A scrawny black crow alights on the windowpane outside and begins tapping annoyingly on the glass, disturbing the room’s brooding quiet. Both men know immediately the bird’s meaning – Malvick having filled them in on his planned use of the spell before he left, and both are on their feet instantly and hurrying to open the window. Li Kao gingerly removes a tiny piece of rolled parchment from its leg and reads aloud
Fought many ghouls. May be more. Send aid, healing, cart for wounded.
M.
Hemlock looks at Li Kao with worry. I can’t send any more militia. If Aldern or any of these ghouls attack the town . . . I can’t leave Sandpoint defenceless. What should we do?”
3 comments:
"hmmm...If you can spare me a beast of burden I should be able to manage one empty cart. You stay here with the men and look after the town. I'll head off and see what I can do about their wounded. The trip back will also give me time to break the bad news to Sasha and Yola."
Li Kao tightened the strap of his carrying sack around his torso, uncorked his wine jug and headed off after his companions. He attempts to get a flat bed hay cart equipped with a mule or ox to pull it.
Hemlock doesn't like the idea of sending the itinerate priest off on his own, but also doesn't agrue too stongly against it either.
Before long Li kao find himself on the road again, riding one of Govri's red-painted carts, being pulled by a long eared donkey (They offered him a horse, but Li Kao's never been good with horses)
As the mule's bridle clangs in rythym and the cart's movements gently jostle Li Kao into a wakeful meditation, the old man let's an Iori song croak from his throat,
"I climb the road to Cold Mountain,
The road to Cold Mountain that never ends.
The valleys are long and strewn with stones;
The streams broad and filled with thick grass.
Moss is slippery though no rain has fallen;
Pines sigh but it isn't the wind.
Who can break from the snares of the world
And sit with me among the white clouds?"
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