The destiny of a prince

Chapter XVIII

                                                                                   The goblin tramp

                  In the morning the sun came down and the heat poured over Lemar and Faren as they slept. Corvin was warming his face, causing the chill he had been feeling all night to disappear slowly. It wasn't long before Faren and Lemar woke up and started to make some leftover food from the food the soldiers brought. Shortly afterwards Corvin was awakened by Faren who invited him to the table.

                  -It was a long night, Faren said. Why didn't I wake up for a few hours to stay awake to rest.

                  -It wasn't necessary, however, I didn't have much sleep so I sat and thought, Corvin said.

And where are we going now? Faren asks.

                  - I think the best solution is to take the longer route that is not so dangerous.

                   -But if we are attacked we will be exposed to everything, said Faren.

                   - But they will also be at a disadvantage, we just have to stay very far from the edge. If we go through the old gnome fortress, we can overcome anything and there will be few enemies.

                   -You're both right, Lemar said. If we go near the mountain we will be discovered but they will be discovered, and if we take the road through the fortress there we will surely encounter the goblins or who knows what lives there.

                  - But why are you so sure that the city is inhabited? Faren asks.

                  -The goblins like to stay in the dark and it was a big battle for this fortress, I don't think they would give up so easily, Lemar said .

                  - What battle?

                 -It's called a b****y night, Lemar said. One evening when everyone was preparing to close the city until the next morning goblins and trolls attacked this city. In just a few hours half of the population here died and only a few victims among the enemies. The trolls hit wherever they could see, and until the morning the fortress was conquered.

              -God. And why didn't they try to take their fortress back the other clans? Faren said.                                 

                -Because they knew if they tried they would all die, Corvin said.

                -Do you know the story? Lemar asks.

                -Oarecum. When I was still in my village Fae, but vague. It was a long time ago, a very old gnome passed over us and stayed there for some time dealing with stories about his past, the history of his nation. One of the stories was this but I always said it's just a story.

                It seems like it wasn't just a story, Faren said. What happened to the gnome?

               - One day he disappeared from the village, no one knew what happened to him. Some said they saw him at night, but we don't know for sure. To be honest, it was good.

               -  What was his name? Lemar asks.

               - We were calling him Ohe'be.

                -We should get her out of the way, Faren said. No matter which road we choose we will reach its end without too much trouble, so let's go on the road near the mountain.

               -You're right, if we stay here longer it'll catch us at night on the mountain, Lemar said.

               - Well, take as many supplies as you can put on horses. let's go, ”Corvin said.

              - Do we take horses with us? Lemar asked. I don't think it would be okay, they will slow us down and we can't take care of them.

              - Anyway, we will get other horses after we reach the sorcerer's tower.

             - All right. Then take as much carriage as you can and let the horses go, said Corvin. From now on we will walk.

           Like that, he had packed some for everyone so he could move around in case he had to fight. They lowered the saddle on each horse and released them, then Corvin left for the mountain, following a narrow path that separated the two roads near the mountain, and in the middle was a wooden sign pointing to each of the roads. The one on the right was pointing toward the lost gnomes, and to the left was pointing to the road that skirted the mountain. They stayed just in front of the fork in the road and then left to where they were slowly, slowly rising up and getting narrower so they had to walk one after the other and be careful not to walk crooked to fall into the precipice. As they got closer to the location of the sorcerers, the sun was hiding under blue clouds that were getting darker and darker. The wind was also starting to blow.

              The crossroads had been left behind. they were beginning to rise from the ground as they followed the road near the mountain, the higher they reached. Lemar went before them to see if they were having difficulty. When Corvin and Faren reached him, they stopped near him. In front of them was a large plateau, and in front of the plateau where the road should have continued, there were boulders blocking the road.

           - What are we doing now? Faren said.

           - I don't know. If we return it will take us too long and certainly if we try to unlock the road it will take us forever, Lemar said. I think we have only to return and enter the city.

            -Hide quickly, Corvin said when a part of the wall on the right starts moving, leaving a hole in the mountain.

            As soon as they heard the warning they hid behind a large boulder that was near the entrance to the plateau. They waited for a few minutes and to their surprise they saw some goblins coming out of the hole looking to explore the area. When Corvin spoke, Lemar stopped him, pointing to the shadow that was coming closer. Two goblins were pulling data from chains holding a cave troll that was barely holding him back.

              -We didn't burn, Faren said slowly.

              -It looks like we can get in there, get out exactly where we want, Corvin said. The problem is that we will have to get through them quickly until they find us and I am alarmed that we are here.

