The sound of shod horses, very rare around the Verdite Inn, made Pekoe look up from the soup he was stirring. He had actually felt the hooves striking the ground before he actually heard them. That he could feel them warned him that he was probably about to entertain some high-ranking guests. He gave the pot a few final stirs, set the spoon down and walked into the main room.

The door was standing open and there was a man framed in the doorway. Pekoe noticed several soldiers already in the common room but the man in the door commanded his attention by his very stature.

The late morning sun brightened the area outside the front door just enough to lend some difficulty in making out the mans features. Pekoe squinted his eyes to see more. It was the finery of the clothing that first caught his attention, but it was the handle of the sword over his back and the golden amulet on a heavy golden chain upon his breast shocked Pekoe to his knees. His mouth went dry as his right knee hit the floor harder than he would have intended. He saw the soldiers tabard and the royal crest of Verdite, the Forester family Crest stitched over the heart of each one.

He managed to speak just loud enough, "How may I serve you, sire?"

Another man approached Pekoe from his left and stood next to him. "Boy, go and get the master of this Inn immediately."

Pekoe felt his face getting hot, probably flushed. He had faced the ridicule from the regulars about being so young and he took it in stride. But before royalty, he was flustered and knew his response could get him in a lot of trouble. "I am the Innkeeper, my Lord." Pekoe remained kneeling, his head bowed.

The voice to his left turned sharp. "Do not mock me boy. Go get the Innkeeper now."

Pekoe felt sweat begin to trickle down between his shoulder blades. He drew a breath, raised his head and looked directly into the face of the nobleman addressing him. "I am not mocking you, my Lord. My mistress had to leave on an urgent matter some weeks ago and left me in charge." He looked squarely into the dark brown eyes of the hard face before him. "In this establishment, sir, I am the current master of the Inn." Pekoe then stood and faced him. "How may I be of service?"

He watched the gray-bearded mans face begin to move from a shade of red apple to a burgundy wine. A low chuckle from his right and a firm hand on his shoulder made him jump.

"Well spoken young man. You do your mistress proud to face down Lord Caemys yet remain polite and of service." Pekoe turned to see a man in his early 20's, yet having a strong and commanding manner. The smile and mirthful eyes put him immediately at ease. "Lord Caemys, if this man says he is the master of the Inn, then let us honor him as such."

Lord Caemys quickly composed himself yet little of the color that had been added to his face left. "As you wish, sire." He turned to Pekoe. "We wish wine and refreshment. Bring it to us at once."

Pekoe had decided he did not like Lord Caemys. But the man on his right commanded his attention. "Forgive me, majesty, but whom do I have the honor of serving?"

Lord Caemys stepped up. "Be advised you address his Royal Highness Austin Lyle Forester, Savior and King of Verdite."

Pekoe's worst fears had come true, but he could barely contain his excitement, which quickly pushed fear away and energized his actions and words. He quickly saw the King and his few retainers seated and wine brought. While King Austin maintained a pleasant demeanor the whole time, Lord Caemys seemed to go out of his way to criticize each thing Pekoe did.

The King and his men seemed spoke quietly among themselves, yet Pekoe's attentions while serving allowed him to overhear bits and pieces. The wine helped to remove the dust of the road from their throats, the troops would be able to make another 4 leagues before they set up camp for the night, various comments about the reports from the coast and the undead walking out of the waves.

They accepted the soup he had made, some bread and apples. Pekoe couldn't believe he was actually serving the King! No one had ever spoken of any King visiting the Inn. And here he was, the first to be able to claim the honor.

He had just brought several more bottle of wine over when another soldier entered the door and marched smartly over to Lord Caemys. He saluted and barked out, "Mission completed, my Lord." Lord Caemys nodded. "Very good. Let the men rest for a bit but be ready to ride within the hour."

The soldier saluted, turned, and marched back out the door. Pekoe set the last bottle on the table and was ready to ask if they needed anything else, when Lord Caemys turned on his bench and pierced Pekoe with a glare. "So, Innkeeper, we noticed many Stools along the path on the way to the Inn. Can you tell me why you do not exterminate them? They are a danger and a menace to good people everywhere."

Pekoe suppressed an urge to pick up a bottle and slam it down over the man's head in order to wipe the smug look off his face. He somehow restrained himself as the tone and import of meaning in Lord Caemys voice and eyes made him shiver. He realized that he was facing a lot of trouble.

Pekoe gathered his flailing courage and replied, "My mistress traveled Verdite and encountered many Stools and Parastools. Those that are out along the path have been specially cultivated to not be poisonous nor to paralyze. We use them as a food source here, and some of the best dishes of the house come from those Stools. Some people raise cattle and sheep for food, we grow our own. By doing this my mistress turned a menace into a blessing."

Suddenly, something in Pekoes mind clicked and he turned a frowning face at Lord Caemys. "My Lord, you did not order the harvest out there destroyed?"

Lord Caemys smiled a contented smile, a smile of a victory over a subordinate. "For the good of Verdite, yes."

Pekoe saw all his meal planning go up in smoke. He had struggled hard to use the resources left to him well and now this idiot of a Lord comes by and trashes months of food stuff out of ignorance. Pekoe wanted to slap the smile off of Lord Caemys face. But again, something stopped him. Instead, he calmed his breathing and said, "I understand, My Lord. It is unfortunate that you have destroyed so much of my foodstuffs for the next few months, but then who could blame you? You thought you were acting in the best interests of Verdite."

Pekoe sighed heavily, bowed to the King, and said, "If there is nothing else you need at the moment your majesty, I have several roasts for tonight's dinner to set to cooking."

The King looked at Pekoe and held up his hand. "Hold a moment, young man." The King turned towards Lord Caemys. "If what the lad says is true, then turning those creatures into a food source is a wonderful idea. I think this is worthy of our attention, and we should reimburse the lad for our error."

Lord Caemys suddenly lost the smile from his lips and began to compete with the burgundy wine for color again. He seemed about to say something when King Austin dropped his smile and shot him a look that brooked no argument. He slowly regained his composure and fumbled for the coin purse at his belt. "Yes, your Majesty." He began to open the drawstring and reach in for some coins when the King cleared his throat. Lord Caemys looked at the King, saw a little nod of his head towards Pekoe, and then, grumbling , tightened the drawstring and tossed the entire pouch at Pekoe, who caught it easily as if he had been waiting for it.

"I hope this will make up for this misunderstanding", the King said.

