“Is that them?” asked Klyn as he shielded his eyes from the blowing winter wind and dim sun to look out over the lake at the approaching flatboat.
“How can you not recognize them, when we have spent nearly a year working together on clearing up the infected?” asked Akira.
On the flatboat were several delegates from the other allied Yuki-onna, Nyantails, Kamen, dwarves, and even a delegate from Jerora who was now one of the major powers in the north. This was mainly due to spending the last 8 months consolidating and building up the old trade post city so that it could better house all those that had migrated there during the Molten Onyx Plague.
Along with the other demon races, representatives from the Coldpelt werewolf clan came with grand elder Dùghall. The Saberfang clan had also come south, this time without Tormoid either due to him falling out of favor or the grand elders of Saberfang wanting to put their best foot forward with Kodria and not step on any toes.
When the boat reached the inner city's main stone docks, the occupants disembarked and joined Akira and the grand elders that were waiting to greet them. Surprisingly Fluffball was not with Akira as he was with Mileena, whose belly was still growing, to help her with any tasks she needed as well as provide protection for her.
“Glad to be here once again,” said grand elder Dùghall, shaking Akira's hand.
“It's good that we are taking care of this now before the warm months arrive,” said Jerm, Jerora's representative.
“Ah, I forgot you northern cities are always busy in the warm months,” said Nolan.
“Although I called everyone here to celebrate the completion of our clean-up, we still have a few other matters to take care of. Namely updating our trade deals and contingent plans against any future attacks by the Demigods,” said Akira, shaking the hands of the delegates one by one.
“The outer city looks to be thriving far more than the last time I was here during the siege,” said Crulak, looking back at the bustling crowd swarming in and out of the gates of the outer city near the shores of the lake.
“We have big plans for the outer city when the warm months arrive. We will be expanding and adding another wall so we can house more people, as well as have better protection from a siege like the one we faced not long ago,” said Akira.
“It is already larger than the inner city and now you are going to expand it even more? Kodria will soon dwarf everyone with your population and the size of just your outer city.”
“Everyone can rest assured that the minerals you left with Delgar have been manufactured into the armor you requested as payment for helping us during the siege. You can pick it up before you head back to your people.”
As Akira began to lead the delegates down the stone dock towards the city gates a large commotion could be heard across from the lake near the outer city docks.
Akira continued walking with the delegates and turned his head to see what all the shouting was about.
With his eyesight, he had no trouble seeing that the cause of the commotion was what looked like a drunken brawl between several dock guards, a large orc, and a small goblin warrior.
The guards seemed to have everything under control, so he returned his attention to leading the delegates to the castle.
“Akira, tell those guards to bring those two to us!” said Varbu in a serious voice.
“Giii?” asked a confused Prince Gobbers. He could not see as clearly as Akira or Varbu could, so he paid the scuffle no attention.
“Why?” asked Akira.
“I can't be 100%, but that guy... he shouldn't be here,” said Varbu, squinting to look at the struggling orc warrior.
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Prince Gobbers also squinted his eyes trying to see the fighting goblin warrior more clearly, but only managed to make his small face uglier.
“He's not one of your men?”
Varbu shook his head, “He's from the main tribe.”
It took Akira several seconds to process that. 'The main tribe?'
“You're saying they're one of the people that stayed behind?” asked Klyn.
Akira did not hesitate anymore and let out a howl that traveled across the lake.
The struggling guards stopped their fight to get control of the two and looked over to Akira who had just sent out the howl.
Akira nodded to them. They grabbed the arms of the two they had been fighting with moments before and dragged them into a small rowboat and rowed them across the lake.
The rest of the delegates looked confused at what was going on, with only grand elder Dùghall understanding what those few words 'The main tribe' meant.
“Are they delegates from a different tribe or clan?” asked Crulak.
“I'm not sure,” said Chief Socks, the leader of the Nyantails. As his name suggested, his furry feet were black while the rest of his fur-covered body was white making him look like he was wearing socks.
When the rowboat reached the stone docks, Varbu and Prince Gobbers rushed forward to talk to the two warriors and see what they were doing so far away from the main tribes.
Up close the large orc warrior that had seemed menacing and full of strength at a distance, was a sore sight to see. He was bordering on nothing but skin and bones. His face was covered in several scars with the left half of his face sagging slightly from a crudely healed scar that looked like it was from a failed attack that had tried to cut his head in half.
Varbu reached out to help him out of the boat but found the Orc's entire left arm and shoulder were missing.
The goblin warrior was in just as bad of a condition as the Orc warrior. He was wearing an eye patch over his right eye and was missing his right ear and hand.
Akira focused on the two foreign warriors to see their levels.
[Chop lvl 101] [Gnob lvl 100]
Their levels being so high was not something Akira would have thought possible knowing the strength of the Orcs and Goblins from the past as well as their near-dead look. Apparently, the two demon races had been through a lot since the younger generation had separated.
“Chop is that you?” asked Varbu.
Chop nodded his head and immediately said, “We bring important news and warnings to the allied demon races of this continent.”
With that said he handed Varbu a small weathered brown leather pouch.
Varbu untied the leather pouch and found a thick packet of wax-sealed papers inside.
Upon seeing the writing on the packet Varbu's face changed.
“What is it?” asked Akira.
“... my father's last will,” said Varbu.
“You two, follow us. This is no place to be talking about serious matters,” said Akira. He immediately turned around and led the group back to the castle.
The once cheerful atmosphere was now replaced with a serious one as the delegates quietly talked between themselves.
***
“... and even though the head warrior chief Tornok and king GobGob led their warriors to victory holding the demigods back at the third and main defensive lines several times. They both succumbed to the numerous fatal wounds several days after the attacks stopped,” said Chop.
“Gii giiiii,” said Gnob, agreeing with Chop while tears began welling up in his left eye.
Prince Gobbers thumped Gnob on the back a few times to try and comfort him, as he too had tears in his eyes. Princess Gobalina had a face full of sadness but her eyes were full of determination.
“What is the current situation now that both of them have died?” asked Akira.
“First thing, before they passed they wanted me to make sure to tell you under no circumstances are you to go back to the main continent to try and avenge their deaths. The demigods are growing in numbers and strength as they claim areas they call farming zones.”
“Gii,” said Gnob with a nod.
“The situation has stabilized now that the demigods have repeatedly failed to pass the third defensive fort town that was reinforced by the dwarves. It has turned into a stalemate with the Orc and Goblin clans unable to leave the safe haven and the demigods unable to enter. Anyone that goes outside of the protection of the fort city for any amount of time is soon found and hunted down.”
“Then how did you two get here?” asked Jerm.
Chop took a deep breath to calm down his emotions and said in a quiet voice, “When we left. There were ten other fit and strong warriors that had fought many battles with the Demigods... we are the only survivors that somehow managed to make it to Kodria, broken as we are.”
The room was silent as they let everything sink in.
“If I had to make a guess, the way things are going, the safe haven can hold out for another 5 to 10 years before they are overpowered by the demigods. The other demon races are probably in a similar state,” said Chop.