Gophirith of the Mountains

By Tammy Spahn

The world of Pelsatia is full of wonders and beauty, especially for the young goblins Pon and Tara. When Pon gets the opportunity to join a guild of explorers, he does not hesitate to follow the invitation. But when goat-headed monsters disrupt his peaceful trip and put him and his friend into grave danger, he begins to have second thoughts.

What are these creatures, why do they appear at random, and who is this Gophirith of the Mountains they speak of? An adventure into the unknown begins.

Contains illustrations by the author.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tammy Spahn
• Release date: Dec 12, 2013
• ISBN: 9781311482747

Tammy Spahn

Tammy Spahn is an up-and-coming indie writer and artist born in beautiful Frisia who specialises in primarily light and escapist Fantasy books. In her novels, she attempts to capture the charm and imagination of children's and juvenile fiction and present it in a writing style accessible to wider audiences. She created the faraway planet Pelsatia as a primary setting for her works, a world without humans and rich with magic and natural beauty.Apart from writing Fantasy, Tammy's interests include digital painting, composing and the Furry community. She currently runs an online comic (Tails of Lanschilandia) and sells her art on various websites.

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Gophirith of the Mountains

By Tammy Spahn

Smashwords Edition

With illustrations by the author

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© 2013-2015 by Tammy Spahn

Second Edition.

All rights reserved.

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Chapter 1 - A Party and a Parting

Pon absentmindedly helped the others erect the big marquee on the large, open place near the eastern end of the village, where its high peak remained hanging in the sky like a bad omen.

Well, that’s looking mighty fine so far, Phialdor found as he examined it, then rushed off with the rest of the helpers to direct his attention towards other tasks. Of course, ‘mighty fine’ was an exaggeration; the same marquee had been in use for what might have been centuries, a variety of patches decorating its every surface.

As appropriate for the occasion, the canvas bore the colour of maturity and ripening in Pon’s culture: a garish red, strongly present not only on the marquee itself, but also on most of the party decorations. He saw little appeal in such traditions; he was much more interested in the customs of other cultures, cultures far away from the village, which he had never seen in his life; ever-present sources of fuel for his – for a goblin from the mountains of northern Asakors, unusually well-developed – curiosity, which he only could satisfy by losing himself inside the books brought into the valley by merchants from the outside world. But he had no time for that today.

Today was the big day. The entire normally so quiet and peaceful valley of Thobog was full of excitement as all its populace, from the smallest child to the frailest elder, women and men alike, was scattering all over the place in order to complete the preparations, abuzz with anticipation of the delights yet to come. There would be food and drink and games and music and stories and everyone in the whole village down in the valley was contributing something.

Of course, a party like that needed a good reason, and indeed it had one: Pondorath Rimok, better known as Pon (straight to the point that some folks began to forget that he actually had a longer name), was turning thirty years of age on that very day, and in a village with no more than sixty inhabitants where everyone had an acquaintance in everyone else, such an event of course had to be adequately celebrated. Thirty was not just any age, after all; it was the age at which a goblin became a mature individual, free to do as they please with their life.

This significant transition of course brought its very own responsibilities with it, but Pon, for one, was more than ready to face them; he was growing tired of his simple life and looking forward to all the challenges he would have to tackle. And unbeknownst to anyone but his parents and himself, he would likely face greater ones than any of the carefree villagefolk looking forward to the celebration could possibly imagine.

Pon sighed. For now, such concerns would have to wait. Today, he was determined to enjoy himself, to have fun with those among whom he grew up. Once more, the young goblin’s mind took a tour of all his friends in Thobog: Baltho Grison from the house next door and his sister Thora; Pon’s cousin, Phialdor Phirinon; Thaphaloph Thon, who was the baker’s son; Mirabetha and Mithias Rom; and… Taraphenia Saron. Yes, Tara – this was the name she went by, considering her full one to be far too long – would be at the party as well. Just thinking about her already made him regret the decision he had made in complete secrecy. But for the time being, he would need to ignore that feeling.

