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-----"I didn't see any shelter. All I saw was the bonfire in the clearing where Broactor was." Zentil then follows the others outside.
-----The night is very dark and chilly as the party walks out of the keep. The clouds completely seal off any light from the moon or the stars. Only in the distant woods do they see any light from the glow of the fire.
-----Rinda and Goff end up sharing a horse with others in the party. The horses that were kept at the keep were either scared off or killed.
-----Amythiel steadies Rinda as Raven helps her into the saddle of his horse. Sol convinces Goff to ride with him as Goff apparently wants to be near Sarah.
-----They quietly cover the expanse at a walking pace toward the small woods. Several of the riders look from side to side in order to check their surroundings, but everything remains still, save for the breeze. Up ahead, the trees loom and among the trunks, the light grows brighter and closer.
-----Everything continues to be quiet as they reach the first few trees. Dark shadowed trunks are all around them and overhead the limbs provide a dark canopy with their budding leaves. The flickering shadows grow larger as they move forward.
-----Up ahead the trees begin to thin out and empty out into a clearing. Huge stone blocks belonging to ancient structures are located throughout the area. Many of the ruined structures are overgrown with trees, bushes and vines.
-----As the party makes its way around the corner of two fallen blocks, they see the fire up close. About twenty yards ahead, it appears someone constructed and set a large bonfire. It burns warmly and chases the night chill away.
-----A chattering overhead causes the adventurers to look up. They see a raccoon peering down at them from the limbs of a great tree. A feeling of calm prevails over the clearing.
-----Across the way toward the other side of the bonfire, is a raised block of stone. The adventurers recognize the form of Broactor lying atop the stone. A few arrow shafts extend from the man’s legs.
-----Raven runs up to Broacter, "Broacter! Don't move, we'll get you fixed up in no time." Raven glances to Rand and Amythiel. "Who were these men that attacked?"
-----Broactor appears to be breathing slowly and his body is stained here and there with blood. His eyes are closed amid a face spotted with dirt, blood, and sweat. His eyes suddenly open and he looks at Raven, although he makes no other movement.
-----Then the Priest of the Hunt speaks in a low hoarse voice. This surprises everyone in the party as this is the first time they had heard Broactor speak in a quiet tone. "The children of Thales are no longer cursed. Be this your doing, my hunter?" he says as he searches Raven’s face. Rinda stands beside Raven with a look of amazement on her face.
-----Sol quickly dismounts and draws his sword looking all about for any sign of trouble. His quiet, alert manner showing he is ready at the first sign of trouble.
-----Rand and Amythiel move up to help Broactor. As they begin to look over his wounds, Amythiel clenches her teeth and sharply draws in her breath. Without looking up, Rand nods. He says, "We’ll have to remove these arrows before we can start to help him heal." About six arrows have pierced the man’s legs and hip area.
-----"The one who was a knight from the town did not believe me," Broactor says, still looking at Raven as the healers work. "Did I not say all along where the evil ones dwelt?" Broactor grimaces as Rand cleans around one of his arrow wounds.
-----The Priest of the Hunt swallows hard and then looks at Rinda. A faint smile passes his lips and he says, "You are well! Be this also the doing of Hunter Raven?"
-----Rinda lowers her head suddenly unable to speak. Goff stands a few feet behind them, his hand over his mouth, watching patiently with wide eyes.
-----Rand turns to Raven, "Those arrows need to come out now. Can you help keep him calm?"
-----Raven squats down to Broacter's level. "Aye, we stopped the evil force that was behind the madness. By the destroying the evil we got the means to heal Rinda." Raven pauses, "There is still much work to be done, but we have cleared the path a bit. When you heal up, we can continue our work." Raven looks over as they work on Broacter, "What knight did you speak with? Did the town attack the keep?"
-----"Goff, could you please help Rand and Amythiel?" Sarah asks. Then she moves over and listens to Broacter and Raven’s conversation.
-----Broactor answers through gritted teeth as Rand tries to draw out one of the arrows. "The one who went with you on your first hunt. He did not return with you yesterday. Did I not point out their stronghold?"
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