Will of Iron 7


    The image of a dashingly handsome hobgoblin with a perfectly pointy nose looked back at cknail as he stared into the puddle of water. Wow, he was good looking. Grinning at his own magnificence, cknail raised a hand and rubbed the top of his forehead where his horns were growing. It had been a while since hedst trimmed them, and now they were as long as one of his fingers. That was longer than theyd ever been.


    Having horns was awkward. cknail was still getting used to their weight, and they kept getting heavier as they grew. They also made it much harder to wear hats and hoods, and it was basically impossible for him to disguise himself as a human anymore. That was fine, though. The time for hiding his identity was over. Now was the moment for seizing power, and among goblins long horns were a symbol of authority.


    cknail nodded in approval at his reflection. His horns definitely had a nice white color that contrasted nicely with his green skin. cknail couldnt wait until they got longer. He hoped his would keep growing until they were as impressive as the antlers of the hobgoblin chief hed killed. Those had been very striking. It wasnt like he really cared, but he wondered if Herah would find that attractive. What about humans?


    Bah, whatever, cknail grumbled as he stood up and began walking back to the road. At this point he doubted he could keep Herah away with a long pointy stick, no matter what his horns looked like.


    cknail had just finished going for a quick early morning walk out in the bush. He enjoyed his privacy, which was hard to find in Ironbreak these days. The settlement was buzzing of activity, and cknails minions were always looking to get his approval or advice for something that should have been obvious. It never stopped.


    Several weeks had passed since the first warrior initiation ceremony had been held. Except for a few difficult areas, the road to Shelter wasplete. Most of the work crews were now working on the road to Herstcrest, but cknail had also sent some of them South to scout and map the old roads that led back to civilization.


    The workers cutting their way to Herscrest were actually making good time. Unsurprisingly, it was much easier to repair an old road than create an entirely new one. Most of their work was just clearing brush and younger trees, and in some ces that already done that for them by the fire cknail had set.


    cknail wandered out of the bushes and jumped up onto the road. Broken vegetation and torn earth still surrounded it, clear signs of all the effort that had gone into cutting a path through the forest. Here and there, a few fallen logs were stillying next to the road. Many of the logs had been dragged back to Ironbreak, but there was still plenty left that had yet to be moved.


    As cknail approached the settlement, he saw dozens of logs piled up outside the walls. Further out, the crops that the goblins had nted were beginning to grow. The small fields looked haphazard and chaotic but most the nts were healthy. Under he watchful eyes of overseers, teams of goblins kept the fields free of weeds and bugs.


    Two weeks ago, cknail had sent a bunch of his minions over toward Herstcrest. Some of them were recements for Scamps group at the goblin camp, and others were to help Ilisti hunt for food. Avorlus had also gone with them. Hed been determined to study the crystal cave there, and cknail had decided to let him. He wasnt sure it was safe, but hed already gotten the information he needed from the mage, so that wasnt really his problem.


    The morning air was wet and chilly, so as he fought off a shiver, cknail headed to Ferrars workshop. There was always at least one warm fire burning there, and he found their work interesting as well. He usually had no idea what they were trying to do but watching them run around ying with fire was amusing.


    Ferrars workshop hadnt stopped growing. It now contained arge storehouse and a small smithy. There was a hobgoblin working at the smithy as cknail approached. Using arge hammer, the hobgoblin was pounding a small piece of heated wrought iron into the shape of an arrowhead. He was using a pair tongs to hold the metal in ce on top of a small anvil as he worked. The anvil had been loaned to them by the smith from Shelter.


    cknail walked over to the heat of a furnace, and watched sparks fly as metal crashed loudly against metal. This hobgoblin was one of Ferrrars assistant and he had the makers mark on his face. It wasrgely the same as the warrior mark, but the lines around the eye were a bit different. The rhythmic nging of the cksmiths work kept cknails attention as the warmth radiating from the smoking furnace next to him warmed his bones. Ah, that felt better.


    Ferrar and his assistants were now capable of creating a bunch of simple tools out of wrought iron. Mostly, they made nails and arrowheads, but they were also trying their hand at spear tips and shovels.


    cknails presence at the smithy didnt go unnoticed. Ferrar emerged from one of the nearby buildings and quickly hurried over to his chiefs side.


    Have you found a swordsmith to kidnap yet? Ferrar immediately asked. There was a hopeful look on his face.


    Still no, cknail told him. He was unamused. Ferrar had been asking him the same question every day for the past week.


    cknail had made the mistake of asking Ferrar if he could make swords. The answer had been a definite no, but the question had intrigued Ferrar. Apparently, swords were much harder to make than arrowheads. Wrought iron was too soft, so they had to be made from steel, which Ferrar couldnt make yet. Actually making a sword also required special cksmithing techniques that Ferrar, the expert from Herstcrest, and the cksmith from Shelter all didnt know. That was why hed asked cknail to find and kidnap a human who did know how to make swords.


