They guards saw Rosch and Schajana, as they looked at Schajana, they wanted to say something but Rosch could guess what it was and just made a hand gesture to shut up.
Schajana knew that it wouldn't be appropriate for a sow to see the chief, but it was the sow of the chief's son. Because of that they didn't know what to do so they let them through.
Rosch entered the cave and he was now inside a huge hall. Everything decorated with trophies of Randans hunts or expensive jewelry. It left a greater impression than Roschar's cave ever could. He needed to decorate some, too.
"What do you want?", Rosch said without smalltalk. He wanted to have this conversation over as quickly as possible.
"Son, easy. You are a chiefling now. Isn't that somehow my credit, too? I trained you good. Don't be so mad.", Randan tried to play down all the scheming he had done.
"Chiefling? ", Rosch was surprised and didn't know what that was.
"So you didn't know. This last ritual isn't just for getting more women. It is to get promising new young Chieflings, which are contenders for the chief position, if I die or get old one day one of you will be the next chief. We do the ceremony for adulthood every two years. With the hunting and fighting competition we separated the weak from the strong and in the last ritual, only the strongest will become a Chiefling. We measure, who is worthy or not by the amount of demon apes you killed. And you my son were second place with 20 kills, but you took down the alpha demon ape, which never before a youngling has done. So this year was special and you and your brother got excepted for the Chiefling positions. Right now there are 7 Chieflings including you and Rastar. ", Randan said with pride. His smile was almost going from one ear to the other.
" Who said I wanted to be one? I will do what I promised, to stay and help till I am fully grown, but after that I will leave. ", Rosch was fed up while saying that. He couldn't live with all this scheming and betrayal. He hated it here and only his family was what held him here. Now with Galia unable to walk it would be even more dangerous to find a new place to live.
Randan scoffed at that. To think someone of his family would be this unambitious. But he didn't care after a short while and told him further., " Now to the main point of why I called you here. You should know that every month all the families have to do missions for the tribe. Normally 10 a month, if a family gets bigger, more missions will be added, but since your family is still very small, even 10 will be hard. So we made a rule that in the first year a family is established, they do not have to do missions and now to the reason I called you over. You have to do a mission even though this year your family shouldn't get missions at all. The reason is that it is at least half your fault. Nightwalker's are attacking our hunters. Over 20 are missing already and those who attack us are very coordinated and tactical, like soldiers. I belive that it could be a scouting troop searching for our whereabouts. But they must have already found out where our village is, so why are they still attacking. The only reason I can think of is you. The one you hurt must be in that group and wants revenge. So your mission will be to take them down and for every Nightwalker you kill you can take 10 new soldiers. For a breathing one you get 50 soldiers. " Randan tried to explain everything that was important. You could see that Rosch got annoyed and wanted to get it over with.
" Okay got it, I will kill as many as I can. Let's go Schajana. ", Rosch said leaving Randan but before he could leave, he was stopped. In front of him stood Gorker. He was the judge that oversaw his fights. He suddenly kneeled in front of Rosch, flabbergasting him.
" My name is Gorker Goblin, I was the former Goblin family head, but lost a fight against Gargaschar. After that I had nowhere to go to but Randan took me in. Now I am on older Hobgoblin with some military experience. Tradition has it that an older Goblin gets appointed as an adviser for a new family head and I would like to do that for you. I could be of use for you and help train and look after the 50 new warriors. ", Gorker introduced himself and told his reasons for his kneeling. He wanted to work under Rosch.
" I don't know. You could guess my relationship with my father. While I am thankful that you saved my family, I just don't want to have someone spying on me and every move we take.", Rosch said while Randan just looked as if he didn't care.
" Young chiefling, you shouldn't worry. While I am loyal and thankful to your father, I do have my pride. I will always be loyal to the chief, but I am a former family head. I can decide on my own, where to go and who I want to help.", Gorker said emphasizing on the word chief strongly.
Rosch wanted to decline again as his shirt was yanked a little. It was Schajana indicating that Groker was an excellent choice for a military trainer, adviser or even general if needed some day. Rosch was hesitant.
"Listen Rosch, if he hadn't been there that time, Gargaschar would have killed us. Your father's guards came late and he protected us after Gundar got killed.", Schajana said believing in Gorker.
Rosch gave up and nodded. Groker stood up, giving Schajana a thankful nod. Rosch didn't really want to talk with anyone anymore, leaving the cave. The gate opened and Rosch went out, while seeing Thulpina. She stood outside with Galia on her back.
"What are you two doing here?", Rosch asked surprised.
"We wanted to come along and say thanks to Gerhard. We do owe him that, at least.", Thulpina said happy. She bloomed again after the last two days in the dimension.
Rosch didn't knew were Gerhard's families cave was, but Gorker knew and showed the way. They were on the east side of the village, which was pretty close to Rosch's cave. He just needed to go up the mountain a bit and would be there.
Rosch stood in front of the cave that belonged to the human mixes. The gate was guarded by two very human looking Hobgoblins. They have lost almost all features that belonged to a Goblin only the green skin remained. Just from appearance you would think they are a civilized race. Sharp teeth, long claws, nose or ears everything became more human like.
One of the guards went inside and after a short while he came back out, letting Roschar's group inside.
The main hall was decorated with weapons. Rosch knew that Gerhard liked weapons and it seems that it is more of a family thing and not a personal thing.
Gerhard came in and was surprised to see so many, but he couldn't be surprised for long as they started to chat and thank him. And after some time Rosch said, "Listen Gerhard. I am now a family head and I want warriors that I can trust. I think you are someone like that."
All of the people inside the room were surprised and Gerhard started to laugh.
"You are weird. To ask someone from another family to become his trusted warrior. Why should I betray my own family?", Gerhard asked still amused.
"Why betray? I want you as my warriors, because you are capable and your family is known to be skillful. We could make a good partnership. We have some ideas, which could make us rich. I don't want to go against your family. I want to work with your family.", Rosch said with a smile back.
Gerhard was silent for a long time, while thinking.
" I know that I won't make it far in this family. While most look more human than me, they are still Goblins psychological. They listen to the strongest not the brightest. With that my skills won't flourish. Even though I have my difference with them, betrayal won't happen either. Should I trust him? "
" Ahh fuck it. I am in. I will always be loyal that I can promise, but you should know that my family is taboo. I won't betray them. ", Gerhard said with a little anticipation. He always wanted warriors under him, reaching the great Warrior rank or even a higher rank.
" Hahaha good. I have another one in mind too but I will ask him later when I am finished with the mission. Do you want to come over now or later?", Rosch said seemingly happy.
"I will be there tomorrow. I still have all the bags you had from the dimension. You all weren't able to take them, so I took them. It would be stolen if nobody overlooked the bags. And I will bring some Goblins with me. They will be good warriors.", You could hear in Gerhards voice how eager he was to rise in ranks with this new challenge.
" Good very good, then till tomorrow Gerhard. Let's go guys we will go back. ", Rosch said.