Springtime In The City 8.

The City Of Vexil. 

It's drizzling the next morning, and Zam the ex mercenary finds himself in the stables at the rear of the Merchant's Rest inn. 

The stables are empty as none of the group have horses, and there's no other customers staying at the inn at this time. 

The poor stableboy with nothing to do, has been roped into working in the inn itself. He's the one who has been sent to the nearby bakery at least a few times a day, to help feed Dorc da Orc. 

And the large ork is the reason the teenager originally from The City Of Ruins finds himself in the stables this morning. 

For the simple reason sir Percavelle Lé Dic and Tovis the war engineer arrived in the city yesterday afternoon. 

And ever since, the ork warleader and the noble born knight from the kingdom of Druvic, have been constantly arguing. 

And this morning during breakfast, the two of them were arguing so much, that Zam had to get out of the common room, and come out to the stables. 

The ex mercenary isn't the only one with the same idea. As Mira Reinholt the mage also decided to get away from the arguing rivals. 

So now the youngest member of the group finds himself practicing his sword work with the spellcaster who also happens to be a highly skilled swordmaster. 

Zam, in the middle of the stables, stands with sword in hand, keeping the blade in a low guard, with the point to the ground. 

Standing opposite him is the once powerful mage, who lifts an eyebrow as he looks at the latest stance and guard of the teenager who is originally from The City Of Ruins. 

After clearing his throat, Mira Reinholt the mage says "Yeah, you probably don't want to do that" followed in a slightly dry tone of voice with "You're not Lord Farque". 

Slightly wincing in embarrassment, Zam the ex mercenary says "Why not?" then he changes his guard to a more traditional one, instead of imitating the one that the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque favours. 

"Because you have to be a fucking exceptional master of the sword to use that guard" says the mage Reinholt who follows that with "If not, you'll get killed pretty damn quick trying to do that". 

The spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in The Southlands, then says "Hell even I rarely use that, and only with both of my blades". 

Zam nods his head, as the Vexillian mage in exile opposite him, has split his unique looking weapon, and holds just one of the blades, which resembles a short sword. 

While the other blade of the twin bladed staff like weapon, lies on a nearby hay bale, in one of the empty stalls. 

"Left foot further forward, and turn it slightly inwards" says the mage who finds himself, along with the rest of the group at this time, in his homeland of Vexil, here in the early spring. 

"This time, just try to defend" adds the spellcaster who was once a member of the Mage Council of Vexil, younger than Zam at the time. 

The ex mercenary nods his head yes in response to the highly skilled swordmaster, then the mage Reinholt says "Begin". 

The teenager from The City Of Ruins, defends if his life depends on it. For the once powerful mage doesn't go easy on him. 

Mira Reinholt might be in his early forties, but Zam knows he's far quicker with a blade than he is. 

Not to mention, a hell of a lot more talented, let alone having way more experience than the young ex mercenary. 

Though the teenager who over the nearly two years since the group found him in The City Of Ruins. 

Has developed with the sword at an ever increasing rate. Taught to him by pretty much all the members of the group. Including Dorc da Orc and Lord Farque himself. 

Even Shur Kee the monk has taught him things about the sword. Even though the physical adept doesn't use a sword himself. 

Though with the staff he uses, the short statured monk who is originally from beyond The Southlands. Has taught the teenage ex mercenary how to defend and attack those who wield weapons with a long reach. 

Zam barely ducks out of the way of a back hand swing by the swordmaster Reinholt. The youngest member of the group who has already been hit by the flat of Mira's blade this morning. 

Doesn't fancy getting hit by it again. As he's already got a few bruises from their sparring session this morning. 

The once powerful mage holds up his weapon to indicate a halt, and the ex mercenary steps back and lowers his sword. 

"You're getting better" says the exiled Vexillian mage, who follows that with "Even from during the winter time". 

The practitioner of magic gestures to some of the nearby hay bales, and the two of them take a seat, with Zam taking a drink from his water bottle. 

"I know" says the teenager from The City Of Ruins in response to Mira telling him "Remember sparring is all well in good to learn how to fight against a single opponent, maybe two or even three if you're skilled". 

The spellcaster who is a member of Lord Farque's personal council, who is checking his blade, continues with "When it comes to battle against multiple opponents, just hit hard and fast, because technique pretty much becomes irrelevant when you go up against larger numbers". 

"Unless you get really good" says Zam, who has heard this from Mira before, as well as from others in the group. 

"Unless you get really good" says the mage Reinholt who nods in agreement with the teenager from The City Of Ruins, who is the youngest member of the group. 

After a moments pause when he looks out of the open front doors of the stables, Zam asks the once powerful mage "Blademaster yet?". 

"Not quite" is the dry sounding reply from the Vexillian born swordmaster, who suspects the young ex mercenary, could possibly be already ranked a blademaster if he attended one of the public training halls in the city. 

But he, Mira Reinholt. Not to mention Lord Farque himself. Expects a higher standard for one to be ranked a blademaster, compared to Zam's ability at the moment. 

"Though we'll ask Farque in the summer if you're able to attain the rank of blademaster" says the mage who is also a highly skilled swordmaster. 

Which gets a genuine grin of appreciation from the teenager who is originally from The City Of Ruins. 

Looking out of the stable doors again, to the back of the inn across the small courtyard, Zam wryly says "Wonder if those two have stopped arguing?". 

"Doubt it" dryly says Mira Reinholt, who continues in the same dry tone with "The only time they've stopped since Percy turned up yesterday, is whenever that fat greedy slob of an ork stuffs his face with food" followed by "Or to take a swig of booze". 

The ex mercenary nods in agreement with the practitioner of magic who is also a highly skilled swordmaster. 

The Vexillian mage in exile who is also looking to their left out of the open stable doors, then quietly says "They might of stopped if he's come down from upstairs". 

Once again Zam nods in agreement with the mage Reinholt. For the he the once powerful mage is referring to, is Lord Farque himself. Who will quickly bring an end to the arguing ork warleader and former paladin. 

After a few moments, the two of them resume their training. With the highly skilled swordmaster teaches the teenager from The City Of Ruins, a couple of techniques he's yet to learn. 

After a while, as the exiled Vexillian mage stands to one side, to watch the ex mercenary who is the youngest member of the group go through a number of forms. 

Zam sees Mira glance out the stable doors, which the ex mercenary has behind his back. The once powerful mage who has put his black hooded cloak on again, nods his head in greeting. 

The teenager from The City Of Ruins guesses he's being watched. And when a breeze comes in through the open stable doors. Zam realizes from the slight stench he catches a whiff of, that it's Dorc da Orc who is watching him. 

And when the swordmaster Reinholt eventually calls him to halt. And the ex mercenary turns around, he sees the large heavily armoured figure of Lord Farque just outside the stables with the warleader of the ork race. 

"You're improving" says Lord Farque to Zam once the ex mercenary and the once powerful mage make their way out of the stables. 

"Dorc?" says the spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, who looks at the large ork, then nods at the youngest member of the group. 

"Better cunt" grunts Dorc da Orc, which Zam will take as a compliment. For that's pretty much high praise from the ork weaponsmith, who rarely if ever compliments anyone else in the group, about anything they do. 

The ex mercenary grins and nods to the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world, who stands there scowling in disgust as it continues to drizzle on this spring morning, here in the city of Vexil. 

"Come on you two" says Lord Farque or Draugodrottin which is the name he's also known by to the people of his lands. 

"We're are we off to?" asks Mira Reinholt who lifts a questioning eyebrow as he looks at the lord of the death realm. 

"To diversify" is the dry sounding reply from the large heavily armoured deathlord of Farque, which causes Dorc da Orc to mutter "To fucken what?". 

The undead warlord leads the way across the small courtyard, and around the secluded inn, here in the north of the capital city. 

And though the lord of the death realm doesn't reply to that from the ork who is a general in his Armies. 

He does reply to the large ork, when Dorc da Orc or Dorkindle which is his given name, asks the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque "Why me gotta fucken go?". 

As the weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks definitely does not want to be out this morning. For the simple reason there's a constant drizzle falling upon the city of Vexil. 

"Because you and the fucking annoying knight's constant bickering is getting on everyone's nerves" replies Lord Farque who has the elven name of Des'tier, which means The Destroyer. 

"That's fucking why" adds the undead being, whose lands are far to the south of Vexil, which is a city-state located in the central region of The Southlands. 

The ork warleader opens his mouth to argue with the large heavily armoured deathlord, who switches to the ork language, and says something to the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world. 

Zam sees Dorc go silent and scowl after hearing that from Lord Farque, which the ex mercenary is pretty certain contained a hell of a lot of swearing. 

As he's figured out, and been told by the other members of the group, that the ork language is pretty much all swearing. 

The teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins, refrains from grinning as the large ork, who is silent, continues to scowl as they head out through the covered lane that leads to the nearby street from the secluded inn. 

Once on the street, Lord Farque turns right, and leads the three of them on this spring morning, where it continues to drizzle with rain. 

