"A trial? Why? And why now?" Rita is bewildered by the news, even more so when Aelasuria reports that Melissa herself requested this.

"Thank you, Cirrus. I'd like to do more than observe," she says even though she realizes that is not up to Cirrus.

"I'd like you to come with me--with us," she says when Eadoin expresses his interest in attending as well.

They have already been reuniting the children with their parents though Rita does seek answers from Theoderic as to what to do with any genuine orphans as well as the need to bury those who died in the battle.

"I like that idea," she says, smiling, when Eadoin proposes painting Riordeg's sign on a shield and a banner so he can be easily located. "Do you have a sign?" she asks Riordeg. "Then again, he's not going to make charging after Hun chieftans a regular thing, at least not if I have anything to say about it."

After being healed by Rita, Riordeg makes it a point to have a wash to clean most of the blood and dirt off him.

He spends a little time checking that the centaurs are issuing rations and setting guards in a sensible fashion, and then he decides it's time for a rest.

When Eadoin twits him about a sign of his shield, he just shrugs. "Theoderic doesn't have one, and it would probably just act as a target. I didn't mean to take on the big guy, it just happened. If you and Chanos and the others hadn't turned up, I would have been beyond healing spells, that's for sure."

While Melissa is being discussed he doesn't say anything, not having too much of an opinion either way.

1. The Centaurs are gathered into little groups again, but this time, it is in groups of trusted family and friends, to make their simple camps, and to take stock of the day's events.  There isn't much to their camps.  Bedrolls and tents are not very practical for them.  They have some sheets of tough, oily cloth that they stretch out to make lean-to's, and they have their camp fires; those are the Centaur limits of comfort.

Being wilderness dwelling semi-nomads they have a strong appreciation for the world around them, and what it can tell them.  This evening, the dim red cast to the western sky and the frail, high clouds tell them there is a cold front coming in.  Winter is here at last.

They are only distantly interested in the events going on in the town.  Most are only aware of the issue with Melissa as something Eadoin did.  They aren't sure what he did, though, and the rumors flow among the Centaur camps.

Thayer knows more than most, and the veteran Centaur makes his opinion known to Riordeg.

“She was evil, I know... and now she is not.  It seems like something of a cheat to me.  Is it that easy?  An apology, the staff waves, and poof, the evil is gone?  I trust Eadoin- the lad has the touch of Epona with him, I am sure.  But this seems too simple, I don't like it.  There is always a cost.”

It's later into the evening when Eadoin returns.  He circulates amongst the little family camps, sharing words and little bits of meals with his extended family.  Eventually, he reaches Riordeg and Thayer.  Settling nearby, the young Centaur shares news of the "trial".  Somewhere, he's found some wine; his gestures become somewhat larger as he continues the tale.  He ends with, "King Theoderic has bound her to a term of service, to his court, under Titus Mercator and to Rita."

Riordeg looks a little concerned with this news.

"How can she be bound to Rita if Rita is traveling with us? How can Rita be held responsible for Melissa's actions when she's nowhere near her?"

He certainly doesn't want Melissa traveling with the centaurs, but the obvious alternative, of Rita traveling with Theoderic, doesn't make him happy.

Not really sure how to make his friend feel better about the circumstances, Eadoin shrugs a little.  "I imagine Titus has plans in place, likely even asked the king for that outcome, though I can't say for sure."  He shrugs again, looking rather fully his young self in the gesture.  "As for why, your cousin the king didn't give all of his reasons.  He just let her out of the wagon, set her a term of service in place of a fine, and said she'd be assigned to 'officers over her', namely Titus Mercator and Rita.  Also, he called Rita his chaplain."

The young Centaur shakes his head.  "I doubt very much Melissa will be travelling with us.  Titus likely has more work for her than she can handle."

Eadoin has his speculation that the assignment Riordeg and Rita have to the Centaur troop may be of limited duration, that Theoderic or Gellas may have some other need of the young lord and the newly named chaplain.  Those thoughts he keeps to himself, however.  He changes the topic, hoping it's not too blatant.

"Riordeg, ummm...I'm not rightly sure how to say."  Eadoin scratches his head a little, a gesture that broadcasts he sidling up to a difficult topic.  He goes stright to the point.  "I teased you some about a symbol for yourself, like for on a shield a banner.  Ummm...what I mean is that, someday, real soon, like earlier today, your cousin the king is gonna need somebody who can do things for him, kinda like Gellas does, but with whatever talents that person brings."

