CHAPTER 20. AN UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER

Riding into the goblinum, Mor, Vuk, and Nuk headed straight for Warden Ogl. They found him on the square, energetically issuing another round of orders. Seeing them, the Warden was overjoyed — yet troubled at the same time. His messengers had come back earlier than he’d expected. From their exhausted look, it wasn’t hard to guess that they’d been hurrying hard. Which meant they probably hadn’t brought good news.
Once the four of them were alone, Mor gave a brief account of what had happened to them.
“So our fears have been confirmed. The Ant Power has clouded minds once again. What’s more, Azuel was right about the wild goblins. That’s exactly why you came back so soon. We’ll begin preparations today. It’s time to break the Vow of Silence. Now go and get a good night’s sleep. I need you rested and at full strength. I can see it wasn’t easy for you, but you can tell me all the details tomorrow.”
The Warden took the three riding rams and quickly went on his way.
The goblins stood on the square a little longer, as though getting reacquainted with their own goblinum, then wandered home without hurrying. Each of them reached his own bunk and dropped at once into a deep sleep, even though evening was only just approaching.
They slept deeply and long, and woke at almost exactly the same time. As though, after so many days spent together, they had begun to feel like a single whole.
The first thing the goblins felt on opening their eyes was raging hunger. Mor had nothing at all. Vuk and Nuk found two potatoes in the basket. Their father hadn’t known when his sons would be back, and so had only taken food for himself. After several hungry days, such a meager breakfast was, naturally, nowhere near enough for the brothers. Vuk and Nuk hurried off to the cellars.
As they neared the square, they ran into Mor, who was also on his way with a basket.
“Well, here we all are again. Now we’re going to get our strength back. I think I’ll take a whole leg of mutton for myself. That’s not too brazen of me, is it? I’ve earned it. Besides, I haven’t taken anything from here in days,” Vuk said. He was in very high spirits — whether from a good night’s sleep, or from the prospect of a tasty meal to come.
“Let’s go see the Warden afterward. We can’t waste any time,” Mor suggested, once they’d come out of the cellar with full baskets.
“Yes, yes. We’ll eat quickly, and then we’ll wait for you,” Nuk agreed.
Mor noticed that the square seemed unusually noisy and bustling. Someone was going in to see the Iron-master, someone else was coming out of the Warden’s house, and by the weapons storehouse several goblins stood talking about something, pointing to the east.
So the Warden’s already told everyone, he thought.
On his way home, Mor ran into Azuel. The old man was sitting on his favorite rock.
“I had a feeling you’d be back much sooner than expected. Because you wouldn’t have needed to ride on any farther. The wild goblins already did it.”
He wasn’t asking — he was stating a fact.
Mor nodded.
“Unfortunately, my feeling didn’t fail me. There’s trouble coming. And it’s still not clear how it will all end. We don’t know how many anthills they destroyed, after all. What if it was all of them? Then our whole clan won’t be able to fight them off. Though against just one goblinum, there’s probably still a small hope.”
“Their Warden was expecting guests. So they might not be alone.”
“Then there’s no hope at all. We absolutely have to check every anthill. Maybe something’s still left. Otherwise we won’t be able to hold out.”
“Vuk, Nuk, and I will take care of it. Just let us eat a little first,” Mor said, a little guiltily, as though ashamed to be eating while everyone around him was already preparing for battle.
“Of course, Mor. I can see you’ve been through a great deal. The Goblin Forest holds many dangers within it. But as it turns out, its greatest danger is goblins themselves. Well done, all of you. You did something very important — something not everyone could have managed. And you overcame every hardship and made it back. That’s what matters most. Go on now, and get your strength back,” Azuel said, trying to encourage Mor.
Watching him go, the old man rose and headed toward the square.
“Sooner or later, this was bound to happen. A power like that won’t be forgotten even in a thousand years. Better if it had never existed at all,” Azuel said quietly.
By the time Mor came to collect the brothers, Vuk was still gnawing on a bone, and kept right on doing it as they walked.
“Can you believe it — this glutton ate a whole leg with a dozen potatoes and didn’t even break a sweat. And now, it looks like he’s about to finish off the bone too!” Nuk said, still amazed at where Vuk managed to put all that food.
