Chapter 4, The Writing on the Walls

I feel like sometimes things are going too well. I know you don’t answer us anymore, but why does it always seem like when there are good times there must always be bad so soon? I feel like you have a lesson to teach me, that like waves on the sea, it comes and goes. I ask you please… Grant us yet another day…

Year of Wrath, Season of Heat D.54 

    “You have to be kidding me.” Til sat over the road hidden in the canopy of the forest. “I can’t believe your information was that good.” 

    The sound of the Iron Merchant may as well sounded like a hundred bored kids playing with pots for how much noise it made. Scaring the birds away in waves as it passed beneath each bough, leaving deep ruts in the muddy sections of the road. “Why would I have lied? If I actually had help with getting this information, I wouldn’t have been nearly caught by the Guard and nearly started a panic dockside.” I huffed at him, he was older than me, but he playfully refused to tell me every time. Good at dodging the question. 

    “I’ll have to come with you next time, this is great! It’s been so long since we’ve had a raid that we actually know what we are going up against, thank you Raid Leader” He said, putting a heavy hand on my shoulder, cheeks going slightly warm for the praise. 

    “Well, that's the whole point isn’t it? We know what we are getting into, I wasn’t lying when I said I wanted to keep you all alive.” I saw him look over to me out of the corner of my eyes while whistling the signal to the Raiders hidden in the trees. Not needing to look at him to know he didn’t really believe that until now, he was a simple guy at least. 

    Dropping down behind the main bulk of the boys, landing noiselessly as the others taught me to do. I made my usual speech to them, despite the eye rolls I got. “Remember, we don’t want to hurt him. The less damage we do to the humans, the less of a threat they are going to think we are. Try not to kill him, okay?” 

    “If only Hob could hear that out of your mouth.” Ghet said with a grin, an air of pride about him every time he was around me these days. He hadn’t said anything yet, but I figured he was happy with how I was trying to run things. 

    But, idle hands make dangerous tools. “He still needs my approval to come back, and his shitty attitude toward me ever since the fight isn’t helping his case.” Thinking I’d add my authority, remind everyone that I had the final say in things out in the field. Besides, knowing Ghet was saying it in good faith didn’t stop others from getting bad ideas on the matter. 

    The steam wagon was getting close now, nearly deafening with its loud engine and even louder cargo. The Merchant sitting behind a strange wheel, flattened top hat, odd pointed mustache nearly as black as night. It ended all conversation anyway, could barely hear over the din it made. 

    Yvet followed orders as I hoped he would, funny feeling in my chest as I watched him drive that spear home through the open piston cylinder, bringing the whole operation to a halt. I really couldn’t take my eyes away from the fluidity of it, he broke the spear right where we had talked about. Hiding what had caused the malfunction inside the machine itself, before rolling into the thick grass that loitered around the roadside. “Out of sight out of mind.” I said, the boys patting him on the back for the successful move. 

    The birds of the forest had a habit of calling out for specific things, and the way we “talked” during the raids was similar. Mimicking the sounds they made to mean different things, made it a lit harder for humans to figure it out quickly. A brief call out to the others, Ghet, Yvet, Til all stalking like phantoms through the gloom of the shade below the canopy. I waltzed out as if I didn’t have a care in the world, though still making sure not to cause any sudden noises to spook the human in the wagon from the task that had all his attention. 

    Ghet aimed the pistol we took from the last raid, Til did the same. Yvet held that spear at the ready, arm cocked to throw if needed. If a look Ghet cocked the hammer back to get his attention. Effective was an understatement, he whipped around reaching for something just under the dash of the wagon. “I wouldn’t try, Friend.” The man snapped his head up, attention completely on me. Eyes darting to see the two guns pointed at him, and a spear for good measure. 

    “I knew this was a bad idea taking this route.” He raised his hands so we could watch them, placing the back of his hands against the wagon's frame. “So I’m either going to die, or be penniless. At this point, if you’re going to take everything, do me the favor and just kill me.” 

