Interlude The Isles of Goblin and Minos

Interlude The Isles of Goblin and Minos

A pair of Minotaurs and a half-Elf walk into a bar. A third Minotaur is already waiting for them. The half-Elf orders a bowl of bugs, and the other two Minotaurs look at the third one.

He has no arm. He smiles and stands up. Thenthe Minotaur asks the other two.

Is today when I finally face justice? Is today the day I die?

And nobody laughs at all, because it isnt a joke.

Its a military bar, not the generic bar where a horse is allowed to order a glass of water. In fact, bar is stretching the term; [Camp Bartender] is a specialized class that has the ability to deploy essentially a tent with benches for the purposes of dispensing alcohol on a moments notice.

In some military minds, the act of creating a place where [Soldiers] could unwind with a mind-altering beverage might be a poor idea. However, to another type of perspective, it made sense.

Placed in a secure area that would not suffer attacks, the armys bar was a valuable inducement to morale. Officers and regular soldiers could mingle under a certain veil of anonymity or take the temperature of a regiment. More importantlythe bar was a place for [Soldiers] to spend their valuable pay and send it right back into the armys coffers.

There were cold, sharp minds in the military who styled themselves upon leading crack-troops into decisive combat and breaking their opponents with a combination of will, arms, and tactics. They had nothing on the financiers of said armies, who operated in the cold, hard vacuum of economics.

That was all to say that the bar served alcohol, and if you asked what kind, you didnt get any. It also meant that it was Liscors armys bar, and so, to get here, both Minotaurs had taken the portal door to this location. With said half-Elf.

Finally, because it was Liscors armys bar, it sold bugs as snacks. Crunchy beetles endemic to this region that you took a shot of Firebreath Whiskey with. It was already tradition for non-Antinium squads to haze new members with the practice.

The two Minotaurs were Venaz of Hammerad, [Strategist] of the Forgotten Wing company as a student, and Bezale of Maweil, a [Spellscribe] of Wistrams Scriptel faction.

Ceria was Captain of the Horns of Hammerad. Of the three, Venaz had never met Calruz. Yet, of the threehis impression was perhaps the most important, and it was already defined by a few events.

Firstly, testimony from people around Liscor. He had interviewed Elirr, Mrsha, and other people who had been present during the Raskghar raids, including Erin Solstice. Following that, Venaz had personally spoken with Ceria Springwalker for several hours, as her testimony was most relevant.

Secondly, he informed his judgment based on testimony from a certain Silver-rank team of Minotaurs, three of whom had survived the Village of the Dead raid and offered their commentary. Venaz had further added notes from Watch Captain Zevara and spent some time confirming the magical nature of the dungeon with Bezale and every mage-adventurer in Liscor willing to speak to him.

Finally, he thought of the Beriad of the Antinium. 6th Battalion. Another event had occurred during the Minotaurs walk through the camp.

That was Bezale and Venaz both being greeted as Captain Calruz by confused Antinium who wished to congratulate him on regrowing his arm. These were not members of 6th Battalion, incidentally.

Calruz of Hammerad watched Bezale stop when she saw him. Ceria was already ordering a small bowl of beetles. She was alive. Zevara had written him to inform him of this, but he hadnt seen Ceria until now.

Yet he looked at Venaz and knew.

There was nothing to distinguish the other Minotaur from Bezale physically, at least, that he carried the authority Calruz had been waiting for. Yet, aside from knowing Venaz individually, Calruz saw the other Minotaur fix him with a studious gaze before striding along the room.

Minotaur feet were interesting, incidentally, because not all Minotaurs had five-toed feet. Some had hooves, others had regular feet similar to a Human or Gnoll. Bezale had humanoid feet. Calruz had humanoid feet.

Venaz had hooves. They clicked gently on the stone floor of the camp bar. Aside from that, he made no sound as he waited.

Bezale was right behind him, Ceria trailing at the rear. The other [Soldiers] in the camp bar turned.

They had heard Calruzs question. Why did he smile? The Antinium had certainly noticedthey were leaving the bar in a rush.

Calruz of Hammerad?

I am Calruz of Hammerad. Formerly of the Beriad of Minos. Prisoner-soldier in service to Liscors civilian army under authority of Commander Olesm as remanded to him by Watch Captain Zevara.

The Minotaur stood straight and put one arm behind his back. Venaz eyed him.

Formerly of the Beriad? Your status was not revoked, last I inquired.

His tone wassevere. Enough so that Wil, Merrik, and Peki, who had followed him covertly, were surprised. Venaz was often authoritative, but right now, he was cold in a way he seldom came off to his friends.

The one-armed Minotaur stiffened. He seemed to have two scars for every one Venaz carriedand Venaz did have scars. An adventurer who had fought in Liscors dungeon. He was, as Peki pointed out, in very good shape. If anything, Wil thought he had begun to develop the inhuman or inMinotaurbody that came to those of a certain level.

Skin as tough as steel. Yet his voice was the interesting part. He had no battlefield roarif anything, his was a quiet tone, and it hesitated now.

Iassumed my position would have been in question at least. It would certainly be revoked following review

But you are a member of the Beriad to your knowledge, Calruz of Hammerad? Answer.

Venaz cut him off, and Calruz stiffened slightly. He clasped one arm across his chest.

I am. Calruz of the Beriad. Forgive me, Vcousin of Minos.

There was a logic to this. Venaz nodded, and only then did he copy Calruzs gesture with his left arm.

I am Venaz of Hammerad. Beriad of Minos, and [Strategist] in training under the tutelage of Lord Niers Astoragon of the Forgotten Wing Company. I believe you know Bezale of Maweil, also a member of the Beriad, [Mage] of Wistrams Scriptel faction.

I do.

Calruz nodded to her, and Bezale nodded back, lookinguneasily at Venaz. Not once did the [Strategist]s face move. He was watching Calruz.

I am also a member of the Mneiol by virtue of my rank as [Strategist]. I have the authority to render judgment in or outside the House of Minos. Per your request, Calruz of Minos, I have come to evaluate your actions as Captain of the Horns of Hammerad, then as leader of the Raskghar in Liscors dungeon. So. Tell me the events as you recall them.

With that, he sat down and placed a truth crystal on the table, put one gold coin on the table as someone came to take his order, and waved Bezale and Ceria over.

I will have water or a non-alcoholic beverage. Calruz of Hammerad?

The other Minotaur paused a moment.

Water.

He glanced at Bezale and Ceria. The half-Elf had a cup of wine and paused in the middle of taking a huge gulpshed dipped a giant stag beetle in a shot of whiskey and was about to down that.

Do I need to not drink?

As you choose, Captain Ceria. Magus Bezale?

Wine. Whatever you have.

It was quite strange. The three watching [Strategists] realized Venaz wasnt about to render instantaneous judgment. And he confirmed that the moment he turned around.

I am not about to cut his head off. This will take time. Hours, dayshe has to tell his record of events. You three might as well come in, but dont interrupt unduly.

Embarrassed, the other students slunk into the bar. Calruz blinked at them as Venaz introduced them.

My companions. I apologize if their presence is distracting, Calruz.

No. Iam I to be judged as if I was home, Venaz of the Mneiol? I did not expect that. Surely the facts are clear.

At that, Venaz folded his arms.

What other judgment would suffice? You have been granted exceptions to your execution under Drake law by the Watch Captain of Liscor. Did you think your arbiter would come with any preconceived notions to pass judgment in an hour?

Calruz flushed.

Imust have been long from home, Strategist Venaz. I will confess, my mind is made up. I also do not expect mercy, nor have I ever been judged by the Mneiol for crimes. My impression wasdifferent.

He glanced sideways at Bezale, and she turned beet red as she recalled their interaction. Venaz looked at her and nodded.

I will take your position into account. So you knowthe Mneiol judge much like you were judged when you were named Beriad. Your Right to Dissent is not an option; the rest is much the same.

Bezale and Calruz started.

Like that?

Similar enough. SoI will require your testimony. If you have prior engagements or duties to your commander, inform me, and we will make allowances. Otherwise

Otherwise he would render judgment as soon as he believed he knew all there was to learn, and as soon as that was done, he would execute whatever he had decided.

The half-Elf knew itthat was why she was here. She watched Venaz out of the corner of her eye as she flipped a shot up, and Peki crunched a beetle down and then spat it into Merriks face.

Yet Venaz seemed more relaxed than Calruz. In fact, he was mulling over the short list of snacks.

Aplate of Belgrade Ambush-Fries for the table. How many does that serve? Make that two. What differentiates this from regular fries?

The server gave him a crooked grin.

Lots of ketchup and relish plus some beans scattered around for good measure. What an enemy squad normally looks like when they run into Belgrades division. Blood and scales everywhere. See?

Whats the beans, then?

Wil was very curious to meet an Antinium commandermuch less see a Drake army in action, even one as unorthodox as Liscors army. No, especially one like Liscors army, and learn all he could and report back to the academy.

The Drake server replied happily.

Thats all the crap from their pants. Two?

We can remove ourselves. I have a tent, Strategist Venaz

Be at ease, Calruz. Is it Captain Calruz or Adventurer Calruz? How is this campaign against Hectval going?

The question threw Calruz a moment.

Itis mostly static and skirmishes, as Hectvals alliance has withdrawn around their cities.

Indeed. I would dearly love to meet some of Liscors army. Even see them train if theres time? This is personalI intend to report my experience back to my professor, Niers Astoragon. Assuming the Antinium allow it, viewing their command would be highly informative.

I could arrange that. But

Calruz was almost as surprised as the other non-Minotaurs by Venazs commentary. The [Strategist] noticed and was about to speak when there was the marching of boots. Ceria had already heard it and turned casually in her chair, but she relaxed when she saw dozens of Antinium storming into the bar in a hurry.

Everyone else freaked out. But mildlyPeki was on her feet, and Wil grabbed his sword before sitting down. Venaz turned, and Calruz cursed.

He recognized their company. Of course he did, but even without their rank insignia, it would have been obvious from the crude horns over their antennae and the giant two-handed weapons each one carried which company they were.

6th Battalion, the Beriad. The group he trained and led. Calruz even recognized their leader Gladheart, a [Lieutenant of the Fray] who he had personally appointed.

What is the meaning of this? Disperse to your company! Strategist Venaz

The Beriad didnt move. They stood in formation, and then a Worker spoke.

We are 6th Battalion of Liscors Army. Strategist Venaz. You have come to kill Captain Calruz.

The Strategist hadnt moved. He was watching the Beriad. With much the same expression of surprise and confusion he had worn at the Meeting of Tribes. But the flicker in his eyes wasnt hatred or fear. He waswatching them.

Watching them with an interest he had given few people. Even, his friends thought, something like regret. He stood slowly and faced the Antinium Beriad.

I am not. My presence here is to judge Calruz of Hammerad under the laws of the House of Minos. Any conclusion before my verdict is reached is premature and unacceptable.

Bezale turned even redder. The Worker hesitated, and the Beriad stared at each other. They hadnt expected this! A group near the center huddled for a second, and the Worker replied.

Weare Antinium who serve under Captain Calruzs command. He must not die for being dishonorable. Therefore, we would like to offer testimony as warriors who have served under his command. We believe this is in accordance with Minotaur law and custom.

Calruz choked on his cup of water. He had told them about the House of Minos customsas one did for young soldiers with no upbringing nor past nor future till now. Yet he hadnt expected them to do this!

And yet, they knew the songs only Minotaurs knew. They had heard him tell them of what it was to be a son of Minos, and he had named them with a title reserved for the best of the House of Minos.

Calruzs head sank. He interrupted Venaz.

StrategistI am ashamed. 6th Battalion, return to your posts. This isnot for you to decide.

The Worker stared at him.

But we are your sworn warrior-companions. This qualifies us to do so.

It would. Non-Minotaur warriors are no exception to the rule. I have a hundred more to interview. Hundreds, if you taught members of the army and fought alongside them for the last few months.

