Right after lunchtime, the other goblins all knocked on Kevin’s door. He blearily answered and let them in. With all of them standing inside, the room suddenly felt very cramped. It was amazing how well the former prisoners had all filled out and recovered from their ordeal. When Kevin had first met Rock and the others, they’d been emaciated–hardly more than skin and bones

Now each goblin was healthy, with bright eyes, and ready smiles. Kevin was amazed at how resilient they were. In that moment, Kevin really, truly felt proud to be a goblin.

As usual, Rock acted as the de facto spokesperson for the group. “Kevin, all of us are really fortunate to have met you. We’ve sworn an oath of secrecy to never tell a soul about what happened that day you met us, to protect whatever secrets you might want to keep. But we all know that without you, we would be dead now…or worse.

“We know about how the messenger found you last night, how you have to see the mayor today, and we’re worried, but we also have to leave in a few minutes. But we can’t leave without saying goodbye, and we also can’t leave without…saying some things we should have said before.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s about how different you are,” said Bilak. Even now, she was batting her eyes at Kevin. He’d been ignoring her obvious advances for weeks now.

“She’s right,” said Rock.

Frekel nodded. The young goblin boy, almost the quietest in the group, second only to Gendry, had barely spoken the entire time Kevin had known him. But now he spoke up, saying, “Lord Kevin is different and not faking it.”

Rock sighed. “I don’t like to speak this bluntly or even talk about any of this at all, but like I said, I think we should. Ahem. Lord Kevin–”

“You shouldn’t call me Lord.”

“That’s another thing we need to talk about,” said Rock. “Lord Kevin, I do not know where you come from, but it must be far, far away. You don’t know basic things about the world, and especially about goblins.”

“What do you mean?”

All the goblins looked at each other before turning back to Kevin. Rock made a face. “We are Moonwhispers. Goblins from the banished Moonwhisper Clan.”

When Kevin showed no reaction other than a puzzled tilt of the head, Rock facepalmed. “This is what we meant. Any other goblin would know what that meant. And we would generally not speak the name to anyone who was not in our clan. Other goblins, and maybe man-folk, might suspect it because of how we talk, but as long as we didn’t admit it, other goblins wouldn’t attack us.”

Kevin blinked slowly and gestured at the visiting goblins to take a seat where they could. “Can you explain this to me?”

“Yes.” Rock took a seat on the floor and seemed to have no problem looking up at Kevin where he sat on his bed. Gendry leaned against the wall. Bilak nonchalantly sat next to Kevin and almost touched his hand with hers. He ignored her. Rock continued, “The reason we thought it was important to tell you all of this was because of how you’re acting right now. See, when we first met you, we thought you might also be a Moonwhisper. Over time we grew to understand that you’re not.”

“Why did you think I’m a Moonwhisper?”

“It’s how you talk,” said Frekel.

Rock nodded. “I can’t believe I am saying this out loud to someone who is not even clan…but that’s right. We owe you our lives. Most goblins don’t speak the same way as other races. Goblins are not stupid, not really, but most are just not interested in…polite manners, or studying, or most sciences. Goblins are usually very straightforward.”

“More than Orks?”

“Yes, more than orks.” Rock grimaced and the others did as well. “This is a very…uncomfortable conversation. Goblins and Orks have hated each other over thousands of years of history. We’ve called each other various flavors of stupid for eons. But the reality is, and many goblins would stab me for saying this…orks are probably naturally a bit more civilized, or at least work together better. But goblins have a knack for problem solving and being more…fluid. Goblins accept change and adapt very quickly.”

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“So you don’t talk like most other goblins?”

“Not really, no. An exception is maybe the highest class of goblins, nobles and shamans and such. They are forced to study, and have been bred for excellence. And looks.”

Out the corner of his eye, Kevin saw Bilak batting her eyes at him again.

“So this is why you told me to stop taking issue with you calling me Lord Kevin?”

“That is part of it. If you are nobility, it makes more sense why you would speak the way you do, which if I am being honest, is even more educated-sounding and more…cultured than we do. You sound like you could be human nobility, or even elven nobility! For gods sake, you are a high ranking member of the Magi Guild! You can understand why, as a goblin, it’s painful to talk about this, right?”

“I think so,” said Kevin.

“He really doesn’t talk like a goblin,” said Gesel. She crossed her arms.

“That’s because he’s special.” Bilak scooted closer.

“Making a move now when we’re about to leave?” Gesel rolled her eyes. “Cowardly Bilak.”

“Better late than never!”

Kevin frowned. “Okay, wait a minute. After I talked to Gesel before, I thought all the goblins living in this country were from, like, exiled clans. How are the Moonwhispers any different?”

The other goblins exchanged glances again. Rock said, “You know of goblins being part of the demons’ army long ago, right?”

“Yes.”

