-----Seth stops playing and looks at Dread, "You know, Nylan is a Paladin? Right? Well, he would have known if Amdracks was evil, wouldn't he?" He thinks a bit then adds, "But then again look at poor Sir Slappy and the torment Nylan is putting him through!" He chuckles and then looks at Amdracks, "You know, I think we have forgotten to feed him as well. Maybe the tree tying will be enough punishment -without keelhauling an innocent man. You know I wonder how many innocent men have been keelhauled just because they had a mad, blood-thirsty captain."
-----The Dread Pirate nods his head sagaciously in agreement with Seth's commentary, "Aye, but then we've all probably done things that deserve a good keelhauling or two. I don't think anyone is really innocent enough to avoid such a thing. Besides, it isn't always fatal. Every once in awhile some scurvy dog would pop back up at the stern of the ship with a startled expression on his face, as though he was wondering how he got there. The looks on their faces alone made keelhauling worth it. Then we'd haul the lucky sod back up on deck and we'd all have a hearty laugh about the whole thing over some rum drinks. That's just the life of a pirate fer ye. Keelhauling and rum drinks. Rum drinks and keelhauling. Ahhhh, the good old days."
-----"Perhaps we can dump him when we visit Ms V," Kazel says as she retrieves her rope and looks dismayed at the slashed bag. "They should know how to take care of him. Or just slash his throat for visiting. I wonder if a hood would look good on him right about now?"
-----Seth nods at Kazel's suggestion, "Yes, I think Miss V is the perfect solution. She will know how to deal with the miscreant!"
-----After a couple of hours, the sun sinks lower in the western sky. To the east now is seen the massive tree line that leads back toward the forests of Oakwood. In the fading afternoon light, Brandel pulls the wagon to the point where the company had spent part of the first night in Redmarsh.
-----A few yards away some exposed bones lay in the short grass from the stag carcass from a few nights ago. Two carrion birds continue to pick over the bones as a third lands clumsily beside them.
-----Brandel suddenly breaks the silence by asking, "How close do we wish to get to the forest this night. I do not think we would be able to pass the village of Navlot before nightfall."
-----"Arrg," Runik grunts, "that be where we met up wit' those weird people in the tavern."
-----The Dread Pirate tugs ruminatively at his scraggly beard, "Arrr, well, If'n we camp out here in the open, we'd best go without a campfire. If we camp in the woodline, then things might be sneakin up on us amongst the trees. In any case, I'd just as soon not get attacked by whatever was draggin that corpse around last time we were here. I say we put in a hard day's ride and camp once we're well on the other side of Navlot."
-----"At this rate, we may reach Navlot at nightfall," Brandel replies, "then we would be traveling in the dark through the forest. That would put us at camping somewhere along the forest road between Navlot and Noth."
-----"Ye'd be givin' up the waggin reins," Runik says to Brandel, "yer eyes ain't so keen in the dark are they, boy?"
-----Brandel cracks a smile as he says, "You have me there, my friend dwarf." With a thoughtful look, he adds, "We could put torches on the wagon to light the way, but that might draw attention."
-----Krord casts a frowning glance toward Amdracks. The mage priest sits in the bed with his wrists bound in front of him. A calm look on his face reveals his intention to speak on something useful.
-----The Dread Pirate glances at Amdracks, then a thoughtful look crosses his face and he says, "Amdracks, me fine friend, I think I just came up with a way fer ye to prove yer good intentions. Ye see, I have this knife wound on me belly that might or might not be cursed with a magical plague. To be honest, I haven't even looked at it in quite awhile."
-----The Dread Pirate pauses to lift up his shirt to get a glimpse of his belly wound. He then continues, "Anyways, if'n ye cure me of the plague, then I think we can probably cut ye loose from our little band, satisfied that yer on the up and up. That's assumin' o' course that everybody agrees."
-----As Seth eyes the belly wound as Dread lifts his shirt, the first thing he notices is the grime! He begins to feel an uncontrollable itch on his back. "The sooner we get somewhere with a bath and some water, the happier I would be. You know, Dread, maybe if you took a bath it might help that wound - stop it getting infected?"