Venaz murmured. Yet Calruz turned red and stood. He had been expecting Venaz for a long time. His arrival was a relief. This

This felt like stalling. If he didnt know better, he would have assumed Ceria or Zevara had arranged this, but the half-Elf was looking hugely entertained.

It is not necessary, Strategist Venaz. 6th Battalion, return to your posts. This is an order as your captain.

He regretted doing that to them, because they cared for orders so much. However, again to his astonishment, the Beriad didnt move. The Worker in front hesitated, then Gladheart raised his hand and began ticking points off on his fingers.

One. You are a probational captain and a [Prisoner] of Liscor. Your authority may be overridden as indicated by Commander Olesm, so I therefore override it as a commissioned officer of Liscors army. Two, Prognugator Tersk and Dekass have both given our battalion orders to disregard any non-Antinium command if necessary, under authority of the Queens of the Antinium. We will ignore you. Three, no honorable warrior will ever stand silent when a true crime of conscience is committed in front of him, regardless of the punishment.

He folded his hands behind his back. So there. Calruzs mouth was open almost as wide as Bezales. Venaz?

He smiled. Then he turned to Calruz.

Calruz of Hammerad, you are the member of the House of Minos under judgment. Decisions regarding this trial are not yours to make.

Ofof course, Strategist.

Calruz sat down, and Venaz went on.

The Antinium are correct. Their inclusion is mandatory. Not least because it is my personal judgment that they are warriors of honor, and thus their testimony is highly relevant

The Antinium stirred, and Venaz nodded to them.

but because the King of Minos has herself expressed interest in the Beriad. Those who wish to join this conversation may. I will interview the company as time allows. You have my word as Mneiol of Minos that I will let no willing, reasonably accessible testimony go unheard before passing judgment.

Calruz groaned. And he didnt know whyonly that he remembered stories of Minotaur arbiters charging into battle to get witness statements from former comrades for judgements in the past.

Part of Calruz was confused. Was this not what he wanted? Here was one true judge for himand yet, when it came to this moment he had waited for and, yes, feared, the eyes of authority did not stare at him with the same hatred the Minotaur in the mirror did.

They werecareful, watchful, observant, and even kind. Even amused and, perhaps worst of all, slightly respectful. Calruz realized that Venaz was younger than him.

The Beriad milled about, and then a quarter sat, and the rest went back to their posts, albeit reluctantly. Venaz nodded to the suddenly-full section of the bar.

I hope you will introduce me to the Beriad, Captain Calruz.

The King of Minos wishes to know about them? Truly?

Yes.

It sounded like a lie, butyou didnt lie in the House of Minos. Then, Calruz realized he was far from home. He had dreamed of judgment much like the [Hangman] or [Executioner]. When he recalled home

It had been a long time. A long time since he had come to Izril, worked up from Bronze-rank, and then founded the Horns of Hammerad. He had met Ceria six years agono, seven, now. Two more and it was nine years from home.

Venaz saw that on his face. That yearning for home all travellers felt. He spoke quietly as two large plates of fries were served and fourteen more requested.

How long has it been since you were in the House of Minos, Calruz?

Nine years.

And you, Mage Bezale?

Four. I had the opportunity to visit once graduating as a full mage of Wistram.

Venaz nodded.

Two for me. I had intended on visiting this summer and taking my fellow students, but we never landed. Perhaps in the winter. Perhaps next year. Although, I am told the Isle is about to reach our waters.

His tone was conversational, but the two other Minotaurs stiffened slightly. Cerias ears twitched.

The Isle? Already? Itsno, it would be time.

Bezale was counting. Calruz just watched Venaz as the [Strategist] nodded and grimaced.

Another reason to regret not returningbut I would make little difference. In truth, I also hoped to return home in time to visit my pets. Another time. Hammerad has also changed somewhat, Calruz. Theyve embarked on a project with sand the last six years, I believe.

Sand?

Yes, quite an amusing tale, actually. Let me think. What else is new? Prince Khedal remains unchanged. I saw him board a Drowned Ship by himself as it dove underwater.

Mention of one of the royal members of the House of Minos made Calruz start. The famous Prince of Minos was a warrior on-par with any Named Adventurer. He had famously taken part in the action that had led to the King of Destructions defeat at sea.

Of course, the King of Minos had led the charge, but Khedal was a name like the recently-deceased General Ozem, who had assailed the King of Destruction on Chandrar. Speaking of which, Venaz brought him up, too.

I propose a toastonce you have finished your recollection of events for the day, Calruzto General Ozem and the fallen. Then to your armys victories. Did you happen to see the battle? I thought

Strategist Venaz, what is happening?

Calruz burst out at last, and the Strategist stopped. Calruz, the [Honorbound Prisoner], looked at Venaz and then around at the listeners and the conversation itself.

You have a problem, Calruz?

This is not how I expected my judgment to go. Iexpected interrogation under oath. A swift resolution. Mercy in justice, but justice.

Venaz had been chewing on some fries, but now he stopped. He swallowed, patted his mouth with a handkerchief, and spoke to Calruz, looking into the blue eyes with his own light brown ones.

I will be swift, Calruz. If this distresses you, we will stop. But I will not clap you in irons and interrogate you under threat of torture. I will talk to you of home and, yes, gossip with you about world events. I will not be swayed by charm nor words, but listen to how you speak. Your character is in question as much as your deeds. Should I be any other way? If your judges have no honorhow can you ever expect fair sentencing?

To that, the Minotaur had no answer. He hung his head, faintly ashamed, and Venaz sat back, awaiting a response. Until he noticed the rest of his friends staring at him.

What?

Who are you, and what have you done with Venaz?

Merrik demanded faintly. Venaz scowled at him.

Im trying to be professional, Merrik. This is the highest duty I could be asked abroad. Im relaxed around you all.

Youre a stubborn ass who gets angry, wont listen to reason, and has all the tact of Peki practicing [Hammer Kicks] to my groin. Be professional more often.

Wil and Peki nodded rapidly. Venaz looked from them to Calruz, who was resting his horned head on the lip of his cup.

Home. I do miss it.

That was all Calruz said. And then Ceria spoke up.

Venaz, you have pets? Do Minotaurs have pets?

Bezale had been hunched in her seat. Guilty didnt really express her emotionsshe had been full of righteous anger when she told Calruz to kill himself for his misdeeds. In front of Venazs approach? She felt ashamed, and worse still because Calruz wasnt bringing up her actions. Impersonating the Mneiol? She hadnt thought of herself doing thatbut she had to tell Venaz later. It was the only thing to do.

However, Cerias question snapped her out of her funk. Venaz turned with Bezale and Calruz. All three looked vaguely insulted.

Of course I have pets.

Minotaurs have pets?

Wil blurted out, and Venaz glowered at him.

Ive never mentioned? Why wouldnt we?

Ceria, Ive told you about the Isles of Minos.

A bitbut not that much. You were always, honor this, duty that, proper formation means we line up shoulder-to-shoulder and charge like idiots. Ive never talked to Minotaurs about their home casually before. Are they like your pets, Calruz?

You have pets?

Venaz and Bezale were surprised. Calruz thought of his rats, in Selys care.

Rats. A pair of them gifted to me.

Ratsinteresting. Well, we would never keep rodents as pets. That would be entirely foolish.

Venaz blinked, looking more surprised by this fact about Calruz than anything, even the Antinium. Bezale shuddered.

Rats?

What, dont you have rats? What about cats, dogs?

Venaz frowned until he snapped his fingers.

Some of both, although our pets arehrm. Wait, dont we have rodents as pets? Astelain.

Bezale and Calruz had to think about it. Calruz turned to his friend and found she was looking at him with curiosity.

I suppose theyre rodents. Pets arent as common as they are in Liscor, Ceria. Some are shared andwell, the House of Minos doesnt act as much of the world does. I know Ive talked to you about that.

Yesbut we didnt talk about our past as much. I never told you about the village, not exactly, and you were considerate. So you have pets. Whats an Astelain?

Calruz hesitated and looked at Venaz, but Venaz was all too ready to share. And before they knew it, the three Minotaurs did what people from the same place, far abroad, did.

They talked of home to the other [Strategists], to the Beriad who clustered over with drinks in hand, and to Ceria. Homethe House of Minos.

A place like no other. Paradise, the only home of Minotaurs. Honor and duty. The Minotaur King.

But what did it look like? WellVenaz took a long drink from a cup of water.

What do you think the House of Minos looks like?

Peki raised a winged hand eagerly.

Hundreds, thousands of Minotaurs who train every day.

After all, all three Minotaurs, even Bezale, a [Mage], looked like they were in the prime of physical acumen. Venaz looked at his companions, and his lips quirked.

In the House of Minos, the Minotaurs got up at the break of dawn and ran ten miles along the beach.

Some carried weights on their shoulders, rocks tied with string, or just ran in armor with weapons strapped to their backs. They shouted encouragement at each other.

Male, female, it didnt matter. They ran in a furious, churning wave of muscleand there was a lot of muscle. Anyone who stumbled, fell, or injured themselves pushed themselves back up and would have slapped a healing potion out of a hand offering itthen slapped the offerer.

Minotaurs didnt need healing potions!

Imagineimagine a thousand Grimalkins, running down the beach, only with fur instead of scales. Sweat running down biceps, abs doing ab-like things. Gritted teeth, snorting pants as they finished their run and then began to eat.

Huge mouthfuls of grainy porridge, ostef, shoveled down so fast they barely tasted the fish and vegetables mixed in. Fish being the major protein source of an island nation.

Island, so the air was humid and the sea visible from almost every spot across the House of Minos. After allit was an archipelago that the Minotaurs lived in, each island a different region. The central port and largest city was the capital from which the Minotaur King ruled. The harbors were not nearly as filled as many trade cities, but they did get fleets of mercantile ships, including this week.

After allif you were a friend to the Minotaurs, there were no safer waters than the House of Minos. Their enemies stayed well clear, for Minotaurs with their siege weapons mounted on their warships could down twice as many enemies in a fair fight.

The warriors ate fast, for after breakfast would come punishing spars, practice with their chosen weapons, and studying the art of war. They were relentless in their pursuit of battle. In fact, one Minotaur sprang up no less than eight minutes after sitting down, wiping her face clean.

You, Spekelj, a rematch! Barehanded.

She pointed, and another Minotaur rose as his fellows shouted him on. They marched over to a sparring ring, both eight feet tall without their horns. They lowered themselves into a fighting stanceyes, neither might be a [Fistfighter], but a true warrior of Minos could fight even when deprived of their weapon.

If either were hurt, they would tough it out the rest of the day. Only a truly debilitating injury would require a healing potion; Minotaurs knew that healing injuries weakened their bodies in the long run. It was possible either combatant could be seriously injured or die; they would not pull their punches. Yet to kill another was such an act of dishonor and loss of control

The air seethed with adrenaline and sweat. And more sweat because humid, warm climates could really suck. But even mosquitos feared the grinding teeth, the, again, dangerous abdominals and sheer musculature that could kill the bloodsucking pests by flexing as the insects dared to try and take blood from the most elite, most battle-focused

A third Minotaur walking down the road and yawning caught sight of the two young Minotaurs grunting and throwing each other around the ring. He paused to lean against the fence demarcating the sweaty Minotaurs from the road.

As always, working hard, arent you all?

The two sparring Minotaurs halted a moment and nodded to the third Minotaur. He had no abs you could presumably use to grate cheese. If anything, he had a paunch and would thus be the first Minotaur that Ceria or many non-Minotaurs had ever seen with anything like a relaxed gut.

He was also an ordinary citizen watching the antics of the Minotaurs enlisted in the House of Minos volunteer army with a bit of amused dismay. The female Minotaur wiped a bleeding nostril.

The Isle is closing into our waters, sir. Can we help you in any way?

