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Chapter XXI: Lord of Despair
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Alakar’s spirit tumbled through an endless void of darkness. His body and mind were stressed from the previous day; everything from building up his family to overseeing projects within his newfound lands, took a toll on him. Even in his sleep, he was not without concern. It wasn’t until a supreme power met him in his sleep that he would find solace.
He soon fell.
Alakar floats in darkness and yells, “Where am I?!” as he trips on nothing.
“I am glad that we are able to fully converse once again, my mortal.”
“Who’s there?! Where am I?!” yells Alakar.
“You are within me, and I am known as Olmer.”
Alakar watches his hands and feet slowly disappear, and he screams, “Get me out of here!”
“Your screams amuse me, but your ignorance does not. I suppose you wouldn’t know since I took that from you.”
Alakar attempts to control his breathing and says, “What are you talking about? Please, just release me from this nightmare!” as his arms and legs disappear into the darkness.
“I will not. You will listen first.”
“Please,” says Alakar as his torso begins to flake off into nothingness.
“You will agree to no longer pursue the change you once desired. Turning back to a weak human and removing me from your chest is a pointless endeavor!”
“But my family! I must help them turn back!” yells Alakar as his torso vanishes.
“Your journey in life has amused me, and our contract has been fulfilled. I may take everything from you now. However, I’ve decided not to.”
Alakar’s head fades and he yells, “What?! I won’t let you take anything from me!”
“Ha, foolish mortal. Your defiance against the Gods is why I’ve taken a liking to you. It reminds me of myself from wince I was casted down from the heavens.”
“You speak of ‘Gods,’ but I will not! I only believe in my family and the reality around me,” says Alakar as his eyeballs bob up and down in a void.
“Of course, I know that. I know everything, for I am Olmer. However, if you wish to continue on with your pitiful ‘reality’ and enjoy what you call ‘family’ then you will spread despair, feed me souls, and carve a wound on this world like no other.”
“I don’t understand… Why? Why me?!” says Alakar as his entire body reappears.
“These are pointless questions. I will give back some of your original memories before I slumber once again. At any point from now on though, if you fail to amuse me, I will take everything from you. Now return!”
*Whoooooshhhhhh*
Alakar woke up heaving, sweating, and kicking like a rabid animal. His mind felt as if it was going to explode with all the sudden wealth of information. He then squirmed in the fetal position and attempted to hold his head as still as possible, yet it provided no allevement.
Margret shakes Alakar and yells, “Babe! Are you okay?! What’s wrong?!” as she tries to pull his arms down to see his face.
Alakar’s body goes slack, and he says, “Ah, uh, I’m… I’m alright. I just had a really bad dream, that’s all,” and he rests his back up against the wall out of exhaustion.
Margret touches his forehead and says, “You’re burning up! You must be sick, let me-”
“No, I’m fine. I just need to go eat something. I’ll be back,” says Alakar as he stands up and walks out of the door.
*Slam* *Click*
Alakar leaned over the railing of his balcony and took a deep breath. He tried to clear his head and focus on the sunset peering over the canopy, yet he had an itching feeling in the back of his mind; it was a misunderstood desire for reprieve, which would only be found through pain.
Alakar walks down the balcony stairs and pulls a couple of stakes from his pocket. He then looks down at the stakes in his hand, wondering if they’re the answer to his feelings. The mental images of his transformation and time of enslavement blitzes through his mind, and he trembles.
“Fuck, yes… Wh- Why does this feel so good?” says Alakar as he plunges a stake into each of his thighs.
“M’lord… My father wishes to speak with you,” says Fundinn as he suddenly kneels behind Alakar.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Alakar winces from those words, turns around and says, “Good morning Fundinn,” as he twists a stake deeper into his leg.
Fundinn adverts his gaze out of shock and asks, “Are you injured? Plea-”
“C’mon Fundinn, stand up and dispense with the pleasantries; the pain of it is written all across your face,” says Alakar.
Fundinn stands up and says, “Of course, follow me then…”
Both of them then traveled along the gravel path and into the mouth of the plateau. Upon entering, they walked down a wide hallway with many wooden doors on both sides of them. The hallway was well lit with light stones and its floor was polished flat. However, it wasn't a deep passageway, and they soon stopped in front of a side door.
