Atten frowned.  "Whoever camped here was attacked by bandits," he reported after a while.  "No bodies were left, and I don't see traces of a dramatic death.  They might have all been slain, but none disemboweled or beheaded.   I find it unlikely that bandits would drag away large numbers of corpses, though.  I suspect they have captives, and I find drag marks as further evidence."<br/><br/>The sun priest drew his sword and pointed up a substantial trail.  "The tracks lead there, westward, into the merchants forest.  I would like to follow them.  They may have prisoners to liberate, and they may prove a threat to our charges if we do not drive them away."<br/><br/>Aten moved to the side of the road.  He paused, making sure he remembered the trail signs the elves had taught their people of old.  He used bent branches and arrangements of stones to indicate that they went west, and there was danger to the west.  After a moment longer he added a twisting of branches that, if he didn't mess it up, indicated that the danger was humanoid.<br/><br/>"Hopefully someone in the caravan can read that.  Let's go."