Risha’s injuries healed slowly, the old alpha’s anger not so easily gotten rid of. Risha had to admit that she was excited to see the scars that they would leave. Every scar was a sign of triumph for the goblin, reminding her of the battles she had fought for her people. These scars would be the largest she’d ever gotten, and Risha was sure that it would make her look extra cool.

Unfortunately, with the injuries came a fussing old goblin who constantly checked in on Risha. Tya paid extra attention to her, and disliked how active Risha continued to be despite the injuries.

Risha started every morning by practicing her swordsmanship with Klu, then she had a meeting with the Elders to discuss supplies and preparations for crossing the mountain pass. It was still close enough to winter to make the pass treacherous, and they were hesitant to brave the tunnels that led through the mountain. The orcs warned of creatures that lived in the darkness, best left undisturbed.

A few more goblin villages were discovered by the hunters, and they made long treks to the orc base in order to meet Risha so that she could evolve them into high goblins. Kobolds too, came from their home so that Risha might grant them evolution. A small city had grown on the outside of the orc base, where a mixture of all the races traded, hunted and worked together. Elder Mo, a High Goblin Builder, had even come out from the home village to coordinate the efforts to build homes and walls for the growing city.

The orcs themselves were treated with mistrust and hatred, but Risha worked with Klu, Elder Mo, and Glo to have them work together with the other races. Risha hoped that bonds would begin to forge themselves, but there were many obstacles to her plan.

Every other night, large parties were thrown by the goblins, and Risha snuck away from Tya so that she could dance around the large bonfires and drink the alcohol that the goblins made.

Risha knew that the old goblin knew of her little escapades.

A week into their stay at the burgeoning town, they received the votes from the Elders of the other village.

The council was called and another vote was held.

Not a single No vote was cast. Even Elder Kulos voted to continue past the mountains.

The road between the two goblin cities was expanded and High Goblin Spider-Tamers were constantly delivering messages and supplies between the cities by riding on the former warbeasts. Craftsmen on both sides upped their production rates for weapons and armor.

In the former orc base, goblin craftsmen made use of the orc forges to create even more outstanding pieces of equipment. Risha was gifted with another armor set from the chitin of her spiderlings, along with new arrows and knives.

By the end of the month, Risha’s wounds had healed to the point that she barely felt them.

She decided it was time to cross the mountains.

***

Risha looked around at the large tent she’d made for herself. It was her first attempt to make a home inside the [Council Of Grandmothers], Something she’d been putting off for a while.

The tent was larger than the command tent she’d been using, at least three Rishas high. Soft furs were thrown in a circle around a large table, with a few chairs here and there for the Grand Mothers who liked such things. The table itself had a map of the land and the growing cities inside her territory.

It was basic, but creating things in the strange space was hard to do. She’d started out by trying to create a room similar to Empress Shyanne’s, but the walls hadn’t looked right, and the throne was almost blurry, the stone not melding together quite right.

“Oooh. I like it. Tribal.”

Risha looked up sharply, meeting the eyes of the dark-skinned Grand Mother. Maya smiled at Risha.

“It reminds me of Shyanne’s first room.” Maya added. She kneeled down on one of the furs, examining the map that Risha had made. “Hmmm. Too vague to know where you are. That’s good.”

Risha smiled at the comparison to Shyanne, then tilted her head. “You were here when Shyanne became a Grand Mother?”

Maya nodded. “That would’ve been, what? Eight hundred years ago? Seven hundred? It all blurs together at a point.”

Risha’s eyes widened. “That’s a long time.”

“Yep, turned her little tribe of mewling apes into a dangerous empire in no time at all.” Maya smirked, one corner of her mouth rising. “Had Lalaila scared witless before they brokered peace.”

“You’re embarrassing me, Maya.”

Risha turned to meet the imperious gaze of the Human Empress. The human’s lips quivered, holding back a smile.

Maya shrugged, before returning her gaze to the map.

Shyanne looked around the tent, “This does bring back memories.” her gaze focused on Risha. “How goes the defense of your home?”

Risha smiled wide, showing off all her teeth. “Risha killed their chieftain. I rule all goblins, kobolds, and orcs this side of the mountains.”

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Maya whistled in surprise.

Shyanne simply raised an eyebrow. “You rule over orcs as well?”

Risha nodded. “It wasn’t easy, but the orcs were once goblins, and I was convinced to welcome them in.”

Shyanne frowned.

“Shocked, Shyanne?” Maya asked. “You should know better after a Goblin was chosen to be a Grand Mother.”

Shyanne glared at the Dark Elf.

“That was different,” Shyanne said, “Goblins were always…” She glanced at RIsha, “Closer to nature.”

