The last few days of the return trip were more stressful. Even though nothing happened, the new - and young- adventuring party had just survived their first real encounter with other humanoid creatures. For most of them, it was their first time killing something that looked like they did.

As they approached the gate of Red River, the guards saw them still half covered in blood with patchwork wagons and the random assortment of equipment and gear of other adventuring types. Amelia took point.

"Hail. I am Amelia Shatterhoof. We are returning with goods and wares from Rift City. We need to immediately speak with the General. We were attacked by brigands on the return trip and need help identifying their origin.> One of the guards immediately turned and ran off. The other ushered them inside. Trillia watched as everyone's shoulders visibly sagged once they were within the safety of the modest walls of the city.

They didn't have to wait long before Ralrouk, Tormash, and Ba'Shoon came storming over to the guard station. Trillia was squeezing her fists to the point they hurt, trying to hold it together and give a report.

Tormash looked them all over, probably saw how shaken everyone was, and walked up to Alfred. "I don't speak your words well. The others seem shaken. Explain yourselves. Slowly, for my sake."

Alfred looked at him and sighed, rubbing his eyes. It was the first time the armourer looked old and weary. "A group of ten or so ambushed. One of them was an orc that had somehow tamed one of those fucking big bugs you lot are always fighting. A few humans and minotaur were there as well. Forgive me, Chieftain. They didn't give us time to talk. They ambushed us with several volleys of arrows and were aiming to kill. We killed them down to the last. The only reason we made it through was because of the young Acolyte. Layla is her name. She gave herself a debuff I haven't seen before, keeping the healing up. A young orc named Grommich was heavily wounded."

Alfred motioned to the orc, who was laying in the back of the wagon he had been driving. Layla hadn't been able to restore his eye or his fingers. She had been too drained from the other spells. "The Princess told us to trim any markings that might discern where these fucks came from. So we did that and took their belongings. I don't know how the orcs handle it. If we did anything that is against your laws. I will take full responsibility as the caravan master. Please don't punish the young folks. They fought more bravely than some seasoned adventurers. They need rest, M'Lord. If possible, before you question them." With that, he looked pointedly at Ralrouk and Ba'Shoon.

Ralrouk growled and leaned in. "Thank you. For helping to save my sister and little Amelia. I assure you, Lord Alfred. This won't go unanswered. As for the gear, if the Chieftain and Elder Shaman have no need of it. You keep what you kill. It's the least that can be offered for what you have had to go through."

Ba'Shoon spoke up next. "We can let you all rest for the night. We can question them more tomorrow. I apologize on behalf of Red River for not taking better care of its craftsman. It seems that opening our city up to outsiders has corrupted some of our more idiotic tribesmen into being dishonorable savages like our ancestors."

Alfred nodded and looked over at Trillia. "Why don't you take your group and head off to rest? Fred, Grommich, and I can handle getting the wagons to the workshop." Trillia and the others nodded slightly.

Trillia took in a shaky breath and looked at the others before she tried to speak. Ba'Shoon spoke up. "Why don't you all rest at the Chieftain's building tonight? It's safe, secure, and comfortable. I'll make sure your group is fed." Trillia gave her another nod before the others followed her toward the building in question. Ralrouk and Tormash stayed behind to inspect the gear and markings. Ba'Shoon followed them back.

Within the next hour, everyone had been given a guest room, normally reserved for merchant guild leaders or other prominent people from D'Jamu or Rift City. Ba'Shoon led Trillia to her room last, and once the heavy furs were closed, Trillia sunk to her knees, and the tears began.

Ba'Shoon knelt next to her and pulled her into a hug. "There there, little one. It gets better, I promise."

-=- The Next Day -=-

Trillia woke feeling even more exhausted than she had in the past few days. She remembered crying for quite some time. The last thing she remembered was Ba'Shoon reassuring her. She woke up rubbing her eyes. Ialu lay curled up at her feet with her head resting on Trillia's legs.

Trillia took a deep breath and sat up, rubbing Ialu's ears and putting her thoughts in order. After contemplating for a few minutes, she saw the wash basin in the room and decided scrubbing the blood out of her clothes was a solid first step.

-=- A Few Hours Later -=-

Trillia walked toward the main hall. There was a commotion and a rather serious one going on. Tormash stood on the raised dais meant for the Elder Chieftain. Several other orcs were there, as well as a bunch of humans and even a couple minotaur.

