Before Anntreen and Carnosus look for a secluded spot suitable for a private conversation they head off to eat as the meal is prepared for the group. She also insists that the captain come dine with the group. Mostly as she dose not want him out of her sight for to long. And, there will always be more time to talk with her friend a bit later.
Jeaal tries to enjoy the common room as he waits for Mina to return, but his eyes are heavy and he is in need of rest. He finishes his food quickly.
Ceza finished his dinner. The last sip of his drink make him tired. He wanted to take full sleep because his destination was long and needed took much energy.
"I need rest now." He asked the owner "Can you tell me where is the empty room?"
"And Jeeal. What I was talking to her was true." Ceza said to Jeeal "If you need some help, just talk to me. We will gain benefit for this deal."
Then Ceza laid his head beside his bowl.
AT THE RANCH
The meal that has been prepared for your group is simple but still welcome after a bath and a hard day. The cold night is, as it often happens in this period of the year, made more harsh by the continuous rain. You eat your food with pleasure, even if it is only some pieces of bread, a hot porridge made probably from some kind of cereal and fresh fruit and vegetables served raw. For the drinks, you have to contempt yourselves with fresh water.
While you are enjoying your late dinner, Zachary comes in the room. He excuses himself for interrupting and ask Tomas to meet him in the common room later.
After eating, Anntreen and Carnosus attend to their business while Tomas is shown to a room that contains a simple chair, a desk and the basic tools for writing. The Paladin has the impression that the room has been set up intentionally for him: probably the commoners don't feel so often the urge to write something, if ever they can write.
Krusten and Ferrin follow one of the workers to the area in which they will sleep: is a common room, big enough to accommodate the whole party. While inspecting the simple beds prepared for them, the two adventurers realize that something is not right. They look at each other and then ask: "Where is Captain Tomlin?".....
AT THE INN
Jeaal and Ceza are shaken out of their numbness by the three commoners that were sitting at the other table. The guards had enough and are getting back to their quarters, on the other side of the road, and the three peasants are looking for a different way to spend the night. "Hey guys", says one of them in a drunken tone, "Anybody good at playing Darts? I would really love to find somebody new to play with. There's a target on that wall". He points to a wooden target hanging near the fireplace. He is tall and thin. His face remembers somewhat a bird with the long nose and skinny cheeks. Behind him, a huge guy, tall and large, stands next to a small insignificant fellow. The giant is busy looking at Ja'laron while the last one seems lost in his thoughts and paying no attention to what's going on around him.
Mina sighs in relief that it was who she thought it was up here in the room. She replies to the woman, "No, the hunt is over. The 'Bandits' and their ill-gotten gain are already back at your fathers ranch. This brings me to an interesting query, why are you not there?
AT THE INN
Abigail Goatshearer rises her nose a little bit, unable to hide some haughtiness. "I'm not there because is more than a full day I'm looking for you here", she whines looking like a spoiled child. "So you got your bandits!", she adds then getting back to a normal tone, "Good for you: it means you earned some coins. But that will not help a little bit. Anyway...". The girl looks thoughtful for a moment. Her eyes reveal a deep sadness and distress. She swallows with some effort, like if something was stuck in her throat, then she asks abruptly: "Would you help me with something? I can't pay much but I can give you information in exchange. Everything I know about the situation here, and 10 gold pieces, for a small task that would be of great importance to me. What do you say?".
Downstairs, in the main room, the large peasant steps forward and adds his proposal to the one just forwarded by his friend. "If somebody is not fond of Darts games", he munches, "I challenge whoever has the guts to duel me at arm wrestling". He shows a powerful biceps, proving that he will not be just a sparring partner.
THE SOUTHERN ROAD
MaryJaen Catormany traveled for over a month since she left the safety of the magic school on Phyneas island. A long time during which she crossed the southern part of the Empire looking for knowledge and experience. Now, she finds herself soaked and shivering because of the cold night. The rain took her unaware on her path: that peasant was so sure that the nearest inn was just a few hours walk ahead that she neither worried about the sun setting nor the fact she had no source of light to help her out in the cloudy night. Now, she has to rely on her keen eyes to follow the road, seeing nothing of what lays around her and having almost not protection against the battering rain.
Putting one foot in front of the other, in the hope of reaching any place suitable for making camp, she eventually comes to a crossroad. With no reason, she decides to head north, fighting against the rising wind. Suddenly, out of the darkness, a male voice breaks the silence: "Tonight is not the best choice for a nightly walk, I should say".
MariJaen seeks the source of the voice, trying to focus her eyes threw the pouring rain. "Well met, can you direct me to the nearest Inn? For you are right that tonight is not the best night for a walk." Trying to keep her wits about her and trying to see if there are more then one persons and what threats there might be if any.