Jig stopped himself before he could answer truthfully. As the saying went, truth caused more trouble than humans and hobgoblins combined. The last thing he wanted to admit was that he knew no more than they did. They wanted a guide, and a guide they would have. Anything to keep himself breathing a bit longer.

“This way,” he said, trying to sound decisive. He would have said more, but he didn’t know if he could keep his voice steady. Besides, it didn’t matter which of the three doorways they took, since all three tunnels merged anyway. Maybe this would give him time to figure out where to go once they reached hobgoblin territory.

The dwarf had said the way was cloaked in watery darkness. The only water Jig knew of was the underground lake, where the lizard-fish lived. He hoped that wasn’t where they needed to go, but considering his luck, he wouldn’t be surprised. Glancing at Smudge to make sure the fire-spider was still safe on his shoulder, Jig marched toward the doorway where he and the others had entered . . . only to be jerked short when Barius grabbed his rope and wrenched him back.

“Your enthusiasm is admirable,” Barius said wryly. “But we prefer to be prepared before charging into the shadowy bowels of the earth.”

Jig sat down and tried not to think about that image.

Darnak grabbed a lantern out of his seemingly bottomless pack and handed it to Barius. Jig stared, fascinated by the device. The lantern was a small metal box with four hinged flaps that could be left open or closed, allowing Barius to shutter the lantern completely when necessary. Or, by leaving only one flap open, the lantern could send a beam of light into the tunnels without being as obvious as a torch.

“I shall go first, accompanied by our goblin guide. Darnak will follow behind me, that he may continue to draw his map by the light of the lantern. Brother, I trust you are able to guard the rear? As well as keep an eye on our young elf, of course.”

A few scrapes of flint against steel sent sparks into the lantern to light the wick, and a yellow glow spread throughout the room. Darnak stomped out the few smoldering torches the goblins had brought with them.

“Be wary, my friends.” Barius’s brown eyes gleamed with imagined glory as he stared into the tunnel. “We have beaten the enemy’s first attack, but their resistance will only grow as we venture deeper into their nests. No doubt we will need every bit of courage, every ounce of strength, to survive.”

Jig guessed he would have gone on that way for the rest of the day if Ryslind hadn’t interrupted. “Either lead the way or hand the lantern to someone who will.”

Barius blinked. With an offended sniff, he tugged Jig along and set off into the tunnel.