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C asimir sat in a dark corner of The Winking Fox. His friends were off on their own assignments in town, gathering supplies and information as needed, and their animal companions were still investigating the nearby forests.

He kept his hood up to hide his face in the dim lighting and took a sip of ale as he surveyed the bar room.

Dark wood surrounded him, lit by a few candles and lamps scattered about.

Drunken townsfolk reveled and danced across the stone floor, enjoying the upbeat tune being played by the bard in the corner, strumming along on his mandolin.

A multitude of races lived in Oakshire, the town closest to the border inside the earth kingdom of Monterre, and the tavern was filled with a collection of creatures.

Pixies flitted about and sat at little tables attached to the wall, their iridescent wings glistening.

A table full of goblins, gnomes and high fae laughed as they played a hand of cards.

A brown-bearded gnome pounded the table enthusiastically then wrapped his arms around the acorns in the middle, pulling them toward him as he delighted in his win.

Monterre was the only place you could go where you would find a high fae sharing a meal with a hobgoblin, or a pixie forging a friendship with an orc.

It was what Casimir loved most about his kingdom.

Most of the other kingdoms looked down upon the lesser fae creatures, separating their housing quarters from the high fae who ruled.

As a result of this, the lesser fae rarely mingled even with each other, sticking to their own species.

They were seen as mischievous, unintelligent and even a nuisance. But not by his king.

But Casimir wasn’t here to mingle or find companionship for the night. He was here to listen. Where else could you hear all the local gossip but the most popular tavern? And he didn’t want to be recognized.

He had been observing the comings and goings for about an hour, nursing his ale, but hadn’t gleaned anything helpful yet.

The barmaid approached him, speaking in her gruff voice.

“Can I get you anything else? Some stew perhaps?” She was an orc with olive skin and twinkling gray eyes.

The owner of The Winking Fox. Her pointed ears peeked out from her brown curls, and she was broad-shouldered, wearing a white blouse tucked into her long brown skirt.

Casimir shook his head. “I’m fine. Thank you.”

Before walking away, she leaned forward, speaking low so only he could hear. “If you need anything, general, I’ll be here.”

“Is it that obvious?” he grumbled.

She stood, chuckling, and placed her hands on her hips. “Only to me. I’d recognize your skulking anywhere. You used to do that when you were just a young one, sauntering into my tavern with your friends, ready to drink and fuck as if your lives depended on it. It drove all the ladies crazy.”

Casimir’s face heated under his hood. “You know me too well, Sugha. I don’t do that anymore, though,” he said, shaking his head.

“Yes, yes. I know. You’re the general now. All noble and honorable. No time for fun anymore.” She waved her hand at him.

“I’m here on business.”

“I figured. You’ve got the covert warrior in the corner disguise going on. Anything specific you need to know?”

He shrugged. “Just listening for now. I’ll know it when I hear it.”

She leaned back down, reaching into his hood and pinching his cheek like an old aunt might. “It’s good to see you, Casimir.”

He smiled, despite himself. “Good to see you too, Sugha.”

“Tell your friends I said ‘hi.’ Oh, and by the way…” She paused. “That scruff on your face makes you look old.”

He laughed quietly to himself as she walked away, comforted to know nothing had changed since he’d last visited this town.

Casimir waited another hour but after hearing nothing of use, he prepared to leave and seek out his group. They’d have to get their information elsewhere. As he was about to stand, a fae at the table behind him whispered to her companion.

“Did you hear what happened?” she said. “The daemon queen has returned.”

“I know. It’s horrible. And do you know what I heard?” her friend responded.

Casimir paused, ears perking up as he listened with his sharp fae hearing.

“What?” the feminine voice asked, terror in her voice at the prospect of more bad news.

“They brought a human with them,” he said.

Casimir sucked in a breath. A human? How was that possible?

“What’s a human?”

“They kind of look like a high fae, but have rounded ears and are much smaller. They’re also weak and don’t have any magic. They live in another realm. ”

“No magic?” She gasped. “What an awful existence! Why did they bring one with them?”

“No one knows. Though some say she was the one who allowed them in. That she is working with them to take over Eorhan,” he said, keeping his companion riveted to her seat.

His friend gasped again. “Oh, how awful! What are we going to do? Will we go to war again?”

“It is likely. Very likely.”

Casimir rose. He’d heard enough. He must find his friends and inform them of what he learned.

It should be impossible. Though he’d heard of humans, he had never heard of one arriving in Eorhan.

They lived in their own world in a faraway realm he thought was inaccessible.

It was likely these were only rumors, ignited by fear of what was to come, but he must take heed, nonetheless.

He stepped out of the tavern and onto the cobblestone streets.

Oakshire was a small town, shops nestled so closely together they felt almost oppressive at times.

Golden lanterns lit the streets, joining the warm lights shining through the windows of the shops in town.

He passed by a small bakery, a bookstore, even a brothel—something he never had much interest in, but Raine loved—as he strolled along.

