Richard stared at the three. Rose and Thorn told most of the story, with Rick interjecting occasionally between large bites of his hot dog and handfuls of fries.

"So, you were surprised by a group of humans who cast sleep on you," Richard remarked to Rose, who nodded. "You and Rick tracked her down by scent?" Thorn and Rick nodded. "And that worked?" All three nodded. "You woke up, and a human helped you escape?" Rose nodded. "Batty killed someone with an iron skillet?"

"No," Rose corrected, "she knocked him out with an iron skillet."

"Okay, okay," Richard began again. "And Rick," he pointed to the imp still shoveling food into his mouth, "threatened to eat someone's soul."

Rose and Thorn started to respond but then stopped when Rick said, "Yep. It smelled sweet. It would have been delicious."

"He can smell souls?" Bob whispered, so captivated by the story that he had forgotten the uneaten hotdog in his hand.

Richard waved a hand dismissively, "Don't ask. I don't want to know."

When the three arrived back at the cafe, it was midday. The place was still packed, and it didn't seem that the line would ever dwindle.

"Isn't lunch over?" Rose asked, looking at the line.

"Yes," Richard said. "But there is some kinda of festival in town. All these people are traveling to it."

"Yeah, and they want to spend all their gold here," Bob said gleefully. He remembered his hotdog and began to eat. "It's been crazy today," he said with his mouth full.

“Anyone know what the festival is for?” Rose asked.

"It's the yearly summer festival of the elder god," Mayor Hamilton cleared his throat.

"Hi, Mayor Hamilton. A festive? Which elder god is it for?" Rose asked.

Hamilton made a noise as if clearing his throat and said, "That's its name. I'm one of the few who can pronounce it correctly. Most people refer to it as Elder God Judy." Hamilton shrugged. "I don't know why."

"Well, it's good business for us," Richard said.

Hamilton laughed. "Your cafe is becoming famous." He gestured to a chair next to Rose. Richard nodded. Hamilton sat, and his usual jovial face became serious. "We need to discuss Fytistone."

"How is ole' Fire Pants?" Richard asked. "We heard about what happened."

Stolen novel; please report.

"Yes, yes. But there is more to the story," Hamilton said. "Ole' Fire Pants is a prominent citizen who has committed a horrible crime. There will be a trial. One problem is her family. The Fytistones are descendants of the great Mage Fytistone. And.."

"What?" Thorn interrupted. "She's related to him? That does explain why she hates us."

"Uh, why's that?" Richard asked.

"Generations back, Fytistone was known to hate other races, and he tried to eradicate all of them," Thorn said.

"That included mixed races, barbarians, plains people, and such," Hamilton said.

"Barbarians and plains people?" Rose asked.

"Not human enough." Hamilton shrugged, "He's not thought of kindly here. Some of his kin have changed their names and their ways. But he was the founder of this town, and some of the family still has some influence now. They aren't the biggest problem, though. Her husband's family is."

"She's married?" Rose asked.

The Mayor sighed. "Yes, and she kept her family name. Her husband is Clearance Barfunkle."

Richard began to cough on his food. "What? No!"

The Mayor nodded. "The son of Duke Barfunkle."

"General Barfunkle," Chief Richard growled.

The Orcs stared at each other. The Mayor nodded again.

"Who?" Rick asked.

Richard looked at Rick. "General Barfunkle raised the army to fight in the Orc Wars. He's the reason we were decimated."

"But Battleax fought against us," Rose said.

"Battleax wanted peace, and he fought for peace," Thorn said. "General Barfunkle wanted war, and he fought for war."

”Huh?” Bob grunted.

"The general wanted to put an end to all Orcs. He was willing to kill all of us," Thorn said. "At the end of the war, he wanted to execute all Orcs. The other generals, like Battleax, stopped him."

"And Fytistone is his daughter-in-law," Mayor Hamilton said. "Regardless, she has committed a crime, and there will be a trial." Hamilton looked at Rose. "My dear, I will need you to testify."

"Of course, I'll do what you need me to do," Rose said.

"Thank you," Hamilton said sadly. "This may create tension, but I hope we can resolve this with little issue."

One of the imps placed a plate with two hotdogs and a large portion of fries in front of Mayor Hamilton. He looked at Bob and Richard in surprise.

"You are a friend," Richard said. "You eat with us." Bob nodded in agreement.

Hamilton gave them one of his giant, wholesome smiles and began to eat.

"Uh, are there more imps here?" Thorn asked.

"Yeah," Bob said. "We've been busy nonstop since we opened. Richard brought in more Orcs and Imps."

"Those are my brothers and sisters," Rick said.

Bob began to point. "That's Aick, Bick, Cick, Eick, Fick, Gick, Hick, Jick, Kick, Lick, Nick, Oick, Pick, Qick, Sick, Tick, Uick, Vick, Wick, Xich, Yich, Zich." Bob smiled proudly, remembering all their names.

“What?” Rose asked.

"They are the Ick clan," Bob smiled.

"Yes, we're all Icks," Rick said.

"Ick!" cheered the imps.

Bob gave Rose a large grin. "Explains so much, doesn't it?"

Thorn started to chuckle. The others looked at her as her chuckle became a giggle, then a laugh. Soon, the old Orc was chortling so much that her eyes began to water.

Rose and Rick started to become angry at the old laughing Shaman. Thorn waved at them as she began to catch her breath. "No, no." She took a deep breath and looked Rick in the eyes. "Be proud of your family, Great Imp Rick of the Ick clan. You fought well today, and you protected those you love. I may not like it, but I," she bowed her head, "I accept you."

Rose, Rick, Richard, and Bob stared at the old Shaman with their mouths open. Each began to say something, but nothing would come out. They didn't know what to say.

"Thank you," Rick said.