Zane had been quiet as they returned to the far side of the mountain. Their plans had to change abruptly if they weren't going to smoke the mountain out to not only kill the inhabitants, but to find any escape tunnels.
Lucera pulled her horse up to ride beside Zane, "Cousin, are you okay?" Of course she knew saving the captured women would be no easy feat… but it wasn't exactly impossible.
Zane sighed, "I don't know… what Lord Rahm said last night is echoing in my head, but… saving them isn't a mercy… is it to prove Young Song has a hold over us? Or that we have gotten lax with all of his gifts and are becoming too reliant on him?" Zane didn't want to sound ungrateful, or even entitled, but this request left a bad taste in his mouth.
Lucera bit her lip, "I don't know… maybe he's looking for someone? Or… there's a clue for the empire related to the sacrifices?" Lucera glanced around quickly then lowered her voice, "You have to admit, finding over a thousand goblins isn't normal. I've never seen a group larger than 200, and towns were being raided for miles in all directions."
Zane gripped his reins, "I don't recall any signs from last year either… or even rumors… keep an eye out. Maybe the clue isn't for the empire, but for us."
Rommel remained silent, "I'm also suspicious of how many feathers are going to be handed out… I get Lord Caius wanted alone time with Young Song… but he seemed especially eager to make sure none of us would return unexpectedly. Its… too generous for there not to be some kind of trade off."
Lucera hadn't even thought about that, "Do we have enough recording stones for each of us to have one? I think we should record everything we see from the moment we arrive, until we return to the hunting palace."
Zane grimaced, "We have a dozen, but each one only records for two hours." There were three more that recorded up to six hours each, but they were only supposed to be used in an emergency.
"I have four, also two hours. I'm sure we can scrounge around for more." Lucera added glancing up at the sky, they should see how many they all had total. If they didn't have enough, they would decide what to do then.
When they arrived on site, there were more than a dozen smoking pits where the guards were burning the goblin bodies. The teeth and cores were the only things worth salvaging. Even the teeth were mediocre quality. Thankfully the mages had included wards to keep the smell of burning bodies from spreading.
The group quickly agreed to record what they saw, surprisingly Lamont had over thirty recoding stones, each for five-hour cycle. They agreed to go in three man groups, the tunnels weren't tall enough for any of the adults to stand up straight so they all swapped out their gear for short swords, daggers, bow and arrows.
Each three-man team would have one person recording what the group saw and thought. They weren't expecting much resistance since they intended to flood each section of tunnels with knock out drugs, but everyone should remain on guard.
A dozen mages worked together to create temporary communication rings that would activate upon the word, "Echo." And deactivate with the word, "Night." Easy words to remember, that shouldn't be coming up in conversation often.
The groups were split up as Zane, Lucera, Rommel.
Noelle, Lamont, Noelle's court mage Dustin.
Rowena, Tania, and Rowena's court mage Lia.
There were nine more groups with a mix of guards and mages, each to send a fifteen-minute acknowledgement that they were fine. If any group when without contact for more than half an hour, everyone was to retreat.
Rommel was eyeing Rahm half hopefully, "Lord Rahm, do you by chance know a shrinking spell? So we can move more easily in the tunnels?" Rommel would have to crawl in most of the tunnels with his height, that's if he even fit some of the smaller ones.
Rahm had been tending to his tail fur when the Adarian addressed him, Rahm shifted to his human form. "What's in it for me?" Rahm was still plenty displeased with the prince's tattling this morning… besides… if there was no danger, there should be such generous rewards.
Rommel didn't miss the accusatory glare sent Zane's way, "What would you want? Maybe we… split the feathers?" Rommel realized that was the exact wrong thing to say when the utter disdain nearly had him looking for his head. Rommel subconsciously felt his neck, still there… for now.
Rahm wrinkled his nose as his tail bristled, "Careful of promises you can't keep Grisvold. Last chance." Rahm informed glaring disdainfully over the groups. Most had replaced their armor for enchantments and wards so they could fit through the smaller tunnels.
Noelle stepped forward with a bow, "Lord Rahm, if we might… have a more private barter?" While Noelle liked Zane and Lucera, she was not going to confront any of the beasts for them at the moment. Whatever grievances the foxes were punishing Zane and Rommel were not hers to fix.
Rahm eyed the tiger princess… "Okay, lead the way." Tiger pelts were often very useful. Rahm followed her just out of sight before creating a sound dispersal ward, "What did you have in mind princess?"
Noelle pulled her shirt collar open and withdrew a locket necklace, she opened the clasp to reveal a tiger eye jewel. Noelle carefully tilted the locket until the coin size gem fell into her open palm. Heart racing, she met lord Rahm's eyes before she spoke, "This tiger eye gem was a mating gift from our ancestor Tigress to her human mate, it can bring clarity to an enraged beast or person."
