Grendom was a village of about four hundred creatures, with stone and brick outer walls that would not have looked out of place in a southern market town. There were two large wooden gates, usually left open, and wooden towers that reached to four stories on either side of the gates. The houses of the town were improving with each passing year, with solid stone houses of two or three stories now surrounding most of the main square. A new part of the town, to the north of the square, featured the latest in modern Pelsan architecture, growing tree houses. This morning, half the square was occupied by a market, leaving the gates and walls with few guard creatures.

The villagers had seen the two bat-folk fly over the village, their large wings easily spotted on such a clear day, and so suspected there might soon be visitors from the capital. A number of them went to the north gate, and sure enough caught the whiff and then saw the approach of the princesses and their guards.

The village creatures did a general bustling out of their houses and headed to the north gate to greet the princesses. The children of Grendom were always happy to see the giant wolves. Everybody loved giant wolves. The village children especially loved Shadow, as he would ride them around and play tug-of-war against the village.

It wasn’t uncommon to see the princesses in the village, so they didn’t expect anything out of the ordinary. A couple of the goblins in their guard were from Grendom and had been due a visit to their mothers. The villagers certainly weren't expecting Princes Wyndyn to scream “Guards to the south gates! Humans approaching! To arms now!” as she and the guards rode in.

Anikga, a young goblin and daughter of the village chief who had known the princesses since they were all toddlers, had come out to greet her friends. But upon hearing Wyndy’s orders, she quickly turned and led the villagers to the southern walls. Two dozen goblins and assorted orcs prepared their weapons and waited, scanning the road for the threat the princesses had announced.

The bat-folk spotted them first, as the three humans made the final turn in the forest before the approach to the walls. They folded back their wings and began to dive.

- - - -

One moment Count Rassler and his men and their guide were mounted, approaching the village; the next there was a smoosh, two dark streaks were seen in the sky, and Rassler and Vastien found themselves on the ground. Vastien’s squire Greymil was behind, still on his horse, along with Mirko, the goblin who was showing them the way.

Rassler looked up and saw what looked like two beautiful young women approaching. This would normally be a good thing, but in this case they were rather cross and surrounded by an electrical storm, with blue crackling bands of energy circling their arms and concentrating on the ends of their rods as they prepared to electrocute him, which was a bad thing. Further, he saw that, if they missed, the women were backed up by a small army, led by a giant gray wolf, that surrounded him and his group. The army included a number of large growling beasts that looked hungry. Those that were not growling and baring teeth were pointing spears. A few were farther back, just grinning, which was somehow worse.

From what he understood of politics in this land just north of his, Rassler suspected he knew the identity of the women preparing to incinerate him. Rassler decided to not use his noble commandy voice, but to try to be charming.

“My ladies, you are as beautiful as they say. Princess Wyndyn! Princess Myla! I am glad we have finally found you!” He said this in Common Vatharian, so not all the creatures understood him. The princesses did though.

“Okay, do not eat him,” commanded Wyndy to her guard creatures.

The giant gray wolf stepped back, but continued growling, causing Rassler to think about what he had done.

Wyndy pointed her rod at Rassler, vivid blue sparks still running towards its tip, and said, “What are you doing here? This is our territory and you have taken one of our citizens hostage. You will free him this instant or I will electrocute you and it will be painful. I am sure you know you are not welcome here. Unless you are a sightseer or registered trader my father has approved." She paused, considering, then continued, "which I do not think you are. So really you need to explain what you are doing, and I advise that you do it very quickly.”

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The goblin who had come with them was down from the horse, and had put himself between Rassler and Wyndy, trying to protect him, even as he was shaking. He said, "No, please Princess Wyndyn, please. They are with me. I brought them here. I am Mirko, of the West Tunnelers. I work in Keley but some of my family is here. I would not betray your father, or you."

Wyndy did not lower her rod, which continued to spark as she looked at Rassler and then back at Mirko. "Why by all the gods did you bring three armed humans here?"

