Julietta’s eyes narrowed as she leaned into the back of my chair, her fingers curling tightly around the edge of the wooden frame.
“And knowing that would change what exactly? Why is this relevant to you, Captain Drackar?” she asked, her tone edged, clearly angling to redirect the heat away from me.
I took a slow sip of my coffee, letting the silence hang as I watched Drackar over the rim of my cup.
He gave a thoughtful nod, his expression calm and difficult to read. “Because it matters to the orc tribes. Nok'Torsa held… significance for them,” he replied evenly. “It’s also a matter of security. To be blunt—” his gaze flicked toward me before settling back on Julietta—“we recently apprehended a human merchant. He had plans to take revenge on Lady Lores, claiming he survived the raid on Nok'Torsa. The man was blinded by hatred, reckless in his approach, but others may not be as foolish. If what he said is true, she was one of the seven Doombringer warlords responsible for the attack.”
He lifted his head, meeting Julietta’s sharp gaze. “I believe that’s reason enough to ask the question, Lady Julietta.”
As our boys were looking curious at each other Alice's brow furrowed as she glanced around the room. “Okay… but can someone explain exactly what this is all about? I’ve heard bits about the raid, but not the whole picture.”
I exhaled slowly, swirling the remaining coffee in my cup. “You’re right, Alice. Almost two years ago, Evilleet Bloodhand—one of the legendary players—put out an announcement in the dark channels. He was planning another raid...”
Julietta’s sharp intake of breath cut me off. She lifted a hand, palm facing outward. “Hold on a moment,” she interrupted, her eyes narrowing as she scanned each face in the room. Her tone dropped, “Before we continue—understand this. Everything we discuss here, on this subject, stays within these walls. Am I clear?”
Tom raised an eyebrow but nodded along with the others. “Why the secrecy?” he asked, though his tone was more curious than defiant.
Julietta held his gaze for a long second before shifting back into her chair and picking herself a cup of coffee. “Just trust me.”
“Of course,” Drackar chimed in, though he arched an inquisitive brow, watching the subtle shifts in the room’s atmosphere. This wasn’t how he’d expected things to go.
Julietta’s voice dropped to a low, steady rhythm.
“Founded roughly seven hundred years ago by ambitious merchants, Nok'Torsa grew into a thriving city of two hundred thousand souls. It lies about six hundred kilometers from here, perched on the northern coast of the continent. The city was uniquely positioned—nestled between the lands of the orc tribes, with whom it maintained strong economic ties, and the marshes ruled by the aquatic Moas tribes. As the northernmost port, Nok'Torsa became a crucial stop for ships bound for Adrai to the northeast and the Arhang Islands to the west. It also flourished as a major trading point with Serenity, one of the few human settlements whose merchants were trusted in their waters.
The tribes watched its prosperity with envy, yet much of their own livelihood was entwined with the city’s fate.
Five high-magistrates ruled—an elf, two humans, an orc, and a dwarf. Each represented one of the five districts, which loosely mirrored the racial demographics within them. Even the elven district, though governed by an elf, housed in total more humans, orcs and dwarves than elves.
It wasn’t just a city,” she added, her tone softening. “It was more than that—a cultural and economic heartbeat of the continent. It had been a living, breathing force that connected nations, tribes, merchants, and travelers alike.”
She made a short pause to drink more coffee, the room quiet save for the occasional creak of wood or the distant murmur of the castle beyond.
“Why are you speaking about the city in the past tense?” Mike asked, his brow furrowed.
Ju sighed, her voice dropping even lower.
“Because Nok'Torsa is nothing more than a haunted ruin now. Two years ago, the city was sacked by an army led by seven warlords—the Doombringers, also known as the Seven Scourges.
Evilleet Bloodhand, the bloodwarrior and highest warlord, led them. He was their leader. Tarak Deadarmy, the necromancer. Pepin the Blast, arcane mage. Icesara Whitechapel, ice mage. Hans Firestorm, fire mage. Iyhita Windblume, windwarrior. And the last of them—Calamity Lara, known as Cala the Assassin, Tenebra’s emissary. It’s said she was the one who opened the gates.
The city was razed, its streets soaked in blood. Anyone who resisted was slaughtered. Those who survived were shackled and sold as slaves. The massacre and fighting stretched on for days. By the time the orc tribes rallied and sent an army to aid the city, it was too late. When they arrived, they joined in the pillaging, the rapes, the butchery.
What followed was chaos. The orcs and the pillagers clashed. The Doombringers retreated to the citadel with their spoils and captives. It’s said most of them escaped through portals, taking their wealth and slaves with them, but others stayed behind, still searching for Nok'Torsa’s hidden treasures.
For twenty-five days, the citadel was under siege. In the end, a deal was struck—those inside were allowed to leave with half their bounty and slaves. By then, only about one hundred and fifty pillagers remained. But the moment they stepped out, they were ambushed and killed.
