Tahlea leaned her ear close to Estra’s mouth while pg the back of her hand against her brow. Her expression became solemn as she listeo her shalloing breaths. A faint light emitted from her hands as she moved them across Estra's body.

  "It appears as if Estra was trying to augment herself with… something. It became stimuted by aernal influend caused her mana to rebel. My knowledge of healing magic is shallow. But I do know that it requires at least a Magus of the Restoration disciplio save her. They also o be experienced in mana backsh. I'm only a journeyman Magus of Divination, I 't do anything to help her," Tahlea said, moving away from Estra.

  "Then there's no other option. We o pay the Sisterhood of Mercy a visit and hope they heal her," Dink replied.

  "There's no time to lose, we must leave now to save Lady Estra!" Axion decred, rushing toward the exit with Estra cradled in his arms.

  "We'd better follow him," Dink said.

  "I'm ing with you!" Martha decred beside him.

  "Suit yourself. Get ready now and don't fuck around," Dink replied with a shrug.

  "I'll just inform my father and quickly pack my bags. This is so exg, I finally get to go on an adventure!" Martha excimed. Dink shook his head to himself after watg her run out of the on room.

  Dink walked over to the group and used his foot te Murkuk to get up from in front of the fire. There was an expression of yearning on his face as he cmbered to his feet. Dink could feel Murkuk's strong sense of reluce to leave the warm inn through their bond.

  "Quit your pouting, Murkuk. Yetting too used to being pampered. Some could almost mistake you for a rioblewoman's pdog," Dink reprimanded, Murkuk wilted under his words. "Alright, I'm sorry. But get a move on, we don't have much time."

  Riva and Tahlea briefly disappeared upstairs aurned carrying their packs. A door smmed open, everyone looked toward it. Martha barged into the on room, lugging an overfilled backpack with a shirt poking from the top.

  "I'm ready, let's go!" Martha called out, dragging the pack behind her outside. Dink followed after her. "Darby, you better have the cart all set or I'll have your hide!"

  "Calm dowsy is harnessed with Estra loaded in the back. They're just waiting for you lot to hurry up," Darby retorted from where he reparing to muck out a stall for the night.

  "Don't give me any of your snide remarks. You're still not too old for me to have father punish you," Martha threatened.

  "Ha, your threats won't work this time. I'm finally rid of you," Darby cheerfully said, disappearing ihe stall. Martha was left speechless with tears f in her eyes. Dink noticed her expression and stopped beside her.

  "You don't o e with us. It's probably a lot safer for you to stay here instead," Dink reminded her.

  "No. I'm going with you. I've been wanting to leave this dead end town my whole life and here's my ce," Martha replied, her expression tightening as she firmed her resolve.

  "In that case, close your mouth a in the cart. We're leaving," Dink admonished, agilily climbing into the driver's seat beside Axion.

  His gaze turned soft as he turo look over his shoulder at the still figure of Estra lying in the cart bed. He quickly snapped out of it when Martha hauled her pato the back with a herculean effort. She ungracefully cmbered into the cart after it to sit down beside Estra's head.

  In parison, Riva and Tahlea travelled light. They threw up their matg packs and easily climbed into the cart, finding a seat o each other. Tahlea made a series of haures before pg it to Estra's chest while Riva silently watched.

  "Hey, where's Murkuk? I told him to be here," Dink said, standing on the bench while shielding his eyes from the gre of the setting sun.

  "Over there," Riva replied, pointing toward a narrow alley attached to the courtyard.

  Dink firmed the dire through his bond and hopped down. He gripped the crude hilt of his great sword and jogged to iigate.

  Arriving at the opening of the alley, he discovered Murkuk sitting crosslegged in the shadows. A strange bd giray cat urring in his p as he stroked its fur.

  "Oi, what the fuck do you think you're doing?" Dink asked, startling the cat.

  Murkuk jumped at the ued sound of his voice. He sheepishly climbed to his feet as the cat fled deeper into the alley.

  "Uh… I smelt pussy. Made friend," Murkuk guiltily said.

  "I don't much care what you get up to in your personal time. But we have an urgent matter at hand. Get on the fug cart before I beat you for being a dumbass," Dink growled, angrily baring his fangs.

  Murkuk became intimidated after hearing the threat. He tripped over his feet in his haste to ply. Dink stepped forward and caught him by the arm, steadying him upright.

  "Sigh, it's hard to find good help. Stop messing around, they've left without us," Dink said, he could hear the squeaking of the cartwheels leaving the stables.

  Dink hurried out of the alley in time to see Darby run to the street. He was tearfully watg his sister depart in the cart. While he thought no one was around, he loudly sniffed and wiped away a tear rolling down his cheek.

  "Stop bbbering like a baby a back to work. Fug everyone shirking their duties these days. It was never like like this ba my day. Men were men and khat responsibility means respect," Dink pined, pushing past him while dragging Murkuk by the arm behind him.

  Darby jumped in surprise, quickly turning away while attempting to erase all traces of his tears. Dink snickered in amusement at his embarrassment.

  "What do you know, you're just a cursed Goblin from the Expanding Woods. You probably ate your siblings," Darby snarled.

  "Listen here, boy. Any siblings that I may have had would be long buried in the ground by now. Stop your snivelling and straighten your spine, you have an image to maintain," Dink barked. Darby spat on the dirt and walked away while gring hatefully at the pair of Goblins.

  Annou Get the plete unsoblin's Glory Vol 1 on Amazon. Alternatively, find it in your preferred online bookstore.Read up-to-date chapters and full explicit backlog on Patreon!