"Sir. We may have a problem."
The king looked up at Marshal Benjamin. "Problem?"
"You remember that captain we honored for salvaging that last battle? Zebulun Koh?" asked the Marshal.
"I believe so. The dark one who rode in front of the parade with you? The giant?"
"Giant he his," said Benjamin, "and strong as an ox."
"And the problem?" asked the king.
"He tells me he met a woman after the battle. She told him she lived in the eastern wood, and that there were others there. She hinted at alliances with dark forces."
"If anyone does live there," replied the king, "they must be bandits and fugitives. We’ll have to send in some men to clear them out, I suppose."
"I’ll make preparations," said the Marshall.
The king frowned. "I’ve already ordered a team of woodcutters to start work. They had better not encounter any trouble from the natives."