The smell of smoke still hung heavy in the air, a grim reminder of the recent battle. Captain Oswald, leaning heavily on his sword, his face streaked with soot and exhaustion, began to explain the unsettling situation in Sharwood. The relief of the immediate rescue was quickly replaced by a deeper, more strategic concern.

  "We've been under constant pressure," Oswald said, his voice raspy. "Not full-scale assaults, like what we have expected. These are smaller groups, raiding parties, sent by the Goblin King. They come in waves, several times a day, sometimes at night."

  He gestured towards the charred remains of the buildings, the blackened timbers still smouldering. "They're not focused on invading and taking over Sharwood, not in the traditional sense. They're more intent on causing chaos, on disrupting our defences. They set fires, sabotage our supplies, focus on damaging our granaries and storages… anything to weaken us."

  Oswald paused, drawing a ragged breath. "And it's not just Sharwood. We've received reports from Oakenfall – the same pattern. Small, harassing attacks, designed to keep the defenders on edge, to bleed them slowly. There's no grand, decisive battle, no all-out push to take the town. It's… a war of attrition."

  He shook his head, a flicker of frustration in his eyes. "We've managed to repel them so far, but it's taking a toll. Our resources are stretched thin, our men are exhausted, and the attacks keep coming, relentless and unpredictable. It's like trying to fight smoke – you can't get a grip on it."

  Sir Roland, his face grim, stepped forward. "It confirms what Lord Marshal and Borin suspected. The Goblin King isn't trying to conquer Oakenfall or Sharwood, not directly. He's tying us down, keeping our forces occupied, preventing us from investigating his true objective." He looked towards the dense, ominous expanse of Tallenwood Forest, his gaze narrowed. "He's hiding something in there, something significant enough to warrant this elaborate distraction."

  Caspian, who had been listening intently, his brow furrowed in thought, nodded in agreement. "It's a deviation from typical goblin behaviour," he observed, his voice thoughtful. "Goblins are inherently greedy, driven by a lust for plunder and riches. They revel in chaos and destruction, but usually with the aim of acquiring loot. For them to abandon that instinct, to forgo the potential spoils of a conquered town, suggests a higher authority, a strict directive from the Goblin King himself."

  He tapped a finger against his chin, lost in his own analysis. "It implies a level of discipline and strategic thinking we haven't seen from goblins before. This isn't just mindless savagery; it's calculated, purposeful. They're following orders, and those orders are clearly not about taking territory."

  The implications were clear. The Goblin King's actions pointed towards a hidden agenda, a secret objective concealed within the depths of Tallenwood. And if their initial suspicions were correct, that objective involved the elves of Lumenar. The urgency of their mission had just increased tenfold.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  William, who had been silently processing the information, stepped forward. His mind, trained to analyse data and identify patterns, had already begun to formulate a hypothesis. The skirmishes in Oakenfall and Sharwood, the lack of a full-scale assault, the Goblin King's unusual restraint – it all pointed to a deliberate strategy of misdirection.

  He outlined his thoughts to the group, his voice calm and methodical. "We know there are small goblin units harassing both Oakenfall and Sharwood. This suggests a dispersed force, designed to keep us occupied. But where is the main goblin army? If they're not focused on conquest, they must be elsewhere."

  He paused, letting his words sink in. "We had hoped to avoid the Goblin King’s forces by entering Tallenwood forest from Sharwood, avoiding Oakenfall altogether where we thought the main battlefield is, but it's highly likely that the bulk of the Goblin King's forces are moving south already, through Tallenwood, towards Lumenar. The same direction we need to travel."

  This realization brought a new layer of complexity to their already perilous mission. If the main goblin army was indeed positioned between them and Lumenar, using the conventional routes would be tantamount to walking into a trap.

  "If we take the usual paths, the established trails through the forest," William continued, "we'll inevitably encounter the Goblin King's forces. We'll be outnumbered and completely overwhelmed. We need to find another way."

  To confirm his suspicions, William turned to Captain Oswald. "Have you had any sightings of a larger goblin force in the forest near Sharwood? Anything beyond these small raiding parties?"

  Oswald nodded, confirming William's hypothesis. "Our scouts have reported increased activity deep within Tallenwood, closer to the southern edge. It's difficult to get a precise count, but it's definitely more than just these small groups harassing us. It's a significant force, moving with purpose. If the Goblin King had sent that army against Sharwood, we wouldn't be standing here now."

  William's assessment was validated. The main goblin army was, in all likelihood, already positioned between them and their objective. Their path to Lumenar was blocked, not by a physical barrier, but by a mobile, deadly force.

  "Then it's settled," William said, his voice firm. "We can't use the known routes. We'll have to find an alternative path through Tallenwood, one that avoids the main goblin force. A less travelled way, perhaps even a forgotten one."

  A wave of silence fell over the group, the weight of the challenge sinking in. Navigating Tallenwood was dangerous enough under normal circumstances; attempting to do so while evading a large goblin army was a daunting prospect.

  Roland, ever the practical leader, broke the silence. "Captain Oswald," he said, turning to the weary commander, "you know this region better than any of us. Is there another way south? A faster route, a less obvious path, that might lead us towards Lumenar without bringing us into direct contact with the Goblin King's army?" He paused, emphasizing the importance of the question. "Our mission hinges on reaching the elves. We need a way through, and we need it quickly." The weight of the request was clear. The success or the failure of the mission, rested on Captain Oswald, and his answers.