The rest of what was left of the day I spent trying to get to know the Equestrians a little better. I had wanted to Spend some time with the ogres, but Lagdon didn't want to hear it. I thought about putting my foot down and reminding the stubborn hobgoblin-prince-turned-land god- aid, that I was the one who was in charge of my own movements. But, given the fact that he was correct in saying that the ogres probably didn't want to see me anyways, and also that I needed to see the horse-like-race as well, I decided to put the ogre matter aside. For now.

  As it turned out, spending time with the Equestrians was a rather pleasant experience in the end. Not that I thought it wouldn't have been.

  Speaker was the one to introduce me around, while Draxly and Lagdon hovered menacingly behind me. The green stallion didn't seem to pay the two guards much of any mind, and simply started conversing with me in a mixture of their own interesting language was well as the more common tongue. I appreciated that, given it let me get a better grasp on their language, while also learning more about their way of life.

  Apparently, the equestrian 'way of life' was quite uneventful as a whole. For the most part, they seemed to live much like what I imagined a regular herd of horses would live. They traveled over the vast plains lands of the west, past the mountains in various herds, lead by the strongest stallions. They were not separated via breed at all, though Speaker did mention that some of the equestrian breeds preferred to live on their own, like the unicorns and Pegasus variants.

  This interaction I had with Speaker and the others was mostly just us having a nice walk around the outskirts of town, while I watched the images and sensations pass though our mental connection. I appreciated this way of communication the equestrians had: it made it so much easier to understand one another's point of view and intentions, with out constantly misunderstanding one another. It also meant that it was hard to hide negative emotions... which I am sure could cause a few fights over the years. But on the whole, I much preferred it over the verbal communication that most other intelligent races seemed to employ, both here and back in the world I once lived.

  By the time I got back to my new room and said good night to my guards, I was mentally done for the day. If I still experienced fatigue as I once had, I would probably be ready to pass out right then and there as well.

  Clearly Kishi thought so, as she had wasted no time settling herself as best she could on the bed, watching me wander about the room and absentmindedly rearrange things.

  "What is it that is troubling you?" She asked after about ten minutes and I still had not gotten ready for bed. I might not need sleep, but I still usually went through the motions and curled up with my fox guardian all the same. She would doze while I read some book about ancient goblin kings, or a sappy romance written by a kobold with too much time on their hands. The fact that I was wandering around, unable to relax, was clearly not lost on my friend.

  I sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, frowning. "I guess I am still hung up on the ogres..."

  "Why? You can not help their confrontational nature..." She was in silent thought for a moment before she continued, pretty cream colored head resting on her deadly paws, eyes hooded with fatigue. "So far, your interactions with other beings have gone differently, so I understand your frustrations. What you need to understand is that, though the ogres are among the intelligent monster races, they are still greatly in touch with the more violent instincts of our kind."

  I knew her to be right, but I still couldn't help but argue. "The goblins were like that too, though. That all worked out eventually."

  "Goblins are highly adaptable and will do just about anything if it means their survival. Besides," She added, letting her eyes drift shut. "They are not goblins any longer. As hobgoblins and goblane, their innate personality traits have shifted as well. If they had still been goblins, I would think that you would have had more trouble with them. Goblins are not as aggressive as ogres, but they are tricky and cunning. Upon evolving they tend to trade in a little of their brains for muscle, I have noticed."

  I chuckled at the fox's observation. That seemed to be true enough, and so I couldn't really argue with her. And it was also true that, so far, most of my monster interactions had been with beings that had been remarkably cooperative. Though, everything might be a little more inclined to working with a person if they told them they could save them from starvation and death. On top of that I was a god. Who argues with a god?

  Ogres, apparently...

  "What bugs me the most is that I kind of like Astrid." I admitted, leaning back against Kishi's warm body and closing my own eyes. "Sure, she has an attitude, and sems to have a grudge against the changes I am trying to make. But she also seems like a smart and collected leader. Stubborn and determined."

