Lightning flashed and the sound of an exploding tree could be heard just before the thunder roared. Suddenly, a shout, muffled by the rain but easily understood, echoed across the plain. "By the teeth of a three toed skink, Ya nearly had me that time, ya did. First, ya cast yer ice stones at me. Me shield made them for nought. Now ya seeks to fry me wit yer bolts from the sky. Well, I says it ain't gointa work. I will dance wit yer lighnin likes it were a pretty maid and steal a kiss, I will. Hear me storm, methinks ya should move along now and try yer luck agin another. I'll not be stoppin fer the likes a you!"
Talonn looked to the others with a questioning grin. "Looks like we are to have company." he said as he grabbed his bow and moved to the wall near the doorway. He reached back and pulled and arrow from the empty quiver and slid it into the nock. Talonn lowered himself to a crouch, balanced on the balls of his feet, and waited for the guest to arrive.
Kaa was just about to tell Talonn that what he had heard was his brains bouncing around in his head when the shout reached his ears. Kaa stood up slowly and moved to stand beside Talonn. "Aye, laddie. If that man carries a shield as he says, I doubt he will reach us. The lightning will seek out that shield and strike him down. He will be lucky if he takes another ten paces." Kaa betrayed his words by bringing his axe from its harness and laying it into the crook of his arm.
They all felt the tightness in the air as the clouds above them gathered energy for another bolt of lightning. The hairs on their arms stood on end as they huddled beneath their flimsy shelter and waited for the Lord of Storms wrath to fall.
Hammer grabbed his massive War Hammer, and waited for something to appear. Whomever had sang to the storm, feared not the lightning strike. Hammer had to smile, in spite of himself. If the Thunderer were listening to this chant, then this person would soon be rocked by His Voice. "Perhaps he fears not the lightning, but I could give him reason to soil his clothes. Want me to find him?"
Seeing everyone else's reaction to this new voice, Qki solemnly put his head back together and waited by the wall to see what was coming.
After a moments consideration, Ifreet stands and takes a deep breath. He then puts his hand into the fire, wincing slightly as the heat and power is sucked into him, then steps out into the blizzard, searching for the source of the voice. As he does, you notice the hail melts and turns to steam inches away from him, preventing any injury. The lightning on the other hand....well, he'll burn that bridge when he comes to it.
Talabrina listend to to the voice and considered things carefully. Then she got up and gently put a hand on Hammer's arm. "Prithee wait Lord Hammer, mayhaps this man be not an enemy but an ally in need of aid." Then she looked at the others. "I can protect myself from the lightining strikes I will follow Lord Ifreet to find the one who wanders the storm and possibly draw away the lightining so that he may survive." With that Talabrina sang and danced for a moment. A soft silver glow illuminates her skin for a second then fades.
Talabrina draws her hood over her head and ventures out into the storm. Once out in the storm Talabrin drew one of her wakizashi and held up towards the clouds. Then she looked about for Ifreet and the man that had called out earlier. "Who goes there?" Talabrina called out. For the most part the hail seems to bounce off her cloak as if it were armor.
The jagged bolt of energy lanced from the clouds and stuck the ground perhaps 60 paces from the shelter. The jolt shook the ground and the smell of ozone thickened in the swirling wind. Several moments passed as everyone strained to hear a word from Talabrina or see some sign of Ifreet. Then the same voice that had taunted the storm spoke to the group.
"Ho there! Return to your shelter, I will be there in a bit." the voice barked. The speaker appeared from the rain like a wraith. At first glance, all that could be seen was an odd, pentagon shaped shield, seemingly hovering above the grass. As the figure drew nearer, the wielder of the great shield became clearer. "Plainsman! Drow! Return to your shleter and save your powers. Twould be a sad day when a little storm got the best of ol' Tanglewood."
The halfling walked to the ruins with the same pace as if he walked across a room. His eyes sparkled as he spied the fire but stopped just outside of the canvas overhang. He was clad in a patchwork of armor and leather. The dented dwarven breastplate clashed with the hideously etched orcish helmet. His arms and legs were covered with thick leather greaves and sleeves wrapped with rusted chainmail. His hairy feet were bare as were his thick fingered hands. He wore a sling and puoches at his belt and a bandelero of daggers across his chest. The straps of a pack could be seem on his shoulders. The shield that he carried stood nearly as tall as he and had a sheathed sword cunningly attached beside the grip.
