The father, a muscular looking man with a salt and pepper beard hurried toward them. Annika struggled to keep her mind focused, following the paths of Estakonic mediation to keep her away from her dark twins influence. The farmer looked nervous, as well he might, to see two obviously armed strangers coming out of the woodlands. They might not know there were Vuldrock raiders about, but no one could have missed the noises of weapons-fire during the night. The farmers eyes darted between Orion and Ragnar, paying little attention to the slender woman who made no obvious threat.

"Jacquen, take your brother and go inside," the farmer instructed. A girl who had, until that moment been concealed behind a low wall of mossy stones stood up looking indignant.

"But papa.." she began to object.

"Now girl," he snapped, and something in his voice precluded further argument. THe girl grabbed the boys and headed towards a low stone hut roofed with sod.

"What brings you to these parts sir," he asked Orion respectfully. He was clearly afraid, but he wasnt willing to give up an inch on his own farm.