Where they're going, Zam the ex mercenary has absolutely no idea, he's just glad to be out and about, and doing something today, here in the city of Vexil, the capital of the city-state with the same name . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 7.

Vexil. 

Like yesterday, it's raining again in the morning. And after having breakfast, Zam the ex mercenary walks into the reception chamber, and looks out the glass window next to the closed front door. 

The teenager from The City Of Ruins, turns to the innkeeper who tells him "Probably rain for a few more days yet". 

The innkeeper, an affable fellow by the name of Krishin, who is sitting on a high stool behind the front counter, continues with "Tends to be that way during the early spring here in the city". 

The proprietor of the Merchant's Rest, follows that with "It'll rain for four or five days in a row, maybe even a seven day" he then adds "Then the weather will be clear and sunny for a few days, then the rain will return". 

Zam nods at that, as he's heard from both Mira Reinholt the mage, and Helbe the elven thief, that seems to be the pattern of the weather here in the city of Vexil during the early spring. 

The innkeeper who is going over a ledger, as he's probably never made so much revenue in his entire career. 

For the simple fact of how much Dorc da Orc is eating and drinking whilst the group is staying here in the Merchant's Rest inn. 

So much so, that the owner of the inn has had to get more daily deliveries of both alcohol and food, which the large ork goes through with ease. 

A nearby bakery is doing a roaring trade too. For the innkeeper has one of the staff go over there a few times a day to buy whatever the bakery is selling. Just to keep the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world fed. 

Business has been booming so much, even though the group are the only customers at the moment. 

That the innkeeper has had to hire on another kitchen hand, to help his wife. Who is the head cook for the inn. 

Zam nods to the owner of the Merchant's Rest, and wishes the man a good day, then the ex mercenary who is the youngest member of the group. 

Makes his way back into the common room of the inn, where most of the group are, after having breakfast this morning. 

The ex mercenary looks around and sees that Helbe the elven thief isn't present. Which isn't surprising, considering he's gone most of the time. 

Apart from that, the rest of the group, who are here in the city of Vexil at this time, are in the common room of the inn, including Lord Farque himself. 

Who is at one of the corner tables with Mira Reinholt the mage and Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman. 

Dorc da Orc who is drinking from a small wooden cask of some kind of strong liquor, whilst sharpening a set of his daggers. 

Sits on the floor next to the table where the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque is sitting with two of the members of his personal council. 

Zam is just wondering who he should sit with, as he tends to gravitate towards Lisell Maera the scout leader and Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy. 

When the undead warlord waves over Beldane the cleric and has a quiet word with him. Then Lord Farque calls over the ex mercenary who is originally from The City Of Ruins. 

"Go with Beldane" says Lord Farque once Zam makes his way over to the table where the undead warlord is sitting with the once powerful mage, and the rotund woman who isn't what she appears to be. 

With a glance over at Dorc da Orc, who he then gestures to, Zam the ex mercenary says to the lord of the death realm "Are we going back up to the border region?". 

The large heavily armoured deathlord shakes his full helmed head no, then says to the teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins "Beldane will explain". 

The ex mercenary nods after the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque turns back to Mira Reinholt and Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson, and resumes their conversation. 

"Come on" says Beldane the cleric who points to the nearby stairs that heads up to the second floor of the inn. 

Zam follows the powerful practitioner of magic in the church of Glaine up the stairs, and to the fighting cleric's room. 

After closing the door behind him, the ex mercenary looks at the spellcaster who hails from the kingdom of Nastell, who tells him "We're going to check up on something". 

The teen ex mercenary nods, then he watches as Beldane starts casting a spell, and quickly a gateway starts to form in the middle of the room. 

After it forms, Zam pauses for a moment, before he realizes he's to go through the magical doorway first. 

He nods at Beldane who is looking at him, then the ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins goes through the gateway, with a hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to draw it if necessary. 

Once through the gateway, Zam steps forward then to one side, a moment later and the fighting cleric walks out of this side of the gateway. Which then disappears after the powerful cleric in the church of Glaine drops the spell. 

The first thing that Zam notices is that it's not raining here, wherever here is. Though the skies above them are overcast. 

The ex mercenary who is on a hilltop, a hill dotted with trees of various sizes. Overlooks a road, and town about a quarter mile to the west. 

Zam slightly frowns, and before he can ask Beldane where they are. The fighting cleric names a town about thirty five miles to the north of the city of Vexil. 

The youngest member of the group nods, as he recognizes the name of the town, and as he looks more closely at the nearby town. 

He recalls passing through it earlier in the week, when he and Dorc da Orc escorted the wagon packed with gold, down from the hill country in northern Vexil, to the capital of the city-state. 

Before Zam can ask the cleric in the church of Glaine what they're doing here, the powerful spellcaster from the north of the kingdom of Nastell, which is where his god Glaine is predominantly worshipped. 

Tells the ex mercenary "Trying to locate Tovis and Percy" the fighting cleric in the half plate armour continues with "We were expecting them in the city yesterday, or at least early in the morning today". 

Beldane follows on from that with "They might of ran into trouble with the weather, which has probably slowed them down". 

The powerful practitioner of magic is silent for a moment or two, then he quietly says "Also Lord Farque can't sense them". 

Zam slightly nods, as he's worked out since joining the group, that the undead warlord can sense anyone and anything up to about thirty miles from him. Especially those that he knows well. 

The ex mercenary looks at the fighting cleric in the church of Glaine, and sees that Beldane stands there with his eyes closed. And he figures the Nastellian practitioner of magic is casting. 

After a few moments, the cleric wearing half plate armour, grunts then opens his eyes, and he says in a slightly dry tone "Percy's there". As he gestures at the nearby town. 

Zam is just wondering how Beldane can locate the large heavily armoured knight, considering sir Percavelle Lé Dic isn't a spellcaster. 

When he remembers that the former paladin, who is member of the order of The Knights of Saint Mar'che, carries a couple of magical items on himself. 

Infact they're extremely powerful, though you have to know what they are to identify them, as well as locate them. 

"Let's go down there" says the powerful fighting cleric who is a member of the church of Glaine as he points at the nearby town. 

Zam stands close to Beldane, who then teleports the two of them down to the town, that lies next to the main road that comes down from the northern hill country, up in the border region with the kingdom of Girdane. 

They enter the town from the east, with the fighting cleric in the half plate armour leading the way. 

Zam sees that the town is fairly busy for the time in the morning that it is, similar to when he and Dorc da Orc passed through here. 

The ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins, looks up as an airship passes by overhead, it's a Vexillian aircorp warship, and it's heading north. 

Beldane who has glanced up at too, quietly says to Zam "They've stepped up their patrols up near the border with Girdane". 

The youngest member of the group nods in agreement with the powerful practitioner of magic, then slightly grins when the fighting cleric in the church of Glaine quietly and dryly adds "I wonder why" 

Then the spellcaster from northern Nastell, points to a street coming up to their right, and says "They're that way" he briefly pauses before continuing with "Well, Percy is at least". 

They turn the corner, and head down the street, like nearly all of the streets in the fairly large and busy town, is paved. 

"Pretty sure this place was rebuilt after the war" explains Beldane the cleric referring to the Battle of Vexil, which took place just over a quarter of a century ago. 

He gestures at the buildings they pass by, and adds "Nearly all of these are new, as in since the end of the war". 

The powerful practitioner of magic continues with "And the roads are paved with the larger square slabs" he follows that with "Unlike older places that have cobblestone streets". 

Zam nods in agreement as he looks at their surroundings now with that information, something he didn't notice when he passed through here nearly a week ago. 

Then the ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins looks to where Beldane points and says "There". 

And he sees a horse drawn wagon come out of the side of a building, it's a turner and wheelwright's business. 

And watching the wagon is Tovis the war engineer, and while the driver is accompanied by a pair of hired guards, one sitting on the wagon bench with him. And the other sitting on what's covered in the wagon bed. 

Sir Percavelle Lé Dic follows behind the wagon as it makes it's way out of the wheelwright's business. 

Tovis the war engineer, who hails from the kingdom of Druvic, spots the approaching fighting cleric and ex mercenary, and waves to them in greeting. 

"I gather something happened?" asks Beldane the cleric as they walk alongside the wagon which is heading south through the town. 

"Wheel broke a couple miles north of town the day before yesterday" says Tovis the war engineer, who continues with "The wheelwright is busy at the moment, a lot of repairs as the surrounding farms get ready for the planting season". 

The strong muscular war engineer, who wears a long leather smock, that Zam knows is armoured, then adds "We had to wait our turn". 

Beldane nods at that, then quietly says "We were wondering why you were late" then the fighting cleric glances back at sir Percavelle Lé Dic, who has a sour look upon his face as he follows behind the wagon. 

"What's up with Percy?" asks the powerful Nastellian born spellcaster who has switched to the elven language. 

Zam glances back at the large heavily armoured knight, who barely acknowledged them when they turned up. 

