Chapter 10: The Rogues Reach the Villages of Grute and Navlot!
The Sixth of Greentide, D.Y. 500
-----As the sun dawns on the new day, Runik grumbles as he holds his belly. "Blast!" the dwarf exclaims, "I be needin' some food in me afore we travel."
-----The massive Krord stretches and smiles as he looks into the clear sky. Raising his huge arms over his head, he inhales deeply taking in the warm morning spring air.
-----Brandel goes through his backpack and, finding a loaf of bread, hands it off to the dwarven merc. "Strange," the human quips, "last night on my watch, I happened to see a star that rose on the horizon. It had a long tail that trailed behind it. A comet I think it would be called?"
-----"Humfp," Runik continues to groan, "ask yer prisoner there if'n he be knowin' 'bout omens in the sky." The dwarf adds a bit of sarcasm in his tone as he nods toward Amdracks who sits in the wagon calmly looking about at the countryside.
-----The little girl stands and stretches as she has spent most of the night sleeping while leaning against Kazel.
-----Seth wakes up and looks for some water to try and clean himself up. He stares at the road and then up into the sky. "A comet you say! Well I imagine that I could make up some songs about that." He continues looking for things that might help him become clean. "I wonder if the comet has been what the evil ones were working towards, not the actual thing, but timing what they were doing with its appearance."
-----"Interesting idea," Brandel says in thoughtful reply to Seth, "perhaps the master of the undead in the sewers was waiting for a certain time to make the dead rise. However, when we passed by the town wall yesterday, we did not hear of any distress like one would expect if that horrid event came to pass. Our friend," here Brandel points at the bound Amdracks, "or the others trying to take the hide of the dragon certainly did not mention it."
-----Amdracks rolls his eyes impatiently at Brandel's comments.
-----The young mercenary then brightens as he adds and nods at the musician, "I would like to hear any song that you play concerning the comet. It was a most inspiring sight to behold during the night."
-----"Aye," grumbles Runik, "tho' I 'ave me doubts if'n any song's gonna ease me stomack!" Gazing at the covered mounds of treasure in the wagon, the dwarf then adds, "How's 'bout we be a puttin' a few o' the gold coins into a fine breakfast?"
-----Brandel laughs and then says, "That would be a most excellent idea, also, if our employers will allow." Brandel then relaxes and says as his smile fades, "The nearest place we could perhaps get a slightly decent breakfast would be the village of Grute."
-----Turning to the rogues, Brandel asks, "Do we dare go there?" Looking around at the horses and their other belongings, he adds, "I don't think we have any of the horses or the cart that we traded when we were last there? Do you think your former friends from Oakwood would be looking for us there?"
-----Krord stretches again and his stomach seems to rumble. He quickly places his arms over his muscular belly and glances about with an embarrassed look.
-----The Dread Pirate looks thoughtfully up at the sky, "A comet, ye say? That's an interestin' omen. According to ancient pirate lore, it means that the gods are walkin the earth. Theoretically, they ride the comet down to earth from their lofty abodes in the heavens. The comet is actually their blazin chariot, throwin off sparks as it whisks through the sky. Of course, there's no sayin which one o' the gods it is. I suppose we'd all best be on our best behavior fer the next few days."
-----The Dread Pirate shrugs at the mention of Grute, "Aye, I think we could safely stop there fer breakfast. What could they possibly do to stop us, in the short time that we'll be there?"
-----The Dread Pirate clambers atop Joren and sets off for Grute.
-----Seth climbs up on to the wagon and nods at Brandel and Dread's ok to go into Grute. "Perhaps we could have a bath? If you think we have enough time, even just to wash my face and hands would be good," he adds. He begins trying to pick a tune on the harp and begins mumbling things about comets and gods walking the earth on the back of pirate drawn galleys as he begins to make a new song.
-----Soon the air is filled with a joyous sound as Seth's song seems to lift up the spirits fatigued with hunger. Krord smiles and grunts trying to keep up with the melody. The little girl giggles from Kazel's saddle as she watches the huge mercenary enjoying the entertainment.
-----Brandel drives the wagon to the northwest just a short distance to meet the trail road. Here they ride among the scrub vegetation that fills the field on both sides of the road.