12. The Long Journey Ends

Eryndor had been dozing off for what felt like an eternity, his body swaying gently to the rhythm of the cart's movement. He was jolted awake by the sound of wheels rotating, and as he slowly opened his eyes, he was greeted by the sight of iron bars. His gaze was blurry, but he could make out the shapes of other creatures sitting in the cage with him - two women with pointed ears, a small kid, and a dwarf.

As he moved his eyes, taking in his surroundings, he realized that they were all captives, being transported to some unknown destination. The cart was moving steadily, with three ogres walking behind it, and two more in front, making sure no one tried to escape or ambush them. A goblin was driving the cart, with two big bulls pulling it.

The ogres behind the cart started chatting amongst themselves, their conversation punctuated by snickers and guffaws. "Hey, Gorthok, look at that little human," one of them said. "He's so scrawny, I bet he wouldn't last a day in the pit."

Gorthok, the largest of the three ogres, chuckled. "Yeah, and what's with the pointy-eared ones? Think they're so special with their fancy ears and their... their... whatever it is they do."

The third ogre, a bit of a simpleton, just grinned. "I like the kid, though. He looks like he'd make a good snack."

Krog, the goblin, turned around and shouted, "Shut your mouths, you numbskulls! We're not here to chat, we're here to deliver the goods to the auction block. And don't even think about getting any ideas about snacking on the prisoners, Gorbash. You'll get your turn to eat when we get to the Blackstone Tavern, not before."

The ogres immediately fell silent, looking sheepish. Gorthok muttered under his breath, "Yeah, yeah, Krog, we know. You're the boss, and we're just the help."

Krog glared at them. "I am the boss, and don't you forget it. We're going to make a pretty penny selling these prisoners to the highest bidder. The human, the elves, the dwarf, and the kid - they'll all fetch a good price. And with the money we make, we'll be set for a long time."

The two ogres walking in front of the cart, who had been quietly observing the exchange, spoke up. "Don't worry, Krog, we've got our eyes on the road. Nothing's going to get past us."

Krog nodded, seeming to relax a bit. "Good, good. Just keep moving, and we'll be at the Blackstone Tavern in no time. The auctioneer will be waiting for us, and we'll get the best price for our... merchandise."

The cart continued on its way, the ogres walking silently behind it, their eyes scanning the surrounding countryside for any signs of trouble. The two bulls pulling the cart plodded along steadily, their ears flapping in the breeze.

After what felt like tens of hours, the cart finally came to a stop in front of a large, ominous-looking building - the Blackstone Tavern. Eryndor's stomach was growling with hunger, and he started shouting at the ogres and Krog, demanding food.

"Hey, you ugly creatures! Feed me! I'm starving! You can't just keep me locked up and expect me to survive on nothing!"

Krog's face turned red with anger, and he snarled, "You'll get food when I say you'll get food, human. And if you keep shouting, I'll make sure you regret it."

Eryndor continued to shout and curse, earning him a stern warning from Krog. "One more word, human, and you'll be sorry."

But Eryndor was beyond caring. He was hungry, and he wanted food. Krog, enraged, decided to teach him a lesson. "Gorbash, open the cage and bring him out. We'll show him what happens to prisoners who don't behave."

Gorbash, the ogre, opened the cage, but instead of meekly stepping out, Eryndor landed a kick on Gorbash's face and made a run for it. "Ha! You'll never catch me, you ugly brutes!"

Krog shouted at the five ogres to chase after Eryndor, but before they could give chase, a group of 10 pointed-ear elf warriors appeared out of nowhere, surrounding the cart and demanding the release of their ladies.

Eryndor, meanwhile, had been running for a while, his limbs finally back to life after a full rest. He stopped to catch his breath, looking around cautiously, his stomach growling loudly.

"Ugh, I'm so hungry," he muttered to himself, his eyes scanning the surrounding area for any sign of food. "Where can I find something to eat?"