Since then, the ruins of Nok'Torsa have become the stuff of legend. The city’s vaults were filled with untold riches—millions in gold coins. The library alone held priceless tomes. Nobles and merchants who once called the city home were known for their wealth.
Even now, treasure hunters venture there, lured by stories of forgotten fortunes. But few return. Some say the ruins are cursed, haunted by the spirits of the dead—undead, ghosts, and worse. Whatever still lurks there, it guards Nok'Torsa’s secrets well.”
Ju shrugged, offering a tired smile as if the weight of the story itself had settled on her shoulders.
“That’s how the Guaravian newspapers reported it at the time,” she said. “Now you understand why it matters whether Lores is tied to what happened. The rapes, the pillaging—if people think she was part of that, it’s a stain on all of us. We need to deny any connection.”
Tom’s eyes narrowed as he glanced my way.
“Rapes and plunder?” he asked, skepticism cutting through his voice.
I snorted, crossing my arms.
“I didn’t rape anyone, Tom.”
Tom raised a brow, his curiosity piqued. “And what about the remaining treasures?”
I shrugged casually, swirling the last of the coffee in my cup. “For the past two years, every adventurer and their dog has been poking around those ruins. Whatever’s left now is either too well hidden or too dangerous to grab. The easy pickings are long gone. What’s left are the ones that bite back.”
I leaned back in my chair, stretching my legs out under the table. “If we’re feeling particularly adventurous, maybe we’ll try our luck at treasure hunting in the winter. But you,” I pointed at him with a slight smirk, “need to gain a few levels first. And by a few, I mean a lot, Tom.”
He grinned sheepishly but didn’t argue.
Ju turned back to Drackar, arching a brow.
“Did I miss anything important, Captain?”
Drackar gave a noncommittal shrug, leaning back in his chair.
“I think you covered the essentials. I wasn’t aware the tribes' army had taken part in the pillaging and rapes. From their stories, it was a valiant but ultimately futile rescue mission. Nothing about… that.”
His eyes darkened, but he said no more.
I huffed, rolling my eyes as I leaned back in my chair.
“The city had golden statues, gold filigree lining the balconies, frescoes and bas-reliefs coated with gold—opulence everywhere you looked. During the attack, a massive fire swept through the districts and raged for days. That fire melted the gold, and it seeped into the cracks of the stone walls. That’s why so many raiders stayed behind, why the city ended up in ruins—whole buildings torn apart just to recover gold from the rubble and cracks.
The ten thousand raiders were a mess of high-level fighters, mercenaries, pirates, thieves—a lot of NP... anyone willing to pick the bones of a dying city. You can imagine the kind of mischief that followed—rapes, murders, and all the chaos that comes when you let wolves loose in a pen.
The tribes managed to gather an army of fifty thousand, mostly warriors eager to make a name for themselves or get rich. But by the time they arrived, it was too late. The city had been picked clean and the easy treasures were long gone. When they saw the devastation, they knew there’d be no reward from the city itself. So, they took what they could—plundering what remained, claiming it was justified since their lives were already on the line. And why not? Gold was glinting between the ruins.
When they found survivors—poor fools who managed to hide behind some magical wards—well... if someone was hoarding treasure, it usually ended with a blade between the ribs. Captivity wasn’t unheard of, but it wasn’t common. Fewer witnesses meant fewer problems. A handful were freed, mostly orcs but not exclusively.
As for the big fight at the citadel—that’s half true. Some raiders holed up there, but by then, the main force had already left. The ones who stayed behind were either treasure hunters still searching or those the raid leaders left to rot and fend for themselves." I shrugged, "There had not been enough portals for everybody. There was still plenty of gold and valuables left to spark conflict, leading to enough skirmishes to cost the tribes thousands of warriors — often fighting among themselves as much as against others."
Hew leaned forward, brow furrowed. "Didn't the city have any defenses of its own?"
I nodded. "They did—around five thousand mercenaries, and not the cheap kind. They were well-paid and well-trained. The fighting in the first days was brutal. One of the towers never fell, even when the tribes' army arrived. About five hundred people holed up inside and survived. There weren’t any treasures in that tower—probably why they were left alone. It was the carpenter’s guild tower. All they had were tools and a few weapons.
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The city’s real problem was that the outer defenses were breached almost immediately. The battle happened inside the streets, and by then, there was little the mercenaries could do."
Drackar’s gaze narrowed, “So, am I to understand that you are the Doombringer, Cala the Assassin?”
I almost snorted. If I dragged that zombie from the dakta out, would he think I was Tarak instead? Pity I’d dismissed it.
I exhaled, resting back in my chair. "Well... here’s the thing. I’m not her."
Drackar raised a brow, clearly not convinced.
