Aridha returns the next day, leaving her wolf at the edge of the Iron Wolves' camp. It wheeled off to hunt or run around or whatever wolves did, leaving the halfling to come into the camp alone. At least until the rest of her squad of scouts, and the other teams who'd gone out, caught up a minute or two later.
Quietly, unobtrusively, she started collecting the other officers so the reports could be given.
"Patroklos has scouted us," is her first statement, delivered deadpan. "Small party from the fort was camped maybe an hour or so out, by foot. Five men, I reckon, plus horses. One of 'em left a letter behind."
She produced a bit of dogeared parchment and put it down on the table.
"Could be a plant, but since I tracked them back to the fort, probably not. They broke camp and went back to the fort an hour or so after the messengers arrived yesterday. We decided fast, so it could be they've news of our decision they brought back."
She then took off her leather backpack and set it on the table, and started pulling items out.
A torc made of gold. An oak staff inlaid with silver. What looked to be a cloak, with a torn fringe, embroidered with some kind of symbol. A sword and a shield that clearly were made by the Avernix...the soldiers of the Iron Wolves had fought with them enough to know their work.
"Found a cart, empty, on the path between the five riders and the fort. They'd been going towards Halveroth, most like. Halflings. Dwarves. Dead now. Figured we should give these things back to the Avernix. Whatever was in the cart's gone though."
Aridha paused, then added, "Might've been going for help. Didn't work out for them. Also, there were some humans heading in from the west...running away from Patroklos. They've got a big force out that way, raiding the farms for food. Could be mustering for an attack on the Avernix."