The following week flew by. The days were only interrupted by the sporadic arrival of more refugees. The village, good or bad, was growing by leaps and bounds.

Stanley and the others had returned from the mine later that night after the big feast; they had been given access to some of the tunnels that led to the large cavern that John had found on the first foray into the cave system. Stanley said there were nodes of not just iron but copper as well and a few of which he didn’t know. With the influx of new people, he decided not to hire any of the Goblins to help. He didn’t think they would need it.

The miners had rigged a system by which a horse turned a wheel which then pulled a cart back through the tunnels. Eventually, John hoped to make a small rail line from the copper being mined. The iron was too valuable for such a thing. In just a few days, Stanley was able to pull the same amount of iron out of the mountain as they traded from the Goblins. But it was tiring work, John could tell. Bringing the iron from up from the bowels of the mountain was taking its toll. He was determined to come up with a system that would help them and in turn help the village.

Drew and Vee unfortunately didn’t learn much from Vrichik on the short trip. He wasn’t sure if Vrichik didn’t know much of the history or he was just secretive about it. Probably the latter Drew had said. They didn’t come back completely disappointed though. They did learn that Goblins had a simple caste system. The lowest rung didn’t mean much to Vrichik and his advisors; they were simple fodder. They were also the smallest. They were thought so little of that they weren’t even given names. The food the village traded was only eaten by the higher caste members. John felt bad about that, but it wasn’t his problem to worry about.

John had instructed Drew to see if Vrichik would send Goblins into the Forest. They were small and quite sneaky, more so than the humans. He wanted to know if the Ogres were actually gone or if they were simply wounded and regrouping. Vrichik agreed and would send news at the next trade.

John and the others met every morning to create their economic plan. Each member had drawn up their own version. They finally decided on a two-prong approach. People could choose to work for the village and thus be paid by the village, or they could work for themselves and sell and trade their wares. But they would be responsible for getting their own materials. After one month, a small tax would be levied against any goods sold within the village. This would go towards the coin needed for paying those who worked for the village.

They had also set prices for every item they could think of that would be sold; it would be amended as needed. They had debated on whether to do so, because obviously there would be different qualities of finished products, but in the end they thought it would best to keep someone from becoming too greedy and inflating prices. They had to keep in mind the constant arrival of refugees who most likely would come with nothing.

There was quite a bit of push-back from the existing villagers. Some were angry that a new system was being implemented even though they’d been guaranteed free food and housing. Bethany and Melissa, the Merchant’s daughter, did their best to quell their anger and fears. They informed everyone that housing would be provided and food would be cheap enough everyone could afford it as long as people contributed. The two told John that eventually their anger would subside, especially after coins start entering their pocket.

John wasn’t sure how they would be able to keep track of all sales and therefore taxes on the sales, but he was informed by Bethany that that is what the town interface is for. Once the tax is set, whether as a percentage or flat fee, the Merchants or sellers are obligated to pay it. If they don’t, they can be fined. If it wasn’t for the system, there’s no way any tax could be collected accurately. John, and in particular Drew, was intrigued by this. They couldn’t wait to see how the system actually functioned. Maybe there was more to it than a few lists. Drew commented to John that he planned to “play with it” a little more.

Gert had been right, at least partially, about the refugees who had arrived and didn’t want to work. About half began to find jobs after another couple days. The rest though were either distraught from having lost everything or someone they loved or simply didn’t want to work. The guards were told to keep an eye on those who didn’t work; John would be meeting with them soon to give an ultimatum. They couldn’t afford freeloaders.

About one fourth of the wall had been completed. A tower stood about every hundred meters. A couple stonemasons had arrived with the last few groups. They worked with the villagers, guiding the construction. John hadn’t realized how haphazard the wall was that had been started before they arrived. Compared to what had been built after their arrival, frankly, it looked like a stiff wind could blow it over. Now though, with their help, the stones and masonry were much more uniform. He thought it was crazy how just having someone with a particular job could affect something so. But then he remembered his first time trying to make something without his carpentry job. It was a disaster, so he was then determined to make sure the right people were doing the right jobs.

No more apartments were being built within the inner ring. The small area that remained would be used for a fortified keep. But that would be far in the future. Two story apartments were going up near the flour mill outside the eastern wall. The quick construction was only possible because another sawmill had been built near the other.

Some plans were scrapped, like the market and barracks. Instead they would be built in the second outer ring. More crafting halls and warehouses would be built to accommodate all the workers and materials coming in.

Each group that arrived was unique. Some had animals and wagons. Some came with nothing but the clothes on their back. But each group brought news from Innsbruck. The Baron was building another ring of fortifications around his town too. The wall, or what Drew had said could barely be called a wall, was being replaced with stone. John was glad his friend was planning ahead and taking no chances.