"But," I added, before he could speak, "Cala was there. She wasn’t one of the Doombringers, though. That was their guild—Evilleet was the guildmaster. Cala was never a member.
That said..." I spread my hands, offering a dry smile. "This position comes with me being her. So, for better or worse—yeah, I guess I’m her now."
I tilted my head, watching Drackar carefully.
“So let me get this straight,” he said with a smirk. “If anyone asks, we’ll deny that you are Cala. Those who know better will assume we’re just lying, as orcs apparently do - but in truth, we wouldn’t be lying at all,” he finished, grinning.
“Exactly. A beautiful mess of half-truths.” I crossed my arms. “But what about you and your men? Where were you during all this? Did you not join the tribes’ army?”
He shook his head. “Our split from the tribes started even before Nok’Torsa. They didn’t bother calling on us. Thought it would be an easy raid—just show up and collect the rewards. By that point, my men and I had already settled here, laying the groundwork.”
I raised a brow. “So… that’s what you wanted to discuss?”
Drackar’s expression shifted, a touch more serious now. “Not exactly, Lady Lores. It’s related, but not the heart of it.”
He leaned forward, meeting my gaze. “I came to ask your permission to allow orc families from our tribe to settle within your domain.”
Ju’s sharp intake of breath cut through the room. “You want to resettle orcs here? In this domain?” She stared at him in disbelief. “Drackar, that would strain relations with the King—possibly beyond repair!”
Drackar exhaled slowly, nodding. “I know,” he said quietly. “Yet our families are no longer safe within the orc tribes' grounds. Deadly incidents have already happened. We need to move them out of there fast, worst case only temporarily.”
“Why is that happening?” Tom wondered.
“We didn't want to accept K'hordock as our Highest Warlord. That is, in case of war, he would be our commander. We already had a strained relationship with the confederation before, as we had a dispute with the previous Highest Warlord, but after refusing to even recognize the current Highest Warlord, we were excluded and have to go our own way.”
Ju gasped. Mike raised his eyes to look at me.
“I think he has a solid case” he said, then turned to look at Tom and Hew “What do you think?”
They both nodded. I exchanged a look with Lynx and Alice then did the same.
“I think we all agree with this. The question is where to?”
Drackar's gaze was steady, though a flicker of relief crossed his eyes as he saw the nods around the room.
“Thank you,” he said, bowing his head slightly. “I understand the risks this brings to your doorstep, Lady Lores, but we have few choices left.”
I rested my chin on my hand, fingers drumming lightly on the table. “I get it—the question is where to settle them.”
Ju crossed her arms, clearly still uneasy. “We cannot simply place somewhere an entire orc tribe without someone noticing. Under what pretext we do that?”
Hew glanced at me. “There’s that forest south of the river, near the second lake,” he suggested, his tone measured. “The population’s sparse, and there’s plenty of space to build without bothering anyone. Technically, it’s within the barony, but no one really goes out that way. It sits along the quieter trade route to the orc tribes. I’d like to take a look at any site we choose for a settlement—before we commit.”
Drackar nodded. “I understand that. We’re not asking for handouts. If necessary, we can build from scratch, take the outskirts or land that hasn’t been used in decades.”
Tom leaned forward. “What about Huiesta, the mining town? We have there empty houses. The ground might not be much for farming, but there’s shelter.”
Drackar considered it for a moment. “That could work,” he admitted. “Orcs aren’t shy about hard labor. We can make it livable.”
I caught Alice’s eye and she gave a slight nod of agreement.
I straightened in my chair. “Alright. The old mining town it is. Start moving your people there immediately. We’ll send scouts and supplies to help establish things, but this needs to be done quietly.”
Ju rubbed her temples but didn’t argue further. “Fine, but we’ll need to smooth this over with the King somehow.”
I shrugged. “The mine needs workers—that’s easy enough to prove and gives us a solid reason. Over time, we can build a second settlement by the river, like Hew suggested. Then they’ll have the choice of where they’d prefer to stay.”
“What about those houses that are Xsoha property?” Mike asked
“Oh, damn! True. Most empty houses are Xsoha property. We could requisition them?” Tom exclaimed
"Yes, and don't start me with the Xsoha. I have solid proof that they were implied in the attack against Hew."
"Is the proof solid enough for a high-court?" Alice wondered
I chuckled "Actually not." I turned towards Tom "We requisition the houses as long as there is need, then we should build new ones. We have the manpower and most materials, don't we?"
Hew nodded.
I turned to Drackar.
“I want enhanced security for Hew and Tom when they leave the castle. We can’t risk more attacks like the one the other day.”
Hew frowned. “But I need to meet with people. How else can I do my job?”
I almost told him you don’t have to do that job, but the words stuck. Who else would handle it? And, truthfully, he seemed to enjoy the work—feeling useful suited him.