  "I also think this. The leaders of the ogre tribes made a wise choice in appointing her as their representative. However, the other woman- the one from the yellow tribe- clearly is not on anyone but her own side."

  Another point I saw as being correct. Varda of the Drallda tribe was not an Enna fan at all. Not that I thought that she would have been any happier with Aeros still being in power either. But at least the crazy dragon had a personality the venomous ogress could get behind.

  "I want to say that we need to come to a compromise... but that may not be possible either." I said listening to Kishi's rhythmic breathing. "Not if what Varda wants is free reign that involves attacking other races just because they feel like it."

  One of Kishi's large eyes opened. "You are a land god. If they want to live in your lands, then they must acquiesce. Plain and simple. You are already planning on providing them everything they could dream of to live a good long life: Food, uncorrupted water sources, pleasant weather, and the ability to grow and thrive without the threat of attack from other races. Without a land god- or even during the reign of Aeros, none of these things were guaranteed. Yet, in return for all of this prosperity you provide, you ask only that we all not needlessly confront others. You don't even require your servants devote themselves to you fully, allowing the harpies to still dedicate part of themselves to Fartha. Varda is a fool to spurn your good graces."

  The fox's voice grew deeper and had the note of a growl on the vowels by the time she had finished her little speech. I smiled at how my friend instantly jumped to my defense, even if the source of her ire was not currently present. I reached out a hand and scratched beneath one of Kishi's large ears. She leaned into my hand, but did not loose the haughty look in her now fully open eyes.

  "Thank you for saying that. Now go to sleep. You keep this up and we will both be awake all night." I chuckled, getting myself comfortable, before reaching past the fox to pick up the book I had been reading previously.

  Seeing me settle in, Kishi seemed to decide to let her own frustration go, setting her head back down and letting out a large huff of air from her lungs, making me smile.

  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  The next two days of deliberations were much the same. So much so that I had begun to question why I even came here in the first place. I clearly wasn't needed, not in the discussions at the very least. Still, I would rather be here and bored, then not be here only to find out that something horrible happened while I was twiddling my thumbs at home. I could twiddle them here just as well, it seemed.

  Besides, it was well worth it to get to know the other races a little better. Luckily, the summit only took place a couple hours a day. I thought things would have gone faster had they spent more time at it, but then Lagdon had given me a strange look, asking me if I thought it a good idea to keep a bunch of aggressive monsters cooped up at a table for long periods of time.

  The answer was that I absolutely did not think that that would have been a good idea.

  So, the rest of my time had been spent divvied up between the equestrians, harpies, and ogres. I also made sure to spend time with Brixie and Margund, as both were people I did not get to see too often, given they spent most of their time governing their own people.

  Currently I was with the ogres, a scowling Lagdon hovering so close one might have thought he was a backpack I was wearing, rather than the body guard he was supposed to be. Still, there would be no keeping the hobgoblin at a distance amongst the ogres while their hostility was still so obvious. We even had Draxly standing not too far off, nose wrinkled at the 'earthy' scent the ogres tend to have.

  Despite the others being on edge, I was actually starting to enjoy my time with Astrid and the ogres. It had taken a good many hours for them to open up, even a little, but once they had it had been fascinating to hear about their culture.

  Surprisingly, the most talkative of the group had been Astrid's daughter, Gwen. She was here to observe her mother, as she was to take over for Astrid when she died. Apparently that was the only way an Ogress could loose their position as a leader of a clan: death. According to Gwen, her mother had slain the last leader just after Astrid was born.

  I wasn't a fan of that way of doing things, but I had to admire Astrid. She had decided to become the leader so that she could assure a better life for her daughter. The chieftess was guaranteed food, even at the scariest of times, the protection of the tribe (Outside leadership fights), and honor. And, should Astrid die naturally before someone killed her, Gwen would inherit the job. Of course, that didn't mean that Gwen could hold that position. For this reason, the young ogress trained everyday. Even here, at the summit.

