Haazheel Thorn:
Haazheel taps his forehead and speaks up. "Some questions, please. These shadow things...did they seem to come all of a sudden? When they had done, how did they go away?
Grollock furrows his brow, and nods at Laask again.
"
Not see them come. Just heard screaming, saw them fighting those on the road, left before they could get me. Didn't want to lead them back to the clan," Laask says.
Volsh son of Vor:
Volsh rubs his chin in thought. "Strange very strange." He looks over at Laask. "These shadows, where do they come from, is there a place they live, can be found?"
After Grollock hears that, he actually nods at Dulgran, the oldest troll, to answer. "
Legends say, Cave of Shadows, where Kul-varak the Monster-Mother gave birth to evil, is where the shadows come from. Legends say Cave of Shadows is below Fire Maw Mountain. We do not go there. It is cursed."
Haazheel Thorn:
"Commander Brightheath, Sir...it may be your company and the trolls have a common interest in all this...a menace in common."
"
Aye, that's becoming clearer by the minute," the Commander says, looking faintly troubled. "
The road to the priests' holy site and the tribute road from Firegold Citadel come within a half mile of each other, though it's not easy to get to either road easily from the other due to elevations. But both roads also pass near Smoke Peak, which is what the trolls are calling Fire Maw Mountain. We need to mount an expedition immediately."
He takes a moment to think, and then turns to the group and the Guard nearby. Master Deyna has been lurking in the back, taking in what has been said without comment, but now she creeps forward to listen to the news.
"
A two-prong expedition. Ten of the Guard, plus the Troll Hunters, will accompany Grollock's band back to their clan holdings and then trail the priest road back towards Smoke Peak. Leafblade Company, if you and Master Deyna agree, I want to send you with a guide and message runners back along the tribute road, also towards Smoke Peak. We have too many coincidences and need answers."
Master Deyna looks at the group and gives both a nod and bit of a shrug. "
I can't leave without the tribute, and we're not getting that without getting to the bottom of this. I'll send my own message to Port Lyalee about our delays. I can't give you additional payment for this-"
"
But I can," the Commander says firmly. "
For taking the burden off my men, and providing magical expertise, I can offer you fair recompense, plus salvage not related to the tribute, if found. What say you?"