-----Rinda smiles slyly at Lovan and answers, "Your offer is most . . . gracious, O Storm Master, but the way of Raven and me is to live by the Way of the Great Hunter." The look that remains on the huntress's face shows that she is not offended and a bit amused.
-----"As you will," Lovan replies, "I extend the offer to all here except for the two who man the gate." Looking around everyone can see that Romney and Shema have remained outside patrolling.
-----Sarah looks at Sol with wide eyes and smiles, although a slightly worried look crosses her face. Chessie, perched on the head of the chair Sarah is seated on, turns his head and blinks.
-----Raven listens to Lovan and then shakes his head, "My spirit is pledged to the Hunter." Raven leans forward towards Lovan, "Actually I was going to ask for your help now. We've found Krondor's hideout and with your help we can end his evil life." Raven sits back, "Krondor is the one that brought life to the cult we just destroyed. He could start more of those cults unless he is stopped. Will you aid us in stopping Krondor?"
-----After Raven speaks, Sol adds, "Like Raven, I cannot accept. Reason's different though. Ye well know I follow an' worship th' Rager an' I'll take his ways wherever I go, but th' thing is I'm not sure if I can settle down t'any temples ways. I found that out a'fore I started travelling. I'm honoured by yer offer though, truly."
-----Mirroring Raven somewhat, the Gorian leans forward in his chair and continues, "Consider what Raven asked of ye a counter-offer. Help us take down Krondor, an' not only would ye be furthering th' Rager's work in th' region, but when th' people find out that th' Lord o' th' Sky was instrumental in Redmarsh's salvation, ye'll have enough coming an' wanting t'learn more of him." Sol's smile grows eager as he awaits Lovan's answer.
-----As Raven speaks, an uncertain look comes over Lovan's face though he listens intently to the hunter. He nods slightly as Sol adds his comments. The Rager's priest then begins to speak saying, "As I mentioned to Sol once before, the 'Lords' and their petty differences mean little to me."
-----This comment brings an angry look to the beautiful face of the Lord Wizard's daughter. As she already has her hand on Sol's arm, she begins to clench the young warrior's arm tighter. "You can't mean that!" Sarah says, "We, especially Sol, have helped you when you asked. As Raven and Sol have just said we helped you rid the area of those bastards and Krondor very likely put them there!" Sarah's anger rises where she is almost shaking while increasing her grip on Sol's arm. "Don't you see how Sol has been wounded in helping you bring the Rager's fury?"
-----Lovan patiently looks at Sarah from underneath his eyebrows. He calmly but intensely answers, "You cut me to the quick, MiLady. I was about to say that for the very reasons you mentioned that I shall help you once more bring forth the Rager's Fury!"
-----Smiling, he tells Sarah, "Your passion is pleasing to the Rager."
-----Lifting her chin gracefully and easing the tension within her, Sarah says with a noble aire, "But, of course."
-----Lovan looks to Raven and Sol and asks, "When shall this attack begin?"
-----Sarah then speaks up again excitedly, "Tomorrow! It has to be tomorrow! You won't believe the spells I will have ready!"
-----"Yes, it will be tomorrow." Sol agrees heartily as he rises from his chair. "We'll leave at daybreak. The thing is, we're no longer acting in our own time. Krondor is now aware o' th' threat we bear, 'cause that bloody woman rode her horse t'death t'make it back. When we get near Krondor's keep, which should be around midday or just after, we'll stop just out of sight of it. If Krondor's men notice us, and choose t'engage us in th' field, then no problem, we'll cut them down. If they choose t'stay behind their walls, then we'll wait till nightfall before we attack. One o' th' reasons I want t' be near Krondor's keep during th' day is so that we can keep an eye on any troop movements."
-----Sol then looks next to him at Sarah. Despite the seriousness of the matter, a warm smile splays across his face when he regards her and asks, "Sarah, do ye have any magic that would aid our scaling o' th' walls? 'Cause we'll need it."
-----As Sol turns back to the others he takes off his backpack and begins to rummage through it, "As fer tonight, there's a chance Krondor may try t'hit us here first, so we'll have t'keep vigilant. Raven, Garrison, would ye both be kind enough t'take th' second watch? I think we'll need t'divide this night's watch in two rather than three 'cause o' our numbers. I'd like us at maximum strength tomorrow, an' fer that, Sarah, Rinda an' now Lovan will need th' night to focus an' recover their various energies. So if th' two o' ye handle second, I'll go out now an' take first watch with Romney. Shema should get th' chance t'rest some o' her injuries, so I'll send her in."
-----Having finished rummaging, Sol hands Sarah a dagger, two rings and a pair of bracers explaining, "I picked these up from th' mage...ye've mentioned before giving stuff t'ye t'look over. Maybe these will be o' some use t'us."
-----Sol waits for anyone else to say something before heading outside. Just before he does so, he asks Lovan, "Would ye mind if after my watch, I could sleep in the...out on th' roof?"
-----"Yes!" Sarah enthusiastically answers Sol to his spell question, "maybe one or two of you could climb up and lower a rope for the rest to climb." Her eyes sparkle as she pokes Sol in the chest and adds, "I could even get us close to the wall without being seen if we're on foot."
-----"Oh Sol!" she exclaims as he draws forth the items from the backpack. Landing a barrage of kisses on his face, Sarah tells him, "You really are too good to me!" She then takes the things looking them over.
-----"Do as you will, my friend," Lovan replies to the young warrior when he has caught his breath.
-----Sol nods his thanks to Lovan and smiles at the rest of them as he leaves for the walls of the keep so that he can take his watch.
-----The night then passes quietly while outside the sky remains very dark as if the clouds were keeping the moon and the stars from shining on the world. Sol goes about his watch with Romney. Later that night, Raven and Garrison relieve them.
-----Toward the middle of the second watch, the silence in the countryside is broken by a single wolf cry. Moments later, the animal's call is answered by another and then another until the cries join together in what seems like one long mournful sound. For at least an hour's time, the night seems devoid of life except for the howls that are heard somewhere out in the darkness.