Broken clouds veiled the silver moon, and a rustle stirred through the dark Wheat Field.
The four-person squad crept through waist-high wheat in the Wheat Field, following Willilette Eudora to a low hill.
The darkness made it hard to see, but that was no problem for an elf. Willilette Eudora drew her wooden bow in one fluid motion and released. An Arrows hissed through the air into the dark.
A moment later, a faint, muffled thud came from the distance.
After clearing the patrolling Ratfolk from the hundred-Yard arc ahead, the four Street Sweepers moved on.
Willilette Eudora still led the way, keeping an unobstructed view.
Riddle Glo's firearm would stand out in this stealth mission like a torch in a dark forest. He put away his Matchlock and kept only his Rapier drawn, guarding the Elf Bow alongside his companions.
When her quiver ran low, Riddle Glo and Guido Rona spread out toward the fallen Ratfolk to retrieve her Arrows.
Squeak—
As Guido Rona pulled out an Arrows, a rat burst from the dead Ratfolk's bulging, ragged clothes and darted into the Wheat Field.
Whoosh—
An Arrows followed it into the Wheat Field.
Guido Rona pulled the Arrows from the soil and shook off the rat's corpse.
They silently cleared the Ratfolk Scouts from the Wheat Field, taking about ten minutes to reach the outskirts of Farmstead.
"Spread out. Don't make a sound."
A cluster of sleeping Ratfolk posed no challenge to the experienced Hunter. They regrouped and pressed on toward the viscounty's only Village.
Outside the Village, patrolling Ratfolk wandered about draped in scavenged cloth. Some carried short spears made from sharpened fence posts or discarded pitchforks; others wielded torches.
They no longer moved alone, patrolling in groups of two or three.
Willilette Eudora nocked two Arrows, drew