<strong>  Yelmed Militia Force</strong><br/><br/>With Erin guiding the militia force makes good time off the road, the others quickly learning to listen closely to the half-elf, eager to pick up tips, though none are able to take to these lessons as naturally as he does.<em>“Fascinating,”</em>the tiefling nods at Quarion's explanation, clearly impressed.<em>“I always wanted to try alchemy, but I was never sure where to start. Healing potion seem like a good place, people certainly need them, but they are so difficult. Do you think I should start with wine then? Or spirits maybe. My uncle can make some good copper,”</em>he refers to a popular plum drink, which gets its name from the discolouration that comes with the oak bark added to the barrels, which seems to result in a smoother gulp.<br/><br/>Not everyone is convinced the fox should be saved.<em>“It's a trap, leave it,”</em>one of the elves advises, and Masota seems inclined to agree, but does not order Erin to do so, trusting he can handle himself. Carefully the half-elf frees the creature after calming it, and the fox immediately bolts away, only to pause 20 paces away, at the edge of some bushes. It looks back at the group, proceeds another three paces, then stops, looking back a second time. Its dark orange eyes twinkle despite the miserable light in the unending drizzle. It appears to want the group, or Erin at least, to follow it.<br/><br/><br/><strong>  Yelmed's Headstrong Youth</strong><br/><br/>They decide to proceed at night, since elves, goblins and even half-elves can all see in the darkness, whilst the human bandits of Grey Eyes will be at a disadvantage once the sun sets. Vanessë is surprised by this fact, as she had thought half-elves inherited the night blindness of their human parent, but Mella proves that, night or day, her eyesight is just as sharp as the elf's, if not more so.<br/><br/>It is the fourth night, the group have been travelling the initial, sparser reaches of the Frax-side Trade Road under the night sky, amply lit by the stars and full moon despite the odd patch of cloud. Shortly after midnight they crest a hill and find themselves looking down upon a valley, lusher than the earthen hills, the pine trees giving way to bushes and reeds, the grass no longer confined to dense clumps. Somewhere nearby a stream bubbles, feeding the green, whilst up ahead the road twists to avoid a small, steep hill, with a lone cedar standing at the bend.<br/><br/>Moving just off the road, the trio have almost walked under the branches when Mella notices someone perched up there. She points them out in a hushed tone, and the others see them too: an elven girl resting in the branches, eyes on the road, though she seems tired or perhaps even asleep, and certainly doesn't appear to have seen the youths. She wears battered leather armour, her hair rough cut and loose, cradling a longbow in one arm.