"There is not much to tell, my clan was like any other" Lina replies hastily "Why don't you ask Nojus? He is older and has lived through more than I"

"I want to know about you" I reply, without hesitation, my voice clear even in this blizzard.

"...We lived in the Opushkalesa, a forest not too far from the territory of the Kingdom, it is covered in chocking woods with many hills. I have been told it is like that everywhere in the Tsardom, unlike the Kingdom, with its large fields and wheat. There are only woods and large animals that we hunt"

Lina starts timid and low, but as she keeps speaking and remembering her mood seems to change.

"In Passing, Autumn, from the mountains come the harpy and Garantir. With the first we do battle, for they come to steal our men and cattle, the second we hunt atop our Medved, they are fast and strong. I had one called Jani! She was beautiful, with light fur and emerald feathers..." She licks her lips "Garantir is delicious with honey, Uperbis, I miss honey"

"That was your clan's God, Uperbis, the dragon of pride"

"Yes, the founder of the clan said we had to be proud of who we were, and the strength in our blood...we sacrificed our cattle yearly to him. For prosperity and large families," She speaks with a little more enthusiasm" Drakona is the week of the princes, and we celebrate on the first. Men dance and women sing, we eat a lot, and drink even more!" She exclaims raising her fist, a lukewarm smile on her face.

"Is that what you always whistle and hum? Occasionally I hear you whistling to yourself"

"We sing a lot of things, but no" Her eyes are weighty, and saddened "No, I don't sing about Uperbis or the Drakona...It's a song, by my brother. He liked to sing, not dance. But he was not feminine, he was a strong warrior" She clarifies almost defensively, I suppose it was a recurring problem among her peers "Like our grandmother, he had big horns and sharp claws. A keen eye and a steady hand that never missed a shot"

"And you made clothes"

"Yes. It is what women do. Take care of the hearth, of the food, and the children." She weights her words for a moment "I like to be a warrior, but I also enjoy doing what the women of my clan did...brings me close to them. If we ever get leather from the Garantir, that is soft and easy to work with, I can make amazing tunics" She then leans forward, looking at me from the side "How, were things in your burrow? I never thought how life was for goblins" she asks, a clear attempt at changing topics.

"Sick and starved. My burrow was torched by humans soon after I was born...due to a careless decision, that I took" She leans back, saying nothing at all in return.

For the briefest of moments I considered sharing some of my stay with Ismeina...but decided against it. Even if the words of Scarlett's butler echo in my ears, it's too soon for something like that...but maybe, I can compromise.

"But I had a second burrow...it was where we are making camp right now" I continue, and glance back, her ears moving and in her eyes, the spark of curiosity.

"So you led a group of goblins?" She asks, walking now next to me "What was it like?"

"No, it was led by an orc. I was a subordinate and it was similar to how things are right now. Only that I did much more training" I look at the distant darkness of the woods, and I can almost hear the laughter of the orcs as Makur sparred with them "It was brief, but I learned a lot...I'm thankful for it"

"What happened with that group?"

A question I knew was coming the moment I spoke. Another way to hit me with the errors of my past...I'm done chewing on what I did and what I could have done better. On what I didn't do, and should have done. But in my mind when the memories of Makur and his war band rise from the depths, I have to wonder where would I be now if I had taken different choices.

"Gone, long ago "I simply state, I do not wish to elaborate further and she notices this. She Briefly looks away and gives the conversation a few moments of silence before opening her mouth.

"I have never seen an orc, they live far away from the Tsardom. But occasionally, my brother would return from a raid and speak of giants fighting with the men of the Tsar. I always wanted to see one" I can see in her face the melancholy of bittersweet memories.

"What is there to see? Just a bigger version of something smaller"

"Have you seen one?" My silence answers her "Then don't try to spoil my dreams" She hisses like she did the very first time we met, except now it is playful, and it makes her saddened expression lighten up a bit.

"Are they large four-legged beasts?"

"My brother said they look similar to humans, so no"

Stolen novel; please report.

"There are giant beasts at the entrance of the Endless Green. For some time I lived in the woods surrounding its entrance and would occasionally catch a glimpse of them" The memory of those giants beast is always fresh in my mind, after all, they make me wonder just how much of this world I'm yet to discover.

"In the woods? Alone?"

Without realizing it, I ended up talking about my experiences in the woods with Lina. I meant for her to share and tell me about her clan, but I ended up spilling everything that happened as I lived in the forests. In turn, she gave a name to some of the animals I found, hid from, and hunted. I told her about my fight with the wolf and she said that there used to be giant wolves in the Tsardom, but that was long ago.

And as I finish telling her about my life in the woods, she finally opens up a bit and shares her life in the Tsardom. The many times she got into trouble for using the bow and arrow, and how she always was the first one to greet the warriors that returned from raiding in the hillfort they lived in. Watching those wooden gates open, to greet her brother, always returning alive and well.