“I’ve never eaten a bone in my life, and I don’t plan to start. Not while there’s still meat around, anyway. But I do love gnawing on one. It’s tasty, and it makes your teeth stronger. So really, I’m not eating anymore — I’m getting ready for battle. Teeth, you know, are a fearsome weapon in skilled hands. I figured that out back there in the cellar, when a centipede nearly bit my heel clean off,” Vuk said, and even started limping a little.
“My poor brother, I have to confess something to you after all: those were my teeth. So you can thank me. If it weren’t for them, you’d still be sitting in that cage,” Nuk said with a smile.
“So what does that make you, then? My own beloved brother, nearly taking off my foot? Though, I did suspect it wasn’t a centipede. Their teeth are like needles, and those felt like dull axes. Still, your teeth did save me. And thank you for that. But try not to bite me again.”
The goblins reached the Warden’s house. Nora sat on the bench as usual, and surprisingly, wasn’t dozing. Though right now she could hardly have managed it anyway, since the door kept opening and closing, letting goblins in and out.
A little way off, entirely alone, stood the Bee-master. Not because anyone thought poorly of him. Quite the opposite — he was greatly valued and respected, since it was thanks to him that the goblins got to enjoy what was probably the tastiest food that existed anywhere in the Goblin Forest at all. Honey.
There wasn’t much of it. And every goblin waited impatiently for the end of summer, for the chance to taste that fragrant, syrupy, sweet bee nectar.
Even though everyone around adored honey, no one was in any hurry to help the Bee-master. More often than not, it took a stern order from the Warden to get anyone to do it. The trouble was the bees, who wanted nothing to do with sharing their food. They defended the honey desperately, stinging goblins without a shred of mercy.
The bees were fond of the Bee-master, letting him potter about in the hives, and often escorting him wherever he went. But everyone else was their mortal enemy. Some goblins the bees chased all the way home. And there were even cases where some poor goblin had to run for the river and sit in the water a long while, with nothing but his nose sticking out above the surface.
That was why the Bee-master had moved well away from everyone else on his own. Bees circled around him. Whether they were guarding him, or had simply come along to keep him company.
Now there’s someone no Ant Power could ever frighten. Tiny, fearless warriors, feared even by the strongest goblins, Mor thought, eyeing the buzzing honey-makers nearby with some wariness.
The friends finally went in to see the Warden. He was completely calm now. A large sword hung at his belt — one the goblins had never seen before.
“I’ve sent messengers to every goblinum in our clan, asking for help. They should be back with answers today. We’ll see what our fellow Bignoses have to say. I’m afraid not everyone will understand just how important it is for us to stand together right now. As for us, we’re gathering armed companies. I have no doubt the Hermits will come for us first, to seize the anthills. We can’t let that happen, because then the danger would hang over the whole Goblin Forest.”
“Warden, why can’t we just destroy the anthills? That could have been done a long time ago,” Vuk asked.
“We can’t do that. It was only with the Ant Power that we ever managed to defeat the trolls. Yes, there are none around now. But that doesn’t mean they won’t appear again someday. Or perhaps an even more fearsome enemy will come along instead. If our ancestors preserved the anthills for us, then it’s our duty to preserve them for the goblin generations still to come.”
“We want to go check the anthills. The thieves might not have managed to destroy all of them. It was raining that night, after all,” Mor said.
“Yes, of course. I was just about to ask you to do exactly that. Go right now. I hope there’s at least something left out there,” the Warden answered, glancing toward the door to show that he needed to be on his way.
The young goblins didn’t linger, and set off for the anthills at once. Along the way they caught sight of their potato field and watched it go by with a pang of sadness. They badly wanted to come back here, to gather beetles and pull weeds, and, in a dry year, to haul water from the river by the barrelful and water every bush. Then to bring in the harvest, grown through such hard labor. Right now, they would gladly have worked under the scorching sun every single day, if it would only help stop what was closing in on them.
“Well, which anthills do we start with?” Nuk asked briskly, chasing away his gloomy thoughts.
“If the thieves came from the forest, then that’s probably where they started their work. So let’s begin from the opposite side. Maybe they never made it this far, after all,” Mor suggested.
The goblins got ready to dig into the first three anthills. Mor glanced once more, briefly, toward the nearby forest, and suddenly noticed movement there. A moment later, a strange creature appeared at the forest’s edge. It walked on two legs, but was far too small to be a goblin. Right now it was moving slowly toward the anthills.