Oh, no. Im walking for my health, and I see you all every day. Could I interest anyone in some olives?

He had a huge jar slung along his side, snacks for the road, and plenty of water. The two Minotaurs shook their heads.

Weve eaten, sir. Thank you for your consideration.

Ah, well, back to it. If ever you want any olives, I have an orchard

The ordinary Minotaur winced as he watched the female Minotaur eat an uppercut straight to the jaw. He watched something fly out of her mouth and hoped it was only a bit of breakfast, not a tooth.

Then he went on, greeting some of the furiously-training soldiers. They were, amazingly, in good spirits despite the grueling regimen. They enjoyed it. Each to their own. And that was the beauty of the House of Minos and why it was called paradise, despite actually suffering conflict regularly.

Even Fetohep of Khelt would admit that while his nation had superior culture, a people that wanted for nothing, and so on and so forth of self-congratulatory lauding

The House of Minos knew how to give their people something that even Khelts citizens lacked. And that was purpose.

Ordinary citizens of the House of Minos did not look like bodybuilders. Some did, and maybe there was a proportionately higher number of super-fit people per capita than other nations, but if so, it was only because Minotaurs had the leisure time to do as they pleased.

Six hour working days?

It always surprised foreigners who were admitted past the strict harbor checks how the House of Minos operated. For the crew of Poking for Treasure, the funnily-named lead ship of the small flotilla owned by the [Merchant] Saimh, the House of Minos was an interesting journey on their trade route.

They had come with ships carrying goods the Minotaurs wanted, everything their island could use more of, from alchemical ingredients to shipments of metal, but they intended to make the lions share of their profits here.

The newcomers to the House of Minos were walking a bit wary, because they had been given a huge list of rules. And failure to comply meant you were exiled to your ship or faced Minotaur justice. And it could be swift.

However, a lot of the rules were basic. Dont offer insults, dont pick fights, dont stealthe basics. Some, on the other hand, were a bit harder for [Sailors] or newcomers.

Like littering. You didnt do that, here. Not just, dont toss potion bottles into the sea, but, dont spit. Dont spit, dont litter on the floors, and essentially leave any area you had been as clean as when you had arrived.

It was one of those rules that wasnt hard to practiceunless you made a habit of not really caring about your litter. Then you might be upset when someone took you to task.

And that was any Minotaur on the street who saw you. However, by and large, the laws werent difficult to follow. A visitor could certainly trade, chat with Minotaurs who were willing to talk politics, news, or any number of things because they expected it in the ports, and learn about Minotaur culture and sample their unique dishes and sights.

Each island had a limit of people able to travel, and some areas were off-limits, but the limited visitors to the House of Minos meant this was rarely an issue. So a Drake, come to see the world under Merchant Saimhs tutelage, was quite taken aback to learn that the House of Minos was not the war-prepared, battle-minded people he had expected.

They lookedwell, like ordinary citizens. And apparently they worked for six hours?

Six hours minimum. Some will work more. I told you, this is a paradise.

Saimh absent-mindedly reprimanded his apprentice. He wasinteresting. For one thing, he was a Drake, but had grown up in Baleros. One of those rare non-natives. He also was quite renowned as a safe-trader, someone who stuck to sea lanes where piracy wasnt common.

That wasnt the odd part about him. The odd part was that hed never taken an apprentice until Ocello, the young [Trader], and he was also an expert in Minotaur trading.

Few [Merchants] were counted as friends of the House of Minos, so Saimh had less-rigorous checks, and getting paperwork to stay here was easier. Ocello hesitated as the two Drakes strode into the city.

The House of Minos favored sandstone, but like many paradise-states, took the time to add color and artwork to their cities. Interestinglythey had a number of statues that Ocello recognized.

Not Minotaurian heroes, because he didnt know many of their legends. Hed bought a book about Minotaur culture, but had fallen asleep and never opened it again on the way here. However, the statues were familiar.

Isnt that General Ozem?

It is. It must be newoh, and theres Venaz of Hammerad. I saw him last timehe must have a prominent fan in the [Sculptor] community. Although, its quite an interesting piece.

Each square had some piece of art, and one statue of the late general gave way to one of Venaz, sitting in a classic pose, chin resting on one fist, in repose across from a chess board. A quite noble statue for someone so young, as Ocello understood it.

But perhaps there was some humor in it too, because Venaz had only three pieces left, and the tiny Fraerling had most of his. There were even a few chess tables where a group of Minotaurs were playing chess.

Are they not working?

They looked like they were in their late thirties at most, but Saimh gave them one look and shrugged.

They might not have gotten to work yet. Its only early morning. Or theyre taking an early lunch break. Minotaurs dont work like the Walled Cities, Ocello. They dont have to.

Why not?

It seemed to the younger Drake that of course any nation needed to have that much time allotted to their working hours! Could a [Farmer] make do on six hours? For answer, Saimh smiled.

Wellbecause it may be culture or inclination as a people, but Minotaurs do throw themselves into what they do with a passion. Take a look.

One of the first stops on their trip around the harbor was a group of Minotaurs rendering down poorer fish into paste, or some kind of chum or bait, perhaps. They were deboning the fish, then brutally mashing the paste up with long wooden hammers. Ocello was surprised at the simple tools, but the Minotaurs were fast.

A Skill might have done it, but one Minotaur could just slit a fish open, tear out the bones and put them aside, and toss the fish to another to cut the head off. He kept moving while he talkedabout a romance book of all things.

I am telling you, give it another shot. This time, Sandquen really did write something quite well done.

Ridiculous. I am done with the unofficial romance-adventure novellas.

No, it was actually published in the latest edition of Tales of Adventure and Woe. It wasnt even romance. Have you heard of the Horns of Hammerad?

Vaguely.

This was a retelling of their first adventures in the Ruins of Albez. I found it gripping. The entire conceit was that they had that AntiniumKsmvr of Chandrar?

The other Minotaur cutting off heads and tossing them into a pile gave the first a stern look.

Youre beginning to make me interested, Kaned. If this is another ploy to get us interested in your romance novellas

Perish the thought. So, the Antinium was recently exiled from the Hive, but to read the bookthey have a map that heno, Im giving it away. But I will lend you the book when we break.

Hm. Do that.

They were efficient, casual, and quite patently enjoying themselves. Now, Ocello could have found a similar group of Drakes doing this in Zeres, mixing up chum for [Fishers] or preparing fish for immediate use.

Howeverthere were some major differences with the grumpy Drakes, whod be swearing at anyone who blocked their light and swatting at flies.

For one thing? There were no flies. The Minotaurs had an enchanted stone that was glowing a protective rune around them, preventing the annoying bugs from ruining their work. Second, they had some canopy roofs for shade, although most were enjoying the sun.

Third, they werent being crowded at their spot; it was designated, and their performance wasnt being rushed because they had to earn enough coppers to justify their jobthis was a job theyd chosen and enjoyed. They had homes, food, and someone was playing on a stringed instrument in the distance, so if they didnt keep talking, they could listen to that or talk to other Minotaurs or visitors.

Music while you work. They stole that from Noelictus. Although, it might just be a performer. A number of Minotaurs practice music.

They do?

The idea of a Minotaur delicately blowing into a horn was beyond Ocello. He envisioned drums or warhornsand Saimh gave him a stern look. The older Drake had a huge scar that ran down his chest.

Not a war-wound from battle, Ocello had learned. An old infection that had nearly killed him as a child. He scratched at it absent-mindedly.

You still only think of their army, Ocello. The House of Minos is proportionally high in how many fight, but thats only because their population is carefully matched with the size of their islands. Most Minotaurs have never swung a blade, nor need to. Lookthey have pets. See? Theres one of their Astelain.

The Drake looked back just in time to recoil with a shout. That was because a giant thing had just come ambling down the street! It was

What was it? A mutated beaver? It was bigger than a beaver. In factit was rodent-like, but it had such giant fur that Ocello had thought it was a dog.

Whwhats that?

I think its got another name in Baleros. Acapybara?

The oversized rodent was indeed as large as a Fortress Beaver, but it just plopped down next to the Minotaurs, accepted some seaweed, and began to chew it down next to the [Fish Gutters].

Those are Minotaur pets?

Ocello couldnt take his eyes off them. In fact, they were so chill and relaxed and he realized there were a lot of them, more than cats, dogs, or birds, that he suddenly wanted to pet one and see what it was like.

Go ahead. You can talk to anyone. Theyll tell you if theyre busy.

Ocello did, and a few minutes later, he decided that the Astelain were quite nice. They were so relaxedprobably because most threats that usually preyed on rodents wouldnt even have a shot at bothering them.

Those arent our only pets. But youll have to wait till midday if they decide to come in. Merchant Saimh. Going to tour the islands? I hear youre retiring this year. It will be a shame.

One of the [Gutters] recognized the older Drake, and Saimh smiled sadly.

My time has come. But I am glad I will be missedI have obligations, and Ive decided to give up my trading life.

Understandable. Family or what have you come first. But I encourage you to tour the islands and show your apprentice at least the major ones.

We may go to Hammerad today, Maweil tomorrowunless the sales have begun?

Excellent choices. Hammerad is always popular thanks to their beaches. No, the sales will take a day to set up. The King is busy with the Isle. She and Khedal both. Which reminds mewell put in ten hours, everyone. No work to be done when the fighting begins.

Ah, now there was the thing Ocello had been waiting for. The other Minotaurs grunted and nodded.

Fair enough. Ten hours. How will you spend the three days off? We cant be near the sea

I think I shall climb Honns Mountain once more. Or dredge some new land along Caeitl. I nearly have eighteen feet done.

Respectable, respectable. I myself have obligations with my daughter. She wishes to practice with the rapier after the Arbiter Queen.

Dont get cut. Is she planning on joining the Beriad or?

Time will tell.

Two interesting comments came out of that conversation. Dredging didnt become clear to Ocello until later, but it was plain that Minotaurs did spend a lot of time in family units.

So they do have traditional families?

Mostly.

Saimh and Ocello were heading to Hammerad, the nearest island to the east of the capital. It was a short boat ride or walk over a land-bridge. Few horses were available given the islands and the Minotaurs own physiques; you learned to walk. Although Ocello saw at least two Minotaurs riding bicycles customized for their frames.

How do they have enough money for that? Do Minotaurs have a currency? I thought they had a paradise?

Theyre still paid. This isnt Khelt. As for families, Minotaurs have parents. Just not necessarily the ones they were born to. Excuse meis that a bi-cycle?

The [Merchant] called out to a Minotaur, who stopped, panting, and removed a helmet with two holes for horns cut into the wood.

Indeed! And a word to youthis odd helmet may amuse, but I began wearing it after I nearly cracked my head open. Laughter will be met with your entry into the sea.

She pointed down the coastal road to the beach, and Ocello wondered if she could throw him that far. The Minotauress was clearly tired of ridicule, but Saimh assured her that was the last thing on his mind.

I was hoping you could tell me what its like to ride one of those things. And my apprentice has never been to the House of Minos. He was wondering about growing up.

The Minotauress gave Ocello an odd look.

Like any other species, I should imagine. I had smothering parents. The House of Minos does not change that. As for thisI did spend every coin I worked on for the last four years to buy it ahead of everyone else. I regret nothing. I can do a circuit of the entire archipelago in a day if I push myself. I ama [Cycler].

She said that with the kind of obsessiveness that told Ocello this would be a thing and she would tell everyone about her class. In time. However, he raised one finger politely.

Did I hear you had parents different from the ones who gave birth to you?

She gave him a blank look.

Indeed. Both were of similar temperaments and had been a couple for years. They asked for a daughter, and it was I.

But your original parents?

I met them. Why? Ah, did I like them better? I didnt care for my blood-mothers attitude towards work. I forget you outsiders do it differently.

She scratched her chin, and Ocello was confused. Just as clearly, the Minotauress was amused by the notion of parents who bore their children having to raise them.

