Brisa blinked in startled surprise at the vehemence in Dakin’s voice. He kinda scared her now. Her eyes were wide as saucers as she pointed back the way she came. 

“Baker’s” she said quietly, eyes never leaving Dakin’s face. “His cellar. With Autry and Aheric. They will be safe there. I meant to get you but I…” she stopped realizing she had no real excuse and she probably shouldn’t try to excuse it anyway. It was a bit of a lack. 

“I forgot. Argurios is back there. He helped me move them. I’m so sorry Dakin. I’ll show you. ”

She sniffled a bit and hoped he wouldn’t be too upset with her. She would have been distraught if someone found Autry dead before she did. Without speaking further to Ronin, she had all but forgotten him, she turned and headed back the way she had come.

“I’ve never seen a knight here” she called over her shoulder to Ronin as she finally remembered he had said something. “And everyone is gone now.” Her last comment faded off indistinctly as she increased the distance between them. 

****
Thovren shrugged at Brisa’s totally scattered appearance, ramble, and disappearance before he helped Ronin get the gate open, the horse inside, and close the gate. 

Brisa’s words were not lost on those at the wall however, there were at least three dead bodies. Oddly, or purposely, they were three of the town’s greatest leaders and protectors. The only one that was missing was Serath as head of the militia. That was one more odd fact in this pile up of odd things. 

***

It was still morning, that fact tumbled around in Brisa’s head, as she stood near the Baker’s house. She had shown Dakin where the three had been “buried” and now was standing, alone and uncertain trying to figure out what to do. 

She was going to leave, that much was certain. She would head back the way that the new boy had come. She may have been scattered in ordinary thoughts, but once she had direction…such as her plan to find and repay the killers of Autry…she could be quite meticulous. 

It spoke volumes that she only cared about Autry, not her own family which had disappeared with the town. She had not asked about them, had not shed a tear for them. In fact she hadn’t even thought of them until this very moment. 

She knew she could fetch her family’s pack goat, it was a pack goat, and that there would be plenty of supplies in her house. Not only that she knew where everything was. She ran off without another word. 

****

She reached her house quickly, it was one of the smaller ones, all mud and clay but well built. Her parents were potters, they had a way with clay. It was strong and clean and neat looking. 

Brisa didn’t hesitate, just ran inside. It was inside that the loss of her only true family hit her. Hard, deep, in the gut. What if she never saw them again?

She stood stock still looking around the room, the shadows and light through the open door. Now, surrounded by all she had known all her life, she cried for them. For several moments she stood in the doorway sobbing before she forced herself to continue and do what she had come for. Wiping her eyes dry she ventured in, knowing exactly what she was looking for. 

She collected saddle bags, very odd looking ones, and filled them with dried fruit, bits of meat, hard biscuits, and three very small skeins of water. She found her father’s travel blanket, she didn’t know what it was made of but it was warm and not wool. She hated wool. She had no idea what travel would be like, she was just trying to guess. Of course she was so intent on the travel aspect she wasn’t really thinking of the danger. She grabbed nothing that could remotely be used as a weapon. 

Finally slid her mother’s wedding band into a pouch on her belt, she had several for odd bits of things Autry told her were always invaluable. Her mother never wore the ring anymore, it had been crafted when she was much younger and no longer fit on hands worn by constantly working clay, but she always kept it near her in the house and took it with her when she left. It was obvious to Brisa that whatever had happened, her mother hadn’t even time to grab that before she was “disappeared.”

So equipped Brisa headed to the little shelter that housed the family goat. Not only was the goat a milk goat, she was also a pack goat. Her father and mother used her to haul clay in from the moors. Now Brisa loaded her with what she had chosen to take on her adventure. 

Leading the silent animal out of the pen she headed back to where she had left Dakin, Kaya, and Argurios. By now everyone had a chance to gather. 

It was noon, and the sun was high by the time Brisa walked up to the others, determination clearly written all over her face. It was plain no one was going to talk her out of whatever it was she had resolved to do. She took stubborn to new heights. She had vowed to be completely stubborn on this one. 

“I copied down the words on the wall” she said pointing. “I don’t know what language they are in, but I think they are important. Like Thovren’s letter. Something to do with this place, with what happened here. I’m going to try and find out. I need more information though, and someone who can read this writing. Or if I can find more of it maybe I can figure it out.”

She looked at Ronin. ”You came from Llorkh right? I’m going to head that direction.” She didn’t mention it was the only logical direction to head, the road went there and into the desert. And she wasn’t about to go into the desert.

“I think it’s the best hope. Maybe I can find more clues. But I have to at least try and find out what happened to Autry and, well maybe I can bring her killer to justice. I don’t’ know. I just know I have to try. Could you maybe help me open the gate? I want to get far away from the moor before dark.”

She didn’t ask anyone else to come with her, she hoped someone would. She had never minded being alone before. Now she was afraid she was doing the stupidest thing she had ever done in her life. She didn’t want to be all alone when she failed. She desperately hoped someone would come with her. To talk to her or help or something. She just didn’t want to be alone in this.