Back to Page Eight
-----"Whoa, ya blasted animals!" Runik yells and somehow the horses come to a stop.
-----Marast pulls around behind them, the wood elf mounted on a horse while leading the other steeds behind him.
-----With large eyes the dwarf focuses on his employers and excitedly calls, "Best we be off n' now! Marast almost had'da time gittin' the horses 'ere!"
-----The Dread Pirate smirks at the thought of the other group being belittled, then heads for Joren and climbs aboard. He then waits for the others, ignoring the foppish group.
-----Kazel hops onto the wagon without a second look at the dandys. "That's enough countryside for me. Let's move along, Runik."
-----"Aye, Lass! Ye not be a'tellin' me twice!" Runik replies urging Seth on board with a wave of his hand. Once Kazel and Seth settle in the wagon, Runik slaps the reins and the horses almost seem to lunge forth.
-----Quickly to the northeast trail road, the wagon rumbles as startled villagers stop and stare at the fleeing vehicle. Soon the last few clearings of the village become few and the receding buildings vanish from sight behind the engulfing trees that line the rough road.
-----After a few frantic moments, Runik finally slows the rushing horses down a bit into a walking pace. Turning to speak to Kazel, the dwarf says, "Er, . . . hope ye don' be a'mindin' but Marast grabbed a coupl' more horses fer our jaunt!" The dwarf then points toward the four horses, which now lead the wagon.
-----Brandel smiles and shakes his head as he looks at the Dread Pirate for his reaction. Krord lifts his head and checks out the horses at the front with a pleasant expression on his face. The little girl finds her way over to Kazel's lap.
-----Marast looks haughtily at Runik and then says to the Dread Pirate, "Marast told to get horses. Marast get horses."
-----Seth smiles at Marast and then a shocked look comes over his face. He quickly looks behind to see if there is any pursuit. "I take it that means another town we may have difficulty entering?"
-----He smiles and shakes his head. "You know, Dread, this is a sure fire way to win the heart of that Paladin. Enter the town where we have been accused of stealing horses to try and clear our good names on the back of another four stolen horses."
-----He settles down for the ride and then suddenly sits upright, "Marast, whose horses were these?"
-----Marast grimaces a bit before he answers. In his characteristic disdainful voice, he says, "Marast think horses belong to three we meet in inn of men."
-----Looking back, it appears there is no one following the wagon yet.
-----Seth laughs and says, "Well, it will be some time before they get to town, I imagine! Remember to give you a bonus or something. I know you don't want money - perhaps some new clothes or a nice cloak or boots?"
-----The haughty elf pauses for a moment with a frown on his face. However, the expression seems to be one of deep thought rather than one of hostile intent. He does not answer Seth but occasionally murmurs a word such as, "Hmm, . . . cloak, . . . boots." Finally he falls silent, his mind already focused on the road ahead.
-----The day continues on pleasantly although the cloudy sky causes the party to cast a wary eye overhead, mindful of the stormy weather of the previous day. No wind is carried on the air although the air feels cool and comfortable.
-----For now, Marast rides El Binko and leads Kazel's horse, while the Dread Pirate bounds up and down on stout little Joren. After a while, Brandel relieves Runik at the reins when it appears the dwarf has trouble managing the horses and his balance on the buckboard.
-----The dwarf graciously turns the reins over to the young human and settles onto the covering over the treasure. Runik then whispers to Kazel, "Best we be a'keepin' an eye on th' boy. 'is color gits good n' then it be givin' 'im a pale look." The dwarf motions toward Brandel as he speaks.
-----Krord inhales the forest air deeply and occasionally looks ahead and behind them as they travel. The huge half-orc appears rested but ready if need be.
-----The little girl gets as close as she can to Kazel while playing with a small gold coin she liberated from underneath the covering.
-----Soon Brandel pulls the wagon to one side of the trail road to give everyone a chance to stretch their legs, eat and rest. Marast and Krord keep an eye on the road, taking positions at opposite ends of the wagon. Here, by the brightness, the sun seems to be overhead somewhere behind the clouds.
-----Nothing disturbs their repose and soon the party mounts up and continues on. Their ride seems to be one of passing through a large tunnel of overhanging trees with the dark gray clouds moving above them. Their trip passes by peacefully and, surprisingly, they meet no one coming or going on the road. Especially, this seems somehow strange with the supposed reclamation of Oakwood from the evil ones. They also notice that there appears to be no break of land features here. The trees do not give way except for the occasional field of scrub vegetation. Albert finds it easy to hop from tree to tree or down to the wagon while the urge hits him.
-----Finally in the early evening, Brandel pulls the wagon to the side once more just before they enter a large field of scrub bushes. The guards are posted again and Marast tells everyone that there is a village within five miles of their position on up the road.
-----With the sun now set, they load up and the wagon travels across the field before the road plunges them back among the trees.
This is the last word that the Tales of the Thieves' Guild of the Town of Hearthorn has on those called Kazel, Sethanales, and the Dread Pirate Gimplefwick Wispybeard!
Go Back to Tales of the Guild