"Greetings ta yee all and well met! I am Argall Tanglewood, troll slayer and ogre flayer! He, he, I always liked ta sound of that. If it pleases ya folk, I would likta ask a boon of ya and enter yer shelter there and share ye fire. To tell the truth, likes good an proper, yon storm is tryin my patience and I fears I may a angered it a tad." Argall bellowed over the sound of the rain falling on the tarp. The smirking grin he wore was the totem of his race.
Kaa wanted to stop Ifreet and Talabrina but knew his objections would be useless. That last bolt had probably fried their quarry and all they would find would be his remains. He found himself in awe as the halfling sauntered out of the rain with nary a mark on him. Kaa looked over the the newcomer and gave a snort. Kaa noticed, despite his comedic appearance, how the halfling's eyes never stopped moving and his stance was almost too casual. He also noticed how the warrior did not seem surprised to find them there or shocked by the members of the group. 'Tis one to keep an eye on.' Kaa thought as he said aloud, "Well met, Argall Tanglewood. Our shelter and fire are yours to share. Though I dare say, I will not thank thee for angering yon storm." The dwarf's grin matched the halfling's in size.
Talonn did not raise his bow when he caught sight of the halfling. The mixed armor and swaggering bravado marked him as an amatuer fool. Talonn quickly dismissed the facade. He spared a moment to wonder how many had fallen for this halfling's ruse and were left dead in the road. He dropped the arrow back into the quiver and loosened his sword all in one smooth move. He casully set his bow aside but did not rise from his crouch. "Enter and be welcome, Argall. I am called Talonn." Talonn said softly as he gestured to the fire. The 'Rage' grew at notch as Talonn flashed a mirthless smile.
Ifreet follows Argall back into the shelter and sits down. His manner doesn't seem any different for the halfling than for anyone else. Indifference. A stranger is a stranger, and second-guessing them gets you killed as often as it helps you. This particular one gets a dose of respect and the mistrust that always comes with it for walking casually through the storm, but no more than that. Since there is no current crisis, Ifreet walks across the small covered area of the shelter, picking up an occassional piece of wood and looking it over, then frowning slightly and continuing to examine the rest of the shelter.
The halfling bowed and said, "My thanks to ye, fine folk. A good omen that ye found this here spot and a better omen that I found ye." Hefting the great shield with ease, Argall chuckled and sauntered under the canvas. He appeared casual even when surrounded by armed strangers. The only sign that he was the least bit uncomfortable was that he kept his shield between himself and Muffy. When he reached the center of the canvas, Argall leaned his shield against Granite and reached into a pouch at his belt. He drew out a small leather mug and then squirted a crimson liquid into it from the wineskin beneath his pack. As he took a sip, he lowered himself to the ground.
"Right cozy place ye got here. Tis good this here stone column weren't crumbled to dust like the rest of the house. Wonder what it was used fer? Don't seem right, standin in the middle o the house and all. Ah, the wonders of magic." Argall paused for a sip and a shrug of his shoulders. He removed his helmet to reveal short, stubby, red hair then said, "I mean no affront, I tell ye, but ye folks picked a bad time to travel across this here wasteland. Storms akin to this one blow up all durin' this season. To tell ya true, I got no call to be out here meself. If it werent fer the troll bounty I wouldna be here. Aye, I would most likely be somewheres worse. He, he. You folks come to join the hunt?"
Granite made no motion or sound, remaining to all appearances, an odd looking pillar.
Kaa took a peek out the window and noticed that the rain had slackened. It was still a hard rain but it wasn't the downpour it had been moments ago. He also noticed that Ifreet was acting strangely. A myriad of expressions were visible on the man's normally passive face. Kaa moved to where the man was poking around in the ruins of their shelter.
"Ifreet, what's troubling you?" Kaa asked in a whisper.
Ifreet looks up towards Kaa, look around again, looks back, and shakes his head, apparently uncertain for the first time since he met the group. He returns to the fire and sits down with a puzzled expression on his face, then shrugs it off and returns to his customary stony silence, much like Granite.
Talabrina had come in and sat quietly in a corner.With seeming indiference to the newcommer Talabrina reached into her cloak for needle, thread and a teddy that had a tear in it. Taking the cloak off and setting it to the side, Talabrina began to work on seing up the tear. As she worked, Talabrina quietly watched Argall.
