The Hire 45.

The Colevar Mountains. The Southern Reaches. The Kingdom Of Nastell. The Duchy Of Phelm...

They ride throughout the afternoon, and into the early evening without stopping. They finally stop late at night, when one of the scouts in the patrol, reappears.
The cavalry commander Darid Parsen reins in, and looks at the water elemental spouter Zaneff, who tells him "Halvíc isn't all that far away" followed by "Just under a couple of miles further south".
"Lead the way" says Darid Parsen, who then quietly tells his second in command, Kalleb "Have the patrol dismount" followed by "We go ahead on foot".
The order to dismount is given, and the cavalry patrol get out of the saddle. Then make their way southwards on foot, with the scout Zaneff leading the way, on what's a clear summer's night. That has two of the moons of Volunell up in the night sky, and it's still not midnight.
The cavalry commander Darid Parsen, who is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra, by the name of Zubutai Timaginson, who happens to find himself inhabiting the body of commander Parsen.
Walks beside the water elemental from the lands Farque. Who has been out infront of the patrol all day, and now at night.
"Some of them have definitely shown up from their defeat to field commander Drubine's army early this morning" quietly says the water elemental spouter, he continues with "All on horseback by the looks of it".
Commander Parsen nods his head, as he suspected as much. That some of the enemy would turn up at Halvíc after being defeated in the battle, further to the west and north.
At the hands of the army under command of the young field commander in the Farqian mercenary army, Tamric Drubine.
"Those on foot, must be on the road further west" quietly says Darid aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, whose advanced cavalry patrol. Has been off the road they've been using since late this afternoon.
They've been traveling cross country since late in the afternoon. As they knew that had to cut to the southwest across the hills, if they were to get anywhere near the enemy staging grounds at Halvíc.
"Heading straight south to the city of Savariss" adds the cavalry commander, who is from the kingdom of Druvic. The spouter nods his head in agreement, then quietly says "It's going to be a right, royal mess down there". "That's for sure" murmurs Darid Parsen in agreement.
For earlier this afternoon, a messenger rode forward from their army. To inform them that another of duke Hargen's army, this one even further to the west in the duchy of Phelm.
Was also defeated in battle, some time early this morning. Defeated by the army that has come down from the unruled lands north of the kingdom of Nastell. An army led by another of the Farqian field commanders. Field commander Talbot.
"What's the layout of Halvíc?" quietly asks the cavalry commander as the patrol makes it's way through some trees "And how do things stand there?" adds Darid aka Zubutai Timaginson.
Commander Parsen listens in silence as the lead scout of the patrol explains to him how things fare with the enemy at the staging grounds of Halvíc.
A castle, that has a town infront of it. And off to one side, open fields which the enemy have been using as their staging grounds in this part of the duchy.
Many of those who had been there, went north to join their army, that ended up being defeated in battle early in the morning, by the army led by the young field commander Tamric Drubine.
From what the spouter Zaneff has been able to scout out. There was very few of the duke's men who had remained in Halvíc with the exception of the castle garrison.
And now a few hundred mounted soldiers from the army defeated by commander Drubine's army. Have turned up over the late afternoon and into the night.
Some have already left, heading no doubt, southwards to the city of Savariss. But most have remained in Halvíc for the night. Most likely to leave early tomorrow morning.
"No doubt they'll expect some of field commander Drubine's army to come down the road they've used" quietly says the cavalry commander Parsen once Zaneff has told him of what's happening at nearby Halvíc.
Darid aka Zubutai the son of Timagin, who is letting the water elemental pick out the way forward, for the simple reason his nightvision is a hell of lot better than his own.
"They won't know of our army coming this way across country" adds the cavalry commander, who fifteen months ago was a foot soldier in the army of lady Linara Lé Dic, in the east of the kingdom Druvic.
Until he was killed in a battle there. And he was brought back to life, with Zubutai the barbarian hordesman in possession of his body.
"You might be able to see it just up ahead through these trees" quietly says Zaneff the water elemental, who like his commander, is speaking in the elven language.
The second language of many if not most in the armies of Farque. For if you don't already know it. You are taught it in the armies of the nation named after the Farque family.
Darid Parsen peers through the trees ahead, and in the distance in the night he spots lights. From torches and lamps no doubt. From towards the top of the towers in the walled castle. Which he can just make out the outline of.
The town infront of it, is out of view at the moment. As there's another hill, partially in the way between here and Halvíc.
They make their way to the next hill along, and there on the side away from Halvíc. They tether their horses, and set up camp.
As the patrol does so, commander Parsen, his second in command Kalleb, the scouts Zaneff and Varric. As well as two others in the patrol. Head up to the top of the hill, to observe the castle and town of Halvíc this night.
"Too many for us to take on i guess" quietly says Darid's second Kalleb a little while later as he passes the magical eyepiece back to his commander.
Looking through the brass, cylindrical eyepiece, that at night, gives the person looking through it, an image that's green tinged, where anything that's bright, like lamp light and torch light, being a brighter greenish, white in colour.
Darid Parsen nods his head in agreement with his second in command. Then the cavalry officer who is a member of the personal council of lord Farque. Gives the two other soldiers who have come up to the top of the hill their orders.
A few moments later they're heading down the backside of the hill, to collect their mounts. They're soon heading back the way the patrol has come from.
As they're heading back to their army, who is led by the field commander in the Farqian mercenary army, field commander Leivyn.
"We wait?" quietly asks the second in command Kalleb "We wait" is the reply of commander Parsen who figures the army will turn up some time in the morning.
Darid aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman then details shifts of the cavalry troopers to observe the castle and town of Halvíc, and the enemy throughout the rest of the night.
Then he heads back down to the camp, to get something to eat and to rest. As the cavalry commander lies down upon his bedroll after having something cold to eat on this warm summer's night in northern Nastell.
He looks up at the stars in the sky, and wonders how the others he knows personally in the mercenary army from the lands Farque are faring. Especially the missing runner Lisell Maera.
The member of the personal council of the lord and ruler of the lands Farque is soon asleep as he wonders how the others in the groups he traveled with previously are doing.
Darid Parsen is woken just before dawn by his second in command.
Yawning, the cavalry commander asks his second "Anything happen there?".
"Not much" replies Kalleb, who continues with "Just some more rode in during the night" the second in command of the mounted patrol, then adds "We counted another thirty two" followed by "The last of which was a while ago".
After using a nearby bucket of water to freshen up. One of the advantages of having a water elemental with your patrol. Is that you always have water. As they can find it anywhere. Even in the dry hills here in the southern reaches in the north of the duchy of Phelm.
Then after he and Kalleb get a quick bite to eat, which consists of two day old bread and trail rations. The cavalry commander and his second in command head up the hill.
Once at the top they hunker down, and observe the castle and town of Halvíc in the darkness before dawn.
"The scouts?" asks Darid aka Zubutai Timaginson "Varric and a few of the others are on perimeter patrol behind us commander" is the reply of one the troopers who has been observing Halvíc in the last little while.
She then gestures down to the castle and town that's less than half a mile away, and continues with "After Zaneff woke, he went down there to snoop around again".
Commander Parsen nods his head when he hears this. For if there's one person in the patrol he really doesn't have to worry about it. It's the scout Zaneff. As the water elemental can definitely take care of himself no matter the situation.
As the darkness of the very end of the night starts to give way to the faint light of dawn. On what feels like it will be another clear, and hot summer's day.
A smattering of fine water droplets appear next to the those on top of the hill, observing the nearby town and castle of Halvíc, and the open ground to the west of it, that duke Hargen's army in this part of the duchy have been using as staging grounds.
The water droplets turn into the scout Zaneff, who once in human form quietly says "Morning".
The water elemental spouter from the coast of the lands Farque, who has been into both the town and castle of Halvíc just a little while ago.
Informs the cavalry commander what the enemy in Halvíc are up to at the moment.
"Hmmm over three hundred and fifty more of them going down to Savariss wouldn't be good" murmurs Darid Parsen after Zaneff informs him of the plans of the enemy in Halvíc.
"And the townsfolk?" asks the cavalry commander who then adds "And the castle servants?". "They're not privy to the enemy's plans" replies the lead scout in the patrol, who continues with "They'll be left to fend for themselves".
"Figures" mutters Darid aka Zubutai the son of Timagin, who hopes that the army led by field commander Leivyn turns up pretty soon.
If not, then he and his patrol, who number just forty. Will have to find some way to stop an enemy force nearly ten times larger than their own. From riding out of Halvíc, and heading south to the city of Savariss.
"There isn't any significant body of water near the road that goes south is there?" quietly asks commander Parsen to his lead scout, as behind them to the east, the faint light of dawn can just be seen on the horizon.
The water elemental spouter, who has already thought about this, as he figured the cavalry commander would probably ask him about it.
Quietly says "There's a river near it, and i might be able to flood the road for a bit so that it can't be used" he briefly pauses before adding "But, there's a pretty low hill to the otherside of the road there, that'll be pretty easy for them to ride up and over, to get further along the road where they can rejoin it" Zaneff then says "There's no cover there for us to attack from near there too".
"Ah shit" mutters Darid Parsen in the hordes dialect of the southern tundra, which causes his second in command Kalleb to grin, as he knows a little bit of the dialect of the people who live on the tundra to the south of the lands Farque.
The member of lord Farque's personal council slightly sighs as the dark sky to the east slowly lightens as dawn starts to take effect on a new day.
He's just about to his ask his second Kalleb and his lead scout Zaneff, if they've got any ideas. When the water elemental spouter looks quickly behind them and says "One of Varric's squad is riding in fast".
They look back down the hill, and across in the direction of the next hill to the east. And there they can just make out a rider coming out of the woods there.
Our army? Darid aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman thinks to himself, who then silently adds, or something else?
The cavalry commander, his second, and his lead scout head back downhill. While the others still upon the top of the hill, continue to observe the nearby town and castle.
"Councilor" says the trooper who has just ridden in once he reins up.
Darid Parsen's eyebrows rise, as his patrol normally refer to him as commander and not as councilor.
"You better see this" adds the trooper, one of the youngest in the cavalry patrol in the part of the Farqian mercenary army led by field commander Leivyn.
The commander and his second get onto their mounts, and ride with the trooper who has just come in. The water elemental spouter remains on foot as they head to the hill just to the east.
As dawn turns the sky lighter to the east, councilor Parsen as they approach the woods on and around the hill they're riding towards at a canter. Slows down as he spots the other scout Varric and the rest of his squad riding out from the trees at a walk.
A few moments later and Darid Parsen reins up, as does his second in command Kalleb and the young trooper with them. While Zaneff reappears beside them.
As they all see a large shape moving through the trees behind Varric and his squad. The water elemental spouter Zaneff grins as he can already see what, and who it is.
"By the tundra gods" murmurs Darid aka Zubutai Timaginson in the hordes dialect of the southern tundra, who then says in the common language "That's Axe".
As the massive form of the undead wardog Axe walks out from beneath the trees.
Commander Parsen then blinks in surprise as he spots two figures walking behind the massive wardog of Farque.
It takes a few moments to see who it is as the light is still dim. Then the cavalry commander smiles in relief as he sees that it's the missing runner Lisell Maera, and the missing robber baron Gergus. Both a little tired looking, but in good spirits.
With the smile still upon his face, Darid Parsen murmurs "Well i never". Then the cavalry commander looks at Axe, who has dropped to the ground, and is rolling around on his back, with his legs in the air.
The member of lord Farque's personal council then quickly looks back to the west in the direction of Halvíc.
Then he looks back at the massive shape of the undead wardog Axe rolling around on the ground as the sun starts to rise in the east.
Darid aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman suddenly grins as he comes up with an idea . . . . . .

