CHAPTER 222: TENSION

But not everyone shared in the excitement. The moment the goblins from my old clan mingled with the new arrivals, tension began to ripple through the camp. Glares were exchanged, growls slipped out under hushed breaths, and a few hands lingered a little too close to their weapons.

It was expected. Perfectly natural.

Strangers had appeared out of nowhere—goblins they didn’t know, about to claim their home. Of course, they’d be uneasy. Of course, there’d be hostility.

Change never came easy.

Narg approached me quietly, his staff tapping softly against the ground as he leaned in. "Those two there," he said under his breath, nodding toward Gork and Nira, who were standing apart from the others, "who are they? Their auras... they feel strong."

"Oh, them?" I said, keeping my tone casual. "They’re Chosen. Blessed by Drugar, like me."

Narg froze mid-step, the blood draining from his face.

"Chosen?" he repeated, almost whispering the word as if afraid saying it too loudly would summon misfortune.

Flogga, who had been listening nearby, frowned and stepped closer.

"Young totem," she said, using that old title she liked to tease me with, "is it wise to have two Chosen under your command? You know what they are capable of. What if they decide to rebel?"

"Don’t worry," I said, waving a hand dismissively. "They’re bound by oath. They can’t harm anyone in this clan, not even if they wanted to."

Zarah, who had been standing beside Flogga, tilted her head and pointed toward another figure lingering a few paces behind the others. "What about that one?" she asked bluntly, her tone sharp enough to draw a few looks.

I followed her gaze and found Talia, standing slightly apart, her posture calm but her eyes cautious as she studied her surroundings. I hadn’t expected Zarah to be that direct, but she never had much of a filter.

"She’s also a Chosen," I said after a moment. "But she’s not a combatant. So there’s nothing to worry about."

Zarah made a small sound—half hum, half sigh—but her expression didn’t soften. "Hmm," she murmured, though her tone said I’m still worried.

I exhaled quietly, deciding it wasn’t worth pushing. "Alright," I said, stepping forward toward the center of the camp. "Instead of staring at each other like enemies, let’s make introductions."

The murmuring died down as I gestured toward the newcomers.

"That’s Gork and Nira," I said, pointing to the pair who stood shoulder to shoulder, their posture straight but wary. "Blessed of Drugar, both of them." I shifted my hand slightly. "And that odd-looking one over there..." Talia frowned when she realized I meant her "...is also one of Drugar’s Chosen."

"Odd?" Talia snapped, her voice rising before she caught herself. Her cheeks flushed as a few heads turned her way, and she quickly looked aside, crossing her arms with a pout. "I’m not odd..." she muttered under her breath, but I could tell she wasn’t about to push it further.

A ripple went through the gathered goblins—gasps, murmurs, whispers overlapping as the weight of what I’d said sank in. To them, standing in front of even one Blessed of Drugar was a thing of legend. Standing before three was almost unthinkable. Their expressions were a mix of awe and terror, and for a brief moment, I thought they might actually drop to their knees.

"Don’t even think about it," I said quickly, holding up a hand. That seemed to snap them out of it.

"There’s one more," I continued, scanning their faces to make sure I had everyone’s attention. "She isn’t here yet—she’s still unconscious. She’s not a Chosen, but she’s the daughter of the former chief, the one who led the clan that attacked us." I paused, letting the words settle before adding, "When she wakes, don’t go near her. Not yet."

Murmurs began again, uneasy this time.

"She has an ability," I explained. "One that lets her break minds. If you get too close before I say otherwise, you’ll regret it."

That silenced them instantly. The awe from earlier faded, replaced by wide-eyed worry. I could see the tension ripple through the crowd as they exchanged uneasy glances, so I raised my voice again, cutting through their fear.

"Gork and Nira are directly under my command," I said firmly. "They’re bound by oath and can’t harm any of you. So calm yourselves. You have nothing to fear."

The words seemed to work. Slowly, the whispers died down, replaced by a tense but obedient quiet.

"What about me?" Talia suddenly shouted, glaring at me with her arms crossed. She’d clearly noticed I hadn’t mentioned her in the list of dangerous individuals.

I sighed and added, "Also her," just to shut her up.

But the goblins didn’t react. Not even a twitch. They didn’t seem remotely concerned about Talia—if anything, they looked more confused than afraid.

The look on her face was priceless. Her jaw tightened, and for a second, I thought she might actually explode. But she didn’t. She forced herself to stay quiet, muttering under her breath like someone trying to talk herself out of doing something stupid.

"As for the chief’s daughter," I said, steering the conversation back on track, "Ariel is watching her, so it’ll be fine."

"I’m here, though," the ember fox interjected from behind me, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

I turned toward her slowly. "Then go watch her. What are you waiting for?"

She rolled her eyes dramatically. "Sure," she said. "Leave poor me alone with the mindbreaker so she can crush my brain and we both die. Brilliant plan, Chief."

Before I could respond, she was already walking off.

I flinched, jaw tightening as several goblins exchanged looks at her statement. My glare followed her until she disappeared into the tent where the unconscious Zivra was.

Don’t go around talking about our secrets so easily, you stupid fox, I cursed silently, rubbing the bridge of my nose.

I couldn’t afford anyone knowing that Ariel was my weakness.

If word ever got out—if an enemy realized that targeting her could end me, then I’d be finished.

She didn’t seem to grasp that, or maybe she just didn’t care.

Either way, I’d have to remind her later.

For now, I...