On the tundra in early summer, the grass had not fully turned green, the dwarf shrubs were sparse, and scattered yellow flowers swayed in the wind.
Lingering snow stubbornly survived in shady slopes and rock crevices, perhaps to prove to the world that this was still Northrend, that land of wind and snow.
Only when Italk's city walls appeared faintly on the horizon did Toka slightly relax his guard.
He looked back at the few weary but focused Trolls behind him, and while raising a hand to signal a short rest, he himself walked to the bare rock in front and sat down.
Toka took a deep breath, then subconsciously raised his hand to touch the divine emblem beneath his neck.
This was an obsessive-compulsive habit he had developed over the past six months.
Only by confirming the divine emblem was still on him could Toka feel secure.
He checked his weapons again: bone blade, wooden bow, and some bone arrows.
Then there was a roll of animal hide paper, with a list of the tribes visited this time written on it.
Eighteen, of which twelve were willing to resume trade, five tribes sent warriors to accompany them, and one small tribe on the verge of extinction was even willing to join them.
However, Toka couldn't make decisions on such matters, so he had to bring an elder from that tribe back with him.
"It's enough," Toka thought.
After a short rest, he bent down to re-tie the straps on his feet, then stood up and turned to look at the town not far away.
"Time to move on, we're going straight into the city!"
Thus, the preaching team set off again.
Toka walked at the very front, his expression calm, his gaze sweeping over both sides of the road ahead.
He was accustomed to not missing any potential hiding spots, even though this area had long been cleared and sentry posts were set up nearby.
After walking past the last slope, Italk's outline appeared completely in view.
This was a Troll town that had not yet been fully repaired.
The midday sun shone down, light spilling through gaps in large clouds, illuminating the repaired city walls and the expanding shrine.
The newly erected city gate was not made of wood, but of obsidian brought by the Proto-Dragons, and a square flag embroidered with the divine emblem hung in the center.
The pupil part of the divine emblem was dyed with a special mineral powder, reflecting light slightly in the sun, as if it were truly watching the travelers passing by.
Toka touched his divine emblem again, confirming it was still there, before continuing to walk.
Two armored Trolls stood at the city gate.
They wore not traditional Troll war armor, but chainmail made of refined iron, with the divine emblem painted on their chests.
They were not tribal warriors.
They were Paladins.
Warriors of the divine.
Their demeanor was unhurried; they did not interrogate every traveler entering the city, yet they made everyone slow their pace instinctively when approaching, with a hint of respect, or rather awe, in their eyes.
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