Edwood shifted his position as his leg started to cramp. He'd had a nervous time when the kids had scattered across the clearing to hide, thinking one may find him in the place he'd been hiding since he'd arrived, not long ago. He hadn't wanted to just walk into the open until he'd sussed these people out. The dwarf interested him, or more importantly the woman with him. He'd caught a glimpse of her face as the dwarf had laid her to the ground and his heart had skipped a beat. As the sounds of battle had drifted into the clearing, Edward had hoped the Dwarf would join in or at least go and investigate. But no, he'd sat there catatonic. Now as he was think over his options, he was distracted by the girl in the red gown reappearing. His eyes drank in the curves of her body as she walked into the clearing. She stopped and rested her pack against a fallen tree and called out in a clear voice "Come now children, it's safe enough for now". She rummaged in her pack and brought out a wrapped parcel. The children approached her from their hiding places and she divided the items from the parcel up amongst them all."Sit ye all down and eat " she said, "I'll keep watch, no harm shall come to thee". She squatted down herself and set to eating whatever victuals she had left for herself. Edward's stomach growled, after all he'd not eaten since last night himself. He carried on watching, fascinated by the alluring young woman. As she ate her meal, she finished each mouthful by darting her red tongue from mouth, running it over her lips and picking any stray crumbs she had missed with the tip. When she had nothing left in the wrapping, she placed each finger in her mouth, slowly sucking any last flavour off each one. Replacing the wrapping in her backpack, she next retrieved a wine sack. Lifting the sack high, she let wine flow into her open mouth, taking big gulps when required. She closed her eyes with a look close to bliss and some of the wine spilled over her chin, flowing down her neck and tricking onto her exposed portions of her breasts, disappearing into her cleavage. When she'd had her fill, she wiped her chin with the back of her hand and with a small sigh of satisfaction put away her wine skin.

Now that she had finished her portion of the victuals and sated her thirst with wine, Isiseris turned her attention back to the children. She was surprised to see that instead of consuming what she had given them, they were sitting in a line facing the direction of the ongoing melee, each still holding the food in their hands, a look of deep concern on every face. She surmised that they were sufficiently worried about the priests safety that eating was a secondary matter in their young minds. Her heart grew heavy as she looked at the rag-tag group and considered how much they must have suffered, how much they had already lost during their young lives. She knew that but for the benevolence of fate, she would have known their misery as her own. And though she had grown up in comfort, she too had lost those whose blood she shared. With that thought, the old familiar emptiness welled up from the depths of her soul. “We be together, yet so alone,” she thought. “Complete will we never be until...”

She shook herself free from the inner turmoil and rose to face the line of children. “Come, come now, young ones,” she intoned soothingly. “Thy friend be in the company of warriors brave and true. The battle was already well in hand ere we came here. Think ye that I wouldst have ye sit and wait were it not so? Soon enough they will rejoin us here, but for now ye must tend to thy own needs. Take ye the food I have given thee, fill your stomachs, and be strong.” She saw their expressions begin to soften, as if her very words had nourished them in some real way. Small hands began to move toward small mouths, and Isiseris was suddenly reminded of one of Odellah’s favorite tricks to distract her when the dark clouds of memory would roll in. “Listen as ye eat, and hear of another young girl who knew much trouble in her life. She was a young maiden known to all as Tattercoats......." she began.

