He fingered the ancient stone totem that hung by a leather thong around his neck. "If there is any power left in you, G'phan, I beg you to protect my sons and my family from this madness. His Lordship and the evil Wizard laugh at the ancient gods, but only you have ever loved and protected us solely for our own sake. Your likeness, as it has stood by our firepit for untold generations, is our only comfort in these troubled times. To me, you are as loved as my grandsire; not blindly
feared and obeyed.
"Hear me, G'phan: the future . . . my mind sees only darkness, where once there was hope. This valley stinks of death, and it is in my heart that its high walls will enclose me for all eternity. Day and night, now, I hear the harsh croakings of crows and ravens and other carrion-fowl . . .
"It would be easier . . . far easier . . . to die in this place . . . if only I knew that my children were somewhere safe."
The attack began in the dark hour before dawn; not with the slow-witted trolls and expendable rock-gnomes, but with the ferocious, well-disciplined, well-trained and armoured goblins. They came in a thunderous rush, and as they gained the near side of the deep trench, a hail of black arrows came whistling through the darkness.