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[DAY 26 – Sunday, Juna 15th, CY 81]

Except for those on watch, the outpost slept in later than usual. Darius announced the festival for Ben’s return and many of the men seemed somewhat cheered. Several men gathered wood and piled it high in the clearing away from the tents. Others sat gloomily. After a number of attempts the bonfire was lit and those outside stood in close in to warm up. It was not until the cask of ale was rolled out that everyone started to stand up, smile and even shout. Ben checked upstairs in the infirmary and not a single soul was left inside. Dram manned the keg pouring the ale into tall flasks, short wooden cups, and any container the men could find. Dalin was fairly successful in starting some games of chance inside. The stakes were lower than what Dalin was used to, but Ben noticed that Dalin was often low on chips for his usual luck. He did have a broad smile on his face though, and so did the other men.

For his part, Brother Ben told make-believe stories to the soldiers trying to instill a moral into each one. At first, he was only somewhat successful and very few listened. But when the soldiers started telling their own stories, racy ones at that, more people joined in. Others clambered around outside and started wrestling in the mud. They hooted hollered in their revelry. Mirel joined in and was covered with mud from head to toe. Several contests were held too. Most involved wrestling: leg, arm, and body. Those who won earned a gold piece each. During the contests Dram took a special interest in how each of the militia members performed. As expected the archers he had trained a few weeks ago led in the archery event. The winner was a shy lad with bright red hair. The winner of the arm wrestling contest competed against Dram and bested him in the final match. Dram asked their names: Ormand the Redd and Rogg respectively. He pulled them aside and asked each if they would be willing to join in the explorations below the tower and offered them a gold per day in advance. Both agreed eagerly.

Elion stayed in his tent and a few of the guards kept watch from the tower. These kept tagging off trying to give the duty to another. What went largely unnoticed however, was the absence of Darius. He, Kayla, and Igor had descended into Quesquaton right before the party started. Near midday when they came out few of the men and women in the tower courtyard were sober enough to notice. The three explained to Ben and the others that they had talked at length about the mysteries of Quesquaton and on what might be found in the orc caves. Brother Ben was not sure what needed to be talked about, but he was relieved to see them unharmed. By the end of the day every bed and spare floor space in the infirmary was filled. Ben left the patients to their own aches and pains and slept in a crawlspace on the third floor above.

Before heading to sleep Igor and Darius went behind the tower to where the dryad’s seeds had been planted. To their dismay all the plants were missing. They tried to puzzle out what could have happened. Did the rain washed them away? No, there was no hill or slope. Could the men have trampled them? It was possible. What about a creature? No tracks were nearby, but none would be left due to the constant rain. It was another mystery and one not easily solved. The two went back inside to sleep.