Chapter 38: Chapter Thirty-seven – In which Ark remodels his cave-hole, teaches Vera some more magic, and then teaches his eldest daughter how to be kind.

Getting to the cave-hole where Jewel lived meant I had to walk toward the cave entrance. Along with hers, Prima's and Vera’s old one were also both towards the front of the cave and that made me a little nervous, because Prima had restrictions as to how far towards the entrance of goblin-home I was allowed to move freely to.

I did find Jewel, who was busy slinging a bow and arrow set over her shoulder.

“Going hunting?” I asked.

“Husband. Come talk Jewel about magic stones? Want make new deal?”

“I guess I haven’t come to you for any other reason so far either, have I?” I said, feeling kind of ashamed.

“Not let Husband use magic today. Want go, hunt new stones.”

I nodded.

“Could… I get permission from you then for Vera to keep an eye on my magic? I want to use the topaz in my cave-hole so I can make it better.”

Jewel contemplated it for a moment.

“Only husband cave-hole?”

I nodded.

“Your ruby is still in Lily’s room. Berry is watching her now. Vera has a sharp bone, you saw it already yesterday. I’ll make sure she has the pointy end of it against my neck when I do anything.”

“What husband make better cave-hole?” It was less of an exasperated question, and more one of general curiosity.

“A big bath for cleaning and a stove for making things like fire-meat. After that, I want to make an area meant for having fun giving big seed to goblins. Vera will be helping me with a lot of things. I want to make it inviting for you, Prima, Lily, Berry, Truffle, Ivory, Pear, and maybe Doll to visit and spend time with me. Of course the strong ones too.”

“Add good things make Jewel cave-hole?”

“If you see anything you like that you want, I will also make it in here for you.”

“Not forget what Husband say give Lily cave-hole?”

“Ah, the wall relief? I’ll make sure you get it.”

“Tell Vera watch husband magic. Husband smart, keep secret Prima?”

It was my turn to grin at her, since a lazy and greedy goblin could always be trusted to remain true to their nature.

“Deal.”

So, waking Vera who was sleeping comfortably holding her bone charm doll, which was covered in drool from being gnawed on, Jewel told her in precise gob-words that she would be the one to watch me in this cave when I used magic while she went out hunting. Vera quickly agreed to take over that temporary responsibility, and then Jewel left, saying she would return later.

I asked Vera after she left if she knew where Jewel went to find her shiny stones, but all she could do was shake her head. Couldn’t really blame her, it’s not like gemstones grow on trees. Maybe there was a secret location like an abandoned mine or cave elsewhere in the area outside? Incidentally, in all of my renovations to Berry’s, Lily’s, Jewel’s and the Truffle-Ivory connected rooms, I didn’t come across anything but dirt and rock. Not metals, coal, limestone… just dirt and rock.

Vera observed what I had carved on the floor and pointed at the area of the cave I was going to begin remodeling.

“Help?”

“I’ll handle the reshaping and digging, but I’d like you to make some magic circles for water and heating when I’m done. You can help me then.”

Vera nodded enthusiastically.

So, with the topaz stone that still hadn’t been confiscated in hand, I began carving out a pit that would become a heated bath. It was a far bigger undertaking than I thought it would be, since I had to compact all the dirt into mostly solid stone. I don’t even know how long it took to make, but it looked fabulous when it was done. It was entirely open air and featured two supporting pillars inside the bath itself, more for decoration than actual support.

Vera had made six magic circles meant for generating heat which were connected by a contained power rune on a raised block of stone, so that either she or I could activate it easily whenever we wanted. The pillars had formula carved into them that would osmose the air and generate water to fill the bath.

I had the novel idea to make a wall-mounted washing basin too after that, placed just outside of the bath and attached to the wall between it and where the kitchen would be made. Then I ended up somehow going behind the washing basin, back into the bath and made a separate room with drainage that had a series of formulas that would sprinkle water down onto the ground, because most of these goblins had matted hair and it would be nice to do something about it. So it became a showering room.

