The Cave Part 23

"I will do my best," is all I could stammer out in the long silent pause that followed the elder's words. All eyes were turned in my direction, and whether I really felt confident or not, I had to give a positive answer. They held such unabashed faith in me. It was hard to imagine I had gone from living with a hermit in the mountains, to suddenly being the subject of so much attention.

"We will help ya in any way we can," replied Elder Mona, doubtless reading the panic and uncertainty in my eyes. I also saw that she was plainly relieved that I had agreed to do my part.

"Yes, thank you. What else should I know?"

What followed was like the breaking of a dam. Many voices were instantly raised, bits of advice flowing towards me from every channel. It took Elder Mona at least a few moments to restore order and quiet in the meeting room, and even then only just after a great effort and much stomping of her staff on the rock floor.

"Let us be slow to action in this," urged the leader of the tribe, raising her hand for attention from all. "We are not going to war this moment. Many things must be done. Our warrior must be given a room to rest, food to eat, and time to think what he wishes to do."

"Allow me, elder!" shrilled a voice before others could leap in first. I turned and saw that it was my new friend who had jumped into the fray, actually taking a few steps closer to the fireplace at the center of the room. "I will take care of Cair!"

"Agree the council does," proclaimed Elder Mona, after a quick glance at the elders to her left and right. "Our inn for strangers will be more comfortable for his height than cozy goblin holes."

"Thank you, elder," I sighed, bowing towards the wise goblin who had shown me in the last few minutes that she held a very strong sway over her people simply by respect and ability. I had detected the same attributes in Tharkin, but was finally able to observe them in action. This woman definitely had something to teach me about leadership, if only I survived the coming conflict with the mystery creature, in order to learn from her.

"Here, I take ya," said Glip, coming up to stand by me as all the other goblins began rising from their seats and going about their business. Many had stopped to talk in groups, and not a few had glanced in my direction. Not dismissive looks, but clearly anxious. It was clear that everyone here in Dropdrip lived under a cloud of fear, in spite of going about their lives and presenting an air of calm to strangers and friends alike.

"We wish to meet ya friend, my son," spoke a deep female voice. "I turned, and found myself looking into very pale eyes, almost a silvery gray like distant rain clouds. It was the taller goblin woman who had sat next to Glip and I had rightly assumed to be his mother. "I am Ipda, and this is my husband Trip."

I gave as courteous a bow as I could muster as more goblins gathered around us to look me over in closer approximation, and there was not much more room to move than a half bow. The stolid fellow Trip took my hand and gave a very hard and firm shake. This led me to believe he was at least a worker in metal, as either a blacksmith or miner, and probably both. It was curious to see that Glip was a perfect medley of his parents, having a little bit of both in his makeup.

"We look forward to assisting ya in any way we can," spoke the father, reaffirming almost exactly what Elder Mona had spoken.

"Thank you," said I, then turning to Ipda. "Were you not the one the elder spoke of who cast the sleep potions at this creature?"

"Yes, and maybe it was not just the brew," she replied with a thin smile of satisfaction. "The bottles I threw at its head smashed quite spectacularly."

I laughed. Here was someone who was not to be crossed or underestimated unless at one's peril. Glip grabbed my arm and began leading me out of the meeting room, and back down the stairs we had climbed up. We were moving fast thanks to him, and getting ahead of the large crowd that only now began to exit behind us, back to their various tasks within the cave. It was quite clear to me that this community not only worked hard together, but made an effort to be informed of everything that was important to the preservation of that way of life.

"We have guests at the inn that may be of help to ya," said Ipda, catching my attention again before Glip led me out into the sunlight once more. "One fighter in particular should be of interest."

"Thank you, and who is that?"

"My son will take ya to him. Meanwhile, I shall continue to prepare sleep potions for ya to use in the fight ahead."

"Once again, thank you Ipda," said I, noting that she was not only a very practical woman, but also one of the most articulate in the common tongue of the goblins I had met. They had their own speech, but all were careful to speak in the one clear to me so that I would not be in doubt of their meanings.

The outside was still quite a bright shock to my eyes, even as evening was drawing quickly over the mountains. I was already anxious to get to whatever lodging the kind goblins had provided for me, just to try using the ring that Tharkin had given me to consult with him. I needed his advice badly in this situation, and part of me wished I could also contact Garthax and beg him to come down and pulverize this demon creature in the mines himself. However, I could already tell this was a training mission the great dragon had given me, but what a mission! Seemed like it might be my last if the goblins were beaten so badly in their encounters.

The hostelry we had seen walking in, was where Glip told me they had a room already set up and waiting for my arrival. Elder Mona had seen to this as soon as she had dreamed of my coming. Glip asked if I would rather eat at the tavern first. The two buildings were situated next to each other, but had not been built as one. Apparently the tavern came later, in response to visitor requests and an enterprising goblin's attempt to make some extra coin for the community.

I was starving, and so Glip and I went to the tavern for dinner first. It was a very cozy place, with chairs built with humans and other big people in mind. There were some goblins inside enjoying the amenities, a bar tender quickly handing out drinks, and several servers who also doubled as cooks. At a central table, I noticed a few big people. One of these was stopped over a card game, and laughing uproariously at what I guessed was a good joke. He beckoned for more beer, and I realized at once beside being a highly muscled man, he was not actually human.

"Ya need to meet this one," said Glip, pointing to the fellow, who appeared now to be taller than I.

"What's this?" boomed the big man's voice, turning his head in my direction. I was shocked enough to stop in my tracks. I had heard before of these people, but never actually met one. "Don't be shy, my friend! Come here and let's hear your tale. What be ye doing in the home of the peaceful medicine making goblins?"

I still held myself back a second longer. His great bottom jaw tusks gleaming in the lamp light, his pale ash green skin recognizable. This man was not a human, but an orc!