Birney listened intently and dispatched Tippy and a contingent of Rangers to watch the Gap to the north which led to Aulgmoor. In the cycles of Meries that followed the skirmish between the Drolls and Draiths, the Droll clans and Kiennish warrens augmented the garrison at the Gap Keep. Two Kiennish shamans accompanied a large force of Drolls to the River Ornash. The Kiennites supervised the construction of a bridge at Rorke’s Drift, a narrow expanse in the River Ornash near its headwaters. The Kiennites used rudimentary spells to reinforce the bridge. Drolls crossed over the bridge and built a guard tower. Kiennites brought a Hippogriff to the watch tower and placated the beast with its favorite food, horse meat. Kiennish warren leaders grudgingly gave up some stout stone ponies to feed the beast. Drolls on the wall walk of the watch tower kept eyes constantly on the River Ornash. Ranger Tippy returned and reported to the Council of Alms Glen.
Elder Evelynn said, “Why’d Drolls and Kiennites employ a Hippogriff? Horses are important to both their societies. Hippogriffs prefer horse meat to anything else.”
Veteran Ranger Garland surmised, “They built a watch tower on the wrong side of the river. The Draiths won’t have to cross the river to attack them. Strange tactics.”
Sara Jane Rumsie added, “Such tactics imply they fear the River Ornash more than the Draiths.”
Xenn looked to Birney, but the Sergeant maintained his stoic gaze and silence.
Elder Evelynn asked, “Sergeant Birney, what are your thoughts?”
Birney icily answered, “We should destroy it.”
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