Bonus 9: In Which the Scout Commences Counter-Revolutionary Activities

Bonus 9: In Which the Scout Commences Counter-Revolutionary Activities

She did not need to watch the conclusion of the fight to know what would follow. Everything was clear to someone who knew how Lord Seiji operated as soon as the first goblin turned his slingshot on the Void witch. He would walk out of there with an entire new gang of followers. That was just what he did.

It was just as well, because she was in no position to see that part. Velaven had silently clambered and vaulted across the tiny footholds provided by the caverns rough ceiling and irregular stalactites, taking a position on the opposite ledge from which to shoot if an opening occurred. None did; the Void witch was protected from the power of her artifact bow, and apparently even against mundane arrows. She was stuck in the same position as the rest of the villainous and heroic teams, forced to watch the Champions fight a battle in which everyone else was useless.

At least, until the goblins resorted to overwhelming firepower. Then she was forced to retreat from the explosions and falling rock as first the entire ledge and then the tunnel access collapsed behind her.

Behind them.

Hoy escaped, the wretched little beast. Even for a detestable Void witch, this goblin was one of the most repulsive specimens she had ever had the misfortune to behold. Nothing to him but vulgar brutality, neither the most basic social graces nor even a rudimentary attempt at tactics. He knew nothing but fury and thuggish forward attacka pitiful reflection of the same deeply-seeded rage she had seen to drive Lord Seiji, with none of his mitigating virtues. It offended her that a creature like Hoy presumed to command others. He was the living opposite of everything leadership meant.

Hoy kept running even once he was out of range of the disastrous tunnel collapse, spitting curses at no one under his breath with every step. Velaven followed, deeply shrouded in her giftinvisible, silent, leaving neither scent nor footprints, so strong was her Goddess-given grace. The artifact bow on which she had come to so depend might be useless against his own Void craft, but that mattered little. As she padded along silently behind the goblin, her left hand reached under her cloak to grasp the handle of the dagger sheathed at the small of her back.

It would be so easy. Neither his spell nor his Void craft would protect him from a slit throat. She should do it, both to advance Lord Seijis cause and because this repulsive creature ought not continue to stain Ephemera with his presence.

No. No, in fact, those goals were in opposition. She had allowed herself to become separated from the Dark Lord, and had to make the most of the opportunity inherent in this misfortune. Ending Hoys miserable life would advance Lord Seijis agenda, to be sure But there was a greater opportunity here. Shed made too many mistakes already. She had to manufacture a real success out of this.

Velaven released the knife and silently followed the oblivious Void witch. Once he led her back to the Goblin Kings new lair, she could still end him. In fact, doing it there would have a greater effect on enemy morale.

The tunnel opened onto the Kzidnak version of a street, this one currently deserted. Even ledges lined both walls of another subterranean canyon, this one with glimpses of light from the bottom suggesting there was an opening to the core deep below. As befit the path which led to the front door of one of Kzidnaks most prosperous companies, the tunnel emerged onto a wide space, where the ledge both jutted outward and was carved into the wall, creating a kind of plaza in front of the tunnel mouth.

There was a dead goblin here, and clearly not one of the random casualties who currently littered the scene of the goblin civil war. This victim wore the green armband of one of Jadraks loyalists, and there was no destruction or other sign of struggle near him save the pool of his own blood in which he lay.

Wet blood, still warm and too fresh to be properly sticky. The fatal wound was a curious pattern, a gash ruining the throat and three more crossing his shoulder and upper chest in a cross-shaped pattern.

Hoy crossed the bridge directly outside the tunnel and turned left, hustling down the ledge-street, and Velaven stayed invisible and silent on his heels, her lip curled in loathing and forcibly repressing the urge to stab him in the back and hurl his still-flailing body down the canyon. That scene told a story as clear as if it had been written down. This contemptible wretch had solved a morale issue by executing one of his own followers to intimidate the rest.

He couldnt be dead soon enough.

The little monster led her to another tram terminal, where to her surprise he had a vehicle waiting.

