The King and The P.I.

It had taken me many days to arrive in Greldrod. It wasn’t as hospitable as Rosen was, but Stez was true to her word. She sent word to the other goblin towns and the goblins in Greldrod had replenished my rations, then sent me on my way. It had been many days since I was in Greldrod. I had decided to go through Mansoll Wood as a shortcut into Xiaplish, but was sorely unprepared for how lost I’d become.

I can usually tell where I’m going, usually, but Mansoll Wood was dense, even with all the trees being bare and skeletal. It only got worse the deeper into the Wood I went. Everywhere I turned, all I saw was a cluster of decaying bark with no end in sight. I had lucked out with the ash clouds parting, letting the star’s rays warm Vlauplera. It was the only way I knew I was getting closer and closer to Xiaplish. Xiaplish was known for its eternal darkness, but I was not prepared for how dark it was. I, luckily, could see in the dark, but that didn’t stop the fear that creeped up my spine and lodge itself in the back of my mind.

Creatures were just creatures. Some are good, some are bad. Not everything is clear cut. I know that. Everyone knows that, but that doesn’t stop anyone from talking. Spreading the stereotypes that the creatures from Xiaplish, specifically, were out for blood of any creature from Vlauplera.

CITIZENS OF KAGLESH!

I jumped as the King’s druid loudly announced. I gripped onto my chest. I don’t think I’ve ever been scared so badly in my life. I have to get a hold of myself. I took deep breaths as I listened to his announcement.

PLEASE STAND ATTENTION FOR HIS MAJESTY, THE KING OF KAGLESH, KING ZOUQZIX’S ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THIS HALF MOON CELEBRATION, THE FEST OF WARMTH.

My heart finally slowed down its normal beat. It’s been a while since we’ve had a festival. I stood on my back legs, hopefully, facing toward the King’s castle. I couldn’t tell which way was which in this dark, dense Wood.

CITIZENS OF KAGLESH. IT IS MY ABSOLUTE HONOR TO ANNOUNCE IT HAS BEEN 33 HALF MOONS SINCE MOUNT NARROX HAS STOPPED.

There was a lull in the announcements. I cocked my head to the side, confused. This was unlike the King’s announcements.

IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION, MANY CREATURES IN VLAUPLERA HAVE BEEN USING THEIR TIME IN ISOLATION TO PLAN AN AMBUSH AGAINST THOSE IN XIAPLISH. CITING THEM AS THE SOLE REASON FOR MOUNT NARROUX’S ERUPTION. AS THE KING OF KAGLESH I CANNOT CONDONE THIS SENSELESS VIOLENCE AND I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO AVOID SUCH CARNAGE. FOR OUR LAST HALF-MOON ANNOUNCEMENT, AS YOU CONTINUE YOUR EFFORTS OF CLEANING YOUR HOMES AFTER THE DESTRUCTION OF MOUNT NARROUX, I WILL BE SENDING REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BOARD OF SERENE TO HELP THOSE THAT TRULY NEED IT. AS ALWAYS GO ABOUT YOUR DAY WITH HONOR AND PRIDE AS KAGLESHI. ENJOY YOUR FESTIVITIES ON THIS DAY OF CELEBRATION HAPPY FEST OF WARMTH.

I furrowed my brows. That was absolutely ridiculous. Vlauplera is halfway buried under mountains of ash. They’re not thinking about the creatures in Xiaplish, they’re trying to dig out their homes, their farms, trying to figure out how they’re going to cultivate a harvest when the ash has compromised the dirt. Are these the kinds of announcements Xiaplish is getting? I’ve never heard such ludicrous announcements in Vlauplera.

I dropped back to all four paws and scurried my way west, I think. I kept vigilant for any type of forage that could possibly grow in such a desolate area. Unfortunately, the only thing I can find is harden lava from the years of eruption. I sighed and chittered. I scurried forward, noting nothing of worth in the Wood. The wind howled all around me, almost sounds like moans of terror. With each sway of the branch, the creaks of the limbs traveled up my spine. The fur on my back stood up, making my body tremble. My scurry turned to a run as I quickened my pace to get out of the confined Wood.

