“Halloo!” came a cheerful call.
“Who goes there?” Coltan called, though he knew the answer before his voice echoed back from the boulders. The homing stone was wild with vibrations under his shirt. He jerked out the amulet and stuffed it in the pouch on his belt. His skin instantly began to cool.
“Name’s Chekwe! Formerly a teamster of 9th Foot, then of the 2nd Volunteers, the 11th Foot, and the 17th Foot, which got combined back into the 11th Foot after the battle of…”
“I don’t need your enlistment history, you i***t greenie!” Coltan called. “I need you to surrender to me.”
“Not today!” Chekwe called. “There’s a goblin invasion going on, don’t you know?”
“I have orders!” Coltan yelled. “You’re to be given a fair trial, with consideration for surrendering your person and returning the
