Bein look undecided momentarily, the safety of those girls, the teacher and his Lordship were paramount. But Idly searching for lost, confused and panicked horses would most likely lead to them finding nothing at all...
"I agree with the return to the Elven caves and setting the girls up there although not with him. I don't trust that sniveling snake as far as I could throw him. However finding those horses with the spirits will take more time and effort then a cursory look on our way tot he elven place. Perhaps Jack and I can ride out to find the horses and once we have jack can ride ahead and let you know."
"Are the horses and mules trained to find their way back to Oleg's? If so, we could tie the bandit to a saddle, bound and gagged, with a warrant of arrest pinned to his shirt..." Xarafine says so dryly that it is difficult to tell if she is serious.
Bein held his voice in check, ignoring the possible sarcasm the Teacher had indirectly muttered. Instead turning to look at the girls before reining in near them and asking them directly. "Apologies, but I must ask directly." He pointed his armor clad finger at the bound bandit. "Did he do anything untoward to you both? Did he help you in anyway? And are you afraid to be left alone with him?"
Was waiting to see if there are more questions but,... in the interim,... The horses are not trained to return to Oleg's.
To Bein Aranea replies, "They didn't do anything to us, him or the others, apart from attacking us and kidnapping us. I thinkm they were scared of "The Stag". It seemed like they were saving us for him." she shudders, "I think I can keep an eye on him. He didn't do anything to help us, but he wasn't the worst either. I,... I think we'll be safe."
"If the girls feel safe with this one," Jack indicates the bandit, "Then I think the plan to leave them all in the cave is the best compromise, given all we wish to accomplish within a certain amount of time.
"They must keep him bound or manacled at all times, so that means they will need to feed him." Jack looks at the girls. "Are you willing to do that?"
"We also must be sure there is no way they can be harmed by the tomb guardians beyond the cave itself. As long as they stay in the cave they should be fine, however.
"As for the spirits, while we could try to track them, if the horses were lost in the storm, they could have washed down the river--even if the horses survived, it is unlikely the barrels did. I think ultimately that would waste time. But if we are pretending to be the bandits, we certainly can tell those at the fort what happened--it is simply the truth. We may even be able to say Greer tried to follow the horses, and that is why he is gone."
Xarafine pulls the girls aside, out of earshot of the prisoner.
"I want the two of you to heed my warning. You will be alone with this man for a full day, and possibly several. He will most certainly take the opportunity to speak to you. He will attempt to win your confidence by appealing to your sense of compassion. He will complain that the shackles are painful, or that his arms are being pulled from the sockets by the bindings. Do not listen to him. Do not engage him. The best course is to pretend you cannot hear him, or that he is not speaking at all. If he convinces you to loosen his bonds, he will either escape and warn the Stag, or he will attempt to forcibly molest the two of you. Do you understand me?"
She looks at the two girls expectantly.
Aranea glances at her younger sister, takes a deep breath and seems to steel herself. "I think we should be able to deal with him" she says. "he wasn't any worse than the others but he certainly wasn't any better. I won't let him loose - I couldn't let anything happen to Minara."
Satisfied with their words Bein digs in their supplies and pulls out the two crude stone daggers. He approaches the girls and hands them the weapons. "These are crude but effective. We will leave you with enough supplies so that you don't need to forage while we are gone and I will cut ample firewood so that you don't need to leave for any reason. Before we leave you both I will teach how to fight to the best of my ability, so please pay attention when I teach you. Excuse me I have to discuss something with him..."
He approaches the bandit once the girls were squared away. He transfixed the man with a steely glare, the same he had used against his eldest brother the nit he lost all rights to a noble inheritance. Every word he spoke was both truthful and without a hint of bluffing. Bein had no reason too lie to man who may be facing the rope soon. But he wouldn't take the chance of the man breaking free and harming the girls. "If you behave yourself and do not cause them trouble I will see what if i can get you a lesser punishment. It's up to you though but if you harm those girls in anyway I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth. No man, no army nor the nine themselves will stop me from ending your miserable existence. Do we have an understanding?"
