Общий файл / Does Force Bind to Responsibility?: Глава 11

Глава 11

Camrad_RIP 14.07.21 в 18:52

There was a quiet panic in the village.

Camrad_RIP 14.07.21 в 19:31

A few days earlier, when the former captives of the cruel "master" of the place had come to the settlement, the herbalist's daughter, Annika, had raved about the noble monsters. About how the good monsters had defeated the evil men and set the unfortunates free. The usual unbelievable tale of miraculous salvation. The only difference was that the heroes and villains switched places.

Camrad_RIP 14.07.21 в 19:32

No one shared Annika's enthusiasm, especially her mother, and for good reason.

Camrad_RIP 14.07.21 в 19:33

Once upon a time, she happened to fall into the hands of goblins. She was one of several people dragged by the evil creatures into their settlement. It was pure luck that she survived: when it was her turn to be roasted alive, the adventurers came to the green-skinned lair on a punitive mission. And though many years have passed since then, every moment of captivity was vivid in the memory of the elderly woman.

Camrad_RIP 14.07.21 в 19:34

Her daughter was incredibly lucky to be alive, and it was a blessing. The mother can only hope that Annika will not encounter any more monsters. Let the child believe in fairy tales if she wants to. And let those fairy tales remain fairy tales.

Camrad_RIP 14.07.21 в 19:35

Nothing remarkable happened in a few days. The new arrivals were put to work, and life began to fall into a routine. But one fine early morning the fisherman Palt returned much earlier than usual. The man, disheveled, exhausted, ran into the village and collapsed on the ground, shouting.

Camrad_RIP 14.07.21 в 19:37

"Monsters are coming!"

Camrad_RIP 14.07.21 в 19:40

At first no one understood what he meant. Of course, to be on the safe side, the gate was closed immediately, and a patrol was set up. Who knows - what if wolves or other magical beasts. The fisherman was examined, but there were no wounds, and even his clothes were no more shabby than usual. The boy just kept repeating like a maniac.

Camrad_RIP 14.07.21 в 19:44

"They're coming here. They're coming for us."

Camrad_RIP 14.07.21 в 19:45

The headman, looking at the panic brewing - and how could he not, considering where they lived - shook Palt by the scruff of the neck.

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 05:50

"Hey, stop being hysterical. Who goes where, why?"

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 05:51

Palt just looked at the crowd with goofy eyes and kept repeating.

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 05:53

"They're coming here, now we're really screwed. The end. It's over."

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 05:57

A bucket of water brought by one of the villagers helped. After being doused with ice-cold water, Palt came to his senses somehow.

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 05:58

"Well?" the headman asked angrily.

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 05:59

"Ah... I was on my way to check my fishing gear, and when I got to the river, they were already there. Huge goblins, huge, even taller than me. I ran, but they caught up with me, I thought that was it. I was scared shitless, and their leader asked me who I was and where I was from. I told him, and he let me go and told me to tell everyone that they would be here soon."

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 06:01

"Just like that?" The headman was incredulous.

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 06:02

The case was very strange. Goblins never let go of their prey. No goblins, no half-human from these parts would do that. Maybe the ogres could, but they lived at the other end of the forest. And there's no mistaking them for goblins.

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 06:06

"Yeah," Palt replied. "I told you, they let me go and tell everybody. Told they were coming this way."

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 06:07

"When are they coming?"

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 06:07

"They said this afternoon."

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 06:09

By this time all the villagers had gathered in the village square. Everyone dropped everything and decided to find out what was causing such a commotion in the village. Those who arrived later missed the beginning, but from the words of the others, they also had a rough idea of what had happened.

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 06:19

In the silence that followed the last words, a child's voice rang out.

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 06:26

"I know them, they saved us all!"

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 18:00

The headman barked angrily at Hannah.

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 18:00

"Get your child out of here! It's no time for her ramblings now."

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 18:01

Annika started to speak again, but her mother shushed her and led her into the house. The girl tried to object, but received a slap and start criing.

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 18:17

As he watched the mother and daughter depart, the headman glanced at the crowd. A hundred and fifty people, not counting those who had hidden in their homes with their children. An aging falsetto was heard from the crowd.

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 18:18

"And I told you that Akuro was protecting us! You were all so happy that he was dead, and now there's no one to protect us!"

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 18:20

"Shut up, you idiot!" the headman was furious. "Shut up, or I swear I'll choke you myself."

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 18:21

He looked again at the crowd.

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 18:22

"I know what you're thinking. But we have nowhere to run, and even if we did, we wouldn't get far. The only hope is that these monsters can talk. Maybe we can convince them to leave us alone. And if not, well, let's fight back. We all have something to defend. We've had enough of one bastard slave-trader."

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 18:24

There was no determination in the villagers' eyes, there was a murmur, but the headman had known them for a long time. There was really nowhere to go, almost all of them had families and young children. Even if nothing happened on the way, who would welcome them in neighboring settlements? And those who would be ready to leave their families and run away by themselves were not here.

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 18:29

Of course, everyone wanted to believe that everything would be all right. But it was the second time in a few days that the mysterious monsters had made themselves known. And this time, they sent a very concrete sign that people wouldn't be left alone.

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 18:30

The headman looked firmly at the people.

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 18:31

"Take anything you can use as a weapon. Axes, pitchforks, stakes, everything. Take it and go up the wall."

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 18:32

People began to return to their homes with a grim grumble. The stronger men and women returned, armed with pitchforks, scythes, and other tools that could be used as weapons. After an hour, fewer than a hundred people had gathered on and under the walls. The mood was far from rosy.

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 18:37

The headman shook his head sorrowfully. He disapproved of those who had chosen to hide and wait, hoping for a miracle. Condemned, but understood.

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 18:40

A tense wait ensued. By noon the panic had subsided, and that was understandable. He hoped that no one would show up, no matter what Pelt had said or what he himself had been told.

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 18:42

At noon the monsters came.

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 18:43

From around the bend in the road, humanoid creatures appeared. They were tall, broad-shouldered, and lumpy with muscles. Almost all were bare-chested, their thighs covered by some sort of wide pants or skirt of tattered leather. Each carried an axe, and some even two. The headman understood why they were called goblins. Because of the swamp color of their skin and the fangs protruding from their mighty jaws. There was probably nothing else of goblins about them.

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 18:53

The visitors staggered to within striking distance of the walls and paused to stare at the terrified faces of the defenders. They reeked of superiority and overwhelming power. After a couple of minutes of a staring game in which the men were clearly losing, the toughest of them all stepped forward. He came almost close to the gate, looked up, and barked in an articulate voice.

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 19:00

"Who's in charge here?"

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 19:01

All eyes turned to the headman. The headman sighed and climbed the wall at the gate.

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 19:04

"I am in charge here. Who are you and what do you want from us?"

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 19:09

"I am Jay-Gul. We are Orcs. This forest is ours now. And everything near it, along with the villages on the edge, is ours, too."

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 19:10

"The whole forest? There are twenty of you..." said the headman hesitantly.

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 19:12

"There are twenty of us here. There are thousands of us in the forest. You'll soon see that."

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 19:12

There were many whispers. Thousands? Could there be such a thing? Could it be mere bluster?

Camrad_RIP 15.07.21 в 19:14