    He eyed the saber slung across my back, I knew it was too big for me to be used traditionally, but it made for an effective goblin-sized war sword. I walked toward him, stopping just a few paces in front of the man. “Can you answer me something before I die?” 

    “For one, I’m hoping to not kill you. We aren’t all killers, we really do try not to spill any blood if we can help it. Second, what is it?” I said, brushing a stray hair from my eye. 

    “You… what?” He stuttered, clearly confused that he was going to live to see another day. Making a gesture that just screamed, ‘ask your question’, he continued. “I didn’t know the goblins could speak common, how did you learn it?” 

    “Very curious for someone in this situation, before I answer your question.” I tossed a bag full of copper coins at the man's feet, we didn’t have much use for the little metal discs that nearly every raid came with. A fairly massive pile was in one of the caves, I just took some with the hope that this might work. “Let's talk business while I answer your question. I want you to open that bag and grab as much out of your wagon that you think this is worth.” 

    Gesturing for him that it was fine to move, I pulled the rifle from under the dash and handed it to Yvet. He, attentive as ever, went looking for the ammunition while the Merchant counted out the coin. “There's barely enough here to pay for even a single sword.”

    With my best impression of a little girl, “Even at a steep discount?” Opening my eyes wide like I had seen human children do when they wanted something from their parents. Even went to the effort of trying to be cute about it. The man saw this, then immediately remembered there were now three guns aimed at him. 

    “Sure, why not. Steep discount for very special patrons.” He grumbled while I signaled for Ghet to take position behind the wagon to watch as he rummaged through the cargo. He began trying to pull out rusty armor, bent tools and such. 

    “Do you think you could find things that fit us?” I asked, climbing in the wagon with him, swinging my legs off the edge. 

    “Fit… What the fuck are you… Ah.” He said, pausing in his perusal. “Why are you, I’d hate to call it this for the one sided rip this is, paying for these goods?” 

    “Do you want that question answered instead of how we learned to speak your human tongue?” I asked, playing with my long braid. Ghet had adopted a stance I had only seen the Guard use, only his side exposed. Pistol leveled on his target, finger off the trigger. Wiser than he seemed, I don’t know where he or any of the other veterans had learned to use firearms, but he did teach us. 

    “You know what, yes. I would like to know that more than the other. Why bother with this when you could take everything?” He retorted, clearly not happy, but somehow relieved about the whole situation being surprisingly less lethal than he first thought. Setting down a few pieces of armor, and thickly padded cloth shirts at the end of the cargo area. 

    “Because, the longer I think about it, the more I realize that those that travel our roads are living things.” The twirling of the braid stopped in my hand, waiting to see how he would react to that. 

    Pausing again in his searching, he turned to me with a strange look on his face. Purple eyes meeting dark green. “What do you mean? You and the rest of ya never realized that?”

    “I realize that if we took everything, it would leave you with nothing. You only go back to the city, if we left you alive, and spread that you were robbed on the road by us goblins.” I sighed, a pout plastered on my face. “I don’t want to leave you destitute, I don’t want your suffering. I don’t want your blood. I honestly don’t, but then again my people need to live too. It also doesn’t help that I’m not entirely sure how much anything is worth with you humans.” 

    He was quiet long enough that I turned around to see him open- mouthed, staring down at me. “What?” I asked, not sure what that expression was. 

    “By the Eight Divines, a goblin with empathy…” He sat hard on a pile of rusted iron suits. 

    “Seems like a bit of an overreaction. The coin we paid you should cover most of the material. There is a lot of cheap iron in that City, I hear the Merchants whine about it enough.” Side-eyeing him. 

    He shook his head, eyeing the saber strapped to my back, slightly taller than I was. “Can I see that Saber?” 

    “You aren’t going to steal it from me?” Poking fun at him for his shock earlier. 

