Trolling Around (Zul'Zae'Ju'Jin and Silence)

Silence

Anonymous Me
@Zul'Zae'ju'Jin

It hardly seemed that any time had passed at all and Aiden was summoned again to take to his business of hunting trolls. There was in part reasons for his lack of money if he didn't and then he had a job to do and it was essential to see his part done to aid in the war against the Horde. He wasn't too far from Kalimdor after his last job. Aiden wiped the last of the blood from the troll off his hands and stopped near a stream to wash himself up. Even if Zae'ju knew what he was it wasn't all that likely that he would appreciate a letter that would smell of troll blood.

Troll's had sensitive noses and he could remember that much. The troll hunter meandered into the northwestern part of Kalimdor near nightfall. Sliding into a seat at a tavern he pushed a few coins across the counter. "Some food, drink, a room, and some paper with a writing implement if you please." Seemed that the Alliance member was more than familiar with such a request. Aiden sipped on his drink while he waited for whatever it was that the tavern was serving tonight. Usually there wasn't much choice as the innkeeper's only cooked one or two pots of stew. By now it was late enough at night that Aiden suspected he would get whatever was left over from the day. A piece of paper slide toward him with a pen and ink followed immediately by the bowl of stew.

Surprisingly the food was completely edible smelling. Smirking at the thought he brought the bowl closer to himself and took a bite. Anything beside his own cooking was great sounding after a few months on the trail of some troublesome trolls. He had a new cut to show for his latest skirmish as well. With a few bites to sate his hunger for the time he dipped the quill into the pot of ink and poised his hand awkwardly over the paper.

Aiden was literate though his writing was always in poor fashion. He didn't have neat handwriting since anything he wrote was generally in a scrawled mess and it was hardly considered more than legible. 'Zae'ju, I'm here in Kalmidor next new moon again. If you get this in time try to meet me. I could be later than the new moon by two days depending on how things go. May this find you in good health. Aiden.'

Carefully folding the note he sealed it and then finished his meal and drink. The man shoved the letter into the satchel that he carried for this trip. He had his light leather armor on for the chase. He still had one more troublesome troll to find before he could go back to Kalmidor at the new moon. At least that was his goal and it was better to see a friend instead of writing. There wasn't all that much that he could write to Zae'ju. As with anytime that he was on the road he rarely got word from home and he didn't know what he could possibly say in writing that would be worth one's time to read. If they could meet it would be far better and then he would likely have more to say or at least something beyond a short note such as he wrote.

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It was the new moon now and he was barely caught up with the troll. The damn creature had kept him on a chase and it had killed a few more men that Aiden had found along the way. Didn't even take the coin from their purse and so Aiden did. They were already dead and had no need for the money. So far as Aiden was concerned it was simply a benefit of being a troll hunter. If you found money on the dead you looted it and did your best to cover your own and protect their bodies from prying eyes.

The troll's head raised as Aiden crept toward camp. He was waiting as if he expected this and that put Aiden on his toes. Suddenly the creature turned around threw itself at him. An arrow was held tightly in one of it's hands as it nearly drove the arrow into Aiden's skull.

Quickly turning his head to the side Aiden narrowly saved himself and he squiggled out from underneath the creature before he pulled a dagger and began to stab the troll in rapid succession. It was enough to slow it down for a few seconds. At least long enough to put the distance needed for him to use his sword. The two of them stood facing one another and for a moment he thought that this troll looked like it could have been related to Zae'ju. Was it his brother?
 
Zae'ju yawned widely as he sat on the beach and watched the waves roll in. Life was simple here and everything had its own course and time. There was no rushing it. It had been a while since he had travelled anywhere much less human lands. He smiled to himself, much had changed for him since his return. Gulls floated on thermals high above him and he watched them with a long envious gaze. He sighed before he rose and walked back into the small town he was visiting. Other trolls were going about their daily lives already.

He headed directly for the mailbox which was by the raptor pens. The act brought a sad smile from him as he opened the mailbox and sifted through papers to see if anything had come for him. He nearly missed it the first time and found it on the second sort. He narrowed his gaze before he recognised the scrawl that passed for handwriting from Aiden's hand.

He snorted and closed the box. With a withering gaze towards the raptor pens, he headed towards the hatchery. The main reason for his visit here. He smiled loosely with the hatchery keeper who recognised Zae'ju from afar even with the change in hairstyle.

"Still got dat strange trinket ya won't sell me, ai see. Trade fo' ya egg?" the other asked and Zae'ju scowled.
"Yah ask me dat again and maybe I'll take an egg fo' free," he returned with a grin before he shook his head. He still wore the lucky charm made by Aiden's son and refused to remove it from his leftmost tusk. even when it drew dangerous questions.

"Ya got anyt'ing for me?" Zae'ju asked, he was after a new companion and mount. Essa was now too old to be riding and for adventuring. He had since allowed her to be sired since blood red Raptors of her calibre were not that common.

"Come back in a month or so, a clutch is due ta hatch den," the Hatchery keeper advised and Zae'ju nodded, thanking him before he left. He opened the letter as he walked and read, pausing at the content at the page. He sniffed and raised a brow. It was a good excuse as any to meet up with his old captive friend and to find his brother. Zae'ju had gotten wind that Xen'tu was in Kalimdor but did not seem intent on seeing him first. Typical of his brother these days, Zae'ju wasn't really sure why.

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The Barrens was exactly that. Barren of a lot of trees or water and yet for large parts of the year it managed to support Lions and giraffes, hyenas and wind serpents, rodents and thunder lizards. He often wondered how but it was a delicate ecosystem supported by two to three random oasis', one bearing the infamous Wailing Caverns. He had arrived in Ratchet and after a few questions to the tavern owner and the goblin bruisers, he was soon following the tracks left behind by human feet.

Zae'ju could tell the Troll Hunter was trying to be careful about leaving his mark but he still had more than enough to follow. Soon the human tracks seemed to follow that of a Troll. He sniffed, so his friend was out hunting and Zae'ju hoped it was not a Darkspear the man was hunting. He couldn't remember if he had advised Aiden to know the difference and to leave them be. It was only one of few bones of contentions he had with the human.

It would not long now before he would catch up with his friend.

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The face sneered and indeed it looked very similar to Zae'ju in its facial structure standing with blood seeping from the wounds the troll had withstood. Wounds that were already starting to close. The Troll spoke in his native tongue but the intention was clear enough even if Aiden had not learned Zandali by now. The thumb making a slicing motion across a throat was a clear display of intent followed by a cruel smile of glee. The big troll seemed glad that Aiden had found him and seemed even happier at the prospect of killing the pain in every Troll's side.

He slowly pocketed the barbed arrow that for some reason he seemed to want to keep before the troll drew the swords the were held in a loose scabbard across his back. The blades looked well maintained and razor sharp adding purpose to their master's intentions.

With a savage roar the Troll charged in a flurry of sword, war paint and a wild mane of sea green hair. The mouth was open, snarling between tusks that jutted outwards and curved upwards much like a warthog's. The troll nearly reached its target before something whizzed out and caught his ankles causing him to crash to the ground heavily. The large troll growled furiously and seemed to grow even more furious when Zae'ju showed himself walking towards the pair with bow in hand.

Zae'ju peered at his brother and rolled his shoulder. Xen'tu was a hothead who reacted with abandon. Sure, he was a good warrior for the Horde but his recklessness got him into trouble more than Zae'ju's openness with members of opposing Factions did. He looked at Aiden and gestured for Aiden to back off before the furious warrior, who freed himself from the restraints by now, rose and rounded on his white-haired brother.

Zae'ju's white hair stood out amongst the pair and whilst Zae'ju was certainly the more lithe of the two brothers, he seemed a little diminutive by comparison. He held his ground however as the pair spoke in violent bursts of Zandali with fingers gesturing at Aiden in constant and furtive movements. Zae'ju now sported a tall mohawk, the sides of his head freshly shaved with his face paint in full display in whites and blacks, snarled at his brother as he asserted his right as the elder of the two brothers. Zae'ju knew Xen'tu was worried the human would try for Zae'ju's life but custom dictated his actions. If there was anything Xen't did obey the rules to it was the customs and traditions of their people.

Xen'tu cast a glare at Aiden before he gave the human one final sign of taking the man's head before he stormed off. Zae'ju watched him before he shook his head and looked at Aiden. The heavy snarl remained on his face for a moment before the troll advanced and hugged Aiden quite fiercely. "Ai 'ope ya nut gonna make me regret me makin' enemy of ma brudda, Aiden. 'e's bin afta ya 'ead fo' a while now. Ya need ta wash ya hands better, wit' soap," he smirked.

