Harm had left the town the way he had entered after finishing his mission. His inventory was almost full, with each slot holding items he believed were helpful as he had pilfered them. A lantern, a flint and steel from a rear garden, even some clothes off a line which had not been taken in overnight. A large waterskin, which he had filled with water from one of the town's wells. Some rope, two blankets, pears from a tree that he had picked in someone's garden and, most importantly, armour.

He hadn't worn the armour as he left, and only now that Kartoon was a vague shape in the distance, its lights hardly visible, did he stop and rest in a small cave in the hillside. It wasn't really even a cave, more like a place where erosion from the rains had eroded the land. The wind in the foothills was less than in the plains, and he wasn't as cold as the previous night. He removed the armour he had taken from his inventory, laying the pieces out. 

Harm had taken a new leather jacket. It would sit nicely under the sleeveless mail shirt he had taken, preventing it from chafing his skin through his shirt. He had also taken half-plate greaves and vambraces that were attached to leather straps, making sizing much easier. After his most recent mistake, he had also collected a set of plate pauldrons. Harm had wanted a helm, but none had fit him. The chain shirt was a little ill-fitting, but it was much better than having nothing. None of the items were enchanted, so nothing would resize.

He removed the clothes he had taken and, stripping down, pulled them on. They again weren't perfect, but they were clean and dry. He then slowly dressed in the armour. The new leather jacket fit him well, and with everything else in place, his confidence soared. He would have worn a full suit of plate if the store had had any, but he also knew it probably wasn't a good idea. The mix of what he had now still gave him flexibility and improved mobility. He had decided it would be a better balance than a purely defensive approach.

Now that he had fit the armour and made adjustments, he opened his character sheet and slowly added the pieces of armour to his equipment slots. That would allow him to call it as needed rather than moving encumbered. The skill that granted him this ability was called Equip, and at the height of his adventuring, it had been his best purchase. It had taken him months to save enough coin, but being able to call armour and change at will was an advantage few had. It also meant that many would assume he was ill-equipped if they attempted to attack him, only to realise their mistake if they did.

Harm's final act before leaving the smithy shop was to leave a single gold coin on the counter. He had no idea what the items he had taken were worth, but he hoped it had been enough to cover their cost.

He heard the flapping of wings before he saw her in the night sky, as Jessie landed by his feet. "Hi, girl," he said, smiling. "Thanks for the warning earlier."

Jessie let out a low caw as she hopped forward and fluttered up onto his shoulder. She moved a little before she settled, tucking her head in her wing to sleep. Harm glanced sideways and smiled.

"That seems like a good idea," Harm said, removing a blanket from his inventory and placing it over himself. As he rested his head back against the wall, he continued to smile.

I'm coming for you, Satil. He thought as he fell asleep.

The caw awoke him. Jessie was on the ground at his feet. Harm groaned, standing, returning the blanket to his inventory and stretched.

"Morning," he said.

Jessie cawed.

It must have been late morning, looking at how high the sun was in the sky, and it had been the early hours when he had left the town. He yawned, scratching his cheek. His beard had started to regrow over the last few days, and after being clean-shaven for so long, it felt itchy. Harm's hair was also growing back well, although still relatively short compared to most. 

"I think I will go via the foothills," he said to Jessie, who hopped about at his feet. "Traders, merchants and patrols use the track in the day," he said, confirming his reasoning.

After eating one of the pears and washing it down with water, he felt refreshed and ready for the task ahead as he followed the edge of the hills before finding an area he could scale easily. Harm would stay in the foothills and enter the valley from the side. He wasn't going to chance entering through its mouth. The town was too near the plains, and visibility was clear from there, allowing the townsfolk to see anyone who approached along the track easily.

Harm felt excitement building in him as he started his journey. He would finally get his revenge.

This will be fun! His demon giggled.

