Grag’s POV

  The fort was more massive than anything Grag had ever seen, large enough that the Master could probably fit the entire village inside its walls. Grag stared up at it, swallowing, unsure how people could even build something so big.

  Pasxi walked with him. Her magical learning had come along. Grag was proud of her, her learning came along faster than his. She learned how to read the runes almost immediately, though the fire runes he had didn’t work for her, but the knowledge of how to read let her explore on her own. The Master said he didn’t know if he had many spirit runes, but he would let them look through the spell books he had.

  Seris and Venni walked along the path as well. Seris was a great mage. A magus. A wizard chief. His knowledge was vast, maybe not as vast as the Master’s, but still impressive. Seris worked with the two goblins some in teaching them more magical theories and how to “constructively” use magic and plan. He didn’t know much about combat magic, but he did know book stuff. He wore the same blue robes he had been captured in. They had a lot of amazing symbols sewn into them of different thread colors.

  Venni just taught them how to read. He was also teaching the other goblins their letters and numbers. The old man was carrying some parchments with him. Grag didn’t know where he got them, but he had changed out of the clothes he wore when he was captured and now wore a red shirt and black pants. It was interesting, goblins didn’t wear such fancy clothes. The old blue robes he was captured in were less impressive than Seris’s anyway.

  When the four of them got into the fort in the main hall was a large rectangular table with the Master sitting at the head in an exotic looking chair with bones inlaid in it. Black wood and red cloth made up the bulk of the chair. Small animal skulls hung from sinew off the top of the tall-backed chair. Grag swallowed.

  Rikkard was already there talking to the Master. Durnakh as well. The hobgoblins leaned in close and the Master just seemed to be listening to them. For once they didn’t seem to be fighting.

  Grag and Pasxi sat at the opposite end of the table. Despite being close to the exit of the room, it was a little warm. The Master’s eyes seemed to watch everyone as they came in and where they chose to sit. Who gathered, who avoided who and who spoke.

  Eryndral and Krelgr came in a short time later. Krelgr sat next to Pasxi and Eryndral walked all the way to the Master and sat next to him. She smiled gently at Pasxi and gave her a small nod.

  Liora came in with Slorbb in tow and Gideon shortly after. Gideon took the last open seat on the other side of Grag and Slorbb and Liora went to stand behind the Master.

  Durnakh was still speaking. The Master held up a hand to quiet him.

  “We are ready to begin.” He said to everyone.

  “Winter is almost upon us.” The Master said. “It is important we prepare. After winter is spring, and I want to begin reconquering the Deepwood as soon as possible.”

  “We can’t march in spring.” Durnakh said. “There is too much to rebuild. We must do raids into healthier human lands to keep our numbers up and get new slaves to work.”

  “Not this time.” The Master responded. “This time we will thrive through winter. Not just Gravewell, but your villages as well.”

  “How?” Rikkard asked.

  “With proper preparations.” The Master said. “Starting with food. We will need to store a lot of it for winter.”

  “We are going to dig pits to bury the food, Master.” Grag said helpfully.

  “Not this winter.” The Master said. “This winter we store food like humans.”

  “Humans?” Krelgr asked.

  “Yes, humans.” The Master said. We will begin searching the forest for bee’s nests and honey and wax. We will use these to seal our new clay pots. We will divide the workers up into groups. Some in these groups, here and in other places will work to make clay jars, pots and containers to hold food and water.”

  “We know how to make jars, Master.” Pasxi said with a smile.

  Her eyes moved towards something in the middle of the table. A first-sized rock with runes carved into it. It looked strange, but Grag ignored it and looked back at the Master, who was looking at Pasxi.

  “Yes, but we will need a lot more. We will spend months making hundreds of pots.” The Master said.

  “Hundreds?” Durnakh snorted. “Why would we need so many? The rains will bring water enough.”

  “To store grain, mushrooms, roots, and such foods. To keep the honey and wax we gather. We will keep things in the pots for months at a time.” The Master said. “This will allow us to have food later instead of eating it all now and hoping for the best.”

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  But goblins buried their food for winter, like squirrels. If it worked for them, why wouldn’t it work for goblins?

  “We will dig a house in the ground, like a pit, but lined with stone and has vents and drainage ditches.” The Master said.

  He waved a hand at a few skeletons who brought in a couple bowls with meat in them. The skeletons placed a bowl in front of the hobgoblins and goblins. One each.

  The meat looked a little dark but didn’t smell. It looked like it had something on it. Grag touched it. The meat was firm and dry.

  “This meat has been sitting for three days in a cellar.” The Master said.

  Grag saw Rikkard take out a knife and cut the meat. It was still pink on the inside. He bit it.

  “Salty and tight.” Rikkard said. “Why is it like this?”

  “I took the water our of it.” The Master replied.

  “With magic?” Rikkard asked.

  “No, with salt.” The Master waved at Slorbb. “The lissik have salt harvesting techniques for the bog. I will take Slorbb and some goblins and the undead lissik back to the bog and the new smelting site… Fellward…” The Master said slowly, testing the outpost’s new name. “And at Fellward we will set up a method to harvest the brine.”

  Gideon cleared his throat. “The bog has many roots and vegetables we could harvest for the winter. There should be many rare flowers there for harvest as well, for potions and such.”

  The Master smiled slightly. “Yes Gideon, you will be allowed to go to Fellward. Durnakh’s leatherworkers will go with you to learn parchment making. There is a lot to do at Fellward before winter.”