In fact the usually boisterous, some would say pompous, nobleman from the kingdom of Druvic. Is much quieter than he normally is. 

Which in the opinion of the ex mercenary is a blessing from the gods. And Zam isn't a particularly religious individual. So that's basically a miracle all things considered. 

With a faint smile upon his face as they make their way out of town, Tovis the war engineer, also in elvish, says "We had to push the wagon those couple of miles to town". 

Tovis who previously served a prominent noble in southern Druvic, before joining the group, and the Armies of Farque, and becoming a commanding officer in Lord Farque's Armies. 

Explains that the horses couldn't pull the wagon, as that would completely break the damaged wheel, which still could roll, if it was pushed. 

And the former paladin in the order of The Knights of Saint Mar'che, along with Tovis and the pair of hired guards had to push the gold laden wagon to town. 

"He's been pissed with it since" adds the war engineer with a chuckle, which causes both Zam and Beldane to grin. 

The fighting cleric points to a road that goes off the main road that goes south towards the capital city. 

And after Tovis tells the driver to head that way, Beldane tells the commander in the engineering division of the Armies of Farque "Well I can get you closer to the city". 

The powerful practitioner of magic follows that with "Can't take you directly to the capital" he continues with "The City Council, and more importantly the Mage Council, aren't fond of that". 

The member of the church of Glaine then says "They don't care about personal gateways and rifts" followed by "But anything bigger, like something wagon sized, or airship sized, they come down on hard". 

Once they round a bend, and a small hill, so that the town is out of view from the side road they're on. 

Beldane the cleric calls for a stop, and he starts casting, a few moments later, and a gateway, large enough for a wagon to go through forms. 

Zam the ex mercenary goes through right behind sir Percavelle Lé Dic who hurried through the gateway after it formed. 

After the others come through, and the fighting cleric drops his spell, and the gateway vanishes. Zam who is looking around, and sees that they're on a wagon track, between fields on a farm. And that is raining once again. 

Looks at Beldane who points to a nearby road, and tells Tovis "We're about a dozen miles northeast of the city" he continues with "That road leads directly to one of the gates in the north wall". 

The powerful practitioner of magic who hails from the kingdom of Nastell adds "You should get there later in the afternoon". 

The war engineer from the kingdom of Druvic, nods in agreement, then says to Beldane and Zam "We'll see you there". 

The fighting cleric and the ex mercenary watch as the others head to the nearby road, knowing that even a dozen miles from the city of Vexil. 

Things are more than settled on the roads, which are patrolled from both the ground and the air, by the army and aircorp of the city-state. 

After a few moments, Beldane the cleric says to Zam the ex mercenary "Come on, let's head back". 

Then the powerful spellcaster who hails from the kingdom of Nastell casts a gateway that will take them back to the city of Vexil, on this rainy spring day in this part of the city-state . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 6.

The City-State Of Vexil. 

It's still raining as they head back to the Merchant's Rest. Zam the ex mercenary who is walking beside Tamric Drubine the field commander, listens to Lord Farque and Helbe the elven thief who are in front. 

"That's going to be a problem" quietly says Helbe the elven thief who is speaking in elven to the undead warlord. 

"How so?" asks Lord Farque in the same language as the group rounds a corner onto another street, which Zam is glad to see, that many of the shops and buildings have awnings out in front of them. 

Giving some respite to the constant rain that's been falling all morning here in the capital city of Vexil. 

"Because that mage Garmen will want answers" is the quiet reply from the young elven noble who hails from the island principality of Laerel. 

"Answers to what?" asks Tamric Drubine the field commander, who along with Zam, as well as Saanea the witch and Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, both of whom are at the back of the group. 

Are listening closely to the conversation between the large heavily armoured deathlord of Farque and the highly talented elven magic user. 

Helbe the elven thief or prince Helbenthril Raendril of Laerel to give him his full name slightly winces, then says "Because ah Mira killed his son". 

The elven masterthief briefly pauses before continuing with "Up in the hill country, back in the winter". 

"One of those mages we ran into just after we crossed the border?" asks the young field commander who is originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin. 

"Yeah, something like that" says the elven princeling who also happens to be a master assassin. 

That gets a sideways look and down from the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque to the elven master archer walking beside him. 

The undead warlord who has the name of Draugodrottin that the people of his lands also know him by, stares at the elf who is a member of his personal council, and is his envoy. 

"Out with it" says the lord of the death realm in a cool tone of voice after he holds up a gauntleted hand for the group to stop beneath one of shop fronts with an overhead awning. 

"Well technically Mira didn't actually kill him" says Helbe the elven thief who is the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel. 

After a moment or two, the elven master assassin clears his throat, then adds "I was the one who actually killed him". 

"So how is that a problem for Mira?" asks the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque as he continues to stare at his envoy. 

"Because Mira was battling the mage Garmen junior" says the highly talented elven practitioner of magic, who follows that with "And those surviving members of the younger Garmen's squad think he died in an explosion caused by an enemy mage". 

The lord  of the death realm who has the elven name of Des'tier, which translates to The Destroyer, grunts. Then he gestures for them all to continue on. 

Tamric Drubine nods at hearing that, as does Zam along with Saanea the witch and Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson. Who were all there when the mage Reinholt was in a battle with the younger Garmen mage. 

"Didn't Mira say something about how he knew that Garmen?" says Zam the ex mercenary as they continue down the street they're on. 

"The father, not the son he was battling" continues the teenager who is originally from The City Of Ruins. 

Helbe the elven thief nods his hooded head as they get to the end of the street, then hurry across a near empty square as they go north through the city of Vexil. 

"He did" says the grandson of Prince Raendril, who follows that with "He's one of the surviving mages from before the Battle of Vexil" the elven master archer follows that with "He was on the Mage Council when Mira was appointed to it". 

As the enter a street, that's covered with a stone arch roof, a street that has a market down the length of it. 

The young elven noble who hails from the island principality of Laerel quietly says "He also helped exile Mira". 

"Great" sourly says the lord of the death realm, who follows that up with "Still, it shouldn't be a problem". 

The undead warlord falls silent as they walk through the busy part of the covered market street. 

Draugodrottin resumes the conversation once they near the north end of the market street, and he says "They'll be hard pressed to fucking figure out it was Mira in a mage battle with this Garmen's son". 

The large heavily armoured deathlord continues in a slightly dry tone with "These are mages after all, they're not exactly known for being subtle, nor working out details when it comes to figuring things out". 

As they exit the covered market street, the highly talented elven spellcaster nods his hooded head in agreement with the lord of the death realm. 

Then the youngest member of the royal family that rules the island principality of Laerel, quietly says "True" he briefly pauses before adding "Though they might not, but they do have other spellcasters at their disposal who are". 

The elven master assassin follows that with "And there's plenty of spells which can show what happened from a couple of months ago up in the border region". 

"Fuck" mutters Des'tier, who after glancing back at the rest of the group as they walk through the rain, he switches to the royal or noble elven language, and says to his envoy "Between this, and me, Beldane and Dorc keeping clear of the inner west of the city, well the Temple Square and surrounding neighbourhoods, that's all we fucking need". 

Helbe the elven thief nods in agreement, then says in the same language "Not to mention all the snooping around up in the hill country with the City Council trying to figure out what happened up there in the winter". 

The young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel continues with "They're bound to come across the mines we've taken over" he then adds "I just hope my deception will hold up under scrutiny". 

The deathlord of Farque sourly grunts at that, follow by a muttered "That's all we fucking need at this time". 

The elven princeling whose mother is the heir to the island principality of Laerel, and whose father is the Warden of Quinthain, a forest city that lies to the east of the Lands Farque. 

Once again nods in agreement with the undead warlord, then he quietly says "By the looks of things, it doesn't look like Garmen senior has the backing of the Mage Council as a whole". 

The elven masterthief follows that with "If he did, then the City Council would just get a proclamation from the Mage Council telling them to solely investigate the son's death" he then adds "Instead of him showing up at every public council meeting over the last few weeks, telling them to do it". 

The large heavily armoured deathlord nods his full helmed head at that, as he knows that the Mage Council has to have a majority consensus for them to proclaim things to be done throughout the city-state that they effectively rule. 

And lone mages, or for that matter two or three mages, or small groups of them on the Mage Council cannot implement laws and proclamations that the City Council has to undertake. 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque learnt this over the years in detail from Mira Reinholt, who was the youngest ever member of the Mage Council of Vexil, until he was kicked off it, and sent into exile during the Battle of Vexil just over twenty five years ago. 

Switching back to the elven language which the others can understand, Lord Farque quietly says "Well if any problems come up because of all of this, we'll just fucking deal with it". 

Next to the large figure of the deathlord of Farque, the highly talented elven magic user nods his hooded head in agreement, as he hopes so. For he has a feeling things won't go smoothly this spring, here in the city of Vexil, and elsewhere in the city-state. 

If it's found out that they, in particular Mira Reinholt the mage, had anything to do with the death of the son of mage Garmen, who is a member of the Mage Council of Vexil. 

