The record-wall was filled with a combination of pictures and character-based writing that Rai had never seen before. He wanted to study it, and had to be brought back on track by Isa. There were directions to the various tribes in the area, which included Isa’s Blackfang Tribe, which according to the directions should take the better part of two days to reach. Once that was confirmed, the two of them headed out (reluctantly, in Rai’s case). In the end, it did take until nightfall on the second day to find the Blackfang warren. There was a little fighting of the wildlife, but most creatures stayed clear of the two of them.

“Hey, Klik! I’m back!”

“I wasn’t sleeping! Uh, wait, what? Isa?! You’re alive! I thought for sure you got done in!” Klik wandered out of the cave’s mouth into the starlight.

Isa scowled at him. “Who do you take me for, you little brat? I’m Isa Bloodscale, strongest warrior in the Blackfang Tribe!”

“Yeah, but you’re still a kobold, and there’s scary things out there…”

“Why, you!”

Rai laughed. “May we come in?” he asked with a smile.

“Uh, yeah, sure, but where are the other two?”

Rai’s smile dropped off his face.

“The gnome betrayed us. We don’t know what happened to the healer,” Isa said. “Now, can we meet with the Chief, or is he already asleep?”

“Oh, no, he’s still up. Having a meeting with the Elders, I think. I’ll take you to him.”

A short while later, they were repeating the tale of their adventure, complete with illusions – and showing off the magic items – for the Chief, the Elders, and the knowledge-keepers.

“I haven’t had the chance to study all the magic items yet,” Rai said. “I plan to do that when I get back to Fairholm.”

“That’s the human city you came from, correct?” the Chief said.

“Yes. It’s not my home, but it is where the man who is supporting the expedition is, as well as where a large library is. Oh, a library is a building filled with knowledge recorded in the form of writing. More knowledge than you could hope to memorize in your lifetime.”

Torval’s eyes lit up. “That sounds like paradise!”

Rai chuckled. “You’re not the only one who thinks that, Torval.”

“Why don’t you come with us?” Isa said suddenly. “Not forever, mind you, but… if you could acquire some of the humankind knowledge, like how to write, you could be even more effective as a knowledge-keeper, and could help preserve knowledge even better. I mean, imagine what would happen if a knowledge-keeper died of illness before passing everything down – we’d lose so much! But with writing, as long as something was written down, even if a knowledge-keeper know it by heart, the information wouldn’t be lost.”

She grinned. “Besides, you can’t tell me that the thought of learning knowledge that even Sesson doesn’t know doesn’t excite you.”

Torval glanced at Sesson. The old knowledge-keeper scratched his lower jaw thoughtfully.

“It’s not a bad idea,” Sesson admitted. “But you have to make sure he stays safe.”

“Of course,” Isa agreed.

They all looked at the Chief.

“I’ll allow it,” the Chief decided. “Our tribe isn’t very powerful, but with new knowledge… perhaps that will chance.

“Yessss!” Torval cheered.

“So, you really plan to leave us permanently?” one of the Elders asked Isa.

“I do. I’ll visit, of course, but my destiny lies beyond our tribe.” She patted Rai’s thigh. “Besides, I’ve already made a partnership pact with Rai, blood bond and everything. We’re in this together, helping each other with our goals.”

“We will miss you,” another Elder said affectionately.

“Don’t say embarrassing things!” Isa protested.

Everyone laughed.

The next morning the three of them departed. After learning how to use a map from Rai, Isa took the lead while Torval and Rai chatted behind her, occasionally offering her own input. A few days passed, and they finally reached the road, and shortly after a village. It was a small settlement of only a couple hundred people, but it was still the first humankind population center that either of the kobolds had ever seen, and marked the first time that they would have to interact with humankind society.

Since it was late evening, Rai led them straight to the village tavern, walking slowly to allow the others to look around as they went. The few people who were still outside and close enough to spot them simply stared at them wordlessly.

Rai pushed open the door and light spilled out, accompanied by sound and odor.

“What is that smell?” Torval said in disgust.

“That would be sweat, food, and alcohol all mixed up together,” Rai answered with a smile. “How old are you, Torval?”

“Five years.”

“That counts as an adult, right?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Well, that means you’re allowed to try the alcohol if you want. It can take some getting used to, though. Anyway, come on in.”

The three of them entered the tavern. It was smaller than the Dragon’s Respite, the tavern that Rai had frequented in Fairholm, but it had just as cheery an atmosphere, at least until one of the farmers exclaimed: “Monsters!”

Everyone fell silent and turned to stare, expressions of surprise, suspicion, or fear on their faces. Even the bartender – a plump woman in an apron with braided brown hair – stopped cleaning the wooden mug in her hand.

“Monsters?” Torval said, looking back over his shoulder, then scanning the tavern in confusion. “Where?”

Isa took her snout in her hands, sighing. “They’re talking about us, Torval.”

“What? But we’re not monsters! We’re kobolds!”

“You’re absolutely right,” Rai agreed. “You’re not monsters, you’re people, same as the rest of us.” He glared pointedly at the man who had spoken.

