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-----The next morning, the men awake with the sun and are soon joined by their hostess who makes them a splendid breakfast of ham, eggs, biscuits and honey. Shallia is in much better spirits this morning as if shaking off her gloom from the night before.
-----After their breakfast, Thalog takes the time to work in Shallia's study. Rand goes outside to pay his respects to the sun god. Finally, the men go outside to gather their horses. The sun is up above the horizon, but provides little warmth. A gentle breeze has picked up from the northwest adding a nip to the crisp air. The spring sky is a clear blue that somehow adds to the coolness.
-----Shallia steps outside to see the men off. As they mount their horses, they can see Raven approaching on his own steed.
-----Raven rides up to the group. "Hail, how goes it? Did the seer give any insight to what we will face in the bowels of the ruins?"
-----Raven moves toward Rand, stops and says, "Rand, I need to talk with you in private. You got a minute?" Raven gets off his horse, stretches and waits for Rand.
-----Rand looks at Raven in surprise and then nods and approaches Raven. "Of course, what would you like to discuss?"
-----Raven draws closer to Rand and talks in a low voice. The rest of the party can't make out what Raven is discussing with Rand, but Raven's body language clearly shows Raven is...tense.
-----Thalog interrupts, "By Ora, Rand, sometimes I think you skim more then I do! Come out with it man. What is going on?"
-----Raven nods to Rand and turns back to the group. Raven just looks at Thalog and then says, "Let's get the show on the road. You all miss me? I bet Thalog cried himself to sleep, he missed me so."
-----Raven gives the group a little smile, but the group would notice a trace of sadness in Raven's face.
-----The four men mount up and say their good-byes to Shallia. She says to them in her pleasant, vibrant voice, "Take care, my friends, and thank you again for helping me home. My door is open to you if you need my guidance or assistance."
-----They then turn their horses and head north through the village. Some more villagers are seen outside their homes preparing for the day's work. A few look their way as if trying to recognize the strangers moving through and politely wave or glance quickly at the heroes.
-----North of the village, they cross the river-bridge and here the air feels downright cold as if the breeze had picked up the river's iciness. On the other side, frost clings to the patches of newly growing grass.
-----Urging the horses into a trot, the men move back up the trail. The sun shines above the eastern horizon and the sky is a crystal clear blue. The air feels cold as they ride into the wind. They pass the small swamp on each side of the trail revealing the plains beyond. Somewhere they can hear a loon giving its strange call.
-----A mile more and they turn their horses off the trail. In the distance, they can see the irregular stone shapes of their destination. Everything in the surrounding countryside seems very quiet and peaceful. It seems ironic that a sense of foreboding radiates from the ancient place before them.
-----As they entered the ruins, they once again see the large stone blocks and columns of the ancient buildings. Suddenly, as they round some tall, limestone blocks, Raven pulls the reins of his horse to a halt with his left hand. Miraculously, his horse does not whinny out in protest. Raven's right fist raises up in a silent command of quiet. The men behind him can see the large raised foundation where they first saw Shallia the day before. There appears to be some movement among the old broken columns. Over to one side, there appears to be steps leading down below the ground. A man-sized figure wearing a dark hooded cloak slowly descends the steps. Its back is turned to the heroes.
-----Sol calmly looks towards Raven, and waits for some hint of instruction.
-----Raven readies his bow, notching an arrow, but keeps the bow down and away from the stranger. He motions for the group to advance. He then urges his horse forward.
-----Sol follows Raven's horse, and keeps an eye on the rest of the ruins for any more signs of movement.
-----Everything, other than the moving form, seems very still among the ancient stones. A few small decaying carcasses of the rabbits from the encounter the day before lay here and there. Other than that, no hint of anything living is noticed.
-----The party moves slowly forward keeping a wary eye on the cloaked stranger. The chilly breeze continues to blow and the cloak looks like its wrapped closely around its occupant. It continues to move down the steps, oblivious to the presence of the heroes. As the men reach the foot of the raised foundation, the figure has vanished below.
-----As the men dismount and climb atop the foundation, they see the ancient stone floor still intact. The giant blocks that make up the flooring are very strong, though cracked and weathered. Over to the eastern side of the floor area gaps the opening to the lower level. They see the worn steps that lead below into the darkness. No other sound is heard other than the breeze moving among the stone columns.
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