On Winter’s Wings 7


    The well-dressed hobgoblin with ck hair smirked as he approached cknail. His poison-stained de was up in an aggressive position, but cknail wasnt too worried. There was no way some random hobgoblin hed never seen before was going to be a good enough fighter to cut him, especially now that he was aware of the poison. As a mutant, there was a good chance he was immune to the poison as well, although that would be a stupid thing to put to the test.


    Confidently, cknail stepped forward and unleashed a swift sh at his opponents side. Startled, the warrior applicant was forced back as cknail kept him off bnce with a series of heavy blows that he struggled to block. cknail used this time to think. What did he want to do here? The simplest thing to do would be to cut this conniving hobgoblin down. It would be easy, and no one would care, but was it the right move? cknail had to admit that this hobgoblins behavior made him curious. He stood out from the crowd, and technically cknail had never said applicants couldnt poison their weapons during the warrior challenge. He was honestly surprised that no one had tried it before.


    Pivoting to the side, the dark-haired hobgoblin managed to dodge a blow from cknail and earn himself a second of respite. He used that moment to quickly sh at cknails outstretched arm. The attack was fast but light, and wouldnt have done more than scratch cknail, but he dodged it anyway. Even a tiny cut would spread the poison on the de.


    After stepping back and raising his guard, cknail gave his opponent a smug grin. This caused the well-dressed hobgoblin to lose his own grin and begin to look nervous. He paled slightly and nced sideways to avoid his chieftains knowing gaze. He was obviously afraid that his scheme had been discovered.


    Youre going to have to do better than this, cknail said. The applicant just grunted sourly in response.


    Holding back his true strength, cknail chuckled andunched a new series of controlled attacks. His opponent managed to block or dodge all the strikes and even counter with a few quick cuts of his own, but cknail taunted his opponent by easily avoiding each of them at the veryst moment. This quickly led the well-dressed hobgoblin to grow even more nervous and fearful looking. Hed begin to suspect that cknail was ying with him.


    Grumbling something, the hobgoblin dodged a slow sh and stepped closer to cknail. Then, he raised a upturned wrist to his mouth and exhaled strongly at cknails face. Almost invisible in the dark, a cloud of dust flew through the air between them and right at cknails eyes. Flinching in surprise, cknail barely managed to jump back out of the way of the dust. However, even though he wasnt hit directly, his eyes begin to sting. Growling, cknail begin blinking rapidly and using his de to fan the air to ward off the lingering dust. What was this crap? It was burning his eyes and making it very hard to see.


    cknails lowered guard and blindness almost cost him dearly. Right as he blinked, his opponent surged forward and shed at his exposed arm. The coward didnt even try to go for a proper blow. He focused on applying his dastardly poison.


    However, cknail sensed himing, and now he was angry. Growling, he forced his burning eyes open and tapped into the power in his core. Time seemed to slow as his body was filled with unnatural power and speed. Almost effortlessly, he batted his opponents weapon aside with brutal ease. As the loud ng of metal hitting metal rang out, cknail then let his opponents own charge carry him forward. Off-bnce from cknails strike, the well-dressed hobgoblins stance was wide open. For a moment there was a horrified look on the hobgoblins face as momentum pulled him forward, and then cknails boot came up and smashed into his groin.


    Suddenly, there was silence from the watching horde of hobgoblins as cknails opponent rose a foot up into air and let out a tormented squeak. In the sudden quiet, that pathetic noise reached every nearby ear, and more than a few hobgoblins winced. Eyes crossed, cknails opponent then fell to the ground with a thud and curled up into a ball after squeaking pitifully again.


    cknail kicked the shuddering hobgoblins poisoned sword away and looked down at him. Ive decided to let you live. Rejoice or else.


    The hobgoblin just groaned, but cknail decided that was good enough. This hobgoblin was a treacherous snake, but he also reminded cknail of Elyias. Just a smarter and more ambitious, which was natural since he was a hobgoblin. Thus, teasing him was just too much fun, and killing him would be a waste. Besides, cknail knew he couldnt trust any hobgoblins, except maybe Gob. Having one obvious backstabber around wouldnt make much of a difference. It would just help motivate cknail to stay on guard and help him figure out who was plotting against him. This hobgoblin would naturally draw other disloyal minions to him, exposing them. All cknail had to do was watch him carefully.


    You also pass the warrior ceremony, so see Gob about getting your tattoo, after youve thanked me, cknail exined.


    Thank you, boss, the hobgoblin mumbled painfully as he climbed to his feet. He looked unsteady and more than a little nauseous, but hed live. cknail was fairly sure you didnt need both balls anyway, so no real harm done.


