Fifteen stood at the bow, letting the chilly morning sea breeze wash over him. He felt it would help him regain his composure faster.
After a while, Fifteen had calmed down a little. He turned to the signalman beside him and said, "Signal the fleet. Tell them the aircraft carrier and galleon can return to Shalandis Isle. My ship will escort the transports the rest of the way."
The signalman immediately jogged off to relay Fifteen's orders. Soon, the whistle sounded aboard Fifteen's galleon, while the flagman waved his flags from the signaling platform to convey the message.
A short while later, the aircraft carrier at the front and the galleon in the center both made wide turns and headed back toward Shalandis Isle. Fifteen's galleon sounded a long blast, then accelerated to take the lead ahead of the transport convoy. Once the aircraft carrier and galleon had vanished from sight, Thirteen's galleon also changed course and headed toward Stranglethorn Vale.
After receiving Fifteen's message by owl, Yu Lin Bloodhawk gave a soft sigh. Then, in silence, he tore the note into tiny pieces and scattered them over the water beside the dock, where they disappeared into the waves.
Just as he had said in his letter to Zuga, Zuga's decision had been unexpected, yet understandable. Yu Lin Bloodhawk did not blame him.
Nor had Yu Lin Bloodhawk chosen a place for the Shadowpine Trolls of Zul'Aman to develop and rise to power at random. That place was the Venture Company's site in Stranglethorn Vale.
Although there was nowhere there to build a coastal harbor, it lay beside Lake Nefariti. Not far from the Venture Company's camp, there was also a river that led to the sea. Its waterways were accessible enough to make outside support easy to obtain.
More