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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 7200524" data-attributes="member: 143">*cue sinister laughter** * * Chapter 73The journey back to Northpine was uneventful, but they were all relieved when the rooftops and chimneys of the village came into view in the gap between two hills ahead of them.  None of them had talked about it during the hike, but each had carried a small fear that the cyclops or some other hazard might have found the place while they were gone.  The Northpiners were independent, hearty folk, but the thought of them facing the giant or a band of the humanoids they’d encountered did not lead to happy outcomes.“When we get to Adelar, we should tell the King’s men about all of these monsters,” Glori said.“What do you think that will solve?” Kosk asked.“They could send patrols, or something, I don’t know,” Glori said.“Bands like the ones we faced would just evade a large force until they leave,” Kosk said.  “Threats like these are nothing new in places like this, where civilization hasn’t set down deep roots.”“Well, we shouldn’t do just nothing,” Glori persisted.  “If nothing else we should warn them about that giant being on the loose in the area.”“We will warn the villagers, and pass on the warning in every place we visit,” Quellan said.  “But I fear that Kosk is right about the big picture.  At least we’ve eliminated several significant threats to the local communities in the time we’ve been here.”For a moment it looked like the bard wanted to argue, but finally she let out a sigh and nodded.  “You’re right,” she said.They trudged on another fifty steps in silence, then Glori turned and looked over at Bredan.  “You’ve been quiet,” she said in a low voice.“I’ve had a headache,” he said.“You should have told me,” she said.  “Maybe my healing…”“It’s fine,” he interrupted.  “It’s not bad.  I just need some rest.  We all do.”Glori drew back a step but didn’t press him.  Instead she turned to face Kosk and Quellan.  Xeeta, as was typical, was bringing up the rear, and she didn’t seem to share their eagerness to return to the village.  She’d put her cloak back on, and the cowl was raised to its usual place covering her head.Walking backwards, Glori asked, “Should we talk more about what we’re going to do with that lamp?”Kosk shook his head.  “What’s there to talk about?  We give it to the sage and we go on our way.  All of this has just been a distraction from our main goal here.”“Yeah, I know.  But I’m still not sure about this Nordrum character.”“You weren’t so careful about the elf woman,” Kosk said.  “And you’re usually the first to take a bag of coin when it’s offered.”“That’s not fair,” Quellan said quietly.  “I admit that the fellow is odd, but he’s given us no reason to suspect his motives.  And my studies of the lamp haven’t turned up anything dangerous.  As far as I can tell, it serves as some kind of focus or aid to divination magic.”“You’re right, you’re right,” Glori said.  “It’s probably nothing, just… I don’t know.  A feeling, I guess.”“I have a spell that can detect evil,” Quellan said.  “But it’s mostly useful for sorting out potent auras or sensing magical creatures, it’s not really effective at determining someone’s motivations.”“If we’re going to keep it, then we may wish to reconsider returning to the village,” Xeeta suggested.  The others glanced back at her; even now that she’d been a member of their company for a while she rarely participated in these discussions.“Too late for that,” Kosk growled, nodding toward a small figure who’d appeared ahead and was running eagerly toward them.“Indel!” Quellan shouted, waving as the boy approached.  “You know better than to leave the village!”“Bloody kid’s parents need to give him some bloody chores,” Kosk muttered under his breath.The village boy was out of breath by the time he reached them, but his face was alive with excitement.  “They found him!  They found Caric!”“What?” Glori asked.  “When?”“Right after you left, yesterday!”  The boy grinned as the others gathered around him, all save for Xeeta, who remained back a few steps with her cowl drawn low over her face.“Where was he?” Glori asked.“He was hiding in the crawl space under the Devison farm,” Indel reported.  Sucking in a quick breath he continued, “Apparently he was trying to avoid punishment for some apple butter he’d stolen, and when he heard everyone looking for him he decided to stay there.  He’d made a nice little nest for himself down there, some kind of game.  They caught him when he snuck out to steal food.”“I’ll break his legs,” Kosk said.“Why didn’t they send someone after us?” Bredan asked.  “I’ve seen horses in the village, they could have sent someone.”“I don’t know,” Indel said.  “I just know that Caric’s in big trouble.  There was a lot of yelling… I thought that Darik Anthernorn’s head was going to pop, the way he looked.  The sheriff had to take him outside.  Caric’s mom was crying a lot.  Man!  Everybody’s all riled up.”“Well,” Quellan said.  He looked at each of his companions in turn.  “I suppose that’s that, then.  Come on, we’d better get back.”  With an extra nod toward Glori he added, “We can decide what we want to do when we get there.”Indel ran ahead of them as they resumed walking toward the village, no doubt to spread the word of their approach.  “One leg,” Kosk said.  “Just let me break one leg.”“I’ll hold him down for you,” Glori said.</blockquote>

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