Lord of the Foresaken

Reed sat on his makeshift throne, a pile of stolen banners and broken weapons beneath him. His goblins knelt before him, their numbers larger, stronger, hungrier. The air smelled of blood, smoke, and power.

Shia stood beside him, tossing a severed noble's ring between her fingers. "So," she said, amused. "What's the plan, my lord?"

Reed exhaled slowly. He had options now.

• He could attack immediately, crushing the gathered lords before they had a chance to unite.

• He could lure them in, making them think he was weaker than he was.

• Or he could wait, let fear spread, and force them to make mistakes.

But waiting wasn't his style.

"We send them a message," Reed said.

Shia tilted her head. "A warning?"

Reed smirked. "A declaration."

His eyes gleamed.

"We're going to crash their meeting."

The meeting was held in Fort Ironwood, a stone fortress at the edge of noble territory. Inside, five lords sat around a war table, their faces grim.

"The reports are confirmed," one of them muttered. "Lord Ervan is dead. His entire army, wiped out."

A woman with silver hair—Lady Velka—crossed her arms. "By goblins?" she asked, disbelief in her tone.

"Yes," another lord confirmed. "But not just any goblins. A Goblin Lord."

Silence.

A man in golden armor scoffed. Lord Darin, the strongest among them. "This is absurd. No Goblin Lord has ever been a threat before. We should just—"

BOOM.

The doors exploded inward.

Lords staggered back, coughing. Guards reached for their weapons—too late.

Because Reed walked in first.

Casually. Calmly. Like he belonged there.

Behind him, Shia strode forward, blades drawn. And behind her?

Goblins. Dozens of them.

Not mindless beasts. Killers.

Reed smirked as the lords stared in horror. "I heard you were talking about me," he said casually. "Figured I'd join the conversation."

Lady Velka's eyes flashed with rage. "You dare—"

Reed raised a hand.

Shia threw a severed head onto the table.

It rolled to a stop—Lord Ervan's lifeless face staring up at them.

The room fell deathly silent.

Reed sat on the edge of their table, looking at their stunned faces.

"Here's how this is going to work," he said. "You're going to kneel."

Lord Darin stood, furious. "You think we'd—"

Reed didn't let him finish.

He snapped his fingers.

Goblins swarmed the guards, tearing through armor, biting, slashing. The room descended into chaos.

Shia moved like a shadow, cutting throats with ease.

Within seconds, every guard was dead.

Reed looked at the remaining lords.

"You have two choices." He leaned forward, smiling.

"Kneel."

His eyes darkened.

"Or die screaming."