Collisa (Outsider Book 1), page 17
As she slumped there wearily he grabbed his bedroll and unrolled it by the fire, ushering for her to lay down and rest. She gratefully complied, and it was only when she sprawled atop it that he realized she was clean.
Not clean as in just rolled around in a stream, but clean as in as freshly washed and scrubbed as if she'd just had a long bath. Not only that, but her tattered loincloth and chest wrap were pure white. Still ratty and barely fit for use, but as clean as if professionally laundered.
So Zuri knew not only healing magic, but cleaning magic as well. Both very useful in everyday life, he had to say.
Dare looked thoughtfully at the tiny woman.
Goblins tended to be a wild card in games; in most fantasy worlds they were stupid, blindly aggressive, and usually classified as evil.
Of course Zuri didn't look evil. Actually, at the moment she looked scared, vulnerable, and surprisingly cute. And there was certainly no sign of blind aggression.
As for stupid . . . from what he'd seen she was just the opposite, able to understand what he was trying to tell her without a shared language, and express herself surprisingly well.
Which pointed to her being more like the goblins in games that classified them as just another humanoid race. One with its own customs and culture. Often those goblins were very intelligent and clever artisans, although reckless inventors that made dangerous devices that often got themselves or others killed accidentally.
Or intentionally, in war.
Either way, she needed help and Dare wanted to help her. He just wasn't sure how.
“How can I help you?” he asked. “Do you have a family you need to get back to? A tribe?” She stared at him blankly. “Goblins?”
Zuri nodded in comprehension. “Goblin,” she said, pointing at herself.
He shook his head wryly. He was just glad the humans he'd met seemed to all speak a language he understood, or he'd be going through this with everyone. For months or even years probably.
He pointed at the forest around them. “Other goblins?” he repeated, then pointed at Zuri. “Your family? Friends? Tribe? Somewhere for you to go?”
She finally seemed to understand. “Zuri,” she said, pointing at herself and nodding. Then she pointed out at the woods as well. “Goblin . . .” She shook her head.
So she was alone. “Then how did you get out here?” he mused, more to himself than the little goblin. He pointed in the direction of the village. “Lone Ox? Village?”
She looked at him blankly.
Dare sighed. Well, wherever she'd come from and whatever her situation, it was probably too late to help her get back to where she belonged tonight. Which meant he needed to worry about her immediate needs.
He tossed some steaks on the cooking rack and got them roasting, then began pulling the trade items he'd carefully gathered out of his pack. It would probably take most of the leather to outfit Zuri with the basic necessities, but that was fine; he could farm more in a few days.
The first thing he crafted for the tiny goblin was a tunic of the same design as his own. For her comfort and to see she was properly clothed in cool weather, of course, but he also had to admit that he was finding all her exposed skin unexpectedly distracting.
She was definitely a woman, and her curves were pleasant to look at. He did his best to be a gentleman and focus on her face, but he was only human.
Zuri watched him curiously as he worked, although her gaze kept darting to the cooking steaks, her yellow eyes longing as she licked her full lips with a pale pink tongue.
However, Dare had her full attention when he completed the tunic, tailored to her size thanks to game mechanics (although not a perfect fit due to quality), and held it out to her. “Here.”
She was slow to take it and actually began trembling slightly. “Zuri?” she asked, pointing at herself and then the tunic.
“Zuri's tunic,” he agreed, pressing it into her hands. “A gift.”
The timid goblin smiled hesitantly, showing her sharp teeth, then quickly pulled it on over her head as if afraid he'd change his mind. She smoothed it until it hung right, then looked down at it admiringly with a more genuine smile.
Dare had to admit the tunic looked cute on her, although the leather still hugged her curves in a way he was going to have to do his best not to stare at.
Yellow eyes shining, she babbled a few words that he assumed were a thank you, then dropped to her hands and knees in front of him in some sort of submissive pose. Dare wasn't sure what that was about, but he shook his head and motioned for her to lay down and rest again until she finally complied.
