also have some other concoctions to show you.