The Third Red 1: The Enemy Within

Eric kept the dress he’d bought for his transformation into ‘Erie’, When he got back to Soyagone he took it from his satchel and hid it in his dresser under the other clothes. Perhaps he could disguise himself as ‘her’ again and perform in more plays. Tomorrow was the start of a few days off from school. So, he would be able to visit Dargin in the underground goblin city. There they would be able to train and test themselves against each other without Chosan interfering.

A thudding sound shook the castle, and Eric knew it could only mean one thing. He walked to the balcony door of his tower and stepped outside. Sure enough, Rubara was there.

“Hello little one,” his dragon grandmother said licking him. “How was the play? I heard it was your favorite one, Oserus and Verida?”

“Yes, it was fun to-” Eric wanted to say “see it” but that would have been a lie. He hadn’t watched the play. He’d been in it, acting.

Before Eric could say anything, a door opened nearby. Chosan emerged from his tower and looked outside.

He chuckled at the sight of Rubara leaning on the castle walls. “You are certainly the biggest night-time visitor we have ever had. Just try not to crush the wall please.”

Rubara paid him no mind as he walked back into his room. She turned back to Eric. “What was your favorite part of the play little one?”

“The kiss,” Eric said with a smile as he thought of Karia pressing her lips against his.

“Kiss?” Rubara repeated.

“Um… between the people playing Oserus and Verida,” Eric said, which was true since he and Karia had been playing those characters.

Rubara smiled. “It is always a wonderful thing to find your mate.”

“What?” Eric said before he could help himself. “Who said anything about a mate? We’re just friends!”

Just Friends, he’d said, but were they? Did Eric have feelings for Karia? She was beautiful, kind, and smart. Those were good qualities.

Rubara looked at him. “I don’t know what you’re getting worked up about little one! I was merely commenting that it was nice for Oserus and Verida to end up together and fall in love.”

“Uh… sorry,” Eric said, his cheeks feeling warm.

Rubara’s eyes narrowed. “You are acting strange. Something going on?”

Eric wanted to say no but couldn’t.

“Well if you wish to talk about it,” Rubara said. “Good night.”

She climbed down from the castle walls. But Eric called out to her…

“Granny, wait!”

She looked at him. “Yes?”

“Um… may I sleep with you tonight?” Eric asked. “I’ve just… missed you a bit.”

She smiled. “Of course, little one. I’ve missed you as well.”

Rubara positioned her neck under the tower balcony for Eric to climb. He took hold of her horns and she walked back to her island with earthshaking steps. The night chill didn’t bother Eric as he slept against his grandmother, her body radiating heat. Eric awoke when the sun rose the next morning. He walked back to the castle, he bathed, got dressed, and made it down in time for breakfast. After that was done, he told Chosan his plans for the day.

“Dargin asked me to come see him in the goblin caverns today, Chosan.”

“Did he now?” Chosan asked.

“May I go?” Eric asked.

Chosan thought for a moment. “I suppose so.”

“No! You shouldn’t!” Grella said as she passed food among the main table. “Those goblins will beat, rob and eat you Lord Eric!”

Eric scoffed. “Dargin won’t hurt me! At least… not enough to kill me! He’s just having fun being rough!”

“Being friends with a goblin is not a good idea!” Grella said.

“I’m a Lord’s son! You can’t tell me who I can and can’t be friends with!” Eric snapped, losing his patience before getting up. “I’m going to visit Dargin!”

“Wait I want to come too!” Myra said getting up to follow him.

“Absolutely not!” Lorala grabbed her daughter’s wrist. “You and I are going to practice proper lady activities like sewing and reading.”

“But mother-”

“No buts. You are not going to that disgusting underground city of brutes. They will hurt you for certain!”

“I agree,” Vikal said. “The goblin caverns are no place for a young lady like you.”

Myra looked at Eric sadly. “Take me with you please!”

Eric gave her a look of regret. “Sorry, but if everyone else says it’s too dangerous then you have stay.”

“But I can handle a little danger!” Myra protested.

“I know you can,” Eric told her with a smile. “But all those Dishonored had their sorcery suppressed, the goblin sorcery wielders won’t. I’m not going to take you somewhere I know could be dangerous.”

