Faint leads

Jp between Lorem and Bandorchu
The Drunken Hare

Alexis wanted to hit her head on the table, hard.
Why now? Just… why?

She took a few moments to pull herself together and let the interest in the shouting man in strange getup subside a bit.
Then she threw a few coins on the table for her untouched drink and made her way to the entrance, showing Gonyaul her face while grabbing him by the arm and pulling him outside.

Once outside she told him, voice strained in an effort to not lash out at the clueless man:

“You… could have had better timing.”

He smiled and bowed as he recognized the lady coming towards him was Alexis. How fortunate that he did find her was the thought playing in his mind. Wait? She had a similar expression regarding the shield incident at Othenguards. He had done something not to her liking again. Was it saying her name loudly?

Her pull was stronger than he expected. He conjectured she was strong, but now he had a better understanding of it; and she wasn’t even trying to be forceful, just trying to get him to move.

Once outside Gonyaul had quite the different body language than Alexis. He seemed genuinely pleased to cross paths with her again, regardless of the circumstances.

He nodded, “Best timing.”

He got right to it because of her tone. Moving closer he whispered, “I no want to sleep in tool shed again so went to sleep in ground in forest.” Without context that probably sounded bizarre.

“I see people, like fireflies, in dark go deep into woods.”

His eyes beamed with the shine of someone who had found a very important clue and had put in a lot of effort to get there to share it.

Alexis did her best to focus on his somewhat nonsensical report - which, under different circumstances, she would have had some serious questions about - but the mention of people in the forest pushed to the forefront right away.

“You saw people sneak through the forest? When?!”

she asked urgently.

He nodded affirmatively and took a step back from her. Pointing to the night sky, he replied “I see it and lights here, were there.”

He was pointing to a selection of stars that had moved up in the heavens with the passage of time. It was roughly a span of two hours since he first left his camp.

“Ran fast.” Which meant if they were going back it would take longer, because most likely the others wouldn’t be sprinting the entire way if by foot was the only option.

Alexis’ thoughts were racing. This couldn’t be coincidence, but was it what she was looking for?
Was Islana there, too?
She looked back at the Hare.
It was a better chance than what she could hope for in there now, that was for damn sure.

She looked back to Gonyaul and put her hands on his shoulders, her gaze intense.

“Gonyaul, I need you to listen to me very closely. The cult took Islana. Maybe she is where these people are. We are running out of time, so I need you to absolutely honestly answer this: Can you find the path you saw them walking?”

When he heard this news his eyes widened in shock. This can’t be? This awful realization struck a fire of urgency in him beyond what was already there.

When he saw the people walking through the forest he could also hear their progress. Most likely because they presumed no one would be out there that far to witness it. So it was apparent to him they weren’t trying to cover their tracks at that point. He was pretty confident, from the sounds, they left behind easy enough markers to find. There were several individuals, so there would be more a pattern to any trampled pathways. Plus any footprints, due to winter, would be preserved in the growing cold of the ongoing night.

He nodded and answered to the best of his knowledge, “I find where I see them and can follow marks they leave.” He paused to be sure of himself. “Yes”

Gonyaul had stepped outside his comfort zone yet again, to do the right thing, and it looked like he was going to get swept up once more in the chaos.

The mercenary drew a sharp breath and made a decision.

“Then please… bring me there, now.”

Gonyaul looks Alexis up and down from head to toe. She was equipped for a fight. That would be what they would most likely find at the end of this venture. Her request didn’t give him much room either to talk her out of going right this instant.

He nodded.

He had to give it a try though. “You no get help? More than you and me for sure.”

She knew that he survived an assassination attempt but she had no idea if he could fight. And he looked like he was dressed in a dress more than armor. Not to mention he didn’t carry any weapons.

To show her he wasn’t in disagreement, he started walking in the direction that would lead them to his farm.

Alexis took a moment to consider Gonyaul’s very valid concerns.

She couldn’t bear to delay another moment, but… it was foolish just to go with the two of them, true.

“I think… I think I saw Wim Riese in there. Maybe he will help. At least inform the guards.”

Alexis turned on her heel and entered the Hare again, moving purposefully towards where Wim was sitting with some others.