The room was a large, smooth cavern, as if carved out of butter with a red hot knife. To their left stood a tall bench, with five orcs in ornate regalia, watching them as they entered. A long, single wooden desk stood in the middle of the room with six chairs behind it, facing the Regents. Behind the desk were rows of stone benches, slowly cascading up to the wall. Above the desk and rows of benches was a balcony. Devin could hear the murmuring of voices and shifting of cloth, but could not see anyone up there. He swallowed, trying to disperse a thick knot in his throat.

Dahlia led them toward the desk, not looking at the Regents. Devin spared a small glance over, trying to put names to faces. Violet wore a purple circlet and matching robes while betraying no emotion on her face. Elm wore a crown of brown with matching robes and a deep frown on his face. His lip curled into a slight sneer as they passed by.

Iris wore varying shades of pink, while Oak wore deep red, both sitting and watching impassively. Rose wore light greens, the color of new leaves in spring, and offered a small smile, though it did little to stop Devin’s stomach from flipping and calm his pounding heart.

Dahlia stopped as she reached the far edge of the desk, halting them all in front of the wooden beast. She turned toward the Regents and offered a deep bow from her waist. Devin turned and followed her example, glad that the rest of his band did the same. Dahlia rose from her bow and moved behind the desk, and the rest followed her. Oak gave a small wave towards them, and Dahlia sat. Devin sat next, with everyone in the band sitting as well. Only when they had all seated, did someone finally speak.

“Starting session 247.25.A, the Decision of the Interlopers,” a singsong voice called down from the balcony above Devin.

Rose, noticing the look of confusion on his face, spoke first. “We have decided to have the session in your tongue, for your benefit. It was determined to be unjust and unfair to have anything in Orcish, causing a delay in translations and possible misinterpretations,” she offered another small smile.

“Thank you, Regent Rose,” Devin said, offering another small bow to her. Her eyebrows arched slightly in surprise, but she said nothing more. The four other Regents seemed to take no notice of him, keeping their eyes half closed as they gazed down on the Black Boar Band assembled before them.

Oak spoke first, a thin white moustache trailing over his mouth and down onto the robes. “We are here today to decide on the fate of the three humans, one dwarf, and one half elf brought to our city of Grinnish in a manner deemed illegal pursuant to the Orcish Codex of Law, accepted as the overarching law of all orc-kind in the year of 452 After Ruination. Do any of the other Regents have any dissent from this?”

A chorus of no’s came from the others, though Elm’s frown deepened as he now openly glared at the group over his half-moon glasses.

“Very well, who would like to begin the session?”

“I would,” Elm said. He leaned forward in his chair and started to speak, letting loose a tirade of words in the flowing language of the Orcs. Though the way he spoke sounded musical, lifting and gliding through the air, Devin could feel the animosity in them, a tension underneath them.

“Ahem,” came the small cough from Rose, interrupting Elm. “We agreed to speak in Humish for their benefit.”

“She’s right Elm,” said Violet, her long black hair pushed back under a circlet. “If we cannot act and behave in a civilized manner, how can we deem ourselves able to exact justice over whether they should be here?”

“Thank you-” started Devin before he was cut off by Violet.

“I was not agreeing for your benefit, human, and you would do well to wait until you are spoken to before you talk. Pleasantries and fawning will get you far with Rose, but not with me.”

Devin felt the heat rise in his cheeks at the scolding and bit his tongue to keep himself quiet. He was in their world now, and had to play by their rules.

Violet cleared her throat and motioned to Elm, “Please repeat, in Humish, what you were saying before.”

Elm held for a moment, glaring down at the group, before speaking. “What I said was that the interlopers should not be allowed into our city. They should never have been allowed into the side door and should have been put down right then and there. We have seen what their kind do!”

“We saw what they did years ago when they first settled on this land!” he continued, his voice starting to rise. “They are vicious, untrustworthy, snakes! The mere fact they are here in our hallowed halls is an affront to everything we stand for and everything our grandparents died for!”