  I was currently speaking with her during her break. I was sure the only reason her hard ass mother had given her one was because I was there...

  As I spoke with the sweaty, somewhat out of breath Gwen, Astrid was several meters away, speaking with a handful of red and yellow ogres.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  "- Are you really going to come stay with the ogres Enna?" The red skinned Gwen asked, bringing my attention back to her. She took a swig of water from a leather bag she kept at her waist, not taking her shining eyes off me.

  "Yes." I said with a smile. It hadn't taken long to convince Gwen, who was a couple years younger than myself, to simply call me Enna. It was refreshing, as a matter of fact. Though it made Draxly glare from across the field. Lagdon constantly looked sour, so he could have been glaring too, and I just couldn't tell the difference. "At least, I would like to. It may take some time before I can spend so much time from the estate. Even this much time away is stressing me out." I admitted.

  It was true that the world would keep turning without me there, especially since my own job- providing the land with the energy to grow and thrive- did not require me to be in any particular place at all, and that the others ran things without me as it was. Sure, they ran things by me... but I had no clue how to run a growing town, therefore I left it all to the others.

  Gwen's bushy black brow raised, and a slight smirk stretched her full lips. "Does a goddess need to stress about anything? It seems like it would be a job that meant you needn't care about the small things."

  I chuckled. "Some people might say the same thing about being the chief of an ogre tribe. But you know that there is more to it then just being sure you don't get a club to the head when you are not at your best."

  "Hmmm, I suppose that that is true. Still, I think I would like it if you came to our Morell tribe."

  Smiling, I agreed. "I would like that too. Though, I'd like to visit all the tribes. I'd hate for the others to think I was playing favorites, after all."

  Gwen was about to say something when the tensing of Lagdon's muscles at my back alerted me that someone was approaching. He may have been keeping out of the conversation, but he was on alert.

  "A goddess need not care if people think she favors one group over another." Stated Astrid, setting a firm hand on her daughter's shoulder, before flashing an amused smirk at Lagdon's overprotective stance, then setting her intelligent eyes back on me. She had to look down to do it, but I was used to that now, given it was only the kobolds who were shorter than me these days. Maybe a few of the foxes as well, but not many. "Still, I think it would be a good idea to visit many tribes. If it is an understanding of our people you are interested in, that is. Many things are similar amongst the tribes, but many things are also different. It causes a lot of in-fighting amongst our tribes, but it is also these differences that make us strong."

  I beamed at the ogress. "Yes! That is how I want my land to be as well. All the monsters who live here are very different, but it is those differences that make us special and stronger. Where one group is lacking, another can fill in, and in that way, all of our bases are covered."

  I saw the baseball analogy went over the chiefess's head, but she offered me a single nod all the same. Then she looked at Gwen. "It is time to return to your training, daughter."

  Gwen sighed, took another drink of her water, then squared her shoulders and nodded. "It was nice speaking to you once again."

  We left the ogres to their training in the small field behind a dilapidated building, and started the short trudge back to the main part of town. Other than the ogres, there wasn't much activity here, and I was sure that was by design. None of the others wanted to be overly close t the ogres and their animosity.

  Still, it was not too far from here that another field was occupied, this time by the equestrian delegation. But, when Lagdon saw me looking her shook his head.

  "Not today, My Lady." He said, nudging me along.

  "Why not?" I asked, disappointed. There was still another two hours till the sun stared to descend beyond the tall stone spires, and the early night fall of Talon's pass set in. I didn't see why we couldn't spend that time with the interesting horse races. It was better than being cooped up in my room with Lagdon and the sour attitude he had since the ogres had arrived.

  "Rain is approaching." Stated Draxly who was walking slightly behind Lagdon and I. I followed the black furred fox's gaze to the opposite direction I had been gazing, and saw that there did appear to be storm clouds rolling in.

