Ella stood silhouetted in the entranceway to the hut. Her size, just small enough to enter without hunching over or crawling as she imagined Guage might have to do. She chuckles to herself from the thought. Peering into the Goblin’s hut revealed a honeycomb of roots and dried vegetables. All sorts of trinkets and shavings stack upon themselves to the ceiling in all directions.

What was not stacked was hanging. The only true clearing maintained were the branching pathways. Ella could remember when she was smaller it all felt more like an endless labyrinth than a small hut. 

Squinting her eyes in stark determination she would not allow herself to become distracted. She was on an important mission after all. The entire village’s fate rests on her ability to locate the treasure of the goblins.

Sniffing the air reaffirmed that it was within this hut. Amongst the endless priceless, maybe even worthless, items it rested. 

She entered down the main pathway which ran from the doorway to the cauldron atop an unlit fireplace. Her steps, measured. She must be careful not to spook the treasure lest it escape again. It’d proven to be a rather slippery one.

Thinking she heard something coming from behind a half carved wood totem she prepared herself for a predatory leap.

“I’ve got you Teters!” Ella screamed as she pulled the totem away revealing yet more junk.

The smile on her face deflated instantly into a scowl. This was going to be harder than she thought.

To be honest Teters was terrible at hide and seek. He’d been known to hide in plain sight, beneath objects that didn’t completely obscure him from vision or to even actively seek out and attack the looker which was always either herself or Nora.

I suppose he is growing older. Ella thought to herself with a little disappointment. There was in fact a feeling of loss in the notion. Ella could remember when Teters and Gran Gran had arrived at their estate. 

It was almost eight cycles ago. Ella was a mere six then but fully capable of comprehending the world around her. She’d found early on that she was gifted like most nobility with a higher propensity to learn.

The day they arrived was a special one indeed. It marked the last time anyone had seen any living soul beyond the walls of the estate and before the outgrowth of forest had overtaken what was once the outskirts of a supposedly great metropolis.

Honestly, Ella could not remember it nor the faces of her parents. They’d left on some noble crusade to rid the lands of a great demon. Palius was always telling her to be proud of her nobility and lineage and to the knowledge that her parent’s upheld the highest of honor among the people.

That of action. Of being amongst the first to willingly elect to fight away this scourge and to make the ultimate sacrifice for their people, for their kingdom.

All Ella could feel was a missing piece which rang of pain. To herself she’d thought, Let other’s uphold their honor and defend their dead country. Let my parents be with me.

The day Teters and Gran Gran arrived was amidst a great battle. Gran Gran refused to get into the details with Ella electing to tell her when she became older, if even then. What she did do ever so slightly was to fill in pieces when Ella would confront her with information from the guards and subjects.

Their first hand accounts of what they saw and what they thought to have been happening.

As far as Ella could understand the battle started out as a slow trickle of a dozen or so goblin matriarchs marching seemingly aimlessly through the city carrying banners and totems. They numbered in the dozens.

Gran Gran had told her they were the last survivors of a great goblin den which resided below the heart of the city. She told her for every Mori in the city there were at least twenty goblins below the surface and two above. 

When the curse hit an untold number went insane. The only not to fall to the whispers of the demon were those close to the totems. Naturally those were the matriarchs and their elite guard. 

The totems were a tradition of sorts for the goblins. Gran Gran was always proud to remind them all that the Mori who looked down upon her goblin race did not free the old world from the unconquerable lands but rather the goblins.

That in the old world you could not walk down a road without seeing a totem every few hundred stadium. Or anywhere for that matter. Their purpose was almost completely forgotten to all outside the most elite of matriarchs until most recently. Now it was quite obvious the totems fought away the perversion of a demon’s influence.

It seemed fitting that goblins might know of magic to repel the demonic touch. Her teacher, Palius, had always said goblins are closer to the demonic creatures of the unconquerable lands than not. That the great founder’s liberated them from the influence and taught them a way to repel it.

Of course the teachers were of Mori descent or gods. Gran Gran was always quick to brush this idea aside citing that goblins know no borders. That the unconquerable world was not a world beyond the goblins ability to survive. 

Obviously there were very distinct and conflicting ideas about the inherent superiority between goblins and Mori. Each thought themselves better than the other.

Ella just thought they appeared visually different and nothing more.

