The gnolls carried her through one pa.s.sageway after another until they entered the familiar environment of the gnoll village. She expected that they were taking her to see the Shaman again, but to her surprise and confusion, they instead turned into the center of the village, working their way around and between huts and cooking fires until they stopped at a small hovel. The gnoll holding her knocked with his free hand, and after a moment, the door of the shack creaked open, and the two gnoll guards spoke to someone standing inside in a series of barks and snarls, before the one carrying her walked inside, and unceremoniously dropped her onto a rough cot on the left side of the one-room building. The sudden impact sent another wave of agony through her thigh, and she grit her teeth to m.u.f.fle a scream.

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The two guards said something else in their dog tongue, before walking out of the building. Closing the door behind the guards, a third gnoll pulled a latchbolt into place, and turn its attention towards Eleanor. This gnoll was much slimmer than the guards, and shorter. Instead of armor or leathers, it was draped in a myriad of patterned fabrics in striking colors, and several long earrings hung from each of its large dog ears. Its dark muzzle was also shot through with grey and white, which meant it was probably pretty old by gnoll standards. The overall effect gave her the impression of an old woman. The creature appraised Eleanor for a moment, then spoke.

"It seems they've treated worse then they've told me." The gnoll said. Its voice was higher than the others, softer even. There was no hint of accent or distortion in their words. With her eyes closed, Eleanor would have mistaken the words for coming from a human woman. The gnoll walked over to where Eleanor lay, and folded its knees under itself as it sat down next to the cot. The creature looking over her wounds and the state of her dress, and shook its head with a sigh. "Embarra.s.sing."

Eleanor stared at the gnoll, uncertain of how to react, until the gnoll finally spoke again.

"What is your name, child?" The gnoll woman asked.

"Eleanor." Eleanor replied cautiously.

"h.e.l.lo Eleanor. Would you care for some tea?" she asked.

Uncertain of what to expect, Eleanor nodded, and the gnoll woman rose, several of her joints popping as she did so. The woman grimaced, and cast Eleanor a glance that seemed to imply "yes, getting old is as painful as it sounds".

The gnoll woman walked over to a kettle set over a low fire on the far side of the room, and filled a wooden cup with it before walking back and handing it to Eleanor, who gingerly s.h.i.+fted her position more upright to accept the cup. The tea was pungent, but when she sipped it, it tasted surprisingly sweet and spicy, and send a haze a warmth radiatting out to her limbs from her center. While she couldn't be certain, she had a hunch there was something alchemical or magical in the tea.