-----Sarah glances angrily at the two guards that are still alive. "We don't have time to take prisoners." She states simply. "Especially not those who allied themselves with Krondor." She sneers at them. They are lower than dirt on her list. Sarah glances downstream, trying to see where the river goes, while hopefully Raven and Garrison and Rinda finish off the two soldiers.
-----"You two drop your weapons and stay where I can see you," Garrison growls at the two men, "You run and I will chase you down like ogres." With dramatic effect, the woodsman raises his battle-axe at them. The two hurriedly rid themselves of their axes and shields.
-----As Sarah looks toward the watery exit of the chamber, she sees that it extends twenty to thirty feet before the portcullis gate is reached. From her vantage point, she finds she can only see across the dark river to the other side.
-----Rinda picks up and sheathes her sword. She then walks down and observes the three docks. She looks at the flooring of the dock along the empty slip. She then looks across at the slip with the ruined vessel and then the last one with the undamaged boat. Looking near her feet, she says, "Men came through here not long ago. They were running."
-----Rinda then looks up at the two guards and asks sternly, "Where is Krondor?"
-----The two shuffle and look at each other. Garrison roughly shoves one and growls out, "Answer, damn you!"
-----One of the men simply says, "Gone," while the other nods toward the water outside the portcullis gate.
-----Just then something small and dark in the torchlight flies through the gate. It emits a rasping call as it flies toward Sarah. As his wings flutter to land on Sarah's wrist, Chessie returns to his mistress.
-----Raven grabs his bow and runs over to the undamaged boat. Raven gets into the boat and he yells to the group, "Let's go! Krondor can't be far away."
-----Rinda is standing beside the boat as Garrison approaches with the two cowed guards. As Sarah continues to look out on the dark water with Chessie on her arm, the woodsman is about to say something. Just then, there is movement on the ledge from the tunnel that makes the entrance to this place. As everyone looks up, they can see Sol, Lovan and Romney glancing about the chamber and finally seeing them.
-----"Room fer more captain?" Sol calls from the ledge above, a wide grin breaking out on his eager face. He speeds his way down the stairs, heading towards the small boat.
-----Raven can't help but smile, "Aye there mate, but you'll have to earn your keep." Raven says as he motions towards an oar.
-----Raven turns to Romney, "Could you take the other oar? I want those with bows and such to have their hands free." Raven readies his bow and waits for them to move out.
-----Sarah glances to the two guards that are still standing there, back to everyone rushing towards the boat, and then back to the guards. She's rather amazed that everybody seems to think they should just be let go. Sarah disagrees. Her thumbs touch each other as her fingers spread out. Flame shoots from her hands and torches the two guards. "You can see your master in Hell." She says angrily.
-----Sol watches the execution with concern. Without complaint, Sol cautiously clambers onto the boat and sits himself down at the oar indicated by Raven and grasps the wooden handle. He tentatively splashes the water a couple of times to get used to the feel of it. The Gorian then asks in a level tone, "Was there something different about those two guards?"
-----"Different from us? They threw in with Krondor." Sarah responds levelly.
-----"I meant any different from th' other guards we have tied up." Sol grates darkly. He pauses briefly and then shakes his head, "No time fer this now. Our worm has turned into a fish..." He then sets the oar ready for rowing.
-----The two guards, their faces all aflame, scream as their reeking flesh burns. The two turn to flee, but in their death throes stagger off the dock falling into the water of the middle slip. One man strikes the bow of the submerged boat where it protrudes from the water. Both bodies then float silently.
-----Lovan quickly grabs the tiller as Garrison loosens the lines tying the boat to the dock. "Lean into those oars!" he commands as Sol and Romney find their places. Both warriors heave at the oars as the boat moves forward toward the gate.
-----In a few moments, the craft glides outside the portcullis gate and into the open waters of the Altor River. At this point, there is great anticipation, but it is suddenly followed by hesitation.
-----The sky above is filled with stars but the moon is hours from rising. All around the keelboat, the dark water remains quiet as its currents slowly move. As the light from the offending torches dim behind them, the party sees no sign of an escaping ship in the dark night.