Pekoe bowed again towards the King and said, "I thank your Majesty for your thoughtfulness and generosity." Pekoe then nodded towards Lord Caemys and said, "And my thanks to you, my Lord." He then turned and walked calmly into the kitchen. Once inside, he hefted the pouch a few times, then broke into a grin that didn't leave his face for over 10 minutes, as he seasoned and prepared the roast lamb for tonight's dinner.

Once they were ready to be put on the spit, he heard movement in the common room. He washed his hands and went through the doorway in time to see the Lord Caemys exit the Inn and the King draining his mug.

Pekoe walked over to the King. "Your Majesty, may I say it has been a great honor to have served you. I hope that you found everything to your liking?"

The King looked up at Pekoe with an odd look on his face. "What is your name, young man?"

"I am Pekoe, your Majesty."

"Pekoe, sit with me for a moment, if you will."

Surprised at the offer, he did take the bench that Lord Caemys had vacated. "It is an honor, your Majesty." He waited while King Austin seemed to wrestle for something to say. The King then looked up at Pekoe, leaned on the table and stared into Pekoes eyes. "You said that this is the first time a King of Verdite has ever visited here, correct?"

"Yes, your Majesty. No one ever told me that a King had visited here and we get precious few of the nobility either. At least, that is what I know to be true. My mistress may know differently but has never told me."

The King stared into Pekoes face, not even blinking. "What if I were to tell you that I truly feel that I have been here, not just this once, but dozens of times?"

Pekoe paused before answering. "If your Majesty says he has been here, then it must be true. It would be inappropriate for me to contradict a King, and if you would pardon my speaking plainly, it could be quite dangerous for me to do so."

King Austin smiled gently then, and said, "You cannot know how refreshing it is to have someone speak plainly to me Pekoe. Thank you." He leaned back a bit. "And yet, from the moment I saw the Inn, wisps of memory came flooding back. I knew what I would see upon entry, I knew that this place would be warm and comfortable, the people trustworthy and reliable. I remember sitting around the tables talking, singing, and getting drunk. And yet, I also know that I have never walked across that threshold myself in all my life" He paused a moment. "Isn't that odd?"

Pekoe waited to reply. Something in his memories seemed to jar loose as he sat listening, almost as if he had sat and talked with the King before, like déjà vu. It unnerved him a bit, yet he knew it had never ever happened.

"Your Majesty, it truly sounds odd but I have seen great magics performed in my life, enough to know there are things I cannot explain and yet they are real. I cannot speak well of this, but I would not discount what you have said as being untrue. Perhaps there is something to it, perhaps not."

King Austin smiled widely yet toothlessly. He nodded, and then rose. Pekoe jumped up and stepped back. "I must take my leave of you Pekoe. Thank you for an excellent repast. You have done Mistress Callo proud."

Pekoe started at that comment. "Your Majesty, I never mentioned Lady Callo's name. How did you come to know it?"

The King stopped and looked towards Pekoe. "I…. I don't know. I just did." He shook his head and walked to the door. "Keep the inn safe Pekoe. And may the blessings of Vallad be upon it."

With that the King stepped out the door.

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"So, do you know where we are?"

Dave and Raistlin were scanning the area from atop the low hill and both knew exactly where they were. It was Dave who spoke up first.

"We are near a small village named Quist, just over those hills". He pointed towards the east. "We will follow that road over there heading west to get to an Inn we frequent. There are some things there we will need."

"I get the tub first", Raistlin said. Dave looked at him, sniffed the air, and said, "No argument there." Both Khuspusare and Gunforsax muttered something, in a tone that was obviously in agreement.

Raistlin shot Dave a dirty look. Dave chuckled. It was good to finally be back, and in regular form. He left Verdite as a changeling, now he had incorporated the new form into himself, and he was back to a normal look. He began to feel revived and refreshed just looking at the hills here.

Gunforsax spoke. "There appear to have been many horses and soldiers on this road recently." He had kneeled next to the dirt track, looking intently at the dust.

Dave and Raistlin walked the short distance and looked at the road, and both frowned. There had truly been a horde of men and horses pass this way recently. Given recent events that had greatly diminished the size of the Verdite Army, it was a very disturbing find.

"It could have been hundreds and those are definitely the boots of the Verdite Army," Dave said. "The castle is to the north. This doesn't make any sense." He turned to Raistlin. Raistlin just looked back at him, clearly as puzzled as Dave.

Dave breathed deeply and looked towards the west. "We had best get going if we are going to make it to the Inn before sunset. Maybe someone there knows something."

Gunforsax fell in beside Dave as Raistlin and Khuspusare brought up the rear. Gunforsax seemed momentarily lost in thought, then spoke quietly. "Why are you so apprehensive?" Dave could feel curiosity through their shared bond, as well as the sense of discomfort ever since they had arrived in Verdite. He had come to think that the discomfort was from the lack of familiar 'background' magic that had pervaded Gunny's world. While Dave had been there, he had felt a weight on him and against his mind and skin, such that he sometimes felt like he was walking through honey or something very thick. It had been constant and ever present. That feeling was now missing ever since they had returned. To Gunforsax and Khuspusare, especially Khuspusare, it would be a feeling of emptiness or even like being totally naked in the middle of a desert. Too open and too free, perhaps even desolate.

Dave had been pondering this for the last portion of their walk out of the thin forestland where they had arrived and had tentatively decided that Gunforsax's world had magic like heat radiating out from a fire. The wielders of magic could take this radiant energy and draw it into a form for use. Here in Verdite, the same fire was located within the wielder and that individual could only utilize his own internal radiant energy. Gunforsax and Khuspusare were used to drawing in and casting out. Dave and Raistlin were used to drawing from within and casting out. The effects might be the same, but the mechanics were quite different. And maybe that is why they could not cast magic back in that world.

Replying to Gunforsax, Dave said, "This world just went through a major upheaval. A dark force came close to decimating most of the land and people. The remaining army is very small, probably less than a hundred men. That group of soldiers heading north probably numbered in the hundreds and was wearing Verdite boots. Add to that they were riding towards the castle. It is a puzzling situation."

Gunforsax was silent for a time. "Are you royalty?"

Dave busted out laughing, which he quickly stifled. "No, not royalty. I had a hand in stopping the leader of the forces attacking Verdite. Actually, my most recent occupation was as Innkeeper of the Verdite Inn, where we are headed."

Khuspusare snorted. "An Innkeeper!".