"Thank you, sir Bein" Aranea replies as she takes the food and weapons from the cavalier. "We will keep safe and await your return eagerly." she smiles up at the big man.
Once the girl are prepared he moves over to the bandit, who seems to shrink under his steely gaze. At the cavalier's words he gasps and quickly nods his head. "I,.. I won't do nofin' milord" he stammers "I don't want no trouble! I'll behave, I promise milord. I won't do nofin!"
"Good, let's go. Let's take them to the cave, then come back and go to the fortress."
Xarafine nods in agreement.
"Yes. It is time we faced this Stag."
Realizing just how determined they were Bein backs off of even broaching the subject about hunting for the missing horses. Especially since their tracker wasn't up for the task. With a sig he shrugs and says aloud. "So the plan is to dress up as bandits, pose as the missing group and attempt to infiltrate the stag lords fort. Have we even thought of the fact the teacher may be too old to pose as one of the girls? Also do we know anything pertinent that we may be questioned by the stag lords men about? Perhaps a password, information about the girls because its obvious whoever wanted the, kidnapped would have contingency ready to confirm their identity yes? Also are we taking our mounts or leaving them? We don't even have a plan on getting out if things go wrong... And if I am outside my armor I can't promise much. Also they are expecting two girls not one.."
He then had an idea. "On second thought the three of you can attempt to infiltrate the fort... I can pose as a bodyguard who has taken back one of the girls or even both of them. In the confusion they won't think to ask questions. They'll be too busy getting you inside and trying to kill me. Now we can injure Finn just enough to cause a small bleed but make it look like the reason why he has a bad limp... Because honestly everyone I am a horrible liar, I will more or less give you away. This way I can act as bait perhaps drawing their ire and kill them in the field. You can all claim bad intel and use me as a scapegoat as to what happen to the rest of the group. Then I will make random attacks throughout the day to keep them occupied. Woe t them who anger a dead lords retainer eh?"
So the plan is to dress up as bandits, pose as the missing group and attempt to infiltrate the stag lords fort. Have we even thought of the fact the teacher may be too old to pose as one of the girls? Also do we know anything pertinent that we may be questioned by the stag lords men about? Perhaps a password, information about the girls because its obvious whoever wanted the, kidnapped would have contingency ready to confirm their identity yes? Also are we taking our mounts or leaving them? We don't even have a plan on getting out if things go wrong... And if I am outside my armor I can't promise much. Also they are expecting two girls not one.."
Jack chokes back a laugh. "I am not good at conversation, but even I know not to ever question if a woman is 'too old' for anything." He shakes his head. "Xarafine is small-framed and pretty--more than enough to convince them from afar we've got a girl captive if we set it up right. All we need is the disguise to get us in, it doesn't have to hold up that long, and for that matter any of us may end up looking suspect for any number of reasons. But we do at least the letter with the Raven stamp to prove our credentials. The rest is as good a plan as we are going to have."
On second thought the three of you can attempt to infiltrate the fort... I can pose as a bodyguard who has taken back one of the girls or even both of them. In the confusion they won't think to ask questions. They'll be too busy getting you inside and trying to kill me. Now we can injure Finn just enough to cause a small bleed but make it look like the reason why he has a bad limp... Because honestly everyone I am a horrible liar, I will more or less give you away. This way I can act as bait perhaps drawing their ire and kill them in the field. You can all claim bad intel and use me as a scapegoat as to what happen to the rest of the group. Then I will make random attacks throughout the day to keep them occupied. Woe t them who anger a dead lords retainer eh?"
"No!" Jack barks sharply, sharper and louder than the quiet man usually spoke. "You are asking for your death, for what? You are a better warrior at our side than alone, and will do far more to protect us--and us to protect you. They have numbers and arrows, they will lay you and Arundel low before you can do anything, and you have not the skills at stealth to run and hide if you need to. I am sorry, but that is how it is." He bowed his head. "When I was a lad, the only friend I had was slain by bandits." He looks up. "You are the only friends I have now and I will not lose you to those monsters either. I will NOT let you go on a suicide mission for the mere purpose of a distraction. We are much more likely to succeed if we are all together. If you do need a distraction, it should be I, as I can hide and cover my tracks, and I am a better archer and can attack from a distance, but even I think we need to be together." He stops to catch his breath.
