Northern Vexil.
"Hope his royal thiefness is about" says Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, who continues with "Because if we blunder into things, we're going to be fucked".
Next to the slightly overweight woman who is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra, the mage Mira Reinholt silently nods in agreement.
The once powerful mage then looks behind them along the road, to make sure sir Percavelle Le Dic is still following them.
The practitioner of magic who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, sees that Shur Kee the monk is still back there walking with the former paladin.
Who with the absence of Dorc da Orc, is the most problematic, and difficult member of the group to be around. As they head south through the hill country of northern Vexil.
"Wonder what they're up to?" muses Mira Reinholt the mage, knowing exactly who the black clad spellcaster is referring to, Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson dryly says "No good, most likely".
The woman, who at first look, seems the most unlikely member of the group, then says "Hopefully finding out what that lot are up to".
The mage Reinholt, who like Malisse is a member of Lord Farque's personal council, nods in agreement with her, then quietly says "Knowing those two as long as I've had, there will be for certain some killings going on".
The woman who is really a member of the pony archers horde, grunts in agreement with the spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in the Southlands.
Then she says "At least Beldane can be trusted not to go around randomly killing people" Malisse briefly pauses, before she adds "I hope".
The two of them briefly pause their conversation, as up ahead they see the young former mercenary Zam come back into view.
The mage Reinholt nods his hooded head, when they see Zam give the all clear signal, before hurrying ahead and out of sight again.
As the group make their way along the forest road, which is barely more than a cart track. As they continue southwards through the northern hill country of the city-state of Vexil. On what's a cold and blustery winter's day.
The two members of Lord Farque's personal council resume their conversation, and the practitioner of magic who is in exile from his homeland of Vexil, though he finds himself back here once again, says "I'm sure they'll eventually find out what's happening".
Mira Reinholt who knows from first hand experience how dogged and determined both Lord Farque and Dorc da Orc can be, then says "For certain this Misa Geist and her cousins are trying to start a war between Vexil and Girdane".
Malisse aka Zubutai the son of Timagin grunts in agreement with the once powerful mage, then quietly says "But why?" followed by "That's the question that needs to be answered".
The rotund woman walking beside the six foot tall spellcaster dressed head to toe in black, quietly says "Indeed it does look like they want to start a war between the two nations" she briefly pauses before adding "Though I suspect something else is afoot".
Next to her, the Vexilian swordmaster nods his hooded head in agreement with her, as they continue along the forest road.
The two members of Lord Farque's personal council continue their conversation. While up ahead, leading the way as the group heads south, is Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy and Lisell Maera the scout.
Though for all intensive purposes, Helbe the elven thief is supposed to be leading the way. Where exactly? No one knows.
Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by the others in the group. Prefers to keep off the forest roads here in northern Vexil. And that's exactly what the elven spy from the principality of Alínlae is doing at the moment.
The spy Tanith who is a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque, is making his way through the trees.
And he looks down to the forest road, which is to his right. And where Lisell Maera is just off to the side of it.
Dalin who has just seen an owl fly close by to him, which he recognizes as one of the forms that Saanea the witch's familiar takes.
Signals to the scout Maera to join him when she glances up in his direction. Lisell Maera or Lis as more often than not she's called by those who know her well.
Makes her way up through the trees to join the elven spy who previously served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland of Alínlae.
"That town isn't all that far away now" quietly says Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy in his native tongue when the scout originally from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury joins him.
"Saanea's familiar has just come back from that way" continues the commander in the Armies of Farque.
Lisell Maera the scout nods her head, then says "Well if anything is a miss there, we'll soon know about it".
That turns out to be accurate. As a short while later, Tovis the war engineer hurries up the road, looking to either side of it into the woods, trying to find the two of them, who have stopped for the moment.
The commander and the scout leader in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque, make their way down to the road and join the war engineer who hails from the kingdom of Druvic.
"There's a Vexilian warship and a detachment of soldiers in that small town up ahead" quietly says Tovis the war engineer when he's joined by Dalin and Lis.
As the wind gusts between the trees on this cold winter's day here in northern Vexil, the commander in the engineering corp of the Armies of Farque continues with "They've got patrols out and about" Tovis briefly pauses before adding "Including one on this road, heading this way".
Dalinvardèl Tanith nods in understanding, then the spy originally from the elven principality of Alínlae says "Let's head back".
The spy Tanith follows that with "Probably best if we actually looked like a traveling band of mercenaries".
Which is what they're posing as, ever since they left the army that the Geist cousins Gamil and Farsen have gathered, which is back over the border in southern Girdane.
The trio head back along the forest road, as they do, Tovis asks the other two "Any sign of his highness?".
While Lisell Maera just snorts in response to that, Dalinvardèl Tanith shakes his hooded head no, then says "Nothing" he follows that with "Haven't seen or heard from him since before dawn just before we broke camp and set off".
The war engineer who previously served in the army of an ambitious nobleman in the south of his homeland of Druvic, refrains from sighing.
