On Winter''s Wings 5


    Carried by the force of the giant smanders blow, cknail flew through the air and mmed into the cave wall. There was a loud crack from his spine as it impacted the uneven stone surface. Then, he slid down the wall and hit the floor. <em>Ouch.</em> Pain stabbed through cknails entire body. He was more than a little disoriented, but he immediately found the strength to jump to his feet. The memory of what the smanders acidic magic had done to the rock wall was still fresh in his mind, and he desperately wanted to avoid finding out what getting hit by that felt like.


    cknail got ready to dodge another attack by the blind smander, but it didnte. Instead, he saw a shimmering ball of force fly by and hit the smander in the side. The mutant creature hissed violently as it was knocked sideways by the impact. It skidded and stumbled across the cave floor until it hit a stgmite, but it didnt appear too hurt. cknail nced over and saw Imp standing at the cave entrance with his staff pointed at the mutant. Behind him, several other hobgoblins were cautiously peeking out from behind cover.


    cknail scowled at them. He hated looking weak in front of his minions. I didnt need help. I had it right where I wanted it.


    It smashed you into a wall, Imp pointed out.


    Exactly, I was fooling it into dropping its guard, cknail replied arrogantly before huffing in indignation.


    Wait, why did his side feel wet? Reaching down, cknail touched his ribs and his hand came away covered in blood. The smanders tail was studded with small sharp crystals. One of them must have cut him. cknail grunted. Now he wanted to return the favor and headbutt the smander using his new horns. That would probably be a terrible strategy, though.


    Imps expression was carefully nk. Ah, then youre a very good pretender, boss. You sure fooled me too.


    Of course I did. Im one of the best actors ever. I hunt a lot of humans that way, cknail agreed in satisfaction as he turned to focus on the smander again. It was getting back on its feet, and it looked about as mad as an eyeless smander could look.


    Shoot it again, cknail told Imp.


    There was an amused sounding sigh from Imp as he obeyed. Another magical strikeshed out of his staff. However, this time the blind smander sensed iting somehow. It jumped to the side and dodged the st. Imp was capable of creating bigger sts, but he was probably keeping the power down so that he didnt start a cave-in. A small st was all the distraction that cknail needed, though.


    Now its mine, he yelled as he charged the creature.


    cknail wouldnt normally do something stupid like seeking out a one-on-one fight, but he wanted to test himself. He suspected that facing some real danger and pushing himself to his limit was the only way he was going to figure out how his new mutant body really worked, and not understanding himself was uneptable. When cknail had first be a hobgoblin, his old master Saeter had literally beat the value of discipline into him. However, you couldnt control yourself without first knowing yourself. Every moment of ignorance invited ruin.


    The pale smander reacted quickly to cknails charge. It scrabbled over to a tall rock, so its nk was protected from Imp, and then it shot another green st at cknail. The hobgoblin chieftain lunged to the side, but he stumbled over a loose rock at thest second. Apparently, he was still a little unsteady on his feet. Thankfully, the smanders magical attack didnt hit him. It zoomed right past, missing by less than an inch, and actually eating through the edge of his cloak. Grimacing, cknail caught his bnce and resumed his charge toward the blind smander. That had been a little too close forfort.


    The smander was too close now for it to try another acid st, so it decided to meet cknails charge. It scrambled out from behind the rock and lunged at him. As they closed, the pale mutant opened its mouth wide. At the same time, cknail raised his sword and prepared to strike. Just as the smander began to bite down, he spun out of the way. Then, he ducked under the tail swipe that followed and shed the creatures side. There was a hiss of pain from the mutant as it spun around to bite him, but cknail leaned back away from the strike and countered by shing the creatures neck. He was then forced to jump back as the smander reared-up and shed at his face with a wed forelimb.


    cknails body ached from his previous wounds, but he was steely calm as he twisted around and caught his bnce. Through the pain, he could feel his body and the magic within it. The power that radiated from this cavern was still flowing around him and seeping into his blood. It was simr to how Elixir worked, but cknail was now aware of one big difference. Instead of pooling and building up in his blood, the magic was being drawn away into a single point within the center of his chest. That was why he hadnt been able to feel the power before. Yes, now cknail could really fight.


    There was an enraged growl from the blind mutant and it snapped at cknail again. The hobgoblin dodged to the side and reached down within himself. He sought out the core where his power was resting. He could feel it; it burned bright like a star. Really, he had no idea how hed managed to stay ignorant of its existence until now.


