“Mountain Goblins,” Lyrea curses under her breath.
I had no idea there was more than one type. All I’d ever heard was that the women have purple skin, while the men are green. “What’s the difference between these and…regularGoblins?”
“They pledge themselves to the Goblin King, but they live in nomadic tribes. It’s rare for them to be this far south.” She clenches her jaw. “Regular Goblins are clever, known for their bargains and tricks. These, however, are bandits and thieves. They’re also rather simple-minded, but that only makes them more dangerous.”
A Goblin kneels beside one of the boulders carved with the glowing runes. From what I can see, there are three large stones that create the glowing wall of magic that has trapped Auren and his warriors.
The Goblin lifts the heavy stone as if it were light as a feather and moves it closer to them. The barrier begins to shrink. Inside the circle, Auren and the soldiers and their wolves are forced backward.
“They’re moving the stones,” I whisper as dread twists deep within. “They’re herding them.”
Lyrea nods grimly.
Another Goblin drags the second boulder, and the circle shrinks even more. Now the warriors and wolves are packed tightly together, the glowing wall pressing in from all sides like the tightening of a snare.
My heart clenches as Ailyn clutches Lyrea’s cloak. “Ada,” she whimpers the Elvish name for “father” as her eyes locked on Dain, standing beside Auren.
Lyrea grips my arm. “We have to go.” Her voice is firm now. “We must get the others to safety.”
I want to argue that we need to stay and fight, but then I look at Ailyn. The Dark Elves’ magic won’t work here, and the Dire wolves are trapped with the soldiers.
There are at least three dozen Goblins and less than a dozen Dark Elves outside the barrier. None of them are warriors, and many of them are with children. Even if they had the use of their magic, the odds would still be stacked against them.
“We cannot risk the children,” Lyrea says, as if reading my thoughts.
She’s right, but I cannot make myself move from this spot as my gaze remains locked on Auren, and a sudden thought occurs to me. “You said Elves cannot go near the rune stones, but I’m human.” I look at her. “If you tell me what to do, I can—”
“No,” she hisses. “Goblins are dangerous and powerful creatures. They could kill you. We’ll send someone back to Caer Aetheryn for reinforcements. But we need to make for the cave. Now.”
I look again at Auren. He grits his fangs, testing the barrier with the edge of his sword, his expression hard and focused even as the magic forces him back.
Something hot and furious sparks in my chest as the Goblins laugh at his attempts to escape.
“No,” I murmur.
Lyrea blinks in confusion. “What?”
I curl my hands into fists at my sides. “I’m not leaving.”
“Vivienne—”
“I’m going to save them.”
Before she can stop me, I step out of the trees and walk directly into the clearing.
The Goblins notice me immediately. Their conversation dies mid-sentence as I emerge into the firelight, brushing leaves from my cloak as though I have simply arrived at an evening gathering rather than a bandit ambush.
“Oh thank the gods,” I say with heartfelt relief. I lower myself onto a nearby rock and press the back of my hand to my forehead as though I might faint from exhaustion.
The Goblins stare at me in disbelief.
“I was beginning to think I’d wandered into the most inhospitable wilderness in existence,” I continue with a weary sigh. “Do you have any idea how dreadful it is to walk miles through these mountains in unsuitable shoes?”
One of the Goblins blinks.
Another scratches his ear as if he cannot quite believe what he’s hearing.
Inside the glowing barrier Auren has gone completely still.
