Still, despite the flaming evidence, many of the proud and stubborn folk refused to admit that this was more than a simple goblin raid.

There was a girl- Jill, she was called-who came from the north, orphaned in a goblin raid.

"Carralee," Pony lied, using the name of her infant cousin who had been killed in the first goblin raid on Dundalis.

If a goblin raid ever overpowered the outside defenses, the priests could retreat to the cellars.

She didn't remember her mother, and barely recalled her father, who had been killed in a goblin raid in Ten-Towns when she was very young.

For the younger villagers, whose imaginations were far livelier and whose sense of adventure hadn't yet been tempered by any real loss, thoughts of goblin raids brought excitement, a call to arms, a time for heroes.

And to the young man who had somehow survived a goblin raid, such a conclusion meant it could only be one thing.

The drinks were flowing, the conversation rowdy and mostly about the weather, except in one corner of the bar where a fat, brown-robed man and several townsfolk were arguing about the potential of a goblin raid.

Juraviel held nothing but sympathy for this ragged group, many of whom had lost loved ones in the goblin raids upon their homes, and most of whom had been tortured and violated by the wretched creatures.

"Was it not a goblin raid that took your father's life?"