Helping Hand

  The forest seemed to come alive more and more as the day went on. As if no longer afraid of Maxwell’s presence the creatures of the forest began to reveal themselves to him either out of intrigue or curiosity.

  He’d already flicked away two forest sprites who’d tried sitting on his shoulder and had to avoid a talking mushroom who’d somehow gotten themselves stuck in a mud puddle.

  While these fantasy elements had intrigued him at first, he was beginning to find them more tiresome than anything else. 

  His search for the goblins nest was coming up empty. After hours of searching he’d seen nearly every fantasy creature you could think of except for a single goblin. 

  He found himself wondering why Midas had chosen goblins in the first place? According to everyone they were the weakest creatures in all of Arion. Perhaps he chose them because of how ridiculous it sounded. As King he would never be questioned and so the creatures were whatever he said they were.

  “Now that’s true power” thought Maxwell. “To look at someone and say the sky was red and know that all they can do is smile and ask how red?”

  Maxwell had known men with that kind of power. For a brief time, he’d had that kind of power. And soon he’d have it again, only this time he would never let it go.

  The forest opened up into a clearing with a small stream running through it. Maxwell knelt down to taste the water to see if it was fresh. It was, and so he had a drink before resting on a fallen tree.

  He was running out of time, nightfall would soon be upon him and he’d need to find the goblins nest before then.

  As Maxwell looked around the clearing trying to decide which direction he’d start heading towards a cry for help could be heard coming a little further down stream.

  “Looks like I’ve found where to search next” thought Maxwell.

  The cries for help grew louder as Maxwell made his way down stream. While he wasn’t interested in helping whoever was making the noise, he was interested in asking them if they’d seen any goblins around.

  He’d tried asking any creature who understood him but all he got was laughter before they ran or flew away.

  When he’d reached the end of the stream he saw three creatures standing over a smaller creature with a long beard and pointed hat. One of the creatures was covered head to toe in brown spotted fur with a cat-like face. Another seemed to have snakes for hair, resembling the gorgon, Medusa from Greek mythology. The final creature had feathers protruding from their arms with a talons on their feet.

  “Why’d you run away from us, Edwin? We only wanted to talk.”

  “Yeah Edwin, now look what you’re making us do, you think we want to hurt you like this?”

  “No please, I didn’t mean to run, I was just…”

  “Just what? You think we don’t know what you were trying to do? Lie to us again and I’ll rip off those tiny little things you call legs.”

  “No please! Please! I won’t try to run again!”

  “That’s smart Edwin, that’s very smart of you. Too bad you should have thought of that the first time you tried running.”

  “No! Help! Somebody, help me!”

  “Will you quit it with all that screaming? No one’s coming to help you.”

  “You did this to yourself Edwin, now we have to…”

  “That’s enough.”

  All three creatures turned to face Maxwell, though it was the one with the cat-like face who spoke first. “And who might you be?”

  “I’m the one who said that’s enough.”

  “Alright funny guy, I’m feeling a bit generous today, so I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear you just now and your gonna walk away.”

  “Or how about you walk away and I’ll let you all live.”

  “You got a death wish or something?”

  “Hey Zi, that guy looks familiar, I think I know him from somewhere.”

  “Oh yeah, isn’t he that hero guy? What’s his name? Maximus something.”

  “Seriously? Thought that guy was dead.”

  The three creatures seemed unsure what to do. They had him outnumbered three to one but they all heard stories of the countless creatures who’d fallen to the hero’s blade. Was Edwin really worth risking their lives over?

  “We’ll finish this later Edwin.”

  “And you better not run next time.”

  When the three had vanished deeper in the forest, Maxwell approached the small creature they’d called Edwin. He was beaten pretty badly, may even have had a broken bone or two.

  “Edwin was it?”

  “Oh yes, yes, my name’s Edwin. Oh thank you sir, thank you so much for saving me.”

  “Don’t mention it, that’s what heroes are for.”

  “Hero? So what they said was true, your Maximus the hero?”

  “I am.”

  “Wow, the actual Maximus just saved my life. This is the best day of my life!”

  Maxwell couldn’t help but laugh to himself. Edwin had nearly been killed moments ago and threatened that his business with the three creatures wasn’t over and yet he spoke as if he was on top of the world. Was being saved by Maximus that huge of an honor?

  “I’m happy you feel that way, I was wondering if I could ask for your help with something?”

  “Of course Maximum, anything, just name it.”

  “I’m looking for goblins, specifically a nest.”

  “Oh I see, there aren’t many goblins around here. They can be pretty tricky to find, it’s a good thing you’ve got me. I know where there’s a goblins nest. Just let me…”

  As Edwin tried to stand up, he fell over in pain.

  “Just great” thought Maxwell. “I saved a creature who can’t even walk. I might as well have just asked the three creatures for help, after they were done killing him.”

  “Here, let me look.”

  Maxwell inspected Edwina’s legs and found that one of them had a sprained ankle. He tore a piece of fabric from his shirt and carefully wrapped Edwin’s foot before applying a stick to be used as a splint.

  “What a waste of time” thought Maxwell.

  “Thanks Maximus, I owe you one.”

  “You owe me a lot more than one” thought Maxwell.”

  “I’m just glad it was only a sprain, do you feel pain anywhere else?”

  “Now that you mention it, my chest hurts a little.”

  Maxwell put pressure on Edwin’s chest. “Oww!”

  “And he has a cracked rib, just perfect” thought Maxwell.

  “I’m sorry Maximus, I don’t mean to be a bother.”

  “You’re fine, do you know any healers who could help you?”  

  A sprained ankle was one thing but Maxwell had no way of fixing a cracked rip without any medical instruments. If Edwin didn’t know a healer then it would probably be best to just put him out of his misery.”

  “My sister’s a healer in training, she doesn’t live too far from here.”

  “Great, lead the way.”