The elite goblins carried Firewater's unconscious body out of the stronghold and back to the forest. The admiral goblin barked orders, directing the goblins to investigate the compound. Claire and the twins were left standing, unsure what to do.
Cleanup was handled by the goblins, who also searched the stronghold. Even the stragglers and prisoners were handled by the monsters. Jasmine and Ursa soon rejoined them, the latter carrying a grisly prize: the archer's severed head.
"Do you have to keep that?" Elsie asked, cupping her mouth.
"Yes." Ursa replied flatly. "Until her parents can be confirmed."
Claire stared at the severed head, her stomach twisting. The lifeless eyes and slack jaw were sending her spiraling. She could feel the world around her spin and their words jumble together.
Ursa exhaled. She noticed Claire's breathing and heart rate quickening. Ursa covered the traitor's head with her cloak, shielding her paladin from it.
"Once her parents are informed and confirm her identity, then I can dispose of the head," Ursa explained. "They deserve to be cleansed from her shame."
Elsie gulped. For a second, she thought Ursa meant the parents would share their daughter's fate. She tightened her hand around Claire's, feeling the sweat on her palm. Her sister did the same, grounding both the spiraling girl and themselves.
Jasmine's gaze lingered on the goblins as they marched around the premises. She finally had time to think, her mind wandering back to the goblin woman. In the haze of battle she hadn't registered it, but now she remembered. She had the same three animals just above her left breast.
The dog, raven, and horse.
Lily will have seen it by now. The alchemist is probably too overwhelmed with the injured to even think about it. Jasmine chuckled softly, her attention returning to her party members. They needed her at the moment.
Claire was very pale. Elsie looked greener, and Ana looked exhausted. Jasmine smiled softly and spoke. "Good work. We'll see what the goblins find, but this was an overwhelming success."
Claire blinked rapidly as color slowly returned to her face. Her breathing slowed, and she could hear clearly. The twins assisted her to the ground, the paladin sitting to recover better.
"Agreed." Ursa said, tightening her cloak. "I expected more of them to carry the corrupted gift."
"I did too." Jasmine added. She rubbed her chin idly as she thought. "Could have been a seasonal rotation or they could have been running boys."
Claire's pulse spiked. Ursa glanced at her, tone sharpening. "That wouldn't make sense. They just got new ones."
Jasmine shrugged, "Right. Maybe the knights did something useful then."
Claire took a deep breath. Her emotions were running wild, and her mind was still flooded with visages of the women she'd killed. She gripped the twins' hands tightly, slowly coming back.
"I doubt that," Elsie said, wincing. Claire's grip was like iron. "Ow! Why would they act now?"
"I don't know. But I'm glad they, or whoever, did." Jasmine said, kneeling before Claire. "I don't know how we'd handle more than a handful of them."
Claire could think again, her emotions under control. She loosened her grip on the twins' hands. "Yeah. Astrid looked unstoppable for a moment there…"
"Makes me wonder how you beat Firewater," Jasmine teased gently. "Wasn't expecting you to throw your sword?"
Claire shook her head. "I-I think he was testing us…"
"That would make sense," Jasmine said, getting to her feet. "He was looking for help to rescue his wife."
"Or you really did just catch him off guard," Elsie offered as she stood up. She brushed her dress off and offered her hand to Claire.
"I highly doubt that." Claire said with a smile.
"I don't." Ana's voice was soft, but certain. Her face reddened when Claire turned toward her. "I think you're stronger than you believe.".
"Maybe." Claire pulled her in close, hugging the younger twin. "Thank you. I know you're very observant."
Ana nodded against Claire's chest. She squirmed in Claire's embrace, her cheeks burning as Claire kissed her forehead. Elsie just laughed..
'Congrats.' Elsie teased. 'All those years of watching her finally paid off.'
'Shush. Enjoying this too much.' Ana retorted.
Jasmine tapped Claire's shoulder, grabbing her attention. She pointed towards the forest and said, "We should go check on Lily. She's probably overwhelmed."
Claire nodded and let go of Ana. Ursa had already left, and Claire watched her leave through the breach in the wall. She held Ana's hand and guided the dazed twin towards the forest.
Elsie offered her hand to Jasmine with a smug smile. Jasmine rolled her eyes and took it. None of them noticed the confused looks from the goblins. They were focused on other issues.
The admiral goblin tilted its head, staring after them before shaking it and returning to its reports.
Lily was indeed overwhelmed. Silkie's condition was bad, but stable. The boys were more traumatized than wounded, and the goblins even brought their wounded to her. She learned that healing potions did work on goblins.
She was rapidly trying to produce more potions and keep the boys from freaking out. It was more than one alchemist could handle. The goblins tried their best, but only ended up scaring the boys. Lily was rushing from one task to another.
Then Firewater's unconscious body was laid before her. Silkie immediately tore herself from her bedding, ripping stitches in her rush to reach him.
"Silkie!" Lily yelled sternly. "Stop! You're undoing your treatment! He's just unconscious."
The goblin woman didn't even flinch. Her gaze locked on Firewater's chest, easing only when she saw it rise and fall. She finally felt the pain from moving. She winced and collapsed beside Firewater, ignoring Lily entirely.
"Gods above." Lily huffed. Her glasses were fogging up due to sweat, and she was at her wits' end. "Both of you are so troublesome."
Lily's eyes caught on Silkie's birthmark. She hadn't noticed it before, she was too focused on her injuries. She moved in closer, her mind already racing with questions. Right as she was about to speak, a boy tugged on her dress..
"Miss Lily? Jace isn't breathing right…"
Lily shook her head, putting her questions off for now. She rushed to the boy's side, finding Jace breathing heavily. The symptoms sent dread down Lily's spine.
It was the withdrawals.
"Of course they used these boys too…" Lily muttered before biting her thumb. She was too far from the carriage and her supplies to ease their symptoms. She fumbled with her pouch before giving the boy a potion to ease his symptoms. He'd have to hold out until they made it back.
Lily surveyed the boys around her. It was reasonable to assume they'd all been tested on, but no other boys showed signs yet.
Ursa was the first to arrive at the makeshift base. She spotted Lily kneeling beside the boys, relief washing over her for only a moment. Then she noticed the boy beside Lily. Anger consumed her. She nearly threw the traitor's head in disgust. This bitch used these boys like toys. She had half a mind to damn her entire bloodline.
Thankfully, her party members arriving behind her calmed her down slightly. Ursa kept walking, wanting to rid herself of the traitor already. She walked past the goblins towards solitude. She needed to commune with her elders and ancestors.
Claire, Elsie, and Ana rushed to help Lily. Jasmine watched Ursa walk off, trailing her. She was curious about how Ursa could contact her tribe and didn't get to see her do it last time.
Claire checked on Firewater, then on his wife. Her hand stopped upon seeing that Silkie was also marked like Firewater.
Silkie struggled to smile. "So… you saw his back?"
Claire nodded slowly. "Yes."
"Well, neither of us knows what it means." Silkie laughed and struggled to sit up. "All I know right now is that I can trust you. Despite never meeting you, I feel at ease."
"I am a Goddess's champion." Claire said simply.
"That makes sense." Silkie exhaled weakly. She rubbed her mark, warmth radiating from it. Claire expected her to elaborate, but was caught off guard by her words.
"Just promise me none of you fondled his back."