    At cknailsmand, power surged out of the burning core, filling his body. It was very simr to drinking Elixir, and it empowered him the same way. A bloodthirsty smile appeared on cknails face as he lunged at the giant Smander. With startling speed his de sliced into the creatures shoulder and tore through it. Even cknail was surprised. He almost stumbled. That had been faster than hed ever moved before.


    The blind smander was bleeding from several wounds now, but it was far from finished. While cknail was admiring himself, it jumped back and shot a st of acid at him. Tapping into his new strength, cknail sidestepped the magical strike and then lunged forward. As his de sliced down at the creatures head, the beast dodged to the side and swung at the hobgoblin with its tail. Instead of hopping back again, cknail decided to have some fun. He jumped over the crystal-studded tail as it whipped his way. Then, as he flew toward the blind smander, he raised his de high up above his head dramatically.


    The smander had time to react, it reared back as if in preparation to strike at cknail while he was still in the air. However, cknail had anticipated that. He pulled power out of his bright core and dragged it up into his head. His thoughts grew clearer and faster, even as the furious power made focusing on anything but itself harder. Then, cknail snarled and pushed the power out at the smander. The magic rippled as it shot through the air and mmed into the smander. The eyeless creature shivered as the power tore into it, and then it froze from terror. The wave of fear had overwhelmed its mind for a moment. That was all the time cknail needed. As he fell toward the smander, he swung down at its neck with all his power. His muscles strained as metal met flesh, but the de cut through skin and sliced into the creature. Blood sprayed out of the wound as arge artery was severed, and a gurgling sound escaped the creatures throat. As cknail kicked the smanders shoulder and used the leverage to tug his de free, the beast spasmed violently and then copsed onto the cave floor. A pool of shimmering dark blood swiftly began expanding out from its body as itypletely still. Laughing gleefully, cknail hopped over the blood and gave the corpse a kick. Hed won and grown stronger doing it! Was there any better feeling than cutting your enemies apart?


    A few secondster, cknail rxed and took a series of deep breaths. His euphoria quickly faded and was reced by weariness as he wiped his de clean and sheathed it. As he looked down at his fallen foe, he could feel what he suspected was magic radiating out from its body now that it was dead. cknail closed his eyes for a moment and let himself feel what was going on around him. His own body seemed to be pulling that power in and draw it into his core, where it was stored forter use.


    Congrattions on your incredible victory, boss, Ferrar announced as he led the other hobgoblins over to cknails side.


    Imp gave cknail a quick nod, and then the mage walked over to the fallen smander and pulled out a long knife. Kneeling down, he began cutting into its belly. A momentter, he reached in up to his elbow, and began rummaging around for its core. Blood got everywhere, but Imp didnt seem to care. He was focused on his prize.


    My victory was never in doubt. That stupid mutant was easy prey for a great hunter like me, cknail said as he turned to face Ferrar. He had to suppress a pained grimace, since his side was beginning to hurt again now that he wasnt reinforcing himself using magic anymore.


    Ferrar nodded. Yes, you are truly amazing, boss. What do you want to do now that the beast is in?


    cknail frowned and looked around. He felt like taking a bit of a rest and enjoying the quiet atmosphere for a while. The cave was still full of power he could absorb.


    Im going to stay here and enjoy the um air for a few minutes. Go wait outside and give me some quiet, he told his minions.


    Imp had apparently found the blind smanders core. The hobgoblin was sttered with blood as he walked over to join the others. Ferrar looked confused, but he gave cknail a quick bow and did as he was told. All the other hobgoblins followed him back out into the passage that led into the crystal chamber.


    The air smells like dead fish and worms in there. Why would the chief a hobgoblin observed as they walked out. Hispanion just silenced him with a stern look, and then they were out of sight.


    When all his minions were gone, cknail walked over to the crack in the wall. The chamber was much darker without the light from Imps staff, but several of the crystals on the walls glowed dimly, and that provided cknail with enough light to make his way around. cknail studied the crevice and the crystal around it for a moment. He could feel the magic flowing out of it, and he hungered for it. Thus, since he didnt have a better idea, he sat down on the floor in front of it and closed his eyes. In the dark, he just let the power wash over him and be drawn down into his core. It was very rxing and satisfying, like taking a deep drink of cool water after being out in the hot sun for too long.


    cknail lost track of time as he focused on his breathing and the flow of magic. Actually, he may have fallen asleep for a moment or two, but eventually he began to feel sated. He also knew that he couldnt to sit there forever, so he reluctantly climbed to his feet. Making his way through the dark chamber, he walked out to join his minions in the passage.


