| 236 Shortly after turning south at the fork you see in the distance what appears to be scouts from a Kalborean Army unit. The sight of soldiers this soon into your journey makes you feel very uneasy. There has been more than one occasion in the past where you have been hunted by men such as these, and you have always erred on the side of caution when there is a chance you may come into contact with them. Today will be no different. Unsure as to what type of reception you might receive, you leave the road and decide to skirt the village of Baellum and the soldiery encamped about it. The safety of the forest to the west of the road seems a safer and wiser course. This proves quickly to be the case. Large numbers of soldiers are beginning to decamp and move in units up the road towards Maenum. Even if they didn't challenge you directly their sheer numbers would delay you unduly. Turning Pallenten towards the trees you gallop forward, eager to stay out of sight of the advancing soldiery. Although there are some sign that advanced scouts have passed this way, you find the safety of the trees, and the anonymity of their deep shadows without trouble. After a few hours of picking your way carefully between copses of trees and thick patches of undergrowth, you pause in a small clearing that you have found in the depths of the forest. Here Pallenten can rest and take some forage. With the soldiery still to close for comfort you decide it best to stay low and rest as well. So far your progress has not been as good as you would have liked. Keeping to the forest is proving to be hard going, and scouts from the advancing army are becoming harder to evade. Indeed, you have found many signs of their passing and you have had to venture far deeper into the forest than you would have liked to avoid them. As you sit in the clearing you can hear the steady trudge of a multitude of heavy feet on the road some distance to the east. Over the shouts of officers cajoling their men on, you can also make out the squeaks and grinds of supply wagons, and the lamentation of beasts of burden as they struggle under impossible loads. Later you will find out whether such a large force is being sent to help the Dwarvendim, or rather as the next line of defense if the fortress falls to the Horde. Thinking the latter to be most likely you pack your gear and continue on. The day wears on and you find yourself travelling a wider detour than you expected. The further around the village you travel, the thinner become the trees and the deeper into the forest you have to turn to avoid detection. It is a slow and frustrating process. Eventually however, you break from the trees and strike out towards the road, which you rejoin a kilometre south of the village. From here you make surprisingly quicker progress. It appears that the main body of troops has already passed and the road is relatively clear of traffic. Giving Pallenten free rein the great horse bounds forward and soon the miles are again disappearing beneath her powerful strides. As you ride you notice that to the west dark clouds are beginning to crowd the horizon. Before nightfall you will need to find shelter.
| Ahead lies a clear road to Miller's Crossing. At this stage of your journey you may either keep to the road or you can strike out to the south-west and make your way cross-country directly to the Devkraager Tor. If you wish to continue on the road to Miller's Crossing turn to section 251. If you would like to try and gain some time by leaving the road and heading straight for the mountain turn to section 361.
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