-----Jyan narrows his eyes and remains quiet for a time. The young man looks as though he is biding his time and biting his tongue . . . for now.
-----"Be at ease, Jyan." Sol advised with a knowing smile on his face, "Best ye weather that particular storm. As for yerself, Lovan, we wait because I decided it was th' best course o' action t'take. As fer Jyan, we do not 'need' t'tolerate him, I however want him with us."
-----He swung a gauntleted hand around to clap Lovan soundly on the shoulder, grinning at the priest as he did so, "Fret not, my friend. Soon enough we'll have foes t'direct our energies towards." The warrior's gaze swung back towards the rise of the hill, and he surmised that they could be waiting for a while. Again his thoughts turned inward as he tried to find the current source of his serenity.
-----“What do ye suppose be a’ takin’ ‘em so long?” Strolum asks as he stares at the distant hill.
-----“That scoutin’ work needs to be done real careful like,” Dilton responds in his croaking voice.
-----The large bronze man quietly dismounts and stretches lifting his arms aloft. Pil then unsheathes his sword and begins to work his weapon.
-----“Now what be this?” the red haired warrior asks in the big man’s direction.
-----“Ye better be ready to mount back up if’n we gits some signal to move on,” Dilton says to Pil as the big man continues to flex his muscles.
-----“No,” Jyan suddenly says with a resigned tone, “it may be a while. No need to stay in the saddle all this time.”
-----Looking at the wide expanse around them, Strolum then looks back at Sol and says, “Suppose we be fine out heres in the opening like this?”
-----Sol shrugs at the question, displaying his lack of concern, "Even if we're spotted, it's not like they'll know who we are. We tend not t'leave foes around t'talk about us. There's no harm in some relaxation." Dismounting, the Gorian busied himself with checking Thunder's horseshoes, occasionally reassuring the warhorse with strokes of his hand.
-----Soon the rest of the riders dismount and set about resting and walking to stretch their limbs. Hours seem to pass and late afternoon turns to evening. Still nothing seems to stir in the surrounding countryside. Toward the hill where their companions were last seen, no activity can be discerned.
-----As the sun lowers toward the distant hill, Strolum says to Sol, “Seems like we oughta be ridin’ after th’ others or lightin’ a fire here soon.”
-----"I know scouting can take some time, but I admit, I did expect word a'fore this." Sol glances in the direction Raven left in consideration. It takes only a few seconds to make his decision, and he turns to look at Pil and says to the group, "Pil an' I are going t'ride t'th' lip o' th' hill t'take a look before all light is lost together. Don't worry, we won't be leaving yer sight, we'll only take a peak. An' if there's a problem, I'll send Pil here t'let ye all know. Th' rest o' ye, keep an eye out an' see if ye can find a covered place t'start a fire, but don't do so till we return."
-----Sol remounts Thunder and heads towards the hill, dismounting before he reaches the top so he won't be seen. Together with Pil, the Gorian begins to head towards the top, carefully slowing down to crouching strides not wanting to draw undue attention. Mindfully, Sol also removes his helm hoping to cut down on glare.
-----Sol and Pil ride off toward the west across a great expanse of flat land. The moving air did seem to give somewhat of a relief from the warm summer evening. After riding for two miles, the riders came upon a small house standing alone on the dry dusty plain. Its outside appearance seemed to reveal that the place was deserted.
-----The riders continued on to the hill a mile away to the west. Approaching the landform, they could see that the hill had short grass covering it and they dismounted before they gained its top. Together with Pil, the Gorian begins to head towards the top, carefully slowing down to crouching strides not wanting to draw undue attention. Mindfully, Sol also removes his helm hoping to cut down on glare.
-----Now gaining the summit, the two warriors survey what they could of the surrounding territory. To the south, they could now see the great river winding across the country from west to east. Just down off the hill to the west was a small village though the activity in it seemed to have swelled its population beyond what it normally would be. Roads ran into the village from the north and from the south where the river was a mile off.
-----Many wagons like the slavers used were seen and the village seemed to be filled with troops. The soldiers seemed to be the same kind as encountered in the last village although their numbers were increased tenfold. Occasionally a wagon was seen to take a road out of the village loaded with unfortunate villagers guarded by guards on horses. These wagons took a third road which lead to the west and seemed to follow the river.