Chapter 12: Escorting Wagons!
The Thirtieth of Greentide, D.Y. 500
-----Close to a minute’s contemplation on Sol's behalf passes, ending only when the Gorian regards Garrison resolutely and gives his decision, "I will see them back t'th' village, an' not only because I gave my word. I feel responsible fer them, an' think o' it... There are five score people here. Keeping that many safe if anything should occur..." Sol shakes his head, realizing that he is just wasting more time, "Either way, my decision is made up. Garrison, I'll still need ye t'be th' guide, an' Lovan'll also come wi' us."
-----Sol catches his words briefly as he looks at Strolum, Dilton and Pil, "Are the three o' ye prepared t'part ways from one o' ye, if only temporarily? If Dilton came wi' my group, his arm'd be more likely t'get some rest. Raven's group can then scout out Kulendra, an' see what needs be done, an' we can head there as soon as possible." Absently, Sol slips on his gauntlets as the time to head out nears, looking lastly to Jeilin, "Priestess, if ye intend t'stay wi' us, obviously ye welcome t'come wi' either group."
-----Jeilin seems to consider the question as she looks at something at the sky. Then her eyes settle on Lovan for a moment, and finally turns to Sol. "I wish to come with your group," she says, nodding to herself.
-----Dilton’s expression brightens as he says, “Aye, I be lendin’ ye me help. Though me sword arm be fine fer guardin’ wit’ ye.”
-----Pil looks calmly about as if unaffected by the current plans.
-----“Bloody hell,” Strolum hisses at Dilton’s eagerness, “yer arm’ll be fine as long as ye don’ be bleedin’ all over everyone in yer path.”
-----“Me wounds been patched up by Lady Rinda,” Dilton croaks. He then points a finger in Strolum’s chest and says, “Ye jest make sure ye don’ be makin’ a fool outta yerself fer we meets back up wit’ ye!” Dilton then looks to Sol for further orders.
-----"Alright everyone, start loading th' people back int' th' wagons, an' hitch some o' th' horses t'them. We'll be taking them as far as th' wagons will go... I doubt they'll last th' full way, since we can't go by roads and stay undetected." Sol announces, gesturing at the group to move as he does so. One last searching gaze is spent on the sight of the past battle before the Gorian moves to follow his own order.
-----As he walks up to the huddled mass of the newly freed, the heavily armoured warrior informs them confidently, "To spare ye all as much o' th' journey as possible, we'll take ye on th' wagons as far as we can. It'll be off th' roads, so it won't be comfortable I fear. Take heart though, we head somewhere that is safe fer now." Moving forward, Sol begins to help those into the wagons that need it.
-----At the call to move out, Jeilin hurriedly takes a measure of the stars, then marks down something on the map she has been plotting for the local area. She then gathers up and carefully, lovingly packs the rest of the maps into a scroll case which appears to be already crammed full of other maps and parchments.
-----Dusting off her robes, the diminutive priestess takes out a small book and begins to study it by the dying campfire until the wagons are ready to go.
-----Having stayed well back to avoid any more, and undue, notice accorded his presence, Whisper calmly took stock of his accoutrements. The way that this was going, he would soon need to resupply his dwindling amount of regular arrows.
-----Whilst he could not doubt the martial efficacy and effectiveness of this group of humans, there was a certain bluntness to their actions which struck a disharmonious chord somewhere deep within him. Not that it should matter.
-----And it didn't. With a mental ruthlessness which would have left his Elven kindred appalled, Whisper suppressed those parts of himself that deserved to remain dead and buried. Even if he was still walking around.
-----Leather creaked as he rolled his shoulders, stretching the muscles to keep them limber. Taking steps forward, he gave a low whistle to catch Raven's attention, pointed to his chest and then indicated outward with a jerk of his head. Re-settling his thistledown scarf about his face and throat, and keeping the hood up, the elf moved out beyond the bounds of the village, starting his own return of the way to Kulendra.
-----Raven, Rinda and the two other warriors remained long enough to help usher the people back onto the five wagons. Soon Garrison, Strolum, Dilton and Pil brought up a team of horses that they had found in the camp, and, after a bit, the horses were hitched up and ready to go. Dilton was put in charge of the reins and Jeilin sat on the buckboard beside him.
-----As Sol and Garrison mounted up on their own horses, Raven and Rinda wished them a safe journey and well-wishes were exchanged. Meanwhile an impatient Jyan sat atop his horse looking off into the darkness to the west.