Joyce
Village of Gorangrad

The return of the green giant was definitely an event the townsfolk of Gorangrad welcomed with mixed feelings, especially when the monster was accompanied by a semi-naked woman and a child who was carrying an axe. Little questions were asked and a two rooms were arranged for the "Saviours" Of the village. 
Stern sent a messenger back to the Bulwark with the intel regarding the Coven of Shadows, taking a couple of days to heal his wounds and purify the marks of dark magic on Tanyth and Mirian's bodies. 

No payment was asked by the paladin, following his doctrine.
Stern would have departed in a day to return to the Bulwark. He was preparing his cart near the shoddy and humble tavern where he had been resting.
George
Tanyth Carven,
Village of Gorangrad

Tanyth was irritated, the cultists had tossed her armor into a pile and caused it to be dented and scratched to every one of the nine hells and then back again.

The straps were all broken from the rough treatment as well, but thankfully the village blacksmith was able to repair her armor in full as payment for removing the cult from the area. She was going to be heading to Taemar, but she couldn't take Mirian on this quest... Not yet. She stared at stern's cart, just as she had when first she'd come to the village. She went to him, now as a friend rather than a stranger. "Stern, I need to talk to you about Mirian." She began calmly, *'where is that girl anyway?'* She wondered, she didn't want to leave without telling Mirian goodbye and why she couldn't come.
Joyce
Stern Logarsh, Village of Gorangrad

The paladin had been loading his cart with supplies for his travel. He was wearing new robes, yet he wasn't wearing his hood. He looked behind his shoulder as he heard Tanyth speak. "What is it, mercenary? If it is about your chest, I did not mean to touch you roughly... Leave the wound time to heal." He returned to tie the cargo with thick ropes. 
The procedure Stern had to follow to purify Tanyth involved fire and he was very sorry for cautherizing her skin, hating to harm the people he respected. 
When he heard the question he turned to face the mercenary "About Mirian?"
Esther
Mirian Trunth, Village of Gorangrad.

Mirian was in a chicken coop, chasing and terrorizing the chickens inside. She ran after them with her arms out, quietly giggling to herself as she tripped over her own feet and fell to the ground. 
"Come here chickens!"
She pushed herself back up and continued to chase the chickens about the coop.
George
Tanyth Carven 
Forest of Gorangrad

"My chest is fine, I've had worse," Tanyth said with a laugh. The new scar on her chest still felt tender, "I can't take Mirian with me... Not to do the things I must do. It would be dangerous for her, in body and soul, if she is willing I'd like her to go with you. She won't be a burden," Tanyth had been training the young girl for the past few days using both swords, and her trademark axe. She'd come a long way, but there was more to fighting that knowing *How* To kill... It was far more important to know *When* To kill. "She's become quite good with her short sword and axe... She can definitely defend herself much better now." She looked... Desperate, an odd expression for the Mercenary's beautiful face. 

"The things I'm going to do... The danger of it all... I can't expose my child to that sort of thing. You and the White roses are safest... I've no one else," She looked Stern in the eye as she spoke... Vulnerable and pleading. She was going to do unspeakable things in the name of revenge, and did not wish for the girl she called her daughter to see it. Though as they stood talking, a villager approached, "'Ey! You're that little red head's mama aren't ya?" Tanyth shot the man a dangerous look and nodded, he shuddered a little and pointed off toward the chicken coop. "She been chasin' my chickens for the past hour! They'll die of fear a'fore they can lay again!"

"I'll get her in a moment," *So that's where she is.* Tanyth said with a relieved sigh. At least she hadn't run away.
Joyce
Stern Logarsh, Village of Gorangrad.

