Drevita POV

Eric left me at what he said was post ten, he had talked to the troll in charge their and given him a letter about me. I now clutched this letter in my hands as I bounced around the back of wagon. We traveled quickly it was much faster than all but our wolf riders and the rest of the wagon was filled with wounded trolloc soldiers minor wounds from what I could see as they where traveling back to the Frozen city their home.

It took a few days from post ten to get to the capital, as we approached I couldn't help but gawk at the immense walls towering overhead inlaid will beautiful runes glowing with a icy pulse as if they were alive. Then we were through the gates and I was surrounded by green fields of food, so many types, I did not even know a half of them, trees, bushes, vines, stalks and all of it covered in unpicked fruit. The city itself was rapidly approaching and rising above it all was a giant tower.

One of the wounded saw were I was gazing. Leaning back against the side of the wagon he told me in black speech.

Troll soldier – that is where the queen lives, her and her blood knights.

He slumped back down and closed his eyes. I turned back head spinning like a top to catch as much of this city as possible as we went through the streets before swinging down a side street through a iron gate and down a paved path in front of me was a large three story building built of a gleaming white stone, the path circled around a fountain in front of it and we swung around this before stopping so that the wagon team was facing back the way we had came in. in the yard of this place trolls trained with their weapons going through stances and strikes one after another.

A few rushed over and helped the wounded down. One even helped me down and pointed me through the great double doors of the building once I had shown him the letter.

I walked up the steps and through the doors, inside trolls was a rather clear area and a large desk in the center two trolls seated behind it. Walking over I handed the one on the left the letter who read it then handed it to the one on the right, speaking in their own language.

After a few minutes the one on the right sighed and motioned for me to follow it.

He at least I think it was a he, lead me through a series of winding passageways, I lost track of the twists and turns a few moments after we started, luckily it only lasted a few minutes before I was brought in front of a large door inlaid with scroll work on the frame. The troll knocked a few loud raps waited a moment in til someone spoke within. He opened the door and ushered me in, handed my letter to the troll and then left the room closing the door gently behind him.

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After a few minutes in which I guess he read the what was written he stood hands clasped behind him as he strode to stand by a fireplace I hadn't noticed in the corner of the room to my left. Without looking at me he spoke in fluent black speech.

Calraidian – I am commander Calraidian and I control the garrisons of Guggenheim, Dovika, Travanstan, Dokiva, and Rakstrid. I have four thousand troops that I manage for the empire and provide safety and security for this part of the empire. Now I have received a letter from one of my officers describing your previous situation and an allotment of a larger portion of his pay to be given to you each week.

However, I still have the authority to send you to the old city to live with the rest of your kind and refuse his request, but I will not. It seems simple and as much as I do not like your kind I will honor his choices if nothing more than to keep him content in his job. Another reason is I wonder if you might have information that you might be more willing to discuss with me if you are given the freedom and luxury he has offered you. From his letter it seems that the situation he found you in left him with a profound disgust for the men of your race.

What I will want from you is simple I need you to discuss openly with my other officers the conditions in which the females of your race live in and what can be done to draw them to risk sneaking away to come to the capital and serve here. Under what I will guarantee is much better conditions than what you have experienced at the hands of your own race.

Before we start however I think that you should have a chance to experience this city for yourself, then you can make a decision based on your life here. Now as I said before that I would send you to the old city as a kind of threat, however most trolls have yet to learn your language and I feel it would be for the best if you took up residence there. The difference will be that you have a substantial income, and will be able to live quite well there with a private home.

He stopped talking and turned to look at me, and since I was a bit overwhelmed at the moment I could only manage a weak nod.

Grunting, he yelled something in trolloc and a much smaller troll scampered into the room.

Calraidian – this is my youngest son Cadrion and he can speak black speech quite well, so he will get you settled in the old city.

Turning he spoke briefly with the boy and then motioned us out of the room.

Walking out of the building Cadrion had open carriage brought around with a driver then helped me into the back.