“Little lizard monsters…” a woman muttered.

“Listen up, friends,” Rai said. “These two are my traveling companions. They mean you no harm. I’m Rai Flamme, a scholar; this is Isa Bloodscale, a warrior; and this is Torval Seeker, also a scholar. We’re on our way to Fairholm, so we’re just stopping by to get some grub and get some sleep. We don’t want any trouble.”

“I’ve heard of them kobolds afore,” another man said. “Ain’t normal monsters. They calls ‘em a monstrous race. They’s like a cross twixt people and monsters.”

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“So, you’re just here for food and place to lay your heads?” the bartender said.

“That’s right.”

“Well, then, don’t let nobody say we ain’t got hospitality!” she said with a grin. “Stew and bread’s the food, what’s the drinks for ya?”

“I’ll have whatever beer or ale you’ve got. Isa, Torval, do you want to try alcohol or drink water?”

“Is alcohol that thing that stinks?” Torval asked.

“Well, that and sweat.”

“Might as well give it a try,” Isa said. “If we hate it, we can always drink water instead.”

“Another mug of alcohol for these two to share. Don’t worry, they may be little, but they are adults.”

“Comin’ right up!”

The three of them sat at a small round table, the kobolds on high stools designed for use by gnomes. The meals and alcohol arrived at the same time, delivered by the daughter of the bartender. Torval took the mug in both hands and tipped it back slowly. His eyes widened and he slammed it back down, sputtering.

“That’s gross!” he exclaimed.

Isa took the mug and took a drink of her own.

“It’s really weird-tasting,” she said, frowning. “I don’t think I like it.”

“Well, alcoholic beverages are an acquired taste.” He took a swig. “And this is fairly average. The really good ones are much better, since they have a stronger flavor that’s not just the alcohol. We’ll get you two water to drink.”

They were nearly finished eating when an older teenage boy with sandy hair approached the table.

“Uh, so… you two are kobolds?” he said hesitantly.

“That’s right!” Torval confirmed. “We’re from the Blackfang Tribe! I’m a knowledge-keeper, and she’s a warrior.”

“A knowledge-keeper?”

“Historian and scholar,” Rai supplied. “Their tribe passes knowledge down orally.”

“Oh. So, you don’t, like, kill and eat humans?”

Torval looked aghast. “Kill and eat humans?! Don’t be crazy! First of all, Rai’s the first human I’ve ever met. Second, we don’t eat people, and we don’t just commit murder willy-nilly! We’re people, too, you know!”

“It’s just… people say that goblins and the like kill and eat people.”

“Okay, I have no idea if that’s true, but even if it is: we’re not goblins, we’re kobolds.”

“So you’re just little gnome-sized lizard people? You’re not monsters?”

“Exactly!”

“You said that she’s a warrior… but kobolds don’t look so tough. How strong can a kobold warrior be?”

“Hey. I’m right here,” Isa said flatly. “Also, while it’s true that most kobold fighters aren’t that tough, I am.”

“She really is,” Rai agreed.

“But you’re so little!”

“I may be small compared to you humans, but I’m not weak.”

“Can attest,” Rai said sagely, nodding.

“So how’d you end up together with them, anyway?” the boy asked Rai.

“I’m a scholar researching the ancient Tower Era. Have you heard of it?”

The boy shook his head.

“Well, it’s from a really, really long time ago. So long ago that a lot of people don’t believe it existed. But it did, and my life’s work is to find its remnants and study them. It turns out that they lived on the site of what’s left of a city from that period. Long story short, I’m now partners with Isa, and Torval is coming with us to the city to learn how to read and write so he can learn knowledge not in their tribe.”

“Huh.”

“Ryan! Get over here!” someone called out.

“Oh, gotta go,” the boy said. “Have a good one.”

-x-

“Looks like we made it before they closed the gates,” Rai said in relief two days later as the trio approached Fairholm’s East Gate. They joined the back of the line of people and wagons. “Cities – and some big towns – are surrounded by walls, accessible only through entrances called gates. Usually, those gates are shut at night, so it’s a good thing we didn’t arrive any later.”

“It’s been an interesting journey,” Torval said. “Even with all the people who kept calling us monsters and wanted to get rid of us.”

“At least nobody actually attacked us,” Isa said.

“Yeah, that would have been problematic,” Rai agreed.

When they finally reached the gates, the sun was starting to set. The guards did a double-take.

“Are those kobolds?” the one with the feathered helmet said incredulously. “What the hell, man? Why would you bring kobolds here?”

Rai fished out the badge that Lord Henrik had given him to use as proof of his backing; it was made of silver and engraved with the House Amit coat of arms. “I am Rai Flamme, a scholar with the sponsorship and backing of Lord Henrik Amit,” he said. “I am returning from an expedition. During the expedition, I made diplomatic contact with an isolated kobold tribe. The red kobold has signed on as my partner; the green kobold is a scholar come to study in Fairholm.”

