Shaq'il rose, disappointed but not disheartened, from his failed search of the corpse of the foul smelling, and worst of all, utterley worthless, creature. Looking to his left, Shaq'il recognised the prone form of one of the human women from the clearing. He hadn't noticed her fall to the ground during her battle with the creature, and could only believe that it had happened while he had been moving from his hiding postions. It also looked as though no-one else had noticed either. Putting aside his search for booty, he moved over to her so he could check to make sure she was still alive. As he approached, his concern grew, for he could discern no movement from her. As he reached her still form, he knealt on the grass beside her and looked closer. He could discern the rise and fall of her chest, so at least she was still alive. Her eyes were closed though, her hair plastered to her cheek by sweat. A fly, probably attracted by the blood congealing from the body only a few handsbreath's away, settled on her cheek. It provoked no response from the girl and Shaq moved to brush it away with his hand. As his hand approached her face, there was a blur of movement and he found his wrist held by her in a vice like grip. Her eyes shot open and her other hand groped for her axe....

The priest shook out of his trance. "Of course", he replied to Edwards question about the Dwarf and his charge, "I'll find my way to camp. You two can decide what to do about this creature. Could you also round up the horses. They may be useful in the days ahead." As Samuel hurried back toward the camp he couldn't help but scour his memory for any tidbits relating to the creatures that attacked. The sound of children brought him to a stop short of the camp. Samuel was suddenly all too aware of the gore on his robes. This troubled the priest for two reasons. Firstly,he knew from his training that cleanliness aids in healing. Secondly,he worried about the effect of him draped in blood would have on the children. He quickly decided that his gift for laying on of hands and more mundane healing skills would have to suffice for the lady. Praying he said, "Llew, bringer of light, please cleanse thy servant from the effects of this battle. Let my robes and visage be clean. For this blessing I am grateful. Amen." At peace that he was now clean Samuel entered the clearing. He smiled at the children. "I hope you have been good. It looks like you have." Turning to the dwarf he added, "Dorin? Edward said that you have someone with you who needs healing. My name is Samuel Nevel, a priest of Llew. How may I help you?" The Dwarf looked at the Priest and replied, in halting Common. "Sorry, I don't speak Human, are you the Priest? Could you have a look at the Lady here, she is very tired." Isiseris watched the exchange with interest, she herself was feeling the effects of not having had any proper rest for the past day or so. She was also pleased the Dwarf was showing signs of life, she'd started to worry about him, perhaps he was only simple!

Edward and Lufka watched the Priest walk away. "These creatures are still unconcious," Said Edward, "Perhaps we should do as Samuel suggested and collect some mounts. They may have woken up by the time we've done that." "You go on," replied Lufka "I've got a different plan." He watched Edward head off to snag the reins of a big black horse that was the nearest standing mount to them. "Why, wait for them to wake, when I can wake them myself?" he mused to himself. Then landed a kick to the side of the creature next to him. There was no response, so he kicked harder, wincing a little as his toes felt the contact with the chain mail links of the armour the creature was wearing, through the pointed ends of his soft leather boots. This time there was a response! Yellow eyes opened in anger and the creature attempted to stuggle with it's bonds. Lufka aimed another kick at it, using the sole of his boot this time.

Sardonicus had the reins of three of the horses (the grey, a pure white and a piebald) when he walked back to Ulf. "Better join up with the rest of them" he said to his little friend. Ulf, his face still blood streaked shook his head "Nah, mate, I'm gonna rob the bodies" he said, shoving the bloody rag back into his belt pouch. "You gonna help?" Sardy gave a little twitch of a smile, "No ta, shortstuff, you can have that fun, yerself". He led the horses back up the hill, angling towards Edward, who had caught the last of the loose horses and was heading back to the other human (who appeared to be kicking the shit out of a bound figure!). Like the three horses Sardy had, the two blacks Edward was leading were sweat streaked and looked to have been riden hard. "Ho, friend" cried Sardy at Edward "Seems you had the same idea as me, we need to gather who ever wants to stick together and get out of here - one of these bastards got away, he may return with friends!"

