Chapter 86 – Night Raid on the Goblin Settlement

Chapter 86

Night Raid on the Goblin Settlement

Date : Day 7 of Grimleaf 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.

They finished their tea. The warm drink fortified them for the cold work ahead. Elise cleaned the mugs and stove. Then stored everything away. They left everything at their camp. They were going to be back here in no time.

They stood up. Their movements were silent and sure. The rest was over. The night was young. And the hunt was about to begin.

"Let's go, Elise."

He stretched.

"Time to start our night raid."

Hyoren grinned. Predatory. Eager.

Elise grinned back. Her expression mirrored his.

"Let's strike them like a ghost, Hyoren."

The last of the warm tea settled in their stomachs. A small comfort against the encroaching chill of the night. With a shared, determined nod, they left the ledge. The night raid had begun.

Moving like ghosts, they descended from their perch. Using the steep, rocky terrain to mask their approach. The moonlight was their enemy. But the jagged shadows of the cliffs were their allies. Every step was placed with deliberate care. Every movement designed to be silent. They flowed through the darkness. Two predators closing in on their unsuspecting prey.

They reached the western edge of the quarry. A section of the cliff had crumbled. Creating a navigable slope down to a small, rocky shelf below. This was where the lazy sentry was supposed to be.

Hyoren peered over the edge. His Aethell Sense confirmed the location of the goblin through their magical signature.

He signaled to Elise. A simple hand gesture. They crept down the slope. Their boots made no sound on the loose ground. They found the sentry post—or what passed for one. It was a small, flat area with a crude wooden barricade. And there, huddled together for warmth in a pile of dirty rags, were ten goblins.

They weren't just sleeping. They were dead to the world. Their mouths were open. Emitting soft, wheezing snores. One of them was drooling. Their crude weapons—a rusty axe and a few spears—were lying discarded beside them. The stench of unwashed bodies was overpowering.

Hyoren stared at the scene. A mixture of disbelief and cold contempt on his face. He looked at Elise. His expression was a silent question.

"Talk about carelessness."

His voice was barely audible.

"Are all goblins like this, Elise?"

He whispered. Not daring to make an audible sound.

Elise's eyes narrowed with a predatory glint. She simply shrugged. Exasperated.

"They're goblins, Hyoren."

She shook her head slightly. Her silver hair swayed with motion.

"What do you expect? Fufu."

She giggled softly.

Hyoren turned his gaze back to the sleeping pile. This wasn't an ambush. It was pest control. The tactical part of his brain screamed that this was an opportunity too good to pass up. Ten goblins. Eliminated without a single fight. Without raising an alarm. It was the most efficient kill possible.

He leaned close to Elise. His lips brushed against her pointed ear. His voice was a barely audible whisper. His breath felt ticklish against her skin.

"What should we do? Kill these ten and run?"

He could feel her shiver slightly at the proximity. But her focus remained absolute. She gave a single, decisive nod. There was no need for further discussion. The plan was clear. The target helpless. It was time to go to work.

The decision was made in a shared, silent glance. There was no honor in this kill. No glory. Only cold efficiency. It was a necessary culling. The removal of a blight.

Hyoren drew one of his Cinder-maw daggers. The blade was dark. Elise, in turn, drew her shortsword. A practical, well-worn side weapon of her. They moved in perfect sync. Their steps so light they didn't dislodge a single pebble.

They reached the sleeping pile. The goblins were so deeply unconscious they didn't stir even as their killers loomed over them. Hyoren knelt beside the two nearest goblins. With one hand, he pinched the first goblin's nostrils shut. As its mouth instinctively opened to gasp for air, he drove the dagger straight into the back of its throat. Severing its spine. It died with a pathetic, wet gurgle. Its body convulsed once before going still.

He did the same to the second. The movements so fast and precise they were a blur. In and out. Silent death.

Elise was just as efficient. She hovered over the third goblin. Her shortsword held in a reverse grip. She drove the point down into the base of its skull. Piercing the brain. It was a silent, instant kill. She moved to the fourth. Repeating the action with the same cold, detached finality.

