Three days later, they spotted goblins riding spiders. Tya and a spider-tamer that Risha didn’t know. They quickly saw to the injured goblins. Unfortunately, they were too late to save one of the recently evolved goblins, who had succumbed to his injuries.

After that, it was another three days back to her home village.

Things had changed a lot since she’d left. Many of the villages had been larger than hers, and with over two thousand High Goblins and their children working hard, wooden buildings now covered the area and the forest had been pushed back to make room for the small city of goblins.

Risha’s eyes caught on High Goblins leading flocks of large worm like creatures that moved slowly through the dirt. She recognized them from deep in the pits, but she’d never seen them on the surface like this.

A small delegation waited for them as they arrived, including Elders from every village they’d gone through.

Goblins quickly arrived to help everyone in her group. She stared at the delegation, her eyes narrowing at the hesitant looks on some of their faces. She was still covered in dirt and blood from her battle, but she ignored it as she walked up to them.

An Elder she didn’t know the name of was the first to speak. “How could you let Orcs into our home? The whole reason we’ve come here is to get away from Them. Do you know-”

“Quiet!” Risha said, standing tall in her bloodied armor. Her eyes allowed no argument and the Elder instantly shut his mouth. “Risha- I am still covered in the blood of dead goblins.” She bared her teeth at the Elder and he wilted. She turned to Elder Oltak, the Elder who had argued for the orcs. “Have they caused any trouble?”

“No. But they’ve been staying hidden with those of our village. Several Elders have been calling for their heads.”

“This is why Tya was supposed to be with them.” Risha grumbled, her annoyed gaze moving towards an exhausted Tya. Her expression softened seeing the old goblin carefully direct the surviving children of the last village. She turned back to the Elders. “I have promised that family that they will be welcomed here. I won’t break my word.”

The Elder who spoke out didn’t look happy about that, and Risha understood why. She also wasn’t happy that they were housing orcs in their home, and if the village would’ve left without them, she would’ve happily left them behind. But she was a goblin who kept her word.

The Elders stayed, and she wondered what else they were thinking.

Elder Milo stepped forward. “There are several other problems we wanted to discuss.”

Risha nodded, then motioned for them to follow as she walked towards her spider pit.

“We’re having trouble feeding all of the new goblins. We’ve started raising grubs to feed the spiders, but hunting isn’t enough anymore and we’ll start running out of food.” Milo said.

Risha frowned, she hadn’t thought about that. She nodded at Milo to continue. Milo glanced at the other Elders, then started on many of the other issues.

***

“Risha is unsure why they can’t fix some problems on their own. Most of them are smart goblins.” Risha complained.

Iris, the blue woman she had first met in her [Council of Grandmas] skill, nodded along. Iris currently sat half submerged in a large pool of steaming water. The both of them appeared to be in a cave, a blizzard blocking the entrance.

“That is the thing with becoming a leader dear. Everyone expects you to have the answers- Why don’t you join me in here? It’s not real, but it’ll relax you all the same.”

Risha hesitated for a second, then dipped her toe in the water. It was hot, but not overly so. At Iris’s encouragement, Risha stripped and fully stepped into the pool, her muscles slowly relaxing after weeks of travel.

“See? That’s much better, isn’t it dear?” Iris smiled at the tired goblin.

Risha nodded, her eyes having closed without her realizing it.

“You need to have people who are responsible for certain problems. It seems like your friend, Glo, has taken over the military, that’s good. Now you just need to make sure people you trust become in charge of the other powers of your little government. If you don’t make sure the right people are there, the wrong people will seek and take that power.”

Risha blinked, waking herself up to hear the advice.

“The Elders of your village seem to be on your side, but you’ll need to make sure the other villages have some power or you’ll lose control of them.”

Risha stared at Iris, who’s eyes were still closed. She seemed to be perfectly relaxed as she talked.

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“If you start growing larger, talk to Shyanne. She has the most experience running a government… Speak of the human and she’ll appear.”

“You two seem to be enjoying yourselves.” Shyanne’s captivating voice said, drawing Risha’s attention to her.

Shyanne relaxed on the other edge of the pool. Despite having disrobed, she still sported all of her jewelry, including her crown, as she relaxed in the hot water

Risha felt a strange desire to take some of the shiny objects.

