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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Amaroq" data-source="post: 1379825" data-attributes="member: 15470">Issue #9: Milo's Trial: Episode 4By sunset, about two hours after Paks left, the complex is nearly whole and sound. The barn still looks a little worse for wear – scorch marks are visible in some places – but the repairs are complete. Most of the group is inside, but Stone and Delonia are keeping watch for Paks’ return.The guard, up at the watchtower, is the first to spot her, and calls down to them, “Here she comes. One rider, alone.” Within a few minutes, Paks is riding up to the rear gate. She sits astride Star, the magnificent black horse which used to belong to Jim, as though she belongs in the saddle. She doesn’t look weary at all. Stone and Delonia meet her at the gate.Delonia shakes her head. “I know you guys had a trial and all, but I can’t believe you just let him go like that. It’s going to be trouble.” Stone asks, “Where’d you let him go?” “North,” she says, “A decent ride from here.” “You don’t remember?” the half-orc persists. Paks shakes her head. “Just in some rough country,” she says evasively.“Did you take his hamstrings?” Stone asks eagerly. “No,” Paks says with a smile. “But I took some other things – do you want some darts?” She pulls out all of Milo’s weapons, and offers them to Stone.Everyone meets in the dining hall for the evening meal, which is a friendly, informal affair. The children are noisy and playful, and the dogs lie under the long tables, patiently waiting for a scrap to fall. Stone, Delonia, and Brand drink heavily, in continued celebration of the previous day’s victory.Miriel seems much happier, as though a weight has been lifted from her shoulders. She gets a private smile when she notices that Llewyn is looking at Chuck with tender concern. He awoke just before Paks returned, and has come downstairs for the evening meal. He looks pale and unwell, and barely plays with his food.Paks and Goldpetal are both quiet and somber. They both seem to have a lot to think about, and Goldpetal begs his leave, to go for a walk outside of the compound walls after he has finished his meal.  Paks remains, but shakes her head when Stone offers her a beer, and says little.Telryn has hit it off quite well with Myrs, and they talk of many things. She outlines the region for him, in enough detail that he knows where we are, and could probably work his way back to Molistown on his own.When the evening meal has finished, and the children and townsfolk have left, Taryn thanks us again for our help.  “If you guys are going to set out after the rat men, I’d advise that you do it soon,” he says.“We’re setting out tomorrow,” Miriel tells him.He nods in satisfaction.“We’ll have to leave the cart,” Paks tells him, “It won’t avail us in a swamp. Would it be useful to your folk?”“Yes, I think we could make good use of it,” he says. “Thank you.”“We’ll also need to leave the horses,” she says. “Would your family be willing to look after them?”“We’d be happy to.”Though Stone and Delonia remain awake well into the evening, the rest of the group retires early, planning to make an early start the next day.We wake at dawn the next morning, packing, and readying ourselves to leave the compound.  Chuck, who had been ill with the Corpse Blisters, is feeling much better, but still has numerous black blisters on his back and stomach. He is also still not fully recovered from his wounds at the hands of Xyler Blackfoot during the siege. Paks and Miriel both minister to him, together and they offer a shared prayer to Madriel. Miraculously, the blisters shrivel up and fall off, and by the time they are through, he feels completely cured, and his wounds are finally healed. We share a quick morning meal, where we discover that Goldpetal has not returned. Before we can worry about it, Taryn says that the druid awaits us out of doors, in the orchard.We gather in the courtyard, and most of the freeholders come out to see us off.  Some give us food, fairly split between fresh bread and cheese for the first days of our journey, and harder, dried foods, perhaps a week’s worth of rations each, all told.As everyone is saying goodbye, Delonia says, “It’s been nice traveling with you, but this is where our paths part. Good luck. May Enkili shine his light on you! I feel we may meet again, but I hope not!”She turns to Paks, and adds, “I give special thanks to you, Paks. You’ve been nothing but fair to me, more fair than perhaps I deserved.” “You are welcome,” Paks smiles at her. “The blessing of Madriel on you, and many thanks for all your help.” Delonia smiles her brightest smile. “Just don’t mention me to Grilliam.” Paks laughs. “Of course not,” she promises.While the others are paying attention to Delonia, and saying their farewells, Llewyn aprroaches Chuck, carrying a large, 10-foot wooden pole. “Chuck,” she says, “You’re incompetent, but I don’t want you to die.” Chuck blushes. “Thanks,” he says, “I’m used to hearing that.” She gives him the pole. “This should be quite useful to you, in the swamps,” she says.“Thank you,” is all he can reply.“I can carry that, if you want,” Stone says. He takes the pole, leaving Chuck’s hands free, but the youthful Vigilant feels awkward in front of the rest of the group, and offers Llewyn no more than clasping hands together, for a brief moment.  As we pass through the main gates, Taryn calls to us, “You will always be welcome here. You will always find a place to stay, to rest or to train. Anything we can give, is yours.” “We’ll be back soon,” Chuck responds.“Yes, but not just soon,” Taryn says. “Anytime you need us, you can come to us.” We leave Kratys Freehold, to warm farewells called from the walls and waves from the grateful freeholders.</blockquote>

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