The Orcs hadn’t yet arrived on the plateau, but they were getting closer. More villages to the east were being ransacked, each day moving farther west and closer to River’s End. John hoped every day that the king would step in, but he also knew that unless the Orcs actually invaded the kingdom proper, nothing would be done. While the villages being attacked were within the kingdom, they were at the edge and not worth defending. That’s what John thought anyway. Otherwise something would have been done by now.

The Verdant Forest and steep incline provided protection, but there were paths such as the one where John had found Drew that could be used. John hoped they wouldn’t be found for quite some time. They needed as much as they could get.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The trade with the Goblins had gone smoothly like all previous times. But now John sat with Drew in his office holding a small piece of paper. The writing on it was similar to that of a small child, barely legible. The news it brought though, was terrifying.

Scribbled on the paper was a simple report from Vrichik. John hadn’t known he could write, but he assumed that if Vrichik could read it at least made sense.

Something, or someone, had pushed the Ogres east towards River’s End and south towards the mountains. The Goblin scouts had found several camps that were burned to ash. They had traveled two moons west. John didn’t know the exact distance that would have been, but being so fast, he estimated it was probably three to four days of normal travel. They saw nothing else and no indication of any other Ogres.

The Ogres were forced from where they had lived and pushed east. Whether it was intentional or not, whether they knew a new village existed or not, the prospect worried John.

He crumpled the paper in disgust. Drew sat across from him. “I thought. Damnit. I thought killing all of them would rid us of the problem. But now who the hell knows what’s out there. Something that could push hundreds of them out of the Forest. Something that made them desperate enough to attack us to get away.” John hit the table in anger.

Drew tried to calm his friend. “Listen John. Don’t freak out just because of this one report. We don’t know what’s happened. For all we know, they could have burned their own camps.” John cocked his head at Drew’s statement. “I know. It doesn’t make sense to me either, but we don’t know them. Maybe they burn ‘em and move on,” he replied, shrugging.

“Don’t be naive. There was no indication they had been to that abandoned village, ever. Something made them come this way. Something made them leave their camps. So now we have another problem to deal with, as if the refugees and Orcs weren’t enough!” he said, raising his voice.

Drew sighed. “Then we work on what we do know, John. We work on what we can fix right now and that’s giving these people a home. If we focus on something that may be, we’ll go nuts. I’ll talk to Vrichik, have him send out more scouts farther west. If there’s anything out there, we’ll find out. But we can’t worry about it. Like you just said, there’s already too much to do. Got it?” he asked, pressuring John to calm down and think rationally.

John shook his head. “It’s just so damn frustrating. We start to get a little ahead and something, some unknown, is thrown at us.” John sighed, calming himself. “But you’re right. If I dwell on it, I’ll lose focus of what needs to be done. So yea, talk to Vrichik. See what he’ll do for us. Maybe they have some history of this area that he wouldn’t tell you. Maybe with this new news, you’ll get something out of him.” John again shook his head. “So frustrating,” he said quietly.

Drew pursed his lips. “It is. So do something to take your mind off of it right now. Go build something or hit something. There’s a lot to do ya know,” he added, smiling somewhat.

John huffed. “Yea. You’re right. I’ll go hit something. That always makes me feel better. Thanks Drew,” he replied, a small grin growing on his face. He stood and threw the piece of paper in the trash and cracked his knuckles. “Let me know what Vrichik says, hmm? I just hope he’s more forthcoming with you this time.” He nodded to Drew and left the room.

Drew waited until John was gone before getting the paper out of the trash. He read it and reread it. Terrible news indeed. But nothing we can do about it at the moment. He thought about his friend. He’s got some anger issues lately. Been moping around, training constantly. Snapping at people. The stress is getting to him. I think it’s time we go on a little trip for a couple days. Yea. That grove of trees with the lake, where he used to fish. We’ll go there. After I talk to Vrichik that is.

With a plan in place, Drew left the commonhall and headed north. He’d get some answers today if it killed him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Drew had been guided through the tunnels by what had been the smallest Goblin yet that he’d seen. He sat in a home, as best it could be described. It was a little room off the large cavern that housed the majority of the Goblins. He sat on the floor atop a deerskin. Luminescent moss hung from the walls giving off barely enough light to see.

He looked around the room. A small box was in one corner and a small crude table in another. On it was a book, some paper, and a small stone that had a sharpened point.

Outside of the room, he could hear Goblins scurrying about. Smoke hung in the air from the multitude of fires that burned.