Dave looked back at Khuspusare. "Don't judge me too harshly. I have done my share of traveling and fighting prior to becoming the Innkeeper of the Inn. I kind of like the job actually. I still get to stay near the people and warriors, give tips and help every so often, provide a safe haven for the weary. Sure it is not as prestigious as a knighthood or something but it does give me a certain flexibility that Knighthood wouldn't. And I get to keep my hand in things, as you can attest to."

Gunforsax stopped and looked at Khuspusare, then at Dave. "Back in our world, a mans trade is set from birth, unless he shows certain talents that the warrior or magic castes look for. Otherwise, he is born to his trade. Obviously, in this world, you can change your trade."

Raistlin spoke up. "Actually, what you say is mostly true for Verdite also. It is just that since we can walk worlds, we have a certain flexibility in what we do and can be. Settling down to be an Innkeeper is not a bad trade if you can get it, rather than living as a soldier all your life. It is he said that he who lives by the sword shall die by the sword. I used to enjoy the thrill of battle. But the more I survive and live on, it is the simple things in life that keep catching my attention and my focus. Dying by the sword becomes less and less a desirable option."

They came to a fork in the road that led up a small incline and wound around a low hill. A faint curl of smoke could be seen over and beyond the hill, as well as several other travelers who seemed intent on getting to the Inn. It was also obvious to Gunforsax as he looked at the road that a column of horsemen had gone towards the Inn while the troops had marched past this point. He said as much. They all paused to take it in and moved out of the way of a hay cart making it's way up the road to the Inn with several men in the back, farmer stock by the look of them.

They proceeded up the road and upon rounding the hill, saw the almost flat valley before them that led up an incline on the far side to a hill where the Inn resided, carved right into the rock face. What caught their attention was the carts, horses and sheer number of people around the inn.

The crowd was lined out the door, and many makeshift camps had formed. Simply put, the inn appeared to be doing an overflow business.

Raistlin shook his head. "You're out of it for a few months and the place goes to hell".

He looked at Dave and said, "Looks like Merlose is a far better cook than you ever were." The lopsided grin appeared. He couldn't resist the moment to get in a good jab.

But Dave did not respond. Raistlin began to come up with another line when he saw Gunforsax grip his knife and look at Dave with a grim expression. He looked back at Dave and noticed he was standing very straight, his eyes locked on the inn, with deep concentration etched on his face. Raistlin walked forward a couple of steps and looked closer.

There wasn't really anything to see, because the crowd of people essentially blocked most of the inns regular features from view. He kept scanning, switching to his hunting view as he called it, a way to see everything and yet pick up little nuances and details that a focused eye would normally miss. It was hard at first, but then a feeling of unease came over him. For the life of him, he couldn't yet tell why. Something was not right. And whatever it was Dave had picked up on too.

"Can you sense it too, Raist?"

"Something, but what it is, I don't know yet."

"Try to sense the magic." Dave's voice seemed deeper and somber.

Raistlin opened himself to the magic of Verdite, which always seemed to be a little stronger around the inn.

It was like entering a graveyard.

Nothing. No familiar warmth, no prickly tingle, not even an oily feeling to the air, and there was nothing but an old dusty scent to the air. Where once there had been an ocean of sensation, they now stood in a desert.

"What the…." Raistlin shot a look over at Dave. "What happened here?"

Dave shook his head. "I don't know. But the inn is the best place to start finding out."

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They passed several groups of men talking rather animatedly, and all of them were the common people. The few words they heard were of armies and battles, kings and royals, creatures and distant lands. Dave stopped near a group of tough looking workers and hailed them. Their conversation died immediately as they sized up the men before them. "Greetings friends. If I may ask, why has such a crowd gathered about this inn?"

The three men looked at the new arrivals. The eldest among them, a graying bull of a man who could pass for the father of one of the younger men, answered. "Good evening, sirs. This gathering is so that we may hear from the innkeeper of the visit of good King Austin to the Inn this morning. There have been many rumors of ill tidings from the north and it appears the king rides to face it with the Army at his back."

Gunforsax had felt the tension in Dave from the moment they crested the hill. It had steadily grown and he could tell that Dave was feeling a mix of anger, fear and most of all, confusion. Upon approaching the men, Dave had seemed to slip into a new persona, one of openness and friendliness that seemed entirely appropriate to the situation, almost like he knew the men or had been among them and knew their ways. He was admiring Dave's ability to do this when the old man answered.

Dave's emotions snapped into turmoil and confusion, although his outward demeanor hardly flinched at all. The congenial look on Dave's face had suddenly become a blank stare.

Dave's voice sounded forced at first. "King Austin Lyle Forester visited this inn? This very morning?" The curiosity in Dave's voice did not sound feigned at all.

"Aye, that he did. He spoke at length to the innkeeper and told of some of the invasion to the north. There is also rumors from out of the south about a cursed city that has appeared from no where. We are hear to find out what threat has come to Verdite and what goodmen can do to protect their homes."

Raistlin stepped forward. "Verdite has been invaded?"

"That is what we have heard. The rumors of the past few days speak of evil tidings. Of men rising from the seas who once had drowned, an army of them is marching into Verdite. The Kings Battalion led by the King himself is heading north to face this evil."

"But isn't Verdite Castle to the north? Was the king searching the south first?" Raistlin cocked his head with a questioning look on his face.

The old man looked at Raistlin and the others, then slowly replied. "Sir, I know not where you are from, but old Verdite Castle is in ruins in the north, from the days when Commander Silviera failed to repel the forces that Evil King John sent against Verdite. King Austin destroyed the evil king and has rebuilt Verdite Castle several leagues to the south."

Raistlin looked incredulous. "What are you talking about old man? I was through here not 3 months ago and.."

"Thank you goodman, for your time," Dave interrupted. " We will bid you a good evening." With that he turned and started striding purposefully towards the inn.

"Follow," said Gunforsax tersely. He also thanked the three men and started after Dave, with Khuspusare turning on his heels. Raistlin ran to catch up with Dave. "What the hell is going on, Dave?"

Dave remained silent and stoic, his brow furrowed in anger. There were many men standing around and in line to enter the inn. Somehow, like magic, the men suddenly parted to allow Dave through. Most of them never even knew why they moved, they just stepped aside. He strode into the inn, with Raistlin, Gunforsax and Khuspusare following.

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Pekoe had to hire a few of the locals to help out whom he could trust and knew could serve with a minimum of instruction. The place had started filling up rapidly within an hour of the King's visit and he had heard that word was spreading through the land like a wildfire.

