-----"Either way, let's see if th' commanders had anything o' use on them, then we can find somewhere quieter t'heal up." Sol says, before asking the Huntress, "Rinda, do ye have anything fer th' horses injuries?"
-----"The plan was to lure the horsemen away. Once you were mobile that should have been what you did." Sarah explains patiently. "Instead, you did just the opposite and ran them down. What if you had been held again? No one could have helped you!" Sarah says, trying to hold back her emotion. "That is why we need a leader here. So that if the plan changes everyone knows it and not just one person."
-----"Hang on, are we talking before or after I was spelled? If it's before, then th' lure was what I was attempting. If it's after, th' lot o' ye were already engaged in combat right there, so there was no point in doing that anymore. Th' leaders had t'be broken then, which we did, then th' rabble ran." Sol replies, still unable to see what Sarah was trying explain.
-----Sarah sighed. Sol was not listening. Or worse, he was refusing to understand. "Have you listened to a word I have said?" She asked then sighed again. "Maybe adventuring is not for me after all. Maybe my mother was right...perhaps I should see if I can be given control of that keep we just cleared..." She wonders out loud. "In any case Raven is right we should camp and heal our wounds. Let's find a concealed area to do that in."
-----Sol winces in frustration. Instead of helping him try to realize what she was getting at, Sarah retreated behind dismissive words. Reassured that Thunder's injuries were not dangerous, Sol lightly remounted, and moved the stallion away from the group slightly as he tried to contend with the fact that both Sarah and Raven were angry, disappointed or both and that he still could not understand why. Whilst the others worked out where they wanted to camp, he tried to sort through the events in his mind.
-----Raven says to Sol and Sarah, "I agree with Garrison that we just need to be more selective on our prey. I'm just as guilty as everyone else. I guess I was feeling a bit too cocky after taking down the keep. Our small band against an army! I never thought I'd ever say that, but here we are! As for a leader, I have all the confidence in Sol. He is a man of honor, courage and he has better armor than me." Raven smiles, "My vote is for him."
-----Raven puts a hand on Sol's shoulder, "Sorry if I misspoke. I meant no harm, you did nothing wrong. I was just trying to say we need to be doin' more scouting and less frontal attacks, that's all."
-----Raven motions towards a dense area of forest, "Over there would be a good spot to camp. Let's get into some cover and we'll sort things out. I'll even cover our tracks a bit to throw off any curious eyes."
-----Raven moves his eyes to the prisoners, "Don't think we forgot about you. Keep your mouths shut and stay in the middle of the party. I'll take any trouble making as a way to tell me you're ready to meet your maker. Got it?" Raven makes the point by showing his bow to them.
-----Sol flashes a small smile at the hunter, grateful for the gesture. He rides a small ways off to the side, and leans down in his saddle to scoop his helmet off the ground where it fell. For the moment he keeps it on his saddle and begins to ride towards the area indicated by the hunter. To no one in particular he suggests, "Maybe we should speak of this leader once we're settled."
-----Raven nods, "Sounds like a good plan. We still need to search the bodies." Raven turns to Garrison, "Will you watch 'em while I search?"
-----"They'll feel the bad end of my axe if they even think about getting out of line," the woodsman replies. "You others might keep a watch on the countryside. Warn us if something so much as crawls out there."
-----Lovan contends himself by looking into the sky, watching the clouds as they idly drift by.
-----"They looks t'be dwellins over there," Dilton says as he faces west. He points to a position just north of the clumps of woods that Raven indicated.
-----"Be blamed if'n I see anything movin'," Pil grumbles as he looks in the same direction. "I think I be seein' enough t'calls it a small village."
-----The bound and gagged cloaked man remains quiet even though Raven liberates him of a fine sword, a dagger and two small vials of a pinkish liquid. Underneath his cloak, a fine suit of leather is seen.
-----The armored officer who fell prey to Lovan's curse on his armor moans painfully though his discomfort is not from any new inflicted pain.
-----Caranip sneers at the guards. In a disgusted tone, she scolds them saying, "Leading goblins! And probably causing all kinds of mischief to innocent people! You're nothing more than low-life worms!"
-----One of the guards sneers back at the gnome saying, "At least we're not in the company of little people!"
-----"Watch yer tongue, maggot!" Strolum warns. "Dark folk like yerself ain't worth th' trouble! If'n we get the idear we don' need t'watch all o' ye, ye may be th' first t'feel a sword blade."
-----Rinda takes a look at Thunder and smoothes her hands over his hide. With a sad expression, she runs her fingers over a couple of long light marks, one above his tail and one across his chest. "You strong beautiful steed," she whispers softly to him, "those evil things tried to beat you."
-----The Huntress then tells Sol, "As soon as we make our camp, we'll tend to him. Take heart, Sol! Thunder is strong and very loyal. He never left your side during the battle."
-----By this time, Raven only finds items of interest on the dead body of the evil priest. There he comes across a vile looking shield, finely made but emblazoned with the image of a fiery horned skull. He also finds a cruelly crafted sabre sword, its blade sharp and keen.
-----The rest of the slain, mostly hobgoblins, carried only weapons crudely made, though well polished and repaired.
-----Raven looks down at the shield and frowns. Raven reaches down to pick it up and then stops just inches from it. Raven's hand backs away from the evil shield, "I'll not even touch the vile thing." Raven motions to Strolum and the rest of his friends over to the weapons. "Take a look at these two swords. See if they meet your fancy." Raven checks the balance of the dagger, "If no one wants it, I'll keep this as a handy little blade."
-----The three warriors then draw lots over the cloaked man's long sword. The sabre sword that the evil priest had borne was cast into a nearby pond. Now Strolum wore a new sword at his side.
-----Raven then shows the potions to Sarah, "Are these healing potions? We sure could use 'em."
-----"The potions are healing potions." Sarah points out. "Some of you warriors may be interested in them."
-----Now, the adventurers gather everything together and mount up. Being placed between the riders, the five prisoners walk along still tied to each other.