Chapter 4 - Ambush at the Tower

Ulric began his long walk towards the tower, a dozen thoughts flowing through his mind.

"I am not a warrior, what was I thinking. Sure, I know how to handle a weapon, but other than hunting, I have never killed anything or anyone. Goblins aren't just some wild beasts, they are cunning creatures capable of waging war. At least the wind is in our favor and won't alert the Goblins to our presence. Lord, if you are listening, give me the courage to do what I need to."

Ulric steeled himself as best he could and fell into a rhythmic walk, attempting to make himself appear as natural as possible. He used his spear as a walking stick, and started humming a tune. He was still sweating, but he had managed to calm his nerves and hopefully appeared as just a normal traveler on his way to the tower or Rosehill. Another 10 feet and he should come into view of the Goblins.

As Ulric breached the edge of the trees enough for the western side of the tower to come into view, he was rewarded with a high pitched screech as one of the Goblins saw him. He didn't have to pretend to be startled, even though he knew the Goblins were here, having one start bellowing at his sight was still unnerving. He let out a terrified yelp of his own, then turned and bolted back down the path as fast as he could.

Behind him, it was clear that the Goblins had given chase, as he heard their guttural war cries and their armor and weapons clanged together as they ran. His flight took him past Wayland and Gideon, but he dared not hesitate or look to the side for fear he would give away his friends' ambush spots. A few moments later he was rewarded with a new sound, a high pitched scream that had the unmistakable tones of a death pitch, and it wasn't a human voice letting out the woeful noise.

With the trap sprung, Ulric wheeled around and brought the spear down in a defensive position in case any of the Goblins hadn't stopped to face their attackers, and lucky for him that he had the forethought to do so. No sooner than he had brought the spear tip down into position, the lead Goblin impaled himself on the end of the spear, an odd look forming on his ugly face as the spear had gone clean through his chest. The Goblin gurgled and weakly thrashed his good arm (for his left arm was deformed and much smaller than the right arm) before Ulric ripped the spear back sharply, causing the Goblin to slump to the ground and flop a few times, as if he was a freshly caught fish wriggling on the ground.

With no time to ponder his deed, Ulric brought the spear back into a defensive position as a second Goblin was now on him. Ulric had the reach advantage, as the Goblin was wielding a short axe, but the axe was much sturdier than his spear, so he had to try and keep the Goblin from being able to crack or shatter his spear haft. He made quick thrusts at the Goblins head, and stepped back or side to side, allowing the spear to be knocked back when the Goblin made his attacks. Suddenly, the Goblin caught the spear cleanly with his axe, and the haft shattered under the blow, taking off the spear head and shortening the haft by a good foot. Ulric pulled out his dagger and held the shaft in his left hand, intending to use it defensively while trying to close the distance and put his dagger in a soft spot on the Goblin. The Goblin grabbed his axe with both hands, bringing it up over his head for a power attack, an evil leer spreading across his lips as he savored his killing blow.

Wayland, having helped Gideon finish off the last of the 3 Goblins that had turned to face them, saw that Ulric was in danger. He took careful aim, waiting for his opening, as he didn't want to accidentally shoot his friend. When he saw the Goblin begin raising the axe over his head with both hands, Wayland knew his chance had arrived, aimed at the center of the Goblin's back (where his heart and lungs were located) and loosed his arrow.

Suddenly, blood spurted out of the Goblin's chest and hit the human in front of him, covering the front of the human in gore. The Goblin, filled with rage upon seeing the arrow head sticking out of his chest, turned back towards the direction of the assault and saw that all his kin were dead. Dread took hold of the Goblin as he realized that his blood lust had allowed him to fall right into a trap and he was now alone. Before he could attempt his escape, a blinding light throbbed through his head, and he collapsed. The Goblin, in his thick and foggy mind, felt a sudden surge of warmth. Then, just as quickly, the warmth was replaced by coldness, and the Goblin's last thoughts flickered from existence.

Ulric wiped his dagger on the Goblin's dirty breeches, trying to clean the blood off of it from where he slit the Goblin's throat. When the Goblin had turned to find the source of his attackers, Ulric had wasted no time using his broken spear as a club and knocked the Goblin out, then finished him off with his dagger. In total, they had killed six Goblins. Ulric felt a rush of adrenaline from the fight and their accomplishment surging through him, but now wasn't the time for celebrating.

He made his way to where Wayland and Gideon were waiting for him. "Are you two okay?"

Gideon raised his left arm, "It isn't too deep, but it is long. I think we should wrap it before we move on," showing the others the long and ragged gash that started at his shoulder and ran down the back of his arm to his elbow. Ulric and Wayland looked at it, and agreed it wasn't too deep, but none of them had any bandages with them.

Wayland thought for a moment, "Let's make our way to the tower. It is usually stocked with a small cache of emergency supplies. Perhaps there will be something in there we can make bandages from and tie up your arm."

"I agree," said Ulric, glancing in the direction of the tower. "I will set the brazier alight while you two see about making some bandages and tending to Gideon's arm."

The trio made the short walk to the tower, and were met with a grisly scene. What Ulric had thought was a deer roasting on the Goblin's fire, was actually a person!

Gideon's face flushed, and tears welled up in his eyes. "Those son of a bitches were eating someone? I knew Goblins were bad, but I never knew they would actually cook and eat a person. No one deserves that." Gideon looked away from the fire, shaken by what he had just seen.

"That isn't the worst of it. There is a woman's body over here," exclaimed Wayland. "I think... I think they raped her before they killed her. The head of whomever they were cooking is laying over here too. I don't recognize either of their faces. Dear Lord, this is too much..." and unable to control the bile building up in his throat, Wayland leaned over and puked.

Ulric walked over to where Wayland had indicated the body was lying, and although Wayland didn't know who the woman was, Ulric recognized her. "That is..." he choked up for a moment, "that is Lydia Morton from Rosehill. I think that may be her brother. They often came across the river to hunt game between the bridge and the tower. I ran into them on a couple of occassions when traveling with Father and Mother to Rosehill. As awful as it sounds, we don't have time to do anything for them. Let's get the signal lit and patch up Gideon. We still have to alert everyone and get back home in order to help fight off the main force of the Goblin's."

With heavy hearts, the three went about their tasks, and Ulric set the signal fire alight while Wayland bandaged Gideon's arm. With the signal fire now blazing, and Gideon fit for the run back to Cobblestone, the three of them set out, trying their best not to start crying at the thought of having to leave the siblings to their fate of being food for the wild animals of the forest.