Grizt and the others were going about their job while their "employer" was having a meeting with the less annoying sage wannabe and the metal menace woman. As it stood, they seemed to feel it was necessary to talk about something important or other. Not that it would be a problem. She would be back to training the princess in a few hours. Though she did have to wonder what she could do to solve her little problem of the stupid marks on her gang's faces. Currently her only clue was that she was able to disobey when she had been overcharged with magic. The problem was twofold. Firstly, she didn't have access to that kind of power. The second was that she wasn't herself like that. Shritoo had said the fake her had gone as far as breaking their pact. Something that she never shared with the others. Something she would never break.
This had not been the first time she thought about the matter since it all happened, but something was tugging at her thoughts. She might have an option, but she'd need to talk to Shritoo in private. Shritoo might hold a key to freedom. After all, she was different from the other goblins. She couldn't help but giggle at the thought of how the others would react if they knew the truth about the quiet companion.
Grizt stopped her cleaning as she saw the target of her current thoughts leaving the kitchen. She was just about to pull her aside to talk when someone else called to Grizt. She turned around to see the princess. She seemed a little excited at the moment. Grizt smiled at this. She seemed more lively now than she had been for most the time she knew her.
"What's up princess?" Grizt questioned as the girl came to a stop," Are you that excited for an early training session?"
Her "employer" shook her head frantically at this," N-no, um, that will have to wait. It's been decided we'll be sending you and the others on a small journey into the mountains for the next few day."
Grizt was alarmed at this," The ones you said were too dangerous to go near?"
"Well, not so much near as the danger is if you go too deep in the Range," The princess clarified," You and your friends will be traveling with Karita and one of the other knights to look for anything valuable in the area."
Grizt was struck dumb by this," Um, wouldn't that only make things worse. I thought you were better than that?"
"What? Is there something wrong about sending out a survey group?" The princess asked confused.
Grizt snorted at this," So you call it a 'SURVEY' here, we call it a raid."
"What! No, you're not attacking people or even going near them. You'll be helping Karita find natural resources in the region that might help boost its value. If this fails, we'll be in trouble due to the remoteness of this area," the ruby eyed girl corrected.
"Oh, sorry. It's just Godara used to have nobles that would raid their own people just to get more wealth. Not that they could last all that long in the warring states," Grizt sighed at the memory of what her old lands were like," Sometimes I wonder what our lives would be like if we hadn't been run out of the country right before it finally unified..."
"Wait, Godara is unified!?" The princess questioned in shock," I thought they were still warring. That's what the last reports told us."
"Yup, Someone finally managed to clean the mess up. We were had just heard about it not long before we got caught up in the human attack," Grizt affirmed before turning solemn," We had just found a new home when it all went to hell. We had finally found respect and were going to have a place to call home. Now here we are. First denied the lands of our birth, then denied our freedom."
"I'm... I'm sorry to hear that. My mother and I never wanted the war in the first place," The princess seemed to understand her feelings.
"Then why did it start! If the ruler says no, then it shouldn't happen!" Grizt demanded.
"The Empire is not so simple. It is ruled over by many Houses with my own ruling over them. My mother can say no, but if too much support for an action or ideal occurs, it would incite rebellion and could fracture the empire. My mother had been forced to choose between the war against another or watching everything start to break.," the pale girl explained.
The violet goblin had to think for a moment on what she had said," So, that's what kind of headache Godara is in for. I wonder if the lords would have warred like that if they knew what headache they were fighting for..."
The princess giggled at this. The sound startled Grizt. It was a nice sound. One that quickly came to an end," Well, only time will tell. Anyways, you will be gone for a few days. I suggest you and the others go prepare for tomorrow."
"This better not be another way to get out of your training," Grizt warned as her eyes narrowed," I'll admit I had not considered that it would take so long for that sunburn to heal, but I better not come back to find you've been slacking!"
The princess shook her head at this and was about to respond.
"How dare you speak to the Princess like that! Show proper decorum to her majesty!" Protested the ever troublesome load of hot air. How anyone could be so bossy and annoying was beyond Grizt. Grizt wasn't even intimidated by the woman. She just grunted.
"Whatever, you want to prove that you are better at training the princess?" She challenged with a smirk," Then here's another chance, let's see if you can manage to keep her up to my standards."
"Why you impertinent little... Fine, I will see to her ability to defend herself while you're gone!" the blonde nuisance accepted. Though She highly doubted she'd put in the real effort needed the woman was a complete toad in her opinion.
Grizt turned to her trainee a smiled lightly," I hope you'll be ready for an in depth REVIEW. If she fails to keep up, you'll be the one who suffers," her smile turning vicious at the end. The girl deserved the best chance at survival and somehow she doubted that the yellow toad would do so. Grizt may be a slave, but she'll always do her best to insure that those around her got what they deserved. She'd see to it that the kind soul that had been saddled with so much has the chance to shine. With this thought, she glanced at the toady once more. She would also see that useless woman become useful or fall from favor. The first step toward that goal has now been set. With that in mind, Grizt gave a short bow to the princess and made her way to the others. They had to prepare for an adventure!
Off in the woods, a certain creature was watching a clearing with a tent. Her current form was that of a pure white dove with larger talons and a longer beak. Her wings also had a wider span to them. The truth was that her forms were always more geared for battle despite their nonviolent base. She always chose more peaceful creatures only for Minerva's influence of war to alter them. The dove just happened to be the least noticeable of when warped by the influence of war. Though, she felt that the form was weaker somehow. It was likely that Minerva's influence was leaving her. For the time being, she had to make herself scarce unless the princess were to find out she was growing weaker by the day. Minerva had actually retracted anymore support for Grace. She had been denied the reason except that she was to return. However, Jade could not abandon a soul she had watched over. Hers was always a kinder a more protective nature. When her refusal came, she felt Minerva's joy at this before her connection had been severed. Soon, she'd only have her own powers to assist the princess. They were far more limited now. Her forms were becoming weaker and fewer. Soon, she'd be sealed in one. She had to decide which to choose. Would she take her true form after so long. Or would she allow herself to lose that part of her identity to hide at her friend's side. It weighed upon her to know that the time was not far off.
Regardless, that was not as important as what she had just found. Those knights were hiding something. She didn't know what it was yet. She had only found it thanks to seeing their commander, Andrea, leaving from a certain direction. She had been curious and followed the trail she left. Something like this should not be necessary for guards. Something was up and she'd have to warn Grace about this. However, she'll have to figure out when. She could tell her right then without leaving the clearing, but she knew it would be better to wait. There was no telling what could happen if the princess alerted potential enemies of her awareness. They might act sooner. Based on the hidden little camp, she was certain they intended this to be a long term mission. After all, why set up a hidden base of operations if you only planned to be around for a few days to a week.
For now, she'll just have to keep a silent vigil until she knew enough to act.