Chapter 55: Chapter 55: An Annoying Bird and An Escape

[You. Wake.]

I was having the most wonderful dream. I was back home, in my human body, and I was telling my parents I wanted to be a beast tamer, not a lawyer. Kaline was there, throwing exotic crunchy fruits everywhere. And Niall was lecturing my father about what a better career path beast taming was than the law. Then, Gussie got into the act and sounded a lot like Dag.

[WAKE!]

I open my eyes. I’m not snuggled up on Kasz’s lap. I’m in a cave with three musclebound mean-looking goblins guarding the door. How did I get here?

Dag stands directly in front of me, giving me the evil eye for sleeping.

[You now wake.]

I sigh. [What is happening? Where am I?]

[Safe. Attack.]

I put two and two together. Kaline must be attacking!

Now, it might seem wrong to most people that a preteen would go on a raid on a goblin lair. But Kaline is a beast tamer, and no way is she going to wait somewhere safe and comfortable and just let other people fight for her beast. Besides, as annoying as the sisters find each other at times, Vedette will look out for her sister and have her back. Then there’s Hans and Niall. And don’t forget Demos and Lightning.

[Raid?]

In response to my question, Dag nods emphatically, his beak bobbing. [Humans. Elves.]

Better and better.

[Or maybe other goblins. I not know.]

I wrinkle my nose. [If it’s other goblins, I already fought those when Kasz captured me. Maybe Kasz would want me there.]

[NO. Big goblin no want you fight.]

Oh. That makes it more likely that Kaline and her parents and the Lammermoors are raiding the caves. They said they found the goblin lair and were closing in.

[So I stay here?]

Dag nods vigorously again. [Here. Where you safe.]

I try to sound worried. [But where is Kasz?]

I can’t be worried about that greedy grasping goblin chief, can I? He is nothing to me. He is a chain around my neck. I yank at the actual chain he fastened around my neck.

[I should be at his side. To help him. Where is he?}

Dag nips my ear. Not hard enough to wound me, but it still stings.

[OW. What did you do that for?]

[You stupid. Dag other side of wall. Fight, throne room. You stay.]

Okay. So I’m close by, but Kasz, in his arrogance, thinks he and his goblins can fight off beast tamers. Luckily, he doesn’t know our plan. I haven’t communicated with Lightning or Demos or Gussie because, as limited as Dag is, he might be able to intercept those messages,, because they are between beasts. Dag doesn’t have the kind of telepathy that would let him peek into my conversations with Kaline. Am I right, System?

[That is correct. Beast-to-beast telepathy is different than beast-to-tamer telepathy. Not better, just unique. They use different channels.]

Ah! Like different phone lines or radio frequencies or even private text messages or direct messages online. That makes sense, because that’s how it is in the digital game. I read about that. So, Dag can’t understand my communication with Kaline. Good.

[Kaline! I am in a room off the throne room. I’m chained up. There are three mean-looking goblins and my annoying bird companion in the room.]

A pause. Then, Kaline responds. Her voice is harried but somehow cheerful.

[I hear you, Blaze. Is there a way you can get your chain loose?]

I eyeball the chain. Thick metal links. I yank at it, and it clanks and rattles. I chew on it.

[What you do?] Dag flaps his feathers, freaking out. [Break teeth! Get hurt!]

At once, I stop, because my jaws hurt. OW. My claws won’t be much good either. But I have my Escape Power. Can I break the chain against the rock?

Nope. All I get from that is a headache from the noise, and attention from the goblin guards, who yell at me in Common. “STOP.”

Dag tries to peck me, but I dodge him. [Why trouble?]

[I’m not used to being chained up. I hate it.]

Dag tsk-tsks. [You stay chained. Danger outside.]

It’s as I thought. This is all Dag knows. He does not want to be free. Even my crunchy exotic fruits wouldn’t be enough to convince him that freedom is sweeter, pun intended. Not even my Shooting Stars…

Wait. Could my stars burn through the chain?

Before I even finish my thought, my paws glow, and starry stars spread across the cave floor. Good. Now I need to shoot them at the chain.