“What kind of monster is that coming toward us? I’ve never seen a creature like that in my life. And where do they even come from in our forest?” Vuk said, and out of fright even took a small step back.
The creature kept coming closer, and before long the goblins recognized it as the ram-keeper named Brakha.
Reaching the anthills, Brakha stopped and stared at each of the Bignoses with great astonishment.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, as though he’d just caught thieves red-handed on his own field.
“Us? What are you doing here? Come to spy on us, have you? Did Warden Appo send you?” Nuk said, growing angry, and clenched his fists.
“Yes, I was sent to spy. But I’m not going to do it. I don’t want to bring any harm to you. That’s why I came out to meet you. At first I meant to go straight into the goblinum, but then I saw three goblins and recognized you” — he pointed at Vuk — “and then the two of you as well. So I decided to come over. There’s something I want to tell you.”
“And why should we believe you? Maybe your Warden sent one of his own goblins here on purpose, to trick us. It’s you lot who stole the Ant Power, after all,” Vuk said warily.
“I’m not trying to trick anyone. I’ll tell you everything I know. In a few days, our army is going to come here,” Brakha answered, agitated.
He really was afraid that they wouldn’t believe him and would seize him instead. Then he would become an enemy to the Hermits and the Bignoses alike.
“Don’t worry. We’re going to go see the Warden right now, and talk this over,” Mor said, gesturing for Brakha to come along.
“Be careful with him. He’s still from the clan that wants to attack us. There’s no telling what’s going on in his head,” Vuk kept pressing.
But Mor was certain Brakha wasn’t trying to deceive them. He remembered this small goblin, so unlike other goblins. Especially his sad eyes, in which he’d seen, back then, not a trace of malice toward himself, or toward Nuk and Vuk. All he’d seen in them was helplessness and despair. It was probably these very things that had brought Brakha here — in the hope that life could still be changed, after all.
So Mor walked calmly beside him now toward Warden Ogl, certain that every word this Hermit spoke would be the truth.
Vuk and Nuk stayed behind to check the anthills.
Seeing Mor come in with a stranger — one of such an unusual appearance, no less — Warden Ogl was genuinely startled. And when he heard that this goblin belonged to the Hermit clan, he grew wary, and his hand went to his sword hilt without his even meaning it to.
Brakha jumped back in fright, already braced to bolt from the house. Mor stopped him, and as calmly as he could, explained to the Warden that this goblin hadn’t come with any evil intent. Quite the opposite. He’d come to help.
As always, it was hard to read any emotion on the Warden’s stern face. But he trusted Mor, and so he let their unexpected guest speak.
Brakha realized no one was about to cut him down with a sword, and calmed down.
He told them about his own goblinum and about Warden Appo, and about how he was supposed to meet him at the Stone Bridge. Brakha didn’t forget to mention the Ant Power, either. He admitted honestly that although he himself hadn’t dug through any anthills, he had been there together with two other goblins. One of them had drowned in a swamp a few days earlier.
“Would you happen to know where Warden Appo keeps the Ant Power? You lot stole no small number of pouches, after all. He’s hardly going to keep them in some ordinary bag or sack. In his place, I’d have chosen something a good deal more secure,” Warden Ogl said, looking at Brakha questioningly.
“Yes, I know. He has a special casket. Two keys were made for it. He always carries one with him, and gave the other into someone’s keeping. And I know where that second key is. I meant to take it, and then steal the casket.”
“So it turns out you’re not such a foolish goblin after all. That’s a good plan. But stealing it won’t be easy in the least. Your Warden is bound to surround himself with guards. He knows perfectly well that his fate depends on that casket.”
Warden Ogl frowned, remembering that his own people had no Ant Power at all right now. And even if Vuk and Nuk did manage to find something, it still wouldn’t be nearly enough to stand against the Hermit army on equal footing.
“It’s a shame we don’t have even ten pouches. Then we’d be sure to get our hands on that casket. But never mind — we’ll come up with something,” Mor said confidently.
“I have three pouches. I’m ready to give them to you, if they’ll help,” Brakha said timidly.