Edward replied to Sardonicus, "Aye, by the looks of them, I don't want to be here when they do return!" His brow frowned in through as he continues, "The rub is, there are more of us then there are horses, not even counting the children. And a few wounded to boot. We should probably travel were horsemen will have less of an advantage, and use these horses for the wounded and the weak"
Sardy, bit his lip, thinking hard.... "Well I count 9 horses providing that spell didn't kill those four on the floor, don't know how many we've got in the group. Let's get them into the clearing....what the fuck is meladdo upto over there?" That last bit was said, pointing at Lufka, who still seemed to be kicking one of the bound figures. Edward looks over at Lufka as he responds to Sardy, "I think he's 'questioning' the prisoner. Hope he doesn't kill it too soon. I'd really like to know were these beasties come from." Ed turns away from the gruesome seen, when Lufka puts his sword to the creature's neck. Placing both reigns in one hand, he held out the other to Sardy, "By the way, I'm Ed."
"Sardonicus" replieds the big warrior, extending his hand, and grabbing Edwards forearm in a hard grip. Shaking once, he then let go. "I think we'd better go and help, he seems a wee bit enthusastic for my liking....can you speak Orken? I only have a smattering." Sardy paused for a second " We may be best just killing them and moving on...I really don't think we've time for questiong bullshit, ye ken?"
Enthusiastic may be an understatement" replied Ed. "Perhaps the mage knows a spell to communicate with it." As they walked towards Lufka, Edward asked, "Orken, eh. So you know some of their language. What else do you know of them?"
"Well, I ken that they're Hobgoblins, I've fought them before. Easy in a small group, but I wouldnae wanna face a horde of them." Sardonicus looked up at Lufka and his prisoner and sees that the man is now bent over his victim. "Ho, Jimmy, didnae waste ya time, slit it's gizzard and let's be moving on..." he shouted at him.
Edward replies, "Hobgoblins eh. They say those things aren't very smart. Guess we wouldn't get much information from a prisoner then." After a reflective pause, "Still it would be nice to find out were they are camped, were they are going; so as to avoid running into them unnecessarily."
"You weren't in the city then last night?" replied Sardonicus.
Edward went ashen at the mention of last night in the city. "Oh, I was. And I'd rather not repeat if. So if we knew were they were camped, or were they were marching to next; we could avoid 'em."
Sardonicous scratched his chin with the back of his hand holding the reins. "Hmm", he says "Well it seemed too well planned to be just a raid. I would imagine the city will be used as their base. Depends on whose leading them and what his agenda is as to how safe anywhere else is. I can't imagine we'll be safe around here. Probably best to get everyone together and haul our backsides outta here. The sooner the better!"

Lufka stopped kicking the creature and bent down on one knee besides the creature, resting his sword along the length of it's fetid body, the tip nestling just below it's Adam's Apple. Speaking softly, Lufka asked "Do you understand me?". Looking intently at the creatures face, he paused for a reaction. The creature looked right back into Lufka's eyes, matching his stare. It bareds it's fangs in an explosion of foul breath and a low growl emerged from it's throat. With Herculean fortitude in the face of such a fetid assault, Lufka continued in the same quiet, considered manner. "I think you have a problem, friend, Now, I'm never one to resort to violence, but I can't be sure about the rest of these poor travellers you attacked. You understand, if the decision were mine, we'd just slip away quietly, and leave you to find your way home," adding quietly, "without your horse of course." After a brief pause he continues, pointing with his free hand towards Sardonicus. "But the big fellow, he holds a grudge. He's not one to let these things pass him by so easily. I've seen him do some horrible things to those who've crossed him in the past."
From the creature, the growl continued to grow in sound, becoming a low rumble. It continued to bear it's fangs. The rumble cut off and shaking it's head it gaves out several gutteral sounds, almost like a dog's wimper, but pitched lower.
"I'm glad you understand," continues Lufka, gently patting the creature on the shoulder. "Now maybe you should be thinking about what you've got to trade with him. You're going to have to give him a reason to let you live." Pausing thoughtfully, he suddenly continued, his voice brightening as if he had a sudden thought, "If you like I'll bargain with him for you, I know how to keep him calm. He's so easily angered" Lufka moveds his sword backwards, so the tip was about six inches from the base of the creature's throat. "Now the big fellow, he's going to be upset about you attacking him. You saw how angry he was with your friends." A breath, and then: "Maybe if we could tell him why you attacked him; who told you to attack him, and why. Well... well just maybe we can persuade him to let you go." Sighing deeply, he continued, "Well, what do you say friend?"
The creature emitted another low growl, then two sounds that sounded like barks, moving it's head forward, it seemed to strain upwards, exposing it's neck to the blade in Lukfa's hand. It managed to crane itself up to within a cat's cock hair of slitting it's own throat. Frustation crossed it's face and it began to struggle, struggling to reach the point of the sword, emitting low wimpers as it did. At this point Lufka hears a voice call out to him - "Ho Jimmy, I wouldnae waste my time with it. Slit it's gizzard and let's be off!" Looking up Lufka saw Edward and the big warrior, leading horses, approaching him. The big guy had his bare sword still in one hand, holding the reins to three horses in the other.

