"Lord Trundle, Zul'jin has escaped from Stromgarde and rallied forces, declaring that he'll march against you!"
Trundle had spent years, deliberately or otherwise, diminishing Zul'jin's influence. But Zul'jin was still Zul'jin, and his prestige among the forest trolls remained beyond Trundle's reach. Before, Trundle had been able to threaten Zul'jin's life to keep him in line. But now, somehow, Zul'jin had escaped from the heavily guarded Stromgarde. The sky was the limit for him now.
Trundle hadn't expected Zul'jin to get out. He knew how powerful Zul'jin was. Before losing a hand, he'd been formidable. But after losing it, Zul'jin was like an eagle stripped of its talons: still able to soar, but far less dangerous. Trundle couldn't help admiring him for escaping a fortress as heavily guarded as Stromgarde.
Though Zul'jin had escaped and rallied the forest trolls to march against him, Trundle remained calm. For him, this could be an opportunity—a chance to finally cast Zul'jin aside and become king of the trolls.
After all, the trolls respected strength above all else. Zul'jin could indeed quickly rally a group of forest trolls on the strength of his former prestige and still-impressive power. But if Trundle crushed him quickly in battle, those forest trolls would switch sides just as fast. Then Trundle could stand on Zul'jin's shoulders and rise to even greater heights.
But his subordinate's next words made Trundle frown. He was told that the guards watching Zul'jin had all been killed by a blade wielded in the left hand.
"Are you saying Zul'jin's left hand has grown back?"
"I wouldn't dare presume to speculate, my lord. But judging from the wounds... th-that does seem to be the case."
Trundle fell silent for a moment, then spread his wide mouth in a ferocious grin.
"Good. Defeating you at