Trilla took in the room she had first entered. It was drastically different than the outside stonework. This stone was almost expertly worked. Every brick had some depiction of some great battle on it. The stone itself was a deep, dark grey. Flecks of some mineral caused it all to shimmer in the torchlight. A small. simple stone stand stood to one side of the hallway, a stone bowl that was a bright white, extremely polished stone stood out amongst everything else.

The goblin that had met her at the door motioned to the bowl.

"Father's gift bowl. Says good manners to give gift. You good, you already give gift." the goblin held up the bowl of soup, taking a bite, before dumping the rest into the bowl. "It leave once you leave."

Trillia nodded to the goblin. Ba'Shoon said that the dungeon couldn't absorb anything or make changes while people were inside it. Before she could move much more forward, she saw a large canine head appear from around a corner. Dark red fur and piercing blue eyes greeted her. There was an intelligence in those eyes that Trillia didn't miss. As it slowly plodded further into the entrance hall, she saw the rider atop the wolf.

It was a goblin, much like the one that had greeted her, but it was a fair bit taller. At least, she thought so it was hard to tell on the wolf's back. Its skin was dark green with the same glowing blue eyes of its mount. It wore what looked like simple furs and leathers piled on top of each other to offer some form of protection. A jagged blade hung at its side. It looked more like a giant chef's knife than a sword. But given the goblin's stature, Trillia felt it struck a very imposing image.

The rider spoke. His voice was startlingly soft, given his image. Trillia's [Mana Sight] immediately kicked in.

[Dungeon Goblin - Red River Warrior - 37] Null Mana Manipulation

[Dungeon Wolf - Crimson Fang - 33] Fire Mana Manipulation

Trillia looked down at the one that had greeted her.

[Goblin - Scout - 18] Wind Mana Manipulation

Notable Traits:

Pact-Bound [Dungeon]

Trillia let her sight fade. Focusing on the speaking voice.

"Father says you scary. Lots of mana. Enough mana, kill us all. Is worried you want absorb him."

Trillia shook her head, offering a smile.

"Not at all. I am Trillia Demonsbane."

Before she continued, the rider held up a hand, nodding.

"Father heard, so we all heard. I am Stibs. This is Paws." the goblin patted the wolf's side as he spoke.

Trillia couldn't help but giggle at the names.

"I have no intention of absorbing your father. In truth, my best friend and I wish to delve tomorrow. So that we may train and get better, in addition to trying to establish negotiations between your father and our people. I had a few questions, and I will leave you alone for the evening and return tomorrow if your father is ok with that?"

The goblin looked up as if some otherworldly voice spoke to it.

"Father says that ok, but has questions as well."

Trillia nodded, motioning with her hand. She could see a half dozen other sets of paws waiting around corners.

"Please ask your father to ask his questions first. I shall go after."

The goblin nodded once more, speaking almost immediately.

"Father wants to know why they send young orc? His...noledge? Knowledge? His knowledge say orc society not care about children. Especially children with [Runt]. That true?"

Trillia winced at that. The statement hurt, but she was here to be professional. She couldn't wander off and cry about it while she had work to do.

"My tribe is different. We help our weakest grow so that we may one day be strong. I was sent because I am weakest amongst my tribe. I believe you met my brother before?" she described Ralrouk. The look on Stibs' face told her he certainly remembered.

"Brother, scary. I beg and beg him not to smash Father. All my warriors and wolves, biting and clawing, slashing and stabbing. Brother not care. Mighty laugh as he walked through us to the core."

She could see the shame on his face. Trillia smiled and nodded.

"Imagine how I feel. He is weaker than my parents by a great deal. I have much to live up to. Perhaps we can help each other. You teach me to be strong and a good fighter. I help you get stronger to protect your father."

The goblin nodded immediately.

"If father says ok, ok. Stibs and tribe need to become great warriors so that we do not beg for mercy. So that Father does not worry for us. Father says you smart for child. Why?"

Trillia chewed her lip at that. Thinking about her words carefully before speaking.

"I must be smart. I am weak. My tribe is strong. To help my tribe, I must be smart. I must learn quickly. I was changed so that I hunger for knowledge and know-how. I believe those changes also changed my intelligence and knowledge."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

The goblin nodded, a smile crossing his face.

"Like Stibs. Goblins not smart. We only know goblin tongue. Father teaches us more. Tells us that goblins can be smart. Said he met goblin, that was most smart thing ever. Stibs hungers for knowledge as well. Wants to learn more to share with father and tribe."

Trillia smiled and nodded. She'd be the last person to underestimate anyone.

"Father says he ask more questions tomorrow. You ask now."

Trillia bowed her head, taking out her little metal book and opening it.

"Is your father still only a single floor? If so, why hasn't he expanded to another floor?"

Once more, the goblin looked up into the sky. Responding after a moment.

"Father says he can go down twice. But there is large nest of long creatures nearby. Nest will kill all orcs outside. Then come and kill all of us. Father wants to trade for help with that."

Trillia thought about that a moment, scribbling some notes down before she continued.

"If your father will let us train and delve without killing our people. We will ensure that no one harms his core. I will also have people sent to come and wipe out that nest. Assuming one of the goblins who can leave will lead us there."

"Father says that is great trade. You very fair. More questions?"

Trillia nodded.

"A few more, yes. One is for you, not your father. You have [Null Mana Manipulation]. I've never seen or heard of that before. May I ask what it is?"

