Mercenary Tales 44.

Oaklynn, Girdane. 

"I'm telling you it's the only possible explanation" says a heated wizard Margin, who follows that with "I've told you for years, and you still won't believe me". 

Holding in a sigh at this argument they've had on and off for years, Salinéll the elven maiden says to her fellow spellcaster "I've explained why I don't think so". 

The elf who hails from the principality of Alínlae briefly pauses, before continuing on with "I'm not saying it's not possible, but let's face it, it's more than highly unlikely". 

In fact Salinéll is of a mind that it's definitely impossible. And does not believe in the wizard's theory at all. 

"Well considering I was the only one there that day" says Margin in a cool tone of voice that makes the others all pause and look his way. 

"And saw what actually happened" continues the wizard in the dark red robes, followed by "You'd think my point would be more valid than anyone else's". 

With a steelie look in her eyes, the elven magic user just stares at the wizard. For the simple reason he has a point with that. And that cannot be argued with. 

Margin let's out a sigh, then in more calm tone of voice says "Look you've seen my memory of that over the years a number of times". 

The wizard continues on with "And I've spoken to a number of people outside the group, who agree with me". 

The human practitioner of magic in the group follows that with "If you don't actually take my word, then maybe you can find someone who'd confirm it". 

Salinéll knows exactly who, or what exactly Margin is referring to. And though she's dealt with them before over the years, and is cordial with them. She's not particularly enamoured with them, or their ways. 

"This could be our only chance" says Margin the wizard, who continues on with "Especially now that we know where they are". 

"That's if they haven't left the city of Vexil because we're mucking around here" dryly says Jarkellé the elven warder in attempt to lighten the mood. 

As he and the rest of the group know that this topic between Salinéll and Margin can go on for ages, with neither one giving up on it. 

The elven maiden looks sideways at the elven warder who like her is from the principality of Alínlae, and sourly smiles. 

Then she looks back at the wizard Margin, who tells her "What's the worst that can happen?" followed by "We waste a little time to confirm if my theory is correct or not". 

Salinéll who dismissed this idea years ago, for the simple reason it's just not believable in her mind. Sighs, then with a shrug of her shoulders, and a wave of her arms, says "I give up". 

Margin faintly smiles, the only indication that he's finally won this argument that he and the elven maiden have had for years. 

"If it's true or not" says the elf who is noble born "We'll still head down to Vexil immediately" continues the elven practitioner of magic. 

The wizard Margin grunts in agreement, while the others all nod in agreement to that from the elven magic user. 

Salinéll though the leader of the group, undoubted leader at that too. She does have to take in account that they're all after the same thing. And she has to take into consideration what the others say and do. 

And unlike herself, and the rest of the group. The wizard Margin has something the rest of them don't have. And that he was there that fatal day just over twenty five years ago. 

And he saw what happened that created this unrelenting drive in Salinéll, which she has devoted her life to over the last quarter of a century. 

A short while later and the group depart the inn they've been staying at while here in the city of Oaklynn, the capital of the kingdom of Girdane. 

Salinéll, who hopes that her 'cousins' Gamil and Farsen Geist are still trying to achieve her other plans between the city-state of Vexil, and the kingdom of Girdane. 

Dryly says to the wizard Margin "Which one?" followed by "My kind doesn't exactly have them you know" she then adds "Since they're noble born, they tend to be the equivalent of what you would call a holy man or woman, not an out and out cleric". 

Behind the elven maiden Salinéll, the two other elves in the group, Jarkellé and Gillomōnt, nod in agreement with her. 

Then the elven warder Jarkellé says "Maybe Madau" followed by "The death god" he then adds "He'd seem appropriate all things considered". 

Margin, who isn't a particular religious man at all, especially when it comes to belief. But he does know a thing or two about the churches and temples of the more than a hundred gods of the world of Volunell. 

Shakes his head no, then says "Might comes as a surprise" he follows that with "But the death god and his followers is probably the one we don't want to deal with". 

The wizard in the dark red robes, which are flapping about as it's a fairly windy, not to mention, cold winter's morning here in the city of Oaklynn, the capital of the kingdom of Girdane. 

Then explains "They see everything, both life and death as one" the middle aged spellcaster follows that with "They're probably less concerned about what's evil and good than any other church or temple I can think of". 

Glancing at the elven maiden walking beside him, and the two elves following closely behind him and Salinéll, Margin adds "Even you lot and your forest gods take what's evil more seriously than the death god and his followers". 