    “You have one of your goons pointing a gun at me.” I laughed, a warbly thing that dragged his attention to me and away from the sword. Odd. But, unsheathing it for him anyway. The edge catching the light beautifully, engravings in the basket glittering in the filtered light. He sat next to me, carefully running fingers down the blade. 

    I hadn’t even noticed the subtle waves of different metal echoing across it, until he pointed it out. Taking a small stone, I flinched as he struck the edge, sparks flying in every direction. A subtle gesture to the Ghet and the others to hold, they jumped too. Endless jargon spilled from his lips as he spoke his thoughts to us as if we knew what he was talking about. 

    When he finished looking it over, hilt first, he handed it back to me. “Gnomish, fine quality. Excellent really. Probably a Huronian Officer's sword at one point, I’m not going to ask how you got it. But, I’d be willing to part with more if you wanted to make a trade?” 

    Smirking, I answered. “Sorry, but I’m not willing to part with it. It was a gift from our Father.”

    “Are you all related? He looks ancient compared to you.” He commented, thumbing at Ghet, who at this point saw no threat in the Iron Merchant and holstered the pistol. Adding more to the pile, actually spending some time now to hold armor up to me to rough check the size. 

    “No, it’s what we call our Chief. Why are you more friendly now? You were more aggressive before, why?” I asked, suddenly not trusting the situation, I whistled for the others to fan out and begin watching the road more. Til and Yvet came around the blindsides and made themselves known again. 

    Ghet cocked his head, not understanding why I was suddenly not comfortable. “I said it before, I didn’t know goblins were capable of empathy. I didn’t even know you could speak our language, let alone so fluently. I see you’re the only one who speaks, so are they not as fluent as you? Call it morbid curiosity, it’s not like I have much choice in the matter.” 

    “Again, why are you being so friendly?” Something in my tone made him turn around, looking over at me slightly nervous again. 

    “I don’t want to provoke you, if you didn’t know, humans typically try to placate aggressors in dangerous situations. I’ll remind you that I’m the one being held up here.” He said, setting a hand on his hip as he rose. Putting another piece in the pile. 

    “I…” He cut me off as he put a few leather pieces in a box, putting the rest of the armor in the same container. 

    “Didn’t know, it doesn’t seem you know how we humans feel in situations like this. I was curious, I thought you would have been too.” He said it with a certain heat that made my cheeks heat. Like he was offended and I was too oblivious to know why. Then again, maybe he was right with that point. 

    “I think I’ve given you enough for what you ‘paid’ for. Nine suits, four gambesons and enough material to do minor repairs. I even added something special for you just because you gave me an experience I never thought I’d have.” He knocked the boxes off the end of the wagon for Yvet and Til to catch haphazardly. 

    “Mind telling us how to do these repairs?” Yvet asked, trying to hide his arms shaking from the weight. 

    “So you can speak! I shouldn’t be surprised, but I had a slight doubt.” He eyed me with a glare again. 

    “Will you tell us how to take better care of them?” I asked, hopping off the wagon, sword bouncing off my back. 

    “I would if you hadn’t just been so rude. I don’t understand where that aggression came from, I was cooperating just fine. You’ve paid for what you’ve been given.” He huffed walking back to front of the wagon, finally noticing the end of the spear jutting out from the piston. With a hard yank, he pulled it free. “My business won’t suffer. I thank you for not killing me, but I need to get going. I gave you what you wanted, I believe you asked nicely what that coin was worth at a steep discount. Well that's what I think it’s worth. May I leave?” 

    With another bird song, the boys scattered. Leaving just me and him to stare at each other a moment wondering what would happen. Turning I walked away, trusting that he didn’t have another gun somewhere. The gentle touch of the long grass against my cheeks didn’t soothe the embarrassment I felt. I felt like I had just fumbled the end of that, could have learned more, could have made a good ally through the humans. 

