Preparing to Part - Part 11

The raiders jeered in amusement, seeing them fold so easily. The villagers did their best to control their anger, only seeming now to remember their fear, as they were in the presence of a hundred of the most unhinged and violent men the Stormfront had to offer.

"Is that well enough?" The chief asked, unable to keep the desperation out of his voice as he looked up at Vol. He seemed an even smaller man then to Vol than he had in the days past.

"Well enough," Vol agreed. "Now, what is it you want, chief? I believe we've done business more fairly than you could ever expect – and yet you march here with such a procession. What am I to think?"

"I… do forgive them," the chief said. "Times have been difficult for us, over these last days. Yesterday morning, we discovered one of our long houses had been ransacked by goblins – not a scrap of them remained when we came to find them."