“I’ll take my leave now, as there is much to do,” says Fundinn, as he walks away.
Alakar pushes the door open and says, “Hello Dolstran, I heard you wished to speak with me?” as he quickly sits down at a table in the middle of the room.
“Welcome m’lord!” says Dolstran as he pours him a cup of water from a pitcher.
Alakar chews at the inside of his mouth and says, “We are family now Dolstran, please, just call me Alakar.”
Dolstran smirks and says, “Ha, as you wish. I sent my son for you because we needed to discuss the current state of affairs here in the mountain.”
Alakar glances aimlessly at the room’s jagged walls and says, “Is this about the construction of homes? I know little about mining and underground living,” as he takes a sip from his mug.
“No, I can manage the defenses and construction. However, I recently had my quartermaster determine our population, food stocks, general supplies, and it doesn’t look good,” says Dolstran.
Alakar sets his mug down and says, “I believe it… My sons mentioned that there were several litters born alone just the other day. At the very least we will need to increase the amount of food and storage.”
Dolstran nods his head in agreement and says, “You’re right. Our mining company only brought enough supplies for a hundred, but now there are well over two hundred mouths to feed. We’re also out of alcohol, which is a huge problem…”
“Hmm, I’m not sure what can be fermented into a brew here within the swamp, but if your men find such a plant, we can grow it. I’ll have Margrett teach the female gobs to grow additional foods as well,” says Alakar.
Dolstran nearly jumps out of his chair in glee and says, “That would be fantastic! Beer sounds amazing right now… Although, I should let you know that my men have been growing restless with all this work and nothing to drink. I’m not sure how long they can go,” and his eyes peter to the floor.
Alakar taps the table with his index finger and says, “I understand. That gives me even more reason to go north now…”
“Go north? Is there a giant keg of booze there waiting to be drunk or what?” chuckles Dolstran.
Alakar digs his nail into the table and says, “I’ll be frank with you. My sons have exposed our existence to a village north of here. The proof of it is even on this table…”
Dolstran frowns in confusion and asks, “The pitcher, the mugs, the table cloth, what? And why would they do that?!”
Alakar sighs, picks up the pitcher, and says, “This pitcher is made of fine glass. I’ve never been rich enough to purchase something of this quality, and I’m assuming it’s not dwarven made. So, my sons stole it. They’re natural born goblins, and unfortunately, their nature gets the best of them, regardless of my teachings,” and he then scowls at Dolstran through the glass.
“If any entire village knows of our existence, then it’s only a matter of time before we’re wiped out,” says Dolstran as he dumps his mug onto the floor out of anger.
Alakar smacks the table and says, “I won’t allow my family or anyone for that matter to be slain! I will soon ride there and remedy the situation!”
*Clink* *Pop*
Dolstran looks down at the shattered pitcher and asks, “Hmm, then what will be the fate of this village?” and then he looks back up at Alakar inquisitively.
Alakar locks eyes with Dolstran and says, “I do not know. I’ll have to gather more information from my sons and the other goblins. But It’s likely that they will have to make the same decision as your people... I hope this doesn’t chan-”
“You know what Alakar, this whole week has gone by so fast. I’m still not sure how I feel about this whole being a goblin thing yet. Even now, I question whether I should embrace you or hate you for what you did to me and my clan. But I do know for certain, that if I were you, I would have made the same decision,” says Dolstran as he continues to slump himself into his chair.
Dolstran then waves down Alakar’s attempt to speak and says, “You did what you had to do to protect the one’s dearest to you. In that respect, you remind me a lot of the dwarven king, Ruthuk…”
Alakar presses the stakes flat into his thighs, leans in with a slight bow, and says, “Ah… Thank you, but I know nothing of kings or how to be one. And I don’t even like the concept of servitude,” and he grits his teeth in anguish.
“You’re a father are you not? Surely you serve your family to an extent?! One must always serve, regardless of opinion. Whether that be a peoples to their king, a king to their peoples, or in your case, a father to a family. That is the only way!” says Dolstran with confidence in his eyes.
