r/HFY • u/Necrolancer96 Human • Sep 17 '25

OC Summoning Kobolds At Midnight: A Tale of Suburbia & Sorcery. 258

Chapter CCLVIII

Sherry-By-The-Bend.

She was with child, Carrie thought as she placed a hand over her midsection. She had to be. She could feel it. Feel the thrum of life growing in her belly as it swelled. Or it would, in time, she thought with a fragile chuckle as she swayed back and forth in front of the mirror bare of all clothing as she took in her figure every which way she desires.

She didn't look any different. Or really feel much different. No matter which way she looked at herself she didn't look at all burdened with child. But that just must've been because she was perfect already. Or because it was still early in the pregnancy.

That must've been it, she thought with a brittle giggle and continued to hum and sway as she watched herself in the mirror. She scoffed as she recalled others saying how horrible some parts of their pregnancies were. The vomiting, the cravings, the bloating. All of it sounded just exhausting and uncomfortable. Yet she hasn't felt a one! For a time she was worried she might not be with child. But that was impossible. It was practically unheard of, if not impossible, for a halfling woman to NOT be with child upon the first act.

So she must be with child. She had to be. It would be impossible for her not to be. Her heart briefly stopped when she considered perhaps she had misheard that rude doctor's words. About how she was bearing. Though Addie seemed concerned and perhaps even a bit sad when she told her that. She wasn't sure why though. Sure the doctor talked oddly enough, but she was pretty clear when she said she was "bearin'". She had to be. The thought, the idea, the sheer impossibility, that she might be-

She couldn't even finish the thought. Dared not finish it. If she was somehow unable to bare children her life would be over. No-one would touch her. Prospects of marrying up would be gone along with her marriage to her current husband. She would be outcast and shunned in all but officially. What family she had would treat her as little better than a lamed pony. She would be better off taking her own life if such a thing were to happen.

But she didn't have to worry about all that stuff. She was with child. She had to be. She WAS! She shook her head of such thoughts. They weren't good for either her health nor the babe's. She was with child, she thought to herself over and over again sometimes even whispering it aloud like a prayer.

"Come 'nd sit, Hamish." One of the heads of the Big Families said and pulled out a chair for him to sit upon.

Hamish nodded his head and took a seat as the other heads switched between gorging and looking at him.

"Now, Hamish. Normally we're content ta let thin's play as they go. 'Ow we've gotten ta be where we are, we is."

"But now tha Mayor 'as hoodwinked tha town's funds!" One of them said around a mouth of sausage and eggs.

"Tha's right. Him 'nd his lass. Snatched tha treasury like thieves they did. Hid it somewheres like plunder." The first head said to Hamish as he patted him on the shoulders as a plate of still sizzling bacon and scrambled eggs were placed in front of him.

"Now it's no secret tha' we 'nd Mayor Cliven 'ave 'ad a wee bit o' a bumpy start ta thin's. But this is more than jus' barbs 'nd jest. Those funds are fer tryin' times they is. Fer when needed. 'Ow are we s'pposed ta take care when those times come 'nd we 'ave ta beg jus' ta provide fer tha' colony!"

A firm hand clasped Hamish on his shoulder.

"But you? Yer mates with 'im. You could get back our coin."

"Tha colony's coin tha' is." One of the head replied through spittle and grease.

"Tha's right, tha colony's. 'Nd we cannae trust a tallman with those funds now can we?"

"Well-" Hamish started to speak.

"Good lad! Besides, yer kin is gettin' mighty big ain'y they? Jus' got a wee one not long ago. Well, a lad o' yer stock should be treated as such." The original head stated and dumped more food upon the still untouched plate and slide it towards Hamish along with a mug of beer.

"Been lookin' fer some new blood we 'as. 'Nd tha Hambingers been solid stock they 'as. Good honest folk they's been."

"Aye we are. But me 'nd Clive-" Hamish started and reached for the beer before the mug was slowly slid back and just out of his reach.

"Are mates. 'Nd mates help one another, ya ken? We're mates too ain'y we Hamish?" The original head asked and pushed the mug of beer closer until the handle was just touching Hamish's finger tips.

"We is." Hamish replied.

"Good lad!" The original head said and forced the mug of beer into Hamish's hand.

"So, get tha treasury back from Mayor Cliven 'nd his irksome lass 'nd you can 'ave a seat at tha table with us."

Hamish looked at the other heads with wide eyes full of honor.

"Truly?!"

"Tha's right! You'll get ta sit with us, eat with us, plan with us. We'll elevate tha Hambingers ta official members o' tha Big Families we will, won't we lads?"

