Aramil quietly moved over to the hobbit as he slouched on a rock.
" Nanith, do you see in the dark? My falcon spies two warriors coming over that obstacle barrier into the courtyard. I am getting my crossbow ready. Are you better yet?"

Nanith jolted upright; his sudden illness abruptly forgotten. He threw back his cloak revealing his own light crossbow and quickly loaded a bolt. A stern expression crossed his face. " Can your falcon determine if the warriors are part of the group we came with?"

Aramil replied " I have an idea. Moran says they are similar, but we still have to work on our bond. They could be a party searching for us or they could simply be a nasty part of tag-alongs to make sure we find nothing."

Nanith whispered " It could be two mercenaries of the Pinedroi mass. We should determine their intentions before trying to assail them.
Avoiding them entirely would probably be best."
Nanith hunched down surveying the area quickly. In a whisper, he said
" We should find a place to hide!" The rogue took a deep breath and made his way back to the tower. Holding his breath, he swung the door completely open and scurried back to Aramil. It was apparent the warriors had reached the bottom, as more dirt tumbled ungraciously down the decline.

The mage made a quick plan " You stay out of the way and remain hidden. I will ask them for help and we can work off that. So, you ready for me to call out to them?"

" It's too late ..they approach!" The hobbit said before skittering away to a pile of propped rocks out of usual sight.

Aramil regarded the new precense and awaited the two warriors until a voice called out " Hold, we are not foes. You are the men bounded to the operation as a punishment, are you not?" The two dark figures edged closer until realizing that the mage appeared to be alone. " I will not report how you have disobeyed orders by venturing off, but you all must return back to the brigade. This is no place to explore without the help of your brothers-in-arms."
The other warrior spoke up with a higher, harsher tone when he noticed the tower door ajar.
" Is that where the rest tarry? I suggest you give them the message or your entire party will be arrested."

" Well, first things first." Aramil spoke as he fumbled through his backpack. He snapped a sunrod taken from it and shone the brightness upon the tall soldiers. " I am Aramil. What names are given thou?"
They told themselves as Thiastes and Gronger of the Pinedroi elite guard.

Aramil studied the strict warriors towering above him. " Well, truth is, I don't regard this being forbidden to us as we are given chances to explore anything that will help Pinedroi's objective. They want information on the starpoint as much as we do. Are you trying too impede a Warmarshall's directive? And we {indicating the falcon soaring overhead} are here guarding this door for our friends as they further investigate the orcken stronghold." As the last words were spoken, a distant blast shattered the night's stillness.
The wizard looked past them with concern " What is going on outside with the warhost?"

Thiastes replied " They are now in heavy battle. We cornered the bastards as they hid in the cracks of Mount Delanor. They hold no chance if we apply constant pressure. Nevertheless, our journey lies west and you shall not separate from the army and must come with us. You can explore the keep upon your return and this is in compliance with our Warmarshall's wishes. You will fetch your companions immediately; we move out in 30 minutes."
The two soldiers about-faced and moved across the northern courtyard, bypassing the hobbit's position, until they found a portion of the wall broken down enough for them to file through.

It was apparent the wizard was riled at the warrior's warnings and he scrambled after the halfling looking to fetch him from hiding. Nanith, however, had problems of his own. He grunted and seemed to be in a tussle of some sort. Moving towards the ruckus, the mage pulled the hobbit away from a bulk that seemed to pin him down from above. Grabbing his hand as a father would a child, Aramil cast his sunrod at this strange disturbance. A sleeping orc riled awake from the audible commotion? The beast left behind in the escape, perhaps? No, it was an arrow-riddled body that had fallen from its position against the crumbling wall. The mage scoffed, at first not giving it much thought ...until....wait... The body was dressed in lavish attire and sported a shredded, bloused shirt the mage was quite familiar with. Pushing the corpse over with his foot, the claim astonished him. Salimen!!