Nord seemed royally unhappy with my tone, but didn't dare speak up again so soon after Margund had told him off. The prince did not look perturbed. No doubt he knew full well that they had the over whelming advantage, even with him and the three other goblins in this cage.

"I understand that you can't believe me right off." I said directly to the prince. "But if its alright with you, I'd like to tell you my story. If I do, I would like to hear one from you, so long as you are capable of telling it."

"What story?" Asked Margund.

"I want to know the story of your race." I said, and settled my self down on the grass. "I have asked the foxes a little, but it would be best to here it from goblins directly I think."

Margund looked down on me for a moment before letting out a frustrated sigh and sat on the ground as well. Once he was seated the others sat as well, foxes and goblins alike. Brax and Draxly sat either side of me while the others were behind them. A glance over my shoulder showed that we had begun to draw a bit of a crowd, actually. The foxie and foxmen, most bandaged in some fashion or another, stood around near by, gawking. I hoped they all didn't come, else the gate would be left defenseless.

"Very well, tell your story. I have nothing better to do, it would seem." Sighed Margund, palms on his knees and an air of resignation about him that had me hopeful for my plans for peace.

I decided to break the whole tale down for the prince; for Brax as well when it came to the few things I hadn't shared yet. I described my old life, my sudden appearance in the forest, and my introduction to the foxkin. The I described my encounter with Aeros and what little he had explained to me before unceremoniously disappearing. I glazed over the more mundane aspects over the last month, then told them of my final encounter with the old dragon. If you could call a random box with a crappy note attached as an encounter.

"So the only proof I have of Aeros being gone are my own experiences. Which isn't much of any proof at all." I said, what must have been nearly an hour later. "But as far as I can tell, the dragon has flown the coop and left me here to pick up the pieces. He seemed mightily amused by that as well." I added, irritated.

"This can not be true..." Mumbled Nord, but I could tell that he was beginning to waver.

Margund sighed heavily, grey shoulders slumped. "Nord, you know as well as I do that even our own people suspected that Aeros was going to abandon us... Father may have been trying to convince us that we still held his favor when he abandoned all others, but here we are, fighting over resources just as everyone else does."

Nord sighed, now completely slumped, eyes closed in despair. "- But a human? what sick joke are the Gods trying to play on us?"

It was, now, Lagdon who snorted. "Aeros may have favored us and monsters in general, but it is well known that the true gods lend aide to humans and demi-humans more often than our kind."

Margund shook his head, not like he was disagreeing, but just in frustration. He now looked my way. "Well, what is this tale you wish me to tell you, miss human land god."

"Enna." I corrected again, but decided not to make an issue over the goblins clear attempt hat claiming a little power, even if it was just in the form of rude stubbornness. "I want to know how the goblins have lived under the rule of Aeros, and how things have been since he decided to step back from direct contact."

"I am no historian," Started the prince. "But from what I've been told, our Golblik tribe migrated here around the time Aeros became the land god."

"Golblik?" I asked. I was interrupting, and the goblins had been very good on not doing that when I was speaking, so I was not surprised to see Nord shoot a glare my way.

"It is what goblins evolve from. Like how foxkin evolve from fennik." Explained Draxly.

"Oh. Sorry, please continue." I said, shooting the prince an apologetic smile.

"A god apologizing." Mink mumbled disbelievingly under her breath, earning a small nudge from Lagdon.

"The Golblik are a small race of cave dwelling monsters that most find annoying than any sort of threat. Unless encountered in great numbers." Margund explained and I nodded my thanks. "When we arrived, Aeros gifted our clan with enough power to evolve, becoming the goblins you see now. We made our homes in the mountains north east of here, so that we could be as close to Aeros as we could be." No doubt seeing the questions already bubbling up in me, the price- looking a little exasperated- decided to answer some as I tried my best not to interrupt and ask again. "Aeros' temple is high up on the tallest mountain in the forest. It is also the source for the near by river and lake, if you must know."

I smiled apologetically, but also without much shame. What could I say, I was an inquisitive person.

A smile almost touched Margund's lips as he shook his head and continued his tale. "Through the generations the goblins furnished and prospered under Aeros' rule, and it is said that we were among his most favored followers. Eventually, about two hundred and fifty years ago, my father became king-"

"Goblins live that long?" As soon as the words were out of my mouth I slapped my hands to it and mumbled through my fingers: "Sorry..." I really did try not to interrupt, but I was just so shocked. Two-hundred-fifty years? And the fat goblin was still spry enough to lead his men in and invasion. Albeit, being carried, but still...

