Day bled into the air, casting away the night’s shadows as rays of light peaked through the canopy above. Leaf emerged from the wagon the same time as Jahora, his eyes glancing about as soon as he left the illusion. Jahora stifled a yawn as best as she could, but had to rub her eyes as she proceeded into the clearing with a dazed look.

Helbram sat at the edge of the clearing, the claymore still embedded into the ground.

Leaf eyed it with curiosity before shrugging and moving up to meet with the armored man.

“I take it all is well and good then?” he said, “Can’t say that I envied your position, this damned forest is quieter than an orphan’s funeral.”

Helbram cut him a glance, but the half elf ignored him.

“Well aside from you swinging your sword around, of course,” He grinned, “I suppose even our stoic knight was getting antsy.”

“I am no -”

“Yes yes, you are no knight, but you’re armored and have a good sword arm, I’m going to call a spade a spade, and you can’t stop me.”

Helbram laughed, “Fair enough, did you get enough rest?”

“Aye, though I’m not so sure our wee friend did,” the half elf grinned as he spoke.

Jahora yawned, “I can hear you, you know?” she stretched, letting out a groan, “Mornings will continue to the subject of my ire.”

“Yours and many others,” Helbram said, “but time is of the essence, we need to decide on a plan.”

Leaf and Jahora nodded at that. They gathered near the wagon, rations in hand but hardly touched.

“There are two options as far as I can tell,” Helbram began, “either we remain where we are and hope for this situation to resolve by itself, or we take a more active role in solving our problem.”

“I vote the former,” Jahora took a bite of dried fruit, “we have no idea of what the numbers of the bandits are, and we are too small a number to make any difference regardless.”

“She does have a point,” Leaf said, “while they still fight like bandits they are far more organized than your typical gang, getting involved without a clue is just asking to get gutted.”

“That is correct, but we do have to consider the possibility that help may not arrive,” Helbram said, “we are in the outskirts of the Freemarks, towns are sparse, and military strength even more so. Silverglen may be a day's travel away but they hardly have enough military strength to manage themselves, not to mention getting through the barrier that would be keeping them out.”

“That is true…” Jahora said, “and if that Thaumaturge… what was his name again?”

“Marlin,” Leaf said.

“Yes, Marlin, if he truly is on their side then I suspect that he was going around to the neighboring towns to gather up anyone that could be a threat…”

“Aye, and deliver them on a silver platter, the little shite.”

Helbram nodded, “They were also aiming to capture rather than kill last night… whatever it is they’re doing they need men to do it.”

“Perhaps they found something in the mines?” Jahora suggested, “the use of this barrier is not only to keep people out, but keep them in as well.”

“And they don’t want anyone else knowing about it,” Leaf said.

“Exactly.”

“Hmmmm… then it would be too hasty to make a decision right now,” Helbram declared, “What we need right now is information.”

Jahora and Leaf nodded.

“Then let us get to it, shall we?”