I waded closer, still up to my ankles in the brown liquid, then drew my sword. “Die in battle, fiends!” I shouted.

The nearest kobold flinched, its eyes widening and its scaly head seeming to shrink down to its shoulders. Just as well, for my sword whistled though the air, a hair’s breadth above where its scalp was a moment before.

Well done, hero — I managed to chop off the top of its mop handle!

“Hold on, now,” called out Eshami. Her words fell on deaf ears; I was angry, and ready for combat. My sword swished out again and again.

But the kobolds were speedy, and they dodged my blows.

As I was fighting, a stern and very deep voice rang out. Not Eshami’s voice. It said: “Come to Miishlo… Serve Miishlo!”

Huh?

I now felt a thump over the back of my head, and another. Many kobolds were beginning to cluster around me now, whacking at me with mop handles, and it was all I could do to parry, as Eshami and me were pushed back.

At least I was no longer in the deepest part of the dirty water. And from behind me, once again the strange voice rang out… “Come to me, Manling,” it commanded.

I glanced behind, and saw the large hatch leading below decks. Could there be some kind of aquatic creature within…?

As they continued to swing the mops, the kobolds were now chanting, “Miishlo! Miishlo!”

Another special "Thank you!" to JF Danskin for his original contribution to the series (on which this chapter is based)