Maybe the pose was a goblin thing.
Well, he'd find out sooner or later. Smiling at how happy the simple tunic had made her, he got to work on shoes, a goblin-sized tent, and a bedroll for her.
Zuri similarly went nuts over each as he presented them to her, seeming stunned and a bit dazed by the gifts. She also assumed that same odd pose after every gift.
Dare managed to finish all her new items just before the meat finished cooking, and while she was still admiring her new gear he got out the crude plate he'd carved from a large piece of bark and loaded it with a steak and a few foraged mushrooms and greens. He placed one of his stone knives next to the steak, laid the fork he'd carved on the other side, then held it across the fire to Zuri. “Here.”
She stared at it in blank incomprehension, as if she couldn't believe he was giving her all that food. She looked up timidly, as if to confirm he'd made a mistake, and he smiled reassuringly and set the plate on her lap.
“Here, eat,” he said, pantomiming cutting the steak and using the fork to lift it to his mouth.
The tiny goblin hesitantly complied, staring at him with huge eyes as she eagerly devoured the food; she was obviously starving.
It felt nice to see her enjoy the food, and Dare couldn't help but smile as he snagged another steak off the rack with his Utility Knife and used it as a skewer as he gnawed off a bite.
He realized Zuri was staring at him, her eyes darting down to the plate and fork he'd given her then back to him, expression baffled. “I only had the ones I use,” he explained sheepishly. “And you're a guest.” He motioned to the food again. “Go ahead, eat.”
She got back to eating, although she kept staring at him thoughtfully.
A somewhat uncomfortable silence settled as they ate. “I wish we could communicate,” he finally said regretfully. “I bet there's so much about this world and about your people that you could tell me.” He gave her a rueful smile. “Besides, it's a bit awkward not being able to talk.”
Zuri looked at him blankly for most of that, but brightened at the end. “Talk,” she agreed. She hesitated timidly, looking as if she was almost shaking with nervousness, then abruptly blurted, “Dare save Zuri, help Zuri, food Zuri.” She motioned to the tunic and other things he'd made her, although she couldn't seem to think of a way to describe him giving them to her. “Help Zuri,” she finally said again.
Then her yellow eyes looked into his, shyly but with solemn sincerity, and she tapped a fist against her generous chest. “Save, help, food. Talk Zuri lots.”
Dare smiled back at her. In spite of the awkward caveman speak he had a good idea of what she was saying. And honestly, that fact that she only knew a few words but could find a way to express herself that eloquently suggested the tiny goblin was smarter than her primitive garb had suggested.
“I'm just glad you're all right,” he said. She stared at him blankly, and he bit back a sigh and reached to the spit to pull off another cut of meat, offering it to her. “Here, you still hungry?”
She looked at the food with obvious longing but didn't take it, expression timid. So he took her plate and set the steaming meat on it, then firmly pressed it into her hands. “Go ahead, there's plenty and it looks as if you haven't had a good meal in days.”
Zuri nodded and tapped her chest again, which he assumed was a sign for gratitude, then eagerly tore into the steak with her sharp teeth.
After she finished eating the tiny woman settled down on his bedroll, and soon after fell asleep. Dare didn't have the heart to wake her to move her into her own bedroll in her set up tent, so he wrapped the fur blankets around her.
After he was sure she was comfortable he climbed into his tent, using the small bedroll as a pillow with his leather cloak wrapped around him.
He'd slept worse when he'd first arrived.
Not that he was quick to fall asleep. He wasn't sure what to do about Zuri, and spent a while fretting about it.
If he'd understood her correctly there were no other goblins around. No tribe for her to get back to. And she hadn't seemed in any hurry to get anywhere. But that might've just been due to exhaustion.
He'd try again tomorrow, see if she showed any urgency to get back to wherever she'd come from. Or if not, try to communicate with her that he could take her where she wanted to go.
