Legends of Belariath
The Quest For The Baron's Silver
Kain - Second Chalice
He wore a somewhat placid frown as he traveled into the forest, the tall, black winged Torian walking for a change, throwing caution to the wind, so to speak, as he tried to hunt down the pack of goblins which had stolen one of this “Barons” silver chalices. He really didn’t know why he had decided to do this... he supposed he might as well, the money was good, and he could use some extra jingle in his pockets. He gave the bird on his shoulder a gentle stroke, the bird pecking his ear affectionately, before taking off into the air. Kain watches his bird off, smiling lightly, as he continued to move deeper into the forest. He moved past a great, towering oak, giving the tree a swift glance, before hearing voices ahead of him. He paused, mid step, listening closely, a frown deepening on his face. “Oye... How much you suppose this’ worth then, mm?” Kain let out a long sigh, it sounded like goblins. “Ew knows? Bu’ I’m sure we could get a good seventy merarall for it.” he heard a slight bout of laughter from the bushes ahead. Nodding to himself, he prepared for conflict, begining to load his wrist crossbow, when he heard the snapping of a twig behind him. Shit. A great, green tinged, putrid smelling arm curled around his throat, cutting off his air supply. He let out a low grunt, writhing in the goblins massive arms, as he felt a sharp jet of pain in his abdomen, followed by another, the goblin apparently punching at his kidneys with the other arm. With his free arm, he took the bolt which he still had in his hand, and plunged it into the creatures thigh. The goblin began to squeal in pain, releasing Kain, and calling out. “Someone ‘ere!!! Someone ‘ere!!” Kain silenced the goblin swiftly, binging his hand axe twirling above his head, taking the goblins off entirely, before crouching down beside the tree. As quickly as possible he brought his hands to his face, chanting lightly as his skin turned a jet black, folding his black wings about himself, hiding him from view as he heard the two goblins who were talking run towards him, stopping at their companions body. Through the slits of his eyes, he saw what he was after, the silver Chalice, resting idle in a particularly massive goblins hands. “oye.... What happened to him?” asked the smaller one, looking about nervously. “I dunno... Said summat about someone bein’ ere... Canta gone far... you stay ere, I’ll find the bastard.” and at that, the larger one took off into the forest, Kain now alone with the other. It looked about nervously once more, bringing a small piece of meat to its mouth, chewing it fearfully as Kain rose up behind him, wings giving a beat. “It’s a pity your large friend left with what I’m after... I might not have had to kill you, otherwise.” The goblin turned swiftly, but not swiftly enough, Kains axe coming down with great force, burying itself in the goblins skull. The creature twitched once, before falling to the ground, it too dead. Behind him, Kain heard a tremendous roar, and felt a great blow against the side of his head, him tumbling down to the grass, rolling over the two fallen bodies, and looking up to the large goblin, who had apparently bludgeoned him with the chalice, a small amount of red blood dripping from it. “You killed em’ you sonofabitch!!! You killed em both!!!” Kain, though quite dazed, quickly sent his foot jetting out for the creatures knee, a loud snap echoing through the forest followed by the beasts howls as it fell on top of him, landing on his upturned axe. The goblin was killed, he had the Chalice, all was right in the world. Aside from the fact that he was too tired to move, not to mention with a massive goblin laying on top of him. ‘Ah well,’ he thought, and drifted off to sleep. He would try to get the bastard off of him in the morning.
With thanks to Kain