"If you are afraid you cannot lie, then just remain silent. Finnabar's limp can be explained as an injury from the storm if it needs to be at all. We are overthinking things. The more we sit and worry and make a thousand plans, the more time the bandits have to kill and rape more innocents. The truth of it is, there is no great plan, we could think of the cleverest thing there was and it could still fall through. All there is, is that these beasts must be stopped and sooner rather than later. All there is, is the right thing to do."
"Oh, I am certain my father would agree with Bein," Xarafine replies dryly.
"These bandits aren't looking for a ruse, so they will see what they expect to see. I am no taller, nor more buxom than the girl. A change of attire and a little dirt should suffice."
Bein continued to see Jack in a new light each day since Volpe had been taken away, despite knowing their would be times of difficulty like this he enjoyed the change in the man. No longer the quiet tracker, voice his opinion every so often, he was a man who spoke with wisdom and one Bein could respect. Although this time his words wounded the cavalier deeply, so much so he didn't know what to say. "I see... Our story seemed shaky is all, I mean't no disrespect." He said nothing further, clearly they wanted to pursue this path and no matter what he said would deter them.
"Apologies teacher, I truly mean't no offense despite my barbaric use of words." He opens his visor so that he can actually look her in the eye, he regarded her carefully than. Spending a long moment examining her eyes before speaking again. "If I may rephrase my earlier words. They expect a girl, cowering before their might. However your eyes alone, Teacher, show that you are a woman with a presence of command and wisdom that most men would be a fool to ignore. No amount of grit or filth could dim that fire in your eyes alone and it matters not how tall or buxom a woman is to me only how she carries herself. Your back is straight, a clear indication of self confidence and a solid upbringing. In all aspects a man would be lucky to have you as a wife and by that I do not mean a hearth warmer, but an equal with no more or less command of their demesne than he. Now, as I have embarrassed myself enough please excuse me I must prepare for our travel."
He leaves their pack mules with the girls, instructing them on their care and the simple instruction that if they did not return in a fort nights time to travel to Oleg's outpost with all fast.
If you but knew my upbringing, sir knight. You would not show such deference to my family name.
Xarafine watches as Bein walks away, and begins performing the numerous menial tasks essential to the function of their small party. She blushes slightly at the thought of his courteous retort.
He's a good man, Xari, don't spend so much time reminding him of your office and station that you forget that. Jack, too. They've both put themselves in harms way for you. Remember that the next time you get a stiff-necked and pretentious.
Jack caught hold of his temper when he saw the hurt in Bein's eyes. He did not want Bein to be hurt--he just wanted to be sure Bein stayed safe. He knew there was any chance any one of them could get hurt or die on their mission here, but somehow the thought of one of his friends being shot down by bandits while he wasn't looking... it was too much like Arion. Bein could even be right, but Jack just could not stomach the thought of them separating.
He was never good with words so he simply stays silent, and goes to help prepare for the trip. The bandits' clothes would need to be cleaned for one thing... they were covered in too much blood and stuff of death to look like anything stolen from dead men as they were.
You camp the night a little further away from the Staglord's fort before heading back to the west and the Elves' tombs. The captured bandit sits silently watching you all as Jack prepares the food. Minara and Aranea remain close to each other but do relax gradually as the night progresses.
1st Gozran,
The next day you make your way back along the riverbank, and again enter the area of elven burial mounds. As you travel Minara and Aranea keep close and eventually you arrive back at the cave. It doesn't take log to reach the cave where you make sure that the girls and the bandit are secure. Before you leave Aranea and Minara come out to bid you a temporary farewell. Aranea steps forward, adressing all of you.. "Minara and I give you our thanks milords and milady. If it hadn't been for you I,... I don't know what might have happened. We'll wait here for you to return. I'm sure you'll be back soon. Be assured sirs that, when we return to Restov I will be able to reward you properly. Not as you deserve, but a reward nevertheless. Good luck sirs. Good luck."
