Chapter 4: Dark Conflicts!
D.Y. 500, The twenty-seventh day of Springtide.
-----The next morning arrives with small clouds dotting the sky. The temperature seems fairly warm and the breeze that blew the day before is gone. Everyone awakens to the smell of breakfast being cooked downstairs in the main room of the inn.
-----Sarah gets up first and sees that none of the other party members are around. Thankful for that, she leaves the inn and goes into the stables. Even though she doesn't really know what she's doing, she tries to comb Marlexana’s fur and generally just checks to see how her horse is holding up.
-----Sol comes down the steps, already fully prepared for the day's travel. He walks over to the front door of the inn, opens it and steps out. Sol fills his lungs with the morning air and wrinkles his nose at the weather, before returning inside and seating himself at the same table he was at the evening before. He eagerly awaits breakfast to finish cooking.
-----The Dread Pirate, glaring at no one in particular, sits at the breakfast table and mutters to himself, "Morning be far too early in the day fer me. It shouldn't be startin til about noon or so." He then turns his scowl upon Sol and grumpily states, "Arrrr, now that we be out in the wilderness and we know that there be evil creatures stalkin’ us, we best be takin’ some precautions. From now on we'd better not be splittin’ up our little group, with some sleepin’ outside and some inside. We be dividin’ our forces, doin’ the enemies’ work fer 'em, without their havin’ to lift a finger. Pure foolishness on our part. And ye think yerself a warrior. Hah!"
-----Gimplefwick commences buttering a scone and grumbling to himself, "...needs to learn a bit o' paranoia...never make it as a pirate.."
-----Sol smiles back at the Dread Pirate warmly, "Thanks fer the input, Dread. It's good to see ye thinking ahead. Also, if yer worried about my skills as a 'warrior', or lack thereof, I'd be happy to train with ye. I'm always eager to learn." Sol regards the breakfast table with a critical eye, deciding where to strike next.
-----Raven comes downstairs with Rinda as Dread is talking to himself, "Good morning all." Raven looks over to Dread. "You are right about us not splitting up anymore." Raven pauses and then says with a smile, "You're not a morning person are you?"
-----Raven says to Davan, "Do have any raw meat for this wolf?"
-----Finally, Kazel comes stepping down the stairs and cheerfully dumps her backpack under the table. "Morn'," she says and without further words wolfs down her breakfast, finishing first even though she came down last.
-----The innkeeper sees to everyone’s breakfast and then slices up some pieces of uncooked deer meat. He places the meat on a small metal platter and sets it down on the floor for Raven’s wolf to get to.
-----Rinda says to Raven, "I go now into the woods to seek the favor of the Great Hunter. I will eat when I return. Stay here, I will not be gone long." She puts her club over her shoulder and moves toward the front door.
-----Before she exits, she turns toward Raven again and adds, "In a few nights the moon will be full. The way of the Great Hunter will be strong then. Those who follow the Dark One will be the easier prey."
-----Gimplefwick blinks several times as Rinda makes her speech about going out into the wilderness, he then says, "Errmmm...yeah. Well, tell the Great Hunter we said 'hi'. Give him our best." The Dread Pirate waves at her as she exits, then leans over and whispers to Sol, "I don't suppose she could take that there Sarah with her? Maybe the Great Hunter would appreciate a sacrifice." The Dread Pirate then contemplates for a moment and further whispers, "Then again, maybe not. We'd probably only piss him off if'n we sent her to his side. No tellin’ what sort o' bad luck we'd be havin’ then."
-----Gimplefwick leans back in his chair and sighs, then continues eating breakfast until it’s time to go.
-----A while later, Rinda returns from outside and sits down to eat. While she does, Sol goes down to the cellar and gets the bandits up and out. The group then gets ready for the day’s travel.
-----In the main room, a loud cawing is heard at an open window. Seth’s crow flies in and rests on Seth’s chair as the musician finishes the last of his breakfast.
-----Davan comes over to Seth and cheerfully says, "I did so much enjoy the gentle music you played last night. I am sure an artist of your talent would be appreciated in Ballantir. Perhaps on your journeys, you could compose a song of our people’s fabled haven."
-----Seth is most gratified that Davan enjoyed his tune. He executes a simple bow. "My Dearest Davan, it was a pleasure for me to play for you, I shall endeavor along our journey to compose such a tune about the Haven." He feeds the crow some of his tidbits Seth had saved from breakfast.
-----The innkeeper then clears the dishes as the preparations continue.
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