I had to take a break after that part. The topaz really pushed me into near mana exhaustion. I also promised to come back and visit Lily and didn’t want to end up incapacitated. Vera was overseeing and inspecting the final construction, and that all the magical formulas were in working order. I’m sure she was thinking of things she might add to the project as well, so I let her be and went to see my cute little goblin daughters again.

Back in Lily’s room, the two little ones were behaving themselves, still playing with the hanging dirt-ball toy I made which I am now officially dubbing a tether-slap. Lily was sitting up and Berry was sitting on the bed next to her, resting her head against Lily’s shoulder. I stooped down to give my little daughters a rub on the head before heading over to Lily.

“They seem to be having fun.”

“Strong ones not stop busy. Berry… Lily owe many.”

“Then I’ll help you pay back whatever you need to.” I said with a smile.

“Happy Husband come back cave-hole. When want see Husband, need go Husband cave-hole.  Now have strong ones, Husband come Lily cave-hole!”

“Don’t feel bad, Jewel said almost the same thing earlier. Truth is, outside of visiting Berry or Truffle because their rooms are closer, I don’t really end up leaving my own all that much, yet.”

“Husband go Truffle cave-hole?”

“Me? No. I’ve been making some changes to my own cave-hole. I just made a bathing area with Vera’s help. Next is going to be a kitchen where I can make fire meat without needing fire. There are all kinds of delicious ways to make it, and since our daughters seem to enjoy it like we do…”

I held her hand and sat on the bed right next to her so she could lean her head against my shoulder now.

“I’m also going to make a nice area where everyone can come and visit me whenever they want and have a good time. After that, I will make a place for all strong ones to come and play, too. Toys and games like that one to use that will help them grow strong and smart.”

“Husband… why do?”

“Would you rather I hate and fight you all every step of the way?”

“Lily not hate what Husband do. Only... not way goblins… do.  Not know Husband think.”

“Is there only one way to be a goblin?” I asked her, to which she didn’t have an answer. Nor did I expect her to give one. I held back on saying that goblins could be as good as humans given time, because it sounded like I’d be speaking down to her from a superior standpoint. Goblins matured quickly and were put to the task of being self-sufficient before human babies could even sit upright and learn to speak.

There were vast differences, but goblins could learn and goblins could do just as well as any human. The best I could figure, it was that there was no one in a situation like this one to help them see their own potential. I still have thoughts of escaping, but I also want to see how this plays out. Can I help make this goblin tribe… civilized enough to be recognized by other races as more than just goblins to be slaughtered?

The biggest obstacle is perhaps the non-existence of a male goblin in this tribe. I have half a mind to think that if goblin society were matriarchal, they might actually prosper. But that might be because of my own prejudice towards male goblins who I have just been raised to believe are brutal murderers and rapists. Feral creatures who deserve to be exterminated.

I’m not perfect. I never once said I was. I’m human, and all that comes with it, good and bad. Twice over.

There was a visitor to the cave-hole as I laid with Lily and watched our daughters play. It was Diana. Had she come looking for Berry? Diana took careful steps at first until she was at the doorway to the round inner bedroom. She was looking at me, Lily, and her mother sitting on the raised elliptical bed first, then she turned her eyes to her new half-sisters and the game they were playing.

Now, I will say that as my daughters, they are entitled to my love even if they are goblins. But I didn’t have a good feeling about what was going to happen here. I grew up as the middle child, and the smallest in a family with two older and two younger siblings. I already saw the look I knew too well in Diana’s eyes.

I was going to move to intercept when Lily grabbed my arm.

“Watch.” She said, and meant it. Lily must have seen that look too.

“What if they get hurt? Diana is much bigger than them.” I said quietly to her.

“Goblin way. Strong at top.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

It left a sour taste in my mouth to hear her say it. But it was the truth. Whether in my previous life or in this one, there were always those who took advantage of others to establish their place, and nothing came easier to someone strong than to bully someone weak.

So, I watched as my eldest daughter pushed down both of my younger daughters and claimed their toy as her own. Lily held my hand tight, and I could see in her eyes something other than I expected. She was watching her children take their place. She wanted to see her strong ones get up and do something. Do anything other than cower and submit immediately.

