The trip back to Tarenhelm wasn't the most enjoyable of treks. Aches pgued her with every step, and though her ego stung for it, Sofia and Jordahe ones who ended up dragging the chieftain's corpse with them, not her. She could've hahe task—she was hardly that bad off—but Jordan and Sofia had overruled her.

  One long and unwieldy trip ter, they were standing in front of the Baron's manor, with a servant having hurried away to fetch him. Seeing how they were lugging along an enormous monster corpse—which had barely fit ihe ented wagon—they would hardly be hosted ihe building. Though the chieftain wasn't bleeding anymore, it would still leave a mess.

  When the portly Baron hurried out to meet them all, his eyes widened with every step closer.

  "My … my word! What is that thing?"

  The Baron likely [Ied] the deceased monster as he made that excmation, but Natalie answered anyway.

  "Level foblin chieftain," she said dryly. "Your raiding problem has officially been taken care of."

  "Level four!" He boggled at the five of them. "Aren't you first-years? Level twos?"

  "It was a hard fight," Natalie said. "Not too bad, though." As was obvious, seeing how all five of them were on their feet. Even Natalie was only somewhat injured—more superficially than anything. Just o sleep it off.

  He stared a sed longer before shaking his head to clear it. A group of level twos taking down a level four was an impressive feat, and that was without mentioning Greed's involvement. Though they would be withholding those specifics from the Baron. Rampant gods sp monsters was sensitive informatio would expect discretion. If they felt ined to inform the Baron afterward, that would be the academy's choice.

  "Well," the Baron finally said. "Excellent job. I'm gd to see the five of you came out alright." He gave Natalie a particur look; it must be easy to see she was the most banged up. Not unusual for the front-line guardian of a team.

  "Took a few hits," Natalie said. "I'll be fine."

  "Very good." He frowned down at the chieftain. "That thing is a goblin?"

  "Apparently."

  "He was the camp?"

  "Large," Natalie said. "Even after the previous raids, nearly two dozen were left over."

  "Two dozen!" His amazemeurned. "And you five dealt with it alone?"

  Teically, they had Malice's help, not to mention a few powerful items and Natalie's css, but that didn't stop it from being an achievement.

  "Yeah," Natalie said. "Was tough. The normal ones were easy. Big guy was a bitch, though."

  The Baron bli her, and she realized she eaking rather casually to a member of nobility—Liz had been far more formal when she'd led the versation—but the Baron didn't seem to care.

  "Also," Natalie said. "We found all the missing supplies. They had it in a huge pile. Stacked up. No clue why. What they were doing with it. Was just sitting there."

  Though she had a guess. Her own link to Lust required engaging in al activities to grow in strength. Someone sponsored by Greed must have grown stronger by h valuables—the altar of stolen goods had been the source of the chieftain's eous strength. But again, that was something she would voice to Te only, not to the Baron. Perhaps not even to Te; Natalie had agreed to divulge critical information to the Beaumons, but she didn't want everyoo know about her situation.

  "We marked the location on the map Varten gave us," Natalie tinued. "If you want to retrieve it."

  "Standard caravan fare?" He shook his head. "I doubt it'll be worth the effort."

  She blinked. "It's not that far out of the way."

  "It's in the middle of the Duskwood," the Baron said. "Five heavily armored bat csses might not have too much difficulty strolling through there, but putting together a defensive party, along with the requisite bor, just to haul bae crates of ultimately unimportant material is—well, probably not an eic decision."

  "Ah," Natalie said. She didn't care either way. Had just been inf him of the situation.

  "Though I'll sider the possibility," he said. He stepped forward and held a hand out, and Natalie passed over the marked map of the Duskwood. He studied it briefly, brow furrowed, before nodding and tug the thick paper away. "Now," he said, again looking down at the chieftain. "What will I do with this thing?" he mused. "And where is its head?"

  "Blown off," Natalie grunted.

  The Baron paused, g the party as if in a new, slightly warier light, and cleared his throat. "Quite. I see. Hm." He waved his hand. "It sounds like, besides the ued difficulty, everythi well. I hahis," he gestured at the corpse. "Is there anything more to report?"

  Natalie shared a look with her team. "That's it."

  "The me thank you for your help. You've done a great service for Tarenhelm."

  "Just our duty," Natalie said, a bit awkwardly.

  "I presume you'll be stig around for the festivities?"

  "Festivities?"

  He seemed surprised she didn't know what he was talking about. "It's ary to celebrate such a success. The citizens won't have to worry about being assaulted on the roads any longer. A small gathering. Everyone's been waiting for it. Food, drink, games. The usual. Nothing eous."

  "I thi wants us back as soon as possible?"

  "Nonsehe Baron said easily. "If you'll five me for speaking pinly, but as much as providing a service, sending delvers out is for visibility a's image as much as anything. They'll want you five mingling with the cityfolk, accepting their thanks, making the academy look good." He ughed. "And as far as the townsfolk care, they'll take any excuse for some excitement." He ined his head. "Unless you aren't feeling well? If you o rest, that's perfectly uandable."

  "That's not it," Natalie said. She g Liz, who nodded, firming what the Baron was saying—he wasn't just talking them into staying an additional night. Apparently, it was ary to celebrate and mih the town, not to head straight back to Te. She looked at her other teammates o check their reas.

  Jordan ended up shrugging. "Don't see why not," she said. She faced the Baron. "Thank you for hosting us."

  "Of course!" He ughed. "My daughter would've been distraught if you packed up a immediately. She's been smitten by the 'Te delvers,' I'll tell you that. Talking my ear off these past few days."

  Not so subtly, several pairs of eyes turo Natalie.

  "Right," Natalie said.

  Aina would be there.

  That … would definitely not be a problem.

  "I'll let you five get ed up," the Baron said. "And thank you again for the help. I expect festivities will pick up within a few hours—everyone's been on standby for the good news." He turned, eyes searg out for a servant, who he gestured to approach. "Now, dealing with all of this unpleasantness. Let me get to that."