    Here we were, I suppose I would have to hope that he would reach the City and tell the tale of this to any sympathetic ear that would listen. Maybe spread the word that things were changing within our people. I just want to keep them safe, but that look on his face. Did we really hurt them that much? I never thought to think about it until I was given the lives of the boys to command. 

    Were they just as scared as we were? Some were sure. But, he was convinced he was going to die. Ghet snapped me out of my thoughts, snapping his fingers in my face. “Illy, I said good job.” 

    “I, what?” The rest of the crew had appeared out of the woodwork, smiles and pride in their eyes. They went on and on about how they had gotten so much from the raid for how little work it was. Congratulating me on being clever, they wouldn’t have thought to try and trade with him. The part that just kept getting into my head was that they were happy to not be in harm's way the entire time. 

    “You know, Illy. I think we could get behind this whole scheme of yours if what you keep talking about comes true. Change their minds, maybe someday we won’t have to raid to survive.” 

    The Family was in a particularly good mood, though that was a vast understatement for the fanfare we got. My crew showing back up, real armor that would actually fit, unbloodied, no risk for retaliation by Man. I wasn’t expecting Yvet and Til to hoist me up on their shoulders and parade me around the village like one of the Triumphant of the City, but I didn’t mind the attention. 

    The Clan was nothing but smiles and good cheer. The number of times I was told by the others that they were proud, that they were happy to see my approach working, I stopped counting after a time. What surprised me more was that Cori and Knoll came over to me and congratulated me personally, Yorm’s own second in command. I was happiest about that more than anything else, I didn’t think I was doing that good of a job. 

    When the fun died down, we stood before Father Yorm. I bulk towering over all as we bowed to him, offering our spoils to the Clan. I would feel Mother’s pride before she spoke, like warmth in my chest on a cold winter morning. Her aging voice like fine wine, not having grown raspy and earthen like the other elders of the Clan. “My dearest Daughter has returned with earnings not seen in some time, Father. May we be blessed with such an insightful child to guide our Family, blessed be the Great Father and his wisdom in this choice you have made.” 

    She blessed the haul before allowing Yorm to speak his piece, the small glow of her magicks suffusing through the metal and toughened leather and cloth. “Yes,” There was something in his voice I didn’t quite understand, it sounded a note off. “She returns our boys without a scratch, a worthy bounty to be rewarded with. Ilgor, rise.” 

    I stood making the sign of the Clan across my chest, we didn’t get this honor in the last few raids. It was rare for the Father to continue this long with the small ceremony. “Tell me Ilgor, which of your boys has earned their pick from the bounty? Speak their names and they shall find what suits them.” There was something in his eyes, that same off key note. Was he annoyed, but why?

    “Yvet, Ghet, Til are my prime choices.” He gestured for them to rise and pick through the haul, though Ghet refused the offer. Saying he would choose after the other, Yorm only nodded his understanding. Rattling off the other names afterward, Yorm stopped one of my raiders. Younger girl like me, holding a hand out to take the chainmail she had tried to pick. He handed her his own knife in return, the hint of a smile on his face was more than enough to placate her. 

    After all said and done, Yorm called me forward again, handing me the chainmail. There were still things in the pile that hadn’t been taken, telling me to divvy out what I saw fit. My crew, dismissed by Father, ambled their way toward Knoll and his tavern. Mother, though, took my face in her hands and planted kisses on my cheeks. “You did wonderful, Darling.” 

    “Ma” I sounded like a kid again, even to my own ears. That vague happy annoyance when a parent coddles you, still didn’t scrub the giddy smirk from my face. “I’m just trying my best.” 

    “Well I think you’ve earned a drink, come Child.” Despite her age, she was still surprisingly strong as she hooked her arm through mine. Making our way toward the other Raiders in the Tavern already. I spotted Hob sitting off by himself, half his face still bandaged up. He had taken to refusing Kari from trying to heal him. 

