There were far, far too many people now. The minotaur refugees from God's Watch had swelled their numbers to nearly ten thousand, which was a staggering amount. It was far worse now.

The high walls and giant buildings made Trillia feel uneasy. Her skills working overtime to keep panic out. It was an odd feeling to be immune to fear and panic due to a skill. Her brain told her to panic, but her skills told her otherwise. As they stepped inside the large tent that Amara and Varga still used as their home, Trillia breathed a sigh of relief.

"I don't like this place."

She said it quietly. The others gave her a look and nodded. Ba'Shoon spoke up.

"No offense to your people, Princess Amelia, but I have to agree with Trillia. The walls feel as if I'm trapped. It's uneasy."

Trillia could tell from their body language this was a conversation they had many times. This time was more for Trillia's sake.

"I understand. It's why orcs and minotaurs didn't settle together previously, from what my father has told me. Orcs like the open skies and freedom to move. Minotaurs prefer the great walls of a labyrinth we can never get lost in."

Ba'Shoon nodded. Trillia tried to imagine walls three times higher, and it sent a shiver down her spine. Amara seemed entirely unaffected by it.

"Does it not bother you, Mom?"

Amara scooped her up in a hug, sending out Tormash and Ralrouk with a few words to find Cordaos and Varga. The two left immediately. Lurog had excused himself once they were back in the town proper.

"No. I've been trapped underground or in dungeons for years before. I know my people enjoy the open skies above them. It's why I asked to settle in the Shattered Plains. No one else is willing to brave the creatures and enemies here, so we are free to be a tribal people without others forcing another way of life on us."

Trillia seemed sad about that, hugging her mother's neck.

"Until the cataclysm. Now we don't move anymore."

Amara offered a little nod at that. Ba'Shoon spoke up, trying to list the mood.

"From what I understand. Lord Stas is hard at work on some sort of a bridge. So that we can get all of our people across. Once we're on the other side of the rift, we can once more go back to a tribal society if that's what we want."

Amara sat at a table, sitting Trillia next to her. There were various smoked meats and bread on the table. Trillia happily started to munch on them. Ba'Shoon and Amelia sat around the table as well, as they waited for the others to return. Amara rubbed the bridge of her nose.

"The hardest part of this is trying to wrangle thousands upon thousands of orcs from different tribes. Sure, they will all answer to me as is proper. But it's impossible to make them enjoy this city itself. It just isn't orc-like."

Amelia finished chewing and swallowed some bread. Looking thoughtfully at the statement.

"I wonder what an orc city would be? How would it work?"

The four of them sat in silence, each of them thinking about the logistics of such a city.

It wasn't long before the tent opened up once more. Cordaos and Varga stepped in, followed by the twins. Varga was across the room in an instant, crushing Trillia in yet another hug.

"I've missed you so much, little one. I'm sorry we couldn't save you."

Trillia hugged her father, a smile on her face. Part of her wanted to cry, wanted to just feel safe and secure, but there were far too many things pulling and poking at her mind now.

"That's ok, Dad. I got lots of skills! I even got some traits and classes as well! I don't mind."

Cordaos chuckled, shaking his head.

"Yep, she's a Demonsbane. What's that I was captured by the enemy? Oh, but look at how many levels I gained. Also, look at this amazing sword I got from it all."

Amara punched the minotaur king in the arm, giving him a stern look.

"I grew out of it!"

Trillia giggled at that. It made her feel a little better that she wasn't freaking out more. Maybe it just ran in their blood. Varga refused to let her go but sat at the table with her as the two of them munched on smoked meat. The others mostly just chatted about the city and how things were progressing. No one wanted to force Trillia to do anything. She was happy to just sit in peace with her friends and family and be safe.

During a prolonged period of silence, Amelia spoke up.

"Since the important people are here. King Cordaos, I have a request."

Amara and Cordaos both raised eyebrows at that. If she was using her father's official title, it wasn't something small. Cordaos motioned with a hand for her to continue.

"There is a new dungeon. It's a three-week march north and east from the city. I wish to go there and test myself. I wanted to ask the permission of my King, as well as our allied Chieftain. I know the dungeon is currently off-limits since there are too many people who would destroy the core before we can see what the dungeon is like. That doesn't mean I can't go in to test myself and clear it without harming the core."

Trillia perked up at that. She had never been in a dungeon before. But she had heard many, many good things about them. Cordaos leaned back. A hand moving up to his snout, deep in thought. Trillia wanted to seize the moment.

