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-----Thalog rolls his eyes and raises one eyebrow, "Two points to consider. Do we have the time for you to scout as they wonder what has happened to their men? Even now, they may be sending their own scouts to investigate us. The second point, let us watch our voices lest they find us out by sound." Thalog adds a nod as he finishes.
-----Sol mimics Thalog's eye rolling and his grin increases. He does however keep quiet, also giving Raven an expectant look. Satisfied that an action will be decided upon without anymore of his input, he turns and scans the uphill area.
-----Raven looks at Thalog for a moment, then Raven opens his mouth as if to say something. Instead Raven just shakes his head, "Okay then, let’s try disguising you three (Raven points to Thalog, Rand and Sol) as these three dead guards and Zentil and I will flank you." Raven scans the group to see what they say.
-----A short time later, the three men have donned the cloaks of those that attacked. Rand refuses one of the bows. "Tis better if I keep my own at hand," he says.
-----Thalog has a hard time slinging his bow on his shoulder and Rand finally assists him. "Ah, yes, that will work, though a burden it truly is. If I may make a suggestion," the mage quietly continues, "If there are a lot of foes, do not attack until you see a few of them drop. Once I cast my magic, I will need to move back from the fight."
-----Rand looks around at everyone and when they appear to be ready, he intones, "May the glories of the Sun God shine down upon us all."
-----Slowly, the three "cloaked men" begin to advance with Raven flanking them to the right and Zentil off to the left. They partly crawl up the incline and, within a few moments, they hear the hushed tones of talking. They carefully and quietly make it to a level ridge on the wooded hill. Across, about fifteen feet to their right, they see a cleared space in front of a small cave opening covered with vines.
-----In the clearing in front of the cave, stands over a dozen men all wearing dark cloaks and leather. All of them either carry bows or short swords. There is one among them, who is not cloaked. This man, looks slightly out of place, especially with what he wears. His pants seem to be black leather, but what he wears on his torso is a white ruffled shirt. The man appears to be quite strong and tall with long brownish-blond hair. His masculine face features a hawk nose and a heavy forehead and brow. He wears his sword at his side.
-----A few of the archers stand at the perimeter of the clearing, but their attention is directed toward the man in the white shirt. The heroes overhear this man say, " . . . Well, where the hell did they go?" One of the cloaked men explain that two of their own flanked east of the hill and one more went to the west.
-----"And this was how long ago and you’re just now waking us?" comes the angry answer from the man.
-----One of the archers closest to Rand, Thalog and Sol turns suddenly in their direction and spots them. With a smile on his face, he says, "Hey, not to worry. They made it back!" Everyone in the clearing quickly turns toward the "returning cloaked men".
-----At this time, Raven is hidden behind a bush to the right of his cloaked friends a little lower on the incline. Zentil is hidden behind a couple of trees a bit higher on the incline above the level ridge.
-----The "head man" takes a couple of steps forward and roughly shouts, "Well, what happened? What do you have to say for yourselves?"
-----Rand lifts his head and points at the cloaked man who spotted them. He simply utters one word in a commanding tone, "Surrender!" The archer stops with a startled look on his face and suddenly drops his weapons and prostrates himself on the ground.
-----Thalog lifts both arms as his left hand sprinkles rose petals to the ground, while his right hand moves like the waves of a vast ocean. And from him rumble the words, "REBMULS EROF EMIT S'TI!" This is followed by the sound of a short sword hitting the ground with a thud. More weapons drop as a group of five men standing by the cave mouth fall slowly to the ground unconscious.
-----The long-haired man in the white ruffled shirt remains with seven of the dark-cloaked men still standing. He draws forth a short sword and angrily shouts, "Get them!" The men begin to advance on Rand, Sol and Thalog.
-----With an almost fluid motion, Sol whips his blade out. An incomprehensible yell erupts from his lips as he hurls himself at the group of armed men. His sword raises up in a deadly arc in preparation to bring it down upon the closest combatant.
-----Zentil raises his bow and begins firing at one of the enemy archers. His first shot falls in front of the opposing archer’s feet. It startles the man and his eyes look up in Zentil’s direction as he searches the trees. Zentil carefully takes aim and plants his second shot just below the man’s collar bone. He falls to his side and lays still.
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