They continued their culling. Silently slitting the throats of goblins one by one. Moving like whispers of death across the sleeping pile. The smell of blood mixed with the stench of unwashed bodies.

The last goblin. The largest of the ten. Stirred in its sleep. Perhaps sensing the sudden stillness of its companions. Its eyes began to flutter open. Before it could even form a thought, let alone a scream, Hyoren was there. He clamped a hand over its mouth. Muffling its startled grunt. And plunged his dagger into its heart.

It was over in less than a minute. Ten goblins. Extinguished without a single alarm being raised.

They didn't hesitate. Without a backward glance, they retrieved their weapons. Wiped the blades on the goblins' filthy rags. And vanished back into the shadows. They moved up the slope with the same silent speed they had descended. Their hearts pounding not from exertion. But from the cold, adrenaline-fueled thrill of the perfect kill.

***

Minutes later, they were back on their ledge. Sliding back into the concealment of the boulders. They stood for a moment. Listening. Their senses straining. The quarry below remained unchanged. The low murmur of the camp. The crackling of the fires. The occasional distant shriek. There was no sign of alarm. No one knew they were there.

They had gotten away clean. A smile spread across Hyoren's face.

He looked at Elise. Her expression was also contented. They had just removed ten pieces from the board without anyone even noticing they were playing.

"Ten goblins... gone, just like that."

Hyoren whispered. His voice was a low but triumphant. The night was young. And their war of attrition was off to a spectacularly successful start.

He looked at Elise. Excitement was palpable in his eyes thanks to the successful first raid. His heart still pounded from the adrenaline.

"Let's rest for a bit, Elise."

Hyoren whispered. His body still hummed with the adrenaline of the silent kill.

"Then we continue being ghosts. The more we take out tonight, the less they have tomorrow."

Elise grinned back at him. Her emerald eyes gleamed in the moonlight. She nodded slowly.

"That's right. Time to kill more of them, Hyoren."

Hyoren then peered over the edge of their perch. His gaze swept the quarry floor. The tri-colored moonlight painted the basin in eerie shadows.

"The front gate will be hard, Elise."

He looked at her beside him. His expression was thoughtful.

"I count fifteen goblins down there. And unlike the west guard, all of them are awake."

He narrowed his eyes.

"They're lazily guarding the entrance, but even if they're lazy, an attack on that position will raise the alarm for sure. We save that one for last."

Elise's eyes traced the perimeter. Scanning for potential ambush points. Calculating.

"What about the eastern part?"

She pointed toward a dilapidated watchtower built against the quarry wall. The structure was crumbling. Wooden supports rotted.

"There are eight goblins there."

She lowered her voice.

"From the looks of it, only two are awake, standing by the brazier. The other six are sleeping near the tower's base."

A new plan formed instantly in Hyoren's mind. It was the same scenario. Just a different location.

"That's our next target."

He nodded. He looked at Elise. Laid out his plan.

"Elise, you'll snipe the two awake ones from here."

He gestured toward the tower.

"As soon as your arrows fly, I'll be down there dealing with the rest of the sleepers."

He met her gaze. His expression was serious.

"I'll need to be in position before you shoot. I'll creep closer along the ridge… When you see I'm in place and ready, you let loose your arrows. I will raise my spear as indicator I'm ready."

Elise nodded. Her eyes were already calculating the trajectory and the wind.

"I can hit them both before the first one hits the ground."

She smiled coldly.

"They won't know what hit them."

Hyoren then started to walk. His movements were silent.

"Good. I'll handle the rest."

Without another word, they slipped away. Melting back into the shadows of the cliff face. In the middle of the slope, he broke away from Elise. He watched her taking a good position to snipe. She disappeared behind a boulder.

He continued moving with a practiced silence that was now second nature. His body low to the ground. His spear held ready. He navigated the treacherous slope. Using every outcrop and shadow for cover. His eyes fixed on the dilapidated tower below.