Bein smiles at the girls, before kneeling in front of the pair with his head bowed and his helmet off. "Your thanks alone is reward enough Milady's." He stands and smiles at them before saying. "Now let me show you a quick trick with those daggers."
After that hour of training he smiled at the pair, they had a long way to go but they at least had some simple basics down. Enough to protect themselves at least. "The Teacher can patch up the bruises, apologies again girls but you did well."
Later he looked over the bloody and torn clothing and bulked for a moment before selecting the largest of the clothing so that his muscles and body structure weren't immediately apparent. "Well at least we will smell like them thats for sure, eh Arundel?"
Arundel stepped back a full trot in response to Bein's inquire, flaring his nose and gnashing his teeth at his bandit disguised rider. Apparently Bein would be walking from now on...
bump
With the girls squared away Bein readied himself for the approach to the fortress. focusing on maintaining his calm as they faced unknown forces. This will decide the fate of this land. One way or the Other...
He looked between Lord Finn, Jack and the Teacher, swearing silently to himself to see that no matter what happens they would escape. For duties sake, for honor sake they had to survive. At his grim expression Arundel yanked on the reins and nibbled at the dirty shirt on his shoulders. "Choose when to sheath the sword eh boy?" Arundel whicker's in response to Bein words as he runs his unarmored hand down his Destrier's muzzle and smiles at the battle that was surely coming.
He was never good with words so he simply stays silent, and goes to help prepare for the trip. The bandits' clothes would need to be cleaned for one thing... they were covered in too much blood and stuff of death to look like anything stolen from dead men as they were.
Later he looked over the bloody and torn clothing (snip).
Satisfied they are leaving the girls as safely as they can, Jack nods a at Bein's silent enthusiasm. "Are we ready?"
Xarafine nods.
"Let us be about bringing down this Stag and his lackeys."
You stay overnight with the girls and the bandit in the elven cave and, early the following day, mount your horses and wave goodbye to them as you ride to the east.
2nd Gozran
The return trip is easy and passes quickly in the bright sunshine of early spring. The path has dried and now, rather than kicking up thick mud, the horses' steps raise a thick layer of dust. Before long you and your horses are covered in a thick layer of the stuff. You camp again at the sight of your fight with the bandits and then, in the morning begin trecking towards the fort.
3rd Gozran
The road winds downwards towards the blue water of the Tuskwater. This area of the Stolen Lands is lush and green and, in the clear spring air you can clearly see the fort on top of a small hill next to the great lake. Small copses of trees decorate the hillsides and, in the distance to the north you can see a herd of some type of large animal moving down to the lake's edge.
As you approach the fort itself, figures on its wall become clearer and you can justmake out one of them pointing in your direction and shouting something as you draw nearer. The fort squats at the bare hill's top, ringed by a crude looking, but effective and relatively new 15ft. pallisade. Rising from within this newer structure are a series of older, and half-ruined stone buildings, some of which show signs of repair. As you make the final approach towards the gate a voice cries at you to stop. "Oi you. What're ye wantin? Ye din't look like yer lost so ye must be after th' stag. Go on then. What's the bird?"
He summoned forth the best impression he had of his fathers drunken rampages in their home, hoping that it all ended well...
Bein's bark was enough to make the guardsmen jump as he shouted angrily. "WHAT DO WE WANT! We gets pissed on by a storm from Gozreh hisself, we have to chase down this little and our horses, which Greer did a great damn job breakin' his bloody neck. FRACKIN IDIOT HE WAS! This stupid girls sister drowns in the storm with the booze plus tha little shit Greer doesn't warn us about a damn bodyguard. Damn near kill's the lot of us and now I'm asked as to who the HELL I AM!? Are you a bloody git? Or you just soft in the head Eh? I'll tell you what the BIRD is you snaggletoothed idiot. We have this stupid Aranea for the , you want more then come down here so I can box you in the damn ears and give you this letter Greer had!" He follows it up by yanking on the bound hands of Areana hard, enough so that they visibly redden as he twist the bounds some to make sure the guard bought the act.