Should I be happy then, that it was exactly what happened?

Both Orchid and Lilac stood up and began to swat at Diana's body. I was worried there might be some injury, but Diana wasn’t even phased by it. But they stood up still, each and every time they got pushed down by her. It happened about six times before they realized they had no chance. But it was enough. Diana lost interest in them, and the makeshift tetherball game, and moved to the side of the bed opposite me and climbed up to join her mother.

All she wanted to do was crawl in her lap and sit there. But that didn’t mean she was about to let her guard down. Diana’s eyes were on both Lily and me now.

“Husband... not tell Diana?” Lily said calmly.

“Tell her what?”

“Diana show Husband she strongest.”

“Is that how you all saw it?  To me, that was the furthest thing from true strength.”

“What husband mean?”

“True strength is what good you do with all that power. Do you only use it to make the weaker submit, or do you help raise them up to be stronger? It takes ten times the strength to give freely than to take. It’s got nothing to do with whether someone is human or goblin, but everything to do with whether a person chooses to be no better than a violent beast, or to be something greater.”

Berry had put her arms around Diana, revealing that she was awake. “Are you angry with Diana Artemis, husband?”

“If she were moons older, I might be. But I understand what happened. I understand this is your goblin way, and I'm not trying to deny it.  In a perfect world, Diana wouldn’t have pushed them down to think she needed to impress me. What she would have done is sit with them and become friends. She would have shown them she was the strongest by teaching them how to hit the ball better in order to prepare them to be hunters. To use her strength for the benefit of her sisters and the goblin tribe. But I also know we don’t live in a perfect world. I won’t love her any less because of this, but I am just a bit saddened by it. And it’s not because it’s the way of goblins. Humans aren’t any different. We do the same things, maybe even far worse. It’s just that there is always a better way, and I want that for all of my daughters.”

I held out my arms and told Diana to come. She moved from Berry’s lap, stepping over Lily and onto mine. I gave her a big hug and rubbed her head and back, showing her parental affection before speaking to her, hoping she would understand me.

“Diana. When you push a person down, they will always remember it. For their whole lives they will wait for the right moment they can push you down, and it will be when you need help the most that they will do it. However, if you help them instead of pushing them down, then they will always be there to help you. You can be strong by yourself, or you can be the strongest, a Guardian goblin better than Prima that your mother can be so proud of,  knowing all your sisters will want to help you when you need them to. But only you can decide how strong you want to be. I’m your daddy, and I will always love you, okay?”

“Diana strong.” She said in a high pitched voice.

“I know you are, Diana.” I said, giving her a hug. “But be kind, too. Especially to your sisters.”

After giving her a hug, I got up from the bed and carried her over to Orchid and Lilac.

“Diana, why don’t you show your sisters how to hit the ball, so they can also become strong like you? You can even show daddy how strong you are like this.”

Diana climbed down from my lap, and walked over to the game. She slapped the ball hard causing it to swing around the pillar. Both Orchid and Lilac watched her do it with big eyes. Bless their little hearts, they tried to copy her, but they were only a day old and Diana was twice the size of them. But that fact didn’t stop Diana from trying to show them, and it didn’t stop the other two from trying to learn.

I didn’t see the looks on either Berry or Lily’s faces as they watched me try to upend what was common sense to them, probably at the genetic level. I also wondered what they thought of this crazy husband of theirs…

But I’m a family man now. I want to be a good dad, and I want my little goblins to be good girls.

I also want them to be strong, I really do. Because there are a lot of bad men out there, and they need to be able to protect themselves. I don’t even want to think what is going to happen in fifteen moons or so, when they… come of age.

Will this Great Protector take them to meet other goblins, or bring them here?

I felt the darkness in my heart as I watched my daughters slap a dirtball with a rag tied around it, not wanting to share what I had. Even if they were goblins, and all I was being kept alive for was to give their mothers big seed to make more siblings… I wanted to be selfish and keep my cute daughters all to myself.

But really, I didn’t want to give my daughters away to a filthy, uncivilized, brutal goblin male… only for the cycles of violence and ignorance to continue...