-----Sol thinks about it shortly before replying, "Let's set up th' torches in th' centre of th' bridge. Further away means less likely t'lose our nightvision, an' we can see whoever's crossing in time t'react."
-----Within an hour, the men on watch had two large torches assembled. They had used some of the dead branches from some of the trees near the village as well as some of the hedge vegetation. A bit of oil was added to the makeshift bundles and then a couple of larger fallen branches were utilized as posts.
-----Four of the men carried the torches to the bridge and luckily they found a bit of iron work at the middle of the bridge to each side where they could position the posts into. It was as if the small fixtures in the stone work were made for that very purpose. Soon the torches were lit and their light cast an eerie glow over the center of the structure.
-----The dark water of the Altor reflected the orangish light and, as the night grew, appeared to be the only light in the countryside. It produced a strange effect as the men on watch could not see the dim light from the village as Kulendra was up the incline behind them. The thick clouds overhead hid all signs of the celestial bodies and the darkness above seemed as foreboding as the dark beyond the bridge.
-----The men then settled back behind the hedge though they remained alert. Sol could see that their eyes were large as they occasionally glanced toward the bridge as if anticipating trouble. By midnight the breeze had died down and the air took a balmy, humid feel.
-----“Least the nights in summer be short,” Sol heard one of the men say.
-----"Ease th' chatter." Sol advises softly to the group. He pauses to let it sink in, before the warrior explains in whispery tones, "Sounds carries far at night, an' until Kulendra is truly secure, let's keep it down." Occasionally Sol watches other areas aside from the bridge.
-----The men quiet immediately and they stare out at their surroundings, odd though it may seem. Sol holds his hand up to fend off the torchlight from the bridge and looks east. There he sees a hill about a mile away. Later on, a gibbous moon would be rising and might add a bit more illumination to the area if the clouds break. Off to the west, Sol looks toward where the orcish mining prisoner camp was. The flat land close to the river was now dark and beyond that, brambles stretched from the river bank to the distant hill in the south.
-----Within a few hours, the moon does indeed rise. First its glow is seen behind the far hill; its color an almost fiery orange. As it continues to rise, the celestial orb almost resembles an angry eye. Just before midnight, the clouds cover it and the night is darkened once again. At the midnight hour, just as Dilton had said, five of the men on watch bow to Sol and return to the village promising to send five others in their place.
-----They hadn’t been gone long as Sol and the remaining five warriors continued their riverside patrol. Suddenly from out of the darkness on the other side of the river came a loud and hideous yowl. The five with the Gorian jumped; their attention fastened to the far bank.
-----In the dim light reaching the far bank, a large tall figure was seen running toward the bridge. It must have stood nine feet tall with long and ungainly arms and legs. Its rubbery hide was a dull greenish color and a mass of hair stuck out from its skull-like head. It paused in front of the bridge growling and yelling.
-----“Troll!” one of the watchmen said in fierce voice.
-----As the warrior lips curled in a grim smile, he ordered sharply, "Light up a few more torches an' follow, but out of its reach an' let me handle it. As soon as it goes down, I want those o' ye holding torches t'come set th' bastard a'fire." Sol began his lumbering armour-clad run towards the bridge, hoping to get to the other side of the structure before it decided to start crossing.
-----As the torches are lit, Sol runs out from behind the hedges and runs for the bridge. The troll continues to wave its arms and yowl as if hesitant to step onto the torch lit bridge. It then backs a bit and runs along the riverbank making its angry noise.
-----Suddenly the troll catches sight of the Gorian racing onto the stone bridge. It bellows, slicing the air with its claws as it races back toward the edge of the stone span. It is here that Sol calls out in answer, "’Ware the storm!"
-----Just as Sol makes it to the midway point of the bridge between the two torches, the troll pauses and picks up a stone from the riverbank. With a strange forward loping motion, the monster heaves the stone at the young warrior. Oddly enough, in its rush to let go of its missile, the throw goes wide and the stone splashes noisily in the river. Howling with rage, the troll then moves to meet the Gorian at the edge of the bridge.
-----Sol sees it straight ahead now; just at the end of the bridge stands the troll advancing onto the stones. Behind him, Sol can hear his watchmen running up behind him, perhaps just now moving a fourth of the way across the bridge.
-----Just a few feet from the brute, Sol raises high his Lathanian blade. The first slash sweeps the air and swoops in front of the angry troll. Sol then jabs his sword up catching the monster just below the ribs. The troll howls as its dark blood flows from the wound. Sol then runs the sword across the beast’s forearm cutting deeply into it.