Maybe I don’t, on second thought!

The sheer number of stars means that the power is more concentrated than when I conjured them for Kasz in the throne room. As the stars grow and multiply, I hear a hissing sound, followed by the smell of burning metal. The fiery stars eat through the metal like it was candy. SNAP.

The chain is broken! I’m free.

Dag squawks to alert the goblin guards, who have pivoted away from us and are watching the entrance. But Dag’s warning makes them come running. They point at my chain and yell, picking up the severed end and examining it as if it’s the key to life and death.

Now’s my chance!

I leap on them, scratching their faces, and pushing off parkour style to land on the other side. The opening is clear! I make a break for it.

Whew! I’m through the exit, and I emerge in the throne room. “Pandemonium” doesn’t even begin to describe the sight that meets my eyes. Goblins fighting elves and humans and one halfling, as well as a boar, a bear, a parrot, a tiger, and a wolf. Shooting Stars and other magic are flung around. Flying fur and feathers confuse the goblins.

Kaline! There she is!

I knock a goblin aside and run toward her, roaring. Hearing my voice, she whirls around, and the joy floods me, making me speed up.

“BLAZE!” Kaline races toward me. She’s so close. Just a little bit farther…

Kasz blocks me with his sword and growls, “You are mine.”

“He most certainly is not!”

Furious, Kaline punches him with her small fist, and Kasz jumps, startled. Kaline seizes her advantage and pushes past him, then scoops me up and holds me. I fill her arms more than I did a couple days ago.

Kaline continues, all indignation. “Blaze is my tamed beast. I claimed him first. He ran to me. What you did is stealing!”

Hans and Lord Lammermoor and Vedette join us, with Einswine, Demos, and Lightning all surrounding us and glaring at Kasz.

Vedette glares at Kasz, “We are Riddlehoevens and this is Lord Lammermoor, whose mansion you broke into!”

Lord Lammermoor folds his arms. “And a hundred of my soldiers are waiting outside. All I have to do is say the word and they will seize your stronghold.”

Kasz’s jaw drops. Honestly, didn’t he understand that there would be consequences? That you don’t just rob an elf lord and expect him to do nothing?

I almost feel sorry for Kasz, and right now, his goblins look demoralized. Kaline owned him, and now, he’s being humiliated.

Kasz sputters, trying to recover his dignity. “I did not hurt Raar.”

“HIS NAME IS BLAZE,” Kaline shouts. “AND I’m taking him home.”

Bykt, who has a nasty lump on his head, tugs on Kasz’s arm and whispers to him in Goblinese. Kasz’s shoulders slump, and he turns to Kaline.

“Take him. Go. While I let you.”

I communicate something to Kaline, and she scowls, but she does as I suggest. “Chief Kasz, your bird, Dag, is very happy to stay here. The only thing he wants is a supply of crunchy exotic fruits. They’re everywhere.”

Kasz’s jaw drops. “How do you know?”

Lamant approaches with Gussie. “We have our ways. We’ll be leaving now.”

Kasz nods, trying to salvage his image. “We did not know. We heard someone stole a beast from that mansion. It did not seem safe for beasts.”

The goblins all grunt in agreement, glaring at the intruders. They are fiercely loyal to Kasz and will believe whatever he says.

“That was the past,” Lord Lammermoor says, his words dripping with authority. “I suggest you not attack my house again. If you can promise that, we will leave now.”

Kasz did not get to be the ruler here by being idiotic. He nods stoically. “We will stay away.” He puffs out his chest and points at me. “If you take care of him.”

Intrigued, Niall picks up on the softness in Kasz’s tone. “You can count on that.”

For old times’ sake, I roar, “Raar.”

Thumping his chest, Kasz answers, “Raar.”

All the goblins take up the cry. “RAAR! RAAR!” Over and over. It’s our exit song cue as we hurry out of the goblin lair. After a seemingly interminable walk through the caves and tunnels, I scent the sweetest scent ever. Fresh air. Freedom.

I’m going home!

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