-----"I take it that once again this is to be our place for the night?" Brandel asks as they approach.
-----Seth nods at Brandel and says, "Well it is far superior than sleeping on the ground, although I am sure the wagon could be comfortable if needs required."
-----"Nothing in there," Kazel reports her findings. "So why not." She hops back up onto her horse and starts making her way back into the keep.
-----Within the hour, the party is once again tucked away inside the main hall of the deserted castle. The Dread Pirate climbs up and flops down on the table he had slept on before. He then asks Seth if he still has any cheese he had gotten from this place before.
-----Amdracks is tied into a chair at one end of the table. As Brandel and Krord gather what wood they can to start a fire in the mantle, Runik stands close to the mage priest grudgingly guarding him.
-----The little girl stands close to Kazel and peers out into the darkening shadows of the large hall.
-----As the light from outside fades, Amdracks begins talking softly, "You know I can determine if this place is truly deserted." He then looks over at Seth and says, "If we are attacked, please make sure I get my holy symbol into my hands. At the very least, do not let it fall into anyone else's possession."
-----The Dread Pirate raises himself up on one elbow and looks at Amdracks with an amused expression. "Arrr, we be sure n' check yer fingernails be clean too," he says.
-----"Well, even if it is deserted now that doesn't mean it will be later. I'll go around the place and on the towers, so beware of any blood curdling screams from me." Kazel gives the girl a coin to play with and then sets off to other parts of the keep.
-----Seth rummages in his pack, sure that the cheese is still there. If he finds it, he hands it over to the Dread Pirate. He makes no comment to Amdracks about his request but merely settles down and strums his harp.
-----For a while all is silent except for Seth's harp as everyone either relaxes or eats. Suddenly in the shadows beyond the light cast by the fireplace, footfalls are heard. They seem to move along the wall of the great hall and begin to fade as if moving into another chamber.
-----Runik perks up immediately grabbing his warhammer and squinting off into the darkness. "'Ere," the dwarf yells, "who goes there?"
-----Brandel grabs a couple of torches setting them alight in the mantle. The mercenary then brings them over toward the dwarf and the two approach where the sound would have come from. The torches only illuminate the solid stone walls.
-----"I thought we might not be alone," Amdracks says quietly.
-----"Let's set these torches about the place," Brandel says as he begins placing the torches in sconces set on the walls. He then turns to light more from the fireplace.
-----"Shh!" Kazel says to the Dwarf upon returning. "Who will ever answer that anyway? Brandel, light the torches around him," indicating Amdracks tied to the chair. "And let's move our stuff and hide to the sides. She also waves to the girl to go hide and then proceeds to gag the talkative wizard.
-----Seth nervously puts away his harp and has a momentary shiver of fear as he imagines hordes of undead disturbing his sleep tonight. He nods as Amdracks is gagged and moves in a position behind the priest where he has some protection from whatever they may face.
-----"No, I can . . ." Amdracks protests before Kazel's move to gag him cuts him off. The mage priest then looks pleadingly at everyone as Brandel sets the torches around him.
-----The Dread Pirate draws his cutlass and leaps from the table finding a place to hide in the shadows to one side. Within the next few moments the shadows seem to swallow everyone else up except for Amdracks fully exposed in his bound and gagged position. Krord looks almost comical as he tries to hide his massive form behind a slender backed chair.
-----Runik backs up hiding along the stone to one side of the mantelpiece. As he leans back into the shadows, he resembles a statue as he holds his warhammer to his chest.
-----As Kazel secures her own place, a small hand pats her leg. Looking down, she sees the little girl nod at her with large eyes and a bit of a frightened expression.
-----Time seems to slow for everyone as the observers keep their eyes locked on the darkness in the room and their eyes peeled for any hint of sound. Amdracks slowly looks from side to side squinting desperately to look past the glare of the torches revealing him.
-----Still the castle remains silent save for the light breeze that moves about the towers and eaves.
-----Seth ignores the struggling Amdracks and waits quietly for something to happen, cursing to himself that he has not been able to rest and recover the spells he used earlier that day in the cornfield.
-----After a much longer time, the Dread Pirate comes out of his hiding place. Sheathing his sword, he mutters, "Ever git the feeling that we'll have to go hunt out whatever that was?" Satisfied that nothing is lurking in the shadows of the room, the Pirate places his fists on his hips and frowns. "The last time we all hid like that was in Oakwood. We had those wizards trying to kill us and I ended up covered with cheese dip," he continues.