It is not for everyone. Many Minotaurs do raise their own children, but it is perfectly fine to decide you are unready to. I am not ready.

But wouldnt people just have children and give them away?

The Minotauress and Saimh gave Ocello such an affronted look he backed away.

Do you think its enjoyable? Moreover, each island cares for children. Too many put a strain on our homes. It is a responsibility. Would we just have children anddo you not have contraceptives?

She got back on her bicycle and pedaled off. Saimh gave Ocello an amused look as the Drake shouted apologies.

As you can see, Minotaurs do have the time to talk. As for personal livesthey spend a lot of time on that. Hobbies, passionsthe House of Minos encourages that sort of thing.

Yes, but everyone has time off.

Mm. Were nearing Hammerad. You may wish to take that back in a few moments. You seeHammerad for the last six years has developed something of a sub-city on their beaches. As I understand it

It began with a son asking his mother for help building a sandcastle. The mother, understanding of a younger Minotaurs frustration with the limited amount of ability he had with a simple spade, fetched a shovel. They spent six hours building an actual fort on the beach from which he intended to throw mud balls at his companions the next day.

More Minotaurs of Hammerad, at their leisure on the beach, were taken by this idea. A father and daughter decided that if a sand-war were in the works, they should get a head start, so they built another fort, then the daughter asked her father, who had served in the army, if this was really the best way to avoid mud balls.

He opined they should also create an underground bunker, and so the rest of the family wondered if that were possible. The House of Minos had [Engineers] who built ballistae, and an uncle on break said it was possible with proper supports. But building them out of wood was wasteful.

That might have been that, but then the question was raisedcould you build an underground bunker with sufficient safety supports out of sand?

The next day, a group of off-duty [Engineers] and [Builders] had brought out measuring tools, gear from work, and begun stress-testing how high you could build a sand fort. How much water went into the dense enough sand?

By the end of the week, half of the city was heading down to work on the evolving project, which had long since been moved past a sand-skirmish into an attempt to build a walkway made completely out of sand. Just for fun.

Six years later, tourists to Hammerad found an entire city built out of sand still being worked on by Minotaurs in their spare time. You could head to the upper level and see homes actually being inhabited, or head down below to where an entire warzone of sand-traps and fortifications was battled through by younger Minotaurs.

That was a Minotaurs project. And that was what they did for fun.

Each son and daughter of Minos was born into paradise. However, maintaining that came at a cost.

It was their choice whether or not they wanted to fish or build siege weapons for a living. Acting as a soldier was optional. But you did serve in some way.

Purpose. That is what they taught the young. Purpose was tied to honor and duty. The unfeeling hammer had a purpose, but no sense of duty, no pride in the task. In the same way, Minotaurs were more than pieces in a greater machine. If they were not fulfilled in the most menial of tasks, like cleaning the streets, something was wrong. Whether that was the Minotaur for the job or the nature of how the job was laid out was the question.

It was why the House of Minos had curios like the giant puzzle box that Relc Grasstongue was so eagerly showing Selys.

Its a real Honolac cube. From Etrerra-Valar itself.

Relc

You can tell its real because of the ash mark here. And its entirely made of wood. Hand-carved, over two thousand pieces. Id have to save up for a year to buy one. And Klb got me it. Klb.

I get it. Its a super-puzzle.

Relc looked insulted.

Super? Its not about the difficulty alone, Selys, its a work of art! You can disassemble it and put it back together perfectly once you master it. This is likeone of your stupid paintings.

They marched through her mansion as Selys, exasperated by the hour-long lecture by Relc, whod been following her around, snapped back.

Dont make fun of my paintings!

Why noh, sorry. I meant, uh, Hawks painting. Did he give you it as a present?

Relc had caught sight of another painting of a Drake standing by himself with a helmet tucked under one arm. He looked slightly uncomfortable, which was how you knew it was an actual painting of Zel Shivertail. He stopped and nodded up at that painting.

Hawks portrait of the Courier mid-stride was less prominently placed. Selys called over her shoulder.

I thought you said there are only less than fifty of those in existence. Which makes sense.

Why?

Because only fifty people would want one.

Relc made a sound like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. He stomped after Selys, but she was changing for a day out with Erin. A wall of her bodyguards muscled over, and even Relc stepped back.

Slap, slap. If you were a [Thief], the ominous sound of a beavers tail hitting the marble floor was the sound youd hear right before they started breaking your bones. First your feet, then everything else.

Relc hadnt seen Selys new home of late, and so he backed up and saw a giantdam. She actually had a ponds worth of water in the antechambers. He whistled.

This is some place, Selys. Whats with the multiple doors?

You entered into her actual home after passing through an area on the outside with a bowl and a bunch of letters and gifts piled up. Then you passed through what was essentially a living room or reception where the beavers made their home.

Layers of security. My front door is actually unlockable with a basic key. That means Street Runners can get in or out.

Relc hesitated. Far be it from him, a lowly [Guard], to talk about security, but

Isnt that dangerous, security-wise?

Selys poked her head out and emerged in a unique piece of clothing. Relc took one look at it and began sniggering.

Shut up. Its the latest fashion in Invrisil.

She was wearing a modified track-suit in red with white stripes down the leggings. Relc kept snorting. Selys ignored him as she tossed some sticks from a bucket into the beavers den, and they splashed in after them.

I have the beavers for security, Relc. And a bunch of enchantments. Ive fried about eight [Thieves] so farall alive, although some got messed up by the beavers.

Relc stopped laughing.

What, really? Is it that bad? Having lots of money doesnt sound that great. Ive only been robbed once, and I think the guy got the wrong room.

Selys just shrugged.

You get used to it. Amazingly fast, actually. Alright, you lot. Dont eat any Street Runners.

She patted the beavers on the heads as they made odd chirping sounds and then looked around, exasperated.

Where are Calruzs? Rhata, Haldagaz!

Relc had almost forgotten the other two pets Selys was taking care of. A loud squeak made him jump, and Selys inner door opened slightly.

Now, a rat couldnt pull a door open, but it could push it like a dog or cat. However, that was quite a feat for such a small animal. And yet the grey rat that plodded into the room did just that.

What was more impressive was the fact that it was dragging a dumbbell behind it. Five pounds. Relc stared as Rhata nosed forwards, and Selys sighed.

I guess Haldagaz is alive, somewhere. Theyve got foodstay. Stay.

Shouldnt you put them in cages, in case the beavers eat them?

The Fortress Beavers and Selys gave Relc a skeptical look. The Drake shook her head.

I tried, Relc. She kept on breaking my cages.

Well, just buy

She ate the wood ones. Then I bought iron, and she bent the bars. I actually commissioned a steel cage large enough for her, and it took her two days to bust down the cage door. Then I got an enchanted one, and the lock vanished! I dont even know how she did that. Im afraid she ate it or something. Calruzs rats are insane. Shes as strong aswell, shes strong for a rat.

Indeed, Rhata seemed to be dragging the dumbbell around for fun. Relc scratched his head.

What about the other one? Halda?

Haldagaz. Hes just smart. Smart enough that he can feed himself. I mostly catch him in my libraries like he can read books. I actually think he stares at the pictures.

Selys chuckled. Relc just gave Rhata a mystified look.

Thats so cool. I should get some rats if thats what they can do. Hey, Selys, do you think I should get a pet?

No.

What abouta cat? No, wait, a monkey-thing from Baleros. Erin told me about them, and I looked them up. I could teach it how to use a spear

Relc, this is why the answer is no. Now come on, I have to meet Erin. Why did no one ever make more than fifty Honolac Cubes?

Relc shrugged as he headed for the door. Selys locked her home, although there was a tiny entrance for a rat to get in and out.

Honolacthats the puzzle-makermade tons for cheap. He had a [Merchant] who worked with him, and once they got popular, I heard the [Merchant] ordered a hundred, but when he heard how long they took to make, he suggested hiring some [Carpenters] and such in other cities to do it quick. You know, expedite the process?

That sounds like how Id do it. What went wrong?

The Minotaur quit. He said it no longer interested him. Making a bunch of money wasnt as fun. Thats Minotaurs for you.

The door closed, and the beavers and Rhata were left to mill about. If you looked closely after Selys and Relc were gone, you might see Rhata jiggling on the floor happily. If you looked closerit became clear the rat was doing press-ups.

Such were Selys pets. However, the last one, the one that hadnt been seen, only made his entrance after Selys had left.

Squeak, squeak.

* If you havent read Haldagaz and Rhatas mini-chapters, go to Interlude Hectval Pt. 2 and find them!

Haldagaz the Rat appeared moments after Selys had left. He looked left and then right, listening hard, but Selys didnt come back, and he was sure that he would hear the loud, green one, Relc, long before they opened the door.

Even sohe was cutting it close. Laboriously, the white rat scurried forwards, past Rhata, who stopped doing pushups to watch him.

Like Rhata, he had something attached to a bit of string looped around his body so he could pull it behind him. Unlike Rhata, it was not one of Calruzs training weights.

It was a tiny scroll of parchment he had worked on for the last two weeks. Hiding the piece of paper from Selys wasnt hard; she was rich enough that she had stationary everywhere. Quills, ink, the same. The difficulty was manipulating anything with rat appendages.

And keeping Rhata from eating it. The only way Haldagaz had managed to get anything legible close to the books he read was to get one of the smaller beavers to lie down while he pinned down the piece of parchment or paper and then delicately manipulated the quill from on top the beavers head.

Needless to say, Selys had put down the dozens of failed attempts to Rhata eating all the parchmentwhich was how Haldagaz got rid of the evidence.

Yes, the rat could write. And read. It had taken him a long time to figure out how the words on the pages went together, and since Drake script was different from Humanalthough they shared the same lettershe had taken longer.

However, he was among the most intelligent animals in Liscor thanks to Calruzs Skill[Pet: Best Quality, Refined]. In fact, given Haldagazs ability to plan, and the natures of Elirrs cats, who were famously able to open doors and outsmart most other animals, it was amazing some animals didnt have levels.

Yet like Ogres and Trolls, even monkey species, intelligent rats, and the Sariant Lambs couldnt level. Haldagaz had wondered why and concluded it was because he was too small, thus proving he hadnt learned about Fraerlings yet. He might amend his conclusion to the fact that it was only one rat who had gained this advanced intelligence, and thus his people, the Children of the Grain Sack and other sacks around the world, were unworthy.

He was only partially right. But thenonly a few species would have been able to tell him the truth. And most had no voices a rat or person could understand.

At any rate, Haldagaz was in a hurry, and he scampered across the room, panting as he headed into the antechambers. He was aiming for the bowl, and he tugged the piece of parchment up laboriously, let it slide into the bowl, and then went back for the second note.

Would he make it? He was worried hed cut it too close, but Selys had mentioned Venaz was meeting Calruz today. Therefore, he was out of time.

Someone was at the door. Haldagaz froze as he placed the second slip of parchment above the bowl. He didnt have the rest ready! He looked around frantically and thenmiracle of miracles, he heard a squeak!

Rhata, his dear sister, had followed Haldagaz. She might not have understood all the things that the white rat did, but she knew her brother was doing it for the Horned One of many pats and gains. So she had grabbed what he needed

Selys money pouch. It had a bunch of spare coins. However, she had dragged the entire thing after her. It had to weigh a lot! Haldagaz only needed one coin. He scampered down and grabbed the coin, then placed it in the bowl. Almost doneHaldagaz saw the door opening and froze. Wait!

A Fortress Beaver sidled over to the door and leaned against it as someone cursed and the door opened. Haldagaz saw the big rodent nod at its smaller cousin and squeaked in thanks. Then he fled to watch his plan unfold.

Argh! Damnwhoa. EasyIm a Street Runner. Nice beaver. Nice

The Fortress Beaver admitted the nervous Gnoll after a second. The Street Runner backed away as she called out, watching the beaver return to its den.