Shocked by the sudden movement of the female warrior, Shaq'il tried to snatch his hand away from her vice like grip, with absolutely no success, the momentum of his action thowing him off his haunches and onto his butt. Seeing that the human woman was also reaching for her axe, Shaq'il called out quickly, "Stop! I'm a friend." Unfortunately, what was intended to be a commanding voice, came out as more of a scared shriek.
Sh'andra's eyes suddenly came into focus and she froze with her axe poised to cleave Shaq's head. Realising that the cowering man in front of her was no enemy, she loosed her grip and collapsed again, sobbing uncontrollably. She whispereds the word 'I'm so sorry' between ragged breaths.
Shaq'il was caught off guard by this lady's emotional breakdown, and without realising what he was doing, took a hold of her in a hug, and started patting her on the back to comfort her while saying "It's alright, it's over now".

Ulf was having fun. Not only had he killed things this morning, but the first body he searched had yielded some gold and silver coins. These he had cheerfully placed in his pouch before moving on to the next inert form. He began to whistle and thought to himself "Could life get any better?"

Isiseris,shaking off the sudden onset of weariness spoke to the priest,"It doth please us all to see you in good health". She extended her arm, indicating the children and dwarf in her speech. She stood up and performed a formal curtsey, as she felt befitted a man of his calling, "And I pray thee pardon my rudeness at the treeline. I am Isiseris of Caer Aeferlon, and I have been spinning a tale for thy charges whilst thou were...... otherwise occupied. It wouldst please me if I might be of service in thy effort to aid the woman."
"Thank you kindly. I do believe you have made some small friends." Samuel motioned to the children and smiled. "Do you speak dwarven? I'm afraid my skills lie elsewhere, and I need to find out what has happened to the lady if I am to help."
"Nay, dwarven I speak not. Dost thou not speakest common?"
"I speak common. I was only hoping that someone who spoke both common and dwarven would allow are friend Dorin to explain the situation in his native tongue."
At that point, a young child of around 4 or 5 summers tugged on Isisersis' cloak and said in a small voice, "Pwease miss, that waz a good stowie, can we 'ave a nuffer?"
Isiseris smiled down at the little boy "Perhaps later little one" Then she reached down and stroked his hair.
Samuel scratched his head as he heard the young boys request. What was his name? Benji, yes that's right. "Does the lady tell a good story Benji? I'm glad."
"Yes, nunkle Samuwelllal" said Benji, "I wiked it velly much, t'was nice". He then went and ran and hid behind one of the older boys. The priest and the mage looked at each other and grinned. The moment was ended by the dwarf speaking up, "Please", said the dwarf "The lady is not injured, just very tired, it was quite a night, all she needs is some rest. Unless you have something to give her, perhaps we should just let her sleep."
The priest nodded to the dwarf. "Rest is often the best healer. If you feel that she is just tired perhaps we should just let her rest. However, if she is ill or has suffered some trauma I might be able to help her. I do have some training in the art of healing. How long has she been asleep?"
"Since we got here, probably half of an hour at most....I'm not sure really", said the dwarf.
Isiseris nodded her head at the dwarfs words, "Ah, methinks we all could use some rest" she interjected.
Samuel thought for a moment. "Let her sleep for now. I can check on her when she wakes. I need to spend some time in prayer and contemplation. The sun is high enough now that I should be able to find a suitable place. Please let me know if anyone needs healing." The priest then headrd into the trees in search of a secluded opening where he can pray in the sunlight.
Isiseris turneds to the kids and said "I too must take my leave for a few moments. Sit ye quietly here and I shall return anon." She then headeds back to the treeline to see what was taking the others so long.
The Dwarf,looked at the kids, who were watching the two young adults go their seperate ways. "Don't worry," he said to them "I'll look after you for now."

Samuel walked a short distance through the trees until he found a small opening. He moved to a spot in the bright sunlight and knelt in a combination of prayer and meditation. Closing his eyes he began with a benediction "Llew, Bringer of Light, I thank thee for this day and for the sunlight which warms me. Thou hast provided a way for me to lead the children from harm. Please watch over us all as we take this journey into the unknown". Finishing his prayer, Samuel prepared to begin to move into his meditation. The exercises he learned at the temple were second nature by now. He began by clearing his mind, breathing slowly and deeply, letting his thoughts scatter randomly at first then with purpose. Once his mind was calm, he began to build his "meditation house". He started with the grounds as these would be the same as those he'd used as a novice and they were built up quickly, the lawns, the bushes, the path leading up to the house. His actual house would be similar to his novice house, but now he was an intiate, would be much larger. As in real life, this place for meditation would only be as strong as the foundations. These he began working on next.....

Dorin looked at the children. They had all settled around him, taking the opportunity to snatch some sleep as the adults had suggested. He looked down at his sleeping ward. Benji had snuggled up close to her and she stirred gently, moving her arm and pulling him in closer. As she did so, she emitted a sigh and possibly the suggestion of a word. Dorin wasn't sure, but it sounded like "Teddy" or possibly "Eddie".