“That’s… well, that’s a genuine badge of House Amit,” the guard said, shaking his head. “So not only do we have to let you enter, but you’re exempt from the toll. But, well, we can’t exactly just let monsters into the city…”

“And you wouldn’t be. Kobolds are not monsters.”

“He’s got a point, Dulli,” one of the other guards said. “Kobolds are, like, only halfway monsters.”

“Look, keeping threats outside the city is my job,” Dulli said. “And monsters – kobolds are monsters, just like goblins, orcs, and any other monstrous race – are threats, no matter how weak they are. I… look, I want to help you, but I can’t. And it’s too late in the day to send someone to go ask Lord Henrik what to do. I can let you in, but not the kobolds.”

“I’m not leaving them out here alone. That’s too dangerous.” Rai sighed. “I don’t like it, but how about this: we’ll camp out here tonight by the wall, and tomorrow morning someone can go tell Lord Henrik.”

“Well, I certainly can’t stop you from doing that.”

“Then I guess that’s what we’ll do.”

Rai led the others off to the side and sat down. They joined him on either side.

“So much for ‘we made it before the gates closed,’” Isa said lightly.

“Sorry. I didn’t think we’d have this much trouble getting into the city, though in retrospect I should have expected it. While seeing kobolds as monsters isn’t universal – heck, look at me – it’s fairly common for people to call them one of the ‘monstrous races,’ which is sort of splitting the difference between considering them people and thinking of them as monsters. Humans, elves, dwarves, gnomes, and beastfolk are all considered part of the same society, but the so-called monstrous races are distinct from that – and, typically, from each other. People in general tend to fear what is ‘other’ to them.”

“It’s fine,” Isa said with a wave of her hand. “It really isn’t a surprise. As long as we get in eventually, a little delay won’t hurt.”

“Exactly! Besides, they’ll warm up to us eventually!”

“I dunno about that. I’ll settle for tolerating us.”

Rai lay down on his back, hands behind his head. “Actually, now that I think of it, I never did explain about nobility, did I? I told you that my backer is a man called Lord Henrik Amit, and that Lord was a title rather than a name, and that it was a title of nobility, but not what exactly nobility is.”

“That’s true,” Torval agreed. “I’m ready to learn!”

“Hm… how best to describe it to someone with no familiarity with it at all… Okay. So, you know how your Elders are both highly respected and also have special authority, even though they’re not the Chief? In most of the so-called civilized race societies, people are divided up into different groups based on not just their jobs within the society or their age, but also their bloodlines. At the top, the leaders are called Monarchs: Kings if male and Queens if female. Their family is called the Royal Family, and their children are called Princes (male) and Princesses (female).

“The next class of people, who demand respect, typically have great wealth, and have authority over the rest, are called nobles. Some of the nobles are related to the royals, but not in the direct line, but many of the nobles are simply from other exalted bloodlines. For most nobles, the titles and positions are passed down through the bloodline. There are exceptions, sometimes, of two different kinds: commoners (the term for those who are not nobles) who have achieved great recognition and are granted a noble title by the Monarch, and noble titles that exist for one generation only (a subset of those granted to commoners).

“Finally, there are the commoners, who consist of all the different classes of people who aren’t nobles, and range from extremely poor to quite wealthy, outcasts to highly influential and valued, soldiers to civilians. I am a commoner, for instance. Commoners are expected to be very respectful to nobles and can receive disproportionate punishment when they go against them.”

“I think I get it,” Torval said. “Except for one thing. How do they keep track?”

“What do you mean?”

“It sounds like bloodlines are very important to humans. How do they keep track of them over time?”

“…I don’t follow. Why would that be difficult?”

“Huh? Why wouldn’t it be?”

Isa looked thoughtful. “I might know where the trouble is,” she said. “Rai, you said the Monarchs’ family is called the Royal Family, and gave names for their sons and daughters. Can you explain what you meant by their family?”

Rai stared at the sky with a look of confusion. “Well, the King and Queen, a married pair – lifelong mates, if you don’t know what that means –, as well as their children. In most countries, the title of King passes down to the firstborn Prince when the old King passes on the mantle of leadership or dies, and then his wife becomes Queen and their children are the new Princes and Princesses.”

“…Huh,” Torval said after a moment. “So, if I understand you correctly, the offspring of married pairs are nurtured by those married pairs as their family, at least until they reach adulthood?”

“Yeah, of course. Do kobolds do things differently?”

“I don’t know about other tribes, but in the Blackfang Tribe, we keep track of same-clutch siblings, different clutch siblings and half-siblings, and who has been mates with who (since kobolds usually only stay mates for with the same partner for a few years), and of course to keep track of siblings, we also need to keep track of parent-offspring connections, but… we don’t exactly have the family unit connecting them all. Usually, it’s only same-clutch siblings that consider each other family. Hatchlings are raised by people whose position in the tribe is raising hatchlings, not by their parents.”

“Oh. I guess I never even thought that other races might do things differently than the way humans and the others that are part of our civilization do when it comes to family units. That’s actually quite interesting…”