Isdis looked at Arad, “I hate to admit it, but I’m not that expert in the goblins’ nature. I only intended to escort the elves into our land to deal with them,”
The guard captain looked at Arad, “Those goblins aren’t acting natural at all. They only attack the elves, ignoring the humans, so you would rarely find them on this side of the forest.” He looked at the door with a worried face.
“You’re thinking the same way as me. Something stronger is controlling them.” Arad sighed, “I thought the giants were behind it, but they didn’t seem to have a hand.”
“How could you tell?” The captain stared at Arad, worried about hearing the answer.
“I paid them a visit,” Arad replied, “They nested in a cave to the north,”
“What!?” The inn owner gasped, “Giants, around the village!” He cried, “We need to put a quest to eliminate them before they attack the village.”
“No need,” Arad sighed, “Already killed them,”
Everyone froze, glaring at Arad’s white sweating.
“You must be joking,” The captain giggled, “Giants aren’t that easy to deal with, and they live in groups,”
Arad lifted his hand, and five giant heads fell on the ground, “I do have more stored. I killed them.” He glared at the frozen captain. 𝐞𝐨𝘃𝐞𝐥.
Isdis stared down with her mouth gaping open as the inn owner backed away.
“Just find me the goblin nest. I have bigger goals in mind,” Arad smiled. ^If I managed to impress the royal family, I could use them as a shield from the mages’ tower until I grow strong enough to defend myself. Or at least use their information network to my advantage.^
Arad could only see Isdis as a tool to protect himself, putting her and the royal family in the front to deal with the mages. That would allow Arad to seek his other goal with ease of mind.
Lydia sighed, “For real, aren’t you the one who told me not to bother by the running monsters?”
“One probably, but I can’t ignore a horde of them,” Arad replied with a smile, and Jack laughed, “Leave some for us. I want to test this on a living thing,” He cracked his hand.
Aella stood, “It’s almost dinner time. I will go bring something from the owner.” She looked at the counter.
“Yes!” the owner gasped, “Dinner is ready. I will get the tray out,” He rushed inside, and Aella followed him.
Arad stood, looking around with a worried face. “Did you hear that?”
“Hear what?” Isdis stared at him. She couldn’t hear anything.
Jack blinked, “Goblins?” He stood, “Someone is yelling goblins,” he looked at the door, rushing to open it.
Everyone went into the street to listen, and only then Isdis could hear it. A faint cry for help came from the main village gate.
“GOBLINS!” A man screamed at the front gate.
“Arad!” Aella rushed from inside the inn, “I heard someone yell goblins,”
“I know. It’s coming from the front gate.”
Everyone ran toward the gate to take a look.
They found the guards glaring at a crying elvish man, “I barely escaped from them, humans. Please let me in the village.”
The guards glared at the man, confused, “Even if you tell us…We’re at war, and we can’t trust you. You might be a spy,”
“Please! Let me in,” He screamed.
“Fine, but you wait here in the garrison until we get word to the village head. We don’t want to be blamed for this,” They sighed, looking at each other.
“You don’t need to bother. The chief’s order is to not let any elf into the city without proof of goodwill.” One of the senior guards growled, “We aren’t seeing any of the goblins you speak of,”
“What’s going on?” Isdis growled, walking between the guards.
“Who are you bitch? Scram back to your house,” The senior guard growled.
CRACK! Isdis’s guard captain punched him in the face immediately, sending his teeth to the ground. “Watch your mouth,” He growled.
Isdis pulled a royal necklace, lifting it up, “I’m here on behalf of the king himself. I, Princess Isdis Lior Ruris hereby take control of the village by birthright.”
Simply put, the village is now under her rule since she’s a direct descendant of the king. “Let the man inside the city and treat his wounds. Don’t forget to check him for poisons or anything of the like.”
“As you order!” The guards bowed, rushing the man into the city.
From the corner of his eyes, the man could see Aella standing in the back. ^A blond elvish woman with green eyes, to think I would find you this easily.^
GAH! The man growled, rolling from the guards’ hands, “Don’t mind me! The goblins, you must deal with them,” He crawled on the ground, seeing the bow on Aella’s back.
“Send a group of the elite to their nest in the east, smoke them out to the city’s open plains, and then rain arrows on their heads. That’s the only way to safely dispatch such numbers.” He growled, crying.
Isdis looked at Arad, “With you around,”
Arad nodded, “I will be the one to smoke them out, everyone gathers on the village walls and prepares arrows.”
The man blinked twice, ^Is this idiot serious? He can’t go alone,^
“Don’t go alone, you would die,” The man cried, glaring at Arad, “Please! Take a strong party with you!” He pleaded, “I don’t want this to fail because we underestimated the green demons.”
Arad looked at the man with a smile, “Don’t worry, I can handle myself well,” He patted him on the back, “Jack, fill the plain with traps. Aella stands with the guards on the walls, and Lydia, protect the gate. I believe you can do it.”
Lydia smiled, “As a protection, and a vengeance paladin. Goblins would only get into the village after stomping my corpse.”
The man started sweating, ^This isn’t the plan! This isn’t the plan! I have to get the woman alone,^