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"Perhaps it is the situation, I am usually a calm relaxed person." She gives a humorless chuckle and watches the Ranger for a moment. "Maghus has seen action, bad situations, you can see it in the eyes." She lowers her own head, averting her gaze from the three of them.

"Regardless, I mean the same as Bastian. Also, I have seen the behaviour he displays in others.

She reaches over to Liri, "Right now, our task is to move this body, we are all in this situation together. I hope we can all trust each other.

"Well, as you know, my people have appointed me to accompany the corpse to the Mage guild, and to report back on what is found out there. So I'll do what it takes to accomplish that."
Liri shrugs.
"If you can trust me, that's for you to decide."

Near noon, Hiric calls the column to a halt and dismounts the wagon. Salia takes that as her cue to dismount as well, and prepare an afternoon meal.

Maughus arrives scant seconds later, his litle horse moving at a canter this time. "We can't stop here. This is bat country!" he calls out. "We need to move on. We need to go." The ranger dismounts, back to the saddle cavalry fashion, hits the ground at a trot, and begins pushing Hiric back towards the driver's bench, catching Salia by the elbow in passing.

"Bat country?" Liri is puzzled. "I've never heard of a place where you need to be afraid of bats. So what's the problem?"
She does move on, however. Obeying the person who knows the land is generally a good option, but she wants to know the reason behind the order.

Angel moves swiftly, grabbing Salia and pulling her away gently from Maghus. "I agree with Liri, you say this is Bat company, explain?" She says this then turns away, glancing at Bastian.

"Are you ok my dear?" Angel asks leaning into Salia in a friendly manner, putting her hands behind her back she tries to cover how hard they are shaking. "Sorry, by the way"

"Bat country, sellsword," Maughus replies. "We are on the wrong side of the bars, right here. We have to move. Look behind us."

Angel and Liri look back to see a clear road and an empty plain; nothing more dangerous or surprising there than a flock of birds and a pair of deer, standing near the edge of the woods about three hundred yards behind you.

"Don't you see them? Are you blind?"

The scene would be completely tranquil and serene, if not for the fact that both deer are standing stock-still and staring in the same direction - away from you.

"I seem to be completely blind for what frightens the deer, yes. So if you know what it is, please let us know. And I don't think we have times for riddles, so plain text, please, Master Maughus." Liri sounds just a little impatient.

"Maghus, perhaps if you told us what we were looking at...." Angel frowns, yet looks behind. "There is something out there isn't there, someone following? I don't doubt you see it, only we don't know what to look for." Keeping he head low she shoots a warning glance at Liri.

Maughus' voice goes quiet, conspiratorial. "They hide in plain sight. That's their deal. Their trick. Walk right out in the open, bold as nipple rings on a Nisi witch and you can't see them. Not for long, anyway. Just like your Fraso. I think maybe he's part of this.
"But I've got them pegged."
He looks away, staring in the direction of the two deer, then gradually panning his gaze across the landscape, never stopping. "Three of them today, I think. Can't be too sure. I think it's three; three like the feathers on a fletching. Goose feathers are best. Plus there's good eating on a goose. And goose is seafood, so you can eat it on holy fast days, if anyone troubles to invite you. Not that I am complaining."

"When you see one again, tell me?" Angel asks, leaning in closely, brushing Liri's arm as she moves. ""You think Fraso is one? One what?" she whispers

Liri sighs. "At the moment, I really don't know what to think. Yesterday, you and I saw someone, but when Bastian got ready to investigate, nothing could be seen anymore. Maughus is speaking in riddles and probably can't be persuaded to talk plain text. So I think the best thing is to stay on guard, using all our senses. One sense alone can be fooled more easily than all together.

But I'm still not sure this isn't an attempt to drive us crazy, whoever does it, for whatever reason. So I'll try not to take it too seriously. But I'll take the rear guard now, as I seem to be least affected by the confusion syndrome we have going on here."

With that, Liri holds Casta back to let everybody pass. She then ties the reins loosely to the saddle. With a quick movement, she bends forwards, throwing her legs into the air and after a half-twist, she sits again, reversed. While Casta follows the group, Liri can watch behind them, at least until she becomes too uncomfortable. But for half an hour or so, she should be able to quietly watch the trail and country behind them. She also listens carefully and tries to find out if sounds and sights match.

If anyone tries to talk to her, she'll wave them away.

Before she leaves Angel stops her, taking her hand. "If you see anything, tell me straight away." With that she lets go and resumes her position.

"Of course I will" is Liri's simple answer.

She tries to make out any inconsistencies between sight and sound (and smell, if anything besides the corpse's odors is discernible), carefully scanning the landscape behind them (WIS or INT check needed?)

There are no real inconsistencies between sight and sound as the day progresses, although on several occasions Liri does see one or more people on foot about half a mile behind the wagon, walking in the same direction. There's no telling whether they are following the group or if they are merely this is a really uncomfortable position to ride in - facing backwards on the saddle. Liri's position is confusing her horse as well.

Maughus continues to hurry the group along, saying that he knows a place to hole up, a safe place to spend the night. Nightfall finds the group in a stretch of forest not unlike ten other small stands of trees encountered earlier that day. But this one has a small clearing ringed with white birch trees at its heart.

[OOC]If anyone has an action for the daytime, please let me know. Otherwise, someone please post a watch schedule and any special preparations for the evening.[/OOC]

Liri's elven heart is touched by the beauty of the clearing, it cheers her up after a day that made her saddle-sore in a way she hadn't been in years. Keeping close to Angel and Praesul as they get the mounts ready for the night, she quietly tells her:

"Nothing unusual all day. There are people on foot on the road behind us. Though if they're following us on purpose or by chance, I couldn't tell."

After seeing to the horses, Liri moves her body, shoulders and legs to get the stiffness out. "I need to move" she tells Angel. "What do you think: should you and I fence or should I sneak off" (she glances at Maughus) "and see if I can find out something about the people behind us?"