"Yah, mon. Dat was Xen'tu... or Xen as ai call 'im. Come we find shadier spot to talk in," Zae'ju lead the way to the closest of the three oasis and they found it much cooler beneath the tree ferns and trees of other sorts and kinds. Zae'ju was certainly no botanist.

"Suggest ya forget dat bounteh, brudda," he nodded at Aiden before he sobered, "Ma condolences ef 'e did take anehone ya knew, mon." The apology was genuine, Zae'ju would have been happy for both factions to leave each other alone and not cause any more bloodshed but rivalries were not so easily forgotten.
 
This troll tried to be intimidating like usual. They were such proud and self assured creatures that they often forgot to accurately asses their enemies. Aiden knew he could rely on that. He stayed in place and waited for the troll to respond. It was only fair if the creature had a chance to defend itself. Troll's leaping toward him was nothing new and Aiden watched with a careful gaze. He was about to side step and plunge his blade into the troll's stomach, but it fell short and Aiden glowered at the troll on the other side. It knew what he was about to do and then he recognized the familiar face.

Zae'ju had made his hair differently and Aiden couldn't say that it looked any better or worse than what it usually was. While the two troll's argued he kept his sword ready till the other left. Of course Zae'ju had thought he was saving them both. It was slightly annoying to be considered so helpless that he had to be saved and likely the other troll felt the same. Once the other was out of earshot Aiden glanced at Zae'ju just in time to pulled into a massive hug. "Ugh..." He never did favor the smell of trolls and Aiden when he was finally released the man sneezed. Rubbing his nose he grumbled. "You and your furry arms." Stepping back he sneezed again and then glanced at Zae'ju. "I did wash my hands, but I don't have the time when I'm hunting to wash my hands with soap." There were a few other reasons. So long as he didn't smell overly powerful as a human or like soap it would be easier for him to blend with the surroundings when it came to smell.

"That ugly bloke your brother?" Of course it was and Zae'ju walked over to one of the trees to settle down. Aiden glanced at Zae'ju for a moment and he groaned as he slid to the ground. "Had nothing to do with bounty. I work to find those that make raids on towns or slaughter travelers. Your brother keeps making trouble and I'll kill him."

Rubbing his arm he pulled at the sleeve and picked at the little bit of bandaging. Sometimes sitting close to Zae'ju was awkward as the troll turned his head Aiden had to dodge the tusks. A little carving hung from one of them and Aiden smirked. "You still wearing that thing in the open eh? The boy would be proud to know it." Percy was about old enough to start learning the trade and part of Aiden had thought about bringing him along for this trip, but it was well that he didn't. It was better to start with work closer to home though. "What sort of trouble have you been making for yourself lately?"
 
He grinned when the other man sneezed and then cackled horrendously when the man sneezed again. It was either a downside or an upside at how troll laughter always seemed to be pointing in its intention. As if it was always laughing at you even if the one laughing did not have that intention. Zae'ju's grin broadened. He had kept his usual leathers at home opting for a simple leather harness and kilt that seemed to double as one. It was very simple wear for a troll and the harness allowed the tribal tattoos down the left hand side of Zae'ju's chest and arm to be seen in more detail. The design serpentine in nature.

He sat, laying his simple bow of wood, string and tusk on the ground next to him as he enjoyed the cooler temperature that the shade provided. His eyes closed for a time which expressed his comfort with having Aiden so close in proximity. Though at a thought, he opened them again and peered towards teh horizon. His brother probably hadn't gone that far no doubt hoping to catch his prey once Zae'ju had left. He snorted and sighed softly before he glanced at his friend.

"Et be a troublesome mattah," he replied, "But 'e be Darkspear, nut Amani or Gurubashi, which be more preferable fo' ya ta kill by da by. Ya mons fo'get dat most da land was Troll land before da Elves forged themselves new enemy an' laid waste to whut was. Trolls be having long memories, passed down. Fostah parents made sure 'is 'ead was bamboozled enough," he replied with a noncommittal shrug. Zae'ju, having kept his open-mindedness that marked him so differently from other trolls, had known any chance of regaining old tribal territories was now so out of the conclusion for their people it was not worth the wasted of blood being spend upon it. The prior Warchief had understood that, Shadow Hunter Vol'jin had known it was far better to endure hardship, live free than to try again for former glories and potentially either die out or live enthralled to foreign masters. Something all trolls hated.

He was not making excuses for his brother. His brother go himself into trouble and was quite capable of getting himself out of it. However, he seldom stopped to think of consequences. Zae'ju did not like to contemplate the image of having arrived too late and Aiden failing to save himself from a troll's rage and blood-lust.

The hunter grinned broadly, sharp pointed teeth glinting in the afternoon sun, "Ai promised ai keep my word ta ya boy, Aiden. Nut gonna break et. 'e still got Essa's tooth?" he asked in return. He doubted the boy would have lost it, it was seldom everyday you got a present from something everyone considered barbaric and a killer.

"Hold on ta ya panties," he muttered, "Ol' Zae'ju settled down soon aftah ai returned. Got a hut near da Echo Isles, ma mate be waitin' dere fo' ol' me wit' our newborn," he grinned nudging the other with pride. "So, trouble enough, ai t'ink, yah?" he said softly as the cackle of hyena's broke the air nearby. Zae'ju hardly even glanced towards the source.
 
Somehow it seemed that Zae'ju wanted to see his brother left alone and that was near impossible. "He hunted men and killed them. It's my job to ensure that doesn't happen again." Aiden looked at his friend and sighed. "Darkspear or no I'll hunt any troll that kills men. Its the way of the world and the war." Both of them knew that this was one subject that they were bound to disagree on and for the time Aiden decided to let it rest. If he had a brother he would have likely worried about him to and Aiden sighed. "I'll leave your brother alone for now. If I receive word of him or if he attacks again I won't have a choice." If something like that happened Aiden wasn't so sure that the troll wouldn't become an enemy. Zae'ju was perhaps better than other trolls in the way of his life, but he was still a troll and they held grudges for an inhuman length of time. Instead it was better to talk about something else and he focused for the time on the life that Zae'ju was living.

For a moment he frowned when the troll said that he had made a promise to Percy. The lad hadn't received any promise except that the troll wouldn't hurt him. Perhaps it was something that Zae'ju had said when Aiden wasn't present. "Oh." Nodding a little he let the troll continue and he smirked at mention of the raptor. "Aye...he's yet got that tooth." Now that he thought about it, it would have made far more sense if Zae'ju had arrived on his raptor and Essa was nowhere to be seen. So instead he continued with the thought of talking about family.

To say that he was shocked was an understatement. Aiden's eyes widened slightly and he gazed at Zae'ju for a good long moment. "You got a troll woman for yourself and a young un?" Shaking his head he started to laugh. "Sure hope it doesn't look anything like you." Didn't matter that they were friends. Both of them still thought the other race was ugly and there wasn't anything he could do about that. "Trolls don't look half so bad when they're tiny. Its when they grow up." In a way he was wanting to meet this family of Zae'ju's. They were certainly bound to be remarkable as the troll that was both father and husband. Somehow Aiden couldn't quite see how Zae'ju would approve of a mate that was any less open than himself.

It was gradually getting hotter as the day went and Aiden picked at the bandage on his arm a little more. With sweat under it he finally peeled the layers back to reveal a nice long cut though it was mostly healed by now. "What brought you this way?" There were plenty of surprises in Zae'ju's life. "So your old Essa isn't up to her wild adventures no more eh? What color of raptor are you getting next?"
 
Zae'ju's expression uncharacteristically darkened before it went again. If the men had provoked his brother then Zae'ju could not fault him for reacting the way he had. He didn't say it was right of Xen'tu but it was hardly unexpected. In some ways, Xen'tu was far more wild, uncivilised and a truer portrayal of what humans and the rest of the Alliances slapped trolls with. There was truth in the stories after all and it had not been that long ago since Darkspears had practised cannibalism and other rituals that the Horde had asked them to leave behind when the Darkspears joined them.

"Ai will talk to him about killing your kin, mon but ef dey be provokin' him first... ai can't be answerin' fo' 'is action," he replied, nodding lightly with a sigh of displeasure. It was a difficult thing. If it was any other troll, he might not have minded the mindset of his friend but it was his brother and as such they were bound by blood. It was not promise he could hold on Xen'tu nor would he expect it from his brother.

