-----Sol then heads over to the bar and speaks with the barkeep. After hearing a description of the evil one, the barkeep shakes his head saying, "No, ain't seen no body like that. Me reg'lars be men like these 'ere."
-----Sol nods to the barkeep and makes his way over to the boatmen. He had done his best to ignore the 'latest news' the men had been speaking of, but even Sol had to admit he found rumours interesting and sometimes even quite amusing to listen too. Standing next to boatmen he says in a voice loud enough to be heard by the loudly talking fellows, "Lads, If I buy ye all a round, could ye tell me if ye happened t'see a woman riding th' hooves off her horse. She either rode int' town or continued east. I noticed you lot were a'workin at th' docks, so chances are ye would ha' noticed."
-----Just then Raven enters the bar. One of the men speaks up suddenly, "Ah once seen a woman t'at woulda ridden me own hoofs off!" The entire place erupts into laughter.
-----As the chaos dies down, a tall skinny river worker nods toward Sol saying, "Aye, ah seen 'er. Good while ago now. Ah was down by me skiff when ah's seen t'is woman rid'n 'er 'orse past da docks. Movin' east, like w'at ye says. T'at 'orse looked plain wored out, it did!"
-----Sol walks over to the barkeep and hands over the required coinage, "A round fer the dock workers, if ye would an' one also fer th' elderly gentleman who came in behind me." Once the hunter is noticed, the Gorian gives Raven a meaningful look and begins to walk to the Tavern's exit. Just before he leaves, he says to the workers, "Thank ye lads, an' a good night t'ye all." Sol also smiles and nods to the old man who both he and Raven passed on the road.
-----The men in the tavern wholeheartedly thank Sol for his kindness as the two heroes leave.
-----Once he leaves the Tavern, Sol waits for Raven and when the hunter does, he says in a hushed tone, "Force it is. Let's head back to where th' others are, tell them that we need t'prepare fer th' coming storm." With that, Sol remounts Thunder and prepares to ride back to the temple of the Great Rager.
-----Raven nods, "Aye, she made it to Krondor's keep. By force it is. Maybe we can get Lovan to help us "storm" the keep." Raven gives Sol a smile as he rides on.
-----"That's what I'm hoping." Sol replies as he returns the hunter's smile. It drops when he adds, "On our way back, perhaps it's best if we kept an eye out fer a tail. I never really believed that Krondor had agents in Oakwood like th' pirate said, but I wouldn't be surprised if there were some in Nox. If so, they may have taken an interest in us." On the ride back, Sol occasionally looks back for any sign of being followed.
-----As Sol and Raven ride out of the village, the whole place seems much more quiet than before if that is possible now that hardly a soul stands outside.
-----It is well past sunset where Raven and Sol arrive back at the Rager's temple. Romney and Shema stand atop the gate tower and herald the return of the riders. As the portcullis is drawn up, Rinda, Sarah and Lovan run out to greet them in the courtyard.
-----Rinda grabs Raven and holds him close to her saying, "Does everything fare well? I was going to track you if you did not come back by dawn."
-----"Sol!" Sarah yells running to the young warrior. She instantly falls into his arms and kisses him fully on the lips. "I was worried but Rinda and Lovan said we should wait here."
-----Just at that moment, something suddenly swoops past Sol's head. Everyone can then see that it is Sarah's owl, which begins to circle around Sol and Sarah.
-----With a pleased look on his face, Lovan nods to Sol and Raven and says, "Come, we must talk." He beckons everyone to follow him inside.
-----Hugging Sarah to him, Sol grins at her as he replies to both her and Rinda, "We're fine but Lovan's right, we should talk. Th' situation's changed slightly." The young warrior twists and begins to walk after the priest of Strator, his arm still draped around Sarah's shoulders, whilst cheerily watching the circling Chessie.
-----Inside the inner waiting chamber of the temple, everyone sits. Lovan offers a bit of a thin stew to Sol and Raven. As he does, the priest seems to have lost some of the aggression he exhibited early as he apologizes first. "I am sorry that I do not have more to offer, but now that the dragon and the cult has been slain, I should be able to get more supplies." The flickering from the fire in the mantle sends interesting shadowed shapes about the room.
-----"Now that the biggest part of the peril facing the Rager's temple is no more, I cannot man this temple by myself. I need worshippers and those who will support the temple to remain."
-----Lovan then looks at each one present and says firmly, "I would like for all of you to remain here and be a part of the Rager's ways, especially you, young Sol." Lovan nods respectfully to the Gorian.
-----Turning to the two hunters, the priest adds, "Even though you two follow the Hunter, I invite you to stay and perhaps decide to worship the Bringer of Storms."