-----Sol flips Raven the short sword as he comments, "I think yer better off with what ye've got." Taking note of Rinda trailing off, Sol runs to where Thunder stands and mounts up, calling as he does so, "What is it? What do ye see Rinda?"
-----Raven handles the sword as he walks to see what Rinda is concerned about. Raven says, "Aye it is fine weapon, but the blade is too heavy for my taste." Raven hands the sword back to Sol and then says to Rinda, "What is it, my love?"
-----Without looking at the hunter, Rinda slips her arm around Raven's waist. Her eyes, however, remain searching the briars that surround the ruins.
-----With a frustrated look, she finally answers them both. "I see nothing, but . . ." Rinda then looks at them both. "If this woman was held by fear, where would she run to? Even if the spell wore from her, she could return quietly and see the rest of the cult slain. Where would she flee to?"
-----"Krondor." Sol replies simply, "If she was aware of who they were working with. Look, I'll ride maybe half a mile south an' circle round t'th' east. See if I can pick her up. Raven ye want t'come with me, or organize things here?"
-----Raven says, "I'll come with you. There's a small chance I might pickup her tracks."
-----The warrior nods, pleased to have Raven along. As Sol waits for the hunter to mount up, he turns to the hunter's mate and asks, "Rinda, could ye organize everyone and head back t'Strator's temple. Take th' chest an' anything else o' use ye may find. An'...could ye do us a favour? If ye find th' chance, could ye offer Romney an' Shema yer counsel? Whether they want it or not, they may well need it. Whatever words I had t'offer weren't enough...Ye've certainly helped me a'fore on that scale, so maybe ye could do th' same fer them." The Gorian looks hopefully at Rinda.
-----Once Raven is ready to move south, Sol waves to both priests and says as he pushes Thunder into a trot, "We shouldn't be long."
-----Rinda smiles and replies, "We will meet you at the temple, that is, if we can get Sarah's nose out of her book!"
-----The two riders then turn and head out of the ruins trying to make for a southern direction. The tangle of briars surrounding the ruins makes the journey difficult and slows their pace. By this time, Raven's wolf appears running along with his master's horse and jumping at any rabbits the riders happen to scare out of the brush.
-----Finally, the two come up on a dusty path that seems to run from the stone shapes of the ruined village. Raven immediately dismounts and inspects it for tracks.
-----Sol raises himself up from his saddle. As Raven searches for tracks, the Gorian stands in his stirrups while he scans all around him for any signs of life.
-----Raven returns to his horse and says to Sol, "A rider came through here. Riding fast, very fast towards the southeast less than an hour ago." Raven mounts up, "If it is the woman that attacked you, she could warn Krondor." Raven snarls, "That would not be good."
-----Raven turns his horse towards the southeast, "I say we try to stop her." Raven looks ready to go.
-----"Let's do it." A grin plays across Sol's face and he kicks Thunder into the now familiar gallop, riding southeast.
-----Both riders tear off on their horses following the path that seems to lead out of the tangled briars. Within moments, they free themselves of the rough area seeing open plains surrounding them. Across to the south, they can see a single stone structure about a mile and a half from their position. To the northeast, the trail road that leads from the Town of Redmarsh to the village of Nox is but a line crossing the countryside a mile off.
-----Onward they charge across an expanse of flat plain two to three miles across. The air sweeps past them as the thick clouds hang overhead. The horses' rhythmic motions are steady and determined as their nostrils flair into the late afternoon air.
-----Within less than a half hour's time, Raven and Sol join the trail road as the pathway curves beside a long lake to the north. On the south side, a hill rises up off the plains; the top crowned by another stone structure. From here, the riders plunge into a small forest that carries them for the next two miles. The trail through the woods remaining straight in a southeastern direction gives a clue to how much this way has been used.
-----After emerging from the tree line, the riders can see the main fork of the Altor River less than a mile to the south. Concentrating ahead, they can now make out the small buildings at a distance of two miles that are the beginnings of a small village.