Chapter 317
The chief, wiping sweat from his brow, finally straightened himself, though his hands were still trembling. "We need to gather the council and decide quickly. This isn’t a simple matter. If we refuse, we could be wiped out by the Emperor’s forces, but if we accept... we’re marching our people into a war we barely understand, If we are to do that at least they should have a say in it"
Togg nodded. "But if what Gurnak said is true, we’re already at war. That creature is just the beginning. We’ve lost ratmen to it already without knowing it." His eyes flicked to the rest of the gathered leaders. "We can’t let that continue."
One of the older ratmen, his whiskers gray and eyes weary, spoke up. "A war above or a slow death below... those are the choices we’re left with. If we fight with the Emperor’s army, maybe we’ll have a chance to save our people. At least they offer us a way out."
The chief sighed deeply, his eyes scanning the room, seeking answers. "And what if we’re used as fodder? What if our people are sent to the frontlines, only to be sacrificed?"
The Chief’s words paused everyone as that was a fear they all had deep in their mind once they heard the order, they just didn’t want to entertain the thought but it was now brought up by the chief.
The chief, realizing he had brought everyone’s mood down, let out a breath before speaking. "I gave us two weeks because that’s enough time to confirm whether Gurnak’s words are true or not. We’ve only heard about these creatures from him and haven’t seen them with our own eyes."
"What if we can deal with this threat on our own, without the goblins’ help? The emperor’s offer may seem like a saving grace, but our history with the goblins should be enough for us to question the emperor’s sudden interest in our people."
Togg nodded slowly, absorbing the chief’s words. The room remained silent, the weight of the chief’s concerns settling heavily on everyone’s shoulders. The fear of being used as mere cannon fodder was now out in the open, a thought they had all been avoiding.
One of the younger council members, a wiry ratman with sharp eyes, spoke up, his voice hesitant but clear. "But Chief, if Gurnak’s warning is true, and these creatures are already in our tunnels, we might be running out of time. Can we afford to risk waiting just to confirm his words?"