“Wait,” Jig said. Barius hesitated. Speaking Goblin as fast as he could, Jig shouted, “Why are you all wasting your time with these so-called adventurers? They’re nothing!”

All around him, goblins protested. Some pointed to Golaka as evidence of the intruders’ powerful magic. Others shouted about how the dwarf had slain two goblins before they could even draw weapons. How could Jig say they were nothing? They had come into the lair and killed half a dozen without any apparent effort.

Jig waved the rod in the air and tried to be heard. “I’ve traveled with this lot for days, and I say they’re nothing. Their leader is a frightened child, the dwarf a spineless lackey. The wizard is mindless.”

The last point was true, if misleading.

The goblins were still talking. They hadn’t made up their minds yet. They hadn’t attacked, either, which was good, but Jig knew he still hadn’t convinced them. What else could he say?

Barius’s hand rested on his sword. He studied Jig, as if trying to determine what the goblin was up to. “What are you telling them?”

“I’m trying to convince them you’re too strong,” Jig answered, straight-faced. “I’m telling them of all your battles.”

That was it. Jig turned back to the goblins. “They cowered in fear at the sight of a mere carrion-worm. They tumbled into the hobgoblins’ most obvious traps. When they stood helplessly in the lower tunnels, who do you think was forced to save their worthless lives?”

“Who?” called a handful of goblins, starting to get caught up in Jig’s taunts.

“Me,” he yelled. “A goblin rescued the brave adventurers.”

Sensing Barius’s glare, Jig spun around.

“Why do they laugh?”

Jig shrugged. “I told them how you outwitted the hobgoblins. Give me a few more minutes. They’re almost convinced.”

He continued in Goblin. “Look at them! They dress like beggars, they smell worse than hobgoblin piss, and they eat food even a dog would ignore. That’s all your so-called adventurers are, dogs running around in the darkness, searching for bones.”

Raising the rod, he said, “I’ll prove it. Watch them fetch.”

Hard as he could, he hurled the rod over Barius’s head and past the others. It whirled end over end through the cavern and into the tunnel beyond to clatter against the rock.

The laughter grew as Barius raced after it, followed closely by Darnak and Ryslind. Jig grinned at the jibes and jeers, for once aimed at someone other than him. It felt good.

“I’ll kill them myself,” Jig said as he hurried toward the tunnel. He took his sword back from Riana and waved it overhead. Trying to make his voice sound commanding, he said, “Wait here for my return. We’ll have a feast tonight.”