The Goblin Wood (21 page)

C
ogswhallop crouched beneath the wall, watching the stamping hooves outside his hideout. The hole was too small for humans to enter, so the foolish great ones ignored it.

Natter crouched at the back of the cave, weeping silently, Nuffet asleep in her arms. Daroo knelt beside him, staring out and listening to the sweet steel jingle of the bits.

He’d had a ghastly time getting everyone to the wall. Even though he knew he was best fitted to organize the journey, it had galled him to leave that fool Miggy in charge of rescuing the gen’ral. At least she’d arrived unhurt and in time. He had thankfully handed over command and dashed off to where he’d left his own small family, but Daroo had gone hunting for his friend Regg, and Natter had taken the little one and gone in search of him, and by the time he’d finally gotten them together again the shimmering gate had disappeared and the humans were almost upon them.

So she was gone, his gen’ral, leaving him with a debt of impossible proportion—how do you repay someone for the saving of all your kind? At least he’d been able to send her off heart-healed, and in good company. But that didn’t begin to repay the burden she’d stuck him with this time! Tears stung his eyes, and he blinked them back. It was good she’d gone. If she’d stayed much longer, he’d never have been able to clear what he owed her. Now, in her absence, maybe he had a chance.

That thought pleased him. He knew she’d hated to abandon the war, though she was a good enough commander to know when retreat was forced on her. There were enough of them left to continue the fight. Subtly, of course. It wouldn’t do to let the humans realize they were still here.

Perhaps if they waited a generation or two. He smiled down at his son. If his gift with iron and steel continued to breed true…no one would ever suspect goblins of sabotaging metal-work. Yes. An eternity of metal foxers, sworn to continue the war, would be a fitting payment for the saving of his kindred. The humans were doing more with steel all the time.

She might even come back someday, to check on his progress. Just because no one else had returned, that didn’t mean his gen’ral wouldn’t.

Humans and goblins had shared the world since the beginning. It seemed a shame to let things change
too
much.