“Young Risha is having trouble with her burgeoning government.” Iris told the Empress.

Shyanne nodded imperiously. “We all went through something similar.”

“Her people aren’t used to supporting a large population and are having food issues.” Iris continued, stretching herself as she leaned back.

“Have you tried rotating your crops to let the soil rest?” Shyanne asked the goblin.

Risha shrunk a little. “What is a crop?”

Shyanne tilted her head, and Iris opened an eye to look at the poor goblin.

Shyanne pursed her lips, then nodded. “I suppose I’ll have to start from the beginning.”

***

Risha found Glo on a large field, looking over all the goblins as they fought each other with wooden sticks.

Risha’s old friend ran over to her as soon as he saw her. He picked her up in a big hug, his smile reaching from ear to ear.

“Glo is happy to see Risha!” Glo said, setting Risha back on her feet.

“Risha is happy to see Glo!” Risha responded, her smile spreading across her face.

“I’ve grown stronger since last time.” Glo said proudly. “I gained the [Instructor] skill.”

“Oooh!” Risha responded, genuinely happy for her friend “What’s it do?”

Glo motioned towards the goblins who were busy hitting each other with sticks. “It helps them learn to fight.”

“It’s a good skill for you.” Risha said. She looked over the goblins, at least half of whom now wore chitinous armor. “Would you help me gather the all the Elders of the villages? I need to speak to them… and you.”

“Me?” Glo asked. “I’m not an Elder.”

“You’re our General.”

Glo stood up straighter. “General?”

“The leader of our war band.” Risha pointed out at the goblins. She hadn’t known what the word meant either, until one of the Grandmothers said it.

“Glo the General!” Glo laughed. “Glo will gather the Elders to the Spider Queen’s pit.”

“Thank you.” Risha said.

Glo immediately motioned to several goblins and they ran off. Risha went towards the pit, Glo a step behind her.

The Spider Queen was mid conversation with the Snow Spider when they arrived and they both turned to acknowledge the approaching goblins.

“It’s been too long Klaz’zks.” Risha greeted the large spider who chittered in excitement at the goblin. Risha pointed towards the Snow Spider, “Klix’a was amazing. She saved my life.”

Klix’a, the snow spider, moved her legs shyly.

“I’ve heard of what happened. It is good to hear that my daughter was so strong.” The Spider Queen preened herself. “What brings you here Grand Mother?”

“I’m gathering the Elders to plan for the future.” Risha said, watching as Tya was the first to arrive.

“Your knowledge has been insightful, to say the least. I am sure the Elders will be glad to receive your guidance. I will happily feast on any that disagree with you.” The spider laughed to show that she was mostly joking.

Risha shook her head. “That won’t be needed. I don’t want to become another overseer.”

“A wise choice.”

The rest of the elders gathered, reaching twenty two in all. They spoke amongst themselves until Risha stepped forward.

“I have found solutions to many of our problems.” Risha said.

The concept of a farm was new to the goblins, but they received it well and some even knew of plants that would grow in the winter.

Risha decided to officially put Elder Oltak from the village with the orc in charge of the creation of the farms.

Elder Mo, one of Lia’s sons and a High Goblin Builder, was put in charge of the building projects that were underway.

Elder Milo was set up to be in charge of the Craftsmen, and Glo was officially given control of the military.

There were grumblings, and not every goblin was happy with her appointment, but no one went against her decisions openly.

Then, based on the advice of the Shyanne and Iris, she officially created a council, with each elder and three spiders of the Spider Queen’s choosing and the Klaz’zks herself each getting a vote.

Risha then placed herself as Empress. Her word was law, and everyone had to listen to her.

It was Shyanne’s advice to assert herself as the official leader as soon as possible, to give any opposition no chance to form. Risha liked the word empress, and it was what Shyanne called herself.

Surprisingly, the goblins understood a leader better than they did a council.

Glo was the first to bow to her, followed by the Elders from her village and the spiders, then Oltak, then every Elder followed suit.

Risha felt very proud of her new status.

It was a simple government, but that was the way to start for now. Anything more complex would receive more opposition then she was already receiving from the older goblins that didn’t know her.

Risha decided that she needed to find herself a throne like Shyanne’s.