"He's going to die." Felix kept his eyes focused on the road. They occasionally darted left and right as the young Kato kept an eye out for any more goblins that might get in their way. He knew something was wrong the moment he saw them. Things must have grown worse while he was gone. Felix lashed the reins to spur the horse to go faster. The wagon bounced at every bump the wheels hit.

Nicholas felt the air rush around him and the ground leave his feet. This wasn't the type of day he wanted to remember. He hoped there would be a tavern at the village. When he landed on the horse, a small sense of relief came over him. Goliath was large enough for Nicholas to sit rather comfortably on the back, even with Triston on. As they pulled up to the carriage, Nicholas used Triston's back as support and stood up on Goliath.

"I've never done this sober..." Nicholas whispered under his breath as he jumped off Goliath and crashed next to Ryder in the wagon. He heard the boxes and barrels crack around him and their contents spilled into the wagon. A good chunk of it rolled out to the road from the wagon's speed. He sat up straight and held Ryder down as the wagon jolted violently multiple times. "Slow it down, cat!"

"No time."

..

Lena clutched the side of the wagon as it bumped along at a dangerous speed. She looked back as Nicholas leapt into it and she moved again, climbing in the back. She reached where her horse was tied to the wagon, keeping up with no problem. She untied her mare, throwing the reins over her head and stepped onto the side of the wagon. She then jumped, landing awkwardly on her mares back. Lena grunted, righted herself and sighed at the non-bumpy ride. As an afterthought she leaned over again, grabbing her bow and held it in one hand while they rode.

Triston kept his horse going, the beast was easy to ride for him but he was large. His own hoof beats were only being drowned out by the racket that the wagon was making as it bumped along the road. Out of the corner of his eye he saw movement, but when he looked it was gone. Probably a wolf or something. Before he could look back he heard his sisters bow, and saw the goblin guard who had stepped onto the road fall. Triston wasn't sure that was necessary but their leader was dying and the goblin would have only slowed them down. He could just see them being thrown in jail for killing four goblins now. He shook his head and gritted his teeth, they couldn't be far from the village now.

The wagon dangerously bounced along the dirt road. Nicholas struggled to keep Ryder in one place, occasionally having to pull him up as the ill commander started to slide off the back. He kept spotting goblins run out of the trees. Most they were going far too fast for them warriors to catch, but a few went down with an arrow in their neck. Nicholas had never cared much for bows, but he was really glad the Knights sent an archer his way. A horn blew loud and Nicholas risked loosening his hold on Ryder to look over Felix and see a large wooden gate blocking the road.

Felix spotted the goblin blowing the horn atop the wall. The Kato didn't recognize him and that wouldn't make this any easier. He pulled back on the reins. The cart would explode into little pieces if he tried to ram the gate. So much momentum was hard to stop and the horse-drawn wagon only managed to finally stop just before the gates, a trail of dirt kicking up from the road behind them. Instantly, goblins emerged from their posts and surrounded the cart. Nicholas swatted away a few spears that were jabbed towards his face.

"I Felix! The human is sick, he needs help."

"Kato bring curse. Kato leave now and take humans!" The two bickered back and forth, neither willing to back down from their stance. The goblins around the Knights were getting anxious and nervous as their eyes darted among the humans.

Lena looked up as she felled another goblin gasping as she realized that the gate was so close. She grabbed the reins and pulled back on her mare, the steed responded accordingly and sliding to a stop next to the wagon. She took a deep breath, and coughed out the dust, grasping her bow in one hand. She looked up at the goblin guards and back at Felix as he argued with them. Triston had stopped behind the cart, eyeing the guards with a quiet caution. Lena's anger grew as the kato and the goblin argued.

"But he'll die!" Lena screamed at the guard. She threw her hands in the air and turned in her saddle, "What do you want? Gold?!" She hollered back, reaching into her pack behind her. She pulled out a golden pendant, one that she frequently wore in her hair. One that held sentimental value to her. She held it out for the guards to see, the jeweled hair piece glinted in the sunlight, the rubies and sapphires sparkling as well as she moved it to display its beauty.

Triston stared at his sister, wondering what in the hell had gotten into her head. That pendant had belonged to their mother, passed down from her mother and so on. It was Lena's most prized possession. It had started her obsession with gold in the first place. He knew she had other pieces in that pack, other pieces that were more than enough to bribe a guard.

