The Seven Seals: Dragon Crusade

It was too late. The ceiling exploded above them. Dust and debris fell as the ground beneath them quaked. Kate and the others rushed to the cave entrance as rocks began to fall. A massive boulder crashed right in front of her, sending her to a halt. Kate whipped her head back, hoping to catch one last glimpse at Orindir. He was nowhere to be seen as dust flew about.

“Kate, come on!” Kirith yelled, grabbing her shoulder and pulling her along. Kate followed after him, not looking back.

They entered the cave as the ground and ceiling quaked. More rocks fell from the cracks, but not as large as the ones before. There was another large shake as dust flowed down the cave, signaling the way was blocked. Escaping the cave, everyone stopped by the encampment, breathing heavily. Kate leaned forward, shaking as her heart pounded in her chest. Why hadn’t Orin explained himself to them? Why did he refuse to reason? She felt like there was something there, a connection. The things he had shown her…Orin wasn’t entirely bad.

Kirith turned to Kate, an infuriated look on his face. “What— were you doing with him?!” he asked, clearly out of breath. “He could’ve killed you!”

Kate shook her head slightly and stood back up straight. “He’s not what you think he is!”

“Wh— have you lost your mind?!?” Kirith stammered. “He’s tried to kill us multiple times!”

“Kirith…take it easy,” Earidon said wearily.

“No! She could’ve been killed!” Kirith looked back at her, expecting an explanation.

Kate scowled at him. “Kirith, Orin IS the seventh Seal!”

Kirith’s anger seemed to fade. “What?” he said.

“Seventh Seal?” Travis repeated. “But there’s only six. How do you know for sure?”

“Orin told me himself, and he showed me his hand. It was there! I saw it! Don’t you think it would be ironic for him to be one of the Six— or Seven?”

Kirith shook his head and massaged his forehead. “This is unbelievable!”

From whatever depths came a loud chorus of cacophonous screeches. The voices skittered and echoed through the halls, piercing right through them. It went on and on until they fell into a silver silence.

“What was that…?” Laela asked fearfully.

“Goblins…” Earidon said, his eyes wide as he looked around. “Grab your things, now! We head for the main path immediately!”

“Wait, wait, wait— are they really that bad?” Travis asked as the elves quickly collected what they had.

“Yes!” Earidon said impatiently. “They only seek to cause war, now hurry!”

As the group hastily and shiftily grabbed their belongings and doused the fire, the cries and screeches became louder with each second. Some items were left behind, but there was no time to waste. Laela created a ball of light as the group ran out of the room and out onto the bridge. The raging voices resonated right below them. From the endless abyss below, spindly forms began to climb up the walls and pillars, moving like spiders that were hungry for their prey.

Kate looked around as she ran, her eyes darting to and fro as the creatures climbed higher. Were these the goblins? How were they supposed to escape them? They were so numerous! Kate felt her legs burn, but she didn’t bother to stop her rhythm of running.

They were half way down the bridge now. The opposite entrance was getting closer, but the goblins had enclosed them from both sides. From right behind them, their screeches could be heard. Kate whipped her head back to see many of them had climbed up onto the bridge too. Their skin varied with each one, one a paler green and another a deeper sickly green. They wore loincloths and bruised armor plates here and there. One of them held up a weapon of some kind and pointed it at them. It was almost as if he were holding it to aim…

“Get down!” Derenil cried, but it was too late.

A net shot right from the weapon like a spider lunging forward. It wrapped right around both Kirith and Epheldor, who were near the back. They tumbled into the floor, thrashing in the net. The goblins approached, weapons in hand and cackling.

Kate skidded to a stop and pulled out her sword, pointing it towards the on coming goblins. “Guys, wait!” she called, giving a quick glance back to the group. But they had already stopped.

In their way were many more goblins, blocking the bridge completely. All sneered and grinned at their misfortune, approaching them threateningly with clubs and maces. The group backed up, looking between the two converging sides. Both Epheldor and Kirith managed to climb out from beneath the net without being poked by one of the spike-infested clubs before pulling out their weapons.