    Several of them were napping, but a few swift kicks got everyone up and moving. Once they reached the underground river chamber, cknail used his ability to project terror to send any creatures that approached skittering back into the shadows. After that, they soon got back to the intersection that led toward the surface and the mines, so they finally began their tour of the mines. cknail found them to be rather unimpressive. They were just a bunch of long tunnels full of rocks and spotted by the asional harvester farm, pool of water, or bottomless pit. However, looking around did help hime to a better understanding of what would be required to secure the mines and get production up. Cracks needed to be sealed, guard posts needed to be set up at chokepoints, and patrols would be needed to inspect the sealed cracks.


    All of cknails minions were tired and weary by the time they got back up to the surface, so he gave them a few orders and then dismissed them. Only Ferrar remained behind, since they had more to talk about. Imp hurried back to his workshop to examine his new mana crystal, and hopefully clean up a bit. He was still soaked in smander blood and it had started to smell.


    How is my houseing? Backnail asked Ferrar after theyd discussed the operation of the mine for a while.


    Slow but steady, boss. I let the humans from Shelter take charge of that project, since they know more about it and Im busy with other jobs. Humans are good at fancy things.


    cknail nodded in agreement. They are, but dont let them work too slowly. I want my fancy house before the snows.


    Why dont I just show you whats been done? Ferrar asked.


    That sounded like a good idea to cknail, so he let the hobgoblin craftsman take him over toward the center of the settlement. That was where the mansion was under construction. The home was far from done, but arge area had been dug up and filled in with a foundation made from stone and mortar. There were severalrge piles of logs and other construction materialying nearby, and a few exterior walls had already been raised. When it was done, the mansion would be several timesrger than any of the longhouses. It would also be a lot more impressive looking.


    It looked good, but cknail really wanted the work to go faster. Right now, he was still sleeping in a cave. It was a rather nice cave and hed never had any problems with it, but as an important leader, he needed a fancier home than everyone else.


    Cant you go any faster? he asked Ferrar.


    We could use the stone from the mine and mortar to help build your homes walls. It would be a good test for the settlements walls, but it would also slow down work on them, Ferrar suggested.


    Fine, if you think thats a good idea, cknail agreed reluctantly. Why couldnt his minions just do everything at the same time? Obviously, they were spoiled rotten.


    A stone home would look fancier than a wood one, Ferrar pointed out.


    It would also be harder to burn down, cknail replied as he gave the other hobgoblin a meaningful look.


    True, some of the goblins around here like ying with fire too much, Ferrar agreed as he frowned in disapproval.


    cknails eyes narrowed as red at the other hobgoblin. And you dont do that?


    I never y with fire! Its no toy. You have to respect the mes and offer them proper sacrifices if you want to summon their full might! Only then will they bless you with warmth and power. Only then will they let you transform the world with their searing glory!


    cknail was fairly certain that was an even more troubling way of thinking. Still, Ferrar hadnt burned down anything too important yet, so cknail let it go. He dismissed Ferrar and went to find something else to do. After resting in the cave and drawing in so much mana, he was full of more mundane energy as well. He needed to do something to burn it off. His muscles were practically aching to be used. He wanted to just start running around until he copsed.


    However, cknail didnt break out into a run. That would look undignified, and probably scare a lot of goblins. Instead, he ended up wandering around until he found a spot outside the walls where several hobgoblins were chopping down trees. He grabbed an axe and joined in. This startled the nearby hobgoblins, who were quite surprised to find their towering chief began attacking all the nearby trees. cknail ignored them. They were just minions. He focused on burning as much energy as possible. For what was possibly the first time ever, working hard felt good.


    Eventually, Gob and several other hobgoblins arrived and walked over to talk to their boss. cknail registered their presence but didnt stop hacking at the tree in front of him. Chips of wood flew away as his axe bit deep into it again and again.


    What are you doing, boss? Gob asked him.


    Im helping the work crews chop down some trees, cknail replied as he continued to work.


    The crew left almost an hour ago.


    cknail finally stopped swinging his axe. He let its heavy iron head fall to the ground as he turned to look around. Huh, Gob was right. There were no more hobgoblins workers around. He hadnt even noticed them sneak away. What a bunch of ckers.


    I dont think we need any more trees felled, Gob observed politely. There were dozens of the fallen giants already in sight.


    You may be right, cknail admitted. Maybe I should gather up some minions and carry these logs inside?


    Gob frowned. It didnt seem like he thought that was a good idea. However, Herah stepped forward and licked her lips as her eyes studied every inch of cknails body. I can think of something sweaty and physical we could do together.


    cknail dropped his axe and grinned back at her. Sure, that sounds like fun.