As the sun rises, you head east along the cobbled Kingsroad, Khom-Bei driving a weak, barely conscious Verraine in the small cart, Kane on horseback, Thragga loping along behind. You quickly make your escape from the scene of the battle, headed away from the castle of Lord Valkris, headed around behind the curve of the Ghostwood.
Thragga squints into the rising sun. Bright light is no friend to his Urag eyes.
Kane says to Thragga, "This spear the Ghost King spoke of, we should return for it once we get Verraine to safety."
Thragga nods. "I will take it from the Vorghol King's dead hands...."
Verraine whispers to Khom-Bei, wrapped in his fur cloak, "Camars." It's the name of a walled city in the foothills just to the north of where you are, perhaps a few hours distant. She takes a sip of water from a waterskin.
Khom-Bei leans closer to Verraine. "Camars? Should we go there, Verraine?"
Verraine nods. "Safe house. Dras."
Khom-Bei says, "Kane, Thragga, she says there is a safe house in Camars."
Kane says, "Wouldn't it be better to get Verraine out of Tol Nedra all together?"
Khom-Bei says, "Yes, Kane, I would like nothing better than to get her all the way to King Henrick's throne room, but a safe house may be the best place for her until she is stronger."
Thragga sneers. "Verraine will not run from a fight!" At Thragga's words, Verraine manages a weak smile.
Khom-Bei says, "Yes, Thragga, at this point she would be pressed hard to crawl away from a fight."
Kane says, "Well then let's make for this safe house."
The day promises to be bright blue and clear, a gorgeous early autumn day, but as you head north, towards Dolgur, a looming shadow begins to cloud the day ahead. The Shroud, a product of black sorcery, shields the capital and the lands around it, blocking out the light of the cursed Sun and allowing Vorghol to roam free at any time. You can see it wrapping itself over the foothills ahead, almost like a thing alive, a dark shadow that casts gloom over the rocky lands you travel into.
Khom-Bei says, "We all need rest and food and she needs clothes to travel in. We can be there by midday if we hurry."
Kane says, "Pray, lead on."
Khom-Bei slaps the reins across the hindquarters of the horses pulling the cart and urges them on.
Khom-Bei says, "Verraine, who do we look for in Camars?"
Verraine tells you, "His name is Dras. A friend of ours." The code term for another Hunter.
The Shroud flutters in the sky ahead like a black banner. Under it, night falls over the hills.
Kane says, "Let us stop to eat and refresh the horses, and burn those damn papers before we get any closer to the Shroud."
Khom-Bei says, "Kane, perhaps you should ride ahead and make contact with Dras. Maybe he can tell us how to get Verraine into hiding safely."
Khom-Bei says, "Agreed."
Kane says, "I can do that.Verraine, how will I know him?"
Verraine says, "He's a smith. Arms...arms like Thragga's."
Kane says, "Right, I will find him and meet you back here."
Khom-Bei says, "Kane, we will continue toward Camars, but we will not rush. We cannot enter the town like this, the Vorghol lords will be looking for us."
Kane turns and says, "It would be best if I brought back clothes for Verraine at the least. I will meet you along the way, wait for me before entering Camars. And we should make sure those papers of Lorn's are destroyed first. We may not need worry about a search for us, Lorn's whole party was dispatched. When they do find their remains they will have no idea who did them in."
Khom-Bei stops the cart and sparks alight a small fire, just large enough to kindle the pages of Lorn's notes. The parchments catch fire and go up in ash quickly, months or years of work flaming away in a few instants. The notes burn quickly and brightly, and Thragga stomps the ashes out with his booted feet.
Thragga says, "They are all dust now...None to talk of who did it. I say we all go to Camars."
Khom-Bei says, "I think caution is the wisest course for now, Thragga."
Verraine nods in satisfaction.
Khom-Bei climbs aboard the cart and calls to Kane. "Perhaps we should travel to gether a little farther, Kane?"
Kane turns in his saddle, "As you wish."
Your party gallops along the Kingsroad, rounds a bend, and like a shadow, the looming edge of the Shroud sweeps over you. Suddenly, all around, it's midnight, even though by any clock it would be hours after dawn. The cloud is deep and dark. You have been under the Shroud before, but the transition is always unsettling.
