Raggard felt the chill of a summoning spell wash over him — and smiled.
It had been three years since he had first met Po of the Kneewater Clan. This was the first time the small goblin had used the Thornbeard mark to call for him.
Raggard wasted no time.
If Po had found another cavern like the first, he was more than happy to answer.
The cave where they had met had not been large, but the quantity of gems the Thornbeard mining crews had harvested from it had been remarkable. Raggard had been toasted more than once in the family feast hall for that discovery alone.
So if Po believed he had found another site worth the forge’s attention, Raggard would make all haste to reach his unlikely business partner.
While gathering supplies, Raggard passed through the open market and purchased extra goods for Po and his clan. He intended to be ready to secure the find immediately.
He also gathered a pair of companions.
Just in case.
Po was still a goblin, after all.
The first was Dels Rainrocks.
Raggard knew his friend would leap at the chance to escape the temple, even if he was its high priest. Before coming to Gunabash, Dels had been part of an adventuring company that had saved the world — more than once.
Now he presided over ceremonies, blessings, and long meetings.
He was bored out of his mind.
Dels accepted instantly and soon walked beside Raggard through the forge district as they searched for their third.
Raggard often wondered if Dels was color-blind. His robes, boots, and traveling cloak never matched — bright colors and wild patterns layered in ways no proper dwarf would ever choose.
No one ever commented too loudly.
Dels was chosen by the gods.
“Who else are we bringing?” Dels asked cheerfully.
“Do we really need more than the two of us?”
“My cousin,” Raggard replied. “Farder. Thought he might benefit from a few days away from the city.”
Dels sighed.
“Farder,” he muttered. “That name again. How is the old troublemaker?”
“He returned from the western tunnels only a few days ago,” Raggard said with a chuckle. “Nine months out. Already restless.”
They found Farder in the Thornbeard Forge itself, standing with his hands on his hips while a young smith worked a blade at the anvil.
Unlike most dwarves, Farder was lean, with only the shadow of a beard. As a Stonewalker, he lived far beyond the safety of Gunabash patrols and outposts.
“Farder,” Raggard called, “are ye ready to head back out for a few days?”
“Aye,” Farder replied at once, turning. “Let’s go.”
Only then did recognition strike.
“Raggard! Cousin!”
He crossed the floor in three strides and wrapped Raggard in a crushing hug.
“And Dels Rainrocks out of his temple?” Farder laughed.
“This must be important.”
“Good to see you, Farder,” Dels said politely.
Privately, he was not certain he wished to travel with the uncouth ranger for a full day — let alone several.
In the feast hall, Raggard explained the situation.
“Goblins?” Farder scoffed. “Ye’re working with goblins?”
“Aye,” Raggard replied calmly. “And a fine amount of gold came of it. So we’re going to see what else Po has found.”
“It isn’t natural,” Farder muttered. “Doing business with goblins.”
“Didn’t goblins once save your life?” Dels asked innocently.
Farder opened his mouth to answer — and then stopped.
Raggard rose from the table.
“Gather your gear. It’s a short trek, but we won’t travel unprepared. Two hours.”
That ended the debate.
A day and a half later, Raggard’s patience was nearly spent.
The constant bickering between Dels and Farder had filled every stretch of quiet tunnel.
As the meeting cavern drew near, Raggard slowed and gave both dwarves a sharp look.
They fell silent at once.
“Po,” Raggard called softly.
His voice echoed down the stone passages.
Several long minutes passed.
“Thornbeard?” a hesitant voice answered.
“Aye. Come out, Po. What news have you for me?”
A narrow head peeked from a side tunnel.
“Who is that?”
“My cousin and my friend,” Raggard said gently.
“You are safe, Po.”
After several cautious moments — and many uneasy glances — Po finally stepped forward.
When greetings were finished, Raggard leaned closer.
“So,” he said quietly.
“What have you found? Another cavern?”
