On Winter''s Wings 11


    cknail coughed as he studied the swarm of boggarts thaty before him. The battle in the giant mushroom cave had been going on for a while now. Although the boggarts had been knocked off-bnce by the hobgoblins initial charge, they were beginning to push back, and hobgoblins were starting to fall. The smaller boggarts were tough to deal with, but the real problem was the taller warriors with spears.


    I got it, boss! Magic can probably help, Imp suddenly yelled from somewhere behind cknail. The "probably" was worrisome.


    Regardless, the hobgoblin mage pushed up beside cknail and leveled his staff at the nearest enemy warrior. Immediately, all the nearby hobgoblins ducked out of his way, including cknail. Unlike the other magic users, Imp had a mechanical staff that hed taken from a human mage. The device allowed him to channel magic from mana stones and shoot it, instead of using the mana stones themselves as explosives. This gave him a little more control and finesse.


    The light crystal at the tip of Imps staff had been reced by a blue one. It glowed brightly for a moment, and then a ripplingnce of blue energy shot out. The magic flew past cknail and mmed into the boggarts. All the smaller specimens in the front line were sted away, and then thence hit one of the warriors. The creature took the blow to its stomach. Instantly, it crumbled from the impact and then was knocked violently sideways. The blue beam then shifted as Imp swung his staff around, and the deadly magic hit two more warriors before fading away. Both the tall boggarts were thrown off their feet and into the rank of workers behind them.


    For a brief moment, cknail just watched the spectacle. Then, he grimaced in distaste. His mouth felt icky. The blue light did taste like fish. Weird.


    Suppressing the urge to start spitting and coughing, cknail raised his de and charged into the hole in the enemy ranks. We end this now. Minions, forward!


    As he ran, cknail used his power to stifle the fear of his minions, so theyd follow him with more enthusiasm and less pesky self-preservation. That was a terrible trait for minions to have. At the same time, cknail also unleashed another wave of magical terror at the enemy. The boggarts had probably adapted to the magical fear already, but it couldnt hurt.


    Stunned by magical force and fear, the boggarts before cknail stumbled as the hole in their ranks widened. This exposed the tall spearmen at the back, so cknail lunged forward into the gap. He sensed weakness and his predatory instincts drove him to strike at his stunned foe and take full advantage. He was time to sink in fangs into his prey and taste victory.


    Magic power rushed through cknails body as he charged. He spun as he ran, and his deshed out at two nearby smaller boggarts and cut into them. Both the workers fell as the steel weapon found gaps in their armor and tore into vital organs, but cknail was already moving past them. Ahead of him, was an enemy spearman. It saw cknails approach and reacted quickly. Its long spear swung around and then its de shot straight toward cknails head as the warrior struck. cknail saw the spears tip zoom toward his face, before he sidestepped the blow. Keeping his forward momentum, cknail then lunged forward and shed at the warriors exposed side. His de sliced through the air with intense speed, but the warrior jerked backwards, and cknails sword bounced off its carapace with a loud crack.


    The force of the impact vibrated up cknails arm, slowing his response, and giving the boggart warrior time to react. It retracted its spear and then shed at cknail. The hobgoblin chieftain grunted as he blocked the attack. This boggart was tougher than it looked, but he was even stronger. The only problem was getting through the creatures annoying armor.


    However, cknail wasnt fighting alone. As he pushed back against the boggart, two of his minions surged forward to join the fray. They took full advantage of the boggarts preupation with their chief, and nked the creature from both sides. The boggart could only flinch as they both attacked. One sliced at its head with a sword while the other stabbed at its chest with spear. As cknail watched, the sword ended up ncing off the boggarts armor, but the spear found a gap and sank deep into flesh.


    cknail didnt waste any time. There was a battle going on. He shoved the weakened boggarts spar aside and shed the base of the creatures neck. His de found soft flesh and tore through it. Dark blood erupted from the wound and the boggart fell backward.


    Grinning from the satisfaction of a good kill, cknail turned and cut down another boggart worker that tried to jump him, and then moved on to challenge the next warrior. All around him, hobgoblins were engaged in a brutal and bloody melee. The hobgoblins had the momentum again, but the boggarts were very hard to kill. It usually took more than one hobgoblin to finish off even the workers. To cknails left, a hobgoblin was shing at a defensive worker, when another worker emerged from nowhere and tackled him to the ground. The hobgoblins screamed as the boggarts ws raked his face, but then another hobgoblin arrived and impaled the attacking boggart with a spear and drove it off his ally.


    cknail ignored his minions and focused on his chosen target. The boggart was stabbing at another hobgoblin that was hurriedly defending himself, but it stopped and turned toward cknail as it saw himing. The twobatants eyed each other for a moment as they drew closer, and then cknail whipped his de around and hacked at the creatures elbow. Stumbling back, the boggart avoided the blow. cknail kept moving. He stepped up beside the creatures outstretched weapon and punched it in the face. There was a loud crack as the boggart reeled backward and tripped over a worker that had been standing behind him. Grabbing the creatures weapon with one hand, cknail pulled himself closer and stabbed the creature in the chest. The boggarts ck eyes didnt convey much emotion, but to his own satisfaction, cknail felt surprise and fear flood through his opponent as it died.


