Otonia and Hagne rested comfortably in the Cavern Blind opposite the Main Cavern entrance, warm and snug. Within the Stone Curtain Wall instead of on top and rugged up in a constant battle against the wind chill. Alcmene volunteered to dress in the robe posing as the fake evil priest near the horses, with a still well stocked larder of corpses behind her, ugh! Nysa and Kyra lurked in the passageway exit from the Main Cavern, Alcmene under observation, they alert for any signal from her. All sisters on night shift utilising Borrow Stones containing the superior night vision, so the Main Cavern and the immediate surrounds shrouded in the pitch black of night aided by the natural darkness of the cavern itself.

The strangest group of visitors yet, weren’t detected until they stood before the Cavern Entrance, chatting and preparing before finally entering. Otonia and Hagne quieten, breathing shallow as they both realised the great disadvantage of the Cavern Blind, no advanced warning! Hagne contacted Alcmene with moments to spare, solely due to the visitor’s hesitation, stalling to prepare before entering themselves. Alcmene hand signalled to Nysa and Kyra, unable to confirm by observation if she successfully alerted them or not. Her attention consumed when their visitors entered, announcing their own arrival, turning and bowing in her direction, with an expectation of her being there.

Alcmene stared at them, a loss for words, not understanding their words. They didn’t see this as odd so even when she recovered, she just continued to stare at them and fortunately they spoke the language of the Duchy. They appeared human with lumps and bumps, facial exaggerations perhaps to be more accurate. Smaller, typically half the height of the average Duchy human, although three exceptions stood before Alcmene now in fact.

“Dark Shaman, we have the agreed tribute and hope they will be enough to favour us with your peace.”

The Head Goblin slightly taller than those Alcmene previously read about, impressed her with his fluid grasp of the Duchy’s language, even the pronunciation skilful. She needed to correct the known authoritative work on Goblins to include a comment they could learn and pronounce the Duchy’s language if she ever returned to a certain Seer Temple. His escort consisted of two bodyguards who flanked him either side although a step behind. Further back three more Goblins, escorts perhaps, smaller in size again, each with a neck chained scrawny female Goblin with them, shivering, perhaps cold or perhaps fear, difficult to tell.

The three Goblin escorts strode forth pulling on their reluctant chained tributes, forcing them to ground, their heads planted on the stone floor of the cavern, mid distance between the Head Goblin and Alcmene.

Alcmene nodded imperiously at the Head Goblin, hopeful the response appropriate. The Goblins could be slain of course, although the battle not a certainty and it would seem these subjects would deliver regular tribute, which meant return visits or perhaps one final visit involving the entire tribe.

Their ruse went west as they, into the soul stealing ocean; the horses deciding to neigh and bustle about moving enough to reveal Latona to the surprise of everyone. Revealed by sudden intakes of air, or a snap to attention by the bodyguards of the Head Goblin and the embarrassment of herself, her bright green eyes wide framed by her lengthy black hair, the colours her secret still. Her sight into the pitch black of night non-existent, others seeing her presence clearly. Her volunteering to sleep with the horses an actual ‘thing’ and no sister, given the preparations yet to be completed with the cavern thought to tell her any different.

To her credit, she didn't move any further and she remained silent, part fear and part uncertain what to say, one wrong word could possibly make the situation worse. Better to stand and wait for others to make the first move, after all she told herself she would be safe, Charis promised her.

The Head Goblin, scratching his head, trying to decide what this meant. A human girl free in the company of the Dark Shaman? The body guards weren’t confused and acted according to their duty stepping past the Head Goblin hefting their two-handed axes challenging the surprised interloper. The three escort Goblins pulled on their chained tribute, cautiously stepping back to join the Head Goblin.

Latona stood in the dark, figuratively and literally. She couldn’t see a dam thing and didn’t understand who visited and why. Voices and noises in the dark. She quietly prayed and sobbed, tension gripping her heart as moments of indecision accumulated.

Astera wondered what the Goblins could fear, after all Latona was unarmed, in warm furs and clothes, not even armour. She decided the game was probably up and before she could do or say anything her Warrior Sisters showed themselves and all illusion vanished!