Meanwhile, behind the undead warlord and the elven princeling, the ex mercenary Zam wonders what's for lunch at the Merchant's Rest. 

The teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins shakes his head and wryly smiles, for lately he's been thinking about what's to eat during a day. 

Zam can't help but think that hanging around Dorc da Orc a lot quite lately has made an impression upon him. 

As no way in the past he'd been thinking about the upcoming midday meal as he and the others head back to their accommodation on this rainy spring morning, here in the city of Vexil. 

After they spent the morning at the Chambers of the City Council of Vexil. Which had a meeting this morning open to the public. 

A little while later and they head off the street, behind which the Merchant's Rest inn is located. They go through the tunnel like lane, to the square that's in front of the discreet inn where they're staying. 

And though it's still raining, the buildings that surround the small square, block off any strong wind, that's been occasionally blowing this spring morning. 

They enter the inn, and once they go through the reception chamber, Zam heads upstairs to his room, to change out of his wet cloak. 

As the ex mercenary from the City Of Ruins heads upstairs, he sees Lord Farque, along with Helbe the elven thief and Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman. 

Sit down at the table where Mira Reinholt the mage has been sitting by himself reading from a couple of books ever since they left the inn earlier in the morning. 

Upstairs, the teen ex mercenary sees that the door to his room is ajar. As he steps closer to it, Zam smells who's inside his room, before he sees who it is. 

"Dorc what are you doing in my room?" asks Zam the ex mercenary who when he enters his room, finds the large ork sitting on the floor next to the window, which is open as the ork warleader looks out of it. 

"Better to fucken look out" states Dorc da Orc, who gestures down to the other end of the hallway, before he continues on with "Better than fucken mine one". 

The ex mercenary rolls his eyes, then takes off his wet cloak, and hangs it over the ladder back chair next to the bed. 

After taking another cloak from the standing wardrobe, and putting it on. Zam looks at the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world and shakes his head. 

As he figures the ork who is a general in the Armies of Farque, is hoping to catch sight of a dwarf or troll that goes by the nearby street, which can partially be seen from Zam's room. 

Leaving the weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks, who is nursing a barrel of ale that he's brought up with him. 

The ex mercenary who is originally from the City Of Ruins, heads back down to the common room. And he takes a seat at the table where Tamric Drubine the field commander and Saanea the witch, are sitting with Lisell Maera the scout. 

At the table closest to them is Beldane the cleric and Shur Kee the monk, and Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy. 

Though none of them are openly showing it, they're all paying attention to the conversation going on at the table, where Lord Farque, Helbe the elven thief, and Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, are sitting with Mira Reinholt the mage. 

Who is silent as he listens to what his fellow practitioner of magic, prince Helbenthril Raendril of Laerel has to say. 

After Zam orders his lunch from the serving woman, the ex mercenary quietly says to the others at the table with him "Think anything will happen?". 

Tamric Drubine along with his lover, Saanea the witch. As well as Lisell Maera the scout all look over at the table where the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque is in conversation with three of those who are members of his personal council. 

"Maybe" is the reply from Tamric Drubine the field commander or Tam as he's more commonly called by those who know him well. 

"If that mage Garmen does find out what happened up in the hill country near the border with Girdane" adds the young man in his early twenties, who is originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin. 

"And it leads to Mira, and what he did" continues the field commander in the Armies of Farque, who briefly pauses before dryly adding "Well, what Helbe actually did". 

The young noble who hails from the forested north of the kingdom of Sarcrin, follows that with "I know whose shoes I wouldn't want to be in". 

Tam pauses for a moment or two before he continues on with "It's not Mira that's definitely for sure". 

Zam can't help but nod in agreement with the young field commander, who is a senior officer in the Armies of Farque. 

For he knows that though the mage Reinholt is far less powerful than other mages, due to losing most of his powers some years ago because of a rift/void spell that he accidentally cast which sent him offworld. 

The ex mercenary, even at his age, and lack of experience. Knows that the Mira Reinholt, who is a local spellcaster. 

Is far more accomplished than pretty much all other mages. For the simple reason that mages on the whole, don't really think things through. And that they tend to just blow things up, and deal with the circumstances, if there's any. After all the violence and mayhem that they wreck. 

"Finally lunch" murmurs Zam after the serving woman brings him his meal, along with a mug of ale to go with it. 

As he eats his meal, the ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins, wonders what the rest of his stay here in the city of Vexil has in-store for him. 

Probably more rain, Zam thinks to himself as he's heard from Mira Reinholt the mage, and other locals such as the innkeeper, and the serving women. 

That springtime in the city of Vexil does usually have a fair bit of rain, especially in the early spring like it is now . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 5.

Vexil. 

Unlike yesterday which dawned cold. The morning today that Zam the ex mercenary wakes up to, is much warmer. More springlike temperature in the opinion of the teenager originally from The City Of Ruins. 

Though it might be warmer today than yesterday. When it was cold, but sunny. This morning it's raining. Not a heavy rain, nor is it light. It's a constant rain. Which doesn't look like it's going to stop anytime soon. 

After having breakfast, which he has with Beldane the cleric. Along with Shur Kee the monk. Zam the ex mercenary is just wondering what he'll do today. 

When Lord Farque makes his way down into the common room of the Merchant's Rest. It's the first time the ex mercenary has seen the undead warlord since returning to the city of Vexil with Dorc da Orc a few days ago. 

Apart from briefly seeing the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque, when he and the ork warleader brought the wagon full of gold to the counting house. Which isn't all that far from the inn that the group is staying at whilst here in the city of Vexil. 

The large heavily armoured deathlord stops at their table, and quietly tells Shur Kee the monk to keep an eye on Dorc da Orc today. 

At the moment, the large ork is sitting in a corner of the common room, drinking from a barrel of ale. 

The big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world, took one look outside. Then started loudly muttering to anyone who'll listen about the unfairness of it all. 

And how he can't go out. Because it's raining, and doesn't look like it's going to stop anytime soon. At least not until later in the day. 

The large ork who was contemplating wondering around the city. In hopes of finding some random dwarf he could kill. Or troll. As he knows there's a fair few trolls working at the airship building yards in the city. 

But not to be, because it's raining. Which the weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks, like all orks. Absolutely hates. For the simple reason orks hate getting wet. 

After telling Shur Kee to keep an eye on Dorc da Orc, Lord Farque looks at Zam for a moment, then says to him "Come along". 

The ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins, lifts an eyebrow in surprise, then gets up, and hurries after the deathlord of Farque who is heading for the front door. 

Where Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman is waiting, along with Tamric Drubine the field commander, and Saanea the witch. 

Mira Reinholt the mage, who has just been speaking with the rotund woman who is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra. 

Nods to the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque and the ex mercenary, before he heads back into the common room where the rest of the group are, with the exception of Helbe the elven thief, as well as sir Percavelle Lé Dic and Tovis the war engineer, both of whom aren't in the city at the moment. 

As the four of them make their way out through the reception chamber, then out the door, the undead warlord in a dry tone of voice says to Zam "Probably best if he doesn't come along". As the ex mercenary was just wondering out loud why the mage Reinholt isn't with them this morning. 

Hurrying through the rain, they cross the small square surrounded by buildings all around it. And going through the tunnel like lane that leads out to the nearby street. 

The undead warlord stops, then says to Saanea the witch "Here". Zam frowns as he looks at the section of wall the large heavily armoured deathlord has just pointed at. 

The next moment, a section of that wall slides open, to reveal a set of stairs. Which they head up, with the witch who is originally from the Maldin Hills, closing the hidden section of the wall behind them. 

The top of the stairs comes out onto a rooftop of a four storey building almost completely opposite the Merchant's Rest inn. 

With the rain falling, Zam squints as he looks away to where Lord Farque gestures. After which, Saanea the witch tells them "Stand close". 

Then after her familiar, which at present is a crow, lands upon her right shoulder, squawking in indignation at being out in the rain. 

The practitioner of magic who also happens to be the lover of Tamric Drubine the field commander, teleports them all away on this rainy spring morning. 

After they reappear, and he wipes rain drops off his face, Zam the ex mercenary who is just wondering where they are, sees something, and asks "What's that?". 

"The City Council Chambers" is the reply from Lord Farque who leads them to a set of steps, which go down off the rooftop they're on top of. 

In front of them, the view is dominated by the massive structure that's the chambers of the city council of Vexil. 

The massive circular building, is on the south side of a square, here in the center of the city that's the capital of the city-state of Vexil. 

Zam looks further south, and sees another massive structure, this one a tower. The tallest structure in the city by far. 

The teenage ex mercenary knows what that tower is. It's the tower of the Mage Council of the city-state of Vexil. 

The Mage Council being the true rulers of Vexil, who make the most important decisions on behalf of the city-state. 

Though once down off the building they appeared on top of thanks a teleportation spell cast by Saanea the witch. 

The deathlord of Farque, who has the name of Draugodrottin that the people of his lands also know him by. Heads towards the Chambers of the City Council. 

