-----Many of the people in the line turn toward Sol and look at him somewhat attentively. The old man at the table scowls momentarily at the Gorian before returning to his business of asking a middle aged woman some questions. A few other people are moving about the village square but seem to pay the young warrior little heed.
-----"It has come t'my attention that some o' ye are considering leaving Ku t'track down families, friends an' homes. That's well an' good, but fer all yer safety, I beseech ye t'hold off such plans until Lord Howrun has managed t'reinforce Kulendra an' th' surrounds first." The warrior's voice carries easily, and he maintains a steady tone. Only Sol's eyes burn with intensity as he surveys the crowd of people so cruelly held captive only the day before.
-----His words continue to flow, "My companions an' I have battled many evils during th' last couple o' months. Going from place t'place was dangerous enough in many o' th' areas we've been, an' all o' it was due t'th' darkness that Sintor seeded. Hearthorn was bad enough, Ravenhold is far worse. It is no longer safe t'travel even in armed groups, so until it has been made safer fer ye, ye'll be doing no one favours by going out an' getting yerselves killed."
-----A pause follows, as Sol draws breath, then he carries on, "Lastly, if it's not orcs, hobs or trolls that take ye, or any other fel creatures that now roam unguarded, it's capture at th' hands o' Sintor's regular forces I fear fer, fer then ye could be putting Kulendra at risk under torture. I can guarantee they will learn from ye what has happened here, an' if they get here before Howrun does, lives once again will be in greater risk."
-----An appeasing hand raises as the mounted Stormbringer finishes his words, "I cannot, an' will not stop ye from what ye decide is right fer ye, all I ask is that ye think on my words, an' pass them on t'any that ye know t'be considering leaving today. Thank ye fer yer ears." Sol nods and settles back into the saddle, glancing once at Raven inscrutably.
-----In the heat of the afternoon, none speak up in reply to the young warrior. As Sol and Raven look around, the people who were paying attention as the Gorian spoke now turn away going about their business.
-----Raven shrugs at the reaction and says, “At least we’ve tried to warn them. I have a feeling that the only ones who will try to leave would be those who would be needed for the watch. I can’t imagine the children or the older folk trying to set off into the countryside.”
-----A smile crosses the hunter’s face as he looks at Sol sitting in the saddle. “It’s funny,” Raven says, “no one brought up the fact that you still have smoke coming from your pack.”
-----Nodding back toward the eastern gate, he asks, “Do you want to continue our patrol?”
-----Sol smiles back, finding the idea of a smoking backpack quite novel. He gives a sharp nod in return and agrees, "Yes, let's finish what we've started. Let's pick up th' pace too. That way I can pretend it's cooler." Thunder turns and trots towards the gate.
-----Sol and Raven ride past the eastern gate and it seems much like the way they had first left it. Pil and his men on watch concentrated quietly on what was occurring, or rather what was not occurring in the countryside.
-----Turning to the southern edge of the village, the two riders could see the river as it flowed to the northeast. A few moments later, they arrived at the watch point maintained by Dilton and the ones on watch there.
-----“Master Sol!” Dilton calls in greeting and his demeanor is much more bright than what Pil exhibited earlier.
-----“Hey!” one of the men on watch call, “He’s on fire!” The man then points at the Gorian with the smoking pack.
-----"No, no, it's just something unusual we found. Hey Dilton, anything o' interest around here?" Sol asks casually, not expecting a positive reply.
-----“Nay, Master Sol,” Dilton croaks with a wide smile. “’Tis been a good watch we been a’havin’ this morn! Th’ bridge n’ th’ trail a’leadin’ up from it be as secure as kin be! We been workin’ on holdin’ th’ talk in favor o’ hand signals.”
-----Dilton turns and looks over the ten warriors on watch with him. Most ignore the conversation going on between the heroes and Dilton although one looks curiously at the smoke rising from Sol’s pack.
-----"Carry on then." Sol replies with a grin before pushing Thunder on; heading first west, then north to complete the sweep ride.
-----As the heroes reach the west side of the village perimeter, they can see where Strolum keeps his watch from the trees on that side. They also notice a few of the freed people, mostly those who were working the river mining, walking across the large field that separates the village from where the orcs were camped. They seem to walk toward the river carrying pottery type containers.
-----Sol looks at Raven and signals towards those heading to the river with a flick of his fingers. He nudges Thunder forward a bit faster, though not so much as to frighten the villagers.
-----As the two heroes approach, they see some of the other ‘villagers’ heading back from the river close to where the orcs had the prisoners work in the water. They move slowly as they carry their water filled containers toward the village.