Ralrouk stood next to Tormash. His face wore a familiar look. It had been the same look he wore when he had to go and deal with a tribe of orcs that had been practicing slavery again. As the crowd grew louder, Ralrouk reached into a pocket space and pulled out the severed head of the orc they had slain. "This was the leader of those brigands. Not only did they attack the Princess of Rift City, they also attacked the daughter of Amara Demonsbane. Who, need I remind you, is also the pact-bound to Arlyss Darktone. In addition, that group was acting as a carrier for missives between Grand Alchemist Mort and Grand Chieftain Tormash. One of our most trusted armourers was bringing minerals and metals back to forge new armor for many of the very leaders in this room. Make no mistake. This is not a request from Chieftain Tormash for your aid. This is a demand from the General of the Shattered Plains. We will not abide by brigands and raiders any longer."

One of the orcs stepped forward. "We are not humans! Stop trying to push human culture onto us! The strong take from the weak. That is the way of the orcs!" Before anyone could shout, Tormash drew and hurled a battleaxe into the orc's chest. In the next breath, Tormash was standing in front of the orc holding him up off the ground. Tormash knew all too well that the orc had tenacity, so this wouldn't kill him.

"The strong take from the weak?! Is that what you've gotten from our teachings, Kronak!? How about I take your tribe from you? Your life from you? You are weaker than me, are you not?!" Tormash let go and yanked the axe from the orc's chest, who crumpled to the ground. Ba'Shoon motioned, and Trillia felt the mana drain from her to heal the orc. Tormash looked down at him. "We are meant to be better. Amara Demonsbane has pushed for us to be better. I have pushed for us to be better. You say you hate the culture of the humans, yet their weakest can still live and have a chance to thrive into something better. What happens to our weakest, brother?"

Tormash leaned down and extended an arm. "How many children has your tribe lost to these fucking bugs? How many children must the orcs continue to lose in the name of our culture?"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

The orc growled but was smart enough not to reach for a weapon. With some reluctance, he grabbed Tormash's hand and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet. "I just meant that our people are resistant to change. First, we're expected to sit in one place like the humans and minotaur, and now you expect us to just allow free trade. Why?"

Trillia gritted her teeth and strode forward. As she was nearing the raised dais, Alfred's familiar hand grabbed her shoulder and stopped her. Tormash closed his eyes and shook his head. "I don't ever want to hold a dying child in my arms again. Ba'Shoon and I are trying for children of our own. I know you Chieftain Kronak. You have four strong sons of your own, do you not?" The other orc nodded slightly. "Imagine holding them when they were a baby. Watching their lifeblood flow freely. Imagine for a moment. " As he said it, he grabbed Kronak's face. "Imagine them grabbing you, begging you to save them. Asking if they were a good and strong orc."

The other orc was clearly getting uncomfortable but couldn't pull from Tormash's grip. "Imagine holding your beautiful wife in your arms...watching her fade away. I grow weary of being the playthings of the gods. I grow weary of letting death take us in the name of culture. I founded this city so that orcs who didn't want to struggle just to feed themselves could find a place. If you and your tribe wish to be nomads, I happily support you. I look forward to your yearly visits to us. But I won't hold back our entire species for the sake of us being stubborn to ancestry. I won't allow our people to turn back into savages, enslaving our own people and butchering others. I will kill anyone who stands in the way of that progress." With that, he let the orc go. Turning and walking back up to stand next to Ralrouk.

Trillia watched her brother take a deep breath and mumble something to himself before turning to face the now-silent crowd. "By order of the Grand Chieftain of the Shattered Plains. Anyone caught taking part in banditry or raiding is hereby banished from the United Tribes. They are no longer considered sapient creatures. They may be treated with the same hostility and disregard for freedom as the [Megapedes] are."

The humans didn't understand the weight of that, but the orcs certainly did. As did the minotaur. But after the display, none of them were brave enough to challenge him openly. Tormash continued. "If you do not like how I run this city. Leave. If you do not like how I run the Shattered Plains. Challenge me, or leave. I nearly lost my little sister. Tell me. How many of you are brave enough to stand against Amara? Or Celestia forbid, the fucking deity that Trillia is bound to? How many of you are willing to incur his wraith in the name of being a dishonorable fucking thief?! Let's not forget that Princess Amelia was also in that group. Tell me, how many of you have seen King Cordaos when he's truly angry? I have. I have no desire to watch him flatten our entire fucking city because we allowed bandits to kill his only child!"

Invoking the names of the Generals was enough to make everyone gathered look down and away. Both had an infamous temper when they were in battle. Trillia also knew, without a doubt, that despite their sometimes aloof demeanor, Brutus and Stas would happily wipe out a bunch of orcs and minotaurs if asked by Amara or Cordaos.

An older orc stepped forward. "I hear you, Grand Chieftain. But surely, taking away their rights to freedom is too far. Even for such risks. I mean no disregard to our human brethren, but we must only look so far as D'Jamu's recent history to see what a lack of freedom can do to an otherwise strong city."

