The First since Zakilianric

“Salutations, dear and honorable subjects! Most delighted, am I, to rest my very eyes upon your very noble sight, gathering of brave warriors—faithful servants who have heeded my call to war. Lo! We are a mighty people, for indeed, we shall taste nothing less but the sweet fruit of victory!”

“YEAAH!!!!!” the crowd, exhausted from their march, promptly stood up, gasped, cheered, and clapped like no tomorrow to my inspiring, motivational, grandiose speech. Some were moved to tears, and yet others got back to work setting up their encampment with new life coursing through their blue-blooded veins. Some clapped until their hands bled, others cheered until their voices gave out. One ran up to me, and spoke with snot flowing out of his nose. “Your Lord Majesty High Chieftain King Albaric, may you please bestow me the honor of naming all my thirteen sons after yourself? If I may be so blunt, forgive me for being so, and I must inform you that I am usually of better character but I simply cannot stay composed in front of a man as great as yourself, may I name myself after you as well? O dear, glorious, supreme, majestic, royal leader of us, please grant me this honor!”

“Certainly, my loyal vassal. You have shown me nothing but the utmost fidelity ever since I met you but a second ago. What Lord-Protector of Goblinkind would I be if I did not bestow upon you such a great honor for your devotion?”

“O noble, generous, magnanimous monarch who shapes history to his liking! You, who is nothing short but a Great Man of history, truly destined for kingship, different from the rest, I offer you the hands of all of my twenty-five daughter—”

…

—Enough joking around. This ridiculous fantasy has gone too far. Who do I think am I? Spouting all this delusional garbage about myself, fantasizing about being deified by people. God forbid. Do I really think that amazingly of myself? I mean, c’mon. Me and public speaking? Humble yourself, Clemens. That is a notion most unfounded and far-fetched.

It’s true that I was standing in front of my freshly-off-the-march warriors, who were busy building their encampment outside of Coidunum. What’s not true is that I was currently orating to them, because not only would my voice crack like a boy going through puberty, but also because my uncle was already doing it for me.

“…for our kind to be elevated above the rest, and to find ourselves a reborn people with naught but fire and bravery in our hearts…”

Yada yada, you get his point. My job was to bluff, puff, look buff, sound rough, and be tough. All meant to make me look like a strong leader who can carry himself. A meager measure to compensate for my lack of speaking, but it’s really all I could do.

Uncle finished his lecture, and the soldiers looked lost. Whatever he was preaching about entered one ear, and left through the other. I’m sure his sermon would bode well with those of a more intellectual and romantic disposition, but these hard-bitten soldiers, who were tired and still needed to set up camp, were NOT the target audience. As consolation, I offered them a firm and deep nod. A show of respect to their heeding of my call—something they appreciated and invigorated them ever more slightly to continue on with their work.

Audbernrek approached me with a smile, and lowered his gaze in a curt nod. “It is a pleasure to see you once more, high chief. I left the protection of the Bugretanian lands in the hands of my vassals. On my way to heed your call, I decided it wise to assume control of your main force from Casbriga.”

“Great job, chief Audbernrek. A Gnobble such as yourself is much more effective at leading than a Highgoblin. Anyway, how many men have you brought?”

“None from my own tribe.”

“That’s fine. I’m asking about the forces from the Ausmulii.”

“Indeed. Though not all could be located or taken from their current posts, I have brought with me six Highgoblins. So too have I brought an army of three hundred Crawgoblin fighters.”

Hmm. I thought the Ausmulii had six other Highgoblins remaining anyway, but I guess some of those wandering ones could not be found in time for the departure. And it’s true that there are the occasional village chiefs who are also a Highgoblins. Perhaps he is referring to those people? Or maybe a few newly ascended ones had joined the party, and it was them that Audbernrek had brought along instead.

“By the palace! Three hundred, you say?” my uncle boomed with a confounded look at the Gnobble’s report. “This is truly a milestone most unprecedented in the history of our kind.”

Audbernrek grinned. “Indeed, it is, chief Aremfrid. Us Bugretanians have managed to increase our number of Crawgoblins under the high chief’s instruction as well, which is why I feel secure leaving my tribe alone for a this hopefully short campaign. Surely, no force can stand against us when we wield an army of such highly ascended goblins.”

“I would hope so, because the Turacetae can field a much larger brigade than we can,” I relied. “Chief Audbernrek, I will have to introduce you to the current heads of the Laiseyces, so please gather all the Highgoblins and bring them to the chieftains’ hall inside of the town. The guards will know to let you through.”

“Very well, high chief.”

***

Back at the hall, back in my seat. Audbernrek knocked on the door, and walked in. Nine Highgoblins in tow, two of which should not have been there.

“Chiefs Hardalgmar and Frakaldhelm? What are you doing here? I remember specifically ordering you two to defend Casbriga and maintain the tribe while I was gone, did I not?!”