“What has happened here?” asked the Head Goblin, a slight tremor in his rasping voice. He did reason though if they wished them dead, they wouldn’t have continued with the ruse. Deducing the pitiful human female revealed by the horses an accident. Talk before violence, most tended to survive talking, the same couldn’t be said for battle. To that end he stepped past his bodyguard, tapping them both to step back.

“The Cavern is under new ownership. The current owners don’t want or need live tributes,” said Nysa with an air of authority.

The tributes broke down in relief, they didn’t understand the words, although they still gathered the intend, rejection. Alcmene didn’t think female goblins or any goblin for that matter could shed tears, but the proof wept before her. What she read espoused a certain view; Goblins existed beyond redemption, evil and being evil couldn’t be trusted or treated as an equal.

“What do the new owners require?”

“I am not certain, and I cannot speak for my Mistress. Would you wait for her to arrive?”

“I don’t think we have much choice, unless you wish to see if we can fight our way out?” The Head Goblin needed to test their reaction to the subtle challenge.

“Sorry, yes, I should have realised your situation. Why were you giving tribute in the first place?”

Firstly, an apology. Who in a position of strength would offer such a thing? Maybe they aren’t as strong as they seem, although they now say they own the Caverns, so they are more powerful than the Dark Shaman? Confusing. Perhaps their position is so strong they can entreat and apologise knowing full well if their offered courtesy is besmirched, they can correct the misunderstanding with the death of those responsible. The answer to their question isn’t a secret, so no harm in replying to keep the conversation going. Silence unhelpful and given the number of weapons in the room they would require encouragement to remain idle, what better than their superiors talking.

“The Dark Shaman demanded tribute or be forced to fight for the one who commands here or err … used to command here. We did so last Season and in the end needed to collapse our tunnels to protect ourselves from some mystery enemy. We decided tributes were cheaper in terms of life cost compared to battles we couldn’t win. When we detect his evil arrival, we are to follow with his tributes and then every four weeks after until the Season changes.”

“That is still a heavy price to pay. If you lose all your females your tribe will eventually end as not enough are being born to replace the steady loss.”

“Before then we will need to consider battle, for now we offer tributes.”

“Can you all sit please and release your weapons. You can keep them near, just don’t grip them.”

Once they comply Alcmene strikes a lantern, shuttering it to shed light Latona’s way.

“Latona, please haul a bucket of water and large wooden spoon to a midway point between me and our guests,” ordered Alcmene, realising standing in the dark awaiting an outcome beyond your control, alone, could be best eased with a task.

Alcmene certain the Goblins can also see the fear in Latona’s eyes. Nevertheless, she does what she is ordered to do and then dashes back to Alcmene unable to resist the urge to hug her briefly.

“Please send one of your tributes to collect the water and at least quench your thirst while you wait.”

A tribute’s chain is let out to enable them to reach the bucket and bring it back. Alcmene scrutinises the Goblin’s behaviour. One of the tributes is forced to drink first. After a while, another and finally the third. With the first tribute still alive the water is deemed safe to drink; the male goblins then drink their fill.

Charis and Helice arrive, Helice carrying a lantern. Latona gasps in surprise, Charis strides towards the centre of the Main Cavern in full armour, cloak and Daughters pin, bow shouldered and daggers sheathed at her hips. Helice equally impressive. The Goblins as one, including the tributes rise slowly to their feet and bow deeply, straightening slowly afterwards as if seeking permission.

The Head Goblin growls at his charges and they all drop, heads to the ground, backs bent and exposed. The Head Goblin bows again and slowly rising, avoiding eye contact with Charis. Now he realises the power, which has conquered the cavern and he congratulates himself on choosing the way of talk.

“I did not realise another female of your race walked amongst us again, I beg your forgiveness for any ancient wrongs and if called upon will answer to repay that most ancient debt.”

Charis signalled for the Head Goblin to step closer. Talking is still best conducted at a distance he shivered and with reluctance, glancing forlornly at his bodyguards, for perhaps the last time, wondering if they would try to avenge him, serve his slayer or run away, he slowly stepped towards his possible doom.

