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-----Sarah places a comforting hand on Raven’s shoulder. "Don't worry about her men, we know you're not like them." She watches his face until she sees he understands.
-----To Sol, Sarah says, "I agree, we need to take Dreda and Heiros to Tru and then head for the forests. I think Raven should keep the map, he's the best man for it. Maybe we should give the rocks and amulets and the dagger to the authorities too. I don't think we should use them or carry them around."
-----Dreda turns toward Thalog with a look like she’s lost within the spaces in her mind. Her voice suddenly sounds small and faraway. "My friend, your companions, though brave they may be, do not understand. They do not know how to face the Dark. You must take me with you. Only the faithful may find their way through the Secret that lies hidden." Her green eyes catch a gleam as she turns and stares trancelike at the pale light coming through an arrow slit.
-----Raven gives Sol and Sarah a slight smile, "Your kind words have brought me back to my path. I'll not wander off again. Thanks..." Raven stops to listen to Dreda. Raven turns to Thalog, "Well, she might know a secret way into the base. That would give us the upper-hand, like it did here." Raven takes out his water skin and takes a long drink as Thalog replies.
-----"Of course, Raven, what are friends for?" Sarah smiles at him. "Maybe we do need to take Dreda with us. But Thalog you better make sure she stays friendly. That reminds me, where's Gabe?" Sarah looks around for her bandit friend.
-----"I’m here, Mistress Sarah," Gabe says and Sarah sees him standing by one of the arrow slits. "It sure be cloudy out there, though I don’t be thinkin’ it’s gonna be rainin’. I sure hate ta expose ya to the elements again." Gabe looks at her innocently, showing concern and a boyish quality at the same time.
-----The bound Heiros appears ascending the ramp closely followed by Rand who pushes his brother on with his staff. An intense angry look is on the cleric’s face.
-----Zentil squats down on the ramp leading up to the next level, his green eyes staring cat-like at what he surveys.
-----"Heiros may be of assistance also," comes Dreda’s quiet hypnotic voice.
-----Rand’s brother looks up quickly at her with an astonished look. His face then reddens and he tries to shout through his gag, but his words are muffled.
-----Raven says to Rand, "If Heiros has more info on the base, he might be useful. How much power does your brother have without his disk?" Raven looks over at Heiros, "...or with two broken arms." Raven gives Heiros a wolf-like grin. When Raven turns away from Heiros, he gives Rand a wink.
-----Rand answers sternly while staring at his leather-clad brother, "That is hard to tell, Raven. Yesterday, he tried to use a spell that only required him to speak."
-----"I suggest we keep Heiros bound and gagged. I'll try to make him my sla.." she coughs "...friend tomorrow." Sarah almost corrects her slip of the tongue. She looks around. "Okay, Raven and Zentil, why don't you guys search this place for anything or anyone that might be hiding, then we should grab a few horses for our new friends and head for Oakwood. Is that alright?" She asks everyone.
-----Sol raises his voice, "Sarah, you may as well wait here. I'll go and collect our horses." He then opens the main door, mounts up on the closest horse and rides off at a canter.
-----A few minutes past by and Sol returns, this time walking into the keep. Looking past him through the main entrance to the tower, the others can see the young fighter brought their horses back. The steeds wait patiently outside snoring in the moderate breeze that blows outside.
-----The elf ascends the ramp from below and reports, "The keep seems to be empty except for those three who are still tied up below. What do we want to do with them?"
-----Sol answers the elf, "Even if Heiros and Dreda are coming with us to the forest, we can still hand over those fools to the authorities in Tru. Come on Zentil, let's haul 'em up here, and throw them over the backs of some of these horses." He goes down the ramp.
-----Sarah and Gabe follow Sol down the ramp. Sarah gathers up her belongings into her pack and mounts her horse, ready to go.
-----Raven says to Sol, "So we got all their horses also, right? We can make sure their horses are taken care of in Tru." Raven double checks Heiros' ropes and makes sure the gag is nice and tight.
-----Within a half-hour, the whole host of adventurers, captured guards and Dark worshippers are mounted on their horses. They ride northward toward the village of Tru intent on leaving three of the guards and some of the horses there . . .
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