"He's gonna have more...stuff, than he can pay attention to.  More people wanting things, decisions that gotta be made, that sort of thing," he adds.  Not sure if he should press the point too far, the young Centaur says, "He'll need his family Riordeg, to handle things that're important but that're smaller'n what would take a king to settle."

Eadoin inhales, exhales again.  "He's got Belgica now, not just the forest near Raviniacum.  He'll need people he can trust when the Huns're gone, people who can run a town, a village, a city, courts, farms, trade, and things."

"I'm sorry if I'm worrying you, Riordeg, my friend.  It's just...you're his family and you'll have a part in all that.  I...can't explain all the way down about why, since some of it won't make sense in words, but Venus' priestess crowned the king, and the land accepts him.  In its way, the land is aware, just like you or me, but it thinks lots slower and real different about things, not like regular people at all.  It accepts this king, Theoderic, as the right one."

Eadoin looks into his mulled and warm wine, suddenly realizing that even the little he's had may have been a little too much.  Alcohol seems to hit his folk quickly and make them expansive.  More reservedly, he says, "I'm sorry if I've embarrassed you, Riordeg.  I want to support the king in the best way I can, according to my calling and my faith.  For now, the best way I know to do that is help make sure you're the best lord you can someday be."

Suddenly embarrassed himself for speaking so long on a topic, Eadoin looks at his own reflection in the light from his remaining wine.

Riordeg sighs as Eadoin outlines a possible future.

"Theoderic is very good at finding and using talented people. You and Rita are obvious examples, and Cirrus too, along with the others. But you're right - sooner or later blood will call, and I'll have to answer it."

He scratches his healing wounds a little, shifting his armour until it stopped rubbing the sore spots.

"Truth is, I wouldn't mind it too much if I thought I'd earned what I've been given - or will be given. But there's always that nagging thought in the back of your head ... maybe he didn't choose me because I'm the best, but because I'm family. To be honest, after all this is over I'd love to take Rita and just keep riding, to see what's over the next hill."

He gave a little laugh. "I know it won't work like that. Wherever she goes she ends up being everyone's mother. She'd be picking up orphans wherever we went."

He struggled to his feet, still a little stiff and sore. "Oh well, if it's Lord Riordeg he's looking for, I'd better try and act the part now and again, eh? I'm blowed if I know what I'd put on my shield though!" he imagines a painted hand making a rude gesture and smiles at the thought.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:53, Fri 26 Oct 2012.

It is late by the time Rita returns to the camp after her talks with Aelasuria, Titus, and Seti.

She hopes Riordeg is sleeping, as he needs the rest to help him recover from his battle injuries.

If he is awake, she will tell him the outcome of the trial and how she and Titus have been assigned as Melissa's supervisors. If he is asleep, she will not wake him up but wait until the next morning to give him the news.

Not sure if Rita was returning to the camp that night, Riordeg turned in fairly early. Awakening in the night for the usual reasons, after relieving himself he takes a quick turn around the sentries, working out the stiffness in his joints as much as checking up on them.

In the morning he greets Rita with, "I hope you weren't out dancing the night away without me, dear! Although, I must admit I'm not up to too much jumping over fires right now."

When she gives him the news he asks nonchalantly (or so he imagines), "So, exactly how will you be able to supervise her from here?"

Sleep seems to have helped Riordeg's recovery. He looks better than he did last night, even after Rita had healed him.

"Dancing? Not even close," she reassures him, even though she knows he was joking. "I spoke to Aelasuria, Titus, and Seti and also spent some time praying with Seti at the Temple of Ceres. It was late when I came back, and I didn't want to wake you, as you needed your rest.

How are you feeling? Are you in any pain? I'm still worried about you. You took some nasty wounds yesterday."

If she can hug him gently without inflicting any pain on his wounds, she will.

She smiles at him. "You're right about that. You're not in any condition to be jumping over fires, at least for a while."

She explains that her meetings last night centered on discussions about how she will supervise Melissa.

"I'm not completely sure how it's going to work. Titus and I plan on asking King Theoderic today. I may have to travel with the king's group instead of being here with the centaurs. I did say that I prefer you and I travel together with the same group, so it is possible you may be summoned to the king's group and someone else sent to the centaurs in your place," she says to Riordeg.

