Into the Goblin’s Nest

  It took longer than he’d expected, but just as Freya had said he’d come to a giant rock sticking out of the ground.

  Maxwell was beginning to doubt the healer’s directions. He’d been walking for what felt like hours and the sun was already beginning to set.

  He walked past the rock and was immediately hit by the most foul odor he’d ever smelled in his life. While he had no way of knowing, he’d guessed that the smell was coming from the goblin’s nest.

  Following the stench, he discovered the entrance to what looked like an old mine shaft.

  When he’d first arrived to this world, he would have been interested to know what the mine shaft had been used for but now all he wanted to know was whether it was the goblin’s nest or not.

  Using his shirt to cover his nose and a lantern he’d borrowed from Elizabeth’s cottage. Maxwell ventured deeper into the mine shaft.

  The smell was growing stronger, the further he got into the mine. The temperature was steadily rising, soon it felt as though he was in an oven.

  The heat was so intense he felt like he would succumb to heat stroke. Combined with the ever increasing stench and he considered abandoning his quest until the next day.

  A growl from the darkness returned his mind to the present. He looked around, thought it was a pointless act since his eyes were limited by the darkness that surrounded him.

  The lantern, which had seemed more than capable of lighting his path was reduced to a mere spark.

  Maxwell could have relied on his senses if not for the overwhelming heat and odor. He’d walked into the goblin’s nest unprepared, a childish mistake he’d soon thought he’d grown out of.

  More growls could be heard. He was surrounded by an enemy he could not see. They had the advantage, all they needed was to overtake him with numbers.

  He felt the first attack as one of his unseen foes sunk their teeth into is leg. A sharp pain shot through him as he batted at the invisible attacker.

  After one hit he felt the jaws on his leg release. “Ow! What’d you do that for?!”

  Hearing his attacker ask such an absurd question almost brought a genuine smile to Maxwell’s face.”

  “Are you serious? You just bit me.”

  “I know, that’s how we greet our guests.”

  “I’ve never heard of a greeting that leaves a scar.”

  “Oh, you must not get invited to a lot places.”

  “Great, another smart ass” thought Maxwell.

  “I prefer places where I can see.”

  “I see just fine, maybe you should get your eyes checked.”

  “I swear, I’m gonna…” 

  “Geez, take it easy.”

  Light began to illuminate the mine shaft. At first it looked as if hundreds of candles had been lit all at one but soon he could see that the lights were moving as if they were alive. After closer inspection, he found the lights were actually tiny bioluminescence insects.

  With the mine shaft now lit, Maxwell looked to see what had been surrounding him in the dark.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  They stood at around three feet tall with light green skin, though some looked darker than others. They had large pointed ears and scrunched up noses. For clothes they all wore tattered rags, cruelly stitched together. 

  He could see why everyone had laughed when the goblins were blamed for all the death and destruction that was happening in Dulciena. 

  “So stranger, what brings you to our nest?”

  Maxwell was about to speak when he nearly vomited from the stench.

  “You wouldn’t have something for the smell would you?”

  “Smell?” The goblin took a few sniffs of the air. 

  “I don’t smell anything.”

  “Never mind, I was hoping I could speak with your leader. I have business I wish to discuss.”

  “Is that all? Sure we’ll show you to the chief. Follow us.”

  Maxwell followed the goblins as they led him through twisting tunnels till they came to an opening.

  Dozens of goblins both young and old were gathered around a pile of trash. Rotten vegetables and spoiled meat that wasn’t even fit for rats. 

  They all hungrily dug into the pile of trash as if it were a five star meal. It was obvious that the pile of trash wasn’t big enough to feed them all. Some of them would go to sleep hungry.

  The goblins led him to a goblin who sat on top a throne made of branches and bones, though Maxwell had a hard time believing that the goblins had killed whatever the bones had belonged to.

  “Chief, this stranger wishes to speak with you.”

  The goblin’s leader was much larger than the rest, though that wasn’t saying much. He clearly had seen some years. His skin was covered in scars and old wounds. Unlike the rest he had an air about him that said he’d taken a life before.

  “Why would a stranger wish to speak with me?”

  “I wish to seek your help in conquering all of Arion.”

  The leader turn to look at Maxwell. He didn’t seemed shocked or surprised at such a bold request. In fact there seemed to be a hint of interest.

  “Do you know who you speak to child?”

  “I know exactly who I speak to, and I’m no child.”

  The leader turned back to look at the other goblins feasting on the pile of trash.

  “I am one of the oldest goblins in all of Arion. To me everyone is child.”

  “Then you’re exactly the goblin I wish to speak with.”

  “Why? I have no need of jesters, take your jokes with you and be gone.”

  “I’m no jester, I’ve come seeking your help in conquering Arion.”

  “You seek the help of a goblin, that makes you jester.”

  “You don’t think that, I can tell you don’t actually think that.”

  “No? Now you are mind reader? You read my mind now, I’m thinking you should go now.”

  “Aren’t you tired of watching your people eat garbage? Aren’t you’re tired of hearing their stomachs growling?”

  “I tire of listening to you, leave now and don’t come back.”

  “I’m offering you a chance to become more than the weak pests they all see you as. What I’m offering you is power.”

  “Power? What we need power for? We just want to live.”

  “You’ll need all the power you can get soon.”

  Maxwell raised his voice so that everyone could hear him.

  “King Midas is blaming goblins for attacking Dulciena and killing the hero Buros.”

  “Lies! We have done no such things!”

  “It doesn’t matter. King Midas demands your heads. He’s already sending guards into the forest in search of your nest.”

  “Deceiver! You’ve come here to kill us!”

  “No! I’ve come here to save you! To save all of you from not only King Midas but from all of Arion.”

  “How can we trust you?”

  “You can’t, but trust that if you don’t, there is no hope of you surviving King Midas.”

  The leader was silent for a moment. He was more intelligent than Maxwell had expected, though if he was the kind of leader who truly cared for him people, he would make the right decision. The only decision.

  “What kind of power?”

  Maxwell smiled. “The kind of power that’ll make goblins the most feared creatures in all of Arion.”