“We goblins have never had our own leader. We crawled up from the center of the world and followed anyone of strength. That is our pathetic legacy! The Red Caps would see us all cast back into thralldom and once again place a crown upon a mortal’s head. Others,” his eyes flicked over to Muckle, “would have us swear loyalty to the gnomes. Rejoin our cousins and our lost heritage and play into Hob’s foul scheme to see the end of goblinkind by breeding us out of existence. I will not let that happen. Toad Holm is not a haven for us. Black Pool is! And I will spread that word to the corners of this isle and beyond. If you would report anything to your Order, sir, I hope it will be that. And you…,” he said to Muckle, “can tell Hob the same. I will not follow a man. I will not follow a gnome. I am a goblin and my people can follow me.”

Rosheen winced at the sound of Muckle slowly clapping his meaty hands together. He is going to get us killed.

“Will you fight for that belief?” Sir Corc asked.

The Lord of Pile regarded him for a moment, an expression passing across his face that Rosheen had not yet seen.

He doubts.

“The Red Caps,” Sir Corc continued. “They are heading for the city in force. You have ten days, maybe less before they are at your gates.”

Rosheen felt bile rise in her throat. Fafnir you fleeing coward.

The Lord of the Pile searched the knight with his eyes. Sir Corc remained unreadable. “You know this? How?”

“Fat go-betweens have their uses,” Muckle said, his smile not reaching his voice.

The Lord’s eyes flicked up to one of the Middangearder warriors and the man turned and left without a word. “I shall look into these claims. But be assured, even if you speak true this city is well defended.”

“From without,” Sir Corc said. “What about from within?”

The Lord found the question amusing. “You think I should fear insurrection?”

“Black Pool is home to many,” was the knight’s reply.

“And,” Muckle put in, “a great many of them look a lot like you and I, my Lord.” Muckle glanced down at his own ludicrously long shoes. “Well…more like you.”

“Ah,” it was the Lord’s turn to feign surprise. He wagged a finger at them. “You think that a city full of goblins must also be rife with Red Caps.”

Yes.

Sir Corc said nothing.

The Lord of the Pile smiled sadly. “Come with me, please.”