Howler had gone too far and stayed away too long. Apart from sending back a few messages, he had vanished without a trace.
The last time he had contacted Free City was a year ago, from the Duchy of Keating. Annan had begun to think they might have died somewhere. He had never expected the Blade of Freedom to run into them.
That explained why the Orc tribe had sent a letter by War Eagle instead of charging straight in.
"They're from that city, Shaman. Please let them go," Howler pleaded.
"I never meant to capture them," the Orc Shaman said. But the Chieftain, Bi Ger, grunted, "The goods. I want them."
Trading their possessions for peace was the best outcome they could hope for, but Little Smo still felt reluctant.
If they used those goods to buy supplies from a merchant caravan, they could get through Deepwinter comfortably.
"Ger, I've fought for your tribe for so long," Howler said.
Chieftain Bi Ger refused to budge. "Those are the rules."
Lame Bob interrupted the two Orcs. "Shaman, Chief, you can have the money, but we're short on food. Could you give us some?"
"Fine..."
The Orc Shaman agreed. As the tribe's Wise One, he could not think only of what was right in front of him.
It was an outcome both sides could accept.
Howler clearly held some standing in the Orc tribe. After leaving the group in his care, the Orc Shaman departed with Chief Bi Ger.
Howler led them to collect the food. Little Smo looked at him as if he were watching Chris in When Freedom Knocks. "What's Free City like?" he asked curiously.
"I don't know. I've never been there."
"You haven't?"
"I met Annan in Breeze City, fled to Shelter Cove Town because of the