"Lady Enna, you are a land god." Sighed Brax, tapping the burnt tobacco out of his pipe before withdrawing more from within his robe. "You need not apologize for anything, much less for asking questions about the comings and goings of the very lands you govern." He glared briefly at the goblins before filling his pipe and lighting it once again. He put the end in his muzzle and spoke around the stem. "Even if these brute try and intimidate you."

Nord looked like he was about to start in on the old fox, but Margund put out a hand and silenced him. He turned back to me. "The fox speaks the truth."

"Sir-" Gasped Nord, aghast.

"No. Enough. I am satisfied that this woman is the new land god, and though our people have not sworn to her, we are on her lands. Would you like to incur the wrath of a land god Nord? You have two grandchildren to think of, yes?"

"Wrath..." He grumbled under his breath, but avoided eye contact all the same. Clearly he thought that my 'wrath' did not amount to much. He was probably correct in that regard.

"Let us not forget that you are also the ones in a cage either, shall we?" Huffed Brax.

All of this posturing looked absolutly ridiculous with us all sitting freaking crisscross-applesauce style on the front lawn of a hut. I rolled my eyes. "Could you please not antagonize them Brax?" I asked, exasperated.

Brax looked like he was going to say something but Margund interrupted him, looking pretty pleased about it too. "to answer your question: no, goblins live an average of sixty years. Eighty if they are very lucky. My father received a blessing from Lord Aeros not long after he was crowned king. It was one of the last things anyone can recall the god doing before he went silent. With the god's blessing, my father evolves into a Goblin Goregek."

"A what?" I asked, only slightly apologetic now that it seemed like i was not offending the prince as much as slightly irritating him.

"Goblin Goregek. It is a special evolution. " His eyes narrowed on me for a second before he sighed. "I take it you do not know what a special evolution is either." I shook my head. "Most monsters have a set evolutionary tree, as you may describe it: Golblik evolve into Goblins, goblins can evolve in to monsters like hobgoblins or Goblins like that. But there are also special evolutions. This usually happens when certain triggers, or goals are met. But Land gods, being what they are, can sometimes, with power and direct will, cause a monster to evolve in rare ways."

"And a Goblin Goregek is one of these rare evolutions." I said, mind spinning. How can a person keep track of all this? Were their books? I could handle books, as I was pretty sure I would never just remember this stuff. "I assume it is how he has lived so long then?"

"Yes. a Goregek is stronger and longer lived than an average goblin, and they also gain the ability to fully command those of lesser power in the golblik line of evolution. Unless one has a very strong mind or is actually more powerful than the goregek, they must obey."

"The truth of the matter is," Began Lagdon, seemingly deciding to speak up after being mostly silent this whole time. "The king is a dictator, and what he says is law. As far as the goblin's are concerned, the only being higher than the king is Aeros himself."

"You don't sound very happy about that." Observed Draxly, another participant that had mostly kept his thoughts to himself during this exchange. maybe he should give me lessons?

Then Mink, Nord and Lagdon exchanged anxious glances behind Margund's back. Clearly they were all worried about something; likely something to do with their goregek king.

"We have no reason to tell you anything." Growled Nord, his hostility present once again.

"Yes!" Agreed Mink, both earning a very aggravated look from Lagdon, but neither were quelled this time. "You say you are the new land god? Well good for you and good for them." Spat the female goblin, indicating with a jutted chin toward the assembled foxes. "Clearly the new god has chosen her favorites. But we will not just go away quietly-"

"Mink!" Snarled Margund, this time looking truly angered. So much so that the female flinched and scooted back as far as the cage would allow. "You do not speak for our people."

"But, sir!" Spoke up Nord, more desperate than angry at the moment. "You heard them. Already their people have reaped the rewards of a gods favor while we starve in our caves. This god sits here, playing house with these weak and sly foxes, while the rest of the forest suffers!"

It looked like the lawn was about to erupt into a fist fight, weather a portion of the aggressors were behind wooden bars or not. Brax yanked his pipe out of his mouth while Draxly and several others jumped to their feet, ready to attack. Mink recoiled farther while Lagdon and Nord also stood. Nord was shouting obscenities while Lagdon took a protective stand before his prince, ready to fight if the cage doors opened and the opportunity struck. though, in all honesty, with the goblins trapped and unable to run away swiftly, the surrounding foxie and foxmen could have the lot of them burnt to death in moments.