He spoke loud enough for the man to hear, all for good measure. "H'ar that girly? Bet you gonna h've a real good time with the Stag break you in all nice like..." It pained him to do this but the act had to be solid, no remorse, no mercy. They wanted in they had to be tougher than this lot by a big stretch and he had a fine upbringing in belittling people.
Glory to his drunk parents and useless brothers...
He looks back at the man, a leering sneer on his face as he laughed darkly at Areana. "Another thing, this here horse is mine as is this fancy ass shit on its back. Ya got that? I killed him its my loot. Names Teldrin and if you call me Telly or Teddy I'll kill ya. Ya got it? Now do something less we decid's to keep this here girly for entertainment..." He aims the leering sneer back at Aranea as he gives her an openly appraising look.
Teldrin grumbles under his breath. [smaller}"Greer calls me in and doesn't even tell you lot and her's I thought I was gonna get to deflower a dame..."[/smaller]
If the guard hesitates he laughs before saying. "Well we'll be off then, thanks for making my day and tell your boss were takin's her wit us!" He starts to wheel his horse around, pulling on the horse that has Aranea on its back and giving a low chipper whistle as he got ready to kick his horse into a trot.
Xarafine keeps her head down, and flinches at Bein's words, allowing her shoulders to shake as she sobs quietly.
Jack always hides the tips of his ears with his headband, but was careful particularly to wrap the headband well to conceal them, and wears a bandit's hood beside.
He bites his lips to keep from laughing when Bein enters his tirade. He was afraid he could not lie, and now he has entirely taken command of the charade, he thinks, amused by how much the cavalier has thrown himself into his role.
"Raven, he mutters quietly, to Bein and Finnabar. He assumes the "bird" asked for was the mark on the letter.
He otherwise remains silent, tightening his grip on the rope when Xarafine begins to sob. He dares not speak for he knows he himself is unlikely to provide useful assistance.
Finnabar raises his voice after Bein, trying to erase all of his up-brought accent.
"We got the bloody order from the Raven and have hauled this fu$#!%& package all the way through. We've got more news for the Stag's ears only."
"No need t' be a bloody idiot Teldrin." the somewhat grimy man shouts down in reply to Bein. "Ye'd best come in then I suppose."
He shouts down to someone on the other side of the gate which, after a few moments, start to slowly open, the loud scraping sound indicative of their shoddy construction. The open gate reveals two more bandits, one of whom stares blankly at the gate as he pulls it backwards and the other of whom hoiks a huge glob of spit at your feet and then leers at Xerafine.
The gate leads into an open courtyard with mounds of rock from the ruined older building strewn with refuse from the bandits themselves. A small drain of filthy, stinking water runs through one wall seemingly the latrine for the gathered bandits. Behind the two bandits who opened the door stands another man who’s clothes are much cleaner than the other bandits’ and who seems to be in charge. ”Welcome to the Stag’s fort” he says with a dangerous smile. ”So ye say that old bastard Greer managed t’ fall off his horse? What was he drunk again I’spose? Bloody idiot he was too. Hah! Well at least ye managed t’ get the girl – The Stag’ll be happy I guess. Anyway,” he says, gesturing you through. ” Ye can put the horses over there, and the girl in the cage. The Stag’s drunk down below but you’ll meet him sooner than ye’d like I’m thinkin. What was that about the Raven anyway? Who the hells is that? Raven’s the password this week – there’ll be a new one t’morrow but we haven’t decided on one yet – I guess the Stag’d have to be sober fer long enough to choose a new one. Anyway. Make yerselves at home – I gotta get these mongrels fixin the palisade – I hear there’s some soldiers up at Oleg’s an’ we don’t want any nasty surprises.”
