Rowan woke up in the courtyard of the baron's mansion.
“So the human thought he could farm in goblin country.”
Rowan shook himself to alertness. The last thing remembered was vines whipping him in the face. Now several goblins stood surrounding him, including Glumziel the goblin baron, Zillia, and a new goblin dressed in a fancy crimson uniform.
“What am I supposed to report to the duke?” said the very official looking goblin.
Baron Glumziel was calm. He said nothing. Zillia looked either disappointed or disgusted.
“You allow this human on your land. Even though all your advisors say to have nothing to do with humans. But you talk of peace and prosperity. What prosperity? What can this human accomplish?”
“Patience Ozgarr, he still has time.”
“Time that he will squander. A whole day has passed and he has produced nothing. His pockets are empty save for a few dead bugs. The lot he was left steward of is in ruins.”
“He was attacked by a mandrake. My daughter found him unconscious. But he’ll learn. He has to.”
“If he doesn’t, you are the only one to blame. The human will be executed, and it will be clear that the lords who sympathize with humans are the ones to be left behind.”
The goblin called Ozgarr took out a book and made some marks, “His reputation will be tracked. He has 13 days left.” And with that he stormed out.
Glumziel helped Rowan to his feet. Zillia said, “Father don’t,” but he insisted.
“Don’t you realize what this human is going to cost us? You’ll lose favor with the duke. You’ll lose your chair at Gor’s counsel. You might even lose your title.”
“It will not come to that. But if it does, it will be because I lived with integrity.”
“You’re risking everything on a human who can’t even farm properly.”
“If they want to tear me apart for having sympathy with one human, that is their business.”
"Please give me another chance," begged Rowan, "It took me time to get used to farming here. I’ve learned so much already. I can learn from my mistakes. Things just work differently here. If this was a human farm, nothing would have grown this quickly. But I'll get used to how things work here and start fulfilling orders. Now I know how things work. Just give me another chance!"
The baron smiled and agreed. Zillia groaned.
"Zillia will be tracking your standing. Right now you are... not in good standing. Ask her if you want more details." With that the baron returned to his chamber, and Zillia escorted Rowan back to the farm by horse drawn wagon.
This time Rowan agreed to wear the bag over his head. He had been unconscious the last couple trips to and from the mansion. He didn’t need to go through that again.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“I’m going to be realistic with you,” Zillia finally said as they bounced down the bumpy road, “Fulfilling the quota is possible in 13 days. It’s not easy, but it’s physically possible. For somebody. Not necessarily you.”
“What do I have to do? What was he saying about my standing?”
"You'll need to start fulfilling orders to gain reputation points. Right now you're at negative one hundred. So it's quite a hill to climb."
"How many points do I get from this first order?" Rowan asked, looking at the little slip of paper asking for corn.
"One."
"Better get to it then."
“Don’t lose hope,” Zillia said, “Like I said, it’s still physically possible to grow everything you need in 13 days. You just have to be diligent. You have to double up your efforts and make no mistakes.”
“Why are you encouraging me now? I thought you wanted your family to have nothing to do with me.”
Zillia sighed, “I don’t think you realize how much is at stake for us. There are goblins who hate humans. In fact, that’s true of most goblins. Especially most goblins in power. A whole faction of goblins who want to rid you from this kingdom and yours. And just as much as humans, they hate human sympathizers. And now with King Gorbek making a treaty with humans, there’s panic from that faction. Any sympathy to humans is a sign of weakness they want to nip in the bud. They want to lick their wounds and get back to war as soon as doing so doesn’t appear to be treason.”
Goblin politics seemed very complicated to Rowan. He realized the responsibility he had to represent his entire species. “I don’t know what your father hopes to accomplish by having me farm for him.”
“I don’t either. But you want to live don’t you? So do your best.”
“Quite a pep talk.”
---Day 2---
When they arrived back at the lot, Rowan assessed the farm. All the corn crops he had planted were withered away on the ground, torn to shreds by the mandrake who had burrowed its way back underground. Rowan was essentially back at square one.
Rowan gathered himself and set to work. He hauled away the dead plants, tilled the soil to prepare it, and planted corn seeds.
He went to the stream to fill his watering can, and collected wood on the way. He was prepared to continue this cycle. Till, plant, wait, harvest. Till, plant, wait, harvest. That's all he had to do. He'd be able to expand the farm eventually, when he was more prepared.
He checked his stats. He was still only level 2, but he was close to the next level. He looked around thinking a fight with a couple bugs would be enough to push him over.
Level 2 HP 12/12 XP to Next Level 11
"Once I hit level 3 I'll go out and look for Scrumble's toolbox," he said to himself. That way he could build a fence and craft more efficiently.
He watered the plants, then took another trip to stream for more water. The walk wasn't too bad, but he thought he could benefit from digging a well at some point. It would save time. But then again, it was a peaceful walk. And the crops grew quite fast regardless. There was no need to be impatient.
He watered the crops after slashing away a giant worm and shooing birds. Then he collected the harvest.
"This is how it should go," Rowan said to himself, "Just repeat that a few times and I'll be in business." He stepped warily around the weeds that he knew were the top of a deadly, deadly creature.
He turned in the corn at the crate. One order fulfilled.
"Excellent work," said Zillia, "Now your goblin reputation rating is negative 99."
Rowan looked at the next order. It called for corn and tomatoes. “I’m about to be rewarded with tomato seeds, right?”
“I’ll have to deliver this crate back to base. And then, yes, I’ll bring you some coins and tomato seeds on the way back.”
Rowan stood there awkwardly.
“You need me to go get them right now? You want me to take the whole trip just to deliver one crate?”
“Well the next order calls for tomatoes. And I can’t fulfill it until I get my reward from the first order.”
“You’re really something else, human.” Zillia loaded the cart and rode out, “Try not to get knocked out while I’m gone.”