"I was taken by complete surprise with this assignment to supervise Melissa. I still think Seti would be a better choice. He thinks Melissa will be more comfortable with a female guardian, especially since she had bad experiences with male priests. Neither of us wanted to bother the king last night after the trial, as he appeared quite exhausted himself. I hope he this morning finds him in better spirits."

The day following the battle of Turnacum and the trial of Melissa, it is time to move again.  There is a coldness in the air, winter is coming at last.  And the signs on the road east, and all alongside it, are very clear:  the Huns are close.

Between Turnacum and Bruxzella are small farming villages.  Every one has been visited by Huns, who took supplies and livestock.  The more proactive farmers cleared out of their path before they arrived, protecting their flocks, but sometimes, the Huns torched farms when they found them empty.  But overall, when the Huns passed this way, they were moving too quickly to pause for serious destruction.  Most of the farms have survived.

Theoderic has the Centaurs on the flank of the army again.  Again he uses a waterway to provide some cover for the other flank, although the Haine is smaller here and would not stop a determined assault.

* * * * *
It is a day and a half after the battle of Turncacum, a cold December noon.  The messengers, the star of which has turned out to be Cirrus with her ability to ride a horse at uncanny speeds, have been keeping the Centaurs connected to Theoderic and the others, and have been passing news back and forth.

Cirrus brings the latest word:  Contact has at last been made with the Elves up ahead.  They say that there is a huge Hun force camped at Bruxzella.  The took the city, but many Humans fled into the forest, and with them are many of the Belgican troops.  The Huns are preparing to move again but no one knows if they intend to march on Mos Trajectum, or turn right and attack the Elves.

Theoderic hopes to be able to hit the Huns with both armies at once, for the best chance at winning.  If the Huns have figured that out, it is possible they will attempt to foil his plan by attacking one army first- either making a fast assault on the Elves, or turning back on their own path to catch Theoderic.  The latter possibility is worrisome- the Elves can simply melt into the forest if they have to.  So he has ordered a change in course- instead of heading closer to Bruxzella, the whole force will go straight into Elven territory now, crossing into the forest south of Bruxzella.

 This time, the Centaurs are supposed to go ahead, and find the best ways for the main force to follow behind.  The Elven woods are notoriously difficult for large armies to maneuver in.

Riordeg enjoys Rita's attentions, and isn't beyond a little play-acting to try and steal an extra hug or two. When it's time to move however, he insists on riding ready for battle. If there's fighting he isn't going to be hanging back with the wounded, that's for sure.

When no new orders come from the king he is happy to ride alongside Rita, but the sight of the torched farms brings a grim look to his face. "If they'd torched everything, the people here would be in real trouble next year."

He looks around at the landscape, drawing his cloak around him. "Winter's almost here. This is a really bad time to be fighting in. Supplies for an army are difficult to transport, and the weather acts against an attacking force. If the huns decide to sit tight at Bruxzella we could be in for a really uncomfortable winter."

He qualifies that with, "Well, the elves will probably be okay, but our human troops will suffer unless we can get into winter quarters before the really bad weather hits. I really have no idea how it will affect the centaurs though."

Eadoin's up that morning, long before the sun rises.  He cleans himself as best he can, given the cold weather and the ever-present mud.  For once, he's glad of Apple Blossom's insistence on wool.  Even the clay of Flanders has but a momentary hold on the woven fibers.

The young druid prays, greeting Father Lugh as he smiles over the world, revealing truth and banishing darkness by once again showing his face.  How anyone could think the gods had turned from the world, the young Centaur cannot imagine.  Their presence is manifest, obvious each morning and every night, in every flight of birds, and in his dreams every time he sleeps.

Ablutions and prayers done, Eadoin hunts for what breakfast he can find.  Wild oats, stray stalks of wheat or barley, whatever he can scrounge.  It's unlikely the young Centaur will starve.  Likely, fenced into an acre of bare ground, Eadoin could find enough to feed a family of four.

On the march, Eadoin's saddened by the farms he sees, both those burned and those raided bare.  He's seen this sort of thing before, though, in the lands surrounding Lutetia Parisiorum.  He's out and about, available, but ranging with the widely spread bands of his folk.

He's present for Cirrus' arrival, though, word spreading quickly of her coming.  Eadoin doesn't really know much of war, but has guessed at the Huns' goals, by the speed with which they've moved through Belgica: Bruxzella, then Mons Trajectum.  They'd need the bridge there.  Keeping them bound up in Belgica for the winter would buy time for the cities.

