<br/><hr/><div class="floatleft">(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/07/22/d3/0722d35558e74345c1e7fc6aaa39a2b9.jpg)</div>Rayena pulled up her pantaloons.  Any prurient thoughts were cut short by Mae's reminder of the potentially dire circumstances she faced.<br/><br/><strong>"I had thought to flee, but the odds were so dire, I kept postponing."</strong>Rayena shook her head,<strong>"Where it just Bekn and I, we would have fled already.  However, I will not leave my wives and children behind.  For you see, all who work at the Tavern are my family.  Albert and I were a shelter for those who did not fit into Edgecross, or rather what Edgecross has become."</strong><br/><br/>Rayena looked at Drip and smiled - was it merely the smile of a victim to the rescuer, or was there more behind it?<strong>"Your friend the Bard brings key pieces to the puzzle. However, you all shall have your part to play. I shall put on a celebration as Edgecross has never seen.  Singing, Dancing, and, more importantly, prime whiskey.  The first shot is free, and after that, it three shots for the price of two. I shall dance, Drip shall play, and the whiskey will flow.  I doubt that there will be more than a half dozen sober heads in Edgecross by morning."</strong><br/><br/>Rayen looked to the remaining adventurers,<strong> "A couple more tasks remain, one mundane and one dangerous.  The mundane task is to begin packing the mules and horses in the barn.  We will need to travel light, but we will need enough provisions if it takes longer than expected to get to your Crossroads.  The more dangerous task involves the Lord's manor, or rather his stables and horses.  When they figure out we are gone, the Lord will come after us with his mounted men at arms. It would be prudent to scatter the horses in his stables." </strong>