Brar poked his staff through the piles of spoils on the ground. He shook his head, seemingly in disbelief, as he looked at the two piles in his tent. I risked a glance at the captains around us and I saw they too were stunned at what we had returned with. Most of the goblins in here were as tall as the heroes had been. Brar was even taller but the robes he wore hid the massive frame I knew he had underneath. Brar bent down occasionally and would pick up something with his long fingers and inspect it before dropping it back in the pile he had picked it up from. I found myself gazing at all the different rings that covered his fingers. It looked like he had robbed a jewelry shop and proudly displayed all of its stolen wares.

Those teeth of his had been filed down to sharp points, and the smile he had right now gave anyone interested in them a good look. He knew he was about to receive a large tribute. Glancing up at Klas and Xeld, he shook his head and tsked his tongue.

“You two whelps should give me more because I was the one who chose you two to be part of his plan. Something tells me neither of you would have come home alive without his help.”

Xeld nodded, but Klas growled foolishly and replied like the idiot I knew he was.

“It was not their lives in danger when we lured them to the trap.”

Brar moved faster than I could believe, and his staff cracked Klas on the head, knocking him to his knees.

Brar grabbed Klas by his dirty threadbare shirt and lifted him off the ground a few feet. The fabric was ripping, but Brar didn't care as he ground his teeth in Klas’s face.

“Trash! Growl at me like that again and I will let the cooks have you! Any goblin here would have gladly done the same for what lies before you now! Should I have my guards check you for hidden spoils? You know what would happen if they found any on you.”

Klas’s face turned a lighter shade of green if that was possible and he shook his head no vigorously.

“I would not do that! I know the penalty!” Klas cried out.

Some of the captains chuckled as they held up their fingers. I realized they were making bets if Brar would ask them to check Klas.

Releasing Klas’s tunic, Brar let him fall to the ground. He then turned and walked over to where the three of us stood. He leaned on his staff and bent down a little as he smiled at us.

“I am impressed, Zolb. Ask any of my captains that does not happen often. You promised your life to accomplish something great. You did just that.” Brar motioned to the pile of spoils before us. “What do you offer as a tribute for my help?”

I took a small breath as I looked into his glowing red eyes.

Risk versus reward ran through my mind. We had already gotten lucky once today. Why not push our luck?

“I won’t offer a petty tribute oh great one! I will ask for another chance to prove myself.”

I bowed my head and knelt. Reaching into my torn shirt, I pulled out a small bloody-wrapped package. Handing it to Brar, I saw his eyes light up when he opened it.

“I know what a heart is worth. That one is from the healer. I offer it and all of the items of the caster. I would request that I be allowed to have the heart of the warrior so that I might increase in power and bring more tribute and hearts for you.”

Growls could be heard from the higher-ranked goblins in the tent. A heart was a powerful thing. Based on their reaction none of them obviously believed I had earned the right yet to ask for one.

“I also request the heart of the mage be split between Turk and Dirk so they can increase in power and strength to help bring you tribute as well.”

I stood up and motioned to the armor of the priest and warrior.

“If we could have some of this to outfit us better, there would be even better opportunities for us to bring you even greater tribute. Right now, we fight naked and with weapons that barely cut. Do this, and I also pledge to bring you ten times what I have brought today within a year.”

Still kneeling, I motioned for Dirk and Turk to join me. We had discussed this plan. Even if we were only allowed one heart and some of the gear, it would do more for us than months of training could accomplish.

I watched Brar as he stood there, looking at the three of us while his guards and followers complained in the background. After a moment he raised his hand, and they all went quiet.

Brar took his dirty green finger and cleaned those sharp teeth with it.

“Brave and smart or stupid and foolish. Which of those are you, I wonder.”

Brar turned around and walked to his chair in the tent. I knew I was risking a lot with that request. I owed him for saving Dirk. He healed him when every other goblin told us Dirk would die. A single goblin's life was worth little if they could not help the camp. Learning to fight in this world and how easily we could get hurt almost cost us his life.

