Chapter 13 is finally in the bag, I can't for the life of me work out why I find the concept of a howdah on the back of a beautiful pig funny, perhaps I'm alone in this bizarre feeling...

A trumpet sounded from nearby as the Wise Wench led Urgh by the hand up the ladder onto Zephyr’s howdah. Crappy clambered up awkwardly as they set off, and soon found that it was only a one-more-than-one goblin sized howdah so he was forced to grip Zephyr’s back hairs. The king giving his pantomime hedgehog a hefty tap with his crop; below, one of half a dozen sweaty goblins in the costume gave a squeak.

'Well, get on with it scum!' shouted the king to the villagers. Durth began to pull goblins out of the crowd by their ears, Whippet absent-mindedly pointing to some as he stared at the departing trio, tears welling in his eyes, the pig breaking into a canter as they vanished over the hills and into the Great Forest...