“I acknowledge your respect for ancient ways, but I must tell truth and prove my trust by correcting any misunderstandings,” whispered Charis deliberately.

The Head Goblin felt no more assurance. His previous dealing with the ancient race cruel and savage, costing many lives, he paid respect to this vision from legend to help placate any violent tendencies she may contemplate. He couldn’t help himself, glancing back at his fellow Goblins wondering if he ran would they try to protect him or run before him. His glance causing them to shift nervously. If they ran now, he would be to blame, so he straightened his shoulders and turned to face the ancient creature before him resolving to die if he must.

Charis removed her helm freeing her earth brown hair to fall about her. The shock upon the Head Goblin’s face plain regardless of the racial differences. The other Goblins confused, murmuring amongst themselves.

“How can this be!” yelped the Head Goblin.

Charis waved her hand to calm him.

“I want no misunderstanding between us, only trust, so I will reveal that I am Half-Elven, my mother was Human and my father I suspect was Elven or perhaps he was Half-Elven I am not sure. Therefore, you owe me no repayment of ancient debt and I ask for none.”

“You realise I was convinced, and you could have requested much from us. I am not used to such fair treatment. Goblins are not used to such fair treatment.” His voice betraying his astonishment.

“As I said I wish a trust to exist between us and I believe goblins, like humans are inclined to have those of good nature and those of evil nature but aren’t all good or all evil, so I am hoping that you and your tribe at least, just wish to live in peace as do we.” Charis also ardently wished for one less enemy, the Daughters of the Duchess having attracted enough to date. Alcmene first assessment clearly stated the Head Goblin, articulate and therefore educated and given his age most likely wise also, therefore Charis decided to gamble on an accord instead of bloodshed.

“This peace will need to remain a secret, because as you say, we have those of good and those of evil like humans do. Those with me are my trusted servants. The females will need to die as they can’t be trusted but also their families have already accepted their deaths,” stated the Head Goblin. Charis discerned no malice, simply logic and calculation to reduce risk.

One of the escort Goblins drew his finger across his throat while eyeing his female goblin. The tributes understood the meaning and helplessly looked about them, quickly realising their situation remained hopeless.

“If as your servant stated female goblins aren’t needed or wanted, we need to change the tribute to continue this agreement to avoid any suspicion,” whispered the Head Goblin.

“We will accept the current tribute of female goblins rather than cause their deaths, although we understand they can never be seen again by their families. What is a satisfactory replacement tribute that would avoid any possible suspicion?” Charis asked.

“We dig in the earth, some metals we use, some we don’t have the skill to, and we also find crystals and stones, perhaps a mix of all these in place of families losing their sons in battle or daughters in tribute?”

“Agreed. I will leave the amount for you to decide as you need to ensure the tribute is enough to avoid any suspicion and not too excessive to be a burden.”

“You are most gracious and understanding. I would like to suggest that if my servants aren’t available to deliver the tribute another place is made available were it can be left without them knowing the cavern is under new ownership.”

“How long do we have to ready such a place?” Charis asked.

“At least four weeks, although the next delivery will need to be made by my servants so they can be told about the new place to leave the next tribute. Is that acceptable?”

“Yes, I have a possible solution in mind.”

With that, the Head Goblin and his retinue of male goblins rose, bowed and quickly left. There one moment, hastily gone the next. The three female goblins stayed put, chains removed from their necks, eyes darting from human to human doubting their future, huddled together, clasping hand to hand to hand.

Charis lent on Helice for support, amused as the Head Goblin and his retinue scampered away.

Vocalising her thoughts, she wondered if her sisters would provide any enlightenment.

“I know this is a risk, but I believe it is one shared by the goblins, although they could never return, it is not as if we could hunt them down and make them pay. We will need to think of ways we could possibly make this as beneficial to them as it is to us, plus we will need a blacksmith we can trust I suppose.”

Nysa glanced at Kyra before she offered comment. “My blade doesn’t have to kill everything Mistress and in Judge’s teachings, never are the Goblins mentioned as an ancient enemy or even enemy, only humans bending his teachings to meet their own ambitions have made them the enemy of man.”

