Chapter 104: A talking Ogain.
"If you swear to Zagara, the God of Light," she said firmly, "I’ll free you and welcome you as one of Thegara’s own. There are many of your kind living here now. They are living ordinary lives. Help us. Tell us everything you know. Draw us a map of where the armies are camped, and I’ll grant your wishes."
The goblin stared at her, stunned. For a fleeting second, a flicker of light danced in his yellow eyes. Hope! But just as quickly, it vanished, snuffed out like a candle in the wind.
"No," he whispered. "I don’t deserve it. Let me stay here. I’ll still tell you everything."
Ren narrowed her eyes. "Why?"
"Because I hurt too many of your guards," he admitted, voice thick with guilt. "The female shifter, the one who lost her arm, the one you healed her wound, I was the one who took it from her. I had no choice. If we didn’t kill or maim on the battlefield, the vampire lords would either slaughter us or turn us into one of those demons."
Ren gave a silent nod. She couldn’t forgive him, not truly. And neither could Jisa, the Omega shifter whose arm he’d taken.
"Then tell us everything," she said quietly, "so we can avenge the life they stole from you."
The goblin lowered his head, shoulders trembling. "I will... Please, avenge us all. They killed my wife. I don’t even know where my son is."
The weight of his words stung, but Ren couldn’t ignore the blood on his hands. Whatever sympathy she felt, guilt still clung to him like a shadow. His soul was stained and no redemption could cure him except for the punishment.
"Calisa, record his confession. I want a full report by tonight. Give him a map, have him mark every place their forces have taken or camped."
She didn’t yet trust him, not entirely. A trained goblin was still a risk. So she turned to the guard and added firmly, "Stay here. Don’t leave him alone. I want every word he says verified."