 

The Hire 44.

The Southern Reaches. The Kingdom Of Nastell. The Duchy Of Phelm...

With general Yarmane dead, along with his senior subcommander, and a number of his senior staff. Not to mention the senior spellcaster in the army.
Commander Berric of duke Hargen's personal guard. Finds himself making a lot of the command decisions along with lord Chesié as they retreat southwards.
The commander who isn't technically part of the army. And frankly has never wanted to be. Finds himself along with his subcommander Omrick.
Ordering army officers, and mercenary leaders around. Who are just happy to have someone in charge as they all flee southwards to the city of Savariss.
Earlier in the day, at dawn. When he barely escaped the explosion that killed general Yarmane and others.
The first thing commander Berric did, was send half of his detail, to get duke Hargen up in the warcamp. And have them immediately ride south.
He wasn't having the duke anywhere near what he was expecting to happen. Which happened, as the army's battlelines were broken just after general Yarmane and his senior staff were killed.
As the enemy sent a full on attack against them. After a night of more pointed attacks, and continued bombardment from their war machines.
The commander of the duke's personal guard, who also happens to be a swordmaster couldn't believe how quickly the army capitulated to the enemy.
And as they started falling back, is when he stepped in and helped lord Chesié to organise the retreat.
And a pell-mell retreat it's been ever since.
With very little order at first. As everyone clambered to get over the hill, and out of their camp. And take off southwards along the road, that winds through the hills, to get to the city of Savariss.
The swordmaster Berric and his subcommander Omrick have had to lead some of the rear guard action against the enemy throughout the day.
Using squads of soldiers and mercenaries to hold off a number of the enemy from across the border, in the unruled lands of the Colevar Mountain's southern reaches.
A lot of the time they've been successful. Though during others. Not so much. And both commander Berric and his subcommander have been lucky to get away with their lives.
And every single time that's happened. They've come up against those amongst the enemy. Who are in uniforms of black.
Mercenaries obviously. Though unlike any kind of mercenary the swordmaster has ever encountered before.
The commander of duke Hargen's personal guard saw what can only be described as a knight. With a black tabbard over his breastplate.
Run down a number of the rear guard. Killing many others in the process. Who only went down as his horse, in heavy barding. Was shot multiple times with arrows and crossbow bolts.
Even then the knight got up, and cut down anyone who got in his way. Berric himself was about to take him on. Until his subcommander Omrick grabbed him, and hauled him away. As others wearing the black tabbards showed up along the road. Both mounted and on foot. Who were coming their way.
The commander had never ran so fast in his life when he saw them coming. And the only reason that he and Omrick escaped.
Is that one of the soldiers with them had caught a spare mount. And the two of them got on the back of that horse. Which they rode into the ground as they fled.
By the time they got free, the horse had been blown out and was useless. They left it behind as it would only be good for hauling a plow on a farm. That's if it even lived the rest of the day. Which it didn't, as it died well before midday.
Now as the harried retreat has gone into the afternoon. Both the commander and his subcommander find themselves moving forward through the army, which is strung out along the road that heads south.
No one has any time for the wounded and dying. As they're left where they drop. Considering the forward elements of the enemy army are always just behind the very last of the duke's army who are fleeing south.
An army with few if any wagons, as the warcamp was abandoned when their battlelines were overrun. As those fleeing south in retreat, have only what they've been able to carry.
Which in some instances isn't much at all. As some soldiers and mercenaries fled without their weapons and armour. A number even without some of their clothes.
Commander Berric and subcommander Omrick catch up with others in the duke's personal guard. Who is long gone to the south with at least half of his personal guard. They'll reach Savariss some time in the middle of the night. Or early tomorrow morning.
Not so the retreating army, as those on foot. Even if they make it to the city that's just south of the last foothills of the southern reaches. Won't get there for at least another two days, more likely three.
After drinking from a water bottle that's handed to him, commander Berric as he stands in the hot sunshine of the afternoon, asks one of his officers "Where's lord Chesié?".
"Further ahead" replies the officer who gestures down the road, then adds "Trying to get this lot into some semblance of order, so that those in the front don't slow up those following".
Nodding his head, the commander looks at his subcommander Omrick, who says to him "There's some trees just down there next to the road, should we chop them down like we did earlier".
"Do it" says the swordmaster who commands duke Hargen's personal guard, who then adds "Though let more of this lot go by, especially any still on horseback". "Not many of them left beyond this point" says one of the other guards, who continues with "Most still with mounts, have taken off southwards" he pauses then adds "Both soldiers and mercenaries".
"I know" mutters commander Berric with a slight grimace of disgust upon his face. As he knows if he had some cavalry to command. Either soldiers or mercenaries. He could hold off the enemy who are continually harassing their rear more easily. Or at least keep them at bay.
Even he and his men are without mounts. For those who were able to get their horses when the army's battlelines were breached. Are the one's who are escorting the duke south to Savariss.
As commander Berric watches the fleeing soldiers and mercenaries go by. Many of whom are injured. He's just about to give some orders. When someone further back up the road, when it's near the top of a hill, yells out "Airships to the north!".
"Oh hell" mutters the swordmaster, as airships in that direction can only mean one thing, the enemy.
As fleeing soldiers and mercenaries start running, well those who are able to.
Commander Berric says to his subcommander and his men "This could be a bloodbath, and we'll more than likely be caught up in the middle of it". He's just about to tell his men to go, and flee. With every man for himself.
When shouting and yelling, and what sounds like cheering can be heard coming from the other direction, the south.
Berric looks that way, and it's one of his officers who spots it first, who quickly says "Airships!" followed by "Ours".
The commander of duke Hargen's personal guard spots the airships in the distance to the south, heading more or less in this direction.
"Hell, there's going to be a battle right over our heads" says commander Berric, which to him is only marginally better than getting bombarded by enemy warships that are heading this way from the north.
"We have to get this lot to spread out" says the swordmaster, who continues with "Those enemy ships might still take pot shots at us on the ground, even though they'll be engaged with the duke's vessels".
His officers and guards move off, ordering soldiers and mercenaries in the duke's army to spread out. To get off the road as they continue south.
And a short while later they hear the dull thuds in the distance, to both the north and the south, of ship board magetubes firing.
Commander Berric, who is off to one side of the road with his subcommander, ordering soldiers and mercenaries to spread out and hurry south. Looks up and he spots magetube shots streaking back and forth across the clear afternoon sky.
"Damn" murmurs the commander, who along with his younger brother, who remained back in the city of Savariss, is considered the best swordmaster in all of Phelm. No mean feat considering he and his brother aren't noblemen.
"This could get ugly" says the swordmaster to his second in command Omrick, who yells at a bunch of passing mercenaries "Don't crowd together like that!" followed by "You'll make a target for the enemy up there!" as he gestures up at the afternoon sky.
"Let's get going" says the commander of duke Hargen's personal guard when he spots an enemy warship coming over the hill behind them.
And though it's over five hundred feet above the ground. The swordmaster Berric knows that a skilled captain can have his vessel tip down on one side, and have the magetubes on that side of the airship, shoot at an angle, down to the ground.
The commander and his subcommander take off running, weaving through the trees off to this side of the road.
Berric looks back behind them in the sky, and sees the robber baron's airship is tilting to one side as it sweeps away in a curve above the road.
"Shit!" yells duke Hargen's personal guard commander, who then shouts to those nearby who are also running southwards "Faster!" followed by "Your life might depend on it".
Just then they hear the rapport of a broadside from the enemy vessel. Just a short moment after that, Berric, Omrick, and those nearby. Hear and feel a succession of magetube shots hitting the ground up behind them. And explode.
The commander who doesn't waste his time by looking back. Winces as he hears explosion after explosion alongside the road behind them.
He knows anyone caught up in that, which will be quite a few. Have no chance to survive, and are dead.
As he runs downhill, the swordmaster finally glances back and up, and spots the enemy vessel, turning away. Just then, it's struck in the bow by a blue magetube shot, which explodes. Then a red one hits just behind it, which explodes in a ball of fire.
A few more magetubes shots narrowly streak by the damaged enemy vessel. The bow of which, or what little is left of it. Is on fire, which is spreading along the hull on the starboard side.
As he runs down onto a bit more flat ground with his subcommander Omrick. Commander Berric looks ahead, and in the clear, sunny sky to the south. He sees one of the duke's airships less than five hundred yards away.
He sees it's turning, and is trying to line up a broadside on the damaged enemy vessel, that's swinging away to the east.
"Blast them out of the sky" mutters the commander of duke Hargen's personal guard. Who looks quickly over at his second in command, who gasps "Another one" as he looks back over his shoulder, behind them.
Swordmaster Berric looks back too. And winces as he sees that another enemy vessel has come flying over the hill behind them.
This one is a little different than the first. It's twin masted like the first. A frigate is what the commander understands it to be. Though the lines on this vessel are sleeker looking than the first.
And the wood on the hull is darker. Not to mention from one of the masts, the rear one. Flies a black pennant. Compared to the azure sigil of the robber baron Markell that flew from one of the masts, on the first vessel, the damaged and burning one.
As duke Hargen's twin masted vessel has turned, and fires a barrage at the damaged enemy warship that's heading away to the west.
The other enemy vessel, the darker one, which is moving much quicker than the two other airships, over and near this part of the road.
Has already turned, and fires off a salvo of shots from it's starboard side magetubes.
Over twenty magical shots, ranging in size from six feet wide, to nearly twenty feet wide, head towards duke Hargen's airship. Which is the direction that commander Berric, and his subcommander Omrick are running towards.
"That way!" yells the swordmaster who points away to the right, and he and his second in command. Along with others nearby, change direction to. As above them, more than twenty magetube shots fired from the second enemy warship. Streak across the afternoon sky, passing less than two hundred feet above them.
Berric winces as he glances up, and sees the balls of pure magical energy pass overhead.
He winces again, as he sees that the duke's airship that's come to his, and everyone else's rescue on this part of the road.
Is turning away to starboard after firing a barrage of shots at the first enemy vessel it's already damaged. But not turning quickly enough.
"Fuck" mutters the commander of duke Hargen's personal guard just before the first magetube shot by the second enemy vessel, slams into the port side of the duke's warship that's turning away.
It's followed by a second, third, fourth, and so on. With more than half of the enemy magetube shots slamming into the twin masted warship in duke Hargen's fleet.
Fourteen magetube shots, one after the other. Explode when they hit the duke's airship.
Commander Berric has never seen anything like it. An airship get thoroughly annihilated. Breaking apart in an instant. And though there's a few large chunks. Mostly the aft section. The airship is destroyed as burning debris drops to the ground.
The swordmaster Berric hears his second in command Omrick say "Fucking hell" as what's left of one of their duke's warships hits the ground just a few hundred feet from them.
Then the commander looks quickly back and to his left as he continues to run. To see if the enemy warship that's just destroyed one of duke Hargen's vessels. Is going to shoot at those on the ground.
Apparently not, as it's already turned to the east. And is going by the damaged airship. Firing another salvo, off away to the south. Berric looks in the direction it's firing towards. And he thinks he can just make out another airship in the distance that way.
Must be another of the duke's warships, the swordmaster thinks to himself, who then looks around at those soldiers and mercenaries running southwards.
He briefly grins as he hears subcommander Omrick mutter beside him as they run "At least that got all this lot moving a hell of a lot faster".
Commander Berric slightly nods in agreement, then he calls out to all of those running nearby "Keep moving!" followed by "Who knows when they'll be back to shoot at us again!" the swordmaster then silently adds, I hope not anytime soon . . . . . .