Myra sighed.

“Wait a moment Eric. You need to know things goblins like if you want to earn their approval,” Chosan said. “You need to be brave if you want to be allowed in the goblin dwellings. If we send guards with you, they will see you as cowardly. You should also bring a weapon.”

Eric went back to his room and retrieved the sword and shapeshifting dagger. He’d never brought them with him before, but he was going into a dangerous place. Eric wrapped the belt that came with the blades around his waist. The sword hung on his left hip while the dagger was behind his back, its pommel on his right side. This would allow him to draw either weapon with his right hand. He also picked up his now functional shield from the wall, slinging it over his shoulder it. Chosan led Eric to the front of Soyagone, the bridge was lowered and Eric was ready to cross to Sortar himself.

“Be careful,” Chosan said.

Eric nodded. “Right.”

He headed east toward Sortar. He didn’t take Snowshine as it wasn’t far and he couldn’t bring the horse underground. He passed through the gate into the city and turned right onto the Safe Path. But instead of going all the way to one of the sector doors Eric headed for the underground passages with the ladders pointing out of them. The entrance to the goblin’s tunnels.

He climbed down the nearest ladder, light vanishing as he did so. He’d never been on a ladder before. He fumbled around with his feet and lost his soon. Fortunately, he was close to the ground, it still hurt a bit.

“Ow,” Eric said as he got to his feet and looked around.

The tunnel was pitch black with no torches or sources of light to guide the way. This place was built to scare off the weak. But Eric had ways of his own to make light. He could use nature or core sorcery to light a flame or orb of light from his palm, and with sight sorcery he could see in the dark. He chose that option. With sight sorcery the aura of living beings would be visible as well. No goblins would be able to take him by surprise. He uttered one of the incantations Vikal had taught him a few days ago.

“Viset persee neera e soron.” See through darkness and sorcery.

Eric drew magic from his headband and channeled it into his eyes. It hurt, stinging his eyes like before. But it worked. Everything became visible in a red background. He was standing at the top of a tunnel stretching downwards. Eric began his trek to the bottom. After a short while he came into a cavern with a hole in its center. Around the cavern were other passages. Unsure which to take Eric tried the one nearest to the left… and nearly fell into a rushing underground river below!

“Ah!” Eric yelled as he stepped.

He was lucky he’d been watching where he was going. Down in the river he saw what appeared to be logs, but they glowed slightly with a gray light. Those logs were living beings! Then one stretched out its head and showed a long set of jaws. Crocodiles! If Eric had taken one more step, he would be swimming with those wingless dragons! He turned back around, only to see a group of ten goblins coming his way.

“Well well well, we have human visiting!” one of them said.

“Look like noble,” a second observed.

These goblins were smaller than Dargin, reminding Eric of Tarair’s friends Scelm and Scerma. Runts like these had to rely on superior numbers to overwhelm opponents. In Eric’s sight sorcery most of them glowed gray, showing him possessed no sorcery. But there was one that shined blue, one that did have sorcery powers.

“So glad you come for lunch!” another goblin said.

Eric didn’t know if they were testing him or being serious. Or both. Perhaps if he failed their test, they would attack and eat him. The words sent a prick of fear in him, he felt the urge to step back.

No. He told himself. That would have been considered a sign of fear and weakness. He had to show bravery and strength. It was the only way he would get to Dargin. Fighting against the coward’s desire to step back, he did the opposite and stepped forward.

The goblin who spoke laughed. “Ha-ha! Well, ye have some courage. But have ye strength?” From his waistcloth, the goblin drew a short sword. Eric reached down, drawing both his sword and shield.

The first goblin stepped forward. Eric put his shield up and held his sword on his shoulder. He would not be able to use sorcery since both hands were full. But at least his shield was enchanted, so that it if the one goblin sorcerer unleashed a spell, Eric would be able to block. The leader goblin looked at him for a moment, as though unsure since Eric had the advantage with a bigger sword a shield. Then he charged, coming in fast. Eric managed to block the blow, the sword clashing on his shields rim. He then raised his sword to deliver a strike that would have surely ended the goblins life right there.

But he stopped short.

