Hours pass in the sparse forest. Migi employs his trapping skills around a small cave. Encircling trip wires surround the high ground. Scattering dead leaves over carefully placed caltrops, he made one final inspection. Monstrous beasts never had much patience for shoes. What a shameful disadvantage.
With a guiding hand, Migi marches the load towards the lakeside camps. The bugbear guards see him and wave him forward. They look as his short caravan of goods and stop him. “Thought you could use a little celebration banquet,” pointing to the casks. “Come help me with these. Where is everybody?”
“They at temple. Master inside temple.”
“Then we’re still on schedule. Perfect. Have the gnolls found that group yet? Or are they sitting around counting their gold?” The plug at racial bigotry needed a few more tugs.
“They send more patrols. They pay with blood, Master says.”
“Well, can’t argue with that. Looks like a good night for a feast. It’s not easy getting mutton in the mountains. So did Master say what he’s doing once he has… you know: IT? I’d like to know when I’m heading back into town.” Migi flashes a double wink.
The fury beast scratches at his chest. “Gnolls already upset with town. They attack soon. They set fire to it and kill nasty dragon man.”
Migi’s curiosity sparks. “The Dragon man? Who’s this dragon man?”
“Dragon man attack us. He kill Erthynul servants. They know where dragon man is and going to attack. Bugbear leader still talking to Master. We go where he says.”
“I see. Well, I’d better check with Master to see what he wants me to do next. Tell the chief we’re glad to have the loyalty of such a fine warriors. Much blood will run through your fingers. I’ll be back soon to see if you need anything else.”
Migi sets out toward the gnoll encampment. Once out of site, Migi runs back to his camp. That’s enough information to go on for now. He needs to get back to the Forge Valley before the army does. Surely there will be more than 200 gnolls attacking a small city. When he reaches the cave and finds a cat suavely perched on a nearby rock. The grooming feline pauses a moment and looks up. A low growl and exposed teeth force Migi to pause. His eyes widen as he spins around. Crack! He tries to focus on the person holding the club but can’t. His vision blurs as he falls to the ground. Something light pounces on him and walks up his chest.
“That takes care of one of them,” exclaimed a silky voice. Migi mumbles incomprehensibly on his back. The rest of the world fades to darkness.
...
A swollen eye cracks open. Migi’s scruffy beard rubs against his chest. He reaches for his throbbing head only to feel a tug at his legs. “Ugh. Seriously?” He weight shifts as he rolls his head. He looks at the tree slowly swaying in front of him. Aside from the rope, no trace that his capture is nearby. “Seriously!?” Flexing his fingers he reaches for the hidden knife in his boot. The gnome squirms, swinging ten feet in the air.
A distant rumbling scares a flock of birds from their roost. The creaking pendulum freezes to discern the situation. Distant drumming and explosions echo off the mountain slopes. The sounds resonate from the lakeside. “It’s time I got out of here.” His body writhes in the air. Black smoke billows up from a mile away. Fingers squeeze into his left leather leggings. He grabs the wooden handle. “What in the…” His fingers flounder around a short, bladeless length of wood. “Garl’s gold fillings!” His head flings around in all directions holding back a flood of curses behind grit teeth.
He swings his way to the rope. With twisting contortions he manages to grab the tethered line. He maneuvers the rope between his knees. “I don’t believe this.” He wraps his mouth around the rope. Strand by strand, he gnaws at the tethered line. The distant fires lay a blanket of smoke through the trees. Amidst the explosions, nobody notices the thud a bound gnome falling in the woods. With a short squirm to a sharp rock face and he’s back in business. Bruises don’t stop him from making an expeditious escape back down to town. Curiosity can have the cat. He has his life.
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