Surprise! It's a game

[Siren]

Claire bit her lip, looking from one face to the other. She really did not want to leave these men; they made her feel safe, and who was to say that the abductor might not come after her, too, if she went back? She also wanted to find her father. She refused to believe that he was dead. It was absolutely impossible.

"He's not dead," she said defiantly, though her voice quivered. "And I'm not leaving. We're wasting time. Daddy could be h-hurt."

[Olias of Sunhillow]

"Well, you heard the lady, sheriff; and I'll volunteer to partner up with her if you have any, uh..., concerns; I've seen her shoot, and I'm comfortable partnering up with her. And she's right - time's a wastin'. What's the plan?"

[wyrdrun]

Sherriff Trygr nodded. If Claire wanted to go, he wouldn't stop her. The men were well armed & could probably keep her safe. However, he did notice something was amiss.
"Can you see in the dark? The plan now is for you 3 to get lites. My men & I will go in first & try to roust this guy. When you're ready, you come in after. We'll try to surround him. If you can find the victims & if any of them are alive, get them out. Don't worry about anything else."

Dr Caine nodded. "I have a couple of small lanterns back in my room. All of my ammunition is there, too. I'd have to back anyway. I'm afraid I was in a bit of a rush to get here."

[Olias of Sunhillow]

"Ah, no we didn't bring lights; I didn't know we were planning an offensive. When we came out here, I thought it was to keep a watch - be on the defensive; so although we probably would have made a campfire - and I DO have some matches - I didn't bring any torches or lanterns. If Dr. Caine is going to get some, and has an extra or two for Miss Claire and myself, I'd be much obliged."

Professor Marvel knew that he COULD conjure up a flare-like ball of light, and cast it high enough in the air to illuminate whatever area they needed illuminated, and although he would have told Dr. Caine that information, he didn't know if he could trust the Sheriff with information of that sort.

[Siren]

Claire was thinking along the same lines as Marvel, although in a slightly different way. "You haven't got any of that...that powder, or whatever it was you used to make Dr. Caine's pipe flare up, have you, Professor Marvel?"

She also wondered if he had brought any of his other magician-tricks with him. They might have been useful as a diversion. She shuddered as she thought of going in after whoever was in there, but Marvel's arm was reassuringly steady. In fact, he didn't seem to be afraid, at all.

She gazed at him with unconcealed admiration. As long as he was there, everything would be all right.

[Olias of Sunhillow]

"Heh, heh," replied Professor Marvel; "yes, I've got some of that with me, but other than possibly startling whomever we're after momentarily with a flash of light, I don't know that that's going to be the most effective thing to use. But...", and he smiled a reassuring smile to her, "...I DO have my Bag-of-Tricks with me. I'm sure I can find SOMEthing useful in there..."

With that, he flexed his arm that Claire was holding, at the elbow, so that he momentarily squeezed the arm of hers that was holding on to him. It was the closest thing to a hug he could give her in front of everyone, and the closest thing to a hug he could give her without being 'improper'. But she seemed to be loosening her personal boundaries with him, and she seemed to appreciate it.

[Siren]

"Good," she said, returning his smile nervously. "That's good." Something in her stomach fluttered when he squeezed her arm, and she instinctively placed a gloved hand over her midsection, murmuring, "That's queer..." under her breath. Perhaps it was the excitement (and terror) of what was about to happen, but she felt very peculiar, almost light-headed. She wondered if she was about to faint again, and admonished herself sternly. She had to find her father, and rescue him from whomever had taken him. Although what he would say when he realized that she had been tromping off into the wilderness with strange men, she did not know.

"Oh, I wish they would hurry," Claire whispered to Professor Marvel. "I hate this waiting, I hate not knowing..." She let the sentence trail off.

[wyrdrun]

As preoccupied as he was with poor Ezra's recent victimization, Abel couldn't help but notice something between Claire & Professor Marvel. He had a feeling the Professor could see in the dark if he wanted to, but couldn't say so. He waited for the Sherrif to lead the deputies in the direction the Doctor himself had indicated.
"Ah, well, then, I'll just go get those lanterns, then, shall I? I'll bring back the silver bullets, too, not that I think they'll do much good."
He went back to his room & collected every bit of offensive material he could carry. On his way out, he grabbed a necklace he had found in Egypt. It had certain properties that he thot might be worthwhile in the current situation.