-----One of the warriors, the one with the hair shaved down to a black stubble, stares in awe at Caranip. He croaks out to the red-haired warrior, "Strolum, that be a leprechaun? Ain't they s'pose t'be lucky?"
-----Strolum also gazes slack-jaw at Caranip. "Beats me," he says in his confusion.
-----Caranip raises her chin, firms her lips and slowly turns toward the three astonished fighters. "Leprechaun indeed!" she says, her eyes narrowed in agitation.
-----"Pil, yer supposed t'hunt an' catch leprechauns. Yer not going t'have one just walk right up t'ye." Sol says, looking quite serious about the whole matter.
-----"My apologies, gentlemen." Sarah was with a tolerant smile. "I neglected to mention that Ms. Caranip here is a gnome." She smiled at Caranip and winked to show that she found it ridiculous that the men did not know what a gnome was.
-----Sarah thought about the 'employment' for a second. "Well, do you have a horse? Or do you want to ride on Marlexana with me?" She thought for another moment. "I suppose if you follow along with us and help when you can and hide when it is too dangerous that would make me more than happy. In exchange I can try to teach you some new spells when we are camping and resting."
-----Excitement breaks out on the gnomish girl's face. "That would be wonderful, MiLady," Caranip exclaims, "especially riding with you on Marlexana!"
-----"Please be forgivin' o' me friends," the bronze-skinned man named Pil says to Sarah and Caranip as he gives Strolum and Dilton a dark glance.
-----"Aye, we be meanin' no disrespect," Dilton croaks and then he gives an embarrassed bow to the young mage and her apprentice.
-----Strolum approaches with a humbled expression and lays his sword in front of the gnomish girl. "Looks like we be owin' more than a'apology," he says to his two companions, "Let us be pledgin' ourselves t'Lady Sarah n' Mistress Caranip."
-----The three men then get down on one knee and bow their heads. "Please, MiLady," Pil says staring at the ground, "a'low us t'guard ye on our journey."
-----Lovan stands off to one side; a small chuckle escaping him. In contrast, Garrison silently watches the proceedings with an impressed expression.
-----Just then, Rinda walks off to one side; her gaze captured by something beyond the trees across the plains before them.
-----"Well, they seemed fun loving fer a while." Sol mutters to Raven as he looks on at the three give their oath. He doesn't look disapproving of the matter, just faintly irritated. He turns and walks towards Thunder, stroking the tall steed's nose before mounting up.
-----Without turning to look in the same direction, Sol says companionably to the Huntress, "So what are we looking at, Rinda?"
-----Sarah glances from side to side a little nervously. "Well...I...." She looks briefly at Sol, and sees that he does not seem to object. She glances at Caranip and realizes that her apprentice needs all the help she can get. "On behalf of my apprentice and myself I accept your offer." She says kindly, with a look at Caranip that says 'don't disagree with me here.'
-----"Now," She extends a hand to each one and helps them to their feet. "Let us get down to business." Sarah shoots Sol a comforting smile, trying to send the message that she found that at least as awkward as he did.
-----"That bit of smoke rising in the west," Rinda says and hesitates as if trying to figure out what she sees. As everyone follows her line of sight, they see the plains of Ravenhold extending away from them. In the distance, they rise a bit into a line of small hills so that the valleys beyond are unseen.
-----It is from there that a column of thick smoke rises; the only darkness in the morning sky.
-----"Looks like as good a place as any t'start. Let's have a look." No more is said by Sol as he nudges Thunder into a trot, straight in the direction of the trail of smoke.
-----Raven studies Caranip in silence and then says, "Welcome to the group, Caranip. My name is Raven and this is my beloved, Rinda." When Sol comments on the smoke, Raven turns to look at the smoke also, "That amount of smoke is never a good thing. Let's go."
-----Sarah nods. "Yes, that is our cue as they say." She mounts Marlexana and gives Caranip a hand up. "Fly like the wind." She whispers into her horse's ear, and the party sets off for the smoke.
-----Everyone climbs up and mounts. Soon the company is riding across the plains with Sarah and Caranip galloping on ahead with Marlexana. Sol quickly urges Thunder faster and the trio of warriors follow suite.