She stopped as her attention was distracted by the appearance of a young man. He had emerged from the trees on the other side of the clearing to her and the children, but also he would pass close to the dwarf and the woman on the floor. As he walked towards them with his hands raised, presumably to indicate he was weaponless he spoke in a loud clear voice, "Excuse me, did the lot of you escape from the city as well? I've been running from those damn soldiers all night. Last night I was at the keep for the Llewtine feast when the attack came. Do either of you know who or what the soldiers are?" Pausing only for a breath he continues on, "Oh by the way, I'm Ed. What are your names?" Isiseris noted that he was also looking her up and down, as well as checking out the dwarf and the prone figure. As he passed the dwarf, she noticed him move for the first time. Edward stopped a few strides from her, midway between herself and the other two, blocking her view of them. She switched her attention to him, noticing his fine, if soot and dirt stained clothes. He had a Baladrana, thrown open due to the position of his hands, over breeches and tunic. At his side was a short sword, on his back a pack, the neck of a string instrument poking out of it. The most striking aspect of him was his face. He was the most handsome looking fellow she had ever seen, infact she could even go as far to say he was beautiful, surely he must have some elven blood in him? She couldn't tell as his brown hair covered his ears, still it might be fun finding out later..........

Dorin shook his head from his deep, trance like contemplation and turned and looked at the hodge podge collection of souls that had turned up after the attack. Nodding to himself he looked down and checked to see if his ward was awake "Are you doing well?" he inquired. Noticing she was still unconscious he stood up next to her and asked the group, a man and a woman with a bunch of kids, " Excuse me, is there a healer here, the lady here could do with some attention." He paused to see if the words had hit home. Both of the adults, if they could be called such, were stood facing each other, and a strange tension seemed to be flowing between them. It was the man who seemed to recover first, his shoulders seeming to sag with an almost audible sigh, as he turned towards Dorin.

Sardonicus blocked another thrust from his foes spear, and managed to answer with a thrust of his own. His point struck home, splintering the mail coat protecting the mounted warrior and continuing into it's fleshly stomach. With a twist of his hands, Sardonicus managed to wrench free his weapon and as it slid free, his foes entrails slipped out with it. With a scream the fatally injured enemy slipped out of his saddle and hit the floor, still screaming, his hands trying in vain to stuff his insides back in. Sardy looked over to where the gnome was engaged with the second of the warriors on foot. He looked to be coping well, so with a war cry of his own, he ran after the last mounted warrior who had managed to turn his horse and was setting off down the hill.

After launching his sling shot, without waiting to see the result, Shaq timidly and with great care. Climbed down the tree. He arrived at it's foot in time to see the interruption Isiseris had to her tale with the arrival of the good looking young man.

Samuel, seeing his chance with the warrior in front of him distracted, leapt forward, his dagger in hand. He slashed wildly and his opponent, recovering quickly managed to step back and avoid the blade. He brought his spear around and thrust with it. Samuel blocked with his buckler, the head of the spear sliding across the wood, sparks flying when it hit the metal boss. The blow numbed the young priests arm, he hoped someone would come and help him soon!

Lufka also seized the opportunity presented by the heaven sent distraction. He propelled himself out of the bushes he was hidden in and ran down the hill until the two fighting figures were behind him by a few paces. Then he looped round until he was running back up the hill and directly running towards the back of the armoured person. A few paces later, he dropped one of his blades and launched himself straight at the fighter's back. Landing on him, Lufka wrapped his legs around his targets lower body, grabbed it's helmeted head in his empty hand and drew his remaining blade across the now exposed throat. A fountain of blood spurted through the air, spattering the robes of the priest.

Sh'andra was still fighting for her life. Every time blow she tried to land was blocked by her opponent. The only consolation was she was blocking his every efforts too. The duo had settled into a rhythm of exchanges of blows and blocks. Then it happened, her opponent either through tiredness or just mere clumsiness failed to block successfully.

Sh'andra was not slow to exploit the mistake and quickly swung her axe again, getting inside his guard and smashing the blade into his side. The fighter toppled to the ground, his life blood spilling to earth, staining the withered grass crimson.

She made sure he was dead with another chop to his body, then stopped to catch her breath. Placing the axe head on the ground and leaning on the handle, she took great gulps of air whilst looking around surveying the battlefield.

The priest jumps back as the blood spatters on him. "Thank you. I wasn't sure I'd last much longer. My name is Samuel Nevel.... We should take care of the stunned fighters before they wake up. Perhaps we could also acquire their mounts."

