"They also have flying monsters that blast destructive beams from a distance. Our regular swords cannot penetrate their monstrous beaks." Bill unevenly describes these massive creatures, reminding me of the dinosaur-like eagle I hunted when I had learned the arts of the arrow. "Do you even know how much they take to go down, Goblin?"
"No. I do not know," I answered with honesty, as I already fought the monsters when they were still vulnerable in their nests, resting without a clue that an archer had aimed for their heads.
"But I know we need to defeat them. We have all the ranged magic attacks in our arsenal."
"And I am telling you that is not enough to stop them," The old man interrupts me from my claim, trying to prove his point based on his experiences.
"This human is right," Elanor seconds the cause. "However, Lake's magic and archery skills should be enough to take a few of them."
He locks his eyes into mine and gives me a playful wink, teasing me with unusual compliments.
"And how can we be certain about that viridescent sprite?" Bill added, staying true to his words.
"You dare doubt my judgement?"
The ground suddenly magnitudes after enraging Elanor. I can see his fist slowly curling into a ball, with his arcane aura running rampant around him, about to burst in a flick of a finger.
"The King of the Elven country?"
"No, your majesty," The poor bloke sighs and apologetically lowers his head, regretting his decision to spout his words before having the time to think it through.
"I can go alone and-,"
"No. You must not do that," As if reading my thoughts, the long-eared elf interjects while pushing the soldier that accompanied us from before.
"I believe you have no problems with my offer, soldier."
With a gleam written on his face, the guard gladly accepts his offer with a firm nod.
"With my bow, I shall protect the viscount, Lake,"
"Likewise, sergeant," I remarked with a jest, trying to make the tense atmosphere at ease. However, none of them caught up with my joke as they all tilt their heads from the new word I have spoken.
"Sergeant?"
"Forget that I have said that," I commented while resting my abashed face on my palm.
"Then, to save more time, the two of us shall leave the-,"
"And where do you think you're going, Lake?" Beatrice holds the doorknob and barricades the ingress, not letting us outside for some reason.
"We will be off to kill some pesky birds? The sooner, the better-I'd always say," I swing my arm and make an "okay," sign, showing that we will be alright outside of this village.
"Tomorrow," The Queen said while forcefully grabbing us around our waist and tossing us inside an empty room.
"You need to rest together with the pets you brought in," She added while finally slamming the door, nearly rousing the two wolves laying flat on the futon.
"But why am I also here?" The soldier pleaded, but his voice never reached the outside and got stuck inside the chamber.
"What?" I uttered in confusion, unsure of why he doesn't want to be here with me inside an enclosed room. "Do you hate me for being a goblin?"
"No," He replies while immediately covering his nostrils after inhaling such a vile scent that I know.
___________________________________________
"Wake up, sleepyheads," A familiar, monotonic voice awakens me from my sleep as I gently squeeze my hand onto something tender like a pillow. "We do not have all morning now, do we?"
"Five more minutes," I declare and resume my ruined slumber, wanting to extend my nap for just a little while.
As I soon felt my mind drifting over to my dream world, a bag of muscle pounds on top of my head, accompanied by a nasty stench of rotten tomatoes. It has an aroma so bad that it nearly killed me during the process if I were a second, too late of kicking it out away from my face.
"Get off of me, you stupid puppy," I cursed while desperately push aside the mass of the Alpha wolf away.
"Master, the pointed-elf came here earlier and ordered me to wake you up," The canine retorted while feverishly wagging his tail with his tongue sticking out.
"What did Elanor bribe you with?"
"Two pieces of horned rabbit's limb!" He explosively answers while wiping off his drool dripping from his mouth.
"How's your daughter?"
"Sister, Master," The wolf corrected with a hint of annoyance added from his tone. "Please don't forget that, Master."
"Then please restrict yourself from calling me your master," I grab the Alpha wolf by its tail and hurriedly throw him over to the other side of the room while locking the front door. "Because I hate that."
"But, you are my only master!"
Before the dog can even enter the room, I ram the door shut, just like how Beatrice threw us here inside.
"Now that I have gotten rid of that nuisance," I mumble to myself while rubbing the dirt off from my hands. "I should go back and catch my beauty sleep from earlier."
"Lake, you should be awake by now!" Elanor's voice echoes parallel from the closed door. He knocks twice before opening the gate with the master key grasps on his hands.
"One trouble after the other," I grunted while staring at his eyes filled with the morning sunshine from outside.
"It is a pleasure meeting you here, your highness," The soldier promptly greets the King with the bed already tidied up behind the background.
I could not get my eyes off from the setting, cynical from what had happened while I had looked away.
'One moment the room was like dragged by a twister, then the next second, everything was spotless to its core,' I commented to myself, unable to bring that thought outside my lips.
'It is better this way,' assuring my fragile heart while pounding my chest.
"Later this evening, your task is to infiltrate the monster's camp and lessen their numbers before dawn." Elanor briefs me with the goal that we had talked about last night.
"Do not let yourself get caught by the likes of them. Know when to retreat and do not overextend yourself at all times."
He cracks the door and reveals his daughter, Natalia, holding a staff and a quiver at her back.
"As much I wanted to avoid this, my daughter will join you with the hunt, together with one elite soldier, Rowan Green, over there."
"I waste your kind words, your majesty," The soldier responds while folding his hands over to his chest, gesturing him with respect despite the joke that Elanor had uttered.
"Do you still remember what I have told you about formalities?" Elanor leans his head closer between us two while waiting for his answer.
"That you hate royal affairs?"
Elanor makes a buzzing sound like a bell, as if he had hit the billion prize jackpot out of a casino.
"Well said, soldier. Now, waste your time wisely before nightfall. For now, you'll need all the energy that you have for later," Elanor gives us a quick nod while deliberately closing the door, trying not to wake up the injured Beta-wolf still sleeping on the make-shift mattress.
"If you need anything, Trist and I will wait for you guys outside the village, setting up traps and scouting the plain."
"Understood, Elanor,"
Elanor exits through the door but allows Natalia to walk inside, giving us company with the wolves.
"So, you are the Alpha wolf Lake rescued," Natalia curiously states while wandering around and surveying the greyish hound.
"That is correct, elf girl," The dog strides to my side and lowers his body, hinting that he wants him to get petted by me.
I, who have an acute weakness for dogs, jocundly reaches out for his fur. The smooth hair of the dire wolves reminded me of the Siberian wolves back on my planet. Despite their fearsome looks, they also have a soft spot towards their owners. It is very similar to these otherworldly canines that took a liking to a goblin.
"I know I asked this earlier, but how's Imra?" I query the hound a question again while gazing over the still wolf.
"She's still recovering," The Alpha wolf answered with a little clue of sadness sunk in his eyes. "I'm beginning to worry about her."
I can only sympathise with his problems, having a relative to watch over in times of difficulties such as this. Being anxious is part of the recuperation, but we should get some news about her sister right now. After all, she has already had a good night's rest and should wake up sooner than later.
"Is she going to be alright?"
"We can only hope for the best," I replied while moving closer to the dozing pooch.
"Right, I haven't heard about your name."
"We wolves do not own a name, Master,"
I raise my brow, dubious from the statement he had said.
"Your sister has one?"
"Yes, she does, but not me,"
"Why?"