The paladin folded his muscular arms over his chest, sighing deeply. "The life of a Kodrakesh does not suit you, woman. Stay with the child. My Order is no place for a child." He shook his head. He had never seen Tanyth beg and that sight made him feel responsible, yet he knew how Mirian wouldn't have been accepted into the walls of the Bulwark, not to mention the rough training the Roses would have made her endure. "You cannot abandon her and think she will understand. She needs you more than she needs the cold walls of our castle." The greenskin stepped forward and restes his gargantuan hand on the mercenary's cheek. "This is what I spoke about back in the cave... You must give up hatred and choose love... This child can help you." The deep voice of the hunter was much more gentle as he caressed her cheek with his thumb.
George
Tanyth Carven,
Village of gorangrad

Tanyth frowned at him and pulled away, shaking her head, "I don't even know what a kodrakesh is... Regardless... If you will not take her then," She sighed in frustration, "She will just have to come with me. I'll let her explore the city, and give her a curfew, at least she will be safe." She looked toward the chicken coop and hung her head, "She looks up to you too, Stern. Do as your order commands then, goodbye my friend." She said finally before walking away.

She made her way to the chicken coops and knocked on the side of one, "Mirian, sweetheart, leave the chickens be. It's time for us to go."
Joyce
Stern Logarsh, Village of Gorangrad

Stern looked at the woman walk away with a bittersweet smile forming on his lips. A step in the right direction... Even if painful. After all Tanyth and Mirian had been one of the few people the greenskin actually cared for. 
In his heart he felt a warmth slowly alleviating his grief. 
"Safe Travels, Tanyth Carven... May we meet again and smile together." Stern then pulled the hood back on his head, not looking back anymore. 
Once he sat at the reins of his cart he emitted a click with his tongue, giving the horse a little nudge with the reins, departing from the village and leaving Gorangrad behind his shoulders.
The sky was clear and the cold of winter had faded into the warmth of the northern spring.

The greenskin smiled to himself, something he had not done for a very long time...
Esther
Mirian Trunth, Village of Gorangrad.

Mirian popped her head up and looked to Tanyth, and then spotted Stern.
"Where's... Where's he going?"
She asked her softly. She got out of the chicken coop and grabbed Tanyth's hand.
"Is he leaving us..?"
She asked quietly.
Joyce
Stern Logarsh, The Bulwark

The winds of the Witherlands greeted Stern as harshly as they could, making the impervious road to the Bulwark even worse.

The paladin was definitely relieved to see the silouette of the fortress. He could almost taste the stale cabbage soup and cheese Brother Falesian made and he definitely missed Orgun. 

The sound of a horn let him know how the guards at the gate noticed his presence, so he gave the horse a small pat, hinting to go faster. 
The gates opened slowly as a few guards waved at him. He waved back before hopping of the cart and guiding the horse to the stables. The green giant found himself relieved as he felt a somehow familiar pair of eyes looking at him. As he turned his back, a waddling brown tail welcomed him. 

Orgun had grown up quickly, being now bigger than most wolves. Stern chuckled "Orgun mael vetekk!" He caressed the fur of the animal who was trotting all around him, sometimes getting up on two paws to get more caresses from his long missed owner.

Stern handed the Warg a big piece of dried meat and raised his gaze towards the entrance of the stables to find Vigi on the doorstep. 

"Welcome back, Stern."

Stern nodded "Thank you, Brother Ostiary Vigi..."

The central hall of the Bulwark resonated with the heavy steps of armored knights and the quick ones of their squires. After the arrival of the message from Gorangrad, the Inquisitors of the Order had been making preparations to seize other possible splinters of the Coven of Shadows in the area.

Vigi was pacing slowly alongside Stern. "Your discovery is something we needed, I am sorry you were alone in this quest..."
Stern interrupted the Petal 
"A mercenary aided me... Tanyth Carven..."
Vigi nodded, caressing his own beard "Yes... You wrote it in your message... Anyway, you have made the Council proud of you, therefore we will grant you some time to rest before the next mission... Is there anything you would like to do now that you are back?"

Stern looked at Orgun, which was following him diligently. "You speak like you have something for me to do..."

Vigi chuckled "That would be against the rules that bind me to my position, Logarsh..." Vigi stopped as two paladins passed by them. " Yet I believe that you would be interested in something known as the Stone Thorn of Baeras..."