You all pause as the pall fills you all with a sense of gloom.
Thragga says, in the silence, "The cart...we should burn it as well."
Kane says, "Why?"
Khom-Bei says, "Will you carry Verraine all the way to Camars?"
Thragga kicks the cart wheel. "It's a tumbrel. Where they keep slaves and prisoners, Kane. Do you wish to ride in it? I will not."
Kane says, "That's not a problem... she could ride with you or I, Khom-Bei. I'm just curious what danger our green friend here sees in using this cart."
Thragga snaps, "Northerling, we will have four horses. Even if I roast one for my noon meal, we will still have plenty of horse to carry her."
Kane says, "True, we should leave it unless we plan on passing her off as a slave. Which unless we find her something to wear, will be our best bet.""
Khom-Bei says, "Verrraine, are you strong enough to ride?"
You are now in foothill country, with tall hillsides looming all about. The Kingsroad picks its way through the rough country, zigging and zagging, A column of soldiers can be seen up ahead on the Kingsroad. You are headed north, and they are headed south. An officer on horseback is at their lead. You can hear the clank of metal on metal as they march.
Verraine nods. She is weak, but bravely tries to stand.
Khom-Bei says, "Verraine, you should lie down now and rest. We will deal with the cart once we have passed the soldiers that are coming our way."
Verraine is paler than usual from blood loss. She assents quietly and seats herself.
Khom-Bei says, "This slave-cart may save us yet. We can pass as servants transporting a servant to Dolgur and skip the bloodshed, Thragga."
Thragga grips his axe. "I will deal with them..." he rumbles.
Kane says, "Hold friend, we don't want to fight unless we have to."
Thragga spits. "Very well. But I will not be caged."
Khom-Bei says, "Thragga, no one would ever think of trying to cage you."
The soldiers, Reith from their looks, with a young, pale Vorghol on horseback leading them, march along briskly towards you.
Khom-Bei says, "Kane, you should do the talking. Tell them we are taking a slave to Dolgur for our master Lorn."
Kane says, "I think I will leave Lorn's name out of it all together. No reason to mention the dead I always say."
As the column approaches, the officer on horseback nods at you. He's a handsome undead fellow, with long blond hair and narrow features. His horse is not nearly so well-equipped as Lorn's was. The soldiers are just one of the many patrols that travel the Kingdom's main road, wearing the red and black livery of Lord Valkris. "Greetings, sirrah. What business have you on the Kingsroad?" He eyes Thragga dubiously.
Kane says, "We travel to Camars to do a little trading my lord."
The Vorghol sneers, as his kind often does. "Camars, eh? Trading in slaves, are you?"
The soldiers pause as their sergeant calls halt. There are at least 50 of them, Reith to a man.
Kane says, "Perhaps tha, t or in swords. We are always looking for work."
The Vorghol muses, "How much for the Urag, then? My own servant met with an unfortunate accident. I'll give you 10 dragons for him. Is he well-trained?"
Kane says, "This one is my most trusted slave. I could not let him go."
Thragga avoids eye contact, looking at the ground.
The officer smiles, showing fangs. "A hard bargainer. 15 dragons, then."
Kane says, "He is hard to handle, lord and would probably run off on you at the first chance he got. Better I keep him and save you the trouble."
The Vorghol pouts, blowing out his cheeks. "Very well. But I do so hate disappointment. I will remember your face, trader." He raises a hand and gestures for the column to move out, headed for some destination south of you, possibly Far Hisvet, the town where Lorn was headed.
The soldiers tromp past in silence. Soon they are gone from view around a bend.
Khom-Bei slaps the reins and urges the horses onward to Camars. Kane urges his horse forward. Thragga spits on the road and follows.
The gloom grows as you travel the road north. The Shroud differs from an ordinary night...the darkness is almost like that of a tomb, with sounds muffled and a claustrophia abounding. You travel in silence for a while, cross an old stone bridge, and there, just ahead, is the walled city of Camars. The walls are old-looking, cracked and crumbled in places, as if it were built during the long ago Warg Years.
Khom-Bei steers the cart off the road and into some cover at the edge of the road. "We'll wait here for you, Kane."
Kane says, "I shouldn't be long, smiths are always easy to find."