"Thee couldst say such Lord Argall." Talabrina said without looking up from her work. The she did look up and smile. "Forgive my rude manners milord, I am Talabrina, the panther is called Muffy. `Tis a pleasure to meet thee." As Talabrina spoke, Muffy calmly came closer to the halfling and sniffed at him getting a scent.
Hammer stared at the halfling. This is little man in mismatched armor? Traveling alone? Must be more than he appears. Then he grinned at that thought. Like anyone of this party was just what he appeared to be.
"Well Met, Argall Tanglewood. I am Hammer. You know this land well?"
The golem, of course, didn't pick up on any of the suspicious cues the others were noticing. Having never been exposed to duplicity before, there was no way he would understand that the halfling might not be what he seemed to be. Noticing the crimson liquid the newcomer was drinking, he leaned closer to get a better look and asked, "Is that the red life?"
Argall's brows rose a bit as Talabrina entered the shelter. He flinched slightly as Muffy stood up and took her sniff. He sat real still until she settled back down. "Heres to yer good health, Talabrina and Hammer." he said as he raised his cup in salute and then took another sip.
When Qki leaned forward and spoke, Argall snapped his head around. He stared with his jaw agape for a moment before he realized what he looked like, then snapped it shut. "Begarsh! Nearly scared me silly. I never seen the likes a this before. Who controls this marvel?" Argall said as he looked to the others. "I seen a mage once had one a these that tended his herbs. The mage had to sit and think real hard to make the thing work. I thought it was a trifle bit silly, workin so hard wit his head when he coulda done it wit his hands. Less of a headache and a might bit faster, says me. Come to think of it, It nary did talk though. Quite a bit a magic to keep this one moven, I bet. My compliments to whichever one a ye is workin him. A fine spell it is."
Argall shook his head in admiration and then said, "Nay, I'm not real familiar wit this land. I travelled this way once, long ago. Me had a map once had this area on it. Ruddy kender pinched it. Now, I'm a goin completely from memory and, to speak it true, my memory taint as good as that map was. I shoulda been to that forsaken little hamlet by now. We cain't be far from the road that leads there, I just ain't had much luck findin' the road."
"A band like yers is a sight. Not the types that usually join in troll hunts. I mean no affront, mind ye, just sayin what I think. Where ye folks comin' from?"
Kaa was uneasy. Ifreet was acting almost like he had seen a wraith and the halfling was nattering on like a gossiping barkeep. He stepped over to check on Sala but hesitated slightly when Argall asked about them. Hoping the others would follow his lead, Kaa lied and said, "Well, laddie. You have come upon the most lively bunch of trappers you ever will see. Theres a wizard what lives back east that has got the most odd little managerie the lands has to offer. Got almost every beastie alive caged for, get this now, no king or such, but fer any old body that wants to take a peek. He has even got a creature that makes itself look like a table but will eat a man if it gets a chance. Calls his collection of monsters a circus. Ol' Mad Mangus, thats what we call him, hauls these cages and their occupants from city to town and shows them off the locals for a copper a head. Makes quite a bit of coin, he does. Hey, mayhaps he ain't so mad after all, aye Hammer." Kaa chuckles.
"Anyways, our job is to keep the circus stocked with live nasties to draw in the folks. We come out here to capture one those trolls you lads are goin to be huntin'. Mangus says there is something different about trolls in these parts. All I know is that I take no liking to any kinda trolls. Ah, what was yer question? Oh, ye asked where we are coming from. Well, to tell the truth, Argall, I have no idea what the name of that little village was called. We go through so many little water holes that I stopped trying to put name to them. Talabrina, do you remember the name of that backwater we left from?"
Talonn pretended to look off into the storm but he kept a wary eye on Argall. He grinned as Kaa adopted an accent to hide behind while he spun the tale to disguise them. He wondered where the dwarf had come up with the idea of this circus thing. He hoped Argall would swallow this bit of fantasy.
There was something itching at Talonn that he couldn't shake. The 'Rage' sensed his unease and used it to gain strength. It would be a couple of hours before 'It' became more than a nuisance. Talonn watched the clouds roll off to the east and hoped that the rain would end soon so that they could get going and be rid of their 'guest'.