Devin watched the orc get more upset with each word. He was trying to figure out what in the world he was talking about. Had the orcs and humans fought each other previously? Devin had only learned about them when he came to Mossglenn Depot as a young boy and saw them walking the streets and at work. He knew humans had tried to settle this continent a hundred years ago, but that had ended in a failure that no one spoke of now. Did the orcs have something to do with that initial settlement failing?

“I would like to offer a rebuttal,” Rose said from the other end of the bench. “Their predecessors did perform some truly horrific and heinous acts when they first arrived on our shores. However, they are a young race and prone to the mistakes a young race exploring their worlds do. We only have to look at our own histories to see some of the things we did to the Goblins when we were younger.”

She offered a pointed look at Elm, “Have you forgotten the enslavement of Goblin-kind for twelve hundred years, of the Great Rebellion that happened when they finally rose up? How would our ancestors feel about us treading down that same path, rather than try to help enlighten a growing species?

Elm scoffed, “It's hardly a fair comparison to claim not allowing these bloodthirsty creatures into our home is the same as enslavement. God’s below Rose, they still slaughter their own kind over minor disagreements. ”

“Our race did too, back when we were wandering tribes constantly vying for control over one another. That only ended because the Plantae tribe managed to unite the majority of the other tribes and kill the ones who disagreed. Civilization and progress are founded on the bloody, bloody shoulders of our ancestors.”

“Even so!” Elm said. “We managed to rise on our own and forge our own path toward a better world. We still did not display the pure violence and barbarism they do. We have seen what they do on their own home continent. They still enslave races they consider inferior. Who’s to say they won't say they will integrate, only to learn orcish secrets and turn them against us?”

“Elm, you are such a xenophobe. Anything beyond the comfort of your walls is viewed as an abomination to be captured or destroyed. The world needs differences in its creatures to grow and learn. We have an opportunity to help shape and mold one of said creatures.”

Devin frowned. He did not care for the way even the one on his side was talking about them, as if they were animals to be domesticated and tamed. Something to learn from and morph into their ideal version of civilization. But, at this point, he would take that instead of the death and violent exorcism from the land Elm was presenting. The other three Orcs were sitting, watching their two colleagues continue to argue.

“As usual, Rose,” Elm spat her name. “You resort to name calling since you cannot convince anyone of your ideas otherwise.”

The two started to talk at the same time, reverting into their native Orcish. They continued to escalate their argument, neither hearing the other, until Oak raised his hand slowly, keeping his face forward and not looking at either. They both stopped their arguments and fell silent.

“Oak is the Senior Regent, he can call all arguments to stop and is the only one with the authority to silence any others,” Dahlia whispered in Devin’s ear.

“This is not the orcish history hour, we are here to decide on the fate of the people before us,” Oak said softly. “Let us keep the discussion to that. Since we are here to decide their fate, perhaps we should ask them some questions? We can go one at a time, in a line along the bench, as is tradition. Agreed?”

The Regents nodded, Rose and Elm making a point to look away from each other as much as possible while still focusing on the Black Boar Band.

“Violet, you may start when you are ready,” Oak said.

“Thank you Oak,” Violet said, giving him a small nod of respect. She turned her attention down towards Devin and his friends. “Why did you come here?”

“We were led here, Miss Regent,” Devin answered.

“By who and for what purpose?”

“By an orc named Daisy. We had just escaped the dungeon and torture pit of Bronn in Mossglenn Depot with the help of Dahlia and Daisy. The plan was to come north and see if you would be so kind as to offer us shelter while we recovered.”

Violet nodded and looked at Elm.

“And why would you presume we would do that?” he asked.

“As I said before, we were inclined to believe we may find some assistance when Dahlia and Daisy mentioned coming here. It was never our intention to impose on anyone, just ask for assistance.”

“And yet you strode into our city uninvited and did impose yourself and your kind upon us.”

“It was never our intention, we were lost in a foreign land and following our guide,” Devin said, trying to keep his voice steady. Elm sneered down at him, contempt open on his face.

They both sat in silence for a few moments before Elm finally asked, “Well?”

“You did not ask a question.” Devin said.

Elm huffed, “Why would you presume we would help you?”

Devin frowned, “We were guided here by others. If you would have said no and turned us away we would have tried to find something else I suppose, though we do not know any other options.”