He nods quietly to Cirrus.  "We'll do it.  Do we have someone amongst the Elves we should work with?"

Cirrus does not know if the Elves have assigned an official guide or contact.

But everyone hopes so.  The dense forest surrounding the Elven kingdom is not meant to be inviting to strangers.  It is the great defensive hedge of the Ardennes Elves, more than five miles across in places.   It is into this forest that Theoderic has aimed the Centaurs.  It is not the grey northern wood they are used to.  The forest of home has trees more widely spaced, and the ground is softer and flatter.

Further ahead, past miles more of forest, is the Meuse River. Some of the party is already familiar with that, and with Namaco, the Elven city that is the only place the Ardennes Elves have that can actually be called a city.  A few thousand Elves live there in homes and in great trees along the banks of the river, and there are shops and gardens and the kinds of things one expects in a town.

Soon the word comes- the Huns are not aiming towards Mos Trajectum, or back towards Theoderic, and nor does it seem they will stay in Bruxzella.   Large armies have an obvious front and back and it is easy to see which direction they are pointed.  The Huns have arranged themselves to attack southeast, into the Ardennes.  The battle will be fought in the land of the Elves.

Rita has been busy or on the move too ofen to prepare scrolls or anything else.


Cirrus goes back and forth relaying messages... and now that the Elves are in communication with Theoderic, some of the information is coming from them.  The Elves have their own scouts out now, watching the Huns, although not to closely because the Huns have become aggressively paranoid about security.  They learn that the Huns are making no effort to settle into Bruxzella.  They are already forming up again.

They are met by a strange little Fey creature, short, wiry, with pale blue skin and gray hair... and webbed fingers.

The little creature walks with an odd, awkward gait, a resut of his feet.  He introduces himself as Squijit, the Nixie, sent by the Elves to help guide friends.

If Rita is up front, she might recognize Squijit.

Wait-a-bit vines, thickets, and such aren't any sort of hinderance to one of Eadoin's craft.  Whatever the intent, short of magical or mechanical means, the forest has few limitations.  He ranges with the groups, as if trying to see everything at once.  It's a pattern that's perhaps becoming familiar to his friends, Eadoin's seeming excess of energy when he's on the move.

Eadoin knows Squijit, having met the blue creature before, in the pools at the headwaters of the Oise.  He'd carried Squijit in his backpack for a time.  He raises a hand.  "Hello, Squijit.  You're far from your pool."

Rita recognizes Squijjit as well and heads over to him.

"Squijjit! Are your people in trouble? What is going on, and how can we help? The Huns are heading straight to the Ardennes, to the elves."

She introduces Squijjit to her companions. "We helped him and his fellow water spirits a while back, when a demon took over the Oise River.

Please tell us the Oise is okay, and your people are fine," she says to Squijjit.

The little water sprite seems quite cheered to see that this column of strange warriors is in fact led by people he knows, and trusts.

"We are fine," he says to Rita and Eadoin.  "For my home, all is good.  Yes, yes, I am far from my home but not too far.  Mosanna and Sequana are sisters, and you aided one, and now the fish has turned with the current.  The Elves are a little short handed.. very busy.  All of those who don’t fight are going to the other side of the river, and all that can fight are preparing for it.  But you need my help, or you will not get there in time.  This forest was not meant for quick movement by so many!  We must follow close to the river bank.  Mosanna will make sure we are unhindered.  She will keep the beasts of the forest at bay.  But mind you, too far from the bank, and she has no power over them. There are dangerous magical creatures that live in this forest.  Cockatrices and Trolls and other things.”

The water sprite beckons to Eadoin to follow, and it turns towards the river, following a small tributary stream.

Given time, Eadoin imagines he could determine the haunts of the Trolls and Cockatrices alike.  Someday, he'll likely know this forest much better, since he'd settled his folk at it's margin.  Another day, perhaps, when the issues at hand were settled and his goddess had other uses for his hands, head, and heart.

Five miles of heavy forest verge, defended well, could be a fine place to turn aside the Huns.  He's not his mentor to be able to call the trees to walk.  It'll have to be done by plainer methods.  To Rita and Riordeg, he says quietly, "Maybe the weather'll help us more'n them."