It’d be nice if you helped us out a bit here instead of standing around philosophising to yourself, he suddenly heard a voice exclaim, pulling him out of his thoughts and back into Thobog. His cousin was setting the table for everyone. Pon would miss him, too.

I apologise, he said quietly as he went to help Phialdor. There were actually three tables under the marquee, very long and arranged in the shape of a U. All were covered with red tablecloths that his mother had tailored from her best fabrics for the occasion.

Another, smaller table stood in the space left vacant by the set-up; this was where the buffet was to be placed. And just as Pon and Phialdor had finished placing sixty wooden, perfectly square trenchers and sixty sets of traditional dining utensils on the diners’ tables, villagers began carrying food to the smaller one in bowls and on trenchers of various shapes and sizes like in a strange ceremonial procession. Conical fruit from the gula trees growing at the edges of the valley had been neatly sliced up and added into salads together with the various colourful roots grown by the Thobog farmers; traditional pastries were being delivered by Thaphaloph and his father; the Roms contributed exotic nuts and spices which they had purchased from travelling merchants just for this very special day. All sorts of curious and mouth-watering sights were soon gracing the table; truly, this would be a feast to remember.

***

Finally, everything was ready. Goblins from all around the village were assembling under the marquee and taking their seats. Tara was among them; she was wearing an ornate, though visibly home-made dress of a beautiful red and yellow, complementing her heavyset figure. Pon observed her cheerful gait, shining eyes and flowing, purple hair, trying to absorb the sight to safekeep it in the most precious regions of his memory. Tara in turn seemed much less emotional about the situation, waving and beaming at him and yelling her heartiest congratulations before deciding that the mounds of food that had been assembled were currently a lot more worthy of her attention. To her chagrin, it was only when all sixty seats were filled that the buffet was finally declared open.

Pon’s seat was exactly opposite the buffet table and a bit elevated, and to his left, as he had humbly requested, sat Phialdor, followed by Baltho and Thora, while on his right, Tara, Mithias, Mirabetha and Thaph Thon were seated. Even with all his friends around him and evidently enjoying the meal, Pon could not help but sink into thoughts again as he unenthusiastically picked at a beet casserole. Although he had planned to be cheerful, he now felt sad at how happily his friends were chattering amongst themselves and congratulating him, unaware of his plan, and he felt bad to have been withholding it from them for so long. Today, very soon, he would have to reveal everything, and was anything but ready for it.

So, what are you going to do now that you’re an adult? Baltho asked in his loud voice, catching him off guard. You ready to take over the mushroom business from your parents yet? Or would you rather do something intellectual, with all the books you read? Just don’t try becoming a doctor, my father wouldn’t like the competition.

Pon gulped. Um, I– uh, possibly, I mean, I, um, should, uh…

His verbal acrobatics were interrupted when his uncle Thithor, Phialdor’s father, decided to delight the company with an upbeat tune on his flute, his wife soon accompanying him on a tympan. Of course, the goblins of Thobog could not let such an opportunity pass without calling for a dance, and Tara urged Pon to be her partner in the ensuing Thao-Thao, a fast paced mountain goblin dance with a lot of room for improvisation. Knowing the significance of this day, he naturally gave in, and everyone else had soon found a partner as well; Phialdor danced with the raven-haired Thora, Mirabetha with her brother, Baltho with a cousin of his and Thaphaloph clumsily tried to keep up with the girl helping out in his father’s bakery, while all the older goblins paired themselves up with their spouses or relatives.

As they were dancing, Pon almost messed up his moves as he again began to realise very strongly how much the girl with the purple hair meant to him. He had known Tara since she was born; they had been friends for almost their whole lives. He had to suppress tears as he caught her gaze, and Pon wondered if she suspected anything. But in a few moments, it would be time for the reveal in any case.

Uncle Thithor ended and everyone applauded, but Pon felt a lump in his throat. I… would like to say something, he announced to the company, but his voice was so timid it was quickly drowned out. Mustering up all the strength he could, he stood up and repeated, now much louder:

I would like to say something.

