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You call out to Mabel to get her attention and then strike oars to bring boat as quickly as you can to shore. You reach her just in time, just as the men reach the threshold of the pier. Mabel and the twins are already in the water, wading toward you against the current. The twins are offered up first and only after they are secure does Mabel reach for your hand. Two more villagers swim toward you, hoping for respite, which you eagerly provide.
You row now toward the open water, turning your eyes away from those who were not fortunate enough to escape. Mabel passes out towels to the twins and the other two passengers, an older man and woman. When the twins begin to cry she soothes them with quiet words, even as she wipes the tears from her own eyes. When the shore is sufficiently distant, you pull in the oars and take a breath.
The raiders seem to be finishing up their work, gathering at the end of town with their spoils, (consisting mostly of captured women and children, and some cattle), leaving the behind burning wrecks. They would not overstay their welcome, for even now the lord's forces are descending from the castle to do battle and they have not enough men to contend with them. With the head start, they are able to escape into the woods, wherein they disperse. Two or three of the slowest among them are captured by the advance guard. Not being of noble blood, they have no right to ransom and though their lives are for the moment spared, their execution has merely been delayed, so that they may serve as a proper outlet for the satisfaction of the villagers' rage. You do not envy their fate.
Once the lord's army returns, they are tasked with helping to put out the fires. God seems merciful this day for He assists their efforts with a sudden downpour of rain, quenching all fires but the most severe--that of the reeve's house. When you return to shore you make haste for your own home, which, to your great surprise, has been spared by the reavers, possibly because of its remote location. You call for your Gran as you enter, but there is no reply. It strengthens your hope that she was able to escape to the castle, for you did not see her among those who were on the boats and the raiders would not have bothered to capture her for bondage.
But then you notice her cane lying in the middle of the hall, and you begin searching the rooms in a blind panic. Further down you discover a trail of blood. Following it leads you to a body with a knife sticking out of its leg. It is one of the raiders. His garb is different than the others. He wears a fancy surcoat--with the same swan and knots as the banners--and chainmail beneath. Drawing closer you see that he still breathes, he has merely passed out from loss of blood.
You decide to:
>Smother him
>Administer aid
>Leave him and continue searching
>Write-in