-----Romney then asks Sol, "How do we want to keep watches this night and will we be setting out at dawn?"
-----"Should we post a guard in here with the women too?" Garrison asks.
-----"Mirian, Sarah and I will be just fine," Rinda informs him sternly arching an eyebrow.
-----Sol raises an eyebrow in return to Rinda, but doesn't raise any objections. With a gesture for the gentlemen of the party to follow, the Gorian leads them all into the stables. Once they're all inside, he says, "Three lots o' two hour watches. Raven, yer first. I'll take th' middle shift an' Romney, could ye bring up th' last shift an' get me up as soon as morning has broken."
-----After looking around somewhat pleased at the stables, Sol comments, "There are worse places t'spend th' night. There's clean hay up top, so we shouldn't be too uncomfortable. Let's get some rest while we can." With one last nod to Raven, Sol sets up to be as comfortable as possible as centrally as possible; near the entrance to the workshop.
-----"Let me take a watch with someone," Garrison says as the others prepare to turn in.
-----"Me too," Lovan adds, "I'm ready to blast this village apart if we have any trouble." After Sol gives his reply, everyone settles in for the night with Raven taking the first watch.
-----Sol sleeps soundly and in two hours' time, the young warrior feels the hunter roust him from his slumbers. "All well, so far, my friend," Raven reports, "the only thing is you soon get the feeling you're the only thing living out there. I've never heard a silence this deep in a village. Take care and don't hesitate to shout if you need anything."
-----The Gorian then rises and walks over to the stable door. Exiting the building, Sol steps out into the night air that hints at a chill not encountered before. The mist with its strange dim glow seems to hold the air still over the dark and vacant buildings.
-----After Sol finds a spot to center his watch from, he looks toward the eastern sky and notices a possible source of the illumination of the mist. There, a last quarter moon rises and shines from amongst the partly cloudy sky. As the mists lightly envelope the village, Sol can even detect a halo-like effect encircling the moon.
-----Time goes by and nothing appears or sounds from the road, the buildings or even the skies. After what seems like an eternity of watching over this deserted place, Sol makes ready to roust Romney for the final watch.
-----Just before he makes to return to the stable, a movement catches his eyes. Securing his spot in the shadows again, Sol sees three man-like shapes emerge from the darkness carefully making their way down the road from what would be the center of the village. As they continue on, they warily scan their surroundings and the moonlight catches the glint of swords worn at their sides.
-----As they creep closer, Sol can make out human features and light armor that resembles those of Lord Howrun's troops.
-----Sol steps out from the area near the relative safety of the stables and waits for the men to approach. As soon as they notice Sol, he raises a hand in greeting and says in a low tone, "I'm glad t'find someone else is about. What do you here, friends?"
-----The three men seemed startled by the Gorian's appearance. Immediately two of them reach for their weapons, but pause with their hands on the hilts of their swords. The third one holds his hands up as if to ward off any advance their surprise visitor may bring. This one, a tall fellow with a beard and shoulder length hair stares at Sol for a few moments. An uncomfortable moment follows as the three fellows look the young warrior up and down.
-----The tall fellow looks at his two companions and then back at Sol strangely. A hesitant curious expression comes across his face as he slowly asks Sol, "W-Who . . . are . . . you?"
-----"My name is Sol Herron. I was told about th' possible troubles here, so I came t'see what aid could be offered. Are ye Lord Howrun's men, or have ye other business here?" Sol asks, confident from their reactions that they likely were local guards. More importantly, they were not walking dead.
-----"We are Lord Howrun's men," the tall fellow answers quickly, offering a smile. "We could use your aid. Surely you are not here alone?"
-----The two other men stare at Sol intently.
-----Sol notices one of the other men has light hair, which seems to glisten in the moonlight. He wears a cloth band across his forehead and his chest is protected by studded leather. The other man has a short dark mustache and a mane of thick dark hair.
-----"Not alone, no," Sol replies with an answering smile. It disappears quickly as the Gorian affects a work like tone, "Where is th' rest o' yer troop, and what have ye found out about what's happening here? My companions an' I dealt wi' a sizeable amount o' vicious undead just outside o' th' village...I'm gathering there must be more to it than just them."