He found a new concealed spot on a small ridge about ten meters from the tower. A perfect position to launch his silent assault on the sleeping goblins. He looked back up towards the upper slope. Behind a boulder, a faint, almost imperceptible movement in the darkness that he knew was Elise getting into position.

He crouched. His spear gripped tightly. His breathing slowed. He was ready. He raised his spear—a prearranged signal they had devised.

From high above, Elise saw the signal. She drew her bow. She nocked two arrows between her fingers. Her breathing slowed. Her entire world narrowed to the two goblins warming their hands by the brazier below.

Then, with a soft exhale, she used her skill. Trying to lower her voice while still enough to activate her skill.

"Double Shot."

The two arrows flew in total silence. Crossing the distance in the blink of an eye. The first goblin jerked as an arrow appeared in its throat. A wet gurgle escaped its lips. The second had just enough time to turn its head in confusion before a second arrow took it squarely in the eye.

They both crumpled to the ground. Their bodies fell into the brazier with a dull thud. Sending a shower of sparks into the air. The fire hissed. Crackled.

The moment the arrows left Elise's bow, Hyoren was moving. He sprinted from his hiding spot. His feet made no sound on the dusty ground. He reached the base of the tower. Where the six sleeping goblins lay in a heap. He was a shadow. And before long, six more goblins would never wake up.

***

They slipped back to their vantage point. The adrenaline of their success was a potent drug. Their hearts pounded. Their breath came quick. But their movements remained silent.

The quarry below remained a placid, ignorant sea of goblins. Completely unaware that eighteen of its number had been silently erased from existence. The campfires still burned. The murmurs still continued. The night remained undisturbed.

Hyoren drank from his waterskin. Quenching his thirst. The water was cool. Refreshing. It washed away the dryness in his throat.

"So far, it's good, Elise."

Hyoren whispered. A wide grin decorated his face. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

"Eighteen goblins without alerting the whole army. We're chipping away at them."

He gave the waterskin to Elise. She took it. Their fingers brushed briefly.

Elise took the waterskin from Hyoren. And drank from it. The water slid down her throat.

"Thanks, Hyoren."

She handed it back. Wiping her lips with the back of her hand.

Hyoren nodded. His eyes were already scanning for their next target. Calculating. Planning.

"Let's ride our momentum, Elise."

His eyes landed on the nearest night watch from their vantage points. He pointed at them. A small structure on the southern ridge.

"There's a small outpost on the southern ridge."

He gestured.

"Another eight goblins. It's closer to the main camp, but it's a better option than raiding the front gate which is guarded by over fifteen goblins."

Elise looked at the direction he pointed. Her emerald eyes traced the outline of the structure.

It was a small, crude watchtower. Wooden planks. Rope ladders. A brazier burning at the top. And as Hyoren had noted, all eight goblins were awake and moving around. Pacing. Chattering. Alert.

Elise looked at him. Her brow furrowed slightly. She studied the tower.

"All of them are awake, Hyoren…. Are you sure?"

Her voice carried uncertainty.

Hyoren tapped his chin. Contemplating. The moonlight cast shadows across his features.

"This will indeed be tricky, Elise."

Hyoren murmured.

"They're all alert. We can't just sneak up on them."

He looked at Elise. His expression hardened.

"Elise, please snipe at least two, like before."

He clenched his jaw.

"Three if you can. I'll finish the rest with my spear. I just hope they won't have time to ring the alarm."

Elise nodded. Her hand tightened on her bow. She knew it was a reckless plan. But she didn't have another suggestion. So she decided to follow Hyoren's plan.

"I'll try to kill three to four goblins in my first shot."

She adjusted her quiver.

"I rarely use double shots in quick succession, but I'll try."

Hyoren nodded. Then he looked at the three moons. Checking the time. The night had started to descend into its final hours.All three moons hung lower in the sky. In two to three hours, dawn would break.

He straightened his posture.

"Okay, Elise, let's go. This will be our last night raid today. We can't risk another raid as dawn will come soon."