The Hire 43.

Northern Phelm. The Kingdom Of Nastell...

"Whatever you do, don't overextend us" says Mira Reinholt the mage, next to him, Shur Kee the monk nods his head in agreement with the once powerful mage.
"They're putting up a fight as they flee south" continues the mage who is in exile from his homeland, the city-state of Vexil.
"They might be in disarray, that doesn't mean they can't inflict any heavy damage on us" adds the spellcaster, who is also a highly skilled swordmaster.
Field commander Talbot nods his head, and he says "We'll do that". Then the large, heavily armoured field commander in the Farqian mercenary army asks the mage Reinholt "How many of their leaders do you think you got this morning councilor?".
The mage, who is a member of the personal council of lord Farque, slightly shrugs his shoulders, then he says "I'm not sure".
Mira Reinholt who sent a mageglobe to wreck some havoc amongst the leadership of the enemy army, early this morning says "But at least some of them".
The Vexilian mage in exile waves away to the south, where in the distance, they can see the rear of the enemy army, fleeing southwards. In all likelihood, to the city of Savariss.
The only city that's here in the north of the duchy of Phelm.
"Think you got the duke?" asks the field commander, who is a born Farqian.
"Not sure about that" says the spellcaster, who was once the most powerful mage of his generation, to be found anywhere in the Southlands .
"What i am sure about, is that i got their lead spellcaster" says the swordmaster Reinholt, who then adds "As well as some others who are pretty high up in their army".
The field commander, who is also the commander of the heavy foot division in the Farqian mercenary army, quietly says "Lets hope without some of their leadership, they continue to fragment, and fall apart as they run away to the south".
Both of the council members, Mira Reinholt and Shur Kee nod in agreement with the field commander.
Who then looks over at one of his officers. Who nods down the hill they're on.
There field commander Talbot spots the robber baron Markell, who it seems is in a heated argument with the field commander's aide dé camp. Well the argument looks to be heated on one side, that of the robber baron from the unruled lands to the north of the kingdom of Nastell.
"Oh hell" mutters the heavily armoured field commander in the Farqian mercenary army.
Both members of lord Farque's personal council see what's caught the attention of the field commander.
The mage Reinholt rolls his eyes as he sees the robber baron arguing about something. While the acolyte in the order of Bru Li is as calm as he always is, as he looks down the hill at the robber baron.
"Suppose i better deal with that" sourly says the once powerful mage from the city-state of Vexil "Thanks for that councilor" says field commander Talbot, which earns him a wry looking smile from the spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster.
Mira Reinholt along with Shur Kee head downhill, while the field commander and the others make their way down the front of the hill.
The two members of the personal council of the lord and ruler of the lands Farque make their way through some trees along this side of the hill.
Once they're out of them, they can hear the robber baron complaining as they approach the road, that winds it's way around the hill they've just been up.
Seems Markell the robber baron is annoyed that more of his army, aren't with those who are giving chase to the enemy. Who are in disarray, after their battlelines were overrun this morning.
All because the mage Reinholt took out a number of the enemy army's senior staff with one of his mageglobes.
Field commander Talbot's aide spots the two councillors approaching. And the robber baron notices it. Markell turns to see who it is. And with a slight bow to the councillors Reinholt and Kee. The field commander's aide, quickly moves away without the robber baron noticing.
"What seems to be the problem?" asks the Vexilian mage in exile "Councilor" says the robber baron Markell, who continues with "I was just saying to this buffoon here".
"Which buffoon?" asks the once powerful mage as he interrupts the robber baron, who looks around, and finds the aide to field commander Talbot is gone.
He looks on the road, at the army that's going by at a quick march. And he scowls as he can't see the young man he was arguing with, anywhere.
"He was here a moment ago" mutters the robber baron, who sees that only some of his own officers are standing nearby, off to this side of the road.
"Never mind about him" says Markell, who then continues with "What I'm wanting to know, is why aren't there more of my men in pursuit of the enemy who are on the run?" as he looks at the two councillors.
One in the black hooded cloak. And the other in the strange white clothing, and an even stranger looking hat.
"The field commander" says Mira Reinholt, who continues with "Is doing what he thinks is best" the Vexilian mage in exile follows that with "And since he's the one in command, that's all that matters really".
The robber baron goes to speak, but the highly skilled swordmaster gets in quickly with "I might remind you that it was you and your fellow, ah conspirators shall we say. Who decided that we would be in command of this campaign when you agreed to the terms of hire".
Markell the robber baron looks like he's swallowed something sour when he hears that. It's the same old argument from the councilor. Which though he doesn't like. He knows it's true.
"Quite" says the robber baron in clipped tone of voice, then Markell adds "I do hope that more of my men will be involved once the duke's army, or what's left of them, turn and face us" he continues with "After my army got a taste of battle during the night. All of them would like to be involved more often".
"I'll make sure the field commander knows of this" says the swordmaster Reinholt, who continues with "If the remnants of duke's army turn and face us, or they get to somewhere like Savariss and make a stand. All of your army will have an opportunity to take part in the action".
"That's all i can hope for" says Markell, who with a nod of his head, adds "Councillors". Before he makes his way over to his officers, then they all get onto the road, and rejoin the army that's quickly marching south after the army of duke Hargen that's fleeing them.
The once powerful mage and the short, statured monk share a look. Then the exiled Vexilian mage quietly says to the physical adept "And he's one of the more amiable ones". The highly skilled swordmaster then adds "I can't imagine how bad that Almard and Larimer are".
"I suspect friend Helbe will have them under control" quietly says Shur Kee the monk, Mira Reinholt snorts, then dryly says "No doubt he has" the once powerful mage looks around, then after glancing up at the early afternoon sky, on what's a clear, hot summer's day here in the north of the duchy of Phelm, he adds "Come, let's head forward".
The two of them disappear, as the spellcaster who is a member of the personal council of lord Farque, teleports them forward along the line of march.
A little bit later in the afternoon, and as the road is being cleared of trees that the enemy has felled, and dumped across it.
While those forward elements of the army led by field commander Talbot, are still further ahead, engaged with the rear elements of fleeing army of duke Hargen.
The field commander, says to the mage Reinholt and the monk from the far eastern coast of the continent "Can't just walk and ride around all this like the advanced elements have done" he continues with "Have to clear it away so that captain Tovis can get his war machines and siege towers through".
The swordmaster nods his black hooded head in agreement, as they watch teams of horses drag the felled trees off the road.
The field commander who has just taken a drink from his water bottle, looks over at one of his officers. An elf in the rangers and scouts division in the Farqian mercenary army, who has just said in his native tongue "Airships to the east".
Mira Reinholt expends a little bit of his limited amount of power, and casts farsight upon himself instead of digging out his leather wrapped, brass cylindrical eyepiece from his pack.
The spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster looks to the east in the clear afternoon sky, and after a few moments, he adds "Ours".
The elven officer nods in agreement, then says "Two of ours, along with two of the robber baron's". He, like the councilor who is a practitioner of magic, are speaking in the elven language.
The Vexilian mage in exile, who sees the trailing airships of the robber barons. Are along with the two warships in the Farqian fleet, are heading southwest.
"Can you get in contact with our ships?" field commander Talbot quietly asks the mage Reinholt in the elven language "Too far for me to do it" is the quiet reply of the once powerful mage who continues with "One of our other spellcasters might be able to reach them" as the airships he's watching, are nearly eight miles away.
It would be easier if it was the krean strikeship Fídiablo. As the navigators onboard can communicate over vast distances with other spellcasters they know.
Not so, other spellcasters of other races who are trying to speak via mindspeech. As up to about twelve miles, in line of sight in the best you can do.
That's how far Mira Reinholt could communicate that way, when he had all of his vast powers at his disposal. Something he's not had in over decade now.
"Wouldn't be surprised if some of the duke's fleet are coming up to help his fleeing army" quietly says the spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, who points into the sky to the east, and adds "And ours are going to take them on".
That is indeed what they find out, when the airships in the sky to the east, get a little closer this way. And one of the spellcasters in the mercenary army from the lands Farque is able to communicate with them.
They're heading southwest, as a number of enemy vessels have been spotted far in the distance. Who are coming to the aid of the duke's army that's fleeing to the south.
The spellcaster, a sorcerer. Also finds out some other vital information from the Farqian warships in the sky to the east.
And in the elven language, he quietly tells Mira Reinholt and field commander Talbot "Another of the duke's army, further to the east is also fleeing southwards". He goes onto explain how the army led by field commander Tamric Drubine also broke the enemy battlelines last night, and this morning. Just as their army has done.
Recalling the maps of further to the east, here in the north of the duchy of Phelm, the mage Reinholt quietly says in elven "That lot will either flee to Halvíc or go further south and west to Savariss like the lot we're after are most likely heading".
The heavily armoured field commander nods his head, then quietly says in the same language in a slightly dry tone "That's all we need, two of their defeated armies within the walls of a city".
Talbot slightly grimaces before adding "A city no doubt full of civilians, refugees from up here and near the border".
The spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in the Southlands, who is now in his mid thirties, slightly winces, then quietly says "Hell, that's all we bloody need".
For so far, the local civilian population. Have kept well clear of the fighting between the army of their duke, and the armies that have come down from the unruled lands to the north of the kingdom of Nastell.
The only real interaction they've had with any of the armies. Is when the army of their own duke, has come into their towns, villages and hamlets. And seized foodstuffs, goods and equipment for them to use. Such is the fate of the common folk in a war within their own kingdom.
"We'll have to try and stop them before they get to Savariss" quietly says the member of lord Farque's personal council, nodding in agreement with the Vexilian mage in exile, field commander Talbot says "We'll have to pick up the pace and march throughout the night". He then asks the sorcerer "How far ahead can you send a rift too?"
"I've scried out a spot about five miles further to the south from here" replies the sorcerer, who continues with "Our forward elements briefly engaged with them there before midday".
"We'll have to send some of our battalions through to there, give them a bit of a head start" says the field commander who also commands the heavy foot division in the Farqian mercenary army.
The swordmaster Reinholt recalling his conversation with the robber baron Markell from earlier this afternoon, says "Best to send some of Markell's men through too" the once powerful mage continues with "It'll give them a boost of confidence" he then adds in a dry tone "And it'll quit his belly aching for a while too".
The field commander grins, then says to the sorcerer "See to it" then he waves over some of his officers, and starts issuing orders.
While Mira Reinholt steps away, and quietly speaks with Shur Kee the monk to tell him what's happening.
As they do, the last of the downed trees are cleared from across the road. And the army on the march gets underway again.
While in the clear and sunny sky to the east, four warships are flying southwest to intercept some enemy vessels who are flying to the aid of duke Hargen's army that's in retreat . . . . . .