-
"The raven? That's Greer, he kept bragging he had a contact with you and when he got fed his own sword, we just had the message to get to you with the girl. There was the picture of the raven, so we thought it a signature.", replies Finnabar.
Following the man, he adds with a lower voice, so that just the man, Jack, Bein and Xarafine can hear: "And you've been fed snakes with this talk about soldier's at Oleg's. These were just scouts. There's half a f@@&ing cohort coming your way. Kressele and her group were gutted like pigs to keep you in the dark. We captured one of the scout when we were coming here and got it to talk by roasting him on a fire. He did not survive but the girl saw and heard it all. There's more to it but I won't tell you more without the Stag. We need to talk to him at once, drunk or not. The life of all of us depends on that."
He hated himself, he felt like he swallowing bile and ready to vomit with his acting. It went against everything he believed in and he hid the need to crush these bandits with his bear hands with the empty smiles he gave them. He'd report his failure to the order and be reminded swiftly of the meaning of honor. He didn't mind being expelled so long as these three survived this ordeal. His acting was good only because it was something he suffered through all his life, as was the way he treated the teacher and why one day he'd take his beloved sister away from his damn family...
Bein gives a chortle at Finn's story. "Was that what quiet guy was mumbling about? Hehe guess I will need to watch my back with old scruffy at the gate, he may not like me as much. Hehe! This is a nice place I suppose, better than the damn woods." He digs in his ear with a grubby finger before pretending to flick something on the ground as he reined in the horses. "I say again, I comes back and something missing. Men start dying."
Bein moves to take the horses and tie them off before picking up the girl and throwing her over his shoulder roughly. Hefting her like one would a sack of flour, but making a point of gripping her thigh to keep her dress down so none of these cretins got a free show. "Well In ya go girly! Now no funny business or you'll find where your place is..." If people are watching he produces a semi-clean rag, the one he used to clean and polish his armor, except it was wrapped around one the Teachers shuriken. If someone was nearby or watching he spits on for good measure before saying. "There ya go, best clean yourself up before the Stag see ya~"
He meant none of it but they were in too deep for the act to fail now. Dishonor, lies, betrayal. Everything the order casted down and preached against. He'd face harsh judgement when he reported his failure upon his return. He refocuses and returns to the task at hand...
He gets friendly with those around him, using a more diplomatic approach to inspire camaraderie in these wretches of the earth. "No funny business with you lot either, she looks pretty but she's not up for grabs if ya get what I mean's." He gives one bandit a little over friendly elbow in the gut to emphasise his point and slaps his knee as he chuckles. His laughing aside he added loudly. "Asides maybe we'll get a break and catches us some more dames, Eh?!" Leaving it at that he casually walks around the place, hand on his fancy new longsword that he's showing off. He keeps the belt loose to make it look like it wasn't made for him.
He scoped out the place, nodding in appreciation at its (filthy) setup. All the while taking in how many foes there were and where they were as he strolled around. He eventually made his way up onto Z.2a and made a point of stomping his boot to test the strength of the craftsmen ship before stepping up by old soft head.
Xarafine goes along with Bein's act, grunting as she is flung about, and flinching at sudden movements, as if afraid of being struck. She keeps her expression wide-eyed, and terrified.
When hands her the cloth, she immediately recognizes the weight and shape of the object hidden within. She begins to wipe her face and neck with the cloth, not unfolding it in front of the bandits.
Jack stands beside Finnabar, trying to look like a thuggish assistant, and nods as Finnabar urges them about the importance of seeing the Stag.
Bump :)
From her awkward position, laying over Bein's shoulder, it is difficult for Xarafine to get a full veiew of everything going on around her.
Keep up the ruse. Just keep up the ruse. Bein will release you as soon as things turn bloody...
She squeezes her eyes shut, and sobs, allowing her shoulders to shake.
The man's eye widen at Finnabar's words and he instantly, and with a great deal of authority, shouts at the greasy looking man... "Oi, Jeb. Go get all the others! Sounds like we got half a bloody army commin down here from Restov. Get yer bloody brother here right bloody now too. I want to know why his bloody fantastic bloody snitch hasn't let us know about this. While yer at it get Fat Bloody Norry to go rouse the Stag. Tell him to let the bastard know that the bloody girl's been delivered and we got some trouble brewing! Quick about mind. Quick!"