Miss Selys? We got your request for a pickup! Miss Selys?

The Runners Guild had offered Selys a service for its richer clients, along with the Mages Guild and Merchants Guild. Essentially home-deliveries where she could, for a nominal fee each month, get her letters and [Messages] picked up and delivered without the hassle of having to wait in line.

The Street Runner headed for the bowl, grumbling a bit when it became clear Selys was not home. However, she brightened up instantly.

Oh? Oh!

There were three things in the bowl. One was a letter. The second was a note, and the third was a gold coin. The letter was sealed, but the note read as follows:

Hello. Please take this to the Mages Guild and send to the following. Here is your tip. Please send to

The address was interesting, and the Street Runner thought the handwriting looked odd for Selys. But the gold coin was too distracting.

This was why you had rich clients. The Gnoll would run this to the Mages Guild, pronto. She took the letter and headed out. A quiet squeak of victory followed her out.

Yes, hed done all he could. Haldagaz felt guilty for stealing Selys coins, but Calruz might be executed today. He was doing the only thing he could for the only being that had ever been kind to him and his sister.

In that way, the little white rat was quite intelligent. Quite loyal.

For a rat. His sister was trying to do pullups on a ledge next to him. They had been two rats condemned to a simple existence and a quick death when they were found. Now, two rats were trying to save the life of a Minotaur condemned by his own honor.

Antinium. Rats. A half-Elf, a Watch Captain, all speaking to the virtues of a single prisoner. All for one Minotaur. There was some irony in it, this month of all months.

For the island was fast approaching the House of Minos, and their old enemy had come once again. And not one voice in all of the nation of Minotaurs spoke up for them. Not one voiceand no one to defend Goblins even with words. Not for a long, long time.

Until recently. Until the [Innkeeper] of Liscor, who made strange plans. She thought, reasonably, she would have to bully and convince and bribe. Never once did she think there might be at least a few ears in unexpected places who would listen to what she had to say without reservations.

Here was the thing. Haldagazs plan worked. The Street Runner took the note to the Mages Guild, who translated the message across the world; their client was paying. Anyone could refuse to pick up a [Message] or request private messages from specified contacts only, but Selys was a notable figure in Liscor, and this was, unusually, still an individual of fame who accepted [Messages] from all.

The white rat had carefully timed and written his letter. But he had made one mistake. He was an exceptionally intelligent ratbut he was still a rat. So in his research into Calruzs case and his attempts to find a way to help spare the Minotaurs life, he had gone to the same logical conclusion a child might. He hadnt known it would be Venaz, specifically.

So if you were going to plead a Minotaurs case, who might you go to? The answer was

The boss.

The [Message] reached the House of Minos, but not its intended recipient. Instead, it was vetted, because the King of Minotaurs was busy.

An odd letter, but one I believe the King would appreciate. Yet I am sharing it with you, Prince Khedal.

If it is private, it is none of my business.

The palace of Etrerra-Valar was exceptionally open, and the sea breeze would often blow far indoors. Unless there was a storm, those working here appreciated the contact with the outside world. They were, generally, administrators, the Mneiol, who had the authority to pass judgment, and occasionally Minotaurs in armor who represented the military arm of the House of Minos.

However, a fixture of the palace was the figure in armor who strode about with a pair of axes at his side. Prince Khedal was fifty-five years old, and grey had begun to enter his fur, already dark brown. He was third in line to the throne of the House of Minos.

Succession dictated that the Minotaur Kings family would be nominated in event of their death. After all, Minotaurs chose their families, so it followed that the most worthy would go thereafter.

In this case, the Minotaur Kings son preceded Khedal, a younger brother. A far younger Minotaur as yet unproven, who had not become Beriad.

[You Cannot Escape My Steps].

He lunged, and Greydath struck his armor with a kick, then brought his sword down. He moved to cut the ship in half, with the Minotaur on it. The greatsword swung down

A wave of silver came up. Khedals axes cut the air, one, then another, as he activated a Skill that chopped half of the sail apart. Greydath parried the Skill and landed on the deck. The Minotaur advanced.

[I Match Your Strength for Strength].

Relentlessly, he advanced, using the two axes to threaten both of Greydaths sides. He wanted to get in close, where the greatsword was useless. Greydath spun.

Evacuate the deck!

The [Captain] of the ship shouted, and six Minotaurs fell as Greydaths horizontal sword slashed them across the waists, cut through the railing, a ballista

And stopped as Khedal blocked it, saving the ship. The impact rocked the ship, but the Goblin Lords eyes were locked on Khedal.

[Until Death or Dishonor, I Challenge You].

The Prince hissed. Greydath looked in his eyes and, finally, read his class.

[The Glorious Challenger].

A third warship was being destroyed by the Minotaur Princes conflict with Greydath of Blades. However, Khedal was keeping up with Greydaths insane speed.

Greydath of Blades was bleeding. Yet his arrival should have been a great portent for the Goblins, an ally in this battle.

So why was the female Goblin Lord frowning? Perhaps because this had not been predicted. And with the Princes life in danger

The House of Minos was unleashing everything.

Another giant axe struck down as a tree exploded out of the waters, taking the impact. It still spun towards the island, and one of the two Fomirelin raised a shield and stumbled backwards as he absorbed the rest of the throw.

Spells! Spells!

A warning shoutthe Goblin Lord looked up and saw the first of Valmiras Comets coming down.

NoValmiras Comet Storm. They were using spells. And if anything, despite the warships sinking and embattled, the House of Minos was throwing more ammunition into the fight. She clicked her tongue. Escalation.

Wave.

Tidal wave! Tidal waveevacuate the

Merchant Saimh grabbed Ocello as a wall of water began to rise up. The Drake saw it rolling slowly, slowly, towards the harborthen realized how big it had to be. Minotaurs began throwing up magic shields around their ballistae. The rest?

They took cover as the King of Minotaurs turned her head slightly.

Lareqol?

Her son was watching her throw each axe, slowly, gauging her target. It might be a minute or two between throws. He started.

Yes?

Evacuate the throne room.

Then she slowly stood and reached up for something hanging above her throne. She had been throwing axes she had used while she rose to her title. Nowshe pulled down the relic passed between Minotaur Kings.

The Axe of Minos.

Khedal was bleeding. But he was also grinning. He whirled ever-faster, the twin axes he carried seeking Greydaths skin. The Goblin Lord had no armor, and the shallow wounds he took bled, but Khedal had gone for a healing potion twice.

Yet one blow was all Khedal wanted. The two were fighting across the ruins of the warship, the Goblin Lord forgotten. This was a duel of honor, and Greydath couldnt escape without dishonoring himself.

And he refused to do so. The Goblin Lord whirled from blade dance to art, yet Khedal charged into a cut trying to open a void, aware he was behind in Skill. One cutand he was willing to sacrifice his body for that cut.

He was forcing Greydath into the end of that deadly dance when the axe roared in Khedals ears. He looked up.

My King? No

Greydath whirled as the Axe of Minos howled through the air, and the storm broke. The Goblin Lord stared at the single relic, not a giant axe, shooting towards him like an arrow.

The challenge ended. Greydath spun, and his body twisted as he threw himself up. Far over the spinning axe. It twisted up with him. Greydaths eyes narrowed. His greatsword flashed, and he parried the b

He stared at the hilt of his greatsword as the Axe of Minos severed the blade in half. Greydath grabbed the axe as the head tried to spin into his neck. His arms bulged. His veins stood out, and his muscles contorted.

It lodged an inch into his neck, and the Goblin Lord held it there, quiveringthen tore it out. He threw it down, and the axe zoomed into the air. Back towards the thrower. The Goblin Lord looked up as Khedal approached him uncertainly.

Nevertheless. Take it.

Khedal tossed one axe down, and Greydath sneered. He lifted the hilt of the greatsword

And both he and Khedal turned as the Goblin Lord on her cliff stood up.

The bark cracked. The tree groaned. Her bodyguards looked up and cried out, and the centuries the Goblin Lord had sat were over.

She landed on the warship as lightly as a feather. Khedal spun. Greydath moved, and the Minotaur Prince cursedwithout the duel, he was no longer as f

Greydath kicked him. The Minotaur Prince landed two minutes later. The Goblin Lord was watching him fall towards the island, and Greydath raised his hilt to throw when the [Shaman], the great female Goblin Lord, tapped him on the shoulder.

Greydath.

Izikere.

He looked the other Goblin Lord in the eyes and saw the mask of bark and nature, the greatest [Shaman] of Goblins, smiling at him. A descendant of Sve, the Goblin King who had raised this very island.

Izikere pressed a finger to Greydaths chest, and he jerked back, forgetting Khed

The Minotaur warships were retreating in the face of Greydath of Blades. Not all the warships were burning. Two-thirdsbut they had lost Prince Khedal. The ranged fire was still continuing as evening fell, but the giant tree encasing the Goblin Lord finally split open as the angry Greydath of Blades cut his way out.

The Minotaur King watched as her generals reported in.

Is Khedal alive?

No one knew. Nor did they quite understand why the Goblin Lord, Izikere, had attacked Greydath.

Inreza stared at the Isle of Goblins. Khedals survival was remote, but not impossible for his level. After all

She too had once walked the Isle of Goblins. She wondered what he would see.

Khedal landed, obviously. But he only woke up an hour later.

Consider the impact a single kick had to transmit to launch a Minotaur wearing full plate armor into the air. Then consider how hard Khedal hit the ground.

He buried himself in the soil. That was probably why no Goblin found him at first. When he tore his way out of the earth, he had to dislodge a shattered tree that had fallen on him after he struck it.

defeat.

That was all he said. Khedal had healed his wounds as he woke up. Only when he looked around did he realize.

He was in enemy territory. He was on the Island of Goblinsand while he could hear explosions in the distance, it was clear that the navy wasnt on the attack.

Khedal understood he might be dead. If sohe swore to make it a death to remember. He had one axe, he was sure the healing potions had only partially healed his cracked ribs, and his right arm clicked every time he raised it.

Left arm, then, and find a shield for his right. Khedal looked around. His armor was in tatters, but it would do.

Now, when behind enemy lines, there were a few methods for a fighter to survive. Hiding, disguising oneself, covertly signal for extraction or make your way back to

Khedal started running. He charged through the brush, eyes scanning for opponents. He found one within four minutes. The Minotaur burst out of the brush onto a dirt trail, long worn out of the jungle, where a little Goblin was gathering fruits from a bush.

The Minotaur raised his axe and saw the little Goblin jerk up. She stared at himher clothes were bright green, and she had a necklace of beads. The Minotaur realized it was a child.

The child dropped her basket and ran, shrieking, into the distance. Khedal lowered his axe.

A village?

He had never seen one of the Goblin villages from shore. Seconds later, he heard shouts and horns in the distance. The Minotaur knew the village was alarmed, and well they should be.

He was headed straight for it. The Prince burst into the open as he followed the child, looking for their warriors. He saw Goblins in turn bursting out of houses, whirling, shouting the alarm to their warriors that a Minotaur was here.

One raised a hoe in front of a garden, and the Minotaur saw a Goblin glance up, sitting while a squirrel ate an acorn on top of its head. He saw a Goblin in a tree house swing down and another train a bow on him.

Hehesitated.

Not because of the children running into homes. Nor the [Shaman] or older Goblins trying to block him. The young warriors calling out challenges. Not because of how familiar it surely should be.

No, he saw Goblins. It was the architecture that confused him. He looked up and saw, for a second, before the first poisoned arrow shot down, a house among the trees. Built into the trees, but not a tree house.

A tree house, a cabin in the air was so primitive. So ungraceful compared to the flowing architecture. The bridge across the air.

The gardensKhedal deflected a blow from a Goblin youth and nearly took their head off until the Goblin whod been feeding the squirrel pulled the young one back. He made a gesture and then punched Khedal from a dozen paces away. A[Martial Artist]? A [Monk]?

