Free Delver Magic: Book 06 - Pure Choice by Jeff Inlo Page A

guards were
careless, because he was careless.
Rain, no matter how heavy, was not a significant excuse. He was not happy.
    #
    Ryson reached the southern edge of
Burbon just as Okyiq had ordered his goblins to loot the town. His delver
vision cut through the darkness and heavy rain and he spied the little fiends
rushing towards every conceivable prize in the area.
    He noted the careful movements of
Burbon's soldiers and how they formed defensive lines to keep the goblins
corralled. The archers remained on the walls, staying low to avoid incoming
arrows, but they carefully targeted any careless goblin venturing out into the
open. He was pleased to see he would not have to worry about casualties to the
guard, but the raid remained far from over.
    Utilizing the darkness and the
cover of the storm, the goblins scurried through every narrow passage like rats
through sewer pipes. They broke into storehouses and shops, smashed windows and
crashed through doors. They shrieked and squealed as they filled their sacks
with everything and anything they could lay their hands upon.
    Disgusted with the sight, Ryson
almost rushed after each and every goblin. His speed would have allowed him to
disarm most of them. He could force them to drop their loot and retreat to the
gate, but upon seeing Okyiq stalking across a narrow alley and leading eleven
goblins heavily laden with plunder, Ryson decided to alter his plans.
    The large goblin was the biggest
Ryson had ever seen. Even in the heavy rains, the bulky form stood out against
the other smaller creatures. Ryson was no longer surprised they had succeeded
in unlocking the gate. The colossal goblin looked almost as strong and as
sturdy as a dwarf warrior. The delver realized the monster could probably slide
the locking post from the gate buckles by himself.
    With his keen hearing, Ryson had
heard the orders of the massive goblin and watched as the edicts were obeyed
without delay. He realized the goblins were not acting in the fashion of a true
horde. They did not rush forward recklessly like the incoming tide, unable to
curb their instincts. They did not tear through Burbon with a group lust for
violence and chaos. Instead, they had turned over authority to a single goblin
and it was his voice they followed.
    It was not completely out of the
ordinary. The goblins had often been used as pawns, pressed forward by the
twisted desires of wicked sorcerers or conniving dark creatures of greater
willpower. Still, when the goblin threat was unleashed, it was shoved upon
victims like a turbulent dust storm rolling forward with constant and frenzied
violence.
    The actions Ryson viewed did not
match such characteristics. The goblins dashed through Burbon as individuals,
single goblins following the orders of their master. Even as they clearly
reveled in the thrill of the raid, they did so in a manner that reflected
control and purpose.
    With the nature of the assault
unfurling before him like some scripted play on a muddy, flooded stage, Ryson
realized that targeting the goblin foot soldiers was not the path toward
successfully ending the conflict. He needed to address the real force behind
the incursion, remove the very will that pressed each goblin into becoming a
dangerous menace to his home.
    With his decision made, Ryson
raced toward the massive goblin. He readied the Sword of Decree in front of him
as he became a flash of light and motion. In an instant, he was upon the
pillaging group led by Okyiq.
    The goblins froze at the sight.
Even Okyiq stood dazed at the near incomprehensible vision. A blazing sword
shot at them as if unleashed like a lightning bolt from the sky. Many of the
smaller goblins were knocked immediately from their feet and left to roll
through mud puddles, struggling with their heavy sacks of loot.
    After stunning several of the
smaller goblins with quick slaps of his sword to their swollen heads, Ryson
turned his attention to the apparent leader of the raid. The delver