The Cave Part 30

"My students ask me constantly for words of wisdom, on how to best educate themselves and prepare for the careers of this world. I point to the apple orchard we can see in the distance from our classroom and say, 'that fruitful grove was planted before anyone of us stood here, and will likely be here after us. Look to the trees and tell me, what can you do to be as great a gift to the world of men and nature as they, and then you will have answered your own question.' And I am still seeking to answer that question myself."

-Raith Kan

There was a powerful shriek from the other side of the wall of earth and stone, with the most immediate effect being the pulling back of the black hand with its deadly claws. A violently swift action that nearly pulled the blade from my hand, except for the razor edged sharpness of the sword. The metal cut cleanly in and then back out as the creature from the other side retreated. For a moment all was quiet and still as every breath seemed caught, then a resounding slam of force against the barrier.

I did fall back at this point, my balance caught completely off guard. That sick feeling that rushes through you as realization that you have lost complete control took me, but even as contemplation of my head shattering against a stone behind me drifted calmly and resignedly into my mind, large meaty arms caught me with a rush. I did not need to turn my gaze to know Bjardon must have rushed up behind me to arrest my fall.

"That was an ace of a stab!" he roared with approval, mirth in his voice as much as any concern. "The beastie didn't like that at all!"

In truth, I had to agree with the exuberant orc. After that slam of anger from the other side, there was no more further assault. It was almost as if the creature had expected passive goblin folk that it had delighted to kill earlier, and found something it did not expect at all, namely, sharp resistance.

"Shall we block the hole?" cried out one of the goblin folk, gesturing to the large open gap in the barrier where the hand had been clawing its way through. Black blood spattered the ground, and beyond the progress made by the creature, all I could see was blackness.

"Block it solidly," ordered Elder Mona, holding herself up firmly, a determined hard look on her face. "We not ready yet for another conflict. Double the guard this spot, and let elders take turns reading the signs."

I thanked the orc for saving me from the fall, and he set me down. Apparently I was not much of a burden to him. Glad I was that we were friends.

"Ha, ya better wipe off that fine weapon you have there," said he, pointing to the dark blood that dripped from my blade. "It looks wicked to me."

He had quite a point there. To my horror, the stuff would drip to the earth, but begin to smoke gently when it came in contact with the stone. It hissed a little as it did so, and seemed to be eating away at the material it had landed on. Looking up, I could see that the stuff around the hole was also smoking. The goblins wisely held back away from it.

"Do not get it on you," ordered Tharkin, approaching us looking at the black blood with apprehension. "It acts like an acid. I have seen this long ago in other creatures as well. We must be extra careful in conflict with it."

Stretching out his hands, the old man uttered words of command and a heat rolled away from him as fire shot forth from his fingers. Tongues of yellow and orange flame blasted away at the dark blood, sizzling it with overpowering heat. To my surprise, he aimed his fire at my sword blade as well, burning the stuff away. There was a bad stench about it that came as no surprise. We were up against something terrible in all aspects it seemed, and the danger had only grown from my wounding it, not lessened.

"Fire we must have too," added the leader of the goblin people, Elder Mona now leaning on Glip's arm as she pointed out several spots to set up what I guessed would be fire pits or braziers. "Touch nothing we do not understand. Report anything seen."

I looked about and to my horror, I could see that not a few of the goblin earth movers were on their backs, receiving care from the healers. Ipda herself was frantically seeing to a man whose head had taken a severe blow from a falling stone. Tharkin had also moved to do what he could among the goblin folk, leaving me wondering what I was doing just standing there. I began to search my mind for healing magic I had learned from the old man, what now seemed ages ago, when I felt a tight hold on my right arm. I looked down into the amber eyes of Elder Mona.

"We need ya now warrior," she urged with strength of desperation in her voice. "It will come again and break through another way if it can."

"I will go with the lad," replied Bjardon, who had stood by this whole time, giving me silent encouragement by his strong presence.

"Glip will go too," piped up my friend, still assisting the aged leader of the tribe.

"But how are we going to enter except through right here?" I asked, a little mystified. "You have the people blocking this hole now, and setting up fires to keep the creature back. Am I not to go into the iron mines right here?"

"There is another way," whispered the elder, her shoulders a little more stooped now, but the fire in her eyes still as determined and bright. "There is the iron door below."

"A secret path that has not been used in many years, aye that is the way to go," agreed Tharkin, who had joined us quietly without my noticing. Clearly the healers had taken over care of the fallen and he had peeled away to join this impromptu council of war. "Dwarves placed it long ago when first opening the diggings, before they journeyed away to the north lured by news of gold mines freshly found. Some centuries ago, Cair, I had the key in my possession, but gave it to the goblin elders when first they formed this settlement and determined to work the old iron veins."

"Long it was locked, and strong are its bones," continued Elder Mona, never letting me go with that strong grip that surprised me for one who appeared frail. "I sent seekers to see that it stood yet, and they have reported the way is shut. Yet I open it for ya when ya are ready. Please be ready soon."

"We will go as soon as possible," I replied, though I felt a chill in my stomach at the thought of descending into what was the lair of a fell creature more dangerous than we had imagined.

"I shall go with you," replied Tharkin quietly but firmly. "This will take sound judgment and our combined skills."

"The Maker protect us all," I replied, and meant it deeply.