“Well, the demons tricked all of goblinkind. They used us and threw us away. We hate demons, all goblins do. But the Moonwhispers were probably the most badly used. But we were…changed, too. Each tribe is made up of clans. The Moonwhisper clan was experimented on by demon sorcerers and fleshsmiths. Our kind were used to create weapons and abominations. But some of the changes helped us after the demons were defeated. Most of the blood has thinned since then, but the first Moonwhispers after the last demon war were probably the wisest and most powerful goblins to ever live. Then our clan ruled over other goblins, or at least was the strongest for a very long time.”

“Let me guess. The other clans’ or other tribes’ powerful families caught up, maybe from intermarrying, selective breeding, and eventually challenged your clan, won, and used you as scapegoats on their rise to power.”

“He’s quick,” said Gesel.

“Very.” Rock sighed. “Our clan was also called the betrayers of goblinkind. We were blamed for all goblins working for the demons, instead of the reality that they forced and tricked our ancestors. Many goblins blame Moonwhispers for our shameful past. So now if a goblin seems…less goblin-y than normal, and especially if they don’t have the looks to go with it, if they are not from a noble or notable family, well, they might be accused of being of the Moonwhisper clan.”

Gesel frowned. “They are not that much better looking, the nobility. I turned plenty of heads when I was Bilak’s age.”

“Whatever, Gesel. You don’t even know how to wax your ears.”

The older goblin woman stared daggers at Bilak. “Take it back!”

“Fine, I take it back. But Kevin does not look like most other goblins. He’s adorable.” Bilak seemed to suddenly remember where she was, stole a glance at Kevin, and blushed so dark her green cheeks almost turned black.

Gesel laughed. “I bet Rock looked quite a bit like Kevin when he was younger, eh Rock?”

Suddenly, Gendry spoke. “Kevin is very handsome.” The other goblins shared at him in surprise.

“Gendry spoke!” crowed Frekel.

“When was the last time?” asked Gesel. “The last time Gendry spoke?”

Rock looked up in the air to think about it. “A few weeks ago. It looks like Kevin has an admirer.”

“Two of them.” Gesel raised an eyebrow at Bilak.

With difficulty, Kevin ignored all the shenanigans and quietly asked, “I am a dream goblin. How do I fit into all of this?”

The merriment stopped and the other goblins stared soberly at Kevin. “We weren’t going to bring it up if you didn’t,” said Gesel.

Kevin frowned. “BIt I thought now was the time for difficult conversations.”

“There are different levels of taboo.” Rock sighed.

“How do you not know this? Seriously?” asked Frekel.

It was Gesel who finally answered his question. “Dream goblins are rare, and most clans have them, but…well, they dream. Sometimes the dreams come true. Dream goblins dream more if they get dream powder, or drink gara root nectar. So…most dream goblins are…dreaming.

Kevin’s jaw dropped before he remembered himself and closed it. This information had not been anywhere in any of the books he’d read. He would have remembered if any texts suggested that dream goblins were…quasi-prophetic drug addicts. “I…see. So this fact would make me seem even stranger. Since I am not…dreaming.”

Rock coughed. “Anyway Kevin, now you know. I believe Gesel has already spoken to you about how we would feel if you helped us. That is true and then some. If you ever need us, or want us to travel with you again, if you call on us at all, we owe you a lifetime debt.” The oldest goblin stood and beckoned the others. “We should go. Kevin has much to prepare for and we should not impose.”

Kevin stood and tried to wave Rocks concerns away. “It’s okay. I don’t need to start getting ready for a few more minutes.”

“But we do.” Rock met Kevin’s eyes and gave him a firm, but respectful shake of the head. “We don’t want to be late. I am sorry that we didn’t tell you sooner, but I guess we kept hoping you would somehow turn out to be a Moonwhisper, too.”

All the goblins but Bilak stood. “Come on girl, you had weeks to say or do something.” Gesel didn’t even try to spare the younger woman’s feelings.

Bilak hissed and got up, slowly heading for the door. She turned. “You will come to visit us, right?”

“I will if I can.” Kevin smiled. “I know where the tannery is you’ll be working at. Don’t worry, I will visit for sure.”

“Okay.”

Rock ushered the other goblins out the door before he turned. With gravity, he said, “Revealing who we are is like putting our lives in your hands, but our lives have been in your hands since we met you. This is a goblin salute.” He bowed slightly with both his hands open, palms facing upwards. “This the traditional way that the Moonwhisper clan greets each other in secret.” He bowed again, his hands open and claws of one hand touching he claws of the other.

Then he bowed again in the Moonwhisper fashion. When Rock straightened, he had misty eyes. “Thank you for all that you have done for us. When I die, I will die knowing that I have met a truly great goblin. I know you are going to do amazing things. Your journey is just starting. Be well, Kevin Brightscales. A goblin who does not act like a goblin, does not have a goblin name, but who is maybe—”

The old goblin gave an enigmatic smile, turned, and left. Kevin looked at the closed door to his room and listened to the fading footsteps of his first goblin friends.

Even though the goodbye was not permanent, he also had misty eyes. The bittersweet feeling, floating on top of his reluctance to see the mayor lately for dinner, temporarily ruled the moment.

He would think more about everything the Moonwhispers had revealed to him later.