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<blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 7071819" data-attributes="member: 143"><p>Chapter 15</p><p></p><p>The old woman crumpled, and nearly fell into the fire before she rolled over and lay in a lifeless heap upon the ground.</p><p></p><p>The dwarf’s three companions stood staring for a shocked moment. “What in the hells did you do that for?” Bredan finally blurted.</p><p></p><p>“She was lying,” Kosk said.</p><p></p><p>Quellan hurried forward and knelt beside the old woman. Blood smeared the lower half of her face and continued to pulse from her nostrils.</p><p></p><p>“Is she dead?” Glori asked.</p><p></p><p>“I just knocked her out,” Kosk said, but he watched intently while Quellan checked her pulse. “She’s alive,” the cleric confirmed.</p><p></p><p>Bredan circled around the fire. “You can’t just punch an old woman in the face!”</p><p></p><p>“You said she might be a witch,” Kosk said with a shrug.</p><p></p><p>“Yeah, but… we don’t know that!” Bredan yelled back.</p><p></p><p>“Um… better keep your voice down,” Glori said. She took a wary look around the dell, but the only other witness was the mule, which continued to munch on the grass disinterestedly. “I do have to admit that I wouldn’t expect a witch to go down so easily.”</p><p></p><p>“Yes, see!” Bredan said, pointing at her.</p><p></p><p>“What’s done is done,” Kosk said.</p><p></p><p>Bredan threw up his hands. “What’s wrong with you?”</p><p></p><p>At that Kosk turned suddenly and stepped up until he was well within arm’s reach of the smith. “Careful, boy,” he said.</p><p></p><p>Bredan tensed but didn’t retreat. “Or else what, you’ll punch me in the face?” he asked.</p><p></p><p>A tense moment followed, finally interrupted when the cleric said, “She’s coming around.”</p><p></p><p>They all stepped back to give the cleric some room. The old woman groaned and stirred. Her eyelids fluttered open, but her eyes remained vacant for a moment before they focused on Quellan. Then they widened and she sucked in a startled breath.</p><p></p><p>“Take it easy, stay calm,” Quellan said. “It’s all right, everything’s all right.”</p><p></p><p>She drew back but didn’t try to get up. She reached up and touched her face, but the sight of her blood on her fingers didn’t cause her to panic. Instead she sent a venomous look around the circle of observers. “You hit me.”</p><p></p><p>“I’m sorry, there was a misunderstanding on our part,” Quellan said.</p><p></p><p>“On mine as well,” Arras said. “Maybe that symbol you’re wearing doesn’t mean what I think. Or maybe blood tells.”</p><p></p><p>Quellan flinched as if he’d hit her, but Kosk stepped forward. “You must admit it’s strange, an old woman out here all alone. The Dry Hills are dangerous, and you could have been…”</p><p></p><p>“A witch? An old hag, like from the stories?” She shot a look at Glori, who looked away, abashed. “Well, I wish I was, then I’d turn the lot of you into bloody slugs.”</p><p></p><p>Kosk, however, wouldn’t yield. “You pushed that wine on us rather suspiciously.”</p><p></p><p>She started to get up and the monk shifted slightly, but she only leaned over to where the bottle of wine and the cups had fallen. She filled one of the cups and drank it down in a single gulp. “Satisfied?”</p><p></p><p>“Look, we’re sorry, but as I said, it was a misunderstanding,” Quellan said. “Maybe we can all settle down, talk more about what you said earlier, about the bugbears, the guardian…”</p><p></p><p>“I hope they flay you alive, either one,” she said. She got up and walked over to the line of laundry. She took a piece of cloth and soaked it from a nearby waterskin, then used it to rub the blood off her face. “You can do whatever you please, but you get out of my camp, and don’t let me see you back here.”</p><p></p><p>“Or else what?” Kosk asked.</p><p></p><p>She glared at him, but Quellan quickly stepped forward. “We’ll leave. But before we go, I’m a cleric, I can heal you…”</p><p></p><p>“I’m fine,” she said. “Get out.”</p><p></p><p>Bredan didn’t realize how late it had gotten until they left the camp and the glow of the fire behind them. But there was still enough lingering light for him to stay with the others as they made their way back into the forest. His companions, naturally, had no difficulty, and he envied them their darksight.</p><p></p><p>“Well, that could have gone better,” Glori finally said.</p><p></p><p>“Think she’ll try to kill us in our sleep?” Kosk asked.</p><p></p><p>“If she does, I’m sure you can beat the crap out of her,” Bredan said.</p><p></p><p>“Look, boy…”</p><p></p><p>“All right, leave it,” Quellan said, again stepping between them. “Just let it be. It’s getting dark, and we need to find another place that’s safe to rest.”</p><p></p><p>“If she was telling the truth about the guardian and those bugbears, there may not be a safe place anywhere around here,” Bredan said.</p><p></p><p>“Yeah, I don’t think I want to run into a bugbear, day or night,” Glori said.</p><p></p><p>“They’re just big goblins,” Kosk said. “You can wait for us down here if you want.”</p><p></p><p>“Are you calling us cowards?” Bredan asked.</p><p></p><p>“I’m just saying that…”</p><p></p><p>Quellan suddenly stopped and turned so quickly that Glori nearly ran into him. “Look, just… just stop,” he said, holding up his hands toward the other two men. “We all knew that this trip could be dangerous, but we can’t afford to turn on each other, not here, not now. Regardless of what just happened, we have to pull together.”</p><p></p><p>For a moment they all just stood there in silence. Bredan again regretted not being able to see his companion’s faces in the deepening twilight. But a moment later Glori took his hand in hers, and he could feel reassurance seeping into him from that contact.</p><p></p><p>“We passed a spot a ways back that could serve,” Kosk said. Without waiting for confirmation from the others he trudged back down the slope.</p><p></p><p>Quellan looked back at Bredan and Glori, then shrugged and headed after the dwarf.