Free Goblin War by Jim C. Hines

hammer.’’
    Relka’s mouth moved, but Jig couldn’t make out the words. Trok said something as well. He started to reach for Darnak, and then Relka pointed back toward the town. Probably reminding Trok of the elf and his bow.
    ‘‘You have to understand, Jig. King Wendel lost two sons to you goblins.’’ Darnak pulled a tin cup from a pouch at his waist and poured a drink for Jig. ‘‘He would have marched his whole army into your tunnels two years ago, but we couldn’t find the entrance.’’
    Jig felt a moment’s smugness as he sipped his drink. He had been right to seal the entrance after all.
    And then he felt nothing but a burning sensation on his tongue. He doubled over, dropping the cup as he coughed and scooped snow into his mouth.
    ‘‘Elf beer,’’ said Darnak. ‘‘Potent stuff, but it tastes like the trees’ own piss.’’
    Jig shuddered. His tongue felt as if it had grown a layer of mold. ‘‘What’s going to happen to us?’’
    ‘‘Wendel decreed that any goblins found anywhere in the kingdom were to be executed on the spot. Genevieve managed to get around that law because she needed the extra muscle, but once the work is finished . . .’’
    Earthmaker’s hammer pounded away as Jig stood there, staring. He wasn’t surprised, exactly. Rather, he was more surprised the humans hadn’t killed him and the other goblins already. ‘‘So if we come into their kingdom, they have permission to hunt and kill us like we’re nothing but animals?’’
    ‘‘Well, no.’’ Darnak took another drink. ‘‘The king has laws limiting the hunting of animals to certain places and times, and protecting—’’
    ‘‘But we didn’t want to come into your stupid kingdom! You tied us up and dragged us. You can’t kill us for being somewhere we never wanted to be. That’s—’’
    ‘‘Easy, Jig.’’ Darnak glanced at the other goblins. By now they had figured out that Darnak and Jig were the source of that awful noise. If it continued much longer, a few arrows wouldn’t be enough to stop them from ripping the dwarf apart. ‘‘It wouldn’t have mattered anyway, lad. That mountain you call home is a part of Wendel’s kingdom too.’’
    ‘‘Our mountain?’’ Jig stared.
    ‘‘Wendel’s, according to the treaty he signed with the elves.’’ Darnak pointed to the other side of the valley. ‘‘He rules everything up to the top of those hills.’’
    That was too much. ‘‘No matter where we go, they’ll kill us.’’
    ‘‘That’s about the size of it. The story of Barius and Ryslind has spread. Everyone knows they were killed by goblins, and they’re none to happy about having you on their lands.’’ Darnak pressed the flask into Jig’s hand. It was surprisingly heavy. ‘‘Forged that flask myself, with Earthmaker’s help. You need it more than I do.’’
    Jig nodded.
    ‘‘You killed Barius and Ryslind, but you also saved our lives. You spared me, and I’ve not forgotten that. I’ve done my best to convince Genevieve to be merciful. The real trick is persuading her father. The royal children have skulls of granite, it’s true, but they come by that honestly.’’
    ‘‘Can’t you let us go?’’
    Darnak shook his head. ‘‘I’m sworn to obey. Besides, there’s no place to go. Theodore used the rod to seal your lair.’’
    Jig could have wept. Without the rod, he could never go home again. And Theodore had taken the rod deep into the human kingdom, where everyone would kill Jig as soon as look at him. Though that really wasn’t anything new. He was a goblin, after all.
    ‘‘Grant me time to work on Genevieve,’’ Darnak said. ‘‘She’s a bit odd, that one, but she’s got more control over her passions than her father. A bit too much control, really. Takes after her mother that way. If I can convince her it’s in her best interest to keep you goblins alive—’’
    ‘‘Why would it be in her best interest?’’ Jig asked.
    Darnak snorted.