  Rain almost felt like a novelty in this world. It did drizzle from time to time, providing the world with much needed water, but full blown rain storms, complete with thunder and lightning seemed to be rare here. At least in my little chunk of the world.

  Then again, Talon's Pass and the surrounding land here between the forest and the plains beyond, did feel an awful lot like a rain forest. Maybe there was a lot of rain in this little section after all.

  "Fine..." I sighed. I wouldn't mind a little rain, but I was wearing a fairly nice robe lined with fox fur that I would rather not ruin if it could be helped.

  We wound our way through the empty streets, making our way back to our temporary home. Though the city was clean, it almost made the place even more eerie, like a ghost town. The silence in the cobbled streets was spooky and hollow, and the long shadows cast by the slowly setting sun made every building seem even taller than they already were. I wondered just how splendid this place would have been when it had been full of life.

  "I wonder if the harpies would be against bring this place back to its glory?" I mused as we passed a mostly intact store front. The door was missing, but I could still make out the skeleton of display shelves and a counter from within.

  "They seem more open than most monsters." Observed Lagdon, also eyeing the store front. Though, I was pretty sure that he was assessing for hidden threats, rather than imagining what it might have looked like with full shelves and people coming in and out like I was. "So long as their nests above are not disturbed, they may be fine with that plan."

  I counted it as progress for the hobgoblin that he didn't feel the need to inform me that I could just order the harpies to be fine with what ever plan I may or may not concoct. Either now or in the future.

  I was just contemplating the logistics of turning this place into a second joint monster village, when an ear splitting scream shattered the dusk silence. Lagdon pushed me behind him, while Draxly employed his insane speed to immediately head for the disturbance.

  "That was an Equestrian." I observed, as I followed Lagdon at a fast pace after the foxie male who was now out of sight.

  Lagdon nodded his grey head and I bit my lip. I hoped it was just a case of a pair of stallions getting in a fight, but I rather doubted it. That just was not my luck.

  Being ahead of me, and his bulk blocking my view, Lagdon saw the source of the commotion before I did and I heard him hiss out a curse. Stepping out from behind the hobgoblin once I was sure no attack was coming, I saw the full scope of the problem.

  A unicorn stallion stood pawing the cobbles as a small crowd of monsters began to form around him, all of them having grim faces and whispering to one another hurriedly. On the ground a few feet from the stallion, propped up against a white washed wall, was a clearly dead harpy.

  I let out an involuntary groan and took a few steps closer, seeing that Draxly was leaning over the corpse, a hand on his dagger, and his other lifting up the beaded shirt of the harpy to get a better look at his wounds.

  He was a young man with mousy brown hair and skin that had gone grey with death. his taloned legs were sprawled out, their white and brown feathers soaked in the blood that was pooled beneath him. On the walls was yet more blood, splattered and smeared grotesquely.

  "I don't see any cuts." Observed Draxly in a grim voice. "Now stab wounds or claw marks..."

  "Was it the horse?!" Sneered a random Morell ogre in the growing crowd. He looked more excited than sickened.

  "No." Stated Draxly simply.

  "And how do you know?" Snapped another man, this one an elderly harpy male. He was hunched with age but that did not seem to affect the anger I could see simmering in both his gaze and clenched fists.

  The imperious Draxly just continued with his observations, but Lagdon was more inclined to address the man. " The unicorn's white pelt is still pristine, aside from his hooves. No doubt soaked in the blood pool. If he had done this he would be covered."

  As if to confirm this, the unicorn swung his head from side to side and pawed those blood tainted hooves on the stone once again. I could see that his eyes were wide and he was fighting the instinct to run. Equestrians may have been powerful in their own right, but a horse was a horse, and the scent of blood was probably freaking him out.

  "Not to mention-" Spoke up Draxly once again, eyes narrowed on the corpse. "- I highly doubt an equestrian could tear a limb out of a grown man's shoulder socket. That likely requires apposable thumbs..."

  Sure enough, I could now see that the harpy's left arm, the one mostly hidden from me on the other side of his body, was clearly missing.