"I'd like to go with her! It will mean she's not alone. I have classes now. I can be of a greater help. Plus! With Limitless Mana, I can make sure she never runs out of mana."

Amara and Varga looked as if they had just been smacked in the face. Amara looked at Trillia, speaking softly.

"You just got back, honey... I... I don't really want to send you out somewhere dangerous again."

Trillia sighed heavily, pulling away from her father. She stood on a stool so that everyone could see her. Waving her stub as if to emphasize it.

"I got taken because I was weak. Because I couldn't defend myself. I know you are all worried about me. But I don't want to be smothered. My brain is screaming at me to leave this city. Since the day I left the pod, I've been feeling the urge to visit Kincairne. I need to get stronger. I need to be useful."

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Trillia raised her hand as most of them tried to say something.

"I need to feel useful. To myself. No matter what any of you say. I'm a [Runt], and I have one working hand. But I'm still a proud orc. I don't want to feel like I'm being taken care of for the rest of my life. I need to learn to live and fight as I am now. If Amelia would have me and the dungeon isn't so dangerous as we'd both just die on entry. I want to learn and fight."

Amelia stood and walked over to her, giving her a hug before standing at her side.

"I'd be happy to have Trillia along. Both of us can heal, and Trillia can replenish mana. My Banshee class, mixed with her skirmishing style, would do well, I think. I promise, at the first sign of danger, we will flee."

Cordaos reached into a pouch, pulling out a small white stone with a bright orange symbol on it. Tossing it across the table, Amelia caught it. She rolled it over in her hands, looking at it oddly. Trillia spoke before Cordaos could.

"The runes are for alarms and light?"

Ba'Shoon smirked. Cordaos was a bit stunned that the girl knew.

"Correct..."

Cordaos stared at Trillia for a long moment. Trillia watched her mana drop rapidly as he tried to scan her or something else. Her mana was trying to fend off.

"It's a rune that minotaurs use often, when we invade an enemy minotaur's labyrinth. Or when we are in a dungeon meant to befuddle our senses. It will alarm all allies within a mile in addition it shines a bright light that confuses enemies. The two of you can use it to call for help from the people guarding the dungeon entrance."

Amelia closed her fist around it, holding it to her chest with her eyes closed. Giving a solemn nod.

"Thank you, Father. For letting me go."

Amara looked like her heart was breaking. Staring at Trillia. Torn once more between being a mother and being a Chieftain. Trillia hopped off her stool, walked up to her mother, and gave her a hug.

"I'll come back, Mom. I promise. You can't be over my shoulder my entire life. Besides, I'm sure Amelia and I have lots of stuff to prepare before we go on our dungeon delve. It will take some time, right?"

Trillia looked over her shoulder to Amelia, who nodded.

"At least a few weeks. I want to make sure my armor and weapons are in order. We also need to get new weapons and armor for Trillia. Provisions, that sort of thing."

Amara hugged Trillia again. It seemed like her mom was fighting back tears of her own. After a few minutes, Amara spoke.

"If your father is ok with it. So am I."

Trillia beamed. Varga spoke up immediately after.

"Let's get you armor and weapons. We'll see how I feel after a week or two. It's no offense to either of you girls, but we don't have a lot of information on that dungeon except that it has low-level denizens. I don't want to risk losing either of you to bravado."

Trillia and Amelia both nodded. Ralrouk stood, clapping his hands together once. Everyone except Cordaos and Amara jumped a little. The large orc grinned.

"All I'm hearing is that we need to have a feast! For Trillia's return, as well as their dungeon sojourn!"

Tormash grinned, standing next to his brother.

"I think that's a great idea. The city could use something festive. I'll help organize it. We can have it be on the northern gate so that the minotaurs can feel safe inside, and the orcs can party outside the walls."

Amara and Varga both rolled their eyes. Cordaos laughed heartily. Trillia had missed his mighty belly laugh. The minotaur king smacked a hand on the table as he stood.

"A great feast then! The return of the Orc Princess and the conquering of a new dungeon by the princesses of both our peoples!"

Ba'Shoon clapped excitedly. It didn't take long for Varga and Amara to give in to the overly excited group.

Over the next two or three days, Trillia got measured for armor. Asking for something light to move in and getting another rapier made for her. Times like these, Trillia was very happy to be the Chieftain's daughter. No one asked for payment, knowing that Amara would square any debts. All of her armor was of top quality. She almost felt a little bad.

Sure, they were going to a dungeon, just the two of them. But how many young adventurers like her didn't have a ruler's backing. How many tried to conquer a dungeon with a chipped old sword and no armor. Trillia shook her head. She was lucky. She wouldn't waste that luck.

