by A L Issett
“Vlora is not for sale” master replied. “And only I will be staying here until my meeting in the morning. Do you have any place for those who travel with me?”
“They can stay on the side but I am not responsible if someone steals them or not” the fat goblin replied as master pulled out a sack and gave the man four finger bones that looked like it once belonged to a man.
The fat goblin smiled as master grabbed two bowls of food and led me and Vlora around the side where I could see a human female tied to a tree. Master left me and Vlora outside alone, I went over to the female and with a swipe of my claw I cut the rope. She was thin and skinny and readily took the food I offered, she even ate what Vlora gave her. The beast in me was pleased to keep company with two females as I stretched out on the ground and went to sleep with not only Vlora, but the other woman wrapped tight around me. I awoke some time during the night to a muffled scream, I could see Vlora was being pulled away and had a hand around her mouth. I shot up and raked the goblin across the face with my claws, sending blood and bits of flesh everywhere as the goblin cried out. I could hear another goblin behind me as I willed myself into smoke and could feel the sword pass through me. I billowed around the goblin as he hacked away. I could feel myself enter his body when he breathed and could feel the goblin struggle. He went to run but I flowed him and made more of my body pour into his until he passed out. The other goblin had ran, where to I did not know as Master ran out of the tent and around where I was. I made myself solid as the human female, who was now scared to death held on to me, her tiny frame was shaking up against mine. I came back to myself and could see I was no longer wearing a loincloth and scanned the area to retrieve it as Vlora was telling master what had happened. Another goblin came up, this one a female and obviously older, around middle age.
“Damn thieves again” the female goblin said as she looked my way. “I need to lock my slave up properly. Your slave though looks nice, how do you keep him in such good shape?”
“It is my secret” Master said as he turned to face the woman. I had just put together what makes master different, one of his long ears is clipped and had three rings through it. I could feel he wanted the woman to recognize this.
“Master Shaman” the female goblin said as she took a step back. “The leader of the last human raid, I should have known you would keep a fine human slave. His cock looks huge, how much would you charge me for a fucking? I mean for my slave Ferix of course, I will give you their first born as payment if I could borrow him again to ensure I get one of my own”. The goblin then walked over to me and grabbed my sex, it stiffened instantly and the beast inside of me wanted to fuck every female around, Master though stopped her as she stroked me a little.
“Your slave would do nicely and Ferix already is attached, how much for your slave outright?” the female goblin said as then began to pull out a sack of some kind.
“Crux is not for sale madam” master began. “He has better things to attend to than making more slaves. Once he is finished though, it would be up to him if he wants to lay with you or not”.
“Oh its not for me” the female goblin said as she stammered a bit. “It is for Ferix, I wouldn’t sleep with a human I am already taken by another”.
Master just eyed the woman as she turned around and left. The rest of the night went by easily, no one else had attacked us and master waited until sunrise to wake us. I jumped awake and freed myself from the females embraces. I was covered in fur again, something that must have happened throughout the night I thought. We left the other female sleeping as we made our way to the biggest building in the city. It looked manmade I thought, a guess that was confirmed by the many human men I saw walking all around and in the building. Master walked up to the building and was let in instantly. We were led into a large room which held the oldest goblin I ever saw. He was green but it looked less vibrant than the Master’s. Standing next to him was a goblin that looked almost human, he had the same lighter skin as Vlora as well as other human features. When this goblin saw Vlora I could smell in the air he had wanted her, he lusted after her which made me get angry.
“Balrog you have come” the older goblin said in a low voice. “Cyrax has some information, I know you two are rivals but we cannot dismiss it. Cyrax, tell Balrog what you have told me”.
“I can end the human war and gain us more land” the human looking goblin said as I could tell he was gloating. “The humans value the yellow rock, I have found a lot of it in this mountain we can trade this rock for more land, but that is not the only thing. The humans are not as together as we are, they fight each other often, the humans we have been fighting are currently at war with another group of humans. If my human slaves are correct, I think we can offer them the yellow rock to help pay for their war and help in fighting it in exchange for more land”.
