“This is it, Your Grace,” I whispered. “Your brother is just behind that door. We need only remove these last few guards.”
“Do it,” ordered the duke.
“You heard him, men! Attack!”
Being a larger security detail, and one positioned so close to the king, these men put up much more of a fight. They formed ranks, determined to protect the door behind them. The clash of blades echoed throughout the halls, and men from both sides fell. I admit I was a bit worried for a moment, but after a few minutes of conflict, my men had taken far fewer casualties.
In war, a battle didn’t usually continue until one side was completely eradicated. Normally, a commander would withdraw once his troops sustained a certain number of losses. This allowed them to preserve their forces for later battles. These guards had no such luxury; if they failed here, their king would die, and they would be executed for defending him. Their families might even face death along with them. They had their backs to the wall, and were about to be wiped out.
“Hey!” someone shouted. “Don’t you humans know it’s bad form to let swine roam the halls of your palace?!”
A lone figure stood in the hall. He was comically short, with putrid-looking green skin and something red smeared on his face. He wore black armor, and a sword on his back that was far too big for him.
“One of the little monster’s people?” I looked to His Grace for confirmation.
“Oi! I heard that,” the goblin snarled. Those pointy green ears of his must not have just been for show. “Did you just mock Her Royal Majesty? I’ve decided. Bacon bits for everyone. It’s open season on filthy pigs! Anyone who has a problem with me killing those two hogs over there can come at me. I’m not gonna hold back, though!”
Unfortunately for him, we still had the numerical advantage.
“You three, go kill that goblin over there.”
Duke Finlaud gave orders to my men, as befit his station. The three of them approached the little green monster, blades at the ready. The little fool just stood there, probably frozen in terror.
“Only three? I’m insulted you think so little of me. Let’s see if I can change your minds. Niteguillo Vewa!”
The movement was so swift I couldn’t follow it. The next thing I knew, the goblin was shaking the blood off of his sword, and the three men we sent after him had been hacked to bits. I stood there in stunned silence, but fortunately, Duke Finlaud knew what to do. He beckoned to a group of men standing behind us, and had them position themselves between us and the goblin. They stood there, swords and spears at the ready, awaiting orders.
“Finish off the guards in front of the door first,” the duke told them. “We can crush the little goblin later.”
Ah, truly a levelheaded decision. Only a fool would follow our current king over Duke Finlaud. We were only a few steps away from the throne now. Our moment was nearly—
“Ignoring me? Can’t say I recommend it. I said it before, I’m gonna kill those pigs, and anyone between me and them is just as dead. Shufla Debla!”
I stood in awe of the scene of carnage before me. My men were neatly cleaved in half by unseen blades that moved too quickly to evade. Nearly all of them in the hall were dead. More than half of the forces I had brought with me had been wiped out by a single opponent.
“Hey, you guys in front of the door still okay?” the horrid creature said. “I was tryin’ not to kill any of ya, but it’s tough to control my strength. Sorry if I took out any of the king’s guards by mistake.”
“N-no, those of us left are all fine, Sir Goblin,” one of the frightened guards managed.
“Sir Goblin? No thanks. Just call me Ringo, it’s the name Her Majesty gave me. It’s way better.”
How can this be happening? This goblin just casually murdered my elite troops in an instant without even breaking a sweat. It’s impossible!
“Y-Your Grace, perhaps we should—”
But just as I was about to suggest retreat, the duke interrupted my cowardly line of thought. “It’s fine. I’ll take him myself,” he boldly declared as he took up the treasured sword of the royal family.
I was ashamed of myself, but the duke stood tall and proud. He looked so gallant and manly. How very foolish I’d been. To doubt our victory for even a moment was unbecoming of a faithful retainer such as myself. As the duke stood valiantly and faced the goblin alone, I led our remaining men in another attack on the conference room. The clash of blades rang out anew as we tried to eliminate the last obstacles between the duke and the throne. I found myself unable to tear my eyes away from the duke’s battle.