The Hire 42.

The Southern Reaches. The Duchy Of Phelm. The Kingdom Of Nastell...

Teabagger the goblin Cunt looks over at his general and frowns. It's around midday, and in the heat of the middle of the day, the large ork is lying under the shade of a nearby tree.
And from the loud snores coming from that direction, it definitely sounds like the ork warleader is fast asleep.
While down on the road below, the rest of the army is passing by pretty quickly, as they continue to pursue the defeated army of duke Hargen in this part of the duchy of Phelm.
The commander of the goblin battalion in the mercenary army from the lands Farque looks over at DumbDumb. The fairly large goblin is holding a fairly large hammer.
A hammer to the head a number of times usually being the best way to wake up the general.
And from the gleam in the eyes of DumbDumb, he can't wait to hit the sleeping ork a number of times to wake him up.
DumbDumb looks over at his commander, and gestures with his hammer towards the big, burly ork who is fast asleep nearby beneath a tree.
Teabagger shakes his head no, and DumbDumb looks more than a little disappointed that he has to continue to wait.
The goblin commander looks at his sleeping general, and sighs. Then he looks down to the road below, hoping to spot the others who have gone off on an errand.
The small, bright green goblin slightly winces as he sees that it's the war machines and siege towers now passing by on the road.
And behind them are just the supply wagons with the camp followers, who are the last of the army, with the exception of the rear guard.
Teabagger guesses that the entire army led by field commander Tamric Drubine, who didn't suffer too many losses in the battle throughout the night. Will pass this site by the early afternoon.
The goblin commander just hopes he and his battalion, along with his general of course, will have moved on by then.
Teabagger the goblin Cunt looks up and the down the line of march. As he does so. Youdead who is standing nearby, points to further along the road that's taking the army further south into the duchy of Phelm.
The commander of the goblin battalion, who is one of a small number of the original goblin army from the kingdom of Melaurn, in the very south of the Southlands. That their general took leadership of, over a decade now.
Grins as he spots a number of the battalion hurrying back this way along the road. Then he slightly frowns as he notices that they don't have what they were sent off to get.
Those up the hill waiting with him, notice this too. And a few of them mutter and grumble. Until a look from their commander shuts them up.
After the others hurry up the hill, with many of them tripping up. Over themselves, and each other. As they make their way up the hill.
Teabagger the goblin cunt asks them "Where the hell is it?".
"Back that way" is the reply of Supershitty Shitface, who waves south along the road, and the line of march as the army continues after the fleeing remnants of duke Hargen's army they defeated in battle.
"Well it's no fucking good there is it" says Teabagger, who like a number of the battalion, pretty much all of them infact. Swear a whole lot more now that their general is back with them.
"It's too fucking heavy" says Supershitty Shitface, who is one of the officers in the battalion. The short, but stocky goblin. Who has patches of black across his dark green face, continues with "We went forward and got a wizard to do it, and it's frozen solid. So much so, it's not even melting in this heat".
"Couple of the others are keeping an eye on it" adds Poohead the Fourth, who dryly continues with "Not that anyone would take it, since they know who it's for".
They all nod, then the small, bright green goblin who commands the goblin battalion in the Farqian mercenary army, nods over to the sleeping ork beneath a tree, and says "Time to wake him up".
DumbDumb with his hammer, hurries over to where their general is asleep beneath the branches of a tree.
The large goblin only trips over his own feet the once as he rushes over to where the ork warleader is fast asleep. And as the others follow after him. DumbDumb starts hitting the sleeping ork in the head with his hammer.
After a while, and their general is still to wake. The others join in, kicking and punching the big, burly ork who is snoring loudly as he continues to sleep.
Teabagger has to wave away Cuntface the seventh. Or eighth. He isn't to sure. Who has got his spear, which he's all too willing to stab into one of the closed eyes of the sleeping ork.
Cuntface, the eighth as it turns out. Steps back with a look of disappointment on his face. While the others continue to hit their general.
Who eventually snorts, causing them all too back away, with the exception of Teabagger.
The goblin commander, who waves a hand infront of his face, as his general stinks more than usual. Because he's still wearing the hooded poncho some of the battalion made for him. Says to the large ork "Boss, i mean general, you awake?".
Grunting as he wakes, then yawning as he opens his eyes, Dorc da Orc says "Yeah cunt" as he looks at the small, bright, green goblin who is standing beside him.
"What is it cunt?" asks the ork weaponsmith who hails from the southern polar region of the world.
"Er the young commander will want a word with you" says Teabagger, Dorkindle grunts and closes his eyes and says "Tell Tam to get fucked" followed by "Wake me when there's more fucking fighting to do".
"Er the boss is here" says the goblin commander, who then adds "The boss, boss" he briefly pauses before continuing with "The big one, you know the one in the dark armour".
The large ork's eyes snap open, and he quickly sits up. The warleader of the ork race looks around, sniffing as he does so.
Then he scowls at Teabagger, and he says with a growl "No he not" followed by "You fucken lying cunt" then in the ork language he mutters "Me would fucken knows if that cunt was around".
"Er well he was here" says the small, bright, lurid green goblin who hails from the kingdom of Melaurn, who continues with "He spoke with the young commander, and the elf councilor" Teabagger momentarily pauses, then adds "As well as the knight".
"Fuck" mutters the weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks, who then demands of his commander "Why you not wake me cunt?".
"We tried" says the goblin commander in a bit of a sour tone of voice. For he and a number of others tried waking their general earlier this morning when they saw the krean strikeship come in. All too no avail, as the big, burly ork couldn't be woken, no matter how hard they hit him.
And the krean strikeship took off a bit later, heading south. In the direction the fleeing enemy army has gone.
Dorkindle listens with a scowl upon his broad, green, brutish looking face as Teabagger explains to him "The big boss must of had something important to say, if he decide to come here himself".
The large ork from the very bottom of the world grunts in agreement to that, and grunts again when the goblin commander tells him "Best we find out what he said general".
"Fucken s'pose so" mutters Dorc da Orc, who scowls at the other goblins nearby, then he yells at them "Well what you ugly little green cunts waiting for" he continues with "Get fucken going with the rest of the army you assheads!".
Then as the battalion starts heading downhill, and the large ork gets up off the ground, Teabagger tells him "And general, we found some".
The ork who was named warleader of his race, quite a number of years ago now. Frowns as he wonders what the goblin commander means.
Then the eyes of the large ork go wide in pleasure as he realises what Teabagger is referring to, then he says "Why you not say so earlier cunt?" he then adds in his native tongue "Stupid fucken gob-a-lin".
Dorkindle sets off down the hill, then suddenly stops, and looks at Teabagger and says in common to him "Probably all fucken warms" he waves at the sun in the perfectly clear blue sky on what's a hot summer's day here in the north of the duchy of Phelm, and adds "Cause of that fucken cunt" he then mutters "Me not like it as much when it's fucken warm".
"It isn't boss, er general" says the small, bright green goblin who as they continue on down the hill again to rejoin the rest of the army, tells his general "We got one of the wizards to freeze it".
Dorc da Orc blinks in surprise at that, then with a grin on his face, and after he grabs Teabagger, who stumbles and is about to fall flat on his face, if his general didn't grab him, says to the commander of the goblin battalion in the mercenary army from the lands Farque "Hurry up cunt" followed by "Don't want it to go to waste".
The battalion, and their general. Make their way forward along the line of march. For though goblins are accident prone. They can move quick when they want to. And they soon leave the war machines and siege engines behind. And are soon making their way through the foot soldier. Who are mainly from the armies of the robber barons Almard and Larimer.
The soldiers and hired mercenaries in the armies of the two robber barons. Quickly get out of the way of the goblin battalion and their ork general. Who started the battle last night against the army of duke Hargen in this part of Phelm. When they attacked the duke's battlelines from beneath the ground.
For though the goblins look a little ragged with all their mismatched armour and weapons. They're all wearing the black tunic of the mercenary army from the lands Farque.
And though at first the robber baron's men might of thought them a bit of a novelty, who they thought would be a bit of laughing stock.
Not so after the battle fought during the night. Where they not only got the battle underway. But also were the first to get amongst the enemy lines.
And eventually, with the their general. Caused the duke's army to break before dawn, and retreat. After they joined the attack on the eastern flank, where the enemy finally capitulated. And were forced into a retreat.
"Where they fucken at?" murmurs Dorc da Orc who is peering ahead as he and the goblin battalion walk quickly forward through the line of march.
That big burly ork, who is the son of the former matriarch of the wolf tribe of orks. Can smell what he wants somewhere up ahead. Then due to advantage of his height, he spots it on the side of the road. A hundred yards or so ahead. The ork warleader grins as he spots the pair of goblins sitting off to the side of the road.
"Fucken sweet" murmurs the large ork in pleasure when he gets there, as the two goblins get up off the ground. The large ork licks his lips as he looks at what they've been minding.
It's a large barrel of ale. And it's encased in a thick layer of ice. Which in the heat of the hot summer's day here in the southern reaches of the duchy of Phelm, doesn't seem to be melting. If it is, it's melting extremely slowly.
Dorkindle picks up the barrel, and hugs it to himself. Enjoying the extreme cold coming off it.
Then in act of patience not normally associated with the big, burly ork from the very bottom of the world.
He refrains from punching the ice across the top of the barrel to get into it. As he decides to keep the frozen barrel close to him, and drink it's contents later.
Tucking the ice covered barrel under his right arm, enjoyed the cold coming off it. The weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks, says to the goblins who are waiting "Right you cunts, let's get fucking going again".
As the battalion is set to get underway again, to head towards the front of the line of march, their general adds "And fucken thanks for this too" as he gestures at the ice covered barrel that's tucked under his right arm.
The goblin battalion and their ork general continue on their way, making their way forward.
Dorc da Orc notices there isn't that many of the cavalry in the advancing army. They must of gone further ahead, to harass the retreating army of the duke of Phelm.
He finds out soon enough, when he and his battalion, get near the front of the vanguard, where the field commander Tamric Drubine, and another of others are.
The large ork who has just passed, and ignored the two robber barons, Almard and Larimer.
Also passes sir Percavelle Lé Dic, who is walking with the heavy foot in the Farqian mercenary army, who are with this particular army led by the young field commander, who is known by Tam by those who know him well.
The big, burly ork and the heavily armoured knight glare at one another as the ork general and his following battalion walk by.
There's no denying the rivalry between the two of them. Who flat out don't like one another.
And the two of them, who have spent many a year trying to kill one another. Ever since they first crossed paths in a war in the Sunreach Mountains nearly a dozen years ago.
Find it rather odd, that they're not at each other's throats now. As it feels totally foreign not to.
"Fucken dumb knight cunt" Dorc da Orc loudly mutters as he walks by. As sir Percavelle Lé Dic, says in his overly loud voice "Foul smelly disgusting beast".
The two of them then ignore one another once the large ork has walked by with his goblin battalion.
Then leaving most of the battalion just back in the vanguard.
Dorkindle along with Teabagger the goblin cunt, and some of the officers in the goblin battalion. Continue a bit further on, to the front of the line of march. Where Tamric Drubine, and most of his senior staff are.
The warleader of the ork race, who notices Helbe the elven thief isn't around. Nor can he smell Narladene the ground pixie anywhere near.
Nods his large head, and says in greeting "Hey cunt" to the nobleborn teenager from the kingdom of Sarcrin who leads this army that's come south from the unruled lands of the Colevar Mountains, and made it's way into the kingdom of Nastell.
"Hey Dorc" replies Tamric Drubine, the field commander in the mercenary army from the lands Farque who then adds "Good you're here".
Then Dorc da Orc, enjoying the cold coming off the ice covered ale barrel tucked under his right arm, listens to what Tam has to say, as the young field commander explains the current situation, and their plans now that they have new information about the enemy.
Not just here in this area of the duchy, but elsewhere in the north of the duchy of Phelm . . . . . .