Both of them repeated their established routine. They became ghosts again. Melting into the shadows. Moving with purpose.

Hyoren moved down the cliff. Finding a new concealed position that gave him a clear path to the outpost. His feet found purchase on the rocky terrain. Elise settled in on the back. Her bow in hand. From her position, Elise saw him give the signal. His spear raised.

Elise drew. Her aim was steady. Her breathing slowed. She activated her skill.

"Double Shot."

She released two shots at the same time. Killing two goblins on the watchtower. The arrows flew silently. The first goblin jerked. An arrow through its throat. The second goblin crumpled. An arrow through its eye.

She took another deep breath. The first skill use had been smooth. Clean. She prepared for the second.

Then she released another skill.

"Double Shot."

She released another two arrows. One of them flew true. Striking one of the goblins in the chest. Sending it sprawling. It lifeless body hit the wooden floor.

But this time, their luck ran out.

The second arrow made a sound during flight. A faint whistle. Might be because Elise pushed her hands too hard. Using two consecutive active skills in a short period of time. Or just because their luck had finally run out.

Just as her second arrow was in flight, one of the other goblins happened to look up. Perhaps drawn by the faint whistle of the arrow. It saw the incoming projectile and let out a guttural yell. Shoving its companion out of the way.

The arrow thudded harmlessly into the wooden tower wall. The shaft quivered.

And the goblin yelled and shrieked. It sounded the alarm. It repeatedly smashed into some metal—goblin primitive alarm system. A crude bell. Clank. Clank. Clank. Alarming the whole settlement. The sound echoed across the quarry.

The moment the yell was heard, Hyoren burst from cover. His spear held low.  He closing the distance in seconds. His boots pounded the ground. His eyes locked on the remaining goblins. The five remaining goblins turned. Their crude weapons rose to meet him.

Mid-run with his spear gripped in his right hand, he took his Cinder-maw dagger with his other hand. And poured Aethell into it. The blade ignited. Lit on fire. The flames licked along the edge.

He then activated his new active skill.

"Precision Throw!"

He threw it at one of the leading goblins using the new active skill he had gained. The dagger spun through the air. It landed true to the goblin's face. Almost like it was homing. The blade pierced through flesh. Burning its head. The goblin screamed. It ran around with its head on fire. Flailing. Screaming. Before finally slumping to the ground. Smoke rising from its head.

He was not seeing it all though. By the time he was done throwing, he already gripped his spear in stance. And he activated another skill.

"Piercing Thrust."

With a sonic boom, he propelled forward. The air cracked around him. His Mithril-alloy Yari met its mark on another goblin—straight into its chest. The blade pierced through armor. The goblin crumpled.

He quickly pulled his spear from the goblin chest.

Another goblin tried to attack him. A crude sword swung toward his head. His spear was a blur of motion. Parrying the clumsy sword thrust. And ripping through the throat of its wielder in the same fluid movement. Arterial spray painted the air.

He then spun. The steel counterweight of his spear cracked into the skull of the fourth goblin. Killing it instantly.

The last goblin. The one who had sounded the alarm. Stared in terror for a half-second. Its eyes wide. Its mouth open. Before Elise's arrow met its mark on its forehead. The shaft protruded from its skull. It fell. Lifeless.

He and Elise had killed all eight goblins. They had won. But it was too late.

Instantly, the placid atmosphere of the quarry shattered. The low murmur of conversation was replaced by a collection of shrieks. Horns. The sound of alarm bells being frantically rung. The noise exploded across the basin. Echoing off the stone walls.

Campfires were kicked over. Sparks flew into the air. Goblins poured out of their shacks and huts. The entire settlement erupted into a frenzy of panicked and angry activity. Shadows moved. Torches flared. Yells echoed.

Hyoren grimaced. He quickly pulled his Cinder-maw dagger from one of the burning goblin corpses—the dagger was not hot at all. A testament to its magical properties.

Afterwards, he quickly retreated to Elise's position. His feet pounded the rocky ground. The alarm bells continued to ring. The quarry was awake. And their silent war had just become very loud.