    “Hob,” I said just loud enough to get his attention from across the Tavern. “Come here.” 

    It was subtle, but the noise in the room dipped as everyone listened, trying not to be obvious that they were watching. Kari wrapped him in a tight hug, offering once more to heal his eye only to receive the same answer as always. He sighed, but didn’t say anything turning toward me. He gave only the barest amount of respect that I just knew the Clan would expect from him, he nodded acknowledging me. 

    “We were able to grab some good stuff this time, I want to give some of it.” I set the half empty box on the nearest table, letting it jangle making no mistake what was in it. 

    Face unreadable, he eyed the box before answering. “No, don’t want it. I don’t need armor. Just need…” The rest of what he said was lost as Knoll and Cori from behind the bar called him a blithering idiot. Which caused Kari to chastise them, which only made the tavern laugh, while Hob went to sit back in his corner. 

    Not wanting to let it go just yet, I sat next to him. His nose wrinkled at the annoyance, “How's the eye?” Asking while pouring him a shot, he only turned away. 

***

    The heavy ring of armor that didn’t fit well, they clattering of chainmail with too much material. The boys were making enough noise to scare the birds away. Ghet went much further into depth with movement, to move as we fought as he called it. Like a leaf in the breeze, we should be silent until the right moment. The first day was hard, I made them work till their bones ached. 

    Still they didn’t seem to mind, happy when blows they knew were going to hurt didn’t. Thrilled that a few of the other veteran fighters showed up with worn out leather armor to pass on any knowledge they could. I was grateful, I too learned from Knoll who had bolted on steel scrap to his armor long ago. He taught those with plate armor how to move so it wouldn’t chaff their skin. Cori had appeared from the trees, dropping down like a puma onto Yvet. She chastised us all for not paying enough attention to notice her. 

    Then again, the scent of sweat was thick in the air as the boys got used to the weight of it. They were tired, I couldn’t blame them, we never trained with weight on us. But, both Knoll and Cori brought up points I couldn’t ignore. The boys were not wearing anything well, I had to as Mother to come and heal their bleeding sores. Even still, I tried to remind everyone that even with the armor, we wanted no blood.

    Days went by as we trained the usual methods, stalking through the game trails as silently as we could. They were getting better, adjusting their movements to account for the recoil of the metal. The sun was setting low over the mountains, the familiar shadow of those great peaks slowly making their way across the Ancient forests. The cooling air and sound of crickets chirping off in the distance filled the small clearing we rested in. Another hard day of training, Til had managed to down a bear earlier. 

    Him, I finally allowed Hob to return for a least a bit, Til and Ysry were dressing the beast. A few small cooking fires sizzled away in hidden away holes, casting a pleasant glow over the whole scene. Til just kept going on, the pride in his voice was infectious. “I didn’t think the weight of this thing would be enough, but I’ll be damned it is! That knife sank right down to the bone without any issue!” 

    Hob gave a noncommittal response “You did good, not letting it hear you.” His eye was still bandaged, vicious green webbing forming where the bandage wasn’t covering. I was happy to see him not being his usual negative self, but his tone didn’t sound none too congratulatory. Letting it be, I helped put together the spits for the meat. The fireflies slowly came out of their daytime sanctuaries, filling the dimming woods with gossamer light. 

    Still, watching my Raiders take the few suits off, clothes beneath soaked. There was a stream nearby, not close enough to hear, but we knew it well. They left to wash the stink of themselves, hopefully they remembered to add the clothes in that routine as well. It sat wrong with me that I had nothing to assist with learning this though, hopefully I could find some information on that. 

    This feeling, this ease, this peace. I longed for, just to feel like one with the Family. Resting my eyes as I listened to the voices around me, whispering a prayer to Bhal thanking him for this. The sound of the pots being brought out, the smell of roasting meat, the closeness of the sound of the raiders chatting away with each other. Some complained about sore muscles, some wondering when it was going to be their turn. There was an optimism in the air, the veterans always told me their camps lacked. 

