Cynebur stayed alerted while keeping guard at inner side of the cave, her shield was limply held with left arm and her other hand was resting on hilt of her sword. Shieldmaiden kept her eyes closed as if she was resting while standing.
Head bowed low, the one known as Régnwald stepped down into the base of the cave from the outside. Torchlight reflected from scuffed plate and chain. Relevanty bowing his head to the guards that stood near until his gaze landed on Cynebur, he spoke up in a low tone ''Cynebur,'' he breathed, sparing her a solemn glance ''Aye, we've returned, and I've been looking for you.''
Cynebur winced at shift in air and opened her eyes, her hand was already half drawn a blade alerted. As she saw a familiar face she relaxed her posture, blue eyes glaring from exhaustion "Régnwald, you've returned."
Régnwald took that moment to remove his plumed-helm, a slight glow flashing as he held it at his side, clenching his teeth as he did so, he patted the shieldmaiden lightly upon her shoulder clad in iron, and stepping back a little, he was content to remain silent for a time. Finally he broke that quiet ''Would you walk with me?'' he swept his gaze across then.
Cynebur hunched a little and gave a stout nod as putting her hand on his arm in brotherly manner "Of course."
Régnwald nodded, remaining silent. Beckoning the maiden to follow, he paced outside.
Looking to the shieldmaiden, the captain uttered a sigh. "We are at a crossroads, Cynebur, and I cannot go ahead in sound mind without your advice, nor that of those who would ride with us." The familiar tick that hinted at his nerves came to light, and the man gripped Nægling's hilt lightly before continuing.
''...so I must ask.''
Cynebur blinked at the bleak sunlight under the shadow of the mountain and the cliffs, she rubbed her tired eyes with back of her hand and then looked focused to the matter. "I shall try to offer help in limit of my knowledge."
Here the warrior paused, turning to face the woman. ''What do you advise, sister, where do we go?'' it was spoken quiet; yet firm such in the manner of his kin.
Cynebur sighed and rubbed her forehead "The stated of the High Knoll bridge..that interests me, we could fight our way trough."
Régnwald raised a brow still farther at the answer, but remained silent for a time gazing out across the river and taking in its clean air with deep breaths ''It would lead us into Wildermore, winter is coming. We could withstand, but could the others?'' he eyed her a beat before smiling ruefully.
''I've been speaking to no one yet, but I will...''
Cynebur smiled a little as he spoke of her home "My farm can host many of this people, they would not feel hunger or cold. We live in hard lands but our hearts are not hard the same." nodded as looking toward the river.
Régnwald smiled sadly at the tone his comrade took. ''I know,'' he let his words linger a moment until he spotted Céolswith coming from the cave, casting his gaze to grass then flashing a glance at her.
Cynebur turned around as following Régnwald's gaze "Ceolswith." she greeted her with a stout nod.
''So you'd advise that over remaining in Eorlsmead, mayhap seeking other supplies until we find our way to the Wold?'
Ceolswith came out of the cave, placing a hand on the stone. She stopped at the sight of the both of them before nodding, "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"
Cynebur nodded to Régnwald "It is just a matter of time till they discover our little hideout, they just need to follow one of our hunting parties and we are all done, like rabbits in a pot."
Régnwald gave a sideways nod to Cynebur before turning to see Ceolswith, ''Nay, Ceolswith,''
Régnwald gazed between the two straw-haired women before cocking his head to the side in thought, drawing in a bitter sigh thereafter. ''We were speaking of which route to take. We're at a crossroads now...''
Céolswith crossed her arms, making sure to hide her left hand from sight. She nodded, stepping closer.
Cynebur walked over to the stones and half sitting on it, resting a little.
Régnwald would not see what she was hiding at first, merely remaining silent, then nodding with what sounded like a stout grunt.
''There is not cross road for us.'' shieldmaiden rose '''We cant approach to the Harwick, even we be all fish in the river.''
Céolswith hummed, speaking softly, "Let's just get out of the lands here... We can focus on finding a town to settle in then. Everyone's hungry and scared.''
Régnwald straightened, the grin turning wry, albeit edged with bitterness ''My scouts have lately been reporting me of another way out from this land.'' -- ''Into Fangorn, --well, madness has it's wonders, eh?''
''Fangorn?'' Cynebur repeated ''No one entering that forest comes alive.''
Céolswith said, ''We may as well give ourselves to the orcs.''
Régnwald nodded some as he straightened then rested an arm clad in leather and chain onto sharp rock near him. ''I agree with your reasoning,'' he gazed between them briefly before turning to stare across the river ''But I must first ask all who would ride with us.''
Ethelad leaned on the tree with his arms crossed, staring at the river as he waited for something to happen. It seemed like all this waiting was killing him.
Cynebur nodded and went to the river with care, just so she could kneel down and wash her face to clear her mind.
Céolswith looked down at the ground at his comment on riding again.
Ethelad glances at the shieldmaiden as she approached the riverside and asks impatiently. ''Do we have any path yet?''
Régnwald allowed his head to hang for a moment, taking in the gravity of a point already known. Sucking in a deep breath, once again the bearded chin jutted out, split by a faint, rueful smile. He eyed Céolswith a beat ''I'd better hurry up about it then, eh?'' and the son of Régn moved back inside the cave and toward the loose collection of tents and lean to's that clustered nearby, overshadowed and overwhelmed.