He could not handle the horde himself, especially when they all wanted him to tell about what was said and what had happened. He was forced to hire on Brinna, Grega, Finail, Eustace and Morgn just so he could take the time to tell his tale. And he had already told the tale 3 times, his throat beginning to get sore and quite dry. He kept to drinking watered down ale but had a bit of a buzz going. Despite the opened windows, the inn was a smoky cavern, and you could not see the far side through the haze. The cool of evening was beginning to set in with the sinking sun and Pekoe was glad. It was stifling in here.

And yet, he was enjoying himself immensely. This was his moment of fame and he was exulting in the feeling, the celebrity of it.

He had finished chasing out the last crowd and settling in the new crowd for his fourth telling when he noticed some kind of commotion at the door of the inn. He hoped Morgn would be able to handle whatever it was and took the platform in the far back of the room where the ceiling had been carved high to form a vaulted chamber, a great place for bards to sing and tell their tales. It also provided the main venting for all smoke and smells in the inn through a clever chimney in the ceiling that did not let water in from the rain. Right now, it was impossible to make out the ceiling, despite the two fires in the fireplaces and many lamp lights on the wooden candelabra over this area. He would hate to think what the place would be like without the chimney.

He attempted to start his tale when he heard and saw a wave of sound and a clearing of people as someone entered the room and moved in his general direction. The low murmur that arose was impossible to discern, until someone right next to the platform looked up at him and said, "It's Dave. He's back."

Pekoe's narrative stalled on his lips, his stomach did an accompanying flip. A nervous twitch began to hit the base of his skull and a wave of nausea and nervousness washed over him. He had been sweating some from the close quarters and moving of people out of and into the inn, but now he suddenly was cold and shivering. And all at the name of Dave.

"Merlose!" A voice bellowed out. "Where are you?"

Pekoe felt his heart sink as he recognized the voice. 'It is him,' he thought. He could see many of the faces turn to look at him, and knew that this was his task to address. He stepped off the raised platform and started making his way towards the entryway.

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"She what?" Dave's voice had edged up to a louder tone, incredulity not hidden at all in is tenor. Jorge Fuhrey winced at the sharp words, but stood his ground. His family had been farmers in Quist for generations and had always been friends with the innkeepers of the Verdite Inn. Jorge was surprised that Dave was back but also glad to see him. That is, until he saw the dark cloud over Dave's visage as he almost stormed into the inn. He felt his friendship with Dave might help to alleviate what would be a tender subject, but so far, it wasn't helping much.

"She had to leave so she left the Inn in Pekoe's hands. He has done very well." Jorge tried to keep his voice calm and sensible, as his father had and his father before him.

"Pekoe? He's just a kid!" Dave's face had been quickly going from flushed cheeked to full on red faced angry. Jorge saw the burly olive-skinned man behind Dave's right shoulder place a restraining hand on Dave's arm. He seemed to jump at the touch and shot a look over his shoulder at the man. Jorge thought something passed between the two men, although not a word was spoken, then Dave took a deep breath and nodded. The dark-skinned man then released what had been a tight grip on Dave's arm.

He turned back to Jorge. "Okay, then where is Pekoe at?"

The crowd parted as the words "Here I am, sir," was heard. Pekoe stepped out of the crowd and up to Dave. Stopping in front of him, he tried to stand straight and relaxed, but inside he felt miserable. He watched as Dave looked him over from top to bottom. Then his eyes leapt back to Pekoe's face and locked onto his eyes. Pekoe's mouth had gone totally dry and he knew where all the moisture had gone. It was pouring off him in the form of sweat and seeking release from his bladder.

It seemed hours passed and then a lopsided grin came to Dave's face, with no teeth showing. His head lowered and inch or so, maintaining eye contact. "Looks like business is booming tonight. Got enough help?"

Pekoe felt the tension slowly slide away and realized the room had gone dead quiet, but now he felt the silence slowly pass away as chuckles and mutterings began. Warmth and strength refilled his shaking arms and legs and his need to run and hide dissipated.

He smiled back. " Yessir, I think there is enough help for the evening. Everyone came to hear about something special that happened here today."

Dave's smile flickered a moment, as did his eyes and brow. "Yes, we had heard a rumor outside. Why don't you go back and tell the tale so that we all can hear it?"

Pekoe suddenly felt like a sheep trapped by a pack of wolves. But he tried to throw Dave a bone. "Would you tend bar while I talk?"

"I think I will just be one of the crowd for now. Working may draw too much attention from your tale. Go tell your story." Dave nodded his head towards the back of the inn. "We will chat later."

Dave walked over to the bar, followed by the others. Pekoe stepped up behind them and said to the man gawking at his new customers, "Eustace, these men's drinks are on the house. This man is Dave, the owner of the Inn."

Eustace started, stammered out a 'yessir', then turned and asked, "What'll you be having, sirs?"

Dave looked at Pekoe. "Any suggestions?"

Pekoe grinned at Eustace and said, "Cider".

Dave's face lit up. "So Culder made it here?"

Pekoe nodded. "And it has become the most popular drink among the customers, but not among their wives."

Dave turned to the other three men. "You are going to love this."

Pekoe left them then and walked back to the platform. He didn't quite know what to make of things or even his status now that Dave was back. Actually, Dave's presence probably meant he was about to become a chamber pot washer and stable boy again. And that thought he did not like. Stepping up onto the platform, he found all his enthusiasm was gone, the excitement had dies like a fire in a rainstorm. In fact, he no longer wanted to tell the story. Dave's return had changed everything. Five minutes ago, he was running the best Inn in all of Verdite and the King himself had just visited on an errand to repel an invasion.

And now he was back to being nothing more than a dishwasher.

Great.

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He approached the Inn slowly, being aware of smells and sounds on the wind that suggested many people gathered there. From the trees, he could see the many encampments around the Inn. Too many people, too many who might recognize him. He stayed back under the cover of the trees but had to move farther back when several men and an empty cart came his way, obviously to gather firewood.

He wrapped himself in the cloak he had borrowed from his friend and moved away from the approaching men. They gathered wood and chopped at an old deadfall, the whole time under his watchful gaze. They never gave a hint they knew he was near. After they had finished, he came back to the edge of the trees and again observed the activities around the Inn. No stools anywhere, and some kind of statue outside the door were the only significant differences from his memories of the place. That and the mass of people camped out. They seemed to enter the Inn in large groups, stay for a time, then that group left and the next group entered. Most of those leaving the Inn stopped to talk with others, but then left walking down the road, apparently heading back home before it too late in the evening.

A few stayed and sat around the fires, and much talking was going on.

