The Cat and Mouse Games Continue

The bug-eyed, bow-legged goblin jumped to his feet with a start, reaching for his crude scimitar. "Who said that!?" it squeeled, fumbling about in the filth-choked tunnel.

The goblin yelped as if something had bite him, cowering in a pile of it's own excrement as the sharp pain in his head finally subsided. He didn't want to confront any dragonslayers today, he wanted to hide and sleep. Oh sure, maybe if he found the slayers sleeping he could muster enough courage to slit their throats or steal their supplies...but this was different. It had never entered his wildest nightmares that dragonslayers would actually come through this way, his tunnel, so high and safe and hidden. He had come to think of it as his own little dominion, hidden from the entire universe. He thought the Master had forgot all about him, and that had made him very happy. Minestus had many minions in his underworld dominion, and it had seemed quite plausible that one lowley little tunnel keeper would slip his thoughts - but apparently not. He had no choice but to obey his orders, for fear of his Master's wrath.

He had a new toy he could use, however. Recently, while he had been slinkering about in an unexplored expanse of the tunnel system, he had stumbled upon a little device...a weapon. Goblins were very fond of clever instruments of destruction, and quite adapt at using them. From what forgotton kingdom and forgotton time it came from the goblin couldn't begin to imagine, but he valued it as his most prized possession in the whole world. Going over to a little niche in the tunnel wall, he stuck one of his gangly green arms into a hole and withdrew what appeared to be a little beetle. It was, in truth, something far more diabolical. He gingerly began to wind a tiny crank that brought the automations of his toy to life...

Fred and Astra, meanwhile, had indeed managed to get into the elevated tunnel without any hinderances. They scampered to a place where the tunnel forked. It appeared to them the fork to the right would put them in the arsenel where a faint bluish light softly illuminated the far end, and going straight ahead would take them to places unknown.

He turned his attention back to the glider. The true test of her magical prowess would be conducted later, once he had drawn her deeper into his realm. What an odd trio they made, an Allarian, an Aqualarian, and a Dolomite Glider - all as different as they could be. All here at the same time by coincidence! Such timing! The glider was the biggest threat now, it would take more time to glean the information he needed from her - she was the key. These gliders were very different from their human cousins. He couldn't simply imprison her and torture the information he needed out of her, and she wouldn't fare but a week in captivity. She needed the constant sense of independance these gliders seemed to thrive on. He'd have to keep his game going, playing on their fears and exploiting their hopes until they were drained of all useful information. Then he would either destroy or enslave them, one by one, in the heart of his dark dominion.

1. The illusionary Belboz begins to intone the words to a spell...
2. Meanwhile, a harmless looking beetle meanders it's way toward Fred and Astra....

Add New Option

Go Back

View Forward Story Tree
View Back Story Tree