Border Region. Hill Country.
"Whatever plans they come up with" quietly says Tamric Drubine the field commander, who follows that with "And whatever they do" he then adds "They'll be wiped out by either side".
"Good thing there's very little activity on this side of the border" says Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, who continues with "They'd be fucked if the Girdanians were here in force".
The young field commander in the Armies of Farque nods his head in agreement. As does Mira Reinholt the mage as the three of them stand outside one of the tents the group are using. On what's another cold winters day here in the hill country that straddles the border region between the city-state of Vexil and the kingdom of Girdane.
"We'll know soon enough what they intend to do" quietly says Tamric Drubine or Tam as he's more commonly called by the others in the group.
"He'll be back as soon as he knows" continues the noble born field commander who is originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin.
"That's if he hasn't wandered off to steal something" dryly says Mira Reinholt the mage referring to Helbe the elven thief, who at this moment is supposed to observing the private meeting of the Geist cousins Gamil and Farsen, and their guard commander Kilmas, along with the wizard Hoptas.
Not even the trusted mercenary captains such as Marqand and Hafnah are privy to the private meeting taking place in the nearby command tent.
The mercenary army that the Geist cousins have gathered, or what's left of it. Are still camped on the Girdanian side of the border.
And though the cousins Gamil and Farsen now have more up to date and detailed information about the Vexillian forces across the border.
They were hoping that their cousin Misa, whose plan this was originally. Was here in the hill country, instead of wherever she and the group she travels with, have taken off to.
Close by, sitting on a fallen tree is Lisell Maera the scout. Standing nearby, leaning back against a tree, with his hands in the pockets of his cloak is Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy. While Tovis the war engineer paces and back forth near the two of them.
All three of them are looking in the direction of the command tent. As are most of the mercenaries with captain Marqand's company, and the other close by companies.
Who aren't busy working on things, cooking and cleaning and the like. As they all wait to see what the Geist cousins Gamil and Farsen decide to do.
"Think they'll have us all head back across the border?" quietly asks Tovis the war engineer who stops his pacing for a moment, as he first looks at the elven spy from the principality of Alinlae, then the scout leader in the Armies of Farque, who originally comes from the city-state of Brattonbury.
The spy Tanith, who is a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque, shrugs his shoulders in reply to the war engineer, who hails from the kingdom of Druvic.
"Possibly" says Lisell Maera the scout leader, who follows that with "Though they might have us head deeper into Girdane".
The war engineer, who is a commanding officer in the engineering corp of the Armies of Farque, grunts in reply to that from the scout Maera.
While Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by those who know him well, quietly says to the other two "Either way, I don't think it's going to end well for the Geists and their army of mercs".
"You do know, we're in their army too" dryly says Lisell Maera who more often than not, is called Lis by the others in the group.
The elven spy originally from the principality of Alinlae flashes a grin at the scout leader, then he goes back to looking towards the command tent of the Geist cousins Gamil and Farsen.
Who are in a private conversation with their guard commander, Kilmas. Along with the senior most spellcaster in their mercenary army, the wizard Hoptas.
Tovis the war engineer has resumed his pacing, while Lisell Maera takes her eyes off the command tent for a moment.
And looks amongst the trees behind the spy Tanith, where she spots sir Percavelle Lé Dic. The large, heavily armoured knight is followed by Shur Kee the monk. Along with Zam the ex mercenary. Both of whom are keeping an eye on the noble born knight who like Tovis hails from the kingdom of Druvic.
After a moment, the scout Maera goes back to watching the command tent of Gamil and Farsen Geist. On what's a cold winters day here in the hill country that straddles the border between the city-state of Vexil and the kingdom of Girdane.
"Any word?" quietly asks Saanea the witch who has made her way out of the tent she shares with her partner, Tamric Drubine the field commander.
The young noble originally from the forested north of the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin, shakes his head no in reply to the question from his lover, the witch from the Maldin Hills.
"Any idea where he is?" quietly asks field commander Drubine to his lover Saanea. "You know, the royal thief" adds Tam, who though just in his early twenties is already one of the most senior officers in the Armies of Farque.
"Absolutely no idea" is the reply from the practitioner of magic who is originally from the Maldin Hills, which is thousands of miles away to the west, on the coast of the Southlands.
The witch glances at her fellow spellcaster, Mira Reinholt. The once powerful mage nods his head in agreement with the good looking witch. As he too is unable to locate Helbe the elven thief.
Which to be fair, isn't all that surprising. As it's always near impossible to locate the elven masterthief, who like the mage Reinholt, and Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson. Is a member of Lord Farque's personal council.
"They're going on a bit aren't they?" mutters Narladene the ground pixie which causes Helbe the elven thief to grin as he continues to watch the meeting, here in the command tent of the mercenary army gathered by the Geist cousins.
The highly talented elven magic user who is blurred and shielded already knows what the cousins Gamil and Farsen plan to do.
At the moment they're just discussing with the guard commander Kilmas and the wizard Hoptas the finer details of their plan.
That will see the bulk of the mercenary army head back across the border into northern Vexil. While a company, which they're deciding on at the moment.
Will head further into Girdane, to see if they can illicit a reaction from any of the Girdanian forces in this area of the kingdom. Hoping to draw them into a conflict with the forces from the city-state of Vexil.
