From atop her chosen mount Sh'andra called out to Sardy as he came into view, 'The children are all mounted, but I have no idea how many we are, so we may have to ride double a ways. I do think we need to be going now. The only question is, which way?'
Sardy threw a nod of acknowledgement to the armoured girl. He surveyed the scene, taking stock of what was occuring whilst he went to pick up his back pack and sheath.
9 Horses, enough for one each of the adults. 6 children and the young woman the dwarf had been with so seven would have to double up. However, within the woods they should probably lead the horses anyway. He went to the grey he'd picked out earlier and smiled up at the young lad that had been sat upon it. "Yer ready fer a bit of a ride?" he asked him as he picked up the reins. Then he turned round. The rest were now entering the clearing. "Ok, pick yer mounts, some will have to go double, decide amongst yerselfs who is. Anyone got any idea which way to go, anyone know these woods?"
As Dorin entered the clearing, he heard the warriors questions. He looked to where his charge had mounted one of the chestnut horses and thought hard. "I don't know the woods, but m'lady over there, her father has a hunting lodge somewhere around ...that's where we were heading, perhaps she can guide us?"" He looked imploringly at the girl.
Sh'andra turned her mount to face Dorin and said 'That sounds as good a place as any and better than some, let's get moving then.'
The young girl who was being discussed moved her horse towards Dorin and began to speak "Dorin is quite correct, we are in deed heading for the hunting lodge where we are hoping to meet up with my family and our warband". She stifles a yawn, putting her hand over her mouth, then continues " However we have a slight problem. My father never saw to see fit to take me on any of his hunts, so I have no idea where to look for it". She smiles languidly, and looks around at the rest of the party. Her eyes seemed to light up as Edward, followed by the priest entered the clearing. Samuel had listened to the young lady's tale. "Perhaps we can find this hunting lodge. Perhaps we could search the area. In any case we might want to get moving before more unwelcome visitors approach." The priest walked over to the black horse and began speaking to the young boy, Sam. "My name is Sam too. Could we share the horse for the ride?"
The young one looked done at Samuel with a sleepy grin. One of the elder boys of around 10 summers or so, he replied "Of course you may, this is Blackkie and he could carry us both for ever!"
"Yes, Blackie is a fine mount. We may have to ride for a while it seems." Samuel smiled at the boy and climbs up behind him.

Lufka meanwhile, had taken the reigns of the pure white horse and asked the youngster on that "Have you ridden before?"
"No sir, I haven't" replied the youngster,who seemed around 9 summers or so, looking down at Lufka with scared, wide eyes, "you, you won't let me fall will you? he asked fearfully.
Lufka smiled at the child, "I was hoping you could teach me! Just hold on tightly and we'll go slowly." He gathered the reigns and mounted the horse behind the child.

"Shurely some one kens where this shed is" said Sardonicus "I'm not from 'roond here and came through the northeast gate into the city, wot aboot tha rest of yers? Any-one from tha city been oot this way before, or p'haps came through the forest ta git ta the toon? If not, I canae see the point of even bothering ta look fer the thing, we could miss it in the trees without even kenning it. If so, where else is there we could head for?
No" Said Dorin, "You don't understand, we have to get this young Lady to her father, he's the Lord of the town. I have to get to the lodge.......for my own reasons too". He almost whispers the last few words."Besides her father will have other warriors with him, the children will be safer with them"
"Yes" said the young girl "I am the Lady Rebecca, and I DEMAND you take me and these...children, to my father and protect us from anything that may try and stop us from reaching him, even if we have to spend all day searching for him. It can't be far from here, surely?" Her speech had got faster towards the end of her monologue as if she was trying to convince herself of what she was saying. She looked around at everone though, trying to look hauty as though used to giving orders.
Edward had quietly walked up to the pale brown horse as everyone was arguing over weather to search for the hunting lodge or not. Taking the reins, he murmured to it softly, petting its neck. When Rebecca began her speech about finding her father, Edward looked up, watching her. "I'm for looking for this lodge. I'd feel a lot safer knowing that there are knights around. What's the harm in looking for a day?"

Looking round and feeling slightly perturbed that his pal Sardonicus has chosen to ride with a child rather than him...and after all the help he'd given him in killing stuff, Ulf wandered up to Shaq. "Hey you, Do ya want to get on an oss? We're only small so I reckon we can go really fast on one! What do yas think ?"
I usually like to walk, but I'm a bit knackered, so how about that pale brown one with white blaze on its forehead being led by that kind human?" Shaq'il replied to Ulf.
At the mention of the word 'Human' Edward coughd. He pulled his hair back behind his pointed ears and winked to Shaq'il.
Mentally kicking himself for his mistake, Shaq'il said, "Sorry about that, fella. No insult intended." Offering his hand in greeting, he continued, "By the way, I'm Shaq'il al Meida, pleased to meet you."
Edward took the proffered hand and shook it. "Nice to meet you Shaq'il, I'm Ed... Greenwood, Edward Greenwood. And there's no offence taken. My ma' is human, so I can understand the mistake. I like to think I take after my da' more though." He finished with another wink.