Jarkellé grunts at that, while both Salinéll and Gillomōnt nod at those words from human practitioner of magic in the group. 

"Then which one do you suggest then?* asks the elven magic user who is originally from the principality of Alínlae. 

The wizard Margin replies with "Maybe one of the war gods perhaps" he follows on from that with "At least one that's more militant than the others". 

It's before midmorning when they get to Temple Square, around which one can find the majority of churches and temples here in the city of Oaklynn. 

"Down that street there" says the human practitioner of magic in the dark red coloured robes, who gestures to a street that runs off Temple Square. 

The group head down the street, which is infinitely more quiet than the busy square behind them. 

As they do, Margin the wizard quietly says "Probably have to resort to some bribery" he glances at the elven maiden walking beside him, and quietly tells her "Best if you make sure things go smoothly". 

Salinéll, who can't be sensed by other spellcasters thanks to a charm she wears on a chain around her neck, nods in understanding, then quietly says "I'll see to it". 

They're soon at one of the churches on the street, and head up the steps to the open front doors of the massive building. 

Doors that are guarded by, appropriately enough, church guards, who stand to either side, and though the group garner looks from the guards, they're allowed to enter the large church as a number of others have done so far this morning. 

In a short while the group, who number eight, are in a large antechamber, which are the offices of some of the church functionaries. 

Before long, after a bag of gold and silver is handed over for a special donation to the church, they're led to another room. The office of the church inquisitor, the lead cleric of the church's military arm. 

Who it turns out is a fairly young man for such a position, as he's only about thirty years old. And he gets up from behind his desk and welcomes them in after the functionary who led them here, has a quiet word with the lead cleric. 

"How may I help you this day?" asks the lead cleric of the church of Famal, one of the few remaining human war gods. As most of them were wiped out during the war of the gods about twenty thousand years ago. 

When a number of the gods of Volunell, nearly half of them, challenged the creators of Volunell, the Greater Dragons. And were soundly defeated by those beings who created the world. 

Both Margin the wizard and Salinéll can sense that the church inquisitor is extremely powerful, even though he's young, and isn't the high cleric of Famal. 

"Your holiness, I was wondering if you can help us identify someone" says Margin who briefly pauses before adding "Well, I should say something" followed by "Something that I think you with your training and skill can identify". 

This captures the attention of the lead cleric, who gives the wizard permission to cast within the church, when Margin tells him that he will have to cast a spell from his memory of what took place just over a quarter century ago. 

The wizard in the dark red robes casts the illusion, off to one side, and the lead cleric who is sitting down behind his desk, leans forward and blinks in surprise, before saying "That's a troll, no wait, no it isn't" followed by "That's an ork". 

Salinéll the elven maiden refrains from sneering in anger at the spell her fellow practitioner of magic Margin has cast. 

It shows a trio upon a high city war, during what's obviously a battle. And from what little one sees at the edges of the image, it's obviously a large battle. In fact it's the largest battle in the entire Southlands of the last four and half centuries. 

"Ah not that one" says Margin, who follows that with "And not the young man following in the black cloak". This is said in an obvious cold tone by the wizard. 

Who after a slight pause, tells the cleric in the church of Famal "The large individual beside the ork" he then adds "The one in the full suit of dark plate armour". 

"Hmmm" murmurs the powerful cleric in the church of Famal, who peers intently at the life sized image that the wizard has cast. 

"Looks to be a dark knight" says the lead cleric, who follows that with "Or an avenger, a knight who has renounced his order, and struck out on his own" he then mutters "Big bastard for sure". 

This is exactly what Salinéll has thought all of these years when she's argued with the wizard Margin about it. 

The spellcaster in the dark red robes nods, then he quietly says "Now watch this" and after a moment, his image starts to move. 

There's no sound as they watch the trio move along the top of the wall, with the large figure in the dark plate armour and the even larger ork killing everyone who attacks them or gets in their way. 

"You notice the crossbow bolts and arrows hitting the individual" says Margin, who continues with "Some bouncing off, and others sticking into his armour, with what looks like him not feeling a single thing". 

"Barrier spell perhaps, no" says the lead cleric in the church of Famal, who follows that with "That would deflect everything" he then adds "Magical armour perhaps?". 

"I sensed no spells upon him, or any magical armour" says Margin, who was there that day just over a quarter of a century ago. 

The church inquisitor slowly nods his head, and after the image freezes again, the powerful cleric narrows his eyelids as he looks closely at the image. 

Then he blinks in surprise, and after a moments pause, the lead cleric in the church of Famal says "Wait a moment" followed by "That's a" . . . . . .