Although the nagging thought chased his tired mind that if the tiny goblin had been out in the middle of nowhere all alone, dressed in rags and completely defenseless, it was possible she had nowhere to go.
What would he do then?
Dare wanted to help her, but he wanted to level and farm gold and materials and eventually become a powerful and successful hero on this world. She might be able to group with him and they could level together, since he'd seen her healing ability and knew she could be useful. But it would mean he was basically taking responsibility for her, or at least to be her companion for who knew how long.
And he had no idea what Zuri wanted or was capable of.
In the end he decided all his internal debate was pointless. He'd been planning to go into Lone Ox anyway to trade, so he might as well take her there and see if anyone knew what to do. Or better yet, find someone who spoke Goblin and ask her directly.
Yeah, that was the next step.
Dare gave the sleeping goblin by the fire one last look over his shoulder to make sure she was still doing okay. He couldn't see anything but an unmoving bundle under the blankets and assumed she was still asleep, hopefully comfortable and resting well.
Yawning, he rolled over, pulled his cloak tighter around him, and drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Eight
Companion
Dare woke up the next morning to find that Zuri was already awake.
He wasn't sure how long she'd been up for, but she was outside his tent on her hands and knees, waiting patiently. He just hoped she'd only taken that position after she heard him stirring, and hadn't been there long. Especially since a light drizzle was coming down.
Although judging by her soaked hair, the damp patches on her tunic, and the water beaded on the leather, she probably had. Also she was trembling as she stared at the ground, as if afraid that his kindness yesterday had been a fluke.
Dare sighed. “Got to be honest,” he said lightly as he ducked out of his tent, “even if it's a cultural thing, not a fan of you bowing like that. Especially if you're miserable out in the rain.” She stared at him blankly and he offered her a gentle smile. “How about breakfast?” he asked, pointing at the burned out campfire. “Food?” he pantomimed eating.
The timid goblin looked up, expression turning hopeful. “Food?” she agreed. She tapped her chest with her fist.
Shaking his head, he led the way to the fire.
It had rained several times now, although usually at night. When it rained during the day he usually either just did his best to ignore it, since his leather gear was decently waterproof, or he found a tree or ducked into his tent to wait it out.
Since Zuri was waiting for breakfast that wasn't an option, and he wanted to get a quick start to Lone Ox anyway. So he hastily rigged up a hide cover over the fire, then got some meat roasting over it and retreated to lean against the trunk of a large overhanging tree as he waited for it to cook.
The goblin followed him, settling down beside him, and he motioned towards Lone Ox. “After we eat I was thinking we'd go to the nearby village, Lone Ox. We can see if anyone knows you or has talked to anyone looking for you, or if nothing else if anyone there speaks Goblin.”
“Goblin,” Zuri agreed, probably because it was the only word of what he'd said she understood.
“Talk Goblin,” Dare corrected, pointing at the village. “Find where Zuri came from and what you want to do.”
Her brow furrowed. “Zuri talk Goblin,” she said, then pointed at him. “Dare talk Haraldaran.” She shook her head and tapped her generous chest. “Zuri talk Haraldaran . . .” She shook her head vigorously.
Well, that wasn't exactly a revelation. He'd have to do his best to try to teach her at least the basic words so they could communicate while they were together. He gave an exaggerated nod and pointed at his nodding head. “Yes,” he said. He shook his head just as dramatically. “No.”
He pointed at himself. “Dare yes talk Haraldaran.” He pointed at her. “Zuri no talk Haraldaran. Dare no talk Goblin, Zuri yes talk Goblin.”
She nodded in understanding. “Yes,” she said, and tapped her chest with her fist.
Dare smiled at her and settled back comfortably against the tree trunk. Then he grabbed a rock and drew his Utility Knife, activating the ability to sharpen it.
He did it until his knife's sharpness was classified as “razor”, which it would quickly dull from with use until it was sharp, then after far more use drop down to dull. That quick dropoff from razor to sharp, combined with the fact that it only added a slight bonus to damage, didn't make it worth the effort in fights.