Minutes passed as Brar just stared at us. Goblins and orcs all over the tent shifted, but not a single one of them made a sound. This was his domain, given to him by the Goblin King, and as a shaman, he had absolute power and authority.

Before Brar started to speak, his toothy smile came over his face again.

“I will let you keep the warrior's heart, and I will let you have half of the caster’s heart.”

One of his guards started to protest, but the look Brar gave them cut him off immediately.

“You can keep the rest of the spoils,” Brar spoke as he glared around the room to make sure no one else offered any complaints.

His gaze fell on us again. I thought for a moment that smile of his could curdle milk in a jar.

“You will bring me ten more hearts before two months pass. Any other hearts after those will be yours.”

Grunts and growls escaped from the captains again, but none of his captains raised a real complaint.

Brar looked at me with an intense gaze. It felt like his eyes glowed somehow. It was like those red eyes conveyed a power I could not understand.

“You will bring me ten times that tribute within half a year, or I will take the life I saved.” Brar motioned to Dirk with his head. “Do you understand?”

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I bowed my head and hid my smile.

“I will do as you command, O Great One.”

Brar chuckled and shook his head.

“You are too smart for a goblin. Something tells me you will probably pass me in time if I am not careful.”

Brar turned to face Xeld and Klas.

“You two may keep the weapon of the ones you killed and one piece of equipment. The rest is mine.”

Xeld and Klas nodded and said nothing. I could see Klas shaking in anger. Today proved to me I knew we would have to watch out for him.

“Vreek, take these three and their spoils to a tent near yours. They are to have their own tent, and they can eat from our pot.”

A massive goblin who was covered in scars and rings stepped forward and nodded. His topknot ran from his scalp to the middle of his back. Glaring at me, he bared his teeth and motioned at the three of us.

“Get your crap and follow me!”

Jumping up, I nodded to Turk and Dirk, and we rolled up the robe after ensuring all our battle spoils were safely tucked inside. They helped me put it on my back. The weight of it was immense, but I could not show weakness in this tent.

As we headed out of the tent following Vreek, I heard Brar call out.

“Zolb, I will look forward to the coming months. If you need anything else, talk to Vreek. He will be yours till your payment is collected.”

I nodded and saw Vreek’s glare. The life of a goblin was not a safe one at all.

Walking through the main camp usually involved a trek through filth and trash. Goblins were always fighting and sparring. All that fighting led to stuff breaking all the time. They threw trash everywhere. In the main camp, we had even seen a few take a dump in the middle of the path and leave it there. The goblins and orcs in charge of that area tried to keep a handle on the horde, but sometimes they did not try hard enough. Usually, things would slowly decline to a tipping point. After about a week or so Brar would get upset and the main camp leaders would crack down again.

Here in the center of the camp, it was not like that. Brar was adamant that his section be kept cleaner. It meant less filth but there was still piss everywhere. Sometimes it felt like they were trying to mark their territory. No one seemed to want to walk far enough to drain the green goblin snake.

I glanced back at both of my boys, who were whispering to each other. They knew that those who were in the center ring of the camp were considered special. Here, we and our goods would be protected. Brar knew this and wanted to make sure I kept to my promise.

I still could not figure out why he had listened to my original plea. He was amused and commented that I had balls the size of a giant for even requesting an audience with him. His guards had allowed it only because they had expected him to kill or torture me.

I struggled to keep up with Vreek. He had not slowed down since we left Brar's tent. He seemed to be in a hurry by how he strode towards where our tent would be. He led us to the last ring of tents that represented the outer part of the inner ring of camp. The stench of the main camp had grown stronger the closer we walked toward it.

Once we arrived outside the tent that would be ours, Vreek stopped moving and started shouting outside the flap of the tent.

“Out, you trash! Brar has decided you will go back to the main camp!”

Two goblins sprung forth from inside, each wearing only a bottom covering. A look of surprise was on their faces, and one started cursing.

“What?! We have done nothing for this dishonor? Why are we losing our tent?!”

Vreek growled and kicked the one cursing in the chest, knocking him back a few feet to the ground.

