I put a teapot on the table in front of my guests. Rhonda, the redhead, smiled and eagerly held out her cup for me to fill. Mona, the black haired girl, slowly did the same. Rhonda had come by with Mona, who was another one of my friends and fellow field workers. She was originally from a town called Pinebrooke that was hit hard by a winter storm. Her family had left the town in order to survive but on Mona survived the trek to Amberholm. She was adopted by a family that worked one of the breweries.

I didn't expect her to bring Mona over, but I appreciated the company.

'So,' I asked, 'anything interesting going on with either of you?'

"The brewery is expanding," Mona said. "I don't care much for the noise, but we're doing well."

"My cousin Micheal is getting married in the summer." Rhonda told me. I raised my eyebrows a bit. Micheal was a soldier the goblins captured during their invasion of Amberhold but they released him to his family a week after his captivity. He came back without a scratch, scared but also very confused. He and the other prisoners weren't abused at all. They were fed regularly, no torture sessions, no beatings. It was so odd.

"What do you think of his bride to be?"

"Susan seems like a girl with a good head on her shoulders. She's no pixie either. Works on a cattle farm. Might be able to wrestle a mountain troll."

I gave an awkward laugh.

"That strong, eh?" 

"Well, maybe not that strong, but Micheal saw her break the jaw of some lout in a pub that tried pawing at her with one punch and it was love at first sight." I laughed.

"She'll raise some very hardy children, I'm sure." said Mona.

"Aye. Her daughters won't take shit from no one."

I smiled then stood up a little when I heard a knock at the front door. Mona put up her hand and smiled back at me.

"Please. Let me get that." She walked over the the door and giggled when she opened it.

"Right this way." I turned my head to get a glimpse of she let in and gasped. I saw a goblin in purple robes enter, right beside Mona who had a beaming smile. He carried a staff that looked like a gnarled root with a large emerald on the top. He grinned at me. Before I could scream, Rhonda put her hand on my mouth and the other around my waist. 

"We know that there's no way we can make you understand why we're do this with just words." Rhonda said. Luckily, we don't have to. We brought someone along who can show you exactly why. It's for you own good, you'll see." My heart started racing. What was she saying? What was going to happen to me?

The emerald on the goblin's staff began to glow as soon as he got right in my face. Green light filled my vision. All of a sudden, I felt warm. My body started to loosen up. I was calming down.

"I think she's nearly ready, wise one," Rhonda said.

"She's almost there, girl," the goblin said in a raspy voice. "Give her a moment."

"Of course, wise one," Rhonda replied. "I should not have shown such ignorance in your presence."

"I accept your apology." 

"Would you like our assistance, master?" asked Mona.

"I want you to keep a lookout. I do not want interruptions. Mona bowed.

"As you command, master." 

"Look into the light, Melinda. It is all you wish to see." I nodded. He was right. It was so beautiful.

"Do you trust me, Melinda?" the goblin mage asked. 

"Yesss..." Something told me the goblin was a man of integrity, of deep wisdom I need to hear.

"You should, you know. I've helped you friends here become so happy. Would you like me to help you be as happy as they are?" I nodded again.

"Please...yes..." 

"Good. They looked into the crystal the same as you are now. They let its light wash over them, calm them. And when I spoke, they listened. Will you hear what I told them? Will you listen and embrace it with all of your being?" 

"I...will. I must...know."

"I told them that they have every reason to trust their goblin rulers, to be proud of being the Karagoll Under-Empire's subjects. Their own lives and the rest of Amberhold have become so much richer once we annexed the city. As are you. You are happier, healthier, more prosperous, and safer. And you will pledge your undying obedience and admiration to the Karagoll Under Empire and Under-Lord Xalg. You will gleefully obey the orders of your goblin rulers, you will revel in serving them however you can. To please us will fill you with delight you've never felt before. Because you will know that we have your best interests at heart."

I soaked in every word of what I was being told. I had nothing to fear from the goblins that ruled Amberhold. It was all for the best. They cared for us as no one else had, cared for me as no one else had. They were not just good, they were mighty as well. They could provide for a city of over two hundred thousand souls.

Yes! Amberhold will flourish as part of the Karagoll Under-Empire! I am proud to call Under-Lord Xalg my king! I will see the goblins as my rightful rulers!

"Master...I trust you..." I panted. "I trust the goblin rulers of Amberhold. I yearn to please them. I am proud to be a subject of the Under-Empire. Command me, master! I will obey!" The light faded, and the goblin mage smiled. Rhonda let me go and I looked at the goblin's rings. I slowly looked up at him.

"Master...may I?" He nodded and I bent down to kiss each of his rings.

"Master, I yearn to serve. How may I be of use to you?"

"You will come with Rhonda and Mona to the citadel," the mage said. "There is a celebration planned for the Under-Lord's birthday, and we will need serving girls and pleasure slaves. You will perform both duties." I beamed with joy. The goblins wished for me to part of something so grand? They wished to partake in the pleasure of the flesh with me?

"I'd be delighted! Master, will you be there?"

"Yes." I giggled.

"I...want to give you a gift during the celebrations." 

"And what would that be?" Rhonda asked.

"I would like to give master...my maidenhood." Rhonda looked at me with surprise. Even the mage looked a bit shocked.

"You have not..."

"No, master. I have never been with a man before. I want to thank you for enlightening me. I would love for you to be my first. Consider it a show of loyalty to the Under-Empire." The goblin laughed.

"I will ensure that I have the first crack at you. You should be rewarded."

"Thank you master! When do we leave?"

"The feast begins at seven this evening but we will need you and your friends to help prepare. But right before we leave, I must give Rhonda her reward." Rhonda gasped with joy.

"Kneel." the goblin ordered. She did so and he put the emerald in front of her eyes. It started to glow once more and her eyes began to shimmer with the same light. 

"You will forget what told me you wished to forget. You never insulted me when we first me." 

"I...never...insulted...you..." Rhonda still had a sleepy smile on her face.

"Let the memory unravel, like a knitted scarf becoming undone. Forget. Forget. Forget." Rhonda repeated the words.

"Now, I wish for you to listen carefully. Ever since you began the path to womanhood, the though of my kind kindled something in you that human men never could. You began to fantasize about goblins. You began to lust after goblins. Your greatest dream was for one of our trade caravans to come into Amberhold so you could join it. You wished to pay for your passage with your body. You were bullied by those who know of your secret passion. You were mocked. You stayed silent when we first entered the city, fearful of the judgement of others should you approach our soldiers. But you worked up the courage and offered yourself to a patrol, and you've been our slut over since."

"I've been..." Rhonda licked her lips. "Your slut."

"Yes. And tonight will be a night more delightful than any you've had since our takeover." Rhonda began to pant hungrily.

"Yes...master." The light faded and Rhonda blinked a bit before kissing the mage on the lips. 

"Excellent. It's taken hold. You three will follow me immediately." 

"We obey!" we shouted.