              -Yes. We could go right to the base of the mountain at the back entrance of the fortress, Lemar said.

               - But what if we can't hide once the gate closes? We have to kill the people here and get in quickly before the people inside realize something has happened to them.

              - Did you sneeze? Faren asked. Come on, we can fight the goblins because they are easy to kill, but you don't see that big three meter sand? How are you going to fight with them?

            -Talk to Faren more slowly, Corvin said. They can hear us and we can't do anything else. After we kill goblins we will push the trolley to the edge and make it to….

              -Too late, Lemar interrupted, pointing at them.

              Goblins realized that they were there and began to shout in a voice that seemed to be ashamed, and to those who came out on the sign they found them. At that time, they had nothing to do but fight and try to survive. Faren rose and without waiting, began to shoot arrows at the goblins, clearing the way for Corvin and Lemar who were heading for the trolley. Observing his role, he grabbed the chains with which the goblins were holding him and pulled them so that they gave him head to head. Released, the trolley screamed once more and threw at Corvin who was fighting with a goblin and Lemar with another goblin.      The trolley was getting faster and faster and the two were still fighting goblins.

                Faren seeing that they were in danger grabbed two arrows and powerfully fired at the goblins keeping Corvin and Lemar busy, the two being back to back it was easy for her to shoot two arrows at once. The two goblins were shot down just in time for the two to avoid the troll jumping in different directions. Corvin had thrown himself in front of him, rolling a little. When he stopped he put his hand on a spear and hurled it at the trolley, slamming it to the right of the chest, smashing him who knew what to bring him down. Then the trolley looked at him, screamed again and began to run away as he pulled out his spear that had hurt him. Lemar tried to get up and go to help Corvin, but he couldn't do anything but the other goblins that came to the plate. Corvin leaned back and forth until he shook hands with the edge of the plate. Frightened and not having the power to rise, he could do nothing but watch as the troll was preparing to strike him with his huge fist.

                 Even when he was about to be hit by the troll, an arrow hit the troll with a straight force in his cheek, causing him to lose control. giving Corvin the opportunity to step aside from his path. The trolley came to a halt on the edge screaming in pain, giving Corvin and Lemar the opportunity to attack him, kicking them to lose their balance and fall into the precipice.

                  Corvin and Lemar fell to each other and looked at each other, then began to laugh at the luck they had had, joining Faren, who placed her hand on them.

                 -It was enough to lose our savior, Faren said, laughing.

                 -You don't get rid of me that easily, Corvin said.

                 -You should learn to fight better, Faren said. I will not always be there ...... to you ...

                 Faren stops when he hears shouts from the hole in the mountain, signaling that more will come.

                 -We should get inside the mountain as soon as others come, said Lemar.

                 - You know we're going to have to go in the same direction that the noise is heard and where other goblins will come from, right?

                 -We know Faren, Corvin said as he got up. So let's stop thinking and go fast beyond that gate.

                  Then Lemar and Faren got up and started with Corvin towards the hole in the mountain. The noise made by the goblins was getting louder. Corvin, Faren and Lemar entered the mountain just seconds before the army of goblins were ready to fight armed with weapons, much better prepared than those who had first come out and with several huge hammer trolls.

                  Corvin and the others hid in a small room that was immediately after entering the mountain, where they had a few good minutes to relax and rest a little until they continued their journey.

                 -It was about what, Faren said. If we were to meet them then we wouldn't have escaped alive.

                 -But we're not safe yet, Lemar said. We are right in the middle of them and if they find us then we will have the whole city.

                 - We will be very subtle so that it does not overtake us. Now where are we going? Corvin asks.

                 - That's a problem. I don't know the place, I'm not a gnome and I think they don't know this place either. Remember that everyone who lived here died including the secrets of this city.

                 - It can't be a way out of here, Faren said.

                  - Well, the only exit where we have to go is the one through the back door, but that's a few floors below us. It will be very hard to get there, Lemar said.

                 - We need to get there. However, the longer we stay here, the greater the chance of finding us, Corvin said.

                -Yes. As soon as the road is cleared we will go and look for a way down without making a big noise, we do not want to wake up with all the goblins and trolls living here over us.

                 -Let's hope you're right, Lemar, that I did the hell otherwise, Faren said.

                 The entrance to the mountain closed and two goblins stood guard at the outside entrance. Lemar, along with Faren, killed the two with the help of the arrows, then dragged their bodies into the room where they were, and then they moved away from the room to the stairs leading to a floor below. Near the stairs Lemar signals them to stop because of a noise. Lemar looks up the stairs and sees a goblin descending behind him, dragging a sword as if it were too heavy for him. He looked again to see if he was safe and then motioned for them to follow him. The fortress was not the one who knew how enlightened what was shaking their heads.

