-----The man's words however were hitting home, and had a great deal of sense behind them, at least according to Sol's judgment. He nodded calmly as he replied, "Agreed. I can't even begin t'settle my mind on such things now, but . . . when th' time is right, p'haps I will return t'my family's home, whether I'm welcome or not."
-----"Sir, what do you here? With what ye've done fer us, p'haps I can be of help t'ye in return?" He spoke earnestly, happy at reverting to something that he would always be comfortable doing.
-----"Nay," the old man says, raising his hand, "Your help to me is not needed. But, . . . it is needed elsewhere. I will take those you captured and free you of the burden. Take a bit to rest and when you and your companions are ready, you may continue on your way."
-----The old man lowers his eyebrows and adds cryptically, "If there be a way to help me, it would be speak of me to no one you meet."
-----"That I can do, sir." Sol replied easily, letting the man know with a shrug that the Gorian thought it the least he could do in return. Still, the other matter remained, "About th' prisoners though; th' others will want t'know what ye intend wi' em. Truth be told, as am I. Despite what ye've done fer us, we still don't know ye, an' it wouldn't be right passing them on blindly."
-----"Let me say that for your benefit as well as your friends, it is best at this time that you do not know," the old man replies. "This is not due to any malice on my part as it is perhaps for your own safety. The prisoners will not be mistreated as they would prisoners of their own. Rather they will be removed from this field of battle and kept where they can exist until they are no longer a threat."
-----Sol shrugs at the term 'mistreatment'. What he had in mind for a couple of the prisoners would've caused some friction in the party. This way, that would be avoided. The Gorian nodded to the old man, and went back to finishing caring for the horses. Once done, he walked back outside to rejoin the group.
-----Lovan stands off to one side; his scale mail removed and laid across his horse's saddle. The storm priest then stretches his arms skyward and flexes his muscles. Though he remains quiet, Lovan seems content as he waits.
-----Garrison looks up as Sol approaches and says, "Raven and . . . Whisper are still with one of the prisoners." Pausing between thoughts, the woodsman then asks, "So what's the plan? What are we doing with these prisoners . . . and what of the old man and this elf?"
-----Pil for now appears at ease while Strolum and Dilton keep a crude intense eye on the other captives.
-----Rinda seems a bit restless but she listens to Sol's reply.
-----Sol removed his own gauntlets, momentarily relishing the chance to flex his now unburdened hands. He answered Garrison as his eyes passed between the man and Rinda, "Th' old man will be looking after th' prisoners for us. A'fore ye jump in here about that, I believe that he is fully capable o' doing so, an' more. As fer what t'do wi' him an' th' elf, well, we may as well leave 'em t'their own devices. That is unless Raven doesn't think we can trust this Whisper. We'll work that out when they're finished."
-----Rinda looks at Sol and gently asks, "How are you doing, Sol? That was a shock to us all that Sarah left, but you two . . ." The Huntress lets the question hang although she awaits the young warrior's answer.
-----"Obviously meant very little to each other." Sol finishes Rinda's sentence more bitterly than he'd intended. He tries to temper it with, "Some things are best left fer now, an' that situation is one o' them."
-----"What do you think now?" Garrison says looking at the bit of sky he sees through the treetops. "We're no longer wounded and that old man is going to take the prisoners off our hands. Are we still staying here? We have the rest of the afternoon ahead of us."
-----"Well, we may as well take advantage o' th' situation an' scout out th' situation wi' th' villagers. Or at least Raven could take a look around fer now, or Rinda if yer up fer some flying. Th' more detailed information we have, th' better we can work out what needs be done." Sol replies, rattling off thoughts as soon as they are processed.
-----After a bit longer, Raven and Whisper return leading the young officer in front of them. The prisoner is delivered back to Strolum, who ties him back up to one of the trees.
-----The old man is seen leaning on his staff nearby.
-----"Well Raven, we no longer need concern ourselves wi' th' fate o' th' prisoners. Th' old man will be taking appropriate care o' them." The gaze Sol sends the hunter as he speaks these words is serious. He subconsciously flexes some of his previously wounded muscles as he calmly suggests, "We may as well get on wi' working out how we're going t'deal wi' th' fate o' th' villagers."
-----Whisper separated himself out from the group and went into a crouch, elbows easily resting on his thighs as his dead eyes regarded the assembled humans from beneath the hood, which he had raised again upon his return.