-----The Dread Pirate chews on his lip at the thought of their being responsible for the death of the dragon, then says, "I don't know. I suppose it's possible that the dragon was undead and was being controlled by that priest. I wouldn't count on it though. Maybe ye'd best disguise yerself as a traveling bard who is interested in the story. Ye can get a description of the heroes that way and let us know when we meet up. In the meantime, those of us without disguises had best stick to the shadows, just to be on the safe side." Dread then heads off to liberate a wagon and a horse.
-----Seth shrugs and reaches into his backpack and retrieves his hat and harp. He places the hat upon his head and assumes the form of a handsome powerfully built human male. He smiles at everyone and then strides off down the street after the soldiers.
-----Seth finds that he has to walk nearly two blocks to come within calling distance of the horsed soldiers. He does find the early evening walk enjoyable except for the sky remaining cloudy and the numerous bodies strewn about. From atop one building a familiar cawing carries down toward him. "You not look like you," comes Albert's thoughts.
-----As Seth clears the second block of mostly deserted buildings, he enters the market area. Here the soldiers have slowed their pacing even more, as other warriors of the town's Lord place bodies in a long cart.
-----Seth walks up beside one of the mounted soldiers at the end of a group waiting for the way to be cleared.
-----Before Seth approaches the soldiers, he communicates with Albert, ".... Need to hide me from this flock of birds...."
-----He then taps the soldier's boot, and says in a loud voice, "Welcome back Captain, I am one of the most famous Bards in the Empire and would like to hear of this Dragon, so that I may weave a song and a tale to tell to the Emperor!"
-----"Be off with ye," grumbles the soldier, "we have the dead that need our tending to. Better ye talk with the street rabble. Many of 'em speak of going to see the dead carcass up on the road to Grute." The man doesn't even look at Seth as the line of soldiers begins to move on toward the town keep.
-----Seth, not to be perturbed moves up the line until he finds another soldier, but out of hearing of the one he just accosted. "Greetings, I have heard of strange happenings on the road to Grute. What has happened to the dragon? Are we free of its curse?"
-----This soldier seems a bit friendlier as he looks at the 'bard' speaking with him. Raising his eyebrows the guard looks down at Seth and says, "The word is that just before noon, strangers from Oakwood rode into town looking for thieves. As they spoke with Sir Zantar, they claimed to have fought and defeated the beast on the road you speak of. A few of the guards were sent forth to confirm the death of the dragon. They have since that time returned with good tidings that the beast is truly dead."
-----The soldier appears young and reminds Seth of Brandel.
-----Seth nods and then says, "Yes, it truly is good that the dragon is dead, but what is this talk of thieves? On top of dragons and the dead walking, do we need to worry about thieves as well?"
-----"Dead walking?" the guard says with a fearful look. The young man then glances nervously about at the bodies piling in the wagon. "I have not heard of the dead walking although this plague has been gruesome none the least. Some of the citizens seek to leave the town now that the dragon has been killed. I would not spread rumors of walking dead lest all of our people panic."
-----"As for thieves, we have had our share of looting in the aftermath of our town's plight."
-----Seth shrugs and walks away slowly and begins heading back towards the hiding place.
-----The half-elven musician takes the same route back noticing the fading light behind the thick clouds. Along the way, he sees three groups of people, mostly families, gather their belongings into wagons in hopes of traveling down to the front gate of the town.
-----Seth makes it to the street that leads down to the north gate. As he approaches the tower where the mercenaries were left to guard the treasure, he catches sight of the Dread Pirate. The Pirate drives a wagon pulled by a gray mare that has obviously seen better days. Gimplefwick pulls up to the tower from the street leading from the west end of town.
-----The Dread Pirate waves to Seth and when they draw closer, he asks, "So what is the good word on the 'heroes of Hearthorn'? Did ye find out where the dragon's body is located?" The Dread Pirate looks expectantly at Seth, but also glances about, looking for Kazel to make an appearance with the horses.
-----Seth walks up to the Pirate and asks, "Can a poor Bard catch a ride?" Without waiting for an answer he leaps up on to wagon and whispers to Dread, "Apparently they came to town asking about 'thieves' from Lord Zantar. The story is they killed the dragon on the road to Grute, and claimed this in front of Lord Zantar. He sent out a patrol that confirmed this. There has been much looting going on. I suggest we pretend to be one of the families leaving town and hide our loot carefully. It would be a shame to get caught with some of the items looted and be blamed for it!"