***

He met Elise shortly after in the middle of slope. His breath came quick. His heart still pounded from the fight.

"Good work, Elise."

Elise nodded at him. Her emerald eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

"You too, Hyoren."

She lowered her bow.

"Flawless spear work. And the first throw was good too."

Both of them then turned around. Their eyes swept across the quarry below.

Hyoren and Elise watched from their positions. The element of surprise was gone. The settlement was on high alert. And in the distance, they could see a group of goblins running toward the southern tower. No doubt to find their dead comrades. Torches bobbed in the darkness. Shadows moved frantically.

"They found the dead sentries, Hyoren."

Their silent war was over. The goblins now knew they were being killed one by one. And from the sound of it, they were ready to hunt back. The alarm bells continued to ring. Faint. Distant. But unmistakable.

Hyoren looked at Elise.

"Let's go back to our base, Elise."

His voice was tight with controlled urgency.

"Before they organize a search party."

Hyoren looked back. Below, the quarry was a hive of panicked activity. The goblins were no longer complacent victims. The whole settlement was angry. Shadows moved. Torches flared. The distant sound of guttural shouts echoed across the stone walls.

Hyoren looked at Elise.

"Our night raid seems to be finished, Elise."

His voice was firm. Resigned.

"We can't do it anymore with the settlement this alert."

He shook his head.

"Any attempt to get closer now would be suicide. They'll be swarming every ridge and area surrounding the quarry."

The tactical situation had changed in an instant. Their greatest asset—the element of surprise—had been lost.

Hyoren started walking, towards their base.

"You're right, Hyoren."

She fell into step beside him.

"We can't continue. I agree, let's head back."

They retreated back to their ledge. They settled back into their concealment. Watching the goblin settlement erupt in chaos.

"Look Elise, they found the bodies at the western post."

Hyoren looked at the quarry below. The fires flickered. Shadows danced.

"And now the southern ones."

His jaw tightened.

"The Lord will be furious. He'll know his settlement is being targeted."

Elise looked at him. Worry creased her features.

"What should we do now, Hyoren? Our night end in failure."

Hyoren smiled. A calculating expression.

"Elise, that’s where you are wrong… Our night raid was successful."

He gestured toward the settlement.

"We killed a total of twenty-six goblins on this night raid. And if we add fourteen from the two patrols during the day, that's a total of forty goblins already gone from their army in a single day."

Hyoren paused. Letting Elise process the number.

"Elise, that's roughly ten percent of their number."

He nodded slowly.

"That's a significant blow to the Lord's army. Plus, their morale will plummet. They're scared now. They'll be jumpy. Paranoid. They'll overreact."

Realization dawned over Elise's face. Her eyes widened slightly. She exhaled long breath.

"I see… Now that you mention it, we already dealt a significant blow to them… And this is just our first day."

She looked at him. Her expression was serious.

"But our strategy has to change."

She crossed her arms.

"We can’t do more night raids. We can't get close enough without being seen, Hyoren."

Hyoren nodded. He had already thought about a new strategy.

"Don't worry, Elise."

He touched her arm. Reassuring her.

"I have a new plan. From now on, we'll focus on dealing with their patrols and foragers. Until they become more desperate."

He gestured over the quarry. His hand swept across the view.

"An army of this size definitely needs to be fed. During the day, they'll send patrols to forage the forest. Looking for food."

He grinned. A predatory smile.

"And those foragers are our next target."

He looked back at the quarry. The chaos continued below.

"It's less efficient, of course, but it's safer. We'll have to be patient."

He clapped his hands together. The sound was soft in the night air.

"And when their foragers never come back, their food situation will deteriorate."

He tilted his head slightly,  a gesture of asking a question.

"You know what's going to happen, Elise?"

Elise nodded. His plan started to take shape in her mind.

"Starving goblins won't follow hierarchy anymore."

Her emerald eyes flickered with excitement.

"The organized army will become mobs."