He needed to find out what was going on. He watched and chose a group of men at one of the fires farthest from the Inn, changed into more common garb, and slowly made his way nearby. He hailed the fire and was accepted in, and casually began to ask of what had been happening here.

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Gunforsax and Khuspusare agreed that the cider was delicious. Raistlin had declined the cider and ordered a Demon's Pick. When Eustace gave him a confused look, Dave instructed Eustace to let him make it. Dave walked around the bar and started taking down several dust covered jugs, one that included a substance so thick it made molasses look like water dancing across a hot griddle. He called it 'Bannon'.

Eustace watched as Dave wiped the dust off these jugs to make the drink and occasionally sniffed at the contents once he had finished with them. His stomach had begun to churn and gurgle, very unpleasantly. When at one point the mixture in the bowl began to steam and hiss, Eustace turned his back and began to wash mugs.

He finally poured the thick brown, mud-like substance into a mug, handed it to Raistlin and said, "Sorry Raist, but no egg."

Raistlin, with a look of avarice on his face, suddenly looked incredulous and hurt. "No egg?"

"Sorry Pal. I only kept them around because I knew how much you like Demon Picks. Both you and I have been gone for a while so no one knew to keep them in stock. I had to use a chickens egg and some peppers."

A look of disgust crossed Raistlin's face. He looked into the mug. "But it ain't the same without the egg!" Raistlin lifted the mug, still eyeing the contents inside. He tilted the mug to a horizontal position, where it looked like the brown goo inside would pour out. It did not move. He looked at Dave. "As good as?"

Dave shrugged. "Not as much kick."

Raistlin still looked slightly disgusted but tilted his head in mock surrender and started to lift the mug over his head and above his lips. Dave offered a wooden spoon.

Raistlin glanced at the spoon and then at Dave. "Puh-leeze." He then up ended the mug to be fully upside down over his head and just above his mouth. He waited for his 'drink' to slide down. After almost a minute, enough of the muddy substance had slowly hung down for Raistlin to get his mouth around it and bite off a piece. He started chewing.

Most of the people around the bar had grown quiet and were watching intently, amazement or disgust on their faces. Eustace had hurriedly excused himself and ran back to the kitchen, holding his hands over his mouth and stomach as he went.

Raistlin kept chewing for several moments, then swallowed. He looked at Dave then tipped back the mug again. "It's not the same, but it's ok. It really needs the egg, though." He returned to waiting for the next 'swig'.

Khuspusare spoke up. "What is in that?"

Dave glanced over at him. "Want one?"

Khuspusare looked shocked, then a bit green. He held his cider a bit tighter and said, "No thank you. This is just fine."

Dave shrugged, stepped around the bar, and looked towards Pekoe.

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Pekoe had been talking for several minutes. He told his tale rather matter-of-factly, with almost no embellishments. Almost.

He was telling of his conversation and confrontation with Lord Romeus when Raistlin felt Dave lean near. "Look around the room and tell me what you see," he whispered, then went back to leaning against the bar.

Raistlin was chewing another sip so he kept on chewing while he looked around as unobtrusively as possible. After several minutes, he swallowed and leaned towards Dave. " A bunch of semi-drunk men, mostly farmer stock, a very bad bard-in-the-making, and the inside of the Verdite Inn. What am I looking for?"

Dave looked right at him. "See any Snowflies?"

Raistlin chuckled and looked to the hearth where the jar was kept. It had wildflowers in it. But there was a painted motif on it of snowflies. Raistlin frowned at that, then heard Dave whisper, "What about Balger's Sword or Sheon's Cap?"

Raistlin looked at where both objects were kept. Balger's Sword, a bastard sword of plain make but intricately etched with Runes of Power, was now nothing more than an image woven into a tapestry which hung on the wall where the sword had once been proudly displayed. The tapestry told the story of the battle with a dragon by a knight with a rune-encrusted sword. It was old and should be taken down and burned. Sheon's Cap was of elven make, a small thing for a man of very slight stature, made of some dark wood that bestowed invisibility and silence upon the wearer. Sheon had made his living pillaging the wealthy and was a collector of rare items before he met his final demise on the Isle of Melanat in the Second Melanat campaign. The object on the mantle where the cap had once hung on the wall, which was shaped as the cap was, held shelled nuts and looked worn and cracked. Raistlin began to look everywhere with renewed vision. And he found that everything that had made the inn THE INN was gone or now represented in some other manner by common items. The Inn used to be a treasure trove of Magical equipment left behind by heroes of old. Each told a story and each gave those who visited something to ponder upon or to dream about the day they would be able to leave something of their own behind. For some, this may be the only posterity they could leave behind.

And now, it was all gone.

Raistlin growled and was getting really pissed. Dave placed a restraining hand on his arm, and Raistlin began to settle down. He therefore did the only thing he could do that was acceptable in a situation like this.

Raistlin got drunk.

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After seven tellings, Pekoe was hoarse. He ushered the last of the patrons out the door and closed the door, locking it and taking a moment to lean against it to relax. He was exhausted, both physically and emotionally. The fatigue blunted the fear he had for what he knew was coming next. He sighed, letting tension out with his breath, and then turned and walked to the table where Dave, Raistlin and their two friends sat.

Dave pushed out a small bench with his foot and said, "Sit a spell. You've earned it." As much as he knew that getting back up from the bench would be hard, he went ahead and plopped down on it. The man to his right, Khuspusare is what Dave has said, pushed a mug of something warm and steaming. It smelled like the cider. Pekoe nodded his thanks and took a sip. It was hot but not enough to scald, and some spice had been added. It was exactly right. Pekoe looked at the men seated before him. Khuspusare sat straight but relaxed, arm on the table and hands folded with fingers interlocking. His mug of steaming cider was within the circle of his arms, close enough he seemed to be inhaling the marvelous scent.

Next to him was Raistlin, who had his mug in his right hand and 3 ceramic bottle of Richetti's Best on the table in front of him. He had just grabbed one of them and was pouring the remaining liquid into his mug. It wasn't much. Obviously, he was very drunk.

The once across from him was Gunforsax, who was leaning back against the stone outer wall with his eyes closed, looking calm or serene, but definitely was not asleep. The slow rocking motion he was making gave that away. Then there was Dave who was sharing a bottle of wine with Gunforsax, but only Dave had anything in his mug right now.

Pekoe set down his mug and looked at Dave. Their eyes met and Pekoe summoned his courage up. "Yes?"

Dave continued to look at Pekoe, but no emotion seemed to be readable on his face. He finally seemed to nod once and spoke.