                    They couldn't light a torch because that would have informed the goblins that they had intruded into the fortress. Inside the pillar cities they were beautifully carved in stone as were all the cities or towns of the gnomes, but it was no longer so splendid since the goblins moved there everything had become dark and sad. Once it was the pride of the gnomes and now only a dwelling of goblins. As they advanced to the lower floors, Corvin was so sorry for losing the gnomes and hoped that one day the city would become theirs again.

                     He had already gone down two floors and stopped when ten goblins passed beside them armed to the teeth. Corvin looked around and saw a door between them open, beckoning the others to follow him inside the room. He closed the door and Lemar paused for a moment, listening to the door to see if they had been followed. Shortly after, Lemar returned and remained motionless as he had seen, the room was full of bones; it looked as if it protected someone important, in the middle of it was a skeleton with a crown on its head. Signs that he was the king and his other protectors, did not understand why they did not try to escape with the invasion of the cities.

                   -We can't stay here we have to move on, Faren said.

                   -I wasn't even going to stay, Corvin said as he lifted two small-tailed axes and grabbed them from behind. As soon as the color is clear we will leave.

                   -A little problem, Lemar said. As far as I remember the gnomes like to create the city as a maze if this city is the same, I confused it.

                   - What kind of labyrinth?

                   -  Walls, pillars, everything in a gnome city is identical, which makes it easy to get lost.

                   -Let's hope it's not the case in this very old city, Faren said.

                   -On the contrary, it is very old, it could be exactly what I have heard about these cities, said Lemar. Now come on, the hall is empty we can go on.

                    Lemar opened the door and left. Corvin and Faren follow him towards the end of the hall, which was divided in two directions. Reaching the end of the Lemar direction, he decides to go to the right, believing it to be the right way, but eventually they found themselves in a large room where there were several camp fires. They didn't stay long and made their way back. Reaching the previous intersection, they walked on the road leading to a lower floor.

                    -It seems that the further we get to the exit, the more crowded it becomes, Corvin said. Do you think they realized we were here?

                    -I think someone announced to him that we would try to cross this mountain and they were just ready for anything, Lemar said.

                    - Good? Do you really think they are that smart to prepare for us? said Faren, laughing softly.

                    - I don't think so, they are more afraid of those who lead them than we are. I think it's the hand of Rohan's sorcerer since we were attacked by his men, Faren said.

                   -I think we have a bigger problem, Lemar said, pointing to the floor below them.

                    Goblins gathered as if they were preparing for a strange battle, the trolls were beside them held in chains. It seemed that the trolls could only be controlled as much as they had seen. It hadn't been long before someone appeared in a long black robe with a hood on his head. Corvin motioned them down the stairs to hear what was going on. There was a loud voice from underneath the hood, as if he were upset about what was going on there.

                     - I told you I want him dead and you allowed him to enter the city. You are pathetic, they are only three and they still managed to defeat you.

                    - Master, forgive us. But I didn't even see them, I don't think they dared enter here. Maybe they turned to look for another way, said one of the goblins.

                    - Do you think I'm stupid? You think I don't know what happened outside, said the person under the hood who had raised his hand to the goblin, setting fire.

                     Faren pulled back as the goblin caught fire and screamed in pain. Corvin looked at her and realized he had caught her fear, shaking his head to his feet. Then Corvin went to her and tried to calm her down.

                    - Do I have the impression or is that Rohan's wizard? said Lemar.

                    -I don't think so, said Corvin. If he finds out we are here, we will all die.

                    -Maybe, but I think there's a chance he'll take us in front of Rohan, at least you Corvin, Faren said.

                    - You will not know quietly, now let's see what he says.

                    Then Corvin gets on his belly again and crawls to the edge of the stairs where he can see what's going on.

                    - We know what happened outside but since I closed the gate, I have not seen anyone, said another goblin who was on his knees with his hands in front of him as if he did not want to be hit.

                    - This is the only way to get there, which is why I blocked the one outside. They are in this city, you find. We helped you conquer the fortress and you should have known every corner of the hill.

                    - And what to do if we find him master Gharel. Do we kill them or call you when we caught them?

                    - Call me when he killed you.

                     Gharel was gone, and the goblins felt a little relieved at his departure, but it didn't take long for one of them to shout with every mouth to look for every corner, every room of the cities after which he began to blow into a horn, alarming everyone. The sound of the goblins grew louder, the trolls began to scream and beat the drums.