He follows Squijit, keeping an eye out for any sign that the aforementioned Trolls might have crossed this way.

OOC: Trying to get an idea of the weather for the next couple of days.

14:32, Today: Eadoin rolled 22 using 1d20+14. Survival check to predict the weather.

Eadoin checks on the weather.

It looks very cold for early December.  A dry, clear kind of cold- no clouds will block the stars tonight.  In fact, he’s certain there will be frost by morning.

Squijit leads the Centaurs, who in turn lead the rest of Theoderic’s forces, and by evening, they have reached an area of Elven settlement, close to the Sambre river.  Eadoin recalls that this river is a tributary of the Meuse- Namaco is located where the two join.

Much of the Elven settlement is up in the trees.  Rita, Riordeg, and Eadoin have seen places like this before, and so have a few of the Centaurs- those who have visited the Elves of the Veluwe, further north.  The Elves grow enormous “home trees” here, oaks, cherries, and willows towering into sky, with small homes and terraces up in the branches, connected by walkways and ladders, many of which dangle from ropes.  Tiny lights hover beneath the canopies of leaves- the Elven trees do not lose their leaves in the winter, and here the trees form great natural umbrellas against the winter.  And the air seems warmer here- perhaps there is some magic that keeps the air warm and comfortable beneath the crowns of the giant trees.  The Ardennes Elves do the same thing, it seems.

With the army regrouped for the evening, word comes that Theoderic has a request- not an order, but a request- for Eadoin.  When they fight comes, would he volunteer to stay close to Aelasuria, to protect her?.

Cold snaps happen, especially as the Summer King's power wanes.  Soon, he's to be defeated by the Winter King, the oak to yield to the holly.  Pick your holiday: Dies Natalis Soli Invicti, Yule, Saturnalia, or just the winter solstice; it's bound to be cold as the days grow short and the shadows long, even at midday.  He's not surprised by the weather, that there'll be frost.  Still, he shares what he knows with those about, to be certain no one is surprised.  Also, as there'll be good starlight, perhaps there might be some point in using the night?

Eadoin, as always, is deeply surprised by the subtle beauty of an elven settlement, the casual intermingling of minor magics to bring comfort to those living there.  Even though he deeply appreciates the rough and ready lifestyle of his folk, he's always struck by it.

One thing the young Centaur takes for granted is a sense of where he in in relation to where he's been.  Still, he isn't sure whether the plan is to simply be between the Huns and the Elves or to harrass them.  Five miles of thicket, thorn, and angry hedge would be the ideal place to meet them, he find himself thinking.

When word comes from the King, Eadoin is torn.  His loyalties aren't divided at all, but he finds he has more duties than he can possibly fill; he splits the difference.  The young Centaur calls for Chanos and Thayer, explains that Theoderic has asked for an escort from the Centaurs to protect Aelasuria during the battle that's likely to come, that he's been asked as well.  Eadoin calls for a dozen to be named, that they be good and steady.  "Aelasuria is a wizard, but she's been known to go where things are the worst, right into the teeth of things."  As far as he is aware, Rita and Riordeg are to remain with the Centaurs.

Eadoin goes with his Baker's dozen to "The Battle of Turnacum" thread in response.

As the troops move out towards battle, once again there is some distribution into sub-threads.  The Centaurs of course have their thread, although ironically, if Eadoin is now with Aelasuria’s “Queen’s Guard”, he is no longer with the Centaurs- but Rita and Riordeg are.

The troops advance steadily but carefully from the Elven settlement area, following the Sambre river east.  Although the forest is dense, there are good trails, as the river lines are where the Elven population is concentrated.  Many of them live in tree villages along the winding, stately Sambre, where giant willows are popular.  In addition to villages, many of the trees have luxurious hanging gardens, like giant flower baskets dangling over the river bank.

They find that the Elves do have farms, but these are very small, specialized pieces of land that look temporary- just a meadow cleared to grow some particular crop for a while.

Theoderic moves the troops cautiously, and has the Centaurs stop for the day long before they think they are done- they still have plenty of strength left.  But he’s clear about it- he wants well rested, fresh troops, at their peak when they hit the enemy.

And the very next morning, not yet an hour out of the campsite, the lead Centaur patrol makes its first contact.  But the Orcs are already dead!