Drackar nodded thoughtfully. “I’ve been considering this—not just for when they leave the grounds. The last attack on Mr. Hew happened right in the castle yard. My suggestion is to assign Wetina as his permanent bodyguard, if that arrangement is acceptable.”
“Wetina?” I asked, raising a brow. “Would she be enough?”
Drackar chuckled. “I wouldn’t suggest her if I had any doubts. She’s one of my lieutenants— level ninety-two rogue. More than capable. Of course, she’d continue to receive her lieutenant’s pay.”
I gave a nod of approval. “That works.”
"For Mr. Tom, I’ll need to do some checks first,” Drackar continued. “We need someone who can accompany him inside the mine and provide assistance if needed. Preferably an Earthmage or someone with similar skills.” His gaze shifted to me. “Wouldn’t you require a permanent guard as well, Lady Lores?”
I considered it briefly before shaking my head. “Not for now.”
“Anything else?”
“There is one more matter,” he said, his tone lowering slightly. “I’d like to discuss it with you in private.”
My brows lifted in surprise. What could he possibly need to say privately?
“Whenever you have the time,” he added. “Just let me know.”
I gave a small nod. “Alright.”
Shortly after Drackar left, Wetina arrived. As far as I could read orc expressions – which wasn’t much – she didn’t look thrilled about her new assignment. In fact, she seemed downright fuming, though maybe that was just her default mood. Either way, Hew didn’t seem to mind. The moment she showed up, he was practically out the door, finally able to leave the castle again.
As the meeting wrapped up and the room started to clear, Alice lingered behind, approaching me with a certain look that made me brace for more bad news.
“There’s something I need to discuss with you,” she said, her tone serious.
I arched a brow. “Go on.”
“There’s a large memorial mass tomorrow at Huiesta for the people who died in the mine collapse. It’s tradition to hire laments singers to perform after the service, but the ones we hired canceled. No replacements. If we’re left without singers, it’ll be seen as a bad omen. Considering the orcs are moving in soon… well, it’s the perfect storm for unrest.”
I exhaled sharply. “Oh, hell. You’re right. Can’t we just find some locals to handle it?”
Alice shook her head. “I thought about it, but it wouldn’t be the same. That’s what poor serfs do when someone in their family dies – they make do with whoever they can find because they can’t afford proper singers. For us to do it, it’ll send the wrong message, like we care so little about the lives lost that we won’t even honor them properly.”
I sighed, rubbing my temples. “Great. And I’m guessing none in the neighborhood have anyone available on such short notice?”
Alice shook her head. “I’ve already asked around. Either they’re busy, or they’re unwilling to make the trip. There are a few local women who know the songs, but… they’re not quite good enough. It would feel underwhelming.”
I exhaled slowly, already sensing where this was headed. And sure enough, Alice didn’t disappoint.
“Could you sing with them?” she asked, “I know you can sing – and if people see and hear you, it will send a completely different message. You could even swap out a few songs for ones you know well. They don’t have to be the same; just something beautiful and solemn. Please? I really think it will mean a lot for the people to see that you care. Afterward, you could speak to the mayor, explain about the orcs moving in.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. Damn it. She wasn’t wrong.
“Fine,” I exhaled. “I’ll talk to Tom and see what we can arrange. But if I’m going to do this, I need some time with those women. We’ll need to rehearse.”
Alice nodded eagerly. “I’ll handle that. I’ll prepare a room downstairs – somewhere quiet. I’ll make sure it’s set for the afternoon.”
She glanced around, making sure no one else was within earshot. By now, we were alone in the room.
“Anything else?” I asked, watching her carefully.
It was obvious she was debating whether to bring something up, her hesitation only piquing my curiosity. She bit her lip, exhaled quietly, then took the plunge.
“I know this might not be my place, but… did you notice Julietta’s eyes when she was talking to Drackar?”
I frowned, tilting my head. “What do you mean?”
She didn’t dance around it. “I think she likes him. And he likes her— a lot.”
I blinked, then shrugged. “I didn’t notice anything. Why are you telling me this?”
She sighed, her voice thoughtful and measured.
“If I don’t tell you, who else would? I think they’re both unsure where you stand in all this, but no one’s brave enough to ask you directly.”
Hm. Now that I thought about it, I wasn’t so sure. From what I remembered, Drackar’s eyes had been more on me than Julietta. Maybe Alice had misread the situation. Then again, I wasn’t exactly an expert at deciphering expressions and feelings.
I gave a nonchalant shrug. “I’ve got nothing against it,” I said, though even I wasn’t entirely convinced by my tone. And Drackar still wanted to have that private talk with me. Somehow, I doubted it was to confess feelings for Julietta. If anything, the big green orc seemed more likely to lay his heart bare to me.
I shot Alice a wink. “I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”