The dim torchlight flickered inside the cramped cave room deep in the mine. The air was thick with the smell of damp stone, sweat, and fear. Drekk stood still, arms crossed, his small goblin feet planted firm on the rocky floor. His claws rested at his sides, calm and ready. Across from him, Vrognut leaned against the wall, his goblin body relaxed, almost lazy.

His green skin glistened under the light, and his sharp teeth curved up in a calm smile. He picked at a piece of dried meat stuck between his teeth, not a care in the world. Drekk stared at Vrognut with hard eyes.

"This is bad," Drekk said, his voice low so no one outside could hear.

"Really bad. The goblins are scared. They know what you did." Drekk added.

Vrognut shrugged, his shoulders moving easily.

"Know what? That I ate a few weak ones? So what? It made the rest stronger." Vrognut didn't care about the fate of these goblins if anything, he was here for a single reason.

Drekk's eyes narrowed in annoyance, he was a simplistic goblin that thrived on violence but Byung had shown him there was potential in using one's brain.

"So what? That's all you have to say? The word is spreading fast—like fire in dry grass. Everyone knows you're a cannibal. They're whispering about it in the tunnels, in the sleeping spots, everywhere. They're afraid you'll eat them next if they mess up." Drekk pointed out, reminding him there was consequences.

Vrognut chuckled, a rough sound that echoed off the walls and a reminder that he cared little for the lives of those who couldn't be used.

"Good. Fear keeps them in line. Better than any whip." Vrognut reminded his brother.

No, you don't get it. Fear can break them. The goblins are armed now—we gave them spears, clubs, even some old swords from the humans. They're ready to fight. But if they're too scared, they'll run or turn on us. Morale is everything in a siege. If they think you're the bigger monster inside the mine than the orcs outside, we lose." Drekk spoke with such clarity that even Vrognut was surprised, he didn't know Drekk to be a logical thinker.

Vrognut pushed off the wall and stood straight. He was taller than most goblins, his shadow covering Drekk.

"Lose? This works for me, little one. Kraghul and his orcs are outside, waiting. They think they have us trapped. But with the goblins scared of me, they'll fight harder to prove they're not weak. They'll swing those weapons at the orcs just to stay on my good side." Vrognut had shown them he was capable of taking down an orc after all.

Drekk didn't look impressed by this train of thought because the fear was working against them, and if they had known Vrognut a little longer then his plan might have worked but he hadn't stayed here long enough for the goblins to go that length for him.

Why? It was because of Byung, he had shaped their entire perspective of leadership.

Why would they die for someone who wouldn't risk his life for them? It sounded comical, it sounded... human?

"What if they decide to get rid of you first? Take their chances with the orcs? Kraghul wants your head. He said it clear. If the goblins think giving you up saves them, they'll do it," Drekk needed to remind his brother they owed him no loyalty.

"Maybe. But I'm not easy to kill. And you need me. Without my strength, the orcs break in and crush everyone. Including you," Vrognut's smile faded a bit as these words left his barely parted lips. He rubbed his chin, thinking.

"I know. That's why we're talking. We need a plan. The goblins look at me as a threat too. Byung stood against me and I... lost," Kragg couldn't hide the shame in his voice but this wasn't the point he was trying to make.

"... I have kept order since he left. But your... eating... it's poisoning everything. We have to fix the morale." Drekk saw what a good speech could when Byung stood up to Borg on his behalf.

"Tell me, how do you plan to fix it? Tell them lies? Say I only eat orcs?" Vrognut was curious.

"No. We show strength. Together. Make a show for the goblins. You and me, side by side, planning the defense. Prove we're united. And stop the eating. At least while the siege lasts," Drekk knew trying to debunk it would throw their credibility away because there was no way these goblins wouldn't have heard whispers of the name, Vrognut.

"I like the eating. Keeps me strong. But okay. For now. I'll hold back. We do a big speech. Rally them. Say the orcs are the real enemy. Anyone who fights hard gets extra food, better spots and more women than they can handle," Vrognut wasn't an inexperienced goblin, not by a long shot and there was no way he didn't encounter a similar situation in the numerous battles he had faced already which would explain his calm.

"Yes. And promise no more... meals from our side. Make them feel safe with us, fearless of the orcs." Drekk proposed.

"What happened to you, Drekk? You sound like a tamed animal, don't tell me it is this Byung that has you by the cock?" Vrognut chuckled. This wasn't the Drekk he knew, this goblin was someone else entirely.

"I have seen something I never thought I would..." Drekk said but added right away before his brother could ask him any questions.

"... We have to watch the food stores too. Siege means no hunting. Water from the underground stream, but it's limited. We ration everything." Drekk added. Vrognut slapped Drekk on the back, almost knocking him over.

"See? You worry too much. This is my kind of fun. Trapped like rats, fighting to the end." Vrognut bragged.

It's not fun if we die." Drekk reminded his brother.

"Then we don't die. We win. Or take as many orcs with us." Vrognut wasn't scared of death because he had escaped it too many times to the point one would think he had some sort of plot armor which made him feel invincible.

They kept talking, voices low. Plans formed. Shifts for guards. Traps in the tunnels. Ways to stretch the food. Drekk stayed calm. Vrognut didn't care about the fear, but he saw the use in controlling it. United, they might hold.

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