>>6063279Later, as you're about to leave the campsite, you find the waterskin where Samuel Longsword said it would be. You pick it up and give it a shake. Only about a fifth left, whereas it was full when you gave it to him.
The sky remains just as clear this morning as it was yesterday. But, as you climb higher up the mountain, the trees gradually become thinner and more scattered, and there is less shade from the merciless sun. You comfort yourself with the look you imagine will be on your mother's face when you present the gold coins to her. She has grown so haggard of late, overworked and bowed under the pressure of poverty. Your sure your choice of profession hasn't been a comfort either. More than anything, you want to give her the relief she so well deserves. The thought of it is a like cool spring, and your parched throat and dripping brow is soon forgotten in its reflection.
Around mid-day, you encounter a much more serious problem. A troop of babwyns, waiting in ambush atop a tree that hangs over the trail about half a bowshot away. Their reckless screeching has given them up, but you count five in all, armed with crude, heavy clubs and small rocks. There's a narrow ledge about ten paces down that goes around the spot and provides enough cover to pass by undetected. It's too narrow to jump onto, but there are enough footholds to climb down and likely enough to climb back up later. If you spike the facing wall, Helmod should be able to climb down as well, using the rope. On the other hand, there was that twenty silver reward for the location of their lair. It can't be far and if you just wait long enough, one of them should eventually abandon their post to return, and lead you straight to it. You can also try and use some of your rations to lay a trap, though you hate the idea of letting the food Syla worked so hard to prepare go to the likes of hairy brutes.
What do you want to do?
>Climb down and go around>Wait for one to leave and follow>Use rations to lay a trap>Write-in 