    Do you have name? cknail asked. It would be awkward to have him followed if he didnt. ck hair wasnt that rare.


    The well-dressed  but now very dirty and ruffled looking  hobgoblin shook his head. No, boss.


    cknail smiled as be begin thinking. He enjoyed naming things, and he was great at it! This stupid hobgoblin had no idea how lucky he was to receive a name from his awesome chieftain. You shall now be called Crow.


    The newly named hobgoblin was still in too much pain to do more than grunt ungratefully in reply and throw his boss a poorly disguised re, so cknail sighed. His genius was going unappreciated. Hed chosen the name Crow because of the hobgoblins ck hair and horns. The fancy way he dressed and took care of his appearance also reminded cknail of the stuck-up birds. Lastly, cknail knew crows to bepletely untrustworthy birds that would murder everyone if they could. They were like horses that way.


    With thest bout was finished, cknail announced the end of the ceremony and dismissed the gathered hobs and goblins. At hismand, there was onest cheer from the mob before they begun to wander off. Satisfaction filled cknail as he watched them go. The ceremony had fulfilled its purposes. Now cknail had a few more warriors and the entire tribe had seen his new might and cunning. Hobgoblins were natural schemers, but now even the most ambitious of them would tread carefully around their chieftain. cknail grinned proudly. Those that did try to move against him would probably try to gather allies such as Crow, which would y right into cknails hands. He was so smart. Handsome too. No other hobgoblin stood a chance against him, and when Werrick was dead, he could say the same thing about humans.


    All the nearby hobs and goblins scattered out of cknails way as he walked over to Gob. They spoke for a few minutes and cknail ordered Crow watched. Gob wanted to kill the treacherous hobgoblin, but cknail talked him out of it. It was getting boring around here. There had been almost no attempts on cknails life over the past while, which meant the would-be-assassins were getting smarter and sneakier. Hopefully, Crow would lure some of them out. After his talk with Gob was over, a tired-out cknail yawned and went to bed.


    The next morning, a cold wind was blowing down from the North when cknail pushed aside the tanned hide that covered his caves entrance and stepped outside. He shivered as he studied the distant northern mountains and their snowy peaks. The trees at the edge of the forest were now covered in red and brown leaves that were beginning toe loose and drift down to the ground. Winter was almost upon him. cknail considered the scene for a few moments, and then he turned around and went back inside. A momentter, he reemerged wearing a fur cloak that had been made from the hide of a wolf hed in. Its thick fur kept the cold at bay and allowed cknail to build up some body heat as he started walking around outside.


    Many of the other hobgoblins and goblins outside were also wearing heavier clothing than normal. Usually, most goblins still went around in nothing more than a loincloth, but most of the ones in sight now had on various types of shirts. Some were rough-looking and had obviously been stitched together by someone in the tribe, but others were plundered human items that had been cut down to size. On a goblin, a human shirt was a loose robe that hung down below their knees. That only made them warmer though.


    The cold filled cknail with new urgency. It was a chill reminder that his ns would alle to nothing if he didnt prepare for theing turn of the seasons properly. Thus, he quickly walked over to the nearest cooking fire and grabbed some food from the hobgoblins there. Then, he gathered up a small escort of guards and headed for Shelter.


    It was an easy journey now that the road between the human vige and Ironbreak wasplete. There were no obstacles in the way and the surface of the road had been raised in most ces to keep it t and dry, although it was now covered in more than a few fallen leaves. The forest had also been pushed back at least fifteen feet from the road, so it was easier to move without having to worry about being ambushed by predators. Moving too quickly in the Green was normally a great way to run head first into a disgruntled bear or a hungry mimic.


    Soon, cknail left the forest behind and the road led him out into the fields around Shelter. He trudged past the scattered remains of the harvest as he approached the viges gate. When he got there, he yelled to get someones attention and he was swiftly allowed inside. Many of the vigers still didnt like the idea of letting hobgoblins inside their home, but most of them were smart enough to realize they couldnt keep his tribe out and they benefitted from staying on his good side.


    However, instead of wandering around just to prove he could, cknail and his guards waited on the other side of the gate for Tannin to show up, which didnt take very long. The bearded vige elder gave cknail a polite nod as he walked over. He hade alone, although the gate guard was still watching from a distance.


    Wee, cknail. Its good to see you back on your feet. Id heard you gotten yourself knocked around and was worried for a while that you wouldnt make it. Things around these parts would have gotten even more chaotic without you, and thats thest thing we need. These are already disturbingly turbulent times, Tannin said. He seemed unsurprised by cknails physical changes.


