Springtime In The City 72.

The City Of Vexil. 

It's the evening of the next day. And there's a night market in one of the squares here in the north of the city of Vexil. 

Zam the ex mercenary is just glad it's stopped raining again, well at least for the moment. As it's been raining on and off all day today. 

And in the torch lit square this evening, the youngest member of the group as he stands near a stall selling various types of food items on skewers. Two of which, meat in this case, chicken to be exact. The ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins is holding himself. 

Zam looks to his right at Dorc da Orc who is shoveling skewered meat into his mouth as fast as the stall holder and his helper can make it and give it to the large ork. 

Who has already handed over a bunch of coins, some gold. To pay for everything the stall holder has got. With the exception of vegetables. Though the ork warleader doesn't turn his nose up at the fried pieces of potatoes on the wooden skewers the stall holder hands to him. 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins just shakes his head before he starts eating from the skewers he's got. 

Lucky to be the last person to be served at this stall. As Dorc da Orc or Dorkindle to give him his full name, is definitely going to be the last customer at this stall as he'll eat practically everything they've got to sell. With the exception of veggies, which the stall holder and his helper quickly learn not to bother cooking on their wood fired grill. 

As he eats, Zam looks to the right across the square, where at a table near a tree in front of a shop on one of the corners of the square, some of the other members of the group are sitting at. 

It's one of a number of tables the various stall holders, and shops around the square, set up during the night markets. 

Which though fairly busy, from the conversations the ex mercenary has overheard from the locals, gets even busier at the end of spring, and in the summer during the warmer months. 

Zam sees Tovis the war engineer sit down at the table where Lisell Maera the scout is sitting with Shur Kee the monk and sir Percavelle Lé Dic. 

The youngest member of the group who has been told to keep an eye on Dorc da Orc. Not that he can do anything if the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world decides to start killing people at random. Which is always a possibility. 

The ex mercenary is just glad there's no dwarves here at the night market. And that the few hobbits he caught sight of. Didn't get the attention of the ork weaponsmith, who is too busy stuffing his face with food. 

Zam is also glad there's no trolls about too. As they're definitely on the kill on sight list the large ork has in his demented mind. 

The teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins glances sideways at the ork general in the Armies of Farque. 

Who almost forgets to not eat one of the wooden skewers, which he spits out in disgust after biting it in half. 

Then he tells the stall holder and his helper to put all the foods in the remaining flat breads they've got, instead of handing the actual skewers over to him as fast as they can cook them. 

Before the warleader of the ork race looks around and mutters something that the youngest member of the group actually comprehends. 

"Tovis got you some Dorc" says Zam the ex mercenary, who gestures over to where the others are sitting. 

The teenager who was scratching together a meager living as a mercenary when the group found him in The City Of Ruins, continues with "Plenty of bottles of wine too". 

The large ork grunts when he looks over to the table near the tree where the others are sitting. And he sees two barrels of ale, one large, and the other small. Next to the table. Which has a fair few bottles of wine upon it as well. 

"That engineer cunt fucken smarts" says Dorc da Orc who pronounces the word engineer, as ingin-ear. With a distinctive pause between the two syllables. 

"Me always fucken says that about him" continues the weaponsmith who is from the wolf tribe of orks. 

The big burly ork who was named warleader of his race by Lord Farque a number of years ago. Turns back around, and resumes eating as he starts stuffing various meats, and fried potatoes wrapped in flatbread, into his rather large mouth. 

Any of those attending the night market, who wanted something from this particular stall. Give it a wide berth due to the ork general. Who at  seven and a half foot tall, and weighing around seven hundred and fifty pounds, they think is a small, stocky, crazed looking troll. 

The stall holder doesn't care, because Dorkindle handed over more coins than he'd make in a night anyway. In fact the large ork paid him more than he'd make in the height of summer in a week. When the night market is on for five nights a week, from Second Day to Sixth Day. 

Zam who finishes the two skewers he purchased before Dorc started buying everything. Looks back to where the others are sitting at one of the tables. 

Then he slightly frowns as he sees a couple of men nearby, having an animated conversation as they look to the table where the others are sitting. 

Another two people they must know, walk over and join the conversation. With one of the original two men, gesturing to the table where members of the group are sitting. As he explains something to the two men who have just walked over. 

"What's all this then?" Zam murmurs to himself as he watches the four men talking, and how the two recent arrivals start to look angry as the first pair continue to explain something. 

The youngest member of the group frowns as he tries to work out what they could be discussing. Then an idea at what it could be pops into the head of the ex mercenary who is originally from The City Of Ruins. 

Zam looks back at the table where some of the others in the group are sitting. And that Shur Kee the monk is sitting next to sir Percavelle Lé Dic, who in his usual boisterous way, is telling the short statured monk something. 

"Oh shit" murmurs the teenager who is the youngest member of the group as he sees that the four men who are deep in conversation, are paying attention to the large heavily armoured knight, and the acolyte in the order of Bru Li. 

"What cunt?" asks Dorc da Orc who easily heard what the ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins just murmured. 

"Ah" says Zam who after a moments pause, continues with "Nothing". As he doesn't want to explain to the ork weaponsmith what could be happening. 

Not that the ex mercenary thinks Dorc would particularly care. As it involves sir Percavelle Lé Dic, who is the ork warleader's bitter rival. 

Dorkindle snorts at that obvious lie from Zam, then he goes back to stuffing flatbread wrapped meat into his mouth as fast as the stall holder and his helper can cook them and hand them over to the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world. 

The youngest member of the group continues to watch the four men, who are obviously agitated. Discuss things. One of them calls over a few other people out in the market. Who wander over to see what they're taking about. 

And those three look at the table Lisell Maera, Tovis the war engineer, Shur Kee the monk and sir Percavelle Lé Dic are sitting at. 

