When we set off, I was surprised to discover that Smutisha had recruited the rest of my party for this mission. Damecus, Dietrich, Farrow, Phoenix, and Agaroth were all there waiting for us. Kiyui was thrilled. He does so enjoy spending time with everyone.

  During our journey north to Fort Bracken, I came to realise that Damecus is very much of the same opinion as me. He doesn’t like this idea either. He has simply come along to make sure that when it does go wrong, as it inevitably will, that every single goblin in that nest is obliterated.

  The opinions of the others are a bit more nuanced. Most of them weren’t exactly confident that this mission would end in a successful alliance… but they had not entirely ruled it out. I am unsure where Phoenix stands, as even after everything… she isn’t exactly forthcoming with her thought processes.

  I was rather surprised that once we got to Fort Bracken, we picked up Keith. Apparently, Smutisha wanted a Bracken representative as well… to help show off how accepting human culture is of other species. She could have brought Thomas… but apparently, he refused to leave their son unattended. Keith had no idea why he had been requested and after we set off and it was explained to him… well… he too was very much against the idea.

  The Grim nest was a bit over a day’s travel to the east of Fort Bracken. We stopped for the night in some decrepit old ruins, before heading on to the actual nest. There are loads of these random ruins in the area. People used to think they were elven, since elves used to be prevalent in these parts. But when the actual elves were asked about them, they were adamant that the ruins aren’t elven.

  So, we aren’t actually sure what to call the people who built this random stuff. Some say they are relics from when the gods lived on the earth before they ascended. Others just refer to them as the ancient ones. But we just don’t know. Some of these building could be quite nice if they were restored. Others just seem to house dungeon entrances. This one is fortunately a safe haven.

  As we ate that night, we discussed how exactly we were going to go about getting an audience with the leader of the nest in the first place.

  Smutisha: “I don’t understand, darling. Can’t we just do what we did last time?”

  Dwynfel: “No, Lady Smythe. The Grim are not the Bracken.”

  Keith: “The Grim will think nothing of sacrificing one of their own simply for getting captured. They would not negotiate with you in an attempt to get him back.”

  Thank fuck I have Keith to back me up on this stuff.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  Smutisha: “Well then, how exactly do you propose we get the attention of their leader?”

  Dwynfel: “All of the ways that I can think of are too risky.”

  Smutisha: “This entire mission is fraught with risk, darling. Let us know your ideas.”

  Dwynfel: “Give them the impression that we are offering them something that they desperately need.”

  Smutisha: “Such as?”

  Keith: “Females.”

  Dwynfel: “Exactly. If we give them the impression that they will get females out of the situation, then they may agree to a conversation.”

  Smutisha: “Oh, we can easily do that, darling.”

  She is being way too casual about this.

  Damecus: “I would be significantly more cautious, my lady. The Grim may agree to let us in and talk to you in this situation. But I find it much more likely that they will simply stall for time until they can work out a way to forcibly kill the males and take the females for themselves.”

  Smutisha: “Then, darling. Once we are in, I shall have to convince them of the merits of this alliance swiftly.”

  Dwynfel: “I still doubt that that will be possible, my lady. The Grim are not ones for negotiation. I fully anticipate that what Damecus says is correct. They will try their best to remove the males from the equation.”

  Dietrich: “Even if they succeeded in killing the men, we females aren’t push overs, you know.”

  Dwynfel: “I never said that you were. But we men can’t give them children… so we are simply to be slaughtered.”

  Dietrich: “Would it be worth just the females going in?”

  Dwynfel: “What?”

  Dietrich: “They won’t kill us women, they need us. So, if we go in alone, then maybe they will be less hostile.”

  Nope… no… no, no, no, no. Terrible idea.

  Dwynfel: “They won’t be less hostile. Their minds will simply be more directed towards containment and rape, rather than murder. My mother killed herself to get away from that… so I would prefer their minds be primarily directed at murdering.”

  Smutisha: “I would prefer neither, darling. I shall lead. We simply go up to the guards. I shall explain that we wish to make an alliance. Explain that there are females in it for them if they agree to a discussion. We shall go from there. And I want no unnecessary violence or aggression from any of you. Understand? I do not want them thinking that we are there to harm them.”

  Dwynfel: “Lady Smythe… that is exactly what they will think. Grim children are raised to fear humans… especially adventurers. They are raised to think that humans want nothing other than their destruction. They are raised to attack first and not ask questions at all.”

  Smutisha: “The it is our job to dissuade them of that notion, darling. They fear humans and humans fear them. If we can get past this culture of fear, then maybe we can all move forward.”

  I appreciate the sentiment there… I really do. But this is just a bad idea… this is a terrible idea. I want to back out… I want to back out of this completely… I want her to stop… how do I get her to stop. I can’t talk her out of this… and if I leave her to do it on her own, she’s going to get herself killed… urgh… I hate this… I hate this… I hate this.