Rahm raised a brow as he leaned over to peer at the gem, there were no enchantments… so a blessed gem. Rahm crossed his arms as he tapped his claws on his elbow, "A priceless treasure, for so small a boon?"
Noelle took a deep breath, "And another favor… can you lead us to the captives?" If they could get the captives out… Then they could just use poison smoke to kill any who remained inside, while easily picking off the ones daring enough to try and escape.
Rahm gave a wide toothy smile, "Such a smart little tigress, fine. I will accept these terms." Rahm could see her relief and mourning over bartering the gem away. "After all the captives are found, I will accept my payment. Though I will not assist in saving or transporting them without further payment."
Noelle clutched the gem, careful not to damage it, then gave a deep bow, "Words are not enough Lord Rahm, thank you." Noelle had half expected a blood oath of some kind, but he only flashed her another smile.
"Aiya, so humble, go put your armor back on princess, I will ensure my spell lasts until we return to papa bird's side." Rahm started walking away as his tail swished back and forth. There should be more humans like the tigers, so good at reeding the situation! So easy to talk to, he should remind father Caius to not tease them so much.
An hour later Rahm was absorbing three of his fifth-tier mana crystals, so many humans! Ugh, Rahm lay limply beside an eagle that had landed after he shrunk the first human. The humans had been simple enough to shrink down, the enchanted and warded items had been much more draining.
Now Rahm lay off to the side, his tail fur was so limp… so sad. Afterward the eagle had followed him around. Now Rahm was quickly trying to recover before they descended. The eagle wasn't even trying to communicate with him… just standing close and looking around. At least pretend to comfort him! Such a bird brain!
Noelle watched the eagle and fox sitting off to the side. Now that they were all only about three, three and a half feet tall, they were eye level with Lord Rahm in his fox form. She did feel smaller… but at the same time didn't… it was a peculiar feeling seeing everything else grow. Thankfully now they could use their regular weapons and armor in the tunnels, minus Rommel's favorite longsword.
They all practiced with their smaller bodies, getting used to the depth perception difference and learning not to overestimate their reach… no one really wanted to be the experiment of Young Song's protection.
The mages realized they still had the same amount of mana, but it was a little harder to access, their mana channels had also shrunken so they would have to gauge their flow and slow down accordingly.
Zane glanced up at the sky… they were about to head into the goblin mountain… Rahm would take the most direct route to the captives with Noelle's party. The rest of the groups would break away down side tunnels, clear them out, then return to the main group. This would ideally keep their exit path as clear as possible was they retrieved the survivors, then they would poison smoke the tunnels.
A simple and crude plan, but since the mages hadn't been able to retrieve their enchanted reconnaissance. Either something was killing the familiars or dispelling their mana about 200 feet past the entrance. Rahm had assured the groups his spell would hold but refused to answer anything else.
Zane had wanted to take the lead, but Noelle had insisted she would be the one led to the captives, and that she was better equipped for close combat in the caves. Zane had eventually backed down so his party would take the lead clearing side tunnels.
Tania was furling and unfurling her enchanted claws. Since she couldn't make her own, she had paper thin gloves that acted like real claws. Tania's movements would control the claws made from the teeth and scales of an ore eating monitor lizard. The tiger nations would capture them when a royal was born and feed it precious metals, mana stones, and mana crystals as well as live beasts. Their skin, teeth, and bones would take on the characteristics of what they ate, making them incredibly valuable resources.
Tania still had her ore eating lizard, waiting until she could get better quality before killing it for its bones… she'd been warned not to get attached but it was hard. Haiz, her claws were still strong enough to damage the hide of elite class monsters, not to mention impervious to spells third tier and below.
Noelle and Rowena also wore their lizard scale claws as backups to the ones they could make. The ore lizard claws were more resistant to poisons than their own claws, better to be safe than sorry. Lamont had a pair of as well, but he wasn't ready for a head-to-head battle, eventually he would turn into a great brawler. But today, Monty was still only half grown.
"Echo." Noelle tested her gear; they would do another test once they passed the 200 foot mark. That way they would know if it was mana dispersal, or active attackers.
"Echo Tania confirm." Tania stated clearly when she heard Noelle in her head.
"Echo Zane confirm."
"Echo Rommel confirm."
"Echo Lucera confirm."
"Echo Rowena confirm."
"Echo Lamont confirm."
"Echo Lia confirm."
"Echo team 1a confirm."
"Echo Team 1b confirm."
"Echo team 1c confirm."
"Echo team 2a confirm." Until all the teams and people were confirmed.
They agreed each team leader would confirm the status of everyone every fifteen minutes once they entered even if they could physically see each other. This way if someone was replaced, or distracted, or anyone was seeing an illusion, they could mitigate false confirmations.
"Noelle Night." Noelle stated looking around, the rest also signed off. "Let's go," Noelle nodded turning to Rahm who had been taking a nap until they all gathered round. Rahm was now large enough to be a mount… not that she would ever dare ask… but it was a thought.