    I havent even left Ironbreak. Where would I find a rare type of human like that? cknail asked. Hede to the conclusion that Ferrar was spoiled rotten, and far too used to getting what he wanted.


    Ferrar shrugged Maybe he got lost in the woods?


    No, thats dumb. Ill tell you if I find a swordsmith. Stop asking, cknail replied before huffing and walking away.


    Looking over to his left, cknail saw a construction site. The surplus of lumber and ess to iron axes had allowed the hobgoblins to began building log cabins. Some of the flimsier longhouses were already being torn down to make room for them. The log cabins would be much warmer in the winter, and the area inside the settlements walls was starting to get crowded, so room had to be made for them. It had be impossible to count all the goblins that now lived inside Ironbreak. The little runts had swarmed out of the Green to get ess to the plentiful food and shelter that Ironbreak offered. More and more of them were also transforming into hobgoblins. It was a good thing that the Green was so bountiful. If you could survive to harvest it, the forest was full of food, and goblins would eat almost anything anyway.


    The avability of timber and iron tools had also allowed cknail to began construction on his mansion. Several workmen from Shelter were helping his minions create a proper house of his own using the best human construction techniques. It was far from done, but onceplete it would be the biggest and fanciest home around! cknail couldnt wait to fill it with loot.


    As headed to Gobs longhouse, cknail passed by the training field. It was the onlyrge empty area left inside the walls. The space was needed both for training, which several hobgoblins were using it for right now, and for the public tests. cknail had been holding new initiation ceremonies for warriors every few days. However, there was quite a backlog of hobgoblins with the skills to pass the test, so it was a good thing that Gob and a few of his more skilled helpers could act as test administrators.


    Really, it was the tattoos that were slowing everything down. The art of tattooing was simple in theory. Dye was pushed under the skin using needles. However, in practice it was quite difficult. Beardy had done the first few tattoos and tried to teach others, but only one hobgoblin had really picked the skill up. cknail was just d that the warrior mark design was easy to make and didnt have to be exact.


    After cknail reached his destination, he yelled out Gobs name, and the hobgoblin immediately stepped out of his longhouse and gave his boss a salute. Command me, mightiest of chiefs!


    Is the expedition force ready? cknail replied.


    Yes, boss. Theyre at the gate. I picked out only the best scouts and warriors for your escorts and made sure they had the best food packed for the journey. The runner I sent also said that the humans from Shelter will be waiting for you. Everything is ready.


    Good job, cknail replied with a nod of approval.


    cknail had grown tired of sitting around Ironbreak and doing nothing. It was time to push his n forward, and to do that he needed to make a move South. That was why hed sent scouts out to map the best route. There was an old road that had used to connect Shelter to the rest of the humannds, but it had been consumed by the Green years ago. Still, it was the easiest way South. The original path cknail and the others had used to get to Shelter had been far less than straight and involved passing over a lot of rough terrain that the old road would avoid.


    After listening to Gob praise him for several more minutes, cknail dismissed his subordinate and went back to his cave to grab his gear. Once had his backpack, he headed over to Ironbreaks main gate. There, just as Gob had promised, cknail found the force hed requested waiting for him. Two dozen hobgoblins were surrounded by twice that many goblins, and behind them were two hogs that had been loaded up with supplies. Half of the hobgoblins bore the warrior mark and had proper swords. The others carried iron-tipped spears and daggers.


    cknail grunted when he saw Herah among them. He wasnt surprised by her presence. The female hobgoblin had been bothering him even more now that hed mated with her, and she was rarely far away. Oh, well. At least he was getting plenty of sex. That was nice.


    Alright, lets get going, cknail yelled as he motioned for everyone to head through the gate.


    His minions jumped to obey hismand, and soon they were all marching down the newly constructed road that lead to Shelter. They made much faster progress than they could have if theyd been forced to hike through the woods, and cknail set a brisk pace, so they promptly reached their destination.


    Lounging outside of Shelters walls were a bunch of familiar faces. cknail saw Geralhd, Beardy, and at the back, Khita. There were also half a dozen other old members of Herads band and one young man from Shelter.


    Ah, good. Youre here, hobgoblin. We can finally get going, Beardy remarked as cknail approached.


    Geralhd was politer. Its wonderful to see you, cknail. Are you feeling up to an adventure! Myself, I cant wait to get going. Shelter has be a sort of home, but its missing quite a few luxuries, Im afraid. I really need to go shopping.


    cknail gave them both a quick nod. Yes, Im ready. Lets move.


