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-----Sarah smiles triumphantly and asks Gabe to look for a good place to make camp, preferably as far away from the dark as possible.
-----"Fine. I guess you’re the best qualified to find us that camping site. Lead on friend." Sol says. Using his right foot to push himself off the tree, he then walks over to remount his horse.
-----Gabe obediently answers, "There was that wee bit of a cabin there upon the hill. Should we have a look at that now?"
-----Sarah sighs as she hears about the cabin. "Yes, please, let’s go there!" She begs the others. "I know you all love camping out, but I don't. Can't we sleep under a roof tonight? Please?"
-----Everyone follows Sol’s example and mounts up. Gabe turns his horse toward the hill north of their position and leads them toward the direction of the chimney smoke.
-----As they slowly climb the incline, Rand and Heiros watch each other uneasily. Zentil looks back a few times at the Darkness they left behind, a look of dread on his face. Dreda quietly rides along concentrating on her own horse’s progress.
-----As they near the top, the trees begin to thin out, revealing a small clearing. Here the breeze is felt more and the air seems lighter. Up ahead everyone sees a small cottage dwelling that looks as if it has been well cared for. A well-stocked woodpile is located between two stout oak trees and wild flowers blossom in the short grass. A large black bird cackles and hops from branch to branch overhead.
-----Just as the first few riders begin to dismount and approach the front door, someone loudly clears their throat off to the left of the cottage. Some in the party jump as all turn and see an old gray-haired man standing to the side leaning on a walking stick. His stubble-bearded face makes him look older than he could be and a mischievous twinkle is in his brown eyes. He wears the clothes of a woodsman and a dark green cloak is draped about his shoulders. He smiles from beneath an oversized tattered hat. "Ay, what can I be doin’ for ye?"
-----Sol dismounts smoothly, and walks over to the man, hand extended and a warm smile planted on his face. "Greetings, good sir. We were looking fer a place to camp for the night. The lady here..." Sol gestures at Sarah, "...would appreciate being able to stay under a roof. We saw your cabin, and decided to investigate. I'm Sol, by the way."
-----Dreda’s voice suddenly interrupts as she sits primly atop her horse, "I am Dreda, Dark Mistress of the goddess of Nightmares. I have lead these people here so that they may see those of my faith who dwell within the Darkness below this hill."
-----The twinkle in the old man’s eye fades just before he can extend his hand for a friendly handshake with Sol. As Dreda talks, his jaw drops and his eyebrows furrow below his hat line. He stares frowning at the Dark Mistress and then his features lighten although he does not smile. He draws his hand back and looks at Sol and the others.
-----"Be ye the ones who put that big shadow down there that’s eatin’ up these here woods?" He says as he steps back, "Me family don’t be needin’ no trouble here." He then half turns yelling toward the cabin, "Girls! Boy! Get out here!"
-----The door to the cottage swings open and two girls emerge who could be in their late teens. One of the girls is medium height dressed much like the old man with stringy dirty-looking hair. Although her face is very pretty, a wild defiant look rests in her dark green eyes.
-----The second girl, though youthful, looks very rough. Her dark hair frames a plain face with an angry scowl. She wears a chain mail shirt and carries a metal shield. With a quick movement of a muscular arm, she draws a long sword.
-----Behind the girls, shutters on a closed window swing open revealing a young man with frizzed hair. He stares out on the scene with squinting eyes. The strong aroma of incense issues out the window.
-----Sarah looks as if she could strangle Dreda for talking out loud and putting her nice warm bed in jeopardy. "Do we need to gag you again?" She says, in a patronizing way. Turning back to the old man and his children, she says, "Don't worry about her. We captured her in her keep to the north and this other fellow here," she gestures to Heiros, "with her, they'll be showing us the way through the dark. We hope. Tomorrow we will set out through the dark and hopefully get rid of it. But it might help if I could sleep under your roof so my studies wouldn't be uninterrupted." She smiles at the strangers again, "My name is Sarah Night, I'm a sorceress. Or at least I try to be. Right now I'm more of an apprentice, but I'm learning." She waits to see the reactions.
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