You are probably wondering why on earth I decided to let you back into my head at this point in time. Well… we are getting back into the whole adventuring thing. Getting the gang back together, you might say. Not the original gang… for obvious reasons… but you know what I mean.

  Tadwick and Alexi are away for a few days, so we don’t need to worry about them… and Olly and Dolly are staying on the farm for the next few days so we have a window of freedom.

  The quest we have embarked on isn’t one that was open to the general public. Chloe asked us to do it as a favour. But she did file the paperwork with the guild so that we can get officially paid and gain reputation amongst the adventurers. It is only up at Fort Bracken, so we should be able to do it and return before the boys get back. The timing of everything worked out very well.

  The quest itself is a simple investigation. Doesn’t sound too complicated. Some people have been going missing from around the fort. Various farmers and a few of the goblins. Alexander sent Chloe a message about it last week… she said he should have sent her a follow up by now, but he hasn’t, so she is growing concerned. She said that she would pop up there herself… but since they sent Zafar’s regiment up there to help protect the fort, her workload has increased significantly to pick up the slack.

  As for our little investigative party… it consists of me, Kiyui, Agaroth, Phoenix, Farrow, and Dietrich. I wasn’t expecting Phoenix to come along, but she said that since her youngest has been weaned, she now has significantly more freedom. It was Agaroth who got Farrow and Dietrich involved. He’s done a few quests with them and Damecus and he rightly pointed out that we needed some people who are more adept on the frontline.

  It is a shame that Damecus is still away… him and his big dragon skull shield have always been so helpful on the frontline. Not having somebody with insane defensive capabilities will be odd… Asmodeus may be an arsehole these days… but he was also a fantastic defensive frontliner.

  We have just arrived at the fort. We told one of the watchmen that we were here to help Alexander… well… Sir Krajewski… and he disappeared inside. We are just hanging around out the front waiting for him to show up and fill us in on what has been going on.

  Boff: “Hello again!”

  Dwynfel: “Oh… Boff… hey… how’ve you been?”

  Boff: “Can’t complain, can’t complain. I mean, I could complain, but it wouldn’t do any good.”

  He started laughing to himself.

  Phoenix: “Where is Alexander?”

  Boff: “Straight to the point, as ever, my lady. He’s not here.”

  Agaroth: “For fuck’s sake, where is the cunt?”

  Boff: “He went off to investigate a lead yesterday. Should really have been back by now. In truth, I’m starting to get concerned.”

  Dwynfel: “What was this lead?”

  Boff: “Follow me and I’ll explain.”

  He walked over to the nearest farm and shouted over to one of the farm hands.

  Boff: “Excuse me, love. Mind if I use your cart as a table for a moment?”

  The woman looked confused, but nodded and continued with her work. Boff pulled out a map and placed it down on the back of the cart.

  Boff: “You see all these markings. They all represent the place that one of the missing people was last seen. As you can see, with the exception of a few outliers, most of the people went missing near the docks. Or somewhere along the riverside.”

  He was right. There were about five that weren’t near the river. But that doesn’t mean that they weren’t taken from the river… just that they weren’t seen there beforehand.

  Boff: “So, we suspect that it is either something in, or on, the river.”

  Dietrich: “Are you thinking slavers? The Anubis empire haven’t been active in a while. Maybe they are changing tactics.”

  Farrow: “Doubtful… they would not take goblins. They like their slaves to be… how you say… séduisant.”

  I do have to say… Farrow has picked up the language very well over the last four years. Apart from forgetting the occasional word, she speaks and understands the common tongue pretty much perfectly. That being said… I have no idea what séduisant means. She is definitely right about the Anubis empire being unlikely to abduct goblins.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Dietrich: “Fair point. What we thinking then? Sea creature? I’ve always wanted to kill a kraken.”

  Phoenix: “This is fresh water, not salt water.”

  Dietrich: “You know what I meant.”

  Agaroth: “But there is nae anythin’ dangerous in these waters. Never has been. That’s why everyone swims in the fuckin’ thing.”

  He has a point. I have never heard of a single monster or animal attack on the river before.

  Boff: “This is why we are at such a quandary. Neither explanation seems plausible. Half of the missing are goblins, which makes slavers unlikely, but if there was some kind of monster in the water, then where the hell did it come from. Unless somebody summoned a demon or something. But who would be stupid enough to do that? One of our knights even disappeared… well, two now.”