But as the conversation goes on, she seems to remember more about this family of hers... and she eventually grows silent. I do not need to ask to know she lost almost everything when the bandits attacked her home. Does she know, however? About Andrei's involvement?

"Earlier" I speak up after the conversation died out, quite a while ago "You decided to stay because this was your people, but the first time we meet I remember clearly, how you were willing to abandon what was left of your clan only to follow Andrei when I threatened to throw him away"

"I told you, I have my reasons" She interrupts me, impatient and quickly becoming angry.

"I want to know what changed" I speak up. The sky above us is already less dark so we have taken to walk distanced from each other again since she can see better where we go. It shouldn't be long before sunrise "Keep your reasons to defend me to yourself, but share what made you see the hobgoblins as your equals, and not simply others"

"...Why is it important to you?"

"Orcs treat goblins as slaves, and hobgoblins too. Goblins hate everyone, humans seem to deal only with other races if those are subservient to them...I am yet to find people that see others as equals. It's likely just the circumstance you find yourself in. But of all, I want to know your thoughts"

"And why ask me? Nojus is-"

"I'm asking you because I want to know your thoughts. Nojus and Jorr are warriors, they think like one and I do not need to ask them. For one it's a matter of pragmatic necessity, for the other, an honor-bound duty. You, however, who think neither like a warrior nor a man, is worth asking" My words have an effect, and we stop walking altogether.

"What about the siblings? They-"

"Answer the question, Lina. Stop avoiding it" She stares at me deeply with those green feline eyes. Silently, her thoughts gather and after some time, she looks away, letting out a defeated sigh.

"I lived for so long in that mine. Barely surviving, covered in shit and waste, smelling so horrible that the guards wouldn't even bother trying to rape me...that I thought my world was that. Andrei was the only thing that kept me going...but after you came to us, and freed us. There was suddenly a whole new horizon to look at...with a lot of new possibilities...I have friends again, goals, and a future" She looks at me once more "Neither this nor my time as a slave are the life I wanted..." She gently touches the subtle scar on her neck from the collar she wore "But it is the life I have now...and I want to make the most of it"

Finally, it seems her words match her thoughts, no longer a doubtful answer born out of necessity to alleviate the immediate discomfort of seeking the truth within her. She seems firm, and holds my gaze, even taking a few steps forward until we are facing each other properly, standing a meter away.

"Andrei always wanted us to leave and find a home among the clans in the Tsardom... as if our world was still the small place we had grown used to. Me, choosing the war band above such an old dream, was fighting for myself. Before I fight for others"

I nod in approval and turn around. Offering no needless words, no lengthy reply to this. I am satisfied, and so is she. We continue walking, the path to the camp made more difficult thanks to the heavy snow we get to see the palisade once the dark is hiding away with the sun painting the cloudy sky in the distance.

Falling asleep as soon as I can, to rest a bit before sharing my findings with Nojus.

For the following days, I plan out the raid with him, having given him the results of my scouting he seems troubled, but as the warrior he is, this is brief. Quickly replaced by a stubborn determination, and even excitement, to see the incoming conflict. I begin pushing the training of the Huani even more and add to each rider a goblin to watch their back.

My brethren are taught in the use of the spear and shield, eager to think of themselves as victorious warriors they devour my teachings, and I see in their eyes the anticipation of the bloodshed. Lina takes to heart her new position as my bodyguard, having her tent moved next to mine facilitates her new duty, and organizes her time effectively so that she can still train herself, and others while following me around.

But since there is really no menace, she simply entertains herself with her sewing and crafting when I'm with Enon, her humming admittedly a comforting sound to fill the long silences of writing down translated works. Nojus also seems grateful for this, commenting once that he likes to see her taking a more passive role from now on, I always knew he cared for her, but just now I see this is far from a matter of attraction or custom. He seems to genuinely worry about her well-being.

It is when Jorr finally returns, with a dozen new hobgoblins and goblins, as well as only two carts full of needed goods, that I can leave behind the books and silent days, and turn to make the final preparations for my men to be ready and raid Orokur's camp. The additional four horses are a more than welcome addition.

He is noticeably shaken by the experience of wearing the necklace and taking my human form. Warning me about the dangers of working with Vulvas, a despective hobgoblin term for witches, but understood our situation demanded allies and the advantages of having someone as powerful as The Betrayer backing us.

Together, the three of us plan out every detail of the raid, knowing we have to strike soon until the day comes when we review everything. Our men, the gear, the numbers, the skill...and decide that we are ready. Looking at each other knowing that this marks the beginning of a hard future for us, I know there is much doubt inside them that they do not share.

But Lina's words come to my mind in that moment of silence...how this is the new horizon for all of us, but if we want to walk it, it will have to be on the blood-soaked snow.