-----Kazel listens carefully for any noise and then quietly climbs the ladder to peer at the loft. As she gains the loft, she sees an abundance of hay spread throughout this upper level. As she looks around, her eye catches the sight of something covered by the hay. A small mound in the hay looks as if it covers something the size of a medium-sized box. Moving toward it and pushing the hay aside, Kazel sees the box contains different kinds of jewelry. A copper arm band, a silver chain, an antique-looking brooch and golden bracelet are a few of the things lying within.
-----Kazel looks over the chest for any traps and then once more around her. "Well now, I don't s'pose a farmer grew that from a field or milked out of a cow," she thinks. She then quickly wraps the four items into a piece of cloth separating each item and tied together with rope so they won't clink. With that she slips out of the barn and circles back to intercept her group, keeping an eye out for that elusive hooded figure just in case.
-----Just as Kazel leaves the barn, she hears talking. Looking toward the pond, she sees Seth speaking with the men who came to rescue the farmer from the pond.
-----Surprisingly, their talk seems pleasant, even joyous.
-----"Come along with us now, bard!" chimes in one of the leather clad men. "Drinks will be aplenty and we must hear our song!" The men begins heading in the direction across the field toward the tavern.
-----One of the men clamps the wet farmer on the back seeming to slap him out of his shock of the past few moments. "Come along with us, farmer Herb. A little ale in you will help to warm your spirits."
-----The farmer looks around and finally with a reserved look, rolls his eyes and says, "Why not?"
-----He follows the others as the men coax Seth to follow them toward the tavern.
-----Kazel decides to follow the men towards the tavern. As she closes the distance she watches the men in case they suspect her presence.
-----As Seth and his newfound friends stroll across the field, the men take up a song as Seth plays. Thus Kazel finds it very easy to trail them without worry of being discovered. Just before they reach the tavern, the wagon appears on the road beside the building.
-----Brandel still drives with Krord, Runik, and the little girl visible in the back. Kazel doesn't see Amdracks or the Dread Pirate, though the dwarf appears to ride higher than he should.
-----As the men with Seth get ready to enter the tavern, a loud groan comes from the wagon. Runik quickly moves as if to hit something under him and then grabs his stomach.
-----"My friend is needing a bit to eat," Brandel explains as some of the men look in the direction of the wagon, "Would they be serving food inside this establishment?"
-----Krord hops out of the wagon as one of the men waves as if to enter as they continue to sing to Seth's music.
-----Kazel changes her mind to go into the tavern when she sees that Krord will be with Seth. She waits until all the villagers are out of sight and then reappears on the safer side of the wagon.
-----"Send out some food to us, Krord," Brandel calls as the men in front of Seth enter the tavern.
-----"Aye, and as much o' ale as ye kin git!" adds Runik as he continues to sit atop the heap that can only be Amdracks.
-----The little girl stands up in the wagon and searches the countryside around as if looking for someone.
-----As Seth enters into the tavern, Runik also scans the area with his hand shadowing his eyes and says, "Blast, it be nice knowin' whar the lass got to."
-----At that moment, the dwarf falls backward over Amdracks as Kazel suddenly appears beside the wagon. "Lass!" he manages to get out as he struggles to get up. His feet flail out drawing groans and muffled protests from the covered mage priest as Runik kicks him.
-----The little girl holds her arms out to Kazel as the butcher asks Brandel the whereabouts of the Dread Pirate.
-----"He said he was going to shadow us from the bushes at the side of the road just in case we ran into trouble," Brandel replies. The mercenary then looks around himself saying, "although I don't see any sign of him now."
-----A few villagers are seen up the road toward the center of the village but the area between the woods and tavern seem devoid of anyone.
-----As Kazel continues to talk to Brandel, the sound of music begins to filter from the tavern building. The strings of Seth's harp carries a melody while the activity in the tavern otherwise grows silent.
-----"What be afoot, lass?" Runik asks Kazel as the dwarf gains his footing and leans on the side of the wagon.