Rahm stretched as he shook his fur out, good nap. Look at all the little humans running around, so serious! Rahm glanced at the eagle, who had been standing over him the entire time. It was already late morning… what a bird brain… would it follow him into the caves???
The eagle could sense the fox's evil intentions, so he flapped his wings twice to get some air, then ascended just enough to land in a tree. He would wait here.
Rahm swished his tail at the skittish eagle, no fun at all. Fine, what good would a bird be underground anyway? Humph. Rahm sat by the cave entrance reminiscent of a kitsune fox guarding a temple.
Noelle watched Rahm for a moment… the scene looked… oddly symbolic. Noelle started first her recording stone to capture the sight. "Lord Rahm… is this a warning? Some kind of sign?" Noelle asked discreetly as she looked into the cave.
Rahm gave a toothy smile but didn't move otherwise.
Noelle gave a quick nod, "Let's go." Lamont and Dustin trotted over, they shared a look, then they both followed her into the darkness. The moment Dustin stepped past the cave entrance Rahm leapt into motion to start leading the way. Noelle was relieved as Rahm kept pace beside her.
Rahm was well aware of their plan, so he would play along, for now at least.
Noelle noticed Rahm flick his tail at a wall as they jogged forward. As a descendant of a tiger she had excellent night vision. Noelle tossed a small throwing dagger at the wall, Zane immediately followed up with their mage to check it out.
Zane trusted Noelle, without hesitation he stabbed his sword into the wall just under the dagger, blood oozed as rocks crumbled away. "Echo Zane, left tunnel 60 feet in." Zane then kicked at the wall twice as the other groups continued behind Noelle.
Rommel lunged forward as the fake wall crumbled, two goblins had been skewered but there were half a dozen raising rusted weapons. Armored in tree bark. Rommel easily cut the first three down with single slash, but cursed as his sword ended up caught in the bodies.
"Armor has rocks and sap!" Rommel called out lifting his foot to the chest of the first dead goblin and jerked on his sword until it was free. To Rommel's left two stone arrows pierced the heads of two more goblins, while a fire arrow on his right had another goblin bursting into flame.
Lucera cursed as the sap started to drip from beneath the burning bark setting the ground on fire. "I need half a minute!" Lucera called pulling back as shadows danced on the wall. Lucera didn't waste any more time as she started chanting a sand spell. If Lucera used water the cave would fill with smoke while also spreading the highly flammable sap.
Zane darted around Rommel as he picked up two rocks flinging them at the fastest two charging, screaming goblins. The dead goblin was still burning as his body gave off a putrid smell as the sap mixed with blood. Zane tried not to get distracted by the dancing lights that were mildly helpful but destroyed his night vision.
Rommel was still struggling to get his sword out of the middle goblin's body, the last one had fallen off easily, but Waters of the Sea. The first and second were like trying to pull his sword out of hardening tar! Rommel wasn't sure what had caught his attention, but he glanced at burning body… that wasn't a rock… "GET DOWN!" Rommel took his own advice as he turned around to cover Lucera's body.
Zane cursed as he dove at the goblins legs, cutting two down so they landed on top off him. Not a moment later an explosion sounded behind him. The tunnel shook as a searing heat engulfed him. Zane covered his head as several more explosions rocked the tunnel in front of him. Water's of the Sea!Suicide soldiers?! When had anyone ever heard of a suicide goblin?!
Rommel covered as much of the mage as physically possible while Lucera suffered backlash from his interrupted spell. There were almost a dozen explosions, and Rommel wasn't sure if they would be buried alive. The tunnel was narrow… to have a whole mountain come down on them… not the best way to go. "Echo, goblins wearing sap and bombs, bombs explode when heated, no fire!" Rommel informed after the last explosion.
Zane didn't move even after the last burst of fires died out. Luckily, it looked like only a few small flames, and the bodies were still on fire. After several breaths without more explosions or fires, Zane shoved the charred corpses off raising his head. "Lucera? Rommel? You two alive?"
"Alive as we can be." Rommel groaned as he pushed himself up, thank the Beast Gods his armor protected from fire and heat. Rommel stood up then reached his hand out to help Lucera up, "You okay cuz?"
Lucera accepted the hand that practically dragged her up, while the other clutched her head, "Yeah, just need a sec." Lucera wobbled as her headache was so abrupt she was also nauseous. "Well that hit me like a tsunami, thanks Rommel." Lucera added as she wobbled over to a rock to sit down. She made sure her enchanted armor was the only thing that made contact with the still very hot rock.
"I'll check for cores, Rommel keep watch, we move out as soon as Lucera finds her land legs." Zane ordered walking over to the bodies. Zane was really glad they'd been able to wear their enchanted armor… those blasts had been no joke. Only two of the bodies had cores, then they took off to meet back up with the group. Tania and two parties of guards hadn't returned yet.