Only Margund and I remained seated. He was watching me closely while I tried to keep my cool. I did not appreciate being accused of things. And a month may be plenty enough time for a goblin to adjust to the fact that ones entire life changed in one go, except for the fact that I still breathed oxygen. Wait, did I still need to breath oxygen?

That thought lead to me being distracted for about three seconds, mentally checking that I was, indeed, still breathing. I was. But that didn't mean I still required it; after all, I would still eat but didn't need to to survive. But it was besides the point. This argument needed to stop, and now. I guess it was time to put my resolve to not rely on the crutch of my humanity to the test.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"Sit. Down." I enunciated, coldly, and quietly, but my voice carried all the same, causing the rowing parties to grow silent, staring down where I still sat before the prince in his cage. I did not take my eyes off the goblin but I could almost feel the others exchanging looks before they all settled back down on the ground, the silence so pronounced that I could here the crickets begin to sing their songs that announced the coming of sun set. Damn, even I was impressed at my self. "I have not been in this world long enough to 'favor' anyone." I said coolly, wanting to clear this up real fast. "And I absolutly have no future plans to do so either. I am not Aeros. I am my own person."

"So wh-" It was not Margund, nor Lagdon who silenced the easily aggravated Nord this time, but it was me. I levied a cold stare at the man, annoyed that he was the main problem here at the moment, preventing me from having a plane and simple discussion with the goblins. I was trying to work out a compromise and this old codger was really getting on my last nerve.

Hmm, my excellent social skills were really shining through right now.

At my glare the goblin settled down, looking confused and chastised all the same. "I have thought, from the moment I decided to go with this land god business, that I wanted this place to be the best it can be. But to do that, I need to know how it was, and see what of the old ways I can use, and what may need to be discarded and improved upon."

"And, how might I ask, do you wish to accomplish this?" Margund asked, his eyes now holding what I thought to be a hungry and hopeful light. This man also wanted change, and he was hoping that I could be the catalyst for it. I wasn't big on being used, but I was not beyond coming to a mutual understanding at all.

I sighed. Time to lay it out. "As has been pointed out: I am a human. Or as close to a human as a god can be I suppose. And, to top it all off, I am very ignorant of this world and the people in it- Foxes and goblins included. The fact of the matter is, that I have come into this position with no power of my own, unlike those like Aeros, who were vastly powerful before even becoming a land god." I looked at Nord. "I have not favored the foxes. I am, however, incredibly grateful to them. If not for their kindness and generosity, I would likely have died out in the woods weeks ago. It is not favoritism that has led to the foxes benefiting from my influence, merely necessity and proximity. The forest here is getting better because here is where I am and here is where the energy I am receiving, is coming from."

"What you are saying is that you are only powerful enough to affect these lands minimally?" Asked Margund, though I suspected he already knew the answer.

"Yes," I said. "The truth of the matter is, that I am only as strong as the land I am presiding over. And right now, this land- well to be frank, its not doing well. I may be new to this job, but I can just feel the sluggishness of this place. I don't mean to offend anyone here, but Aeros really dropped the ball these last two-hundred years." I crossed my arms and waited for a blow up from Nord at the very least but no one said anything. "The rivers are empty of fish, the forest is empty of forage and then the deer have nothing to eat. And if the deer cant eat than people can't eat. I don't know about goblins, but what I have seen of the foxes so far, farming is- at best- gardening, and animal husbandry is non-existence. They rely wholly on the bounty of the forest, and there is just no bounty to be had. " I sighed, sort of running out of steam and not even knowing the point i was trying to make anymore. "In all honesty, I just want this place to flourish. To flourish and be peaceful. Why do the foxes and the goblins have to fight? You have been doing it since before Aeros ditched, haven't you?"

"Monsters live by different standards than humans." Said Nord. But he sounded more subdued than he had before. "The strong live above the weak, and all try to live the best they can..."

"I think what you mean is that goblins, especially under the rule of your current king, believe that all monsters are beneath them." Growled Brax, his pipe back in his mouth again, though I did not notice him relighting it. "For much of the last two-hundred years the foxkin had ben tantamount to slaves to the goblins. It was in the last forty years that the fat fool tossed our kind out of the mountain because there was not enough to feed us." He glared at the goblins, a sneer on his face. "Well, those of us who made it out alive came here anyway."

