Jimny must have gone back to town. Sadolath has found tracks heading that way, and everyone else is here, right? The elation and adrenalin have worn off and some of you shiver even though it hasn't really started to cool yet. Nobody really wants to disagree. It is getting late and it will be starting to get dark by the time you get back if you don't set out now. Even if he was still out here, you could spend hours looking and never find him. But Sadolath has found tracks, right. He must have gone home.
The conversation is sparse and sporadic as you head home. The journey seem much longer than the one coming here. But eventually you get to river and then to the edge of the forest where Jacob awaits. Perhpas the girls ride in the cart, perhaps the wounded, perhaps you take turns. But regardless, you continue slowly back along the river.
There is something odd about the town, though it takes you a while to work out what. It's Cromwell who realises it first - men move about on the walls in much greater numbers than usual. About half a mile from the walls and you see a small band of mounted men emerge from the north west gate and head rapidly in your direction. As they approach you can see that the band consists of a half dozen men - four town guard including Sergeant Diggons, Mr Rippand the hunter, and Don Stutch the cleric. It seems that Jimny did go back to town. The horsemen are your escort home.
They gather around you and at the sergeant's command the guardsmen dismount to hustle you onto their horses if you are walking while the cleric rushes around determined to check that no one is dying, depite your protestations that the danger has gone and that everyone is all right. Enclosed in a ring of guards all trying their best to bristle aggressively, march quickly and saunter casually all at the same time, you are herded home and in through the gates and into the guardhouse.
And for the next hour or so you are poked and prodded and healed and questioned. They talk to you, around you, above you and about you. Do you think the goblins are planning to attack? Is the ogre dangerous? Is the knight safe? It doesn't really matter what you think because it seem that your elders and betters have made up their minds and anything you say to the contrary is at first listened to and disagreed with, and then not even really listened to. The goblins are stiring. The ogre tribes have returned to this part of the forest. The knight is dead, if he is lucky. Shh. Not here in front of them. Preparations must be made. Food stocks accumulated. Warnings sent out. What you're still here? High time you were off home to get some food and rest. Things need to be done here. Off you go now. Don't worry about a thing, everything will be fine.
End of the Prologue.