The Hire 41.

In The North Of The Kingdom Of Nastell...

Lisell Maera wakes up to the sound of something nearby. The attractive young woman from the city-state of Vexil turns her head, and finds Gergus the robber baron asleep next to her, with an arm over her naked midriff, as sunlight pours down through the branches above her.
The runner in the mercenary army from the lands Farque faintly smiles as she recalls the events that ended their night.
Then once again, she hears whatever it is that's close by.
Not wanting to face whatever it is that's nearby, half naked.
Lisell Maera, or Lis as she's more commonly called, moves out from beneath the comforting arm of the robber baron.
Then slips on her tunic and breaches. And then she shakes Gergus by the shoulder to wake him up.
As his eyes open, she holds up a finger to remain silent, and nods in the direction she has heard something.
The robber baron sits up, and pulls on his leggings and his tunic. All thoughts of what happened at the end of the night disappears.
As he thinks of what happened earlier in the night, and throughout yesterday.
Gergus grimaces as he thinks of his lost brother inlaw, Hammind. Then he grimaces again as he looks at his sword belt. Which is minus his sword and scabbard. Which were lost in the river last night.
All he has is a hand axe, and a dagger to protect himself.
While Lis has her crossbow, which was safe as it was strapped to her back. But she has no quarrels for it.
Nor does she have her sword. As that too was lost in the river, when she jumped into it.
But she does have a dagger on her belt, which she takes in hand. As they both hear something approaching. Something rather large.
The robber baron, one of five from the unruled lands to the north of the kingdom of Nastell, who have banded together to wage war upon duke Hargen and the duchy of Phelm.
Gets into a crouch as he takes his small axe to hand.
Memories of yesterday and last night, fleeing from the the land dragons fresh in their minds.
The two of them look around for a way to flee, and heading back to the incline behind them, that leads down into the gorge and the river might be their best option.
And just as Gergus is about to nod his head in that direction. The thick lower branches of two trees just infront of them parts.
Lisell Maera grins and puts a restraining hand on the left arm of Gergus the robber baron and quietly tells him "It's alright, he's a friend".
Looking sideways at the attractive young woman he laid with at the end of the eventful night, the robber baron Gergus murmurs "You sure?" followed a moment later by "Because that's the biggest damn dog I've ever seen".
Lis grins again, and says "Hi Axe". The undead wardog Axe barks a few times, wags his stubby black tail, then sits down on his haunches, and watches the two of them.
The runner in the Farqian mercenary army can easily identify the two undead wardogs lord Farque has brought with him.
Simply by looking at their heads. For though the two of them are almost identical in size and colour. Axe's head is slightly more pointed. While his brother, Hammer's head is slightly broader.
The robber baron is a little sceptical of Lis saying the massive canine is a friend. After all it's the size of a horse, and looks like it could easily bite him in two.
Not to mention the look in it's eyes as it watches them. Which is far more intelligent than Gergus has seen in the eyes of any other animal or creature he's ever encountered.
Seeing the scepticism on the face of the man who made love to her last night.
Lisell Maera quietly says to the robber baron "He's one of my lord's dogs". Gergus slowly nods as the attractive young woman he slept with quietly adds "He won't harm you" she quickly follows that with "Just don't touch him though".
Axe who has got up and softly barked a few times at the mention of his master.
Then approaches the two of them, and he sniffs at the robber baron, before moving back and sitting back down again.
After slightly gulping, Gergus clears his throat, then quietly asks Lis "If i did touch him?".
"He'd probably bite your arm off" dryly says the runner in the armies of Farque, who continues with "So i wouldn't do it if i was you".
The robber baron nods, then stands up as Lisell Maera has done. Even standing he finds the massive dog, whilst sitting, is taller than him.
Then after he gives the attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury a lingering look, Gergus quietly asks her "Now what?".
Knowing that the robber baron is referring to more than their current predicament. Lis decides to take things safe, and answer that instead of the underlying question.
She gestures at the massive shape of Axe, and says "Go with him i suppose" then she says to the undead wardog "Axe do you want us to go with you?". The Farqian wardog gets up and barks once.
"Once means yes, and two barks means no" the runner in the mercenary army from the lands Farque quietly says to Gergus.
She continues with "The lord and those who are the dog's handlers can communicate with them, but that's all i know".
"Makes sense" murmurs the robber baron in a quizzical tone, who then adds "I guess".
They look at the massive canine, who has turned and is looking back at them, clearly expecting them to follow him.
Axe pushes through the branches he appeared from. And Lis gestures for Gergus to follow after the undead wardog.
"We're safe with him" quietly says the attractive young woman who is originally from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury "Nothing can harm him" adds the runner in the Farqian mercenary army, who continues in a slightly dry tone with "And anything that gets in his way ends up dead".
"I can well imagine" murmurs the robber baron, who ducks, and pushes through the branches that Axe went through, while Lisell Maera follows behind him.
Suddenly Gergus exclaims "Fuck" and he staggers back into Lis after she's just pushed through the last of the branches.
The robber baron finds himself eye to eye with a land dragon. Then as Lisell Maera asks him "What is it?" he realises it's the head of a land dragon, that's obviously been ripped from the rest of it's body.
Lis steps around Gergus, and seeing the head of the land dragon, she looks around and spots Axe nearby, rolling around on his back, growling in pleasure.
"Did you do that Axe?" asks the messenger in the mercenary army from the lands Farque, who is pretty certain what the answer will be.
The undead wardog rolls over, then stands up, and barks once.
"Are there anymore of them around?" asks Lis pointing at the head of the land dragon, then she quickly adds "Alive?".
The massive animal barks twice in satisfaction, wagging his stubby tail as he does so.
"See" dryly says Lisell Maera to the robber baron "I told you he'd kill anything that gets in his way" adds the attractive young woman who hails from the coast of the Southlands.
"So i see" murmurs Gergus, who watches as the fifteen hundred pound canine, who stands over six and half foot tall at the shoulder.
Wanders over, and grabs the head of the land dragon between his jaws, even though it must easily weigh a couple hundred pounds.
He gives it a shake a few times, growling in content. Then with it still in his maw, he trots away. He stops and looks back at the two humans.
"We'd better follow him" says Lis, who suspects lord Farque sent Axe to find her after she was separated from the patrol led by the cavalry commander Darid Parsen during the attack upon the village of Dalbar Falls, where the enemy had a warcamp.
They follow after the undead wardog, who leads them westwards. With Axe biffing the head of the land dragon away every so often, then to run after it and retrieve it, as he plays a game of fetch by himself.
While Lis and Gergus follow behind him. The two of them are silent for the most part. Saying little, and of little importance too.
Until the robber baron from the unruled lands to the north of the kingdom of Nastell brings up the topic of what happened late last night after they got to safety, once they got out of the river.
"About last night" quietly says Gergus, who is interrupted by Lis saying "You don't have to mention anything about it".
The robber baron looks at her as they walk side by side, then he quietly says "It wasn't just a". "I know" quietly says the attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury as she interrupts him again, she then adds "You don't have to explain".
Gergus slightly nods, then he briefly clasps the left hand of Lis. Before letting it go when Axe runs back in their direction after going to fetch the head of the dead land dragon he tossed away again.
The undead wardog leads them out from the trees they've been walking through. And they find they've been walking along this side of the gorge.
Which eventually gives way, with the river bank on this side, being not that far above the level of the water.
The two of them refill their water bottles, then continue after Axe. Who is now biffing the head of the land dragon into the swift moving river, and retrieving it, as much as he throws it onto the ground on this side of the river.
The massive animal easily retrieves the head of the land dragon whenever he biffs it into the river.
Gergus is amazed at how powerful the massive canine is through the fast flowing water, and mentions this to Lis.
She doesn't even tell him that Axe can move way more quicker and powerfully than has been so far on this clear and sunny, not to mention hot day.
The runner in the Farqian mercenary army doubts the robber baron would believe her. Unless he saw it for himself.
As they walk, they often look across to the otherside of the river. Where that side is still fairly high, as it's still part of the gorge. Which they jumped from during the night.
Around mid morning, Gergus frowns as he spots something on the otherside of the gorge. And as they approach it from this side, the robber baron mutters "Hell" and comes to a stop.
Lis stops beside him, and looks to the otherside of the river. Which is about eighty feet across here. And the gorge wall is about forty feet high over on that side.
Strewn across it, are parts of land dragons. How many, they're not too sure. But probably between six and ten.
Axe has trotted back to them after retrieving the land dragon head again. A head that's been chewed all over, and is more than a little bedraggled, and soaked after being tossed into the river so many times.
"Did you do that Axe?" asks Lis pointing across to the otherside of the river, she's not surprised when the undead wardog barks once in reply.
He seems happy with what he's done, as he stands there, looking across to the otherside of the river, growling in contentment as his stubby tail wags from side to side.
The robber baron Gergus after glancing at Axe, he looks back across the river, and he quietly says "I wonder if he saw" he can't quite finish what he wants to say.
The messenger in the mercenary army from the lands Farque knows Gergus is thinking of his brother inlaw Hammind.
The attractive young woman from the coast of the Southlands, says in elven which she knows Axe can understand "You didn't happen to see a man over on that side of the river did you Axe?".
Lis then describes the robber baron's brother inlaw Hammind. Lord Farque's wardog replies in the negative.
Lisell Maera slightly winces, then she quietly tells Gergus "He didn't see him at all".
The robber baron grimaces when he hears that, then he looks away from the otherside of the river. And starts walking in the way they've been heading.
Axe glances at Lis, and softly whines "It's alright boy" quietly says the runner in the Farqian mercenary army in the elven language, she then adds "He's lost someone close to him".
She sets off after the robber baron. Then after a moment, Axe with the rather mauled looking head of a land dragon firmly in the grasp of his jaws. Takes off, and runs by the two humans, as he continues to lead them westwards.
It's near to midday, when Gergus finally speaks again, and mentions that he's more than a little hungry.
Lisell Maera is too, as they didn't have anything to eat all yesterday, and most of the day before that too.
Axe hears this, and he trots back to them, and dumps the head of the land dragon right in their path.
The massive canine then rolls it towards them with his nose.
"Er" says the robber baron, while the attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury says "Ah thanks awfully Axe, but we can't eat that" as the two of them look at the offering from lord Farque's wardog.
Axe looks a little disappointingly at the land dragon's head. Then after he looks around, he picks it up between his jaws, and trots away. Looking back in his way, to make sure Lis and Gergus follow him.
They do, and he leads them away from the river. Where a few hundred yards away, they get amongst some trees again.
The undead wardog dumps the head of the land dragon, then barks and yips a few times at the two humans.
Then he looks at the head of the land dragon, and growls at it, and barks loudly at it, before he looks back at the attractive young woman and the robber baron.
"Ah we'll keep an eye on it Axe" says Lisell Maera, who continues with "Make sure it doesn't go anywhere".
The undead wardog barks in satisfaction, then he turns and he takes off running between the trees.
Gergus blinks in surprise as the massive animal is gone from sight. He thinks he sees a blur of motion in the distance. But he can't see Axe anywhere now.
"I guess we wait for him now" says Lis who takes a seat upon a log, Gergus sits down beside her. Gently taking her left hand is his right.
The messenger in armies of Farque knows all about the reputation of the robber baron sitting beside her. How he even has children to a number of different woman in the parts of the unruled lands to the north of the kingdom of Nastell, that he lays claim to.
Even though she knew that, she still let him couple with her last night. Something she has never willingly done before in her life. For in the past, as a young girl, and a teenager, she was taken against her will.
He was in need, and frankly so was she. After their near death experience yesterday and last night as they fled the pursuing land dragons, which ended with the wild ride in the swift moving river, which they both barely got out of.
"Lisell" quietly says Gergus, who turns to her, then tentatively kisses her. Which she responds to.
After a few moments, they move their heads back, and find that they're both smiling.
Lis is about to kiss the robber baron again, when she spots a dark blur coming towards them, from the direction Axe took off in.
"He's coming back" quietly says the attractive young woman from the coast of the Southlands.
Though Gergus remains seated beside Lis, he lets her hand ago. And a moment later, Axe comes into view, with a dead deer between his jaws.
It's infact a stag, which he places on the ground infront of the two of them. Then barks a few times.
"Why thank you Axe" says Lisell Maera, who nudges Gergus, who adds "Ah yes thanks".
The undead wardog barks a few times, then he wanders over to the head of the land dragon, lies down and starts gnawing on it.
"Well i guess i can dress it" says the robber baron looking at the dead stag, that died of fright when Axe ran at it.
"You think it'll be safe for a fire?" asks Gergus, who then dryly adds "I don't fancy eating it raw".
"I'm sure it'll be safe" says Lis who nods over to where Axe is gnawing on the head of a dead land dragon.
The two of them get up off the log they've been sitting on, and after grinning at one another at the situation they're in. Gergus takes his dagger from his belt, and starts to field dress the stag, while Lisell Maera goes around collecting wood for a cook fire . . . . . .

The Hire 40.

The Duchy Of Phelm. The Kingdom Of Nastell...