Qki was a little taken aback when the normal-sized (to Qki at least) man started talking about somebody controlling him. Certainly he controlled himself! He opened his mouth to tell this person just what he thought of that idea when a horrible thought stopped him. *Did* he really make his own decisions, or was somebody controlling him? It seemed that he could choose to do what he wanted, but how could he be sure? Maybe whoever made him had put the idea that he was an autonomous being into his head when he really only responded to the other person's bidding! The strange person here said that the controller had to concentrate and got a headache, whatever that was. Qki decided to watch out for people concentrating. Maybe that would be the person that controlled him, if there was one. He also had to ask somebody what a headache was so he'd be able to recognize one when he saw it.
After this reflection, he tuned back into the conversation and realized they'd moved onto another topic. What was Kaa talking about? Were they doing fun things without him? This circus sounded like fun! But the table was there and it tried to take Kaa apart! Wait - the last the golem remembered, they'd left the table at the castle! Where did Nagard keep his circus? Why would they call him "Old Mad Mangus" when his name was Nagard? All these questions tried to bubble out, but then Sala sat down and stopped him. He hopped up and down on his toes in impatience. Why wouldn't they tell him what was going on?
Ifreet considers the stranger's words, stands, looks outside, nods, and returns to his seat, thinking. He looks up, and, being unable to introduce himself, simply bows to the halfling, right hand to his chest, palm out. After that he simply continues tending to the fire.
"The name of the villiage was Skyhaven Lord Kaa. Mayhaps if thee spent less time in in the taverns like dwarves art want to do thee might hath remembered that." Talabrina said with just a note of crispness in her voice. Then she looked to Ifreet and watched his maner of introducing himself. "Lard Argall, meet Lord Ifreet. He lost his tongue in a misunderstanding a few years back and so cannot speak." Talabrina then turned back to Argall and smiled. "As for Muffy there thee needs not worry, just treat her like a lady and everything will work out fine."
Hammer nodded at Kaa. "I still think he is crazy, rich or not." he mumbled, then sat down, close to the fire. The storm had reminded him of home, but he wanted to keep his attention on the halfling. He laid his War Hammer at his side, then looked again to the halfling. "You said this is storm season. How long do these storms last, and how often? I could not see how big the clouds were, and anyway, each region has its own weather."
Kaa harumphed at Talabrina's remark. "Hardly call it drinking, that swill they serve in that town." Kaa nodded slightly to the others thanking them for going along with his story. He walked slowly back to the window and looked through the slit. The wind was already dying and the rain was slowing. In less than a candle mark the storm would be passed them and they could be off. Kaa's thoughts turned to how to cope with Argall once they began travelling again. He had not presented himself as a threat and most likely wouldn't be one, given the damage that the group could deliver. The real question would be how to get away from him once they reached the town. 'Fah", Ka thought, 'If there is a troll hunt, there will be near a hundred people there like this group. We should be able to slip away easily.' Kaa grinned behind his beard. Perhaps they would be able to use this hunt as a distraction.
Argall drained his cup and stowed it back into his pouch. His eyebrows rose a bit when he heard Ifreet's reason for not speaking but otherwise showed no reaction to their story. "Well met, Sir Ifreet. The wizard I spoke of earlier kept a strange collection of creatures as well. I'ma glad he never had the notion to cart them all over the lands. Quite a mean bunch they was."
"Yon panther can rest assured that I will be most civil to her. Me pappy barly survived an attack from such a cat. I bears no grudge, ye hear, it was his ruddy fault." he said holding his hands up in a surrendering gesture. "As to the weather, my good warrior. The storms round here are fast movers. They surge across the sky like they rode the winds o' hell. They are right mean in the front but once thats gone, like now, they are near gentle and over quickly. I hears tell that sometimes the clouds drop from the sky and spins around on the ground like a funnel. Throw a horse and cart 100 paces and tear right through a house, I heared it said. That likely what happened to this here ruin."
"If it ain't pryin, Lady Drow, be ye the one workin the golem? Right clever idea, havin yer cookin gear carry itself. Saves the back and frees the hands. I tells ya, I sometimes wish this hear shield could walk on its own. But then agin, it would probaly have better since and run at the first sight of a troll." Argall chuckled.
Talonn looked up as Sala sat down beside her. He gave her what he hoped was a reassuring grin. She appeared unharmed confused but he knew she would not give them away. He looked back across the plain and watched the first rays of the sun poke through the breaking storm. He leaned a little toward her so that they could speak without disturbing Argall and the others.
