Twists and Turns 8


    Oh, hello, cknail told Luphera uncertainly.


    What had he just walked into? Her unexpected inclusion in this talk had thrown him badly off-bnce. Regardless of hisplicated past with her, the womans presence meant that this meeting wasnt going to be as simple as hed hoped it would.


    Luphera pouted. Really? Thats all I get in the way of greeting. Arent we intimate allies and close friends?


    Er, cknail really didnt know what his rtionship with Luphera was. Sure, hed killed some people for her, but that was nothing special. He killed lots of people, sometimes just because he could. The fact that shed seduced him once also didnt mean much to him. In fact, he suspected it had all been part of a dastardly scheme to manipte him. He med her perfume for messing with his head. Usually he wasnt attracted to humans  even thinking about it was icky - but that scent had clouded his mind and roused his blood.


    Cautiously sniffing the air, cknail didnt detect Lupheras usual scent. She was wearing a different perfume. No, wait. The mind-altering scent was there, just faint and buried under the other perfume. cknail didnt feel it affecting him yet, but he would need to watch himself carefully.


    Sex doesnt make us friends, and I dont know if were still allies. Why are you here? the hobgoblin asked the woman. He wasnt going to let his guard down.


    At his words, both Ralphi and Geralhd winced as if theyd just imagined something theyd rather not. cknail didnt understand why. Luphera wasnt bad looking for a human. Just very pink.


    Luphera just smiled. So cold. Im here to see you obviously. I wanted to do some catching up with my favorite hobgoblin. Its been rather dull here without you. I like what youve done to yourself by the way. You have a handsome amount of muscle now.


    Beside cknail, Herah had been ring at Luphera intently. Now, she growled loudly enough that everyone heard her, which earned her a curious nce from Luphera.


    Oh, I see. A female. I couldnt tell at first, she remarked a momentter as she gave Herah a smirk. It was easy to tell that she found Herah rather unimpressive.


    cknail couldnt help but nce at Herahs body out of the corner of his eye andpare it to Lupheras. The hobgoblin was skinnier, shorter, and had far less curves. She was also wearing far bulkier clothes which were simr to what all male hobgoblins wore. Luphera on the other hand had on a flowing dress that ented her body, and she was wearing expertly applied makeup that wasnt obvious unless you looked for it.


    Sensing the womans casual disdain, Herahs re deepened. Oh, youre a human? I thought a pig had wandered in to be butchered.


    From somewhere near the back, Khita giggled. cknail just grimaced. Should he be saying something here? He really didnt want to though. Getting between the two females seemed like a bad idea.


    Feisty one, isnt she? Luphera remarked as she nced at cknail.


    Herah tried to take a step toward Luphera, but cknail stretched out his arm to stop her. He couldnt let thise to actual blows.


    Careful, he told them both. This caused Herah to actually snarl so that her teeth showed, so cknail wasnt sure shed been listening.


    Luphera justughed. Ha, Im not the jealous sort. I simply think she should at least put some effort into cleaning herself up, if only so that she doesnt drag mud across the floor.


    Not everyone makes their living on their back, Khita huffed not so quietly in support of her friend.


    cknail couldnt help but nce at Herah so that he couldpare her to Luphera. They were very different, which wasnt a surprise since they werent the same species. He found them both attractive, although he was far morefortable with his desire for Herah. Being with a human was strange to even think about, even if Lupheras curvy body was delightfully soft and bountiful. cknail was fairly certain a whole bunch of his instincts were getting messed up when he was around Luphera, and some of them had more to do with hunting than sex. Luckily for her, Luphera could take care of herself and wasnt afraid of taking charge, even if that had embarrassed cknail a lot in the past. Ugh, he didnt want to think about.


    Still, embarrassment aside, Luphera had without a doubt had a huge impact on cknail. After being with her, cknail had no longer found female goblins attractive at all. They were too small now that he was a hobgoblin, and he was even bigger now. Female hobgoblins were built much more like human women though He was never going to mention this to anyone, especially not Herah.


    Since he wasnt deaf and blind, the Governor sensed the building tension in the room. Thus, he coughed and stepped forward. The purpose of this meeting is so that cknail can inform me of why hes seen fit to visit my city. At her request, I allowed Luphera to join us, but now is not the time for idle chatter. You can dally or w at each other somewhere else.


    Neither Luphera or Herah looked at him. Their eyes remained locked on each other. Somewhat off put by this, cknail decided to get this meeting over with as soon as possible.


    Im here to save you, he told his host smugly.


    The Governor frowned. Save us? You are the only dangerous element affecting my city at the moment. Your presence threatens to destabilize the bnce between the bandits and plunge my city into chaos. If you remain, Werricks local lieutenant will have to strike against you, and he has thergest force in Daggerpoint.


    I have a bigger one on the way.


    A spark of anger appeared in the Governors eyes. So, you n to wage war here? You may outnumber the Wolfs men, but all the local bandit troops have sworn themselves to him and would also rise against you. You cant fight them all.


    cknail chuckled. No, Im not here to fight humans. Like I said, Im here to save you.


    From what?