Xerafine is delivered into a small cage adjoining the larger one marked on the map (Z6) which is little more than an atrocious-smelling cave dug out of a pile of rubble. Large bloody bones, likely from horses
or elk, lie scattered on the ground, and, hudling in the far corner rests a large mound of fur. As Xerafine is dumped to the ground, the mound shifts, revealing the scarred and beaked head of one of the creatures you fought in the birdling's layer (the one which was guarding the egg) which fixes a single eye upon her.
The rest of you move in to the central undercover area (Z5) as the bandits scurry about. The edges of this drafty room are crammed with crates, barrels, and boxes. Hammocks strung on wooden posts denote sleeping areas, while dirty bowls and utensils rest atop rickety and makeshift furniture. Elsewhere, chamber pots sit tucked into corners, while a large iron gate is wedged into a ten-foot-wide gap in the western wall. Chips of ancient plaster flake from the walls, exposing the stone construction; whatever plaster still clings to stonework is covered with strange and erratic scribbles and pictographs. The floor consists only of hard-packed earth.
As you enter the room the commanding man turns and introduces himself properly. "I'm Akiros. I guess you could say I'm second in charge here – me and that prick Dovan. The Stag'll take a while to get here. How far away are these bloody troops then? How many are there?
Xarafine steels her courage, as the creature eyes her.
Be calm. Be calm. They would not go through all the trouble to capture a girl, only to turn around and feed her to this beast. Still...do not turn you back to it...
Xarafine looks around for anything to see if any guards are still watching her, and if satisfied that she is alone (excepting the beast), begins to search her surroundings for anything that might be useful (staying well-clear of the side of her cage nearest the beast).
"Far enough, we've time to wait for the Stag before we talk. If you've got a 'snitch' feeding you bad information, then we're not talking until the man in charge is here. We don't want anything getting back to him wrong."
Teldrin was calm, keeping up his act and looking unconcerned by the threat of troops on the way. He smiled smugly, as if blinded by his own self-confidence.
Inside though the sudden maddening movements of the bandits had turned this into a tactical nightmare. They were drumming to muster and they were caught in the middle of an entire fort of enemies. One move and it was all over...
"You can call me Barral. My guess is that they should not arrive today, but I did not turn back to find more and get stupidly killed. If I were you, I'd send a strong patrol about half a day out to get advance warning and count them. Maybe you can send that Dovan with his best buddies?"
Looking around the room, he hides his distaste:
"You don't have a room where people can talk without every one hearing and putting their nose in? The rest I've got to tell you is for you and your boss' ears and eyes only."
Bump
"All right Barral." replies Akiros, I don't think we need a full patrol though. We'll send Norry. He doesn't look it but he's a pretty good scout - could steal a horse from under his rider I reckon. Sounds like we got some time at least. We'll have a chat with the Stag. Just you, me and him I think. He's a suspicious bastard. Wouldn't be happy with a crowd of folks he didn't know. Your lads look like they might be a bit tired from the ride - they can have a meal and a kip if they like. Then helping out with the pallisade - it needs some work if we're going t' see some soldiers."
With that he calls over Norry - a balding fat man wearing an oil-stained tunic and clutching a half-eaten turkey leg which drips with grease. Akiros barks out some quick instructions and Norry waddles off to saddle a horse. Once the other bandits are assembled he gives some quick instructions, sending them off on various tasks. - Half (5) are set to work on the palisade whilst the remainder, under the command of Dovan, get to work assembling supplies and weapons. Whilst the bandits don't seem to much like it, and though they don't seem to be inclined to working well together, Akiros somehow manages to get a surprising degree of cooperation out of the men.
Once the orders are given, and the men are set on their tasks. Akiros turns back to Finn. "If you'd like to come down with me," he says We'll see if the Stag's fit fer company?"