Chapter 10: To East Bend and Beyond!
The Twenty-Ninth of Greentide, D.Y. 500
-----Sol glanced up at the sky, as if seeking answers from above, before advising Raven, "I'm going t'have a brief word wi' whoever will speak fer these villagers." Sol took a step backwards, turned, and made his way back to the blacksmith who'd spoken to him earlier.
-----"Greetings, Sir. I apologize fer interrupting ye like that. Do yer people have any immediate needs? T'be blunt, my main concern is how long ye have till th' next lot o' slavers make their way here." The Stormrager flicked his eyes at the prisoners, touches of a sneer passing over him, before attentively waiting for the smith's reply.
-----The smithy’s face is stern but smiling as Sol speaks with him. Appreciation for the freedom is evident on his face. The smile remains although his brow furrows as he replies, “Aye, that was my very concern as I watch my friends rejoice. These are dark times we live in.” Motioning to his fellow villagers as they move about reuniting with friends and family, he says, “Some of these may wish to go and find family if they have such in other villages just to see if they still live. Those who remain will need to have some way to watch the countryside for more slavers and have a way to hide. I was just thinking of gathering some of the men together to speak of this.”
-----Continued vigilance in this situation seemed not only unwarranted, but also tedious. Whisper returned his notched arrows to the quiver at his side, and shouldered his bow.
-----Now would come the somewhat gruesome, but necessary task of salvaging and recovering his arrows from the slain.
-----Drawing his dagger, he set off to retrace his steps.
-----Sol's head tilted down slightly as he removed his helmet and tucked carefully under an arm. He ran a hand through his sweat-matted hair, sighing at being so unused to wearing such protection. However, it also gave him a moment to consider various options for the blacksmith's fellow villagers.
-----The plated Gorian regarded the smith carefully, as he offered the choices as he saw them, "Well, it'd be safer fer th' community if ye were all t'stay together. However ye can rarely stop people from doing what they feel is best for them. As fer those who stay, well there's an awful lot of you. Reacting t'an approaching force by getting everyone hidden, is likely t'end badly."
-----As Sol continued to speak, he began to walk a few steps to look at various different areas, "One choice is t'leave. Try an' get yer people t'Silvergard. If ye stayed off th' main roads, an' off any hill ridges, ye might have a chance, but it's definately th' hardest option."
-----"Another choice, is t'take up these fallen arms an' armour, an' protect yer people against any other bands o' slavers." The Rager briefly gestured at the bodies littered around the place. "It's late enough in th' day fer us t'consider staying here th' night. If yer people take t'th' idea, I could instruct th' menfolk in th' use o' th' weaponry, an' how t' use th' armour."
-----"My companions may have other suggestions, but ye'd have t'ask them. Whate'er ye decide, chances are ye'll only need t'hold out fer no more'n a week. Hopefully things will be on their way t'changing by then." Sol finishes and begins to tally what the fallen enemy have left behind.
-----“Your help would be much appreciated, friend!” the blacksmith says in response to Sol. “There are also a few makeshift weapons I might be able to forge. I’ll gather some of the men together now. In the meantime, seek what comforts you can and plan on spending the night.”
-----As the blacksmith heads off, Sol strolls past the prisoners and some of the dead enemy. Only a few items have been set apart that seem of interest. Sol sees a fine set of chain armor and a very well made sword taken from the commanding officer the Gorian slew. A potion and two scrolls in leather cases are also laid out on the ground not far from where Pil watches the prisoners.
-----Out of professional interest, Sol picks up the dead commander's blade, and tests its weight and balance.
-----Everything so far, aside from Krondor's old blade, had paled in comparison to the fine Lathanian blade that hung from Sol's hip. He expected no different here, but curiosity drove him to test it nonetheless.
-----The young warrior is seen to pick up the blade and examine its blade. He then tests it, swinging as it deftly cuts through the air. A momentary look of surprise crosses his face.
-----After that, he made an inspection of the potion bottle. Perhaps it would look familiar to one he had seen before... Otherwise he'd let someone else do what they would with it.
-----Once finished with such items, Sol picked up the scrolls, not wanting them to go astray, and watched over the blacksmith's progress of getting the men folk together.