As the sun rises on the day. Looking northwards, Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy says "It's pretty much a rout now".
Next to him, the squad leader Barron says "Definitely looks like it" he briefly pauses, then adds "Can't believe we held them through the night".
Nor can i, the spy Tanith thinks to himself, as the two of them turn away, then scramble down the hillside to the road that leads away to the south.
The army of duke Hargen in this part of the duchy is in retreat. And though they fought and held out the army of the robber barons that attacked them during the night.
They've finally capitulated, and are now on the run to the south. At least those that are left are. As another day has dawned sunny and warm in the southern reaches of the Colevar Mountains, here in the north of the kingdom of Nastell.
The two of them, the squad leader, who hails from the south of Phelm. And the elven spy from the principality of Alínlae. Rejoin their squad.
Who are mostly intact. Due to Dalinvardél Tanith keeping them out of harm's way. And away from the thick of the fighting that took place throughout the night.
"We pissing off then are we?" asks Shawtus McQuade, Barron nods his head, then says "That we are".
"Bout fucking time" mutters Smawfri McQuade, who like his cousin Shawtus, saw the writing on the wall, so to speak. When the enemy first attacked during the night. When they immediately saw that the duke's army here in this part of the duchy, weren't going to be able to repel the army of the robber barons.
"Any word on the general?" asks one of the squad members "Dead" replies the squad leader, who continues with "Died at the very start of the battle, as did most of the commanders".
"No wonder we lost" says another of the squad "Aye" says Shawtus McQuade, who continues with "By Thaxel it's a miracle we survived the night" he gestures around them at the others who are fleeing south like they are, and he adds "Considering most of this lot who aren't dead, put up a piss poor show against the robber baron's mob".
His cousin nods in agreement. For though they might of been out of the thick of the fighting during the night. Whenever they did encounter the enemy amongst the battlelines. It was the two dwarven cousins from the Sunreach Mountains who dealt to them.
They didn't leave many of the robber barons men they encountered, alive after those confrontations.
"Who's in command then?" asks another of the squad "Who knows?" replies Barron the squad leader, who at times during the night, didn't think they would survive the battle.
And only did so due to the wits and cunning of the elf he thinks is a mercenary ranger. And the sheer bloody mindedness of the two dwarven warriors who killed any of the enemy they ran across.
"No one probably" adds the squad leader "Where we going?" asks another of the squad, who number less than fifteen, and only lost a couple during the night.
"South" is the answer from the fairly young squad leader, who continues with "To Halvíc most like" he briefly pauses then adds "Or Savariss".
Idling up beside the two dwarven warriors, Dalinvardél Tanith, or Dalin as he's more commonly called by those who know him well. It's also the name he's going by, since he's infiltrated the army of duke Hargen.
Quietly says to the two cousins who hail from the Sunreach Mountains "Keep an close eye on things".
The elven spy who once served in one of the more prominent noble houses in the principality of Alínlae, quietly continues with "We're in good shape, with all of our equipment, and our supplies".
With a nod of his hooded head at those on the road with them, the spy Tanith quietly adds "Some of this lot might try to take advantage of that as we flee south" he follows that with "You know how armies that have been routed can act".
"I like to see them fucking try" mutters Smawfri McQuade, who is the more hot headed of the two hot headed dwarven warriors.
"Aye, they'll regret if they try" adds Shawtus McQuade, who is the slightly older, and slightly taller of the two cousins.
Both of whom are now glaring at the others in the army they're sharing the road with, as they all head south, as quickly as possible as the day gets underway, now that the sun has risen in the clear sky.
On what's another hot and sunny, summer's day here in the north of the duchy of Phelm. The northern most duchy in the kingdom of Nastell.
They walk quickly throughout the early morning. And up ahead, they spot a few riders at a crossroads.
The mounted soldiers in the duke's army, are motioning to those fleeing south. To continue south on the road that leads that way.
Dalin recognises one of the riders. For like himself, he too is a spy in the armies of Farque, who has also infiltrated the army of the duchy of Phelm.
They don't say anything. And they barely glance at one another. But the mounted spy, unobtrusively does a couple of hand signals that only his fellow spy can identify.
The elven spy originally from the principality of Alínlae, gives a quick hand signal in return.
Keep going south and Stay safe was what the Farqian spy on horseback signaled to Dalin. And the spy Tanith replied that he would.
Looking ahead, as they pass the crossroads, and continue southwards. Dalinvardél Tanith who walks between the McQuade cousins who are on his left, and Barron the squad leader who is on his right, quietly says to them "If we don't regroup somewhere, with another of the armies, either in Halvíc or elsewhere".
He momentarily pauses, before continuing with "This could end up in disaster for the duke" he then adds "He might lose his duchy before it's even mid summer".
Both Shawtus and Smawfri McQuade grunt in agreement to that. While Barron, who is a born Nastellian, and not a foreign mercenary like the other three. Winces at the prospect of that happening.
Though he knows what Dalin says, is the truth if something isn't done to stop the advance of the armies of the robber barons of the unruled lands to the north of the kingdom. Who have pushed south, to wage war upon duke Hargen and the duchy of Phelm.
"Your duke got any allies elsewhere in the kingdom lad?" asks Shawtus McQuade with a glance at the young squad leader "He does, but they won't come to his aid" is the reply from Barron.
"What about the king like?" adds the older of the two dwarven cousins, who continues with "Bet he wouldn't be exactly pleased that his northern border has been breached by that rabble from further up in the mountains".
"He won't help out" says the squad leader, who in a slightly sour tone, adds "Up here in the north we have to fend for ourselves. And the crown doesn't particularly care, either you defend and hold. Or whoever is victorious is the new duke. Doesn't matter what side of the border you're from".
Shawtus grunts then says "A rough but fair way to rule" he briefly pauses before adding "I suppose".
Barron the squad leader nods, then falls silent as he contemplates their situation. Wondering if they'll make it south. To even Halvíc, which they only left from a few days ago.
The four of them in the front of the squad, are all silent. As they briskly walk along the road heading south, with the rest of the squad following right behind them.
Amongst the defeated army of duke Hargen, well what remains of them. Who have been routed by an army of the robber barons from the unruled lands to the north of the kingdom of Nastell.
They walk like this for quite some time, until Smawfri suddenly breaks the silence, as he looks away to the side, and says in a threatening tone "What the fuck are you lot looking at?".
"Nothing" says a soldier in the duke's army, one of a small group who have been keeping pace with the squad led by Barron.
"Well make sure you keep looking at nothing" says the slightly shorter of the two dwarven warriors, who continues with "If not, I'll take my axe and shove it up your man cunts".
"That would be your fucking arses" adds Shawtus in a tone identical to that of his slightly younger cousin.
The group of about eight soldiers, fall back from Barron's squad. Quite some distance too.
"What was that all about?" asks the young squad leader who hails from the south of Phelm.
"Those fuckers were eyeing us up" says Smawfri, who then adds "Notice they had no supplies, and they hardly had a weapon between them".
"Best bet, was they were waiting for a chance to divulge us of our stuff" adds Shawtus, the slightly older of the McQuade cousins continues with "There'll be a fair few others among this bunch, who'll get desperate and try something against those with food and equipment".
"The assholes" mutters the younger of the two dwarven warriors.
They continue onwards, only taking a short break at mid morning. When Dalin scouted off  the road, and found a clean stream for them to fill their water bottles and water sacks.
Once they're on the road again, that leads south to Halvíc, and the staging grounds there. The elven spy in the Farqian mercenary army, who has infiltrated the army of duke Hargen. Spots something. It's in the sky.
"Uh oh" quietly says Dalinvardél Tanith, who honestly means it.
"What is it?" asks the squad leader "Airship to the southwest" is the quiet reply of the spy from the elven principality of Alínlae "About six miles away" adds Dalin.
The McQuade cousins quickly look in that direction in the sky, and they too spot the airship in the distance.
"One of ours?" asks Barron "I hope so" murmurs the spy Tanith, who genuinely hopes it's a vessel in duke Hargen's fleet.
Because if it isn't, there's a good chance he could get attacked, and killed by an airship on his own side.
Such is the risk of a spy, Dalinvardél Tanith dryly thinks to himself.
"Is it coming this way?" asks the squad leader "It is now" is the reply from Smawfri McQuade, which causes Barron to wince.
"Maybe i should call out a warning?" quietly says the young squad leader from southern Phelm.
"That wouldn't be particularly wise" quickly says Dalin, who follows that up with "This lot might panic if they don't know whose vessel it is" the elven spy then adds "We definitely don't want to be caught up in that".
Both of the dwarven warriors grunt in agreement, while Barron nods in acceptance of Dalin's wise council.
Then the young squad leader asks "Can you tell whose it is now?" as he can't even see the airship in question yet.
The elf and the two dwarves are silent for a few moments, then Smawfri mutters "Can't bloody tell, your ships all look the damn same". The your he's referring to is humans.
The younger of the McQuade cousins then mutters something in the dwarven language, that the spy Tanith is certain contains a lot of swear words.
Then Dalin almost breathes in relief, then he says "It's one of ours" referring to the duke of Phelm.
"Thank the gods for that" murmurs Barron. For just then, further along the road, there are those who have just spotted the approaching airship.
And before anyone can panic, Barron yells out that it's one of their's.
A little bit while later, they can all identify the duke's standard flying from one of the masts of the airship.
"Hmmm thought it was coming towards us, but it's turning more straight north" muses Shawtus McQuade, which causes Dalinvardél Tanith to quickly look back to the north.
"Fuck" mutters the spy Tanith in the elven language, who then switches to common, and quietly tells Barron "We've got to get out of here" followed by "And fast".
Dalin has spotted an airship approaching from the north. He has immediately recognised it because of it's unique shape, and the incredible speed it's moving at, as it heads this way.
"Enemy airship to the north" quietly says the elven spy who has infiltrated the army of the duchy of Phelm.
Barron winces, then heeding Dalin's words from earlier, he turns and quietly says to the rest of the squad "Right, off the road and into those trees there".
The squad hurry off the road, with the McQuade brothers frowning as they look to the north as the follow after the rest of the squad.
"You see that?" asks Shawtus in dwarven "Aye" replies Smawfri in the same language, who continues with "Looks right fucking familiar like".
"That it does" says the older of the two dwarven warriors, who like his younger cousin, has spotted the fast moving airship approaching from the north.
They've seen it's like before. Over a decade ago, when they were traveling on their own airship. A dwarven dreadnought. And they were stopped by such a vessel, as they flew along the coast of a nation far to the south, in the very south of the Southlands.
The squad gets amongst the trees, and Barron quietly orders "Run". Which they all do, with the trio of mercenaries, who aren't human, bringing up the rear.
As Dalinvardél Tanith easily lopes along beside the McQuade cousins, the older of the two dwarven warriors asks him "You see an airship like that before Dalin?".
"No i haven't" lies the elven spy in the Farqian mercenary army, who continues with "Strange looking thing, it's got no masts".
"Aye" says Shawtus McQuade as they run with the rest of the squad through the woods.
"You know what it is?" asks the spy Tanith.
It's Smawfri McQuade who answers in a dry tone with "Aye, it be trouble" just as the three of them clearly hear the thuds of multiple magetubes firing somewhere in the sky to the north of them . . . . . .

The Hire 39.

Northern Nastell...

