The others began splitting to find out what they could and Balgur decided to do the same, leaving the few that hadn't moved away from the gate to their own devices. He slung his shield over his shoulder and walked down the main road, using his spear as a walking stick. He wasn't wounded, but he was pretty sore. He found himself looking forwards to collapsing in one of the inns' rooms after a nice hot meal. A rest would do all of them some good, before they headed out to recover the villagers. If they could find them, that was. A swamp was a bad place to track anyone, and if the ones that had taken them were any kind of smart, they would have gone through the hardest path to follow.
Which was, he supposed, the other reason they had stopped in Morthal. People saw things. People talked. The undead pyres had been a surprise, of course, but that didn't mean a group of prisoners being dragged through the swamps wouldn't get a few raised eyebrows. Looking up at the sky, the old soldier guessed it was getting near late afternoon, maybe evening. People were still out and about, though most looked armed and shot him suspicious glances as they passed. It seemed fighting their way through undead infested swamps only bought them so much trust.
He looked around, spotting an older woman, well into her forties, he guessed, hanging some clothes out to dry. He stepped off the main road, onto the boardwalks that seemed to make up most of the pathways of the swamp town. His boots clunked heavily as he approached and she looked, hearing him. Now that he was closer, he could see streaks of grey in her black hair. She wore a plain tan dress and warm looking shoes. Balgur thought he saw the glint of fear in her eyes as she straightened up to face him.
Trying his best to appear nonthreatening, he nodded politely. "Ma'am. Got a few questions for you, if you don't mind."
The nord put her hands on her hips, "aye? What do you want to know?"
"People seem on edge here. It always this tense?" He wanted to ease her into his questions and not scare her off.
She snorted "You blind or stupid?" She demanded, nodding out towards the swamp. "Dead been coming back. Gotta keep a sharp eye out."
"Of course," he said, noting that the hilt of a dagger protruded from her left hip. Her hand was not far from it. "How long about would you say the dead started coming back?"
She shrugged, still eyeing him warily. "Not too long. Days kinda blend together when you don't get much sleep."
"Right. One more question, if you don't mind."
She didn't look thrilled, but she nodded shortly, "My companions and I are tracking some missing folks. Have an idea they may have passed through this way." Balgur watched as the expression on her face went from caution to full blown fear. She shook her head, backing towards one of the houses.
"Don't know nothing about that!" She exclaimed, backing away as Balgur stepped forwards, confused.
"Ma'am-"
"Leave me be!" She stumbled, barely managing to catch herself. The orc was about to ask about her blatant overreaction, when he heard two pairs of armoured footsteps behind him.
"Everything alright, Sigred?" An accented nord voice asked. Balgur turned to see a pair of guardsmen, one with a spear, the other with an axe tucked into his belt.
"There's no problem" Balgur assured them, holding empty hands out in front of him. "I was just about to go on my way."
The guards eyed him, taking in his weapons and legionnaires armor. "Aye" one said, "that's probably for the best." They parted to let him through, but he could feel their eyes on him as he made his way back onto the main street.