Hoy? asked the slingshot-wielding goblin who had clearly been left to guard it, peering around in confusion. What happened? Wheres

Its Lord Hoy! he snarled, landing a savage kick on her hip in passing. Before Velaven could react, the goblin went over the ledge with a shriek. Light streamed up from below these tracks; that was a bottomless drop.

She wouldnt have reacted anyway. It was definitely not time to reveal her presence. But still. Fear and murder were important tools in a rulers arsenal, but they were tools of specific and starkly limited utility. Were these really the only measures this obscene little clown of a man had?

Ow, came a voice from below. Uncalled for!

Hoy had already hopped onto his vehicle, which gave Velaven pause. She would clearly have to board it to follow him, but This was going to be far less comfortable than perching on the engineering seats of Sneppits trams, which was really saying something. Hoys contraption was clearly not a Sneppit Company machine, but something hed cobbled together (or, far more likely, had some of Jadraks craftsmen build) in a hurry. Really, there was not much to it but a seat hanging from a wheel fixed to the tram track by a long metal pipe. It didnt even have a floor, just a wide panel of metal just below the wheels to protect the rider from sparks. There were gears and mechanical contraptions attached to the seat and the panel whose function she couldnt even guess, but it had no apparent means of propulsion.

This was going to be tricky.

With no time to dither, she boarded it after him, a maneuver which demanded all her skill. Velaven had to get on without causing telltale shifts in the precariously hanging machine, then grasp the metal shaft suspending the drivers seat from the wheels and hold on, wedging her toes into tiny ridges of metal where the seat was attached to the shaft. She swiftly and carefully gathered up her cloak and wrapped it around her waist, tucked into itself, to keep it from flapping about in the wind she knew from experience would blast her once this thing was moving.

In the process, she observed that the space below the tram platform was completely blocked off by a metal grate, a sensible safety precaution if goblins were normally crowding around this space. The woman Hoy had kicked off was just clambering to her feet, wincing and rubbing her hip.

Then Hoy began turning a wheel attached to his chair, and the entire thingchair, vertical shaft, and spark-shielding panelbegan to rotate around. Velaven had to move very adroitly to avoid having her fingers or toes pinched.

Whatis wrongwith thisHEY YOU! the Void witch yelled down at his mistreated subordinate. Why is this so stiff? What the fuck did you do, you little shit?

I didnt touch it! she protested shrilly, holding up both hands. Nobody has touched it! You said to make sure nobody bothered it, so thats what I did! Nobodys even been in here!

Then why the fuck is it so stiff?!

Maybe because its a piece of junk you had the engineers slap together in a couple hours while they were trying to evacuate?

He snarled wordlessly, continuing to yank on the wheel until hed turned the entire apparatus around, facing the opposite direction from which it had begun. Then he yanked a lever, and part of the shield folded downward until it hung at an angle, blocking part of Hoys (and all of Velavens) view forward. One more lever caused latches to clamp firmly into place, securing the panel in its new configuration.

Force Wave! Hoy shouted, blasting the panel in front of him with the spell. The entire thing rocked violently, but began moving forward on its well-lubricated wheels.

Oh. That was actually sort of ingenious. He definitely hadnt thought of it himself.

Yeah, sure, I guess Ill just fuckin walk home! the goblin below shouted as they began accelerating down the track. There was room on the seat for a second goblin, but it was best for her purposes that Hoy had decided to abandon his subordinate in a fit of childish temper. This thing was already struggling with just her own added weight; another goblin and it might not function at all.

As it was, Hoy was clearly frustrated with the slowness of its acceleration, having to repeatedly blast the metal quasi-sail with Force Wave, but if he was suspicious about the reason for the crafts under-performance, he gave no sign. The other goblins explanation probably catered more to his preconceptions than the idea that someone might have done something so risky as board it along with him. Still, Velaven eschewed watching where they were going to keep her attention divided between hanging on for dear life and watching Hoy in case he suddenly turned to investigate her position. It wasnt as if she could see forward, anyway.

The ride was not pleasant.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

It was doubtless bad enough for Hoy, who at least had a place to sit. Even he had to grab a provided handhold with the hand he didnt use to gesticulate with each cast, and braced both his feet against convenient bars obviously placed for that purpose. With every impact of Force Wave against its shield, the little craft lurched violently forward, and if the cast was even slightly off-center (which they all, inevitably, were) it would swing to the side.

