There was an awkward moment of silence as Dorain wondered whether or not her intervention was foolish or rude. But Lily and Anest seemed to sense and respect her commitment to duty, as well as her friendship.
"The staff stones are forged differently," Anest replied. "They are forged as a means to articulate power. Specifically, the power to destroy. And while this may seem evil, it is not. No more so than if it were used to break stone. The only evil at work is the use to which the user puts it, meaning that the evil is in the user, not in the stone."
"But even if Belloc could master such a thing," said Dorain, "whatever would he do with it?"
Anest shrugged. "I'm sure I don't know. It's not the kind of thing a wizard would have any use for. I think- "
A sudden cry, followed by the clatter of hooves caught their attention. It was one of the scouts from the rear.
"We have lost a man," he was shouting. "Almost we were both taken. They are coming! They are coming!"
Belloc and Celedhan had turned from the front of the company to confront this problem. "Who is coming?" asked Belloc.
"There are many times many goblins and rock-gnomes, Sire. But that is not the worst of it. There are trolls."