“Mhm.” Maya shook her head, then turned to Risha. “The orcs have a long history with the other races on the surface. They have been…”

“Slaughterers.” Shyanne said.

Risha nodded, some things clicking together in her head. “They are the war evolution of the goblin.”

The other two Grand Mothers stared at her in confusion.

Risha blinked under their gazes. “They are made for war. They aren’t craftsmen or builders. But they still live, breathe and cry.”

The two Grand Mothers shared a look of understanding.

“That… makes sense.” Shyanne said.

“Monsters are interesting creatures.” Maya said. “I’m glad they’ll soon have you to reign them in.”

“Risha is a good leader.” Risha agreed. “Oh! I was hoping to learn some games from you.”

“”Games?”” they both asked at the same time.

Risha spent the next hour learning the game that Risha had caught them playing that one time. She wouldn’t be able to recreate the “cards” they used, but some wooden tiles should work the same.

The game was hard to learn at first, but once she got the hang of it, the other two Grand Mothers started to look at her different.

Risha was tempted to ask them to bet shiny stones, but nothing physical could transfer in the council. Still, Risha enjoyed the looks of concentration from the two Grand Mothers when she started winning.

It was nice and relaxing after the work that had been going into creating her empire. Being an empress was surprisingly stressful.

After a few more rounds, Shyanne had to leave, and Risha decided it was time to return to her people.

She opened her eyes to the large house she’d been staying in while they prepared the advance party for the march. It was constructed of stone, and so unlike anything Risha had ever stayed in. It felt colder, and emptier. It was almost too big. She liked the tent she’d designed in the space for the council better.

Risha sat up from the firs to find a small, purple, furry spiderling on her legs. She stared at it a moment, blinking rapidly as she wondered if one of her spiders had made children without her knowledge. But it was still early in the year for them to mate.

“Hi mom!” The little spider said, making Risha tilt her head. She recognized the voice.

She looked around the room to see two of her normal spiderlings hulking in the corner. They were chittering and stomping their legs with barely concealed laughter.

She looked back at the spiderling on her legs. “Kliks?”

“That’s me!” The little spiderling chittered. “And I’m not the only one.”

A familiar pack of spiderlings, minus the two hulking spiders in the corners of the room, crawled up the bed, and Risha couldn’t stop her laughter as they cuddled with her.

“How’d you get so small?” Risha asked, petting the chittering creatures.

“The system gave it to us.” Kliks said as she brushed up against Risha’s face. “We can also get as big as Klaz’zks.”

“That is big.” Risha agreed. Her hands stilled in the fur of one of her spiderlings as she remembered her old silk cloak. She’d have to get a new one made. She’d missed the little spiderlings traveling with her when she was a tiny goblin. Seeing them like this brought back a lot of good memories.

Risha fully left the bed. Some of the spiderlings dropped to the floor, but most dangled from the leathers and furs she wore.

She made her way to the door, her spiderlings following her. Outside, a vaguely familiar goblin warrior stood guard. Risha was pretty sure that he was from the same village Klu and Elder Oltak were from.

Glo was worried about Risha, so he’d assigned guards outside of her rooms. She wasn’t sure why she needed them considering that her spiderlings were almost always close by, but she appreciated that Glo cared about her.

She nodded to the guard who bowed his head, then made her way through the building. Two orc children ran into her as she was passing one of the many rooms in the building, their silent mother looking on with a smile.

“Hello Shasha.” Risha said.

Shasha bowed low, then rose with a proud look. The two kids ran up to Risha, then backed up slightly when they saw the many spiderlings in her clothes.

“Don’t worry.” Risha reached onto her arm and handed Kliks over to the taller girl, Cali. “This is Kliks. Kliks, this is Cali.”

Kliks waved one of her legs. Cali waved her hand and giggled.

“Grand Mother.”

Risha looked up to see Klu rounding the corner. He bowed his head to her.

“Klu! Just who I wanted to see.” Risha smiled at the Orc Mystic. “Have you decided who will be accompanying me across the mountains?”

Klu looked over his family, then nodded. “You are familiar with the first orc to surrender to you, Diel the Death-Bringer. He serves Klaz’zks as his repentance.”

Kliks jumped back onto Risha from the orc child. The spiderling crawled up Risha’s arm and onto her shoulder, while Cali looked disappointed to see the spiderling gone.

“He had a strong gaze.” Risha mused.

“I would come with you….” Klu started

“Diel will do well.” Risha smiled.

Risha motioned for the Orc to follow her, so that they could speak in private. She’d decided to leave him with his family, so that he could manage the relationships between the orcs and the other races. They respected him, and he had sway with some of the Goblin Elders.

They spoke about their plans before joining up with several other elders. There was only one day left before they began their crossing.