Chapter 4: Unlikely Allies

As Grimsby and I trot down the forest path on our horses, our new goblin companion scurries alongside us desperate to keep up, his eyes darting to and fro as if expecting the trees themselves to betray him. The air is thick with the scent of pine and damp earth.

"Alright, little guy we are taking you with us, now do you wanna tell us what you are doing out here so we can help?" I say in a gentle voice trying to ease the little green creature, causing Grimsby to roll his eyes.

"Bad men come," the goblin croaks, his voice a raspy melody of broken Common tongue. He gestures wildly, mimicking the act of cutting and slashing, "They trick us, make promises. We help, find shinies, find herbs." His clawed fingers clench into fists, his green skin pulled taut over knobby knuckles. "Then no more help! Forest weeps, bleeds. They kill, enslave."

"Sounds like Thorne's handiwork," I mutter, clutching Dealbreaker tighter. The silver blade seems to thrum at the mention of the name.

Grimsby nods, his expression grim. "Aye, that fits the bill. Underhanded tactics for underhanded gains."

I turn back to the little goblin that after hearing Thorne's name started pacing back and forth in panic "What's your name little buddy?" I ask in the nicest voice I can muster, trying to calm and build rapport with our newfound friend.

The goblin stops his frantic pacing and looks up at me with wide, fearful eyes. "Name? Name..." He seems to ponder for a moment, scratching his bald green head. Suddenly, his face brightens with realization. "Me, Glubber! Me Glubber!," he declares proudly, a toothy grin spreading across his face.

"Glubber, huh?" I repeat, smiling back at him. "Well, Glubber, you can trust us. We'll help you and your tribe, but first, we need to visit a friend who lives a little bit out of the way."

Glubber's eyes widen with hope and gratitude, a glimmer of trust kindling in them. "Thank you, thank you, masters!" he exclaims, his voice filled with relief. The goblin's small hand reaches out tentatively towards me, as if seeking reassurance in our unlikely alliance.

Grimsby eyes Glubber warily but nods in agreement. Realizing that aiding Glubber may prove useful to our future travel into the forest.

We continue our journey with Glubber in tow, the goblin's excitement palpable as he bounces alongside us, occasionally darting off to investigate a curious-looking mushroom or a glint of sunlight on a dewdrop. Seems that somebody doesn't get out of the forest often.

Hours pass, and Finally, the dense canopy edge of the forest gives way to an open clearing, where a small hut squats like a forgotten memory. It's here, surely, where Elborne's beast-taming friend resides.

"This must be it I guess?" Hardly convinced myself that someone would live in such a rickety shack

"Knock on the door, then," Grimsby says, eyeing the rickety structure with visible skepticism.

"How do you think Elborne knows this guy?" I ask while stepping forwardande straightening my tie and cloak, my salesman's instinct kicking in despite the rustic setting. A solid rap on the wooden door—a pitch-perfect knock of opportunity—and then chaos erupts.

With a roar that shakes the ground beneath my feet, a massive black bear lunges from the brush, its claws swiping with murderous intent. I roll to the side, feeling Dealbreaker surge with energy as I narrowly escape being mauled. The goblin shrieks, scrambling up a nearby tree with an agility that belies his diminutive size.

"Grimsby!" I shout, as he parries slapping the bear with a plank of wood he had grabbed from the ground that had fallen from the shack, his face a mask of concentration. "Any ideas?"

"Survive!" he barks back, dodging a vicious bite and turning to run towards the front door.

The bear is relentless, a force of nature bound by tooth and claw. I step forward and unsheathe my blade but just when the bear begins to lunge again a voice cuts through the growling fury—a voice like the crack of a whip, old and authoritative.

"Oi! Back off, Brutus!"

The attacking bear halts, turning its head toward the hut. Out steps an old man, weather-beaten and crotchety, with eyes that gleam with untamed knowledge. With a single gesture, he calls off the beast, which retreats with a grumble of protest.

"Who dares disturb my peace?" the beast-tamer demands, fixing Grimsby who is now right at the foot of his doorstep with a stare that could curdle milk.

"It's Elborne who sends us," I reply, catching my breath, "and it seems we have much to discuss."

The man's gaze softens only slightly, but it's enough to signal the end of our immediate peril. As I sheathe Dealbreaker, I feel the weight of our mission settles upon my shoulders once again. Every sale, every deal, every battle—it all leads me one step closer to Thorne, to justice, and to making my mark on this new world I find myself in, one that I never could have made in my old life.

Stepping across the threshold of the hut, I can't help but feel like we're entering a dragon's lair, one where deals are as treacherous as fire-breath. The interior is dim, lit by scattered candles that throw shadows against walls cluttered with talismans and dusty tomes.

"My name is Bert and this is Grimsby"

"Yorno" the man replies, pausing afterward like he may keep speaking but then purses his lips. Creating an uncomfortably long silence.

"Elborne sent us," I begin, my voice steadier than I feel. "He mentioned you've got intimate knowledge of the enchanted forest." Beside me, Grimsby nods curtly, his usual stoicism providing much needed silent support to my words.