“Yes,” Po said. “Long cave. Long vein in wall. Much ore.”
His ears twitched.
He was holding something back.
“What else?” Raggard asked.
“Ogres,” Po said.
A long pause.
“Ogres between here and there. Ogres near Kneewater. Ogres take goblins. Need ogres dead.”
Raggard exchanged a glance with Dels and Farder.
That, then, was the real purpose of the call.
“You take Farder,” Raggard said after a moment. “Show him this vein. If it is worth what you claim… we deal with the ogres.”
Three days later, Po and Farder returned.
Farder’s face told Raggard everything.
“Report,” Raggard said quietly as they sat to eat.
“He isn’t lying,” Farder admitted.
“It’s a vast vein of platinum. Smaller veins too. Rich stone.”
He hesitated.
“But the ogres are real. A dozen of them. Camped at the cavern entrance.”
“And Po’s people?”
Farder’s jaw tightened.
“Slaves.”
The wealth would fill the family coffers for years.
The cost would be blood.
They planned long into the night.
Po was sent to gather any of his clan willing to help.
Raggard, Dels, and Farder scouted the ogre camp.
It was little more than scattered fires and heaps of refuse, but twelve massive shapes loomed in the glow.
The entrance tunnel had been blocked with boulders — a crude barricade.
From a narrow ledge above, they watched.
“Can’t you simply magic them dead?” Farder asked.
“No,” Dels replied mildly.
“But I can hold some in place, shield you both, and keep you alive.”
Raggard hid a grin.
He knew exactly how dangerous Dels truly was.
“Good,” Raggard said.
“Let’s use their own wall against them.”
They took position behind the boulders.
Crossbows ready.
“We draw them away from the goblins,” Dels said.
Raggard nodded.
The twin snaps of crossbow strings shattered the silence.
Two ogres fell.
The goblins scattered for the cavern.
The ogres roared.
Flames burst from the stone floor, forming blazing walls across the camp. Several ogres screamed as fire consumed them. Others charged through.
Bolts flew.
Then steel met flesh.
As ogres struggled to climb their own barricade, Raggard’s hammer crushed bone and armor alike. Farder’s blade struck with ruthless precision.
Dels called upon Moradin.
Golden light wrapped the two warriors, driving exhaustion from their limbs.
The stone beneath one ogre suddenly softened and swallowed the creature to its waist — then hardened again.
The body tore in half.
The charge faltered.
Four ogres remained.
“Watch my strike,” Dels called. “Follow it.”
A beam of sickly white light lanced from his hand and struck an ogre square in the chest. Blackened flesh spread outward in a creeping bloom.
Two bolts struck the same wound.
The creature collapsed.
“Three left,” Raggard growled.
A piercing cry cut through the cavern.
From a hidden side tunnel, goblins poured forth.
Po’s clan.
Raggard surged forward.
Farder followed.
Dels advanced more slowly, weaving another spell.
Soft yellow light spread over dwarves and goblins alike.
The remaining ogres were overwhelmed in moments.
When the echoes faded, Kneewater had lost some of its own.
But its people were free.
Across the open cavern, dwarves and goblins faced one another in silence.
At last, Po staggered forward.
Blood soaked his fingers.
Raggard reached him first.
Dels knelt beside him and pressed glowing hands to the wound.
Blue light spread.
The bleeding slowed.
The goblins formed a silent half circle.
Farder stood behind the others, sword still drawn.
Later, they stood at the cavern mouth.
The platinum vein gleamed openly in the stone.
As before, Raggard paid in copper and silver, added supplies — and carved a new Thornbeard mark beside the entrance.
“I’m glad you called for me, Po,” Raggard said quietly.
“And I’m glad we could help your people.”
“We will return soon to mine this place. I’ll leave more supplies at the mouth of your tunnel.”
Po bowed awkwardly — copying a gesture he had once seen among humans.
“Thank you,” he said simply.
Then he turned and followed his people home.
