Kain looked at the panel that lit up blue, until his eyes began to glow.He blinked several times, rubbed his eyes, and looked once again. It was still there. Floating in the night cold air, silent as death.Find a safe place to go.He was not sure of the meaning of the words or why they were in his line of sight. But he understood the benefit of the 50 pieces of gold and the grain. It meant survival. It would mean that he wouldn't have to see Joren and Linden die of hunger in this hole.But it also meant that he could not tell them the truth.He turned around and gazed at Linden. The veteran followed him closely and his grey eyes narrowed in suspicion.What do you have wrong with you? Linden rasped. Looks like you've seen a ghost!Kain tried to relax his face. He could not say to him of the glowing words. He would assume that Kain is crazy. Or, at the very least, he would assume that Kain was cursed.We can't stay here," Kain said and turned away from the blue light.Linden scoffed.

They set off at dawn, Kain leading the way, keeping a careful eye on the tree-line. The Basic Stealth skill hummed at his veins, making all the sounds sharper, all the shadows more detailed. He could hear a bird taking off fifty paces away.Linden limped along behind him, leaning on a large branch. Following close behind was Joren, the torn bandages of his leg wrapped in strips torn from the shirt of a dead man. They didn't speak. There was nothing left to say.It took them two days, and they ate the last of their dried meat, and drank from the stream and slept in the ditches. Kain saved his gold well, hiding the pouch deep inside of his tunic. Every time his tired eyes closed he saw Veyr's face, saw him turn his horse and ride away.On the evening of the second day they came to the village of Dunhollow,which was smaller than Kain remembered. Dozens of wooden houses had been squeezed together around a muddy square, with the odd watchtower at the center boasting a red banner with a bl

Kain had not slept that nightInstead, he sat along the edge near the entrance to the cave, keeping a careful eye on the small System panel that hovered before his eyes, its soft white glow indicating [PROGRESS: 17/20 SURVIVORS RECRUITED) That was three people. Kain's three people. Three people currently sitting in some watchtower in the care of Veyr and his damned soldiers. One way or another, Kain would get them back"You're really going to do it," said Linden, leaning against the rough wall before Kain, "you're really going to get yourself killed.""I have no choice," growled Kain."I don't think you understand," Linden continued, "This is a trap. Veyr has been stalling you from the beginning. That man knows you will come if you hear that three of your soldiers were captured.""That means he knows me better than I thought," said Kain, turning to face his veteran comrade, "I'm not leaving those people out there to die Linden, and you damn well know it."The older warrior sighed hea

For three days, they stayed in the hills.Kain took his tribe to a small gorge on the north side of the valley, surrounded by dense pine forests. Eventually the scouts on the southern ridge lost interest and disappeared. However, Kain was not at ease. He knew that they would return.On the 4th morning, he called his people together.They will not be able to evade us forever, he said. Supplies, tools, food, weapons."Well, we have gold," Ryna said. “But, if we can't use it, then gold is no good.”Kain nodded. Two days to the north is a trading post run by Oren, a man who trades with anyone who will pay him. I will go by myself.I'm told, Linden said, stepping forward, “No.” His leg was mending, but he limped about. The leader of them is Veyr, if he gets hold of you then we're done."Then who?"I'm going to go," said Ryna. Said to be more familiar with the woods than anyone else, “Oren knows me, he'll deal with a woman by herself.”Kain hesitated. He did not want to put anybody in harm'

Kain chose five men.Linden, notwithstanding his limp. Gareth the blacksmith. Two farmers who used to be hunters. And Ryna, who was more familiar with the forest than anyone else.At midnight, they left the camp, silently moving among the trees. Kain's movements became smooth and silent as he raised the Basic skill. He heard all the noises, all the rumbles, all the inhales.The scouts were encamped in a small ravine 2 hours north of the valley. Kain sat on the ridge and watched them. Four men around a small fire. Their horses were tied up nearby. They were relaxed. Careless."Four," Ryna whispered. "We can take them.""No," Kain said. We don't come to kill them.Ryna frowned. So why do we have to be here?“It's about a message we are sending.”Kain explained the plan in hushed tones. Ryna's pupils dilated then contracted. She didn't like it. But she nodded.The hunters took up their positions on the ridge above the ravine. Kain and Ryna made their way down the hill, moving quietly lik