Chapter 193 - Funny Little Creatures

Vell and Sonder followed a narrow forest path to investigate the river, the thin sound of running water guiding them.

Within minutes, they reached the riverbank.

The water barely trickled along, its once wide and healthy flow reduced to a murky stream. 

Vell knelt, pressing his fingers into the damp soil before stepping carefully into the muddy water, his boots sinking into the muck.

Sonder remained on the dry ground, arms crossed as she surveyed the area. She avoided the mud, unwilling to dirty her shoes. "I don't see anything unusual," she said. "But the river is definitely drying up."

Vell wiped his hands clean on his cloak and shook his head. "It's not just drying up. I think the water's being redirected." He gestured upstream. "We need to keep going. The source of the problem has to be further along."

They followed the river's winding course for quite some time. Gradually, the trickle strengthened, yet the sound remained muffled, as though the water's natural flow was still restrained.

As the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows, they emerged into a clearing. The problem was obvious.

A crude dam blocked the river, constructed from large rocks, broken branches, and packed mud, deliberately placed to halt the river's natural course.

Beyond the dam, a newly built goblin village sprawled across the dry riverbed. Goblins bustled about, constructing huts and digging trenches to redirect the water into their wells and crops.

"Another goblin village?" Sonder said.

"It seems so," Vell replied. "We need to speak with their leader. Goblins usually avoid politics unless they have the upper hand. The ones that asked for our help don't, so we'll need to find a peaceful solution instead."

As they stepped forward, several goblin sentries took notice. These goblins looked different from those they had encountered before—scruffier, with fur sticking out from their patchy tunics. They narrowed their eyes, gripping their spears tightly.

"Halt! Outsiders be not welcome here!" one of them, a squat goblin with jagged teeth, barked, thrusting his spear forward.

Vell raised his hands, palms open, in a gesture of peace. "We're not here to fight. We only want to talk."

The goblin squinted suspiciously. "Be ye fairies?"

Vell shook his head. "I wouldn't call myself a fairy, no."

The goblin shifted his spear toward Sonder. "What about her?"

"I'm not a fairy either," she said with a sigh. "And before you ask, I'm not an elf."

"We'd like you to take us to your chieftain." Vell said.

The goblins exchanged suspicious glances before the lead sentry finally relented with a nod. "Fine. Follow us—but no fairy tricks."

Vell and Sonder exchanged a glance, already somewhat tired of dealing with goblins.