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-----The night also proves to be a challenge to those trying to sleep. All through the night time hours, the lowly cursed animals from the distant woods continue to fill the air with a savage and unnerving calamity of roars, howls and screams. Jon finally posts one of the guardsmen to watch the horses down in the main hall to keep them calm.
-----With the approach of the dawn, the day seems no less hopeful. Unlike the previous days, the sky is gray and completely overcast with clouds. A moderate breeze blows down from the north making the day feel as if the season is winter instead of spring. Even though the men add more wood to the fire in the hall, the keep takes on a presence of being dark, dreary and cold.
-----Just after dawn, Rand, Amythiel and the guards enter through the front door of the keep as the others sit down for an early breakfast meal. "Morning’s blessings be unto all of you this day," Rand says as he approaches the fireplace to warm his hands. He then sits down with the others to eat a stew Jon had concocted. The meal surprisingly tastes good and begins to lighten a few spirits. Broactor arrives shortly there after and wordlessly runs up the stairs.
-----After he eats, Rand walks around talking with a few of the heroes as he prepares to depart. Finally, after he loads everything on his horse, he and the guardsmen prepare to walk their horses and the prisoners outside. "Well, my friends, we leave for Hearthorn now. Perhaps I will see Arliss in the town or meet him on the way as he rides here. I wish the best for all of you and pray that we will meet again. May the glories of the Sun God shine down on you all!"
-----With that, he leads his horse out with the guards and prisoners following him. The riders then mount up and begin the slow walk back to Hearthorn leading the tied prisoners beside them.
-----After bidding goodbye to Rand, Sol walks over to Raven. Still rubbing his bleary eyes from a restless night's rest, he asks the man, "When do you want to leave, Raven?"
-----Amythiel watches quietly as Rand rides away, and then looks around at her new companions. "Before we leave, Raven, I was wondering if I might be able to see Rinda?"
-----Raven turns from watching Rand leave, "Do you think you could cure her?" Hope shines in Raven's eyes, "We can at least see if she's up to see us. Follow me." Raven heads off.
-----Raven quickly leads Amythiel across the room and they climb the stairs to the next level. They then cross the floor toward Rinda’s room.
-----Sarah goes over to Sol and asks him, "Who's Rinda? What’s wrong with her?"
-----Sol bows to Sarah before answering. "Rinda is a priestess serving under Broacter here. She seems to suffer from some unknown malady. We have not seen her for I fear she sleeps most of the time."
-----Thalog speaks volumes with a watchful nod to Rand al’ Thor as he leaves.
-----After a short time, Raven and Amythiel descend the stairs and join everyone again in the main hall.
-----Sarah goes to Amythiel and asks how Rinda is doing, and what’s wrong with her.
-----Thalog speaks up, "Sarah and Amythiel, please follow my lead and do not hesitate to add your opinion. When attacking a single opponent giving all the best equipment to one attacker is a viable option. However, there is more than one witch, so perhaps Sol could use the magical bracelets. Now, when fighting a magic user you should know some of their weaknesses, for instance, concentration. A magic user must concentrate on the spell in order for it to be cast. Therefore if you distract them, the spell's energy will be harmlessly released. This can be done by causing damage, pain, laughter, sneezing... the list is endless. Spell components are like concentration. If the magic user does not have them then the spell will be harmlessly released. The components can be knock out of their hand or damaged. Sometimes words and gestures can be component making binding or gagging useful as well. All this makes speed, a warrior’s best offence whether in distracting or disarming of spell components. Remember distance will protect a magic user from you, so always close that distance."
-----Raven listens to Thalog, "I'd say 'yea' if you could tell what the hell these bracers do. Don't you have the means to divine what powers these things have? Without knowing what they do it is hard to decide who should get 'em. Since "pirate-man" wasn't wearing armor and was still hard to hit, maybe the bracers should go to someone that doesn't wear armor." Raven looks around, "Who here doesn't wear armor?"
-----Thalog turns to Raven and says, "I can, but it will take me two or three days. From your description of the 'pirate fight' we know much about the bracelets. Perhaps Sarah can do it faster."
-----Raven says to the group, "Let’s head out and speak with Trist about those undead monsters. After we put those souls to rest, we can go after the witches. I'd like to face the witches first, but Trist asked for our help in exchange for giving us the bandit camp location. So we should at least stop by and see if Trist would let us first stop those witches and then tackle the skeletons. Sound okay?" Raven looks over the group to see if anyone speaks up.
-----Sol glances at the bracers before giving a wave of his hand. Peering at Thalog he gives a wry grin, "So basically, what you were saying was that people like me should run up and hit these witches...damn, and I was figuring I could take my time. You know, casually stroll up and wave my sword around a bit." Sol stops before Thalog's stare burns a hole through his head.
-----Sarah stifles a laugh at Sol’s comment. She is beginning to like him. "I'd like to fight these witches first, I want to see what sort of magic they have and if I can take it from them. Oh, by the way, I definitely don't wear armor. Okay, let’s sum up, what do we know about these witches? Have you guys seen the cave where they live? Can we set a trap for them or will we have to go inside the cave?" Meanwhile Sarah is getting her stuff ready.
-----"Whatever the case, let's get going." Sol moves over to his horse and begins preparing the beast for journey.
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