He didn’t want to end this goblins life. This was not Corgo or a member of the Demorians. Eric had no wish to kill him, and it stilled the motion of his blade. The goblin, however, though probably not as bright as Eric, noticed his hesitation and took advantage of it. He grabbed Eric’s blade arm with his free hand and brought his sword up to Eric’s throat.

“You lose human!”

And with that, the others all charged Eric, there were too many of them! He was pinned to the ground as the runts jumped on him. Soon his arms and legs were each grabbed by a pair of goblins, his sorcery suppressed by the one magic wielder among them. As that happened, Eric’s sight sorcery deactivated and his eyes returned to normal, he couldn’t see through the dark tunnel anymore. But the goblins could see without sight sorcery, they carried him down through the tunnels, into a large open space where the river full of crocodiles ran. Bonfires illuminated this room so Eric could see. The goblins pushed him to the feet of a larger one who sat on a throne made of bones in the back. This goblin wore a horned steel helm and a bear skin cloak.

“Chief! We found human up by top!” one of the goblins said. “He showed courage but didn’t kill us!”

The chief looked at Eric with a frown.

“Warrior must not hesitate!” he said. “Enemies not show mercy! You not either!”

“You are not my enemy!” Eric said. “The Demorians and Corgo are.”

There many gasps at the sound of Corgo’s name.

“You speak name of greatest foe Mighty Bat!” the chief said. “What is your name?”

“Eric Yagaro,” Eric said.

“Yagaro?” The chief repeated. “Noble family! I heard of you, your father fought greatest foe. So did your mother.”

Eric thought for sure he was going to hear the word traitor again. He prematurely frowned.

But instead, the goblin chief pounded his chest. “We have son of two great warriors here! Well, perhaps we should give him another chance!”

“Aye!” Many said.

“Well, you want your blocker back?” one of the goblins who’d ambushed Eric asked mockingly.

Eric looked at him and saw he had his shield. Eric gritted his teeth.

“Give that back!”

“Come and get it! Or maybe I toss it to crocs!” the shield thief said as he held it in a throwing position toward the river.

“No!” Eric yelled.

That shield was the only thing he had left of his time on Dragoran. He’d made it to remember the years he spent there with Margery and Rubara. He would not lose it! And with, that Eric charged, not caring that he had neither magic nor weapon. He tackled the goblin holding his shield and wrestled it from the creature’s grasp. The goblin’s hand went down to his sword, Eric bashed him across the face with his reacquired shield. The goblin grunted and fell, knocked out with his sword still sheathed. Eric bent down and drew it out looking to face at the other goblins.

The chief laughed. “Ha! Impressive, you charge an armed foe with no fear. Welcome!”

“Welcome!” the other goblins shouted out.

“Remove his suppression and heal his wounds!”

A pair of goblins approached Eric; one touched his chest the other took hold of his bruised face. Eric felt sorcery run through it and his face healed, the pain left him.

“Now Eric Yabaro, why you come to our home?” the chief asked.

Eric frowned at his last name being mispronounced but said, “I was invited by Dargin Saru.”

From out of the goblins circle one emerged, it was Dargin himself.

“Eric, I glad you come,” the goblin said giving a fanged grin.

Eric nodded.

“Right. Can I have my sword back?” Eric asked looking around at the goblins.

“You have sword,” Dargin pointed to the one in his hands.

“This isn’t mine it belongs to that goblin over there,” Eric pointed to the knocked-out goblin who lay by the river.

“He has no right to it no more,” Dargin said. “You took it from him in combat so that makes it yours.”

Eric looked at the sword. It was short and cracked.

“Nay, I’ll take the one I had.”

“You want other one back you must win it back. While you down here you follow our rules.”

Eric looked around at the goblins nearby, to his horror many were already leaving.

“Where is the one that took it?” Eric asked.

“I know not. I not there when it happened,” Dargin said. “Didn’t you see who take it?”

“No, they suppressed my sorcery and I couldn’t see after that,” Eric told him.

“Well, must find it then,” Dargin said.

They stepped outside the light of the bonfire. Eric made a flame in his hand to serve as a torch, as well as an attack should another goblin try anything. He looked on the hips of goblin passing by. Many of them had weapons adorned with spikes.