"Pekoe, I have been gone a long time and I expect things to have changed. But some of the changes seem rather significant. First of all, please tell me about how Callo left the Inn in your care."

Those few words seemed to cause Pekoes heart to start beating faster and the dread built up, but Dave's quiet manner and the use of the word please seemed to trip some switch inside of him. He started talking, slowly, then faster. The dread gave way to calm and almost an eagerness to tell what had led up to Merlose's disappearance with Lord Darkman and Ilora's leaving for Lea Monde shortly thereafter. Even though Dave began scowling halfway through the story, the hoarseness of his voice and Raistlin stumbling over to the bar to get another bottle, barely making it back, he managed to finish up with how he had kept the Inn in good condition and the patrons seemed to have increased, making the profits greater.

Neither Gunforsax nor Khuspusare had shifted their positions much during the telling, but Dave had gotten up and was standing looking into the back of the Inn, his back to the table, hands behind his back. He remained that way for a short time, then walked over to a wall where the small tapestry he had pointed out to Raistlin earlier was and took it down. He brought it back to the table and laid it down. He looked at the tapestry and then at Pekoe.

"Where did this come from?"

Pekoe frowned and looked at Dave. "It's always been here, at least as long as I have. What do you mean?"

Pekoe noticed Gunforsax had stopped rocking and had slowly sat forward to look at the tapestry, then he turned his gaze on Pekoe. There was something intense about the man now, something unnerving.

Dave looked down at Pekoe. "Pekoe, when I left here, this tapestry was not part of the decoration. Instead, the sword there, " he stabbed a finger onto the image of the rune encrusted sword, " was hanging on the walls. That wall where I took this tapestry from. In fact, there used to be many weapons and armors hanging on the walls before I left which are all now noticeably absent. Care to explain how this change came about?"

Pekoes heart hammered and the cider in his stomach seemed suddenly to go sour. "I don't know what you mean. I was here when you left and there were no swords or armor on the walls. You know that."

"Lissen, brat," Raistlin muttered, his breath reeking of strong drink, "I left before Dave and I 'member that sword real good. 'ts been there for years and it belongs here. Whuddya do wif it?"

Pekoe was getting scared again.

"Give me your hands." Gunforsax had laid his arms across the table and had both his hands palm up and open to receive his request. He looked at Pekoe intently.

"What? Why?" Pekoe was looking back and forth between the three who had spoken, then at Khuspusare. "He needs contact to see if you speak truly. During the Truth Read, any and all falsehoods will be brought to light. If you are really speaking the truth, then there is nothing to fear. No harm will come to you for it is a harmless procedure. Please, do as they ask."

"Do it, Pekoe." Dave's voice was firm.

Pekoe very slowly put first his left hand and then his right hand into Gunforsax's hands.

There was nothing but silence for a moment, and then Dave grunted and grabbed at his heart. At almost the same moment, both Pekoe and Gunforsax became encased in a brilliant flash of lightning and a dancing corona of electrically charged energy. Both Pekoe and Gunforsax seemed to begin twitching and then both arched their back and tilted their heads back in unison. Khuspusare said something unintelligible and stood up and away from the table, patting out the smoke curling up from his sleeve. Raistlin sat with a stunned look for a moment, then pushed himself back away from the table, tumbling into a heap against the outer wall, looking at the light show with a comical, blinking face.

The energy flashed for a few seconds then seemed to settle on Gunforsax. Dave was on the ground, clutching his chest and grinding his teeth in a grimace of pain. His heart felt like someone had reached into his chest and was squeezing hard, causing the normal beat of his heart to fluctuate. The pain was an agony. Pekoe was thrown back towards the entry hall.

For a few more seconds, it seemed the cascading energy was about to burn Gunforsax to death, but then there was a roaring flash and then a silent explosion of energy as the power expanded in a spiked ball outward from Gunforsax and then quickly dissipated.

Gunforsax dropped his head and torso onto the table, unconscious and skin very flushed. Khuspusare ran over to the table and began running his hands back and forth over Gunforsax's body while mumbling something. Dave relaxed and began breathing deeply blowing out the air. The tightening around his heart had ceased and it had returned to a normal, but rapid rhythm.

He slowly turned over and looked at the scene. Pekoe lay on his back looked dazed, his head slowly rolling back and forth and a little drool coming from the side of his mouth. Dave saw Khuspusare doing something but knew he had to warn him. "Koos, he's infected with it. Be careful."

Khuspusare looked up but did not stop his waving hands nor his chanting. Dave spoke again. "It feels like ants crawling all over his body still, and he is somehow aware, but fighting whatever it is." Khuspusare nodded, made a few more passes, then stopped and spoke three words sharply, then dropped both hands onto Gunforsax's head. A spark shot up and away at contact, and then Dave felt the ant-like feeling disappear and heard Gunforsax grunt. He felt the change in Gunforsax and knew that he was back in control after whatever that was had just affected him.

Moments later, they gathered back together, Raistlin spitting curses and Pekoe holding his head claiming to have a splitting headache. Dave was sitting trying to regain some measure of composure and Khuspusare had done some other mumbling and hand waving, first to Pekoe and now to Gunforsax.

He stopped and said, "It appears to have been some kind of spell including multiple geases, obviously meant to harm. The Truth Reading is designed to reveal all forms of deception, even magical ones."

Dave looked up. "It was intended for me."

He looked at Dave. "What makes you say that?"

"It came at me through the link. I felt it ignite the moment Gunforsax started the Read and it literally traveled through him, to the link and then at me. I felt Gunforsax start fighting it, trying to restrict the power from getting at me." He looked at Gunforsax. "If it hadn't have been for the link or if I had been the one to touch Pekoe, I would be very dead right now." He looked at Gunforsax. "Thank you for the rescue, brother."

Gunforsax smiled. "Now we have saved each others life. Now we are truly brothers." He held out his hand and Dave grasped it warmly. When he did, he felt something shift in Gunforsax and saw his eyes glaze over for a moment. Khuspusare grabbed their wrists and yanked them apart. Gunforsax shook his head several times as if to clear away dizziness.

Dave sat back looking at Khuspusare. "Damn it, it's still there. Can you do anything about it?" Khuspusare was holding Gunforsax's right wrist and had his other hand on Gunny's head. "Leave us for a time. I will have to look into this much deeper. "

Pekoe and Raistlin slowly got up and moved away, followed by Dave.

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Some time later, Khuspusare called them back over. Gunforsax seemed to be sleeping, with his head laid on his arms upon the table.

