Mastery Is Earned

“Human, you had better explain.” The hybrid gnoll turned back, its cold, slit-pupiled eyes sweeping over the group before settling on Martin.

Timid by nature, Martin stumbled backward under the gnoll’s threatening gaze and fell to the ground. He looked from the hybrid gnoll to Raymond, stammering without managing a single word.

The other two members of the town guard tightened their grips on their weapons, ready to fight the gnolls.

Raymond sighed and discreetly motioned for them to remain calm. Then he stepped forward. “A group of goblins attacked us while we were transporting the weapons. They stole them. We couldn’t find more bows or crossbows on such short notice. You know they’re controlled goods. We had no choice but to make up the difference with other supplies. But please believe me—we’ll make up the shortfall next time.”

Raymond did not know whether the hybrid gnoll could understand such a long explanation. After thinking for a moment, he added, “Goblins. Stole weapons. Next time, make up.”

The hybrid gnoll stared hard at Raymond, glanced at the other gnolls, then looked back at the cargo. “Humans. Cunning.” A low growl rumbled in its chest as it said something to the others that Raymond could not understand.

One of the gnolls muttered something in reply. Then several of them began twitching their noses as though searching for a scent.

Raymond could not resist sniffing the air himself. All he smelled was the heavy stench of urine. Looking down, he found that Martin’s trousers had become wet at some point, and the man’s legs were trembling.

“Humans. Weak.” The hybrid gnoll spoke with open mockery, and the others broke into strange laughter. After laughing for some time, it continued, “Goblins weaker. Gnolls strong.”

Raymond lowered his head without speaking and quietly signaled the others to lower their weapons to avoid an unnecessary fight.

Once the gnolls finished laughing, the hybrid muttered a few more words and tossed its head. Only then did the full-blooded gnolls lead the short-legged oxen forward.

Martin climbed back to his feet. He looked at Raymond and breathed a sigh of relief before whispering, “The trade can continue. We just unhitch our draft horses and harness them to the wagons they brought.”

Raymond glanced at Martin but said nothing. He simply began working in silence, and the two guards did the same.

The three draft horses were soon unhitched. Raymond watched the gnolls across from him and forced himself to concentrate as he led his horse toward them.

As he approached, he could already smell the thick, almost nauseating stench coming from the gnolls. He forced himself to endure it and walked straight past them to the short-legged oxen.

As Raymond passed the gnolls, he could even hear them sniffing, as though testing his scent.

The creatures were tall. Even hunched over, they stood nearly level with Raymond, though they were leaner and more powerfully built.

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Raymond undid an ox’s harness and led it out from between the wagon shafts. He then brought his own horse into its place and attached its harness to the wagon. The gnolls made no move against him, which eased his nerves slightly.

Only after seeing Raymond return safely did the two guards lead their own horses past the gnolls. They too replaced the oxen and harnessed their horses to the wagons.

Fortunately, the gnolls appeared to have lost interest in frightening them. Instead, they gathered around the wagons Raymond’s group had brought and began choosing weapons.

Once the other two guards had finished rehitching the animals, Raymond dragged the barely standing Martin over and dumped him onto a wagon piled with foul-smelling pelts. Raymond and the two guards each took hold of a horse and led the wagons away, walking faster with every step.

“Human.” The hybrid gnoll’s voice suddenly came from behind them.

Raymond turned. The creature stared at him with its slit-pupiled eyes. “Goblins. Losers. Ran west. Large group.”

A large group of goblins to the west?

Raymond showed no surprise. He merely nodded to the hybrid gnoll, then continued leading the horse away. The three men walked for more than ten minutes without looking back. Once they were certain the gnolls had not followed them, they immediately gave the signal.

Before long, the town guards waiting in the distance hurried over in response. Raymond’s old acquaintance Captain Dario led the group.

“How did it go? Everything went smoothly? He didn’t cause any trouble, did he?” Dario relaxed when he saw that everyone was unharmed, though he still glanced at Martin as he asked.

The two guards exchanged a look, uncertain how to answer. Raymond spoke first. “Nothing happened. Everything went as planned, and the trade was completed successfully.”

“Good. Send these goods back to Blackstone immediately. They’re all important evidence!” Dario ordered. Several guards promptly took charge of the wagons.

Raymond studied the cargo and sighed. This time, the black ore filled only one and a half wagons. The rest consisted of animal pelts, horns, and bones. The overall selection seemed richer than last time, but they had received half a wagon less ore.

Unfortunately, all of it was about to be taken back to the town guard as evidence. But what evidence did anyone need for a trade with gnolls? In the end, these goods would simply be sold on the market.

Once everything had been arranged, Dario was about to issue further orders when Raymond pulled him aside.

“Make it quick, Raymond.” Dario frowned.

“I have urgent information, Captain Dario,” Raymond said. “I just learned from the gnolls that after they drove the goblins down from the mountains, the goblins fled west.”

“That is important, but we can’t be sure it’s accurate yet,” Dario said thoughtfully.

Raymond continued, “Less than two months ago, Carter, three other mercenaries, and I accepted a commission from the town guard to investigate the disturbances in Blackpine Forest. You can check the records. We encountered goblins southwest of Blackstone, including the one that could breathe fire.”

“Oh, was that when Carter suffered those burns?” Dario said as something occurred to him. “This information is important. The sooner we find where the goblins are hiding, the less harm they can cause. I think this is every bit as important as the gnolls!”

“Exactly.” Raymond nodded. “But the forest is so vast...”

Dario gave him an enigmatic smile. “Right now, the one thing Blackstone doesn’t lack is manpower.” After a moment’s thought, he issued orders to the other soldiers. “You three, drive the wagons back to Blackstone and secure the goods in the evidence storehouse! You two, escort them. Everyone else, come with me. We’ll withdraw to the rendezvous point as planned!”

“Yes, sir!”

Dario stopped one of the guards assigned to escort the wagons and whispered a few words in his ear before patting him on the shoulder. The guard’s expression grew serious. After saluting Dario, he set off again with the wagons.

Once they had left, Raymond and the others continued toward the designated rendezvous point to wait for Henk’s tracking party.

When they reached a broad clearing, they set up camp and lit a fire. The trade had taken place in the afternoon. Even if the trackers moved quickly, they were unlikely to arrive that night.

Blackpine Forest was not particularly safe after dark. Fortunately, every member of the tracking party was a seasoned veteran. Spending a night in the woods would present no great difficulty for them.