"Have you ever seen a storm move so fast, Sala? We should be able to strike our shelter continue on soon. The only time I ever saw a storm pass with this speed was out at sea. I prefer this storm to that one, even with the hailstones. Are you warm enough, Lady? You can use my cloak if you have need." Talonn said reaching for the clasp.
Hearing Kaa's response her drinking comment Talabrina simply said, "That is what thee says now milord," with the same note of crispness to her tone and let the matter drop. Looking back to Argall, Talabrina smiled. "Oh thee need not worry Muffy holds no grudges." She shrugs, "not that anyone hath ever lived long enough for Muffy to bear them a grudge." Talabrina said offhandedly as Muffy chose that moment to yawn widly in the halfling direction. The halfling could easily see all of Muffy's very sharp teeth. Muffy finished the yawn and licked her top lip the way cats do and proceeded to stare at Argall with a bland expression.
"As for Qki here," she went on indicating the little golem, "he is quite a treasure is he not? I am well pleased with him." Talabrina favored Qki with a warm smile and looked back to Argall.
Qki waved at Talabrina. Evidently she still liked him. Nobody had answered his question about the red life yet, though.
Argall nodded thoughfully and looked at Qki. "A true treasure. He appears so lifelike that I would almost believe he is understandin what I say. Your mastery over him is a testament to yer power, Lady Talabrina." Argall stood slowly and stretched his legs and wiggled his large hairy toes.
"I would like to return yer hospitality and buy ye all a round a ale when we reach yon town. I rightly don't remember the name just now but we should be there afore night fall. The rain is a dwindling. If ye start to stirke yer shelter now, I am believin' it will be passed when ye are done. Begarsh! Where are my manners? Here I am actin like we been long time friends and not strangers met in a storm. I would be most grateful if you folks would allow me to travel with ye."
Talabrina giggled. "There dothe be more about Qki than thee couldst possibly ever guess Lord Argall. I wouldst be honored for thee to accompany us to town."
Kaa watched the rain slow to a light drizzle. He knew what Argall said about bringing down the canvas was right. Kaa turned to the others and said, "I cannot speak all here, good Argall. As for me, it would be an honor for ye to travel with us and to buy that round of ale. Methinks ye are right about striking the shelter. Let us be about it so that we can reach yon town. Perhaps their ale will be more suited to a dwarven tongue. Talonn! Get off yer lazy duff and help strike the canvas. And if ye don't mind, try to keep from fallin on yer head this time, laddie."
Talonn looked tenderly at Sala. She was so strong, having lived through so much so young, and yet so fragile and meek. Talonn wondered where she would be now if he and the others had decided not to try and help her. What came to mind brought an uncontrolled shudder to him. He slowly reached up to push back a stray lock of her hair but stopped. He instead lay a hand on hers and said, "If I may be so bold, Lady Sala, I think that you are the strongest woman I have ever known. You remind me of my mother. She too was unaccustomed to the ways of man and the societies he creates. I often wondered as a child what would have happened to her had it not been for my father."
Talonn opened his mouth to say more but was interrupted by Kaa's roaring shout. Talonn paused a moment, deciding whether or not to finish what he had begun to say. His face twisted slightly then he flashed a grin at Sala and whispered, "It appears Kaa has chosen to play the irascible dwarf and I am to play the incorrigible half-elf. Both are roles we have employed before. Let's see how well we can again without having practiced. Go pack your things, dear Sala, and be wary until we are alone as a group. Oh, and enjoy the show."
Talonn gave her a wink before he lurched to his feet and shouted, "Shut your gob, you old mountain goat. You will be well into your cup before night if Argall is right about where we are. There is no need to act like the raving drunk you are until we have at least spotted the alehouse. I've a mind to wrap you in that canvas and drag you all the way there like we did when we left that trough in Oakglade. I say, I enjoyed crackin yer thick skull across every stone in the road for a league until Talabrina stopped me. I haven't forgiven you for robbing me of that fun either, She-drow." As Talonn roared, he stomped back through the ruined doorway and scaled the remains of the walls. He began removing the stones mooring the canvas and tossed them to the ground, muttering curses the whole time.
