“Gregory, Frun is dead."

The remnants of the smile on his Lips faded entirely upon hearing that.

“How?”

“He fought bravely. But we were outnumbered with no real weapons or armour. He took up one of the torches from the great hall and used it to great effect." Algra paused here, and smiled sadly at the memory.

“He used it like a long-staff. It kept the enemy at a distance and allowed us room to manoeuvre into position. But he was a damned beacon, and it didn't take the enemy long to see that he was having an effect.

They wounded him with arrows and overwhelmed him after he was weakened.

Talina killed the archer, but by then it was too late.”

“Frun, Lydia, and Torren." He said the names of the fallen to no one in particular.

“Were there any others?"

“No. Wrut was injured without his shield to protect him, but he recovers well. The others have a few new scars and bruises, but nothing serious. Three human slaves were killed here in the camp, but they weren't ours. They were visiting their friends here when the caravan rolled in to ambush them.”

"I need to see Talina." His voice was dangerously quiet.

“I am here, master."

She stepped out from behind him, having evidently entered the tent alongside Valise and quietly disappearing just out of his sight before his eyes started working properly again.

“Talina. I'm not going to ask where you got your fighting skills if you don't want to tell me, but I get the feeling that if you really wanted to kill someone there wouldn't be much that could stop you?" He recalled seeing her cutting a swathe through the enemy in the battlefield.

“No, master. There wouldn't be much that could.”

"Good. In that case, if I get called before the council then I'm planning on getting the orcs to put Wren's head on a spike. ALL of this was his fault. If I'm not successful in getting the better of him the honourable way? Kill him. Just kill the fucker for me. Painfully.”

“Yes, master." She nodded her head politely, as if merely offering to keep his house tidy for him in case he had to leave suddenly.

"Gregory, Wren has a strong voice amongst the elders," Algra said.

“Arguing for your innocence is one thing, but trying to accuse him of responsibility for the attack? You would need evidence beyond any doubt."

“And I think I'll be able to get it. Can you guys get me any water from the supply on the night of the attack?"