THIEVE'S VICINITY
The team walked inside amid the interested faces ascertaining them. The door closed firmly behind as 'Raven' turned to their cramped surroundings. A lantern was lit revealing a room lined with a half dozen men. All seemed cautiously silent as they glanced over the party's attire with light scrutiny.
The musty room was alive in tapestry denoting times of harvest and agricultural custom.
Bettemen glanced at a warrior-type that sat comfortably in a chair with a greatsword along his lap. The man seemed prompted to respond Salimen crooked his neck " We are on our 'own' mission and it seems we both have joined against a common enemy." The bard's eyes lit up and he began to tell a brief, yet glorified, tale of Raven's journey from Bethlun, nearly a week ago, on a quest for their king's stolen art.
The warrior, introduced as Palias, leaned forward " And this band of thieves? How many?" The foursome gazed idly at the guardsmen as they grew suddenly concerned at the bard's recitation " We think ten, but it is anybody's guess really."
Another spoke; his thick, dark hair contrasting sharply against sea green eyes " This art of the king. Can you describe it?" Salimen gave a curt grin " Well, this was certainly a great place to start wasn't it?"
His smile disappeared as the men seemed irritated by the comment.
Teflar looked hard at each in turn " By chance, would YOU be the thieves we sought? If so, you may hand over the shard right now." The other men seemed to take the indignation seriously wondering how this meeting would end.
" I will go! " declared the man with dark hair " I am Erelis Meadow and I might have a clue to your predicament!"
Teflar shouldered his bow watching the others cringe within the confining quarters.
Betteman stepped to the group
" You are not of this locality I take it. Where do you hail if you were on the track of raiding orcs?"
The ranger smoothed the swords at his sides " I am Teflar...and pleased to see that some defended themselves well against the orckish scum." His grin was tight
as he surveyed the room " Tell me, as we have been following an arm of this evil band, have you learned anything of their objectives or leadership? These orcs seem too well organized for a run-of-the-mill army."
" We have been north tending other matters when we accidentally flanked the bastards whilst they attacked Airrdale. We were holed up in this fieldhouse defending our very lives. I say..." He briefly flashed his eyes pruriently at Leah " Speak your intentions!"
The bard laughed heartily " Why NO...of course not silly. I do know that we are after a band of thieves that helped aid them though. We have reason to believe they were in this vicinity. Or so..." the poet paused with puzzlement " ...we are to hope."
The bard continued his oration " It was a jewel of some sort. A pointy purple gem of much admiration." The young man's brows heightened as he turned to stare at a few of his compatriots.
" Interesting." spoke Betteman nodding at secret thoughts " You have come to Airrdale thinking the thieves might be hidden among the hedges as fellow beasts ripped apart the bowels of our village."
The bard's smile quivered a bit as the ranger's bold words enacted a powerful effect upon their hosts. The warrior glared at the woodsman as if to backhand his asinine request.
Betteman chuckled " If we were, you'd be dead." He looked at the poet slowly "...your 'hair' would be mussed also."
Torynth scratched his chin in thought " What if we helped you against the orcs? Would we then have your trust?"
Showing his hands outstretched in front of him, the monk sought a union " None of us here would be adverse to spilling some of their blood. And I, for one, will not sit idly by as people die."
" Sadly none can go. " spoke Betteman flatly " But you are free to take whatever is left over in this village to help aid you."