"And so despite that the boy became a king and together with his only love he ruled the land he swore to protect."

"The end."

Hestia was looking at the goblin's expression. He looked like Oliver, or rather behave like him at the time. They both listened to stories with such serious faces. They would only contemplate her words and remain in complete silence. Well. Gob would sometimes ask about some words he didn't know.

She wasn't sure how she ended up in this storytelling position. Gob just kept asking about everything as they went deeper into the conversation. Many children back in the orphanage would also just ask. Maybe answering basic questions was her innate talent, or maybe she just knew what someone isolated from the world would want to hear.

As she looked at his face she pondered. He sometimes looked despicable. His eyes were brimming with cold intelligence, yet the longer she talked the less threatening he truly was. After all this time she could say without a doubt. He was like a child. An intelligent child similar to all the noisemakers from the city.

If Gob were human, he would without a doubt fit in the dangerous crowd of the underage bandits. It's just that he isn't human.

"Why end.. ending happy when they not dead yet?"

He finally finished thinking about the story. Hestia continued to study him. If his skin wasn't green, he would just be yet another bandit hidden in the depth of this forest. She looked right into his eyes and asked.

"Would you rather finish the story when they weren't happy?"

He looked a bit shocked at her remark. Like he didn't consider the possibility of happiness.

"They might be happier when dead..."

"No one wants to die. That is surely true for every race."

"Why would I want someone to be happy? Why not me happier?"

Gob stood up and looked at the girl. He wanted to leave as it was getting late yet he stopped in his tracks. Hestia was suddenly crying. He was completely stunned. Did he do something to her? He watched a few lonely tears roll down her face. As she realised that she was crying she turned her face away from his gaze.

"Oh sorry.. it's not.. ughm. Are you leaving now?"

Gob didn't understand what just happened. He knew human woman did cry when hobgoblins were coming to them, but never had he noticed it himself. Flustered, he responded.

"Will bring food."

"Oh will you get some berries?"

He shook his head.

"You like fish?"

~

It was the first time in her life to see something like this. As she stood near the hut entrance she quietly observed this weird quarrel. Old goblin was laying at his bed like always. Meanwhile Gob was glaring at him with the most murderous aura she ever saw. It was somewhat cute.

"Give it."

The Old goblin was smiling. His hands were clenched onto a small rectangular object.

Although Fishcatcher didn't know what kind of treasure, it was she knew it must have been valuable to both the Old goblin and Gob alike. Gob was furious. He didn't mind letting the fish she gave him trample on the ground. Old goblin was smiling with an uncommon tenacity Fishcatcher never saw prior.

He was truly fighting for the object with all his might. Despite Gob's strength he couldn't budge the treasure even an inch.

"Oh!"

Fishcatcher screamed and covered her mouth with her hands when Gob suddenly took out his dagger. She felt her cheeks getting hot when both goblins suddenly looked at her.

"Ugh Keruek?"

Gob ignored her antics and focused on the Old goblin. His dagger slowly moved towards the old chief throat.

"Give."

The Old goblin smiled despite the lack of teeth and spoke up.

"Say the word."

Gob was surely pushed to his limit. A small bloody line could already be seen at the Old goblin's neck.

"Say the word."

"Give please."

"Other."

"Give Keruek."

"Other."

Gob shouted something and pulled the dagger away from the Old man's neck. With a bewildered look he spoke.

"Give... Father."

The Old goblin somehow extended his smile even further and laughed in celebration letting go of his treasure. Gob took it from his hands and recollected the fish. He even took a small basket with him. As the laughing continued and slowly turned into a regular old cackling Fishcatcher finally entered a hut only to be passed by leaving Gob.

She stayed near the Old goblin as his last bit of strength was spent. He breathed with visible problems, yet he was still smiling.

Fishcatcher looked around the hut and wondered what kind of treasure was being kept here? She was rummaging through Old goblin's stuff many times, yet she found nothing of value...

Meanwhile Gob was coming straight back to the human girl. Basket full of fish on his back and the only book he ever touched clutched safely in his hand.