Alcmene, for Latona’s benefit placed the lantern near the Goblin tributes. Nysa, Kyra, Alcmene, Charis and Helice gathered around them; pitiful, skinny, rags for clothing and generally cowering, not unexpected, given the situation.

Latona knelt beside them and started talking to them, in clipped Goblin! Eventually an exchange of smiling relaxed the three.

“The Head Goblin spoke truthfully. They dig in the earth. My father would pay them to prepare new farmland and work fallow ground and we would trade them food for their efforts. My father asked me to learn some of their language so there wouldn’t be any misunderstandings.”

“Is this the secret of Clayvale as no one, at least in Lonely Keep speaks of the out of the way village?” asked Charis.

Latona giggles. “We are secluded, we have always been happy go lucky talkers and many generations passed before reaching an accord with the Goblins. They stole and broke things before then.”

“I am not certain, but I think I have met one other from Clayvale and a happier and friendlier stranger I have yet to meet.” Charis’ voice trailing off towards the end as her past returned to haunt her. His dull grey eyes staring back at her from the trailside rut, once sparkling, matching his happiness and zest to be alive. Her cowardice, she could have confessed her identity faced the Baroness. Would she be alive today?

Helice lent her head on Charis’ shoulder disturbing her melancholy, her body attempting to retreat away, failing due to Helice’s persistence and Seer sending.

“What Mistress, you can lean upon me and I can’t lean upon you?”

“No … I mean yes, oh I don’t know what I mean.”

“You were deep in sad thought about the past, the stranger I suspect, you can’t change the past, it is done, now pay attention to Latona.”

The three female goblins didn’t know what was being said but felt no anger or tension in those speaking, so hoped beyond hopes the words exchanged meant life and not death.

Latona continued her speech, delighted to assist and offer knowledge to her new sisters, pleased her Mistress waited amongst them.

“We needed to make sure they would hide if anyone visited the farm, especially avenging Judge Knights or petty warriors. We would run to warn them and eventually they trusted us and didn’t mistake us for those trying to come and kill them. As I learnt more of their language, I understood them more and we were able to trade other items as well as food with them. They even repaired some of our tools, although they were not very good with large iron tools.”

Assessing their new Initiate, Charis declared her mind. “Well I suggest you will now be responsible for our new friends.”

“Yes Mistress, it will be the least I can do to contribute.”

“What were you doing amongst the horses by the way? I was told they startled and revealed you to the Goblins?”

“I slept there, Mistress. I didn’t know where else to go after I spent time with each sister, and I needed to sleep somewhere.” A small whine crept into her final words, anxious about doing something wrong after making such a good impression upon her Mistress.

“Helice will take care of you and settle you in,” said Charis. Her displeasure barely reigned in; how could her sisters treat a new sister so poorly, her treatment shamed them all. They were one, they shared the good and they survive the grim together.

“Commendable control Mistress, if you are looking for blame, look around, it is this cavern, everyone is working as hard and as fast as they can so we can return to some normalcy. Don’t blame your sisters,” sent Helice.

“With me Latona and I will show you to your bed,” called Helice waving to her and offering an arm to wrap around her shoulders.

“What about our goblin sisters? They don’t have a bed either and while they prefer the night, if they stay in the cavern out of sunlight, they will be able to sleep at night and be active during the day like us or perhaps they could help a shift as a servant?”

Helice allowed her arm to drop, while Charis asked the obvious question.

“Do you trust them?”

“I know their situation, they were about to die as a tribute or at the hands of their own people and now they’re not, against all odds still alive. Every creature faced with certain death appreciates being alive and the person or person’s responsible Mistress.”

Charis scanned the other sisters and there seemed to be agreement, as every sister would be vulnerable with the Goblin Sisters roaming about the Caverns.

“I sense a little of your experience in your answer. I appreciate your honesty and I trust your judgement in this, they’re yours to command.”

Butterflies crashed into Latona’s stomach, from certain death to being responsible for others to now in command of others. She knew her mother would be pleased, maybe, possibly even her father, she thought.

“Yes Mistress.” She then crouched down to talk to her goblin sisters, and they lined up behind her like ducklings as she strolled with Helice, her new sister’s arm around her shoulders to the Inner Cavern.