</p><p></p><p>“I hope we haven’t made a big mistake here,” Bredan said.</p><p></p><p>“It’ll be all right,” Glori replied. “You’ll see. Come on, we shouldn’t get separated.”</p><p></p><p>Neither of them saw the glistening eyes that watched their progress from under the half-exposed roots of a nearby tree.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lazybones, post: 7071819, member: 143"] Chapter 15 The old woman crumpled, and nearly fell into the fire before she rolled over and lay in a lifeless heap upon the ground. The dwarf’s three companions stood staring for a shocked moment. “What in the hells did you do that for?” Bredan finally blurted. “She was lying,” Kosk said. Quellan hurried forward and knelt beside the old woman. Blood smeared the lower half of her face and continued to pulse from her nostrils. “Is she dead?” Glori asked. “I just knocked her out,” Kosk said, but he watched intently while Quellan checked her pulse. “She’s alive,” the cleric confirmed. Bredan circled around the fire. “You can’t just punch an old woman in the face!” “You said she might be a witch,” Kosk said with a shrug. “Yeah, but… we don’t know that!” Bredan yelled back. “Um… better keep your voice down,” Glori said. She took a wary look around the dell, but the only other witness was the mule, which continued to munch on the grass disinterestedly. “I do have to admit that I wouldn’t expect a witch to go down so easily.” “Yes, see!” Bredan said, pointing at her. “What’s done is done,” Kosk said. Bredan threw up his hands. “What’s wrong with you?” At that Kosk turned suddenly and stepped up until he was well within arm’s reach of the smith. “Careful, boy,” he said. Bredan tensed but didn’t retreat. “Or else what, you’ll punch me in the face?” he asked. A tense moment followed, finally interrupted when the cleric said, “She’s coming around.” They all stepped back to give the cleric some room. The old woman groaned and stirred. Her eyelids fluttered open, but her eyes remained vacant for a moment before they focused on Quellan. Then they widened and she sucked in a startled breath. “Take it easy, stay calm,” Quellan said. “It’s all right, everything’s all right.” She drew back but didn’t try to get up. She reached up and touched her face, but the sight of her blood on her fingers didn’t cause her to panic. Instead she sent a venomous look around the circle of observers. “You hit me.” “I’m sorry, there was a misunderstanding on our part,” Quellan said. “On mine as well,” Arras said. “Maybe that symbol you’re wearing doesn’t mean what I think. Or maybe blood tells.” Quellan flinched as if he’d hit her, but Kosk stepped forward. “You must admit it’s strange, an old woman out here all alone. The Dry Hills are dangerous, and you could have been…” “A witch? An old hag, like from the stories?” She shot a look at Glori, who looked away, abashed. “Well, I wish I was, then I’d turn the lot of you into bloody slugs.” Kosk, however, wouldn’t yield. “You pushed that wine on us rather suspiciously.” She started to get up and the monk shifted slightly, but she only leaned over to where the bottle of wine and the cups had fallen. She filled one of the cups and drank it down in a single gulp. “Satisfied?” “Look, we’re sorry, but as I said, it was a misunderstanding,” Quellan said. “Maybe we can all settle down, talk more about what you said earlier, about the bugbears, the guardian…” “I hope they flay you alive, either one,” she said. She got up and walked over to the line of laundry. She took a piece of cloth and soaked it from a nearby waterskin, then used it to rub the blood off her face. “You can do whatever you please, but you get out of my camp, and don’t let me see you back here.” “Or else what?” Kosk asked. She glared at him, but Quellan quickly stepped forward. “We’ll leave. But before we go, I’m a cleric, I can heal you…” “I’m fine,” she said. “Get out.” Bredan didn’t realize how late it had gotten until they left the camp and the glow of the fire behind them. But there was still enough lingering light for him to stay with the others as they made their way back into the forest. His companions, naturally, had no difficulty, and he envied them their darksight. “Well, that could have gone better,” Glori finally said. “Think she’ll try to kill us in our sleep?” Kosk asked. “If she does, I’m sure you can beat the crap out of her,” Bredan said. “Look, boy…” “All right, leave it,” Quellan said, again stepping between them. “Just let it be. It’s getting dark, and we need to find another place that’s safe to rest.” “If she was telling the truth about the guardian and those bugbears, there may not be a safe place anywhere around here,” Bredan said. “Yeah, I don’t think I want to run into a bugbear, day or night,” Glori said. “They’re just big goblins,” Kosk said. “You can wait for us down here if you want.” “Are you calling us cowards?” Bredan asked. “I’m just saying that…” Quellan suddenly stopped and turned so quickly that Glori nearly ran into him. “Look, just… just stop,” he said, holding up his hands toward the other two men. “We all knew that this trip could be dangerous, but we can’t afford to turn on each other, not here, not now. Regardless of what just happened, we have to pull together.” For a moment they all just stood there in silence. Bredan again regretted not being able to see his companion’s faces in the deepening twilight. But a moment later Glori took his hand in hers, and he could feel reassurance seeping into him from that contact. “We passed a spot a ways back that could serve,” Kosk said. Without waiting for confirmation from the others he trudged back down the slope. Quellan looked back at Bredan and Glori, then shrugged and headed after the dwarf. “I hope we haven’t made a big mistake here,” Bredan said. “It’ll be all right,” Glori replied. “You’ll see. Come on, we shouldn’t get separated.” Neither of them saw the glistening eyes that watched their progress from under the half-exposed roots of a nearby tree. [/QUOTE]
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