"It is strange magic at work here. As best as I can discern, there was a geas laid on Pekoe meant for you, Dave, set to activate as soon as you touched him. When Gunforsax began the Truth Read he immediately exposed the geas and the presence of your bond with him triggered it. Again, I am guessing here, but I actually think that there were several spells activated. When Gunforsax realized what was happening and tried to block the spells, he caused a backlash that we saw as lightning.

"Gunforsax managed to contain the effect and block you from it's effects. Without it's intended target and having revealed itself, most of it dissipated, except for the portion already attached to the bond-link. It seems that it will remain attached until we find a way to safely remove it without killing both you and Gunforsax. And it seems that simple physical contact will be sufficient for that geas to try to attack you.

"Do you have any enemies who are capable of such magics?"

Dave looked to his friend and new brother resting at the table. "Several, but none that I know of in Verdite." Dave suddenly looked up a Khuspusare. It was easy to see that Dave was thinking about something, that some idea had come to his mind and was exploring it.

His eyes softened and he said, "Is Gunforsax going to sleep the rest of the evening?"

"Yes, I put him under a sleep spell to allow him to acclimate himself to the new spell. It is safer to do that than to try and remove it and possibly kill you both in the attempt."

Dave nodded. "I appreciate that." He turned and looked at where he had left Raistlin at another table. Snores had begun and he saw his friend had finally succumbed. He walked over to Raistlin, lifted his right hand and let it fall. It struck the table top, fell of towards the floor. Slowly, Raistlin followed it down. He hit with a dull thud and in a moment, resumed his snoring.

"Perfect." Dave looked down at the claw that was Raistlin's left hand. "You look after Gunforsax. I have my own patient to take care of. Pekoe, give me a hand carrying Raistlin downstairs. We are going to make him good as new."

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Dave and Pekoe had gone downstairs over an hour ago. Pekoe, very tired and bedraggled, had come upstairs several times to get several items Dave needed. Khuspusare thought he knew what Dave was going to do and had his suspicions confirmed when he heard the faint sound of a mallet falling several times.

He himself had set two benches side by side and had laid to get some sleep when he heard a rattle at the door. He sat up and tried to stretch out with his senses to determine who might be there when he heard the sound of metal on metal, the distinct sound of a key in a lock. And then the door opened.

A tall figure entered the room, cloaked in a black hooded cape. The hood was up and prevented Khuspusare from seeing any facial features. He stepped in and seemed to look around, the head stopping when they fell on Khuspusare sitting up. The figure, turned, shut the door, and then locked it. Khuspusare noticed the dark gloves the man was wearing. It was the stature and bearing that said it was a man. Khuspusare stood up as the man entered the inn.

Khuspusare had put out most of the lamps and the only fire that still had flames was in the fireplace to his left. The figure entered and seemed to be looking everywhere. Twice, Khuspusare could have sworn he heard the man growl. 'Apparently, he doesn't like what he sees,' he thought to himself.

The man walked slowly into the room, and started removing his gloves. A voice spoke out, deep and resonant, but with an edge like a knife to it. "Tell me, goodman. Have ye knowledge of where the Innkeeper is?"

Khuspusare thought it odd that someone with the key to the inn should ask for the Innkeeper. "He is downstairs tending a wounded friend."

The man paused in removing his second glove, then finished. He reached up and threw back his hood, revealing a chiseled face, weather hardened and with piercing yet kind eyes. His hair was black, straight and tied into a thick knotted tail at the back of his neck. There was something familiar about him, but Khuspusare couldn't put a finger on it.

He looked at Khuspusare as he unknotted the laces at his throat. As he whirled the cloak off, and hung it up on a peg, he said. "Then I'll just step downstairs and have a word with him. Thank ye, good sir." The man then opened the door to the cellar and started down the stairs.

----------------------------------------------------

Dave had Pekoe tell him more about recent events as he worked to repair Raistlin's damaged hand. The story that unfolded, if Pekoe was to be believed, was grim and left a lot to be concerned about. That Pekoe could now remember the weapons and armor that used to hang on the walls yet could not account for where they were or how their 'replacements' had gotten there made for a growing mystery. Dave loved a good challenge and even a bit of a mystery, but far more questions were building up than were being answered. The few answers also were not adding up nor working together. The puzzle was still scrambled.

Callo's disappearance deeply disturbed him. Had she left on her own, she would have left something for him so that he could know what the situation was. However, the absence of the presence of the power of Verdite Magic appeared to have effected everything. And it having disappeared might explain why there was no magical message located anywhere in or near the inn. The events with Lord Darkman's presence and disappearance on the same night did not look good, and add to that Ilora leaving to go to Lea Monde, where the teleport circle that had been down here would go to.

The transformation of the inn. King Austin actually leaving the territory of Verdite (which was impossible) to visit the Inn. The invasion and new city to the south. The Verdite army being much larger than it should be. Too many variables, too much happening that he should have been here to deal with. But he had had to leave to complete the transformation, for all that cost him.

And now, even the power stored in the Inn seemed dead and unreachable.

How he wished he could find a solution to at least one of these situations. The land appeared to be headed for chaos and the resource of the Inn and the magic of Verdite seemed to have been stolen or drained away.

And that boded ill for world walking. The Verdite Inn was a nexus, a hub in the wheel of worlds in this section of the cosmos. The power that supported the Inn maintained this section of the cosmos. If it was gone, then the instability it would cause could destabilize the whole sector and the resulting effect could destroy entire worlds.

And Dave had almost nothing to go on.

Pekoe had laid his head down on one of the crates they had moved to make a work surface for Raistlin to lay on. His breathing had deepened to where it was obvious he was sleeping. Dave finished with the last bandage dipped in Herbal Liquid when he felt the presence behind him, standing in the doorway. He turned and barely recognized the grizzled face but the angry eyes he would never forget.

"What have you done to my inn?"

Dave swallowed before thinking. "Aebudae…."

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Ilora climbed out of the water, coughing and sputtering, levering herself up onto the rock ledge just below what must have been at one time the paved stones of a road or path. She was still a couple of feet from that road, so she took the time to flop down on the top of this rock and to try to catch her breath. The failed jump had landed her onto loose rubble, which promptly dislodged and caused her to fall onto her backside. The resulting impact caused great pain to shoot up her spine and the ground underneath her to give way. She fell through a hole without being able to grab hold of the edges, hitting the water below with another strong impact that drove the air from her lungs. She regained the surface in time to gasp painfully and then get hit in the head by something large enough to cause her to black out for a moment.