And they too look agitated, then annoyed when the others start explaining to them what they've been discussing. 

Zam who is pretty certain they're all talking about the recent Spring Tourney of Vexil. And how on the second day, when Le Grande Meleé took place. Which Shur Kee the monk won fairly easily, not to mention convincingly. And sir Percavelle Lé Dic was one of the last combatants. 

Watches as one of the men hurries over to a stall selling various small hand weapons. Mainly knives and daggers. 

Then the ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins mutters "Fuck". As he watches that man hurriedly talking to the holder of that particular stall. 

"What cunt?" asks Dorc da Orc who once again overheard the youngest member of the group muttering to himself. 

Zam who was hoping the large ork would ignore him like he usually does. Especially when he's stuffing food in his mouth. 

Thinks about it for a moment, then he tells the son of the former matriarch of the wolf tribe of orks "Ah there might be a bit of a problem Dorc". 

"Oh" says the ork warleader who pauses in his continuous stuffing of food into his mouth, then adds "What's that?". 

The youngest member of the group who doesn't bother explaining that some people might be more than a little annoyed that two of the last few combatants in the recent Le Grande Meleé during the Spring Tourney of Vexil, are friends. And might of been working with one another during the melee. 

They didn't. Though Shur Kee did save sir Percavelle, who previously won The Joust, on the first day of the tourney. A couple of times during Le Grande Meleé. 

"Looks like there might be a confrontation of a sorts" says the ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins. Zam nods to where the others are sitting. 

And the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world, turns again and looks that way. 

And the youngest member of the group steps closer to him, and quietly says "That group of people to the right of the table". 

After a pause, the ex mercenary adds in a slightly dry tone of voice "Your other right Dorc". After the ork weaponsmith looks to the left of the table where the others are sitting. 

The warleader of the ork race grunts, and sees the group of people, which has grown by another three. Standing near the corner of the square closest to the table by the tree where the others are sitting. 

"So fucken what?" says Dorkindle after reaching back and grabbing the meat stuffed flatbread the stall holder holds out for him. 

As the large ork stuffs that in his mouth, the ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins tells him "Pretty sure they're going to attack the others, well Shur Kee and Percy to be exact". 

Zam who watches as the growing group of people work up the courage to confront the large heavily armoured knight from the kingdom of Druvic and the short statured monk who is from beyond The Southlands, the far east coast of the continent to be exact, specifically the kingdom of Wah Lee. 

The ork general in the Armies of Farque after swallowing that stuffed flatbread, basically whole, snorts then loudly mutters "Hope that bash that knight cunt's head in". 

Before saying "Like to see 'em fucken try" followed by "That little monkey will fuck the cunts up goods and propers". 

As more people make their way over to the group near the corner, including the stall holder selling small hand weapons, who along with the man who spoke to him, brings over a bunch of his wares. 

Zam sees that both Lisell Maera the scout and Tovis the war engineer have noticed the ever increasing group of people near the corner of the square closest to the table they're sitting at with the physical adept and the former earl of Lé Dic. 

"Oh shit" murmurs the youngest member of the group, who tells the weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks "I think it's going to kick off Dorc". 

The teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins glances sideways and up at the large ork, who says in a dismissive manner "Fucken let 'em". 

The warleader of the ork race follows that with "Dorc could do with a good fucken show to watch tonight" he then adds with a chuckle "Especially if that fucken lame ass knight gets smashed in". 

The large ork pauses when the youngest member of the group tells him "Good chance that grog Tovis got you might get spilled". 

A sharp in drawn breath comes from the ork general when he hears that. And he draws in another quick breath when Tovis the war engineer quickly stands, knocking over the smaller of the two barrels he's purchased for the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world. 

"Me fucken booze" murmurs Dorkindle in a slight tone of distress, as Lisell Maera has also stood up, bumping over an unopened bottle of wine, which she puts back upright, as like Tovis she looks at the group of people near the corner of the square closest to where they are. 

Shur Kee the monk, who is much more aware than sir Percavelle Lé Dic at what's happening around them. 

Looks towards that corner of the square too. While the member of the order of the Knights of Saint Mar'che continues with whatever he's talking about. Totally oblivious to the growing threat from the group of people near the corner of the square closest to them. 

Zam sees Lisell Maera the scout or Lis as she's more commonly called by those who know her well, quickly looking around, no doubt trying to find both himself and Dorc da Orc. 

The attractive young woman who is a junior officer in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque quickly finds the two of them. Easy to do considering how big the warleader of the ork race is, as it's almost impossible to miss him. 

"I think we better go and help out Dorc" says the youngest member of the group to the weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks. 

In response, the large ork grunts, then quickly turns around and takes the two meat stuffed flatbreads from the stall holder and his helper, and shoves them into his mouth. 

Which he quickly swallows after barely chewing, then says to the ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins "Come on cunt" followed by "Let's save Dorc's booze". As that's the only thing the general in the Armies of Farque is actually worried about. 

Zam nods, and he and the large ork set off across the square where the night market is being held. Just as the group of people, which has got much larger, head towards the table where Lisell Maera the scout, Tovis the war engineer, along with Shur Kee the monk and sir Percavelle Lé Dic are this spring evening, here in the north of the city of Vexil . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 71.

Vexil. 

Standing at the corner of a building in an alleyway and looking out onto a street. Zam the ex mercenary sighs again as it continues to rain this morning here in the city of Vexil. 

The youngest member of the group is looking away to his left and across the street to where a tower of the city guard is located in this part of Vexil. 

The ex mercenary who is originally from The City Of Ruins wipes his face as drops of water run down from the hood of his cloak, before he takes a step back into the alleyway. 

Zam breathes a sigh again, this time in relief. As there's a bit more shelter from the rain just back from the corner of the building. 

The teenager who figures he's been given this task this morning, because it'll keep him occupied. 