"Gud," he nodded when Aiden confirmed the boy's possession of the tooth. It was a sentimental trinket for him and thus giving it away to Percy had also meant a great deal. He reached up and touched the carved trinket in thought. It often drew attention in the social circles he kept and he kept his story loose and made no direct mention of the human hand from which it had come.

The expression on Aiden's face the moment he had talked about his mate and newborn was absolutely priceless and he giggle for a good minute or two before sobering with a fierce smile of pride. "Yah mon! Zae bin buseh,," he grinned happily, rubbing a hand loosely over a furred shoulder marring the tribal tattoo a little. It was good to hear Aiden laugh because it wasn't a such he much associated with the man. He gave a loud snort. "Oh, fack off, ya love dis face realleh," he joked because they both knew the truth of that feeling entirely. No matter what, Trolls were always going to be something that humans would find repulsive even in their most gracious of manners.

Zae'ju glanced at Aiden for a long moment and then smiled about his tusks. It was hazy and he didn't remember all of it but he knew Aiden had seen him as a youngster. All tuskless and chubby. He snorted, the knowledge in that was amusing. He wanted to show off his newborn but he held back on the offer for he was not quite sure how his mate, Vo'qaska, would take to the idea of letting a human so close to their newborn.

He glanced and frowned as he watched Aiden fiddle with the bandage yet again and gestured, "Troll got luckeh, eh?" he asked, curiously raising his brown in question before the other spoke. Zae'ju sniffed and rolled a shoulder with a sigh.

"Inquiring fo' a Rapta egg, mostleh," he replied and ears twitched as Aiden pressed further into knowing more of Essa's whereabouts. He was saddened the beast couldn't be here, reminding all and sundry who was more important of them all. He knew if she was here, she'd be doing her best to tip the human over or playbite him.

"She be gettin' action enough, mon," he snorted a reply and shook his head, his mohawk dancing wildly. He still was getting used to air lickinghis scalp but he was happy for the change in hairdo. It had been for a good cause. "Whut dat human expression fo' putting ya steeds ta breedin'?" he queried because his inquisitive nature to know more about others and their ways demanded it.

"Ai dun rightleh be knowin'. Cud be red, blue or violet, mebba et be albino. Won't be knowin' till et hatch an' see et's mastah's face fo' da first time. No otha way ta be gettin' Rapta's ta answer one's demands. Bonds be important. Thus why Essa be so loyal," he nodded, patient in his explanation of how Troll's gained their mounts. It was a long process but it was rewarding and formed a fathomless bond.

He glanced up and scrunched his lips slightly before he rolled his shoulders, "Ya nut got a mount o' ya own eitha? One o' dem ol' nags?" he grinned. 'Nag' was not a Troll word or expression, but rather something he had learned from Theoden. The man was a blacksmith and as such often had made horseshoes which in turn granted the man lots of information that could be passed on. Zae'ju had learned most of what he knew about humans and their ways from Theoden and Tibbie. Aiden had been and still was a new perspective of learning even if his career choice was less then satisfactory for the Troll.

It made things difficult for him. He didn't want to return for a while yet for he knew his brother would round on him the moment he did. He argued like the best and the worst of brothers but with Xen'tu, his hatred for mankind was beyond Zae'ju's facility for wanting to argue about it. It involved effort, and too much for his liking.

"Ya mate and Perceh all gud an' 'appeh?" he asked, wanting to know more on how they were. It could not have been easy for Aiden's wife to accept a troll into her home all that time ago considering her mate's choice of work. Very likely Percy was going to follow his father's footsteps. Zae'ju hoped the boy still remembered his face.
 
Seemed that Zae'ju noticed the cut though it surprised Aiden he hadn't smelled the blood from it first. It had not bled much, really it was just enough to barely stain the bandage. "One troll got a little luck before I killed it." Staying away from the conversation of trolls and his business was perhaps better and they quickly moved on to talk about the raptor. There was a bit of surprise again when the troll mentioned he was breeding Essa. For the moment Aiden couldn't think of a better way to say it himself. "Aye, we say that we breed them."

Of course it turned toward the fact that Aiden still did not ride anything and he rolled his eyes. "So a troll could smell me a thousand miles away? Really you ought to know by now that I take my business seriously." It had been seriously enough that when he was proved wrong he had started to change a few things. Aiden had always thought that every troll would be blood thirsty and he never minded whether it was a human or troll that started the fight. He always sided with the human until after he met Zae'ju. While Aiden did his best to figure out who was at fault he still had a job to do and it had resulted in him still killing many trolls. Suddenly the conversation began to turn toward his family again and Aiden shrugged. "Happy as they can be. Had another little one last spring and..." Aiden sighed. "Lost it to the fever a few weeks back." This was the second baby that they had lost since Percy and Aiden was just as tired of losing the babies as his wife was. It was far harder on her since she often cried for days.

Infant mortality was common enough, still it didn't make the passing of a baby any easier. It seemed that the conversation was suddenly quite somber and he stretched his legs out to be in the sun. "You've done a damn good job of making my life difficult you know that?" A smirk started to grow on his face. "Trying to maintain my reputation here and you just keep on making my life harder all the time. I don't kill every troll I meet anymore. Even started treating them like I would any other enemy. If they aren't on the battle field or provoking human folk I try to leave em alone." With that he sat up and gazed long and hard at Zae'ju. "Your brother is trouble. He's been getting other trolls riled up and making issue for men near the borders. That isn't something I can ignore. If I'm forced to kill him I'll make it fast for your sake. This time I'll give up the hunt so you have time to convince him to leave the villages alone. He can kill men on the battlefield. There it is expected and justice is served."

There was so much to catch up on after over a year apart. "So now my ugly friend." Aiden got to his feet and offered a hand to Zae'ju. "What do you say to finding a neutral territory, having a drink, and a good meal?" They could at least be a little more comfortable there than out here in the hot sun. Pausing for a moment he listened carefully to the surrounding area and grinned. "I think we have a relative of yours nearby." Keeping his gaze on Zae'ju for the moment Aiden cautiously spoke. "Xen'tu I know you're there. Come, tell me your story and I may give up the hunt." He had yet to hear from Xen'tu as it seemed that the troll would rather fight. His hope was that Xen'tu would give himself and Zae'ju more space or that he would actually speak with him and then Aiden could get a more complete story.
 
Zae'ju nodded as his thought was confirmed. It was nice to know his kin was not making it easy for the Troll hunter in the least. Zae'ju still disliked the career choice in many ways for many reasons but it was not something he could change. all he could hope for was that Aiden was far pickier with his targets and that he kept them to tribes other than those affiliated with the Horde. Least in that way, repercussions were less likely. He rolled his shoulders and peered out across the Barrens. He could see Xen'tu had not gone far and Zae'ju could guess easily why that was. As the elder brother he might still have say but it wouldn't stop Xen from trying to protect him. It was touching. They rarely agreed on anything and usually kept out of each other's hair. He smiled and shook his head. What had his brother got himself into.

He snorted and shrugged, "Get a raptor, den ya can confuse every troll you come across," he grinned with a dismissive wave of a hand before he relaxed further against the tree enjoying the shade beneath the hot sun. Barrens could test people and catch them out if they were not paying attention. He removed a water canteen from his bet and uncapped it before he took a lengthy draught. He then offered it to Aiden wordlessly. He was content in the least that Aiden had changed his ways even only slightly since they had parted each other's company back in Elwynn Forest all that time ago. As best as he could do, Zae'ju had kept tabs of Aiden's activities and by statistics, fewer Darkspears had fallen victim to the hunter. Zae'ju's expression momentarily soured, Xen'tu would never understand or realise that difference. Not without seeing it for himself or Aiden doing something miraculous to change the mind of his wilder brother.

Aiden continued and the tone grabbed the troll's attention, dusky yellow eyes watching the man before they lowered in sadness and regret. He had seen it happen to others he had known and it could never be a nice thing. He feared it would happen to his own babe, babies were still highly vulnerable even if they were troll. "My condolences, mon. Truly," he breathed softly, reaching out and gently squeezed the man's shoulder in a mark of showing comfort. His hand dropped back to his knee and he sighed shaking his head. Sometimes life was a cruel master. Few understood that better than trolls who had been living and surviving on Azeroth for time immemorial.

"Oh?" he glanced back brow raised with question as Aiden broke the silence and he listened unable to stop the smile of achievement as Aiden spoke of choosing his targets and his life getting more complicated. Zae'ju was not foolish to doubt that. It was hard to be friends with a troll and still kill them knowing that each one he killed could have been close to his friend. "Fo' dat ai be grateful, as all my kin should be," he nodded, his mohawk jumping wildly about as a gentle breeze stroke the bare parts of his scalp.