Charis, while resigned to her fate, wondered what else or who else would burden her with the additional responsibility of their lives. She needed sleep; the black of night still present. In the light of this day she would need to direct the elder to complete her plans with some modification given how the Goblins entered without enough early warning and the need for a discrete tribute area.

---

Astera gently woke Charis as she started preparing for day shift. Thyia, Zoe, Alexis and Zosime were all variably amused, revolted and amazed at the sight they woke up to before their shift change. The three goblin sisters were sleeping around, under and on Latona, in body contact if possible, regardless of any alternative unoccupied space on their shared bed. The goblins generated a unique smell which condensed and solidified in an enclosed space like an underground cavern. Particularly strong above and around them like a cloud of stink.

With the sisters bathing every day and returning to the confines of the caverns bodily smells were tolerable at best. Anything less and the enclosed cavern magnified the odour. With their new Goblin servants Charis knew something needed to be done otherwise they would gag in their sleep, if they could get to sleep. Fortunately, the Goblins joined during night shift, evening shift already fast asleep, their shift finishing a few bells before, while day shift well and truly asleep. That is until morning.

Charis dressed and pinching her nose, cautiously side stepped to Latona, reaching out with Astera’s spear to nudge her awake. Trying her best to do so gently so she wouldn’t startle and awaken the smells of torture. Charis’ attempt observed by the entire day shift, holding back laughter because her attempt risked breathing in copious amounts of Goblin perfume! Latona opened her eyes without moving, sensing the presence of her goslings nestled tightly around her. Charis waved to calm her and then waved her out of bed and over to Charis.

As Latona approached, Charis waved her back a few steps due to her newly acquired aroma. Still amazed she was able to untangle herself without any of the Goblins waking.

“They do have a smell, but this is mainly due to poor hygiene, so I will make them bath regularly but perhaps a separate sleeping cavern is also required as I need to make sure I don’t acquire their fragrance permanently! You must also understand Mistress these are all young, maybe only eight or nine years old, equivalent to a fifteen or sixteen-year-old human perhaps, although I am not sure, who have never ventured from their home cave for a moment. I do know they are mature enough to be wedded and bedded although in Goblin terms, which I don’t know what that means. They see me as their protector or perhaps mother now given their family believe them dead. They’re also terrified of you, regardless of the Head Goblin’s assurance you aren’t Elven, their mothers all their short lives have told them to behave or the Elven Lord will eat them.”

The goblin sisters woke during Latona’s speech to Charis and they all scrambled back, as far away as possible from Charis flattening themselves against the wall of the cavern proving Latona’s point.

“Once we have their hygiene sorted, we need to find them work which can assist us. I was going to ask you to have them clean down the blood stains, but apart from being hopeless I haven’t asked any other sisters to perform the unpleasant task given the number of lives that have been taken there and therefore, unfair to ask them. I will ask the elder to use some stone to cover the stain and perhaps seal off the sleeping niche as well and build another nearby to sleep three goblins.” Charis thinking allowed now and eventually arriving at a possible solution.

“That should work Mistress. Do I have permission to use a water barrel to bath them in?”

“I am sure everyone will think that would be an excellent idea. Retrieve the last one remaining on the decoy wagon, I doubt any visitor will note its absence and it can be placed near their sleeping niches and emptied after use. A dedicated Goblin bath we will name it, although I suggest you use it first.”

Latona sniffs herself. “Yes, good suggestion and we will fetch it now and use it immediately Mistress.”

“For now, we will restrict them to the Main Cavern and the Inner Cavern, make sure they understand.”

“Yes Mistress, they don’t need to see any more than they need to, I understand.”

Charis broke her fast in the Main Cavern, the Goblin perfume too much in the Inner Cavern and the Kitchen too far away, the elder would be chasing her soon for an early start. The circular stairs excavated and completed. The top of the Stone Curtain Wall subtly reduced in height, which Charis would check late afternoon to see if more needed to be removed to make a difference. Ideally, late afternoon the sunlight should light up the back wall of the Main Cavern.

