The ropes binding the six goblins were cut, and the male goblin whom Rikka had overpowered stood, brushing himself off lightly, more out of habit than anything. Despite his disheveled state, he held a certain level headedness.
Lia leaned closer to him and spoke in a low tone, "They're malnourished, Lance. Look at them."
Lance nodded subtly. It was impossible not to notice. These goblins were thin, their movements sluggish. Many bore scars that told stories of battles they barely survived. The atmosphere around them was one of desperation.
Lance's gaze swept over the gathered tribe, pausing briefly on an old goblin that stepped forward slowly.
The leaders of the wandering tribe quickly made themselves know as they stepped forward, one of them ushering Lance and his people to a spot where the land was even, and makeshift beddings had been placed using leaves. Lance did not mind, so he followed them and took a seat alongside the elders of the other tribe. Unsurprisingly, the goblin they had captured was also one of the elders, and the youngest out of them all.
The air was tense, but there was no open hostility now. The goblin that brought them alongside his brethren was the last to take a sit. Once he did, he spoke in a weary but steady voice, properly introducing himself.
"I am Dran," he said. "A warrior of our tribe and one of its strongest. I thank you for not spilling blood, even though you would have been justified given how this started."
Lance's posture remained neutral, his expression unreadable, but Rynne folded her arms, her sharp eyes scrutinizing the goblins before her. Lia, ever the observer, quietly noted everything with an even expression.
As if feeling the scrutiny from Rynne, Dran quickly followed up, "I assure you, we truly meant no harm, we saw your walls, such an unusual sight in this jungle, and hoped to find refuge. The younglings screamed out of fear, and we silenced them to avoid drawing predators." Dran recapped what happened yet again.
Lance gave him a court nod, having heard the story for the third time already. "And we understand. I would like to know how your tribe wound up in this situation."
An older goblin from Dran's tribe, one of the elders seated opposite Lance, began speaking, his voice hoarse but deliberate. "Before anything else, please, let me on behalf of I and my people, offer my gratitude to you and your people for sparring young Dran's life, and his brothers." The elder said, bowing his head as much as his old bones allowed. Following the elder, the others did the same.
Lance was pleased and impressed with their, meekness, but he did not show it. Raising his hand, he spoke, "Raise your heads, there was no reason to go that far. Please, continue." Lance was aware that he was coming off rather brass and maybe arrogant if one was to scrutinize, but he wanted to appear fierce, more as a way to gauge these goblins' reaction.
The elder raised his head, taking in some breath before he started. "We were once a strong tribe, with many numbers, but, several months ago, beasts attacked us in our home, forcing us to flee. We sought safety elsewhere and were managing to get by for a while, but we were raided by ogres at night. Many died, including our chief. Those you see here are the only survivors."
The goblin elder gestured to the ragged groups outside. "We've been wandering ever since, scavenging for food, hiding from predators… We've only had little left to give and less hope."
"I understand. I take it that you hold the most authority here? What do you plan to do? What do you plan for the future?" Lance asked, his gaze fixated on the elder before him.
The elder's eyes appeared to lit up with some sliver of hope briefly, but it died down as fast as it came, his eyes moving all around, taking in the sight of his tribe. "There isn't much we can do, but continue to wonder, in hopes of finding a place to settle and call home." He said.
Lance listened intently, his expression softening ever slightly. "You've suffered greatly," he said. "But you're here now. The jungle is harsh, but I and my people have managed to make it a home. We can help you, but only under one condition." He said.
Though it seemed as though his decision was fast, it was something he had already discussed with Rynne and Lia, and some thought had been put into it.
Dran leaned forward, his expression wary. "What condition?" He asked.
Lance's gaze was steady as he spoke, holding eye contact with Dran briefly, before returning his gaze to the elder before him as his sentence trailed off. "You must join under us. Completely. Your tribe will become a part of ours, and you will swear allegiance to me as your chief. My elders will become your elders, and you will contribute in all your strength to the tribes growth."
Murmurs rippled through the elders briefly as they thought about it.
"Why would we swear allegiance to a human?" one of the leaders spoke, his voice slightly audible, though it did not seem he wished for it to be. Nevertheless, Lance heard it, and so did everyone else. Rynne's expression worsened as she heard it, her fangs exposing as she sneered, her voice coming in a low roar that sent shivers down the spine of the elders.
Lance raised his hand slightly, signaling for her to calm down as he gave an answer to the remark. "You ask why? – Because I can offer you more than survival," Lance replied firmly. "You'll have safety within our walls, food for your people, and a chance to rebuild and grow. But this won't be a loose alliance. You'll be part of our tribe, bound to our rules and vision."
Lance gestured to Lia. "This is Lia, our shaman. She will oversee your oath of allegiance. Her magic ensures that breaking this oath will mean death—not just for you, but for you children included." Lance said.
The mention of Lia being a shaman sent a wave of unease through the elders. Dran hesitated but then bowed his head. "We are desperate, Chief Lance. If swearing allegiance is the price of saving our people, we will pay it a hundred fold, no, a thousand." He said, bowing his head even further, bringing his forehead closer to the ground.
The other leaders nodded in suite, some reluctantly, the weight of their decision evident.
"Good. I would expect nothing less." He said. "Share the news with your people, so Lia can perform the magic for the alliance before all to see."
"Right away, chief." Dran said, standing up to do just that.
'Chief, he sure does learn fast I guess?' Lance thought to himself.
As the two groups separated, the meeting ended, Rynne who was standing with Lance and Lia, some distance away from the others who came with them, spoke with a raised brow. "I never knew you had such a powerful spell, Lia. You can kill people that break promises?" She said, genuinely surprised.
Lia turned to Lance, a crooked smile on her face as her eye brows twitched slightly, "yeah, neither did I. Maybe we should ask Lance, he can tell us about this skill of mine." She said, her gaze turning towards Lance who quickly averted his gaze.
He had completely made up that part in the spur of the moment, but now, Lia was the one to carry on the burden.
"Ah, I see what's going on. Nice, Lance." Rynne praised, a wide grin on her face.
"Ahhh… luckily, I have something that will just do the job."
"That's our hard working elder."
Before Lance could say anything to defend himself, Rikka approached, drawing their attention to the other goblins.
The leaders of the traveling tribe gathered their people, addressing them under the watchful eyes of Lance and his group.
"Our time as an independent tribe is over," Dran announced, rather than a solemn tone, his voice was sharp, cutting through the very hearts of his tribe's people. "We have sworn allegiance to Chief Lance and his people. The Chief has been benevolent enough to not only spare us, but offer us a chance at life under him. From this day forward, we serve Chief Lance, and follow his leadership."
The goblins murmured amongst themselves, many appearing uncertain but too weary to resist, not really understanding much of it all in depth, but they still knew what it all meant.
Finishing his short speech, Dran turned to face Lance, going on his knees and bowing his head, his forehead to the ground.
One by one, the goblins knelt before Lance, bowing their heads to show subservience.
Lance stepped forward, his voice calm but commanding. "You are no longer wanderers. You are part of something greater now. Together, we will survive, thrive, and build a future where we are not just prey but a force that strikes fear into its enemies."
Looking at the goblins before him, an unexpected feeling rose within him. Lance felt the weight of responsibility settle further on his shoulders, but more than that, this was a step toward strength and unity; and the vision he had for the future. Though they were mostly skin and bones now, it would take just a little time before the benefits showed.
…
After that, Lia took some time performing some spells on the elders and Dran. Even though they believed it to be some binding shamanic sorcery, was all a faint and nothing more.