Dynamics

Ewan followed doggedly behind Lorna as she went through the sleeping flocks of riding goats.

"Please reconsider! your baby is still unnamed, I am sure if you explain how important that is they will let you wait till after to begin repaying your proclaimed blood debt!" He begged in goblin speak.

Lorna finished with the goat she was examining and nodded to herself in satisfaction before turning to Ewan "Can you not see' she replied in kind 'that if the fates and gods were willing to drop this on me no and here that there will be no other chance to fulfill my debts? besides your step mother my cousin, will be more than capable of naming the child, and would you rather I take him with me into unknown danger? Now make yourself useful."

She shoves a bundle of tack into his hands and returns to inspecting the goats. This flock comprised a mix of his family's goats and the ones that Lorna's clan had sent up mountain for wintering.

Ewan had been part of the group that had discovered the lowland trails being washed out when it was time to return the flocks. He was also part of the work crew to carve a new route, and he was the first one to see the burnt husk of Lorna's village that by that time waws barely more than charred grass.

If he had not been so heart broken maybe he would have sworn bloody vengeance in that moment, but when the shock died off he had promised to tend their goats. Surely there would be survivors to make their way to claim what of their wealth was left and begin rebuilding.

So when Lorna and her child had stumbled off Rory the trail guide's mount Ewan had been ecstatic, though without the words he needed for it.

Instead he expressed his relief the only way he knew how, he tended Lorna's son as often as he could, kept up with her flock as he had been, and anything else he could do to ease her life.

He understood from her frequent gazing down into the valley that there was still much pain, her family and husband gone in a blink, time and work would heal it. Till then what could he do but be there.

Now this, she was leaving, taking the best war mounts sized to carry tall folk to speed them on their way.

Leaving him behind.

He could not fight, could barely speak the trade tongue, and only knew goats. What could he offer to this war-band?

Loran was an excellent tracker and stalker, having practiced on the windswept rocks of the highlands and deep spongy ground of the lowlands. She also used to have a collection of locks that she would spend any free time tinkering with till no lock Ewan had ever seen could stop her if she was of a mind. She would be a fine addition to the fighters.

Ewan wanted, with bigger feelings in his heart than he knew words for, but who would watch the flocks in his absence?

He finished saddling the goats Lorna assigned him. With a grateful smile she went back inside the house.

With resolve he went to the tavern.

The next morning

"No, absolutely not." Willow said with firm resolve.

Shiro was puzzled at her reaction, after all Willow was supposedly the best beast tamer of all the Elves. Surely a little riding goat would be no problem for her?

Seeing the quizzical looks from her party and the hurt of Lorna's face she took a deep breath and clarified

"It is not that we are ungrateful for your attempt to help, and I would love t o ride your majestic animals, but we are planning on going through the Holy Kingdom,' here she looks Shiro to confirm that is still the plan.

When Shiro nods Willow resumes 'Which means that when we reach the edge of Goblin lands we will have to find a either a place to board the goats till we someday return for them, or figure a way to get them back here. Both present great logistical difficulties and the only reason we have the pack goats is because they are owned by people who live on either side of the trade route for easy returns.

I also presume it goes without saying that we are not keen on drawing attention in the Holy Kingdom by riding Goblin beasts through their villages?"

The party around her begrudgingly nods

Most importantly to Willow, she did not want any more animals to be hurt because of her. As they had been traveling Willow's mind had been sorting through the mountains of paperwork she had read upon waking and finally realized the extent of how many tender forests beast had need put down due to her influence while locked away. If she could help it no more would die for her.

Lorna was beyond shocked, she had presented the best of her remaining tribal resources, only to be dismissed out of hand by this haughty elf wench who looked like she might as well have crawled out of a Roc nest and surely had no beast sense. Lorna looked to Ezma, who as holder of the life debt was considered by goblin custom to be in charge. Ezma for her part looked to Shiro, a deferment that Lorna did not understand as it seemed he was nothing more than a pretty face in the group.

Shiro considered for a long moment, Willow was right on all points yet covered in a miasma of guilt while Lorna practically burned Shiro's emotion sight with her outrage.

There had to be a compromise somewhere, or at least a way to diffuse this situation. "Lorna,' Shiro spoke up, the goblin lazily brought her gaze to meet Shiro's 'it would be great dishonor and disrespect for us to refuse your offered goats correct?"

Lorna nodded, angered further by this man having to state something so obvious.

Shiro nods then asks "your specialty is scouting and stealthy movement right? What Willow is trying to say in rather abrasive terms is that part of our task is to do some scouting in the Holy Kingdom once we pass the goblin borders. Will the goats be useful in that regard?"

Lorna forced herself to think about this tactically, the man was right but that did not lessen the blow to her pride.

Shiro nods and then whispers something to Ezma who nods before addressing Lorna, "Lorna dear, my clan is in dire need, the portents for this winter in their lands are filled with deep snows impassable by foot or horse. Yet I see in your offer of these goats a method to save many travelers. Would it prevent the dishonor if I were to accept your fine goats and send them to my kin instead of selfishly keeping them to myself?"

Lorna thought on that, by the rules of the debt once the goats were offered as long as they were the highest quality that could be attained they were at the full disposal of the one to whom debt was owed. Even if that person chose to abuse the goats till they died, so while it galled Lorna to the annoying elf have any semblance of a win, this was more say in the matter than any other debt bound goblin could have hoped for.

Grudgingly Lorna acquiesced "Yes, that would be…honorable."

Ezma put her hand on Lorna's shoulder and they both wandered off to make the arrangements.

Shiro rubbed the bridge of her nose, this might be a rougher trip than expected. She looked up and saw Willow edging away from the group to go look at something.

With concern Shiro followed.