A poisoned dart from the side. Goblins screeching at each other. Khedals one axe swung as he seized a shield from an attacker, backing away.

A garden? His mind whirled as the poison bit him, and he backed up. He was confused, so he fled backwards. The leader of the village shot a third arrow into his back. Khedal looked over his shoulder once.

He was a traveller of many lands. He had sailed across the world for fifty years. Why

Why did that village look like the ones hed seen in Terandria? The Claiven Earth?

Like a half-Elfs

Greydath was nursing his wounds when Izikere spoke. She stood, warding the isle against the Minotaurs wrath.

The fleet is coming back. For the ships.

Let them. You. Sit.

The Goblin Lord of Blades glowered, but the rest of the Goblins were so terrified by Izikere standing that they ran to their posts.

I could sink half of them before they retreat.

Sit. You have done enough. Is that Minotaur dead?

A Goblin raced towards her and reported no, he had just been seen in one of the villages. He was poisonedbut alive.

Leave him. Let them [Scry] him. Watch where he goes. No fighting.

Greydath growled.

I could kill him t

The [Shaman] kicked at him, and the [Blademaster] leaned back. Izikere wore an expression of rare discontent. Centuries she had sat on the cliff. She pointed a staff she had grown out of the ground at him.

You have done enough. Sit. The King of Minotaurs will not be idle if her Prince dies. Did you think I was in danger?

Greydath just glowered back. They spoke in the Goblin tongue, but not in the crude hodge-podge, the barely-literate sentences he used with Rags and the others. This was the flowing language as it should be.

I return to this island and fight for you, and you greet me like this, Goblin Lord Izikere.

Greydath. What happened to Izril?

He shrugged, and the Goblin Shaman turned her head dangerously. Greydath spoke, making his words short like the Goblins he had lived among for decades.

Goblin Lord appears. Goblin Lord dies. Many Goblins die. Sad. Death. Always death. Here

He gazed around the Island of Goblins with almost as much distaste as hed had for Tremborags mountain. The gift of a Goblin Lord. A memory, perhaps their potential on display.

He hated it here. And yet it drew him back each and every time. Like a memory of something beautiful, but so sad it cut you apart every time you saw it. A dream. Izikere was going to spare that arrogant Minotaurs life?

It was her island and domain. Greydath wondered what Khedal would see.

The arrows were poisoned. Hed forgottenthe Goblins here were more dangerous than Drowned Folk on their ships.

Too strong. Nothat wasnt it. He could have taken a score of them down. The foreign architecture had disturbed him. He didnt need to slaughter them in their village.

Why half-Elves? Design? The Minotaur ran down forest trails, aware he was being watched. His head was dizzyhe was feverish.

He would take a long time to die. Perhaps that was why they didnt close with him. Yet the more Khedal ran across the islandthe stranger it got.

Perhaps it was the venom in his blood, but nothing made sense. The forest trails were primitive, but no more than any overgrown part of Minos where Minotaurs might hike. There were bugs and wild plants in profusion, yet the Goblins lived in cleared areas.

Was that a town he skirted, Goblins watching him from homes, bows drawn? So many bows. Living amongst nature like

No. Just pointed ears. He ran past a fishing village and saw the nets neatly waiting for low tide. Fish in a bowl for colorful birds to eat. They flew off around him as he charged past.

A thousand kinds of bird, fluttering down the beach. A Goblin staring at him unafraid, holding a fishing spear. Unlike the savages hed met who

Fomirelin. Coming out of the waves like a charging bull, roaring. Khedal cut him three times and landed as he was thrown, getting to his feet. The sounds of fighting would be his guide to his people.

He couldnt let himself die. His King needed him. Prince Lareqol

His skin was burning with whatever the Goblins had hit him with. Khedal felt like he was breathing blood, but he was just thirsty.

The Minotaur burst across a stream and drank greedily. He splashed water over his face and then realizedit was a garden. Abandoned?

No, not like the other villages or roads. A single Goblin sat there with a tiny knife in hand. She was watching him.

Grey hair. He lifted his axe, but she didnt move. She sat protectively in front of something she was working on. Then he realized it was a carving knife, and she sat among flowers which bloomed a light blue, in neat beds, and hed just rampaged through another one.

The Minotaur was sick, dizzy, and he knew he had a fever. Or how else did he look at that statue and hallucinate further? His lips moved, and he grinned.

The Titan of Baleros had once boasted to him like that. Could he now say it? There was no mistaking the differences.

Pointed ears. Half-Elves, Goblins. So what? That was one feature. But there was something in the face. The eyes? A timelessness captured. The Minotaur shook his head.

He was seeing something else. It was a statue of a Goblin. It had to be. Or else why was it here? Why

His lips moved, and he spat blood into the stream. Hoarsely, the Minotaur repeated that boast the Fraerling had once told to him.

I have looked upon the faces of Elves.

The Goblin [Sculptor] said nothing as the Minotaur looked at the half-Elf standing there. His red eyes, his bloody armorhe stared at her in silence. Slowly, her lips moved.

Yes.

He didnt know who it was. Khedal stumbled forwards, but the words on the statue were foreign to himand the Goblin blocked the statue with her body. Protectively. He heard sounds from behind him and turned. One last time, he looked at the statue and thought it seemed familiar.

Oh, so many things were different, nuances of the body, hair, but the blood threw true. The Elf looked a bit likethat Named Adventurer.

Elia Arcsinger.

He left a trail of blood behind him. The Evercut Arrow dug into his shoulder, and the poison wormed at his mind. Imagining this.

He crashed through a hedge-maze and stopped before a row of Goblins. They knelt or sat or raged at the sky. He realized they were made of stone, some as old as

Goblin Kings.

That made sense. Khedal ran past the last one, Velan the Kind. Then looked back once. Each Goblin had been carved with something unreal, somethingan object or something more than their face and features.

One held an island in her claw. Sve. The one who had made this island. The second-to-last Goblin King was one that Khedal knew. His great-great-grandfather had died in battle against Curulac of a Hundred Days.

He held a little Goblin child wrapped in cloth in his hands. A greatsword leaned against the chair he sat in. That wasnt the monster who had ravaged Terandria ere he died.

And VelanKhedal saw the Goblin King kneeling next to bowls of herbs and stone potions. In his claws, he held a ring with two keys.

Then Khedal blinked, and he was running into the sand as Goblins shot arrows at the ship surging towards him. Minotaurs leapt into the water, grabbing him, shouting his name, and Khedal was rambling. They felt at his bandaged shoulder and called for an antidote

Blink.

The Goblin kept poking him. Khedal raised his bloody axe, or tried to, but the old Goblin just pushed it down. He finally found the Evercut Arrow and yanked the head out.

Mm? Mm.

He slapped something on the shoulder and bound it with a bit of cloth. A poultice? Khedal rasped.

I wont be a prisoner.

The Goblin tilted his head. He glanced at the hole that Khedal had put in his hut when the Minotaur had run straight through it and collapsed. He spoke, and Khedal blinked uncomprehendingly at the chattering voice. Then the Goblin concentrated and tried again.

Wenot you death. Not you.

He tapped Khedal on the forehead. The Prince rasped at him.

What? What?

The Goblin grinned and shook his head.

Kings mad. Kingslong ago. Not you. See?

Khedal didnt. The delirious Minotaur saw the Goblin pull something out. It was very importanthe kept snapping his fingers as the Minotaur tried not to close his eyes. Khedal had to get to shore. But the Goblin showed him a tiny, carved figure.

the faces of Elves

The Minotaur whispered. He looked at the old Goblin, and the [Herbalist] shook his head.

No. Stupid.

He poked Khedal in the snout, and the Minotaur growled.

Then what?

Friends.

The Minotaurblinked

And he was lying on the deck of the ship. The [Battle Healer] leaning over him jerked back.

Prince Khedal? Stay still.

Im

Safe. The Goblins poison is mostly neutralized. Lie still. We are headed back to harbor.

The King is asking about the Prince. What is your response?

The [Healer] turned.

He will live.

Khedals mind was still reeling from the disjointed memories. Slowly, he felt at his shoulder and found no grassy bandage, but a professional one. The Evercut Wound needed to heal regularly, but the [Healer] had applied it.

Of course. Iwas hallucinating. Under fire from Goblins.

Only you would survive that, Prince. It is good you did not fall to Greydath of Blades.

Is it confirmed it was him?

Confirmed. The King is debating announcing it to the other world powers. Hold on[Fill the Sails]! We are still in danger.

Khedal lay still until something poked him in the side. He grimaced and fished out what he thought was a piece of shrapnel out of his side. But it wasnt.

Ah, Prince. Did you buy that from the harbor? Its well made.

The relieved Minotaurs were speaking to each other. One noticed what Khedal was holding and assumed hed pulled it out of a bag of holding.

Perhaps a [Good Luck Charm]? If I were you, Id wear the same boots and helmet in any battle.

Even the [Battlefield Healer] joined in. Khedal just stared at the tiny figurine. To the others, it looked like a half-Elf from afar. He stared back at the island.

I dont know what it means.

His hand tightened over the figurine, and he almost made to throw it overboard. Then he lay back down.

After every battle, the House of Minos sat down and looked at how it had gone, where they had taken casualties or failed to make ground, and adjusted their tactics. It exposed peculiarities of their commanders as well.

Unfortunately, sometimes the conclusion you drew was dont fight a Kraken. Similarly, the Goblin Lords were justdifficult.

The tidal wave that Izikere the Guardian had summoned hadnt been as large as some, and it had been directed at the harbor. Minotaurs had built up their seawalls enough so that while most of the streets were flooded, the biggest results were a few cracked walls and a lot of debris.

There was only one real casualty of the waveand that was all the art and statues that had been readied in a warehouse by the docks for sale. Most had been damaged by the water or smashed by the impacts. Artisans were attempting to repair them, and [Mages] were casting restoration spells, but the Merchant Saimh had little to buy.

He had accepted the Minotaur Kings personal apology with assurances he understood. It was their legacy that had broken there. He would collect what there was to buy and leave, though the journey would doubtless cost him a small fortune with how many ships hed brought.

The memories of their people were ruined. But few Minotaurs had died.

It could have been worse. And, as Izikere pointed out as the Goblins did their retrospective, it would have been worse if Prince Khedal had died.

She punctuated her points by hitting him on the head. Or rather, trying to. Or rather, three trees in the grove they were sitting in kept leaning down and trying to whack him with their branches.

He refused to let them touch his skin. Greydath slapped a branch off a tree, and the thunderous crack as wood sprayed everywhere made the other trees withdraw. Izikere glowered harder, and the tree branch began to regrow.

That was her talent. She sat cross-legged, once again almost immobile. She spokebut she had no need to fidget or move more than her mouth. A bunch of sparrows, some magical, were balanced on her head and shoulders, but they flew off when Greydath glared.

It was the most animated Izikere had ever been, and the other Goblins regarded her with a kind of awe. As if the mountain youd been walking past all your life asked how you were doing and if that were really the shirt you wanted to wear for your date today.

Greydath, by contrast, was more annoyed than he had been on Izril. And if the Goblins of the island treated Izikere with reverencehe, they avoided.

The Goblin Lord of Blades was eating from a huge bowl of eel. Giant, oversized eelsbig cuts of them marinated in the Goblins hand-made sauce. Oysters, sweetberries for the sugar, a local bean

They had more than most tribes could dream of. Greydath spoke irritably.

This place hasnt changed in what, sixty years?

I dont count time. You were here when the last Minotaur King was alive. This one is dangerous, isnt she? When she was younger, her axes would strike the island every year.

He grunted in disdain.

She caught me off-guard.

As mentioned, the Goblins spoke with the flowing nuance and grammar unknown to most Goblins. Their language was complete.

