The tension inside the Chieftain's Court was almost suffocating. The room itself had never felt this small, despite the large number of people gathered within it.
Outside, dozens of kobolds had crowded around the entrance and along the walls, desperately trying to hear what was being said. Some stood on their toes to look through the openings while others whispered among themselves, their voices carrying fragments of speculation through the gathering.
Lan'ka sat upon the makeshift throne, his expression stern as he looked across the faces of those gathered before him. Tu'ka, Kurg, Ru'k, Tong'a, O'nil, and Lady Zira were all present, while the twenty warriors who had been working with Ka'z remained outside with the other villagers. Lan'ka took a slow breath before finally speaking.
