On the seventh day of travel, we came to a great fortification: a wall at least 10 yards high and stretching off into the distance on either side. In front of us was a great gate with two towers flanking it. In the distance, I could see more gates like this one. Nasty-looking ballistae were loaded and ready, though not aimed at anything. I could see the helmets of patrolling hobgoblins pacing back and forth.

We politely got into the long line with all the goblins who were walking or riding on wagons of produce. The elves dismounted but Cat stayed in the saddle since it was as difficult to dismount as it was to mount. Cat has to have help and Owl helps him, but the boy is fragile around this issue. It's such a worry.

Given the extra mobility and height that the pony gave Cat, he struck up conversations with the goblins in the wagons surrounding us. That's an interesting thing about my boy: he can make a friend out of almost everyone he meets. And it's not an act on his part. He's honestly interested in people. The people he talks to can feel his sincere interest.

He soon had the goblins in line with us describing what they did for a living. The wagon in back of us had distilled alcohol spirits made from potatoes. The couple driving the wagon came from a village that specialized in potato products. Before long, everyone around us was listening to Cat interview this couple about their village, all the varieties of potatoes they grew, and all the different things they made out of potatoes. The liquor in their wagon was part of their yearly taxes.

Cat also engaged an older goblin wearing glasses and an official's black robe. The goblin drove a smart one-horse cart with the words "Equalizer's Office" painted on it. Being clueless as to what that was, Cat soon had the older goblin discussing how the goblin kingdom was one unified economy. The Equalizer's Office kept the records of who was having a great harvest and who was having trouble because of things like wildlife or drought. Then the Equalizer's Office would balance the distribution of goods so that no village had to face famine or a lack of shelter after a disaster. The office would also adjust taxes accordingly. If something was badly out of balance then the Queen or the Army would intervene.

"So if a village or ward specialized in one kind of product or trade, what happens if someone wants to do something different or learn a different trade from what a village or ward specialized in, sir?" Cat was curious.

"Oh my," the goblin smiled, "before I answer your question, I will point out that I'm not a sir, I'm a ma'am."

"I am so sorry," Cat turned red with embarrassment. "I meant no offense. Please, accept…"

"Say no more, young sir," the goblin raised a restraining hand and smiled. "It is difficult for other races to determine the gender of a goblin who is not breeding. I am not offended."

"Thank you for being so understanding," Cat smiled his best-winning smile. "We are guests here, and I would not want to insult anyone by accident."

"Your consideration is commendable, young sir. But back to your question," the goblin smiled again. "I know other races find this difficult to understand, but if a goblin truly wishes to leave a family or village trade, that goblin will marry into another family and move to another village to learn that different occupation. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen. Most follow the family trade, like myself. I was born into a ward, which is the city equivalent of a village, that specializes in balancing and distribution services for the Equalizer's Office. As a child, I knew I would grow up to do this work. I have never doubted it. It gives me joy to do this job. I can not even imagine wanting to do something else."

"Are all goblins like this?" Cat Rider was astounded. I admit I was too.

"For the most part, yes," the goblin bureaucrat answered. "We tend to value the health of the community over the individual wishes of just one person. The great downside of this is that other races, especially the humans and to a lesser extent, the dwarves, tend to misunderstand goblin society. We are closest to the elves in the importance we give to the family and the community. Have I lost you yet?"

Cat blinked, "I'm not sure. This is all new to me."

"You may or may not have noticed, but we do not engage in trade often," the lady bureaucrat remarked. "The problem is that the sale of commodities benefits the village and not any one farmer or shepherd or wrangler. A human merchant usually does not understand that there is no such thing as a sole goblin merchant. Our way of life causes strife with outsiders who do not understand us. That's why we lean toward closing our borders to others who can't accept the way we do things. I see your brow is clouded and you are struggling, young sir. But you are young still, and can bend your mind easily to understand the ways of other people."

"I think I get it," Cat's frown could be seen behind his mask. "It explains to me for the first time why the mercers guilds of Nordweg protested so strongly that their traders had to come to Kizdangengar to arrange deals for buying grain or wool instead of being able to trade in the smaller communities closer to the border. If the flow of commodities is managed by a centralized bureau of government, then it makes sense to deal with that bureau. Not doing so could upset the import-export balance of trade between two kingdoms, and for a centralized economy such as you described, it could be a disaster if trade got badly unbalanced."

"Exactly right!" The bureaucrat beamed. "You do understand. The mercers of Nordweg are still unhappy with the arrangement. What would you suggest to balance relations with the humans? Just as a hypothetical question, young sir."

"Yes, I think I do understand," Cat frowned deeper. "I'm sure most of the mercers objected because it's further to travel to the capital to do business instead of making deals closer to home. The distance of travel is the objection because of the cost and the time. So establish a satellite office at the border or send a goblin official with the power to make deals to the Nordweg capital. To make it equitable, do it every other year and on odd years, the humans can come to you. That's what I'd suggest."

"Hmm, I think I'll suggest that to the boss," the goblin nodded and adjusted her glasses. "Where are you and your colleagues headed?"

"To wherever the goblin queen meets people," Cat said. "We are an elven hunting party and the queen invited us because we have experience with wyverns."

"So you are on your two years of adventuring? Why hunting instead of working the caravan or mercenary trades?"

"Well, it's because we have the best hunter living in the elven lands as part of our group," Cat smiled. "We thought that would give us an advantage if we offered our services as hunters."

"So who is this stalwart of hunting?" The bureaucrat looked over the three elves in front of her just now coming up to the gate guards.

"It's Fuzzy," Cat said, looking around for me. "Fuzzy?"

I was walking on the other side of his pony. I think the boy is blind sometimes. I meowed at him.

"Oh, there you are, Fuzzy. This lady wants to meet you. Come over to this side of the horse."

"Oh my," the goblin lady stood up and bowed, "look at you and your blue eyes. I am pleased to meet you. Is this young sir yours?"

I nodded.

"Cat," Cloud Eye called, "we're up. Get over here."

"Excuse me," Cat made a brief bow from the saddle and heeled the pony up to the gate.

I was wondering when they were going to remember me when one of the hobgoblins at the gate sniffed at Cat and then yanked down his hood, exposing his round ears.

"Hey, this elf's a human! We don't allow humans on a pass for elves." The four gate guards surrounded Cat and leveled their halberds at him.