Mercenary Tales 43.

Girdane/Vexil. 

"It's no use having the whole army, or what's left of it, crossing back into Vexil" says Marqand the mercenary captain, who follows that with "Especially if they find that town we based ourselves out of". 

Next to the mercenary captain, the young field commander Tamric Drubine who is posing as a mercenary himself, nods in agreement with Marqand. 

While the Geist cousins Gamil and Farsen, along with the other mercenary captains, those who survived the attack upon their army, listen on. 

"Which I'm pretty certain they will" continues Marqand, who was in command of the only column of the mercenary army that didn't come under attack from the Vexilian forces that caught them in the forested hill country of northern Vexil. 

"Best if we sent over a small party to see what's happening" adds captain Marqand, who follows that with "At least they can pass themselves off as travelers if they're stopped by the Vexilian army or aircorp". 

Both Geist cousins, Gamil and Farsen slightly nod to that, and do so again when Marqand says "That's if you intend to carry out what you've planned?". 

"We do" says Gamil Geist who is the older of the two cousins who have gathered a mercenary army. 

"Though with a couple of changes" continues the older cousin, who is still surprised, two days after the attack in northern Vexil, that he and his cousin Farsen, and most of the column they were part of, survived what took place across the border in his homeland of Vexil. 

Captain Marqand nods, then after gesturing at field commander Drubine standing next to him, he says "Young Tam here, who is one of my seconds, will lead a small company across the border into northern Vexil". 

Throughout the rest of the early morning meeting, they discuss what they want to accomplish, now that Gamil and Farsen's cousin Misa has given them what amounts to more or less an ultimatum. 

And that she wants them to follow through with their plans that they originally came up with when they set out on this scheme of theirs. 

Captain Marqand, Tamric Drubine and two others from their company who were waiting outside the command tent of the Geist cousins as the meeting was taking place. Head back to where their company has set up camp. As they do, they go by where captain Mackrin and his company have their campsite. 

Tamric Drubine or Tam as he's more commonly called by those who know him well, glances sideways at a wagon in that particular campsite.

A wagon that has a number of odd shaped boxes stacked in the back of it. A wagon that even the camp followers of captain Mackrin's company keep clear of. 

A wagon that easily survived the attack upon the column that it was part of. While some of the other wagons were damaged, destroyed or left behind in the haste of the retreat back across the border into the kingdom of Girdane. 

"You and your lot should find things pretty easy across there now" says captain Marqand as they enter their own campsite, here in the hill country of southern Girdane. 

"Especially since none of those warships have been spotted lately" adds the mercenary captain, who kept the column he was in command of out of harms way. By the simple fact he was more or less on time with the plans they undertook. 

And he kept those he was in charge of, moving at a pretty quick pace, when the mercenary army gathered by the Geist cousins was in northern Vexil creating havoc. 

"Good thing none of them crossed the border" mutters one of the two mercenaries in Marqand's company walking behind the captain and young Tamric Drubine. 

Captain Marqand nods at that after sharing a look with Tam walking beside him. As the two of them have privately discussed that is what the Geist cousins, or at least the youngest cousin Misa, who is never present with the army, exactly wants to happen. 

Have the Vexilian forces, either army or aircorp, cross over the border and enter the kingdom of Girdane, or vice versa. 

Have any of the Girdanian forces in the south of the kingdom, to make their way across the border and enter the hill country in the north of the city-state of Vexil. 

"My lot are ready to go" says Tamric Drubine the field commander with a nod of his head to where most of the group are waiting for him at the southern end of the camp site set up by Marqand's company. 

"Some of them are already gone" adds the young man in his early twenties, who is of noble birth, and originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin. 

"Nice to see you had confidence in me talking those two cousins into what we wanted them to do" says captain Marqand in a slightly droll tone. 

"I had every confidence in you" says a grinning Tamric Drubine, who is a former heir of a previous Knight of Castle Drubine. 

A castle and it's lands that can be found in the forested north of his homeland, the kingdom of Sarcrin. 

The mercenary captain just grunts at that, then he says "Get going" he briefly pauses, and before field commander Drubine rushes away, captain Marqand says "And Tam" he follows that with "Come back in one piece, okay". 

"I will" says Tamric Drubine who then quickly walks away, though not until he waves goodbye to the captain of the mercenary company he and the group have been part of for the last little while. 

They set off, heading south through the forest, which is less dense than it is over the hill range in the north of the city-state of Vexil. 

Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy and Lisell Maera the scout have already gone ahead, so has Mira Reinholt the mage, who has accompanied the pair who are in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque. 

A little while later, and a top of a hill, Tamric Drubine the field commander calls a stop. Much to the relief of the portly woman by the name of Malisse. 

Who is already breathing heavily, and sweating, even though it's another cold winter's morning here in the hill country that straddles the border between the city-state of Vexil and the kingdom of Girdane. 

"Anything?" quietly asks the young field commander in the Armies of Farque to his lover Saanea the witch who is beside him. 

The attractive spellcaster who hails from the Maldin Hills, is standing there with her eyes closed, observing things through the eyes of her familiar, which is further away to the south, across the border in the north of Vexil. 

Tam glances to his left at Tovis the war engineer, who has taken out his eyepiece, and is looking through the leather wrapped, brass cylindrical mechanism. 

Field commander Drubine thinks about doing the same as the last of the group, Shur Kee the monk and sir Percavelle Le Dic reach the top of the hill. 

When Saanea the witch finally says "No Vexilian forces nearby" she briefly pauses before continuing with "Mira, Dalin and Lis have just crossed the border". 

The dark haired woman from the hill country near the coast of The Southlands points. And Tovis the war engineer, who looks that way through his eyepiece, says "I see them". 

The war engineer, who before joining the group, and the Armies of Farque, was in service to one of more ambitious noblemen in his homeland, the kingdom of Druvic. 

"Heading up that hill there" continues Tovis, Tam nods when he spots the trio in the distance, about three miles away, across the border in the north of the city-state of Vexil. 

The young field commander glances at Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, who has just taken a canteen of water from Zam the ex mercenary. 

Then he quietly asks his lover Saanea "Think you can teleport us all?" Tamric Drubine then discreetly nods in the direction of the overweight woman in the group, Malisse. 

"Maybe" is the quiet reply of the dark haired witch, who follows that with "Though it won't be far" she continues with "I lack the power to take us all a reasonable distance, like say Beldane would". 

The young field commander in the Armies of Farque nods in understanding, then quietly tells his lover "Anything to help Zubutai, I mean Malisse out a bit" he quietly adds "And to be fair, I don't fancy walking all the way to the border". 

Saanea slightly grins at that, then she has the others stand close. And a few moments later they all disappear. 

"Fuck" mutters Mira Reinholt the mage in agitation, causing Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy and Lisell Maera the scout to spin around. 

And they find a smiling Helbe the elven thief standing beside the black clad spellcaster who hails from the city-state of Vexil. 

"Do you mind?" sourly says the mage who is also a highly skilled swordmaster to the elven masterthief who suddenly appeared beside him as they near the top of the hill they were heading up. 

"Not in the least" says Helbe the elven thief who is grinning from ear to ear, which earns him a scowl from his fellow practitioner of magic and member of Lord Farque's personal council. 

The young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel who is a member of Lord Farque's personal council then says "The others are on their way". 

The elven master assassin continues with "They're about halfway between the camp and the border" followed by "Shouldn't be too long before they're over here in Vexil". 

The mage Reinholt nods his hooded head, then they get underway again, making their way up the hill with the spy Tanith and the scout Maera out in front of the two who are members of Lord Farque's personal council. 

"Anything up ahead?" asks the Vexilian spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in the Southlands, infact pretty much the world. 

"Nothing" is the reply of the elf from the island principality of Laerel, who is the grandson of the ruling prince of that particular nation. 

"The bulk of their aircorp here in the north are a bit further to the south" continues Helbe the elven thief, who along with Narladene the ground pixie have been snooping around here in the hill country of northern Vexil. 

"And the elements of their army here in the north are further west of here" adds the elven princeling, who follows that with "Probably a couple of days march away at this pace, though they are fairly close to the border and the main road in that direction". 

"Interesting" murmurs Mira Reinholt the mage "I agree" quietly says Helbe the elven thief as the four of them get to the top of the hill on what's a cold winter's morning here in the hill country that straddles the borders between the north of the city-state of Vexil and the south of the kingdom of Girdane. 

"Head that way" says the highly talented elven magic user who points to where he wants them to go, then he disappears as he shifts away from the hilltop. 

"You heard the royal thief" dryly says the swordmaster Reinholt, which gets a grin from both Lisell Maera and Dalinvardèl Tanith. 

"That way" dryly adds the mage who is in exile from his homeland of Vexil. Then the trio head down the other side of the hill they've just come up, and walk in the direction that prince Helbenthril Raendril pointed to . . . . . .