As was tradition in his kingdom, the town was integrated into nature as much as possible, with trees interspersed among the wooden buildings and vines climbing along the walls.

The glow of the setting sun brought a fiery orange tint to the sky, as the night prepared its arrival.

All manners of fae bustled about, a flutter of activity in the cool evening.

He continued to make his way down the street, looking for any signs of his companions.

As he came upon a small potions shop with a wooden sign hanging above the door that read Arcane Elixirs , arguing sounded from within. He grumbled and rolled his eyes, knowing what he would find as he pushed open the door .

Upon entering the crowded shop, filled with wall-to-wall shelves of tinctures, bottles and jars, he found Raine bickering with the proprietor at the front desk.

Quinn was sauntering about the shop, looking at the goods stocked on every surface.

Noticing Casimir, she raised her eyebrows at him and jerked her head pointedly toward Raine.

“That’s not what you said earlier,” Raine was saying to the short, gray-skinned goblin who was seated behind the counter upon a stool. “You said twenty coppers for the healing balm, not thirty.”

Casimir approached the scene and lowered his hood. Raine turned to him. “Cas. Where the fuck have you been? This damn goblin is trying to swindle me over some healing balm.”

“I am not!” the goblin insisted in his scratchy high-pitched voice. “I said twenty coppers for the tin of salve sitting next to the healing balm. That’s the one you pointed to.”

“It is not, and you know it. You switched them around when I wasn’t looking.” Raine waved his hands. “Twenty coppers is all I’ll pay.” Raine looked at Casimir with frustration, running his hand through his platinum locks. “Cas, help me out here.”

Casimir turned to the proprietor of the shop. “Will you take twenty-five?”

The goblin nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, general. Thank you, general.”

He turned to his friend and gestured toward the pouch hanging from his leather belt. “Pay up.”

“But… twenty-five coppers?” Raine scoffed. “Oh, come on, this is outrageous.”

“Just do it. We have more important things to worry about right now,” replied Casimir, patience waning.

Sighing, Raine retrieved the money and set it on the counter. “Here,” he said as he snatched the balm off the desk and huffed out of the shop mumbling to himself as the goblin gave a triumphant small smile .

Quinn appeared next to Casimir, holding up a bright purple vial and dropping her coppers into the goblin’s hand.

“You came in here for soap?” Casimir asked.

“I’m tired of smelling like you brutes.” She grinned.

He gave her a flat look and grunted.

She laughed as they walked back out into the night and joined Raine who was still huffing and puffing in the street. “You heard something?” she asked Casimir.

“Yes. We need a private location to speak.”

A moment later, Jorrar appeared with a new quiver of arrows. “What did you learn?” he asked as the four of them walked down the lamp lit streets.

They found a quiet alleyway between two buildings and stopped, scanning the area for prying eyes or ears.

“There’s a rumor a human woman was brought here with Deidamia,” Casimir informed them.

“A human?” Quinn was incredulous. “Impossible.”

“I thought so too, but we need to keep our ears open for more. Jorrar, what does this mean?” he asked his wisest warrior.

Jorrar thought for a moment as he shook his head. “To my knowledge there has never been a human in Eorhan before. I’m not sure what to make of it. Did you learn anything else? Talk to anyone?”

“The two fae who were discussing the human were scared. Afraid she was helping the daemon queen. But that’s all.” He paused. “Oh, and Sugha told me I looked old. She says hi.” He smirked.

Raine clapped him on the back, sour mood gone. “It’s the beard, Cas. Makes you look dirty. I told you; the women prefer clean shaven faces.”

“Like you would know,” taunted Quinn.

Casimir rubbed his jaw. “I happen to like my beard. It’s…”

“Disgusting,” said Quinn.

Glaring at her, he finished. “Rugged. ”

Jorrar chuckled along with the rest of them. “Let’s find something to eat and we can discuss our next move.”

As they filtered out of the alleyway, an ear-piercing scream rang out from the other side of town.

Immediately on alert, the warriors looked around before heading in the direction of the panic. They hurried down the streets, darting in between buildings and leaping over low stone walls, eager to help whoever was in trouble.

They made it to the edge of town, screams increasing in frequency and volume, when a gnome ran toward them, shouting in fear. “Creatures! Awful creatures! They’re attacking the farmers.” He pointed in the direction of the chaos before running off.

They took off faster, running toward the fields where crops were grown and harvested. They jumped over a wooden fence and ran in between tall rows of corn before stopping in the yard in front of a small house with a thatched roof.

The warriors froze. “What the hell are those things?” said Quinn.

On top of the roof were two black creatures with wings and long front claws lined with spikes, piercing holes in the straw and trying to get in while a third hovered in front of the door, blocking the exit.

They looked like giant insects of some sort, with six dangling legs and massive pincers below their shiny compound eyes.

Their buzzing echoed over the screams of the family of orcs inside.

From beside him, Raine whispered, “There are children in there.”

That was all Casimir needed before he leapt over the fence and jumped into the fray, unsheathing his sword.