But he wasn't sharpening it for a fight.
He dug through a leather pouch he'd made and pulled out a shiny bit of metal he was using for a mirror, as well as the bit of soap he'd bought in Lone Ox. Then he drew his Utility Knife and, after lathering his several days' worth of stubble, began carefully shaving.
Zuri watched curiously as he scraped away every bit of facial hair, checking his face in his crude mirror until he was satisfied. Then he reached back with effort to grab a hunk of his hair, which had grown annoyingly long in the last few weeks, and began hacking it off.
At that point the goblin caught his wrist, looking alarmed. “Zuri help,” she said, pointing at herself.
Dare grinned. “A Healer and a barber, Zuri?” He handed her the knife. “I doubt you can do any worse than I would. Thanks.” He tapped his fist to his chest.
Zuri brightened in realization. “Thanks!” she repeated, tapping her own fist to her chest. “Zuri thanks Dare!”
“You're welcome.” He patted her head, then sat straight and let her get to work.
Her hands moved confidently, and she seemed to be doing a neat, uniform job. When she finished a few minutes later he checked in his mirror, satisfied at what looked like a good cut considering it was done with a knife.
“Okay, looking good for our trip to town,” he said brightly. He tapped his fist to his chest again, and the timid goblin beamed with pride.
They had breakfast, Zuri again digging in eagerly and packing away more than he thought her little body could hold. “You storing it all in your chest?” Dare joked as he watched her go, feeling safe since she didn't understand him.
She paused. “Chest?” she repeated.
He felt his cheeks heat. “Never mind.” He left her to finish her meal and began gathering trade goods.
Soon after that they were on their way, Dare loaded down with a heavy back and several bundles and Zuri carrying her own full pack, although with a much lighter load.
When she'd realized he was going to be carrying a burden she'd timidly but firmly managed to convey, with gestures and repeating the word “help” over and over, that she wanted him to make her a little hide pack so she could carry some of it.
He could appreciate that she wanted to do her fair share, so he complied. Her contribution was modest, but he respected her for it.
It felt strange to be moving at almost a snail's pace with a companion, when he'd usually be jogging or even running through these woods at 10 miles an hour or better. Especially since while Zuri's legs were proportionally long and elegantly slender, they were also half the length of his. She had to walk along briskly to keep up with Dare's slowest walking speed, with Fleetfoot just widening the gap between their normal walking paces.
Although to the tiny goblin's credit she made it to Lone Ox without needing to stop for rest, even with her burden, and when Ellui's farm came into view her breathing was barely labored.
The farmwife was out in one of her fields as they passed, hard at work with a hoe. Although the moment she spotted them she dropped the tool and headed for her fence.
“We meet again,” she called. She glanced at Zuri and smirked. “What's with the goblin? Slimes and the random bunny girls not enough to satisfy your cock, so you got yourself a pleasure slave?” Her slightly mocking smile widened. “You made a good choice . . . goblins are almost as fertile as cunids, so they're just about as horny, too. She should be able to keep up with you just fine.”
Dare didn't hear anything after “slave”.
Son of a bitch, slaves existed on this world? He supposed he should've expected it, since his unseen benefactor had warned him Collisa could be a brutal place. And most fantasy worlds took place in a medieval setting, where slavery was still common.
Besides, in spite of the best efforts of countries that knew better, slavery still existed on his world. The vile practice was an evil as old as time.
That didn't mean he was pleased to hear it. “She's not my slave,” he said firmly. He did his best not to glower. “I don't believe in slavery.”
The farmwife looked at him in bafflement. “Like, that it doesn't exist?” She laughed. “Because it definitely does.”
Dare glanced helplessly down at Zuri, her big yellow eyes looking staring back up at him making his heart break. “I mean I don't approve of the practice and I don't want any slaves.” He stopped short of adding that he thought it should be abolished; he doubted he was going to convince her, and she'd probably tell him to get off her property.