All eyes turned to him as he walked to the front of the buffet table and stood facing the crowd in visible nervousness. One by one, he looked at everyone present in the crowd; everyone was staring at him in eager curiosity, and apart from his parents, he was certain that nobody suspected what his matter was going to be. He gulped for what felt like the hundredth time that day.

I… have decided… – he hesitated for a moment, unhappy with his beginning, then started over – I know this is sudden for most of you, but I have made a decision… an important decision, and one that will influence my whole life from hereon. And… other people’s as well. This is a drastic decision, I know, but… Well, it means that I cannot stay in Thobog. Silence. This… this village is beautiful and I cannot put in words how much I enjoyed spending thirty wonderful years here with all of you, but, I’m not sure how to put it… I have grown weary of Thobog life; not any particular person’s fault, I beg your pardon. It’s… it’s so quiet here, much too quiet for me. For a long time, I have been wanting to move elsewhere, to eventually go southwards; to see for myself what lies beyond the borders of this village, beyond the mountains, and find a place where I can be of more use to the world than I currently am. I… hope you all understand that.

Baltho attempted to chuckle as if Pon had made a joke, but when the response was stern sadness, it dawned on him that his friend was being completely serious. Mirabetha, the youngest of Pon’s friends, began to cry and had to be comforted by her brother, though Mithias was feeling no better himself. Much of the rest of the company was muttering and whispering amongst themselves as the Rimoks stood up for their son’s decision. But Tara was perfectly quiet and calm, and no matter how much he tried, Pon could not read what she was thinking.

Recently, Pon went on, trying not to let the glum mood distract him, an opportunity arrived. I am sure you all know of my great aunt Aphiabatha the Meek from Great Ephiana. Groans followed – old Aphia had left quite an impression on Thobog despite her rare and short-lived visits and was universally known as ‘Aphiabatha the Stubborn’ among the villagers. Well, um… As you might know, she is part of the Ephianan Explorers and Mapmakers’ Guild. She has recently been promoted to Grand Mistress, and has offered to secure a position of apprenticeship for me, and, well, I am going to accept it. I… am going to Great Ephiana, one moon from now. I will be going alone. A period of silence followed, leaving Pon at a loss of how to handle the situation from here. I... I cannot tell you how much I like all of you, he finally went on, and how much I will miss you all – friends, family, neighbours – and if there are some among you who wish to accompany me, I can understand that, but I would like to ask you not to. The world out there is dangerous and the duty I am accepting may be even more so. I know this, but I’m going to face these dangers as long as I know all of you safe and sound in Thobog. I don’t wish for any of you to endanger yourselves because of me.

The muttering got louder. Finally, Thaphaloph spoke up. I understand what you mean, he said. I think we all do, and it’s your decision, however sad. But danger or not, I would still accompany you, and I think others feel the same. Many of his friends nodded in approval, though some seemed reluctant to do so. Tara gave an odd smirk.

But Pon shook his head. No, Thaph… You have a place and purpose in Thobog. Think about your family’s bakery. You want to run the business one day, don’t you? He sighed. Listen… I know how this feels for all of you – well, I can at least imagine – but if you really are my friends, I ask you to do one thing: I ask you not to prioritise my life over your own. My place is in the outside world and I will have to pursue it, but those of you with a reason to remain in Thobog… please do not neglect it because of me.

And then, everyone fell silent. Thaphaloph wanted to say something in protest, but swallowed his words before he could. In reality, they all knew it was true; they could not give up their lives in Thobog for their friend. They indeed had responsibilities inside the village, and if they were just to care for a younger sibling. Finally, Pondorath spoke again:

I apologise for bringing the mood down like this. I understand if you are feeling gloomy now on what should be a happy day, and I realise that it is my fault if you do. Therefore, I’m reminding you again that it will still be a whole moon until my departure, and until then, I will be spending the time in Thobog with all of you. So please, let’s not be sad now; today is supposed to be a time for celebrations, after all, and I’d like to celebrate with you!

You heard him! Baltho shouted, not wanting to be sad on a day like this. Let’s not make this worse for him by missing him already while he’s still here!

That was something most people could agree with, and they all drank to his health as the party continued until the sun and day-moon had