The port town felt like it held the last remnants of the empire’s summer, and it was here that the cavalry knight stood, gazing out at the sea stretching out before him. Fearing for the nation’s future, he had recommended the empire strengthen and expand its navy, and his impassioned cries had seen him win permission to do so.
The cavalry knight had moved with the entirety of his people to this port town, and he stood now at a stone wharf, watching the goblins at work. Some carried heavy packages as if they were nothing, some threw recently caught seafood into baskets, and others floated upon the water as they rested their weary bodies. The cavalry knight was nothing if not impressed by the fishkin.
“These people are an indispensable part of us strengthening our navy,” he said. “Their mobility in the water will be a great boon, and we’ll need it for a truly powerful naval force.”
“Truer words never spoken,” said the knight’s attendant. “It would appear that Sanserife keeps them at arm’s length, and as such their navy is nothing much to speak of. Cooperation is the key word... I would discard any desire to control or manage such a race. Sea, land—their world is an entirely different one to ours, and only the gods could ever truly rein them in.”
“Yes, I’m well aware of that,” the cavalry knight replied. “I don’t know how it works in Sanserife, but seafood is a dietary staple for us. If we were to anger the goblins and lose access to it, the damage would be significant. I had heard that they do not simply trade in seafood but maintain balance in the sea by actively avoiding overfishing. I understand how terribly unwise it would be to get on their bad side.”
“Indeed, indeed... Seafood is an essential part of life for us Meowgen, and a healthy working relationship with the goblins is essential. With their cooperation, we can make the most of our unique family characteristics and see a grand navy built. The emperor will be told of your grand strategy, and the future for both the emperor and the Meowgen line is bright.”
“Perhaps if everything should fall in our favor, yes, but we cannot take anything for granted. You have keen instincts, and your past comments still worry me. We must also remember it is Dias whom we face... We will move slowly and surely, and should the worst come to pass we will fall back on the plans we made.”
The plan in a worst-case scenario was for the Meowgens to flee the empire entirely and fall in with Dias. The cavalry knight had worked hard to see everything in place should it come to pass, and most importantly he had seen his entire family moved with him to this port town. Ordinarily, such a thing would have been impossible—after all, the young and the elderly had no place in a military mission—but through smooth talking, scheming...and a few bribes, the cavalry knight had made it reality. It had not been easy, but it was better than any of his people one day becoming a prisoner of war or a hostage.
“But with the goblins aiding us in our efforts, we will never even have to consider such options!” continued the cavalry knight. “We will build and strengthen our navy, win battles on the open sea, and accumulate wealth for our family. And all the while, we feast upon the bounties of the sea! I knew it was the right move, bringing everybody along with us! Look for yourself! Today the children eat, and they eat well!”
The cavalry knight pointed to a storehouse not far from the wharf, where a child no older than five or six ate a fish that a goblin had just caught. The child’s face was alight with delight, their catlike ears twitching and their tail trembling with excitement. In the empire’s northwest, fish was near impossible to get a hold of, and even when one could acquire seafood the most they could hope for was the disgusting pickled variety. But here, fresh fish was in abundance, and the Meowgen people could eat to their hearts’ content.
The cavalry knight’s heart was warmed to see his people eating so well, and he knew that, as their leader, he had made the right decision. With the support of the goblins the empire’s navy would grow strong enough to fight back against the kingdom. And following their great achievements would naturally be great wealth in equal measure. The cavalry knight nodded to himself, and his attendant smiled at his master’s confidence.
For a time, the cavalry knight was blessed by the rays of a bright future on the horizon. But after about ten days, that view was covered by dark clouds.
It started in the early hours of the morning, when the cavalry knight was woken up by a great commotion and voices speaking excitedly among one another. He ran out to the wharf, where he found the goblins running around excitedly and diving into the sea. He stopped one of them to ask what was going on.
“Heroes among us have successfully trekked across what we thought was only barren wasteland!” cried the goblin. “But on their adventure they met gods! They formed a bond of friendship with a heroic savior! Now that they have returned home to the western seas, a grand banquet is being thrown in a few days’ time to celebrate their feats! It is our duty as goblins to attend... To miss this party would be to invite only lifelong regret! Sir Meowgen, I apologize for how sudden this is, but we will return to work in short order!”
“W-Wait! You said west? How far west?! Are you talking about imperial territory or Sanserife?! And who is this heroic savior you speak of?!”
The cavalry knight had not been able to catch everything the goblin had said, such was the fishkin’s excitement, but the goblin did not stop swimming and instead raised his voice on his way out.
“I don’t know for sure! But given the distance, it’s not imperial territory! The hero’s name was Baar-something or other! We’ll all be back after the banquet, and then we’ll tell you everything!”
And just like that, the goblins were gone, leaving the cavalry knight stunned.
“Dias,” he muttered, crumpling to his knees. “Again...”