"Beef?"

       A voice called through the darkness, nagging at Glintsprock's ears like an annoying, yet persistent mosquito.

       "Beef? Oi, Beefwehluhngtun, answer me! Look, you've made me call you by your full name."

       Focusing on the voice, Glintsprock fought to reclaim his vision. Everything was blurry; like he'd had a few too many drinks.

       Although it was still dark, the smithy came into focus. Well, 'focus' was pushing it a bit, but at least Glintsprock could just about see where he was. Everything still felt like he'd been thrown around a cave by a troll, though (Glintsprock had a surprising amount of experience with that, so was able to accurately make the comparison).

       "I'm busy right now," the gnome - Beef, apparently - called back.

       "I just wanted to know if..." the other voice trailed off as another gnome entered the smithy. Even through his less than perfect vision, Glintsprock could see the confusion on the newcomer's face. He could also smell their fear.

       "Leave, Nyceli," Beef said. "This doesn't concern you."

       "Are you a wizard?" Nyceli asked.

       "No, I'm a carriage driver. What the fuck does it look like? Now go!"

       To be fair, Glintsprock thought that was a bit of a stupid question too. Nevermind that it was very similar to the stupid 'I thought you were a blacksmith' statement he'd made earlier.

       While the wizard was distracted, Glintsprock attempted to move, which was much easier said than done. Moving his legs was like trying to fold stone. Agony rumbled through him, rattling his bones.

       It was no good, there was no way he could run. But, perhaps he'd have more luck if he just focused on moving one part of him.

       'Clenching my fist should be easy,' he thought, as he also thought about driving that clenched fist through Beef's face and out the other side. Just the thought of that was delicious.

       Fighting against the wizard's magic, he focused on his fingers, willing them to move.

       At first, there was nothing.

       But then... progress...

       A creaking noise gave Glintsprock a taste of hope. His fingers were moving. They were slow and heavy, but they were moving.

       His fingers began to curl, coming closer together to form a fist.

       And then the world stopped as a shattering explosion rocked Glintsprock's world. Or, at least, his hand. Or the space where his hand used to be.

       "That's unfortunate," Beef said, looking down at the shards of goblin hand on the floor. "But I can probably use them in a spell or two."

       "What are you doing to that goblin?" the other gnome asked. "Isn't he from that band? I wanted to get his autograph. I hope that weren't his writing hand."

       Both voices sounded like they were far away, and Glintsprock felt like he was drifting further.

       "I told you to go," Beef said, but the other gnome obviously didn't show any signs of leaving, so he added. "No matter, you can join my army too."

       With that, he sent the same spell that he'd cast on Glintsprock towards the other gnome. Glintsprock felt a twinge of sympathy, but there wasn't room for anything else amongst the pain and despair.

       "Oi! That's enough of that! I only wanted to know if you wanted to have a cup of tea."

       Before the spell could reach her, the other gnome chucked the contents of the tea cup she'd been holding towards Beef. The steaming hot liquid hit him dead in the eyes. A sizzling noise filled the room as it hit the wizard's freezing cold flesh. Following the loss of Beef's concentration, the spells ceased. No longer frozen, but missing a hand, Glintsprock dropped to the ground.

       Beef held his hands to his face, and yelled, "YOU FOOL!"

       Glintsprock wasn't sure if this was aimed at him or Nyceli. Either way, he didn't care; he needed to teach this wizard a lesson.

       He ignored the pain in his arm and grabbed the wizard's hammer with his good hand. It weighed more than a baby troll, so holding it singlehandly wasn't ideal. With a single swing, he brought the hammer down onto the wizard's skull. The gnome crumpled like a sack of potatoes.

       Glintsprock breathed a sigh of relief and turned to the other gnome.

       "Don't hurt me, mister," the gnome said. "I'm a fan, remember."

       Glintsprock didn't answer, but he must have looked terrifying as the gnome added. "I'm just gonna go. I didn't see a thing. Nope, nothing at all. But first, a gift. I don't have much, so... 'ere... 'ave this."

       Nyceli held out the cup she'd been holding as if she was a knight holding out a sword to a monarch. Dropping the hammer (and narrowly missing his toe), Glintsprock took the teacup with his remaining hand.

       In many ways, this teacup was the same as any other, but this one was different in two vital ways. The first was that it had just saved his life. The second was that it looked as if it had been smashed at one point and repaired with gold. This was important as it meant that it would save his life again.

       With this and the bag of gold he'd seen earlier, Basalt would be able to eat that night.

       Hope swelled inside Glintsprock. He pulled the cup close to his chest and smiled.

       Somewhere far in the distance, a noise could be heard.

       Galloping.

       "Oh shit," Glintsprock said. "Is that my steed?"

       The goblin couldn't imagine what the wizard had sent for him, but he knew he didn't want to stick around to meet it.

*****

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