-----Rand glances down at Raven "What happened, did he do something?" a note of alarm touches his voice. Rand turns to face Thalog and stares at him hard.
-----Rand's hard stares are pulled into Thalog's void face. Thalog looks at Raven. "I was simply using my skill to investigate just as you are." He says in a numbing sound.
-----Arliss, looking very serious, says, "Now, Rand, Raven, let's not lose our focus here. We need to be in pursuit of the cause of the land's curse, remember? I'm sure that Thalog had no ill intent in his mystical
act...did you, Thalog? Still, perhaps in the future a word of warning or explanation would be helpful? Now, then, let us choose a course of action and be off! Time is wasting!"
-----Thalog's view moves to Arliss. His view does not move as he reveals a silver falcon coin from his robes and flicks it in to the air as he says, "Choose your fate, Sir Arliss."
-----Arliss looks on as Thalog prepares to toss his silver coin. "Very well, then, Thalog, I name the reverse side...the shield. It reminds me of Joren, the Mighty Protector. If that side comes up, we follow the tracks towards the Keep of Sir Krondor. If it lands falcon side up, we return to Hearthorn."
-----Arliss watches as the coin flip commences...
-----The coin is tossed and retrieved. Uncovering it, the shield side of the coin is revealed. On to the keep!
-----Minutes later, the four riders move steadily to the southwest across the plains. The light air moving against their faces slightly numbs their cheeks, but the sun over their left shoulders keeps them warm.
-----Raven leads them now, following the trace of the host of horses Jon followed the day before. In the distance to the east, they can see the small shell keep of Broactor and his hunters. On their right, they pass a calm and tranquil lake with a light mist rising from it. Somewhere, they hear the call of a loon and the strange sound echoes behind them.
-----A mile onward, they pass in the distance to the south, a small wetland. The trees there seem gnarled and tangled. One or two miles ahead, they see the trail road that leads between Hearthorn and Myn. To the south on the road, they can see a small wagon pulled by horses moving away from them.
-----About three-quarters of an hour since they began following the tracks, the four riders cross the trail road. Ahead of them, they see a light woods roughly a mile in diameter. South of the woods is a rough-looking marsh; its swampy waters extending beneath the trees.
-----The horses are slowed and the party moves into the woods. As the ground becomes wetter, the men begin to look for drier paths to ride on. The tracks become fainter to see. The wood carries a quietness about itself.
-----While on the trail, Raven keeps his distance from Thalog. At some point, Raven pulls ahead of the rest of the party and rides alone as he tries to spot clues.
-----Finally, the men come into a clearing. Raven can see that a gathering of men and horses had been here a few days ago. Here the ground is moist and the tracks are all but faded. Through the trees, the men can see a tower and walls of a keep.
-----When they come to spot where the faded tracks are spotted, Raven gets off his horse and looks at the area. Raven then looks toward the keep.
-----To the group Raven says, "Well, the tracks lead to this keep. The answers to this vile curse rests in there." Raven's right grasps one of his short swords. Raven turns toward Arliss, "You know more of nobles and keeps than I do, Arliss Vanderbrook, what say thee? What kind of man is this noble that owns this keep?"
-----While the rest of group awaits Arliss' reply, Rand eases himself off his horse and without explanation strides towards an especially dense section of the woods. Upon reaching it, Rand kneels to the ground his hands clasped together in front of him; his holy item held between hands. His head raised to the heavens above, Rand can be heard speaking, but at this distance the words are unintelligible.
-----Arliss pauses momentarily, looking over the imposing structure before them. From the corner of his eye, he takes note of Rand as the devotee of Solarius seeks a brief solace in prayer. To respond to Raven's question, Arliss says, "Well, Raven, I have never met Sir Krondor personally, so what little I do know of him is by reputation alone. I do know him by sight, however, and a rough and rugged figure he does present! Still, he and his family have been charged with the defense of this land for several generations, a task which the Krondors have always performed with great zeal and dedication. I know that Sir Krondor is a warrior of no small renown, and well-versed in military tactics. I also know that he is concerned with formality and propriety. I can virtually guarantee that if we march up to the door and begin leveling
accusations of responsibility for this curse, our reception will be very cool indeed!"
-----Thalog is listening quietly to Arliss and Raven speak, though his attention is with Rand. As Thalog studies the priest with a blank face, Rand prays to Solarius.