In the end, he knew the subject of Aiden's reason to be in the Barrens would resurface. His brother was a menace, even to himself but it was a force Zae'ju was not sure he could ever hope to control or protect. Xen'tu would continue to do what he thought right and he understood only too well that it was to avenge their parents, stamp justice into human skulls. He looked back at Aiden, his face void of the usual jovial expression he tended to sport before he nodded, "Ai will see whut ai can do to stop dat. Ai can't make promises. Ef it come down ta ya killin' him, den do whut ya must, troll huntah. 'e nut gonna be happeh about et tho," he said clearly before he rolled broad shoulders and sighed as the other rose and offered a hand. Zae'ju stared at what he still considered to be a tiny hand before he accepted the help to his own feet. Something that would disgust his brother, no doubt. "Ai be agreeable. Ratchet be da closest neutral ground. Ya remember dat place?" he grinned.

It seemed Xen'tu had been trying to sneak up on them, Zae'ju heard him moments before Aiden stilled and then grinned back at him. Zae'ju smiled and nodded, "Xen nut gonna trust ma word dat you nut gonna take ma head, mon," he chuckled softly and pulled another face of bemusement as Aiden tried to speak to his brother. Zae'ju waited a half minute before he repeated Aiden's words in the Zandali all trolls understood. At first there was no answer but eventually a form rose ouit of long grasses and a hand returned a throwing axe to its holster. The blue haired brother was wary and slow to join them, looking at Aiden with open hate, suspicion and a wary gaze before he spoke again. It was clear that unlike Zae'ju, Xen'tu did not know much common to be able to speak it fluently and relied on Zae'ju to translate.

"He says, 'he doubts you will give up your hunt. He does not understand why you let one troll live and kill the rest. Even daring to go after his brother's hide,' " Zae'ju explained in common before he spoke again in Zandali drawing a peeved off expression from Xen'tu. The other reacted with wild hand gestures, a good few pointing towards the human. Zae'ju smiled and replied in kind, also gesturing at Aiden and then to his own head and it seemed he was explaining why he was giving this one human more favour than most other's he knew and why Xen'tu should not kill the human. Xen'tu growled and sighed before he peered at Aiden again, eyes narrowed and spoke again in his native tongue.

"He says, 'he will let you come to Ratchet with us, you can explain how you saved his brother's life there. You're paying,' " Zae'ju giggled earning another look of reproach from his larger brother before he nodded at Aiden.

"Ready, little mon?"
 
Aiden couldn't say that he knew enough of the troll tongue to follow what Zae'ju and Xen'tu were talking about. The brothers were obviously in a serious conversation aside from the little translation of what Aiden had said. In some ways it was annoying at how long the troll language seemed to take and they were heavy with gestures in their language as well. For his own well being he stepped back to avoid being hit by the flailing arms. There were occasional words that he understood and one of them was human though he could tell that Xen'tu said it with obvious distaste.

At length it seemed that the brother's had come to an agreement and at Aiden's expense no less. "Figures." Troll's were pompous and Aiden couldn't say that he was surprised by Xen'tu's gracious offer. "You trolls have enough pride to bring down a mountain." Since the rest of the usual phrase ended with killing trolls he ended it there. Normally Aiden would have ended it by saying that was why it was so much fun to bring down a troll. By human custom it was as if the troll assumed he would be the guest of honor while Aiden felt that he was being more than fair by offering Xen'tu a chance to explain himself while they were on neutral territory. Zae'ju earned a disapproving look from both his brother and Aiden. Seemed that the zealots on either side of him were less than amused with the arrangement though Aiden suspected that Xen'tu and himself were irritated for the same reasons and yet on opposite ends for that reason.

The journey to Ratchet wasn't too long. Aiden wearily looked over at Xen'tu from time to time and the troll returned the same distrustful look. They made a fine company of 3 with the only thing that any one of them had in common as Zae'ju. Telling how he rescued Zae'ju seemed to be a lengthy story and Aiden didn't particularly like to talk as much as Zae'ju did. Why didn't the other troll just take the word of his brother instead of having Aiden tell it?

Since they had a while yet to walk Aiden nudged Zae'ju. "Ready to translate this?" Aiden went with the fast version where he and Zae'ju were both hunting the same relic and then Aiden was careful to include Zae'ju's capture and his honor in keeping his promise. Considering his audience Aiden kept his part of holding Zae'ju captive to a much shorter section. Telling this to a troll felt strange, but he saved most of the detail for the final battle with the relic. If it was true that Xen'tu came back to the village then Aiden needed for him to know this was real and describe it in such a way that the troll could not accuse him of lying. "Then we woke and the battle was over." Aiden threw a glance to Zae'ju. While it was possible that Xen'tu had overheard some of the talk about families Aiden didn't want to make anymore known than what had perhaps been shared already. "Now tell me your story." There was time and Aiden figured it was best to be direct with Xen'tu.

It seemed that Xen'tu was taking especially long to say anything. He had yet to say anything about the story or even himself. So Aiden remained quiet and waited for the troll to begin with anything at all.
 
Zandali was a eloquent language quite full of gesture and expressive facial displays. The language was expressive and was known to be one of the much harder languages to learn by those not kin to the tongue. Zae'ju was growing a little frustrated with his brother. The troll was stubborn and very much set in ways that no longer allowed survival. The white-haired brother was very much in tune with their old Warchief, Vol'jin where he believed that no matter what, it was better to adapt, to endure without enthralling themselves to outside denominators.

He sighed when Xen'tu finally agreed to hear the human out and that in itself was costly win as he translated for Aiden's sake. He was sure the man was irritated, there were more wrinkles surrounding the eyes. Both his brother and the man seemed less than happy about it but if this was the only way Zae'ju could get them to reach agreement on the dispute they had then he was quite happy to drag them to Ratchet by the ears.

"Whut 'e say?" Xen'tu gestured, glaring at the human as if he were nothing more than muck beneath his heel. His scowl grew darker when Zae'ju translated loosely without including the insult. To question a troll's pride was good as signing a death warrant.

They eventually headed off to Ratchet and both seemed content for Zae'ju to be in the middle of them. He wasn't really up to separating his brother from Aiden again. the first time was not fun and knew it brought him to a lower status in his brother's eyes. Not that it should have come to any surprise to Xen'tu. Zae'ju's open-mindedness allowed his views on dealing with humans and other members of the Alliance with a willingness to work alongside them.

Aiden spoke and Zae'ju nodded knowing full well his brother knew not a word of common and was not likely to ever start learning. It was a language he deemed beneath his status and thus he scowled when Zae'ju repeated Aiden's words into Zandali.

If there was one thing Xen'tu did allow the human, it was the use of his attention as he listened to the translated story of the man who had saved his brother's life. Zae'ju could see xen'tu was having a hard time believing what he was hearing and yet the younger of the two brothers paused in his stride before he caught them up and jabbed a forefinger into Zae'ju's bicep.

"Mama said ya nevah shut up 'bout ya pinkskin knight... dat was 'im?" Xen'tu gestured at Aiden so wildly that even Zae'ju had to slow down a step to stop himself being struck across the side of his rib cage. He nodded, white hair bouncing fluidly as the other spoke of their foster mother. Zae'ju wasn't even sure Xen'tu remembered much of his birth mother.

"Ya, dis be 'ims. da ol' god messed wit' ma memories but Aiden, 'e faced et off and da loa, dey see 'ow a mere human be saving da 'ide of a troll. No small t'ing, brudda," he answered before looking at Aiden with a smile. Xen'tu followed his brother's gaze a moment before he growled.

"Dis dun change much, brudda,"
"Et change a lot, mon. Ya always be swearin' ta protect me an' yet a human be doin' ya job? Ya owe 'ims," Zae'ju snapped. "None o' us wanna be seein' our kin blood spilt. Ef et be takin' ya to learn humiliteh to help him kill less Trolls, den ya can be askin' him whut humans ya can get away wit' putting out dere misereh, na?"

The growl Xen'tu gave his brother was palpable.

Zae'ju bared his teeth and stood straigher as he walked, no small thing for it was difficult to straighten his spine and walk at the same time. Xen'tu snorted air and shrugged before his eyes rested on Aiden. Whilst the brother clearly did not understand the words, he heard the question and nudged Zae'ju for the translation.

