-----The noontime meal passes by pleasantly. The food and drink offered up by the tavern is filling and well worth the wait and trials of the past few days. Indeed, spirits are much lighter as the meal concludes. Lord Lone had already left with his retinue of guards waving heartily to the group as he exited the place.
-----As Sol and Raven, along with all of their companions, leave the tavern, the fresh clear air fills their lungs. The sun shines down warmly as if all fares well with the world.
-----Sol pats his midsection a couple of time, displaying his appreciation of the meal consumed. One sly glance and a wink to Raven later, the warrior suggests, "Let's see if Sarah is free t'join us."
-----The adventurers then set off toward the encampment.
-----Sol heads toward where the pair of mages entered their tent, and once having arrived, stands outside the entrance and asks in a clear voice, "Sorry t'interrupt, but may I come in?"
-----A few moments after Sol calls outside the tent, the one called Veil appears at the tent flap. Barely acknowledging the others in the adventurers' party, the diviner grabs Sol by his surcoat close to his neck and pulls him inside the tent with an almost inhuman strength.
-----Once within the tent, Sol is disoriented by the interior of the small canvas structure. He suddenly finds himself within a large chamber impossibly too big and grand for the simple tent.
-----He stands on a dark marble floor, which reaches fifty feet to the far wall. The surrounding walls are covered in a dark rich wood and ivory white columns support the high ceiling overhead. Along the far wall is a large elegant banquet table. Nearby, a very inviting bathing pool and fountain churn fragrant and warm water. Between the pool and the far table, the room is filled with padded chairs and lounging sofas.
-----Veil stands before Sol and Sarah is there at her mother's elbow. The eyes below the diviner's hood are shadowed although the finger she shakes in the young warrior's face is very plain to see.
-----"Young man!" she says sternly to Sol, "Forgive my rudeness, but this is very important! There is business I must attend to. On my daughter's honor, I need to swear that you will guard this tent and not allow anyone to enter or leave until I return!"
-----Without waiting for an answer, she quickly turns to Sarah and embraces her. "Sarah, please stay here. I promise I will not be long. If your father happens to come back, tell him I have gone to have a word with the . . . Lady of this gods-forsaken place."
-----Veil then quickly turns back toward Sol and takes the young warrior by the elbow. She ushers him back outside and posts him by the flap of the small circular canvas structure.
-----As Sol is guided outside the tent, he whispers to Veil with a hoarse voice, "I swear."
-----The diviner then determinedly storms off across the lawn toward the tower in the distance. As the others look on, Lovan has a fascinated and impressed look on his face.
-----Obviously perplexed at his treatment, the tent's defiance of logic and the words spoken by Sarah's mother, Sol takes a moment to gather himself before he calls to Veil's retreating form, "Actually, it was th' Lady Evalyn we were invited t'see. We were about t'collect Sarah . . . "
-----He leaves it hanging there, unsure if it would be of any use continuing.
-----The diviner's hooded and cloaked form stops suddenly in her stride. Her form straightens as if her body has become very tense. For a moment, it appears as if Veil will turn in reaction to Sol's words. However, she keeps her back to everyone and her shape is seen to shake as if in anger.
-----For an instant, the world seems to hold its breath and then, . . . the diviner takes a step and continues on her way toward the tower with a hurried pace.
-----"Sarah, dear . . . " Sol says, keeping his eye on Veil, "Is there something that th' rest o' us should know o' th' Lady Evalyn?"
-----Sarah's eyes are wide open with something between terror and confusion. "I...I...I don't know." She says in a shaky voice as she huddles close to Sol. "There's something very, very strange going on." She wraps her arms around the warrior's chest from his side, as if desperate to confirm that he's real. Looking up at him, she softly says, "I had one of those dreams again." in a guilty and scared whisper. Louder she says, "Something bad is happening, I'm sure of it. Mommy won't tell me what it is."
-----She hugs Sol tighter. "Please don't leave me alone."
-----"Were my words to Veil not binding, I would still not leave your side." Sol affirms clearly as he steps back with Sarah, so that he is standing directly in the entrance of the tent. His tone turns tender as he asks quietly, "What did ye dream of?"
-----"Come inside." Sarah says, leading Sol and anyone else who cares to into the magic tent. "Just the usual." She says glumly. "Everyone's dying all around me and I can't do anything about it." The pretty young mage sighs. "Well, at least it wasn't me killing them this time." She leans her head against Sol's solid shoulder.