“Hmm,” Elm grunted. He motioned to Iris, who gave him a nod, accepting he was done with questions at the moment.

“Why should we let you come into our city? What can you offer us in recompense for us helping you?” she asked.

“I can answer that one for him, if it pleases the Regents.” Dahlia stood up from her chair. Iris arched her eyebrows, but did not stop her from speaking.

“I was working with ORC and infiltrating Bronn’s Buyable Blades, getting to the bottom of his and the Silver Queens intentions. This group, the Black Boar Band, have valuable insight into how their city works and both Bronn and their Queen. My intention was to bring them here and have them help us understand Mossglenn Depot better, so that we make finally make a decision regarding its fate.”

“What?” Devin asked in a low voice, looking up at the orc next to him. She did not hear him, or if she did, she ignored him.

“Did you intend for them to stay with us once the information has been extracted?” Iris said.

Dahlia glanced down toward Devin. “Yes, I did. They can offer much more beyond information. They are an extremely competent fighting team and could be of use depending on what the decision is.”

“And if the decision is unfavorable?”

“They will receive the same fate as Mossglenn Depot.”

Iris nodded. “Thank you Spymaster Dahlia. We always appreciate your hard work.” She turned toward Oak and nodded. Dahlia sat back down next to Devin, refusing to meet his gaze, staring straight ahead at Oak.

The wizened Regent adjusted his glasses, looking down on them. His face was neutral, showing neither warmth of Rose or the hostility of Elm. His eyes went over all of them, resting briefly on each member before moving on. When he looked at Devin, it felt as though a splash of ice water had washed over him. It was like diving into the river, escaping the sewers of Mossglenn. When his gaze left him and settled on Dahlia, the feeling left.

Devin shook his head, trying to figure out what just happened. Did the orc have some kind of magic he could use to see inside him? Was it just a strange happenstance of fear and adrenaline running through him

“No questions,” Oak said, inclining his head to Rose. She gave him a small nod and offered the group a smile.

“Why shouldn’t we allow you into our city?” she asked.

Devin was caught off guard for a moment. “Well, you absolutely have every right to say no to us, we are here asking for your good graces and help. As for why you should not let us in, I suppose that depends on how valuable you find any information we might have. Dahlia is correct. We have worked in the contract system of Mossglenn Depot and with many of the guilds intimately.”

“I can concede to Regent Elm that humans tend to be a violent bunch.” Elm scoffed, but Devin ignored him and continued, “But that is not all humans. You cannot pin the blame for something our forebears did on us, you must make a judgement on the individual.”

“That was not really an answer to my question,” Rose said.

“I’m not sure how to answer your question. My friends are highly trained and professional. We will not wreak any havoc or disobey any laws intentionally. I would love to be granted access to your wonderful city, and cannot put up an argument on why we should not be allowed in.

“Fair enough,” she said. “No further questions.”

“We will start again with Violet for the Regents to ask any more questions.” Oak said.

“No questions.”

Elm sneered again at the group, but said, “No questions.”

“None from me.”

“I have none,” said Elm.

“None from me either,” Rose said.

“With the questioning concluded, we will allow the Black Boar Band one last statement to address anything they feel we need to know or may have missed.” Elm looked over his half-moon glasses at Devin, “You may speak.”

Devin gave him a nod, trying to mimic the ones the other Regents had given each other, but slightly deeper. He stood and addressed them all. “Regents, I do not have anything else to say about myself or my group. I feel you all know what you need to know about us, and this was put on for our benefit to make us feel the answer has not already been decided.”

Oak started to open his mouth, but Devin continued before he could stop him, “I do however, have a statement to make about Daisy. Laws or not, it is unfair to punish her for bringing us here. She was left in the same torture chambers I was placed in for much longer than me, months in fact. The fact she endured that, giving no secrets about your kind to Bronn, and still returned here to try to help, speaks of monuments for her.”

Dahlia groaned beside him, her head falling onto the table with a small thump.

“I remind you this session is for your benefits, Mr. Tenfingers,” Oak said. “You know nothing of our laws and are in no position to make a judgement about a fellow orc.”

