Slime Salad

Before Hyne can even think, the wrapped grip of the smithy's work twirls between his fingers until it rests against the back of his hand until it is quickly flung out. The blade zips ahead, clashing against the kunai nearing the tongue, causing both to clatter into the air flimsily.

The man shudders. Relief floods his face for an instant, before being pushed away by an fresh expression of dread.

He feels around in his clothes, and seems to find one last kunai, but doesn't draw it, he stares at Hyne, waiting for whatever is next.

Out of the corner of his eye Hyne can see Oxnar hurrying towards him. One of the guards is not far behind.

The coachwoman is standing now, holding her crossbow half-ready, seeming to wait on Hyne for guidance.

Hyne simply gives a knowingly stern shake of his head, eyes locked in position as his head turns. He knows it will end poorly if another attempt is made, and he knows the other realizes the same based on their hesitation.

The man doesn't drop the knife, but he doesn't move it either.

"I'm not afraid to die... but I will not have my soul eaten by your god"

The coachwoman makes a noise of confusion. "Huh?"

Oxnar is now close enough to have heard this too.

The approaching guard probably didn't hear. He is walking slowly and watching the hippgriffs recede through the sky towards the town.

"'Ain't no god of mine," he sharply responds, "you're better off running than killing yourself, you might have a chance."

The man takes the opportunity and runs. His breath is ragged, and he is clearly not moving at top speed, but he goes.

"Should I shoot him? Are we letting him go?" asks the Coachwoman, her crossbow wavering

Oxnar reaches Hyne and stops, watching the man go.

The guard gives a little cry, and picks up his pace.

People who took cover in their wagons are now peeking out windows. People who ran off behind scrub-oaks are now venturing back.

"He admitted defeat when he attempted to cut his tongue," he answers to the woman, "if he's more of a danger to himself than to us, then we are the ones he fears."

In the back of his mind Hyne knew that death wouldn't have stopped the Umbarlee priest from defiling his body, which may be the soul stealing process described.

"At least now if the guards catch him he can be properly interrogated, but I doubt he was told anything we didn't already find out witnessing the attack ourselves."

The coachwoman lowers her crossbow

The wounded man with the arrows in his chest runs, but the guard gains on him.

The man goes off the path and into the scrub oak, and the guard chases.

A couple passengers who had been hiding there scream, and run back to the road.

A moment later, the guard can be seen grimly dragging the body of the Jenn attacker back towards the road. His polearm drips blood.

"Well, that was something!" says Oxnar.

Hyne can see that Jerrold has come back out into the open, and is re-mounting her tired horse.

Hyne keeps silent. There is only so much he can do when it seems the guards have practically become dependent on the priests to make their work easier.

He looks to Jarrod, and considers confronting her about the murder. He decides to do so, hoping to get close before anyone can.

"That horse isn't going to make it much farther than he did," he announces, "you mind explaining the blood stains? There's been a murder before we left."

1D20+3 => (2 + 3) = 5 - Insight on the reaction

"Poor bastard cut out his tongue before I got him" calls the guard.

"Did he now?" asks Oxnar, and leaves Hyne to walk towards the guard.

Jerrold seems startled when Hyne speaks to her.

Her expression becomes confused when Hyne asks his question.

"It was from my horse." She says, "--I mean the one I had last night, not this one. The Jenn slaughtered the men who went last night to clean out the spy's nest. I followed them, but I barely made it away alive."

She doesn't even address Hyne's mention of the murder, as if it is of no consequence compared to the aforementioned slaughter.

Something doesn't add up. There was only talk of the murder, but nothing about the supposed slaughter of men that happened at the same time, "How come I am first hearing about this? All of the guards were diverting their attention to Father Cygnus' death. What proof is there that such an attack happened?"

"Is that why the Duke isn't here?" Jerrold asks

"Last night... or early this morning it was, I followed the troops sent to kill the spies who attacked yesterday" Jerrold gestures towards the mountain.

"I was sneaking behind, so I wasn't caught in the ambush. I think I'm the only one who made it out alive. I came directly to warn the Duke, but I guessed wrong where he would be."

Hyne gives up assuming that Jarrod is the murderer, but he still can't help but be wary to assume that Jarrod is always the good guy in these situations.

"I guess the murder was the Duke's luck. They were sent to kill him."

He steps back for a moment, "They know the crown they got is fake. That's why they came back. You know what this means, don't you?"

Jerrold's hand hands limply on her exhausted horse's halter.

"I.. don't know... I guess they must have a wizard of some kind who could tell it wasn't magic. Probably the same one who summoned all those beasts"

"It means the real article is with me," he clarifies bluntly, "And they still haven't gotten the info from the Duke."