Start at the Bellams' Farm

You decide to head out of town and start your quest at the farm that Carter mentioned - the Bellams', it was, if you remember correctly. You make your way through the muddy streets of Torwin, through the market square, and out to the east side of town.

The iron-gray skies lower down on you as you stride briskly along the road outside of town. The cloud cover is nearly constant here - at least, it has been since you arrived - and it lends a gray cast to everything: the trees, the road, the people who pass you driving carts or walking their wares into town. Now that you're paying closer attention, you can see that many people coming into town from the surrounding countryside seem quiet, withdrawn, almost fearful. Worrying about this "Beast" of the Shadewood, perhaps? You can't help but smile. You'll soon have this wolf slain, and then not only will these people cheer up, but you'll be lauded as a hero!

It takes a good hour to find the farm once you've left Torwin - Carter's directions are good, but things are spread out in the countryside here. Finally, though, you spy a narrow lane leading off the road toward what looks like a small farm cottage in the distance. The lane and the cottage are surrounded by fields of what look like rye, though the crops are barely knee-high, and off to one side of the farmhouse you can see a little stand of apple trees. You make your way cautiously forward, not wanting to alarm anyone, until you're nearly at the end of the lane. Pausing there, you glance around just in time to spot a young woman - a couple years younger than you, you'd guess - coming around the corner of the house, toting a heavy pail of water. She's got a simple, coarse brown dress and a white apron and cap on, and though dress, apron, and girl are all lightly smudged with dirt, you can tell that her tanned and lightly freckled face is attractive. She starts nervously when she sees you, and you raise your hand in friendly greeting.

"No need to be alarmed, miss! I'm Gavilard. I'm working for the mayor of Torwin - I heard that the Bellam family was attacked by a wolf, the one they call the Beast of the Shadewood, and I've been tasked with slaying it. I was hoping I could talk to them...am I at the right place?"

The girl puts down the bucket and nods to you nervously. "Aye, this is the farm...I'm Mira Bellam. M-My parents aren't here right now, though. They went to take care of my mother's cousin in Bulhollow as she has her baby..."

You smile gently. "Thank you, Mira. Don't fret - I don't mean you any harm." You cross over to stand closer to her so you can talk more quietly. "I'm told the Beast carried off a boy...you're brother, I'm guessing?" Mira nods, and you can see tears standing in her eyes. Gently, you take her hand. It's a farmgirl's hand - calloused and firm - but she doesn't resist, and squeezes your hand back when you hold hers. "I'm so sorry for your loss. What can you tell me about it?"

"I weren't here," Mira whispers sadly. "I was out in the apple orchard when it happened...I jus' heard ma screaming and I raced over. I found her staring out toward the edge of the field on the woods and saying that a wolf the size of a horse had taken Peter. Da and I ran over there and found the earth all churned up and Peter gone...and there was blood...quite a bit of blood." She sniffles and angrily wipes away a tear that's started to track down her cheek through the dirt. "Da and all the men around here went out and searched for the wolf in the woods all last night, but they didn't find anything..."

You frown. It's starting to become a little worrying that "as big as a horse" has been used to describe this wolf more than once. But still, it's probably an exaggeration. "Can you tell me exactly where this happened?"

Mira points to the border of the field that abuts the Shadewood, which looms tall and darkly green next to it. "Near the edge of the field, there...about two-thirds down. The ground's still all churned up."

You follow her finger and nod. "All right. Thank you, Mira. With any luck there may still be some tracks or something to follow out there..."

You start to move off, but Mira clutches your arm, slightly desperately. "You - you're going to go hunt that wolf now? Alone?"

"That's the idea," you say with a smile.

"Wouldn't you - can I give you some water, or anything? I just...I just need to know that you're at your best when you go to kill that thing...I'm so scared for Peter and..." she glances toward the wood, brown eyes wide. "...I've always felt that dark things lurked in the Shadewood."

You hesitate. On the one hand, time may be of the essence if you're to find the Beast...particularly if the Bellam boy is still alive. On the other, Mira here is clearly alone and scared, and could use some comfort...