-----The others have already begun to eat some of their rations. The blacksmith had apologized earlier that the village had little food to share with them. Strolum, Dilton and Pil were also keeping a watchful eye on the mageling. The young man sat huddled, but now untied, looking tired but hopeful.
-----“Have we decided if we are moving out tomorrow?” Garrison suddenly asks to everyone in general. The woodsman is characteristically tending to a few light scratches he accumulated during the day’s battles.
-----“Nothing’s been decided on that yet,” Sol replies. “Let’s see how these villagers get through th’ night.”
-----Lovan grumbles under his breath and settles back in his makeshift hay bed having already removed some of his armor.
-----“If you’re following the river, take me with you,” the young man named Jyan suddenly says.
-----Lovan immediately sits up and glares at the mage. “We don’t need a wizard,” he says with venom. “We just got rid of one!”
-----There was a look of irony about Jyan with his shoulder-length dark hair and wearing black robes. Still his face reflected innocence and a kind of desperation.
-----Looking at Sol and Raven especially, the young man says, “If you’re heading to that village you asked me about earlier, I can lead you there. That is where I need to go! My family may have been taken there!” By now, the young man has become a bit more excited bringing his hands up in a gesturing and pleading way.
-----“Whoa,” Strolum says, as the red-haired warrior brings his sword close to Jyan’s shoulder. “Ye keeps yer arms down n’ settle yerself. We don’ be a’ mindin’ ye talkin’, we jest don’ know if’n we can trust ye yet.”
-----Sol looks at Jyan consideringly, and replies quietly to the young man's urgings, "I'm of a mind t'take ye wi' us, but if that's what we end up doing, we need ye t'be in control o' yerself. At th' very least I expect ye t'follow our lead. Yer heart may be all over th' place, fer what's happening t'yer family, but ye'd do them no good if ye get yerself caught by th' enemy fer doing something stupid."
-----"An' Strolum is right, though yer story makes sense, we still can't fully trust one who rode wi' th' enemy fer now. Doesn't mean we won't, just don't think yer plight will give ye right o' way." Sol looks at Rinda, having finished addressing the mage, and concedes, "I will check on th' men once, then I'll come back fer some rest an' food. They're a good lot, an' so we probably will be able t'head off on th' morrow."
-----The Gorian, now bearing a new sword at his hip, briefly checked over his equipment, and headed off into the night to inspect the night watch.
-----A very bright full moon greeted Sol as he ventured outside. The heavenly body was rising just above the distant hills in the east and would seem to command the night in a cloudless sky.
-----A bit later, Raven, Rinda and Whisper would journey outside to take in the night and the defended village.
-----The villagers had little trouble that night and the watch performed their duties without any problem. The only distraction during the time was when a small swarm of giant rats appeared on the side of the hill. With the good graces of the full moon, a little impromptu target practice was undertaken. Whether he was aware of it or not, Raven would have been proud of his crossbowmen as the vermin were quickly dispatched.
The Thirtieth of Greentide, D.Y. 500
-----In the morning, the sun rose upon what Rinda called the last day of spring. Garrison, who had probably spent the most time speaking with Jyan announced, “Jyan is asking if he can have his spellbook from his saddlebags.” Crossing his arms, the woodsman raised his eyebrows and added, “I think we can trust this one. He’s intent on finding his family, but I think he’ll try to stay with our group’s wishes if we take him with us.”