10 Chapter 9 Leaving the Slave Pens

The walk home was amazing for Tect. For years the thought of his clan dying away in slavery had weighed heavily on him, but now he felt amazing. His people were finally free and without having to fight and run into the hills like fugitives. Tect strolled past the gate guard with a smile, the guard returned his smile with a sneer and spit on the ground in front of him. "Don't look too happy slave, if you think those townsfolk are gonna agree to free you you're out of your mind. What kind of person would want all you filthy goblins running free?" Tect just smiled, "Apparently the kind of person who lives in Nadteifelt, since they already agreed to do so." Tect gives the guard a big smile and walks past, the guard glares at him as he leaves. A second guard walks over to him, "What wrong now Jerry?" "It seems the townsfolk have lost their damned minds. the goblin says they already decided to free um." Now both guards wear a scowl, if Tect could see it it would probably bring him joy.

As Tect reaches the center of the camp he places two fingers in his mouth and whistles loudly. All the goblins stop what they are doing to look at him. "Everyone gather around, I have great news." Tect waits patiently as the others gather around him. "The human's have agreed to set us free." The crowd erupts in cheers. Some jump for joy, a few others fall to their knees and cry, Tect whistles again, "I know how you all feel, I too was scared that the human's would deny us our freedom, but in the end they came through as in my heart I knew they would." A male goblin steps forward, "Are we to work with them to survive the winter?" "No, right now they have agreed to free us, but they ask to discuss cooperation in private. I told them that come sunrise we will be leaving and if they wish to cooperate they have to let us know then. So until we know otherwise assume that at sunrise we are leaving for the mountains. Use the day to pack, prepare, and plan. We must prepare well, it has been a long time since we have lived in the wild. Anyone who remembers how to make snares should try to make a couple dozen. Use the flint we collected to start making knives. Even if the humans accept our help all of these things will still be useful. Now go and get working, it'll be nightfall before you know it." The goblins all ran off to begin working, only one person stayed still, David the human. "Tect, what do you need me to do?" Tect gave David a strange look. "David your human, you can just get your stuff ready to go to town tomorrow." Davids gaze shifts to a Female goblin who is very near to them, too near, Tect realizes that she is trying to listen to the conversation. "What if I don't want to live with the humans, I've lived here with all of you my whole life, you guys are like my family. Id rather brave the wilderness with all of you than to live in town." Tect looks directly at the female goblin, she blushes and looks away quickly, Tect smiles and begins to laugh, "Yeah, Im sure you'd love to brave the wilderness with ALL OF US." Tect begins to laugh even harder, David blushes and turns away. After Tect calms himself down he pats David on the shoulder, "Since your coming you better carry some of the heavier items, most of the goblins can't bear the weight as they are now." As Tect walks away David's smile blooms, "Yes boss, I'll carry all the heavy stuff!" David and the female goblin run off hand in hand smiling.

The day is fairly uneventful, the goblins have packed quite alot of supplies, and 20 of the 24 chickens are wrapped in cloth so that they can't move. The four oldest chickens are already in the cooking pot with the last of the grains and any other food the goblins can't take with them. Tonight will be the heartiest meal they have eaten in years, tomorrow is the first day of freedom for these goblins in a long time and they may need all this food if they are going to make it into the mountains and find a cave before dark over takes them tomorrow. The guards have all left the compound now that they have no one to keep in, so many of the younger goblins have made a game of running in and out of the gate which stands wide open. It is a rare moment of true joy for the goblins, they are happy, free, and have full bellies. As darkness falls on the camp the goblins slowly make their way back to their tents, many can't sleep right away due to their excitement, Tect is one of them. For a time Tect lies awake agonizing over all the ways that tomorrow can go wrong. Though is takes a while he eventually enters a fitful sleep.

Tect hasn't been asleep for long when bright flashes begin to erupt at the edges of the camp. Tents begin to go up in flames, sometimes before the occupant is able to even get out. The screams of burning goblins is what wakes Tect, and as it does a flash goes off right beside his tent, which is quickly engulfed in flames. Tect only has time to grab one of the bags he prepped, the other is quickly lost to the flames. As he steps out of his tent he sees goblins running in all directions. *Fwip* Something flies past Tect and strikes another goblin which immediately falls to the ground, the head of a crossbow bolt protrudes from his back. *Fwip Fwip Fwip* More crossbow bolt fly in, it's constant now with a slight pause every third shot. they all come from the same location, the balcony of the overseer's house.

Tect begins shouting at the top of his lungs, "Everybody grab anything you can and run for the gate!" Tect shoulders his bag and begins to sprint towards the gate, fire burns in his eyes as he steps over dozens of bodies. When he reaches the gate it is closed, a thick chain and lock looks to keep it that way. Behind him are the last of the goblins, less than a hundred are left. "Everybody charge the gate, it can't hold if we all work together!" Tect charges forward and slams his shoulder into the gate, the rest quickly follow. As they all push the gate begins to lean but then the sound of crossbows begins again. All around Tect goblins fall to the arrows, as they push with all their might a human appears on the other side of the gate laughing, "What's the matter Tect. I thought you were all free? You don't look too free to me." Robert laughs and spits on the goblins. "Robert why are you doing this, the townspeople voted to free us." Tect shouts enraged. "Aye, they did but we didn't. We broke alot of the slavin laws, we don't need a bunch of newly freed slaves blabbin to the townsfolk about what went on here now do we?" Robert and his men begin to laugh. They turn around and walk away as the crossbows start to fire again. Tect's eyes are bloodshot and his anger is so intense he can feel the veins standing out all over his body. He pushes harder and as the goblins around him begin to cry and scream in pain as they are shot his eyes begin to glow. a red mist begins to form on the surface of Tect's skin and slowly drifts off. As more goblins fall the mist gets thicker and thicker. Tect's muscles bulge and his bones pop but still he pushes even harder, the red mist is beginning to envelop the goblins around him and their eyes begin to glow as well. There is a loud pop as one of the bars on the gate snaps. Robert turns around and sees a monster. Tect is nearly two feet taller than he was a moment ago, his eyes are glowing, his muscles have swollen, and he is exuding a blood red mist. The goblins around him also have glowing eyes and swollen muscles, they all gnash their teeth in frenzy. A second pop sounds, and one of the hinges breaks. The gate has had all it can take, Tect draws back his fist and punches the gate. A wave of force is released from his fist at the moment of impact that throws the gate forward, all the hinges have shattered and only the chain still holds. Robert stands frozen by the sight in front of him. Tect walks up to Robert leans down to him and in a deep rage filled voice says, "We are free." He grab Roberts head and squeezes it, there is a loud pop and then Roberts head explodes covering Tect in blood, bone, and brain. There are only thirty goblins left behind Tect now but they quickly charge forward and eviscerate the remaining men with their sharp claws. "We have to leave before the crossbowmen get here, everyone head east, don't stop even if we get seperated. We have to get as far from here as possible. Once we are in the foot hills begin leaving rabbit trail signs, we will meet up at the foot of the first mountain." "Yes Chieftain" the thirty goblins all answer in unison their eyes still glowing as they sprint off into the darkness. only a few still have packs. Tect spared a single glance at the burning Slave Pens no more screams could be heard so he ran faster that he ever had before.