"You're welcome," panted Lufka, wiping the back of his sleeve across his forehead. "They look as if they don't much care who they hunt, so I was doing myself a good turn."

Offering his hand in friendship, he continues, "My name is Lufka Drydek, I was making for Caer Aberaveron, but now I shall have to change my plans." Samuel shook Lufka's hand. His eyes drifted over the scene trying to figure out if the battle is over. He was pleased to see that the stunned attackers haven't yet recovered. Moving to one of the downed mounts Samuel had the idea search the saddle bags for some rope. As it happened there was a coil of good strong hemp rope attached to the saddle of the first horse he came to. It twitched fitfully as he removed the coil from it's place, but otherwise still lay stunned.

As he bends over the recently slain warrior, Lufka says softly, "Now, the surviving hunters! I've nothing to secure them with, and you look to be in the same situation. I wonder if this fellow does?" He started to search the body,checking first the large pouch on it's hip. not finding any rope there he removed it's belt, grunting with the exertion of moving such a large body as he whipped the belt off. As the body shifted, Lufka noticed for the first time that the fellows hands and neck, the only part of him not covered in armour, were an orangy - red in colour. This was no member of Humanity!!

The horseman fleeing the battle had a few paces head start on Sardonicus and was attempting to put even more distance between them. In a fit of desperation, Sardonicus threw his sword at the retreating enemy. His blade flew from his hands, spinning as it arced through the air. It missed it's target by a mere hairs breadth and Sardy who had carried on running, slowed down so he could retrieve his weapon when he reached it. As he bent over and picked his sword up, he watched the rider disappearing down the hill and chewed his lip thoughtfully. Concern on his face, he turned to see if anyone need his assistance, thinking it would be best to get this battle over as quickly as possible and move on from this area before the enemy returned with more friends!

Ulf was finding that his new foe was not proving as easy to kill as previous one. Indeed this one had even come close to skewering him with the massive spear. Still too late to think about that now, the young gnome thought, I'll get the bastard yet!

Shaq, totally ignoring the group in the clearing, snuck into the underbrush, looking for a new place to hide.

Edward, responding to the Dwarf's question, bowed to him "Sir, unfortunately I am not a healer. Perhaps another of the survivors here might be." Turning to the young woman he continues, "Lady, do you know if any of the others is skilled in the art of healing?"

“No healer am I," replied the mage, she turned to face Dorin, " Yet there is a priest amongst us...A priest who I reckon will rejoin us anon now that the sounds of battle have subsided. He most likely will tend to thee and thy charge as soon as he is able.” Then, turning back to the handsome young man, who spoke so eloquently, and with the bearest trace of a

curtsey, spoke to him “I am Isiseris of Caer Aeferlon, and I be pleased to make your acquaintance. Now thou must excuse me inasmuch as thou didst interrupt me with your sudden appearance.” She turned back to face the group of children again, and noted with satisfaction that they had all eaten their portions. “Verily, young ones, I beg thy forgiveness for mine own rudeness. I shall resume the tale of Tattercoats in a moment.” The looks of concern had now returned to their faces, so she quickly added, “It is as I said; the sounds of battle be gone now, and your friend shouldst soon rejoin us.” Until then, gather thee around and I shall begin the tale as all tales begin, Once upon a time...."

Edward felt chagrined that he had interrupted Isiseris' tale of 'Tattercoats' In response to her mild rebuff for interrupting her he replied, "Of course m'lady. Please do continue." To the children watching the interplay between them, he winked conspiratorially. One of the younger girls giggled. As the attractive woman continued her ministrations to the children who were indeed arranging themselves to hear the tale, Edward looked toward the dwarf & the woman laying near him. Addressing Dorin, he said "While I'm not a healer, is there any other assistance I can render? Perhaps if could find the Priest Isiseris mentioned, we could assist in extracting him from the melee." At the mention of the battle, Edward patted the short sword by his side. Without waiting for an answer, he then left the little group and went to seek aid as promised.