A group of Centaurs brings the discovery to Thayer and whoever else is with them at the time: They have found some Orc bodies.  Thayer hurries to investigate.  (Along with, again, whoever else)

They find three dead Orcs.  All have been killed by Elven arrows.  They bodies are not yet frozen, so Thayer knows this was recent.  And they were headed south, in the direction of the Sambre river, which at this point is about two miles away.

Thayer notices the tracks.  “Look,” he says, pointing.  “These three did not make it, but more… at least a dozen… did.  Perhaps the Elves had time for only a quick battle here, or perhaps there were too few of them.  But the Orcs have crossed ahead of our path.  They must surely have reached the river by now.  Hmm… And then what?”

With Eadoin assigned to guard Aelasuria, Rita, Riordeg, and Squijjit are now the only non-centaurs with Thayer's group. Rita is still somewhat uncertain how to interact with the centaurs without insulting them inadvertently. She knows Eadoin well, and he grew up among humans, so she can naturally relate to him; plus, they now have shared experiences over many months. But these centaurs are more wild, and she is less sure of herself among them.

Somewhat wide-eyed, she observes the elven tree homes with their large hanging baskets of flowers. Their color and beauty contrast starkly with the barren winter landscape.

"The elves are using some sort of magic to warm the air within their trees," she notes to Riordeg and Squijjit. "If the Huns are enchanting the weather to make it colder, the elves might know how to counter that. Perhaps we should speak to some of them and ask whether such a thing is possible. Of course, we would have to run the idea by King Theoderic first.

How so?" she questions Eadoin when he remarks that the cold weather may help Theoderic's forces more than the Huns.

"I wonder if there might be a way to lead the Huns straight to the cockatrices and trolls. If we could somehow do that, the monsters would unknowingly help us. The elves might know how we could do this. We need to find their leaders and strategize with them."

She also needs to spend time with Melissa, listening to her, finding out the woman's strengths, and providing her with guidance. But with this sudden orc situation, there does not seem to be time for that now.

Winter Solstice, along with Samhain, is one of Lord Pluto's most sacred festivals. This year, it will be the anniversary of her ordination as a priestess. She had hoped to be back home in Raviniacum to celebrate it with the children.

Even without the approaching battle, it is a solemn time. She spends much time in prayer, beseeching Lady Proserpina and Lord Pluto for their help in the trying times ahead.

With Eadoin no longer with them, Riordeg will make it clear to the bannermen that Thayer is in charge of the group, but that they should use their own initiative in maintaining contact with the main group.

He wants to ensure that Theoderic is kept aware of anything the centaurs discover, and isn't sure if Thayer would forget about the bannermen in the middle of everything else he has to think about.

While Rita spens her time thinking of her many responsibilities, Riordeg finds that his concerns have narrowed to one - ensuring that the centaurs find the huns before the huns discover Theoderic's army is in the field and hunting for them.

If the four orc groups combine once more it would be ... unpleasant, to say the least.

He goes with Thayer to examine the orc bodies that have been found.

"Survivors are not a bad thing, so long as they don't discover our troop concentrations. Survivors will tell the huns that elven resistance is scattered and unable to deal with even a medium sized patrol. What we have to ensure is that they don't filter through our lines, because if they discover the king's forces and report back we're in big trouble."

Rita may have many responsibilities, but she makes sure to spend whatever time she can with Riordeg. When they are together, she makes sure his wounds are healing and shares her own Winter Solstice experiences with him.

"This Solstice will mark one year since I was ordained as a priestess," she tells him.

"A year ago, I couldn't even go to a tavern in Arras without my father's permission. I'm glad to have the chance to make a real difference in the fate of Europa, but I admit I'm scared. The big battle is coming, and it makes me wonder whether I will ever see my family in Arras or the children in Raviniacum again."

She gives Riordeg a hug, wishing everything could stop just so they all could celebrate the Solstice. She feels most safe in Riordeg's arms.

Since the centaurs and Theoderic's main group are so close together, she makes sure to head over to the main group to discuss the unnatural cold and the sudden appearance of dead orcs.

Rita is recalled from her temporary duty with the Centaurs, because she has faced Demons before and has the magic to do it.  And where Rita goes, of course, Riordeg goes as well, because someone has to keep her out of too much trouble.

The Centaurs have their orders- cut off the reinforcement Orcs flowing towards the river.  Thayer leads them.  But Rita and Riordeg join the battle with Theoderic and the others, in a new thread:


On the Eighth of December.