The Goblin Warrior (Beneath Sands Book 2) by Emma Hamm (100 books to read txt) 📕

your people to remain where they are. We will provide food and request that they serve in our mines as much as they can. We will assist in building a small town during the night as they rest.”

Willow looked to Jane for confirmation that this was a good deal. At her sister’s nod, Willow looked back at the Queen and nodded firmly.

“Alright, I can’t imagine learning to be a Queen would be all that bad. If it helps everyone else, then I guess I can go back to school.”

Even though the words obviously made her sick, Willow had done the right thing in that moment.

“Then I will provide all the assistance you and your people need.”

“My Queen,” One of the Council members stood. He immediately sat back down when the Queen silenced his words with a glare.

“You are a council member. You offer your advice when I request it. I have taken all of your opinions into consideration, however, I believe you are wrong. We will help the humans and benefit from it. Now be silent.”

With a whoop of laughter, Jane rushed forward to scoop her little sister into her arms.

“You did it!”

Willow began laughing as well. She didn’t even mind that her sister was lifting her up as though she was a little girl again.

And though she was worried about what being a Queen would entitle, Willow knew for the first time in her life that she had made a difference for people that she loved.

She could get used to that.

15

Two years later

“Willow!”

The shout stretched across the vast expanse of sand that was now dotted with small houses. They weren’t large structures, but they were sturdy and safe. Thatch roofs covered stones that had been carefully placed to build walls.

Her home had become beautiful, more so than Jane could ever have expected.

Neither race truly wished to trust each other in the beginning. Jane couldn’t count the number of times she had pulled apart a human and a goblin that had gone toe to toe. But it was also reassuring that they were comfortable enough with each other to get into a screaming match.

At least there was never any worry that one was going to kill the other. As far as Jane was concerned, that was improvement.

Willow had continued to be her wild self. She had taken to the Queen as a third mother, Jane being her second and the mother she never knew, her first. The Queen had much to teach the little girl who remained just as wild and untamed as ever.

Jane had worried in the beginning that her little sister would turn into someone else. Surely the teachings of being royal were going to breed a young girl that would become entitled or bratty. Yet Willow changed very little in the two years of her teachings.

She grew into more of a woman. Her legs lengthened and her body shifted as she slowly changed into a more feminine form. The entire family was shocked to see that the wild little girl was going to be a stunningly beautiful woman. Willow was entirely ignorant to that fact.

Puberty added a certain sharpness to her tone much of the time, but Jane was pleased that she had made a good impression on the goblins.

It wasn’t hard for the women to charm the goblins. There were far too many males that hoped for families and far too many females here that wanted to try something new.

News of Ruric and Jane’s pregnancy had spread quickly. There had been many nights of celebration for the new life that had left the two of them exhausted.

“Willow, come on!” Jane shouted with a laugh. “We have to go!”

She could see the blowing golden hair of her sister at the farthest house. No matter how happy she was, Willow always looked towards the horizon for new and exciting adventures. She hadn’t had one in a long time. For now, their life had boiled down to simple peace.

Jane sat on a small porch in a rocking chair that one of the carpenters had built for her. The humans had managed quite well for themselves. Somehow they had even managed to find wood, though Jane was still a little confused on how they had managed to do so. She had a feeling it was from their old home in the City but she had learned to not ask questions.

The City remained a mystery to those who lived in the goblin town. They hadn’t heard anything from those who lived there, and none of her people could find it in themselves to care. Every now and then they would find a straggler asking for sanctuary which they would provide.

The newcomers from the City did not want to talk about what had become of their home.

“Jane, I don’t want to go yet. The sun is still up!” Willow had finally reached her sister.

“Just barely.” Jane replied as she stared at the red streaks in the sky.

Without a thought, Willow reached out for her little niece.

Ruric and Jane had welcomed a daughter into their family an estimated fourteen months after the child had been conceived. Catherine suspected that it was likely that goblin and humans simply had to carry the child inside them longer.

Jane had been ready to kill something for much of the latter part of the pregnancy. She was large enough to be carrying twins and wanted the creature out of her. Somehow, Ruric had managed to quell all of her crying spells and strange cravings with ease.

He was simply happy that they were going to have a child. It didn’t matter that the doctors didn’t have the equipment they needed to check over the baby and make certain it was healthy. He knew that their child was healthy long before she came into this world.

Willow hefted the light green baby into her arms and pinched one of her pointed ears. Ruric and Jane had named the child Hope as the name had