When Talia and Kurt got back to top of Pillar to Kurt house they were met by the trio of goblins that made up Kurt's new council. Kurt needed some help from Talia, and wanted them there too.

"Ohh you have guess that's no fun," said Talia.

"Actually, we were hoping to talk to you actually," said Kurt.

"Me? About what?"

"Poltics," Kurt said slowly raising his shoulders.

"I suppose we have time," said Talia, "but I don't fully understand what you're asking."

Kurt tried to explain what he wanted but wasn't doing a good job. After a few back and forths Talia seemed to get something. They had organized themselves around a table and Harvey found himself on top of it, in a corner sleeping.

"Ohh, you're trying to take your role more seriously."

"Exactly."

"But you're completely clueless."

"Unfortunately," said Kurt, "and I figured you sort of grew up with this, I sort of need a better explanation than the commoners now. Like we all thought the clans were friendly, so obviously I have a lot of things to learn and unlearn about what is happening."

"And you're in the middle of everything as well," said Tali, "but why bring them."

"Two reasons, they are going to be like my small council, and they know more about this side then both of us."

"Ohh, that would be true, but it's not like there are any real civilizations here," said Talia, "a few tribes maybe."

"That's not true in any way," said Tom. "There is a whole elf kingdom right down the canyon for example, and to be honest they aren't even the strongest."

"Wait, what? An elven Kingdom, like a whole army and Kingdom."

"Yes," said Tom, "I think it is a little different on this side, much more than you are aware of, we are probably the first creature to ever have real dialogue with you, there are language barriers, goblins just have a work around, and for good reason."

"But let's start with Earth," said Kurt.

"Well what do you want to know, I can't say I know everything but I think I have an idea," said Talia.

"Well the big thing is what do you think is going to happen with Dakota Springs?"

"That's difficult, but I think Hamlet and the neighboring nation of Midas are going to surround the city."

"Together?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Well, they are actually good friends, that continent really only has two powers and they have had their borders forever, it is probably the most stable region in the world between nations like that. And if Hamet takes the gate, that would cause tension and Haet knows that, it is probably better for them to keep a balance, but could be wrong about it."

"So you think the fire clan is basically done."

"Yes, there will be fighting but, the loss of the castle, and what appears to be a third of their Fae, they are as weak as they will ever be, the chance to strike is now. And the Valentine clan intends to help them, we probably will ask you guys too."

"Let's worry about what we do for the end, I need to know more, and Layla…I don't know what she's thinking anymore, I may have never."

"Yeah, I wasn't expecting any of that, you really had no idea it was going to happen?" Talia said.

"None whatsoever, they even kept these guys in the dark," said Kurt.

"So what are you going to do about that?"

"This! Be more informed, I'm forcing their participation at top level meeting I wasn't paying attention to."

"Why not just let Layla go? I mean Kurt your life isn't all that bad."

"Yeah, well…it seems I get involved anyway," said Kurt in a mean tone.

"What was that?"

"I…I," Kurt looked away, he knew he needed to tell her, "I killed one of the fire clan members with my own hand."

"Kurt, I didn't…"Talia, came closer, and Kurt pushed her away, "you don't have to."

"I don't want you and those thoughts together in my head, I'm sorry. I don't want you to think of me."

"Kurt I'm not as innocent as I look either," said Talia.

Kurt gave Talia a puzzled look, what did that mean, the ground started to tremble. "Talia, I didn't."

"We'll talk about it later," giving Kurt an eye, "don't shut me out though. This is not the time."

"So what about your continent?"

"It's a bit more stressed, like our gate isn't as big as the Fire Clans, it's closer to the ones Layla makes. And also there is the Shadow clan, they are the most closed off from us. We know in what town it is in, but exactly, not so much. But the problem is there are several more nations and they don't like each other. Not like here, small scrimmages are common. Total Invasion is rare, but not unexpected. We try to stay out of it, but it's hard sometimes," said Talia.

"And really we can't even be sure anymore there are only three gates," said Kurt.

