19 Goblin Attack (2)

(Vladford's POV)

The sun was just a few hours before setting. We need to find Aslan fast before night falls. I also would like to find the goblin's nest before night falls so that the people in Farenlite would be free from any attacks from these fiends.

"Do you think we could annihilate the nest with just the two of us?" Jacob asked.

"If this nest is not that large, then we can sneak past and save Aslan without any confrontations." I replied.

"But that is not your plan, is it?" Jacob said with a knowing grin.

"I cannot let them attack the village." I replied with a grin as well. "I will annihilate you them to the very last goblin."

"I know you would say that." Jacob scoffed a laugh. "Do not worry, I got your back."

"I know." I said knowingly. "We got Van on our side as well."

*ARF*

Van barked with a proud look.

In the past few years, I have been training very hard just to be stronger. I vowed that I would protect those that are precious to me, not only as the heir to the Heathfield duchy, but also as a man.

My thoughts trail towards Rosaline. My sweet little Rosaline, my fiancée. After the incident with the snow wolves, I have vowed that I would always protect her. Not only as her husband to be, but also as a man that has fallen in love with her.

Since I was a child I knew that I would be betrothed to someone that my family has selected for me. It was what happened to mu father and the one before him. But seeing as how my father and mother had a cold relationship towards each other, I was afraid I will be the same. That is why I did not have any expectations when my engagement with Rosaline was announced.

Once I saw her, she was just a twelve year old child. She came from the Draconian nobles blood line like my mother, and thus I expected her to be the same, cold and uncaring. But when we started dancing on my sixteenth name day, I saw how different she was from my mother. She was warm and carefree, like a ray of sunshine that peered in a cloudy day.

When she said she wanted to live here in the duchy, I was ecstatic. I wanted to know her better, to see her grow up. And all of that wishes came true. I have been beside her in the past four years, and I never expected that I would feel this way. My heart ever swayed only for her. And just thinking of what happened to her with the snow wolves, I angry at myself. I saw how weak I was and I vowed to get stronger, stronger than I ever could have. I want her to be always safe by my side.

And for the past four years, I have trained even harder. I have user my powers until I have mastered them completely. Whenever we are out on expeditions and monster hunts, I could feel my powers growing even more. And thus I knew that a goblins nest is not something I cannot handle on my own.

"Look over there." Jacob whispered and pointed out.

We saw a goblin scout underneath the thick shade of the trees. We lowered ourselves quietly behind the bushes.

Two goblin scouts were conversing with each other. These goblins has a little bit of intelligence that of a child and than can make them more of a threat. They are quite mischievous and vicious at the same time.

We saw the goblin scouts tread the trees and we followed closely in stealth. Not far from where we found the scouts was a cave opening. I had eye contact with Jacob and he shrugged his shoulder.

Jacob knew that I was asking of he knew about a cave near Farenlite and he replied with a shrug meaning he does not know of it.

It is not unusual to have some regions in the duchy unexplored, but knowing that is an opening of a cave hidden in the woods near Farenlite means something else.

'Usually this caves interconnect with other cave entrances in farther regions.' I thought. 'We need to report this to my father once we get back.'

When the goblin scouts entered the cave we followed quietly not long after. The inside was damp and wet, meaning there is an underground river that might be running underneath. The road we were treading started to dim and I made what I call will O the wisp. It was a dim ball of light hovering close to me to illuminate dim passageways. It was not to bright to attract unwanted attention.

We were nearing a large hollow space in the cave and I instinctively turned off my will o the wisp. We heard noises and when we looked we saw the newt of the goblins.

"There they are." Jacob whispered to me. "They are more than a few, but I bet we can take them on with you and Van here." He said with a grin.

"Getting feisty I see." I replied with a grin. "Van, you find where they are keep Aslan and rescue him." He nodded in acknowledgement. "Good boy." I patted his head.

I took out my broad sword and Jacob followed my lead. I mouthed him 'in the count of three'.

'One, two…' I mouthed. "Three!" I said with my voice.

The two of us jumped out of our hiding places, and the goblins were surprised by our presence. We had the upper hand with our surprise attack.

We were hacking and slashing along the way. I was sure to hit any and every goblin I come across.

"Hiyah!" I yelled while fighting.

My broad sword is now bathed with goblin blood. I used my magic abilities in the right timing and the goblins were not able to swarm around me.

The first thing you think in fighting a goblin is not to lose your balance. If you fall, then they will swarm on top of you and that is how you will die. Second is to not let them swarm around you. They fight in numbers and a swarm is the biggest worry you could have in fighting this fiends.

"Arrgaahhh!" Jacob was doing well in his fight. He was using his magic abilities to not let the goblins swarm around him.

Not long we were down to the last two goblins. They were stricken with fear in their expressions.

"Sorry little guys, but I cannot let you live." I said.

I was able to slice one of the goblins in two when I see Van running with someone on his back.

"H-Hey…" The man was waving at us and was panting hard as if he ran for dear life. He get off Van and back to his feet.

"Aslan, I presume." I said. "Let me take care of this last one." I lifted my sword and hit the last goblin.

"You did good boy." Jacob patted Van.

*WOOF*

You could hear pride in Van's bark.

The goblin gave a irritating shriek before it was killed by my sword.

"So, Aslan." I said. "I believe it is better to head back to Farenlite now. Now that the goblins have been exterminated, there will be no danger to the village."

"T-That is what I wanted to tell you." Aslan had an ashen face. "T-The ones here are just a handful that were left to guard their nest. A battalion of goblins are on the the march towards the village as we speak. It was something had caught their attention their and embarked even when the sun was still up."

"That is impossible!" Jacob said with an unbelieving look. "Goblins hate the sun."

"That was what I thought as well, but there is something that stirred them up since high noon, and I do not know what." Aslan said.

"We need to go back to Farenlite, and fast!" I exclaimed.

"Before we go, may I ask if you have seen the trolls?" Aslan asked. "There should be two."

What went in my mind was those trolls must be with the goblins as they marched to Farenlite. All the more we need to make haste.

"There were no trolls…" Jacob was about to say when we heard a loud roar.

*ROAR*

A huge troll holding a giant wooden club.

"Well, there is one." Aslan said with a frightened expression.

"F*ck!" I swore. "We do not have time for this." I pointed my broad sword towards the huge troll blocking our way.