existence in the eyes of others. This stigma fostered the self-doubt within him, that for the entire span of his days would drive him to doing extreme deeds to prove his worth.
While she lived, the old lady showed Akaru more kindliness, love and understanding than even his own mother was capable of showing him. She taught him something of her herb-lore, of the history, lore and folklore of the Four Kingdoms, and even something of his sire's ways and history.
The trolls of the far northwest, she taught him, were a nomadic people, wholly unrelated to those trolls of the northeast that served Morlock and the Demon King. That his sire had been of such low character could only have meant that he had been an outcast, she had told the lad with certainty and conviction, for the trolls of the far north were a moral, austere people, who kept to their own, who had never been known to disgrace themselves or make war upon others.
It was from this revered old woman that Akaru learned something that few but the Wise knew, that the term "troll" was most often derogatory in nature, and was the true name only of his own folk, who were, in fact, genuine cave dwellers who lived by an ancient lore.
All other forms of trolls, he learned, were hirsute beings that seldom wore clothing of any sort, that in fact were very ancient beings that predated Man, that, if Nature had not been interfered with, would have continued their natural decline unto extinction.