Chapter 2: The First Day of Flight!
The Second of Greentide, D.Y. 500
-----It is the late hours of the night as Gimplefwick stands outside the Cloven Inn in the shadows. With him are Brandel and Krord who keep an eye on the two horses belonging to Seth and Kazel and the coal black pony that belongs to the Dread Pirate. Long quiet moments have now passed and the two guards throw occasional concerned glances toward the halfling pirate.
-----The streets have thankfully remained empty with uneasy moments when lights and sounds have been detected down the street by a passing patrol. Still the uneasiness of the street is overshadowed by the extended wait and wondering of what has happened to their companions.
-----Suddenly the quiet is disturbed by the small rumblings of horse hooves. From down the street the commotion comes and everyone sinks deeper into the shadows. The sound grows and the nauseating sensation of excitement builds until the riders come within sight.
-----Up next to the inn, charges four horses and four riders. On one horse is Seth while on another is Kazel. A third horse carries Marast with Runik behind him in the saddle. The fourth horse is of course saddled but carries no one. A look of excitement is reflected on the faces of the riders.
-----"They only think it's Sol," Kazel pulls down the black bandana covering her face. "Let's just get out of here before the town gates are alerted. We have about... oh maybe a few minutes' headstart?"
-----The Dread Pirate chortles with delight at the sight of the horses and he asks the quartet, "Are these our former 'friends' horses? What's the matter with Runik? He won't ride a horse? Well, he can borrow me pony if he needs to. I can probably ride a horse fer awhile anyway. The bill is all taken care of, so we can lift sail and get out of here. Let's mount up and get movin."
-----The Dread Pirate moves somewhat uneasily towards the smallest of the available horses, preparing to mount up. As he scrambles up the saddle, he looks at the others and asks, "So what kept ye? I figured ye'd be right behind me."
-----Seth nods and adds, "Well I did have some books in the room that we might have been able to sell. I guess Maime will keep them if there is any more owing." He looks at Dread. "So was that everyone's bill paid?" He pats his horse and looks at Dread waiting for the signal to start riding.
-----The Dread Pirate hops off his horse and races back into the inn, as quickly as his boots will carry him, he grabs Seth's books and whatever else might belong to the party, including his loofah, then races back out and clambers back aboard his horse. He then says, "Now we'd best get movin. And yes, I paid everybody's bill and gave Maime a few extra gold to not tell anyone we stayed there." He then kicks and swears at his horse until it starts trotting for the town gate.
-----Seth grins as Dread returns with the books. "Thanks for paying Maime. I owe you."
-----"All but Sarah's horse, which is a freak of nature that we rather not touch. You remember it glowing blue earlier on? And it doesn't respond like the others, so who knows what else it can do. I'm not rotting in jail over a horse." Kazel kicks off her horse towards the gate. "There were guards who were too sober and ask too many questions when they should be out fighting evil. We got tired of conversation and um... put them to rest. I guess they don't really trust Sol."
-----The Dread Pirate grins as they ride towards the town gate, "Aye, ye can't blame the town guards fer not trustin Sol. But it's a sad and untrustin world we live in. I try not to think about it too much, it's just depressin. I prefer to think about the look on Sol's face when he's told that he already saddled his horse and rode out of town. And go figure, Sarah surroundin herself with freaks o' nature. When ye look at her present company, it isn't really too surprisin. We'd best ride like crazy though once we get out of town, I'm sure Raven'll be only too happy to try trackin us."
-----Kazel then suggests Seth's idea. "We can liberate the horse that doesn't belong to our former friends in exchange for another pony later on."
-----The Dread Pirate nods, then says, "Aye, we'll do that once we get to another town. We'd best get outta here first though. Speakin o' other towns though, we'd best not go to the border town we were talkin about last night. And are we goin by the trail, or crosscountry? I think we should go by whatever will be quickest. Brandel can direct us as to that I think."
-----Brandel leads everyone down the street past the dark and mostly deserted Market place. They all continue straight south on the street that leads by the Boar's Eye Tavern. At the end of the street, they can see they are approaching the South Gate.