BrightMoon: Path of a Witch King

Chapter 12

After collecting all my loot I met back up with the others, “I forgot to say this before, but the armored one is Wisp, they don't talk but they are probably the most accomplished goblin hunter along the river.” Doma said to me.

“Goblin hunter?” I asked quizzically.

“You can specialize in hunting certain monsters, when you set a specialization you are alerted by the Union if there are any missions or sightings of that particular monster.” Doma explained. 

“That's kinda cool, what happens if they run into other monsters though?” 

“Depends on what they run into, I am sure if Wisp runs into a troll or maybe an ogre they would win in a one versus one situation but with how most monsters have a habit of living in the same environments it's unlikely you will just run into one.” Doma said and Wisp looked up and gave a thumbs up at him.

I chuckled at the silent warriors' antics.

Lillette came forward and shrugged on a leather pack. “We are headed back to town tonight, did you want to travel with us?”

“No, but thank you. I live in the forest and will head to town later, hopefully we will meet again at the hunters union.” They each offered their own farewells and safe wishes and headed towards town. I waited a few minutes after they left before I got started. “Come out little ones.”

My sprites came out of the forest and ran up to me, “Go around and collect these shiny black stones for me.” I showed them the obsidian chunks and they hustled about the battlefield, one of the sprites used one of the small coin purses as a sack and the others quickly mimicked him.

Soon I had a small pile of obsidian dumped at my feet, I kneeled down and placed my hand over the chunks, I pushed my mana gently and imagined the obsidian chunks becoming one large lump about the size of my fist.

I hefted the chunk before stowing it into my bag, “Change of plans little ones, lets hunt some more of these goblins before heading back home, spread out while we look for them but have a partner with you.” 

“Yes master!” they chittered excitedly.

I set off deeper into the forest at a slow jog. It was about twenty minutes before my sprites found a pack of goblins, the pack only had five members but that was just right for me. “Ok little ones, I will take down two from here, once I start fighting the others feel free to attack them, now gather around me while I perform my blessing.”

The little sprites huddled around me, I thought about the blessing and I felt a strength well at my feet before traveling up through me. Once it reached my throat I spoke words in a language I didn't recognize but could understand. {O’Great mother, lend us your strength so that we might weather the storm of our enemies blades, that they might fall beneath us and nourish the earth.}

I saw a small silver energy form over the sprites before it seeped into them, the same for myself seemed to happen, I could feel the blessing like a coat of armor, yet it did not hinder me in any way.

I stood up and felt my mana, it had lessened by about a sixth, but for a blessing that essentially gave me armor it was worth it. I pushed my mana again and shattered a few stones, I took aim and launched them at the goblins that were walking ahead of me. 

As soon as the stones struck their targets I took out my clubs and charged, I could see the sprites on the periphery of my vision moving from bush to bush. The remaining three goblins heard me and started to charge at me, I could see their wild eyes and they let their battle cries out as they closed in on me.

I swiped one of my clubs forward, catching the goblin in the lead in the face, the other two slowed to a sudden halt. 

My first target was launched to the side with the blow so I moved forward and swung at the next goblin, it made the mistake of trying to jump over the swipe and my club broke something on impact.

My sprites charged out all at once with an almost crazed frenzy, half of them jumped on my first target and started stabbing the goblin to death. The other half did the same thing but to the last remaining goblin, who decided to run away, unfortunately for the goblin the sprites were insanely fast.

They leaped onto the goblins' back and bled the goblin to death with hundreds of cuts, “That is enough little ones, you did a great job, go ahead and loot them.” The sprites got to work and soon I had five more emblems and more obsidian chunks.

As we finished packing the new loot I heard a strange pitched hunting horn, I felt uneasy at the sound, “Let's head home little ones, we still need to go into town still.” I didn't want to stick around to find out what that strange horn was.

It took a better part of an hour to get back home at a fast pace, “Okay everyone head to the ship we are heading into town in a few minutes!” I called out as I entered the yard. The sprites cheered and ran to the ship, the girls came out of the cave with a pack of goods each. There was a large pack of really big hides being carried by Cera and Satera, so I went forward and lifted the large pack from their struggling arms.

“Let's go you three.” I smiled and waited for everyone to exit the cave, I then sealed most of the entrance to our home and trailed behind them. After boarding the ship I placed the pack down in the hold, “Indra go ahead and get us turned around, once we are clear of the bay I will seal it shut.” 

“Yes master.” she walked into the cabin and started to turn the ship. We went through the process of unsealing, leaving, and resealing the bay entrance. 

I went into the cabin and laid on the bed, “Wake me when we get there Indra.” I said before laying my head on the soft pillow, I barely heard her before I fell into a nice nap.

I felt a light shake and I opened my eyes to see Cera, “Welcome back master, we are docking now,” she said before healing back out to the deck. I looked over to the desk, Indra was slowly bringing us in, once we were close enough she let the anchor fall.

I got up from the bed and stretched, “Nice work. Let's get the packs and head to Golas’ place.” I left the cabin and found the packs already on the deck, I went down into the hold and grabbed another large pack that was filled with meat.

Back up on deck I ordered the sprites to kill anyone who attempted to get on board that wasn't me or the girls. They gave me some twisted little smiles before unsheathing their weapons, well at least they had the right attitude. 

The girls followed me down onto the pier and into town. “We will have dinner at the tavern tonight once our tasks are finished.” The girls smiled and walked just a bit faster.

I didn't want to be left behind so I quickened my pace as well, and soon we made it to the tailors as he wasn't too far from the docks. 

I entered his shop and saw the man at the desk, his whole family was at the desk looking at some ledgers, “Gola my friend! How is business going?” I called. The tailor looked up and smiled up at me.

“Business is great, thanks is partial to you bringing in pelts these past two weeks, how are things going with that pirate ship of yours?” 

“Oh my ship is fantastic. I pity the fool who tries to steal it though, they will be met with a very nasty surprise.” I laughed aloud thinking about a thief being dog piled by my sprites and getting stabbed to death. I did have quite a bit of money on board, just in case I needed anything, but with the sprites on board I doubted anyone would try anything a second time.

I started to unload the girls' packs that were willed with horned rabbit pelts, next came the large pelts, which were to be made into bedding. “I need these to be treated so they can be slept on, take the cost out of the rabbit pelts please.”

Gola nodded and went to show Ela and Elo the inspection and the math required for taking out the price of my service from the price of the pelts. Once they were finished I received several silver cubes. I gave a few  to each of my apprentices, “This is your allowance for this week, anything you want you can purchase with your own money, though if you need something just tell me.” The girls nodded and kept their money in small little pouches around their necks.

We stopped by Urans shop next and sold him our excess meat. Gola had what we needed to wash our clothes so I bought an extra large container from him. We stopped by the ship to drop it off along with our empty bags. Stepping onto the deck I found a man lying in a pool of his own blood, tiny cuts covering his body from head to toe.

I sighed and checked the body, I found a pair of knives and a coin purse, nothing else was on him so I picked up the still warm body and tossed it into the river. I put the packs in the captain's cabin, “Good work little ones.” I said before heading back into town. I will have to clean the blood up later.