Seeing that they're breaking camp, he tosses some moist dirt and mud onto the fire, then wipes his hands clean on a nearby bit of rubble. Ifreet then starts walks over and grooms his horse. Finally, he makes another of those vaults from the ground into the cloth used for a saddle, and turns it about to prepare for the trip to town.
Hammer leaned his heavy War Hammer against the wall, and helped Talonn take down the canvas.
What a strange man this was. "I do understand what you're saying. We're speaking the same language!" Everything seemed to have turned strange since they got to the ruined building.
After the canvas was removed, Granite's form began to shift again, the support struts slowly melding into his body, save for two of the top ones, which shifted downwards and began taking on armlike appearances one again. The grey speckles that ringed the center of him dissolved as the main part of the 'pillar' finished reshaping itself into his head, torso, and legs, the black spots that were his eyes reappearing in the usual locations on his face. A few minutes later, Granite stood among the group once again.
Argall stood with his mouth agape. First, the golem seemed to be upset that he wasn't talking to him. Now the stone column had turned into an giant stone man. "Begarsh! Ye folks are just full of surprises. Two golems together! Ye folks really do mean ta capture a troll. Methinks I will have ta tag along with ye folks during the hunt just to watch ye work." Argall wiped his forehead and heft his shield. He walk from the ruins shaking his head and looked off to the west.
Talabrina had secretly watched the exchange between Sala without letting it show on her face. Although she couldn't hear everything that was being said she could read the body language well enough. Inwardly she smiled and resolved to watch how it played out. Then she looked at Talonn with a look of cynical amusement on her face. "Is that so little boy Talonn? Methinks Lord Kaa didst not hit thee quite hard enough to knock some sense into thy thick skull." Talabrina said mockingly. Then she listened to what Sala had to say and smiled at her. "I doth hath some soap that I doth carry with me Lady Sala, we couldst persuade Muffy to pin him down and then we couldst wash his mouth out if that be thy wish?" Talabrina laughed as she pictured Talonn in such a predicament..
Then she put the garment that she had been working on away into her cloak and pulled out a special made saddle and a blanket. "`Tis time that we put the saddle on thee Muffy," she said apologetically to the great cat. "I now thee doth not like it but `tis much easier on thy back." Muffy flattend her ears back but came over to Talabrina anyway and Talabrina worked on putting the saddle on Muffy.
Talabrina looked up from her work and giggled at Sala. "Mayhaps thou art correct milady. After all, the only thing the boy is likley to do is drink ales enough to get rid of it." Talabrin laughed aloud at that immage. "Immagine milady, whenever he burped from drinking too much the bubbles comming forth wouldst be highly amusing!" Then Talabrina looked thoughtfully at Talonn. Then a slow evil looking grin spread accross her face. The she looked at Sala and beckoned her close.
Hammer looked up at Talonn. "It looks like you have angered the Ladies, my friend. My suggestion would be to leave while you still can. Perhaps Argall would be kind enough to give you directions to town? And maybe if you promise Muffy a huge steak, maybe she will claim not to have found you."
Kaa could barely hide his grin as he folded the canvas and returned it to his pack. The rain had almost stopped and he was really enjoying the banter. If this worked well enough, they should be able to continue the ruse once they reached the town. He hoped it would divert some of the attention they would receive. A group on the edge of killing each other often kept nosey people away for fear of getting caught in the middle.
Kaa hoisted his pack to his back and walked through the ruined door. "See there, ya half-elf runt. Ya gots the ladies all in a tether. I hope they get ya good. Ye ain't been nothin but a thorn in my side since we started on this trip. We got quite a ways to go before we can stop. We ain't gettin nowhere standin here. Argall, point the way, if you would good fellow."
Talonn leapt down from the wall when he finished freeing the canvas. So far everyone seemed to be getting into the spirit of the lie. The japes eased his tension a bit and the 'Rage' subsided. He cast a quick glance at Sala and Talabrina. There were gleams in those elfin eyes that spoke mirth for them and ill for him. He vowed to dunk the two of them in the first stream or water trough he found if they chose to make good their threats. Yet, he couldn't resist baiting them.
"Aye, Hammer. The little trolups think that a little course language is going to ruin their delicate reputations. Dragon spit! Their barks are worse than their bites, I say. Come along ladies. The parade is about to start." Talonn quipped as he grabbed his bow and left the ruins.