All is quiet, save the heaving breaths of the injured warhorse.

While Flax is still unconcious, Catriana stands next to the horse, pats it and soothes it with a quiet song.

Majestic word on horse - surge+4 hp healed

Elias approaches Flax and ties him up with whatever is available, and disarms him.

These things are accomplished.

Bren gently gathers up Eglantine's body in his arms. He glares at Flax with murder in his eyes.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't strangle him."

"We still have no evidence that Ellasandra is alive or that Froderick is innocent. Should we dive back through to the Feywild to bring Ellasandra back?"

Elias looks puzzled, "Ah, yes, I see, No proof to present to others," he ponders for a while, "I believe were we to enter the pool again it would transport us further from her."

He looks at Flax, "It would seem we need to ask our errant princeling, if he cares about his father enough to help us."

Bren:

Bren seems to forget Flax, at least for the moment, and sets Eglantine back down on the grass. He takes from her body what looks to be a crumpled note with writing on it, which he reads.

Bren:

Elias stands silently. Scathach sits beside Eglantine's body.

Bren tries to say something, but can't find the words. He looks to his surviving friends with a lost expression.

"Eggers wants to go back," he blurts. "I mean, she wants us to bury her in the feywild. She said that's her home, not this place."

He stares at the pond apprehensively.

"What are we going to do?"

Catriana looks at Bren with compassion. "A person's last wish should definitely be fulfilled, and even more so because Eglantine was our friend, but we should first deal with him <points toward Flax> and free Froderick. Remember that reentering the feywild could take quite a long time."

Pausing for a few seconds, she adds: "I believe we should hand him over to the Reeve, free Froderick and then go back to the feywild with Eglantine."

Y'all are pretty much on your own for pacing at this point, except for the occasional bump from me (much like this).

"Only problem with that plan, Cat, is the Reeve wants Ellesandra, not her son. And do we know if this boy even cares about his human father?"

"In any case we need to arrest him somehow. We could also claim that we've seen Ellesandra. Five claims are much harder evidence than whatever they have against him. The truth, for once, is on our side."

Once Flax awakens, Elias asks him, "Do you wish to help your father?"

"That human? The one who made me a half-breed? I'll see him -- and you -- in hell first."

Elias is unmoving, "He is your father. Without him, you would not exist at all. Your mother cares for him. If not for yourself, or for him, then do this for her."

Flax spits a bloody gobbet at Elias. "She was forced into marriage by the River King. Why don't you ask him to come save the human, if he means so much to you -- exile!."

"The River King. Everything goes back to him one way or another. So he's powerful, right boy? Would be so powerful ... to be able to resurrect the dead?"

Elias does not seem ruffled by Flax, "You have so much anger. A shame. Very well, we shall talk to the River King. And you will help us."

"Or what? Go ahead and kill me, you faithless wretches. I won the duel, and you attacked me. Why should I bargain with you?"

Elias sighs, "So much anger," he says as if to a child. "We shall see what can be done with you. You will be happier if you let go of this hate that consumes you."

With that he leaves Flax to Bren.

"I say we drag him back to Riverbend and let the villagers decide what to do with their would-be invader."

Responses? See also discussion thread.

Responses? See also discussion thread.

I don't know what to do at this point, I'm afraid. We should take Flax back to town, and see what happens.

Good enough. Will go with that when more awake.

I agree with taking Flax and trying to resolve Froderick's case with talking.

The party returns to Riverbend proper, leading the bound Flax and the golden warhorse, with Eglantine's body respectfully covered and draped across Lionheart's broad back.

When they arrive, it seems unchanged -- completely. The innkeeper is cleaning up debris in front of the Golden Knight, seemingly still from the satyr battle. Reeve Kolya is supervising. The young farmhand still stands in front of the stronghouse.

Kolya turns and sees the group approach, astonishment evident on his face. "What the devil?"

Bren tries to put on an expression of grim stoicism when he addresses the Reeve.

"We found Ellesandra alive and well. She was abducted by some demonic gnome to the fey-lands. For what reason we do not know. She was coming back with us to Riverbend, but then we ran into this vicious half-elf ... she and Froderick's son, which cost us Eglantine Pradeska's life."

The warrior gestures at their captive.

Sorry for going AWOL, it's been an unexpectedly crazy week.

Elias says, by way of explanation, "Time runs differently in the fey lands, as many know. Thus, Flax is now a grown, and angry, man. He hates his father, so we can expect no co-operation from him, I'm afraid."

"Oh, I don't know. I wager if we put the two cowards in the same cell together, they'll start pleading for each others lives."

Kolya looks from one to the other of the warriors, then again at the rest of the party, eyes lingering on Flax. Flax stares back with venom.

"Yes, you've clearly been away -- and I believe it was the Feywild. That horse didn't come from Riverbend, or anywhere near. And I am sorry for the loss of your friend.

"But when did Ellessandra have a child? Froderick has not mentioned any such thing. Though this one does favor her -- in looks, if not in temperament. And you say she is still alive and in the Feywild; have you any evidence?"

Elias looks at Bren with curiosity, "I still do not understand the animosity you all have towards Froderick." he says to the rest of the adventurers.

The human warrior pointedly ignores Elias' query.

Uh oh, do we have any evidence that Ellesandra's alive?

Bump

Bren looks straight into the Reeve's eyes when he says "you have the solemn word of each one of us that she is alive and well in the Feywild. And she'll likely turn up here in Riverbend sooner or later looking for her son. So I say you should hold off for a few days before passing judgment on Froderick."

The Reeve looks a bit taken aback by Bren's intensity.

"Of -- of course. I said you had a week. You haven't been gone more than three hours."

"Three hours?" he exclaims, incredulous at the distortion of time between worlds. He was doubtful Yomi and the others had met a young Flax earlier, preferring to believe the half-elf was another offspring of Ellesandra and Roderick. He turns to the party, unsure what their next move is, if any.

Elias says, "Do you think that our word will help Froderick's case at all? We cannot reliably go back for Ellesandra and still be back in time to help him."

"I say we wait for Ellesandra come back here for her son. We're in no shape to face the Black Fey right away."

All:

Bren

Replies to Bren?

"You may be right."

"I'm not sure about that. It could take a very long time, if ever they come here. We could wait for a couple of days, then head back into the feywild and keep adventuring. I for one would like to see this River King before we leave this place."

Bren nods at Catriana. "We spent nearly three days in the feywild and only three hours had passed here. A full day here is almost a month in there. Let's wait a day or two and see."