There was a long pause in the banter. The guards were seriously considering the offering. Goblins did have a weakness for shiny things, especially if it had heavy value. None the less, Felix was very wary of their movements. Even the slights shift of armor sent the Kato's fur into a frenzy. He hissed lowly at the crowd of Goblins. He was ready for a fight, but hoped it wouldn't come to that. Finally, the gates slowly started to open and a new Goblin stood before them.

The goblin was much older than the rest of his comrades, but he still work the same armor. Nicholas wondered if he was their leader, or just an old fool that couldn't give up his glory days. Lord knew, Nicholas would be the same way when his golden years fell upon him. He hoped he would die at sea long before then. Though, it was looking more and more like he would be dying in the woods. The goblin made a simple hand motion and the goblins parted away from the wagon.

"Felix, take him straight to T'si. He can treat your friend."

Lena's heart pounded in her chest as the goblins considered her offer. When the gates did open, she relaxed visibly, letting out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. She looked at the older goblin, lowering her hand with her pendant in it and urged her horse forward slowly. She didn't offer her thanks or anything more than a respectful distance to the goblin. She'd killed many of his comrades today, some could have been family to him, she didn't know. She watched as the wagon made it's way through the gates and looked down at her pendant. Tears stung her eyes, but she blinked them back and tossed it in the goblin's direction. She bit back some farewell words, 'take care of it,' would be her first choice, but she decided against it. It was material, Ryder's life was not.

Triston followed the wagon through the gates, glancing around at the goblins who watched them with equally wary eyes. His face was set in a stoney expression, wondering what in the hell had gotten into his sister. She would never part with any piece of gold that she owned, hell she had pieces with her because she was paranoid that in her absence it would be stolen. To part with a piece that Lena had had since she was a child...The only thing that made any sense was that his sister had been replaced by an imposter.

Felix hurried the cart down the road as the Goblin ranks broke apart and gave way to the horse. They finally had their straight shot to the village. No doubt word would now be sent to Weald of their arrival, but they'd have to deal with that when they could. As they entered the village, a lost of whispers and stares greeted them. Young goblings where dragged from the yards and back into the huts by worried mothers. Felix was used to feeling unwanted where he went, but even he could feel the cold shoulders. When the cart finally came to a stop, Nicholas jumped off the back. Another older goblin, this one in a simple robe, stood before him.

"Uh...hi there."

"Bring him inside. I will do what I can." Nicholas didn't appreciate the goblin's disapporiving frown. It was like he was declaring his old friend dead on sight. Felix had jumped in back and the pair of them pulled Ryder off the cart. Nicholas caught sight of the neighbors as they carried him in. They were concerned of the outsiders, but even the males looked terrified at the sight of the sick man. Some fled inside, others started to look more aggressive.

"Lovely bunch." Nicholas commented, but gave a stern look to Triston. If they had trouble here, Nicholas sincerely doubted their ability to handle a village of goblins.

Triston and Lena followed the cart, keeping their eyes trained on it as they passed goblins who stared and whispered. When it stopped, they dismounted, both giving their surroundings a quick glance. Lena bent to check her horses feet, and Triston met Nicholas's eyes over the cart. He nodded back, and turned to look at Lena.

"Want to explain what's going on with you?" He asked. Lena picked up her horses foot, glanced over it and dropped it before she looked over her shoulder at her brother.

"Nothing is going on with me, we needed to get in, goblins love gold," She shrugged and bent to check another hoof.

"You have other pieces Lena, don't think I don't know which one you gave away," Triston said, loosening the cinch on his horses saddle.

"It was the first one I grabbed, by the time I realized it, it was too late," She snapped, glaring at him over her horses rump.

"I'm calling your bluff," He said simply, grunting as he pulled the saddle off of his horses back and set it in the cart. Lena stared at him, her lips set in a firm line.

"I know you like him, but he could die Lena," Triston said quietly.

"I know that," She answered, before disappearing behind her horse again. Triston shook his head and started to gather what supplies they had left in the wagon. Lena set to looking after the horses, spending extra time on the cart horses feet. He had stones in his hooves, and if they weren't treated properly, he would become lame. Lena had a few tricks though, and before long the horse would be right as rain and ready to keep travelling.