Just holding on required all of Velavens athleticism. Had she been as malnourished as a few weeks ago, she probably would not have succeeded; this was only possible because Lord Seiji had taken to feeding her. That she had no choice but to accept his charity did not rankle any less for being even more critical now.

She had to elevate herself, redeem her failures and approach him as a peer. That he was aware of her motivation did not change that reality. Any dark elfany Viryanwould understand her situation at a glance. He was not Viryan, not truly, and she hardly needed to have listened in on his conversations to know his patience with her was rapidly running out. After her gambit with the cat tribe had so horribly backfired, her timetable had become terribly unforgiving even as she had to find a way to impress even more than before she had introduced herself by way of dramatic failure.

He would take her in even so, she knew. But she could not approach him as another of the waifs he liked to collect. The man somehow found and gathered them up, then handed out weapons and authority and Blessings, binding them to his service. He was generous, yesbut on his own terms, in a way that commanded loyalty and positioned himself in firm control. It was a strategy she respected, but Velaven could notwould notsettle for being just another of his lieutenants. If she could not come to him as a peer, all of this would be for nothing. There was so much more at stake than the Viryan pride his familiar had warned him of. No Dark Lord would return her to her rightful place unless she proved herself worthy of it.

Lord Seiji was the only hope she had of reclaiming what was hers. Unless she truly impressed him, he would simply take it for himself. Velaven would not even begrudge him thatshe would do the same in his positionbut she had not suffered so much and come so far to fall just short of her redemption at the end.

Finally, mercifully, the interminable ride ended much the way it had begun: in a series of faltering, barely-controlled shudders. Hoys infernal contraption creaked to a stop in a stretch of corridor that didnt seem to have been a formal tram station, though there was a cleared area with a ledge conveniently at disembarking height, and heavy mechanical equipment positioned at one end which suggested this had been placed here originally by tram workers for servicing purposes.

He had stopped hammering the spell-sail with Force Waves some distance back, and the rickety cart creaked to a halt a little bit short of the landing zone, but there were goblins waiting on the ledge to assist. Two of them, one of whom tossed a rope which Hoy caught and tied around the carts central hanging shaft, forcing Velaven to arch her whole body out of his way to avoid the risk of him brushing against her accidentally. The pair on the landing then pulled them the rest of the way into place.

Not the only task, though. She was here, no longer shadowing Lord Seiji, and there were many ways to disrupt the enemy from within their headquarters. After an hour, Velaven decided that Hoy was not coming out any time soon, and that she had gleaned all there was to learn by eavesdropping on the chatty goblins outside Jadraks chambers. Hoy would emerge eventually, and it would not be hard to find him. Learning of his routine would make his later comeuppance easier to arrange, as well.

Slipping away, she started off in the direction from which the patrols of guards came, reasoning that some central organizing facility would lay at their source, but paused at the mouth of a familiar passage. Raised voices were echoing from the discreet side landing where Hoy had parked his carriage.

Interesting. Sensing opportunity and determined not to let another slip through her grasp, she turned and glided back to the tram tunnel.

I am telling you, there is nothing wrong with it! a raised female voice insisted from up ahead, clearly on the edge of cracking. Ive been over every cog and bolt, I tested the moving parts myselfyou both stood there and watched me do it!

Yeah, we watched you not change anything from how it was when Hoy left it here!

Because theres nothing to change!

Hoy said there was. You calling Hoy a liar? You want me to go get him so you can say that to his face?

The only answer to that was the shuddering gasp of someone on the verge of tears. Velaven emerged around the bend to behold the scene outside just as the other Hoy loyalist chimed in. It was the same pair as before, currently looming over a third goblin.

Hoy is not happy with his carriage, Zeckl. Whatever was wrong with it is still wrong with it, because you didnt fix it. If he comes back and is still not happy with his carriage, you better believe its gonna be your green ass. Im not takin the fall for this.

Zeckl lowered her head, clutching a wrench in both hands so hard her fists trembled, and muttered something so indistinct Velaven couldnt make out the words.