“That’s too little for us. But if you truly mean to go after that key, then they’ll be a great help to you. And I appreciate that you’re willing to give up the very thing that drives so many goblins out of their minds. That says a great deal about you,” Warden Ogl answered. Then, looking closely at Brakha, he asked, “Why did you even decide to come to us in the first place? Only yesterday we began preparing to defend our goblinum, and you could have seen a great many interesting things. Then you could have told your Warden everything, and no doubt earned his favor. Instead, you’re risking your life to help us.”
Brakha lowered his head, as though he’d done something wrong before Warden Ogl and was now about to confess to it.
“I want so badly to live in a stone house, like all the other forest goblins. And for people to never call me a small monster again. Maybe I don’t look like other goblins, but why do they always call me that? They just know I’m weaker, that’s all there is to it. But I’m not a small monster. I’m not stupid, and I know how to care for riding rams. Mor said that in your goblinum, everyone is treated well. Even goblins from other clans. Is that really true? He wouldn’t have lied to me, would he?”
Brakha raised his head.
“Mor is very good, and kind. I understood that right away. And the other two who were with him are good too. I just don’t know any other goblins in our forest. And I feel very ashamed that I stole the Ant Power, and that you’re all in danger now because of me. But I couldn’t disobey my Warden. Forgive me.”
And Brakha burst into tears.
For real.
He truly was ashamed of what he’d done, and could no longer hold it inside.
Back in his own goblinum, his heart had turned to ice, so it wouldn’t shatter under the endless mockery and cruelty. But the moment he found himself in another world and felt free, his heart grew warm again and came alive with feeling. And the melted ice filled the small goblin’s eyes with tears.
Mor and Warden Ogl hadn’t expected such a confession, and didn’t know how to react. They could see that Brakha had finally shared what he’d been carrying inside him for so long — everything he’d been so full of. And now that the small goblin had broken free of that hated cage, it had all come pouring out.
“You’re right. Mor really is a good goblin, and he didn’t lie to you. We respect everyone. And you’ll be treated the same as anyone else. What matters isn’t what you look like — what matters is what’s inside. If you want to stay with us, you can. Our goblinum will gain a new resident, and the riding rams — a good keeper. Isn’t that so?” Warden Ogl said, smiling warmly.
“Of course. They’ll be very pleased. You’ll see.”
Brakha wiped away his last tears and smiled too.
“Good, then. But first we need to survive the battle ahead of us. Tell me what you’re planning to do, and then we’ll think together about what to do next.”
They spent a long while discussing their plans for the days ahead. Mor and Brakha quickly found common ground, as though they’d known each other for years. Warden Ogl, too, came away pleased with the conversation. Now they had at least a small measure of hope.
Once everything was settled, Brakha asked for some food, said goodbye to Mor and the Warden, and set off for the Road of the Four Clans. He no longer needed to hide, so he decided to head to the Stone Bridge straight along the road.
Around that time, Vuk and Nuk arrived, bringing thirty pouches with them.
“Well, it’s something, at least. I hope they’ll help us a little,” the Warden said, sounding downcast.
He understood that in an open battle, sword against sword, they couldn’t win — not even if every Bignose goblinum came to their aid. So they would need to rely on every bit of their wit and cunning.
The Warden and Mor had already worked a good deal out between them. All that remained was to get everything ready in time, before the Hermits arrived.
That was why Mor was hurrying now to the edge of the goblinum, to see the Bee-master. Back at the Warden’s house, watching the bees circling around the Bee-master’s head, an idea had come to him. But he knew almost nothing about bees, and now wanted to ask about them in detail. If the Bee-master said the idea could actually be carried out, they would have a formidable weapon on their hands.
Meanwhile, Warden Ogl gathered his best fishermen and sent them down to the river to fish — and the more, the better. Then he gave orders to haul logs and dry branches out to the meadow on the eastern side of the goblinum, and to cut a great deal of grass and leave it out to dry.
By evening, two of his messengers returned. They brought good news. Their neighbors had promised help — which the Warden had never doubted — and so had the goblinum lying to the south.
In the morning, a messenger arrived from the third goblinum. Its Warden reported that he was deeply concerned for his brothers and would gladly have helped, but that all his goblins were currently occupied in the fields. Warden Ogl wasn’t surprised by this answer. That goblinum lay farther west, almost bordering the lands of one of the western forest clans. So its Warden had little concern for what was happening here, in the east.
But even without them, Warden Ogl came away satisfied.
The alliance of three goblinums showed that the Bignoses didn’t abandon one another in times of trouble.