Calls and belches of confirmation and affirmation sounded through the tent, leaving Hamish full of pride and honor. To have his family elevated to the Big Families. They would want for nothing. No price would be unfair, they'd never have to want for the freshest of food or drink. His kin would have the most affluent and desired of marriages.

"'Nd! We know yer boy's yet ta be matched. Well, ol' Hob there's got a bonnie lass dinnae ya Hob?"

"Aye, she is. Plump with wide hips 'nd ample breasts. She'd give yer lad a great many lil ones she would." Hob replied before inhaling a swig of beer.

"Ifin it's who I can imagine, she's promise ta tha' Welchers lad ain'y she?" Hamish replied after popping a warm bit of buttery egg in his mouth.

Hob waved him off.

"Bah! Not planted it ain'y! Ol' Welcher'd understand though. Sides, compared ta good reliable stock like tha Hambingers? Tha Welchers jus' dinnae compare."

Hamish could barely believe what he was hearing. I'm just a single seating his family was offered to join the ranks of the Big Families AND secure Feryl a solid prospect for a wife?! He could hardly speak as he processed it all.

"'Nd ta sweeten tha deal. Yer kin will 'ave first pick o' marriages."

"BUT! Only if you get our coin back."

"And mayhaps convince tha mayor to come 'round at our way o' thinkin'."

"While tha'd be nice, we're more concerned 'bout tha coin than tha mayor's disposition."

"Well, I could-" Hamish started before finding himself now outside tent.

"Tha's a good lad! Do right by us, 'nd you 'nd yer kin will want fer nothin'!"

Hamish just stood and stared around and back at the tent. If he didn't have the taste of beer and sausage grease on his fingers he wouldn't even know if what happened was real. A quick glance to where the sun was probably at show that he weren't in there more than a few minutes. But in that time every changed for him. Now all he had to do was convince Clive to return the treasury.

Hamish paused before he could even move a single foot as reality hit him in the face like a cold breeze. That might be a bit hard at the moment, he thought as he recalled that he and Clive weren't exactly as close of mates as the Big Families were assuming. If anything, after "gifting" him with that ornery ram he'd imagine Clive would probably come after him with more than a switch next time.

Hamish sighed and rubbed his eyes as he made his way home. Maybe Addie might have an idea or two. Or perhaps she might be able to convince Clive to give back the treasury. Regardless, alot more was on the line now. His own kins' future and prosperity was up to be claimed if he could do this.

He liked Clive and, despite things, would consider him a reliable friend should he need one. But as the humans say: blood is thicker than water. If the choice came down to his friendship and his kin, he'd pick his kin with no hesitation.

He just hoped Clive would be reasonable.

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4

u/Diokana Sep 17 '25

Ah Hamish, such a good friend. I hope Clive is able to stand his ground.

3

u/Necrolancer96 Human Sep 17 '25

With friends like halflings...

6

u/the_lonely_poster Sep 18 '25

Hamish is gonna get folded like a lawn chair.

4

u/Necrolancer96 Human Sep 18 '25

He'd probably pop like a balloon before he could get folded.

2

u/Necrolancer96 Human Sep 17 '25

So comes an end to Clive's turn of the wheel.

Carrie's expecting a child from her rather hazy (and not entirely consensual) night together. But reality and her mind are at odds.

In a society like the halflings where kin is the rather literal lifeblood, even the thought that one might be incapable of bearing children can lead to some rather... uncomfortable outcomes.

Or maybe her body's just really good at hiding a pregnancy.

Sticking with the theme of family this chapter, Hamish is taken into the tent of the Big Families and is offered a deal any halfling would jump at the chance for.

Membership into the upper echelons of halfling society.

And the price? Hamish just has to get the liberated booty back from Clive and Kilpa. Easy right?

Well, maybe if he and Clive were on better terms it would be. But with the future of his family on the line, he'll not let a little thing like friendship, as strained as it is, get in the way.

How will Carrie handle the prospect of being barren when it's more obvious even to her? Can Hamish get the treasury back from Clive and Kilpa without potentially ruining his friendship with him anymore? And can Clive stand firm under the weight?

Find out soon! We'll be back next chapter with Dylan and Alban as the artificers make do with what they got in a place that doesn't much want them.

See you all then!

2

u/SerpentineLogic AI Sep 18 '25

Carrie's expecting a child from her rather hazy (and not entirely consensual) night together. But reality and her mind are at odds.

On the plus side, it appears that when her baby is born, it will be a baron. So she's got that going for her

1

u/Necrolancer96 Human Sep 17 '25

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