Brynn chuckled at him. ?But why?" she asked again.
Juraviel shrugged. ?Perhaps it is merely a fortunate coincidence."
"Fortunate?"
"It is good that you should view these creatures," the elf explained. ?A new experience to widen your understanding of a world much larger than you can imagine."
Brynn's expression showed that she could accept that, but Juraviel added, ?Or perhaps I feel it is my - our - duty to better the world wherever we may."
Brynn looked at him curiously.
"They are goblins, after all."
The woman's expression didn't change. ?Goblins who seem not to be bothering anybody or anything."
"Perhaps that is because there is no one or nothing about for them to bother at this moment," Juraviel replied.
"Am I understanding your intent correctly?" the young ranger asked, turning back to survey the distant, undeniably peaceful scene of the small goblin camp. ?Do you want us to attack this group?"
'Straight out? No," Juraviel answered. ?Of course not - there are too many goblins about for that to be wise.
No, we must be more stealthy and cunning in our methods."
When Brynn looked back to him, she wore an expression that combined curiosity, confusion, and outrage.
"We could go around them and leave them in peace."
'And fear forever after for the mischief they would cause."
Brynn was shaking her head before Juraviel ever finished, but the elf pressed on dramatically. ?For the families who would soon enough grieve for loved ones slain by the evil creatures. For the forests destroyed and dese-crated, the animals senselessly slaughtered - not for food or clothing, but just for entertainment."
"And if we murder this band, then we are no better than the goblins, by any measure," Brynn declared, and she tilted her head back, her expression proud and idealistic. ?Is it not our compassion that elevates us? Is it not our willingness to find peace and not battle, that makes us better than creatures such as this?"
"Would you be so generous if those were Yatol priests about that distant encampment?" the elf slyly asked.
"That is different."
"Indeed," came the obviously sarcastic reply.
"The Yatol priests chose their course - one that invites revenge from To-gai," Brynn reasoned. ?The goblins did not choose their heritage."
"Thus you reason that every single Yatol priest took part in the atrocities perpetrated upon your people? Or are they all guilty for the sins of the few?"
"Every Yatol priest, every Chezru, follows a creed that leads to such con-quest," Brynn argued. ?Thus every Yatol priest is an accomplice to the atroc-ities committed by those followi0|f utieif-?inrnf>n creed!"
"The goblins have visited more grief upon the world than ever did the Yatol priests."
"Being a part of that group, gobliris, is not a conscious choice, but merely a consequence of parentage.
Surely you of the Touel'alfar, who are so wise, can see the difference."
Belli'mar Juraviel smiled widely at the compassionate young ranger's rea-soning, though he knew, from his perspective garnered through centuries of existence, that she was simply wrong. ?Goblins are not akin to the other thinking and reasoning races," he explained. ?Perhaps their heritage is not their choice, but their actions are universally predictable and deplorable. Never have I seen, never have I heard of a single goblin who goes against the creed that is their culture and heritage. Not once in the annals of history has a goblin been known to step forward and deny the atrocities of its wretched kin. No, my innocent young charge, I'll not suffer a goblin to live, and neither will you."
Brynn winced at the direct edict, one that obviously did not sit well on her slender shoulders.
"I brought you here because there before us is a stain upon the land, a blight and a danger, and there before us is our duty, clear and obvious."
Brynn glanced back as she heard the commanding, undebatable tone.
"We will search the forest about the encampment first," Juraviel went on. ?Thinning the herd as much as possible before going to an open battle."
"Striking with stealth and from behind?" Brynn asked with clear sarcas.
But her accusation, for that is what was obviously intended, was lost on uraviel, who replied simply and with ultimate coldness, ?Whatever works."
Less than an hour later, Brynn found herself crawling through the brush south of the goblin camp, for she and Juraviel had worked themselves around the location. The ranger moved with all the stealth the TouePalfar had taught her, easing each part of her - elbow, knee, foot, and hand - down slowly, gradually shifting her weight and feeling keenly the turf be-low, taking care to crunch no old