I burst through the Mansoll Wood, breathing heavily, ears ringing. I looked over my shoulder and stared into the Wood wide eyed. I turned back and scurried further away. When I was sure I was out of reach of whatever was in the Wood, I shook my fur in an attempt to calm down.

I chittered and wrung my hands nervously as I looked around. I wasn’t in troll territory like I planned. I was in a marsh. Wait. Swamp? Bayou? Bog? Fen? I never could tell the difference between them. All I know is it’s a wet floor and has an eerie fog settled over everything. Which makes all of this that much more unsettling.

I spotted a shallow pond and chittered. I scurried toward it. I have had nothing to drink since Greldrod. I came to a stop in front of the pond and dipped my front paws in it. It was cool and smooth. I cupped my paws, collecting as much water as I could hold, and brought it up to my mouth. I lapped it up, relishing in the cool sensation sliding down my throat.

“Hnnng.” I jumped, spilling the water everywhere. The deep groan echoed around me. I shuffled back away from the pond and nervously looked around, swiveling my head around.

“Trespasser!” The voice said menacingly making my fur stand on end.

“I, I didn’t mean to. Honest I,” I stuttered.

“Silence!” The voice boomed cutting me off, making the ground shake under me. I attempted to make myself small. A caurin materialized in front of me. It towered over me taller than any orc I’ve encounter. It was as a dark as obsidian, as regal as Kaglesh’s late Queen, Queen Ruksiz our first and only feline royal. It’s eyes were thin slits surrounded by a bright emerald field narrowing on my small figure. It bared it’s fangs at me.

“You are a Vlaupleran! You have no business being here in Xiaplish!” It bit. “Unless this is the start of the ambush the King speaks of!”

“No! No!” I said quickly standing on my hind legs, huge mistake on my part as it groaned low again. I sunk back down, making myself small. This wasn’t a normal caurin, it was a boggart. “Vlaurplerans aren’t planning an ambush! They are trying to get back to normal. Half of Vlauplera is buried under ash. The farmlands are going to have a hard time cultivating any harvest due to the ash and volcanic winter. I swear, I don’t know why the King said that.”

“Lies!” The boggart hissed. “Vlauplera has conspired against Xiaplish for centuries!”

“Not true! The King told us…” I trailed off, realizing, “The King has been lying to all of us.” I tentatively looked up the boggart.

“Trecherous!”

“He has! He tells Vlauplera that Xiaplish was planning attacks, only to turn around and tell all of Xiaplish that Vlauplera was planning an ambush. Why would he do that if he didn’t revel in the chaos and animosity?” I uncurled myself slowly.

The boggart narrowed its gaze at me before huffing. “Say it’s true. Then why did Vlauplera launch the first attack during the Great War?”

“I don’t know. I was a new kobold when it first started. All I remember from that time was my father and my brother Antonio getting draft letters from the Royal Army and mother crying for weeks after they left.”

“The Royal Army was a nonfactor in the Great War.”

“It was a factor!” I said desperately. I tucked my paw into my fur, looking for my trinket bag I tied to myself. I pulled it out and rummaged through it, finding the letter they sent my father. “See!”

I slowly walked up to the boggart showing it the letter. It looked down at the letter and huffed.

It glowered down at me, “State your business.”

Okay, change of subject, that’s fine. “I was just looking for food. One of the goblins said Xiaplish might have some to spare.”

“Go west 50 firkins then north another 20. Speak to Malkree, he is a troll, he will help.” He huffed and pointed where I needed to go then dematerialized. I paused a moment, making sure it was really gone.

I put my head to the ground and took several deep breaths, calming my heart. My Gerus, that was terrifying. I lifted my head and shook my body, my fur resuming its place flat against my body. With everything working normally and in its normal place, I turned and headed west.

“And 50.” I said under my breath. 50 firkins west another 20 north to go. I faced north and looked around. It’s been eerily quiet. I need to get into troll territory. I scurried north, counting my steps and the firkins. I wonder how many firkins are in a kilo.