Rummaging through another promising pile of junk left Ella with a dissatisfying taste in her mouth. She had promised not to “cheat” and to find Teters only using her power of sight and perception

It was ruled she wasn’t allowed to use her nose beyond the entrance to the small hut. Ella hated having her greatest detecting resource taken from her but speaking truthfully it wouldn’t have been hide and seek if she used it.

Her nose was by far the most powerful of all her active clansmen. Of all the Mori within the estate her sense of smell was unreasonably better.

Already gifted with the beauty and nobility of a pureblood royalty, a physical affinity that made her instantly into one of the best warriors within the village at only age 14 and finally her sense of smell.

Guage had told her in one of his rare moments of appraisal that she was probably the best scout he’d ever known in all his years. Which was a long time seeing as Guage was by no uncertain terms an old man.

Taking a deep breath Ella scanned the room. Most Mori had to smell with their nose but Ella’s secret was she could taste smell as well. The closer she drew to her bounty the more she could taste it.

For sure it was both a blessing and a curse…

Instantly she’d locked onto Teters trail. Looking up the main pathway through the rummage to the cauldron hanging over a dead fire. Well not so much dead as smoldering.

A grin grew on Ella’s face. Teters had grown so much in the past year. He must of put out the fire and hid himself within the cauldron, within the smoke cloud.

Under normal circumstances this might have been enough to throw off the scent of his predator but not Ella. She claimed she could smell something completely submerged in water or buried four pertica underground.

In fact the underground portion had been proven. While playing with Nora and Teters a few years back Ella had fallen over some gravel falling into the dirt. When she rose she had claimed she could smell the iron door beneath her.

Clever old Kents had overheard her and begged Nora permission to do an exploratory dig on the very spot. Of course Nora needed no convincing beyond hearing her younger sister’s claims that she could smell the iron gate beneath that very ground.

Sure enough three pertica down and they struck a goblin tunnel. Within it tracks of some sort with containers filled to their brim with raw iron ore. 

Palius had claimed Ella had saved the village that day. Ella, even at 14, could not imagine how all the iron in all of Malkuth could save the village.

Save the village or not Ella now knew exactly where young Teters was hiding. It almost seems stupidly obvious. She began to move towards it before she stopped dead in her tracks.

This was too good an opportunity to pass up, the devilish smirk growing more pronounced every second…

___________________________________________________________________________

Teters giggled, beside himself, how clever he was indeed. Ella thought he was still that stupid child she’d help Gran Gran and Nora raise. She didn’t know that he was in fact a prince. Gran Gran knew and when he felt incompetent in those early years she assured him it was only a phase.

“Teters” she’d say as she tucked him into his sack at night, “It’s a secret, the greatest secret of all Malkuth. You’re a goblin prince and most treasured of all our race.”

She’d poke him in his tummy or pinch his nose after those words. Always to make him laugh and feel at ease. Sleep had always scared Teters, dreams felt more real than they should for him. Gran Gran had to always reassure him she was ever present and watching over him.

“When you grow up, the world will bend to you and never the other way around.” Then she’d gigle and say something like “You’ve been promised to a god, five hundred years ago, and one day you’ll wake and be ushered into her garden.”

“A garden of flowers, Gran Gran?”

“A garden of happiness and love, child. Now rest and dream of your future.”

Covering his mouth, Teters did his best to stifle his giggling. Ella may have outsmarted him when he was a baby but Teters was a gift to a god and destined for a garden of flowers, happiness and love.

Thinking to himself, Gran Gran, Nora, and Ella would definitely be there then as well…

“Teters I’ve found you!” Ella called out again. She sounded even further away than last time and Teters actually let go a yelp of hysterical laughter. Oh how much smarter he was than her now it was too funny. The god would come for him soon. For sure.

A bone crunching crash followed and then nothing. No sound or anything.

Teters waited in silence refusing even to breathe. Fear began to pervade him as he pulled himself out of the cauldron.

“Ella? Are you okay?” He called out both fearful of what he might hear or see. “Oh please be okay!” He shouted as the massive pile came into sight.

“Ella!” The young goblin cried as he jumped out of the cauldron.

“FOUND YOU TETERS!” Ella screamed as she jumped out from behind him.

___________________________________________________________________________

Ella kind of felt bad about the whole thing. I mean maybe she’d taken it just a tad too far. Teters was so scared she thought his eyes were going to pop out and Ella laughed so hard.

Then the little goblin had wrapped his arms around her with tears running down his little face and openly sobbing into her waist.