The elder took to smoothing over the blood-stained area with determination to try an erase the evil there, in this small way. She directed the Warrior Sisters of the afternoon shift to remove the Alter and place the evil artefact inside the chipped-out priest sleeping cavern, which she then sealed with stone. She then went above and beyond and completed four generous separate sleeping niches at the very back of the area for the Goblin sisters and their adopted mother. A method to her construction, using the excavated stone for the other tasks nearby instead of having scree fetched for the task. The Goblins studying the elder intently, their eyes lighting up when Latona confirmed these were the sleeping places assigned to them. Not certain about her own though.

Late afternoon and the moment of truth. With a fair amount of satisfaction Charis and the elder sat in late afternoon sunlight with their backs against the Main Cavern wall directly opposite the Cavern Entrance. They turned to look at each other smiling and hugging in triumph.

“We will need to wait a few days before any more is done, we have depleted our magic to a dangerous level Charis, even with the Seers sunning.”

“Yes, we have done enough for now.” Charis’ amusement directed at the evening shift before shift start, adding some spoilt bedding to the afternoon’s pyre, assuming Goblin perfumed. The Goblins trying to ask for it and being denied after bowing politely.

“I have thought about a change to the Cavern Blind, perhaps the guard sister should quietly lay under the wagon and when the enemy is revealed she rolls into the Cavern Blind and warns her sisters at the same time,” offered the elder.

“Wouldn’t the movement give away her position?” questioned Charis, observing the recently bathed Goblins in their sleeping niches, laying down in their wet rags observing the pyre being built higher with corpses.

“Perhaps, but I could hollow it out below the wagon so the sister is well hidden, and the hollow could continue to the entrance of the Cavern Blind.”

“Could work, I don’t know what else to do. I was considering viewpoints on top of the Stone Curtain Wall, but our last uninvited guest flew in and anyone on top of that wall would be facing certain death,” lamented Charis as the Goblins then volunteered to help build the pyre, dragging dried corpses from the stockpile until asked to stop once the pyre high enough, their wet rags now dry.

“I will seal the top of the circular stairs since we shouldn’t need access to the top of the wall anymore.”

“Let us do that now before dusk, with the last of the remaining light. It would complete that part of the defence at least.”

“Yes Charis, as you request,” answered the elder, a smirk across her face.

They completed the work required walking back into the Main Cavern and they witnessed the three goblin females each wearing a newly acquired fur that was wrapped around them and held in place with some rope, bare foot, climbing into their new sleeping niches, being encouraged to do so by Latona. Charis couldn’t decide which was worse the flash of green skin or the fact that the flashes included their tiny breasts and buttocks as well as arms and legs! Their prized possessions, their furs inadequate to cover their modesty!

Charis waited for Latona to finish.

“What has been achieved today with your new charges?”

“Their clothes and sandal things are being soaked or were being soaked, they have now been burnt on this afternoon’s pyre. I have asked one of the shifts when they go to the House for food to find some small clothes or acquire some children’s clothes and boots for them. Until then I have just found some smaller furs to wrap around them. They weren’t keen on taking a bath until I insisted, otherwise I told them they would have to sleep outside. I went first to encourage them. They’re happy with their sleeping quarters though, somewhat like home but better, much less dirt.”

“What can they do? How can they be useful for us?”

“They can fetch and carry, they helped with the corpses, they’re used to being bullied into doing hard work, it is their system, the larger you are the more you can boss around and the less you do.”

“You have told them not to venture past the Inner Cavern? At least until we know more about them, perhaps later, but not now.”

“Yes Mistress, they could polish armour, sharpen weapons and possibly help me with the horses.”

“Well Dione did cart all our proper weapons with her when she carried the hay for the horses, perhaps they could start there. They need to earn their keep and if we allow them to lay about it will be difficult to get them motivated again without threats and possibly violence. Both of which I would like to avoid.”

“Yes Mistress.”

Charis decided upon a night’s sleep in her own bed, well overdue and the House needed a visit from her in any case as Clymene and Ismene were alone with the urchins for company. As always Helice accompanied her on the journey, noting for the first time the effort it required for Charis to reach the Water Cavern, where they rested, “for water”, before continuing to the First Cavern and eventually the Training Room. Helice deciding to share her concerns as soon as possible.