“Say, Theo, wouldn’t you like to go swimming in a bigger area?” Cynthia asked him.

  Theo blinked and glanced up at his mistress. “Swim? Like in tub?”

  Cynthia chuckled. “Think bigger dear.”

  “Swim big? Like river?” Like all the older goblins and hobs? How did she know he was just about to ask if they could go outside? It was probably just a coincidence. Like unfortunately coming across a bigger goblin's path while doing his chores. It was just bad luck that led to Theo having to start all over after being shoved down to the ground. And it was good luck that Cynthia wanted to go outside.

  In the Creeping Water Tribe, every goblin had a task for them to complete. Essential chores that kept the rest of the tribe on their feet. Theo's job had been to collect firewood. Mainly kindling such as small sticks and brambles. He simply wasn't strong or big enough for many other jobs. There had been plenty of times where a bigger goblin had knocked over or tripped Theo while he’d been trying to work. He could remember the laughter coming from them as he knelt down to pick everything up again.

  “More like a lake but you can’t go in too deep alright. Be sure you can touch the ground at all times,” Cynthia told him.

  “Okay," Theo lied. Where was the fun in that? Why go into a lot of water at all if you couldn’t enjoy all of the water?

  She smiled. “Good. Then let us go get changed into some more appropriate swimming attire.” She picked him up and stood back up. She put the book away before heading back to her room to get changed inside her closet. She came out in a pale bikini that nearly matched her hair.

  “Cynthia? Where lake?” Theo asked as he watched her approach him in her very revealing apparel. It looked like her large chest was going to burst out of her clothing… Come to think of it… Theo had never seen a human with breasts that large before.

  When Cynthia began to change him out of his clothing and help him into some swimming trunks the little goblin finally snapped his gaze away from her oversized breasts and put his mind into thinking about something else. A lake… It would be a nice place to sneak off to by himself if he ever needed to.. And what were these? He pulled at the swimming trunks. Didn’t people just swim naked? Goblins did so all the time. And he and Cynthia had done so in the bath as well.

  Cynthia picked him up again and headed outside. “It’s in the woods behind the mansion.”

  “Mansion?” Theo had never heard of that word either. What was a mansion?

  “It’s the place you’re in right now. You could basically consider it a big house of sorts.”

  “Big house. Mansion big.” This place was big. Bigger than any house the tribe had ever tried to raid from the stories he remembered hearing about. Maybe a hundred times larger than any of those houses.

  Redtear, a hobgoblin taller than most of the humans Theo had ever seen so far, would be sitting around on a log looking sad. He always looked sad. Other goblins had told Theo that the hobgoblin had been sad since his mate died. That was over nine years ago, before Theo had ever been born.

  The hobgoblin would tell Theo and other goblins what it was like to raid humans. Redtear would lean on his axe and close his eyes and speak to the curious listeners with memories. He would talk about what the human dwelling looked like. He would mention things like dogs and cats. He mentioned horses and cows. He talked about feathered birds that did not fly called chickens. And of course Redtear talked about the killing. What it was like to take a human life.

  Goblins raided humans. They raided farms, they raided villages, and they raided humans that simply lived alone. Goblins would scout out good targets, gather as much information as they could, then they would move in the middle of the night to lay claim to anything worth grabbing.

  Theo remembered the first time he had eaten a human body. It had been a finger. It had been small and crunchy. Nothing special. Just another kind of meat to eat.

  It had been because of Theo’s first raid on humans that led to him being captured in the first place. Theo had set out with Hunter, Nimbledash, and Boghar…

  Theo closed his eyes as he remembered hiding and staring into Boghar’s eyes as he bled out with a pitchfork buried into his neck. He recalled seeing one of the humans walking around with Nimbledash’s head, dangling from his hand by one of her pigtails. Theo hadn’t seen Hunter die… maybe the silent goblin had gotten away. Good.

  Cynthia chuckled. “That's right. It’s very big. Most nobles typically live in mansions.”

  Theo opened his eyes and banished the thought of the other goblins from his mind as he looked up at the human in front of him. “What Cynthia do?” he asked. “What noble do?” What did she do all day? What did nobles do to get such big houses? Did they steal them?

  “Well once a noble lady gets married, she would be in charge of making sure the house runs well and manages the finances of the place. They take care of the household ordeals and deal with the children and set up events within the mansion while the husband works on the family businesses as well as helping to govern the land around them for the King.”