Is just about to step forward again, when he suddenly sees a figure appear out of nowhere across on the other side of the street. Seemingly not bothered by the rain, which doesn't seem to be touching them. 

Zam stays completely still as the cloaked figure across the street starts walking. The youngest member of the group waits a few moments, then he steps forward to the corner of the building, and looks to his left. 

And watches the hooded figure, who he knows is a mage. A member of the Mage Council of Vexil to be exact. 

Making their way to the tower of the city guard a bit further down the street from where Zam is watching things from. 

The ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins watches as the mage Garmen enters the tower. Where he knows Helbe the elven thief is waiting. 

The mage Garmen senior, speaks to the duty guardsman at the front desk in the entrance chamber. 

Who informs the member of the mage council where the prisoner is being held. He calls for another of the guardsmen, this one more senior. Who leads the powerful mage up to the room where the prisoner is being held. 

"Thought it best to hold him in one of the rooms, and not down in the cells" says the senior guardsman who still can't believe the case that dropped into his lap late last night. 

"And you're sure of his guilt?" asks the mage Garmen as they head up the tower, walking up the winding steps. 

"Yes mage Garmen" is the reply from the senior guardsman who follows that with "Absolutely sure" he then adds "Not only did he admit it, but two of our own spellcasters confirmed it". 

The member of the Mage Council of Vexil grunts when he hears that. As he wasn't too sure of things when he heard of it when it was brought up in the daily morning meeting at the Mage Tower. 

The powerful practitioner of magic shakes his head at the situation. One of the most well known, and respected members of the city council arrested for theft. And a rather large theft at that. Not only that, but he had being stealing things with a help of a number of gangs for the last few years. 

"And this other matter?" asks Garmen the senior, who continues on with "I understand a disturbance with a gang of thieves that he was involved with?". 

The senior guardsman winces, then sourly mutters "Disturbance" before he adds in a slightly dry tone of voice "That's one way to put it". 

The member of Vexil's Mage Council eyebrows shoot up when the guardsman tells him "A gang of about a dozen thieves were killed within the last day or so". 

They come to a stop on a landing about three quarters of the way up the tower, and the senior guardsman says "A gang known to us, they were wiped out in what was one of their secret hideouts". 

The mage Garmen is silent for a moment, then he quietly says "Think he had anything to do with it?" followed by "Trying to clear up things just in case?". 

The senior member of this particular tower of the city guard shakes his head no, then says "He denied it when we questioned him about it" followed by "And our spellcasters confirmed he had nothing to do with their deaths". 

The powerful Vexillian spellcaster nods at that, then he says "Continue that investigation" he follows on from that with "Though we have a dozen less criminals on the streets of the city, we can't have others going around killing people as they please". 

The member of the Mage Council of Vexil continues with "No doubt it's another gang trying to move in on their territory". 

The senior guardsman nods his head in agreement, as that's usually the case when one lot of criminals is wiped out. 

"If you need extra manpower, go over to tower five and get more guards" says the mage Garmen who follows that with "They've been informed of the situation". 

"Yes councilor Garmen" says the senior guardsman who gestures to the room across the landing that has one of the guardsmen standing before it. 

That guardsman unlocks the door then opens it. And the powerful mage and the senior guardsman enter the room, with the guardsman outside closing the door behind them. 

The mage Garmen looks at the forlorn looking man sitting on the chair next to the bed in the otherwise empty room. 

The powerful practitioner of magic doesn't know councilman Meecham that well. Only having meet him a handful of times at functions that both councils were present at. 

The member of the Mage Council knows that Orax Meecham is part of the family that owns one of the more successful trading companies in the city-state. 

And the thought of him being a thief at first sounded fanciful to put it mildly to the mage Garmen. 

As the councilman, who is both popular with the people of Vexil. And by all accounts is actually one of the more proficient and hard working members of the City Council of Vexil. 

Is something that the powerful practitioner of magic couldn't actually believe when he first heard what had been happening. 

"Meecham" says the mage Garmen, at hearing his name, the prisoner looks up and blinks a few times. 

Then he nervously swallows as he realizes who it is that's standing with one of the guardsmen in the room. 

"Mage Garmen" says Orax Meecham, who then winces and nods his head, and quietly says "Yes". In response to one of the most well known members of the Mage Council of Vexil asking him "Is it true?". 

The senior guardsman slightly grimaces when he hears the mage Garmen next to him mutter "Shit". 

Then the powerful practitioner of magic after sighing, asks the prisoner "Why?" followed by "It's not as though you need the coin" before adding "Considering you're part of one of the wealthiest families in the entire city-state". 

With a shrug of his shoulders, councilman Meecham says "Because I could" followed by "So I did". 

The member of the Mage Council of Vexil sourly smiles, then quietly says to the senior guardsman "He's telling the truth". 

Then the mage, known as Garmen senior, sometimes referred to as Garmen the elder. As his now deceased son was called Garmen junior, though more often referred to as Garmen the younger. 

Asks the councilman who has been arrested for theft "How much have you stolen over the last few years?". And Orax Meecham after a slight pause replies with "A bit". 

From an inner pocket of his uniform jacket, the senior guardsman takes out a rolled up piece of parchment paper, which he hands to the powerful practitioner of magic. 

The mage Garmen unrolls it, then reads what's written on it. The member of the Mage Council of Vexil winces , then dryly says "A bit indeed". 

With a sigh and a shake of his head, the powerful spellcaster tells the prisoner "With the amount you've taken things don't look good for you Meecham". 

Garmen the elder continues with "This is definitely close, and maybe over the threshold for execution". 

The member of Vexil's Mage Council glances at the senior guardsman who nods his head in agreement with that statement. 

The powerful practitioner of magic continues with "Being a respected and well liked councilman, not to mention a member of your family, will not save you when in all likelihood you're found guilty of these crimes". 