The brother frowned and spoke in a bubble of words that Zae'ju proceeded to translate so that Aiden ould understand, "Ai live in Stranglet'orn. Ya Alliance be encroaching' on ol' Amani lands. Da Amani, dey be less den dey were but dey still trolls," Xen'tu's tone indicated that whilst he did not seem to mind humans killing Amani as much as his own tribe, the factthey were still Trollkind mattered to him. It drew a look of scorn from Zae'ju that Xen'tu seemed to ignore, or choose to ignore, "Dey come and dey come. Dey seach and dey kill. Whut ya expect, mon? Et wus onleh time before dey reach da sout' andkill dose ai care fo'. Decided to try an' stop da tide befo' et too late," Xen'tu continued, growing more expansive in his expressive gestures.

"Ai know whut ya kind do. Ya stamp out eve'yt'ing dat ya dun understand, dat ya fear. Ya people turfed my brudda an' me out of a home. We lost mama and papa ta ya huntin' parties. We nevah gonna be gettin' dem back,"

Zae'ju translated word for word as Xen'tu spoke and then his brother grew quiet as they followed the path that lead into the small Goblin port. Zae'ju could see white sails billowing as the ship sat anchored at the pier. He sighed softly as he heard gulls calling high in the air. This was going to be a long evening before Xen'tu was likely to relent and agree to anything.
 
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It was the same lousy story from the trolls. Always some victimish tale and Aiden could barely force it down his own gullet. For now he could bide his time. While he was paying for the night he was also going to be paying for an ear with the troublesome sects of the troll kind. When they got to the town he nodded to Xen'tu. "I pick where we stay and you pick whatever it is you want to eat." Aiden waited till they were most of the way through the meal.

For the duration of the meal there was little to say about the obvious problem with the lack of speech from Xen'tu. He was going to be a problem and Aiden knew that. So it was better to start out saying what he had to. "Now I've heard your complaints. It's your problem if you didn't want to tell me about yourself." Pausing he waited for Zae'ju to translate. "You're wanting sympathy, or for all humans to die out and leave you the way it was long ago. It's not going to happen. Trolls are greedy and so are men. We all want what we don't have. The fact that your parents was killed is a tragedy and one that many a human could repeat if the trolls let the young humans live." He had half an inkling that Xen'tu wouldn't want to hear more, but he was going to. "So now we have common ground. We kill each other, we slaughter the families and helpless, we're equally greedy, and have little sympathy for one another. What makes you better besides the age of your race?"

Xen'tu seemed perfectly content with trying to sit as far away from the man as he could till Zae'ju backhanded him on the arm. He scowled as he listened to Zae'ju turning the man's babble into something he could understand. He looked at Aiden directly in the eyes at the mention of his parents and if not for the growl in Zae'ju warning it was likely he would have acted further. With a snarl, he remained where he was as the other finished.

"Ya, we be killin' each otha, blood fo' blood, but trolls, we dun be makin' mockereh of ourselves. We dun be preachin', we dun question whut we be. Zae be kidding himself, some human shit gonna take him one day... 'e all ai got,"

Zae'ju frowned at him but even as he stared at his brother, he was true to his role of interpreter. Zae'ju doubted Aiden would be getting honest answers from his younger brother if not for the fact that Aiden had saved his hide.

The troll hunter easily shifted on his seat and listened to the answer. "I don't apologize for what man is either." Taking a sip of the drink in front of himself he chuckled. "Most of us don't have much. Difference is that I don't have long enough to live to get bitter. You're getting sour and even your gods won't want you in the end."

Zae'ju translated, though he had to adit part of what the man had said. loa were not strictly gods per say but raher ascended that they worshiped almost akin to such. Xen'tu sniffed, "ai hope nut, or we be done talkin'," he returned before he took a swig from his mug. "Live long enough? What chaff you be believin... Zae'ju' whut ya be feedin' 'is kind?" Xen stabbed a finger at the man.

Zae'ju translated before he gave answer with a smirk at Aiden, "Ai nut 'is mama, Xen, ai nut that desperate"

"Dat so? Ai nut convinced."

A finger stab was never helpful and Aiden pushed the troll's ugly three digit hand away. "We need a truce on the borders. I can get some men of mine to let up and you let up on the towns and travelers. Most of em you meet aren't anything like me." Getting the troll riled was in part something that Aiden had been itching to do. He needed the troll to be angry about what happened and see that they were much the same in many ways. If Xen'tu could acknowledge that much then perhaps they could have an understanding of one another. Aiden could perhaps gain some kind of peace along some of the borders even if he and Xen'tu remained enemies.

Xen'tu pulled a face of disgust as his hand was touched and glared at his brotehr when he heard him snicker. Some rivalry still, it seemed. "Ai nut gonna let up on dose dat provoke me or ma kin. Dat be on dem.," he spat before he through an expression at the man, "Not'ing like you? Ya mean dere be happier troll killahs out dere?" he snorted ignoring the dig from Zae'ju.

Seemed the plan was working in part. "If by provoking you mean they invade your towns and kill your people then it is on their heads. Innocent travelers and villagers are a different story." Aiden smiled at the troll. "I'm perfectly happy when I kill a troll that makes himself a menace to my people."

Xen'tu narrowed his eyes not liking the way the man smiled at him and tilted his head as he listened to the translated words. "Den use ya brain, pinkskin. Dey shud be careful where dey put dere little itty bitty feet before dey wondah why we get angsty," he folded his arms, beforehe eyed the man over. "Uh huh?" a growl formed in his gullet, "ai get happeh when ai get da chance ta take a 'ead." He paused and then grinned with sharp teeth, "Ya's wud look pretteh all shrunk down. Ai know da perfect witch doctah..." he grinned.

The troll hunter rolled his eyes. "You can have my head if I lose. Couldn't stop you anyway." Looking at Zae'ju he took a deep breath. "You're brother is a pain in the arse." After a few more seconds he stared ahead while talking to Xen'tu once more. "Then leave the people alone on the main roads. If we consider all main roads to be neutral and villages off limits then we should be finding some balance. More trolls and more humans left to kill each other on the field of battle. That's where killing should be anyway."

Zae'ju nodded, Aiden was right in that court in more ways than one. His brother was a hothead who often acted before he thought and was highly impulsive. Aiden called him a pain in the ass was calling it pretty light. Still, at least Aiden seemed to soften it with the promise of his head. He spoke and Xen't sniffed again before the troll downed his drink, growling with the burn. "Roads.... ai can do, can't promise eve'y troll be followin' dat too. But killin' fields be soundin' fun," he rolled a shoulder pausing as a bunch of sailors got into a loud arguement. "Humans have funny swearwords..." he muttered before he glared back at Aiden again, "Ai get da word out but mon, we meet again on a field, ya 'ead be mine. Ai'll make gud on dat promise. Mebbe send et back 'ome, na?"

Zae'ju threw his brother a dark look and Xen't looked back before he grinned, reaching out and flicking the trinket tied on to Zae'ju's tusk.

It was all fair game as far as Aiden was concerned until Xen'tu mentioned sending his head back home. Nobody was supposed to know about his family and it served to enrage the troll hunter. Putting the fighting to the battle field was fair game at least he'd won that much. Because it seemed that Xen'tu couldn't understand the majority of what he said Aiden spoke to Zae'ju this time. "I'll agree to that, but if he mentions my home one more time I"m gonna spit a mouthful of brandy in his eyes."

Zae'ju slapped the hand away sharply. If Zae'ju was up to facepalming, he would have. His brother had made a stab in the dark with his comment but it was a fair estimate of most humans. He sighed and spoke in Zandali though clearly he was not translating Aiden or for his brother. He looked at Aiden , "He made assumption, ai told him nothing. e'll get more den dat yuckeh liquid in da eye ef 'e does." Xen'tu frowned at Zae'ju when his brother failed to translate what he had said.

"Good." Aiden knew it was better to hold his temper. If he had lashed out he would have likely spurred the other troll into further goading and searching. Something that Aiden feared. More than anything he was afraid of what would happen to his family if trolls knew of them. "Just tell him the terms are agreeable with the exception that if he takes my head I think he should keep it. Been wanting it for a while that I can tell."

"N'aw, dere ai was 'oping ai cud mount it on my wall instead?" Zae'ju grinned, unable to help himself before he sobered and nodded, relaying the words to his brother who tilted his head. xen'tu could tell he had hit a spot. A spot he could work on if he had to. He was more interested in getting out of the tavern. The Sailors were getting more brash and like most trolls, hated the confinement of the space. He looked at Aiden and smiled with a glint before he replied, "Ef nut for ya savin' ma brudda, dis wud nut be happening... but guess ya lucked out on da righ' troll, na?," the tone was suspicious and reluctant but he had spoken none the less. The glint however was still.

