The Return Home Chapter

After a days worth of besieging the fortress Ilkabad took time explore the area around the fortress. Evnar and a group of ten warriors rode along with the Vyceryl. There were trees and rolling hills with cottages and settlements located in various places among the terrain. They came across a farm whose owner had five sons and a daughter. There one of the farmers working under the lordship’s supervision greeted them since the children and master were absent. Once they had stopped at the farm’s stables the Vyceryl looked around and saw several dead goblins.

“I see you’ve had some recent troubles with goblins. Were they from that horde near Fortress Night-Stone?” the Vyceryl asked one of the serfs that worked for the owner of the farm.

“That and trouble with the goblin clans in the caves around us. At least those Makool lured plenty of them out of their caves.” The serf said leaning on a pitchfork.

“Is your master here?” one of Ilkabad’s men asked them.

“Nay, he is off with a hired archer and two of his eldest children. They went hunting down the goblins that attacked us. Fortunately no one died in the previous raid.” The serf said honestly as he went back to work.

“We will leave you to your master’s work then.” Ilkabad said when about four hunters came galloping up to the farm.

It was the farmer, his hired archer, and his two eldest children. Each one of them were armed with a bow and different weapons. All four of them had a few goblin heads for trophies. Ilkabad trotted up to them as they stopped.

“I see you’ve been busy.” He complimented indicating to the goblin heads dangling from their saddles. The master looked to be wounded and too tired to speak to the Vyceryl at the moment. His daughter, clad in scaled armor, spoke for him.

“Yes, but there is another war band heading towards our farm.” The daughter said pointing down the path they had come from.

He turned to Evnar and the ten warriors. Despite the battle they just fought, the Vyecryl and his men itched for more blood. They each nodded yes and their party proceeded down the path. It did not take them long before they ran into the goblins that were chasing the farmers. In mere moments Ilkabad and his party ran the goblins down. There was no more than a group of twenty seven of them. Each rider dismounted to claim the heads and gather the shields. While they were cutting the heads off the goblin corpses another group ambushed his men. A war band of a hundred goblins from three different clans attacked Ilkabad’s group and each other. His small band of warriors were caught in what appeared to be a goblin war.

Whenever goblins were not attacking settlements or banding together in hordes, they would often fight each other. The Angoths who lived near goblin caves prayed for the goblins to wage war against each other. It was not long before another group of them poured into the fight. To their misfortune Ilkabad and his men were near one of those goblin caves.

The Vyceryl and his warriors fought to hold their ground against numerous enemies. Ilkabad killed several types of goblins from separate clans. Another group of goblins appeared from some trees on the run. These newly arrived goblins seemed to be running from another hunting party. His own men killed the enemies even when they had killed another. It was getting to the point where there were too many goblins to handle until a horn sounded.

Fifteen armored cavalry rode out of the forest in pursuit of the goblins. To their greatest of fortunes it was Sir Titan of Kalte. The knight and his brethren trampled and cut down the groups of goblins. Leothrad and a group other warriors came. The Champion’s men killed many of the goblins before the clans broke and scattered to other places. Once the area was cleared the cavalry regrouped to let their steeds rest.

Ilkabad and his men kneeled down to rest and to honor the Champion in his presence. The Champion had brought Ilkabad the horses they had ridden to hunt the goblins down. He wanted to explain what happened but the Champion wouldn’t allow it.

“You have no need to explain anything to me. Take your men back to the ships and wait at my flag ship. Our work here is finished.” Leothrad said as he gave Ilkabad the reins to his borrowed horse. He and the eleven warriors rode back to the ships. From there they rowed back to the Serpent Hunter. When Ilkabad climbed aboard he was welcomed back by Captain Clovis and Aingvas. The musician or minstrel named Oephus played a song in commemoration of their battle. It was suitable to the way they had won it. However did not please Ilkabad very much, since that Knight was still out there. It was obvious to him and his brother that this Titan would rub the glory he was currently winning into Ilkabad’s face.