I frowned. None had mentioned this to me since I came here, but I had not asked either. "The foxkin had been slaves?" I asked.

"Yes, Lady Enna. When ever the goblins felt they needed more free labor they would come to our villages and took our young and strong. In the end, only this village remained. Then, around forty years ago, the king went on a rampage and decided that, due to food shortages, he would just kill off the foxkin in the mountain. It was a massacre."

I looked around an saw the mix of sadness and disgust amongst the Foxie and Foxmen gathered around. It was a horrible thing to have happened, and even with the mind set of 'the strong prevail' it would not be an event so easily forgotten. Brax was glaring down- or attempting to anyway- Margund, but the goblin just stared him back, face blank of emotion. The other goblins looked a mix of defiant and a little ashamed.

"Those of us who managed to survive fled back to this village. Since then, we have mostly been left alone and did our best to stay as far from the mountain as we could. Until now."

I turned to the goblins, Margund specifically. "Why have the goblins decided to invade the foxes now? What's changed?"

To my surprise, there was no uproar from the goblins to my demand for answers, as there had been before, especially from Nord. Instead, Margund answered me plainly. "there is no food to me found in the mountains, at all. We once would hunt mountain goats or the large boars that lived there, but now there is nothing. Much of the plant life up there is dying out, the trees looking rotted and the grass yellow and sickly."

"Our people are starving..." Said Mink, head lowered, white hair being spun between her eight fingers nervously. "The elderly are getting sick and dying, mothers are loosing their babies in the womb... we are dying."

I could feel the pain and fear emanating from her. I , personally, felt anger. Anger toward the long gone Aeros for not taking care of the people who relied on him, and anger, also, toward the goblin's king. Is it not a leaders job to provide and assist his people? How is it that he managed to let his people get so bad that they have gotten to this state?

"I am sorry for your struggles." I said to the goblin woman. "But I do not see how continually victimizing other races will help your people. If you win here, kill the foxes- and likely me as well- and all that your king hopes for comes to pass, will you really be better off? Because, the way I see it, your king will win, we die, and then he squanders what little there is to be found here. the cycle will continue until the forest is nothing but a barren wasteland."

Margund sighed, finally breaking his stony faced stance. "To tell you the truth, Lady Enna, this is an issue that the majority of we goblins have been aware of for quite some time." I blinked at him foolishly for a moment, just because it was the first time he had used my name. "My father has taken an already bad issue- the absence of Aeros- and made it much worse."

"Okay." I said, not sure what to make of that.

"I am the heir to my father's throne." Admitted the prince. "Lagdon, here, is my younger brother. Under normal circumstances, I would have taken over the throne several years ago. Indeed, I had brothers who have grown old and died who should have been king before I was ever born. But my father is a goregek, and can likely live for at least another two-hundred-fifty years. If I was the king, then I would have very little hesitance in seeing where serving under you, Lady Enna, could take our people in the future. Even a human," He said with a small amused smile. "Is preferred to and absentee or dead land god. You are right. This land is dying, and its people with it. Something needs to change."

"Nothing will ever change father's mind." Stated Lagdon, the now confirmed second prince.

Margund nodded. "He is a completely faithful servant to Aeros. We have been trying to convince him for years that it was likely that Aeros abandoned us. To convince him, and many of the older generations as well." He added, glancing Nord's way. "But, even if you tried to shove the truth of the gods passing down his throat, I doubt he would believe it. And my father being a goregek, our people have no choice but to follow his every demand. Every word he speaks is an unquestionable law."

So, even if the other goblins wanted to change and adapt, if their king would not allow it, then it was hopeless. But this was the way of monsters. The strong ruled the weak, and if the strong were cruel then the weak would suffer. But just because the strong were in charge did not mean that they needed to be bad for their people. Brax, though old and in decline now, was strong in his wit and his magic, but he was also kind and compassionate. Under the the foxie elders command the other managed to eek out a life of relative comfort in these declining forests, all while being happy and content.

I eyed Margund once again. He was strong. Not only was he the prince, but the current heir to the goblin throne. It may sound like a job passed on by blood, but i was willing to bet that if another wanted to challenge for the job they could, and would if the opportunity arose. So the fact that the few goblins here deferred to this man must mean that they acknowledge him as their future king.