Zae'ju translated eyeing Xen'tu for a moment before he shifted on his seat and took a swig of his frogs venom.

Aiden chuckled at Xen'tu's discomfort. "Aye troll if you want to take full advantage of the night I'll be treating you to a room in the tavern too. Eh?" He knew how much it would bother Xen'tu, but he had demanded he get all the frills and luxury that went with it.

Zae'ju snorted knowig how likely that would be but he realyed it and true enough, xen'tu pulled his lips back. "No t'anks, got a spot nearby anehway. Ya can buy me 'notha venom tho," he pushed his mug over to the human. "Bottle wud be betta," he nodded.

"I'll have 2 bottles of the venom." Aiden ordered double of what the troll asked for. He figured that it wouldn't hurt to be generous considering the fact that this was overly generous for an extremely prideful troll to even talk with a troll hunter. Besides Aiden hadn't lost anything in the deal and Xen'tu had. If Xen'tu considered his word worth anything at all he had given up the right to hunt humans on roads and in their villages. Hunting for Aiden on the battlefield was probably the same as ever. It was a good thing to let the troll think that he had won. Danger on the battlefield would remain the same. Just to keep the tone of business and distaste he passed the bottles to Xen'tu. "Have 2 you miserable troll."

It wasn't till after Xen'tu left that Aiden started to grin broadly. Zae'ju's brother wasn't so hard to cut a deal with if you got him wound up and let him ramble as he pleased. Just turned into directed ramblings and then a conclusion that had a deal that wasn't much of a deal for the troll. "Giving him permission to take my head if he beats me in battle." Muttering under his breath he started to laugh again. That was any warrior's right. If they defeated an opponent it was up to them to take the head or not. As for what Xen'tu did with the head it wouldn't matter much to Aiden, he would be dead. Chuckling some more he ordered another drink and washed the rest of his food down with it.

**********************************************************

Early the next morning Aiden rose from his bed and he couldn't help the smile that was still plastered to his face. It was great. Out dealing a troll was perhaps the one thing in life that rivaled some of the other great joys of being a hunter. Wandering into the tavern he ordered a good 2 servings for the trolls and one for himself of the breakfast being served. When he saw the other two come into the tavern he waved them over.

Aiden tried not to smile too broadly. He figured that Xen'tu would eventually figure out he made a lousy trade. Trolls seemed to go one way or another on these sorts of things. They either became quite livid or they at least gained some respect for the fast thinking bastard that beat them. "I take it you enjoyed the hard ground outside far better than the bed of an inn." Taking a scoop of the morning mush he shoved it in his mouth and barely chewed it before swallowing. "It was good doing business with you Xen'tu. Trust that we may have business to discuss again if we should meet on the roadways. Maybe more ways to make the borders between our people's lands more comfortable for all parties."
 
Zae'ju had uncharacteristically decided to stay and take up on the offer of a room despite being like most of his kin in the preference of outside spaces. He still slept on a simple mat on the floor but he had not wanted to be pestered by his brother nor had he wanted to be around his younger sibling when the troll realised he had been duped. It was not in Zae'ju's place to guide his actions nor advise him the truth in what Aiden had agreed. He knew how that would or indeed how it will go if the realisation had yet to drop.

He and his brother were chalk and cheese, the only thing that was cemented between them was their brotherly bond. Both would kill to save the other, but both were so different in personality that it was difficult for them. Xen'tu was one of few in the world that knew how to infuriate his brother. Like the flip of a switch his words would cause Zae'ju's normally lax nature to subside and the dark side that lingered in the shadows would emerge.

Not wanting to be lost to that mindscape, he had chosen a hard floorboard over a barren ground or tree. He wanted to think. The promise of a head in trade for stopping open attacks was a false pony in Zae'ju's mind. His brother had been used. It was not for him to decide or care. His chief cares were with his son and mate now and he understood Aiden's own fears more so because of it. As a bachelor, all he had to lose was his soul and Essa. Without him, Essa could still live but she would never allow another to own her or ride her. She would turn feral.

He went downstairs fixing a strap of his harness over a shoulder as he went and slipped in beside Aiden even as Xen'tu entered the tavern and joined them. He grinned at the show of food whilst Xen'tu threw a face at it but the kick to his shin from Zae'ju stopped any verbal complaint. It did earn the white-haired troll a harsh glare though.

"Ya humans live life too cushy... still dunno why ya chose 'is soft furnishin'," Xen'tu spat. He still wasn't too happy with having to deal with being in a human's company, and Zae'ju knew if it were not for the Goblin bruisers that made their presence known, his brother would not have delayed in showing Aiden a thing or two.

Zae'ju translated his brother's words to the former part of the sentence before answering his brother with a few words in Zandali and a shrug before he started uponthe food bought for them, idly listening as he did so.

Xen'tu, who had yet to touch anything Aiden had bought, fixed him with a narrowed stare, "Ef we be meetin' again, pinkskin, et will be on a field where ya rules dun apply. Ai shall relish in takin' dat pretteh little skull and skinnin' ya hide. Send ya hide back ta ya famileh, make sure dey know who dey shud nut mess wit',"

Zae'ju scowled and shook his head, refusing to translate at all even when Xen'tu kicked him underneath the table. The white-haired brother responded by chucking the orange juice in his brother's face and baring his teeth with a distinct predatory growl that even though would fear most others held a note of protection about it. Zae'ju was sick of it all, he could not understand how Xen'tu was so blind to the truth of it all and yet the idiot continued to make things dangerous. Zae'ju did not fear Aiden or troll hunters in general but it was still a stupid thing to do in riling such folk.

It was a good thing Xen'tu refused to learn the common tongue or Zae'ju knew things would have gone differently. They were drawn into yet another sibling dispute with heated word before his status as the older brother won out.

Xen'tu stood and left without further comment as Zae'ju stabbed at his meal with a sigh, "Ya realise he gonna skin ya hide when he realises ya tricked him?" He was not so simple as his brother was. Aiden was smart in using Xen'tu's short fuse and distaste in all things human against him but if the copper dropped then he did not want to see that outcome.

"Ya said ai made life difficult fo' cha. Dat gonna change ef 'e does," Zae'ju spoke without his eyes leaving the doorway that Xen'tu had stormed out of.
 
Breakfast brought with it more fighting and Aiden was not amused or surprised. Quietly he kept on eating and he assumed that Xen'tu refused to speak to him this morning. Maybe he had figured it out and maybe not. While the brothers were arguing Aiden cleaned up what remained in his bowl and then sat back while Xen'tu stormed out of the room. A smirk came to Aiden's face when Zae'ju started to speak in the common tongue again. "He was gonna try to do it anyway. I'm a troll hunter and I've had a lot of trolls try to kill me." Chuckling he shook his head a little. "You worry too much. Besides I'll be travelling the roads now that I've resolved the last issue here that I came to deal with. Long as your brother doesn't break his side of the deal."

There was perhaps one growing fear in Aiden's mind. He didn't know what he would tell Zae'ju if he ever had to kill Xen'tu and from the sounds of it Xen'tu was just as committed now as he ever was. Going by estimates from Zae'ju it sounded as if that little commitment might grow after he realized what the deal really entailed. While it protected the less violent trolls it also protected people.

Of course Zae'ju was still acting worried and he kept talking about his brother being trouble. "I'll be fine. If I encounter your brother I'll do my best not to kill him unless I have to." Aiden started to shift uncomfortably in his seat. This was insane. Why was he even trying to be cooperative with Zae'ju on this? Xen'tu should have been killed a long time ago and Aiden was tired of even the short dealings that they had. Hopefully Xen'tu had enough honor to maintain his side of the deal. If it was broken Aiden didn't have problems leading raids on entire villages in revenge. He'd slaughter 3 trolls for every man killed and that was the way of it. The only way to make it clear to the trolls that when you made a deal with a troll hunter it was better kept than broken. After a long moment he nudged the troll beside him. "Hey get out of the way. I'm gonna get started on the road. Have some place to be in a few days." In fact home was where he intended to go.

Setting out on the road he packed light like usual. Aiden preferred to go into battle lightly armored. It was only the same leather armor that he usually wore and just enough supplies for a few days. One thing that most trolls planned to encounter was a heavily armored man that couldn't move as quickly or as agile. If you were good enough you didn't have to wear the copious amounts of armor and Aiden was good. He knew that and he took advantage of it.

Along the road he found it was peaceful for the most part. Coming near an area with a little more shade he decided to pick up the pace. At least he could make better time if it was a little cooler.
 
