-----Looking off toward the hill and the distant brambles, he adds, “For the most part, it looked like they were all in a run for their lives. If we follow a bit further, we may be able to tell if they continued going in all directions or if they banded together at some point.”
-----"In that case, let's head t'th' top o' th' hill. From there we can get a look at th' surrounds an' Jeilin can give her device another go." Sol nudges Thunder forward, slowly at first in case someone else has another idea, but it quickly picks up into a canter.
-----Jeilin shakes her head at the lack of findings as she puts away the spyglass. Giving Shakalee a pat, she starts to move again and seems a bit more at ease at riding with the recent practice.
-----Raven eyes the hill in front of them and nods. This time they ride at a walking pace; Whisper already off the horse and striding along. Raven leads his horse, occasionally stopping to check the ground for revealing traces. At one point, the hunter pauses and looks around scanning the surroundings.
-----“Two places to keep an eye on are the top of the hill and if anything moves in that field of briars,” he mutters as he indicates that he is still finding proof of fleeing foes. “There are a few that headed for this hill,” he adds looking up at the crest with a meaningful glance.
-----Soon they reach the grassy rise and start carefully and purposely up the incline. Raven’s brow furrows although a grin spreads across his mouth. Rising from another check of the ground, he carries one of his short swords in his right hand while leading his horse with his left. “Careful now,” he cautions in a low voice, “They could be near.”
-----Even though everyone can feel a bit of tension, their going is not difficult as the incline is not steep. When they reach within ten yards of the hill top, Raven releases his grip on his horse’s bridle. After a quick check of the grassy rise, he draws his other sword in his left hand. “They stopped here for a while,” he says with almost a whisper, “maybe to look back.” His eyes now rise to the crest above them and he motions for everyone to wait.
-----Though he tries to move quietly, Raven winches at the taller grass that seems to tug at his legs and softly crunches under his feet. Within moments, he reaches the top keeping as hidden as he can in the grass. He slowly rises keeping his attention toward the opposite side of the hill.
-----Suddenly, he quickly ducks down and then moves back toward his three companions.
-----“There’s a village in the valley on the other side of this hill,” he reports. “I didn’t see any movement, but I didn’t get a chance to look for long.”
-----Dismounting, Jeilin nods to Raven and takes off her cloak. She approaches the hilltop quietly and lies low as she reaches the spot. With practiced movements, the priestess then begins to survey the village and in other directions with her spyglass, shielding her head and the lens from as much glare as possible with the cloak draped over herself.
-----Whisper stood quietly at ease near the horses, occasionally hefting the three spears held somewhat awkwardly in his hand. Would they have gone to this village, waiting, or would they have pressed on?
-----At least he was now provisioned enough to hunt this warband properly, now that they were within his proverbial reach. He would need to get ahead of them, somehow. Then he could prepare ambushes, and peel them off, one by one.
-----He ran his cold blue eyes over his companions. Their aid would be invaluable, so long as none killed the reprobates. But how to reign in the feeling of impatience that now suffused his being. To have them within reach after so long... to finally be able to exact punishment.
-----The Wood Elf almost sighed. Instead, he hefted the spears again. A thought came to him, and he crouched down, placing the spears carefully on the ground.
-----Raising his scarf, and pulling forward his hood so that all but his face except for the eyes was obscured, Whisper moved forward to lie beside Jeilin, being careful not to expose his silhouette against the hills' skyline.
-----Raven likewise crawls up beside Jeilin and scans the area below. All is quiet in the surrounding countryside and the only thing that is noticeable is the gentle breeze blowing through the grass.
-----"Large enough to hide an army," whispered the Wood Elf.
-----He gave his two companions a sideways look, and half-nodded at the seemingly abandoned village. 'Black Bog?"
-----"No, that's southeast," Jeilin whispers back. "Ten to fifteen miles."
-----Having looked in all directions, the priestess lowers her spyglass and shakes her head slightly. "No movement. But look," she lifts a finger to point at the hilltop across the valley. "Another settlement."
-----Whisper mulled it over for a moment. Then he pointed at the Spyglass, and at himself.
-----Jeilin looks at Whisper with her pale eyes. After a moment of consideration, the priestess gingerly offers the spyglass. Though worn with age, it is apparent that the instrument is also lovingly maintained.
-----Whisper inclined his head, and took the offered heirloom.
-----Seeing the sense of shielding the gleam of the spyglass, he used his hand in lieu of a cloak, and then began a slow scan.
-----After a little while, Whisper lowers the spyglass, and holds the instrument out to Jeilin.