    Hello, mister Tannin. Im fine, better than ever really, cknail said as he smiled and flexed his muscles. I just came to check in on things and see how everything was going here. Leaves are falling, and the season is changing.


    Aye, the first frost wont be long now, Tannin agreed. But were as ready as can be hoped. Even with all those new faces youve been dumping on us, we should have enough food tost the winter.


    Good, I was worried about all the human refugees that my minions have been sending north. I havent had time to personally deal with them, so I was expecting to find them all wandering around in circles in the middle of the forest. Nothing ever gets done right unless I take charge, cknail whined.


    Tannin grinned. I cant say that they havent been causing their fair share of problems, but all the empty homes are full of people again, and thats a nice feeling. I never thought Id see the day. Before you showed up, Shelter had been shrinking for a long time.


    Are you going to need more food? I can probably spare some hunters or bring some food up from the south if youre short. cknail didnt want to worry about helping the humans feed themselves in the middle of winter. It was better to deal with it now.


    Every little bit helps, but I think well be fine. Thanks to your goblins, we managed to nt more crops and reap a bigger harvest than usual, and the little critters mostly scavenge up their own meals. On top of that, theyre also keeping other pests away. That was how we lost most of our harvest before, rats. The vermin got in everything over the winter, and what they didnt eat they despoiled with their shit. Some of them were so big they turned the tables on our cats.


    cknail nodded. Rats are nasty beasts. Goblins are always getting into fights or starting wars with them, but were superior so we almost always win.


    Wars? Tannin asked with a smirk.


    Yes, rats dont fight fair. They try to mob goblins using their huge numbers, so goblins have to build up a swarm of their own. It gets quite bloody.


    Well, the goblins certainly are enthusiastic about keeping the rats away, even if I havent seen signs of anything like a battle. Tanninughed. Some of the critters are even building snares to trap any rats that get too close to the supplies. Its rather amusing to watch them build the contraptions. Most of them dont work, but theyre always trying new designs. Weve had to crack down on trophy-taking though. Having piles of rat skulls everywhere isnt clean or appealing.


    cknail talked to Tannin for a few more minutes and then went off to find Geralhd and the others. The former bandits stayed in Shelter most the time. No one had anything all that important or interesting to say though, so cknail soon found himself headed back to the gate. On the way he passed by vigers going about their business. On top of the usual chores, many of the homes were being repaired to make room for new arrivals. cknail got more than a few nces, but both the refugees and original inhabitants of Shelter were used to hobgoblins by now, even if they still werentfortable around them. That didnt bother cknail. Even he thought gettingfortable around hobgoblins was a stupid idea.


    Over the next few days, the temperature stayed chilly and the north wind blew regrly. After a week, cknail decided that he couldnt put the next phase of his ns off any longer, even if it meant slowing down all the work going on at Ironbreak. It was time to spread the tribe out so that it would be easier to feed them over the winter. cknail sent a runner to find Gob and called a meeting of all his lieutenants. Khita wasnt invited.


    There were already three major goblin settlements under cknails control. There was Ironbreak, the settlement on the way to Herstcrest, and the forward base to the south. cknail had been building up all three so that they could shelter as many goblins and hobgoblin as possible.


    Were going to move a lot of goblins out of Ironbreak and to the other bases, cknail exined to Gob and Ferrar. We also need to build a bunch of hunting lodges where hobgoblins can live. We dont have much time, but we can use the branch huts that ferals build. They can be put up quickly to make warm and safe shelters.


    Gob threw cknail a salute. Right away, boss!


    Why are we doing this? Imp asked as he frowned in confusion. Since magic wasnt involved, he was little out of his element.


    Food, Ferrar replied with a snort.


    cknail nodded. We will need to hunt more when the snowes and all the nts die, but there are too many of us here to find enough food that way. We need to spread out. We can ntrger fields next year, but that wont help us now.


    Will they be alright off by themselves, boss? The Green is very dangerous, Ferrar remarked.


    Youre just spoiled, cknail huffed in reply. Ferals live through a lot worse. These minions will have shelter, weapons, knowledge, and supplies. Hunting is easy with bows and snares. Theyll be fine.


    Very true, great one! Gob added in support.


    Since he was the boss, and everyone had to do what he said, cknail had his lieutenants begin organizing everything for theing winter. Gob handled the troops, and Ferrar made sure every group had the proper training and craftsman to build and maintain a lodge. Imp didnt have much to do. All his mages were going to stay in Ironbreak since there was no point in spreading them out, but cknail made him take part in the meeting anyway. You never knew when youd want something exploded.