For five days they stayed to let the wounded rest and heal. He sat at the bow of the ship watching the wounded be ferried over to their vessels. Their new friends decided to heal each warrior as they passed every boat before dusk came. To the coalition it was miracle for one thousand of their wounded were healed in one day. That gave them enough hands to man the vessels. Once the last of the wounded were either on board or healed the journey home began.

On the day of the voyage home Ilkabad and his men mounted their kills over the sides of the ship. A few scores of goblin skulls decorated the broadsides and starboard. Evnar sat on the bow of the ship as the Serpent Hunter led Leothrad’s fleet to the island of Lakatul. His foot hung over the ledge watching the sea and land as the Serpent Hunter passed the shores of the Blade of Angeris. Evnar turned his head to face Ilkabad as the waves smashed against the hull.

The Vyceryl leaned against a barrel strapped to the mast with crates, barrels and sacks. Ilkabad looked over to his left and saw plenty of birds flying around other ships in the fleet. His thoughts now rested on his lover, Levanna High Mage of the Triangle Brotherhood Courts. She was no doubt in Lakatul within the quarters of her mother’s inn.

He soon recalled the days he would spend drinking with fellow warriors and courting the Champion’s sister. The various ales, mead and food filled the appetites of anyone. Warriors, craftsmen, bards, lords, and any other man or woman enjoyed the ports of Lakatul. The taverns full of wenches, ale, and music. Inns were alive with merchants, mages, and Veek politicians talking business, affairs, and the events of the world. That one single island laid between the fist of Lothi and the Blade of Angeris. There were a few forts around the island defending the ports. The best thing about the island was there were no Makool or Ipama around. No goblins in the region or even close to the island itself.

He just laid there against the barrel and fell asleep as his brother left the bow. Evnar’s footsteps on the boards stopped him from going deeper into the slumber. Ilkabad smiled a wry smile when he heard his brother’s footsteps pass him. The Vyceryl took advantage of this moment of peace that was given to him. He dosed off and dreamed of his various desires. His dream consisted of him wining glory, bearing the weight of battle, and making love with Levanna.

It lasted for some time as each part intertwined until he found himself in a labyrinth. This labyrinth took him down a path as he floated to a dark room. Once he felt his body sit down a blanket was draped over him. He woke up to see a blanket over him and night was already over the ocean. Ilkabad move a little and found Evnar asleep next to him. He heard his brother speak before he dozed off again.

“One of our new slave girls brought us some blankets. I assume the calm waters are enough to put you to sleep.” Evnar said before falling back asleep.

Ilkabad was woken up by a Makool’s scream with yelling and arguing that followed. Both he and Evnar got up and tossed their blankets next to their breakfast, which happened to be the reason behind the quarrel. Oogloot, Newet, and the other four Makool sorcerers were on the decks arguing with the cook, crew, and the Captain. All the Makool seemed to be outraged over the Angoths cooking Makool legs. Each one of them were close to starting a fight with the entire ship and crew. Captain Clovis tried to reason with them, but none of them would listen to a single word he had to say.

“I am sorry Newet, we are hungry warriors and we believed you ate each other!” He admitted, which was not too far from the truth about Makool.

Newet just flared up at the captain. This caused the crew members to grab the hilts of their weapons. It was apparent that these Makool would either die or were forced off the ship. Ilkabad was hoping this would happen. He had no love for the Makool especially when they tried conquering the surface would believing their culture was the dominant one of this world.

“It is not right for you to eat the dead of own kind. Do you intend to eat us once we are dead?” Newet snapped in Clovis’ face. The Makool raised a hand and a ball of energy grew in his palm. Leothrad came running out of the cabins and cut the Makool’s hand off then cut his leg. The sorcerer screamed and went down before the Champion sliced through him a third time. Newet fell on the deck with two limbs cut off and his blood flowing from his chest. Blood spilled from his body and flowed onto the deck.