From the front, one of the goblins approached, this one with much more armor than the rest. Various golden earrings were looped in his long pointed ears. One golden ring stuck out through the nostrils of his bulbous nose. A necklace dangled over his chest with elf ears hanging from it. The goblin made a yellow toothy grin as he let his cat-like eyes drift across the group. He let out a low chuckle. “What do we have here…?” the goblin said, his voice equivalent to steel scraping against rock. “Four human children and…four tree huggers?!” Most of the goblins cackled in return.

Earidon stepped forward, though wearily. “We only want passage through here, Tazolk,” he stated firmly.

“Ye’ still remember my name!” The goblins laughed again. “Do ya’ still remember the names of those you killed then, hmm? No, I wouldn’t expect so. Wood elves always have their mind on their “beloved trees and sacred spirits”!” Tazolk looked back towards the other Goblins behind him. “If ’ey were to drink two bottles of intoxication they still would sound no different!” The goblins burst into an obnoxiously loud laughter.

Earidon held still, unflinching to their insults. Callon stepped forward to say something, but Earidon held the young elf back. “This is official business,” he said. “We only wish that you find mercy in this need until our real battles begin outside of here.”

Tazolk’s laughter only grew at hearing this. Saliva dripped from his bumpy lips carelessly, but he did not wipe it away. He stepped closer to Earidon and spoke, “You beg for mercy now…? How sad, I expected more from the great elven general of old.” Tazolk pulled out a rusted scimitar and put it up to Earidon’s neck. “I would’ve killed ya’ righ’ here and now regardless of your begs of mercy, along with your other companions, had it not been for the king’s orders.”

Everyone was tense, ready to make a move if Tazolk did anything, but Earidon was unfazed. Unflinching, he stared back at Tazolk. “And what is that?”

Tazolk’s grin seemed to grow wider. “That be none of your business,” he replied. “Well, it is unknown until you speak with the king himself.”

“And what makes you think we will go with you?!?” Kirith barked.

Tazolk withdrew from Earidon, holding his scimitar at his side. “Because if you don’t, you all face the fate of having to fight an army of goblins…and I doubt you would be obliged to do that!”

There was a short pause before Earidon spoke again. “And how are we to know that we will get out of this alive?”

“You don’t,” Tazolk replied darkly.

The Seals and the elves were forced down a long narrow staircase that hung on the wall next to the endless dark chasm. Hisses, cackles, wheezes, screeches, and roars echoed from below, echoing bouncing across the walls. The most ruthless and hoodwinking creatures of the mountains now had them in their possession. Did their king really want to see them? It was doubtful. With such vile intent in their eyes, it was impossible to believe that they would be able to leave clean, or even leave at all.

Kate looked down into the deep black abyss, feeling the anxiety rise in her. With her hands now bound behind her back and with one of those green nasty creatures behind her, there was no way to escape. If there were a contest to see how many worst-case scenarios they could avoid, they would loose.

And why had Orin abandoned her like that? Kate knew there was something different about him, and she had hope he would pull through. The vision, holding his hands, conversing peacefully, was all that for nothing?

A hand shoved her forward, causing her to bump into Laela. “Keep movin’!” the goblin hissed.

Kate regained her bearings, apologizing quietly to Laela. She sighed and looked down at the steps, making sure to not trip over herself. “How are we supposed to get out of this one…?” Kate whispered a bit despondently.

“I’m sure we’ll find a way,” Laela said. “There’s always a way.”

“Yeah but…these are goblins we’re dealing with, and who knows how many more we’ll have to deal with down there.”

“I find it hard to believe that we won’t make it out of here.” Laela straightened her back a bit in confidence. “Remember all those times when we thought our chances of escape were inevitable?”

“Yes, of course.”

“So do you think that fate won’t do the same for us again?”

Kate let out a solemn sigh. She had so much hope, how could she? Being lead down into these unknown depths and she could still think about escaping. “Laela, maybe fate won’t be in our favor this time.”