She and Amelia also sparred with Ralrouk, Tormash, and a young minotaur named Alf. They knew he was young because he was only a little taller than Amelia. Raven black fur, with bright green eyes. His horns looked as though they had been snapped off. It took years for minotaur horns to re-grow. His hadn't started yet.

Alf was a stone guard. It was a specialized class that used heavy plates of earth and stone as armor. Despite his age, he could take an immense amount of hits before faltering.

Their three opponents pushed and pressured them, using Taunt skills to disrupt the two girl's flow in combat. Tormash could also stop their use of skills. That terrified Trillia more than a little. Apparently, some monsters could do that as well.

When they weren't training. Ba'Shoon was going over something perhaps even more important than armor, weapons, and training. Dungeon etiquette. Apparently, dungeons were very much so aware thinking things. At least most of them were.

"Remember. Have something of tribute ready. Dungeons absorb non-dungeon materials once they have no invaders. They can utilize things in unique and interesting ways. A dungeon that knows you've paid it tribute is less likely to go lethal on you. That's not always the case. Some dungeons will just kill to kill."

Trillia nodded at that. Once Ba'Shoon was done with her current thought, Trillia spoke.

"What do you think a good tribute is for our first dungeon delve."

Ba'Shoon rubbed her chin in thought. Standing as she walked around her workshop. Trillia and Amelia both respected the woman a great deal. She wasn't as powerful as Amara, but the way she carried herself was something both of the girls wanted. Ba'Shoon seemed so confident and sure of her every step despite not being some otherwordly powerhouse. Plus, Trillia had to admit she was beautiful. Trillia wanted to be tall and beautiful someday. She hoped she would be.

Ba'Shoon finally returned, setting two items in front of them.

"This is... this is a theory I have. It's not proven. I believe the minotaurs share a similar theory. I think that the dungeons are people of importance who pass on. At least some of them. It's difficult to prove since there are dozens of dungeons that all operate in completely different fashions from one another. But we know this dungeon uses goblins and wolves. So we will assume it is a fallen goblin hero. Or villain. Either way, things that Goblins or wolves like would be good tribute."

Trillia looked down at the items, one looked like a whistle, and the other was a set of small metallic claws. Ba'Shoon explained.

"The whistle is a minor enchanted item. Once bonded to a rider and their mount, it lets the rider empower their mount for a period of time. Like most enchanted items, it has a cooldown. The claws can adjust to fit many different beasts, it mostly serves as a way to let wolves and dogs get through armor. These items are probably the pinnacle of what most dungeons would ask for. In addition to being made of many different types of materials, they are especially suited to the dungeon."

The girls each took an item, gently running their fingers along them. Ba'Shoon didn't do shoddy work, that was certain.

"I know it's a young dungeon. I'd imagine it is a bit terrified, honestly. One of the first people to walk inside it that we know about was Ralrouk. The denizens couldn't even harm him. He said he could feel their terror and fear as he walked through the dungeon toward the core. One of them even grabbed onto his leg and started begging him not to kill their father."

The last sentence was said softly. Trillia felt a little bad now.

"I... I don't want to kill stuff that has a family and is innocent. Maybe if it attacks me first, or it's wild like the spawns are."

Ba'Shoon patted her knee.

"Dungeon monsters respawn. It actually helps the dungeon grow. I would never encourage torturing dungeon monsters or anything so cruel. But give them a good fight. And assure them you don't mean their core any harm. The core doesn't respawn. If it dies, all of the denizens do as well."

Trillia nodded at that. Looking at the whistle in her hand. She was going to bring something else. It couldn't hurt to have a dungeon on their good side.

"Maybe we can talk to it about letting people train in it. If we promise not to hurt its core."

Amelia spoke up at that.

"That's what Father wants to do, Chieftain Amara as well. It's difficult, though, because many of our warriors are so powerful that the dungeon is scared when they walk in. It's another reason I wanted to go. My level isn't very high yet, and I'm also quite young. "

Amelia looked down, then towards Trillia.

"I also want to find a way to feel more useful to the city. Establishing a connection with the dungeon is a good idea. We can also have sentinels go in with dungeon groups. They won't interfere in fights in any way. But they can be there to ensure the dungeon core isn't harmed."

Ba'Shoon nodded. Trillia thought that was a great idea. The two thanked Ba'Shoon for the lesson, promising they'd be back tomorrow as they left to go and eat. Trillia was getting excited about this.