Tanis fending off two goblins

“What are you slime doing in Solace?” Tanis asked, meeting the clumsy stab of another goblin skillfully. Their swords crossed and held for a moment, then Tanis shoved the goblin backward. “Do you work for the High Theocrat?”
“Theocrat?” The goblin gurgled with laughter. Swinging its weapon wildly, it ran at Tanis. “That fool? Our Fewmaster works for the—ugh!” The creature impaled itself on Tanis’s sword. It groaned, then slid off onto the ground.
“Damn!” Tanis swore and stared at the dead goblin in frustration. “The clumsy idiot! I didn’t want to kill it, just find out who hired it.”
“You’ll find out who hired us, sooner than you’d like!” snarled another goblin, rushing at the distracted half-elf. Tanis turned quickly and disarmed the creature. He kicked it in its stomach and the goblin crumpled over.”

Excerpt From Dragons of Autumn Twilight, pg 38
Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman