CH 134: Firewater
It could be possible. Some monsters do have intelligence and can speak, as evident by the trolls. But to trade? Or was it a bribe?
Either one shouldn’t be possible.
Lily analyzed the contents. She couldn’t say much about the flask itself, but she could identify the liquor. It was whiskey. And not local. Its origins were on the other side of the country.
The barley within was different from the barley produced in Lloyd’s territory. The flask, as well, it looked like it came from the coast. Lily studied the flask, looking for damage.
There was no sign of a struggle, nor were there scratches, save for the top. It was barely worn and seemingly recently purchased. Lily’s mind raced as the evidence piled up.
“Fuck me.” She muttered. “This looks to have been traded to them!”
Claire and Jasmine exchanged a look of bewilderment. Neither had heard of such a thing happening.
“Shit!” Jasmine yelled as she noticed the goblins moving. “Get ready.”
Claire drew her sword as Ursa growled beside her. She surveyed the trees on both sides of the road. Glowing yellow eyes crept forward in eerie unison.
“Ursa, wait for my command,” Claire said.
Ursa snarled but obeyed. The white wolf stayed beside Claire as she paced around the horses. She did her best to keep the horses calm, but couldn’t focus on them.
One by one, the goblins revealed themselves. They entered the light, walking in formation. Nearly fifty goblins exited the forest on each side, but that wasn’t the shocking part. It was their gear.
They had manmade armor and weapons. The armor was tailored to their smaller stature, and their weapons as well. One stood out from the rest, taller than the others but smaller than Claire. It wore a breastplate etched with foreign insignia and tattered colors. Mimicking a knight captain. The creature raised a clawed hand, and the others stopped as if on command.
Claire took a deep breath, calming her racing mind. Questions could wait. She glanced at Ursa, who wagged her tail.
“Go.”
The wolf let out a howl that echoed across the clearing. The goblins faltered as the wolf got to its hind legs. Her body morphed to accommodate a more human posture, its hind legs resembling humans more than canines. Its arms lengthened as its claws grew.
The captain barked orders in garbled syllables, but Ursa was already a blur.
She leapt forward, tackling the captain mid-command. Her jaws crushed steel and bone alike. She shook the corpse violently and hurled it into its kin.
Jasmine eliminated the other captain-like goblin on the other side while Elsie summoned another firewall within their formation, cutting them off from each other.
Claire let Ursa handle the right flank as she raced to the left.
“Lily, watch Ursa!” Claire commanded. “Warn us if they get too close on the right or behind.”
“Yes ma’am!” Lily replied.
Claire didn’t have time to think before a goblin charged her. The creature cried out with its spear ready. Claire deflected the spear effortlessly before bashing the goblin with her shield. With a quick thrust, it was dead.
But there were more.
They charged her as she readied herself. Blinding light appeared before her as Ana’s totem caught their attention. The goblins turned to focus on the construct as Claire charged.
She slashed one as they met before the totem. With one fluid motion, she slashed the others who were distracted by the construct.
She retreated towards the carriage as more charged. Jasmine and Elsie had already thinned the numbers, leaving Claire with manageable clusters of attackers. They came in groups of four, five at most.
Even if they had human equipment and weapons, they were still goblins. They were weak and relied on numbers, and now they were completely disorganized. Their numbers were quickly dwindling
Claire exhaled sharply. Time blurred together as she fought the remaining goblins. She’d slipped into rhythm, and every movement was precise. She worked off instinct, blocking and slashing the goblins with little thought.
Her new armor was standing up to the abuse well, it deflected spears and slashes that made it past her guard. Her shield pulsed with power as it redirected damage back. She hadn’t even used any of her skills yet.
It was only when Lily yelled that she came back.
“Behind!” she cried out. “There’s something big.”