No, not even completeit was finished. The crude way Goblins expressed things vocally was always made up for by their rich body language. When Greydath spoke to Izikere, they were combining both body language and verbal.

She did not move, but the patterns of moss changed on her body and even grew to copy the way he spoke. For instance, when Greydath commented about the island not changing, he had stuck one leg out and tapped a big toe against the ground.

Derisively. As one would use punctuation to emphasize a point. Similarly, when talking about Izikere, the moss on the [Shaman]s hands moved like pattering rain.

At any rate, Greydath was still annoyed by the interrupted battle. He had done a quick tour of the island and seen something different than Khedal.

The island is nearly overfull. You must be fishing nonstop to feed them.

They will leave, soon.

Greydath picked up a cup of tea and gulped it down.

The Minotaurs didnt get all the ships? They sank at least eight.

We have enough to send them forth. This timethey will all go together.

The male Goblin stopped, a pair of chopsticks expertly holding a piece of eel. He glanced up. That was big news.

The Goblin ships that reinforced tribes on other continents were one thing. It was a perilous journey, but they used stealth. Izikere intended to do the opposite this time.

She intended to send thousands.

Are you going to the new lands too?

The other Goblin Lord laughed at this, and Greydath chuckled at his own joke.

No. I may split them by continent. Each a tribe. Isnt that why you came here? I felt the Goblin Lord of Izril rise and die in moments.

And like that, he wasnt hungry anymore. Greydath tossed the bowl over his shoulder, and the cup followed.

Savage. Barbaric. You put plates and dishes away. But what did the Goblins of this island think of their cousins across the world? Greydath sneered.

The last one called himself Reiss before he died.

Drake name.

Izikere looked curious. Greydath nodded.

He was a servant of a dead Human [Necromancer]. But he still became a Goblin Lord. He had a dream, to build a city of Goblins where they could live in peace.

Did he not know of the island?

The blademaster sneered around at the island, and Izikeres eyes glowed a bit brighter.

If he did, I did not tell him. His dream sounded better. You could take a nation, secure it, and demand to be like the cloth-people. You would just have to risk your life.

It was a challenge, an old argument, and the fundamental difference between the two. Izikere was the Guardian. She stayed here, like the last three Goblin Lords before her.

Greydath travelled continents abroad, alone. Seeking the next Goblin King.

Izikere took her time replying. She didnt seem to need to drink nor eat, but the talking had clearly made her want to wet her mouth, so she inhaled a mist that drifted down before speaking.

What then?

Hm?

We take a nation and do what? Scream out our voices to the world and say, we are a people, we are kind, ignore the Goblin Kings? Do you know what Demons do?

The [Shaman] turned her head as if she could see across the world towards Rhir. Greydath, who had met Demons, spat.

I know. Their [Diplomats] die in beds, in shadows. Everyone who listens dies. So? Is this easier?

The Minotaur barrage had damaged the island. Nevermind the [Shamans] and [Druids] who could repair it. Nevermind that fewer Goblins had died than anyone could reasonably ask. They were still dead, and this conflict was yearly.

Greydath leaned forwards.

You could throw yourself behind the next Goblin King. But it would take the island, everyone. Risk it all for

They had this argument almost every time he returned. Sixty years felt like six. Greydath stopped talking, because there was no point.

He saw the fear in her eyes. Izikere replied with a gaze that looked through him, not at him.

It will change nothing. The battle is already lost. Or won

She held up a claw to forestall his snarl.

I will not destroy this island. You sneer at the villages.

You could build a city, here.

He jabbed the plain soil. Izikere was no [Druid]. And even if she were, [Druids] could build wondrous cities. They could have at least put this floating island on some great animal, like a turtle. Or a sea-elephant. Or five sea-elephants on top of a turtle.

The [Shaman] laughed in his face. He had such stupid ideas.

Cities alarm them. We are contained. We are the Minotaurs problem. You, Greydath, wish to destroy the greatest achievement of Goblins? No.

His eyes narrowed. Greydath had no more cups or plates to break, so he dug a claw into the ground and picked up a handful of dirt.

This is worth nothing. Since this island was madenot once has a Goblin King emerged from the Goblins here. Not because your Goblins are less Goblin. Silly words. If anything, yours know more of the truth and who we should be than any others. And yet, do you know why they will never even become Goblin Lords?

She was getting annoyed, and the ground was sinking slightly around them, turning into a bog. Izikere didnt reply, and Greydath went on with a laugh.

Because your Goblins are as foreign to the rest of the world as Antinium are to Drowned Folk. They cannot lead our people.

So you keep searching for a single shining soul among children who can barely talk or remember the truth. My warriors found the tribes that come to greatness. The [Witch] of the Molten Stone tribe of Izril came from these shores. Kraken Eaters were descendants of my people!

Tremborag was not. Nor were the Redfangs.

Izikere gave Greydath a long, cold stare. She didnt even know their names. Greydath grunted as he tossed the dirt down and dusted his hands.

I fought for Velan. You hid here even when he cametwice. Once to learn, then to make war.

I sent warriors. The Goblin Kings are trapped in the past. If they did not remember, perhaps Goblins would not be hunted.

Izikere the Guardians tone was bitter. Yet Greydath picked up the greatsword she had grown for him out of the oldest tree in the forest and slashed at the ground. He drew a line between them fifty feet long in the soil.

The past? Have we won? Lost? If that is sowhy do they scream war every time they rise?

Trapped by madness.

She turned and wouldnt look at him. Tremborag was right. Rightand wrong.

Every Goblin Lord who rose with Velan the Kind had been young. Ones he knew, or ones who had come to their position as contemporaries.

The old ones, thoughand there were a fewdid not go to Velan. They were like Izikere. Only Greydath of Blades had served the Goblin King. And the next might be the last, if he even lasted that long.

He would be hunted, now that the Minotaurs knew he was still alive. A Goblin Lord who had fought with Velan was entirely more alarming to any nation than Izikere was.

Because their fight might start destroying parts of the island, the two Goblins went for a walk. They stood on a cliff over a village, and Greydath watched the necessity of this island.

Young Goblins grew up at any task they wanted. Much like the House of Minos. Yetthe difference was that you could be too good at something.

One Goblin child was making cups out of clay. She knew how to spin the wheel and make a cup as fine as anything you could buy in a Walled City already, and played with colors and shapes.

She was too good with her hands. A [Shaman] had watched her at work for two years. He took the last cup she made from the kiln and then offered the Goblin child a spear. The [Potter]s face fell, and she protested, but weakly. And stopped when she saw the Goblin Lords looking down at her.

Greydath spoke bitterly as Izikere avoided his glance. The newest recruit slowly joined the most talented Goblins to become warriors.

She will never become a Goblin Lord. She might, following her passion. Clay would make her a Goblin King. Not blood. Not your choice.

She will become a fine warrior. This island is safe, Greydath. Safeit is a place of Goblins and will not fall. I have met the last two Goblin Kings. I am not as old as you, but when he became a KingCurulac vanished. All that was left was rage. That is what happens to them.

And for once, Greydath hesitated. He put out his claw, and Izikere stirred.

No.

No? Few things surprised Izikere, but she turned her head, blinking, as the Goblins in the village pointed up at the Goblin Lords. Some waved. Greydath stared past them and whispered.

Not Curulac. Nor Velan. They were filled with fury. Consumed at times, yes. But Goblin Kings are only partly insane. Whatever happens to themthey have lucid moments. I was with both until their ends. That is why each one leaves something.

Curulac destroyed Terandrian Kingdoms at random. All that he ruined is rebuilt

No. He fought for a reason. He went to Terandria and broke the enemies he sought to kill. Servants of our foes, he called them. Do you know the ones they call Agelum and Lucifen?

Izikere tilted her head back and forth.

I thought they were dead.

More are, now. Just like Velan, they all left something. Sve, this island. Velan, his challenge to the Goblins of Izril.

The other Goblin Lord was looking at Greydath with sadness, now. She spoke.

And Curulac left you.

Greydath of Blades hand tightened on his greatsword, and every Goblin decided it was a really good time to go inside their homes.

Not me. My mother. And he was not the Goblin I knew when he became King.

And still, he wanted them to rise. The two Goblins stood there, arguing, sharing secrets, but in truthGreydath looked tired. He had seen another Goblin Lord fall as soon as he rose. Greydath turned away from Izikere.

I came to tell you that the Redfangs of the High Passes are gone. Their Chieftain was Level 38, I think. Two classes. Garen Redfang. He is dead. Another tribe has begun setting up there, but the Goblins of the north have lost many tribes. South, too.

I will send many Goblins to their shores, then. It will be the most dangerous, with all the nations fighting for land.

Good. I will go to Terandria. Somethingcalls me. Not the other tribes. A strange Goblin. Do you watch the news?

News?

Izikere gave Greydath the blankest look in creation, and he laughed. The Goblins of this isle hadnt even heard of television, yet. That did make him smile.

The Goblins will be launching their armada. We have witnessed them preparing the ships at night, covertly. Even with Greydath of Blades, it seems they have no confidence they can protect their flotilla.

It was a huge migration of Goblins, the very thing the House of Minos wanted to avoid. Prince Khedal was preparing to lead the fleet against the Goblins, though it would be a running battle against two Goblin Lords.

The Minotaur King, Inreza, had asked if Khedal were able to keep fighting. He had assured her he was capable. Of course, he probably would have said that if he were breathing out a hole in his chest, but she hadnt forbidden him.

He feltslightly off after surviving the Isle of Goblins. Most put it down to the poison and harrowing journeyor his defeat, all of which could damage the prideful prince.

Inreza thought the real reason might be different. She approved Khedals warplans with the [Admirals] and then spoke to him alone.

You have been unhappy with me, Khedal. For interrupting your duel with the Goblin Lord.

He hesitated. Khedal, who spoke his mind about any dishonor he saw, no matter the situation, was loath to contradict her. Once, when rumors had spread that Inreza might be best served by appointing Khedal her replacement and retiring due to her wounds, he had offered to abdicate his claims to the throne on the spot.

His jaw worked as he put his hands behind his back.

Iunderstand you acted as a leader of the battle, my King. But I had the chance to slay one or both of the Goblin Lords, or wound them enough to be finished. My life

Khedal. I can kill Izikere.

The Princes eyes widened, and he swung around to the Minotaur King. She leaned on the balcony, staring at the Goblins isle in the distance. No one was loosing weapons tonight; they were saving up for tomorrow.

A fortune in ammunition. Dead soldierswarships destroyed. Each island would be working to replace the losses. Inreza turned to Khedal.

It is no guarantee. But it is possible. Do you know why I do not? If you killed Greydath or Izikerethe Goblins would have charged. They would ram their island into ours and fight until fury left them. I would count the deaths in the hundreds of thousands at least.

Khedal turned to the island. His first words, which hed snatched back, were, then it would be done.

Two nations, two powers too equal for one to triumph over the other. At least, without that kind of cost. It was the Minotaur Kings duty to decide whether it was worth it.

You saw something on the island, Khedal. More than you reported.

I was delirious and sick. I cannot substantiate any claimseven material.

Khedal stalled for time. He still had the figurine he had found in his armor. Inreza raised her brows.

Tell me. I will listen. You know, I won my way onto that island thirty-eight years ago.

Khedal spun.

You did?

The Minotaur King rested her arms on the balcony, back to the island, and nodded. She stared at him, and he felt like the child he had once been standing before the throne the first time he came here.

What did you see?

For a long time, Khedal hesitated. He paced back and forth and looked at that island in the distance. When he did speak, it was slowly, watching her face, but she gave him nothing.

I sawa level of civilization to frighten the complacent. Goblins advance much like Trolls or Ogres given time. I saw statuesa mystery. Our enemy may have laid a trap for me, mind-games. I was left alive for a reason, so the rest of what I saw, I doubt.

Was that the right answer? He saw Inreza sigh faintly. Khedals heart sank because he never understood what he said that was wrong. But he thought there was something. Inreza turned and nodded.