"I know" is the quiet reply from the member of the City Council of Vexil who is being held prisoner for the crimes he has committed. 

As the mage Garmen, and occasionally the senior guardsman, continue to question the city councilman who has been arrested for theft. 

The fourth person in the room, invisible to the other three. Stands next to the door, watching what's going on. 

Helbe the elven thief slightly nods to himself after completely reading the mind, as well as going through the memories of Garmen the elder. 

The blurred and shielded elven magic user guessed, correctly as it turns out. That the mage Garmen would be sent to find out what's going on with the case concerning the city councilor Orax Meecham. 

And though the member of the Mage Council of Vexil is concentrating on what councilman Meecham has done, and the likely punishment he'll face, and that's at the forefront of his mind. 

The young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel sees that subconsciously, the powerful Vexillian mage is still thinking about the death of his son. And the person he thinks is responsible for it. Mira Reinholt the mage. 

When it really was Helbe himself who killed mage Garmen the younger back in the wintertime, up in the hill country of northern Vexil. 

The elven masterthief glances at his right shoulder to where Narladene the ground pixie is sitting, watching what's happening here in the tower room. 

The grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel lifts an eyebrow when the ground pixie looks at him, then gestures at the prisoner Orax Meecham, and makes a slicing motion across her throat. 

Probably, Helbe the elven thief thinks to himself, as it seems fairly likely that councilman Meecham will be put to death, by way of a public execution. Which is usually hanging here in the city of Vexil. 

And from the thoughts of both the mage Garmen and the senior guardsman, the councilman Orax Meecham will be executed. 

The highly talented elven practitioner of magic watches the prisoner being questioned for a little bit longer. 

Then the powerful Vexillian mage, and the senior guardsman exit the room. Followed by the blurred and shielded elven magic user. 

Who with Narladene still upon his right shoulder, shifts away through one of the narrow windows, basically an archers nook, on this level of the tower of the city guard. 

The elven master assassin is upon the top of the tower, with the falling rain completely missing him, as he looks down at the street below. 

The son of the heir to the throne of Laerel, spots the mage Garmen make his way out of the base of the tower. 

Then he quietly tells the naturally magical creature on his right shoulder "Follow him" he continues with "See what he gets up to". 

The elven master archer then adds "And find out what else he might get up to in his hunt for Mira". 

"Will do" says Narladene the ground pixie who shoots down off the rooftop, and follows after the powerful practitioner of magic who is a member of the Mage Council of Vexil, landing upon him without him noticing. 

And just a moment later, Garmen the mage disappears as he teleports away, heading back to the city center. Where the Tower of the Mage Council is located. 

Once they're gone, the young elven noble who is the grandson of Prince Reandril of Laerel, looks away down the street. 

And faintly smiles when he spots Zam the ex mercenary, looking miserable in a nearby alleyway. As it continues to rain on this spring morning here in the city of Vexil. 

The blurred and shielded elven magic user shifts away, heading to youngest member of the group. Who he'll return to the Merchant's Rest inn, without him getting anymore wet than he already is. 

For the highly talented elven magic user needs to inform Lord Farque what took place this morning, when Garmen the mage questioned Orax Meecham the councilman. 

And what the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel found out when he read the mind of Garmen senior . . . . . . 

Springtime In The City 70.

The City-State Of Vexil. 

"Will do" says Zam the ex mercenary in response to Tamric Drubine the field commander telling him "You and Tovis bring him into Lord Farque's room" followed by "He's in your room at the moment" with the young noble originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin adding "Even without the gag and blindfold he can't see or hear anything because of a spell". 

As the senior officer in the Armies of Farque heads to the undead warlord's suite of rooms. The youngest member of the group who hails from The City Of Ruins along with the war engineer who is originally from the kingdom of Druvic. 

Make their way down to Zam's room, where they find the prisoner sitting still upon the beside chair. He's unable to move. And only starts moving around when both Zam and Tovis put their hands on him. 

The ex mercenary and the commander in the engineering corp of the Armies of Farque get him to his feet. 

Then holding him by an arm each, they march him out of Zam's room here on the second floor of the Merchant's Rest inn. 

And take him down to where Lord Farque's suite is located. They enter the rooms the deathlord of Farque is using while the group are staying here in what's likely the most secluded inn here in the city of Vexil. 

There's a chair in the middle of the main room of the lord of the death realm's suite. And Zam and Tovis sit the prisoner in the chair. 

Opposite the chair, are two other chairs, where Mira Reinholt the mage and Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy sit. 

The ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins and the war engineer who hails from the kingdom of Druvic move to a corner of the room behind the prisoner when gestured by Tamric Drubine to do so. 

The young field commander is standing in the other corner of the room behind the prisoner, along with Lord Farque himself. 

Both Zam and Tovis nod where Tamric Drubine or Tam as he's more commonly called by those who know well, quietly says to them "Be quiet and observe". 

Then Lord Farque says to Mira Reinholt and Dalinvardèl Tanith "Begin". The two of them, both with their hoods up on their heads, nod. 

Then the spy Tanith who is originally from the elven principality of Alinlae, gets up and takes the blindfold off the prisoner, and removes the wadded up cloth that's been used to gag him. 

The elven spy who is a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque sits back down on his chair. 

When he does, the main room here in the undead warlord's second floor suite goes completely black. 

For a moment Zam the ex mercenary thinks he's gone blind. Then a bright white ball of light appears in the air, floating behind the chairs where the mage Reinholt and the spy Tanith are sitting. 

The youngest member of the group who is originally from The City Of Ruins blinks a few times, next to him Tovis does likewise. 

As the ball of light, rises up a bit and the light concentrates almost into a beam about a foot wide, which shines upon the prisoner. And leaves the hooded figures of Mira Reinholt and Dalinvardèl Tanith as silhouettes in the eyes of the prisoner. 

