-----"We don't have a choice now do we," Kazel sighs and starts up on her horse. "He's probably chained up on a wall somewhere now."
-----With that everyone mounts up and starts back on the road toward the castle where the Dread Pirate was last seen. Once again they pass close to the woods on their left side and the swampy area on their right. Young frogs call from the high weeds while fish nip the surface of the water feeding on insects.
-----The party then passes into a large flat field that stretches just west of the castle. As they move closer, the castle lies before them dimly highlighted in the fading sunlight. No activity is seen around the tower and the walls of the place.
-----"Seth, what do you see with Albert?" Kazel looks around for a place for the group to settle. "Let's wait until it's dark, and then I'll go and have a look. Then we'll see if we have to sneak in or ride up and talk our way past the garrison. Okay?"
-----At Kazel's suggestion Seth whispers to Albert and launches him up into the air and concentrates on him as he flies around the castle.
-----Suddenly a man pops up from behind the castle wall over the main gate. He waves to the rogues and mercenaries in a beckoning gesture. Kazel and Seth immediately recognize him as Sol Herron!
-----Seth smiles and states, "I don't think Sol would ever wave at us so enthusiastically. Shall we approach?"
-----"Hmm, well I hope so," Kazel says. "Only one way to find out now."
-----Kazel suddenly stops and says, "Wait, there's a third possibility and that's someone took the hat from Dread and is now using it. Does Albert see any people around the walls looking like they'll ambush us?"
-----Seth looks out over the castle with a blank look on his face. He appears to concentrate and then offers the awaiting group, "Albert can only see the one bird, um person in the castle. Obviously our friend has made the garrison disappear!"
-----He turns and smiles at Kazel, "Just in case there is some problem why don't you disguise yourself in your peasant outfit and see what Dread is up to." He waves his hand at the waiting guards. "We will come running if you wave your scarf in the air. I think we should see it from here. If we do not, then Albert surely will."
-----Kazel nods at Seth. "Yea, good idea." She takes off her cloak, and then takes out her old peasant dress from her backpack and pulls it on top of the clothes she's wearing. She then puts her cloak back on and starts to walk towards the castle. If there is any cover close by however, like trees, she walks closer to them just in case.
-----As Kazel walks toward the castle Marast dismounts. The elf then begins silently moving through the grassy area keeping as low as he can. In one hand he carries his bow as he follows Kazel.
-----Seth decides to dismount and wait for what happens at the castle.
-----When Kazel makes it to the castle wall, the one who looks surprisingly like Sol calls down to her saying, "Blast me scurvy hide, what are ye doin down there? This old keep had a bunch o' bandits settin up shop in it. They'd keelhauled all the soldiers and dumped their bodies in the dungeon. It's really disgustin down there."
-----He then looks innocently down at Kazel and queries, "Are we ready to go yet? I'll be down in a second."
-----Marast stands up from behind a bush where he was hiding. He frowns up at the form atop the castle wall.
-----In just a few moments, the portcullis at the gate raises and the Dread Pirate emerges. He holds out his hand bearing the ring of invisibility in his palm for Kazel to take.
-----Seth and the others ride up on their horses.
-----Kazel takes the ring and peeks around inside the castle. "Thought we'd come help you move the loot since you were taking so long. Umm... you do have some right? Or at least have the bandits out looking for Sol's head - and not ours?"
-----The Dread Pirate looks momentarily sheepish and extemporizes, "Ummm...well, ya see, it was like this...I was in me Sol disguise and the bandits wanted to make me their prisoner. I wasn't real eager fer that to happen, so I told 'em a tale about rich merchants and such, then I vanished. A few of 'em rode out o' here to go check it out, I killed the rest of 'em, since they'd slaughtered all the soldiers assigned to this post. They died pretty easy though, I don't think they'd have slowed Sol and Raven down very much, if at all. I also searched the castle. About all I found was some charred notes and messages. One of 'em referred to some RiverLord and made some sort of hint as to an attack."
-----The Dread Pirate shrugs, then smiles and says, "But I did think up with a way to get ourselves some additional loot, while I was masqeradin as Sol. When we get back to Hearthorn, one of us puts on the Sol disguise and goes to claim his share of the reward. Whoever does it can always claim that the others will be along in a little bit, that they had some other personal duty to take care of first. Then 'Sol' can leave and somebody can take on the persona of Raven, etc, etc. I'm sure ye get the idea. O' course we'll have to get back first, or we might get in trouble."