Chapter 23 The Journey though the Gorblin Caves

They rode for a few miles when they stopped at a crossroad there was a sign that read on the left " This way to the Forest of Thought and the Gorblin Caves" and on the right, the sign read " this way to the Town of Bengar. "Ralingar then said, " crag I forgot that in order to get to the Forest of Thought we will have to go through the Gorblin Caves." Adam asked Ralingar " what is wrong with that?" Ralingar replied " the Gorblins hate surface dwellers but they despise me and my whole family." Jason asked Ralingar " why? What did you do?"Ralingar replied " ten years ago my brother Morgone stole a ring of great importance from the Gorblins. The Gorblins were mad that this ring was gone and wanted Morgone dead, also he killed seventy percent of the Gorblin race." Why did he stop at Seventy why not make it one hundred" Jason said Ralingar glared at him " you're an insensitive monster, considering we have someone who lost all of her people."Kai'la smiled " its fine." She said Adam could tell it was not fine when Jason spoke her hands clenched so hard that drops of blood dripped out.Ralingar continued "Calingar tried to reason with the Gorblin King but that proved useless. So Gorblins told Calingar if they saw me or any other Raz then they would kill them on the spot" Ralingar looked at the Six and said " I am sorry my friends but in order to pass through the Forest of Thought I have to go to the Town of Bengar to retrieve an item that will help us in crossing through the forest. You will have to go through the Gorblin Caves without me." as Ralingar was leaving he turned around and said: " meet me at the edge of the Forest of Thought." Nina then asked Ralingar " how will you get to the Forest of Thought? Ralingar replied " I should be able to find another way around the Gorblin Caves maybe if I go through the Underground Tunnels of Bengar. I should reach the Forest in a day. That should give you enough time to get through the Gorblin Caves. You should take your horse you will need them once you reach the Forest of Thought."The Six said their goodbyes to Ralingar. As they went their separate ways for now. The six followed the pathway until they reached a large cave. They entered the cave Victor transformed into his guardian form to give more light to the dark cave. As they progressed deeper into the cave it got darker and the only light that could be seen was from Victor.Nina looked at her book and said " as far as I can see a Gorblin is a large smelly cave-dwelling creature that hates surface dwellers" once she finished reading the description a large green-skinned monster dropped from the ceiling. Victor made the room brighter and they could see that that creature only wore torn jeans his upper body was chiseled. His nails were long and claw-like he had webbed feet and his teeth were sharp and jagged. he had black long silted eyes and two silts for a nose. Nina walked up to the Gorblin and said calmly " we are friends we mean you no harm." The Gorblin looked at them and sniffed the air after several seconds he said " You no Friends to Bashton! Bashton smells that you with Ralingar!Bashton kill you!"Bashton extended his claws and lunged at Nina. Luke quickly pulled out his dagger and throw it at Bashton Nina had her eyes shut tight expect to be killed by the hands of the Gorblin she did not feel anything she opened her eyes and saw the Gorblin on the ground gasping for breath.Luke was planning to hit Bashton in the heart but instead stabbed him in one of his lungs.Jason slapped Luke on the back and said proudly " great job you don't kill him, but you wounded him." Luke turned to Jason and said " I was not planning on killing him. I am better than you."Nina rushed over to Bashton and said: " We need to help him!" Jason took his sword out and said: " I will help him." As Jason walked over to Bashton he lifted his sword into the Bashton said weakly " please have mercy!" as Jason was bringing his sword down to end Bashton, Bashton saw no mercy in Jason's eyes he only wished to kill. Adam stopped Jason with Bailfire bright red sparks flew from the swords. Jason stopped glared at Adam." Fine then Warrior, I will kill you too," Jason said" This is enough!" Luke said holding his dagger next to Jason's throat " Damn boy, you sure we aren't the same. Trying to slit my throat and everything seems like something I would do."Kai'la took the sword and tossed it to the ground. the room was silent as Adam and Jason stared at each other Kai could feel a Kyi of burning passion of mercy and love from Adambut Jason had a much dark Kyi that only wished death. "We do not kill the weak and the unarmed. This Gorblin asked to show mercy. So, we will so him mercy be taking back to his home