Harm smiled in response. It would be the bastard Satil who would pay for his crimes. Jessie had again flown high above him as he traversed the land; the terrain of the foothills varied from trees to gorse bushes to rocky outcrops. Ahead lay the final wood, which Harm knew ran from the roadside up through the hills, and he needed to pass through it knowing that not far from the other side, the valley would soon appear. He almost had a skip in his step as he continued.

The day wore on, and Harm stopped to eat another pear, sipping from the waterskin. He was in the woods, and the sounds of animal life were few and far between. He could hear only birds in the canopy. He thought he had spotted a deer as it ran as he had travelled earlier, but he couldn't be certain. It was as he sat leaning against a tree resting that Jessie swooped low and cawed. Harm frowned; he had heard no sounds, but he hadn't heard the previous either before the guard patrol had neared. He replaced his waterskin in his inventory, discarded the pear core on the ground and looked around. 

As he stood silently listening, all he could hear were birds tweeting or squabbling, whatever birds did. The smell reached his nostrils before the sound did, but it was too late by then. Harm turned to see the mass approach him.

The net wrapped around him, its weighted edges enclosing him and wrapping around him like a blanket. Harm had managed to keep his balance, but his arms were both trapped inside its confines awkwardly as the green-skinned figures emerged from the trees.

Goblins. Harm cursed. He could call his armour or his weapons, but where his arms were wouldn't help much, and all the armour would do, more than likely, is get tangled even further in the net's mesh. He struggled to break free as the five shapes moved from the trees, their skin tones providing the perfect camouflage for their present surroundings. They spoke excitedly in their tongues. Harm kicked out as one neared. His movements were restricted; the heavy net entrapped the tops of his thighs, and his kick fell short.

"Bastards, let me go."

The leader of the five moved forward, speaking in common. 

"Giz uz ur gear," he said. All beings in Amathera knew Common, but it was apparent they didn't speak it often.

Harm sneered at the beings. "Fuck you. Let me go now."

"Only, wan' gear."

"How the fuck can I give you anything like this?"

Another goblin stepped nearer and spoke. Harm had no idea what he said, but a brief argument ensued.

Harm tried to move his arms, but he was well and truly tangled in the net. He growled.

That made the lead goblin turn to stare at him again. "Yuz won't git free," it chuckled.

Harm spat at it, and it jumped sideways, shouting in alarm. The other goblins moved forward. Three held crude spears, and the other held a short sword.

If only I could equip Florence. I'd cut you filthy bastards down in an instant. Harm thought as one of the goblins poked at him with its spear.

"Don't duz dat agin," the lead goblin snarled.

Harm just glared at it, sneering, not breaking its gaze. The goblin eventually looked away and barked some commands. The other four moved forward, the three with spears surrounding him.

"Takin' yuz back," the leader said.

Jessie cawed above, and Harm could see her in the canopy looking down. She could do nothing to help, even if she wanted to.

The spear tips poked into him as they started to force Harm to move. None of them appeared brave enough to come too close, for which Harm was grateful. Clan goblins weren't renowned for having the best hygiene. Many goblins lived in the mixed-race cities and towns of Amathera, and they had adapted to the expectations, but clan goblins lived more like animals than beings.

I can help if you wish! The demonic voice spoke.

How the fuck can you help me if I can't help myself? Harm thought as he stumbled behind the lead goblin, being forced by the others.

"Watch it, you fucker," Harm said as one of his captors became a little too enthusiastic with their spear.

The goblins were chittering away to each other, their voices sounding excited.

Do you want some help? The voice asked, almost taunting him.

How? Harm thought.

Just say I do? The voice replied.

I do what? Harm replied as the voice cackled in his mind.

See, it wasn't that hard! This will hurt you more than me! It said as pain like nothing Harm had felt before pierced his mind.

Harm collapsed to his knees, screaming in agony. His skull felt like it would explode, and the goblins squealed in surprise. Harm fell forward, writhing on the floor for several moments as the pain slowly faded.

What fucking happened? Harm thought.                                              

You said 'I do'! the voice cackled hysterically.