Walking alongside the undead warlord through the constant rain is Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman. 

While Zam along with the witch who is originally from the Maldin Hills, and the young field commander, who hails from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin. 

Walk behind the large heavily armoured figure of the lord of the death realm, and the rotund woman, who is a member of his personal council. 

They cross the massive square fairly quickly, much to the relief of Zam, who is already getting sick of this constant rain this morning. 

Then after they go through an open set of doors, which a few other people have just gone through, the ex mercenary who is originally from The City Of Ruins, asks "Why are we here?". 

Inside the massive reception hall they find themselves in, and after Zam shakes the rain off his cloak. 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque looks at him, then Tamric Drubine and Saanea the witch, and he quietly tells them "Keep an eye on things in there". Followed by "Make a point of remembering every decision that's made". 

The ex mercenary nods his head, as does the field commander in the Armies of Farque, along with the practitioner of magic who hails from the west coast of The Southlands. 

Seeing the slight look of confusion on the face of Zam, Draugodrottin or Des'tier to give him his elven name, quietly says "The City Council is on today". 

The large heavily armoured deathlord follows that up with "The public gallery's are open today" followed by "Hence why we're here". 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins nods his head in understanding, then he along with Tamric Drubine and Saanea the witch follow after the undead warlord, and the rotund woman who is on his personal council. 

As they cross over to a set of doors, one of many entrances to the council chambers themselves, that the public are allowed to enter on certain days. And today is one of those certain days. 

Zam sees a number of the public, people from all stripes of life by the looks of it. Enter through the set of doors. 

As others are doing, right around the interior of the massive circular building that houses the chambers of the City Council of Vexil. 

The undead warlord leads the way inside, people instinctively get out of the way of the large heavily armoured figure of the deathlord of Farque. 

And Draugodrottin enters a row of seats, taking the second to last one, leaving the last seat on the far end to the right, free to the aisle in that direction. 

Zam finds himself in between Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, who is to his right, next to Lord Farque. 

And Tamric Drubine the field commander, who is to the ex mercenary's left. With Saanea the witch who is sitting to the left of her lover, the noble born young man originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin. 

The practitioner of magic who hails from the Maldin Hills is at the left end of the row of seats that the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque has taken. 

One look from the lord of the death realm is enough for anyone thinking about sitting on the empty seat next to him to move along. 

Zam sees that undead warlord has also picked this row, because immediately behind them is no seats. As the wide aisle runs behind it. 

The ex mercenary looks around at the massive chamber, that must seat over five thousand people when it's completely full. 

At the moment it's only about a quarter full. And because it's so early in the springtime, it's not even expected to be half full by the time the council meeting is well and truly underway later in the morning. 

Zam looks down into the center of the chamber, where upon the floor, is a large ring table, with seats around it, where members of the city council sit. 

At the moment, there's just over a dozen councilors down on the chamber floor. Not even half of the full membership of the council. 

Occasionally another council member will make their way down the aisles to join their fellow members down on the floor. 

Even so, it's still not even half of the City Council of Vexil present once the meeting gets underway, not long after the group entered the chambers. 

After looking at some of the council guards, many scattered throughout the public galleries. While more stand down on the circular floor, looking up at the public. 

Zam listens to what's being discussed by the city council, which is far easier than he thought it would be. Since the acoustics inside the massive chamber is so good, that everyone, no matter where they're sitting, can hear what's been discussed down on the floor. 

And it's not too long before the ex mercenary hears something that he's familiar with. As one of council members brings up the insurrection in the hill country of northern Vexil, that took place not so long ago during the winter. 

An insurrection that was first thought to be an invasion by the kingdom of Girdane, which lies to the north of the city-state of Vexil. But turned out to be a mercenary army, that infiltrated from across the border in Girdane. 

Which isn't strictly true, as Zam can attest to. As he with much of the rest of the group were part of that mercenary army. 

Who were actually based, and staged in northern Vexil. Who briefly crossed over the border into Girdane, then quickly back across the border into northern Vexil. 

To make it look like it was an invading army from the kingdom of Girdane, that came across the border into the hill country in the north of the city-state of Vexil. 

Zam glances to his right, across Malisse aka Zubutai the son of Timagin, to look at Lord Farque. 

Who he sees has turned his head slightly to the empty seat to his right. And slightly nods his full helmed head at something.

It's then that the ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins, understands that Helbe the elven thief must be in that empty seat at the moment, and he's telling the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque something. 

After listening and watching the discussion down on the floor for a while, Zam starts to hear murmuring from amongst some of the crowd in the galleries. 

"Who's that?" quietly asks Tamric Drubine the field commander, the ex mercenary looks to where the senior officer in the Armies of Farque has nodded. 

And the ex mercenary spots a cloaked figure making their way down one of the aisles on the opposite side of the chamber. 

"Mage" quietly says Saanea the witch, who has a cat in her lap that she's patting. Which gives Zam a moments pause when he sees it. Until he realizes it's the witch's familiar. 

Then the ex mercenary who is originally from the City Of Ruins, looks to his right when he hears a muttered "Shit". That definitely sounded like it came from Helbe the elven thief. 

Zam looks across Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson, and sees Lord Farque has leaned to his right a bit. And is definitely listening to something that the blurred and shielded elven magic user is telling him. 

"Mage Garmen" says one of the city councilors down on the chamber floor, who by the looks of things, isn't exactly pleased to see the mage who walks out onto the floor. 

Nor do many of the other city councilors in attendance, as the mage makes his way through the gap in the ring table, to stand in the very middle of the chamber floor. "How may we help you this morning?" adds the councilor who is speaking. 

Zam slightly nods when next to him, Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman quietly tells him "Member of the Mage Council". 

The rotund woman, who is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra, who just happens to inhabit this particular body, quietly continues with "An important member of the Mage Council". 

The ex mercenary from The City Of Ruins listens as the mage Garmen says "As I've mentioned previously over the last few weeks". 

The powerful practitioner of magic who wears a hoodless cloak, and is ignoring the crowd in the public galleries. 

Tells the councilors "This ongoing investigation into the insurrection into the border region is all well and good". 

The spellcaster, who is a Vexillian briefly pauses before continuing with "But what I want done is an investigation into an attack upon one of our elite squads". 

The councilor who is the spokesman at the time, says "Of course mage Garmen" followed by "Like all such incidents it will be part of the overall investigation which has already begun". 

The councilman briefly pauses before adding "We the council, along with the public are sorry for your". 

"I don't need to hear your petty condolences" interrupts the mage, who glares at the members of the City Council in attendance, then up at the public up into galleries, before looking at the council spokesman again, and saying in a cold tone of voice "See to it that it's done". 

Then he turns and walks away, going through the gap in the ring table, and heading up the aisle that he came down, then he heads out of the council chambers. 

As the members of the City Council all look at one another, and the conversations from up in the public galleries pick up again, after the silence of the arrival of the mage. 

Zam the ex mercenary quietly says to the others in the group with him this morning "What the hell was that all about?" . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 4.

The City-State Of Vexil. 

"I thought they exiled you for good" says the dragon Nol as he peers down at his visitor, who is with him in one of the side courtyards next to the main park, here in the grounds of the Mage College of Vexil. 

"I'm allowed to visit" replies Mira Reinholt the mage who is sitting on a bench along one side of the courtyard, most of which is taken up by the massive frame of the dragon. 

"I just can't live here" adds the spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in The Southlands. 

The dragon who is one of the tutors here at the Mage College, who has no classes today as it's seventh day, the day off for students. 

Grunts after the mage Reinholt says "They've allowed me back ever since I helped stop that war with Tuledare about a decade ago". 

"Hmmm that's right" rumbles the dragon who is black in colour, with a tinge of red, predominantly around the edges of his wings. 

Nol who was hoping to bask in the sunlight of what's a fairly cold start to a spring day here in the capital of the city-state of Vexil. 

Looks closely at the mage who is one of his former students. Who he sees is still lacking in power since he last visited. 

Power that was burnt out of him after he miscast a spell a number of years ago. Which Mira said sent him offworld of all places. A time that he cannot remember.

The dragon knows that his former student speaks the truth concerning that. Hasn't, and for that matter, never will try to restore his memories even if Mira asked him to. 

And for the fact Nol knows he's unable to restore those memories, or the quite formidable amount of power that's missing from his former student. 

The college tutor, who like all dragons. Are more or less the most powerful spellcasters to be found on the world of Volunell. 

The only thing or things more powerful, vastly more powerful for that matter, are the creators of Volunell. The Greater Dragons. 

The dragon Nol suspects that Mira's memories were tampered with by a Greater Dragon. For the mage Reinholt has no idea how he returned to the world of Volunell after going offworld. 

The dragon also suspects that one of the Greater Dragons returned the mage Reinholt to Volunell too. 

For he's guessed over a quite a few millennia that they don't particularly like it when a lifeform from their world, goes off it. That's the physical world to be exact. 

For Nol has first hand experience that the Greater Dragons couldn't care less if someone or something from the physical world of Volunell went to another plane of existence. 