The elven masterthief nudges, so to speak. The Geist cousins into making a decision. And the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel faintly smiles to himself when the Geist cousins decide which mercenary company will head further into the kingdom of Girdane.
The elven master assassin who is a member of Lord Farque's personal council glances out of the front opening of the tent.
And with Narladene clinging onto his right shoulder, he shifts away. Heading to where the others are waiting with the rest of captain Marqand's company.
"At least with a lot of that column being wiped out, the army isn't too short of supplies" says Tamric Drubine the field commander as they chat to pass the time until Helbe the elven thief returns.
The young noble originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin who is a senior officer in the Armies of Farque is about to say something else, when a familiar voice from out of nowhere, quietly says to them "In the tent".
The blurred and shielded elven magic user continues with "They've decided what they're going to do".
Tamric Drubine, along with Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, Mira Reinholt the mage, and Saanea the witch make their way into the tent they were standing in front of.
And find the young elven noble who is a member of the royal family of the island principality of Laerel waiting for them.
Helbe the elven thief, or prince Helbenthril Raendril to give him his full name and title, tells them "They're sending the bulk of the army back into Vexil" followed by "They'll be going over early tomorrow morning, before dawn is the plan".
The others nod when they hear that, as that was the logical thing to do. And what most in the mercenary army expected to happen.
"They're also sending a trusted company further into Girdane, to see if they can stir things up a bit" says the elven master archer, who having a flair for dramatics, pauses for a moment or two, before he continues with "Us".
The highly talented elven spellcaster adds "To be exact, Marqand's company" he follows that with "I expect them to send a runner for captain Marqand anytime now" he continues on with "Summoning him, so they can explain to him what they want done".
As the others nod at hearing that from the elven princeling from Laerel, Mira Reinholt the mage dryly asks his fellow practitioner of magic "By chance, you didn't volunteer Marqand's company did you?".
Helbe the elven thief faintly smiles, then answers his fellow member of Lord Farque's personal council with "Would I do that?".
"Yes" is the dry reply from the Vexillian born mage who is also a swordmaster, which causes the elven masterthief to chuckle.
Then the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel explains to them in more detail what the Geist cousins Gamil and Farsen have planned.
And how that they want captain Marqand's company on the move early this afternoon, which isn't all that far away, as it's approaching noon here in the hill country that straddles the border region between the city-state of Vexil and the kingdom of Girdane.
After they discuss things, Helbe the elven thief departs camp, and heads north to scout the way for them and captain Marqand's company when they leave in the afternoon.
Meanwhile Tamric Drubine the field commander and Saanea the witch go in search of the rest of the group, who are nearby. To quietly inform them what's happening, and what they'll do.
A little after noon, and most of the part of camp used by captain Marqand's company has been broken down, and packed up as they prepare to leave.
Lisell Maera the scout who looks towards the middle of camp, slightly grimaces as she spots a trio of wagons amongst captain Mackrin's tents.
The attractive young woman originally from the city-state of Brattonbury doesn't want to be anywhere near those.
As she, like most of the group knows what's in the odd shaped boxes in the beds of those three wagon.
The scout leader in the Armies of Farque makes her way over to where Tamric Drubine the field commander and Mira Reinholt the mage are talking with captain Marqand.
"We'll have your lot Tam scout the way when we head out soon" is what captain Marqand is saying when the scout Maera joins them.
"Should be no problem" says Tamric Drubine who follows that with "Things are a lot more settled here, compared to over the border in northern Vexil".
The mercenary captain nods his head in agreement, then as he's about to say something, he changes his mind, and instead says "What's happening over there?".
As a bit of commotion has broken out in the camp away to their left. And few moments later they see a trio hurrying through camp, heading to where the Geist guards are located, along with the command tent.
"Misa Geist" says captain Marqand who immediately recognizes one of the trio hurrying through camp towards the command tent.
"They look a bit" says Mira Reinholt the mage, who briefly pauses, before adding "Disheveled" followed by "Harried".
The other three nod in agreement, then Tam after looking at the trio, who include an elf, and a spellcaster along with the Geist cousin Misa, says "Isn't there usually a group of them?".
Captain Marqand nods his head, and says "Yeah" he follows that with "About eight of them who usually follow Misa Geist around" he then murmurs "Something's happened".
They watch as the trio enter the command tent, and even from where they are, about eighty yards away, they can hear shouting coming from within the command tent.
The four of them look at one another, and know that definitely something has happened to Misa Geist and the group who are always with her.
A short while later, and a runner from the command tent comes up to captain Marqand, telling him that the Geist cousins want him and his company moving out as quickly as possible.
"Ah well, seems our orders are still the same" says the mercenary captain, who then adds "Tam, you and your lot head out" he continues with "The rest of us will be leaving shortly".
Tamric Drubine the field commander nods, then he and Mira Reinholt the mage and Lisell Maera the scout move away, to get the rest of the group, who are nearby, and ready.
So they can move out from the camp of the Geists mercenary army, and head north, further into southern Girdane on what's a cold winters day in the hill country that straddles the border between the city-state of Vexil, and the kingdom of Girdane . . . . . .
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