“When we get the ring back, we may know more. Until then, Let us all be watchful." Emmet stood and offered them all a small bow before going to assume his duties in helping Bolut run the camp.

Janette let out a little frustrated huff.

“Tomorrow I think I'll skip breakfast."

Talina walked through the orc settlement with quiet purpose. A few days had passed since the conversation at breakfast and she had taken the time to set up a meeting. The meeting had been especially difficult to set up since the participants didn't know it was about to happen. It had taken quite a bit of subtle manipulation to get Grolfir, Ulag, and Elder Stormbane together and alone in the same place. Unfortunately, that place had been Grolfir's private tent, constantly under guard by his own pack mates. Since these guards included some of the fiercest warriors on Arolius, Talina wasn't in any hurry to be caught sneaking about the place.

So, she stepped out of the main avenue of the settlement and opened her clasped hands to reveal the pale blue vial of liquid that had been given to her by Valise. It had taken several days to make and it was highly illegal, especially in the orc realms. They didn't Like sneaking one bit and outright hated humans who practiced the art.

Fortunately, it was an art she excelled at.

Lifting the vial to her lips, she took a quick glug and downed the contents in one go. The effect was almost instantaneous. The metallic taste it left on her tongue fizzled and crackled as she felt herself getting a very mild stomach ache. It wasn't to last, for her entire body then faded from sight as the Light was smoothly twisted around her slender form. Looking upon her hands, she saw them fade to glass-like structures before vanishing entirely.

Her first thought about being invisible was that it was very odd to be able to see through her own eyelids. At least she wouldn't miss anything important in the meeting to come.

The only drawback in using an invisibility potion was that unfortunately her clothes didn't disappear along with her. Shedding the garments didn't take long, for she didn't wear much. A thought passed through her mind of all the fun she could have had with Gregory in her current state before she set herself to the task at hand. Creeping through the grass on bare feet in the dark was easy enough, as was slipping into the tent. It was good Luck that the place was empty, though she knew that time was not on her side.

She could hardly prop herself against the table or sit on one of the chests without someone knocking against her. So, instead she jumped onto the table and reached up for the upper struts of the Large tent. There was enough space there amongst the wooden beams for her to settle above the heads of those below. With a smooth, feline grace that would have made Fiona proud, Talina settled herself amongst the struts and waited.

She did not have to wait long.

The slightly opening flaps of the tent were swept aside to reveal the mountainous form of the warchief, soon followed by the shorter Ulag. Talina could tell immediately that the conversation was no cheery affair. Shortly before setting off for Grolfir's tent, she had quite expertly sabotaged Ulag's armoury. It was nothing dangerous, merely a few little doodles across the armour indicating that perhaps Ulag shouted so much because he was overcompensating for his secret Lack of testicles. She'd also carved a few clubs to look remarkably like male genitalia and left them in suggestive positions around the armour.

Ulag did not seem to enjoy the jest. "I'll flay them all for this the orcish tongue.

"She growled in his grizzled version of

“You will not. I'LL not have you lashing all the pups because of the actions of a few pranksters." Grolfir managed a tone that was veering between long-suffering resignation and borderline annoyance.

“Then it was Nullik. The boy never knows when to keep his mouth shut." “Nullik?" Grolfir's voice carried the name with a derisive laugh. "The boy is terrified of you, Ulag. Just Like the rest of the pups. I doubt any of them would do something Like that. They'd have to be insane."

Above their heads, Talina felt her face form an invisible grin.

“Then what is to be done?" Ulag asked.

“Well, did anyone see the damage apart from you and me?"

“No. I found it and I came straight to you."

“Then forget it, old friend. It was only a few clubs that were carved and a little hard work will get the paint off the armour. Just splash some more paint on so that they can't see what was painted and then have them scrub it off the next time one of them steps out of line. Now sit, have a drink, you haven't told me of the progress of the proving grounds for a while. Are we looking at any promising candidates for this year's ceremony?”

Grolfir took a seat in the chair before his massive table and grabbed two cups from beneath before turning to his cask or orcish ale.

Talina watched as Ulag snarled, clearly unimpressed by the warchief's decision in the matter of the errant wooden shlongs. Then, he relaxed his shoulders somewhat and shook his head before taking up the offered seat across the table. There was a friendship there, unspoken but strong. Talina knew of Ulag's reputation and none could have quelled his fury on the matter but Grolfir.

Two metal cups of orcish brew were settled upon the table and Ulag raised his in the chief's honour before taking an apparently much-needed gulp.

“The Berserkers are by far the strongest. They'll be ready for the north not long after their ceremony."