Who sits there repeatedly blinking, with tears in his eyes as the bright light from the magical ball shines upon his face. 

"Where am I?" asks the man, who is his forties, with grey and thinning hair, who is still blinking as he tries to figure out what's happening to him. 

The prisoner who can't move, and can only look ahead at what he can just make out to be a pair of hooded figures sitting opposite him, about ten feet away, continues with "Who are you?" followed by "Don't you know who I am, I'm". 

"Councilor Meecham" says Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy as he interrupts the prisoner, the commander in the Armies of Farque continues with "Orax Meecham of the City Council of Vexil". 

The prisoner shuts his mouth when he hears that, and keeps it shut when the spy Tanith or Dalin as more often than not he's called by those who know him well, adds "No use shouting for help, no one outside of this room can hear you". 

The city councilman who can only see the two silhouettes in front of him as the bright white light shines in his eyes, and the surrounding darkness doesn't allow him to see anything else. 

Grunts when the elven spy who previously served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland of Alinlae before joining the group, says to him "You will answer our questions truthfully". 

Dalin briefly pauses before continuing on with "No use lying as we already know the answers" then he adds "We want to hear the answers out loud from you anyway". 

The city councilor grimaces and mutters "Magic" as he was fairly certain that's what's involved with what's happening to him. 

Orax Meecham also grimaced because he fairly certain why he's been taken captive. The member of the City Council of Vexil has been partaking in illegal activities over the last few years. 

Which recently involved stealing an entire wagon full of gold bars from one of the counting houses in the north of the city. The largest such theft he's been involved in ever. 

"Councilman did you hire a gang of known thieves to steal a shipment of gold from one of the city's counting houses?" asks the spy Tanith, who continues with "Remember, we already know the answer is yes, we what to hear it from you, yourself". 

The city councilor grimaces as it seems his suspicious are true, then after a moment as he blinks his eyes repeatedly again due to the bright white light shining upon his face, shining a little bit more brighter. He nods his head yes in answer to that question from one of his captors. 

"Out loud councilor Meecham" says the elven spy who is a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque. 

"We want to hear you answer the questions" adds the elf who is originally from the principality of Alinlae. 

The councilman clears his throat, then after nodding again, Orax Meecham says "I did" followed by "I hired a gang of criminals to take that wagon of gold from a counting house here in the city". 

The prisoner sees the silhouetted outline of Dalinvardèl Tanith nod his hooded head, then say "Very good". 

The elven spy who is a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque, follows that with "Continue to answer the questions like that" he briefly pauses before adding "Remember we already know the answers, so just be truthful and this will go smoothly for you". 

The councilman nods his head again, then he says in a defeated tone of voice as he presumes, incorrectly that he's been taken prisoner by the city guard, and is being questioned by a pair of their spellcasters "I will". 

Though he can barely see anything else in the room apart from the prisoner, along with Mira Reinholt the mage and Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy due to the darkness, which is only broken up by the lightball cast by the once powerful mage. 

Zam the ex mercenary sees Dalin glance over to the corner of the room where Lord Farque is standing with Tamric Drubine the field commander. 

The youngest member of the group who is originally from The City Of Ruins is pretty certain he just makes out the large heavily armoured deathlord nodding his full helmed head in reply to that look from the elven spy who is a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of his Armies. 

The ex mercenary glances at Tovis beside him, who notices that look too, and just shrugs in reply as they watch both Dalin and Mira Reinholt continue to question the councilman who was captured earlier this spring evening, here in the city of Vexil. 

After a number of questions are asked by the Vexillian mage in exile and the elven spy who is a commander in the Armies of Farque. 

Dalinvardèl Tanith glances over again at Lord Farque, who Zam is just able to make out nodding his full helmed head again in response to that look from Dalin. 

"Thank you councilman, that'll be all for now" says the spy Tanith who then gets up, steps forward and blindfolds the prisoner again. Before stuffing the wad up cloth into councilor Meecham's mouth. 

Zam the ex mercenary blinks a few times as the blight while lightball disappears, as does the complete darkness that was throughout the main room, here in the undead warlord's second floor suite. 

"You get all that?" asks Lord Farque "I did" replies Helbe the elven thief as he suddenly appears beside the large heavily armoured deathlord and Tamric Drubine the field commander. 

The elven masterthief gestures at the gagged and blindfolded member of The City Council of Vexil, then asks "What do you want to do with him?". 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque who also goes by the name of Draugodrottin, is silent for a moment as he contemplates the fate of the councilman. 

"Might as well let the city guard deal with him" says the undead warlord, who looks at the mage Reinholt, and asks the once powerful mage "What's the penalty here for his crimes?". 

"Could be death" is the reply from Mira Reinholt the mage, who continues with "Especially with how much he's stolen over the years". 

The spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in The Southlands, briefly pauses before adding "Though who knows considering he's a fairly well known councilor, and a well liked one too". 

The deathlord of Farque who has the elven name of Des'tier, which means The Destroyer, slightly shrugs his broad shoulders. 

Then he says to the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel "See to it" before he switches to royal elven language, and has brief conversation with the highly talented elven magic user who is the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel. 

Zam glances at Tovis beside him, and the Druvician war engineer just shrugs in reply to that look. 

Then the two of them look over at Lord Farque who says in the common language "Just make sure he's publicly executed". 

"Will do" says the elven master assassin, who then walks over to the councilman, saying to him "Come on then, off to the guard for you". Even though councilor Meecham can't see or hear him at the moment. 

The highly talented elven practitioner of magic, who is a member of Lord Farque's personal council, his personal envoy to be exact. 

Puts his gloved right hand upon the left shoulder of the blindfolded and gagged councilman sitting on the chair in the middle of the main room here in Lord Farque's suite. 