But going offworld itself, Nol is pretty certain that the Greater Dragons are not okay with that in the least. 

The tutor and former student quietly chat, well as quiet as a dragon can chat. With Nol often thinking about how Mira was one of the most powerful mages he's ever taught, or for that matter, encountered. 

Though the mage Reinholt as a child, then teenager, was highly arrogant. But that didn't stop him from being basically the top student of his year. 

Not to mention, he was extremely hard working. Something one wouldn't expect, since he's from basically the wealthiest family in the city-state of Vexil. 

And the fact whilst a student here at the Mage College, Mira went off and learnt to master the sword at one of the public training halls here in the city. 

When most spellcasters, in particular mages. Don't bother to learn using a weapon at all. Especially mages, who are predominantly arrogant, who openly disdain using weapons of any kind. 

Nol softly chuckles, which sounds like a low rumble that reverberates through the ground he's lying on. 

When he asks the once powerful mage what he's up to at the moment. And the spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, is more than a little evasive in his answer. 

The Vexillian mage in exile wryly smiles, as he knows his former tutor, his favourite of all his tutors he had here at the Mage College of Vexil. 

Could easily read his mind to see what he's up to whilst here in Vexil. And has probably done so, without Mira knowing. 

And there's nothing the mage Reinholt could do to stop Nol. Who like all dragons, is immune to all magic. 

"Well, all I can say, is stay out of trouble" dryly says the dragon, who has a wingspan of over two hundred and fifty feet. 

Mira who sits there in the morning sun, with the hood of his cloak down off his head at that moment. Faintly smiles, as he definitely knows now that his former tutor knows what he's up to whilst here in Vexil. 

The mage Reinholt who since returning to the capital city, has caught up with members of his family. In particular his younger half sister Carice. 

Though not his mother, as there's a disconnect in their relationship. So much so, that Mira has barely spoken to her in the more than two and half decades since he was sent into exile. 

The once powerful mage who at seventeen years of age, when he graduated from the Mage College of Vexil. 

Was named a member of the Mage Council of Vexil. The youngest person in the history of the city-state, to be named in such a position. 

For the Mage Council basically rules the city-state of Vexil. Even though there's an actual ruling city council. Who run the city-state on a day to day basis. And make most of the major, though mundane decisions. 

Asks how things are at the moment in the city. Even though he knows Nol doesn't particularly care about what's going on in the city where the most prestigious center of magical learning on the world of Volunell is located. 

After all, Nol wasn't present during the Battle of Vexil just over a quarter of a century ago. When Mira was exiled for betraying the nation of his birth. 

The largest battle in The Southlands for nearly five centuries, conveniently took place during the summer break at the Mage College. When the large dragon always goes away for some rest and relaxation. 

For if Nol was present then, he could of easily stopped the battle. Which saw a number of nations, and others from mainly in the central region of The Southlands, numbered just over quarter of a million soldiers. Attack the city of Vexil, in a battle that lasted just over three days. 

"Oh the usual goings on I guess" says Nol the dragon in his deep rumbling voice, who stretches out a bit, as the cobblestones of the courtyard, heat up in morning sun. On what's a spring day here in the city of Vexil that has dawned cold. 

"Oh?" says Mira Reinholt the mage, who has already got quite a lot of gossip about what's happening here in the capital city, after talking with his sister, as well as some of his cousins, not to mention his uncle, who is the head of the Reinholt family, and the business that bares the family name. 

"Such as what?" adds the spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster as he briefly looks away into the park, before looking back at the massive frame of the dragon, who is a tutor here at the Mage College of Vexil. 

"Politics" sourly says the dragon, who keeps out of the affairs of both the ruling city council, and the Mage Council of Vexil. 

"Think a couple of the Mage Council have been kicking up a stink lately" says the tutor here at the Mage College. 

"Something about some disturbance up north near the border with Girdane during the winter" says Nol, who with a pointed look at his former student, adds "You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?". 

"Absolutely no idea" says Mira Reinholt, knowing that the dragon will see right through his bald faced lie. 

The dragon Nol just snorts at hearing that, and shakes his head as he continues to stare at the mage who is in exile from his homeland of Vexil. 

"Anything else?" asks the practitioner of magic who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, after he clears his throat, hoping that his former tutor, doesn't press him on what happened up in the hill country of northern Vexil, during the winter that's just gone by. 

After arching one of his massive eye ridges, Nol snorts again, then replies to his former student with "That's about it". 

The dragon after a brief pause, continues with "Unless you want hear all the juicy gossip about the staff here at college". 

The mage Reinholt grins, for he's always known about how Nol might not care about what's happening in the city itself. 

But when it comes to The Mage College of Vexil, and what both the staff, and students have been getting up to. The dragon is a busybody to be sure. 

"Not particularly" says the exiled Vexillian mage, who couldn't care less what the students and tutors, as well as the other staff, get up to here on the grounds of The Mage College. 

"Thought not" sourly says Nol, who then starts talking about a number of other things that he's heard about, in recent months, mainly here in the capital city of Vexil. 

The two spellcasters, one human, the other a dragon, continue to chat for quite some time. When people going through the park catch sight of them. They wonder who it is that's speaking with Nol. 

As most people here at the Mage College know the large dragon likes to keep to himself. Not to mention he doesn't like to be disturbed when he's dozing in the sunshine on a seventh day morning. 

A little while later, and Mira Reinholt takes his leave. After thanking his former tutor for the chat about a number of things this morning. 

The once powerful mage heads off, making his way north through the grounds of The Mage College of Vexil. 

As the mage Reinholt walks away, Nol watches him in silence. Though the large dragon shakes his head, as he watches his former student depart. 

Nol who knows that Mira, though no where near powerful as he should be for a mage. Is a far better spellcaster, than he was when younger, and he doesn't need his former levels of power to be effective, and dangerous. 

The dragon continues to watch the spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, until the mage Reinholt walks around a building, and disappears from sight. 

As he does, Nol the dragon hopes his former student Mira keeps out of trouble. But the dragon rather doubts that the once powerful mage will. 

The Vexillian mage in exile walks north through the grounds of The Mage College of Vexil. There's not too many people about this morning. As seventh day is always the quietest day here at The Mage College. 

The mage Reinholt who doesn't particularly want to run into anyone else, other tutors to be exact, who might recognize him. 

Breathes a sigh of relief when he walks out of the open gates in the iron wrought fence, along the north side of the grounds of the most prestigious center of magical learning, not just in The Southlands, but arguably across the entire world of Volunell. 

The exiled Vexillian swordmaster heads north through the city, making his way back to the Merchant's Rest. 

The inn the group is staying at whilst here in the capital of the city-state of Vexil, the mage Reinholt's homeland. 

The once powerful mage who knows this part of the city extremely well, to be fair, he knows the entire city extremely well. 

Spots Zam the ex mercenary a little while later, when the teenager originally from the City Of Ruins, steps out of a shop. 

The ex mercenary spots the mage Reinholt, who nods his hooded head, and crosses the street to join the ex mercenary. 

Who has just purchased a new scabbard for his sword. As well a few throwing knives, that he has already secured to his belt beneath his cloak. 

"Heading back to the inn?" asks the once powerful spellcaster, who is a member of the personal council to Lord Farque. 

After looking up and down the street they're on, Zam the ex mercenary replies with "Might as well". 

As the pair walk north through the city streets, Mira Reinholt asks the youngest member of the group "How was it traveling down here with that raving idiot Dorc?". 

The ex mercenary who hails from the City Of Ruins sourly smiles at that, which causes the once powerful mage to chuckle. 

Then as they continue to walk back to the Merchant's Rest on this fine but cold spring morning. 

Zam the ex mercenary tells Mira Reinholt all about the journey he had with Dorc da Orc over the last week, as they made their way from the hill country up in the north of the city-state, down to here in the capital of Vexil . . . . . . 

Springtime In The City 3.

The City Of Vexil. 

Zam the ex mercenary wakes and for a few moments he wonders where he is. Then he grunts as he realizes he's in his room, in the inn that the group are staying in, whilst here in the city of Vexil. 

The teenage ex mercenary who is originally from The City Of Ruins, shivers as he dresses, as the morning has dawned cold, even though it's early spring. 

After going about his ablutions, Zam heads downstairs to the common room of The Merchant's Rest. 

Not the most expensive inn to be found in the north of the city, nor is it anywhere near the cheapest in an area of the city that's known for it's wealth. 

But what the inn is, is that it's probably the most discreet inn located in the north of the capital city. 

Fairly small with just seven upstairs rooms, all of which are occupied by a member, or members of the group. 

Down in the common room, Zam takes a seat at the table where Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy is sitting with Lisell Maera the scout leader. 

After ordering his morning meal from the serving woman, Zam quietly asks the two others at the table "Percy and Tovis not here yet?". 

After shaking his head no, Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy replies with "Not yet" followed by "They won't be here for at least a few more days". 