  Phoenix: “Who is the other one?”

  Boff: “Sir Hamilton.”

  Phoenix: “I know him, he is unlikely to go down without a fight.”

  She’s right about that. I saw him when Zafar’s squad first left for the fort. The guy is built like a brick shithouse.

  Boff: “Exactly, the whole thing has got everybody round here very nervous. Zafar is having a nightmare trying to keep Gideon calm. Gideon thought it was some anti-goblin group at first. Almost cancelled the whole deal and evacuated. Since Alexander showed him this map, he’s calmed down a bit, but I’m pretty sure he only agreed to stay because their escape plan was boats. And if there is something in the water then that would be a terrible idea.”

  Dwynfel: “Things round here still a bit tense? I thought that after four years he wouldn’t be so eager to cut and run.”

  Agaroth: “He’s just thinkin’ aboot what’s best for his people. I don’t envy the bloke… even if he does act like a scaredy-cunt half the time.”

  Dwynfel: “So where did Alexander go exactly?”

  Boff pointed to a little to a little inlet just down the river.

  Boff: “Alexander said that if it was some kind of aquatic terror, that this would be the most likely place for it to live.”

  Dwynfel: “Makes sense… its calm and secluded. Good place to retreat to digest after a meal.”

  Boff: “Exactly what he thought, I’m now worried that he was right.”

  Agaroth: “Don’t tell me the tit went off to check it out on his own?”

  Boff: “He didn’t want to panic anybody. He said he was going to stick to the cliffs and simply observe the water in the area.”

  Dwynfel: “Well then, I guess we have a good starting point.”

  Boff: “May I ask, how did you find out about this? I can’t see Zafar asking for assistance.”

  Dwynfel: “Alexander sent Chloe a message. When she didn’t receive a follow up, she sent us.”

  Boff: “Don’t tell Zafar that. He’ll only get pissed at Alexander. If you happen by him, just say you happened to be in the area.”

  Dietrich: “Can do… so, shall we…”

  Sonya… one of the goblin dockhands ran towards us… we met her briefly years ago… shouting and gesturing for us to follow her.

  Sonya: “Emergency down at the docks! You need to come immediately!”

  We rushed down to the docks. Only to find a group of goblins carrying an unconscious lizardman up towards the interior of the fort… while some other goblins were wrapping a bunch of naked boys in blankets. Hang the fuck on… that’s Nomius and the boys… there are only eight boys… why are there only eight… and where the fuck is Grant’s dad?

  I ran over and immediately started looking at each of the boys. Fuck… only eight… umm… Zayan… Freddy… Olmo… Alexi… thank fuck.

  Dwynfel: “Alexi… thank the gods.”

  I picked Alexi up and wrapped my arms around him tightly. Then I started looking at the other boys… Xion… Oscar… Johnny… Grant… why the fuck is Grant holding Tadwick’s hat?

  Dwynfel: “Grant… what happened? Where are the others? Where is Tadwick? And why do you have his hat?”

  Grant: “I… umm… I…”

  Dwynfel: “Just say it, Grant! What happened?!”

  Grant erupted into tears… he kept trying to speak… but he couldn’t… he was just a fountain of snot and tears. Kiyui placed his hand on my shoulder.

  Kiyui: “I know this is stressful, but calm down, he isn’t going to be able to talk if you scare him like that.”

  Agaroth: “Aye. ‘Sides, Ginger’s a survivor. I’m sure he’s been through worse.”

  Kiyui bent down and picked Grant up… he cradled him in his arms, stroking his back. They are right… I’m panicking… I can’t stop panicking… Tadwick is missing… Nomius is unconscious and Tadwick is missing… what happened… what the fuck happened? Fuck… what am I doing… Alexi… Alexi can tell me.

  I placed Alexi down on the ground. He tilted his head at me inquisitively.

  Dwynfel: “Alexi… this is very important… I need you to explain what is going on. Why is Nomius unconscious? Why do none of you have any clothes on? Where the hell are the others? Where the hell is Tadwick?”

  Alexi: “Which question would you like me to answer first?”

  Agaroth: “Start from where everythin’ started goin’ tits up.”

  Alexi: “Apologies, I do not understand your turn of phrase.”

  Dwynfel: “Just go from the beginning.”

  Alexi: “Understood.”