Back to Page Two
-----Trist looks at Raven and slowly nods his head. "Yes, I think I know what you’re looking for. If it’s not, it should be!"
-----He turns and points his staff to the northeast. "Keep thinking in twos, Raven. Travel straight in that direction for two miles. On the way, you will cross two hills. The second hill has a cave that is easy to conceal."
-----Trist then looks at Raven’s arm, "Remove the bandage." He takes hold of Raven’s arm in his rough hands. He covers the bloody gash with one hand. After concentrating, he intones, "By Nature’s Blessings, cure these wounds!" A slight warmth and light spread over the wound and when Trist removes his hand, Raven is completely healed.
-----Trist then moves to face the entire group again. He tells them, "This I have done for you. If you find what you seek there, you must return here to this shrine. Only then, will I tell you of the bone men. Have I your word you will return?" He looks at each person, calmly and soberly.
-----"Yeah, sure..." Sol replies happily. He was quite comfortable with the prospect of having the way to his enemies shown for him.
-----"You may want to leave your horses here. They will be more than safe in this valley," Trist says again looking at each hero.
-----After listening to any other responses, he abruptly turns and heads toward an area of overgrown bushes and trees, "So it is done!" He walks into the overgrown area and the tangled branches and leaves seem to swallow him up. From among the greenery, his voice calls back, "Do not forget the seeds!"
-----"It's all good to me", says Zentil in a low, barely audible voice. "Never cared much for horses anyway." Zentil takes a few steps toward the bushes then turns back to the others. "Anyone mind if I bring up the rear?"
-----An hour before high noon, the heroes set out from the forest valley. A light breeze causes the leaves to lightly rustle about them. The canopy of trees provides a chilly shade from the bright sun.
-----At the end of the valley, they begin a slow climb up a tree-covered hill. At one point, the going is a bit rough as they maneuver around deadfalls and broken limbs. Beneath their feet, they can see new grass and foliage winning its way up through the dead and decayed matter from the past winter.
-----They reach the top of the hill about a half-hour later. As they pause to rest and check their bearings, Sol asks, "Are we still going to meet Arliss at Broacter's tomorrow?"
-----To the north and west, they can see areas in the forest that are not all tree-covered. These areas are more covered with scrub, tall grass and thick bushes. Overhead the birds call and fly about in their nest making.
-----Quickly, the party moves out heading down the hill. This side of the hill proves to be a bit smoother in its incline, so the heroes move more easily and quietly. Soon they reach the bottom of the hill and still find themselves under adequate tree cover.
-----They move carefully across a small flat area and see the upward slope of the next hill. At this point, silence has fallen in the forest and the sun is directly overhead. Suddenly, looking up the slope, about 70 feet before them, among the foliage, they catch sight of two men in dark cloaks and armed with bows.
-----Raven readies his bow and takes aim at one of the men. He yells, "Friend or Foe?!"
-----Zentil draws his bow and nocks an arrow, standing at the ready.
-----The two cloaked men drop out of sight quickly behind some bushes. One of them yells out, "Don’t shoot! We’re friends!" Everything around them in the forest remains silent.
-----Raven moves behind a tree for cover. He motions for Zentil to move off and try to flank the men.
-----Raven says, "Okay then, come on out and no one gets hurt. We just want to ask some questions about these woods."
-----Raven whispers to Sol, "Keep 'em talking. I'm going to circle around." With that, Raven quietly moves off into a dense part of the woods and starts to circle around.
-----"Okay, give us a few minutes," comes the reply. A few moments later, a stick with a white piece of cloth attached to it comes into view from behind a bush.
-----Zentil nods to Raven and begins to quietly move around through the underbrush to flank the men opposite of Raven.
-----"That's a good start." Sol calls out to the men. "Now come on out. We won't shoot at ye, unless provoked. I'm not feeling provoked at the moment..." he looks from side to side "...and none of my friends are. So how 'bout coming out and speaking to us normally so I don't have to shout all day?"
-----The others suddenly hear Raven yell off to the right, "They're over here!" This is followed by the noise of running movement somewhere among the trees.
Go to Page 4