Chapter Two: The Hunt begins
----- The three men from Hearthorn eat breakfast with Broactor, Raven, Rinda, Jon and Goff. As the dawning light shines brighter through the arrow slits, the world outside seems to grow quieter. The disruptive animal noises from the night before are replaced by the calmer and more comforting sounds of birds returning from the south. The horses standing in their stalls seem to be well rested chomping and nibbling at their hay.
-----Before their journey, there are preparations to be done. Broactor calls upon Rinda to prepare Raven for the mark of the hunter. This gives Thalog time to study over his spells.
-----Arliss goes outside the keep, where if one were to look for him, he would be found kneeling under a nearby tree, his head bowed in silent prayer to Joren.
-----Rand quietly leaves the keep, whereupon he walks to a nearby set of three trees closely nestled together. Rand kneels at the base of the largest tree with both hands cupping the small cross with the image of
the sun engraved in the middle that is his Holy Symbol as a member of the clergy of Solarius. He appears deeply in prayer as he whispers softly under his breath; his face bearing an expression of quiet contemplation.
-----Rinda directs Raven to sit straddling a bench. She sits across from him holding a small bowl containing a wet clay material. She dabs one finger in the brownish material and slowly runs her finger down Raven's nose. She then applies some streaks of green along his cheeks. When she is finished, Broactor calls for Raven to approach him. As he does, the Priest of the Hunt sets his hands on Raven's shoulders and says, "RAVEN, BY THE GREAT HUNTER, I CALL ON THE STRENGTH OF THE BEAR, THE FURY OF THE WOLVERINE, THE INSTINCTS OF THE WOLF, AND THE SPEED OF THE LION TO GUIDE YOU ON THE HUNT! MAY YOUR PREY FEAR YOUR SKILLS! SUCCESS TO THE HUNT!"
-----Raven feels inspired physically and mentally. "YOU WILL REMOVE THAT!" Broactor commands pointing to the cloth wrapping on Raven's leg. In doing so, Raven finds the wound on his leg completely healed.
-----Raven looks at his healed wound. He feels where the wound was just a moment ago. To Broacter Raven says, "The power of the Hunter is great. Thank you for showing me the way. I will not fail on the quest to stop this curse." Raven gets to his feet and turns to Rinda and pauses, "I best get ready for the hunt." With that Raven goes through and checks and then rechecks his equipment while he eats.
-----Rand returns from praying and upon entering the keep he sees that Rinda is alone.... Rand motions to speak with her. As Rinda approaches Rand begins speaking in a quiet tone of voice.
-----Finally, an hour and a half after sunrise, all are ready. Arliss, Rand, Thalog, and Raven stand before the door of the keep. Broactor hobbling on one leg intones them, "HUNTERS, YOUR PREY IS EVIL! CHOOSE YOUR TRAILS WELL! SUCCESS TO THE HUNT!" "Success to the Hunt!" the other hunters repeat.
-----The four men turn and lead their horses outside. Above, the blue sky is clear and there is a hint of frost on the ground. The bright sun promises to warm the day and the light air carries no wind. Mounting up, they turn and look to each other to discuss where they will begin. . .
-----Once the four men are assembled on the hillside, mounted and packed, it remains to determine their first course of action. Arliss suggests, "I think our destination is clear. As I have stated before, I believe that we
must depart for the keep of Sir Krondor, where we might investigate Broactor's claims that he is somehow the source of this curse. I respect the Lord of the Hunt, but I will not believe the truth of this claim until I have seen more evidence. This is the just way, the way of Joren. Still, the charges must be investigated. I say we depart for Krondor's Keep at once. What do the rest of you think?"
-----Rand nods his head to Arliss's suggestion, "I agree with Arliss, it seems to me to be clearly the best course of action". Rand turns in his mount to face Thalog and Raven, "What do you think of the noble Paladin's suggestion?"
-----Raven rubs his chin and says, "I would like to try to continue to follow the tracks I found earlier. The tracks lead toward Krondor's keep, but I don't know if they are truly from there." Raven points, "Jon and I found some tracks over there. Let us start there and see if I can pick up the trail. What say thee?" Raven looks at each of the members of the group.
-----Arliss responds to Raven's comments, "This seems like an acceptable plan, Raven. We can begin with this course, and then if the tracks do deviate from the route to Krondor's keep, we can decide then which way to go." Arliss' horse whinnies and snorts then, apparently as impatient as her rider to be on the move.
-----Thalog is staring at the ground shaking his head then he rises to look at the knight. "Arliss," Thalog says like piercing winter's wind, "Krondor is a suspect in this mystery. Therefore it would be unwise to go marching up to his own keep and ask what is going on. With the information we have gathered we should go back to Hearthorn and tell our superiors what is going on, so that they can provide needed assistance and we will not be out here taking unnecessary chances. Besides it was the High Guardian herself that said Sir Krondor is in Hearthorn to attend the Lord's jousting matches." The emerald green flare in Thalog's eye makes his skin look sick and pallid.