Drew coughed. It’s a wonder that they don’t suffocate in here. I guess that’s why they use mostly that moss. I wonder what that book is. And is that graphite? We could use that. Wonder what he’s reading? And why’s he taking so long. He usually greets me right away.

His thoughts were interrupted as Vrichik entered. First he stood and looked at Drew, saying nothing. He squinted at him, then spoke. “Up. Off.”

Drew looked surprised. He stood, unsure really what to do.

Vrichik approached, but then picked up the skin. He went back to the entry and draped it over, essentially cutting them off from the cavern.

Vrichik turned back to Drew and smiled. “Many ears listen,” he said, tapping his floppy ears. “Now we talk without listen.”

Drew nodded, now understanding. “Okay then,” he replied, “I came to talk to you about your letter and what it said.”

Vrichik walked over and sat. He indicated that Drew sit, so he did. “Know this. Much worry for John. No?”

Drew was surprised again at how Vrichik was able to deduct such things. It showed to him that Vrichik was quite a bit smarter and more observant than he led on.

“Yes. He’s quite worried. So I’m here to ask if you would send more scouts farther into the Forest. He, we, need to know what forced them our way. It could be bad for us and you,” he said, trying to convince Vrichik that their problem was also his.

He grunted. “Not we problem. We hide. Deep in holes. But. I send more. Friend John good friend. So we help.” His smile was big and toothy after he spoke.

“Thanks Vrichik. I was wondering if you had any idea what may have happened to make them come this way. You’ve been here far longer than we have. Had you ever seen them before? Before we were attacked?” Drew wanted to pull some information from the Goblin.

At first Vrichik said nothing, but then he relented. “Yes. Know them. Bad for Goblins. For Humans. Kill many Goblins. Many many moons here. Then gone.” He waved in a shooing motion. “Not see for long time. Fight you we see again. Know not why they come again. I send. Find out why. Bad for you. Maybe bad for us,” he stressed.

Drew responded, thankful. “That’s all I can ask. Don’t think we think any less of you, that your lives are less than ours, but we are big and noisy. You are small and sneaky. Better chance to learn something and get away. So thanks.”

“Hrrrmp. Yes. We small. Fast. Not me,” he replied, and then laughed heartily. “Me big. Eat much!” he said louder, still laughing.

Drew chuckled. He wanted to change the subject, and wean some more information from him, so he decided to ask about what he read.

“So Vrichik. I see a book over there. Can I ask what you read about? We have quite a few books I could loan you. I’d love to learn about the history of this area. I think it would help us prepare.”

Vrichik squinted his eyes at the human. “Hrrrmp. Read history of Goblins. But no tell you. Is ours,” he replied. But then he cocked his head. “Maybe one day tell. Hmm? Not now.”

Drew shrugged, disappointed. “That’s okay. I had to try. Can you at least tell us about the animals and stuff we may find west? If there’s more caves? Not about Goblins, just information about the area.”

Vrichik again cocked his head and squinted. “This I tell. Come. I show.” Vrichik stood and waved for Drew to follow.

He wasn’t sure what he was about to get into, but there was no way he would pass up this chance.

The duo walked and talked as they traveled through various tunnels. Vrichik told him about the animals they knew of, none of which surprised him. Drew could tell they were getting higher in the mountain by the steep incline and the frequent breaks he insisted on taking.

Finally, after what had to be several hours, Drew saw light in the distance, an exit from the mountains. He squinted as they excited and rubbed his eyes. They still burned from the smoke.

What he saw stunned him. They were far above the village on the side of the mountain. He could see the village, tiny and insignificant, the lake to his left shimmering in the sunlight, and the Verdant Forest in the distance surrounding the entire area. The lushness of the area caught him off guard. It was green everywhere.

He could see for miles in every direction. He stood in awe. He looked to his right and strained his eyes looking for anything out of the ordinary. He hoped he didn’t, but the prospect of a last city excited him. He saw nothing but trees as far as he could see.

“See. Nothing. Animals. Trees. Nothing,” interrupted Vrichik. He made a whooshing sound and swept with his arms.

“I get it. Nothing but trees and animals as far as we can see. This is a good view Vrichik. Thanks for showing me.” He looked again to the west. “Doesn’t mean there isn’t something hidden in the trees.” He took a step away from the edge, vertigo beginning to kick in. “I think I’m ready to go back. Not a big fan of heights even if it is beautiful up here.” He took another step back and put his hand on the mountain to steady himself.

Vrichik laughed, “Then come friend. Much walking.” He grabbed Drew by the arm and helped him down.

Hours later Drew exited the mountain again, this time by the woods. He really hadn’t learned anything, but the trip had still been worthwhile. He looked forward to sharing what he saw with John.