The Iron Teeth: A Goblin's Tale - From RoyalRoadl.com by ClearMadness

Interlude: A Perfect Victory

"We've got the area under control now, sir," a tough looking bandit in leather armor carefully explained.

He had short messy brown hair and was standing among the cluster of cabins in the center of Herad's encampment. There was only one other person nearby, but there was a lot of human activity off in the distance. The occasional cheer or exhilarated laugh rang out as groups of bandits wandered about and celebrated their recent victory.

"We've pushed all hostiles out of the perimeter and set up watches," the man continued. "A few of the Black Snake's minions managed to flee down the road but there's nowhere for them to really go. The reserve force you left a few miles back is sealing their only escape route."

The bandit then saluted and waited for the armored man in front of him to respond. It took a few moments for a response to be forthcoming.

"And those that have surrendered?" Werrick eventually asked after thinking something over.

The bandit chieftain was still dressed as if for battle, although he hadn't put his helmet back on. There was an unhappy expression on his face. His long brown hair was messy and he took a second to push a lock of it away from his eyes.

"They have been rounded up and await your decision, sir. As per your orders," his subordinate quickly answered.

"I'm in a foul mood. Let them stew for a while," Werrick replied. "Things didn't work out like I'd hoped they would."

"Sir? It was a perfect victory. We destroyed Herad's forces and killed her, all while taking acceptable losses," the man remarked uncomprehendingly.

"Yes, that's the gods given truth. However, things could have gone better after the battle..." Werrick mused to himself. "I had my eye on recruiting a few more useful pieces."

"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir." the bandit replied carefully.

"Not your fault," Werrick told him.

The bandit chieftain took a second to look around. There was no longer any smoke rising into the sky or any sounds of fighting. However, most the tents that Herad's men had set up had been ransacked as their victorious opponents searched for loot. The camp had quickly been gutted and debris of various sorts now littered the ground.

Off in the distance, tall trees surrounded the camp. Their leafy green branches blocked the view in every direction.

"What about those that fled into the forest?" Werrick asked his subordinate as he studied the trees.

"We have squads of scouts and hunters out to pursue them. They're unlikely to get far but some will probably try to circle back to the road so I thought it important to make sure none of them catch us unaware," the other man replied.

"Indeed, only the truly desperate would seek safety out there. The wilderness is far more merciless than me, and even if they make it back to civilization all the North is now under my control," Werrick chuckled.

As he was talking, a cloaked figure stepped out of the shadows and approached him. There was nothing remarkable about the newcomer, except that their features were hidden under a fur hood, but Werrick recognized them and gave them his complete attention.

"You are dismissed," he told the subordinate he had been talking to.

The man saluted again and hurried away. When he was out of earshot the hooded figure spoke up.

"Lord, I watched the mage as you requested," they announced in a surprisingly feminine voice. "So far he has done nothing to arouse my suspicion, although the loss of all his papers in that fire was inconvenient. I had hoped to go through his correspondence."