"Well, a strange sort of fellow that. Any clue what he may have wanted McTavish?"
"Beats me," grunts the dwarf with a yawn. "Maybe he was casing us."
Britan says, "Can this week get any stranger. Well we are really going to have to be on our best guard now."
"True," replies McTavish. "And it will probably only get more dangerous."
July 2nd brings with it cooler, overcast weather. The temperature barely breaks 60F all day.
The Great Western Road continues to parallel the meanders of the Canabar River as it wends its way gradually northeast through the forest. The road is quiet.
Early on in the afternoon, though, Farad glances behind him and sees a lone rider about a half a mile back, moving in the same direction as you are. He does not get any closer and is soon lost from your sight by a bend in the road...
Raz glances back at the rider and says, "Bet that's that fellow we just met."
Illyana scratches her head. "Who could possibly want to follow us? McTavish, do you have any enemies who might want to do you in? We are a bit too big a group to attract bandits I would hope."
McTavish is silent for a moment.
"I have only one enemy on this world...but he is a big one..." the dwarf finally admits. "He would not pursue me on a horse."
Farad tells the rest. "Shall we investigate, or simply watch him for now?"
Illyana shakes her head. "He could simply be travelling the same route. If he continues to follow us, then we should do something, but for now lets keep any eye on him."
"Maybe we should wait for him and see for sure. I know I don't like being tailed...too many chances as to what could happen." says Kelar.
Aldarin nods, "I agree, with this land we are travelling through, I prefer not to have someone tailing us. Besides, he may have some information as to what's interesting around here."
"Well, it could be a coincidence, that the rider is floowing us, but I think that we should at least offer our companionship of our group for the length that our paths join. As someone once said, it's nice to have our friends close, but better to have our enemies closer." says Humphrey.
Farad laughs. "Never heard that, but I'll remember it."
Britan says, "Well we can do one of three things first stop and wait and see if he come up closer or see if he stops, second wait until he looses sight of us again and have two people hide in the bushes and wait for him to come by while the rest of us make it look like we are continuing on while the other two stop him and find out what he is up to, or third wait and find out later what he is up to and pray it won't be too late for us."
"Let's stop and wait," says McTavish.
You bring the horses and wagon to a stop...and wait.
After a few moments you glimpse the rider just rounding another bend behind you...but when he sees you he reins in his horse and retreats back out of sight.
"He's either up to no good or very shy. I'll check him out."
Farad kicks his horse and begins riding after the fellow.
After a short time, Farad returns, and reports that he saw no sign of the person.
Raz looks thoughtful for a moment and then says, "I bet its Bel."
Farad sighs. "That one is far too stubborn for his own good."
Raz nods in reply.
You continue on your way, then.
Later on that afternoon you cross a small river via a bridge. On the far side of it is a sign -
"Welcome to the Grand Duchy of Adford"
You ride on.
Early on in the evening, though, the forest ends and you enter an area of farms. After five miles of this you come to Adford...little more than a small thorp.
"Grand Duchy my ass," snorts McTavish, as you ride into the place.
There is not much to it: a few peasant dwellings, a carpenter, a leather worker, a tanner, a limner, weaver, blacksmith, two temples (to Meilikki and Sif, respectively), the Riverside Inn, a small barracks and a small castle. It is located at a crossroads with a road - actually little more than a track - that runs down to the Canabar River. There is a signpost here -
The Great West Road: North: To Derextar West, Derextar, Derextar East. South: To North End, Hobbitown, Bilboburgh.
East: To Su El.
"The magic pool is at Su El," says McTavish, as he leads you into the Riverside Inn. "Still want to go there? We can set out tomorrow."
Humphrey says, "Yeah I am thirsty, let's go to the magic pool. I'l even volunteer to drink first!". The last is said with a big smile.
Several farmers and tradesmen sit outside the entrance to the inn on a bench, smoking pipes.
"Danger waits that way and along the road. We might as well try to claim a prize for our troubles. So to Su El it is." says Farad.
Dusting himself off Pillar says "Cool lets go to a magic pool, I agree, it should be fun to claim something" Pillar grins and sits down next to the old farmers and asks them about the weather.
"Well..." says one farmer, after pondering Pillar's question for awhile, "We're getting lots of it...weather that is..."
The Riverside Inn is a surprisingly comfortable establishment for such a rustic settlement, with good beer and hearty food. You sleep well this night, and awaken refreshed.