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As Jutiapa dimension doors out of the cell, a simultaneous door opens on the outskirts of the keep. Some 10 ft from the banks of the river, at the castle side, Jutiapa's chair falls awkwardly to the ground on it's side, Jutiapa lying prone on the ground, her hands still tied behind her.
A shout from the castle walls declares to the watchful guard that Jutiapa has been spotted. As word spreads, Herperus of Ylaruam regails Braylek - "Master, I have spotted the witch on the bank over there - permission to fire?", he asked as he cradles his bow carefully in his hands.
With a nod from Braylek, Hesperus takes hia bow and fires - and a bolt thuds into Jutiapa's flank. There is a blinding pain, and then dizzyness, and a slow ebb into unconsciousness...
... When Jutiapa wakes she is bound, gagged and staked in the castle courtyard.
Braylec calls for everyone in the castle to come to the courtyard to witness his punishment. With Jutiapa bound to the stake he bellows, "Though this woman has been a good friend she has taken a course that I cannot ignore. I have prayed to Thor and it is by his will that I sentence her to death!" He draws he flamesword and quickly strikes. Jutiapa's body stiffens then slumps as he head rolls from her shoulders.
Everyone goes back to doing their chores. Braylec gives orders to remove the body and retires to his office. Garguth disappears to store his new horde while Vildar does an impromptu inspection of everyone's weapons.
Earlier that morning Thanodel follows the wolf tracks to the clearing where they change into humanoid tracks. These join with many others leaving the clearing by a northern path that leads to a cave. Unfortunately he doesn't have a torch with which to venture far so goes back to the clearing and makes friends with the squirrel who gave him the information the day before. The squirrel agrees to go on an adventure with him so Thanodel gains an animal companion. He arrives at the castle shortly after the execution and queries Vildar as to the bloody courtyard.
"Jutiapa was beheaded earlier" Vildar pauses for a moment and asks "How is your bow? Does it need attention?"
"Who did this?"
"Braylec..."
Before Vildar can elaborate further Thanodel races off to confront his friend. Finding Braylec in his office Thanodel demands an explanation and upon hearing it he wonders, "Well there was the heads in jars that she collected and the trail of slit throats behind us."
Just then a guard alerts them to a rider approaching the walls from the south. Braylec orders that Sergeant Zeemo can handle it and Thanodel joins Vildar on the walls. Zeemo greets the rider at the gate and after introductions she is escorted to the barracks where she is provided with a bowl of stew but her request for a rat cannot be accommodated. The reason for the rat Thanodel finds as he walks into the room is the 8 foot snake she has coiled around her. The squirrel panics and skitters around Thanodel's shoulders trying to get away by running in circles. Having been called to meet the new arrival Braylec is greeted by the auburn haired Tiyana. She explains that she is travelling north in search of her brother who left over a year ago to find a trade.
"What's his name" asks Thanodel from across the room.
"Tanmil"
Both Thanodel and Braylec know the name but cannot put their finger on it.
Vildar joins them and the introductions start anew. Ditto when Garguth arrives for the stew but doesn't take quite as much notice about the missing brother. Vildar on the other hand remembers that Tanmil is the name of the man that was hanging outside of the village. He offers his condolences to Tiyana but she just wants to find out what happened but she is tired from a day travelling and asks for a room. She is escorted to a separate room in the barracks and a short while later a knock at the door turns out to be one of the guards offering her a struggling rat. She accepts it gladly and snake is sated with a gulp and slow bulge moving down its body. Garguth decides to continue his interrupted tour of the surrounding farms. This time Vildar joins him but there is only one farm left. Garguth offers the farmer a wintertime income for his sons and promises that the orc raids need no longer cause concern, as Garguth will personally fight off the orc hordes, skewering them on his sword "Graaagh". They turn to Vildar trying to ignore the other excitable fellow and he confirms that Castle Keisman will protect them from future incursions for a tithe.
In the morning the usual group plus onesnake woman leave for the village. It is decided to go directly to the cave rather than via the village and Thanodel leads them there with uncharacteristic accuracy. With lit torches they enter and Vildar notices veins of gold lining the wide shaft at the end of which Braylec finds a gold dust line pan in the eaves. Thanodel sees that the tracks all mill about here but do no lead anywhere so with another loose end tied they hide outside to see who approaches..
Garguth decides to get his horse and go to the village for purchasing wood. Vildar follows and they find themselves in the inn with ale aplenty. As the night wears on Garguth is unaffected by the booze, his plan to only act drunk to attain information is proceeding well but Vildar is definitely getting the worse for wear. Garguth only finds this out when they leave to relieve themselves in the bushes. They venture far from the inn and become lost in the trees. Though Vildar is oblivious Garguth hears howls from a distance but they seem to be getting closer.
The others hear someone approach from the south and a voice calls "Who goes there and what are you doing hereabouts?" Braylec calls at the approaching stranger that they are just travellers setting up camp. The stranger offers to guide the to the inn but is declined. He moves back off to the south.
Garguth is not having a very good time with the near paralytic Vildar and his attempts to leave him behind are thwarted by sheer drunken determination. They are not set upon as Garguth had hoped to catch one of the beasts using themselves as bait. Following Vildar's directions they end up back at the inn where finally passing out Vildar is left to sleep it off on the bar floor while Garguth gets comfortable by the window watching for night visitors.
Braylec decides to break watch and go to the village but on the way they come across another two in the clearing. While still out of sight Braylec signals a halt but the two sense their approach somehow. The two move off to the south and Tiyana suggests it is the wind coming from the north carrying their scent to those in the clearing. Braylec orders to make camp with the plan to offer a 'soft target' and they settle down with a small fire near the clearing.
During the night the grey form of a loan wolf visits both parties but it does not approach within range of any weapons. Braylec's crew let it watch them and do not act wanting to see what it would do with a small seemingly unarmoured group. Garguth on the other hand calls out to the wolf but it disappears into the forest. He continues to try and parley with it saying that he could help with the priestess but receives no form of a response.
In the morning the camp is broken and they start their way to the inn...