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-----A slight ripping noise comes from the collar poking out of the top of the man's leather. The man's eyes fix on Raven's face and especially the blood that covers him. The flickering torchlight gives the bloodied Raven a very savage, very feral look.
-----The man's eyes bulge so much, they look as though they may pop at any second. His foggy breath pours out in a constant panicked rate. "Yeah", he nervously squeals, "I'll tell ya what's ya wants ta know! Just don't kill me!"
-----"Sounds fair enough," Raven says, staring into his captive's eyes like a hungry animal. After a few tense silent seconds, he begins, "There's you, the three laying here and the three that ran off. Are there anymore of your friends around here?"
-----"No," the man sputters, "we were the only ones here!"
-----Raven eyes him closely and then asks, "If you lead me and my friends down that way," and here Raven nods toward the dark corridor, " would there be any surprises, like traps?"
-----"Yeah…yeah," the man answers in defeated, "there's traps down there!"
-----Raven pauses to see if any of his companions want to ask questions.
-----Thalog holds up one of the shiny black gems for the man to see and says, "What is this gem and where did you and your associates get it?"
-----The man squints to see the small object the young mage holds. With an excited nod, he says, "Them pebbles was sent down ta us from the men we send the goods we . . . uh . . . come 'cross to." The man says these last words with a bit of embarrassment, as if he forgot what he was saying in his excitement. He looks back at Raven with a fearful look. "They tol' us ta keep ahold of 'em in case the money went bad."
-----Raven looks up at his companions with a confused look on his face. An angry frown crosses his brow and he looks back at the man. Forcefully he asks, "These men you send "goods" to, where can we find them?"
-----The man pauses and after Raven shakes his collar, he replies hoarsely, "Don't rightly know, cuse ah've never been thar meself, but they must be in da woods ta da north. Tat's where them goods waz sent."
-----Raven pauses again to see if anyone else has a question.
-----"So are ye going to tell us more of the traps, or do we need to send you down the corridor first?" Sol says without turning from his watch. He even sounded good-natured.
-----"Well . . .well," the man begins to stutter, "Ah don' know whar all of 'em at. Ah knowed thar be a trap with arrows an' thar's one 'ell of a pit hid somewhars."
-----"Yeah, but I bet you can help us find them," Raven adds, speaking low and growling. The man's eyes shift nervously back to Raven. Raven lifts his collar so the man stares directly into his face. "Yesterday, we ran into some orcs and before we finished them, they told us you were here. One thing I want to know is what is the connection between your friends and the orcs?"
-----"Uh . . . them nasty orcs waz sent here 'fore us to look afta," the man slowly begins, "They waz 'pose ta do whats we tol' 'em, but 'fore we knowed, they took da silver and some gems and runned off."
-----Raven sits fuming, staring into the man's face. He turns slightly and looks toward his companions. "Anyone else have any questions or are we ready to move?"
-----"I definitely would like to move. Preferably in that direction..." Sol holds his blade aloft, pointing down the lit corridor. "...now that we have our new trap expert to guide us."
-----Raven looks at Rand and Thalog. "How about you two? Are you ready to go?"
-----"Exactly what 'goods' were you transporting to the north and for what reason," Thalog says as he prepares to move on.
-----The man hangs his head. "Anythin' worth a pretty copper we coulda lay ahold to and anythin' da orcs be bringin' in." Then he adds, "Dat's jest da word we gots from da woods."
-----Raven intensely watches the man as he speaks. Then he turns and nods at his three companions. Still holding onto the man's collar with his right hand, Raven stands up dragging the man to his feet. The bandage wrapped around Raven's left arm is dark with the blood of his wound.
-----Raven turns the man so he faces down the dark corridor. Raven quickly draws one of his swords holding it at the man's back. The man slightly gasps and squeals, "Ya said ya ain't gonna kill me!"
-----Raven coldly replies, "At the time, I said it sounded fair enough. You just make sure I don't get the idea you're trying to cheat." With his left hand, he points into the darkness. "You're going to show us what's down there."
-----Raven turns to Sol, "You want to carry the lantern?" He turns back to the man, "Okay, lead on and no sudden moves. If we come on something you know about, you better warn us about it." The sword at the man's back helps to get the idea across.
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