-----Quickly covering the area, Raven and Sol ride toward what can only be the village of Nox! Along the riverbank, small piers and docks lead out into the water, while the trail road ends just beyond the last dock. A dirt road then leads from the center of the wharf area and heads north to the center of the village.
-----Sol and Raven can see two merchants' shops along the road by the wharves. Back from the river, the two largest buildings appear to be a tavern and a temple. Small dwellings and shops are scattered amongst small clumps of trees. Toward the northern end of the village, the two can see a single stone tower.
-----A few keelboats are moored at the docks and a few people by the water look to be heading toward the tavern. Other than one older man carrying a sack over his shoulder walking on the road heading toward the village, there appears to be no other citizens outside their homes.
-----The horses begin to slow their pacing as they have galloped steadily for the past hour.
-----Sol nods towards the man with the sack and says, "Let's go ask him if he's seen anything." The young warrior nudges Thunder after the elderly fellow.
-----When Sol reaches the old one, he dismounts in order to speak to him. The older man spins toward the young warrior in surprise exclaiming, "'Ere you! Ye'll not be a' findin' where I gits me gold from me!"
-----The old man's appearance seems a bit peculiar. He wears the ordinary clothes of a peasant although his soft boots and ankles of his trousers are soaking wet. His aging eyes stare wide from underneath the brim of his wide hat. He edges back from Sol holding onto the small sack across his shoulder.
-----The Gorian then reassures the old man, nodding and greeting him, "Good day, friend. I was wondering if ye could help me and my friend. We're after a lady that may well have passed ye by. Have ye by chance seen her?" Sol's wide gaze is friendly yet tinged by the urgency of the chase.
-----The man immediately calms down and relaxes. Seeing that no ill will is borne toward him, he smiles wearily at Sol and thinking hard finally says, "A lady? Uhm, . . . well, . . th' only lady I's be a'seein' was some woman on'a horse racin' like th' wind chasin' a storm a few miles back. She be a'headin' fer this 'ere village n' I 'spects she be 'ere now if'n t'at be w'ere's she was a'makin' fer!"
-----The old man then shrugs and looks at both Raven and Sol.
-----Sol immediately mounts back up as he acknowledges the man's information, "Thank ye sir. Ye've been a great help...I hope yer gold brings ye some happiness."
-----Sol moves Thunder forward and indicates for Raven to catch up. As the hunter nears he says quietly, "Perhaps ye should circle around th' village an' search fer her tracks between here an' where we believe th' keep lies. All we can hope is that she's been forced t'stop here because her horse may be worn out. Also if yer around that side, an' she leaves, ye can take her then."
-----"While yer around that side, I'll head into th' village an' see if anyone else has seen her. Better yet, I may run into her...or at least let her see me, so she panics and heads fer our foes' home...an' into yer hands." Sol suggests before pausing to add, "I'll give a yell if I find her, an' ye could do th' same fer th' same."
-----"If ye find her tracks lead t'th' keep, our cover is gone. We should probably back t'Lovan's and regroup. We'll then have t'rely on force t'take our foe down. Not that I have problems with this...it just wasn't my first choice." The Gorian then waits to see what Raven has to say.
-----Raven thinks for a moment and nods, "Sound logic, friend. Let's set the trap and see if we catch our prey." Raven heads off to circle the town.
-----Sol waves to the departing Raven, and lets Thunder follow the trail into Nox.
-----Sol rides through the village center. As he does so, he looks around in search of the Helator follower. He also looks for any signs of an exhausted or a very tired horse, but alas everything here seems quiet, a bit too quiet.
-----Sol then makes his way towards the tavern. Upon entering the young warrior finds a boisterous small crowd of boatmen drinking and speaking up almost a bit too loudly.
-----"Aye!" claims one man whose clothing reeks of fish, "I says Sintor 'as every right ta the claim o' Redmarsh! Word be comin' from Goldren Lambert be ordered ta surrend'r up this holdin' since he canna not drive the beasties from this 'ere countryside!"
-----"Sintor's got me 'proval!" yells a crusty man missing a few teeth. He then begins speaking in a lower tone though the entire clientele can still hear him. "Course, ye be knowin' Sintor need ta be cleanin' them swamps ta the east. Course, we all be knowin' who the real crimnal be 'ere! They be sayin' ol' Howrun refused the King 'imself when the Lords be summoned. 'E's stayed, he did, in them woods he claims. I says there be enuff woods there ta be hidin' monsters n' sendin' 'em across ta the swamps!"
-----"Be rowdy bunch t'is 'ere night," comes a voice at Sol's shoulder. Turning, Sol sees the old man that he just talked to outside.