I remember now hearing that there was a halfling among either the Stag Lord's crew or running his own bandit gang. Apparently, he is some sort of sorcerer, as well. Servayn goes to check if the elves are still present, or secure, or alive...
Whether they have fled, or been killed, or remain captive, he turns his will towards calling Ember back from the place that is not a place, where time has no meaning.
Ember reappears presently, and looks around at the current state of affairs. Where is the rodent?
He works for the Stag Lord, he bespelled us and fled into the night. Servayn replies, curtly.
Ember replies, still in the Common tongue, crouching instinctively with thoughts of the chase, Do we hunt and devour him?
Servayn looks startled and laughs nervously. No. he then switches to Draconic, And we don't eat humanoids, remember?
Ember just chuffs, clearly not caring much for such subtleties.
The prisoners are still secure, he was not able to get close enough to them for what he was planning.
Seeing that the elves are secure (and alive), Servayn asks them, Would the halfling have freed you, or slit your throats, do you think? I am not privy to the political allegiances of your various bandit groups...
"Corso, it is not your fault". "He was sneaky and had his way with us all". "This is our group's fault for messing around all this time and not assaulting the Stag Lord". "He was one of the first enemies we heard about, and now we've went and got his attention". "He'll be prepared for us now".
"We must be more forthright in our actions going forward". "Now let's go to Olegs, rendezvous with the others, and take out this Stag Lord, before he can prepare even more".
They remain stubbornly silent until Corso strikes. Finally the woman breaks, "Bennin would have freed us! I think. He's a strange fellow...always gets his way with words and magic. His men are all weak willed, easily enchanted, but strong in the arm. It is likely he would have taken me for his own though..."
At the woman's last comment, Servayn's face darkens. Yet another practice that will change as the law of Brevoy comes to this land. Feel free to stab in the heart any man that attempts to take what you do not wish to give.
If the elves aren't already standing, he hauls them up and sets out towards Oleg's as soon as Corso, Janku and himself are armored and ready to travel. We leave now, before the little man with his big ambitions comes back with these strong-armed friends of his...
Janku remains strangely silent, as the group mounts up to ride away. He is ready to send this scum "Stag Lord", and all his minions to their just deaths.
After the camp is broken down everyone mounts up. To make the best time the elves ride behind Janku and Corso rather than walking. The rest of the night is long as the group rides skirting the forest for the best time. Stopping only briefly for breakfast, to give the horses a rest and much needed water Oleg's trading post appears on the horizon shortly after noon. The gates are wide open and the walls manned by the twins. Who wave cheerfully as everyone approaches.
It appears the Stag Lord hasn't come calling, so that's a plus. Servayn says, somewhat grumpy from the long night's ride and eager to get off of the thrice-damned horse.