Alexei looked like he'd been slapped, twice. "That's… we don't…"
Ashton held up a hand, "Goblins were created, for war and quick death. Kidnapped were fae, were dwarves, even beasts, all so humans could sacrifice at need. It took more than a century, but the goblins escaped, but even after millennia, unescaped is their hate."
Ashton's voice had carried over the clearing, loud enough for all to hear. Most of the nobility looked horrified at the revelation.
"They are cursed, hated and chased, slaughtered on sight, their justice erased. What they do is their nature, forced by creators. Should they all perish, when they are victims created for the cruelest of labors? That is not mine to decide, unless they go after the protected, unless they challenge my pride." Ashton informed dispassionately. If the Adarian's wanted to hide their cooperation, that was their business. So far, the goblins were hired for a job, lost hundreds of their own, and now demand compensation. None of which were his concern. If anything, Ashton was curious to see if the goblin king would actually manage to create a nation for his kind.
Beloved opened her wings, "Their king is wise, their king so far is just, all the women he claims, were sold, if there is a problem, it is that humans they cannot trust."
"Good your words, angry I am, but understanding I have. We speak, peace?" Came a booming voice from the tree line.
Caius wrinkled his nose, he'd of course noticed the goblins approach. But they were angry with the Adarians, so as far as he was concerned, they were allied.
Sebastian stared as a dozen of the most fearsome goblins he'd ever seen walked into the sunlight. Their king was larger than any hobgoblin he'd ever heard of. Standing at least seven feet tall, bone armor over leather. The bones were probably from several different beasts, but the skull helmet… was from a dragon.
Ashton glanced over his shoulder with a smile, "You come here in peace, protected under my wing, your stories I've heard, on all accounts, legendary. Come join us for a meal, no harm to you I'll see." Ashton invited. Beloved took to the sky to land on the Goblin King's shoulder. As they approached, she pecked at one of the bones.
"Wow! A dragon you slew! With you and just two! It must have been hard, it must have been scary! If I give you a gem, with me will you part the memory?" Beloved asked happily. She was standing on a human skull used as his shoulder armor, no doubt from a formidable mage.
The Goblin king wasn't foolish enough to dismiss the small female. Power radiated off her, he'd felt it long before he'd arrived. Still, the male was the one who had bartered with the humans to raid the breeding chamber. "Good talks, maybe trade after."
Beloved nodded, then flew back to Nix's lap. "Nix he is strong! Nix he is smart! More than just one dragon did he outwit! But his friend is still injured, his friend might be torn, as a show of good faith, let us heal so he won't mourn."
Ashton started fixing her feathers, "Who could say no, who could defy, the wishes of one so loved, the most precious of mine?"
Neolani was gripping her spear, the skulls around most of the mage's were from children. The mana radiating off the group… was no joke. They were all at least lord class. The king… if what Ashton said was true, was legendary. That meant he was on par with Caius, a beast of sin.
Alexei cursed, how had they not noticed their approach? He waved for a table and chairs to be made for their guests.
Beloved flew overhead, periodically landing on the goblins to inspect their gear. As she did, white flames descended on the group, healing their wounds, replenishing their mana, and relieving their fatigue.
The Goblin King nodded in thanks as he eyed the male bird. Smaller than his breakfast. "We speak, questions. Why take our breeders, but say no care?"
"Bring food and drinks for our guests." Ashton reminded as he sat on the edge of his nest. "You bought the females, but they were sold in bad faith, one had a mission, to complete for my grace. She was not theirs to sell, despite her bad ways."
The Goblin King drummed his fingers on the table. "Sold in bad faith… I understand, but why kill?"
"The superior of the seller was sent to retrieve. How he did so, your recompense you should receive." Ashton said with a shrug.
Zane stilled… Lord Nix had ordered him to retrieve the girls, alive. Did that mean… his men had sold the girls? To goblins? He would never condone such. He shared a look with Rommel who then glared at the ground.
"I see, other breeders? Why take?" The Goblin King had taken great risk in buying the females, never buying more than two at a time. So far, their efforts to create a female goblin had born no fruit. Worse, was that most of their research had gone up in flames with the fire.
Ashton sighed tilting his head back and forth, "The female took grace, tainted it, shared it, to get it back, all were needed." The Goblin King's fist clenched, it would have been intimidating… if Beloved were not perched on his head. Curiously pecking at the dragon skull.
"Your grace… kept them alive?" That answered the question of how none had died even with the mages shortening the gestation period. The Goblin King had hoped to duplicate the miracle. Even with four thousand of them… their numbers weren't enough to have their own nation.
Ashton gave the goblins a half smile, "Yes, but I took what was not mine, claimed I was right, so a boon I will offer, if you can survive one years time."
The Goblin King stared at the male bird. Despite his appearance, he knew if they crossed blades, he would die. Instantly. He had all but given up on getting justice. Revenge for the betrayal though, that he could still demand. "What boon?"
Ashton stood up, walking around the table with his hands clasped behind his back. "You want females, females of your own, not to be bought, but ones you can love. I have a method, I have a way. Females for you, not caught in desperate raids." Ashton grinned as he held everyone's attention. At least until Beloved landed on his head.
"Oh! That is so good! The best way! Then they can have babies! Let love light the stage! But Nix, that takes time, they need room, safe places without grime." Beloved announced pensively. "First they need homes, a place all their own. Safe from bad humans, with food, a stronghold. Where can they go, where can they nest?"
