Nekros nearly dropped the artifact. Whirling about as best he could with one good leg, the huge orc
stared down at a pitifully tiny figure with batlike ears and a vast set of sharp teeth set in a mad grin.
Nekros did not know what bothered him more, the creature himself or the fact that the goblin had
somehow managed to infiltrate the dragon's cavern without being stopped by the golem.
“You! How'd you get in here?” Reaching down, he grasped the tiny form by the throat and lifted him
upward. All thought of punishing the dragon vanished. “How?”
Even though he spoke words half-choked, the foul little creature still smiled. “J-just walked in, o
gracious m-master! Just w-walked in!”
Nekros considered. The goblin must have entered when the fire golem had come to its master's aid.
Goblins were tricky and often found their way into places thought secure, but even this clever rogue
could not have worked his way inside otherwise.
He let the beast drop to the ground. “All right! Why come? What news do you bring?”
The goblin rubbed his throat. “Only the most important, only the most important, I assure you!” The
toothy smile broadened. “Have I ever let you down, wondrous master?”
Despite the fact that, deep down, Nekros felt that goblins had less of a sense of honor than a ground
slug, the orc had to admit that this one had never steered him wrong. Questionable allies at best, the
goblins played many games of their own, but always fulfilled the missions set upon them by Doomhammer
and, before him, the great Blackhand. “Speak, then, and be quick about it!”
The devilish imp nodded several times. “Yes, Nekros, yes! I come to tell you that there is a plan under
way, more than one, actually, to free—” He hesitated, then cocked his head toward weary Alexstrasza,
“—that is, to cause great disaster to Dragonmaw clan's dreams!”
An uncomfortable sensation coursed down the orc's spine. “What do you mean?”
Again the goblin cocked his head toward the dragon. “Perhaps elsewhere, gracious master?”
The creature had the right of it. Nekros glanced at his captive, who appeared to be unconscious from
pain and exhaustion. Still, better to be wary around her for now. If his spy brought him the news he
suspected, the orc warlock hardly wanted the Dragonqueen to hear the details.
“Very well,” he grunted. Nekros hobbled toward the cavern entrance, already mulling over the likely
news. The goblin hopped beside him, grinning from ear to ear. Nekros felt tempted to wipe that annoying
smile off the other's face, but needed the creature for now. Still, for the slightest excuse . . . “This'd better
be good, Kryll! You understand?”
Kryll nodded as he hurried to keep up, his head bobbing up and down like a broken toy. “Trust me,
Master Nekros! Justtrustme. . . .”
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