Alakar stares dimwittedly at him and says, “Hmm, okay. I can get behind that. I’ll try my best to live up to that expectation, or at least with the time I have left…”
“Damn right you will, ha. Wait! ‘With the time’ you have left?! You better not be leaving us! You are the keystone to our new lives here!” shouts Dolstran.
Alakar starts to sweat and says, “Ah, sorry, not sure what I was saying there. Um, not to change the subject here, but I would like to leave soon. How many of your people are willing to journey north with me right now?”
Dolstran goes to stroke his nonexistent beard, stops, and says, “Hmm, well, given that half of my men fear you and your children, not many… There are some who believe you to be our only hope to this new life, so maybe a few of them might join you.”
“Good! I’ll take any help that I can get… I would like to leave as soon as possible!” says Alakar.
Dolstran smiles and says, “Understood! I’ll gather all those who are willing to go, and I’ll continue the operations here, but don’t expect more than a dozen.”
Alakar stands up, turns for the door, and says, “Alright then. I have a lot of preparation to do on my end. And if I’m lucky, I’ll be able to practice some magic before we head out.”
Dolstran stands up abruptly, kicks his chair back, and says, “Wait before you go! I have a rather sensitive question to ask, m’lord…”
“What? And didn’t I ask you to call me by my name? I dislike being called anything else,” says Alakar as he looks at him in the corner of his eye.
Dolstran becomes squeamish and says, “You see, ever since the change… My life in the bedroom has been rather, um, how do I say, uh, improved. Is this normal?” and he looks at the floor in embarrassment.
Alakar leans on the door in front of him and laughs, “Ahahaha, you had me worried there Dolstran. Why did you come off as if you were concerned with that?” as he struggles to stop his laughter.
Dolstran stomps his foot and says, “Do not laugh at me, I am not concerned! Oddly enough, it’s the best thing that’s happened to me, but I just don’t understand this body. I thought I’d never have another child after Fundinn… I think my wife is already with child too, and I ask because I need some advice, please.”
Alakar opens the door and says, “Well, I haven't been a goblin much longer than you. But I assure you that the sex drive is normal, however personally, me and Margret don’t particularly like our new bodies enough to act on the impulses… Your wife will probably have her first litter in the next few months.”
“Oh shit, that soon?! What am I going to do?! I don’t feel prepared for this at all!” says Dolstran as he follows Alakar into the hallway.
“Well, maybe build a ‘spawnling pit’ as my son’s call it, here in the mountain. Clan Krak is in charge of the mountain and all of its construction; you’ll figure it out. See yeah later,” says Alakar as he makes his way out of the cave.
Dolstran gives up keeping pace with Alakar’s strides, so he stops and mutters, “Uh, alright…”
He then yells, “Thank you, and good luck m’lord!
Soon Alakar exited the cave’s entrance, and he found himself in contemplation once again. There was a lot to do: he needed to locate the key figures of his tribe, assemble resources required for the journey, and most importantly, sort out a plan. All of which was difficult since his mind was clouded in his origins.
Alakar stares out of a sight before him. He looks at the many smoldering fires and wonders where everyone has gone to. Daylight burns, and he soon realizes he’s better off acting than thinking. So, he walks off the gravel path towards the spawnling pits, in hopes to find someone.
“Hello dear, where is everyone?” says Alakar as he approaches a female goblin.
She jumps, shields herself with a basket in hand and says, “Ekk! I don’t knows! Please, spare mes!”
Alakar looks down at the brand on her arm and asks, “You are my son’s mate, correct? Surely you know where Rou is?”
She then drops her basket, grovels as low as possible, and says, “Ohs, you are da Father! I didn't knows! I am sorrys!” and she shivers beneath him.
Alakar smiles and says, “Please, do not fear me, little one. May I at least know what you are doing here?” as he gently pulls her up by the hand.
She then sifts through the dirt with her toe, avoids eye contact, and says, “I feeds da wee ones, like da other females,” and she then pulls a dead rat from her basket in display.
Alakar tassels her long black hair and says, “Very good! They will need a lot of help to grow big and strong like you!”
“Teehee, thank yous,” says the smiling goblin.
They then sat down and began to throw rats into the pit with giggles and laughter, while the tiny goblins below shredded them to pieces.
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