[Tevildo]

Dorran was having a difficult time keeping his mind on what Incana and Vaenosa were doing. Brand had told them to get some horses, and it looked as if they were successful in finding several new mounts. He had answered Incana with several curt nods and single word answers when she had questioned him. Fortunately, Incana was so engrossed in her job of searching the houses that she seemed unaware of the fact that Dorran's mind was elsewhere.

Dorran no longer carried the shield he had found on the Orc. He just could not bring himself to touch the nasty thing. It had been given to Brand for safekeeping. Yet the memories from his childhood hung heavy over his mind. It was one thing to fight Orcs; it was quite another to take on the chosen band of the Dark Lord himself. Brand seemed to have some understanding of what that might mean. The girls had not heard their conversation and seemed not to understand what that gruesome shield with the glaring red eye might mean to their future.

When Incana had heard the noise and asked him to investigate, he had responded mechanically, going forward to investigate what the sound was. All his complacence had been swept away when he'd gotten a closer look at the young woman who now stood hesitently in front of them. Dorran had not said a word but gently reached out with one hand and gestured for the woman to follow them down the road way. Once, he had turned around and tried to ask the young woman who she was, but whether she did not understand or was too afraid to answer, the unknown villager had still not said a single word.

As Vaenosa had approached them, he had gone up to her and softly noted. "I don't know who she is. The stranger's said nothing, but at least she's not run away. She may have been a little frightened to see a man. Perhaps if you or Incana will talk to her, she will answer."