After the small ceremony was over, things around Rick’s new home kicked up in intensity. The representatives from all the Clans arrived in full force, and all the furniture for the building had arrived along with them, so it was a bit hectic.

  Rick had moved clear of all of that, though, and he was now having a meeting with his new Royal Guard Commander in her office of the building.

  Of course, he was using her desk at the moment, and she was standing.

  A few months ago, he likely would’ve stood there for a while before telling her to sit—especially since it was her office. But Chiefess Hugala hadn’t slacked in her efforts.

  “Commander Meegra. Break down the Royal Guard rotation.”

  “Yes, My King. While in Goblin lands, Groups 1–5 will be the primary guarding detail. Two groups will be responsible for guarding your person, one group in reserve, and the remaining two on a rest cycle—they’ll rotate from there.

  “Groups 6–8 will be responsible for guarding your dwelling in day and night intervals at all times. One group in the day, another in the night, and one on a rest cycle, then they will rotate from there.

  “Groups 9 and 10 will be your hands and feet across the Clans. They will be primarily responsible for delivering messages, running errands, and anything else you deem fit.

  “My main position will be here to coordinate groups but will go where I am needed.

  “Outside of Goblin lands, all groups and personnel will be deployed together as part of your guard detail.”

  Rick received the information with a nod.

  When the Royal Guard plan was initially made, the idea was to have the main guards be the 10 Tier Fours and 1 Tier Five Commander, but that got scrapped after the tests. The Tier Threes proved they were valuable assets and not just Goblins that needed to be trained for the future.

  They could be relevant right now—today.

  Anyway.

  He told the Commander of his upcoming plans to give her a chance to organize the groups before the meeting ended, and Rick departed shortly thereafter to head East.

  And that began his tours around the 14 Goblin Clans.

  Well, it was more accurate to say 13, as the Hessel Clan was pretty much Rick’s forever home for the last few months.

  Much to the jealousy of the other Clans.

  Anyway, Rick would spend the next couple of months traveling and learning about the Clans and meeting his people.

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  He found it somewhat funny that he was doing what was pretty much an election tour. He was even picking up little Goblin babies—which was somewhat hard to catch, as they grew pretty fast. Of course, he was accompanied by his guard detail the entire time.

  One group was next to him at all times, while the other group was spread out a bit further in a circular formation.

  None of the Clans he visited had a problem with it, though. It was expected that the King had a guard following him around.

  Of all the Clan visits, though, there were two that stood out to him the most. Or, more accurately, had the biggest impacts.

  The Varn and the Thornek Clans.

  Headed by Chiefess Jluug, and Chief Darug, respectively.

  The Varn Clan was a proud Clan of fighters—of all shapes and sizes. They didn’t really specialize in any one thing over another. Just proud, organized, and honorable fighting.

  That was how they were when they came to be, and that is how they would always be.

  Hurgs.

  A member of the Royal Retrieval team who was one of the members that sacrificed themselves for the sake of allowing Rick to escape.

  He was the third son of Chiefess Jluug.

  A rather slender Maglin that commanded water mana as if it was another limb she was born with. Visiting her Clan and meeting her properly instead of at a council meeting was the first time that Rick learned of the fact she had lost a son.

  The only one he knew of was the relationship between Rogu and his father, and then he later learned of Loruk and his.

  But no other news regarding any parents or family was delivered to him.

  Something he was only reminded about when he reached the Varn Clan and Chiefess Jluug informed him of it.

  He wanted to be angry at himself.

  At the fact that he hadn’t even bothered to ask about the families of the other Goblins.

  And the only thing that calmed him down in a way—but also drove his desire for strength even higher—were the two very similar conversations he had with Chiefess Jluug and Chief Darug.

  The latter had lost his daughter.

  Sarug of the Thornek Clan.

  And he believed the message he was trying to pitch to Rick.

  That they weren’t the only Goblins dying.

  Rogur was a special case, as the Tier Six Goblin Chief was known to make rash and somewhat emotional decisions—which was why Chief Kog sought Rick out about him in the first place.

  But after speaking with Jluug and Darug and hearing plainly from both of them that Goblins were dying all the time—here on the front lines of Mir and around other places on the continent—

  Both their children could’ve quite easily died fighting a stray Tier Six terror from deep within Mir before one of the Chiefs got to it.

  But to die in an effort to protect the King?

  Similarly to Chief Rogur, they felt honored by it.

  Rick, on the other hand—

  Didn’t agree.

  Though he would never voice that thought to anyone except Velora, as it would be disrespectful to the loyalty shown by the Goblins—something Chiefess Hugala made sure to ingrain in him.

  Anyway… there was only one thing left to do after meeting with all the Clans.

  …

  Rick had just made it back to his new abode, and Commander Meegra was there to welcome him.

  “Welcome back, My King.”

  “Meegra.”

  “Yes, My King.”

  “Send word to all the Clans. I am heading to the frontlines in two days. And I will not leave until I reach the Sixth Tier.”

  “Understood, My King.”

  Rick left to his training room to steel his nerves.

  And Commander Meegra immediately began barking off orders to the rest of the Royal Guard, who had all gathered.

  “All Groups, with the exception of Group 9 and 10, prepare for battle! We will soon depart for the frontlines with our King! Groups 9 and 10, spread the word among the Clans immediately.”

  It only took two days for every single Clan to be made aware of the King’s intentions.

  Something they knew was coming eventually—as it was needed. But just because it was needed wouldn’t shake the fact that there would be worry involved.

  And so, just like when Rick first arrived in the Dark Lands of Mir, the Clans were once again in a flurry of activity.

  The King would be going to war on their behalf, after all.

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