Rebecca had been watching Edward with the horse. As she hasd seen him gently stroking it, all her hautiness disapeared and she bit her trembling lip. Her face coloured a bright red as she stammered "Th-thank you, Eddie f-f-f-for your s-s-suport". She became very bashful as she said " I,I must find..a way of ...repaying you someday". Despite her embarrassment she managed to flash him a smile, then as if remembering where she was, she looked at the rest of the group and says " Infact I'm sure my father will reward you all hansomely for my safe return."
'There is a tavern a ways down the road if I remember correctly. That may be a good place to start from to find this lodge of your father's. Someone else there may know of it and direct us there.' Sh'andra thought for a bit, then said 'Mayhaps one of us should ride on ahead to get an idea of what is around us. I would be happy to if there are no objections.'
Edward beamed at the mention of a tavern. "I could use a pint after the night like that. And if somebody knows the way to Lady Rebecca's father, all the better!"
Sh'andra lookeds over to Sardonicus, 'Well my northern friend, what say you to that? Shall we find this tavern and begin there?"
Sardy rubs his stubble covered chin before replying to the girl, "Aye, tha tavern sounds alreet like. How far is it do ya ken? and is it in the forest? We're all in strung out shape and could do wi' sum rest...any thing wi' faw walls and a roof that we can defend our sens in will do." He paused, then continued. "If sum one could gi' as an idea of which direction to go, naw, I think it's best we head of. Whichever we come to first, inn or lodge...We ca suss things as we reach 'em." He idly flicked the reins in his hands, "I think it's best if we 'ave sum scouts out too, don't wanna be stumbling across anything wiv out warning like, Sh'aquil, is it?" he asks the halfling, "Your lot can move quietly when they want like, ya want point duty? And I could do wi' one each on the flanks, if we got any vol'nteers?
If quiet is all you need in a scout, them I guess I'm game." Edward chimed in, his hair still pulled behind his pointed ears. "My stealth has gotten me out of more then one tight spot, in the past."
Shaq'il had got himself into a bit of an awkward position in trying to mount his horse, hopping around off balance on one foot, with his other foot at a right angle to his body placed in the horses stirrup, and was only too glad when the big human gave him the option of avoiding riding this beast. "My people were made for walking, not riding a monstrosity like this creature!", he thought to himself. With barely hidden enthusiasm, and while removing his foot from the horses stirrup, Shaq'il piped up, "Yeah, I don't mind taking point. Just point me in the right direction and I'll scout ahead."
" 'Tis settled then. Shaquil shall take point, Edward if you would take the left side, I'll range out to the right. Agreed?" Sh'andra looks at each in turn as she is speaking, then moves her mount toward the road. 'We should get to the road for speedy travel, though we might not be the only ones on it, time I believe is a commodity short in supply, yes?'
Having extracated himself for the horses stirrup, Shaq'il turned to the gnome at his side and said, "Sorry, my friend. It looks like you ride alone this time." He pauses, a smile crossing his face as a thought occurs to him, "On the bright side though, just think how fast you'll be able ride this creature now with only you in the saddle." Turning away from the gnome, Shaq'il made his way to the head of the group.

Lufka cleared his throat loudly to get everyone's attention. "I think I know where this hunting lodge is. I passed it this morning" He smiled, then continued "I think I can lead you to it. We start heading that way." he points in the direction that originally he entered the clearing from. It was close to were the priest had been earlier and the opposite direction to the road. "Sh, ch, suck," he stumbles over the words before announcing "Chuckle, don't stray to far ahead, we don't want you getting lost." He turned to Sardonicus and said "Can you make sure that somebody is watching behind us? I think that any retaliation is going to be from behind"
"Well, ya could have said summat earlier," replies Sardy "Ok, Shaq, you know the direction, yerr tha trail blazer, Edward, you range between us and the road, Lufka you better take lead wiv tha horse, the rest of youse get in file, I'll take the back."

Ignoring the childish name calling of the ignorant human, Shaq'il trotted up to the edge of the clearing the human had pointed out and made his way into the forest. He slipped quickly into the foliage, merging with the shadows and was soon out of sight of the main group. He left the noises of the rest behind, gliding through through the forest as quietly as he could.
Lufka, took the lead of the main party. He was hoping to keep the halfling in sight, but within seconds the little runt had seemed to disappear. He flicked his reins and moved his horse in the direction he'd come what seemed hours, but was only a short time, ago.
Dorin, leading the Lady's horse took up his place in the file, behind Lufka. Although he had the reins in his left hand, in his right was the haft of his axe, ready to be brought to bear if needed.
Edward moved off to the road side of the party, taking up a position where he kept the party within sight, to give them enough warning should he sight anything on the road.
Sh'andra moved to the right flank, trying to guide her horse with her knees as she quietly notched an arrow into her bow. She'd never tried this before, but the horse was obviously well trained as it responded to her inexperienced handling, moving at a slow, steady pace, whilst she made a show of intently watching and listening for any movement not of her group, the bow ready to let fly.

Ulf was the next to move out, followed by the priest and then Isiseris. As she moved past the dark brown horse, she made a grab for the reins. She succeeded and led that horse along with the one she was riding. Benji was grabbing tight to her waist behind her.

Sardonicus motioned for those left to follow the rest of the group and waited for thirty heartbeats before setting off himself.