Switching to his native language, the spy Tanith continues with "That mine they're coming from, isn't as productive as the one you and Dorc came from". 

Zam nods his head, as he knows the mine that he and Dorc da Orc left a week ago in the hill country of northern Vexil. 

Is the most productive of the recently reopened mines that Lord Farque has taken over in the north of the city-state. 

"Figure they'll have half as much as you and Dorc brought down" continues the elven spy who hails from the principality of Alinlae. 

They fall silent as the serving woman delivers Zam's meal and drink, then after she's gone, Lisell Maera who has just finished her breakfast, quietly says in elvish "So we need a new guard then for that run?". 

"Two would probably be best" says the ex mercenary, who over the last nearly two years with the group, has got a lot more comfortable speaking in the elven language. 

"That one who was with us was fucking useless" adds Zam with a shake of his head, followed by "The driver showed more courage than him even we came under attack". 

Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called, nods his head then he quietly says "His highness is already looking into it". 

Then the three of them turn to look at the stairs, where Dorc da Orc clomps his way down into the common room. 

The large ork then calls out for foods and booze, lots of it too. Before he sits down on the floor next to one of the nearby tables in the quiet common room. 

The benches are no where near capable of holding the weight of the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world. 

"Is Beldane going to send me and Dorc back north?" asks the teenage ex mercenary who silently hopes not. For partnering up with the ork warleader is more than a little stressful to say the least. 

"More than likely" is the reply from the spy Tanith who can't help but grin when Zam sighs in defeat at hearing that. 

"Cheer up" says Dalin, who follows on from that with "Could be worse" as he looks at the ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins. 

"How?" sourly asks Zam after he glances over at the ork weaponsmith, who he can tell is already getting impatient to be served his breakfast. 

"You could be teamed up with both Dorc and Percy" says the grinning elven spy who formerly served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland of Alinlae. 

"Now that" says Lisell Maera or Lis as more often than not she's called by those who know her well, who after a brief pause, continues with "Would be an absolute shitshow". 

Though Zam sourly smiles again, he is definitely in agreement with that from the attractive young woman, who is originally from the city-state of Brattonbury. Which lies on coast of The Southlands. 

As he eats his breakfast, and Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman comes down to the common room, followed by Beldane the cleric. 

The ex mercenary listens to the conversation between the scout Maera and the spy Tanith, both of whom are officers in the Armies of Farque's Scouts and Rangers division, with Dalin being a commander. 

Whilst Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson, and the fighting cleric Beldane, are joined at their table by Shur Kee the monk. 

Who comes inside from the courtyard in front of the small inn, that's located in a small secluded square, that has larger buildings all around it. 

With a glance back to the stairs, Zam who is pretty certain that Helbe the elven thief is out and about in the city somewhere, even though it's just after a dawn, on what's a cold spring day here in the city of Vexil. 

He quietly asks the pair in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque "He here at the moment?". There's only one he that Zam or any of them for that matter refers to. And that's Lord Farque himself. 

The spy who hails from the elven principality of Alinlae, nods his head, and quietly replies to the ex mercenary with "He is" followed by "Upstairs in his room". 

Zam nods at hearing that, then as Dorc da Orc is delivered his breakfast and copious amounts of alcohol, predominantly beer. 

The teenage ex mercenary sees Tamric Drubine the field commander and Saanea the witch make their way inside, from outside the small inn and take a seat at one of the empty tables. 

Zam then asks Dalin and Lis "And the mage?" the ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins, who is the youngest member of the group, then adds "Mira?". 

Dalinvardèl Tanith and Lisell Maera share a look, then the elven spy who is a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque, responds in a quiet voice with "He's out and about in the city somewhere". 

Dalin pauses for a bit, before continuing with "Left before dawn sometime". "Checking up on places he used to frequent, no doubt" adds the scout Maera. 

Both the elven spy and the ex mercenary nod in agreement to that from the young woman whose mother was a street prostitute in Brattonbury, and father a sailor, who plied his trade on The Great Western Ocean. 

Zam after glancing over at Dorc da Orc once more, who is stuffing his face with bacon and fried eggs. 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins continues to eat his breakfast in silence as he listens to Dalinvardèl Tanith and Lisell Maera. 

From the two of them, Zam hears of what they've been up to as he and the ork warleader escorted the wagon full of gold down from the hill country in the north of the city-state of Vexil. 

Seems some of the gangs of thieves have started taking an interest in the shipments of gold from the recently reopened mines in northern Vexil. 

Though the first lot of gold that was brought down from the hill country mines a few weeks ago, came by airship. 

The second lot last week, which Dalinvardèl Tanith and Lisell Maera came down with. Drew the attention of some of thieves to be found here in the capital of the city-state. 

So much so that Helbe the elven thief had to kill a pair of local thieves. Who were planning to rob the wagon just after coming through a set of the gates in the north wall of the city of Vexil. 

Which is also something that the spy Tanith had to do yesterday when Zam the ex mercenary and Dorc da Orc arrived in the city with the wagon that they were tasked to protect. 

The spy originally from the elven principality of Alinlae, got rid of two thieves from one of the more prominent gangs to be found in the massive city of Vexil. 

After finishing his meal, and glancing at the stairs to see if Lord Farque will make his way down to the common room of The Merchant's Rest. But no such luck. 

The ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins gets up, and nods to both the elven spy originally from the principality of Alinlae, and the young woman who hails from coastal city-state of Brattonbury. 

Zam heads outside, and after greeting the others in the common room of the inn. The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins, wraps his cloak tight around himself as it's cold in the city this morning. 

The ex mercenary as he stands in the courtyard, which is essentially a small square surrounded by buildings. 

Glances up into the sky as an airship passes overhead, heading north from the nearby main airdocks of the city, which is located in the north of the capital city. 

Zam heads off, crossing the courtyard, and goes through a covered lane that's essentially alongside one of the buildings surrounding the small square. 

He stops when he steps out of the short lane, and after looking in either direction along the street, he glances behind him, and slightly shakes his head. As from the street, you'd have no idea there's an inn, back behind him. 

The ex mercenary, who is the youngest member of the group. Then looks ahead again, and decides to go left along the quiet street which has just the one person on it at the moment. Who is opening up a shop further down it, getting ready for the start of the day's business. 

Zam takes just a step, when a familiar voice suddenly, and quietly says to him "So where are you off to this morning?". 

After jumping in fright, and muttering "Fuck". The ex mercenary glances to his left, and sourly smiles as he sees the hooded figure of Helbe the elven thief standing beside him. 

"Should I bother answering you?" quietly says Zam, who shakes his head before dryly adding "Considering you've probably already read my mind". 

The young elven noble who is originally from the island principality of Laerel flashes a grin, then quietly says "Don't go far as you explore the city". 

The highly talented elven magic user, continues with "Stay here in the north of the city". 

The teenager from The City Of Ruins nods that he will, and does so again, and says "I will". In response to the elven masterthief gesturing away to the south, and telling him "And keep away from the Mage College". 

The young elf who just happens to be the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel then disappears. 

And after a slight shake of his head, Zam starts making his way down the quiet street, on this cold spring morning, here in the city of Vexil. 

The ex mercenary who will do as Helbe the elven thief said, and stay in the northern part of the city. 

Hasn't really explored the capital of the city-state of Vexil. For when the group as a whole was last in the city, during the winter, before they headed up north to the hill country in northern Vexil, near the border with the kingdom of Girdane. 

They didn't spend much time here, and that was the first time that Zam had been in the capital of the city-state. 

Now he intends to see at least part of the city this morning, before he and Dorc da Orc are either sent back north to the border region. Or they're given some other task to do. 

As he turns onto a busier street, that has at least a dozen people on it, who are going about their day, on what's a cold spring morning in the city of Vexil. 

The ex mercenary is followed by Narladene the ground pixie, who has been asked by Helbe the elven thief to keep an eye on the teenager originally from The City Of Ruins. 

Not that Zam or for that matter anyone else sees the naturally magical creature, who is invisible to everyone. 

With the exception of a cat, which is on a roof, and stares in fascination at the tiny winged creature as she follows behind the ex mercenary. 

Here on this cold morning, in the early springtime in the city of Vexil . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 2.

Vexil. 

They arrive in the city of Vexil five days later. With nothing untowards happening during the rest of the trip. 

The only thing of note, was later in the day that they were attacked by bandits in the north of the city-state. 

Zam the ex mercenary noticed a crossbow bolt sticking out of the back of Dorc da Orc's right arm. 

Which Zam repeatedly told the large ork about. Who in typical Dorc fashion, completely ignored him. 

Until late that afternoon when they briefly stopped, the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world stood there scratching his ass. 

And knocked the crossbow bolt, causing him to hiss in pain. Then promptly pull it out. Followed by growling at Zam, along with the wagon driver, and the hired guard, and telling them off for not informing him about the bolt. 

Though he didn't say it so eloquently, as he basically swore at them in both orkish and in common. 

And Zam is pretty sure he heard some swear words in the hordes dialect of the southern tundra in there too. 