Helbe the elven thief along with Orax Meecham, member of Vexil's City Council, disappear from sight as the elven magic user blurs the two of them, before shifting out through the window here in the room. 

After Zam closes the window shutters, and Tovis the war engineer stokes up the fire in the fireplace, and puts another piece of wood in it. 

The ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins asks "What was all that for anyway?". As he knows they already got everything out of the councilman when his mind was read by a few of the spellcasters in the group. 

"His guilt" says Tamric Drubine the field commander after he looks at Lord Farque to see if he should explain what they were just doing. 

"Everything he answered there will be shown to the guards who look into the case" continues the son and former heir to a previous Knight of Castle Drubine, which can be found in the forested north of the kingdom of Sarcrin. 

"It won't be necessary for any of the spellcasters in the guard to deal with it" adds the young field commander in the Armies of Farque. 

"After all they can't be fully trusted" continues Tamric Drubine or Tam as he's more commonly called by those who know him well. 

"What with the close ties between both the City Council and the Mage Council" says field commander Drubine. 

"Think he's in cohoots with someone over on the Mage Council?" asks the war engineer who is originally from the kingdom of Druvic. 

It's Mira Reinholt the mage who answers this one, with "Though I doubt it in this instance" the once powerful mage continues with "But you can't be too sure". 

The Vexillian born spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in The Southlands, briefly pauses before adding "Especially considering Meecham comes from a pretty prominent family here in the city". 

"Oh?" says both Zam the ex mercenary and Tovis the war engineer, then it's the youngest member of the group who asks "Which family?". 

"The Meecham's" says the mage Reinholt who is a member of Lord Farque's personal council, then adds "They've also stuck their noses into the city's politics for years too". 

The spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster follows that with "Not to mention his family owns a fairly substantial sized trading company". 

Mira Reinholt briefly pauses before gesturing in the direction Helbe the elven thief took off with Orax Meecham, and says "I knew him when we were young, for a few years we had lessons together before I entered the Mage College" . 

The Vexillian mage in exile pauses once again, before quietly adding "Never thought he'd turn out like he did". 

"He'd probably think the same thing about you" states Lord Farque who continues with "That's if even knew who you are". 

The mage Reinholt is silent, and nods his hooded head in agreement with the undead warlord, as he contemplates how his life has actually turned out . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 69.

The City Of Vexil. 

Hurrying down a street, Zam the ex mercenary almost bumps into a man closing up shop late for the day as it's already nighttime. 

"Sorry" says Zam the ex mercenary by way of apology as he continues down the street, the man just shakes his head and makes his way in the other direction. 

While the teenager originally from The City Of Ruins turns right into an alleyway, as it continues to lightly rain this evening. 

It started to drizzle just before sundown here in the city of Vexil. And it's been lightly raining ever since. 

And as the ex mercenary who is the youngest member of the group, hurries down the alleyway. He hops over a couple of puddles to get to the other end of the alley where Lisell Maera the scout and Tovis the war engineer are waiting. 

"Dalin says there's no one watching on the other side" Zam quietly says in elvish when he joins the other two. 

"He and Beldane are ready" continues the ex mercenary as the three of them look out of the alley, and to the left down the street. 

"Ready when you are Tovis" quietly says Lisell Maera the scout in the elven language, which gets a nod from the war engineer who is a commander in the Armies of Farque. 

"Just a moment" quietly says Tovis the war engineer in elvish, who continues on with "Just wait until the street is clear". 

Both Zam the ex mercenary and Lisell Maera the scout nod in agreement as the three of them look down the street to the left, which is pretty well lit with about a half a dozen evenly spaced lamps. 

A sure sign that they're in the north of the city of Vexil, as most streets elsewhere are torch lit. While a fair bit of the southwest of the city has very few if any lit streets during the night. 

"Remember, try not to kill any of them" quietly says the war engineer who hails from the kingdom of Druvic. 

"But if you have to" adds Tovis, who then slightly shrugs his shoulders to show what he thinks they should do, and that he isn't too fussed about it if they do kill someone. 

The war engineer who is charge of the other two, waits for a pair of dwarves to head down the other end of the street, then go out of view when they turn onto another street. 

"Let's go" quietly says the commander in the engineering corp of the Armies of Farque, who leads the way out of the alleyway and down the street to the left as it continues to lightly rain this evening here in the city of Vexil. 

Tovis, who wears his leather smock like armour, carries a heavy sledge in his right hand, gripping the haft just below the head. 

While Lisell Maera or Lis as she's more commonly called by those who know her well, along with Zam the ex mercenary, closely follow behind the war engineer, who previously served in the army of a nobleman in southern Druvic before joining the group. 

Tovis crosses the street at an angle, with the lead scout originally from the city-state of Brattonbury, and the ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins right behind him. 

The war engineer who is a commander in the Armies of Farque is heading to the small set of steps leading to the front of a two storey building. 

Tovis picks up the pace, followed by Lis and Zam as they walk down this side of the street in the lightly falling rain. 

The commander in the engineering corp of the Armies of Farque hurries up the set of six steps, and is already swinging his sledge before he gets to the front door. Which he whacks just below the door handle, sending it flying open. 

Tovis steps aside, and Lisell Maera the scout and Zam the ex mercenary with weapons drawn, hurry into the building, followed by the war engineer originally from the kingdom of Druvic. 

At the same time, the back door of the building is blasted off it's hinges, and goes flying inwards down the back hallway thanks to a spell cast by Beldane the cleric. 

Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy goes running through that now open back doorway, followed by the powerful cleric in the church of Glaine. 

Zam finds himself right behind Lis, who ducks into the first doorway to the left from the front hallway. 

The attractive young woman who is originally from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury, slams the pommel of her sword into the guts of a man who doubles over, groaning. 

Until Zam punches him in the face, hard. Sending him falling backwards with a bloody and broken nose. 

