“Because, young Jig, we’re going to send a scout ahead to make sure everything is clear.” Porak wasn’t smiling. “That’s called tactics.” He raised his voice so the others could hear.

“You have to be smart to stay alive down here. Look at our cousin Jig, talking to himself and so distracted that I walked right up without him noticing. If I were a human, I could have killed our scout while he babbled. Then where would we be?”

Jig cringed as the others laughed and nodded. So much for proving himself.

“We have to be alert. We have to be strong. We have to be tough.” With each pronouncement, Porak’s grip tightened, so that by the end, Jig squirmed to get away.

“You hear me?” Porak glared at Jig. “You have to be tough.” He shoved Jig into the wall.

With a harsh laugh, he added, “But even the weak have their uses. This one’s going to run ahead to flush out any game. Our own little hunting dog.”

Porak pulled out a set of dice, which brought cheers from the others. “We’ll stay here, to protect the lair. If you find anything, we’ll be along to do the fighting. All you have to do is stay alive long enough for us to rescue you. Go get ’em, dog.”

The other goblins quickly picked up the chant, some barking while others punched and kicked at him. Jig covered his head and ran, Porak’s loud voice following after.

“If you see anyone, make sure you scream before they kill you.”

Jig’s bare feet slapped against the tunnel floor. His ears burned as he put distance between himself and the others, but their jeers seemed to follow on his heels.

“Do we really want to send a runt to do a dog’s job?”

“Scrawny bitch, isn’t it?”

At least now Jig understood what was going on. He knew why he had been chosen to go with the patrol tonight. They wanted him to check the tunnels so they could play their games. This way they could carouse through the night without, technically, ignoring their duty.

Actually it wasn’t a bad idea, which made Jig suspect someone other than Porak had come up with it. Porak was tough and mean, but he would lose a battle of wits with his own shadow.

Jig reached up to make sure Smudge was still there. He scratched one of the spider’s legs as he walked. “Too bad I can’t teach you to burn on command. I’d love to slip you into Porak’s trousers one of these nights.”

He reconsidered. Some things were too evil even for a goblin. He couldn’t do that to poor Smudge.