-----After Rinda's homage to the Great Hunter, the two hunters ride back into the village. From a ways off, Raven can see Lovan standing in front of the stables waving to them.
-----"Better hurry," Raven quickly says to the huntress, "Sol may have found something." The two hasten the horses' pace and quickly they ride up to Lovan as he stands near Garrison and Romney.
-----At Raven's questioning, the storm priest tells him, "We went to the home of whoever talked to the two of you last night. We searched the house and found the person living there dead. Sol sent me to find you."
-----"Right," Raven answers with an urgency in this voice, although a disappointed expression comes across him. He looks up the road where the young warrior must be inside one of the buildings there. "I better ride on ahead," he adds. "I hate to leave any of us alone in this place. Too many weird things are happening."
-----"You two stay here and watch over Sarah and Mirian," he quickly says to the two on guard.
-----Just then Sarah comes out of the workshop and sees the two mounted hunters. Detecting the urgency, the young mage excitedly blurts out, "I'm going with you!"
-----As she dashes toward Rinda's horse, she pauses and asks with a confused look, "Where are we going?"
-----"To Sol!" Rinda answers sternly while Raven rides quickly on up the road. The huntress helps Sarah up in the saddle behind her before following after the ranger.
-----As Raven rides down to the next block of buildings, he passes the structures that are vaguely familiar from the night before. On the right, he sees the large barn of the former cooper's residence as well as the small house beside it.
-----Up on the left, the home with the stone foundation where Sol spoke with the whispering voice looms. As Raven rides up, he notices the front door is standing ajar. Behind him, he can hear Rinda approaching on horseback.
-----Without waiting, Raven rushes in seeing the richly furnished front room. Through an opening in one wall, a small kitchen is seen and on the opposite wall two doors are there probably leading to bedrooms. The farthest bedroom door is open and before Raven makes a move, his eyes are diverted down to the floor. There, he catches sight of small drops of blood!
-----"Sol!" he calls out but no one answers. Unsheathing his swords, the hunter carefully moves toward the open bedroom door. Peering in, he sees a man's body lying on a bed beneath an open window. Detecting movement outside, the hunter makes his way to the window and peers out.
-----Just off to his right, Raven sees Sol heading south along the backs of the homes and buildings lining the main road. The young warrior is running as hard as he can, chasing someone ahead of him.
-----As Raven climbs through the window, Rinda and Sarah enter the bedroom. "Raven!" the huntress calls.
-----"It's Sol!" Raven hurriedly replies as he chases after the young warrior. As Raven runs, he sees Sol at least forty yards ahead of him. A darkly clad form that Sol chases suddenly veers off to the right between two of the houses perhaps heading in the direction of the main road.
-----As the opponent runs between the two homes, Sol chases after him. As Sol turns to the right, he sees the space between the two houses is a narrow alley no wider than three feet. The young warrior races along the alley, his foe out of sight. In just a few strides, Sol reaches the main road.
-----Quickly he pulls to a stop. Two things immediately catch his attention. First, looking up and down the main road, the assassin is nowhere to be seen. Second, just a few yards off to the left, an older man wearing a dark cloak stands in the middle of the road. His graying hair is waving in the slight breeze of the morning air. A short dark beard streaked with gray covers his chin and there is a brightness in his eyes as he looks curiously at Sol.
-----"Hello," the man says leaning on a dark walking stick, "I don't believe I have seen you about."
-----If Sol didn't know that Raven was just a few moments behind him, an uncanny feeling might take hold of him with Sol and the man being the only two on the deserted road.
-----The roof. A man of that agility could surely have braced himself and climbed in between the two houses onto the roof. Either that, or the old man saw something, but he did not act as if he had.
-----Turning to the old man, Sol struggles to regain some sense of composure. His voice still carrying a tone of anger, the Gorian says to the stranger, "And I have not seen ye about either. Sir, did ye see a half-elf run this way just now? He would've been carrying a bow an' a sword." As Sol speaks he walks near the man, but his focus is on the surrounding buildings and road, in an attempt to catch any sight of the assassin.
-----Just then Raven emerges from the alley behind Sol.
-----The hunter looks warily at the older man as he calmly answers Sol, "No, I am sorry. You are the first person I have seen this morn."
-----Just then Rinda and Sarah come running from the alley into the road just behind Raven.
-----Sol's eyes are blazing full of anger, though when he catches sight of Sarah, they widen in shock and the warrior takes a moment to shake and clear his head.
-----"The assassin's finally caught up wi' us again." Unconsciously Sol briefly wipes his free hand against a fresh leg wound as he turns back to the old man. Still trying to find a more appropriate tone of voice, the Gorian asks, "Do ye live here? If so, what has happened?"
-----At that moment, Sol is assaulted by various reactions. Upon seeing the young warrior brushing his hand across his wound, Sarah stifles a cry and rushes toward him. "Sol!" she says almost tearfully, finding it difficult to say more.
-----Raven suddenly looks more savage and a growl escapes him. Quickly sheathing his swords, he draws forth his bow and nocks an arrow. The huntress follows suit and the two quickly scan the surrounding area while kneeling close to their companions.
-----The older man's eyes widen and his expression reveals alarm. "I am Ulow, Sage of Gafa," he explains. "I can explain but perhaps it would be better if you accompany me to my abode." Pausing, he asks with his eyebrows raised, "Did you say assassin?"
-----"I did," Sol confirms with a growl, adding in hindsight, "An though I'm th' main target o' his attentions, he's not picky about who he kills." Sol gives one last look around at the surroundings before commenting, "He'll be back, but he's probably licking th' latest wound I marked. Fair enough, Sage Ulow. I am Sol. This here is Sarah, an' that's Raven an' Rinda. Lead on t'yer home."
-----As the sage begins heading south on the road, Rinda quickly speaks up to Raven and Sol. "What of Mirian, Romney and Garrison?" she asks. "Are they safe where they are?" She and Raven both keep an eye on the surrounding buildings.
-----"Damn, I should've thought o'that! Sage Ulow, would ye consider heading back t'th' smiths t'talk? We're more or less set up there." Sol offers, irritated at himself for not thinking of the other half of the party.
-----The sage pauses and a concerned frown creases his forehead. Seeing the determination in the visitors' faces to this mostly deserted village, however, causes the man to relent and he quietly accompanies the adventurers to the stables.