The scout Maera has already moved further into the room, and two men who were sitting on the other side of a table, and who have just stood up as they wondered what all the commotion from the front door slamming open is all about. 

They're taken by surprise as Lis hurtles over the table, and goes crashing into one of the men. While the other stumbles to one side. 

And as he attempts to draw a sword, while the lead scout rolls across the floor, tussling with the other man. 

Zam uses the flat of his blade, to whack the man in the right arm as tries to draw his weapon. The man yelps in pain, then the ex mercenary holding his blade in one hand, and the hilt in the other. Uses the pommel of his sword, and his right fist to punch the man in the face, whose arm he suspects is broken. 

That fellow drops unconscious to the floor, with what's clearly a broken jaw. While the scout Maera gets up off the floor, saying "Shit". 

Zam looks over at her, then down at the man she was tussling with, and the ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins sourly smiles when he sees the hilt of one the lead scout's daggers sticking out the chest of the man she tackled to the ground. 

"Come on" quickly says the youngest member of the group, who turns and hurries out of the room, followed by the attractive young woman who is in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque. 

There's a room on the right hand side of the front hallway, and the pair of Zam and Lis hurry to it, and as they're about to enter, they come to a quick stop. 

As on the floor in the room, is a man half dazed, lying flat on his back, trying to lift his head up, and look around trying to see what's happening. 

While just a few feet away, lies another man. Fully unconscious, flat on his face. Who they clearly see has a broken leg. 

Both the ex mercenary and the lead scout wince when they see that. As they know Tovis, who with the exception of Lord Farque. Is the strongest human in the group. Has easily dealt to these two. 

Zam and the scout Maera hear a commotion further down the front hallway, and they head down to the final room in the front half of the building. 

Where they find Tovis standing just inside another room, at his feet lies an unconscious man. While next to him is another fellow, whose head has be caved in, and turned to a bloody pulpy mess thanks to a swing from the war engineer's sledge. 

"Shit Tovis" says the scout Maera with a shake of the head as she looks at the near headless body on the floor. 

The lead scout enters the room, stepping over the unconscious body, and the dead one. And makes her way over to a third man. Who is sitting on the floor, cowering in a corner, sobbing and blubbering with his hands over his head. 

"Hey" says Lisell Maera to the cowering man "I'm not going to hurt you" adds the attractive young woman who is a junior officer in the Armies of Farque. 

The man, still sobbing, lowers his arms. And Lis punches him in the face with a low upper cut, connecting with his chin. Which slams the back of his head into the wall behind him. 

The fellow slumps to one side, and falls into unconscious as the scout Maera turns around and walks away, and joins Zam and Tovis at the open doorway to the room. 

A few moments later, and in the room that connects the front half of the building with the back half. 

The trio of the war engineer, the lead scout and the ex mercenary are joined by Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy and Beldane the cleric. 

"Any trouble?" asks Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy as he looks towards the front hallway where the other three have come from. 

"Have to take any of them out?" adds the elven spy who hails from the principality of Alinlae where he previously served in one of the more prominent noble houses of that particular nation. 

"A couple" replies Tovis the war engineer, who follows that with "One idiot kept trying to stab me, so I brained him". 

Then nodding at the scout Maera, the war engineer originally from the south of the kingdom of Druvic, adds "Lis had to kill one too". 

The attractive young woman who is a junior officer in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque nods to that from the Druvician war engineer. 

"The rest of the place is clear" states Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy, who follows that with "We knocked out six of them in the back of the building". 

The spy Tanith who is more commonly referred to as Dalin by the others in the group, continues with "There's no one upstairs". 

The elven spy who is a commander in the Armies of Farque, who is charge of this part of tonight's plans, says "Close the front door if you can". 

Then gesturing around at the room they're in, Dalin adds "We'll bring them all in here so we can question them, and Beldane can find out what they've been up to". 

While Lis hurries to the front door to close it. Zam and Tovis start carrying unconscious bodies from the front rooms to the room in the middle of the building, that connects the front half of the building to the back. 

The ex mercenary winces as he steps over the near headless man that Tovis killed as they carry one of the unconscious men from that room, to the room in the center of the building. 

It doesn't take them too long to carry all of the unconscious men into the room that connects the front of the building to the back of it. Especially once the scout Maera joins in and helps carrying them. 

Once they have all eleven unconscious men in the room in the middle of the building. Beldane the cleric, one by one, reads their minds. A task much easier to do when someone has been knocked out. 

"That's them alright" says the powerful practitioner of magic who hails from the kingdom of Nastell. 

The fighting cleric who is a member of the church of Glaine, a god predominantly worshipped in the north of his homeland of Nastell, continues with "In fact three of them here were part of the five who moved the wagon with the gold, from the counting house". 

Beldane looks at Tovis and Lis as he adds "The two you killed were the other two who were involved". 

The others all nod their heads, glad to know they got the right place. Even with the information gathered by Helbe the elven thief. It's not entirely certain everything was in order until they actually entered the building. 

"Well I guess the city guard will be happy with us" says Tovis in a slightly dry tone of voice, who follows that with "Considering we just took out one of the more notorious criminal gangs in the city". 

Dalinvardèl Tanith nods his hooded head in agreement, then he quietly says "We haven't taken them all out yet" as he gestures at the unconscious men lying on the floor. 

Zam the ex mercenary slightly winces at that. For he knows what the elven spy means there. And the thought of killing already incapacitated men, even though they're criminals, predominantly thieves. Isn't a feeling the teenager originally from The City Of Ruins is accustomed to. 

Nor he hopes to ever be comfortable with it. No matter what he and the others in the group get up to. 

Beldane winces too, and Zam knows the powerful cleric in the church of Glaine isn't comfortable with killing defenceless people. Even though they're criminals. 

The youngest member of the group looks over at the scout Maera, and is about to say something when Dalinvardèl Tanith quietly says "They're coming". 