“High chief,” Hardalgmar spoke up first, “Do not worry about the defenses of our tribe. The garrison commander too has ascended and become a Highgoblin, and his hundred men have increased by fifty and ascended to Crawgoblinhood as well. Our defenses have never been better now that most of the townsfolk are Crawgoblins and capable of wielding their Kragnin. The reason I am here myself is to lend you my strength in battle and hasten your return home. The administration of the tribe is too taxing a burden for a mere Highgoblin such as myself.”

“And as for why I am here,” Frakaldhelm spoke, “as the war chief, it is my duty to accompany you and your men into battles, no matter where. When you journeyed to Arobrixa, I felt ashamed that I could not perform my duties and aid you in your defense of the Burgetanii. Today shall be different. The men trust me with their lives, and I trust you with mine.”

My finger impatiently tapped the table, and my brows were knitted in a frown. “…Fine. You two have judged with reason, so I forgive the insubordination.” They closed their eyes as they slightly lowered their heads. “Uncle, if you could summarize this morning’s briefing to all the chiefs.”

He proceeded to do as I asked, and all the while, I learned of Rekmun and Gazmul’s new honor names: Rekmunraz and Gazmulgar. The other two newly arrived Highgoblins were Maraldnund and Altberulf. The final three were those already with me, leading the squads of my retinue.

Uncle’s summary was brief, and we got right into the main topic of why I called everyone together.

“Thodbargild has three Gnobbles serving him, that we know of. On the other hand, we have only Audbernrek,” I began. “I think it is therefore time for the Ausmulli to elect a new Gnobble from amongst ourselves.”

“But, high chief, we already serve you. You are already our head. What is the point in electing a Gnobble?” one of the Highgoblins, the one named Altberulf, spoke up.

“I am not sure how many Highgoblins our tribe now possesses, but it is becoming too great of a number to handle them all by myself. Thodbargild must have had the same issue, and thus he delegated the matter to Gnobbles instead. You Highgoblins will serve Gnobbles who will directly answer to me. Just like how the Bugretanian Highgoblins don’t directly attend to me, but they do so through their leader Audbernrek. It’s a hierarchy. Do you understand?”

“Understood,” Hardalgmar said, “but why do you not pick one of us yourself? Surely, there is someone you would prefer to have as Gnobble?” He glanced at the two assistants by my sides, uncle and the one from the Narzakii.

“Perhaps. However, this is a matter that I have no say in. Highgoblins have always decided themselves who is qualified to lead them. I do not want to mess with that natural order of things. Now, vote amongst yourselves whom should become a Gnobble. Only those five who will give their blood will become the subjects of the Gnobble. The rest remains with me for the time being.”

A second or five later, Frakaldhelm coughed and everyone’s attention shifted to him. “I think the decision is quite clear. We want chief Hardalgmar to become our Gnobble.”

“I disagree,” Maraldnund interjected. “Chief Aremfrid is the most qualified amongst us to lead. He should become our Gnobble.”

Discussion broke out between the two opposing parties. Very quickly, the two camps were demarcated. Maraldnund and the three retinue commanders were in favor of my uncle, whereas Frakaldhelm, Altberulf, Rekmunraz, and Gazmuldgar advocated for Hardalgmar. The two men in question remained silent, and the only one left uncommitted was Wergnarinth, holding the deciding vote.

“Calm down, everyone,” I alerted the bunch. “It seems that chief Wergnarinth holds the deciding vote on who becomes a Gnobble. Unless one of the two men in question vote for the other, that is.”

Wergnarinth had sweat on his forehead, and his hands tightened up into fists. He held his tongue and refused to cast a vote. My uncle, upon noticing this, spoke out. “Though I do not cast a vote myself, I shall endorse Hardalgmar as my preferred choice for Gnobblehood.”

Brows knitted in curiosity, I turned to them both. “Is there a reason?”

They remained silent. I suppose both wanted to serve me directly, so neither of the two could vote. That would make them serve their candidate instead of me, after all. I sighed. How are we going to come a conclusion now, people?

One of the retinue commanders spoke up. “Excuse me, but if that is the case, chief Aremfrid, I shall vote for chief Hardalgmar instead. I hope you do not take this as an insult.”

My uncle nodded in approval, and I placed the ritual chalice on the table. “I’m sorry that we have to perform the ceremony in another tribe’s hall, but so be it,” I said before standing up from my seat, and walking over to the future Gnobble. “Chief Hardalgmar, I ask that you maintain the retinue commander’s post for the duration of this war, lest we be hit with disorganization.”

“Of course,” he replied, not betraying any emotions of on his face. I could not tell whether he was pleased with becoming a Gnobble or not, but it was evident that he took the duty and burden upon himself. Confident that he can deliver. Knowing he will bring the tribe greater prosperity.