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-----As she waits for the two to position themselves, Rinda pulls out a cloth. When Seth and Gimplefwick are ready, she grabs the shaft of the arrow with one hand and pulls. A bead of sweat covers the Pirate’s brow, but not a yell or scream does he emit. A steely-eyed calmness seems to prevail on his face.
-----The arrow comes easily out and Rinda has Seth hold the cloth over the bleeding wound. Immediately, the huntress lays her hands on both sides of the cloth and gives a prayer to the Great Hunter. When Seth takes the cloth away, there is no sign of the bleeding wound from the arrow.
-----Just as Sol catches up to Sarah, a strange thing occurs. A snapping sound is heard from below Marlexana’s belly and Sarah suddenly finds herself sliding from her horse. With a cry of surprise, the mage grasps tighter on the reins keeping herself from falling momentarily.
-----With a quick reaction, Sol seeing Sarah’s peril, reaches out with one arm. The young warrior slips his hand about Sarah’s waist steadying her as she slows her horse. As they come to a stop, the saddle slides off from Marlexana, the under strap somehow broken.
-----"If ye can't bareback, lead Marlexana back t'Raven. Tell 'im we may need his tracking if I can't catch these mongrels." Sol advises urgently, before adding, "I'd prefer t'get ye t'double wi' me, but two rider's would slow Thunder down." His eyes flash as he sets his mind back to the task, and he kicks Thunder back into a gallop, still intent on following the fading sound of hooves.
-----Sarah protests slightly as Sol takes her off her horse. "No, Sol, it’s fine I can just..." she quickly looks under her horse and sees how the saddle has been cut "...dammit!!!" She yells, pounding a fist on the nearest tree. After a slight pause, she mouths the word 'Ow' and shakes her hand slightly.
-----Sarah stares off at the vanishing form of Sol and sighs, "Always a hero." A smile plays across her face briefly and then Sarah suddenly remembers where she is, and quickly leads Marlexana back to the others.
-----"Raven! Rinda! Help!" Sarah calls, coming into the clearing near the cabin. "Something cut my saddle, Sol went off by himself." Sarah kneels next to her horse and inspects the saddle somewhat, wondering if it could possibly be repaired. "Anyone here know anything about leatherworking?" She asks hopefully.
-----Raven turns toward the general direction of where the arrows came from. He pauses for a moment to try to spot any signs of their attackers. Raven motions for the wolf to follow and then he starts to head after Sol. Raven keeps to the nearby brush as a way to keep from giving their attackers a good target.
-----Seth pats Dread on the back. "You should be ok now!" He quickly looks around for Albert and then readies his sling in one hand and makes sure a trusty piece of pork fat is at hand.
-----Sol charges through the woods but the surrounding trees and brush make it difficult to urge Thunder any faster. Still the young warrior rides on, listening for the sound of hooves up ahead and watching for any brush that the attackers have ridden through.
-----After a few moments it seems as though Sol charges blindly in an eastern direction. He hangs on gallantly dodging and avoiding branches that dangle or project out in his way. Just as he reasons that he has ridden hard for about a mile, he catches sight of two riders ahead of him. Still many yards ahead of him, the riders charge on toward a large structure among the thinning trees.
-----One of the riders gives a sharp whistle and the two fleeting riders move inside the opening of the structure, which Sol can now see is a small-walled castle with a keep. As the two vanish inside the gate, a portcullis lowers quickly behind them. As Sol pulls up to what he thinks is out of bow range, everything beyond the castle walls seems silent.
-----In the next moment, Raven comes riding up to him followed by the wolf.
-----"Bloody hell!" Sol curses to Raven, "Just once, I'd like to catch up some o' these bastards." He then turns to regard castle with open disgust, and then promptly continues to curse, "What in blazes is a bloody occupied keep doing here? Is Hampton actually doing anything remotely resembling his duty?!? Dammit!"
-----Having got that somewhat out of his system, he turns his attention back to Raven and asks with concern, "How's Dread?"
-----Raven shrugs his shoulders, "He was breathing the last time I saw him. It will take more than an arrow to stop that little sob." Raven turns his attention to the keep. Raven says, "Let’s give the impression we're heading back, I'll then take a quick look around. Give me a half-hour to see what I can find. Sound okay?"
-----Sol glances back at the keep one more time and spits out, "Sure." He turns Thunder around and follows Raven back into the cover of the forest.
-----The two ride between the trees. When it appears that they are out of sight of the keep, Raven dismounts and disappears into the nearby brush with the wolf running beside him. Sol then waits in silence mounted on Thunder; his senses alerted to anything that happens.
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