    As cknail looked around to find a new worthy opponent, the boggarts'' behavior suddenly changed. All at the exact same moment, every boggart disengaged from the fighting and turned to flee. cknail froze in surprise as all the nearby opponents scuttled away at full speed. Still moving as one, they fled into the mushroom forest.


    Form up and follow me. Were going to make sure theyre gone, cknail yelled as he began jogging carefully after the boggarts.


    Those minions that were still on their feet reluctantly obeyed. Imp took the opportunity to throw another blue st of force at the enemies backs. It mmed into them, throwing several aside and knocking over a huge mushroom, but the affected boggarts simply picked themselves up and raced to rejoin their fellows.


    A minute or soter, cknail led the way out of the other side of the mushroom forest. Ahead of him, the creatures were running toward the shadows at the edge of the cavern. It was difficult to see the edge of the cave because there were no glowing mushrooms there and cknails light-bearing mages were behind him. However, just as the fleeing boggarts were disappearing into the shadows, a light suddenly burst into being among them. cknail blinked in surprise as he brought a hand up to shield his eyes. Was that a mana stone? Yes, peering at the center of the light, cknail saw that one of the workers was holding up a short staff made from the same dark material as the warriors spears. At the top of the staff was a glowing mana stone.


    Well, that wasnt good. cknail grimaced as he watched the boggarts disappear into a passage at the far side of the cavern.


    That looked like magic, Imp remarked curiously as he walked up beside his boss.


    I noticed that, cknail replied in a sarcastic tone.


    Gob walked over and grinned happily. We won, boss! Not that anyone doubted we would. Your brilliant strategy led us to great victory. What now, greatest of warlords?


    cknail just grunted sourly as he eyed the tunnel the boggarts had disappeared into. He was unhappy about thisplication. Im going to need a lot more hobgoblins, a lot more magic, and a lot more everything.


    The implications of recent events seemed to have escaped Gob, but they hadnt escaped cknail. If the boggarts were capable of gatheringrge mobs, crafting weapons, and using magic, then cknail and his tribe were in serious danger. There was a deadly swarm of unknowable might lying in wait beneath their very feet. One that could match almost every trick they had. That was bad. The only real advantage the hobgoblins had was cknails own incredible genius and leadership, but even cknail wasntpletely perfect. He knew hed fallen into a pattern recently and be far too dependent on magical barrages. If he wanted to survive, cknail was going to have toe up with somepletely new tricks for his minions to use inbat. Even when properly trained, hobgoblin infantry and bandit riffraff just werent tough enough to go head-to-head with all of cknails enemies. Stupid useless minions.


    Frowning thoughtfully, cknail wandered over to examine the corpses of the defeated boggarts. Piles of them littered the ground. The dark soil around them had been torn up by both feet and explosions, and there was also the asional dead hobgoblin. cknails forces had suffered a dozen fatalities and twice that many injuries. It had been far from a bloodless victory. So annoying. cknail was supposed to be building his forces, not losing them.


    At least the corpses of the boggart warriors were interesting. The creatures looked dangerous even in death. They sure were big, and their ws looked like they could do nasty things to goblin flesh. Also, their solid ck eyes had no pupils and reflected the light, making it seem like they were still watching their surroundings. It was creepy, but cknail pretended not to care. He walked over and kicked one of the dead warriors. That made him look tough, and the corpse''sck of reaction also reassured him that it was really dead.


    After poking the dead warrior in front of him and stabbing it in the chest once just to be sure, cknails gaze fell upon the creatures fallen spear. Excited at the unexpected opportunity for some looting, he grinned as he picked it up to examine. What he saw surprised him. The spear was made from a single smooth piece. Had it been carved from a branch or something? cknail moved closer to Imps light and ran his finger along the spears de. No, it was way too sharp and strong to be wood, and it was the wrong color. Too ck Wait, was the spear made from a carved piece of boggart carapace or bone? Was that possible? cknail frowned as he sniffed the weapon. It smelled like boggart, which wasnt a surprise. Also, the smell and feel of the weapon reminded him of something else. Right. It was very simr to one of his bows. The one hed gotten as a gift from Saeter in Daggerpoint. It hade from some hooded man at a stall What was the connection there? cknail had no idea, so he made a mental note to show the weapon to Geralhdter. Hopefully, he wouldnt forget.


    Now that the battle was over, and the mushroom forest was secure, cknail had Imp copse the tunnel the boggarts had fled into with a st of his staff. That probably wouldnt keep them out for long, but it would give cknail some time to prepare. It was obvious he was going to have to tighten the security of the tunnels beneath Ironbreak even more. Unless cknail was very mistaken, a full-on invasion of boggarts with magical support could start at any time, especially now that hed smacked the dumb bugs around. They were probably mad. Hmmm, cknail wished he hadnt sent so many of his troops away now. Recalling them now would be slow and dangerous.