  “Venni.” The Master said softly.

  “Yes, Master?” The scholar responded softly.

  Grag watched as the man looked sheepishly at the Master. Grag remembered such fear, but the Master wasn’t a monster. He was no Throk, who killed and maimed for the slightest offense. The Master was wiser than goblins and used that wisdom to help.

  “We will begin a census.” The Master said. “I want names, skills, race, ages, families…”

  “A what?” Grag asked.

  “A what, what?” Seris asked, “Which word confused you?”

  “A family.” Grag said.

  “We are all one people?” Pasxi asked.

  “I want to know whose parents and children are whose.” The Master said.

  “Goblins raise their children in groups; they don’t have lineages.” Rikkard said.

  “How do they prevent inbreeding?” The Master asked, looking at Rikkard.

  “They don’t.” Rikkard said. “They don’t even regulate mating.”

  The Master covered his face with his hand. “You’re saying Grag doesn’t know if he has children?”

  “I’m not a female Master; I can’t have children.” Grag said confused.

  The Master rubbed his hand through his beard. “Ok, Venni. Just names, skills, and such, no family’s yet.”

  “Yes, Master.” Venni said.

  The Master stared for a long time at Grag and Pasxi. The silence made him swallow again.

  “I had two births Master…” Pasxi said slowly into the quiet.

  “And do you know who they are?”

  “No, the midwives took them to the nursery. The chief names them, if they live.” Pasxi said.

  “Crude.” Rikkard said.

  Durnakh chuckled.

  The Master simply ran his fingers through his beard. It was better than when he covered his face. At least Grag could see if he were mad. He didn’t seem to do so.

  “Once we know who we have we will know how much food we need.” The Master moved on, Grag let out his breath. He didn’t even realize he was holding it.

  “Gideon and I will show you how to preserve food. Maybe some of the human slaves know how, also.” The Master said. “We will prioritize feeding to the most important members of the tribe. Pregnant woman and children will need to make sure they are fed well so they don’t die or lose the baby.”

  “And the warriors?” Durnakh asked, “Are they to be fed behind children?”

  “We will have enough food for everyone, but a grown goblin can go with less food longer than a child. If we have to spread thin until spring, so be it, but we shouldn’t need to.” The Master said.

  Grag was sweating slightly.

  Durnakh looked disgusted with that statement. When the Master looked around the table and his eyes were off the hobgoblin, Durnakh sneered and bore teeth.

  “When winter ends, spring begins.” The Master said. “We will farm like the humans. Until now, until spring, undead will clear the forest to make farmland. Then we will leave undead and some goblin and human slaves back in Gravewell to farm for next winter, so we have more food.”

  “Goblins don’t farm.” Durnakh said.

  “They will learn.” The Master said. “Slaves get no choice. My warriors will come with me to expand our reach, and the slaves will stay and do as they are told.”

  “How does farming even work?” Rikkard asked.

  “That bring us to our last raid before winter.” The Master said. “We will attack a village just before taxes are collected but after the harvest. Our goal will be simple. Everyone who can carry anything will come for the raid. Male, female, child, living and dead.” The Master looked around. “Anyone who cannot go will stay in Gravewell with a small guard, even from your villages.”

  “This village will have enough food to last for a long time, but it will also have seed for planting, and farmers to become slaves and farm. Animals to herd and cull. Metals, books, leather, parchment, gold. We will take everything not nailed to the floor.” The Master looked around. “We will take as many alive as possible, for any trade they may have.”

  “Winter isn’t the time to bring more mouths to feed. We should cull them and add them to your death band.” Rikkard said.

  “No, they are an investment for next season.” The Master said. “And from now on we will boil all bones of all animals and bring them to me to be made into undead workers.”

  “Even all the goats?” Pasxi asked.

  “Not all of them, only the ones you kill and eat.” The Master said.

  Pasxi’s eyes went back to the stone in the middle of the table. “Yes, Pasxi?” The Master asked.

  “What is this?” She reached out to the stone.

  “It is what I am calling a firestone.” The Master said. “It will keep a longhouse warm in the winter. “Even someone with a weak fire tether can charge it.”

  “Amazing innovation.” Seris said. “So simple…”

  The old magus picked up the stone and examined it. “I have never…”

  “I have plenty. You will each take a few stones back to your villages and have goblins, hobgoblins, slaves of any race try to charge them. Anyone who can will be sent back to Gravewell for training in how to use their fire tether.”

  “You would take all our magic?” Rikkard asked.

  “They will return to your villages when trained, but they will be ready when called for war or duty.” The Master said. He looked at Durnakh, “If anyone, anyone is caught hiding tethered individuals from me, it is treason and death.”

  Grag swallowed again, but Durnakh just smiled.

  “Of course, Master.” Durnakh said grinning.

  “And Venni will keep a record of all tethered people and their locations.” The Master said. “Air tethers will also try and charge your translator rings. When we get more reliable ways to find tethers, I will let you know.” The Master stood.

  Everyone stood with the Master, and he walked from the room, followed by Slorbb and Liora.

  “Inventing ways to find tethers?” Eryndral finally spoke. She smiled; her dark flaming eyes locked on the firestone. “He will be great.” She left the room without another word.

  After most of everyone left, Grag was left alone with Pasxi and Krelgr. They looked at each other in silence. Grag knew now… no he knew the moment he met the Master… goblin life in the Deepwood was never going to be the same.