    The farmer we stalked for a while, the human didn’t even notice that the birds had spotted us, going quiet. The sun was just cresting over the sea to the east, right in the man’s eyes. I had to talk the boys out of wearing their armor on the last few raids, they’d never be able to sneak up on anyone. While they were getting better, they were by no means ready to move about in that heavy armor and move silently. 

    The grass swayed as the soft breeze shifted direction, the quiet swish of the blades as they rubbed against each other filled the air. To him, there was nothing there in the wheel worn path, the next moment Ghet stood in the middle of the road hand held up. To his credit, he didn’t bolt right away. He set the old handles of the cart down in the dust, raised his hands and walked off. 

      The rest of the boys appeared out of the grass as if they were ghosts in the night, securing the wagon. Ghet and I took stock of what was there, plenty of dry goods. Seemed like the farmer had been planning on selling off and excess. The rough burlap bags weighed down the cart, potatoes, carrots, and a few jars of fat. An excellent find for the Family, they would be more than happy with what we found here today. 

    “We didn’t need to spill any blood today.” I huffed out as I helped pull the thing along. 

    The grass being tamped down by a few of the other raiders as we moved along, rocks pulled out of the way, ruts quickly filled in. Ghet spoke up as he stood atop the cart like it was an absurd chariot. “You won’t be able to keep that up forever, not everyone will be willing to leave like that, not everyone will be willing to barter with us.” 

    Yvet, sweat drenched and over tired piped up for I had a chance to remind everyone again, “Why such a downer, Ghet? We all know blood is inevitable, but like she keeps telling us, the less we spill the better.”

    “I see you are starting to change a few minds then.” I turned to see Ghet looking down at us all with an absurd grin. Fucker was just testing the waters, pleased with himself he went back to tying down more bags. 

    Still, I was pleased as well, my preaching was starting to take root. The shade from the trees was a blessing as the sun quickly rose over the lands, welcomed back to the village with a joyous commotion. Mother had me assist with preparing our offering to Bhal, Chief Yorm raising an eyebrow at that. Mother had always wanted me to follow the path of the Faith, maybe she was trying to tell him that she still wished it. Maybe she was trying to tell him that she thought I wasn’t right for it, but knew everything I needed. 

    That little interaction lingered with me as I sat in the Tavern with the rest of the raids, celebrating our small find. My raiders garnering praise from the veterans at their physique, they had grown even more bulky these last few weeks. Shedding what little fat was left on them, Til and Ysry were appreciating the extra attention, honestly I wouldn't be surprised if she got herself pregnant soon with how many looks the boys gave her. 

    Ghet pulled me from my thoughts though, pouring me a glass of something strong smelling. “Any information on how to refit this armor? I suppose we could bribe a smith, or kidnap one. But, that has a certain amount of risk I think is foolish.” 

    The canyons in his face seemed deeper in the soft amber light that filled the cave. He seemed older, that wistful smile stuck to his face when he wanted to talk plans. “I overheard more than a few things while skulking the dockside. Was even brave enough to go inside the gates for a little while.” Raised brow, but he didn’t give me much more of a reaction, just an unspoken look to continue. “Followed a pair of Smiths for a while who talked about some jacket underneath the armor not fitting right, making the movement too constrictive. Never found out much beyond that, but I want everyone to start wearing double layers and long sleeves. I have a feeling that’ll help.” 

    “Brave that you went inside the city, no one except our dear Cori has done that in recent years, and even then that wasn’t intentional. That basilisk did most of the work for her, but that Captain of the Guard there was awfully nice to let her leave with her life.” He said, a strangely proud smirk on his face. “Beyond that, what else did you manage to find out, Raid Leader.” 

    “Don’t call me that, beyond that. Not much else, a few promising targets. Things we would need to follow up on, things that aren’t worth their salt. I still want to try bartering with everyone before we resort to robbing them. I’m still trying to sway the minds of Man.” He didn’t continue, only reaching over to pour more in my glass. 

