From Introduction:
When his master first went against the high elves, in their mountain citadels, Golek was happy with his work. He hated these enemies, so arrogant they looked down on the entire world from above. And then when his master went to fight the wood elves, Golem was happy still. He did not like them either, these sylvan fey who sing their desires to the roots and leaves, who have no choice but obedience. Neither of these wars were won decisively, but the master got what he wanted out of them, as far as Golek can tell. The master is a wizard, after all, and they often do strange things.
But now the master has turned against the wild fey spirits of the woods — the dryads and the nymphs, the ents and gnomes, the nixies and the pixies and the ettercaps, and even the undines and nereids. And now Golek feels differently about these wars. For these creatures live without the chains of civilization upon their necks. They ride bareback upon the unicorns, who are not tame at all, and yet there are no masters here. They are so wild and free and WHY CANNOT GOLEK BE WILD AND FREE AS WELL?!?
When he had but little comprehension of his servitude, and enemies he hated, Golek did not mind what path his life meandered on. He did not mind the work he was commanded to do, no matter how dangerous it was. But now he has seen something better and he wants that instead. But he does not know how to get there. Who will show him?
Now that he has time to think about it, he does not like his master’s allies either. The ones who bankroll his endless wars and feuds are industrialists from the city. They send a constant flow of emissaries to the master’s tower to speak of mining concessions in the mountains or logging camps in the forests. With their plans to dig up the earth in search of profit, they might be worse even than the haughty elves! He saw their city once, and it was horrid. Full of factories and smoke, with every bit of the land covered over in bricks and stone.
But Golek is trapped. He wants to run off and live in sea caves in the beach, to spend his days carving driftwood and fishing. But the wizard who made him is still his master, and he has alchemical weapons and malignant sorceries that must be tended to. He would never let Golek leave on his own.