Rassler spoke, talking quickly as he was more nervous than he wanted to admit. “My lady, we are fleeing the evils of Vathary. I am Count Rassler, the lord of the March of Flai Drary. My squire Greymil and my loyal servant Vastien are the men with me.” He indicated the two tall men with him.

Vastien was a middle-aged, balding man with a cook's belly. He wore a sheathed dagger and carried a shield, but didn't look like he knew how to use it. The other human, Greymil, looked like a teenager, shy and trying to blend into the background, but tall and impressively strong. Both stood a few inches taller than Rassler, but neither had his flowing brown hair and handsome dark eyes.

Rassler continued, “I am the rightful ruler of the march, in fealty to the rightful king of Vathary. But the new ruler, King Neydon, sent men to have me arrested. I'd have probably been executed if I’d stayed.”

“Well, maybe you did something to deserve it” replied the younger princess, Myla.

“I swear by all the gods. I have done nothing to him or against the country. I am an honorable and innocent man, and I ask for your protection.”

“You’ve come here for our protection? Our country is supposed to protect you?” the older sister asked.

“My lady, I beg of you. Our city of Keley has traded with Pelsa for many years. I’ve considered relations friendly and profitable for both sides. Trade was growing! Until the old king's death, which happened much earlier than it should have. The new king has all the old biases. He turned against me!”

“Are you sure you didn’t do something to him?” asked Myla. “I mean, sometimes I offend people and I don’t even know I’ve done it.”

“No! Really! I’ve barely spoken to him. I think my enemies at court poisoned him against me. Perhaps led by his chief counselor. He’d been trying to stop our trade with you. If you can just keep me alive, maybe I can make the new king see reason. All of you here in the north would benefit too."

"Keep you alive? Is somebody after you? Is that why you were riding so fast?" asked Wyndy.

"We are pursued by a whole company of the king's men. They want my head. I think we are only a couple of hours ahead of them."

"You have brought a company of Vatharian soldiers to Pelsa?" She was looking at both Rassler and Mirko. Her staff began sparking more strongly, bolts of electricity striking and spreading over the ground.

"I didn’t mean to bring them. We were riding for our lives. If they catch me, they will kill my men and I'll be in a dungeon until I renounce my title. And then they will probably kill me anyway. I did not have many options.”

Rassler very dramatically clasped his hands in front of him, beseeching the princesses.

“But your father is popular in Keley despite being a, well … well popular with our merchants. They say this kingdom is ruled fairly and they are treated justly and not cheated. So I had some hope that he, and your great selves, might help."

“How did you get past the border patrol?” Myla said, her eyes still very focused on Rassler.

“We saw no border patrol, although Mirko went ahead at the border and said he had explained our plight to them.”

Mirko nodded adamantly.

“Since we crossed the border we have scarcely seen anybody. The route took us through a small village about two hours ago, but it was empty. Vastien thinks he saw some shadows moving in the forest, but we’ve not been attacked until now."

Wyndy turned to her guards. The large orc commander was next to her, his black sword still pointed toward Rassler. Rassler saw what he thought were two other humans with her: A man of average height and build, showing the beginning of some gray hairs in his otherwise blondish hair, and a tall sleek woman with short orange hair and dark skin in a gray silk dress who stood eye-to-eye with the orc commander. Wyndy spoke to the commander and the two humans, who seemed to Rassler to be lieutenants of sorts.

"Garaxas, Helnae, Adane; what do you think? Why weren't these three caught at the border, and who do we have there who would be dealing with the company of invaders?"

The orc was the first to reply. "On this road, it would be Commander Histel and his squad at the border. I don’t know why or how Rassler was let though. Histel should have a force of about twelve. If it is really a full company invading, Histel and his force won’t be able to deal with the invaders themselves. If we went to help, with this full force, we have a good chance of at least slowing them, or perhaps a successful ambush. I advise we head south now and meet up with Histel’s squad.”

Garaxas looked over to the older blond man. “Can Adane send the signal that we are approaching, and ask them to find us?"

Adane responded, "Yes, we would need to. Most of Histel's company are buggebears. They are hard to find. Even I have trouble tracking them. I have a guess on which of their camps they’d be using for this, though. I can guide us.”