Descending down into the depths, the shadows began to grow and dim out the stairs. But a splash of light from one of the goblin’s torch set their feet right. The ground below became visible. Piles of rubble and fallen stone littered the floor amongst the pillars of the bridge. Parts of the floor had fallen through, revealing another cavernous entrance. Across the room was a passageway with a distant light shimmering across the stone.

The group was shoved toward the end of the stairs before they stepped off at the end with the many other goblins crawling and creeping around. They cackled and bellowed at the group, particularly to the elves in their misfortune. Tazolk walked ahead in front of them in a smug gait, like he had just caught the best dinner. He looked back at them and grinned. “To the passage way there, maggots!” Tazolk spat.

One of the goblins smacked Callon forward. Callon grunted and fell forward, crashing into the rubble. “TO DELICATE FOR THE JOURNEY?! HAHAHA!!” laughed the goblin.

Epheldor quickly stepped into the situation, scowling. “Leave him be!” he snapped.

The goblin hissed in return before giving Callon a good shove with his foot and scampering off, laughing madly. With his hands bound behind his back, Callon slowly got up, coughing a bit and continuing to follow along with the others.

Kate winced at the scene. This must’ve been terrible for them. With the goblins’ hatred of elves, it made matters worse. For the goblins, it was like a hay-day, but to the elves, it was complete torture. This was something the elves day in and day out hoped not to face. What had caused these two species to be so against one another?

Passing under the bridge, they approached the passageway. Some of the goblins wobbled inside before them, speaking of malicious things to another and laughing of it. Two torches illuminated the tattered halls and gave light to their grossly grotesque figures. From behind, their group was ushered along around a corner, down various corridors and through some small rooms. And each way they went, goblins looked up from stirring a dark stew, or sharpening a blade, or feasting on what looked to be an animal leg to give them a good stinging glare. It was no surprise, but to the Seals it was somewhat frightening.

Being shoved much more now, the group approached a pair of tall double doors laden in a rustic gold. Two goblin guards stood stationed on either side. They glared at them with their yellow eyes. “What business—”

“It’s business with the king, I’m bringing the group of freaks to him,” Tazolk answered quickly, glaring back at them.

The guards looked over them, their eyes drifting across each individual. They grumbled to one another and grabbed the ringed handles of the door and pulled them open slowly. The doors let out a low scratching sound as they were skidding on the floor. After what seemed like forever, both doors were pulled open to reveal the most horrifying and cringing sight.

At the very end of the large room before them sat a massive creature of some sort sitting on what they could barely describe as a throne. The thing was bulbous, malformed, with a round belly jutting out. Its eyes had heavy bags under them that almost sagged down to its hooked nose. Long pointed ear pointed out from its held and curled a bit forward at the end. Across its body was a pale yellowish tinged skin with bumps and pimples marring it. A rusted crown with gemstones of different kinds adorned its hairless head. Other assortments of jewelry were around its wrists and two-times-the-size-of-its-head neck. The creature simply sat slouched back like it had absolutely no care. Its eyes flickered open at their approach, looking at the new company who had arrived.

“Hmmm?” the creature grumbled, looking at them questionably.

Goblins flooded in before the group while others shoved them forward excitedly. The group stumbled inside, thrust right toward the obese thing. Being forced down on their knees, they looked up to the creature with nervousness in their eyes.

“King Zogba, we have the prisoners as you requested!” Tazolk announced triumphantly, standing at attention. All the other goblins around nodded and agreed, a grin all across each and every one of their faces, a hungering feeling within all their voices.

King Zogba snorted and let his gaze drift across them. He leaned forward in his throne, bringing his face down close to theirs. He squinted, stopping his gaze on Derenil who practically sat at the very middle of them. She looked away, not bearing to have his face so close. Zogba made a “hmph” and leaned back. “How would fate have it,” he said in a deep gurgling voice, “that I would see the same three elves…only now they are in my clutches!” Zogba grinned evilly and chuckled, all his loose skin and fat moving with it.

“It has been a while,” Earidon began, a stoic look on his face, “Goblin King.”

Zogba looked to Earidon and laughed obnoxiously. All the other goblins began to laugh with him. “Earidon was it? How many years has it been? Several hundred? What does it matter? Luck must be on our side if this is the group— those Iceskins had referred to.”