    Grinning broadly now in a way that showed off his teeth, cknail reached into one of his coat pockets and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. He straightened it out and brushed it off a few times before handing it to the Governor.


    The dread gue, cknail answered as the man began reading. Luphera looked over his shoulder. They were both visibly paler by the time theyd finished reading. This was amusing.


    Grimacing as if he was in pain, the Governor looked back up at cknail. This is real? No, you couldnt have faked these seals. It must be true


    I got it from the pdin myself. Everything there is true, cknail exined. Hed requested an official letter from sir Masnin exining the situation in the South. It also vouched for cknail himself, although that part was vague. It was all part of the n.


    Luphera looked unusually disturbed and was biting her lip. My sources have reported outbreaks down south, but I had no idea it was this bad. I had assumed rumors were flying wild, especially in regard to these boggarts. I thought them figments of peasants imagination.


    I can also vouch for the veracity of the letter, Geralhd added helpfully. It seems like the situation in Eloria - and possibly elsewhere  is quite dire indeed.


    The Governor nodded and turned to cknail. Well, I thank you for bringing this to our attention, but I dont believe you came here as any sort of messenger.


    No, I came to save you from the gue, cknail agreed. The boggarts are spreading it and must know this city is here. The creatures are smart and have been preparing for a long time. They want all humans dead.


    I dont imagine your help wille without a cost?


    cknail smiled. Only a very small one. You just have to let my men inside and promise to help them. They will need food and shelter, but they arent picky like humans.


    Let in an army of hobgoblins? I dont see how that is necessary. We have our own methods of detecting and dealing with the gue. Hounds and Vessels among other things.


    The southern humans had hounds and Vessels, but it wasnt enough. The boggarts were able to kill them easily. Also, you have less Vessels than you did. Avorlus made all of yours and he works for me now.


    I had wondered what had happened to him after his disappearance, Luphera remarked.


    If we did agree to your terms, what of your conflict with the Wolf and his forces in the city? the Governor asked.


    cknail shrugged. To work, my men would need to be safe from ambushes by Werricks men. Youll just have to kick all of them out of the city.


    I dont have the men or the authority to do any such thing.


    Then get the other bandits and gangs to do it. They will need protection from the gue too.


    The Governor frowned. Perhaps that could work, but this seems like quite a lot to take on faith.


    You dont need faith at all, cknail told him. Im willing to bet the gue is already in the city, spreading from human to human as we talk. My hobs can track it down within a few hours and show it to you up close.


    The Governors eyes widened in surprise, and what smelled like more than a little fear. Already? You believe these boggarts are already spreading the gue within the city.


    Yes, there is no reason they wouldnt be. I chased them away from my territory, but Daggerpoint isnt in my territory. Yet.


    Now the Governor looked very uncertain and afraid. He hesitated for a moment before saying anything more. Very well. If you find any infection within my city, I will back your npletely.


    Luphera chuckled grimly. Its not like youre giving us much choice. It seems we arepletely dependent on you now. If the southernnds are truly being ravaged by the ghoul gue and these boggarts, we stand little chance on our own.


    Yep, you need me, cknail replied happily as he turned to leave. It would be silly to stick around now that he had the cooperation he needed. Every second he wasted, the gue was spreading further through the dark alleys and ramshackle buildings of Daggerpoint.


    Ill send a man with you, so you can contact me if you find something, the Governor called after him.


    Heading back out the front door, cknail and the others met up with the rest of their force on the street. One of the Governors men in red followed them as they headed back to the alehouse theyd just left. It would serve as a fine headquarters from which to begin their search.


    Who was that woman? Herah asked in a suspicious tone as she walked up right beside cknail. Khita was right behind her but hung back to listen without actually joining the conversation.


    Twitching nervously, cknail turned to look at her. Um, just an ally from long ago. She helped me kill someone, so I killed someone for her.


    Herah pouted. I help you kill lots of people, but youve never killed anyone for me!


    Um, is there someone you want me to kill?


    Thats not the point!


    cknail had no idea what the point was. Thus, he deflected. Ill get you a gift. Theres lots of nice stuff in this city.


    This seemed to satisfy Herah for the moment. She smiled happily and nodded, but then cknail noticed her turn and nce hostilely back at the Governors mansion. It was obvious what she was thinking.


    Dont go trying to kill her. I need you with me, and you dont know the city. There are many dangers here and she has a lot of skilled minions, cknail told her.


    Herah sighed in disappointment but nodded reluctantly. She then grabbed cknails arm and pulled him close so that they were walking arm-in-arm. Normally, cknail wouldnt have allowed that, but he knew better than to say anything right now. It was a small price to pay for not getting stabbed in his sleep.


    Once theyd burst back into the alehouse and startled the barkeep so that he dropped the tter he was carrying, cknail had a quick snack and then began organizing the search for the ghouls. It had been quite a while since hed encountered any of the twisted humans, but he clearly remembered what they were capable of. Images of Herads fight against them flickered through his mind. The creatures had emerged from the forest at night and charged the bandits campfires. It was then that cknail had first seen Herad go all out. Her de had reflected the firelight as shed cut into the ghouls, but it had been a close fight, even for her.


    cknail also clearly remembered what the creatures smelled like. It was a nasty oily smell that was tinted by rot, and yet still very human-like.