“If you have this all figured out, then why do you need me?” Master replied to the human looking goblin.
“Well you are the greatest amongst us, at least that is what you tell everyone” Cyrax smiled. “It has almost been a year since you not only beat the humans, but also their counter attack. They know the name Balrog since you told any human that would listen who you were. The humans know to take you seriously and you can bargain for us. Unless you need me to do something you are afraid to. I have no problem putting my life on the line for our kind. You can even take Brix with you”.
I could feel my master thought he had been outmaneuvered but somehow my master already knew this information.
“And how would I meet with these humans? The last time I went into their lands I killed many, took many weapons to outfit our fighters and many slaves to show us how the humans eat, I took all of their people who work the land I could find. Not only that, I made it so we wouldn’t have to hunt for meat anymore and learned to raise the chicken animals along with goat”.
“Yes, Yes Balrog I am well aware of your exploits” Cyrax said cutting him off. “I have taken the liberty of getting into contact with the new human ruler you failed to go after. He is ambitious and wants to look good in the eyes of the one above him. He has already informed this leader of leaders that we want to talk. You are supposed to meet with first the little ruler, then the big one in 8 sunrises at the border of the human lands. I will go with you up until the border and keep our army active just in case they try to kill you. Now are you going to participate in possibly our salvation or brood?”
I could feel a brief flash of anger from my master as he accepted. We were to leave that day as Cyrax had already taken the initiative to get everything right down to the warriors ready. We turned to leave as an unassuming goblin came towards us. I could feel pride coming off the master as he hugged this goblin. The goblin was a male and looked to be wearing an Iron brace of some kind. He walked with confidence as I noticed he carried no weapon. We walked outside of what was the Chieftain’s home and began walking, people moved out of the way for the master, but even more looked wary of this new threat.
“Brix you have been behaving yourself?” Master asked the new goblin as Vlora stood a little closer to me.
“I have master, but I have also had to let others know I am no one to bother” the goblin replied.
“Brix you already know Vlora, with her is Crux” master replied.
“A human?” Brix replied confused. “I thought you had no use for them. And Vlora looks different, almost like Shaman Cyrax”.
“She is Revan as well as chosen now, she looks different because she took a human heart. She took the one that used to belong to Crux”.
“The human is a Revan?” Brix asked in a low tone.
“He has the fell beast in him, he is also a chosen like yourself” master replied as I eyed the new goblin warily.
“This Shaman Cyrax does not know” Brix said as he looked at me closer. I towered over all the goblins, this Brix was no exception. I was built wider and had far more muscle on my body than his did. Being truthful he was somewhat skinny, but
the way he called my master, master also made me think he was a lot more dangerous than he looked. The goblin continued, “everything is as I told you master, the Revan Shaman Cyrax made talk a lot. The only thing I have left off is that I think Matrix is working for him. I often see him in throws of pain for no reason, although he cannot talk about our bond he can talk about other things. I doubt Shaman Cyrax knows about the process for making Chosen, but I am sure Matrix told him everything he knows”.
“Do not worry about Matrix” master said as he waved his hand dismissively. “The process did not take as well with him, he is slowly losing his powers, that is why the hold over him is diminishing. I have known this and do not confide in him as often. I knew he was working for Cyrax when he first asked to be changed. I have all the knowledge to make more like you three in my head, Cyrax will never find out”.
We walked until we met up with a much larger force of around four thousand goblin warriors. This force would be wiped out on open terrain but I had little doubt they could defend their homeland. My tutoring started coming back to me, the goblins were fierce fighters in the mountains and they rarely left it except for short incursions into Fae. As the trip went on the shaman Cyrax had come over thrice when master was away. The first time he talked to Vlora who barely had two words to say to him. She wouldn’t leave my side and ignored him despite his attempts at conversation. The second time he came along with two big Revan. They were built a little heavier than a short but stout man, I eyed them down and prepared for a fight, when Brix came up the Revan suddenly looked like they would rather be somewhere else. The last time he had come up with a half-naked human female. Vlora stopped me from running towards her as Cyrax pouted a little. I somehow knew master wanted me to conceal the beast inside me from Cyrax, which took a great deal of effort. As the days dragged on we finally reached the bottom of the mountain where we decided to camp for the night. I settled down like I always did, now we were getting close I was conflicted.
