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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 7290718" data-attributes="member: 143">That's the plan!* * * * *Book 5: OUT IN THE WILDERNESSChapter 94The damage to Wildrush didn’t look as significant from the valley floor as it had from the rim.The town was situated atop a stony rise that gave it a clear vantage for about a mile in all directions.  The stream that gave the place its name passed within a bowshot of the stockade wall, close enough to provide an easy source of water without threatening the integrity of the defensive barrier.  The stream was put to work as it continued beyond the town; a sawmill and tannery stood close enough to be under the protection of the walls without making a nuisance with their accompanying sounds and smells.An assortment of dun-colored tents had also been erected near the stream on the approach to the town.  Groups of rough-looking men and a smaller number of women were visible moving around the tents, but the overall sense was one of disarray.  To a person they stopped and watched the small caravan as it rattled past, their expressions too vague to suggest either hope or despair at their arrival.As the adventurers drew closer to the main gates—closed save for a narrow sally door—they could see more signs of whatever had happened here.  The stockade looked more or less intact, save for some soot marks that might have been old, but it was much harder to ignore the burned-out remains of a tower that rose to blackened timbers about ten feet above the twelve-foot height of the log wall.  When intact the tower would have commanded an impressive view of the entire area, but now it just seemed to highlight the vulnerability of the isolated town.They were still well clear, not even at the base of the shallow ascent that culminated in the gates, when the heavy portals creaked open to reveal a small company of riders.  The men, clad in a variety of garb but all obviously armed, galloped swiftly down to meet the approaching caravan.  The lead wagon drew to a halt, and as the other two followed suit Bredan jumped down from his seat and walked forward to join his companions in awaiting the arrival of the welcoming committee.The six riders reined in a good two hundred paces short of the lead wagon, giving Bredan enough time to reach the front of the column before they arrived.  Only the leader wore any kind of insignia, a cast-iron badge bearing the King’s rearing-horse sigil.  He was also the only one wearing armor, a shirt of mail links that looked like it could use some time in an armorer’s forge.  His five companions remained on their horses as he dismounted and tossed his reins to one of them before approaching the wagons.  Bredan joined Glori, Quellan, and Kosk in waiting for him.“I’m Captain Lydon,” he said by way of greeting.  He looked to be about fifty, the hair just visible under his broad cap a steel gray.  But Bredan didn’t miss the way that he walked, or the well-worn hilt on the sword at his hip.  “Which of you is Golver Haran?”  His gaze drifted back to the wagons, as if doubtful that any of the four adventurers could have met the description of his contact.“He didn’t make it,” Quellan said.  Lydon hadn’t shown any alarm on first seeing the half-orc, but now his eyes widened just a bit as he noticed the symbol he wore around his neck.  “We ran into some trouble on the way up,” the cleric explained.“Giants attacked us,” Bredan said.  “They destroyed one of the wagons and killed several of the guards, including Haran.”“Don’t worry, we’re here on the behalf of the army,” Glori said, idly plucking a string of her lyre as she spoke.Lydon grimaced and glanced back at his companions as if to check if they’d overheard.  The other riders shared nervous looks, and one fidgeted with his reins, causing his horse to jerk its head from side to side.  “You’d better come with me,” Lydon said.  “The Governor will want to speak with you immediately, I’d reckon.”“That would be fine,” Quellan said.  He turned to signal to the wagon drivers.“What happened here?” Glori asked Lydon as they stepped clear of the road.  “Were you attacked?”“I think… I think I’d better let the Governor tell that tale,” Lydon said.  “Let’s get these wagons inside the walls before we lose the light.”  Before Glori or any of the others could ask anything more he turned and hurried back to his friends.  He issued orders as he mounted, and the small cluster of riders spread out to flank the wagons as they began the ascent toward the town.Kosk and Quellan headed back to their wagons, but Bredan remained where he was, waiting for Harvin to come to him for once.  Glori lingered with him instead of rejoining the lead wagon.  “What do you think?” she asked.Bredan’s expression was serious as he shifted his gaze between their escort and the town, his eyes lingering on the blackened outline of the ruined tower.  “I think the Governor’s going to have some bad news for us,” he finally said.</blockquote>

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