The rest of the Makool chose not to bother them about eating Makool legs. To honor their new friends the crew chose not to eat Newet’s legs. For several days the Makool continued their protests against eating their brethren’s legs until only one remained. Two had died three others left the ship to region their brothers under the sea. The last one had remained quiet since the journey began. He sat on the stern with Ilkabad and Clovis while one of the first mates steered the ship towards its destination. Ilkabad had a good look of this particular Makool. His skin color was brownish underneath tattered rags and seaweed tied together.

As Clovis sailed the Serpent Hunter taking the first mate’s place Ilkabad observed the deck. He watched the crew keep busy with lines, scrubbing decks, climbing up the masts, and securing the cargo. On the broadside of the ship Leothrad was busy courting Ursella. She seemed to be a fine match for the Champion. Some had believed Senestra caught his attention, but she seemed more of the exotic type. He looked at the bow where Evnar used to be, but he had climbed up to the crow’s nest.

Their last Makool friend began to smile and shake with laughter. This caught Ilkabads’ attention, who was curious as to why this Makool was laughing and appeared happy about something. Ilkabad turned to look at this laughing sorcerer. Its voice changed from a gurgling sound to a woman’s laughter. In a blink of an eye the Makool sorcerer transformed in to a cackling woman.

“Those damned fools thought I was one of them!” she cried before laughing even harder. Her breasts expanded to the size of cabbages as her body became more curved and smooth. She tossed seaweedand tattered rags down and walked to the steps of the stern.

The whole crew stopped to gaze upon the nude woman before them. Even Leothrad and Ursella looked at her. The Captain’s jaw dropped gawking at her buttocks and beautiful back. Ilkabad had a shocked expression on his face with wide eyes. This nude woman turned to them and smiled. She put a hand on one hip as she looked around her.

“I’ll explain later!” she laughed even more and went straight to the cabins. There she disappeared leaving the crew confused and surprised. Ilkabad heard Evnar’s voice when the strange woman disappeared in the cabins in search of something to put on.

“I see the Fortress Iron Mace one the eastern side of Lakatul and the ports of Lakatul!” he shouted down at them from the crows nest.

Forgetting about the naked woman that had disguised herself as a Makool, Ilkabad raced over to the bow. From there he could see the Fortress Iron Mace, Fort Blood Rock, some ships docked at the ports and the tallest buildings along the first settlements of Lakatul. As they drew closer Ilkabad could not wait to see his beloved Levanna. He jumped with excitement overjoyed to see her once more. There was nothing else he to do than to watch them approach the islands. At ten knots the Serpent Hunter approached the ports and slowed down once it drew close enough to moor. Leothrad’s fleet was not too far behind but at a safe distance.

Clovis steered the ship up to an empty dock a few ships away from the Lessiiv. Ilkabad was tossed a line from the docks. He looked over at the docks and spotted a few taverns and some inns. Leothrad Leothrad came up from behind him with Evnar, Ursella, Oephus, and the strange woman. The five of them joined Ilkabad who turned to see them.

“Are we waiting for someone?” he asked them.

Evnar held his own sack of luggage over his shoulder and Ilkabad’s in his hand. He threw the sack at Ilkabad who caught it. They Vyceryl looked down at his own pack feeling confused.

“The new maids packed your things for you after all you are a Vyceryl.” Evnar answered his question before he even asked it.

Leothrad laughed and turned to watch the gangway be placed upon the ledge of the ship. Six of the passengers including the warriors disembarked from the ship. The Champion led the way down when Scur came rushing up to his side. A party of seven marched down to the inns, and taverns. Within moments seven musicians, witches, and former slaves stood in front of an inn. Ilkabad read the signs of the inn that was known as The Emerald Secret Vile. He smiled at the named recalling memories staying here and drinking at other taverns. The woman who had disguised herself to look like a Makool tilted her head back. Ilkabad expected her to laugh again, but she simply introduced herself to the party.

“Since we are all staying here to rest, the name is Vaynis the salt witch fo the islands. I guess you can say I am a deity of some sort.” She said as she entered the inn.