-----Jeilin suppresses a smile at Raven's and Sol's replies. She makes a so-so gesture and points at her eyes before waving in a southerly direction. Then she moves her hand in a sweeping arc across the sky from east to west, followed by wagging two fingers pointed downwards in the imitation of a man walking. Finally, she holds up a fist and slowly and solemnly extends her fingers - an index finger, a V sign, a triple - one after another with a pause each, until they count four.
-----"Four days... he said meet in four days."
-----Sol stares back blankly, trying to work out exactly what Jeilin meant. "Yer memory is better than mine." The Gorian rasps, fishing for an explanation.
-----"When he left, he said to meet him in the south in four days, by finding his trail signs." Jeilin explains. "Nevermind the gestures."
-----"I never mind the gestures," comes the warrior's affable agreement. "So we're due t'meet in a couple o' days? Maybe we should prepare t'leave as soon as Howrun's lot arrives... If yer all happy t'carry this further."
-----The priestess nods quietly in answer, as they continue to walk.
-----Raven and Rinda follow Sol and Jeilin into the inn. There they see Jyan’s father taking a very enthusiastic role as innkeeper. About twenty people sit about the common room eating meals prepared by one of Jyan’s sisters and his mother while the other sister and his father bring out drinks and food.
-----Over to one side, one of the village’s warriors stands guard close to the storeroom that leads below where the gold is stashed.
-----“Young master Sol,” Jyan’s father calls quickly as he sets a trio of mugs down for some ‘customers’. Eyeing the other heroes, he offers with a smile, “Care to sit and sample our stew?”
-----Smiling brightly in return, Sol replies to the innkeep, "I would, an' I'd be grateful fer it." Before sitting, the Gorian casts his eyes around the inn, searching for the man who entered ahead of them.
-----"Yes, please." Jeilin replies pleasantly. The priestess sets her walking stick against the table, then settles down as if in a library and once again begins to read her ever present book.
-----Raven and Rinda sit down with the hunter adding, “Two for Rinda and me,” when suddenly his attention is taken with some of the fellow patrons in the room.
-----The man who provided dour and ominous words to the community outside raises up from one of the far tables. He casts a glaring eye in the direction of the heroes. Raising his chin, he gestures to his companions seated at the table with him. Four other ragged men stand and they begin to stalk out toward the back exit of the room.
-----Sol eyes the five scruffy men, the main one in particular, with a smouldering, grim expression. Standing from his seat, his voice rumbles dangerously, "If ye've a problem wi' me or my companions, voice them now, or do ye prefer t'cower away wi' yer tails between yer legs?"
-----Jeilin does not look up, but her eyes have apparently stopped reading. Staring ahead into her book, she continues to sit still and listen.
-----“You dare, do ye?!” the man says, instantly spinning with his weapon suddenly in his hand. Some of the patrons nearby push back; some rising fearfully and moving toward the walls. Many wide eyes gleam as they look at both Sol and the aggressive man.
-----The man’s four companions draw their own swords eyeing movement with the crowd. With surly expressions, they hold off any retaliation though they find none.
-----Jyan’s father yells, “Stop this now!” although his command seems to go unheeded.
-----Raven rises out of his seat just as the man advances quickly and menacingly across the room toward Sol.
-----Reluctantly, Jeilin looks up from her book. The priestess holds up her frail arm towards the approaching man, palm facing up at him as if telling him to stop, and says, "Kaiba eleri!"
-----As the armed man approaches Sol, the Gorian places his hand on the hilt of the Lathanian blade and warns gratingly, "Ye'd spill blood o'er this? That's yer decision, but if ye try'n use that pig-sticker on me, any o' ye, I'll put ye down."
-----Without warning, the man suddenly leaves his feet and, to most present, it looks as though he leaps toward the Gorian. However, even to Sol’s astonishment, his trajectory hurls him straight up toward the ceiling. The man’s head strikes a wooden beam and he appears to be momentarily stunned. The man continues to hang onto his sword though his expression on his face seems to be dazed.
-----As everyone within the inn falls silent, the man floats from the ceiling down just a few inches before settling as if the air itself holds him suspended.
-----Jeilin breaks the silence by calmly asking the man, "Please, voice your concern."
-----The man’s four companions look about nervously from their floating fellow to the frail seated priestess. Though they seem angry and concerned, their surprise holds their tongues.
-----“What madness is this . . ?” The floating warrior groggily asks, disoriented for the moment.
-----"I've just stopped you from hurting yourself and those around you," Jeilin continues as she lowers her arm and remains seated. "As my friend here said, if you have a problem, do speak of it."
-----"Consider this a gift o' life from th' priestess too." Sol grates with alarming savagery, as he slowly stalks towards the other four, the Gorian still without a weapon in his hand. His arm raises as the angered warrior jabs his finger at the group, growling, "An' unless th' lot o' ye put yer toys away, I'll put ye down. An' answer our damned questions!"