Ashton lifted Beloved then cuddled her in his arms as he met the Goblin King's eyes. "I know of a place, far from the humans, but little more than waste. It will take a year to recover, a year fending off doom. But, if you accomplish this task, a safe place, and my boon."
The Goblin King lowered his eyes, a year. Much could happen in a year. Especially now that he was out in the open. Fifteen years… fifteen years to grow from a band of twenty, to five thousand. It had taken the humans three days to kill almost a thousand of them.
"Before you leave, before you should go, getting other recompense, well, your strength not just for show." Ashton reminded glancing over the imperials, then to the Adarian delegation.
Beloved leapt onto the table, "You should demand a safe haven! For you and your own! They broke their oath, maybe even females you can claim." Beloved added in a whisper behind her wing. "Nix can help with females, but you'll still need a few. Born from their bodies, then ever after for you."
The Goblin King eyed the humans with savage delight. Well, that was answer enough. He would demand safe haven for a year, then move to this place, this stronghold the birds spoke of.
"Your word for these boons? Is female even possible?" The smallest of the goblins demanded looking at the female. Yes, the offer was enticing. But they still had to survive a year. Not to mention, goblins had been trying for hundreds of years to breed their own females. Even the humans they'd been working with had only offered a possibility. Records of a single success from hundreds of years ago.
The Goblin King glared at the mage, but it was a valid question. He turned his expectant gaze on the male bird who blinked at them. As if they idea that his word was not enough had never crossed his mind.
Beloved blinked at the goblin mage, then slowly, deliberately walked over. Using a wing to cover her face before she spoke, "Am I not the proof? We are now three, when there was once only two."
All the goblins stared at the female bird, the small mage, only Lucian's size, even picked her up. Looking her over. Beloved feigned a squawk as she smacked one of the hands.
The Goblin King wrested her from his companions. Then slowly looked her over, she blinked up at him. A female… from a male bird. Then… it was possible. They had been chasing such miniscule hopes… Suddenly he narrowed his eyes. "You have no… babies."
Beloved used her wing to smack the goblin's face indignantly, "I have no mate! I have no lover! How to have babies without another??? Just you wait Mister Goblin! Soon you will see! I will have more babies! Than sand in the sea!"
Ashton covered his mouth as he looked anywhere but at his Beloved.
Beloved wasn't satisfied with one smack, so she smacked him again, then changed back to her human form to grab his mask. "So I have no babies yet, you've seen what I can do! A single feather used by your breeders, and three hundred born from a mere few! You wait Mister Goblin! One day you will wake, you'll open your eyes! Me and my babies the sky we will over take!" Beloved insisted crossing her arms.
The Goblin King stared at the tiny figure that was smaller than one of his arms. Her attacks felt lighter than a feather, but she stared at him, her eyes open so large they might overtake her face before she took over the sky. If she could have so many children… he eyed her stomach, "What about me?" She wasn't human, maybe she didn't want a human mate.
Beloved's eyes went wide, then she stepped on his arms, examining him. "Hmm, you are big, and you are smart… but goblins don't lay eggs… birthing babies takes so long!"
Ashton squatted looking at the Goblin King then frowned, "You're in your prime, you're a legend, limits the sky… but you have no feathers, you have no fur. You liv in caves, the cool damp you prefer. We are migratory, who knows where we'll roam, could you give up your stronghold, could you give up a a place called home?"
The Goblin King sighed shaking his head. No, he wanted a nation for his people. He had just finished negotiations with a coalition of Orcs. Soon their numbers would swell to eight thousand. Taking eight thousand to roam around… was not realistic. "No. We need a stronghold." It was a pity, the female was beautiful. Strong. Their babies would lead the nation into a golden age no doubt.
Ashton patted the Goblin king's mask. "No need to worry, no need to fret, life as a wanderer over without regret." Ashton deliberately looked over the imperials, "Now a show of force, they offered you a barter, then strayed so far off course."
Lucian glared, he had never bartered with a goblin. They were slain on sight, without mercy.
Leonard hunched forward, "Majesty… the rebels… even if we did not barter with them… you are the highest order in the land. Who else would they bring their grievances too?"
Sebastian took a deep breath, "This could be good. We may learn of rebel hide outs. As Lord Reece said, in a year, they will have a stronghold of their own. Females of their own." He had a personal dislike of goblins… they had raided the duchy more than once. But now was neither the time nor place.
Lucian gritted his teeth as the goblins approached. "Inside." Lucian didn't wait, beast gods above… negotiating with goblins.
Ashton held Beloved in his arms, fixing her ruffled feathers as the Adarians and Imperials retreated behind closed doors. They had more important things to do.
Beloved eyed the small naga, coiled around the small human's neck. "Nix… he is a snake, he should then know, how to entice, how to make follow."
Ashton eyed Kaveri… he was a naga… not exactly the same "To make follow, or to defeat? To keep such a snake… one must bend the knee." He remarked thinking about the feasibility of their plan. Gods may like beauty, but not enough to bond. No, his Beloved would have to make a show of force.
Beloved sighed, "Snakes get so big, they can be so scary… a small gust of wind, and I might not even be standing."
Ashton rubbed his chin, "Who says they're scary, who is to know, after the storm, we claim the rainbow."