“Well, then I do have one last statement for my group. If Daisy is punished or harmed for bringing us here today, after everything she did and her abandonment at the hands of you and your people into a sick man's custody, I do not want to be a part of your city and request you remove us immediately.”

Rose’s warm smile dropped, replaced by a confused frown. Violet and Iris both knitted their eyebrows at him, glancing between themselves and Oak as they chatted with each other in Orcish.

Elm let out a large guffaw, “I told you! See how they act!”

Oak raised his hand, calling for silence. “An interesting statement, Devin of the Black Boar Band. We will now recess and decide what you and your friends' fate is. Pray you have not condemned them with your actions.”

The five Regents stood as one, and stepped down from behind their table, disappearing from view. There was a loud snap, the silence that followed quickly being overtaken by murmurings and shuffling from the gallery above them. Several heads poked out over the edge of the balcony, peering down at Devin and his group.

“What in the hells above did you do that for? Are you trying to piss them off and get yourselves killed?” Dahlia hissed at Devin, glaring up at him.

Devin shrugged, adopting a stoic face though he roiled on the inside. His stomach was doing flips on itself while his heart thudded in his throat. He wiped the sweat from his hands on his pants and addressed her, “I stand by what I said. You can act all high and mighty, above us and our decisions, but I cannot abide an innocent person being punished.”

“You have no idea what innocence is in our world, Tenfingers,” Dahlia spat. She stood quickly, throwing him one last angry glare, and stomped away. With a raise of her hand, the wall opened into a tunnel and she disappeared inside, the opening quickly snapping shut.

Devin turned toward his friends, letting the mask drop. He raised his eyebrows, welcoming their reactions.

“I stand with you, boy. It isn't right what they are doing to her,” Murton said. Griff grunted and nodded along with Murton.

Teryn watched where Dahlia had left for a moment before speaking. “While I can respect that different cultures will have different rules and laws, I am inclined to agree with you Devin.”

Shia shook her head at them, “Why are we risking our lives for the orc woman? We don’t know anything about what happened to her or why she may have been left there. We should be trying to get out of here, taking what we can with us.”

“Sometimes, our principles and what we stand for are the most important thing we have,'' Griff said, speaking slowly as if weighing each word. “I would rather die than abandon them and live without any honor.”

Devin nodded, tears moistening the corners of his eyes. Shia shook his head in disbelief at them again, but did not argue further. Devin made a mental note to watch her if they made it through this alive. Something deep inside her was itching to come out, something that could spell trouble in the future.

They sat in silence after that, with only the murmurings of the orcs above them to listen to. Sweat started to soak through Devin’s clothes and his anxiety increased with each passing minute. Had he condemned them all to death with his words? He gulped, taking a deep breath. Even if he had, Griff was right, he would die with his principles intact, knowing he did the right thing.

After what felt like an eternity, a snap sounded across the room, silencing the crowd above. The five Regents walked in silently, taking their seats at the bench again. They did not say anything, but stared down at them. Elm had a smug grin on his face and Devin’s stomach fell.

“We have reached a decision concerning the Black Boar Band,” Oak said, watching them over his glasses.

The silence that followed was thick enough to feel, like an oppressive blanket weighing down on Devin. He and his group held their breath, waiting for the inevitable condemnation from the elder orc.

“By a vote of 3-2, we have decided that the Black Boar Band will be allowed entry into the city, on a conditional basis.”

Devin’s held breath left in a large whoosh and he felt himself go weak. A few sobs escaped him before he managed to regain a semblance of composure. He heard similar reactions from the group around him, and saw Murton openly weeping, trying to hide his face behind his thick hands. Griff was rubbing him on the back tenderly.

“The terms of your stay here will be delivered to you soon. For the time being, please escort the group as guests to new accommodations in the Weeping Gardens.” Oak’s voice dropped a bit lower. “I must impress on you the nature of your stay here. Any breaking of the conditions of your welcome will be met with swift and colossal retribution.”

Devin hardly heard him, but felt the warning in his words. He stood, his knees shaking, and grabbed Teryn in a large hug. The elf woman let out a small gasp of shock, but returned the hug after a few moments.

“Thank the gods above,” he whispered.