Aw, you gonna cry now? snorted the first of the duo, reaching out and giving her shoulder a rough shove. Speak up if you got somethin to say, I dont have time for yourhey!

He had to step back as the engineer lashed out, swiping with her wrench. It was an inept attempt, easily avoided, but she brandished the tool at him, now wide-eyed and baring all her fangs.

I said fuck Hoy and fuck you! I hope the Dark Lord finishes him off proper, and you two goons with him! Ever since the uprising assholes like you have done nothing but throw your weight around and pick on people just tryin to work. We were all better off without a Goblin King!

She snapped her teeth shut, eyes suddenly widening as her expression switched to terror, but the damage was done.

Well, well, drawled the second henchgoblin. Tads, did I hear what I think I just heard?

If you think you heard this jumped-up little plumber spouting treason against the Goblin King, Nekko, then Im afraid so.

You hate to see it, Nekko said, shaking his head mournfully. Guess we gotta core her now.

No, Zeckl whispered, backing up. She came up against the chair of Hoys carriage, which was blocking most of the ledge, having been lifted down from the track and set there for repair.

Oh, well, Tads said with a shrug. What was it Hoy said about the engineers?

Ah, yeah, I remember. He said Sneppit has better ones anyway, and well just take them on after that bitch is dead.

No great loss, then, Nekko agreed, drawing the long knifea human-sized akornin knife of Fflyr make, practically a short sword in his handsfrom its sheath at his belt.

Opportunity.

And risk.

Velaven could practically feel the weight of her next mistake hanging overhead, just waiting for the thread of fate to snap so it could fall and finish crushing the life from her. Was this the error of the cat tribe, where an aggressive action would cause deadly repercussions? Or the error of an hour ago, where excessive caution would cost her a chance that would not come again?

There was no time to dither. Both goblins thugs were advancing on the terrified engineer, weapons out.

Inaction, her favorite tutor had told her, was also an actionand only the right one when it was specifically the right one. To be inactive by default was to err, every time.

The silvery artifact longbow had no string, but when she put her fingers to the place where one should be, she could feel it. Feel the weight as she pulled it back, and the bow flexed, the wing-shaped blades affixed to its curve arching backward. A silver arrow materialized, nocked and ready to fly.

Velaven shot Tads straight through the skull; his body thumped against the rail carriage and bounced off. Her second shot took Nekko right in the eye a second later as he stared at this in confusion.

For the first time in front of another living person since she had fled her home, she let her stealth fall away entirely. Zeckl turned to stare at her, stupefied.

Velaven stepped past the stunned engineer, raised one foot, and kicked the vertical shaft of Hoys carriage. Awkwardly balanced on its seat with the big metal shield and sail overhead, it was ludicrously top-heavy and tipped over with barely any effort. Over the side it went, tumbling down into the vast depths with nothing between it and the distant fires of Ephemars core.

No more quick and easy travel for Hoy.

Silently, she kicked both bodies, sending them after it. There were still bloodstains here, but that could be remedied. Goblins always had alchemical solutions about, especially cleaning agents. They were an admirably fastidious people.

Velaven turned to look down at Zeckl, who flinched at the sudden regard and backed up against the crane apparatus.

Who else knows you are here?

Please dont kill me, the engineer squeaked. Im having a really rough day.

As are we all. The question is, what are you willing to do about it?

Zeckl stared at her. Velaven gave her a moment for her thoughts to catch up. There was time; no one was coming, she had not ceased to be attentive to sounds in the corridor the entire time shed been out here. The goblin looked down at the bloodstains, then at the ledge, then back up the tunnel, and finally up at Velaven again.

Youre with the Dark Lord. Her voice, when she finally spoke, was calmer, her eyes intent. Good. Velaven couldnt fault a civilian for cracking after having been bullied for an hour by a pair of thugs, but she couldnt do anything with a contact who was going to panic and lose all ability to think under stress. It would be a shame and an irony to have to silence her after all this.

Velaven nodded once. I am. Are you?

Zeckl drew in a deep breath, again clutching her wrench like it was a security blanket, then deliberately steeled her expression as she exhaled, and nodded. What did you have in mind?

And that was one. Only one, but that was how it always started.