At Sarthal's gate, Della had to explain why their greenskin expedition was returning with a procession of battered strangers.
The dragonkin listening to her glanced at her badge, then past her toward the people crowding the road. His spear remained across their path.
Some of the rescued women still needed help walking. Healing had closed their wounds, but they clung to the adventurers supporting them, staring at the walls as though they feared someone might turn them away.
"Your party's identification is in order," the guard said. "What about theirs?"
"We found them in the nest. The travelers helped us get them out."
"So you said. Where are these travelers from? Who are they?"
His gaze passed over Alexios's sword before moving along the armed strangers behind him. Beside the gatehouse, another dragonkin abandoned his inspection of a cart to join them.
"They were shipwrecked," Brena explained. "Pirates attacked them before they reached Sarthal."
"And you believe them?"