and getting help."Adam helped Bashton up and Bashton said: " Bashton thanks you and Bashton will help you get into the Gorblin Cave Kingdom." They walked down a long dark tunnel that was curved and smooth. Bashton's breathing began getting heavy and he was stumbling more. " Ajjin Luke, Bashton thanks you for saving me from Akillee"Jason called back " what did he call me?" Nina replied, " Death God,"Adam was wondering wither or not he would make it to the Gorblin Cave Kingdom or if he would die on the way there. " if I die before we get to my home tell the guards that Bashton allows you to seek passage through the Gorblin Cave Kingdom." Bashton said weakly as they approached the Gateway to the Gorblin Cave Kingdom. The Gateway was a large gate made of a gold metal that can be found in the Gorblin Caves. There were two long watchtowers with a Gorblin in each one. Jason and Adam walked up to the Gateway and Bashton said " I am wounded I give these surface dwellers my permission to enter the Gorblin Cave Kingdom. The Gorblins in the watchtowers opened the gate. " here is your dagger back you should be honored that you are carrying a dagger made of Gorblin Metal." Bashton said as he removes Luke's Dagger from his chest and gave it back to him. before they left to go to the Forest of Thought they took Bashton to a medical tent.Bashton was laid on a woven cote next to many other Gorblins being treated by tall female Gorblins who wore a form-fitting white dress that separated at the bust. The female Gorblins also had green skin but had hair of many colors. Once Bashton was being treated for his wounds they then walked through the Gorblin Cave Kingdom. They saw that most of the Gorblins lived in stone huts or caves in the walls. There were small tents set up where people could shop like blacksmiths and other shops. It also looked like they did not have a king or any sort of ruler.Bashton motioned for Luke to come close " Ajjin Luke, you are destined to be a great warrior." Bashton said" how do you know that?" Luke said Bashton coughed up blood " because I can sense the spirit of a warrior emitting around you." Bashton took off a golden badge and said: " take my seal and bring it to Anna, my daughter, she will know what to do."Luke took it he turned to the group and said " you guys go on ahead. This is something I think needs to be done alone." Luke said.The rest of the group headed out, but Nina stayed behind and embraced her brother. " I will see you when you come back in a few hours," Nina saidLuke nodded then gave her one of his daggers, "you will need it. I am certain and give it a good name."Nina nodded putting the dagger in her belt she ran off to join the rest of the group.Luke walked through the caves until he found the cave marked with Bashton's seal.Luke walked in "I have your father's seal and was told to come here." Luke saidAnna a tall light green-skinned Gorblin with long flowing red hair wearing a dark blue dress had in her hands a jacket made of black Elder Dragon scales she gave him the jacket as well as a sword that was wielded by Ji'ko the Goblin of legend Earthbreaker.Luke meets the group at the last cave home there was a stone staircase. The six climbed this staircase and found themselves in a large open area next to a huge wooded forest and there sitting in the middle of the filed was Ralingar looking at the Forest of Thought with a confused face. As the Six walked over and greeted him Ralingar stood up and stopped them and said " something is wrong the bright green leaves that cover all of the trees in the Forest of Thought are all dead as is the grass. It is as if an event has caused the Forest of Thought to die." The Six then got off their Horses and gathered around Ralingar as he pulled seven pieces of large purple gem out of a brown leather bag. Ralingar put one around his neck and as he passed the pieces of the purple gem around to the Six and they placed them on their necks. Ralingar said " now we can enter the Forest of Thought. These gems will allow us to pass through the enticement that is placed on the Forest of Thought to keep unwelcome visitors out."He looked at the Six and said: " What you are wearing is a piece of the Amulet of Time and you must keep it on at all times." Adam looked at his Amulet and saw there was an inscription engraved on the front of it. Nina asked Ralingar " what happens if we don't wear the Amulet of Time?" Ralingar replied grimly " then all of your thoughts, memories, desires will be ripped from your brain and your body turn into a tree trapping your soul in the Forest of Thought for all time." Adam looked at the map and said: " After we pass through the Forest of Thought we will be in the Eastern Kingdoms." Ralingar then led them into the Forest of Thought.