“If only we knew which goblins grabbed you,” Dargin said.

Eric frowned at him. “Didn’t you know any of them?”

Dargin shrugged. Eric growled.

“If only I had a way to find… wait! I do!” Eric said as he recalled his sense of smell. “If I can get back to where I was captured, I might be able to follow the scents of the goblins that grabbed me.”

“Well we go there,” Dargin said.

“Lead the way,” Eric replied.

“I not see where you brought in from,” Dargin reminded him.

“Well, where’s the entrance that’s closest to Heroes Home?”

“I not know,” Dargin said, shrugging.

Eric groaned in irritation. “You don’t know? But you live down here! Shouldn’t you know which way out leads to what part of the city?”

Dargin laughed. “Only part of Sortar I know way to from here is path to Ring. That only place I usually go.”

“You don’t go to Castle Scholar?” Eric asked.

Dargin shook his head. Eric sighed. He liked Dargin though the goblin wasn’t the brightest.

“Well, perhaps I can point you in the right direction Lord Eric.”

Eric looked over his shoulder and saw a female goblin that he recognized as Dargin’s mother.

“Killara is it?” Eric asked, recalling her name from the dinner two nights ago.

She nodded. “Yes, follow me.”

She led him back up a tunnel, soon they were back in the cavern where Eric had come out of the tunnel. He could also smell his own scent, as well as those of the goblins who’d been there with him. Their scent went back up this way!

“Hey, they went this way!” Eric said as he broke into a run toward the tunnel, only to stop when he heard a frightening sound.

A scream sounded from the tunnel. Eric froze, moments later, the same group of goblins that had captured him earlier appeared with a new captive. Myra struggled in their grasp.

“Help! Help!” the girl screamed.

Eric was frozen for a moment by the shock of seeing her. His heart filled with fear at her in this situation as well. Then he felt anger rise and shouted.

“Hey! Let her go!”

Eric’s shout echoed off the cavern walls. The goblins looked at him as he held his shield out in front of himself. With his right hand, he conjured up a ball of red sorcery.

“Eric!” Myra shouted in relief.

“Let. Her. Go!” Eric repeated slowly.

The lead goblin that had grabbed Eric earlier laughed.

“Back for more? This be fun!” he said, drawing the sword at his hip. Eric saw its curved guard, the ruby in the Y shaped pommel, and could just make out the red leather of its handle.

“Hey that’s mine!” he said.

The goblin laughed again. “Not anymore! I took it. You want it, take it back!”

Eric snarled.

Let’s kill him. Clauwing said in Eric’s head, awakening from Eric’s anger.

As much as Eric wanted to hurt these goblins for threatening Myra, he shook his head. He closed his fingers, dispelling the orb of sorcery in his grasp which if he’d unleashed could have been fatal. These goblins were barbaric, threatening visitors and little girls who wandered into their territory just for sport. But he wasn’t going to kill any of them unless he had to. They weren’t Corgo or the Demorians. They were useful allies of the Sorcerer Kingdom, making necessary contributions to the war effort.

“Let her go now!” he ordered, shooting a small beam from his finger.

One goblin in torn robes, the spell caster Eric had seen earlier, extended his hand and threw up a shield of glowing blue sorcery that easily blocked Eric’s attack.

“You think you beat us with weak magic?”

“Lord Eric!” Killara shouted. “You need to use deadly force! A warrior must be strong in order to fight!”

Eric snarled. Dargin’s mother was right, Myra’s life was in danger, he didn’t have time to think things through. This was the time to act quickly.

Gritting his teeth, Eric aimed with his hand and spoke. “Fyra!”

A burst of flame shot from his hand as he spoke the incantation. The goblin he’d aimed at put up another shield to block Eric’s attack, but the flames overpowered it and hit their target. The goblin’s torso was on fire and he began to scream as he rolled about.

Two of the other goblins charged at Eric with their blades raised. Dargin ran past him, his body glowing green as he called upon his Greater Body power.

“Grito kodu suprere velos e muscon.” Grant me superior speed and strength.

