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-----The next morning, the thieves wake to a biting cold breeze and dark gloomy skies. Jim quickly gathers up the horses as he prepares to hitch the wagon. The trio rushes around to gather their blankets and find a warm spot in the wagon.
-----As the horses chomp inside their feed bags, the thieves eat an improvised breakfast of apples, rolls and honey. Just before they pull out onto the trail road, they watch their "neighbors," the long caravan, pass by, leading to the north, toward Hearthorn.
-----Leading the procession are over sixty men on horse, some wearing plate armor, some chain, and some scale mail. All are armored and heavily armed. The wagons that follow seem heavily laden with goods. A peek at some of the merchants that ride along the wagons hint at an exciting amount of wealth. The caravan is followed by row after row of soldiers armed and armored much like the ones on horse.
-----Finally the caravan passes and Jim drives the wagon from behind the hill onto the trail. The road leads them due west almost directly into the wind. In contrast to the day before, the ride seems as gloomy as the sky. All the while, the cold breeze whips about the canopy of the wagon.
-----A few hours later, they pass a small farmhouse and just beyond it the trail curves to the left meeting a larger road. Heading south, they ride down and across a small valley.
-----As they ride out of the valley, it is almost high noon. The thieves can’t tell this so much from the overcast skies as they can from their rumbling stomachs. Jim drives the horses to the left of the road to rest and to drink from a lake there.
-----Looking to the south, the trio can see that directly to the south of the lake, the land becomes that of a marsh area. The trail road seems to lead beside the swamp. About a half-mile to the south along the trail, they can see the road also leads past the old buildings of a village.
-----Seth grabs some more apple from the barrel and cuts it up sharing it with the raven. "Hey Jim, what was that village over there I can see?" Seth continues to stroke and give all of his attention to the bird.
-----Jim looks up while the horses drink. He then squints toward the distant buildings. After a pause, he nods with understanding, "Oh yeah, it’s not really a village. Not anymore, at least," he then continues, while patting one of the horses, "Nobody lives there. I guess it’s been deserted ‘fore a long time."
-----Kazel paces about as she eats, but then notices the raven and stops. "When did that appear? Is that the same bird from yesterday?"
-----She looks at the old village as Jim talks, drawing her cloak about her in the chill. She then turns to him and asks, "What happened to it, do you know? And how long till we get to Lut?"
-----Jim looks over to Kazel and thinks a moment. Answering her, he says, "Someone told me Gorians lived there a long time ago. The village kinda died out when Altoria became its own kingdom."
-----Turning back to the horses, he finishes his reply by saying, "We oughta get to Lut in ‘bout four hours. We’ll get there ‘fore sundown."
-----Without waiting for Jim's explanation as to why the village is deserted, Gimplefwick hops off the wagon and begins hiking off towards the empty place. "Shiver me timbers, there might be something more interesting there than being stuck on this rolling prairie schooner. If'n ye don't want to wait fer me, I'll catch up to ye later on down the road," Gimplefwick yells over his shoulder.
-----"Well, how about waitin' for us?" Kazel yells as she strides off after Gimplefwick. "Jim, can you drive the wagon up to the village when you're done?"
-----Seth calls after Kazel, "Hey wait for me!" As he jumps down, he tells Jim, "Just go to the village and wait for us. My friend here will watch you and tell me if you do anything you should not."
-----Gimplefwick hops back and forth impatiently waiting for Kazel to catch up to him, "Who knows, there might be ghosts and buried treasure and skeletons and such whatnot. Or it might just be an abandoned village with some giant dust bunnies. Either way, it'll be more interesting than sitting on that wagon."
-----Soon the trio walks among the bushes beside the trail road. Within a few minutes, they get a closer look at the deserted village. A few yards to the west of the road, the thieves see about a dozen buildings in various states of ruin. Most of the buildings have a stone foundation, while the rest of the structures are composed of wood.
-----Some of the structures have no more left than their foundations. Some have collapsed walls or roofs. The windows of the buildings are nothing more than dark openings, which don’t reveal what lies inside at this distance. Everything around the ruined village seems very quiet. The area is devoid of even the sound of birds.
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