Kate’s eyes widened. Iceskins? That was the term they used to refer to Orin’s kind! So did that mean this was all just a set up?

“Do you mean to say, that the Felorian prince asked of you to do this?” Earidon asked.

Zogba snorted. “Made a deal. I would’ve had them as my dinner…but they presented a fair price,” he said. Zogba grinned and leaned forward, clutching the arm rests. “But here you are back here, little elf, with others! You seem to find yourself back here close to my abode quite often! How many more times will you bring your armies to try and stop us? I certainly wouldn’t mind if you sent more, their bodies provide for the nourishment of my armies and keeps my belly full!” And with that, all the goblins laughed mockingly, slapping their knees with tears merging in their eyes from so much laughter.

Callon immediately shot up from his kneeled position, glaring up at the Goblin King in rage. “You oversized, gluttonous fiend!” he growled. “Their lives weren’t taken away only to be feasted upon! They died with honor and sacrificed their lives for the people they loved! That is something you and no goblin would understand!”

Zogba’s laughing was suddenly stopped by Callon’s words. He looked down at the young elf in disgust. “Honor? What do I care?” Zogba replied, squinting his sickly dish-water-colored eyes. “And what, little elf, gives you the right to speak up to the king?! Hmmm….maybe you prefer to join your brother’s and sisters as my meal?” His bloated hand shot out and grabbed Callon by the neck. Zogba lifted him right off the ground with ease and held him up. Callon struggled and tried to breath, trying to pull at Zogba’s hand for life.

“W-wait! Please, he is just a youth, spare him!” Epheldor stammered as he stood up also, his eyes wide with freight.

“We beg of you!” Derenil cried.

But a Goblin from behind shoved them back down.

The Goblin King didn’t even acknowledge Epheldor or Derenil. He grinned at the terrified look on Callon’s face, pleased to see his victim was getting what he deserved. Zogba put his thumb up to Callon’s chin and his index finger behind his head. In one swift motion, he moved those two fingers in opposite directions, causing Callon’s head to whip to the side with a loud snap. Callon’s hands fell from Zogba’s clutches and dangled at his sides lifelessly.

Kate felt her blood run cold as the sound of the snap echoed though her mind. Did he just— no it couldn’t be. Her heart began to race within her, shaking her inner core. He can’t be dead— he can’t! Kate thought.

But the lifelessness in his body said otherwise. The way his head lolled back, with his empty eyes staring back at them. Everyone was speechless. They didn’t know what to say to what had just occurred.

Zogba, almost casual, opened his mouth and inserted, Callon’s head inside. Kate quickly looked away, knowing what would happen in the very next second. She could hear the snapping of bones and the tearing of flesh, followed by crunching. Kate urged herself to look back, but she regretted it when she did. She could just feel the bile rising up to her mouth and stinging her throat.

In Zogba’s hand was Callon’s body, but headless. Blood flowed from the neck and plastered onto the Goblin King’s bloated stomach. Zogba tossed the body aside and grinned, his mustard teeth stained in red. “Raw but still delicious!” he bellowed.

The goblin’s all around cheered and howled in laughter. The group was still shaken up by this, still trying to confront the idea that one of their companions was dead.

“What is this mockery you make of us?!?” Epheldor sputtered, his eyes wide with almost madness. “What gave you this sickening idea to torment us so?!?”

Zobga licked the blood from his wrinkled fingers and looked to Epheldor. He clutched the arms of his throne and leaned forward. “Don’t you mean what plan?” Zogba said, trying to stop himself from laughing. He leaned back, his head almost sinking in the rolls of his neck. “Hm I remember that was still going on… I am to hand you over to those Iceskins, but after having a bite of the cake, I believe I want more!” Zogba waved his hand to Tazolk. “Take them away, and roast them like pigs!” Again, the goblins all around cheered and laughed, some of them giving the group shoves.

A toothy grin spread across Tazolk’s face. He looked to the group, seeing their reactions to it all. “As you wish, my King!”