-----A frown is the elf's immediate answer, which is followed by a grunt of discontentment as Sol explains, "I'd hoped th' hobgoblins I sent would've dealt wi' them. If they show up, we'll deal wi' them then. As fer th' rest o' it, didn't understand it one bit. I know why yer not big on th' small talk. But at important times like this, it'd help if ye beared up t' it an' whisper yer words other than wave yer hands about. Ye've shown yerself capable enough."
-----Rinda stands to one side and silently considers what Whisper tries to tell them.
-----“Wait a minute, Sol,” Raven says, speaking up suddenly. The hunter moves in closer so that only his companions can hear him. “What if some of us follow the tracks the Black Riders and the orcs left just to see if any wait south of the river. We could do our own bit of scouting and at least that could answer if this village is going to be under attack soon. If we don’t find anything, we could even chase down a few of the enemy to see what we can find.” Raven inclines his head as he looks around at Sol, Whisper and Jeilin.
-----"Fine. I was talking mainly t'th' folk here about not organizing attacks. Let me get my gear together, and we'll see what we can do." Sol turns to face Roderun and his companion, smiling warmly, "It's good t'see ye, and yer news is welcome. If yer heading back t'Lord Howrun, let him know we'll do what we can t'hold Kulendra till he can reinforce it."
-----“My friends,” Roderon says smiling, “Lord Howrun will be very pleased with how you have done here.”
-----Thunder stamps a hoof and whinnies as if in agreement.
-----Lovan casts an eye skyward at the clouds. A slight grumble escapes him.
-----“Sol,” Raven says again before the Gorian can dash off after his gear, “I’m rethinking what I suggested before. Maybe we could stay ahead of Howrun’s army. What if we scout south of the river to make sure our enemy is not there to attack us. If they are, we come back to defend the village. If they aren’t, we go ahead and push south; maybe all the way to Sintor’s city. That might mean that we leave Garrison, Strolum and a few of the others here to help until Howrun’s army gets here.”
-----Whisper remained silent throughout, arms crossed, barely paying attention to the exchange of words except when it pertained to moving South.
-----Raven's idea suited him quite well, at least in the short term. He nodded in the direction of Sol Herron, pointed up at the sun, moving his hand along the arc, measuring perhaps an hour or so of passage. Then he pointed at himself, and then south.
-----The Gorian glances at the elf's hand movements, but a half roll of his eyes is his only reply. It's uncertain whether he understands the message, or whether he chooses not to as he looks back to the hunter, replying, "Raven, I told Whisper this morning that I felt responsibility fer these people, that I wanted t'see t'their safety. I understand th' urge t'keep moving though so instead o' me heading south immediately, Garrison an' th' others could go in my stead." It seems Sol is quite torn at the idea of leaving these people to an uncertain fate.
-----Jeilin stands to the side, watching Sol talking and Whisper gesturing, her hands clasping the book that she often reads in her travels. Finally, she makes a small sound as if to speak.
-----"Sintor," the frail priestess closes her eyes briefly, trying to shut out the memories. "He always wanted his troops to report back to him, so, they are probably going southwest now, to Black Bog. If the Black Riders are with them, I should be there too." She seems about to say more, then simply nods as if agreeing to herself.
-----She then reaches into her pack and begins to rummage through her scroll cases, as if she had already forgotten what the conversation was about.
-----“I agree with Sol, Raven,” Rinda suddenly says. “I don’t like leaving these people now when they are still needing our help.”
-----Just at that time, Strolum leads some of his ‘guards’ back into the village square. The red-haired warrior tells the guards to take their rest. Strolum then calls out across the square, “I be a’needin’ five warriors t’come wit’ me t’guard the west side o’ th’ village. We’ll be a’watchin’ toward where them dam . . . oh excuse me ma’am n’ yer younguns, Joren have mercy upon me.” Here Strolum sidesteps a young woman and her children politely before launching into his casual call to arms. “As I be a’sayin’ we be a’watchin’ where th’ orc camp was and points toward th’ river til after sundown.” With that, at least twenty men and women rush forward with weapons, finely crafted or crudely made. The warrior chooses five among their number telling the rest they may be soon needed for the other guard posts or for the night watch.
-----As Strolum departs for the western field, Roderon steps forward and says, “If there is no need for us here, my friends, we will soon depart to return to Lord Howrun and inform him of your condition. Are there any messages you would like us to give him?”
-----“To ride here with all haste and bring healers,” Rinda quickly replies.
-----Raven smiles at Rinda and then looks and nods at Jeilin. “Jeilin, how far is this Black Bog? Is it a garrison of some sort?”
-----A few misplaced parchments later, Jeilin finally pulls out a familiar map of Ravenhold that was taken earlier after the battle at the thorp. The priestess then replies to Raven. "Well! Black Bog is the central town of the fief," she indicates it on the map. "About ten to fifteen miles southwest from here, I think. What is interesting though, is that the knight of this estate should already have moved out to the north."
-----"This means that there should be fewer troops in Black Bog and the northeast of Ravenhold, and Silvergard would be marching in between, or behind if you like, the northern and eastern fronts." She blinks at Roderon as her thoughts wandered elsewhere.
-----After a moment or two, her attention seems to return and she says to no one in particular. "Sintor is still further south, but might very well march in this direction if he hears of what happened here."
-----Raven grimaces at the information relayed by Jeilin. “Damn!” he swears softly before looking at Sol again. “I still think we need to at least scout south of the river. We don’t need to go any farther than that for now, but we need to know if they’re getting ready to attack us and if not, where the trouble’s heading.”
-----He looks around and continues, addressing the Gorian, “Sol, how about Whisper, Jeilin, you and me do this?”
-----The hunter then turns again to Jeilin and asks, “Would you be willing to scout with us? You seem to know locations here and if I find something, you may be able to help us figure it out.”
-----Apparently eager to be on his way, Sol turns to Roderun one last time, "Thanks again fer bringing th' news. Th' only thing I can think t'ask, is can ye see if it's possible fer Lord Howrun t'spare a unit o' skirmishers or light calvary t'ride ahead o' th' main force t'relieve us earlier. If not, we'll see ye in a few days." He then looks back to Raven, "I'll get ready now, then we can head out fer this scouting."
-----Sol then heads back into the barn, leading Thunder.
-----Jeilin nods once at the hunter. She takes one last look at the maps, then begins to pack them up and head out.
-----Whisper's lips twitched up into a slight smile. With an almost feline roll of his shoulders, the Wood Elf sets off toward the ravaged Orc camp at a jog.