The sky was bleeding orange as Squad Four took their positions along the wooden watchtower walls. Liam, Tomlin, Lina, and Fendril exchanged quiet conversation for a steady vigil under the dying sun. Cicadas chirped softly in the grasses below. Jassa and Hilda had already bunked down after a long day.
Liam settled onto the tower's slats. The fields beyond Willowshade stretched darkly toward the distant treeline.
"Beautiful sunset," Lina said softly, pushing off her boots and tying her cloak tight. She peered into the growing dusk. Tomlin hummed a tuneless refrain to steady himself, drumming his fingers on the railing. Fendril plucked gentle chords on his lute, letting the music fight off the silence. Liam glanced at each friend, then toward the forest where shadows twisted between the trees.
Fendril cleared his throat. "So, think we'll see them tonight? I mean actual goblins, not friendly squirrels?" The question was half-joke, but nerves cracked at the edges.
Tomlin shot him a grin. "Only thing skulking in those woods lately is Hank the raccoon, stealing rations." Lina gave a weak laugh. "Don't jinx it," she warned. "Though I wouldn't mind a midnight raccoon stew."
Liam folded his arms. "Raccoons or goblins, we'll spot anything that moves. We just have to stay sharp." The last sliver of sunset vanished. Suddenly Tomlin stiffened, his gaze locked on a silent spot along the horizon.
Liam turned his head. At the forest's edge, a line of hunched shapes crept just beneath the treetops. Moonlight was awakening in the sky and the goblins moved like shadows in the gloom. They advanced in a straight line, disciplined. "Scouts," Lina breathed, heart thudding. Liam pressed a hand against her shoulder. "Stay low."
A sliver of moonlight revealed one goblin perched on a rocky outcrop, eyes shining. The creatures communicated with low clicks and whispered snarls. Liam's heart pounded. No goblin had ever behaved so tactically. With shaking certainty, hes eyes started glowing as he activated Eye of the Abyss.
The world warped. Faint blue symbols glowed around each goblin, pulsing with the rhythm of their murmurs. Through the Eye, Liam saw just beyond the ridge a tall figure cloaked in swirling smoke making gestures. Though the scene was silent, Liam understood: these goblins were being commanded. They obeyed without hesitation. A cold shiver traveled up his spine.
He snapped his gaze away to the dark field. Lina peered at him anxiously. "Liam… what did you see?" His voice was thick. "Nothing definite. Just patterns, gibberish," he said, swallowing hard. He gave Tomlin a reassuring nod, but inside his stomach was twisting. Tomlin touched his arm. "Best to save the midnight horror tales for later," Tomlin whispered quietly.
Liam managed a small smile. "Yeah. Killer raccoons, right?" he joked, forcing a lighter tone. Fendril resumed his lullaby, a familiar melody that tried to soothe frayed nerves. The goblin scouts melted silently back into the forest. Only the distant murmur of the night filled the air.
As darkness fully fell, Sir Merek's distant horn blew. Squad Four exchanged wide eyes — no words were needed. They quietly clambered down from the tower, hearts still thundering, and hurried to the barracks.
Liam felt uneasy, the strange symbols still pulsing in his mind. Back in the hush of the barracks, he folded his hands and prayed silently for his friends' safety. Outside, the night was deep and quiet, but Liam felt eyes in the shadows. He drew a steady breath, steeling himself for what dawn might bring. Shadows at dusk had promised something ominous — and now, only dawn would tell whether it meant hope or doom.