-----Kazel takes out her bow and sword and says quietly, "Alright then, but we're there for Marast only right? I mean, if we see his head on a stick then we are sailing straight through? And let's try not to get scratched by anything." She puts on her leather gloves as she speaks. "A bum told me that when I was little. I remember he had lots of facial and chest hair and likes to wake up naked at the market in the morning with scratches all over for some reason."
-----"What's the worst that could happen?" Amdracks echoes the Dread Pirate with a tone of unbelievability and a smile.
-----When Kazel speaks, Runik stops and listens intently with a look of concern. In the next moment, the dwarf asks Kazel, "Naked in th' market? Th' lad weren' a battlerager, was he? I be hearin' them gutshakers'll do t'at to ya."
-----"All right!" Brandel says with excitement building in his whispered voice, "Let's do this!"
-----Quickly, Seth, Amdracks and the little girl are shifted toward the middle of the wagon bed. Brandel taps his sword strapped to his side. Krord draws his own dark sword and hunkers down along the right side of the wagon while Runik stoops in the bed watching the left side.
-----Brandel slaps the reins and the horses start forward at an easy pace. Kazel and the Dread Pirate ride right along with the vehicle and its occupants.
-----The entire nighttime world seems to hold its breath as the wagon merges into the tree line. No sound seems to be emitted from among the tall dark trees.
-----Everyone keeps their eyes scanning on all their surroundings looking for any sign of movement. All, that is except for Amdracks. The mage priest appears to feverishly intone some kind of magic. A light blue glow commences from his small book and quickly engulfs his form. The glow quickly dies before he also takes up the watch on the surroundings.
-----Brandel keeps the wagon and the horses steady. As they enter the village proper, the few buildings that are there appear as dark and devoid of life as the massive trunks. The approaching light casts eerie shadows that quiver and change.
-----When the wagon rounds a building, everyone can see that a ring of torches has been set up on make shift posts just in front of the tavern building. It gives the impression that here is the only place in the entire world that is illuminated.
-----Just as Brandel pulls the wagon within a few feet of the tavern, two human-sized forms exit the building. Two men wearing the surcoats of the Fief of Oakwood draw their swords and hold their other hands up for the wagon to halt. The two men look vaguely familiar to the rogues as they call to the vehicle's occupants, "Ho! Who goes there?" A look of urgency is on the guards' faces.
-----At that moment, the air is filled with a hellish howling that sends a chill down through everyone. Just as suddenly, all of the steeds scream and begin to bolt.
-----"Whoa!" Brandel yells as he throws his weight back on the reins. The wagon lunges and rocks as the horses move backward and forward.
-----Coal-black Joren begins to bolt across the lawn in front of the tavern narrowly missing the two guards. The Dread Pirate loses his grip on the reins and he is deposited just in front of the guards' feet.
-----Kazel's horse rears, its eyes wide and frantic with terror. The half-elven butcher clings onto the reins and saddle, staying for the moment with the terrorized animal.
-----Other forms emerge quickly from the building. One of the first is the raggedy form of a familiar wood elf who quickly draws his bow as he surveys the chaotic scene unfolding.
-----Seth waits in the wagon to see what the others are about to do. He is loath to leave the treasure unattended.
-----"Just us healthy normal citizens, misters!" As she speaks to the guards, Kazel uses her ring to command all the horses to stop and calm down, and tells Joren to go back to Dread. She then waves to the wood elf, but prepares to duck if anything comes shooting her way.
-----From his seated position on the ground, Dread responds disgustedly, "Aye, there, see how everything worked out. We rode into town, met up with Marast and here's the town guards. All according to me plan. More or less."