  "It is over here." Stated a cold, angry voice in a very calm manner. Despite the change in the normal tone, I new immediately who it was.

  The crowd parted and, sure enough, Yevette came into view. Her usual smile was no where to be seen, and her eyes were filled with deep sadness and rage as she gazed down at the young man dead against the wall. behind the harpy elder I could make out a bloody mass that I assumed to be the poor man's missing arm.

  "Oh, Forest..." She said in a pained whisper, standing next to Draxly and looking down at the young man.

  "You knew him?" Lagdon asked, eyes roaming the crowd, looking for suspicious people.

  "Yes... He is a young page. He assists our record keeper. He couldn't hurt a fly even if he wanted to." She bent down, not caring that her fancy robes dragged through the man's blood, reached out a wrinkled hand, and shut his partially opened eyes. "Who could have done this...?" She whispered, mostly to herself.

  "It could only have been the ogres!" Snarled a harpy woman from the back of the crowed. with her one, shouted exclamation, the hushed whispers erupted into a chorus of bellowing and accusations.

  "How dare you blame us!" Snapped the ogre male that had spoken earlier. He was now joined by several others, from both tribes. It was as if they had instinctively formed up to protect themselves and be ready for a fight. "That damn hobgoblin could have torn a flimsy harpy arm off just as well as an ogre could."

  Lagdon glared at the man, but said nothing. It was true that hobgoblins had enough strength to do this, as the ogre stated, but if there was one person who absolutely did not do this, it was Lagdon. He was with me at all times.

  "To suggest that Lagdon is responsible for this, is the same as to say our land god herself is responsible." Yevette said coldly to the ogre. "He is never from her side, and therefore, him being the one to commit this murder would mean that he had done it under Lady Enna's supervision."

  "That wasn't-" Stammered the man, shooting me a nervous look. He wasn't afraid, but I also bet that he didn't want to be the man who went and accused a god of wrong doing either.

  "Though," Continued Yevette, cutting the man off. "I agree that a hobgoblin- maybe even a goblane- could have been capable." she sighed and got to her feet, looking weary and a little heart broken. "This needs investigating. I can think of nothing this man could have done that would have justified this response in turn. I can only assume that this was cold blooded murder."

  "And one for sport." Said Draxly darkly as he leaned in closer to examine the man's stump of an arm. "He was alive when this was removed..."

  I shivered at the mental image as the crowed grew silent for a fraction of a second before erupting in conversation once again. People were screaming, accusations were flying, and it looked like multiple fights were about to break out.

  "Enough." I said, but it was too quiet for anyone to hear besides Lagdon, Draxly, and Yvette. As a cold anger filled me, I clenched my fists and, through clenched teeth, stated louder: "Enough!"

  I sensed a zing of power escape me with that one word, and a shiver passed over the crowed, all of them growing silent in an instant.

  "This will not stand." I said, my blood boiling with rage like it hadn't done since I had to fight Mittens back in the Dark. "This was meant as a meeting of peace, not an excuse to slaughter innocent young men on their way home. I will not stand for this. Ogre, hobgoblin, or a wild rabbit from the forest... I do not care who was responsible, they will be found and they will be punished! Everyone not involved, leave!" I said, slashing an angry hand through the air.

  There was a seconds hesitation on the part of the crowded monsters, but a second furious gaze from me had them all turning tail and scurrying off. I was rather impressed with myself, to be honest.

  "There are flowers growing out of your hair, dear." Yevette stated, eyes still sad, but a slightly amused turn to her mouth as she stood up and stretched out a hand. When she pulled it back it was to reveal that she had plucked four or five small blossoms out of my hair.

  "Oh." I said rather dumbly. "Sorry..." Clearly I had started to shift into my 'true form' and some people liked to refer to it as.

  "No, I thank you for getting angry on behalf of my kind." Sighed the older harpy, looking over the gruesome scene once again. "This is not good. Not good at all."