"Are we there yet?" STAREYe complained. He had been slowly untwining a piece of rope that he had found on the side of the path for the past few hours. After Rick had calmed down he explained that the trip to the castle would take a few days. STAREYe continued whining until Rick shoved him back into Weldar.

"SHUT UP, ALL OF YOU!" SV had been ahead scouting. He came sprinting up and ushered the other three into the trees near the trail. "There's a bunch of bandits coming this way! There's too many for us to take on, it's in our best interest to be gone....now."

They all headed into the trees, SV trailing behind to cover their tracks. Ten minutes later no less than two score rough looking men and women were standing where the travelers had been. They were back far enough into the woods that most of the group was shielded from view by trees. The large group halted and a man stepped out front and began examining the trail.

"I don't want to stay and see what happens next. Let's get out of here." Rick began silently making his way through the woods and away from the possible danger. The leader of the bandits turned to his group and said something unintelligible from their vantage point to a few of his men. When SV saw some of the men head off into the woods on either side of the trail, he decided it was time to follow Rick. He motioned for STAREYe to follow and cautioned him against making noise as they headed off.

STAREYe turned to Weldar, "This isn't dinner and a movie, we gotta go!" He immediately set off after the other two. No one looked back.

Weldar stood rooted to the spot, shaking with fear. He recognized the leader; he remembered his last encounter with these guys.

"Curly..."

It wasn't long before he was found and brought back before the leader.

"Hello, I didn't expect to find you here, Weldar."

Weldar managed a nervous laugh, "...long time no see..."

An hour later and several miles up the trail the other three were stepping out of the woods, all safe and sound.

"Hey, where's Weldy?" STAREYe commented, looking around.

"Shit, perfect timing. Not that we need him for this or anything. We need him, right SV?"

"Unless you can find another expert archaeologist before we make it to the ruins, yes."

"Well, I'm sure there's at least one in Arion. Smart people flock to the castle like it was made of candy or something."

"Rick! We can't just leave him. I hope he wasn't captured....STAREYe, where are you going?"

STAREYe was already heading back down the trail. "I'm going to find Weldar!"

SV shrugged and followed. "I bet he just got lost in the woods."

Rick silently followed the pair.

They had made it back to where they had previously left the trail. They searched the woods for a mile up the trail until it was too dark to see. They stopped at the side of the trail and made camp. It was a silent affair until right before they went to sleep.

"I say we give up on sissy boy and just keep heading to the castle tomorrow. The guy's either lost, captured, or dead." Rick pulled a thin blanket over himself and promptly fell asleep.

"I hate to agree, but I don't see any other option. We have no time to waste." SV sighed and curled up to sleep.

STAREYe just laid on his back and stared at the stars until sleep finally overtook him.

The next morning they silently packed up and headed off once more for the castle.