Armed with the treasured sword, the duke held his own against the evil goblin. His nimble movements were every bit as fast as his opponent’s—nay, even faster. The swordplay that had single-handedly decimated our forces was unable to best Duke Finlaud. His mighty blows didn’t yield an inch as he quickly turned the battle to our advantage. The powers of the treasured sword were truly a thing of wonder, but without the masterful swordplay of someone like the duke, it would have been useless. I couldn’t have been more proud in that moment.
“Heh, you’re nothing special, but that sword sure is nice,” the goblin sneered shamelessly. “If it weren’t for that, I’d have lopped both your arms off by now.”
How dare that miserable cretin belittle the duke like that? Once he’s beaten, I’ll have him skinned alive.
“Your bluff and bluster won’t save you,” Duke Finlaud shot back. “This sword has the power to bring a permanent end to your abominable kind. Once I’ve consigned you to oblivion, the little wench is next.”
The next moment, Duke Finlaud’s cheek was bleeding. I didn’t see how the wound was made, but its sudden appearance unnerved the duke.
The little imp sighed. “Ah, it’s difficult to aim while I’m moving so fast. I meant to take your head off with that one, but all I did was slice your cheek. I should probably just hack off your arm; that way, you won’t be able to use that sword anymore.”
“Don’t let a lucky shot go to your head, whelp! I still have the advantage here.”
“Assuming I’m younger? It’s true, but you shouldn’t. Our people can live for centuries and still look just like this. And just because we’re young doesn’t mean you should let your guard down! I’m still warming up, and my sword arm is a bit stiff. Once I get in a few more practice swings, I’ll start sending your limbs flying.”
“Then I’d better kill you first!”
His Grace flew at the insolent goblin, unleashing a superb flurry of swordplay. It wouldn’t be much longer now. As each move played out, the future king pressed his advantage. The goblin was clearly on the defensive. With each swing, the duke’s movements became sharper and more defined. It seemed His Grace was also “just warming up.” Finally, the moment came when the duke deflected one of the goblin’s strikes and knocked him off-balance. Duke Finlaud raised the treasured sword above his head and swung downward. My heart pounded in my chest as the goblin’s eyes went wide with shock. The little pest knew he wouldn’t be able to block the lethal attack. A grin crept onto my face as I waited for the satisfying sound of sword meeting flesh.
Then, suddenly, it was over. The blade stopped before it reached its intended target. The duke hadn’t suddenly changed his mind and decided to spare him. Instead the sword was caught by a tiny hand, which seemed no worse off for its contact with the blade.
“Didn’t I tell you not to start any trouble, Ringo?”
“I didn’t start anything, the trouble was already in full swing when I got here.”
“Oh, you’re right, it’s Duke Pervy Pants. Looks like he got into daddy’s toy collection and found something dangerous. Bad boy, this toy is a bit too much for you.”
With a swift motion, she jerked the treasured sword out of Duke Finlaud’s hands. The next moment, the sword disappeared into nothingness.
“Th-The sacred sword of the royal family!” the duke cried. “What have you done?!”
“Sacred? If it’s sacred, you really shouldn’t be swinging it around like a toy and trying to get blood all over it. Besides, it was the people of the Unseen Realm who gave that sword to your ancestors in the first place. The materials it’s made from are a part of my territory, so I’m just reclaiming them. If the king has a problem with that, I’ll have my smith create a new weapon for him that isn’t so awful.”
“Damn you! Damn you, Lilac Grimwood!”
I knew it: this was her. The inhuman creature that had appeared in the Grimwood from nowhere. She floated between the duke and the goblin, suspended on luminous wings bigger than the rest of her body. Where had she come from? How did she block that strike? There were too many questions.
Despair crept into my heart. We’d lost the treasured sword that was to have been the means of killing her. How could this have happened? The thirteen weapons were supposed to be the only things capable of ending these creatures, so how could she have just stopped one like that? Her hand was completely unharmed, despite catching the blade mid-swing. It should have been mangled beyond recognition. Why had this little monster appeared? How dare she ruin the machinations of her betters? How could she be this strong?
“J-just what are you?” I blurted out.
“Me?” She turned to look at me. “I guess I’m just an adorable dungeon master.”