Goblin Infestation

The injured dwarf staggered into the inn, his entrance drawing the attention of its customers as he collapsed. A woman in a silk robe, black hair trailing down her back, rushed to his side, reaching into the pouch at her waist. Gently she poured the contents of a small bottle into his mouth, massaging his throat to ensure he swallowed the healing potion. Slowly the dwarf opened an eye, the other gummed shut by blood from a head wound, and glanced around, relaxing as he lost consciousness.

He awoke later in a bed, the woman leaning over him and expertly checking his injuries. He said that his name was Kurdu, a permanent retainer in the household of the Lady Constie. With a smile the woman identified herself as Brytha, a travelling healer, and watched the dwarf as she touched the cut on his forehead. Even as he winced Kurdu spoke of how he became injured, of how a goblin tribe had invaded and occupied the estate.

Kurdu had led some to safety but the majority of the goblins had stood between him and his mistress, forcing him to abandon her. As the dwarf finished his tale Brytha glanced towards the doorway, towards the powerfully built man standing there. The healer crossed to the man and Kurdu caught snatches of a heated whispery discussion, something about the pair being expected elsewhere.

Eventually Brytha turned back to Kurdu, glancing forcefully at her male companion as she explained that they'd rescue Lady Constie.

***

The man was Andred, introduced as leader of a small mercenary company. For an hour he questioned Kurdu, learning as much as possible about Lady Constie's estate. As the sun reached its peak Andred and his company marched out from the inn, Kurdu watching through his bedchamber window.

Andred led the company to the Constie estate, a day's walk north from the inn and in the wrong direction for the battle they'd been hired to take part in. Arriving in the afternoon the company quickly set up camp, posting sentries to keep an eye on the estate and its occupants.

As night fell Andred gave the order to attack. Arbalests cleared a section of broken wall, the soft thud marking each time a goblin hit the ground, and warriors poured in through the breach, spreading out to sow confusion. Andred and Brytha, accompanied by a few spearmen, charged for the manor house, the man efficiently cutting down any goblins in their way.

The manor house interior was in ruins when they entered, the goblins having ransacked the building. Andred knew from experience that Kharbundush goblin chieftains would claim the best room for themselves, that this tribe's chieftain would have claimed the great hall.

The two burst into the great hall, Andred scanning the chamber for any sign of either the chieftain or Lady Constie. She was easy to spot, being the only other human in the room, and she squirmed angrily, trying to shout around the gag in her mouth.

***

The goblin chieftain was on a chair balanced precariously on a dining table, giggling madly even as his guards and lieutenants were slain. Brytha moved among them, quarterstaff in hand, while Andred steadfastly advanced directly towards the chieftain, a trail of bodies left in his wake. He span as a wiry goblin leapt at him, sword flashing out to remove the creature's head, and Brytha thrust her quarterstaff under his arm, caving in the chest of a second goblin trying to ambush the man.

Smartly the pair continued through the great hall, eyes fixed on the goblin chieftain. Still giggling the monster descended from its makeshift throne, stroking Lady Constie's hair as it passed. The noblewoman shuddered in disgust, tried to shy away from the chieftain's touch, and Andred snarled out a challenge, accelerating into a quick jog.

He crashed into the chieftain, the two rolling around amid the debris of the hall's furniture. Sharp claws carved grooves in Andred's breastplate, with a cackle the chieftain ripped his opponent's sword from his grip. Swiftly Andred pulled a knife out, shoved it hard under the chieftain's jaw. It crunched through bone, pierced the goblin's brain, and the creature spasmed.

With a grunt Andred shoved it off him, rolled smoothly towards his sword. The blade flicked out, slicing cleanly through the chieftain's neck, and its head rolled across the floor as silence fell. The remaining goblins, all bloodied and injured, glanced at the head before fleeing, all dying at the spearmen's hands.