    Still, I enjoyed the sense of belonging. I felt like I could slowly make a difference. A stone isn’t worn smooth by the surf in a single day after all. The stars move across the sky in a placid ignorance of our lives here on the earth. Yet, seeing these smiling faces, seeing more and more people come to embrace the way I was trying to things. It put a smile on my face. 

    After all our practice, they even put me in the armor a few times. I wasn’t half bad at it, I couldn’t move as quietly as the others. Yvet was phenomenal with it, silent as a fresh snowfall, yet he still beamed at me every time he was able to sneak up on what I commanded. It was an obvious choice, I had Yvet as my heavy for this raid, he was the only one I trusted at the moment to not be spotted in the armor. The rest of us would operate as normal, light gear, quick, hit and run if need be. 

    We got word that a small caravan was headed down the road today. It hadn’t rained in a few days, so the road was nice and dusty. Kicked up a nice plume for us to follow behind, I ordered Til, Ysry, and Yvet ahead to secure the path, we would need to move quickly. Moving at a pace we wouldn’t be able to keep up with for too long, another one of those steam engines that humans were favoring more and more. Bright red canopy, a tent style top to keep the sunlight off themselves. 

    The grass was thicker in the curve of the path here, the trees canopies a little denser, the nearby stream making just enough noise to hide our movements as they shifted from light to dark. That was our chance, my call mistaken for nothing more than a bird's song. The spear thrown into their wheels was perfect, jammed right into the axles. The wagon skidded to a halt, a plume of steam whistled out as the engine dumped the excess power. 

    There was quiet for a moment before we heard the soft strum of an instrument somewhere inside. A man grumbling, a woman telling her children to be quiet and wait inside. We were already waiting for the man, the few guns we had pointed at him. The rest spears poised to strike, arms relaxed into throwing positions. Half hidden in the grass, harder to see but the danger was palpable as it hung thick in the air. 

    We had done this dozens of times now, yet, I felt my adrenaline like something new. Had I missed something? Was something wrong? The man, a dusty haired Southerner, froze when he saw us, some dozen or so goblins surrounding the wagon. He slowly raised his hands before locking eyes with me. The only one without anything in her hands. “What is going on? What is this?” 

    Now that I got a better look at him, he seemed to be in his middle years. Bright evergreen eyes, dark brown mustache taking up most of his face. Greying hair at his temples, I tried to adopt a friendly voice like I had with the everyone else we held up. “Well, we simply saw you in distress and thought we’d stop by.” 

    The look in his eyes made it more than obvious he was surprised we could speak common. But, they hardened in a way I didn’t like, something was wrong. “I see, I thank you for coming to our… aid. So what do we owe you for your graciousness?” His voice dripped with a venom I hadn’t heard before. 

    I saw two other men, no, boys. Behind him, a woman trying to hide behind them. They all had the same dusty hair as him, the woman practically swimming in her own as it fell past her knees. “There won’t be any blood as long as you give us what we ask for. There doesn’t need to be a fight, we will not be taking everything from you. Won’t even be taking enough to leave a lasting impact on you and your…family.” As I said it, something felt uneasy in my stomach. Like I had eaten something rotten. I didn’t like this, maybe we should pull out. 

    “You won’t hurt my wife or my sons?” He sounded skeptical, hands still in the air. Yvet and Ghet saddled up next to me, Ghet had a look on his face probably feeling the same unease I was. 

    “No, we won’t” I said. That thing happened again. The sound of my voice seemed to slap him across the face, his attention snapping back to me. Odd, this keeps happening. I really tried to make him believe that we wouldn’t as long as he didn’t try anything. He huffed and put his hands down, but still perfectly visible to us. 

    “What do you want?” He asked, an exasperated tone in his voice. 

