Rook did return to the village, and found all was unusually quiet. For once the absence of sound was unsettling. Deep inside, his heart resonated with dread as he returned to his room at the inn. The village was not scarcely populated, but it was nestled deep in the forest. Accessible only by well-troddened footpaths, and there he made his way back.
"Catch anything good this time, Rook?" Tom asked him, settling down his pitchfork as the hunter passed. "You look like it took the chase outta ya."
"You could say that," Rook said, panting a little. "Deer are sometimes faster than my arrow unfortunately. Tomorrow will be better."
"I'll say a blessing fer ya." Tom signed something across his chest and went about his business before Rook stepped back toward him.
"Say, Tom, ain't it a bit unusual it's so quiet around here? Where is everyone?"
"Oh, Jon took some of the men out for some practice archery down by the creek. He was talking all crazy. Saying he was gonna get him some special game. They set out just this morning."
"How many?"
"Say about 10 or 11."
Rook immediately felt his stomach drop and he thanked Tom before running back to the inn. No, he wasn't going to be too late, not if he could help it. He packed his thinks, taking all of his supplies before ducking back between the trees once again.
