Kang, who had been drifting off to sleep, was jolted to awareness. “I beg your pardon, ma’am. What were you saying about children?”
“That’s really what I came to talk you about. I think that’s what’s wrong with the babies, Commander,” said Sister Marsel. “You can’t keep them cooped up in those sacks for the rest of their lives. You have to let them out to learn about the world, the good and the bad.”
“We tried that,” Kang said harshly. “They hurt themselves. One wandered off. No.” He was emphatic. “They are too precious to us to risk.”
“You sound just like my father.” Sister Marsel smiled and sighed. “He said the very same thing about me. Do you know what he did, Commander? He sent me to live with the Sisters of Paladine. He sent me here, to this temple, where I would be safe and protected from the world. Am I safe, Commander?” she demanded. “Am I protected?”
Kang cleared his throat, embarrassed.
“The world finds us, Commander,” said Sister Marsel quietly. “We can’t hide from it, not even in the cellar of a temple. We have to know how to face it. I don’t.” She lowered her head. “I don’t know anything. I’m stupid, and I’m afraid.”
She cast a glance out at the blazing bonfires. Every now and again, a goblin battle shriek split the air. Sister Marsel shivered. “I’m afraid because I feel so helpless.”
“I don’t think you’re stupid, Sister,” Kang said, “not by a long shot.”
“The babies could play in the cellar,” said Sister Marsel. “They couldn’t get into much trouble down there. They need exercise and fresh air.”
“Perhaps in the morning,” Kang said.
Morning. The goblins would attack in full force. Kang wasn’t at all certain he could hold them off. In the morning he and his men and their young might be dead. He said nothing of his own fears to the young human, however, and he made a silent vow that she would not fall alive into goblin hands. He’d seen what goblins did to their human captives, particularly their human female captives. Maybe she was right. Maybe they had been on the side of evil, but then he’d seen what Solamnic Knights did to the goblins they’d captured, he’d seen goblin babies carried on the ends of spears. Kang would protect this female from that savage and horrific part of the world at least. He would end it for her quickly. He hoped she would understand and forgive him.
“I had better go back now,” said Sister Marsel. “You’re tired and I’ve kept you talking. Besides, if Sister Hana were to wake up and find me gone, Paladine alone knows what she’d do.”
“Good night, Sister Marsel,” said Kang. “And thank you.”
He continued his rounds and then headed for his bed, taking one of the bunks in the upper room of the temple. He was looking forward to his bed. Kang was not one to lose sleep in needless worry. He’d done everything in his power to prepare. The morning would bring what the morning would bring. He did miss laying the burden of his problems in the lap of his Dark Queen. Now he had to shoulder the responsibility himself, he could not foist it off on his goddess. He thought over what Sister Marsel had said, about the gods leaving them to make of the world what they could. He wasn’t certain he bought it, but it was an interesting idea.
On his way to his bed, Kang gave the snout of the platinum dragon a rub for luck.
“Sir! Commander! Sir!”
Someone was shaking him by the shoulder violently. Kang started to wakefulness, peered bleary-eyed into a bright torch blazing above him.
“What? What? Huh? Is it the attack?”
He sat up, groggy and still half-asleep. He had a vague recollection of someone else waking him in the night. Slith, or so Kang recalled. Slith had been excited about something. Wanted permission to do something. Kang couldn’t remember what. He’d agreed to it apparently, because Slith had departed, but what it was he’d said or what it was he’d agreed to, Kang couldn’t for the life of him remember.
“I always said I could give orders in my sleep,” Kang muttered. “I guess it’s finally come to that.”
“Sir! Please! You have to come! You have to see this!”
The soldier had thrown open one of the shutters. Red streaked the sky, clouds massed on the horizon. There would be more snow today. Horns blared. His troops were shouting and clashing their swords.
Certain that he would look out the window to see a couple of goblin regiments bearing down on him, Kang could not for the life of him understand what was going on.
The goblins, it seemed, were moving backwards.
“What the-?” Kang blinked, rubbed his eyes.
“They’re retreating, sir!” the draconian said.
“What? Why?” Kang was astounded.
The draconian pointed. “See their general, sir. The big hairy bastard riding that great, hulking warhorse.”
“Yes.” Kang squinted into the sun. “Not much of a rider. He’s almost fallen off twice since I’ve been watching him.”
“Yes, sir!” The draconian was enjoying himself hugely. “That’s Slith, sir! He killed the general and took over his body! Slith’s the one who’s ordering the goblins to retreat!”
It all came back to Kang. Slith waking him in the night, asking for permission to carry out a raid. Kang had mumbled something. He couldn’t remember what. Slith had taken his mumble for a yes, however, as Slith was wont to do. Slith had saved Kang’s life more than once. He’d saved their entire force more than once. Now he had saved their race.
Kang watched, his heart swelling with pride, as Slith, magically attired in the body of the murdered goblin general, bounced up and down in the saddle and shouted orders in goblin for the army to run and keep on running. Fortunately, having fought with goblin troops for years, Slith knew exactly what to say to motivate them. Kang could not hear him, Slith was too far away. But Kang could imagine.
“It’s a trap!” the goblin-Slith would be shouting. “There are thousands and thousands of draconians holed up in the temple. They’re going to come out and cut off your ears and eat goblin meat for dinner! Run for it, boys! Run for your miserable lives!”
“Support!” Kang said suddenly, fumbling for his equipment. “We’ve got to support him! Make it look good. Quickly now!”
“Yes, sir,” said the draconian. “We’re all ready, sir. Look.”
The gates of the temple opened. Second Squadron under Cloth’s command rushed out, shrieking like demons freed from the Abyss. The sight and sound of the enraged draconians further panicked the goblins, who had probably not been too keen on this action in the first place. Those few who had been guarding the “general” threw down their weapons and abandoned their post, fleeing over the windswept ground in haste.
Their retreat was fortunate for, at that moment, Slith tumbled off the horse. Although a dumb animal, the beast was smarter than the goblins. It knew perfectly well that this being on its back was not its master. The horse kicked up its heels and galloped off. The draconian force surrounded Slith and, in case any goblins might be watching, Gloth made a good show of taking the goblin “general” captive.
“Mogu,” said Kang, “go tell the human females that they’re safe. The goblins have fled. You can give them the good news that we’re going to be leaving, as well. And tell Dremon to let the babies out to play in the cellar this morning. This glorious morning!”
Kang stationed First Squadron at the temple gate. Second Squadron marched back to the temple in triumph. The goblin army probably wouldn’t stop running until they reached Newsea. Slith was now starting to let loose of his goblin form, returning to his draconian self. Kang led the cheers when Slith entered.
“Brilliant idea, Slith!” said Kang, slapping his sub-commander on the shoulder. “Absolutely brilliant!”
“Thank you, sir.” Slith grinned. “I have to admit that I didn’t really intend to do that, sir. I went out just to see if I could find their general, maybe bring him back as hostage. And then it came to me that if I killed him and took his shape, I could-”