    “Pick a box, fill it with what you can fit. That’s all we want.” I said, with a nod to the raiders in the grass. They rounded out, making a tighter circle around the site. The man’s shoulders sagged, but he wandered around to the back of the wagon, hauled himself up and tossed a box down to the dirt. 

    I stepped out into the sunlight, watching him under the shadows of the canopy. He told his wife and sons to stay inside, to not move at all. He said something I couldn’t make out as he tossed bolts of cloth into the box. Bright things, finer cloth that the Family would be pleased with! Mother could teach me how to make a dress, or teach any of us how to do it. Chief Yorm would be happy with this, a wonderful morale booster for the Clan! We had been doing well, things were looking up for us. 

    I was lost in my thoughts while the man tossed another box down, another one filled with cloth. Yvet knocked me down, dust swirled around me as I heard the sharp twang of a crossbow string. The metallic impact as he took the bolt for me, “Protect her!” He bellowed as his head hit the rough rocks around us hard. 

    The command that issued out my lips wasn't needed, the raiders threw their spears into the canvas tent of the wagon. A wet thump issued out as I got to my feet, the chaos in full swing as another bolt shot out landing right at my feet. Ghet and Til were already inside the wagon, a gunshot rang out as the powder smoke filled the wagon. 

    I ran over to the wagon, saber out. Jumping up, landing on my tiptoes pointing my saber at the woman who screamed. Eyes flicking up to the scuffle going on in the small space. I felt a bit sick as I watched Ghet slit the crossbowman's throat. Til pulled a knife out of the other son, who had a pistol in his hands. “Pull the bodies out before they soak everything in here.” I hissed, turning away. 

    Repeating the command to the raiders, several of them hopped in and began the work. Trying to ignore the small stream of blood that trailed out of the wagon, I walked over to Yvet. Lying on the ground, “Please Bhal let him be alive.” The prayer left my mouth without any effort. I ran, the dust being kicked up with each footfall. 

    Skidding next to him, kneeling down with a hesitation I couldn’t contain. The pressure on my neck like fate had its hand around my neck, the adrenaline and stress thick in my blood. Gently turning him over, he grinned up at me, his green skin filthy in the sunlight. The armor was dented in pushing down on his chest something fierce, but that bolt lay broken next to us. 

    A flood of relief filled me, vision swimming with unshed tears. “I like this armor, It’s going to hurt like a bitch later.” He laughed and immediately winced from the pain, reaching over to unbuckle to the strap that held it to him. “I’m alive.” The astonishment in his voice was like seeing the dawn's first light. 

    “Gunna have a bruise the size of your head is more like it!” Laughing as I hugged him tightly, just happy he was still alive. He grunted at the pressure to his chest, but wrapped an arm around me in return, laughing at his good fortune. 

    My attention was pulled back to the wagon as the woman came out of the wagon next. Crying, despondent, not listening to anything we told her. We offered her water, tried asking why they attacked us when we warned them all about what would happen. Still, the thousand yard stare she gave was all I needed to know, she said nothing as her tears fell to the ground. 

    “What do you want us to do with her?” Till asked, a grimness steeped his voice. The mood changed in the raiders then, I always told everyone no blood. Yet here we were, A pit formed in my stomach. 

    “A battered woman returning to the city after watching us kill her family.” Trying to keep my composure was an effort I couldn’t have described. “It doesn’t us nothing to have that reach the humans. That will get the attention of the city Watch” I sighed right from my soul, I didn’t want this. Coming to the only conclusion that would keep the Family safe. 

“Kill her.” My skin prickled as I said it, the displeasure, the dispassionate command. I wanted so bad to dissociate from this, but the silence that followed the gunshot was worse than I thought it would be. I didn't like it. It felt somehow strange to hold these people's lives in my hands like that. I was unsure of how the other raid leaders dealt with this, this weight in my stomach. Was it always like this? Maybe I'd have to ask. Maybe.