The meal was no longer all that appetising as it had once been. His brother had rather put a sour taste to it and he knew he was missing home already. He reminded himself he had nothing to fear. His mate would not let anything happen. He still had a few things to do before he could go home. He sat straight enough for his spine to click and he grinned before he poked the other now his brother wasn't souring the room with his prejudice and misery. "Ai t'ink ai be worrehin' too little," there was feeling in his words and he realised he was afraid his brother would try something stupid. Xen'ti might have agreed to the terms but whether he or his friends would follow such agreement from that which most trolls considered beneath themselves was questionable. There was also the fact that even though Xen'tu had given his word, he was sure to find a way around it.

"Still, be careful. 'e ma brudda, not'ing gonna change dat, no matter whut ya try an' do. 'e be plenteh o' t'ings, hothead toboot mon but ai dun wan' ya killin' him," it was a tall order. Xen'tu was a troll who pushed his limits but trolls held family in high regards and that's where their loyalty lay the strongest not out of love but out of blood and custom. Zae'ju was aware of what Aiden did and though he didn't like it, he knew it was not something he could hope to put to an end. It was the man's livelihood. All Zae'ju could do was to try and steer the man to killing the trolls that had lost their identity of selves or those that gone too far. Xen'tu was reaching that point. As much as he didn't want anything much to do with his violent sibling, he knew he would have to keep a weathered eye on the mischief maker or deal with the outcome.

Sighing, he nodded and he scooted out of the way, "Stay safe, mon. Be seein' ya," he smiled before he watched the man leave. The hunter left quickly thereafter in the hunt after his brother.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

He was going to have his pound of flesh.

Xen'tu had realised some time during the night and subsequently did not sleep as he had intended. He sat for a while thinking before he decided to get even. Maybe even put the troll hunter out of his misery. He didn't see what Zae'ju saw in the man to let such a pinkskin save his life.

He set his plan into motion. It wasn't too hard and he grinned, knowing it would grab the hunter's attention. Fortunately for him the first part of setting up bait went smoothly. It was more unfortunate for what his bait was.

He waited and soon enough could see a figure come into view and knew it would not be long before the man would see what waited for him on the road. A corpse of a man, a merchant by the looks of it, with an arrow through his chest. Noticeably one of Zae'ju's arrows that he had stolen. He had stuck a piece of parchment to the shaft.

His brother did not know that he knew crude common, enough to make basic threats with but he never advertised it to anyone. Not even his own brother who day by day was becoming less of one. It was not a long message.

'The kid is next'

Xen'tu figured the pinkskin would add the clues quickly and react. He hid ready and waiting behind the thick stem of a coconut palm hidden from view waiting for the right moment to charge.
 
Barely coming around the bend Aiden spotted the body of a man with an arrow in him. It looked like Zae'ju's, but he knew that the troll wouldn't do that. Kneeling next to the body he listened to be sure that the man was dead and then he pulled the arrow out. While he was busy ensuring that it was indeed Zae'ju's a little note fell from it and Aiden picked it up. There was a kid around here?!

"Damn." Hissing under his breath the man started to look around. Anywhere that was disturbed nearby the road. The kid had to have run off somewhere and he wasn't about to let some troll get the kid. If nothing else Aiden could kill the troll. Whichever troll did this was going to be a dead one. Taking his sword out of its sheath Aiden started for the side of the road. Carefully he walked along side of the road looking for the place of disturbance. There was one small trail though it appeared to have been used by something larger. Perhaps it was the troll in pursuit. If there was one thing that Aiden had learned it was that a hunter was quickly a dead one if he didn't learn to take his time. Just charging in could get a man killed.

Pausing near the edge of the road he tilted his head slightly. There wasn't anything that he could hear. Maybe the kid was hidden somewhere. Possibly dead already though the man he found had been a rather recent kill. Something about this seemed to be off. Finding Zae'ju's arrow had been the first indication and the handwriting was far too sloppy. Glancing at the road again Aiden wanted to ensure that there wasn't something else he was missing. There was just this one little trail where the brush had been pushed aside slightly.

No sooner had he started to investigate the immediate area when he felt that something was off. Proved to be his instincts were good. Troll's were unusually quiet for their size. Aiden knew he was standing on a poor piece of ground to be fighting from. Scrambling to the side he barely got to a slightly better spot when he lifted the blade of his sword to stop the first blow.
 
Xen'tu watched as his target came ever closer to the little present he had set about for the man. His hands gripped his swords in flexed motions as he waited. He grinned around his warthog-style tusks as he readied himself. He had to wait till his brother's little friend had time to look at his present and react accordingly. His grin broadened and crouched before he charged from his hiding place. For a large troll he was surprisingly light-footed and every part of that was his intention. He didn't want the pinkskin to realise what was afoot till the last moment. He bore down on the human with a savage roar as one sword came down only to be block. He only grinned as he swerved his other sword in his aim to cut at the other.

There was perhaps one great thing about being incredibly short as compared to a troll. Aiden ducked as the second sword came for him and he rolled along the ground then came back up and stabbed at the troll's side. If it made contact it was doubtful that it would be deadly. However, trolls were far more hardy than people and Aiden knew he couldn't afford to get hit in a critical spot or this troll would kill him.

He growled as the sword only met tips of hair and air. Snarling, he turned, twisting as he felt pain in his side. He took the hit as he continued to turn and rammed his foot into the shoulder on the little thing that he faced. Small things he disliked, they were irritating and squeaky. His swords swerved across in arcs he moved to rush the other.

"Agh.." Aiden growled as he felt a foot make solid contact with his shoulder. It set him off balance and he fell back on his rump. It was a rather inconvenient position to find himself in. Just as he darted out of the way of one blade another sliced him along the side of his leg. Lunging forward he thrust his blade again and this time at Xen'tu's innards.

He chuckled toothily as he watched the human land on his butt and the blade earned a red wash. He sneered and went to aim the pommel of one sword into the other as the man rose before he growled in pain, his frame shuddering. there was little that could slow a troll but aiming for the throat or guts was usually a good bet. Before the other could withdraw, he rammed an elbow into the other's face and turned, growling with the pain before he aimed to slice the other open.

With an elbow to the face Aiden was forced away from the immediate area. Still he gripped his sword and he didn't have the time to stop Xen'tu's blade completely. Another swipe from the blade and Aiden felt a sting run crosswise on his chest and then dig into his side. Wincing he pulled away from the troll and limped awkwardly toward the side before attacking again. He knew that Xen'tu would be much slower to react with a gaping wound in his stomach. Besides one hand would soon be occupied just trying to keep the guts in.


He grunted as he had to relinquish one sword in favour of holding his stomach, fingers clenching hoping he would heal enough in time to be able to be more useful. The sword fell with a thud as the other moved away from him. Xen'tu knew that would not remain so. The wretched thing would press his advantage if he knew his worth. The troll growled as he aimed to defend against the attack as the pain drove his blood rage further. He tried to kick the other in again before he violently spun, long arms enabling a longer reach with his weapon.

Aiden had to admit that this troll was far more difficult than he had originally anticipated as another blow from the sword caught him in the shoulder. A fresh stream of blood began to run and the troll hunter growled with the pain. Still, he was determined to win this fight. "You dirty bastard. I'm gonna rip your guts out and hang them in the trees for the birds to eat. I'll let you watch for a while and then I'll kill you."

Xen'tu stood breathing heavily as blood covered his hand and eyes watched the other with a hateful scowl. His hand gripped his sword again waiting for a moment as the other spoke. His ears twitched and he grinned. He reached up with his sword hand and tapped his ear with the pommel lightly and stuck his tongue out. He could guess what the jargon was but he couldn't care. He would fight to his last if it meant skewering the tiny thing before him. He charged again his body lowered to drive the other off his feet and aimed a follow through with his sword

There was only so much that Aiden could do and he knew he that moving fast enough to get out of the way wasn't one of those things. Seemingly frozen in place he waited until the troll was near and then he flopped on the ground. If he could he was going to trip the nasty creature and then leap on his back and chop Xen'tu's head off.

Xen'tu snarled as his target moved out of his field, his feet catching and he landed heavily on the dust-strewn ground with a pained grunt. His weapon went from a hand and spun away before stilling. He frowned before he had mind to turn on his back just as the other came out him again. Forgetting about the wound to his innards, his hands whipped out to grab the man's wrists stopping the blade coming for him. He growled when the small pointy thing sliced across his nose instead.

If he had the strength of both his shoulders Aiden would have thrust the blade into the troll's face and instead he had to make an impromptu decision. Briefly moving one leg he lifted his foot and kicked Xen'tu right under the chin as hard as he could.