  “So… Cynthia does nothing?” He asked with a frown. So her father and mother did all the work. And Cynthia got to do nothing?

  “My job is to socialize and find a suitable husband. They are both a very important part of a noble’s life. It’s how we form connections and build up power within the social world.”

  So Cynthia talked to people. Theo could remember what the shaman called goblins that stood around talking all day doing nothing like Leafbite. “Hmm. Lazy.”

  “Lazy?” Cynthia burst out into laughter. “Not exactly dear. The connections we form are very important, you know. So it’s my duty to help my family keep a good face and to prosper in such a way. We have to be very picky about who we socialize with and what we do or don’t say. One wrong move and your family’s name could be tarnished. You’re basically representing your family when you socialize and it’s a job of its own.”

  “How?” Theo asked. What harm could talking do to someone and that person’s family? “How harm?” He corrected himself

  “Well if you offend the wrong person or someone of higher status, it could ruin both your family and reputation. You could be outcasted from society. However, if you gain their favor it could give you plenty of benefits. We need our connections in order to prosper within the social world.”

  “Hmmm. sounds dumb.” Theo waved his hand around. “Why not take? Talks and talks. Threats and favors. Why not just take?” It was a very goblin thing to ask. When a goblin tribe wanted something they didn’t ask for it, they didn’t try to buy or negotiate. They just took it. Theo looked around the mansion and wondered if he escaped and told his tribe, maybe told two tribes… How hard would it be to raid this big house? How hard would it be to take others? “Like kings, why not take?” Didn’t humans fight each other other times for stuff? What was the point of this talking and social business, favors, and so forth? It didn’t sound like something goblins did.

  “Our world would be in total chaos and violence if we just took as we wanted dear. People would never be able to live in peace. No one would be safe and unnecessary innocent lives would be lost in such a hell hole.”

  Wasn’t the world already chaotic? Wasn’t the world already violent? Theo could remember all the time’s he’d ever been beaten. He remembered watching fights, getting into a fight himself. Hearing the stories of blood and violence and death. He remembered Boghar and Nimbledash. How come Cynthia hadn’t noticed how violent and chaotic the world was? Maybe it was because she just spent her life talking to people and living in big safe and fancy houses. Maybe the violent world he knew was not here. Perhaps he had been stolen and bought into a whole new world that was oblivious to the other violent world. And what was that other new word Theo didn’t know? “Innocent?” He asked curiously.

  “Innocent? Innocent people are people that did nothing wrong or were even involved at all. Those who are just trying to live without trouble.”

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Well, by that definition then innocent people got hurt all the time. What difference did it make if it was fighting for something or starving in the streets? Were all humans like Cynthia? Stuck in this little blind world of their own?

  “Swim lots?” He didn’t feel like talking with her about the issues of innocents. He doubted she’s ever watched a goblin child starve and waste away because the tribe hadn’t performed a raid. She wasn’t like him. Or most other humans. As she said, she was a noble. And this was her life. Talking, swimming, eating, reading, and whatever else at her leisure. He doubted she had the faintest clue as to what innocent truly meant. And if she did then it was all she probably knew.

  Behind the mansion was a large open clearing with a forest further back behind it. An old and broken tower could be barely seen if you looked for it in just the right spot amongst all the trees. A large lake sat between the mansion and the woods, bright blue water that shined like a sheet of glittering crystals under the afternoon sun.

  Cynthia smiled and sat him down upon arrival at the lake. “Yes, we’ll swim lots dear. Now remember what I told you dear?”

  “Stay in small water.” Theo nodded because that’s what she told him to do, He wasn’t about to go against her wishes right now. Theo was growing to be quite appreciative of Cynthia and all she was doing for him.

  “That's right! Good.” She praised him.

  Then she moved into the water and Theo started splashing her. The two giggled and laughed as they splashed each other with cool water. Theo began trying to spit water at her, causing her to flee briefly with a squeal. Theo gave chase, spitting water at her back as best he could. The noble lady turned around and a not so noble grin came over her face as she began to splash Theo in huge waves with both arms. This time Theo was the one running away with a squeal and a giggle.

  The two played in the shallow water for a time before Cynthia wanted to try teaching Theo how to float. And so the little goblin tried his best to float by following her instructions but then Theo flailed about when he thought he was going to drown.