No, my head. What did you do? Harm was sure he was losing his mind.

Wait, and you will see! Now that you have agreed, we can have more fun! It cooed with pleasure.

I didn't agree to anything.

You said, 'I do'! Hysterical laughter again filled his mind.

"Pick him up," the lead goblin shouted at the others.

"I ain't going near him, boss," one replied.

"Nor me. He ain't normal," another said.

"Fucking hell. Do I have to do everything myself?" the leader snarled as he moved forward, grabbing Harm and pulling him up to his knees.

"Now stand," he snarled at Harm, stepping back.

Harm did as instructed; unsure of what had just happened. The voice hadn't helped, or was that just his brain finally breaking? He didn't know or understand.

The lead goblin again instructed the others. "Get him moving. The chief can deal with him."

Harm again felt the tip of a spear and did as instructed.

"Chief's going to be so happy when we get back," one of them said behind him.

"Yeah. Maybe we will get promoted to raiders," another said excitedly.

"Better than just hunting," a third said.

It took Harm several moments before he realised he could understand them. Their speech was perfectly clear.

What did you do? Harm asked in his mind.

Helped!

The voice laughed.

No more secrets will ever be whispered in your presence!

Harm had never known any other language apart from how to say cheers in dwarven and elven. Apart from that, there was nothing, yet now he understood the goblin tongue.

"Not far," a captor said.

"Can't wait to see how happy the chief will be," another said excitedly.

The lead goblin didn't speak, and a short while later, the trees ahead started to thin. Ahead in a wide clearing, various huts had been constructed from the wood. The stumps were visible where the trees to build them had been cut down. There were probably thirty goblins in the clearing, and as the group came from the trees, many turned and looked. 

The area reminded Harm of a hamlet. A few huts were positioned around a large central one. Some land had been tilled, and it looked as though crops grew. Several farming items were present, such as a hand-pulled plough and other tools. They must have been stolen from different farms. There was a large fire pit in the centre, and a large hogling was being turned on a spit and being tended to. The smell of the cooking meat struggled against the fetid stench of the beings. It still made his mouth water. 

Goblins muttered, pointed at him, and then looked towards the large hut. A larger goblin approached the party leader as they neared.

"What the fuck have you done?" It snarled, its teeth bared in anger.

"What?" the leader of the hunting party said, stepping back a little, taken aback.

"You brought an outsider back to our camp. You fucking idiot. The chief will skin you alive."

The chattering from the watching goblins had not gone unheard, and Harm watched as the largest goblin he had ever seen walked from the main hut. He wore a chain shirt that dropped to his knees and a wide belt around his considerable girth; on the belt hung a longsword. On its head, it wore a bascinet with a chain aventail.

It strode purposefully forward, standing almost as tall as Harm. It didn't speak as it moved, and as it neared the hunting party, the one who had challenged the party leader stepped aside. The group leader stood tall and spoke as he approached.

"Chief, I brought you a pres..." It stopped speaking as the massive goblin's fist caught it square in its jaw. It flew backwards from the blow, landing at Harm's feet, and Harm couldn't help but let a short laugh escape. The chief's glare turned to Harm, and he could feel the other four in the party cowering behind him from the chief's rage.

"You stupid fuck. You should have known better, Dafu. The others in your party are young and foolish, but you have no excuse. We never bring anyone back to our home." He said, turning back to the party leader.

Dafu sat up, blood running from his nose and tears in his eyes. "Sorry, chief," he replied.

"What do you expect us to do with him? We can't eat him."

"Sell him back?" Dafu said with hope.

Harm couldn't help but laugh long and hard. "No one will pay for me," he said, the thought almost making him hysterical. He had no one left. His parents didn't know him anymore or anything that had happened, and the only other person in his life was Sister Carol, if she was even still alive.

That was when Harm saw the shocked expressions on all the goblins' faces, including the chief.

"You speak Goblin tongue," the chief said, his eyes a picture of confusion.