•Thunoa Village Inn•
Ace's POV
The patrons of the inn had finished their meals, and the air now buzzed with a tension that clung to the room like a damp fog. The lingering scent of hearty stew and ale created a rustic backdrop, but the atmosphere was far from comforting. Ray, Philip, Chief Gareth, Khaleed, and I moved to the center of the room, the weight of the conversation pressing down on us.
Chief Gareth stood tall, his presence commanding attention. His deep voice cut through the murmurs, steady and resolute. "We're starting to gather questions about the bandits who stole your belongings and harmed you," he announced, his tone laced with authority but softened by empathy.
Khaleed stepped forward abruptly, his posture assertive, his eyes scanning the crowd with a calculated intensity. "Raise your hands if you wish to answer or ask questions," he instructed, his voice sharp but laced with a flicker of a smile. "This way, we won't all speak over each other."
