Goddess damn it, once she’d spotted him, she’d been so focused on that troll, that door, its hinges, its lock, she hadn’t noticed this.

“They haven’t been discovered so they grow arrogant,” she mumbled.

“Perhaps,” Gal replied. “Perhaps it’s that this area is not patrolled by the city guard or any guard, and their generosity, which we have observed is not much, but it’s more than anyone here normally experiences…food, liquor, blankets, koekah, ashesh, taibac, smoke, they are grateful and would do anything. Or perhaps they do not disguise themselves too much, so the population of the Shanty can identify them as personages who can hold any promises they might make.”

Serena found a wall and leaned against it, crossing her arms on her chest, her gaze never leaving the gnomes.

“And they’re still at work even after True’s announcements?” she queried.

Both gnomes nodded, but Brix spoke.

“Once we reported our findings to him, our king has sent in others, like you, but they are men here setting themselves up to be recruited by this Rising. If this is successful, it will be a way to understand their inner workings.”

Thank the goddess, this was clever too.

“And that troll?” she pushed.

“He must be guarded, but as far as we can tell, and word has it from an operative in Firenze, with the death of Carrington, they’ve lost their knowledge of where their treasury is. We had not seen it, but I believe that troll, that door, and what lays behind it, was known only by Carrington.”

Which could be why she had seen no one get near the troll.

“Until they find it as it is hardly hidden,” Serena drawled.

“And thus, it needs to be guarded,” Gal replied. “And he must not be approached. He must not be provoked. There might be others about, keeping an eye on the Shanty and doing it much better concealed, or searching themselves. We cannot bring attention to that door.”

“Have you seen that troll with anyone?” Brix asked.

She shook her head.

“Has he left his post?” Gal asked.

She again shook her head. “He pisses by the door, and I would not round the corner of that building. There has to be a mound of his shite there.”

Both gnomes curled their lips.

“He has also not been approached,” Serena continued. “But it was not yesterday Carrington was taken. If Carrington was keeping him stocked in whiskey and whatever else he needs, by now, even a troll will become concerned Carrington no longer comes. Which brings another issue, for I’ve never seen him enter either. But if he knows what’s inside, and hears his comrade is no longer among us, he might help himself. I’ve noted those in the Shanty don’t concern themselves with affairs of state. They concern themselves with where they can find some koekah to sniff up their noses. I would not be surprised he does not even know of the executions. But Carrington not coming, he’ll find out.”