Eventually, with Betsy's help Kurt's parents saw the benefits of his proposal. However, they refused to get up and leave. Having made a plan with Betsy about timing it would take them about two months to be back. So there was a lot of hope that everything would work out.

Sara's parents would bring their livestock to the Dutchery. Kurt's parents would help out with some of the paperwork for them once they got back, and had payment for some of their employees. And that took a day to get together with a large gate to round them up in.

What made everything better was the goblin shaman's ability to completely tame the beast, which worked on them as well. The need for fences was minimal to start with. And would be there to keep predators out rather than keep the cows in.

Talia had welcomed the news because she immediately went to work planning a wedding based on the information.

However, it became clear that the conflict on their continent was mere days away. The armies were moving and the fighting would break out once someone gave an order.

Kurt's plan on taking Helmbrig Castle, the keep on their continent, had to be hurried up.

In the dead of night, Layla and Kurt ran through a mountain pass the hard way, over the rocks and trees. And not through the pass.

The Castle was nestled in a flat area surrounded by mountains, the one path, partially human-made, was the only way in. There was a town around it as well, not very large. Strategically it wasn't that important, but if you could resupply the troop at will the equation changed drastically.

Creeping past the castle using their powers and speed they came to the side of one of the peaks that overlooked the Castle. It was surprisingly close to it, which fit perfectly in their plans.

Layla was able to bring out Barney and Harvey and establish his well again. Barney would still get to choose his final location. But the sight of the ocean was visible.

"So we can reconfigure the well to do it."

"Yes," said Barney, "but it will make Harvey weaker with almost no benefits until I go back. I don't want to keep it that way long, this would."

"That's fine," said Layla, "as soon as we have the Castle you can make it how you like, and start searching for a permanent place. Well, I guess you could start looking now actually."

Barney smiled. "I don't think it will be that hard."

"It shouldn't be," said Layla, "one second." Layla disappeared, slipping somewhere, and a few moments later she came back this time with Goblin Mother Carla.

"I think Carla would like to help out a little," said Layla.

"Ohh yes, we can make everything ready," Carla said, looking down at the castle. "Hopefully they are not very smart."

"Why is that?" said Kurt.

"The smart thing will be to immediately surrender," Carla laughed, "and my boys will be a little disappointed if that happens."

"Remember we want to keep the Castle mostly intact this time," said Layla. "We want to keep it."

The stage was set for their attack. And a few days later Talia finally came in with the news they had been waiting for. The shadow clan attacked and a front line was starting to be established.

"A lot of people are starting to declare their sides," said Talia. "And there are not two clear sides here. Some are banding together to try and remain neutral to the overall conflict." Tali said, circling a few areas. "But that won't hold up if it gets big enough. But the two main ones are the Southern Alliance and the Shadow Clan."

Kurt looked at the map. Helmbrig Castle was inside Shadow Clan territory already, and the small port town nearby also. But the mountain made the idea of ending up on a flank hard to fathom. Unless you were Kurt.

"Then I guess I should take Helmbrig soon," said Kurt. He had talked about it with Talia but she wasn't completely informed of the progress. Carla had been secretly bringing goblins and surrounded the Castle.

"Kurt," said Talia, "Just take it?"

"Yeah," said Kurt. "I have a plan."

"I mean having a way in from this side would crumble a lot of lines," said Talia.

"And it's easily defended," said Kurt.

"That's why I'm questioning the 'just take' part."

"Well, don't worry about it, it will be our outpost on the continent."

"Your outpost?"

"I intend on keeping it, is there a problem? We are not asking Valentine Clan's help here."

"If you're sure, you won't be able to hide it. Anymore if you take it with your forces, the news will break everywhere. Goblins walking among us."

"We won't be able to hide it regardless."

"The gods?"

"Yeah," said Kurt, "I'm not sure what they are planning but at least we can do this before the coronation. I'd rather have a place for them to go."

"How soon do you think it would take you to get ready?"

"I could do it today, I was waiting for the conflict to break out. It makes taking the castle seem a part of it."

"Instead of just an invasion?"

Kurt had pondered that thought a lot. It basically was one, the people there had little knowledge of Wellspring most likely. From their perspective taking their castle would be a drain on resources on either side they wouldn't be able to afford. They could afford to make loose connections for trade.

Kurt wasn't going to give them the option, he had already made up his mind about it. The shadow clan was also Kurt's enemy so his support was never going to go to them. Helping the rest of the conflict from a relatively safe position was the best option.

However, that still meant he had to actually take the castle. There was an easy way and a hard way. Kurt strongly suggested the easy way.

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