The cold of the water was what probably brought her around and she found she was trying to breathe the water. Disorientation and dizziness assailed her, and she began to panic, not knowing where the air was, up or down. To her great fortune, the fast moving water brought her to some shallows and her head broke the service. She tried to breathe in but the water in her lungs prevented it. She coughed and water shot out of her mouth and caused her throat and lungs to burn. Then the current took her under again and she began to feel the edges of black fog claim her mind again. She flailed about for anything to grab hold of anything solid. She found a rock attached to this ledge.

She spent the time, spitting and coughing up the water from her lungs while trying to get enough air to stay conscious. After some time, she found a painful rhythm that allowed her to stop coughing up water and to take in enough air to keep the shadows from taking her back into unconsciousness. She felt her head in the area when the object had hit her and a flash of pain reminded her of exactly where it had hit. Her hand came away dark instead of pale in the half-light in this semi-dark chamber. The throbbing pulse in her head made her miserable, but the cool water she trickled onto the wound helped a little. She then began to shake from the cold.

She knew she had to get into a safer position so she made the attempt to reach the ledge just above her. The rock was slippery but she managed to grab the ledge and hold herself long enough to get the dizziness under control. She then gathered her failing strength and got her head, then her arm up over the edge. Holding herself for a moment, her foot found a small protrusion just large enough to give her the leverage she needed to thrust her upper torso up onto the path. She then rolled over and brought her legs up, until she was on her side and coughing again.

Her breathing slowly settled and the cold of the water, stones and dark room began to take their toll. She was unsure just how bad the wound to her head was, but blood still flowed slowly. The cold pervaded everything and she knew she had to move and get near a fire. But considering wherever she had found the fire of torches in this city, there were also creatures nearby, did not raise her hopes very high. She knew she was in bad shape and would present little defense let alone a decent attack should anything choose to confront her.

Figuring that rest was more important right now, she slowly slid closer to what appeared to be some boxes, propped herself up and took the Elchris bow from around her, setting it down, and leaned back into the wood. She brought her knees up to her chest and tried to warm her legs and body by rubbing them. Although she knew it was not a good idea, sleep came upon her and she succumbed to it.

------------------------------------------------

She awoke some time later and reached immediately for her knife. It was missing. She found there was still water in the scabbard. Her sword was also missing, but she was sure she had lost that in the river. She moved her head to look at the bow and a throb of pain reminded her of her wounded skull. She found she was wary, as if she knew there was something dangerous nearby. It was a familiar instinct she had and so, despite her condition, she trusted it. She slowly reached out towards the lightness on the ground next to her that should be the bow and felt her hand connect and grasp it. Her other hand went to the quiver of light arrows attached to her thigh and found it still secure. She knew she only had a few left. She left it closed, knowing that opening it would make noise. So she sat quietly and waited. And listened.

She had met some of the denizens of Lea Monde. Practically every room of the place crawled with some twisted creature or walking corpse. She saw no reason to believe this place would be empty, and was glad for the limited amount of rest she had been able to snatch.

She heard it then, a slow scraping, possibly metal on stone. Then silence. A long silence. Then another scrape, this one very short. It was hard to place the noises, but she was sure it was closer to the far side of the room. She felt herself tensing, and then felt her leg begin to spasm with a muscle contraction. She gave a little 'mmph' as she quickly repositioned herself to release to knot that had formed in her shin, probable from too much cold and exertion. She quietly worked the muscles and tried to get it to stop, which she eventually succeeded doing and then tried to warm and massage both her legs back into functioning whole.

Then she heard the unmistakable sound of a sword being slid from its sheath. And it was very close. She smoothly grabbed the Bow and repositioned herself to stand and fire. She left the case lid on the arrows, but loosened the thong holding it closed. She then waited again. Her throbbing head pounded with all the extra movement, but as the adrenaline began to kick in, the headache began to be forgotten.

The sound of a heavy footstep sounded right on the other side of the crates where she waited. An armored footstep. Probably not more than 10 feet away. And then another one, dragging along the stones and then thudding down. A wait of almost 30 heartbeats, then another step. And they were getting closer. Another, just on the other side of the crates.

Ilora crouched and slowly stepped back, aware she was just a few feet from the edge. There wasn't much to see here in the darkness, but her eyes were adjusted to it. She could tell there was torch light at the far end of the room, and tried to use those limited flickerings on the wall as a backdrop to see whoever was on the other side of the crates.

The helmet moved across the top of the crates, revealing nothing more than and outline of where the head was. Another step. One more and the head and shoulders of her companion would come into view. The head seemed to nodding or moving around a lot. She thought that perhaps he was drunk.

Another step and her worst fears were realized. The helmet was not fully attached to the head. It slid back and forth on the skull, the bony plates of the neck snapping back and forth as it tried to maintain balance. She maintained he pose and prepared to quickly pull an arrow out.

The thing took another step along the front of the crates and another and another. Then it turned its back on her, and proceeded along the edge of the river, taking one slow step after another. Although Ilora never left her position, she recognized a pattern, and hoped that what looked like a soldier walking his rounds was exactly what was happening. She stayed calm and waited.

The minutes passed by and the creature continued it's 'patrol', approaching the far side of the room, Ilora did finally move to the edge of the crates and looked over the edge. She watched the form, probably an undead soldier, although the neckbones and bits of white jawbone she saw indicated it was more skeleton than undead flesh, and saw the other one standing under the torch. The soldier from her area stopped did a clumsy salute at the other, which was just a clumsily returned, and then kept moving around the room. It looked like this area might have been a street that fell down here, almost in one piece, and then was somehow covered up without filling up the space between houses and shops. The side where the river was had no indication that anything like buildings had been there.

There were actually two torches. One on the far side of the room, straight ahead if you walked the edge of the river, like her skeleton did, and another that was off to the left, about the same distance as the other door, making the room L-shaped. And there seemed to be another skeleton down at that end. Trying to stay unseen, she watched the slow progress of the creature, and it stopped at the third soldier, then made it's way back towards her position. She slowly lowered herself back behind the crates, and waited until she heard the creature stop and re-sheathe it's sword, then fall quiet.

She held her position for a time, until she was pretty sure the creature was finished and had not seen her.

She then slowly lowered herself back into a sitting position, gently set her Bow down, and leaned back against the stone wall. She slowly relaxed herself, allowing the tension to all but dissipate, but she kept herself alert to the sounds of the skeletons. She needed a little more rest and warmth, but for now, she went ahead and took just the rest. She thought up a plan to get beyond the skeletons that seemed pretty easy. She just needed to gather some strength first. Slowly, she dropped off into sleep.