The look of surprise on all their faces reminded Trillia that immediately knowing someone's mana typing probably wasn't common. Stibs didn't back down, though.

"I no use runes. I break runes. I break magic. Father says null is nullify. I nullify mana."

Trillia sat there stunned for a moment. That wasn't something she had heard of at all. She wrote down a few more things.

"I look forward to training with you and fighting you, Lord Stibs. We are worried. Why doesn't your Father grow food? You trade for it, which we are grateful for. But we don't understand why."

The goblin looked skyward for a long time. Finally, turning his eyes back to Trillia.

"No dirt. All rock and stone. Little raiders cannot find good dirt in scouting. Only bring back small handfuls of bad dirt. Not enough for dungeon to absorb. No food grow in rock that Father has." the raider looked down, sad and ashamed now, before Stibs spoke up. "Father, not angry with raider goblins. Knows they are doing best they can. We try to eat long creature. But many goblins die."

Trillia winced at that last part. Scribbling more notes.

"Do you come back when you die? I've heard that some dungeon monsters do."

"We return yes. Take long time. Raiders goblins not return. You no kill raider goblins."

Trillia nodded immediately at that.

"We should put a band on their arms so that our people know which goblins are not to be fought. But we won't harm them."

Trillia thought more about what questions should be asked tonight.

"Is there anything your father needs? Other than good dirt for food? Or anything your father would like as tribute?"

A few moments of listening passed before Stibs spoke. " Father says you clearing nest of long creatures is enough. Little raider goblins not strong enough to do it alone. Our tribe not strong enough. We not greedy. " The goblin hesitated and stopped, nodding to the air.

Trillia saw that and spoke up.

"Stibs. What do your people need? I won't think you or your father are greedy. We want to be on good terms. If we can delve into the dungeon so that our weakest can become strong. It is beneficial for us. Especially if there is an agreement not to kill."

Stibs sat on his mount, staring at her for a long time. Half listening to the voice that was speaking.

"Father says it is my choice. I must learn to lead my people. I must make equal trade for things I ask for." leaning down and petting Paws' snout. The goblin looked at her once more. "We need good dirt. We need ways to make healthy little raider goblins. Some are very hurt. We cannot heal. We are not smart or strong. I offer you trade. Help my tribe. I teach you to tame wolf. So you can have your own wolf."

Trillia gave that a long pause. Closing the book, she stood slowly, having taken a seat right there on the ground. Rummaging around in her pack, she pulled out the whistle Ba'Shoon had given her. Walking up to Stibs and offering it to him.

"This is a gift from my tribe to yours. It was made by one of our best enchanters. It can be used by a rider that is bonded to a mount. It makes your mount much stronger. Let your father absorb it. Maybe he can make more for all of your tribe. Take me to your wounded. I can heal them now. In exchange, teach me how to tame wolves while we train."

Stibs took the whistle carefully. Rolling it over his fingers a few times. Slowly he slid it into a pouch at his side. Motioning with his hands, the other wolves and riders parted. Trillia saw that there were no less than twenty other riders all in all. Most of them had a similar level to Stibs and Paws. If any fear was creeping into her, her skills were doing a damn good job of crushing it before she felt it. She followed after him to a side room. Dismounting, Stibs was only a few inches taller than she was. He opened the door to let her in.

The room was lit by a soft glowing orange crystal. Furs and leather piled up to make rough beds. The same smooth worked stone in the entire room. Some moss growing on one wall was being used to make a rather poor-looking soup. Five goblins lay in the beds, various cuts and slices deep into their flesh. All of them were shivering as other dungeon goblins were doing their best to tend to the wounds. Stibs' soft voice pulled her from staring.

"Little raiders try hard to help tribe. Long creatures dangerous. They escape, but we cannot heal them. Father is trying but cannot grow because of long creatures. We come back, they do not. We not want to see little brothers die."

Trillia nodded solemnly. Stepping forward, she took a deep breath. Reaching into her near-endless pool of mana.

"[Restorative Chant]"

She repeated it over and over again. Until each of the five goblins had no more wounds on their bodies. All of them fell into a deep sleep. Seeing that they were ok, the dungeon goblins all wore smiles, looking as if they wanted to leap and cheer. Many of them turned and kneeled in front of Trillia. Stibs once more spoke for them.

"We only offer wolf taming. Not even give yet. Why you heal?"

The goblin seemed shocked but grateful. Tears forming in his eyes, as he now knew his 'little brothers' weren't going to die. Trillia smiled and spoke softly.

"Our tribe believes in honor. We believe in unity and strength. I trust that you will keep your word Lord Stibs. I will see about getting good dirt here so that your people can grow their own food. All I ask is that you, your tribe, and your father deal with our people with the same fairness that I have."

Stibs bowed deeply to her.

"Father says it rare thing. To find honor. Our tribe and Father look forward to dealing with your tribe. If all of them are as good as you. We make very strong tribe."

Trillia nodded, looking to the sleeping goblins once more before she turned and was escorted out of the dungeon. Bowing to them all before she left. As the door closed behind her, she took a deep breath, relief flowing through her. Mon'tag sat there with a smirk.

"You look as if you just came out of a war, Lady Trillia. That's exactly why I leave the diplomacy to the folks who are born for it. I'm good at stabbing and running, not much else."

Trillia looked to him and smiled.

"I have a few requests Lord Stonebearer. I hope you have someone fast amongst your people."

That drew a grin from the orc. Trillia had a lot of prep to do. But she'd make this work. She also needed to have a chat with Amelia.