The old man's eyes narrow at the mention of Elborne, a spark of recognition flickering within their depths. "Aye, Elborne's an old friend," he grumbles, moving toward a table laden with vials and herbs. "What business do ye have with the likes of me?" His tone suggests annoyance, yet there's a hint of curiosity too.

"Beyond getting through the enchanted forest," I explain, watching him closely, "we've encountered a situation with goblins being exploited and harmed. They need our assistance."

"Ha!" He scoffs, turning back to face us, his expression a blend of incredulity and irritation. "Goblins? Those sneaky blighters? What care I for their troubles?"

"Because," I interject smoothly, tapping into my salesman's instinct, "they've been wronged by a man we both seek retribution against. A man named Thorne." The blade at my hip, Dealbreaker, feels heavier with the invocation of that name.

"Thorne, eh?" The beast-tamer strokes his tangled beard, pondering. "That scoundrel has crossed paths with many, left a trail of deceit wide as the river, and yet he and his band of bastards still manage to dine with the king, don't sit right if ye ask me. The bastard told me to stay out of the forest last time I encountered him and his band, and I don't take threats kindly."

"Exactly," Grimsby adds, leveraging his no-nonsense tone to our advantage. "Both our goals align in stopping him. Think of it as... a mutually beneficial partnership."

"Mutually beneficial, he says," the beast-tamer muses, his gaze flitting between us. Clearly, the idea of something in return piques his interest.

"Consider it an investment," I chime in, the words slick as oil on water. "We offer our services to aid your control over these lands, no more scoundrels stomping around. In return, you provide guidance and support in resolving the goblin issue—and getting us through the forest."

"Control over the lands, is it?" he murmurs, a scheming glint appearing in his eye. "And what makes you think you can deliver on such a promise?"

"Because," I drawl, feeling the pre-workout packet filling the space in my pocket, "I have skills and resources that go beyond simple sales and swordsmanship. Magic from another world, ripe for the taking."

"Magic, he says..." The old man's skepticism wanes as intrigue takes hold. "Show me this magic."

Without hesitation, I retrieve the packet from my pocket and place it on the table with a confident smack. The mundane turned magical, ready to prove its worth.

"Observe," I say, popping the pouch slightly open and sprinkling a pinch of the contents into the air. Inhale some of that.

I hope this pre-workout actually works in this world like the wizard on the road says it does or this display is going to be really underwhelming.

After a tense moment, both Grimsby and I looking at each other with our breathe held, the old man wiping his now watering eyes breaks the silence.

"By the ancients," he whispers, awe replacing the gruff exterior.

"Imagine what else we could achieve," Grimsby adds, driving home our pitch. "With your knowledge and our... enhancements."

The beast-tamer studies us for a long moment, weighing his options against the unseen scales of his desires. Finally, he extends a calloused hand, rugged as the land itself.

"Very well," he concedes, a reluctant ally now bound to our cause. "I'll help ye with the forest and the goblins. But mind ye, I'm not doing this for naught. There will be recompense."

"Agreed," I respond, shaking his hand firmly, the deal sealed. As I do so, Dealbreaker hums softly at my side, its power growing with each agreement reached, each level gained.

As we settle into plans, the motif of progression etches itself deeper into my soul—This guy must have been a boss challenge for persuasion because I am pretty sure I gained 2 levels off of closing him alone.

After I was sure we had the beast tamer fully on board, I went back outside to reclaim the other new ally that we had made on the road.

"Glubber, its safe to come down!" Almost before I finished the goblin was already scurrying back down the tree at an impressive rate.

Glubber lands on the ground with a soft thud, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and curiosity. I offer him a reassuring smile, trying to put him at ease after his ordeal in the tree.

"Glubber, this is our new ally, Yorno, he will be helping us navigate through the forest and deal with the men who are hurting your tribe," I introduce the beast-tamer, hoping that Glubber would see this as a positive turn of events. The goblin eyes the old man cautiously, then looks back at me, his expression one of uncertainty.

"You... trust human?"

I nod, my voice gentle yet firm. "I trust this one. He's agreed to help us and join forces against those who have wronged us. Together, we stand a better chance."

Glubber seems to ponder this for a moment before nodding hesitantly. "If Bert trusts, Glubber trusts."

"A goblin ally?" the old man muses, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "Well, well... times are changing indeed."

Glubber eyes the beast-tamer warily before tentatively approaching him. Yorno crouches down to meet the goblin eye to eye. Grimsby and I look at each other teeth clenched, not sure what to expect next.

Without a word, Yorno extends a weathered hand towards Glubber. The goblin hesitates for a moment before tentatively reaching out to shake it. As their unlikely handshake solidifies, an unspoken understanding passes between them, a silent promise forged in that simple act of connection.

"Times are changing indeed," Yorno repeats, his voice gruff but not unkind. "And it seems we must change with them if we are to survive."

Grimsby relaxes slightly beside me, his rigid posture softening just a fraction at the sight of this newfound alliance forming before us. I feel a swell of hope in my chest, a glimmer of optimism amidst the shadows that have clouded our path thus far.

With Glubber and Yorno now part of our motley crew, our party feels more complete, each member bringing their own unique skills and perspectives to the table. As we stand there in the dying light of day, I can't help but wonder what other surprises await us in the enchanted forest.