What was most important to me, however, was not so much his physical strength, but his mental fortitude. And, though I had only known him behind these bars and for these short few hours, he seemed like a smart, calculating, and cautious man. And a man with the prosperity, if not the greater good, of his people in the forefront of his mind. Here sat a man that I could at least work with for now. So long as he was willing to work with me.

"When I first decided to accept this role of land god that had been given to me, I wanted to do it very differently than Aeros." I said to the goblin prince, and also to the others surrounding us. "But I think now that my previous way of thinking was naïve. A frame of mind that- perhaps- could have worked if i was a god of a land filled with humans. though, even then, I think i was thinking quite childishly. I Know now that monsters can not just accept my point of view. Monsters follow, unless given the opportunity to lead. And you all are always looking for that opportunity." Margund watched me avidly, assessing and making decisions of his own. I looked him directly in the eye and tried to convey the absolute seriousness of my next words. "I will make the monsters of this land see things my way. I may not have direct power, but I do possess indirect power. This land is mine, and I am what feeds it, heals it, and invigorates it. Can I do this with out the aid of those that live here?"

Nord snorted, but it was half hearted, and his face bore no amusement. "I do believe that you already said that you can not."

I shook my head. "That is where you are wrong. Your precious Aeros even said as much. It would take a great deal of time on my own, but I could sit back and do nothing from now till I grow bored like he did, and still this land would survive."

"But?" Asked Margund. He looked resigned and a little amused.

"That is not the life I want. And so I would like to put forth my demands."

"Demands?" Huffed Nord, a little bluster returning to him.

"Yes, demands. If you and your people wish to continue living in MY lands, then you will meet them."

"What are these demands?" Asked Margund while the other goblins looked at him in disbelief.

"Your people will place their faith in me. I accept that some may still have faith that Aeros will return- he won't- but they will have to put that faith aside till he does 'return' to this place. I see no reason why the goblins can not send their prayers my way in the mean time so that I can funnel that energy back into the land." I said, and Margund did not react but Nord and Mink were a little pale. It was hard to tell with their grey skin color. "I also will not abide by any type of slavery among the races. In my eyes, each race is equal and will be treated as such. And lastly, all races will do what they can to be beneficial to one another."

"Would you rule over the races your self then?" Asked Margund.

I shook my head. " No. I am no where near experienced enough to think I could do that. But I will have final say in any major decisions that could affect the nation as a whole. No wars will be waged with out my approval, no roads will be built between communities till I check it all out first. At least, until I feel the monsters can deal with one another with out risking war all on their own."

"Will you have a say in who commands the individual races?"

"Not unless I have to. I will trust the people to know who will lead them best, and address any complications when they come about." I was winging things at this point, and I could tell that Margund knew that too. But his face was calm, and his eyes actually rather kind as he watched me.

Once he felt I was done laying out my demands, he sighed. "I am willing to relay these demands to my father, Lady Enna, but I fear he will not be respective. But, I think he may retreat for a time, at least. If he learns that this village does, indeed, have a land god claiming to be Aeros' successor here. At this point in time I can not guarantee much else."

It was then that Lagdon moved. He got back down to the ground, but this time on one knee, and bowed to me. "I can guarantee that I will, at the very least, be a faithful servant to the Lady Enna from this day on." He said, as i watched the top of his bald head, stunned. "I have been convinced that you are our new land god, and that you have the best interest of not only the foxes, but of the goblins as well."

Margund chuckled then. "Well said little brother." He then bowed as well. "I too vow to be a faithful servant to the land god Enna."

Nord and Mink quickly followed suit, even if their pledge was a little less heart felt than the two prince's had been. I had to admit though, that their sincere support calmed me. I didn't know if it was an affect of being a land god, but it was almost as if I could feel their energy added to the pool of power. I had a feeling that, the next time I visited my little bonfire, it would be a little bigger.

It took a few hours of convincing a sweet talking to get the foxes to release Margund and the others, so that he could take me message to his father, the king. I understood the foxes reticence, or course. The goblins had killed many of their friends and family, and sending back some of their best fighters would only strengthen the goblins army. But, as I said, the goblins would mow us over in their next attack, with or without out four captives. Really, our very existence relied on Margund convincing his father to just go away. Our prospects were not looking good.