The larger goblin attacked the smaller ones. He grabbed one of them by the throat. This left Eric with only one foe to deal with. The remaining goblin not holding Myra continued towards Eric with his blade raised. Eric, though disarmed of his physical weapons, was not unprepared for this scenario. He pressed his thumb to his hand and channeled sorcery, creating a blade of red light. With one swing of his sorcery blade, Eric cut the steel of the charging goblins weapon, as well as the goblin himself.

There were only three goblins left now, and they all remained close to Myra who struggled with fear on her face.

“Channala soron persee visetas!” Channel sorcery through eyes.

Eric chanted, activating his sight sorcery again. But this time instead of enabling him to see in the dark, it allowed him to use his eyes to channel sorcery the same way he could his hands.

“For the last time! Let Myra go!” he said. “And give me my sword!”

The lead goblin, instead of heeding Eric’s wishes, pulled out Eric’s dagger from the back of the belt and held it to the girl’s throat.

“One wrong move and we kill her!”

Eric hesitated. He couldn’t do anything without the risk of them hurting Myra. But if he didn’t do something, there was no telling whether she would get hurt anyway. If only he knew-

There was a flash of light, but it didn’t come from Eric or Dargin. Killara suddenly teleported so that she stood beside the two goblins holding Myra. Unarmed, the female goblin stuck both hands out and sent a beam of green magic at each goblin. The two goblins fell, while the last one holding Eric’s dagger backed away.

Killara growled. For a moment Eric was sure she was going to finish him. But instead, she lowered her hands.

“This is why the upper world is so afraid of us! We scare them with our savagery. Even our welcomes are scary for them thanks to goblins like you! Go, and leave the things you stole!”

The lead goblin dropped the dagger and removed Eric’s belt holding his sword as well before running off, giving them a disdainful look as he did so.

“Myra!” he turned to the girl and ran over to her.

“Eric!” she cried out, getting to her feet and running up to him. The two cousins embraced each other.

“What were you thinking coming down here!” Eric asked. “I told you it would be dangerous!”

“I- I just- wanted to learn from you.”

Eric sighed. “You could have been killed. This was going too far. Come on, I’m taking you home!”

“But Eric-“

“No buts!” Eric snapped.

“But Eric you just got here!” Dargin said. “I hoped to fight more!”

Eric sighed. “We just got a fight, and one more dangerous than what I came here for!”

“Yes, and that fun!” Dargin stated.

Eric shook his head. While he did like to spar, being in actual danger wasn’t a thrill. Especially since Myra could have been hurt. He said nothing and walked over to his belt and dagger. He put the dagger back in its place and was about to wrap the belt around his waist when…

“Oh no! You and girl not leaving!” Dargin said, getting in front of him. “Unless you beat me!”

“I’m not gonna fight you to be-” Eric started.

But the goblin shoved him.

“Come on! Come on! Hands up! Brawl!”

A small spark of anger lit up in Eric. Not a major amount, but enough to light his new found desire for competition. “Alright you want to brawl!?”

He set his shield and belt down to be rid of any unnecessary weight and raised both hands. Dargin grinned and came at him. Eric hadn’t received training in hand-to-hand combat, so he didn’t do well. Dargin had him on the ground in a moment.

“I win! You stay!”

Eric took several breathes, the thrill running through him.

“Alright. I’ll stay. And thanks.” Eric said. “That’s the second time you’ve saved me and Myra. I owe you big. If there’s anything I can do to repay you, name it.”

“Well, there one thing.” Dargin said as he sat up. “I want to be Soron Knight. But I need noble to recommend me for Proving Times.”

“You want to be a Soron Knight?” Eric asked, surprised.

“Yes, knights get to fight strongest foes!” Dargin said. “Get recognized and praised! I’ve heard a lot of tales about them and I want be like them!”

“It also shows that you have a great amount of chivalry, so you must work on that my son,” Killara said. “Perhaps Lord Eric could teach you that.”

Dargin scoffed. “I just want to face strong foes! I be knight I do that!”

Eric shrugged. “Well, I’ll do it. You will have my recommendation for the Proving Times. When are they?”

“Only few days now,” Dargin said. “So, we get ready for it!”

He then tackled Eric to the ground again.