Tri-Tribe Chief

"Anything else, Chief?" Eve looks up to you as you both look down on the goblins and orcs, having just finished the spiel on how things are going to go.

You think for a moment. "Well, I doubt this is going to be easy, and I honestly don't want to do this, but...let's give them an out." You drop down to the barn floor, now addressing the group, even if they can't understand you. "Any one of you who can defeat me in a duel will become the new Chief of these three tribes." You pick up a discarded dagger, likely from Shadow, as Eve hesitantly translates. "Each of you have one chance. You can fight me now, or you can fight me tomorrow, or you can fight me days or even months from now. However, if you lose this fight, you don't get to try again. You'll serve me until I'm dethroned." Which probably isn't going to happen, if I'm being honest. "Now, who wants to start?"

Eve finishes her translation, and the goblinoids all look to each other. Murmurs pass through the crowd, before one after another, they begin to stand, lifting clubs onto their shoulders. A handful of them have actual metal weapons, with a couple axes and swords in the mix. These ones seem to glance between each other, and a clear hierarchy shows itself among the two factions, as some of them quickly back down when they realize their 'superiors' are planning on fighting you. Two of them, taller, more muscular, green, human-like orcs come the foreground, growling at each other as they both approach. The one on your left wields a sword, while the one on your right holds a club larger than the ones you've seen before. They both begin speaking and shouting to each other.

An eye to Eve notifies that you want a translation. "They're arguing about who should go first."

Well, I guess there needs to be some kind of pecking order...not that that needs to be decided now. "Tell them to both come at me at once, and that this will be the only time I'll allow it." You take a readied stance as you face down your two foes.

They look to each other, seemingly confused, before turning back to you. The one with the sword makes the first move, rushing forward and taking an obvious overhead swing. You sidestep as you deflect it, the sword hitting the wood floor before you kick Lefty to the side, although admittedly not more than a couple feet. Without a moment to rest, you crouch down to avoid a wide swing from Righty. You decided to call them that until you learn their names. You then fall back onto your hands to jump over a weak but well-placed shin-high cleave from Lefty. Finishing your half-flip, you do another backward, landing back on your feet. You roll your wrist, which is a bit pained. I shouldn't try to do that with a weapon in my hand...

With renewed effort, Righty swings his club with both hands, closing the distance between you with two steps. You backpedal to keep some space between the two of you as he continues swinging, not even trying anything else. His **** ally races past him, lunging toward you with his blade. The clang of the blades rings through the air as you push his blade upward with your own. With Righty's wide swing and Lefty's near-disarming, you raise the dagger to Lefty's throat and conjure forth an elemental blade that extends to Righty's. They both pause, before lowering their weapons, scowls on their faces.

You suddenly hear a higher-pitched voice from deeper in the building. Glancing past your two former opponents, you spot Torch, seemingly recovered from her...'session'. Lefty turns to her, and appears to be taking in her words, along with a decent number of the orcs on the same side as Torch and Shadow. Her more pale skin, along with the other hobgoblin's, makes her stand out, and you think that she and/or Shadow was the leader of the 'Lefty' tribe before you, Eve, and Borak showed up.

Before you can react, Eve has showed up next to you. "She's recognizing your strength and is telling them to follow us from now on."

"Well, that should make things easier. Maybe I won't have to go through a dozen more fights by the time the sun sets."

As the two orcs return to where they were sitting, Torch and Shadow walk up to you. "They want to talk. Privately."

They lead you and Eve outside, past the still-sleeping ogre and past a few trees, giving you some privacy from the rest of the tribe. Before long, the hobgoblins give a side-eye to Eve and say something to you. Eve doesn't even translate, crossing her arms and saying something back to them. I should really learn this language...

After a bit of back and forth, Eve once again begins translating. "What are you going to do with us, now?"

"Nothing bad. I just want to make sure the goblinoids in the region aren't a threat to the humans. Plus...I might need your help with something. Hornets are spreading fast, and there's a nest not far from here." You point generally to the northeast. "Maybe a day's travel on foot. They're also a threat to humans, but I don't think the humans and I can handle it on our own. We barely fought them off before, and we need an army of our own if we stand a chance." I don't want to think what a wolf hornet is gonna be like... Wait, don't those exist on Earth, at least in name?

"Hornets have been a problem for us, too. You won't have any trouble from us. We can't say the same for the Kormak tribe, though. They've gotten more aggressive lately." Shadow shakes his head before looking down. "They think they deserve our dungeon and our ****, but they already have their own dungeon and slaves."

Your proverbial ears perk up. "They have their own slaves?" This could be a lot worse than I thought.

Shadow nods. "I and another scouted their village, a cave southwest of here. We couldn't get inside, but we heard human-like screams from inside."

"Good job, Eve." You pat her head to reward her for translating so much today. "Now, how about we escort the Kormaks back to their cave? Torch, Shadow, you're welcome to join us if you want."

"Are you sure you want to do this, sweetie?" Kaguya closes the box in front of him before sliding it back across the table to his daughter. "There's no going back if you do this, and I doubt your mother will approve."

Kara nervously chuckles. "Why do you think I asked you instead of her?" She takes a breath. "Besides, I don't think Dusk will do anything bad with it. He's trying so hard to earn everyone's trust that I doubt he'd throw it away so quickly."

Kaguya cocks his brow. "You of all people should know that he could be tricking us. It's in your blood."

"I know, I know." She chuckles again. "But it also takes one to know one. He's not telling us the whole story, but I don't think he's lied about himself or his intentions, either."

The man sighs. He didn't want his daughter to do this, but he also knew how stubborn she could be once she set her sights on something. Kaguya and his wife had tried suggesting nearly a dozen men for their firstborn, but she's had Camilla on her mind for years. "I'm still not comfortable with this. Would you at least wait until after the ceremony, so your mother and I can get to know him?"

"It's a betrothal gift, Father. Mother wouldn't tolerate it being given that late. Besides, with his connection to Camilla, he's going to be part of the relationship no matter what we do. If I'm right about them both, this is just a formal invitation."

"I just hope you know what you're doing, sweetheart. If you're wrong, then your mother and I won't be able to do anything about it."

"I know." She gives a **** smile. "I'm not...happy about it either, but I feel like I need to do this. For everyone's peace of mind."