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Date Posted: 14:00:33 11/01/01 Thu
Author: Ravin
Subject: Feeling uneasy
In reply to: Tristan and Laurel 's message, "Ahh, not so yummy" on 12:50:42 11/01/01 Thu

When Erlic pulled Laurel out of the room, Ravin stood, still feeling a bit puzzled about the guildmaster's secret hand message. He tested his leg by putting some weight on it. Finding what little pain he felt bearable made him smile. At least he could walk without constantly wincing, and that meant he wouldn't be laid up in bed. He was looking forward to going on the hunt for the branches Erlic mentioned. Hopefully, by morning, he would no longer have to limp since that would only slow the others down. He dreaded the idea of being thought of as a burden that should have been left behind, by the people he traveled with.

The thief took a deep breath when the unmistakable aroma of freshly baked bread reached his nose. "They must be serving dinner," he said, his eyes falling upon Sarra. She had remained quiet after Erlic's apology, but at least her stance wasn't quite as rigid as it was earlier. "Erlic did say that he hoped you'd stay with us, and I feel the same way."

He slung the sack of treasure over his shoulder then pointed at the doorway. "I think we should find ourselves rooms for the night then join the others for the evening meal." Hoping Sarra would follow along, Ravin slowly made his way out into the hallway, stopping before Erlic and Laurel, and clearing his throat to gain their attention. "Do we get to chose any vacant room we want?" he asked.

After a nod from Erlic, he went on his way, entering a nearby bedroom whose door was wide open. The absence of any personal belongings told him the room was available. He stuffed his treasure sack under one of the two large beds that were present, then filled a glass with ale from the liquor cart that sat in the corner. Ravin licked his lips after taking a sip of the beverage, noting that Nerombian ale was a bit stronger in flavor than any of the brands served in Bizmar. "I could really acquire a taste for this stuff," he muttered while grinning.

He easily drained half the glass then refilled it, carrying it with him as he left the room and limped his way toward the dining hall. Of course he knew exactly were it was because of his earlier exploration of the Palace with Sarra. Already, he missed the woman's presence beside him and held on to the hope that he would see her again at the dinner table.

When Ravin caught sight of two zombies in the distance, he stopped dead in his tracks because they seemed to be conversing. He squinted his eyes and read the lips of the one that was speaking, too lowly to hear.

"…….saw me drinking water. What if they are alerted……" The zombie's mouth slammed shut when it caught sight of a man standing down the hall.

Immediately, Ravin raised the ale glass to his lips and took a long drink before purposely staggering forward, looking very much like a drunken fool. "Kin one a you guys tell me where da kishen is?" He purposely hiccupped when they simply stared at him then waved his hand in the air. "Ahhh, never mind. I'll jusss hafta find it myself." To add to the overall effect, he stumbled into one of the zombies, shock coursing through him when he felt the bulk of weapons beneath its cloak. Slapping a stupefied grin on his face, he righted himself and apologized profusely before turning his back to them and shuffling away slowly. Of course he wanted to move faster, but that would have given him away. He made sure to stumble a few times, while constantly keeping an eye on the floor for any shadow that might lurk behind him. His act paid off since neither of the zombies moved, and he made to the kitchen without any interference.

Ravin glanced at the faces of all those present then took a seat at the table next to a big, ugly merc. "The name's Ravin," he said when the man eyed him suspiciously. "I'm a friend of Erlic's. He invited me to join you on the quest for some magic branches."

The merc nodded then mumbled his name before stuffing his face with more of the food that was piled high on his plate. Ravin took another sip of ale and began to mentally access his knowledge of zombies and the undead in general. As far as he knew, they couldn't speak because death robbed them of the ability to form words. Many fought with swords as well as claws, but he never encountered a zombie that felt the need to hide its weapons.

Ravin scratched at this unruly head of hair and took a good look around the dining room. The hair at the back of his nape stood on end when he spotted a zombie peek in from the door to the kitchen before quickly backing out of sight. The zombies I've met before never moved that fast! Something wasn't right!

Since he wasn't present for the killing of the King or the Jangali Royani ambassador, the idea of the snake people using magically means to attack the Palace never entered his mind. Maybe the zombies here are different due to the Necromancer Queen who controls them. He shook his head at the thought. The undead that greeted him and Erlic when they arrived on the Roc didn't talk amongst themselves and their movements were slow and stiff as they should be. Tristan momentarily distracted him when he jumped up from his chair, looking pale and sick to his stomach. He fled from the table, leaving a rather stupefied Marz staring after him.

Ravin wondered about the youth's illness then went back to sipping his ale, nearly choking on it when the guildmaster's warning came to his mind. There is danger around the castle tonight. Be on alert. Did the danger have anything to do with the strange zombies he had seen conversing in the hall or Tristan's sudden illness? Damn straight I'm on alert now, Erlic! he thought as his hand moved to fiddle with the hilt of one of his throwing knives.

The thief wanted to discuss his feelings of unease with Erlic, and glanced at the doorway, wondering when he and Laurel would come down to the dining room. Once again, he longed for Sarra's presence since they obviously worked so well together, and in times of crisis good teamwork could be the difference between life and death. Corum, Eremis, and the obviously drunken merc didn't look like the best people to rely on at the moment if an emergency situation arose. Marz was a better choice since he never partook of alcohol and was such a fierce fighter, yet the youth looked too weary to do much of anything but yawn right now. Ravin lovingly caressed the hilt of his knife while his eyes darted around the room, looking for further signs of anything out of the ordinary.

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