    Several of the hobgoblins that cknail had sent South to scout the way were with him now, so they wee able to lead everyone through the forest and over to the old road without a problem. The overgrown road was in simr shape to the one cknail had taken to Herstcrest. It had obviously been a while since it had seen regr use. Grass and thick clumps of bushes had grown up through what had once been hard packed earth. The trees had also pressed in on both sides and debris like fallen branches and logs littered its surface. However, it did supply cknails group with firm level ground to travel on.


    Hmm, yes. This is much easier than the route we took the first time. Less swamp and cliffs, Geralhd remarked after they had been hiking for about an hour. There were murmurs of agreement from most the other humans and cknail nodded along.


    Despite Geralhds earlier excitement, the rest of the day was uneventful, and after walking until it began to get dark, they had toe to stop and set up camp for the night. Before everyone went to sleep, a scowling and exasperated Khita visited cknail. She had apparently been selected by the other humans to tell him and Herah to stop mating so loudly. That was fine with cknail. Herah was rather exhausting.


    It wasnt until two more days of hard travel had passed that they escaped the untamed Green. The stretch of ruined and overrun road they were following led up a hill and then down to another road. This new road was in much better repair and obviously saw plenty of use. They had reached the border of civilization.


    Atst, were here! Geralhd eximed happily as he looked down at the road.


    But where exactly is here? cknail asked Beardy. This was why hed brought him along.


    Well have to do some exploring to find out. Im not familiar with every nook and cranny in the North, but we should be somewhere Northeast of Herads old camp, the man replied gruffly.


    Geralhd nodded. There are a few walled towns left in this area, and probably some travellers nearby, so we should be able to find someone who knows they of thend.


    That sounded fine to cknail. Go then, and make sure you find out everything you can about Werrick. I will stay here with my minions and wait for two days.


    Geralhd grinned in excitement, but Beardy gave cknail a thoughtful look. And what are you up to? You didnt bring us here just for information and shopping, did you?


    Getting supplies is important, but youre right. I want to keep a watch on this area, just in case, cknail replied with a shrug. We should keep our eyes open. Werrick might try something. He knows were out in the Green and he doesnt like us much.


    Beardy epted that argument reluctantly, and then he led the other humans down the road. Khita waved goodbye to cknail as they walked out of sight.


    What now, boss? one of cknails minions asked.


    We scout, cknail replied. He wanted the entire area explored and everything of interest found before he humans got back.


    At his orders, the hobgoblins split into two even groups and went in separate directions. They were to avoid contact with strangers and stay out of sight. He didnt want any of his minions getting into trouble and creating a mess he had to clean up.


    cknail led the group going in the opposite direction of the humans, and they took the pack beasts, because he was the leader. They walked for over an hour without seeing anything but a lot of trees and rocks, until some noise from up ahead alerted them that someone wasing their way. cknail quicklymanded his minions to hide in the forest at the edge of the road, and then followed them.


    Hiding behind a bush, cknail watched the road and waited for the source of the noise to appear. It didnt take long. Three minutester, a small merchant caravan came into sight. It waspromised of two covered wagons being pulled by horses. Around the wagons, quite a few humans were walking or riding. The clothes the people were wearing were bright and colorful, which wasmon among humans that constantly travelled.


    Briefly, cknail considered ordering an attack so they could steal all their stuff, but quickly decide against it. Now wasnt the time for that, and he doubted they had anything he really wanted. No, he had different ns in mind for the merchants using this road. Soon


    When the caravan was safely gone, cknail and his minions got back on the road and resumed their exploration of the area. As they marched, cknail kept on eye out for any signs of abandoned side roads and sent hobgoblins to examine animal trails. After about an hour, one of those scouts found what cknail was looking for, an abandoned vige hidden away in the forest.


    It was a small cluster of two dozen huts that the wild had long ago reimed. The North was dotted by hundreds of simr ruins caused by humanitys decline, but it would serve cknails purpose just fine. The thatch roofs that had rotted away long ago could be reced and most the walls were easily repairable. It wouldnt take all that long to clear out all the vegetation that had taken over the vige and its fields, and the well in the center of the houses smelled like it would be fine after a thorough cleaning. cknail nodded in satisfaction as he walked around and looked over the ruins. Yes, this ce would function excellently as a hidden forward base.


    We still have lots of time until we need to meet back up with the humans. Get cleaning this ce up, youzy runts, cknail ordered his minions.


    This was why hed brought so many minions, and all the goblins. He nned on setting up another outpost like the one near Herstcrest here. Experience had taught him that it wouldnt take long for the settlement to began to grow and attract feral goblins. Depending on what the humans found out, cknail nned on moving South soon, and when he did, he wanted a fully functional base avable to help him seize control of the nearby territory. That would certainly draw Werrick out, and then their game of prey and predator could began in earnest. The Wolf had no idea whaty waiting within the Green.