New Fantasy writing/modelling comp

Arriving in Wolfwater by Sawdust
It had been awhile since our company had come together and although normally we would be vocal in enquiring after one another since we last met, this time we were silent as we travelled the road toward Wolfwater. It was clear that Beargrim's story and plea for help left each of us perturbed. I was unsure how much the others knew of the tales of the Ancient Madness but I suspected both Safiya and Seth knew more than they had spoken of to date. Teagan and Markus may well have heard the tales but I doubted if they had paid much attention. I thought it likely that Katia had heard nothing of the old tales as she had spent most of her life in isolation and even now it was clear she still struggled being part of a group larger than two. It was a testament to her brave and quiet persistence that she persevered with us and didn't run away screaming into the night. Of the group, I considered Darius may have the most knowledge as it was an order of Druids that battled and locked the ancient evil away to the underworld those many ages ago. I made a mental note to speak with the Druid as soon as we reached Wolfwater.

Wolfwater appeared to be like many a small village I had entered before yet I realised Safiya seemed to be on edge. Before I could make inquiry of her slightly agitated disposition, we were confronted by an Orc who stood in the middle of the path, barring our way. He was not aggressive but his demeanour was gruff and impatient belying the welcome that came from his lips. "Greetings, I am Gnaabak Orgoth, the Reeve of Wolfwater." said the Orc brusquely. "I do not know what brings you here but we have no inn, no tavern and no time for strangers. I suggest you move on." He went to leave as quickly as he appeared when Seth stepped forward and spoke to him.
"Sir, I pray a moment of your time, we have come a long way and seek a merchant by the name of Murbil Kilmir. Can you direct us to her abode?" For a moment I was sure I saw a look of terror on the old Orc's face but if it was there, it passed so quickly as to leave me unsure of what I had seen.
The Orc continued "If you seek Murbil, you have come too late for she moved her family out some weeks back. She spoke of seeking greater trade prospects in Mythville." Seth tried to make further enquiries regarding Murbil and her family but the old Orc dismissed the questions and pointed to a cottage a little way down the path saying, "That is Murbil's cottage, you can stay there the night as it is getting late, but you must be gone by first light on the morrow." With that he turned and strode away quickly, disappearing into a nearby cottage. For a moment we stood in silence, as if unsure of what just happened when Markus broke the silence with his usual dry wit.
"Well," Markus quipped. "Welcome to Wolfwater!" With a wink he headed toward Murbil's cottage followed closely by Teagan who mumbled something about food and bashing Orc heads.

It was clear no-one had lived in Murbil's home for a number of weeks. Some items were overturned and a layer of dust had started to cover the floors and furnishings. I sought to speak with Darius when I espied him through the window entering the nearby forest. Katia had excused herself and wandered outside, I suspected as much for the solitude as looking for any evidence of our missing merchant. Markus seemed to be intent on studying the floor and Seth had been attracted to a bookcase in the corner of the room. Safiya was lost in her thoughts and I considered it a good time to do some communing of my own. I stepped outside onto the porch and kneeling on one knee, began to pray. I could hear Teagan rummaging through cupboards grumbling about being hungry and found it difficult to concentrate on my evening prayers. It wasn't just the disturbance Teagan was creating that was distracting me though for I was sure the old Orc knew far more than he spoke of. Was that look I saw one of terror or did I imagine it? I thought to myself. Before I could contemplate the matter further, a loud crash came from within the cottage.

I stepped inside to find Teagan finally sitting at the table, having found something to eat, while Seth was excitedly poring over an old and dusty tome. "I heard a loud crash" I said. "Is everyone all right?"
"Everyone is fine" replied Safiya. "Teagan accidently bumped a shelf and it came crashing down...”
"But this tome came crashing with it" interjected Seth, barely able to contain his excitement.
Markus had seated himself next to Teagan at the table. "See old boy" Markus grinned, "You're not just good at bashing Orc heads, you can make shelves crash as well." Teagan grunted and rolled his eyes never missing the rhythmic pattern of spoon to mouth to plate and back again. Safiya continued to speak of the tome and a pendant that Markus found while searching the cottage.
"Seth says the runes on the pendant are the same he has seen in books studied in the past and they refer to a Providence Eye which, is similar to the eye on Beargrim's son. I have been aware of a mystical energy surrounding this village ever since we drew close." Just as Safiya finished speaking, Katia burst through the door slightly out of breath.
"Come quickly," she said. "I have found tracks and evidence that Murbil and her family did not leave here willingly." Safiya, Markus and I followed Katia outside. By now it was dusk and difficult to see in the half light. Safiya conjured a small ball of light so we could see the marks that Katia was pointing to and as we listened to her explanation of their meaning, Darius came walking up from behind.
"I have learned of a small cave some distance from here we must explore" he said without preamble.
"More discoveries?!" noted Markus, as much a statement as it was a question.
"It has definitely been a day of discovery," I replied and thought quietly to myself, and not all of them good.

The five of us returned to the cottage and shared our thoughts with each other concerning what we had discovered that day until we had exhausted our chatter and turned in for the night. Darius organised the watch for the night with Katia taking first watch and he and Markus taking second and third respectively. We all knew we had to be up early the next day yet it seemed as if none of us were ever going to fall asleep. I could tell by their breathing that my companions still lay awake for they had yet to reach the deep, slow breaths of sleep, except of course for Markus, but thieves learn early to breathe slow and quiet at all times lest they be discovered. As sleep overtook me, my last thought was to the journey ahead. I did not know where it would lead but I feared before our journey ended, there would be sorrows and hardships to bear.