  "Oh goodness- let me help dear." She quickly helped level him out, putting a hand under his back and another hand under the back of his head, and lifting his face out of the water. "Float until you can do it.”

  Just relax she says as she held him in the water. Theo never saw any of the older goblins doing this before. He let her hold him and he didn’t move this time. He didn't even breathe. He squeezed his red eyes shut and held his breath and tried to pretend that everything was fine.

  Cynthia slowly began to let go, making sure he didn't sink. “Deep relaxing breaths dear, remember that.”

  He breathed in and out with slow and deep breaths like she told him to. After a few seconds he started to relax in the water.

  She let him go a little more. “That’s right dear, keep doing that. Slowly settle your breathing.”

  The water was in his ears... a cool feeling surrounding his cheeks. He flinched when it felt like he'd go under, but he didn't react poorly. He just laid there on top of the water, floating.

  “You’re doing it, Theo! You’re floating!” Cynthia cheered in delight like a mother watching her child taking their first steps.

  Theo wanted to say something but he was too busy trying not to sink. Finally he shouted in triumph. “Floating! Floating!"

  Cynthia giggled. “How does it feel dear?”

  “Nice. It feels nice. Thank Cynthia!” Theo cheered. He was already feeling a little braver than he had felt moments before.

  She smiled. “Now want to see who can hold out the longest without breathing underwater?”

  “Underwater?” Theo asked, still floating around her.

  “Yes, you need to learn how to hold your breath first if you want to learn how to swim properly.”

  “Hold breath?” Well that seemed like an easy thing to do. Theo inhaled and then puffed up his cheeks.

  “Alright. At the count of three we hold our breaths and open our eyes underwater. Got it?”

  Theo stopped floating where he could still stand in the water and he nodded at her. “Okay Cynthia.”

  She held his hands, counted down to three, and then Cynthia dived under.

  Holding her hand and hearing the "three," the little goblin dived under with her. Theo held his breath. He opened his eyes and watched her holding her breath too.

  Cynthia smiled and then did her best to make funny faces at him.

  He almost stuck his tongue out. Instead he narrowed his eyes and poked her cheeks.

  She giggled and poked him back before rising back above the water's surface.

  Theo smiled, laughed, and then began to choke beneath the water. He grabbed at his throat with wide eyes. He followed up after her only a second later than her. His head broke through the surface and he continued to choke and cough.

  She patted his back, giggling. “Breath dear, breath.”

  Finally the choking sounds turned into laughter after a few minutes. He threw his head back into the water. He didn't know why, but he just never expected her to poke him back. It had been such a… goblin thing. Because poking was easier than talking. Everyone could poke someone.

  She smiled. "So how are you liking your first time out swimming at the lake?”

  "Fun! " He shouted, splashing at Cynthia. "Cynthia fun. Lot's of fun."

  Cynthia chuckled and splashed him back.

  He laughed and dropped below the water. Holding his breath and lying in wait for her.

  She smiled and followed underneath, swimming around him.

  Theo frowned; this wasn't at all what he had planned. But he slowly started to back up towards the deeper water.

  She frowned, reaching for him and pulling him out of the water, tickling him as punishment. "Dear, you shouldn't be going too deep remember?" She sat him back down on his own two feet.

  Theo had planned on following Cynthia's rules originally. However they were having so much fun in just this little corner of the lake. He wanted to see the rest of the lake. He had really wanted to go further out into the water. Maybe he could if he learned how to swim better. He knew he could drown going out there. He stopped laughing and sighed. "Small. Small Theo. Big water."

  She patted him on the head. "Don't worry Theo. You'll learn how to swim in no time. I'll get you a teacher for it too and we can come here to practice whenever you want. Just make sure to tell me and I'll come with you. Alright?"

  Theo was feeling a little rebellious. He wasn't going to do that. He had a plan. "When lesson, tomorrow? "

  "Yes dear. Classes start tomorrow."

  He rolled his eyes. He knew that. She told him that already he's not an idiot. "When tomorrow? "

  "You'll start tomorrow after lunch time dear."

  He nodded. "Thanks, swim. Cynthia. Thanks." That worked out. He could sneak out early in the morning and begin… begin his new day. He remembered the words of the hobs when they told the children how they got strong. One hundred pushups, one hundred sit ups, one hundred…

  Cynthia smiled. "Are you ready to head back in now dear?"