    Forming up several packs of five hobs and one human minder, cknail told them what to look for. He also assured the humans that they werent supposed to go anywhere near any ghouls. They were simply along to keep the hobs out of trouble and deal with any distractions that came up. The humans were understandably afraid of the dread gue. Not everyone who was infected showed obvious signs but any exposure to infected body fluids could spread the gue. All the infected also eventually became monstrous ghouls with ws and teeth that could slice into flesh and spread the gue that way. The only known cure was an expensive elixir made from silver.


    cknail himself stayed behind in the alehouse so that his minions could find him once theyd detected the scent of the gue. While he waited, he snacked some more. The barkeep had done as he was told and gotten some more cheese. There were also meat pies.


    So, who was that flirtydy? You seemed to know her quite well, Khita asked as she took a seat next to cknail.


    The hobgoblin chieftain frowned. No one important.


    Khita huffed in disbelief. As if. Come on tell me!


    No, cknail replied as he shoved her chair away. Stupid Khita. She was annoying as a bug that had gotten stuck up his nose.


    Thankfully, cknail didnt have to ignore Khita for much longer after that. One of the groups hed sent out returned to report.


    We found the scent you were seeking, boss, one of his gobs exined after hurrying over to his masters side. Theres a big abandoned building in a ce few humans go. It smells exactly like you said.


    cknail put down the rest of the drumstick hed been eating and got up. Alright, lets get ready then. The others should be getting back soon.


    All the hunting parties hed sent out had orders to return every half hour, even if they didnt find anything. To contain a ghoul infection, cknail was going to need them all, so he headed outside to wait for them.


    It took fifteen minutes, because one group waste by over five minutes. cknail didnt have time to punish them though. They had to move fast. Thus, at hismand, the hunters whod found the trail began leading the way into the city. Following behind them, cknail took his two dozen hobs, Khita, and the messenger in red with him. Khita was immune to the gue because she was a Vessel, but any other humans would just be a distraction. They could meet up with him once hed dealt with the infection.


    The hunters led cknail and the others down several twisting alleyways that ran between the dirty buildings of Daggerpoint. There was grime and garbage everywhere, as well as several unconscious drunks and a lot of rats. The drunks didnt move, but the rats scrambled away from the hobs and disappeared into junk or gaps between stones. Several hobgoblins eyed the vermin hungrily. The rats here were fat, but from experience, cknail knew they didnt taste great.


    The lead hunter suddenly stopped and raised a hand to point at arge building up ahead. There, thats where the trail leads and the scent is strongest.


    cknail studied the structure. It was obviously derelict, since it had a huge sagging hole in its roof. Before being abandoned, it looked to have been a workshop of some kind. It had a big central section that was two stories tall and several smaller side sections as well. It had probably never been pretty looking, but now it was rather dark and forbidding. Most the buildings around here werent in much better shape though. Many of them were abandoned and run down too. Only a few seemed like people ever visited them. This was one of the parts of Daggerpoint that had been left to molder after the bandits had taken over.


    Sniffing the air, cknail easily detected the scent of ghouls. The foul oily smell was thick here. Cautiously, cknail studied the dank and shadowy alleys that surrounded him. It was possible that there were ghouls hidden all around this area. If he attacked any of them, the others would rise up and attack him from behind. This hunt was going to require careful nning. Despite how they looked, ghouls had dangerous and cunning instincts.


    The messenger in red was still cowering at the very back of the group, so cknail sent him back to his master with a single hobgoblin as an escort. That way the Governor would know exactly where the infection was. That done, cknail began giving the others orders in a hushed voice. Most the hobs were to stay outside in pairs and make sure no ghouls fled, while cknail went in with a few minions to guard his back.


    Ill stay out here and make sure none of them get away, Khita volunteered.


    This earned her a look from cknail. Hed expected the stupid redhead to insist on joining him. Now that he was paying attention, she did look out of sorts. She was paler than usual, and she kept ncing at all the nearby shadows.


    Whats the matter? he asked her.


    Ghouls creep me out, the redhead whispered back. "I''m also not great haunted buildings."


    cknail frowned. Youre immune to the gue now.


    Sure, but they can still just kill and eat me. I mean, they used to be people, but now their blood is ck and theyre all starved looking. Its just wrong, she replied with shudder of dread.


    Fine, stay out here, cknail replied with a sigh. Of course, even her fears were stupid.


    A shuffling noise drew cknails attention, so he nced over to his left. There, a previously unnoticed figure wearing rags was crouched next to a pile of junk. However, now it had drawn attention by moving to look toward the hobgoblins. At first, cknail thought it was a beggar or another drunk, but then he met its gaze. Its eyes were pitch ck pools full of shimmering hunger. Slowly, the ghoul began to rise, revealing its long ws and the emaciated body thaty under its filthy rags. A mouth full of twisted teeth and ck mucus became visible as it opened its mouth to scream and summon its pack.