As Tamric Drubine the field commander would like a word with the elven masterthief who is a member of Lord Farque's personal council.
Infact the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel, is the undead warlord's envoy.
When they get back to where Tamric Drubine and his lover Saanea the witch are, Dalin briefly tells them what he and Lis have encountered recently which is nothing, and no one.
After nodding, Tamric Drubine the field commander says "Might be a bit of trouble up ahead" the young noble originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin continues with "We'll wait until the others catch up to explain everything".
It's not too long before Zam the ex mercenary joins them to the side of the road, he's soon followed by the two councilors, Mira Reinholt the mage and Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman
Not long after that, the last two in the group as is stands at the moment, come into view. Shur Kee the monk and sir Percavelle Le Dic quickly join the others to the side of the forest road.
"Vexilian patrol up ahead" says Tamric Drubine or Tam as he's more commonly called by those who know him well.
The young field commander in the Armies of Farque glances at his lover, Saanea the witch, who says "They've got a mage with them".
Mira Reinholt slightly grimaces when he hears that, while next to the Vexilian practitioner of magic, his fellow council member, Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson mutters "Hell".
"We'll just act normally" says Tamric Drubine who follows that with "Remember we're mercenaries traveling to the city of Vexil to look for work".
The others nod, though sir Percavelle Le Dic is about to say something, which Tam notices, and the young field commander tells him "Percy I need you to keep silent".
The large heavily armoured former paladin who like Tovis the war engineer, hails from the kingdom of Druvic, is about to protest that.
But field commander Drubine quickly tells the noble born knight "If not, I'll inform Lord Farque when he gets back, that you put the rest of us in unnecessary danger".
The member of the Knights of the order of Saint Mar'che sourly smiles, but he does remain silent much to the relief of the rest of the group. Who find sir Percavelle or Percy as he's called by the rest of them. More than a little annoying whenever he opens his mouth, and speaks up.
Looking at the others, the young field commander in the Armies of Farque asks them "Anyone seen Helbe lately?".
They reply with no's and shakes of the heads. As the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel, hasn't been seen since early in the morning.
"Damn it" mutters Tamric Drubine, who then gives the order to move out. And though they revert back to their normal line of march. They're much more bunched up this time.
All within sight of one another, as they head south along the forest road, here in the hill country of northern Vexil, on what's a cold and blustery winter's day.
"Will we have to worry about our minds being read by this mage?" quietly asks Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson to her fellow councilor, Mira Reinholt.
"I know you lot tend to blow things up more than anything else" adds the rotund woman wearing a grey hooded cloak over the floral dress she usually wears.
"Will this mage even know how to read minds?" continues Malisse aka Zubutai the son of Timagin.
"Good question" quietly says the Vexilian spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster.
"They should be able to" adds the practitioner of magic who was the youngest ever member of the mage council of Vexil.
"Though how good they are at it, is another question entirely" dryly continues Mira Reinholt the mage.
The rotund woman who is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra, just grunts at that. And hopes that whoever this mage they run into, isn't too thorough if they decide to read the minds of the group.
The group walk for another mile or so, before they run into the patrol of a dozen Vexilian soldiers on foot, who have a mage with them.
As Tamric Drubine explains to the patrol leader, who they are. Mercenaries who have come over the border from western Girdane, seeking work down in the city of Vexil.
Mira Reinholt the mage mutters "Fuck" under his breath when he suddenly hears a familiar voice in his head.
Do you mind? mutters the once powerful mage by way of the mindspeech spell that's been cast upon him.
Relax says Helbe the elven thief, who the mage Reinholt figures is nearby keeping a close eye on things.
And you don't have to worry about this mage, says the highly talented elven magic user by way of the mindspeech spell he's cast upon his fellow member of Lord Farque's personal council.
I'll make sure he doesn't know who and what we are continues the elven masterthief who is actually up in the air, invisible, looking down at those on the forest road a couple hundred feet below him.
Turns out the mage assigned to this particular patrol of Vexilian soldiers, does indeed know how to read minds.
And that's exactly what he does when the patrol leader informs him to find out if Tamric Drubine is speaking the truth.
Well, that's what he thinks he does. As up above, Helbe the elven thief has cast a spell upon the mage who is the Vexilian army.
And a few moments later the powerful practitioner of magic in the Vexilian army informs his patrol leader that these mercenaries, are who they say they are. And that they have nothing to do with the recent attacks across the border from the kingdom of Girdane.
The group are waved on, and they continue southwards while the Vexilian army patrol continue northwards along the forest road.
See, told you, you had nothing to worry about says prince Helbenthril Raendril of Laerel by way of the mindspeech spell he's cast at his fellow practitioner of magic, Mira Reinholt.
The once powerful mage just sourly smiles in response to that, as he walks alongside Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, as they and the rest of the group continue southwards down the forest road. On what's a cold and blustery winter's day here in the hill country of northern Vexil . . . . . .
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