Chapter Three: On the Road

So you never bothered to learn which of the humans was responsible for paying you? Seems like a dumb way to go about your business. Where do you take the weapons and armor?

"We take the payment to our tribe," it replies as if that should be the most obvious thing in the world.

"Where is this castle? Where do they take the gold?" Bughu asks.

"Follow the stream, it's impossible to miss," it replies, "And I don't care where they take the gold. We get our payment. Is all that matters."

Bughu continues his line of questioning through Erich's translation. "How many humans are at the castle? Who do you speak with? What passwords do you have? Or do you just row up to the castle with your cargo?"

Erich continues the translation, mind racing to keep up with Bughu's questioning. As they respond, he makes mental notes of their attitude towards non-lizardfolk.

No wonder grandmother hunted these vermin. he thinks to himself, doing his best to keep his slowly building anger in check, lest he unleash furious fires across the captives.

Leema continues to listen to the translated conversation, trying to piece together exactly what the others have been doing that led them to the lizardmen.

"Just row up. They know why we are there."

"Anyone else have any questions?" Bughu asks of the others. "I've got our next destination in this bloody mission, and we'll probably find more information there than from these guys. Speaking of which, what should we do with them?"

He casts a sidelong glance at Erich, knowing the sorcerer is the only one that has seen what Bughu has done to other prisoners.

I have no use for these ones. They don't pay attention to names, so they aren't even a good warning if we leave them. If the others have no qualms, feel free to deal with them as you will. he says in common, standing up from his position on the ground. As he turns to the prisoners and grins wildly.

"If they're anything like Langdedrosa, mercy is a foreign concept," says Bughu. "However, they may still be of some use to us. Tell them to row us to the castle. We'll make like we have another shipment. How does that sound?"

"How do we know they’ll take us there and not into some sort of trap?"

"We can trust them. I mean, they haven't lied to us yet... right?"

As far as Xalana can tell, the lizardfolk have been totally honest throughout this exchange.

"Let's go," says Bughu, hoisting one of the lizardfolk up and pushing them to the boats. "If they betray us, we kill them."

He pauses, and look to Leema. "I don't know if it's on your way, but that castle is where we'll find answers, I think. We're following a Dragon Cult trail, and so far we've determined that they've been plundering local villages and towns of treasure and smuggling everything north. We need to find out what they're planning and where all of these valuables are ending up."

"So you believe the scalies to be working with this Dragon Cult." Leema half asks half states. "It would explain some of the behavior my battalion was sent out to investigate."

She ponders the situation for a brief moment before agreeing to go with the others.

"The castle may very well provide the answers we're looking for. Perhaps I can also find out what happened to the others in my unit."

It's good to have you with us Leema. More eyes will be helpful for sure. Erich says, extending his hand to shake politely.

"And friends. We can always use more friends."