Chapter 7
“You’re up, kiddo.”
“But–”
A fist ca in and bashed Nob on the arm. Nob let out a pained yelp, stumbling forward. As Nob nursed what would probably be a bruise in a few minutes, Nob glanced back and realized that Nob was dead.
Dead. Big dead. Stupid Hob – deading Nob.
If only they had never co.
With the back of one hand, Nob scrubbed a tear off of Nob’s cheek, glowering down at the driven stake that Nob had just stumbled past. Piled around it were skulls: Goblins, Hobgoblins, Bugbears, Ogres, Gnolls, Trolls…all types of skulls, one for each of the races that lived – or once lived – in the basin. It was one of many markers that warned the tribes living in the area that beyond lay a grim fate. If you crossed the threshold and were one of the races in the pile, you were marked for death.
Nob told them. Nob warned them. Stupid Hobs.
They ca from the west, with their big army and big weapons and big, stupid heads. They killed the old boss and told Nob and Nob’s tribe to join. Nob had fun for a few days, but then the Hobs told Nob that they were going north – north! Many others told them that going north was stupid, but stupid Hobs were stupid.
Humans were weak, they said. Humans weren’t civilized enough to mark their borders like that, they said. The Hobs had their big everything, so of course, they beca stupid. The Hobs took Nob north with them, saying that they valued what Nob knew about the land.
They wanted Nob for what Nob knew, but they didn’t listen to what Nob knew? Stupid Hobs. Now, Nob was dead.
“Hey kid – what are you standing there for?”
Nob looked up at the rough voice prodding Nob forward. It was a big Hob nad Zrol: one of the army bosses. Zrol and Zrol’s soldiers stood on the other side of the marker, looking at Nob expectantly. Nob swallowed. Maybe it wasn’t too late. Once in a while, hunters would chase a rabbit across the markers a little bit and co back safe and sound.
“Nob not want.”
“Hah?”
“No go!”
“You’ve got a job to do, soldier,” Zrol told him. “Just head up that pass, then co back and tell us what you saw.”
The Hob boss cranked a an-looking crossbow even as the Hob spoke in a nice voice. It made a soft click, and Zrol’s hand moved to fetch a bolt from the bag at Zrol’s waist. They used nice big words to impress Nob; make Nob feel important, but Nob knew Nob was just fodder.
Nob darted uphill towards the pass before Zrol raised the weapon.
Dead dead dead dead dead dead dead.
The words in Nob’s mind sounded in ti with the patter of frantic footsteps. Wait – Nob shouldn’t be walking out in the open. Nob scuttled into the trees.
Dead dead dead dead dead dead dead.
Nob’s steps slowed. The higher Nob went, the more sparse the trees and bushes beca. Nob raised Nob’s nose and sniffed at the air. Humans. Yup, they were still there: their scent carried by the winds from the north. The scent was much stronger now – were there more? Why did the Hobs have to kill Nob?
Dead dead dead dead dead dead dead.
Nob went forward, trying to find a way with more trees up the pass. Nob didn’t want to die yet. Maybe Nob could hide inside a bush and wait until Zrol went away. Maybe the Humans wouldn’t find Nob.
Dead dead dead dead dead dead dead.
Nob looked around. Nob was far past the marker. Eyes darting around, Nob looked down at the bald stones of the pass. Nearer to Nob, the leaves of the bushes moved silently in the wind.
Sothing hit Nob. Nob went flying into the trunk of a tree, hitting Nob’s head. Through blurred vision, Nob thought Nob saw a shadow approach, shifting through the brush. Nob’s sight cleared and the shadow beca a tall thing.
A Forest Giant? No, the Humans deaded them all long ago…the Humans...Human?
Nob stared over at the shadow in the trees. It was a Human. At least it slled like the Human sll on the wind. Why was it so huge?
As it stalked forward, Nob looked around for Nob’s spear, but Nob must have dropped it. Nob’s bow…was broken – Nob’s rear had landed on it. Nob felt around the strip of leather tied around Nob’s waist and found an old friend. It was Nob’s rock. A trusty weapon Nob had used to kill many birds, rats and squirrels. Also, it was a rock made out of stone. With the stone rock, Nob might be able to win.
The Human reached down. Nob moved to get up and surprise the Human, but it was faster than Nob had expected. A cold, cruel hand wrapped itself around Nob’s scrawny neck, and Nob found himself lifted high up in the air.
Humans, weak? Stupid Hob was stupid – Humans were stupid strong! The Human was holding Nob up so high with just a single hand! Nob hit the Human with all of Nob’s might, but the stone rock only glanced off. There was a dull tal shell over the Human’s arm. That wasn’t fair! Nob kicked and flailed away, but the choking grasp only tightened around Nob’s neck.
Out of breath, Nob hung limply in the air. The stone rock fell out of Nob’s shaking hand. Nob was dead. Stupid Hobs – deading Nob. If only they had never co.
The world whirled. Nob was flying through the air again. Was this death? No, it was fluffy. Fluffy like the old boss’ bear hide blanket. Maybe death was fluffy. Nob looked up and saw a giant feline head looking back down with flaring, crimson eyes.
Nob’s mouth fell open in a terrified shriek. It was only then that Nob realized that the world had long gone silent.
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