If that is what you saw, I believe you. I have been thinking, Khedal, about the new lands.

As every leader must. Are we to try to colonize it?

The question made Khedal uneasy. The House of Minos had sworn not to expand past these islands. It was an old pact, but they had honored it. When first they had come to these islands, the House of Minos had been less than a third of the size it now was. They had dredged and built these islands, bucket of sand by bucket, until they were as large as they were.

Inreza knew their history even better than Khedal. She craned her neck up at the stars.

We were exiled here to contain the Goblins, Khedal. Yet I have heard it said that the Goblins contain us. This war keeps our forces strong, but it also keeps us from growing with our yearly enemy. You know, few Goblin Lords ever come from that island.

But the tribes they found

Later contain great Chieftains and Goblin Lords. Save for the one that guards the island or those that visit, few emerge here. An interesting phenomenon, dont you think?

It was. Khedal frowned as he tried to piece that into his knowledge of Goblins. He knew how to fight them, but not much else. And in factno one did.

There is no theory of Goblins, Khedal. Nothing but observations, rudimentary analyses of their race by the kind of writer like Krsysl Wordsmith. [Naturalists], [Historians], document them, but there are no writings on them, no interviews, no first-hand accounts by anyone save adventurers who come with magic and sword. There was one book published in recent memory, though.

Really? I had no idea. By whom?

The Minotaur Kings smile was bitter.

Niers Astoragon. Every single book was burned when Velan the Kind became a Goblin King. I have read it.

She waited for his response, and Khedal uncertainly gazed at Inreza.

Did you learn much about our enemy?

This time, he missed her second sigh. Inreza shook her head as she dismissed him; he would need rest for the battle tomorrow.

No. Not much about our enemy.

The next day, the Minotaur King sat in her throne room with the throwing axes and the Axe of Minos. She waited for Greydath to show himself; her Skills were limited, and her [Strategists] had agreed keeping the deadly Goblin Lord from battle was the most important.

She watched the naval chase as the Goblins made their exodus from the island. Nine warships set sail. They had apparently managed to patch a few, and they were racing ahead of the Minotaur fleet.

Enough to colonize every continent with a tribe or two. Khedal led the chase, and his ships kept up a constant barrage.

However, Izikere made their task difficult. She shielded her peoples ships while they were in her range, then produced massive waves to slow the Minotaurs. She even spawned a huge clump of tangling seaweed that stalled their rudders.

Greydath threw a sword through the mast of one of the ships, but he didnt join the Goblins at sea. Perhaps because he knew they were doomed.

They almost made it. But Inreza sawthe Goblins knowledge of the sea was turned against them. Rather than catching the current that could take them into the sea and scatter, they found nothing with the oceans changed by the new lands of Izril. And the Minotaurs, who had deployed oars, would catch up.

Inreza listened to the terse reports and watched. She had one eye on the battle, another out at the island in the distance.

The House of Minos had shifted its aim away from the island to the Goblin fleet. Inreza thought about throwing an axe, but Khedal had things in hand.

And she could well kill her people if her aim were just a hair off. She was a [Thrower]. That was not her current class, but she had been a [Thrower], and a Minotaur King was not like a [King], so she was one of the most dangerous leaders, in personal combat at least, in the world.

There was some nuance to hurling a giant block of metal at someone. A direct nuance, but even a [Thrower] had guile. A basic feint was to aim at one target and hit the other.

Just like Khedal had done. Minotaurs were not stupid. If anything, the assumption that they were straightforward had cost many armies in battle when the House of Minos flanked or ambushed them.

An entire world of strategy lay simply in aiming at a targetor letting your opponent think you were aiming at one thing and not the other. Inreza glanced out the balcony and saw a few ships sailing out to sea.

Merchant Saimh had left, skirting the battleground and trusting to the House of Minos protection. His fleet of ships were now out of range of the coastal batteries, and presumably, loaded with the salvaged artwork from the palace.

Presumably.

The Minotaur King murmured. Someone rapped hard on her door.

Prince Lareqol. My Kingmit is urgent. I know theres a battle, but

Her son called out. Inreza called out.

Enter. What is it?

He strode into the room. Hed failed to best Venaz, but the fact that he had been vying with the [Strategist] for his post had meant he had been second-best among all the applicants. Lareqol was sharp, and he had just been walking the harbor.

My KingI just met a Drake called Ocello. He was at the docks, shouting for help. He and his entire crew were at the warehouse with our art.

The ruined art? What of it? Saimh is at sea. Has he forgotten his apprentice?

Prince Lareqols expression was urgent, and he nearly tripped over his words, so he didnt see Inrezas calm expression.

No! They never picked up the art.

He strode to the balcony, and the Minotaur King glanced at the flotilla of nice, big, cargo shipscircling around to the isle of Goblins.

My oh my. Who could have predicted that?

The Drake was a curiosity to Greydath. He had assumed Izikere had a plan, but hadnt known her ships would be replaced by these. The Drake sat on the ground as the rest of his crew shouted curses at him.

Well, some. A few just sat there as the rest were loaded on a rowboat to be sent to the House of Minos. The Drake stared at a Goblin offering him a beautiful cup.

Is this a welcoming present? I hope I get a house.

Big house. Nice house. Lots of flowers and food.

One of the village leaders assured him happily. The Goblins were inspecting their new ships, but most were loading in a hurry. The Minotaur fleet was at sea, but they wanted to be gone before the Minotaurs began firing.

The Drake would never leave this island. He had a death warrant on his head, but he seemed at home with the decision. He scratched at the large scar on his chest as Greydath squatted down.

You are Greydath of Blades, arent you?

Yes. And youwhy did you give your ships up?

For answer, the [Merchant] pointed at the scar hed received as a child from an infection.

Every single [Healer] in the world told me I would be dead as a boy. Except for a certain Goblin Chieftain who saved my life. I came to these islands long agoin secret. Ive been here every year since. Not when it comes to the House of Minos, of course. This was planned long ago.

Huh.

Greydath looked at Saimh and then at Izikere. She had found a new place to sit where she clearly intended to turn into a second tree. She didnt turn her head, but one eye winked at him. And this was closer to Reiss dream than the island had ever seemed before.

The Goblins set sail as the Minotaur armada reported that the laughing Goblins who had made a skeleton crew on the shipscomplete with fake Goblins made of reeds and vines and grasshad merrily teleported away once Khedals warship closed and began to board.

Disastrous. Greydath decided hed join one of the ships bound for Terandria, and the Isle of Goblins celebrated merrily at the House of Minos expense. A Goblins trick.

Just as planned, really. Inreza offered a short report to the other nations and reported Khedals vow to hunt the Goblins down. Then she also announced that Minotaurs would join the races seeking to explore the new lands, the first expansion of their nation since their inception.

While the rest of her nation tried to calculate the Goblins trajectory and see whether there was a point in assailing the island after this, she pulled out a worn book from her personal quarters.

Goblin [Mercenaries]. Leading Goblins and being led by Goblins, by Niers Astoragon.

It was one of the last copies in the world, and she wondered if the Fraerling had kept any. Perhaps, in Fraerling cities where only his kind could read them. It was one of the few books with anything like interviews with actual Goblins. As she had told Khedal, few species got to observe them in anything more than an adversarial role.

Howeverthe journals of Minotaur Kings before her also provided insights. Some were like Khedal. Some saw nothing, and some had fought Crelers and been too busy for Goblins. Except to note moments where the Island of Goblins and House of Minos had slain an Elder Creler and their warriors had withdrawn without spilling each others blood.

Khedal, in some ways, was like a rock. His journey to the Isle of Goblins might not change him immediately, but perhaps, like a drop of water falling on a boulder over a decadewell. Under Inreza, the House of Minos had taken fewer casualties in their war against the Goblinsthat had allowed them to battle the King of Destructions ambitions abroad.

Presently, after reading, Inreza heard a sharp pinging sound, like someone tapping a crystal with a hammer, and felt a buzzing at her side. She closed the book and put the high-quality speaking stone on the armrest of her throne.

You never did gain the Titans confidence to ask him about meeting Velan the Kind, did you?

Ino, my King.

The voice that spoke through the stone was slightly sheepish. The King of Minotaurs nodded.

He is a cautious man. Perhaps when you return. How many letters did you receive, Venaz?

Over two thousand. Do you know what caused it? Calruz swears he has no knowledge. They kept referencing a rat.

Venaz, the [Strategist] from the House of Minos, was reporting in. Inreza sighed as she plucked a letter she had received from her bag of holding.

I believe the Minotaur has two rats as pets. Is that correct?

YesI think he mentionedare you saying?

One of the rats is intelligent enough to write a letter. Treat them like Sariant Lambs. How was his testimony of yesterday?

Venaz was apparently trying to choke himself to death of his own volition. The Minotaur King waited for him to finish.

Rats?

Pets can be intelligent, Venaz. Sariant Lambs can read books. The Hundredfriend Couriers companions are all around that intelligent. Are they a people in all but name, dignity, and the way they are treated? I have often wondered that.

Iwill consider that carefully, my King.

She was currently giving Venaz a migraine, so Inreza relented. He had enough to do.

Tell me about Calruz, then. If you wish. But I trust your judgment as Mneiol, Venaz.

I would still be grateful for your wisdom. I will not take up your time.

The Minotaur King listened, leaning on one side of her throne, as Venaz reported in. She was not unsympathetic to the rat. It was just that Haldagazwhat a funny namewas not in possession of all the facts.

Nor was even Calruz or Khedal. A [Thrower] had to have guile. Or else what made them different from a ballista? Sometimes you hit a target no one was expecting.

Venaz, [Strategist], was in Liscor judging Calruz of Hammerads actions. As was well and proper. He would do that to the utmost of his ability. YetInreza closed one eye as Venaz came to the end of his report.

I have heard that the Goblins have made an exodus from the isle, my King.

Yes, a problem. We shall deal with it as best we can. However, Venaz, concern yourself only with your studies and your duties abroad.

Of course, my King. Ihave not as of yet begun any judgements on my second target. I only gained access to the inn two days ago, and I believe I am still somewhat unwelcome.

How long is your break?

I should return to the academy soon, but I can extend it as long as needed. The Professor will understand. Today, I will return to the inn and try to meet withah, him. Numbtongue seems the most well-versed and spoken.

Inrezas eyes opened fully, and she sat up.

Good.

That was all. A member of the Mneiol could judge another Minotaurs actions. But who was Venaz there to investigate?

Perhapsa Goblin in an inn inclined to talk. And if he wasInreza glanced down at her books and her own journal. No, it would take more than a single Goblins testimony, but you saw honor where you found it. You didnt have to seek it out if it were as visible as a hundred Antinium standing amidst the waves.

Antinium and Goblins. The rest of the world could say what they wanted, and no species was one people. But if one werent a monsterthe Minotaur King waited until she had more facts. More facts, and evidence, and the opportunity to change this world.

If only she or Venaz could have read that [Innkeeper]s Skills and seen [Natural Allies: Goblins]. Then Inreza would have had more questions to ask. If she had one fearwell.

She still had great reservations about Venazs ability to be tactful.

Authors Note: The island of the Goblins. And the House of Minos. You cant talk about one without the others. Goblins, Minotaurs. They go together like umg-green tea and steak?

Yes, thats my analogy and Im standing by it. Hope you enjoyed. This is a longer chapter than what I hope to be average, and it took me all three days. Itll be a busy week as well after thispersonally busy, not writing-busy, but the more stuff I have to do, the less writing.

So well see how this next chapter goes. For now, Im sign off and see you next time! I left out more lore about Minotaurs and Goblins but Ill cram them into other chapters. Thanks for reading and uh, pet your capybaras?

Behemoth by /cmarguel

Voidgoat by Vescar!

Ko-Fi: /vescar

Tom, by painterinthesky!