The Goblin Nation 48 Wait A Minute

The eastern wall got busier than ever. Hunters pa.s.s through the gate as usual while accompanied by a follower or two of Smoke. If they spot a troll, they must retreat quickly to the wall. If they encounter a troll, they must lead it away from the tribe before they could retreat to the wall. If they see signs of troll activities, they are to report back to Smoke all of the details.

To facilitate better communications, Sun began teaching their followers how to articulate their sentences and basic reading comprehension. During the day, they would work on the wall, digging a moat with spikes on the bottom, and patrol the town. And at night, they would attend cla.s.ses inside a large building with tinted windows. Sun's brothers learned quickly due to their expedited growth rate to adulthood, but their followers do not share this inherent advantage. Adults lack the ability to comprehend Sun's lesson at a faster pace. It's been two weeks after the speech, and his pupils still struggle to add articles in their sentences and use the appropriate p.r.o.nouns. Instead of "I fly to the sky," the goblins would say, "Me fly to sky."

Dawn would watch the Chief's followers walk inside the building while sitting on the porch with Mabel. For two weeks, she would see them walk and out. The followers would always enter and leave with dread in their eyes. She wondered what sort of torture the Chief's followers go through every night and why the Chief would do such things to his most loyal followers.

Her curiosity got the better of her, so she decided to ask Rock about the Chief's duties during the night. When morning came, she carried her son and a small bag of beef jerky to the meadows where the Rock and his followers are training. Rock ordered his followers to finish their routine then sat down with Dawn and her child under the tree. They talked for a long time until Dawn finally popped the question.

She feared her probing might anger Rock, but she learned from her past experience with Sum that action is far better than being content. To her surprise, Rock answered her question, "Oh, Sun teaching them how to speak, quote on quote, civilized." Rock made remarks with his index fingers in the air, "and how to read too. Honestly, I don't know why he wants to teach them how to read. I could barely do it, and I've been learning since I became an adult. Plus, most of the books are with Sun's mother, Mari, so they can't really read anything."

"What civilized mean?"

"Well, I don't want to be rude, but I guess its to speak, um." Rock rubbed his head, "Clearer, in lack of better word."

"Ok? What reading?"

"Oh man, you really asking me this very hard questions. I am just a simple goblin, take it easy on me, ma'am."

"Sorry." Dawn giggles.

"Excuse, master Rock." One of Rock's followers walked up to Rock, "We finish. We run now or?

"Oh, right." Rock stood up, "Sorry, Dawn, but its time for our morning jog. And be careful on the way back, the sun hasn't come up yet."

Rock ran off with the other goblins for their morning jog. Dawn made her baby wave goodbye to them and walked back to town.

The town was quiet this morning because not a single goblin roams the streets. Dawn would occasionally see a goblin on patrol. They would greet her when they pa.s.s by.

The silent darkness slowly dissipates as she gets closer to the town square. The goblins that just woke up all lined up on the square for their morning ration. Dawn scouted for Mabel among the crowd. She managed to spot her right behind the widows. The Chief changed the order of importance after the troll attack. The children that lost their parents during the attack were the first to get food followed by the widows; next were the mothers with their children, and finally, the males and single females.

This change in policy won the Chief the hearts of the widows, but drastically dropped the support he got from the single males that planned to force the widows to marry them. By taking a larger portion of the hunted animals, the Chief had more than enough to give as rations to those affected by the troll attack. The loyalist praised the Chief's benevolence while those that oppose burned in envy. They would voice out why give it to those brats and the useless women when it can be given to the strong.

There is one notable goblin among the opposing faction that could be considered a spokesman for them. His name was Olr, a goblin that hated the previous Chief. He was one of the few goblins that noticed Cala's cowardice nature when it came to the wolf problem. Truth be told, Olr was impressed by Sun's willingness to hunt the wolf for the tribe, but he was a halfling and could not possibly kill a Timber Wolf. It was Sum who ultimately killed those large beasts and came back with the spoils.

Then the troll attacked that faithful night. It destroyed nearly half of the tribe. But when the sun rose from the horizon, it was not Cala or Sum that stood on top of the monster. It was that halfling. He and many others suspect foul play involved, but no matter how much they try to shed light on the deceit, the blind loyal goblins continued to shout praise to them.

Dawn did not care much for politics. If Mabel saw Sun defeat the troll, then it was enough for her to know the truth. Mabel never lied to her. They were like sisters. If only she listened to Mabel's warning about Cala and Sum.

After waiting in line, Dawn and Mabel finally got their breakfast, which was two beef jerkies and a leg from a small critter. The ladies walked with the children to the western fence. There was a willow tree on the outskirts of town with a swing and seesaw for the children could play.

Once they got there, the guards posted on the eastern fence help them get situated. They took wooden barrels for the ladies to sit and made a fireplace to keep them warm. They offered them spirits, but they declined the offer. They sat watching the children play. After an hour, Flute and her followers came to take the orphans. The children waved goodbye to one another, some of them whining to the caretakers to let them play longer.