By the look on his face when you arrive, Smith is completely shocked that the boy had survived the ordeal. "I'm sure you have quite a story to tell, but a warm fire and a hot meal are in order. We still have plenty of bear meat that hasn't spoiled yet, so the stew is very hearty tonight." He takes Toral under his arm and walks him to the common room where a few of the guards are eating. Cheers and greetings meet Toral as he enters, and Smith ushers him in and closes the door behind him.
Without turning from the door, Smith says, "I've spent many nights alone in the dark in my time as a guardsman. Warm food, warm bed, and warm faces are the only remedy. Some only return in body, but not in spirit." Turning now to face the group, he says, "I wanted to thank you before turning you loose on the stew. You have my deepest gratitude for returning Toral to us. I fear it has come at a great cost, but it would seem that we would have paid it regardless of Toral's disappearance. Something is out in that swamp stealing the souls of men. At the very least you have brought it to our attention and we will be better prepared in the future."
"For now, however, let's take every victory we can get. Johnson even found Norah's ale stash. As he won't be needing it any more, we'll use it to celebrate. Come, let me make a toast to our honored guests."
The stew is quite good, and the ale doesn't hurt your spirits, but you find it isn't long before the call of the barracks becomes too great to ignore. Everyone will be leaving for Norbal in the morning, where the guardsmen will leave you and return Toral to Argos.