The previous day and the previous night. And they fled the land dragons that pursed them.
The three of them ran as quickly as they could. For there was no chance to turn and fight against the serpent like creatures. As there was too many of them.
Unwittingly, they had blundered into the only territory of the land dragons, anywhere in the Colevar Mountains. In either the unruled lands, or in the north of the kingdom of Nastell.
As here, further to the east in the north of the duchy of Phelm as they continued heading further to the south and east.
The land is more verdant, with the trees and ground more green. Than elsewhere in the very north of the Nastell. For the simple reason there's more creeks, streams, rivers and lakes in this part of northern Phelm.
At least in comparison to elsewhere on this side, the eastern side of the the mountain range, and it's foothills.
And though the land dragons, some up to fifteen feet in length. Are quick in short bursts. They're not especially fast over long distances.
The further they ran, the more the land dragons fluttered their short, stubby and utterly useless wings. A sure sign that they wanted to move more swiftly, as they pursed their human prey.
By mid morning, the trio of Lisell Maera, the robber baron Gergus, and his second in command, Hammind.
Had opened up a sizeable gap on the land dragons. So much so, that when ever they looked back through the trees at the lizard like creatures, they could barely spot the land dragons.
Even though, they could still hear them, croaking, and hissing in their reptilian manner as they couldn't keep up with the three they hunted.
A sign that though the land dragons had fallen behind, they were still in pursuit.
With their pursuers some distance behind them, they were able to stop for brief moments. And refill their water bottles. The area they were going through might be more verdant and green, than they were accustomed to traveling through elsewhere in the southern reaches.
It was still warm, indeed hot. As they day was sunny, with very little clouds in the sky.
The three of them hardly spoke, and when they did, it was only when necessary, and in brief, short, sentences.
It was usually when they thought the land dragons giving them chase had given up. Only for the three of them to hear the growling and hissing of the creatures in the distance somewhere behind them.
Lisell Maera, or Lis as she's more commonly called by those who know her well. Ran out infront. She could easily out distance both the robber baron Gergus, and his brother inlaw Hammind.
As both of them are more heavily armoured than her. And more to the point, she's younger and fitter than the two of them.
And the training she has endured over the last year or so in the armies of the lands Farque. Has seen her run from dawn to dusk on some days. And throughout entire nights. Sometimes days and nights on end.
After all, she is a runner in the armies of the lands Farque.
And with her long legs, and being taller than Hammind, and the same height as Gergus. She could easily leave the two men from the unruled lands to the north of the kingdom of Nastell far behind.
But she kept just infront of the two of them, as they were continuously pursed by the land dragons, whose territory they were crossing as they continued to flee to the east and south.
It was during one of their short breaks, sometime near midday, in the very heat of the day. After they had all splashed water from a stream, over their heads and faces. And drank their full.
That the axe fighter Hammind mentioned that they didn't have much in the way to eat since they parted ways with Pabell that first night they were chased by duke Hargen's men.
And though they had left the duke's men miles and miles behind. The land dragons were still in pursuit. And they couldn't keep up this pace, if they didn't have something to eat.
They got underway again when they heard the calls of the land dragons once more.
With the robber baron mentioning to his second in command, not to think about his gut as they ran. For escaping the pursuing land dragons, and surviving was their first priority. Finding something to eat can wait for later.
And though the attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury agreed with the robber baron. She couldn't help but of think of food as she ran out infront of the other two as they continued on their way to the east and south.
In an area of northern Nastell that both Gergus and his brother inlaw Hammind had no idea, where they were.
The two of them mentioned that they could very well no longer be in the duchy of Phelm. And might be in the next duchy, the duchy of Malmaek.
Which is to the east of the northern most duchy of the kingdom of Nastell.
Wherever they were, the two men from the unruled lands of the southern reaches of the Colevar Mountains. Hadn't a clue where they were. Just that they're in the north of the kingdom of Nastell.
In an area with few, if any people. Due to it being the territory of land dragons. Creatures that are found in groups, called nests.
One such nest that they disturbed, who are more than a little angry that the three of them interrupted their daily activities. And killed one of their number when they first came upon them, then fled.
Land dragons, which are in no way related to actual dragons. Are vengeful creatures. Easy to anger, as they often fight amongst themselves. Over the most trivial of things.
And in the case of large males in the mating season, death is often the result in fights between them.
So a trio of humans, who blundered into one such nest. Is definite prey to the serpent like creatures. Who due to their four relatively short legs, aren't the quickest of movers over anything more than twenty or thirty yards.
Be that as it may, they do have one thing in their favour. And that's endurance. Something that Lisell Maera, the robber baron Gergus, and his second in command Hammind, have yet to find out.
In the middle of the afternoon, during another of their brief stops, this time in a glade amongst some trees.
Lisell Maera after refilling her water bottle from the nearby stream, says "Don't they ever stop?" as once again, they hear in the distance, the sounds of the pursuing land dragons.
"Doesn't look like it" says Gergus the robber baron, who has dunked his head into the stream to cool himself down.
The robber baron who is pretty sure he's spotted fish in the stream, and is annoyed they've got no time to try and catch some, quietly says to the other two "Better get going again" he then dryly adds "Unless you want to end up as a meal for our scaly friends back there".
The three of them set off again, running through, then out of the glade, always heading to the east and south. Further and further away from their army. Further and further away from help.
It's late in the afternoon, nearing dusk, with all three of them breathing heavily. That they take another break, as they haven't heard the pursuing land dragons for a while.
They're upon a hill, looking back in the direction they've come. Sipping from their water bottles.
When Lis, whose eyesight is keenest, says "Damn" as she points to the north and west, to where she has spotted the land dragons through the trees, heading this way.
"Thought we'd left them behind" mutters Hammind between heavy breaths, the brother inlaw of the robber baron Gergus, who has shed his heavy breastplate, continues with "I thought we'd lost them".
"We haven't" says Gergus, who then adds "Let's get going" as he can see though the land dragons aren't moving all that fast, they don't look in the least bit tired, or are labouring in anyway.
The three of them continue running, into dusk, and the early evening. Though their strides, especially those of Hammind and Gergus, are slower, and not as quick, as they were at the start of the day, when they first started fleeing the land dragons.
It was inevitable, especially since it was now evening. That one of them would fall. Due to being tired because they've been running all day, and because it's dark, with just one of the moons up in the night sky at this time.
Hammind falls over a tree root that's sticking out of the ground. And though he's not badly injured in anyway. His left ankle hurts enough, that he continues on with a limp. Which slows him down, and the other two down as they run with him.
