>>5973148You gave her a gentle smile and stood up.
“I have things to do, Tari and Malevus, can the two of you get Monica all cozy and settled in?” You asked them.
“Will do Alric, you are going to see Eligius?” Tari asked back.
“Yeah, the studying never ends.” You responded and put your glasses back on. “Just need to change my clothes and then I'll be off.”
“Have fun and stay safe.” Tari responded. Monica had no idea what you were going to do and that was for the best.
…
>7The carts Monica had brought with her added a lot of food and drink to the existing stocks, really allowing the feast to be completed without any bigger issues. As the Stonemasons and Alteracis started to set the tables and the large cloth covers over them, you had other things to handle.
“My Prince.” Lieutenant Beckston greeted you. He had arrived with his men early in the afternoon.
“Lieutenant.” You greeted back. “Any news from the Captain?”
“We penned the letter we sent to you together.” Beckston replied to you. “But there is something new to discuss Prince Alric.”
“What is it?” You asked him.
“We found orc tracks near Sofera’s Naze.” Beckston told you. “Four of them moving into Strahnbrad Hills and back.”
“Scouting party?” You asked again.
“Most likely, they just moved in and out. Sir Radan and his men followed the tracks till they entered the troll territory.” Beckston told you.
That was a bit worrisome. Orcs had raided Strahnbrad Hills in the past few years taking slaves and prisoners with them. It was most likely the Blackrock Clan remnants that inhabited the deeper reaches of Alterac with whom you had an encounter in the past. And if they moved through the troll territory, maybe it was a sign that there existed some sort of a pact or overall neutrality between them.
“Do you have any suggestions?” You asked him.
“More patrols to Sofera’s Naze and nearby lands, but that would require more troops to be pulled back from the Hills.” Beckston suggested.
He was right, you didn’t exactly have the men to patrol all of your lands right now and if the orcs decide to push their luck, you would need a bit more to act as deterrence. Strahnbrad Hills seemed to be more and more secure within, with just the trolls being an unknown factor outside.
>Lieutenant Beckston and his Swashbucklers are now in Dawnholme to rest and escort another supply caravan back to Strahnbrad Hills. Have them instead move to Sofera’s Naze and patrol the lands there to deter potential orc raids.>Send orders for more troops to be moved from Strahnbrad Hills to Dawnhome to patrol your lands here.>Have Captain Garside to move troops within Strahnbrad Hills to react to this potential threat.>No moves are needed. This was just an orc patrol that didn’t dare to venture deep into Strahnbrad Hills and you don’t want to potentially antagonise trolls within their territory.>Other, write in.QM:
>>5973080 I'm not dead yet!
