We traveled for a few more hours until we reached Mordhen.

The small town was located right smack in the middle of a large plane of vibrant grass. Far in the distance low rolling hills could be spotted.

It was surrounded by tall stone walls lined with the occasional turret or tower. A few guards strolled along the top, armed with spears and the like. Peeking up from over the wall I could see the tiles of many large buildings and monuments that were far larger than anything I’d seen before.

The sight was magnificent, really, compared to the simple cabins and cottages I’d seen in human settlements prior.

Our little wagon rolled down the dirt road toward the large gates on the center of the wall. Two guards stood on either side of the entrance.

As we neared, the guards stepped out, intercepting us. One spoke in a stern voice,

“Halt. State your business.”

Arnaud, who was coaching the wagon, pulled a small piece of parchment out of his pouch.

“C’mon Hugh, is this really necessary?”

The guard, a goateed man in his thirties, relaxed his face, shrugging.

“You know how it is Arnaud, the goblins’ve been getting awfully ambitious lately.”

“What they think we’re gonna smuggle some goblins into town?”

The guard grabbed the parchment examining it with a sigh,

“You know how the nobles are, if it involves their pockets or their safety they’ll spare no expense.”

He returned the paper and stepped away, allowing us to pass through the grand gate.

The goblins they were talking about were most likely my tribe. I’d never really put much thought into what happens as a result of our raids and ambushes.

As we made our way down the evenly paved street, my eyes were overwhelmed by dozens of novel sights. Buildings larger and more ornate than anything I’d ever seen. Market stalls filled to the brim with trinkets and wares that put the ones I used to pillage to shame. People of all ages and backgrounds exchanging casual conversation as they went about their business.

Of course this was what most people considered normal, but to someone who had recently been living inside a cave, this was practically a utopia.

Noticing my astonishment, Syllica leaned against the wagon’s railing, taking in the same scenery I was.

“This is your first time coming here right?”

I nodded in affirmation.

“Well, Mordhen is just like any other frontier town. The villagers from around the area come here to sell their wares, so it's kind of a meeting hub for the entire Bevertain region.”

I nodded in affirmation, internalizing this information.

“That's the main reason we made our base here. There's plenty of work and the stores around here sell everything we need.”

The busy streets faded into less crowded and slightly narrower avenues. The light didn’t reach this area as well either.

As we sat idly watching the townscape pass by, the wagon gradually rolled to a stop.

Arnaud clicked his tongue, pounding his knee in frustration.

“Syllica, Ernas, he’s here.”

The atmosphere quickly became tense as their faces morphed into ones of disgust. I looked in the direction they were to see an unsightly being.

His stature was unnatural, like he was constantly forcing himself to stand as straight as a board. His face was narrow and sly, with sunken eyes and an unnerving smirk.

He was ugly in a strange way. Take a goblin, for instance. Goblins are unsightly because their faces are so horribly disfigured they resemble beasts, but at least they don’t try to be pretty.

This man’s face was clearly trying to look nice. Emphasis on the trying.

His face was pasty with powder and artificial blush. The overhead sun was causing beads of sweat to dribble down his makeup, causing it to run.

It was just thoroughly unpleasant to look at, even by my standards.

He was wearing expensive looking clothes, gilded in gold and stained a royal blue. It probably would’ve looked quite magnificent if anyone else were to wear it.

Most alarmingly, half a dozen hooded men stood behind him, unmoving. Weapons hung at their waists.

The man stepped forward and lowered himself in an overexaggerated bow,

“How do you do, my friends. I’ve come to-”

“Fuck off shitbag.”

Arnaud was clearly fuming. His eyes were squinted so hard you could barely see his eyes and his nose was scrunched up in revulsion.

Ernas bore the same expression. He waved the man off with one hand.

“We’re done with your bullshit, Oscar. Go away.”

This show of aggression was pretty interesting to me. Whereas goblins were always in a negative state, humans could flip the switch between friendly and hostile just like that.

Syllica was obviously uncomfortable. She’d covered up basically every inch of her body and was hiding her face with her cloak.

Oscar, who was undeterred by the verbal assault, took another step forward. His face twisted into a grin.

“Don’t be so distant, I’m just here to chat.”

Arnaud placed a hand on his dagger,

“With an entourage of goons? I don’t think so.”

Ernas did the same with his sword,

“If you lay a hand on Syllica I’ll gut you, bastard.”

The man exaggerated a gasp,

“How horrible! A commoner threatening to attack a noble! Outrageous! You know I could have you arrested for that?”

“Arrested for what? Hurting you feelings?”

Oscar ignored the snide statement.

“You know what? I’ll let you off the hook, I’m just benevolent like that, y’know. I will have to ask for some collateral though…”

He gestured to the wagon,

“I know you’re in there, my love. Just accept my offer already!”

Syllica, in a surge of anger, shed her cloak, revealing her face.

“Just leave me alone, pervert!”

Seeing her figure, a lecherous smile crossed his lips.

I’d seen that face before. It wasn’t love or affection. It was lust. I gripped my club, oddly irritated.

He continued to persist, not budging an inch.

“You could have a life of luxury! Money, status, power! Quit being so stubborn and get over here.”

Ernas cut in before he could speak any longer.

“If you don’t leave in the next ten seconds I’m yelling for the guards. We’re done with this charade.”

His face scrunched up in frustration.

“How dare yo-”

“Ten...nine...eight…”

Oscar stomped his feet and stared into Ernas with hatred. Just before the countdown reached zero, he turned around violently, striding off. His lackeys followed close behind.

They slunk off into an alleyway, defeated. After a few moments, the wagon started moving again.

Ernas, still annoyed, dropped down back onto his bottom.

“...Sorry that you had to see something so unsightly, Sig. We didn’t think we’d run into that bastard so soon.”

I waved a hand in front of me,

“Don’t worry about it, it couldn’t be helped.”

What was the context of the situation? From that little exchange it could be discerned that this had happened before, but for how long?

Maybe sensing my curiosity, Ernas continued.

“Oscars’ been trying to take Syllica as his concubine since we arrived here, with Syllica being an elf and all. He’s a prominent noble in these parts. Bad reputation though, rumors say he deals in prostitution.”

Arnaud clenched the reins,

“A persistent twit is what he is. He’s been bothering us every chance he gets. We’ve told him off every time but he just keeps coming back, like we’re gonna change our minds.”

I turned to Syllica, half expecting her to be hiding behind her cloak again. Instead she was clenching her teeth in annoyance.

“Keh. Like I’d submit to that idiot. I’d rather marry a monster than that freak.”

Ernas piped in, crossing his arms.

“Yeah! Like we’d hand over our little Syllica to that fiend!”

Arnaud flexed his almost nonexistent muscles,

“He’ll have to get through us if he wants to take you!”

Her face became flush with embarrassment.

“Stop that! I’m not a little kid anymore!”

The two boys ignored her, laughing to themselves.

The mood lifted, with everyone wanting to forget the unsavory events that had occured.

This jolly banter persisted until we reached the base, my future home.