Nothing she could do would calm the little guy down, he was near hysterical and all because he’d thought she was hurt.

It made her feel horrible for playing the trick but it also made her heart absolutely melt. Teters loved her so much and Palius be damned if a goblin could care this much for a Mori then they could never be descended from demons. 

“It’s okay Teters, it’s okay, I’m fine see.” Ella lifted the young goblin’s face. Giving him the biggest smile in the world as she hugged him again and dig in for another round of incoherent sobs from the child.

“Ella I wa~hiccup~so Scared~sob~ You’re not ~ Sniff~ hurt are you?”

Teters seemed to have mastered his tears but Ella could feel the poor little goblin still shaking within her arms. 

“I’m fine Teters, I’m fine. It was just a little joke. I’m okay really.”

Sniff - “You promise?”

‘Promise.”

With her hand under his chin again Ella placed a kiss onto the little goblins forehead. A smile blooming on Teters’ face once more. They held still for a moment.

“That's not fair Ella, you cheated.” Teters complained now having fully regained his composure.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’ll play fair next time okay?”

Teters just nodded his head.

“Good my little knight.”

Teters giggle at this as a draft blew into the hut. Carrying along with it the sent of trouble…

Ella gasped “Teters Nora and Gran Gran are on their way.”

They both peered to the entrance way and then around them to the pile of debris from Ella’s prank. Teters gasping in horror.

“Tell you what, I’ll distract Nora while you run past her. Then we’ll meet behind the grain deposit.”

Teters nods with a mischievous grin

.

___________________________________________________________________________

The walk away from the main portion of the estate always leaves me with such mixed feelings. Having to house Martkiir and her child Teters on the very edge of the grounds never truly sat well with me.

Many times I’d bring up my distaste for how things had to go down politically and what little power I actually held when confronted by the fear of my estate’s occupants. To think they would have thrown the two back beyond the gate if it were not spelled out that they were to never leave their quarantine zone without express supervision.

I’d only recently been deemed eligible to escort the matriarch around the premises. Mind you it being my estate! Nora Almagest, head of the noble house of Almagest, and unquestioned leader of the mori within my family's time honored land.

How little it all mattered now what last name we went by, To think the elders had tried to force marriage upon both me and my sister and to non royalty to boot. I was to forsake my ancestry to wed what amounts to my servant's child, Phillip. 

My lineage traced directly back to the commander of the Fourth Legion under the direct order of Lady Ebba and King Tonic Olcan, General Alexander Almagest.

His lineage being traced back to the brothel my parents had bought his mother’s servitude from. She’d been an indentured servant as was her up until this past year having theoretically repaid their debt.

Honestly, I gave them continued shelter in a time where without it they would succumb to the cursed lands beyond the wall. Now overgrown with unnatural foliage. It looked as though it had always been nothing more than a forest since the dawn of time.

The worst disrespect was shown to my sister whom they had planned to marry the guard captain Gauge Black. He hailed from the noble house Black but his age was nearer to forty than thirty and my sister was nothing more than fourteen cycles.

All in the name of maintaining populis within the estate.

I had to inform them that without an unfettered bloodline of Almagest then none would be capable of recharging the runes. Oh how they were so quick to forget that the runes demanded recharging and if they were not going to allow the Matriarch to do it herself only I or theoretically Ella could do so.

The Totem at the center of the estate was powered by blood magic and the only compatible blood being from undiluted house Almagest.

I had to inform them with the aid of the Matriarch that this village was doomed to failure with my and Ella’s passing. That the curse would need to either be lifted or Matkir would have to produce a new totem capable of accepting a more diluted blood.

The Matriarch promised us all she’d be dead before she’d ever finish a totem of that complexity. Nor did she even have all the materials necessary to construct it even if she did not factor in her own limited time left in this plane. 

Honestly that bit of the argument bothered me. Gran Gran as myself, Ellla, and Titers had come to know her by was one of the most important figures in my life. She gave me a glimpse into a different way of seeing things that would have been denied me if I was only taught through the teachings of my Mori influenced instructor and traditional codexes.

She’d also been instrumental in learning the magics I’d need to succeed in my upcoming coming of age ceremony. If it wasn’t for her I’d have been forced to forsake my powers and wed Philip and been expected to have sired two pups by now.