Hyoren's grin widened. Triumphant.

"Exactly! And that's when we're going to strike them!"

They watched as the goblin search parties fanned out. Their crude torches created moving points of light in the darkness. They were clumsy and disorganized. But they were numerous. The lights swarmed across the basin. Like fireflies in chaos.

Hyoren then looked at Elise.

"Let's observe them for a while, Elise."

He settled against the rock.

"We need to make sure our base is safe before we can rest."

He scanned through the now chaotic settlement. Torches moved frantically. Goblins shouted. Bells rang.

"We are far from them and we have natural cover."

He rubbed his chin.

"But we still need to make sure. So we can rest peacefully."

Elise nodded. Her eyes also locked on the settlement.

"Yeah, I also think they won't reach here."

She settled beside him. Snuggled close to him.

"But I agree. Let's observe for a while."

They sat on their tarps. Huddling together. Side by side. The night air was cool against their skin.

They watched the quarry. The frantic movement of goblins. The guttural snarls of confused goblins mixed with clanking of armor and weapons. Creating a symphony of chaos. The noise echoed off the stone walls.

The goblins seemed to huddle down in the quarry. They only patrolled the perimeter of their settlement. Never venturing too far. The torches stayed close to the walls. The movement was contained.

It seemed they were not stupid. Wandering into the dead of night, with the possibility of ghosts lurking around, was suicide.

"It seems the Lord is not stupid, Elise."

Hyoren relaxed slightly.

"He's being careful and reining the goblins in."

Elise nodded. Her body relaxed beside him.  She watched the movement on the old quarry below.

"Yeah. Those goblins never leave the perimeter. And only patrol outside the wall."

She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. Her touch was warm.

"It seems this place is safe, Hyoren."

She snuggled closer to him. Her body pressed against his side.

"It's too far from them, and the rocks provide perfect cover."

She leaned her head against his arm.

"They're not going to find us up here."

She looked at his tense posture. The way his eyes were still glued to the quarry below. His shoulders were rigid. His jaw tight.

"We can reduce our vigilance."

She squeezed his arm. Her voice was warm as she tried to make Hyoren relax.

"We need to rest. To think.We're not going to be effective if we're exhausted."

Hyoren finally realized his tense posture. He smiled. Then relaxed his shoulders. The tension drained from his muscles.

He then hugged Elise closer. Wanting to feel her warmth. Her presence grounded him.

"You're right, Elise."

He looked at the quarry. The goblins' movement had started to slow down.

They were still vigilant. The sentries were alert—unlike before they received the attack. But they seemed not to be trying to seek and chase the ghosts. They stayed within their perimeter.

They were safe in this vantage point—their current base.

Hyoren finally looked away from the settlement. His dark eyes met Elise's emerald ones. The moonlight reflected in her gaze.

"We should sleep, Elise."

He brushed a strand of hair from her face.

"Tomorrow we still have a lot of work."

Elise silently nodded. Her expression softened.

Both of them then stood. They walked over to their tent. The fabric rustled in the night breeze.

The temperature-controlled runic array inside the tent made sure the inside was warm. They felt the warm air envelop them. A welcome contrast to the chill outside.

They removed their cloaks. The fabric slid from their shoulders. They entered their sleeping bags. The material was soft, enveloping them.

They snuggled close. Their bodies found each other in the darkness. They kissed deeply. A moment of tenderness after a night of violence. Then finally settled into their usual positions.

Elise's arm draped over his chest. She rested her head on Hyoren's shoulder. Her breath was warm against his neck.

She looked up. Her emerald eyes caught the faint light.

"Night, Hyoren."

Hyoren looked down toward her. And smiled.

"Good night, Elise."

Both of them closed their eyes. The day was long for them.

They had already killed forty goblins just today. Wreaking havoc on the goblin settlement. Their first day of the war of attrition was complete.

The settlement was in chaos. But here, nestled on the ledge of a cliff. Protected by a combination of ward stones and natural barriers—high cliff, boulders, and one big oak tree—they were safe.