"That's very true, we suspect there are people maybe like you, but can't move it. There is no way to tell. And all we really have about who made them is a title, The True Sorcerer, if that is a title."

"So that was always the balance, you couldn't go after the fire clan, because the shadow clan would attack and vice versa, and the other two could say the same about you."

"Basically, and you're a whole wrench in that balance Kurt. More than a wrench."

"Yeah, I sort of see that."

"I have a question," said Joe, "what about the other species on your planet?"

"What other species?" said Kurt.

"Huh? It's just humans?"

"And mostly mindless animals."

"So no, dragons or Gods," said Tom.

"No dragons, there are some religions," said Talia.

"And their God's don't act?" Said Joe.

"Act? Like come down from heaven and strike?"

"Well, I don't know where this heaven is but yes."

"No."

"Very odd, it's much different here, you speak of borders, they are like solid and everything respects them." said Joe.

"Yeah why?"

"Well, that's not how it works here, the domains overlap, it's common for different species to call the same land theirs, and it not be a problem, of course sometimes it is, borders are more like danger zones than lines and where they are is going to depend on the species sometimes."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I would be expecting some griffins to show up here eventually on their migration. And they have a whole order and society. So I would call this their land, as much as it's ours in some respects. And the translation spells work with them, I just hope they are the more friendly kind, maybe we can keep a few around for mounts." said Joe, and Tom and Hank smiled at the thought. Joe was still the only goblin that had a flying mount, a Rider Hawk, "many intelligent species here have migration patterns, so having something like a firm border all the time is almost impossible."

"That makes sense, dragons we know of are a little territorial, but seem not bothered by something's happening at all," said Talia.

"Yes, they would have their own skies, I would say, and that could easily overlap with an elven Kingdom, an Orc War State, or goblin horde. As well as other species, the arachnids could be in and around most species they don't hunt," said Joe.

"Fascinating," said Kurt, "so it is much more like just city-states, where there are strongholds, and contested areas. Even the griffins would have different start and end locations like a dual city-state , or like a nomad state or something, we don't really have much of a term for that."

"Yes," said Joe, "though some of the higher beings are more vast of course. Some species have long migrations though years and decades. So having solid borders stays troublesome."

"I think one of the best examples of non-borders," said Hank, "are the gnomes."

"The gnomes?"

"Yes," said Hank, "the gnomes are basically welcome everywhere by intelligent beings, there are many many stories of conquests, settlements, cities destroyed completely wiped out by some other army and all that survived were the gnomes."

"Yeah, I think it's like their defense mechanism," said Tom, "like they become so useful to whoever else is there, that everyone will naturally protect them a little. I know I would stop something from eating one, even in an enemy territory really, no reason for that, they are harmless."

"So the gnomes aren't loyal?" said Kurt, trying to follow everything.

"I doubt the gnomes here are the same one we started with. I bet some switched, in the party to and from the Castle Bright Flame. They are a very strange species, but loyalty no they will switch sides in an instant, it won't even seem like it to them. But at the same time it is hard to find any of them that have a lot of information even if you were to try to integrate them."

Kurt thought about that for a moment, he did sort of think he was always talking to a different gnome, he just thought they all sort of looked the same, and there were so many of them sometimes. It was entirely possible they had been coming and going basically the entire time, Lirt wouldn't have really noticed all that much.

"So there is some hierarchy in the species though, dragons wouldn't let another family of dragon in would they?" said Talia.

"Probably not, if they weren't family, but those battles can be seen as outside of what is happening to like us, other than the actual battle repressions."

"Reprecusssions?"

"Like they would ignore us, meaning also not trying or caring if they hit us in a battle, it is best to let them do their thing, and stay away."

"What about the Fae?" said Kurt.

"They are around, mostly rare, since they usually stick to their wells they are usually something you win, or access to their well is considered more of a resource than the Fae are considered ally or enemy in most situations. But they do have their guardians, a lot of the time they are just left alone and the springs are enough.." said Joe.

"Not Layla."

"Her highness is quite a special Fae, I would agree." said Joe.

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