A little note. This one earned the coveted voter's choice award.

Although it's a Fahari and Fumblies piece, I helped with the princesses of course. And there's some other important NPC's here as well.

 
Fumblies looked at Bones for a minute before beginning to speak. "You missed an interesting tidbit. Though nevermind that; orders for three squads are to form up and prepare for action. We have to deal with some slavers."

With that Fumblies walked off to head towards his chambers to prepare for the march to come. Somehow he had expected his revealing his part in the Goblin King's death would clear some of the weight off of his chest. Yet, so far the only thing it had done was give him a headache as he realized Kwadlin would soon learn of his defiance and find a way to react. It was true that killing the Goblin King had destroyed the undead menace but at the same time Fumblies had to wonder what else had occurred as a result.

It troubled him that even after the Goblin King's death there remained an overwhelmingly strong undead presence centered around Farnsworthy Tower. He had seen the inside of that tower and knew that they were dealing with someone powerful beyond measure. Though part he still hadn't gotten past the feeling of having been used as part of some as of yet unknown plot that Kwadlin had brewing. He had become the Kingslayer as a means to save people but he could only wonder if was only postponing the devastation. To answer that would take an understanding of what Kwadlin's true intentions were.

Fahari stood in the doorway, tail flicking a bit. It was the only barometer of her emotions as she had, for the moment, slipped back into her controlled persona. "Explain." she said simply, nothing more.

"What is to explain? Seaside Town was being ravaged by a swarm of undead. I was told in a dream by this Kwadlin guy that the only way to end the threat was to kill the Goblin King. I had no idea that there was anything else going on."

Fahari's tail calmed a bit and she stepped closer. "And how much truth do you now believe was in that statement?"

"I honestly don't know. I think they may have been some but I have a gut feeling that killing the Goblin King was a mistake." Fumblies sighed softly. "I just wish I knew that Kwadlin was up to then I might be able see how I can counter it."

Fahari closed the last bit between them and hugged him, putting her head on his chest. "But you could not have known. You trusted him. The kernal of truth that all lies have led you to believe his falsehoods and so you acted on them. In your mind it was one life in exchange for a city- a world, even. Even Goblina will understand that- in time."

Fumbliess hugged her back, just holding her needing the contact to serve as means of centering himself. "I hope so as she is by right of inheritance the Queen of the Goblins. I don't care what Catrina Whiteclaw thinks because if you look around you will see how many Goblins refuse to count themselves as part of the Feline Empire. Yet, you are right I did what I needed to in order to stop the end of the world even I now fear that something much worse is coming."

"Then we will face that when it comes- together." She purred and smiled at him. "I can think of no better way to meet my Goddess, if I must, than at the side of the man I love." Her grin grew more sultry. "Unless it be under him."

Fumblies grinned at that. "Well, Love, that is borrowing trouble that has yet to appear while we have some Slavers to handle." He paused with a chuckle of amusement. "And then when we get back we can have a go at your preferred death." This is said with a wink as he pulled away to begins pulling off his robes in order to down his armor.

Fahari didn't even pretend to look away.

Once the armor was in place and his robes put back on to cover it, Sir Fumblies turned to Fahari and nodded. "The three squads I will be taking on this mission should be formed up. Shall we go see if the Slavers like their chains?"

Fahari growled, losing what cheer she had. "Around their necks, perhaps."

With that, Fumblies placed a hand on her shoulder before leading the way to the practice yards. As he left the room, Fahari could hear mutter. "I wonder how much a Slaver would bring at market."

The four representatives of the 'princesses caravan.' Zeala, Jen Pi, Lady Goblina and Liona, gathered in a circle, obviously caught up in the revelation.

"We don't know what his motives were," Zeala said. "He might not have had an option."

"Who cares? He could have still told the lass!" Liona bellowed.

"We should talk to him and find out his side of the story," Jen said.

"If you can trust anything he says!" Liona asked.

"Lady Goblin says he's been honest with her," Zeala pointed out. "I trust her judgement."

"It isn't about that, it's about him," Liona said.

"Enough," Lady Goblin declared. "I don't know what I'm going to do, but arguing isn't going to help anything."

"Are you going to talk to him?" Zeala asked, hopeful.

"When I calm down," Lady Goblin said, glaring at the other three princesses. The others understood. None of them said anything further as Lady Goblin turned. "Do excuse me while I return to make sure our supplies are in order."

Without awaiting a response from the other three, she set off towards the fort.

Scaros who until that point in time had been letting Lady Goblin talk with the other Princesses moved to follow her hoping to share his own troubled thoughts with her. After all he not known the truth until that moment and he was now coping with a few thoughts of his own. He caught up with her and with a smile asked. "Mind if I join you, mi Lady?"

She turned, flashed a ghost of a smile, and nodded. "We've decided that we would like to accompany Sir Fumblies on his rescue operation. On behalf of our caravan, of course."

"Of course, I will personally see that you are protected." Scaros took a deep breath and looked over at Lady Goblin to try and judge her mindset. He knew that his own was slightly jumbled.

"Thank you," she said, nodding. "If that's all..."

"It isn't." Scaros stopped wondering he he had the right or privilege to continue on. After a moment he decided that he did. "I am here to talk to about what we just learned."

"So speak," she said flatly. "You know I respect your opinion. You've always been honest with me, after all."

