Easy to take—harder to keep. The old border baron’s impostor held the wall, outmaneuvered the opposition of knights, and saved the valley from being plundered. It seemed like the last step was all that remained: confirm the rights to the valley with the king. But his father had been a successful smuggler, and that carried weight with those who wanted their share of the money. It was a good reason for pike in the local border marsh. And if word got back to the capital about trading with orcs, it would be easier to hang oneself…