Claire pivoted to the back, finding a lone goblin. It was taller than herself and, compared to other goblins, quite muscular. It had armor reminiscent of humans and a two-handed sword at its hip. It slowly approached the carriage. Claire moved to intercept it, her shield readied. However, it did something strange.
It bowed.
Claire tilted her head, adrenaline raced through her veins. Before she could even comprehend what the goblin was doing, it spoke.
“Greetings, humans.” Its raspy voice silenced the chaos. All eyes turned to it as it continued. “Forgive us, we assumed you were mere merchants or adventurers. Had we known who you were…”
A collective laugh started among the goblins as the tall goblin stood. It was half a head taller than Claire and its glowing yellow eyes met hers.
“Let's just say, we would never have attacked.” The goblin said with a chuckle.
Claire laughed, startled by her own reaction. “Really?”
Ursa let out a growl as she approached the two, still in a hybrid form. Claire saw the goblin’s eye twitch. Its eyes followed the wolf as it returned to four legs.
“Yes,” It spoke, resting its off-hand on the pommel of its sword. ”Had we known you were with them, we’d have let you pass. By the time I was notified, the battle was already raging on.”
Claire tilted her head further. An act mirrored by Ursa beside her.
Then it dawned on her.
She glanced at Ursa, who was still tilting her head. Claire remembered the caravan where they reunited with Ursa. Those women had lycanthropy, too.
Claire glanced back at Jasmine, who had an arrow knocked. She shook her head at the assassin.
“Right… and who might you be?” Claire asked, lowering her shield. “We’re not from here, so apologies for your… brethren.”
Its eyes studied Claire for a moment. Claire hid her bewilderment and did her best to play the part. She set her hand on Ursa’s back, calming the wolf.
“I am Firewater,” it said, bowing once more. “Named after the drink I procured for my kin.”
“Firewater?” Claire repeated as she sheathed her sword. She rubbed her chin and continued the act. “She couldn’t have warned me about you? That fucking bitch.”
It flinched. Its head lowered as Claire let out a huff.
“My apologies, we weren’t warned of any visitors. Astrid usually warns us.”
A moment passed. Claire wrestled with herself internally. One part of her wanted to strike now and end the threat. But then she thought of Samira.
Could this creature be similar to her?
“Firewater, you speak clearly. And with manners.” Claire said, her tone softening. She paused, weighing her options one last time.
“Is that… something you’ve always had? Or did someone teach you?” Her tone was gentle, curious, not accusatory. “I just want to understand.”
The goblin straightened up and reached for the sword at its belt. The wolf beside Claire tensed, baring its fangs. The goblin froze.
“Firewater,” Claire continued, her voice steady. ”Are you being forced to do this?”
“You’re not them.”
“No,” Claire confirmed after shushing Ursa. “We’re hunting them.”
“Why tell me this?” The goblin asked, its grip tightening on the hilt of its sword.
“Because we’ve met someone like you,” Claire spoke calmly. “A lamia, or something close to it. She spoke and had intelligence beyond monsters. She had reason and emotions. She was kind.”
“I see.” The goblin took a deep breath, closing its eyes momentarily.
“What is the first thing you remember? Were you born this way or wer-” Claire rattled off questions only to be cut off by the goblin raising its hand.
“Then we are enemies all the same.”
“No, we can tal-”
“I must fight you.” Firewater cut her off again.
“Must?” Claire asked. “You are being forced.”
The goblin exhaled. “That is none of your concern. Now, we can do this two ways.”
“Bu-” Claire tried.
“An honorable duel,” the goblin said as it unsheathed its sword. “If I win, you turn back. If I lose… my kin will not stop you, and I’ll fall with my pride intact.”
“There has to be another way.” Claire pressed. She stepped forward, causing Firewater to ready his sword. “Please. We can help if you need it.”
“No,” The goblin said firmly. “Choose. Before Astrid’s women arrive.”
Claire took a deep breath, cursing to herself. “Fine. You want a duel, I’ll give you a duel.”