Ba'Shoon put a hand on Tormash's shoulder and stepped forward. "As a former slave to humans myself. I am all too familiar with the weight of shackles. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. What would you suggest, as an alternative, to make it clear that the United Tribes will not tolerate such a thing? I see many of you questioning my husband's decisions, but I've heard no alternatives as of yet. How do we make them repay their debt to society without prison or slavery?"

The room went silent. Trillia stepped forward, pulling away from Alfred as she did. As she neared the dais, she raised a hand. "May I say something, Elder Shaman?"

She was given more than a few odd looks, and some of the humans began whispering, knowing more of her and her exploits in the desert than many of the orcs did at this point. Tormash nodded and motioned for her to take another step.

Trillia took a couple of steps up onto the dais and turned to look at the gathered crowd before looking at Tormash. "Our people value freedom above everything. I have been kidnapped and trapped in a pod myself. It was a truly miserable feeling. Shaman Ba'Shoon asks for alternatives... Perhaps an alternative fit for an orc. Anyone who is caught partaking in being a thief is sent with a scouting party strong enough to handle them. They can be the front line when clearing the undead dungeons of D'Jamu's desert. Or clearing the nests of [Megapedes] in the Shattered Plains. For every life that was taken during their banditry. They must clear another dungeon or nest. It is still a form of slavery, I admit." She sighed and shook her head. "Forgive me. Perhaps it's not a better solution."

Surprisingly, Kronak spoke up. "I prefer that. For every life ruined, they must save a greater amount. They must prove to the Shattered Plains that they can be seen as an equal. My tribe has a long-standing of being aggressive raiders. But I cannot deny what the Grand Chieftain says either..."

After looking down for a moment, he turned his eyes to Tormash. "In addition to the four strong sons I had. We lost our daughter at three years of age. Our tribe had been unable to raid for months. We had no crops, no food. We couldn't keep enough nourishment in the child for her to survive." Everyone felt silent once more.

Trillia took a few steps down and touched his forearm. "I don't think any of us want to lose what makes us orcs. I just think that many of us want our families to be able to experience all this realm has to offer. Even if it hasn't been easy as of late."

Alfred stepped forward next. With a look to Tormash, who nodded and motioned, he spoke. "If you'd translate for me, little lady." Trillia nodded.

Despite not fully understanding the language, he had picked up on enough context clues from what Trillia had been translating for him. "As another alternative. Which, again, is close to slavery in the eyes of your culture. Maybe force them to apprentice under some craftsmen? Give them a skill that lets them earn an honest living that doesn't involve stabbin' or killin'. You fucks are tough as steel and twice as strong. Teach 'em how to break rocks, teach 'em how to hammer steel."

Tormash nodded and raised a hand as chatter began to form. "My statement stands. If they are caught, for now, I am willing to allow them to live as usual and either be forced to join the military or be forced to apprentice for no pay. If they refuse, they are stripped of their rights as a member of the United Tribes and are labeled a monster. We've been arguing and at this for several hours. Let the weight of this conversation settle on your shoulders. Go grab food. Discuss it. Return here in two hours if you still wish to discuss anything with me."

The chatter returned immediately as people began to filter out. Kronak rubbed the spot on his chest where the axe had hit. "Are we going soft, Tormash? Will our people become weak?"

Tormash looked down at him, but it was Ralrouk who spoke up. "I spent a lot of time in D'Jamu. Lady Kismet is expecting our first child together soon. I've seen some humans that would wipe the floor with most of our tribe. By Infernus, look at General Brutus. Listen to the legends of Queen Alliyah. Tormash and I will never allow the orcs to become weak. We want the chance to have long lives and protect our children as all the other races do."

Kronak looked over at the towering orc and sighed. "Forgive my outburst, Chieftain Tormash. I think I'll take the time you've given and think things over." Once everyone else filtered out, it was just Tormash, Ralrouk, Ba'Shoon, Alfred, and Trillia left. Ialu had run off on her own, awaiting Trillia's call. Trillia ran over to Ralrouk, wearing a smile ear to ear. "That means that Kismet and Ba'Shoon will both have children soon, right?! I'm going to be the best aunt!"

Tormash let out a laugh at that, tussling her hair. "You had better teach them how to survive like a real orc. We'll be too damn busy buried in complaints and bullshit. Are you feeling ok?"

Trillia turned to him and smiled. "I am. I am going to gather the others and see if they wish to wait another day or if they are ready to delve immediately."

Alfred waited patiently for a break in conversation before speaking up. "I actually came to discuss some matters that Grand Alchemist Mort brought up. Should I wait until later, Chieftain?"

Tormash shook his head. "No. We grab food and discuss it over lunch. It's the least I can do, given the danger you recently faced. We can work on our language skills as well."

Trillia ran off to gather the others as Ba'Shoon grabbed the cooks and began to make a large lunch for everyone.