“I can feel something is troubling you Crux” master said as he sat down beside me with Brix. “I mean your people no harm, you can feel my words. I am going to need your help in this though, I do not trust the humans to play fair, not when they have chased us so deep into the mountains. We attack when our numbers cannot be supported by the mountains any longer. We lose mouths to feed but gain resources. I want our lands back and I mean to do it peacefully. How well do you know the human leaders?”
It all came back to me again, something I tried to bury, the hurt, the pain. Irina had left me and Jakob was still a fat bastard. I was hurt, sad and angry all at the same time as I wanted to rip Jakob’s throat out. I would teach him who was alpha, I would teach him to fear me. I would take back Irina, no, I don’t want a woman as treacherous as she was, I would kill her too.
“Calm yourself Crux” master said as he placed a hand on me. “I can feel your emotions strongly, who has hurt like this?”
“Humans always hurt each other they need no reason” Brix said as Vlora came up and held me around the waist.
“The human leader where we first met, is my brother Jakob, the Earl of Gastonin” I replied as master was taken aback.
“This is the first time you have spoken to me really Crux” the master said as I could feel a wave of happiness coming off of him. “I thought you would hate me or fear me forever”.
“I do not hate you master, at least not anymore although I do not know if it is the result of our bond” I replied as some of the hurt drifted away. “Vlora has been helping me cope, you are just someone trying to protect his people. That would have been my job had I stayed, fighting you on the border. I have no real place among my people anymore, I have no riches or any mate to get back to. I have another brother that I love dearly, other than that I have you who even the beast tolerates and Vlora. My brother Jakob betrayed me, he stole the mate I wanted. I went out to die when I first saw you, after the torture it made me realize Jakob was not worth it”.
“You will always have me here Crux” Vlora said as she looked into my eyes. “Whoever this brother is of yours is we will face him together. You do not need to be scared”.
“I am not scared of Jakob” I replied with a sigh. “No one can put me through what I went through this last year, Jakob included”.
“Well Crux I have something I need you to do” master said as he looked at me. “Tomorrow we will be at the human lands, I want you to be my second during these talks. I will need you to speak on my behalf if you see something is not right. In reality I plan on agreeing with the humans if the end result is our getting more land”.
“I will be your second master” I replied.
“That is good, I will bring you, Vlora and Brix with me as part of my honor guard” Master said as he unwrapped a package I had not seen him holding. “I have some human clothing; you show less of your body than we do. We will all wear this tomorrow to set them at ease. I know your people look at us the way we look at the fell beasts”.
“Are you talking about me master?” I replied trying to break the tension. “I happen to think fell beast are the most intelligent thing around”. I watched as the master looked flummoxed for bit, before regaining himself. The goblins had no humor, but he could tell I was not angry at him. Vlora had to describe the concept to him as I got some rest. The next day we would be traveling without the army, Brix would go ahead first, the goblins had no need of horses except to eat since food was scarce and walked the way. We followed a couple of hours later, apparently Brix could change his body into iron. He would be able to escape if something crazy happened. Vlora who explained to me how her gift worked could keep taking glances into the future, a few moments ahead at a time. I of course doubted her and meant to catch her up, something I never did until I too became a believer. IWe got to the border at midday, Brix was there waiting, looking as uncomfortable as I had ever seen the goblin. He looked like a messenger which was probably the look master was going for, to make Brix look unimportant. Vlora had changed into a similar outfit, although I knew she had a dress on her complete with the heeled shoes women wore in Fae. I was dressed like a typical bodyguard, a sword was given to me, it felt to have one on the hip again I thought. I had not practiced with it in quite some time but rusty or not I doubted only the most skilled could defeat me. I was a lot faster and a lot stronger and I could cheat by becoming smoke. We walked up to where a snobbish looking man dressed in some kind of uniform was there to meet us along with who I thought was Field Marshal Gallant. I had only seen the man once and that was in passing but I knew he was in charge of the Faelin forces. If he was here then maybe this thing could happen.