“20.” I mumbled slightly out of breath, stopping in front of a sign. Ashenbrook. I guess this is the place. I tentatively walked into the town. I had only taken a couple of steps when a multitude of trolls came out of their homes, eyeing me confused. I kept my eyes on the ground as I walked forward. I had passed, maybe, half a home when I bumped into someone. I backed up as I looked up at the towering troll.

“I’m sorry!” I said quickly.

“What are you doing here, little kobold?” she asked with a rough, low voice. Her height could rival an orc’s. She was a pale purple, with silver eyes. She had a permanent scowl on her face, a lot like Stez. Her red hair sat atop her head messily contained with a vine. She wore a dress with unknown red stains at the bottom. Blood, maybe? Trolls are natural hunters. But what terrified me the most was the lone fang poking out from her bottom lip.

“I, uh, I’m here to see Malkree. A boggart down to the southeast told me to find him.”

Her frowned deepened, “Follow me.” She turned and started walking. I had to scurry after her to match her long strides. Minutes later we arrived in front of an office building.

“Down the hall, second door to the right.” She said holding the door open for me.

“Thank you.” I said meekly, scurrying inside. I walked down the hall and approached the second door on the right. I knocked on the oak door and sat back on my hind legs.

“Come in.” a gruff, tired voice asked from behind the door. I pushed the door open and walked in. The door closed behind me as I waited by the door. I wrung my hands nervously as I stared up at Malkree.

He wore his glasses down on the tip of his nose just under the crooked bump. His dark eyes eyed me with curiosity. He had a slight scowl, but nothing like Stez or the other troll that escorted me. His pale blue skin was covered with a cream colored shirt and a dark tie. He looked like he was over viewing some financial papers.

“Hello, sir, Mr. Malkree,” I stuttered.

“Spit it out, kobold, what’s your business?” He asked impatiently as he took off his glasses and put the papers down.

I chittered. “A boggart from the southeast said you could help me. I was just looking for some food. Vlauplera doesn’t have any to spare for us scavengers, not with all the ash.”

He chuckled. Even his chuckle was gruff and deep, jeez. “A kobold in Vlauplera! Now that is funny!”

“Actually, I’m only part kobold. I’m also a raccoon, as you can see.” I said meekly, my striped tail curling around my hind legs.

He stared at me, amused. “What makes you think we have food to spare for a scavenger like you?”

“A goblin in Rosen said Xiaplish wasn’t badly affected by the eruptions or volcanic winter. She said to at least try.” I explained, “I also thought with my mother having helped Witherton a lot before going to Vlauplera it would be worth it.”

“Well, this isn’t Witherton.” he leaned back in his chair, clasping his hands in front of him.

“I know. I got lost in the Mansoll Wood on my way in. Which is why I ran into the boggart who told me to meet with you.” I looked down, ashamed.

He was quiet for a moment. “Who is your mother?”

I looked up at him, surprised. “Lucinda, sir.”

He put his hand up, “no sir, just call me Malkree. I knew your mother. She helped my mother before she passed.” My ears perked up in hope. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll give you some rations. The same amount I would give to any of the trolls here. That should last you a while, but if you want some more permanent rations, I would try Schalmem. It’s a gnome town near the capital. They take in scavengers as long as they help them. Sound good?”

I nodded my head enthusiastically. “Yes! Thank you so much, sir, uh Malkree!”

“Good.” He opened his window behind him. “Rashi! Get a ration pack for our little kobold-raccoon to take.”

“Yes, Malkree.” a distant voice replied. Malkree turned to look back at me.

“He will meet you at the other end of the town, near the exit you’re going to take.”

“Of course. Thank you again.” Malkree put his glasses back on and picked up his papers. I turned and scurried out of the door. I scurried past many trolls, including the purple one from earlier on my trek to the other side of town. When I arrived at the sign post Rashi, was already waiting for me with a large bag.

“Kobold.” he said securing the bag to my back.

“Thank you, Rashi.” I chittered.

“Be safe. You reek of Vlauplera and not everyone is as kind as us.”

“I know. Thank you again for everything.” I said sincerely. He nodded, and I walked out of Ashenbrook and towards the capital stretch, Royal Gorge. First, I need to find a safe place to have a meal. I wonder if there’s any empty caves around.