The shaman had just told everyone that their meeting was foretold in some way. After, Kurt learned that the bones were actual bones, and reading them was some sort of divination. Goblin Shamans possessed strange magiks. But right now Kurt had no clue about any of that.
"So, Kurt, my Guardian, what do you say?"
Kurt thought, wasn't I supposed to stay quiet here. I have no idea about goblin hordes and brood mothers. But in the end it didn't really matter, all that mattered really was one thing, "How can we trust you?"
"That is a fair question, how can we trust you and your caravan?"
The shaman gave them a weird look, like he wasn't understanding the question, "Your majesty, you can not expect me to believe you fear us?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"This well," the shaman paused, "even the goblins know how dangerous a Faye can be, and one with a Guardian, like that, but here…you hold all the power do you not?"
"But that doesn't answer the question."
"Do you have any suggestions on how we can display our loyalty?"
Layla smiled, "I do, shriki, si, kai-ra " Again that last part wasn't translating for Kurt.
"That ritual would be possible.", the Shaman paused, "I would have to make sure the rest of the caravan agrees first though, I don't have the authority for that alone. Assuming you are able to perform the parts necessary, and have an appropriate relic. I believe I can convince them. Especially given this location is far better than I thought it would be, we can perform it at the gates when we arrive."
"I'm sorry that I didn't get that one thing," said Kurt.
"It's a binding ritual, an oath of allegiance, very serious," responded Layla. How did they switch right there, he was the one usually defining words for her, Kurt thought.
"That's one way to put it," said the Shaman.
"Then I agree, after the ritual is concluded you shall be a welcome subjects of my domain," said Layla.
There were some smaller details discussed after, the exact placement of things, one of the Gnomes was called in as well, but it seemed like the first audience of the Ivy Pillar was a great success. They would help mine and forage, stand guard and various other things. They decided that they were going to have an enclave on the side of the canyons near the pillar. They would make a cave network with the gnomes.
After a while the Shaman and the guard left, they would be back with the rest of their caravan though, and soon. But they did now have a little time to talk about what just happened.
"So that went well I think," said Kurt.
"Very, much better than I could have ever hoped for."
"So foretold? Bones?" Lay then explained to Kurt how goblin divination can take place upon the reading of bones, explaining it was sort of like how he could see the glow, they could read the future somewhat.
"Glory?"
"I think glory is the most important thing to a lot of Goblins, their hordes can be very violent, but not all of them. They can be very different from one another, I think they can be swayed to see their glory as ours. It is not common for a horse to submit to something else, but not unheard of."
"So why did the Shaman look so weird about that ritual thing?"
"Well it's for life, basically."
"Life."
"Yeah, an oath of alliance for life that's magically enforced. There are a couple ways, but it's one of the most straightforward. I'm glad you said that, about trust.. Had you not, he wouldn't have asked me, the suggestion would have seemed extremely rude otherwise."
"This is why I didn't want to do any of the talking, I don't know anything about any of that."
Layla laughed, "it's okay, you did fine."
"I'm especially glad they didn't want to take room in the pillar, I was thinking of taking one for myself, if that is not a problem?"
"Any one you want, of course. We would love to have you. No wait, I insist you are the guardian, you must have a room here, even if you don't use it."
"Your wish is my command princess." Layla gave a wide devious smile back.
"Princess Layla, has a nice ring to it."
"He was calling you 'your majesty' and "my lady" a lot. I assumed it was extra formality."
"As they should. Was I supposed to stop him?"
"Don't expect me to be doing all that kneeling, and you majesty this and that."
"Well, of course not, they should be doing that to you."
"Huh."
"Who do you think would be my…knight? isn't that like a place of power, I don't fully understand your…"
"Sir Kurt?"
"I like it. Sir Kurt."
It felt strange, but to Kurt it actually felt like he was about to have a whole little crew to do what he wanted, and he liked it. This was a much better life than what he was doing, as long as the goblin thing happened as planned. Everything was looking up really. Not much responsibility, less now really, and not much worry about making a few coins. He would think it was a weight being lifted off him, but he could still feel the weight of something.
But he had to get home eventually, was it still his home though? Was this home? Would he even need coins? Kurt had a family, but they were distant, mostly just holidays, that's how it worked when you grow up without much, Kurt wasn't 'poor' or at least never thought he was, but his family certainly wasn't rich, and all of them had tried to make it on their own, Kurt was just the last one to do it. It's not like he couldn't still visit right? He certainly couldn't keep staying at Jacob's, his father could show up at any time. Kurt was still conflicted about lying to Jacob about everything, he trusted Jacob.
But, this was way too big, he could trust Jacob with a secret, but Jacob was the type of person to tell him straight up. That he wouldn't keep it, this was his family, another gate, not telling his father about it was different than stealing a bit of their wine. It really came down to his response, would he say no this is a clan matter, or would their friendship be bigger than that. And Kurt honestly, didn't have the answer, he tried putting himself in his shoes, and could come up with both responses.
This was the type of thing that could make Jacob a full legacy, and member of the clan, and the rewards for that were apparent. And Kurt knew Jacob wanted it. There was a mixed allegiances, and when push came to shove, Kurt didn't know where Jacob would land.and he'd explain it like it was both Kurt and Jacob's ticket. To Jacob it may seem like the right thing to do, 'the right thing to do', that seemed like a loaded statement to Kurt now.
So Kurt decided he would tell Jacob straight up like he would tell him, but only after he had an option to leave immediately, if he got the response he didn't want. That however was not today. But running from the clans, seemed a bit easier on this side of the gate. Kurt hoped it would never come to that.