The World Dragon's Heir

Chapter 435: Trolls At Work

Watching the Trolls work was quite the spectacle. Mountain Trolls didn’t just specialize in Nature Magic, they were highly skilled in Earth Magic as well, and once they got started, they could clear a five-metre wide swathe of vegetables without damaging any of the crops that they dug up as they walked.

The kids couldn’t even pick them up as fast as the trolls dug up the garden.

But they gave up when it came to the corn. Their huge fingers had a much harder time picking ears of corn off the stalks.

Besides, it wasn’t really necessary, as they had done the vast majority of the work already, and the farm would be in good shape for months once they had processed what was gathered today.

"Alright, we’re off to the next house. Do try to make friends with those who got here before you. Life on the farm is hard, but it’s harder when you don’t work together." Dominic informed the new arrivals.

"Of course, Your Grace. We are certain that we will be good friends."

Dominic led the trolls around to the other farms, letting everyone meet the new guards of the Manor grounds.

Most of them didn’t need anything in particular, but everyone was happy to meet the lovable giants, and the trolls were free with their magic, charging home mana crystals, increasing growth rates on gardens, and even helping one farmer plant a windrow to stop the storms from breaking off his corn stalks.

There were a few cases where the houses needed repairs, and the Trolls helped with that as well. They didn’t even need a spell gem for it, their affinity for earth magic let them use the [Repair Item] spell on stone houses and slate roofing.

They did snack constantly as they walked, a side effect of heavy magic use, but it was a small price to pay to make so many new friends among the farmers.

As an added bonus, everyone recognized them as Dominic’s personal guards within seconds of seeing them. News spreads fast in a small town, and they were hard to miss. But their helpfulness was making them much more than just Noble Guards.

Especially when they got to John’s sheep farm, and the former Royal Assassin gave them permission to visit the flock before they moved on.

"Your Grace, I have some news for you. My sources say that Kaizon is preparing to make a move. He knows that he’s going to lose Dagos entirely soon, and it’s making him desperate.

I have conflicting reports, saying that he might either flee to Shersdonia, where he has many supporters among the Mage Sects, or he might bring his remaining forces here, to finish what his family failed to the first time.

It’s not a sure thing, but I thought that it was worth warning you." He explained quietly, so he didn’t alarm the trolls.

Dominic nodded. "I believe that he might send one of his clones here with a force. I don’t think that he will have the guts to come here in person. Do you have any word on who might be helping him do that?"

"Most likely the Ormsted Sect from Shersdonia.

They are known to have the spell in their repertoire, and the guards in Skiple have reported seeing their people at the siege. They retreated before our battle with the monsters, but I don’t believe that they’ve withdrawn support for Kaizon."

Dominic nodded. "I will keep it in mind. Have you heard anything else?"

"Nothing of imminent severity. I have heard a few things about the plans to deploy the Princes and their armies, but that doesn’t directly involve us, as they’re not headed for Stansia Province at all.

The threat here is considered to be mostly controlled, and they’re more concerned with liberating the cities that had been under siege.

There is one odd fact that I thought you might want to know, though. It is raining from Staptondon all the way to Albroles. Dagos hasn’t seen that much rain in years. So, there is a chance that the drought is beginning to end, and they might be returning to more average rainfall for the area, from a long-term standpoint."

"That is wonderful news. If they start getting decent rainfall again, it will solve some of the famine issues, and Dagos will begin to stabilize. Well, a little, anyhow. Almost all the people are gone from the eastern regions already."

John nodded. "It might be too little, too late. But if it gives them enough of a crop to stabilize the cities, it’s enough that it will reduce the risk of the civil war spreading even more than it currently has.

Hungry people are desperate people, and that’s what Kaizon has been relying on to recruit."

Their last stop of the loop was to visit the Witch Coven. It wasn’t intentional, there just weren’t any more occupied houses between there and the Manor.

The Coven was expecting them, as Mountain Trolls are not subtle, especially when they’re excited about things, and the smell of whatever the witches were making had them extra excited.

Naturally, the answer was soup.

"Ladies, I just wanted to make sure that you had all that you needed. This is Dave, and the Trolls will be my Manor Guards in the future. They’re happy to help if you need anything." Dominic greeted Betty, the only one of the Coven who could pass as human.

The others would surely be listening in, as he didn’t smell or sense any potions being brewed at the moment, only dinner.

"Thank you. We’ve been doing quite well. The armies have become quite fond of our potions, and we’ve been able to buy all sorts of ingredients since they arrived.

I must say, I didn’t expect them to need the same things every time, but perhaps they are slow learners." She replied with a deep sigh.

"Did you go through the camp followers and treat them as well? If not, the soldiers will just keep catching it." Dominic asked.

The trolls laughed at the remark, and Betty giggled. "Actually, we sorted that sort of thing out the first week. But somehow they keep getting trench foot, despite there not being any trenches, and various maladies from impure water and bad food, though the market delivers fresh to the kitchens every day."

"It’s most likely their attempts to make bootleg liquor. I will talk to the Guilds to get them something that’s not going to rot their guts." Dominic suggested.

"Much appreciated. Other than that, we’re doing very well. We do have some sisters coming soon as well. It might be a few more weeks before they get here, but we will tell you when they’re looking for a house.

There isn’t much in the woods, but they’re Garden Witches, they can pass as regular travellers."

"Alright, I will watch for them. There might be a few more in this batch as well. I didn’t check closely."