Xen'tu growled in return before pain exploded in his field of vision as the other kicked him in the jaw. His grip however did not falter. Instead he settled for lobbing the man overhead with a vicious snarl hoping to do damage in the fall. He scrabbled to his feet and moved towards his lost sword. grabbing the hilt , he turned to face the other again

The whole miniature ground, the troll that Aiden stood on began to shake and he was toppled off of it before he felt a heavy hit to his head. Momentarily things went black and Aiden nearly slumped over, but he managed to maintain consciousness. His face was twisted in pain as he stumbled forward. They both knew that they couldn't call a truce. Someone had to walk out of this the victor and Aiden was determined to be the one.

He stood, his mouth snarling around his tusks, his frame shaking slightly he watched the human stumble. They were beating each other good but Xen'tu hadn't exactly figured this would be an easy win. He sneered at the human. "Come little t'ing," his use of common was basic but it betrayed his brother's belief he could not speak it entirely. Th taunt was clear enough. He was lowing down but he charged the other nonetheless. He would have been successful if not for the sudden sound of something whizzing and hitting him in the neck. He came to a halt and paused to pick out the dart before he looked at Aiden with confusion, Eyes rolled back into their sockets before he collapsed.

Smoke cleared from the smoke canister that had been thrown moments before hiding the dart-blower initially. A human woman with fiery ginger hair stood over the troll's head and shook her finger at Aiden with a smirk before she fired another dart at him.

It looked like Xen'tu was going to make the charge and that was fine. Aiden knew he had a good chance because he had made the troll mad. As long as Xen'tu was mad it was much easier to defeat him. The other night with their deal had proved that. This time the troll wouldn't be coming back to get his revenge for his dumb actions. Before Xen'tu could reach him the troll paused and Aiden briefly looked to the side. The body of the troll barely hit the ground and Aiden smirked. It was all to soon because he felt the sting of a needle too. "Shit." Even forming the word felt awkward and he numbly reached for his neck and got no further before everything went black.

The woman watched him for a moment before shaking her head, "Boys," she spoke exasperatedly before she gave a whistle. A horse trotted over to her obediently and she spoke a further simple command in order to get the equine to lie down. The woman managed to drag the troll onto its back and tied the troll down securely before she spoke again. The horse rose with a little difficulty as the woman support the troll to stop him from falling off. She turned and looked at Aiden a moment before she smiled and moved over to him. She hauled him over a shoulder and clicked her tongue as she returned them both to Ratchet. She got them back safely and got them to separate rooms. She sat in the corner of the human's room as a physician tended to the man's wounds.
 
All the rush of the fight had left and Aiden woke to a physician prodding at his chest and side. His pant leg was pushed up and one boot was missing. "Ugh..." Taking a sharp breath he winced. At first it was difficult to tell where he was, who was there, and what exactly was going on. Feebly he reached for his neck as if the little dart should still be there. Instead he felt the physician push his hand down and then the fellow murmured something at him.

Since there was nothing to do, but let the man work Aiden laid as still as he could. Once in a while he would groan when it felt like the doctor used a little less care than he should have. When the man was done cleansing and wrapping the wound that ran from his chest to his right side he felt the doctor begin plucking the dirt and grass out of his shoulder. How that got there Aiden didn't know, but fighting always turned out interesting and so did the injuries from it. Turning his head after a long moment he finally spotted the woman and he rolled his eyes.

She just had to come and see this. In fact if anything she almost looked pleased with herself. Aiden turned his head sharply when he felt the doctor reach into the wound. "Owe! Can't you be more careful?" The man reached over and pushed Aiden's face the other direction. It was a short while longer till the physician was finished and before he left the man put a tall pint of brandy on the stand beside the bed. As soon as the doctor left the room Aiden struggled to get himself sitting. It felt like his chest would just fall open, leg was about as sore as could be expected, shoulder too, and then his side. The chest and side were by far the most uncomfortable and even now he could feel them seeping a little blood. Hardly a way to fasten the bandages tight enough over those wounds and every breathe or movement disrupted the injuries. That brother of Zae'ju's had done a pretty good job of tearing him up.

Lifting the pint to his mouth Aiden peered over the edge of the mug at the woman. He wasn't all that happy about the way she shot him. Might have turned out to be a good thing. He didn't remember a moment of discomfort on his travel to wherever this was. Setting the mug aside after a large drought he sighed. "Well I hope you killed that troll. He's a trouble maker."
 
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Tibbie Harrington watched the physician work as she sat astride the chair leaning on its back as the doctor worked. She had to admit, the troll had done a number to the man but the troll was equally wounded and the healer that was with him was not sure he would survive the wound to his innards. She wasn't sorry for Xen'tu. She understood his hotheadedness and knew that he would find his match some day soon. Today could still be that day. She just hoped Zae'ju calmed down long enough before storming through the door. She had the hunter's arrow in one hand, twirling it with expert fingers that belied a good amount of dexterity.

When he saw her, she smiled and waved at him with the arrow. She remained silent for the meantime, letting the good doctor finish his work with a patience that the physician clearly lacked as he turned Aiden's head. She continued to play with the arrow in her hands as she waited as if she was time itself. With the physician gone and with him sitting up, she knew silence between her and the man could no longer remain. She stood slowly and brought the chair with her. She smiled as she heard his words break the air and she sat back down, resting the heels of her feet on the bed itself.

"Oh, he's definitely a thorn in one's side, but he's certainly not boring," she quipped with a smirk, peering back at him for a moment before she leaned forwards a little. "No, I put him to sleep," she said matter-of-factly, "Xen'tu might have baited you and stolen from his brother... but alas Zae'ju still chooses to honour the blood tie between them to keep his brother breathing. Did he send me? No, but I know Zae'ju well enough that seeing him die by your hand would be an insult."

"Hello, I'm Tibbie, and feeling better?" she smirked, knowing damn well he had to be in pain. She offered a hand but had the feeling he would not reciprocate.
 
The woman had a mouth on her like none other. She could talk and talk when all he needed was a simple yes or no. In fact, Aiden could have sworn she was going to keep on talking so he settled back into the bed a little and sipped at the drink some more. The first big gulp had nearly started to take effect and the more he could drink the less he would hurt. It would dull the pain and perhaps the headache would get worse, but it was better than everything else hurting.

As she drew closer to the bed he shifted uncomfortably and then she asked if he was feeling better. Staring at her hand and then up at her face he growled. "You should have let me kill that damn troll. He's a menace." With a groan he shifted on the bed and it felt like his entire chest would rip open. Nearly dumping the mead he attempted to hold onto his chest as if it should stop the bleeding or the pain. Since it hurt too much to move anymore than he had Aiden took another large gulp of the brandy. Suddenly it struck. Tibbie...that was Zae'ju's friend. She said that he didn't call her and if she was the Tibbie he was thinking of... Glancing at her again he almost growled. Of course she was.

Nobody was quite that large as a woman except her. Also that red hair gave her away and then the darts. So this assassin came to find him and Xen'tu and she didn't want to kill either of them. Instead she brought him here and all he could guess was that they were in the nearest neutral territory which happened to be Ratchet. "You're damn lucky that you're a woman." For the moment he put the drink aside. "Lucky I'm laid up to." Reaching across himself with his good arm he pushed her away from the bed as well as he could. "Why the hell are you interfering with my business? Let me do my job."
 
She chuckled and shrugged as she watched him, "And you should be careful, sport. You'll do yourself a menace with that groaning you're putting out," she replied before she smiled. He was grouchy and irritable but she knew he probably had something going for him. She was rather a little let down by what she was seeing and the match between the pair was painful to watch in some ways and inspiring in others. She almost giggle when he growled at her. She could not blame him. After all, she had ruined his fun.

He made comment on her gender then and her eyebrow rose a good inch as she peered at him. She shrugged, "If any man can throw a knife quite like how I can, bring him before me. I have quite the throwing arm to rival and best any one, thank you," she said sharply before the smile returned and the smirk with it.

"Ordinarily, I don't get between a hunter and their prey, it's bad form. However, sometimes my mission requires me too and then there's the fact I wouldn't be a good friend to my best contact if I betrayed that trust by letting his brother die," she replied deadpan. She clicked her tongue as he pushed her feet away. She stood then and then sat on the bed, peering at him. "I agree. Xen'tu will die to a troll hunter's blade. Who knows, he might even let you have another stab at him in the future. Be that as it may, he may yet not survive the night. I don't like your chances if that should happen however so let's not tempt fate. The world needs you breathing. All of you, Aiden Silver."

"What? Did you think I was in the Barrens for a vacation?"
 
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