"Thank you. Well in my opinion you have to consider the facts here. Your brother, may the gods rest his introverted self, was responsible for the Zombie Invasion. Fact two is that upon his death the Undead lost their deadliness. I was in the battle when they quit being a threat so that is saying something. And frankly to be blunt we both know your brother was not fit to be the King. I am not sure if you ever went down into the dungeons of Cobb's Knob but if not, trust me when I say that a long term stay in them is a slow death."

She sighed. "It would have been, wouldn't it?"

"Well I have seen a few of the cells and yeah I am sure he would have been in the special guest section." Scaros sighed while he tried to clear his thoughts. "Though I am guessing that doesn't matter now. I just wish I knew what the dreams I started have at that time mean."

Lady Goblin wore a puzzled expression on her face. "Dreams can be quite potent. Some ancient Goblin poets claim it can hold the key to the soul, or even one of the Dark Ones themselves. Surely you've heard the ancient stories?"

"Yes I know but still doesn't explain what my dreams mean."

"We should talk about them on the way down," she suggested. "I don't want to have to catch up to them. But we'll figure it out."

"Together I would hope. Though I think you need to tell me how you are feeling and your thoughts on what Sir Fumblies had to say."

"In due time," she said, hoping to make that her final statement for the moment. "Due time."

"Sure thing mi Lady." Scaros sighed. "What do you think it means when I have had dreams of seeing myself be crowned?"

"That you have a healthy ambition," she answered almost immediately. "Don't most little Goblin boys dream of one day wearing our people's crown in pride?"

"Well true but thing is I have been a soldier for most my life trained to protect and follow the King." Scaros sighed slightly and then looked at her. "Yet, these dreams woke something up inside of me. Some that was buried until your brother's death."

"Walk with me," she said, leading him towards a soldier. She quickly passed a sheet of requests hand written from the princesses. She then turned back to Scaros. "Tell me more of these.. dreams."

Smiling and as the walked, he told her of his dreams which included memories of several different events that had happened years earlier when Lady Goblin and the Goblin King were growing up.

She seemed surprised by how much he knew. "Where did you first learn of these tales?"

"In my dreams that started after your brother died."

She looked at him, even as she lead him to the other princesses, though she stopped out of the ladies' ear range. "Curiouser and curiouser, as Admiral Alice once said. How could you have known of the things you spoke of so that you might dream of them? The details you provided were confidential, known to none but myself, in a few cases not even to my family. And where not the details, the tone of what you've said. This is a disconcerting puzzle."

"That it is and one that I have been trying to work out for the last few months. Though in the end the meaning of it all doesn't matter since you are the rightful ruler of the Goblin people and I won't do anything to stand against you. You have seen the camps and where all our people who want to be free of the Feline Empire."

"There's many more who seem eager to side with the Feline Empire."

"Well no offense to our race as a whole but most Goblins need to be told what to think. Besides you know that the farther we get from Cobb's Knob the fewer ties the people have to the throne. Which as we both know is in the hands of Catrina Whiteclaw."

"I wonder if we shouldn't focus on the matters at hand," Lady Goblin responded.

"Of course but just something to think about."

"Something to think about," she agreed with a smile.

He had left long before Fumblies had finally revealed his role in the Goblin King's death. No he had left with his commander had made it clear that he wasn't going to do what Kwadlin had told him in regards to Father Crimbo. So it was time to figure how to salvage the situation so he was heading to a shadowed area in order to contact the Lord of the Tower of Unlife. A figure stood there, all of six foot three. Maybe a shade more. He held a ninja sword in one hand. The other hand was clinched into a tight fist. He looked agitated to be here.

Bones nearly ran into the man as he had to take a deep breath since he needed to report in about what was happening here. The man in the shadows? Zedika Dark. He spoke in a serious and baritone voice.

"Linnea and Dr. Darth wanted me to make sure the plan was unfolding as it should."

"It would seem my fool of a Commander has a backbone to him. He is not going to turn over Father Crimbo as he was directed. Whatever Kwadlin had over him obviously is no longer going to be enough to keep Fumblies in line."

"Then I've been ordered to kill him," the shadowy Dark said matter of factly, as if simply repeating what he'd had for breakfast. "Pity."

"Well one must do what is needed to ensure that the plan is not upset. What are your orders for me Great One?"

"When my task is done," Dark explained, "Runic and I are to return to ensure you're named the new co leader of this faction. Then, we plot the 'accidental' elimination of the fumbling Viking, Konall. I do hope this plan pleases you."

"That sounds agreeable. Until then what do you want me to do?"

Dark thought it over. "Stay out of sight. This shouldn't take long."

"I can do that, though you might be want to beware of Fumblie's cleverness. After look at how big a force he has managed to pull together."

"The fool won't get the drop on me nor shall his disciples." Dark nodded and set to sneaking out of the outpost, only to make a fateful encounter with another Zed - Zed Shinestone.

Bones watched Zedika walk off before he headed back to his own chambers to stay out of the way for what he knew was coming sooner rather than later.

The little twist at the end is nice too. We know Scaros can-t be trusted - but Sir Fumbies doesn't seem to be aware of that fact! It's also interesting to see the bonding between Fumblies and Fahari here. Very well portrayed.

I'm happy to say for as long as this story's gone, there's still seven really good pieces left before the Finale!