[h3]Roderick[/h3]
[hr]

Roderick was not so quick as his companion to dismiss the boys comments as the ravings of a distressed person. It was true that he was no healer, and a budding warrior priest at best, but he knew enough of the human spirit to realize that there must be some truth to the words. He had the advantage of being able to approach the priest or priestess of any village they visited, and learn what he could from them. It was a chance he had never missed and most of the employment the friends had received was gleaned from those same holy persons or their local lords.  

"I don't know, Brandt..." He turned his gaze on the Priestess. "The Red Crow is a term I have heard in several villages now. Most of the priests and lords have dismissed it because it has not troubled them, but now I fear we may have found the truth of it."

The sun was finally warm on the top of his bald head and he ran a hand over it self-consciously. He largely ignored the Dwarf for the moment. He was certain the stout warrior would be invaluable in a fight, but he was equally certain the Dawi was hardly going to provide useful insight into the psychology of humans. 

"Let me think..." He stared up at the ticking face of the town clock, idling scratching Marias' nose as she nuzzled him, her gaze fixed on the dwarf. "Pens, Red Crow..." Roderick continued to mutter for a moment or two. "I think we might be looking at a force of Cloven Ones?"

He glanced about at the four others, noting the sword the priestess carried. She saw his gaze and wrapped a small hand over the hilt protectively and he quickly offered what he hoped was a reassuring smile. It was not his place to dictate how she chose to go about her business. 

"Orcs are not so subtle, and the locals would know they were afoot easily enough. The Skaven are always preceded by some sickness and I have heard nothing of note reported. A single Vampire would not take so many folk and an army of undead is not easy to miss, even for a militia patrol. Goblins would not drive a boy insane like that. That, I believe, leaves us with Cloven Ones or other humans."

He finished the sentence rather lamely even though he knew he was right. The boy might be mad but even a young lad like that would have seen some horrors in his day. This was a world prone to violence and destruction. Nowhere in the world of men was truly safe and soldiers were ever patrolling the roadways for large bodies of enemies. Only Cloven Ones could move so carefully without detection. It had to be them.