Krevin kept me company through the journey to their settlement. Like the voice had said, it was not that far a distance from the stream.
We arrived at a settlement of a mud house built with hardened soil, crafted into the shape of a hut.
There was nobody outside of the settlement, but with a whistle from the sword goblin, all the hidden goblins came running out.
Accompanying the goblins to our presence are two goblins that stood out. One looked very old and wrinkled, aided with a walking stick. And the other looked old, but not too old to be nearing his death just yet.
As for the first one, I could see the shadows of death looming over his head. Figuratively of course.
"Laden! What is this you have brought with you".
He was questioned by the goblin nearing his death.
"Don't worry master. I have checked and he is no threat to us".
It sounds like he is confirming my stated purpose which of course is a good thing. But saying I am no threat to them is the same as saying even if I wanted to, I wouldn't be able to do anything to them.
I am kind of ticked off by that.
"He is right old goblin sir. I had the chance to end that one over there, but I gave it up in return for proving I meant no harm".
I sent a condescending side glance his way.
"What species do you belong to".
I don't know his name so for now I am just going to refer to him as the old Death Goblin.
"Uhm, well... Have you heard of a race called humans? I belong to that".
Wrong!
"Uhu... What is".
"What?".
"No, not you old death man goblin".
"What did you just call me?!".
He seems pretty pissed.
"My bad. I meant~~~
Curse this damned growling of mine.
"Chief".
The old dead man called, his gaze turned to the less old goblin.
"Yes, master".
"Prepare a feast for our hungry guest".
Oh, how kind of them.
"Can you untie me first".
"Untie him".
"But, maste-
"If he wanted to, he could have killed you guys and managed to make his escape. Now, untie him".
Certainly, I approve of the old dead man. Even though he is soon to die from my perspective.
Laden, the sword goblin glared at me and reluctantly untied me.
I was then escorted deeper into the settlement by the old death goblin who they refer to as master. Including the chief who was by my side.
Wonder why everyone refers to him as master, even the chief who should be the leader of the clan.
I was led to the centre of the settlement where sticks and barks were stacked together.
When I looked up at the sky, the sun had gone into its comfort zone. We were approaching nighttime.
'Those sticks must be for setting up a bonfire.
I was going to be spending my first night out in this forest, this cold weather!
"Please, sit".
The master politely addressed.
The goblins sat on the bare ground in a way that had them surrounding the bonfire. I wasn't about to make a complaint about their kind gesture.
I too sat with them, on the bare cold ground. At this time, my body was starting to shiver. Like a lot.
One of the goblins came out from the crowd with two rocks. Positioning both rocks under the stacked barks and sticks, he slammed them together to set them on fire.
Come to think of it, the goblins all look so alike that it becomes difficult to tell the males from the females. Are they perhaps of one gender?!
Let's see... Dusk had set in and the fog was starting to gather.
I looked around to see a stark difference that could help me tell apart the males from the females.
The males wore skin hides that covered their torsos while the females had their waist and chest covered, leaving the other parts revealed. Including their flat curvy tummy.
If I was a goblin or if they were human, I guess this is the moment where my sexual drive would get active.
But hell no. Their facial appearance is enough to turn that sexual urge off and then bury it in the dumpster.
I am not trying to say they are ugly. Statistically speaking, they are on the same level as monkeys and baboons if not worse. So if monkeys or baboons can be thought of as anything but ugly, then yeah, they can become that.
"Bring the kill".
The chief's domineering voice echoed to every ear, inciting anticipation from me.
A bunch of goblins about six in number worked together to bring in the weighty body of a dead boar sticking its tongue out.
They arranged the boar's body atop the burning firewood to grill.
Waiting for the juicy meat to get done, I had only one thought...
Isn't this all going too fast?!...