And though his brother inlaw says words of encouragement to him. Hammind who grits his teeth every time he puts weight on his left foot. Knows he's probably just doomed the three of them.
That's unless he does something about it. Is what he thinks as he runs alongside his brother inlaw Gergus. Just behind the attractive young woman in the Farqian mercenary army.
And though they continue onwards into the night. They all hear the land dragons getting closer and closer to them.
Hammind doesn't know when it is, it must be before midnight, as Ilnari, the largest of the three moons is now up in the night sky with Ovean, the smallest. That he makes a decision.
And between clenched teeth, as his left ankle hurts like hell now, he says to his brother inlaw "Gergus keep going with the girl" as he comes to a stop.
"No" says the robber baron who grabs the right arm of his second in command, and adds "Keep moving".
His brother inlaw violently shrugs him off, and pushes him away, and says in loud voice "Move it Ger!" as he takes his battleaxe from the strap across his back.
"Now Hamm, this is no time for heroics" says the robber baron Gergus. His brother inlaw Hammind ignores him, and instead looks at Lis, and tells her "Get him out of here girl".
The attractive young woman nods her head in understanding, as she sees how resolute Hammind is, as he's now made a decision, and is sticking with it.
Then learning a move that she's learnt from the elven spy Dalinvardél Tanith, Lis squeezes the back of the robber baron's neck.
And as he briefly gasps in pain, the runner in the Farqian mercenary army, grabs his right arm, and spins him around and away from his brother inlaw Hammind.
Who after a brief look at Gergus, turns and limps away in the direction they've come from.
"Move" says Lisell Maera in what she hopes sounds like an authoritative tone, she quickly follows that with "That's an order". For though he might be a robber baron of the unruled lands of the southern reaches. She's part of the mercenary army that he and the other robber barons have paid to lead them.
As Gergus mutters "Shit" after glaring at Lis. He turns to go after his brother inlaw, when he stopped short in his tracks when he hears Hammind say "Don't let Jana lose her brother too Ger" followed by "That would end her".
Standing there, feeling as indecisive as he's ever felt in his life. Gergus hears his brother inlaw say "And tell her how much i love her too".
The robber baron loses sight of the limping form of his second in command who is married to his younger sister Jana.
Then as they hear the approaching land dragons, Gergus lets out a shout of anger and frustration. And with tears in eyes, the robber baron turns and runs. 
He runs as fast as he's run throughout the day and night so far. Fueled by anger, frustration, and loss. Gergus runs so fast that Lisell Maera doesn't have to slow down to keep pace with him.
Infact she has to run quite quickly to keep up with him, as they head to the southeast through the trees.
The two of them run for so long, that they finally realise that they're can no longer hear the land dragons in pursuit.
By silent agreement, they slow down. And eventually end up walking at a brisk pace. Both breathing heavily. And both silent. Lis thinks it's inappropriate speak.
While Gergus is at a loss for words. As he knows his brother inlaw is now dead. Killed by the pursuing land dragons. Who by the sounds of it, or lack of it. They've left behind.
They walk for quite some time during the middle of the night. When the attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury eventually notices something.
Lisell Maera breaks their silence, by saying "You hear that?".
Lost in his own world, the robber baron shakes his head no, and the runner in the mercenary army from the lands Farque, tells him "Up ahead somewhere" she continues with "Sounds like a river".
That is indeed what it is, which they find a short while later. And it's a rather large, and swift moving river that cuts through a gorge. Which they're standing on one side of, about thirty to fifty feet above the water. It's a bit difficult to know exactly, even with two of the moons in the night sky.
The two of them walk along the top of the gorge, wandering if there's anyway to cross. Well that's what Lis is thinking. Gergus isn't thinking much at all.
They've only been walking for a little while, when Lisell Maera suddenly stops and looks back in the direction they've come form through the trees.
The robber baron finally notices where Lis is looking, and he asks her in a dull tone of voice "What is it?".
The messenger in the Farqian mercenary army holds up a hand for silence. Then a few moments later, faintly, and in the distance, they both hear the familiar hissing and growling sounds of land dragons.
They listen for a few moments more, and it's definitely land dragons, and by the sounds of it they're getting louder, which means they're getting closer.
The attractive young woman from the coast of the Southlands quickly looks around, then having made a decision, she says to the robber baron "Jump" as she gestures down to the river.
"Are you fucking crazy?" says Gergus, who finally seems to have his wits about him, after the suggestion from the runner in the Farqian mercenary army.
"No" says Lis who quickly adds "But we've got no other option" she follows that with "Unless you want to end up dead like your brother inlaw".
The robber baron snarls in anger at her. He goes to take a step towards Lis, then changes his mind. And without a pause, he leaps off the gorge.
Not really a religious person in anyway, Lisell Maera silently prays to the gods, all of them. And she hopes they're listening.
And as she hears the land dragons heading this way, the attractive young woman who is a daughter of a street prostitute, and a sailor. Jumps off the gorge too, and hits the surface of the water, and is swept away by the swift moving river.
Lis doesn't know how long she's in the water for. It feels like an eternity. But she's able to finally swim to the otherside of the gorge, onto what ends up being a rocky, riverside beach. Which she eventually crawls onto.
After lying there for some time, and breathing heavily. The runner gets to her feet thanking the gods as she does so.
Then looking in either direction along the rocky beach on this side of the river. She picks one way, and starts walking that way.
Lis walks for quite a while, and she almost misses him. But catches sight of the body lying at the water's edge.
She runs over, and drags Gergus the robber baron out of the water when she finds that he's still alive.
The robber baron seems dazed, but Lisell Maera suspects he's in shock. More from the loss of his brother inlaw Hammind, than from the wild night time ride down the river.
She gets him to his feet, and helping him to walk, she finds an incline that goes up and away from the river.
They head up it, and walk less than thirty yards to get beneath some trees, before slumping to the ground in exhaustion.
And though the runner in the Farqian mercenary army thinks what they should do now. The robber baron has laid down, and rolled onto his side.
The attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury lies down next to him.
And feels herself falling asleep, when she suddenly realises Gergus is quietly sobbing. Lis hesitates a moment, then puts an arm over him.
The robber baron turns to her, and quietly says in a broken tone "What am i going to tell my sister?".
Lisell Maera holds him as he continues to sob, which eventually comes to a stop.
Lis finds herself looking into the tear filed eyes of the robber baron. Who is looking right back at her. Gergus slightly moves in her arms, and moves his face closer.
Then the runner in the Farqian mercenary army feels his mouth softly on her mouth. Kissing him. And though a little surprised. Lis finds herself kissing him back.
Then the attractive young woman, who has never willing slept with a man in her life. As she was sexually abused as a child. Then raped just a few years ago by two men on the otherside of the equator.
Finds herself taking off her wet cloak, as Gergus starts taking off his clothes as they continue to kiss . . . . . .