  "Yes. Thanks. Fun swimming. " He smiled up at her.

  She picked him up. "Then let's go back instead and get you dried and dressed for dinner."

  "Thanks, Cynthia. Fun. Cynthia fun. " He felt like he should tell her this fact. She could be quite fun. Despite being a lazy noble that did nothing but talk to people, she could be fun as well.

  "I'm glad you're having fun dear." She gave his temple a kiss and carried him back inside.

  "Cynthia… ha…hav… havin… Cynthia having fun?"

  “Well of course I am dear. It’s been a while since I last went swimming.”

  “How long?” he asked curiously. She seemed like she was having so much fun.

  “Hmm… I think it’s been around four years?”

  “Why?” he asked with some surprise in his voice. Why had she not gone swimming for four years? She lived by a lake. Theo would have been swimming every single day of those four years if he had been here... and if he knew how to swim of course.

  “Well I’ve just become quite busy around that time. I have been too preoccupied keeping a proper image and working. So I didn’t play around like this very often.” She carried him back inside and sat him in the bed to help him dry up. She left him momentarily and came back with a towel around her neck and a towel in her hands. She began to gently dry the little goblin off before tending to herself.

  “You had fun? Swim more," Theo said. This noble business was really stupid.

  She smiled. “We can swim some more tomorrow after your classes.”

  Theo did not think he would enjoy swimming after tomorrow morning. He might after classes. Maybe. So that worked out for them both. “Okay, more swim. Fun.”

  When she finished helping him dry off, she then helped get him dressed. She was too preoccupied with Theo to bother changing out of her swimming attire. “Let’s go get dinner before it gets cold. We’ve already skipped lunch from all that playing around. I know you must be starving.”

  “Good. Theo hungry. Cynthia hungry?” he looked around and memorized more of the mansion’s layout. It wouldn’t do for him to waste time stumbling around like a clueless little goblin later.

  “Yes, I'm quite hungry too after all that playing.” She petted him and carried Theo into the dining room. She took a seat with Theo sitting on her lap.

  “Am… good pet?” he asked, wondering what she thought of him.

  Cynthia smiled and gave him a squeeze in her arms. “Of course, dear. You’re great.”

  “Hmm. Cynthia good… master?” Is that what she was to him? A master? That’s what the man had said. The man who had sold Theo to Cynthia's father. The man who had whipped him and threatened that Cynthia's family would brand him with burning iron to mark him as theirs.

  “... Am I not?” She smiled down at him.

  “Am Theo’s master?” He didn’t like the word on his tongue. She said he wasn’t a slave and yet sleeves had masters. At the end of the day if he stopped making her happy, would she be just like the mean man said?

  “Well yes?... but that doesn’t mean you should see yourself as my slave dear.”

  She wasn’t saying no… “I understand.” He did. He was a lazy slave. For the lazy noble. “Am pet.”

  She smiled. “Yes, you’re my dear pet. You’re basically a part of the family. So you can consider me as family too alright?” She began to feed him in between their conversation.

  Theo nodded. He didn't really understand because family were your parents who birthed you and left you once you could walk. Cynthia certainly did not give birth to him. Sometimes he just felt really confused around her and other times he was having the time of his life with her.

  “What are you looking forward to the most tomorrow?”

  He thought about it… and answered honestly. “Swimming, Cynthia!”

  She chuckled. “You really like swimming huh?”

  “Swimming with Cynthia! Cynthia fun!” Theo cheered before taking another bite. He had to try to eat more. He would need plenty of energy for tomorrow.

  “Theo is fun to play with too.” She wiped at his mouth with a napkin.

  “Good!” Theo beamed up at her. He felt pleasant. The food was good and seeing her smile felt like a different kind of a treat.

  Cynthia smiled. “Now we should head back and rest up alright? You played a lot today. I'm sure you’re exhausted.”

  The mere mention of his exhaustion brought a yawn out of him. “Hmmm. Tired.”

  “Then let’s take you back to bed shall we?”

  “Sleep now.” Then all he’d have to do was wake up early in the morning and sneak out to the lake. For all that entailed.

  She smiled and scooped him up. After carrying him back to the bedroom she laid down on the bed and cuddled up to him. “Goodnight, dear.”

  “Night, Cynthia” Theo laid his head against her and closed his eyes.

  Cynthia closed her eyes as well. She stayed up petting him until at last she passed out into a peaceful slumber.