The Lucky Little Gnome

  It had been only ten minutes before Edwin needed to take a rest. The sprained ankle made moving difficult and his short legs weren’t helping. 

  Maxwell was beginning to regret his decision to save the small creature. If they didn’t make it to Edwin’s sister soon his lung would collapse and he’d find breathing much more difficult.

  “Are we almost there?”

  “Y-yes…she’s just over that…hill.”

  Edwin’s face was turning blue and he struggled to speak. His lung must have collapsed. They were running out of time.

  “I can’t let him die” thought Maxwell. “I’ve already wasted too much time to walk away with nothing to show for it.”

  Maxwell picked up Edwin by the back of his vest and ran up the hill. When he’d reached the top, he looked around and spotted a small hut made of sticks and branches. There was no time to check if that was where Edwin’s sister lived. He ran as fast as he could down the hill and towards the hut.

  When he reached it, Maxwell stormed through the door without so much as a knock. A woman sitting on the ground cross legged with long raven black hair was startled by his sudden appearance.

  “What is the meaning of this?!”

  “Please you must help! Your brother Edwin is hurt!”

  Maxwell had noted how the woman looked nothing like Edwin. For a moment he’d wondered if he actually was actually in the right place. But those wonders were quickly dismissed as the woman sprang to her feet and ran over to Maxwell who was still carrying Edwin by the back of his vest.

  It wasn’t until the woman got up did Maxwell notice that she had no arms. Like one of the three creatures he’d seen, she had talons on her feet.

  “By the gods what’s happened to him?!”

  “He was attacked by some creatures, I stopped them but he’d already been injured before I arrived.”

  With her foot she carefully took Edwin by the vest and placed him in a bed of moss and dried grass. She ran a foot over him until stopping at the cracked rib.

  “I don’t know if I’ll be able to help, I’ve never healed something like this before.”

  Maxwell could hear the panic in her voice. Edwin had said she was a healer in training. He didn’t know the extent of her abilities but if he was going to find the goblins nest before nightfall he’d need her to save Edwin. 

  “It’s a cracked rib, I don’t know much about healing magic but right now you’re the only one with a chance to save him.”

  The woman nodded before sitting back down cross legged. She closed her eyes and surprisingly began to sing.

  “I’ll never understand how healing magic works” thought Maxwell.

  As the woman sang a golden light seemed to surround Edwin. The sound of crunching could be heard as he let out a painful scream. Despite his screams the woman continued to sing until the crunching stopped and Edwin had fallen asleep.

  “I’ve done the best that I can, his body will need to do the rest. Thank you so much for saving my brother’s life.”

  “You’re the one he should be thanking, I’m just glad he’s going to be alright.”

  “Should have just left him to die” thought Maxwell.

  “My name’s Freya.” 

  “I’m Maximus.”

  “The Maximus? As in the great hero, Maximus?”

  “That’s the one.”

  If he had to hear one more person say the name Maximus like they were speaking to a god, he was going to lose it.

  “I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done, my brother is the only family I have.”

  “About that, are you two…”

  “Not by blood.”

  “I see.”

  “My parents abandoned me when I was born without my wings.”

  “I was curious about that.”

  “Most people are, they tell stories of a monstrous creature who plucks the wings off young harpies who don’t listen to their parents. But the truth is far less exciting, I was brought into the world like this.”

  “When did you decide on becoming a healer?”

  “Oh I’ve always known I wanted to be a healer. Our father was a healer. He’d been training me till a year ago when he passed.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “Don’t be, our father lived a long life and I hope that through my healing, he will live on.”

  “I hope you’re right about that.”

  “What of you Maximus? I heard you had perished. What brings you to this forest, so far from where you call home.”

  “I’m search for a goblins nest, your brother claimed to know where I could find one.”

  “Forgive my brother Maximus, for he’s a bit of a fibber.”

  “Are you telling me he was lying?”

  “I’m afraid so.”

  Maxwell clenched his fists. An anger was beginning to take hold of him. He imagined grabbing Edwin by the neck and shaking him till he awoke. He’d want him awake so that he could look him in the eyes as he choked the life out of him. He’d break all his bones and force his sister to heal them just so he could break them again.

  “I suppose I should have seen that coming, you wouldn’t happen to know where I might find a goblins nest?”

  “You’re in luck Maximus, I know of a goblin’s nest not too far from here. The goblin’s leader pays me a visit once a month to heal his aching back.”

  “That’s great news.”

  “If you don’t mind me asking, why were you searching for a goblin’s nest in the first place?”

  “Nothing serious, I was just hoping to ask a few questions.”

  “Well, it’ll be dark soon. You’re free to stay here for the night, and in the morning I’ll guide you to the goblins nest myself, if you wish.”

  “I’m afraid I’m in a bit of a rush.”

  “Say no more, the goblins nest is just west of here. You’ll see a giant rock sticking out of the ground. Just beyond that you’ll come across the nest. By the time you get there, you may even see a few goblins. But please, do be careful, they’re far too weak to bother you but there are quite a few of them.”

  “I’m sure I’ll be alright, I only wish to speak with them.”

  “Thank you again, we are forever in your debt.”

  Maxwell nodded before settling off on what he’d hope would be his final journey. 

  Freya was wrong when she’d said he was in luck. The only lucky one had been Edwin. He’d never know just how close he’d come to a truly horrific death if not for his sister’s directions.