The Mind That Acquires - Part 6

It seemed a particularly bad moment to be leaving them to their own devices, but Oliver had given all the concessions that he could. Time was beginning to get on, and there was still the Hobgoblin to slay before he could call all his tasks complete for the day.

He said as much to his men. Verdant assured him, as honestly as he could, that they were well and that their condition was merely one of tiredness. Oliver chose to trust that, as he plunged ahead.

When the goblins came up, he slowed his pace, allowing a sizable number to gather as they ran alongside him. When their number increased past five, and hit upon six, he slowed to a halt to allow them to assail him.

The greedy goblins that had been screeching throughout the entire duration of their chase didn't seem to see anything untoward with the way he had stopped so suddenly. They must have been accustomed to their prey running out of energy as they hounded it, or becoming immobilized by fear.