Camilla and Cydric filled their water skins and took stock of their few resources. Most of the jewels and coin was safe, some of it concealed in Cydric's boots, others in pouches and coat linings but they had little in the way of food. Camilla's notion of fleeing up river appeared to have confused their pursuers but it did mean that they were further from civilization and deeper into the Drakwald. Downstream was the obvious choice for obvious reasons and no doubt the beastmen, or at least their armored masters knew that. Lack of food meant they would have to hunt, and worse, cook which would draw the enemy down on them. 

[b]"We could double back?"[/b] Camilla suggested dubiously as she sat beside Cydric, her strength returning now that the roar of the dragon was a fading memory.

[b]"Follow the river back to the road and head back to Middenheim, if they think we've taken the Carrosburg road we might be nearly to the city by the time they realize..."[/b] she trailed off in mid thought. The forrest was suddenly too quiet. Beside her she felt Cydric tense and they shared a nod. As quietly as the could they scooped up their weapons and slipped off into the cover of the nearby trees. Less than a minute later a half dozen misshapen beastmen loped out of the woods to the shore of the pond. The creatures were hideous, cloven hoofed with the faces of boars and wolves, one had a beard of what appeared to be dead snake. All carried weapons and the leader, a large brute who appeared to be a cross between a bear an elk and a man held a sword, its blade dark with dried blood. Even from here Camilla could recognize it as one of the Reiklander swords that their escort had carried.

[b]"Scouts,"[/b] she breathed. No armored warriors emerged, to Camilla's considerable relief. She tried to hold still, hoping that they would pass them by but the leader sniffed at the air and barked something in his horrible language. The reaction was instant, the creatures fanned out suddenly alert and sniffing the ground. It was immediately apparent that they had only moments before they were found.

[b]"There are only five of them,"[/b] Camilla said and her face twitched into an involuntary smile at the words. She left her pistol in her belt as a shot would be heard for miles and drew her dagger, holding it point down in Rondeo style. As though suddenly catching the scent the leaders head snapped around to the rocks that they were hiding behind. Camilla rose and in a fluid motion flung her dagger into the things right eye. The beast screamed, dropped its sword and clutched its face with both hands, dark blood gushing out between its fingers. Camilla threw herself forward towards the remaining beast men, the point of her rapier leveled like a spear. 

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