A group of high orcs two tables over were engaged in what appeared to be a competitive argument about construction methodology. A family of goblins — parents, three children — were across the room, one of the children asleep against the parent's side, the other two doing whatever children did when they thought no one was watching.
Harkon was two seats down from Aldric, having settled there without ceremony, eating with the focused attention of someone who'd spent time not knowing when the next meal would arrive and never quite lost the habit of paying attention to food.
"You walked through this settlement today," Harkon said after a while, without looking up from his food.
"Yes," Aldric said.
"What did you see?"
Aldric considered the question. "Something that shouldn't have survived and did. And is still building."