I could nearly hurl at the thought. Ella would have been expected to be carrying by now as well if it weren't for the fact that such things destroy a magic user's connection with the aether. That sick bastard Guage would have gotten a child bride to carry his poisoned seed.

It’d already killed his previous wife during labor and she’d been of a proper age to bring a child to term. What sort of horrible things it could do unto my baby sister I didn’t give a chance to know. I’d kill them before I let it happen.

Thus tomorrow would be an important day not only for myself but for everyone in the village as well. I’d be starting my coming of age ritual prior to the sun rising. I’d be placed within the temple at the very center of the estate. From which the giant totem powered by the very blood that courses through my and Ella’s veins.

Even if I should fail and die out there beyond the wall it’d save Ella from the fate of being wed to Sir Black. A pregnancy would dilute her blood and make it impossible for her to power the totem until she’d brought the child to term.

“Child, do not lose yourself in thought. Tomorrow is drawing near and you need to be at peace in order to succeed. Which I know without a doubt you will.” Gran Gran said to be as she walked along my side. I could feel her hand latch onto mine and give it a squeeze.

It was a dangerous act to do in such a public setting. Goblins were not allowed to touch the Mori. They were considered a filthy race and to touch a pure blood royalty like myself could be a death sentence to any other.

I suppose she had an upper hand in being the only living soul within the walls who knew of a way to produce smaller totems but what use would that be if both me and Ella died? As the matriarch had explained when we first gave her shelter, “The land of this estate has pledge it’s allegiance to house Almagest, it’ll except no other blood then theirs.”

Her explanation of goblin magic only grew more complicated from there but from my time interacting with her over the past ten years I’d come to understand two simple truths. The world of Malkuth and all that made it was at some level alive and that only certain mori held an affinity to it. My family being one of them.

So in the end even if the elders and servants no longer viewed me as their leader and master through my noble name and title they were forced to accept that the very land that sustained them did. 

“Aye, Gran Gran,” I answered while pulling my hand away. “I will make everything right.”

“You are powerful Nora. I know I’ve told this to you many times before but when we were searching for sanctuary it was your power we saw in the distance. You Mori do not see power like us goblins can. It seeps from you like light from the sun or heat from a flame. You are powerful Nora.”

“I know. That's why I know I’ll succeed.”

Drawing close to the hut’s entrance I brace myself for what I’ll find. Leaving Ella and Teters alone and unsupervised is a recipe for disaster. Ideally it is most undesirable indeed but I was in need of Gran Gran at my meeting with the elders. Without her presence and vow of support, and well threats, they’d of never let me undertake the ceremony.

Arriving at the hut’s entrance I am greeted with not a hello or salutations but a flying heel kick from my beloved warrior princess sister. I’ve barely time to react, throwing my hands up as I fall without any form of grace or elegance to my backside.

With my flailing hands is a gust of wind I’d summoned. Throwing it upward along with my sister before she’s able to land her surprise attack.

The devil has become the most respected fighter in the village. Gifted with a quickness I’m told by my teacher not seen since my great uncle Lysius. Whom himself proved to be a legendary competitor in the tournaments of old.

Lucky for me I have an overabundance of magic coursing through my veins and the ability to push and pull the raw forces of the elements. Not in such a refined way of course, my only real teacher being a goblin and they’re not very well known for their refinement of power.

Everything is raw, chaotic and dangerous. As Gran Gran once said, “If it can’t kill you by trying then what's the point in trying at all?”

No matter, with the gust of wind so went Ella. However she quickly regained her bearings as she fell landing on all fours with a hiss. She smirked as she clawed a handful of mud and threw it in my direction.

Swiping my hand to the side was enough to brush the oncoming mud ball away and enough of a distraction that Ella had vanished. I roll my eyes at it all as I pick myself off the ground. My silk blue dress now covered in a bit of dirt. I’d be having a word with my sister soon enough.

Entering the hut I let loose a groan. Those animals had wrecked the place again! I’d just rearranged everything yesterday with Gran Gran. 

“What is it, child? They didn’t wreck the place again did they?” Gran gran asked as she pushed herself past me. Stopping just inside the hut she sat in silence for a split second taking in the pile of debris lining the main path.

Gran gran?” I asked with a tad bit of trepidation lining my voice.

“Nora, come, we go to war!” Gran Gran called out as fire escaped her mouth and outstretched hands.

I shrieked and shrunk away from the angry Matriarch of the FireStone Tribe.

Obstacle Six. Rent