“Master?” The word snapped Gregory from his grim thoughts as he approached the entrance to his encampment.

Ishka and another of the former Berserkers stood guard on either side of the pathway. Gregory recognised her comrade as the one who had wielded a broken table leg in a desperate effort to protect what remained of Gregory's camp. He'd asked for the names of both orcs who had helped Ishka and Fiona that night. It was the Least he could do to remember who they were after what they had risked for the people he cared about.

“Ishka, and..." It had taken him more than a few moments to recall the names, as he hadn't been perfectly lucid when he'd asked them.

“Gratox."

The orc stood up straighter as he heard his master speak his name, both of them offered an orcish salute and yelled: "Sir!"

“I'm sorry I haven't spoken with you yet. I wanted to thank you for what you did.”

“It was our duty, sir," Ishka replied.

“It was above and beyond the call of duty, Ishka. And you'll accept my thanks, or else." He turned and nodded for The Dragons to go about their business, and they passed into the camp whilst he continued to speak with the former Berserkers.

"Yes, sir." She nodded compliantly.

“How's Murgur doing?" The last of the trio had been put to bed on

Valise's orders since the attack whilst she dealt with the business of cleansing him of the poison he'd been infected with.

“He is well, master. Valise knows her business. May we ask what happened?" Clearly, there was something else on her mind, but Ishka couldn't contain her curiosity concerning his audience with the elders.

“Wren is dead. No one else died today. It went better than expected."

Even then, Gregory couldn't bring himself to sound pleased at the result.

“What of the ring?"

“Hm? Oh, yeah. After we exposed what Wren had been doing, it wasn't mentioned again. I guess I've finally earned enough goodwill around here to keep it.”

“That is good then?" Ishka wasn't sure what to make of his grim mood.

"Yes," he forced a slight smile for them. "It's good. I'm sorry, Ishka, was there something you wanted? You've earned my ear and my respect, but I have a lot to get through today."

“Yes, master." Ishka bowed her head quickly in thanks for his words, and then got to the point. "I speak for myself, Gratox, and Murgur. Our pack is shamed. Our alpha was a traitor. Only we three remained true orcs when he asked us to join him and his wretched father in damnation.

The rest took him up on his offer, and he sent them to attack our forces in front of the Great Hall."