-----Calming down a bit, Brandel adds, "I have known Krord since that time. He has been an honorable and faithful companion to us all."
-----Kazel right away gestures toward the horse. Oddly, it immediately stops and calms down.
-----The Dread Pirate leaps off of Joren and races after the fleeing horse, knowing that it will drastically slow them down in the hours ahead if they lose one of their mounts.
-----Grabbing hold of the reins, he leads it back rather than rides it as this horse is a bigger size than the others.
-----As he approaches, he says to Brandel, "Now I'm not saying that Krord isn't an honorable and goodhearted fellow. But there is definitely something out of the ordinary going on here that involves him. I'll tell you flat out, I suspect that he is infected with lycanthropy or something similar. I think that madman back at the tavern was as well and he recognized something about Krord. And that horse was acting in a decidedly abnormal manner. I'm not saying that we fire him if he is a were-something, but I'd like to know if he is. It could prove to be of inestimable value in the upcoming fight. Frankly, having someone on our side who can't be harmed by normal weapons would be a huge help, considering we're going to be outnumbered by over two to one. And it's not like I'd ever tell anyone if he is a werebeast. I'd probably hire him on permanently in fact. And I'm certainly not suggesting that he cut his hand off or maim himself to find out. A little scratch would prove or disprove my theory. If he is uninjured by that knife, then the oddities here are explained and we gain a big advantage. Of course I could be wrong, there might be some other explanation, but you've been traveling with Krord for how long? Two years? Have you ever seen him injured by a normal weapon? I'll take your word for it if you have. Maybe there is another way to tell though."
-----Dread leads one of the other horses over towards Krord, to see if it will react in the same manner as the first one.
-----As Gimplefwick does this, Brandel turns to Krord and asks, "Krord, have you ever seen that strange-looking man back in that tavern we were in yesterday afternoon?"
-----The huge guard grimaces as if thinking hard on the question. His features then lighten and without smiling shakes his head no.
-----Brandel then turns back to the Dread Pirate and says, "Yes, I have seen Krord injured before and with all due respect, Krord couldn't be a werebeast. Why," Brandel pauses, following his train of thought, ". . . the moon was out in the sky the last few nights. Was not the moon full then?" Brandel turns and asks this question to Marast.
-----The raggedy elf stands firmly with his arms crossed. He nods and simply answers, "Moon full two nights past. We be in the town of men."
-----Brandel turns back to the Dread Pirate and asks, "Could there be another reason why Krord had their attention?"
-----Just then everyone watches the second horse stand near the huge guard. Its demeanor is very calm and it remains absolutely still as Krord reaches over and strokes its nose.
-----Seth shakes his head. "Maybe the horse can be called by Sol, and that's why the horse reacts. Mr. Smiley from the bar could be another reason."
-----The Dread Pirate shrugs and reclaims his throwing knife, "Arrr, I guess I was mistaken. My apologies, Krord. In any case, maybe we'd best trade in these horses before they cause us any more trouble."
-----After an adequate rest, everyone mounts up and heads once again in a southern direction. This time, the Dread Pirate urges the mighty Joren into a canter while the other horses maintain a steady trot.
-----The clear blue continues to dominate the sky and the air moving past them in their advance cools everyone. As they close the distance between them and the village of Grute, the land here is mostly flat with occasional clumps of trees and small ponds.
-----Two hours before high noon, the rogues see the small wooden homes and farms of a fairly large village. Another road branches onto the trail that they follow and where the two roads come together is a small tavern establishment. Across from it is a residence with a sign over the door featuring a barrel. Just beyond the tavern a farm is located with horses milling about the inside of a fenced area.
-----Kazel squints at the village under the bright sun. "Hmm, should we send Seth in first to trade in the horses disguising as Sol? That way we have a clean hands' off in case they trace us to this village. What do you think?"