Falstad reached into a pouch. “I've something here that'll help us bring a little light onto matters, my elven
lady, although I'm thinking I already know what sort of scavenger we've caught!”
He pulled out a small object, which, after setting his hammer aside, he rubbed between his thick palms.
As he did this, the object began to glow rather faintly. A few more seconds' action, and the glow
increased, finally revealing the object to be some sort of crystal.
“A gift from a dead comrade,” Falstad explained. He brought the glowing crystal toward their captive.
“Now let's see if I was correct—aye, Ithoughtso!”
So had Vereesa. She and the dwarf had captured themselves one of the most untrustworthy creatures in
existence. A goblin.
“Spying, were you?” The ranger's companion rumbled. “Maybe we should run you through now and be
done with it!”
“No! No! Please! This disgraceful one is no spy! No orc-friend am I! I just obeyed orders!”
“Then what are you doing out here?”
“Hiding! Hiding! Saw a dragon like the night! Dragons try to eat goblins, you know!” The ugly, greenish
creature stated the last as if anyone should understand that.
A dragon like the night?“A black dragon, you mean?” Vereesa held the goblin nearer. “You saw this?
When?”
“Not long! Just before dark!”
“In the sky or on the ground?”
“The ground! He—”
Falstad looked at her. “You can't trust the word of a goblin, my elven lady! They don't know the
meaning of truth!”
“I will believe him if he can answer one question. Goblin, was this dragon alone, and, if not, who was
with him?”
“Don't want to talk about goblin-eating dragons!” he began, but one prod by Vereesa's blade opened a
reservoir of words. “Not alone! Not alone! He had another with him! Maybe to eat, but first to talk!
Didn't listen! Just wanted to get away! Don't like dragons and don't like wizards—”
“Wizards?” both the elf and Falstad blurted. Vereesa tried to keep her hopes in check. “He looked well,
this wizard? Unharmed?”
“Yes—”
“Describe him.”
The goblin squirmed, waving his thin little arms and legs. The ranger did not find herself fooled by the
spindly looking limbs. Goblins could be deadly fighters, with strength and cunning their puny forms belied
“Red-maned and full of arrogance! Tall and clad in dark blue! Know no name! Heard no name!”
Not much of a description, but certainly enough. How many tall, red-haired wizards dressed in dark blue
robes could there be, especially in the company of Deathwing?
“That sounds like your friend,” Falstad replied with a grunt. “Looks like you were right after all.”
“We need to go after him.”
“In the dark? First, my elven lady, you've not slept at all, and second, even though the dark gives us
cover, it also makes it damn hard to see anything else—even a dragon!”
As much as she desired to go on with the hunt right now, Vereesa knew that the dwarf had a point. Still,
she could not wait until morning. Precious time would slip away. “I only need a couple of hours, Falstad.
Give me that and then we can be on our way.”
“It'll still be dark . . . and, in case you've forgotten, big as he is, Deathwing's as black as—as night!”
“We do not have to go searching for him, though.” She smiled. “We already at least know where he
landed—or rather, one of us here does.”
They both looked at the goblin, who clearly desired to be elsewhere.
“How do we know we can trust him? 'Tis no tall tale that these little green thieves are notorious liars!”
The ranger turned the sharp tip of her sword toward the goblin's throat. “Because he will have two
options. Either he shows us where Deathwing and Rhonin landed, or I cut him up for dragon bait.”
Falstad chuckled. “You think even Deathwing could stomach the likes of him?”
Their short captive quivered and his unsettling yellow eyes, completely lacking in pupils, widened in
outright fear. Despite the close proximity of the sword tip, the goblin began hopping up and down in wild
fashion. “Will gladly show you! Gladly indeed! No fear of dragons here! Will guide you and lead you to
your friend!”
“Keep it down, you!” The ranger tightened her hold on the devilish creature. “Or will I have to cut out
your tongue?”
“Sorry, sorry, sorry . . .” murmured their new companion. The goblin quieted down. “Don't hurt this
miserable one. . . .”
“Pfah!'Tis a poor excuse of even a goblin we've got here!”
“So long as he shows us the way.”
“This wretch will guide you well, mistress! Very well!”
Vereesa considered. “We will have to bind him for now—”
“I'll tie him to my mount. That'll keep the foul rodent under control.”
The goblin looked even more ill at this latest suggestion, so much so that the silver-haired ranger actually
felt some sympathy for the emerald creature. “All right, but make certain that your animal will not do him
any harm.”
“So long as he behaves himself.” Falstad eyed the prisoner.
“This poor excuse will behave himself, honest and truly. . . .”
Withdrawing the tip of her blade from his throat, Vereesa tried to mollify the goblin a little. Perhaps with
a little courtesy, they could get more out of the hapless being. “Lead us to where we want to go, and we
will let you loose before there is any danger of the dragon eating you. You have my word on that.” She
paused. “You have a name, goblin?”
“Yes, mistress, yes!” The oversized head bobbed up and down. “My name isKryll,mistress,Kryll!”
“Well, Kryll, do as I ask and all will go well, understand?”
The goblin fairly bounced up and down. “Oh, yes, yes, I do, mistress! I assure you, this miserable one'll
lead you exactly where you need to go!” He gave her a madcap grin. “I promise you. . . .”
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