The leader seems impressed. He replies in heavily accented Kantonian, "Strange when a foreigner knows our tongue."
"Could say the same for you, gov'nor," you say.
"Arthur Hornraven! Fall back!" Elya whispers harshly from the cover of her bodyguards.
You glance over your shoulder and raise a fist, trying to signal her silence.
The Kroridian leader continues, "Why have you come here?"
"I seek an audience with Lord Tomos."
"Tomos is dead, gov'nor. He died of illness a year after The War's end," the Kroridian says.
You lower your head. Lord Tomos was the de-facto ruler of Krorid during The War. He fought alongside you and Darin. "Who's in charge now?"
"Lord Moren, Tomos's cousin and sole heir." The man chuckles darkly. "If you were here to meet with Tomos, you're about four years too late."
"He made it through that entire damn war only to die of illness when it ended," you say with a sigh. "Such is life, I suppose."
The leader narrows his eyes in suspicion. The other Kroridians murmur among themselves.
One of the rangers lowers his crossbow and approaches his leader from behind. Gesturing toward you, he says, "Citendent… ter'e te Inae Dirriman."
Inae Dirriman. Forgotten One.
The leader looks up at you. "Inae Dirriman? Is that you?"
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