To investigate the attack

"I'm annoyed at the delay but we should investigate these claims," Gerald announced.

Pel smiled widely, looking pretty and pleased, "Thank you hero mage! I'll show you the way."

The walk towards the farm house took as long as Aaralon feared it would. The outskirts of the whole village was made of small independent farms, each one with their houses and dwellings as close to the centre as possible, while the arable land stretched off in the other direction. The result created a star burst like pattern of farms and provided some safety by creating a small community rather than a series of isolated farms.

They travelled quickly but it still took more than an hour to reach the scene of the attack. Aaralon worried that Gerald might abandon the impromptu mission at any minute.

The door to the farm house was torn off, splinters left around jagged metal hinges. Gerald seemed impressed, "Certainly no human villagerp did that."

"There are bits of dead farmer around the back. Most of the body was there anyway, we moved the rest, " explained Pel.

Gerald tssked, "Silly girl, never interfere with the scene until someone with half a brain has had a chance to examine it."

Looking crestfallen, Pel apologised, "Sorry sir mage, we didn't want to leave Elizabeth surrounded by bits and pieces of her dad."

That was a fair point, Aaralon thought but said nothing.

"The surviving daughter, right? Let's start with her. " Gerald got his investigation underway and let himself into the town house, striding through the ruined door.

The scene inside was chaos. All the furniture had been thrown against the walls, most of it smashed and shattered. The resulting clearing in the middle of the large family sized room was scuffed and dotted with dark blood patches.

A village woman, rather good looking and with long golden hair, knelt before Elizabeth, keeping her company. Elizabeth herself was plain looking, slightly plump but blessed with a huge bosom. She'd be a prized farmer's wife, Aaralon reflected quietly. Tears stained her face but she looked up to regard the three people entering her home.

"This man is a mage, " explained the good looking villager holding Elizabeth's hand, "He might be able to find your mother."

Apparently this was the wrong thing to say as it set Elizabeth off on another round of sobbing.

Gerald turned to Aaralon, saying, "They are right in that my powers can help. I have a few spells that might reveal a clue or two."

Aaralon just nodded. He knew a spell that would show him exactly what had happened here. He just wasn't sure whether to cast it or not, whether Gerald would notice.