    Some exploration of the mushroom cave revealed arge pool of water in the center of the chamber. As cknail studied it, wispy streams of white vapor rose up from the water and floated away. The water was warm to the touch, although not quite hot. Obviously, the heat and moisture from this pool was what allowed all the mushrooms to grow sorge. cknail also found another tunnel leading off into unknown depths. However, it looked too narrow for therger boggarts to slip through, so he had some rocks piled up to block it and then moved on.


    By the time cknail and his minions returned to the entrance to the mushroom cave, the trogs had reappeared. The pale critters cautiously emerged from the shadows and approached cknail. After a moment of hesitation, they began groveling and bowing again. cknail snorted dismissively at their antics. The creatures annoyed him, but they might be useful. They obviously nned on staying in cknails new mushroom forest, which meant they were his minions now. The trogs were weak and stupid, but most of cknails minions were. At least the trogs knew the darks paths and might make good scouts if they could be trained properly. cknail was in desperate need of more information about boggarts, so hed take what he could get. Also, cknail wondered how simr to goblins trogs actually were.


    Gob was standing right next to cknail and waiting for orders, so cknail gave him some. Make sure the mine workers begin taming these trogs. I want to be able to talk to them, and they should be put to work. They wont be getting free meals anymore.


    As youmand, lord! Gob replied with a salute.


    With that done, cknail returned to the mines and then made his way back up to the surface. The bright sunlight hurt his eyes as he emerged from the cave, but it still felt great to be back outside. The caves had been very dark and dreary, and the sun felt nice on his face, even if it was brisk outside.


    Unfortunately, cknail didnt have time to take a nap in the sun. There were things that needed to be done and his minions were all too ipetent to do them without him. More troops had to be rounded up and sent down into the mine. Naturally, this meant hunting down a lot of goblins and hobgoblins that would prefer to avoid notice from their superiors and also anything like work. Tracking them down and getting them organized into squads was difficult. Stupidzy minions.


    There was also the issue of getting the mine back up and running. cknail handled this from thefort of his mansions dining hall. As he sat on a chair next to the zing firece, messengers and lieutenants came and went with news. Ferrar was in charge of the mine, but all the new underground activity had created a shortage of mages and light stones, so Imp had to be brought in as well. Soon, all the leadership gave cknail a headache, but he had to put up with it. There was more that needed done, and no one else to do it.


    Theres also the matter of bad air. With more workers going underground this will be a bigger problem, even if goblins can usually smell and avoid it, Ferrar exined.


    cknail sighed. Having lived in a sewer years ago, he knew quite a bit about bad air and the problems associated with it. What do you suggest?


    Ferrar shrugged. Lots of mushrooms help clean the air, but they also attract nasty critters that bite and sting workers. They also only grow in damp warm ces. A lot of the best mining spots arent like that.


    Give me a magical answer, cknail said as he turned to face Imp.


    Imp smiled. We could try blowing up


    cknail instantly interrupted him. No, something else.


    Well, if the problem is bad air, I might have something else. When I was working with Avorlus a while ago, we idently made some green air crystals.


    How do those work? cknail asked curiously.


    They seem to suck up air as they grow, and then they release it all in one big explosion.


    cknail gave Imp a stern look.


    however, with Ferrars help, I might be able to make a device to release small gusts of good air that goblins can breathe.


    Alright, that sounds about right. If bad air bes a problem, then you should do that. Do you have any more magics that might help the tribe mine or fight underground. This is very important.


    Um, Ill study my collection again when I get back to my workshop.


    Show everything to Ferrar. He might see something you dont, cknail told the mage. Imp and Ferrar were dumb inplimentary ways.


    With that problem solved, cknail had his minions focus on the defense of Ironbreak. None of them seemed to consider the boggarts as mush of a threat as cknail did, but cknail was the leader, so he didnt have to put up with their stupid opinions. However, after some discussion, it quickly became apparent that none of them had any good ideas that cknail hadnt already thought of. Recalling some troops was the best they coulde up with. cknail needed some smarter minions. It was a shame that all the humans were at Shelter. At least they usually thought differently than hobgoblins.


    Eventually, cknail had Gob summon several messengers so that he could order them out to recall the troops he wanted. However, when the messenger arrived there was a problem.


    That might be difficult for us to do, greatest of leaders, the lead messenger exined reluctantly.


    Why? cknail asked suspiciously.


    Its snowing, mightiest one.


    Oh. Instantly, cknail jumped up and hurried over to his mansions door and threw it open. A cold gust of wind washed over him as he peered outside, and it contained more than a few flutters of white. cknail groaned as he confronted the wall of white before him. Outside, heaps of fluffy snow were falling from the sky. The air was thick with it, and it was already building up on roofs and the ground. There was no way his troops were going to be able to make it back now. Stupid weather.