The second goblin snarled and spat, lunging up with its crude wooden shield held high, and broad stabbing sword cocked back for a thrust. But the warrior-girl facing it had expected just this, and backpedaled fast, choked up on her halberd-haft to chop the blade down, crunching into the shield and pushing it out of line.
A soft grunt and punching thrust, back boot scrabbling for purchase and power, arms tensing, and the point sinks into stinking hides and flesh beneath! The goblin shudders, blade ringing harmlessly off the shaft and slumps, helped off the point by Cyndwin’s sturdy kick, joining his already crumpled companion on the turf.
The girl whirls, face caught in a tight exultant grin, blonde braid whipping with the quick turn, eyes searching for the third of the creatures, weapon coming up to guard. After a moment she chuffs a soft laugh and rests the haft on her shoulder striding to where her steed waits, the last goblin sprawled behind him, soft iron helm deep-dinted by a kick.
“One for you Fairwind! Maybe he thought you were some soft Bree carthorse or Gondor-lady’s palfrey hm? But you come from the Westfold-meadows where the children of Felarof still run!” She beams and pats his neck then turns, wiping a blood-splatter off one high cheekbone, to squat and riffle through the goblins’ meager things, discarding foodbags and vile trophies with a shudder of disgust, talking to the horse with the ease of one used to his company alone. For his part, Fairwind brings his ears to bear, liquid brown eyes gazing as though with interest in her chatter.
“hmm..nothing really yet.. Weapons, food, if you can call it that, digging tools, so we ambushed the right group at least… Oh, Rian will be wroth if I fought these for nothing…Wait…is this…could this be a map!?” Whirling to Fairwind, she brandishes a piece of hide with crude marks burned into it, then laughs as the steed flicks his ears indifferently.
“All right, all right, you don’t care about such things, but wait until I show Fille and MyLady…!” and so saying she tucks the stinking hide away and swings into the saddle to turn homewards, racing the setting sun towards the distant walls of Bree-town.