“I do not have time for this. You have two minutes to collect anything you want from inside. After that, it belongs to these three.” He growled and looked at them. Their eyes went wide as he added a final threat. “Come back again to this tent or this part of the camp without my permission and I will personally gut you and eat your hearts while you are alive.”

The one left standing cursed, something about smooth elf nuts, but ran back inside the tent and started throwing stuff out of the flap.

Vreek looked at the one still on the ground and shook his head.

“You are losing time lying around like an elf girl,” he taunted.

Holding his chest, the goblin rose and darted into the tent. Items started flying out of its opening faster, and I was thankful that most of their items were being tossed out. I could smell the stench on them from where we were. Their blankets were covered in filth, blood, and sweat. Rotten food was even being tossed out onto the pile. As Vreek counted down the last seconds, both squealed inside, and I could hear them grunting and straining.

“Times up. Leave it.”

The one he had kicked in the chest came out.

“We have one more item, Vreek! Please let us take it!”

Vreek strode over and grabbed the goblin, who was a head shorter by his short hair, and lifted him off the ground like a child.

“I said leave it or die!” Vreek shouted and tossed him to the ground.

The other goblin came dashing out of the tent. I just now realized that he had never stopped cursing this entire time.

“Who do you think you three spawns of a dwarf whelp are?” he growled at us.

“New toys of Brar’s,” I growled back. “Perhaps I should let him know you are not happy with his choice.”

The two of them looked at Vreek, who shrugged and nodded that I was telling the truth. Both of them turned and started hauling the pile they had away, dragging it on their blankets through the dirt. Neither one of them wanted to risk Brar’s wrath.

After they had moved far enough away, Vreek turned and looked at me.

“You are smarter than these others,” he said, motioning to the mass of goblins outside the ring. He moved close to me and tapped me on my skull. “Use those brains not to make me look bad, or you will wish Brar would end you himself.”

I nodded and motioned to my boys to get the tent flaps.

“I will make sure not to bother you unless it is important. In a week, I plan on attempting to raid again. Should I let you know when?”

Vreek chuckled and shook his head in apparent disbelief.

“So soon? Most would rest and enjoy the spoils you have earned.”

I tried to shrug, but the items on my back made it impossible.

“I owe ten hearts. I do not have that kind of time.”

Vreek laughed and slapped me on the shoulder, causing me to drop the bundle onto the ground.

“When you are ready, come and get me. I will join you to see how you manage to take down a whole party when most younglings like yourselves can barely take down one.”

Nodding, I grabbed the cloak and started tugging it through the dirt into the tent. As I got to the opening, I stopped and shook my head in disgust.

“You two. Get something to clean up this mess inside. I do not want to move into here with the way it smells.”

Vreek laughed when he heard me and shouted as he walked off.

“Find me tonight for dinner. I will be in my tent.”

It took about twenty minutes to clean out the feces, spoiled food, and other trash they had abandoned inside. They had failed to get a chest out before Vreek made them leave. It was in horrible condition but weighed so much that it took the three of us to move it back into the middle of the small tent. The tent was only about seven feet wide, but it provided us with two things the main camp did not. Privacy and safety. No one would come in here or take our stuff.

The chest held some copper coins and a good collection of rusty tools and weapons. While not great by any means, they would be useful for trading and getting gear fixed to fit us.

“Dad, what should we… “ started Turk.

“Stop that! Do not use that name again!” I whispered angrily. “You know what they would do if they heard you talking like that. There are no dads or moms here like that. Right now, you two are nothing more than my partners or lackeys to them. They must believe you obey me, but it can be no more than that! Do you understand?”

I could see Turk nodding as he hung his head. He saw my face and I could only imagine how bad it must look. Every part of me wanted to reach out and hold him close, but unless it was at night, it was too dangerous, even in here.

“I miss Duncan and Peter,” sighed Dirk

“Shhh…” I growled at Dirk. “Again, those names mean trouble here.”

Both of them looked at me with their massive white and green eyes. I could see the sorrow they held in them.

How did we get here?

I shuddered when I remembered.