They enter the city through one of the set of gates in the northern wall. As a city as massive as Vexil has a series of gates in it's walls. 

Not to mention walls that are constantly being built and rebuilt, as the city with the largest population in all of The Southlands, is continually expanding. 

Though the city guards on gate duty stare at Dorc, wondering what he is. They just wave to the wagon driver to enter the city, without searching the wagon. 

Much to the relief of Zam. Even though the young ex mercenary from The City Of Ruins, has documents for the transportation of a wagon full of gold within the city-state of Vexil. The documents are forged thanks to Helbe the elven thief. 

Now that they're in the city itself, Zam has other things to worry about. As he constantly keeps an eye on Dorc da Orc as the two of them walk behind the horse drawn wagon. 

For the simple fact that the ex mercenary who isn't a religious person at all. Hopes to the gods that there's no dwarves in the immediate area of the city they're going through. 

Even though the ork warleader has more or less done what Zam has told him to do since leaving the hill country of northern Vexil. 

There's no way in hell Zam will be able to stop Dorc from running after a dwarf and killing it in the middle of the street if one should cross their path. 

Same goes for any troll who might be in this part of the city. As the ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins, has learnt that the ork weaponsmith hates trolls almost as much as he hates dwarves. And will do anything to kill one of them if he knows they're around. 

Zam does hold his breath when they round a corner onto a quieter street, and a pair of hobbits walk in the other direction on the opposite side of the quiet street. 

The ex mercenary hasn't seen it himself, but from what he's heard from others in the group, is that Dorc da Orc or Dorkindle which is his given name, will sometimes randomly kill hobbits. 

But in this instance, the large ork just points at the pair of hobbits on the other side of the street, and bursts out laughing. 

In fact he laughs so much, tears run down his face, and he almost doubles over, and has to lean an arm on the back of the wagon to keep himself upright as he laughs uncontrollably. 

Zam just wryly smiles, and wonders what goes on at times in the head of the big burly ork who is a member of the wolf tribe of orks. 

The ex mercenary who is the youngest member of the group, thinks about that for a moment. Then decides it's probably best if he doesn't know what's going on in the head of the large ork who is a general in the Armies of Farque. 

The only problem they do have whilst going through the streets in the north of the city of Vexil. 

Is that they have to briefly stop before getting to their destination. They have to stop because Dorc da Orc insists they have to. 

Zam sourly smiles as Dorkindle enters the bakery they stopped in front of. He shakes his head as he was able to talk the ork warleader out of taking a bar of gold from beneath the canvas covering in the back of the wagon, to pay for whatever he wants from inside the bakery. 

The ex mercenary also pointed out that the large ork has a pretty substantial coin bag tied to his thick wide belt next to the skull of his mother. 

Infact the weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks has a number of such coin bags, both on his belt, and in the sacks he carries. 

Zam is pretty certain that Dorc da Orc is extremely wealthy. And that the large ork doesn't even know it. Which is indeed true. 

Infact Dorkindle is the wealthiest ork in the history of his race. Something he does not know, and does not care about. 

And a little while later, the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world, walks out of the bakery carrying a number of boxes. 

Which he puts in the back of the wagon, on top of the stack of gold bars hidden under the canvas covering. 

And when the wagon gets underway again, the ork warleader opens one of the boxes, and takes a cake from it. 

Which he then proceeds to shove in his mouth, as he attempts to eat what looks like a chocolate cake of some kind, in one go. 

Zam just shakes his head as he walks beside the ork general who is making sounds of satisfaction. Growls and grunts that aren't threatening to the ear of the ex mercenary. As he eats the chocolate cake all at once. 

"Wonder if any of the others are around?" asks Zam the ex mercenary a few streets later after the warleader of the ork race finishes off the third cake he brought from the bakery, and is about to reach into the back of the wagon to get a fourth. 

Waving a hand behind them, Dorc da Orc says "Back there" he continues with "That elf cunt follow us". 

"His highness?" asks the ex mercenary, who quickly adds "Helbe?" after the large ork looks down at him, and sourly smiles. 

Dorkindle whose face is smeared with crumbs and icing, grunts then says "Nah the other cunt" before he takes the fourth cake from it's box. 

"Dalin?" asks Zam, the ork general in the Armies of Farque responds with a positive sounding grunt. 

The teenage ex mercenary nods, and is just glad another of the group is nearby. To say it's been nerve wracking for him as they've brought the wagon full of gold down to Vexil from the hill country of the north of the city-state, would be an understatement. 

Mostly due to the often unpredictable ork weaponsmith walking beside him. Who at the moment is trying to stuff another cake into his mouth. 

Though after the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world licked all the whipped cream off the top of the cake, which is some type of soft white cake from what Zam can see as Dorkindle shoves it in his gob. 

The ex mercenary looks back trying to see if he can see the elven spy Dalinvardèl Tanith anywhere. 

He can't, and as they turn onto another street on their way to their destination. Zam wonders why the elf who hails from the principality of Alinlae, hasn't joined them. 

The reason why the spy Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by those who know him well, hasn't joined them. 

Is that he's actually following someone who is discreetly following after the wagon full of gold, which Dorc da Orc and Zam the ex mercenary are walking behind. 

The elven spy who is a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque, has climbed onto a roof, and hurries across it, slightly bent over at the waist. As this spring day is rather windy above the city streets. 

The spy Tanith who knows exactly who it is that he's following. One of the seconds in one of the gangs of thieves found in the capital city of Vexil. 

Crouches down at the edge of the roof he's on, and looks down at the figure in the alleyway he's above. 

A figure in a hooded cloak, watching the wagon loaded with gold bars, going along the street to the right of the alley. 

Dalin jumps off the edge of the roof, and lands behind the thief, who spins around, pulling out a hidden dagger as he does so. 

But he's too slow for the elven spy, who with an open handed palm strike, hits the local thief in the face, instantly breaking the man's nose. 

Dalin quickly follows that up with an elbow strike to the throat, which drops the man, who now has a crushed windpipe. 

The spy Tanith catches the thief, and picks up his dagger. And drags him to a nearby nook in the wall opposite the building that commander Tanith was just on top of. 

The elf who previously served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland of Alinlae, leaves the thief to die there in the alleyway which he exits. 

The elven spy who already killed the lookout for the thief before he climbed up onto the roof. Heads down the street to the right, at the end of which, the wagon has just turned the corner onto another street. Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy takes his time to catch up to it. 

"There cunt" says Dorc da Orc who nods behind them, Zam the ex mercenary looks back, and a few moments later he sees Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy walk around the corner they've just made their way around. 

The young man originally from The City Of Ruins, has never been so happy to see another member of the group show up. 

For the simple reason it's been completely nerve wracking to be partnered up with the ork warleader, since leaving one of the mines up in the hill country of northern Vexil. 

"Anything interesting happen?" asks Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy after he catches up to them, and greets them. 

"Nah" is the reply from Dorc da Orc who has yet to open the final box with a cake that he bought from a bakery here in the north of the city. 

"Yes" says Zam the ex mercenary after he wryly smiles, and glances sideways and up at the large ork walking beside, behind the wagon. 

"Oh?" say the spy Tanith, who like everyone else in the group, thought that the ex mercenary and the ork weaponsmith wouldn't run into any trouble coming down from northern Vexil. 

"What exactly?" asks the elven spy, who though hails from the principality of Alinlae, is now a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque. 

"We were attacked by bandits" is the reply from the ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins, who follows that with "Up in the hill country in the north, second day out from the mine". 

Even though Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy is interested in hearing more of what happened, he quietly says "Save it for later, so you tell the others". 

The spy Tanith gestures in the direction they're heading, then quietly says "Not far to the counting house". 

Dalin briefly pauses before continuing with "Some of the others are there, including Lord Farque" he then adds "You can tell them in detail what happened". 

Zam the ex mercenary nods in understanding at that, while Dorc da Orc just grunts, as he eats the last bits of the final cake that he purchased a little earlier, here in the north of the city of Vexil. 

It's not too long before the horse drawn wagon draws up into the side yard of a building, that houses one of the leading counting houses to be found in the capital of the city-state of Vexil. 

Private guards stand at the side door, and the wagon driver after bringing the two horses in the traces to a stop, hops down, and gives one of the guards a rolled up parchment. 

The guard looks over at Dalinvardèl Tanith, and the elven spy nods his hooded head in response to that look. 

The guard quietly speaks to another of the guards, who enters through the side door. And a few moments later, the barn like doors further down along this side of the building are slid open. 

And the guard who went inside, walks out of the sliding doors, and waves to the wagon driver, to bring the horse drawn wagon inside. 

As the wagon loaded with gold bars heads into the side of the building that houses the counting house. 

Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy says to Zam the ex mercenary and Dorc da Orc "Come on, let's head in". 

The spy Tanith leads the two of them inside, through the side door, that one of the private guards opens for the trio. 

They enter the counting house, on this breezy early spring day, here in the capital of the city-state of Vexil . . . . . .