‘Calm down Rick. Relax. Don’t let him get to you. Don’t do something you’re going to regret. You’re not strong enough. We’re not strong enough yet. Keep it in. Accept his words.

  ‘You cannot fight him. You won’t survive the fight. The Goblins won’t make it. Don’t do it.’

  Rick kept repeating these words in his head throughout the entire speech of the Serpent. Doing his best to ensure he didn’t lash out because of the anger festering deep within him.

  Even the Goblins that stood behind Rick had to work hard to curb the anger they were feeling.

  And how could you blame them? Rogu himself was ready to throw all caution to the wind to defend the honor of his Future King. To witness that level of disrespect and not be able to lift a finger was a large knock to his pride.

  He was a General among Goblins, and he was too weak to fulfil his role.

  Not to mention the thoughts going through the minds of Jaba, Dal, Tars, and especially Geedi.

  Nobody was happy, yet not a singe one of them voiced their thoughts. Rick was still silent after all.

  POV Rick

  ‘Alright…I’m calm. I am upset. No…I am seething with deep anger on behalf of my people, and I wanted to rip that Serpent into small pieces of sushi…but…I’m calm.

  ‘Calm enough to know that this isn’t the right time to fight that Serpent. I need to focus on that situation at hand. The livelihood of the Goblins behind me matters more than my emotions.

  ‘So, let’s think Rick. Think back on everything the Serpent said. Think back on each word and meaning behind it all.

  ‘Think…

  ‘It wants us to leave this forest, because we are building up a community here and it finds it a bother. It also mentioned the war. Saying we probably won’t survive or something along those lines.

  ‘…Hmm, I need to discuss it.’

  It was only now that Rick finally opened his eyes and turned around to face the Goblins behind him.

  “We’ll be fine guys. Don’t let this affect you. Our time to defend ourselves from the Orcs is coming and that’s all we need to focus on. Rogu, do me a favor and grab Jaba, afterwards please meet me in the conference room.”

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  Rick didn’t wait around for a response and promptly began making his way towards the conference room in the Village. He was still being stared at, but he paid them no mind, nor did he seem all that uncomfortable under their stares.

  Instead, he walked with a determined gait and concealed fury bubbling within his eyes.

  A few moments later…Rick, Jaba, and Rogu could be seen sitting in the small conference room.

  “We need to change things a bit. The Serpent wants us gone. It gave us an ultimatum. So, we can leave now or stay and fight the Orcs and leave then. Or…we stand our ground and fight both the Orcs and the Serpent.

  “What are your thoughts?”

  Jaba spoke up first.

  “Chief…I…”

  “Speak your mind Jaba, you’re my right hand man, I trust you. So please don’t hesitate, that’s why you’re here.”

  Unbeknownst to Rick and even Jaba in a way, some of the confidence that Jaba initially had as Rick’s second in command had waned ever slightly after Rick’s newest evolution.

  Jaba was once the leader of the small tribe and he was even stronger than Rick at the time, yet as time passed the gap between them only grew wider and wider. Jaba wasn’t jealous by any means, but a small part of him began to feel a bit inadequate when it came to his position.

  But the words Rick just spoke helped to give Jaba the slight push he didn’t even realize he needed. He was Rick’s second in command, and he needed to act like it.

  “Chief, I want us stay here and continue to build on what we have, but I don’t think it’s a good idea. All of our Goblins have worked hard to train and grow, but we are nowhere close to matching the force that you mentioned was waiting in the remains of Kida and the other’s old tribe.

  “Then there is that one Orc you mentioned to us…the one that confronted the Serpent in the forest.

  “I…don’t think we can fight with Orc Chief…I don’t think we can fight this war at all.”

  ‘Is this how they all feel…? Have I just started a war that not a single one of them wanted? But what was I supposed to do? Leave them alone in the plains to suffer…maybe…maybe there could have been another way…maybe I should have waited…’

  “My Lord. Do not doubt yourself. It is not your fault that the Orcs have chosen war in your effort to free your people. We do not deserve to be treated in the way the Goblins of the Plains were succumbed to.

  “…Please forgive me for the words I am about to say. The position you hold is not a easy one My Lord. You will have to make decisions that are hard. Decisions that can cause significant pain to your people. Yet, you will have to firm your heart and push on.

  “If someone threatens our sovereignty, it is your responsibility to deal with it My Lord. In some cases, that might mean verbal negotiations of some sort, or perhaps a show of force to act as deterrence to the enemy, but in others…that will require war My Lord.

  “War.

  “And in times of war…it is the responsibility to not only live and fight with strength and honor for you and our race as a whole, but it is also our responsibility to die for that cause as well. To live and die with the sole goal of making sure our future generations can just focus on living.

  “To ensure your seat of power never ends up empty.

  “To ensure that you have the means to preserve the sovereignty that was threatened.

  “That is the burden you must bear My Lord. The burden of power and leadership is not a light one. So, don’t doubt yourself. Please.”