ACT III
My countrymen looked confused for a moment when they saw me, I human traveling with goblins must have thrown them for a loop. There was a carriage waiting for us, it was nice and spacious. I opened the door for the master and others, gesturing for them to get in. They climbed inside nervously as I closed the door. On the back side of the wall sat a mirror, in it looked a face a barely recognized. I looked like myself somewhat, although I now was a red head instead of having dark locks. The face though had sharper edges, my hair was a bit more unruly. My eyes were now an amber color, almost yellow in the light I was looking at them. I looked dangerous and handsome all at the same time I thought. My face was framed in what was a small beard, complete with a rust red moustache. My shoulders looked broader, I was already built like a man when I was taken, now I was built like the most powerful of soldiers. My companions stared into the mirrors around the carriage to as we rode along. We passed straight through the small town and I knew without a doubt we were headed for my former home. I tensed up a bit as master poured me something from one of his skins. It tasted horrible as he pulled out his bone and said a small chant. My nerves went away and in their place was determination. I would not be cowed by Jakob or whoever else I found there.
I could smell it before I saw it, the smell of grass which signaled we were at the earl’s estate. When
the carriage stopped I hopped out and let Vlora out first, I was sure they would have us clean ourselves up a bit before meeting my brother. The rest of my companions got out of the carriage and I led them up to the main entrance where Jan was waiting. My brother had put on a little weight, but the eyes that once held joy looked to hold sadness. I could tell he wanted to jump on my master when he first saw him when I realized he probably thought I was dead and this was the person that killed him. He kept his head and greeted us at the door, his eyes fell on mine for a moment and passed over me. When I left we were the same height, I now had him by a head and although he had gained weight I could snap him like a twig. I would never do such a thing to this brother though.
“Welcome Master Balrog” Jan said in a tone I could tell was rehearsed. “I am the brother of the earl, my lord has granted me permission to see to it that you are able to freshen up from your long journey on the road, follow me please”. Vlora’s eyes met mine and I nodded at her question of were we related.
Master was led into a room that used to belong to me, the rest of us had the smaller rooms next to his which basically consisted of a bed, a small wardrobe and a table. I went back into my old room to explain to my master our concept of soap and let him bathe. I was fortunate that master had the foresight and packed us more clothes as I took Brix and Vlora to the servant’s bath. It was a community bath, one for the men and one for the ladies. I explained what everything was for and left her to it as we washed up. When I was finished I hurried back to my room and got dressed quickly before rounding up one of the serving girls. I led her into Vlora’s room and had her do her hair and let her know I would be giving her a tip when this was all over. The girl looked scared then enamored at me, then went into shock as she saw Vlora. Hardly anyone had seen a female goblin I thought as Vlora reluctantly let the girl do her job. Afterwards I left as Vlora was helped into her dress by the girl and returned to master and Brix. It was sometime before we were summoned before the earl. When I saw Vlora I had to do a double take. She was absolutely beautiful, like a green skinned pleasure demon often read about in bawdy tales. She looked uncomfortable but her look was amazing, she smiled at me as we started our walk. I had taken off my sword, I would pull Jan to the side when I saw him and let him know it was me. As we made our way to our ball room which doubled as a eating hall when we had guests, I could hear some time of giggling. I could hear a young woman laughing somewhat as a man let her know after he had finished with the damn goblins he would be back. My voice went cold as I heard Jakob’s voice, master put a hand to steady me. I could tell we were being led in the scenic route, the estate was made to show off its wealth and the man leading us, Jon had always enjoyed flaunting my father’s wealth. As we finally got to where the meeting would be I was not surprised to see Jakob had beat us there.