The elven spy who hails from the principality of Alinlae, whose head is slightly tilted to one side as he listens carefully with his naturally enhanced hearing, adds "Approaching the alley that runs behind this building". 

They all remain silent as they wait. And it's not too long before they hear a number of people entering through the open back doorway, and head to the room that connects the front of the building with the back. 

The man named Barrix, who is really Mira Reinholt the mage enters the room from the back hallway. Followed by Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman. Then Lord Farque himself. Behind the undead warlord is a disgruntled looking Dorc da Orc. Who is more than a little annoyed to be out and about on what's a rainy spring evening here in the city of Vexil. 

"This all of them?" asks Lord Farque looking at the unconscious men lying on the floor "It is my lord" replies Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy, who then adds "Two others are". 

"I know" says the large heavily armoured deathlord as he interrupts the elven spy who is a commander in his Armies. 

"You get everything?" asks the undead warlord as he looks at Beldane the cleric, who replies with "Yes my lord". 

"Mage double check" says the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque to the older man named Barrix, who is really Mira Reinholt the mage thanks to a spell cast by Helbe the elven thief. 

As the once powerful mage reads the minds of the unconscious men on the floor, Dalinvardèl Tanith asks the lord of the death realm "Did you get him?". 

"We did" is the reply from the undead being who has the name of Draugodrottin that the people of his lands also know him by. 

"Tam and Saanea are taking him back to the inn" adds the large heavily armoured deathlord, whose elven name is Des'tier, which means, The Destroyer. 

"Locate the gold?" asks Lisell Maera, the undead warlord nods his full helmed head, then says "We did" he follows that with "Our driver and the usual guard are returning it to the counting house as we speak". 

Before anyone can ask anything else about it, the deathlord of Farque adds "No one will touch them, Axe is keeping an eye on the two of them". 

"Got everything" says Mira Reinholt the mage a few moments later, Draugodrottin nods his full helmed head, then says "Good". 

"Helbe?" asks Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy "He's checking on something we found out when we took the councilman". 

The lord of the death realm then says to the elf who is a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of his Armies "Find a street urchin or local rumor monger, and tell them what's happened here" he then adds "They'll get in contact with the city watch pretty quickly". 

The spy Tanith nods his hooded head, then asks the lord of the death realm "And what's exactly happened here?". 

"An entire gang of thieves have been killed in their hideout" is the cool response from Draugodrottin. 

Dalin nods again, then moves off, heading out of the room in the middle of the building, and down the front hallway. 

The others follow after the elven spy from the principality of Alinlae when the undead warlord says "Dorc stay here" followed by "The rest of you head back to the inn". 

As they file out of the room, and head down the front hallway, Zam the ex mercenary who is at the back, glances back. 

And he sees Lord Farque after saying something in orkish to Dorc da Orc. Pick up one of the unconscious thieves, snap the man's neck, then throw the body down the back hallway, and out the open doorway in that direction. 

The youngest member of the group looks quickly forward again as he heads down the front hallway behind the others, when the undead warlord goes towards another of the unconscious men on the floor. 

While Dorc da Orc with an axe in hand, and a wide grin upon his broad green brutish looking face, walks towards another of the criminals lying unconscious on the floor . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 68.

Vexil. 

Walking across the small square again. Zam the ex mercenary looks down the lane to the right. Only seeing a couple of children hurrying down it. And a young woman, a serving maid by the looks of it, heading to the tavern at the far end of the lane. 

The ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins, heads back across the small square, and sits down upon the bench beneath one of the trees on that side of the square. 

"Yeah" quietly says Zam the ex mercenary in response to Lisell Maera the scout asking him "Still nothing?". 

The attractive young woman who hails from the city-state of Brattonbury who is also on the bench. 

Looks up through the branches of the tree they're under, then says "Getting pretty cloudy now" followed by "Might even rain later" she then adds "Probably tonight". 

"Which is probably when something is going to happen" says Zam in a slightly dry tone of voice as the two of them sit upon the bench seat, and continue to wait. 

"That's how things usually turn out" says Lisell Maera or Lis as she's more often than not called by the others in the group. 

The attractive young woman who is a junior officer in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque is about to say something else .

But falls silent when a man, along with a pair of goblins following behind him. 

Come from the lane opposite the one Zam looked down, cross the small square, and make their way into the other lane. 

The three of them didn't even glance in the direction of the two sitting on the bench seat beneath the tree. 

"Not many people around here" says the scout Maera, who follows on from that with "Quiet". The youngest member of the group nods his head in agreement with that. 

Then Zam lifts the hood of his cloak up onto his head, as it's getting colder this afternoon, here in the north of the city of Vexil. 

The two of them looked to the right, as out of the lane that the ex mercenary checked on early, walks Beldane the cleric, along with Tovis the war engineer. The two of them make their way to the tree where Zam and Lis are waiting. 

"Nothing so far" says Beldane the cleric in reply to the scout Maera's inquiry of "Anything?". The lead scout grunts, then does up her cloak tighter as she too starts to feel the afternoon chill. 

Leaning back against the tree, Tovis the war engineer says "Dalin will tell us if anything turns up". 

Then Beldane who has sat down on the bench, that has room for only three, notices the yourself member of the group looking across to the other side of the small square, and after looking that way, he asks Zam "What is it?". 

"Look up" replies the ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins, who nods his hooded head to the rooftops on the other side of the small square they're in. 

The powerful cleric who is a member of the church of Glaine frowns, then quietly says "I don't see anything". 

The spellcaster who is originally from the kingdom of Nastell pauses, then he faintly smiles as he spots movement on top of one of the buildings across the small square. 

The undead wardog Axe has just got up and moved around, before sitting back down and dropping out of sight. 

"Has he been there long?" asks the cleric in the half plate armour "No idea" replies Zam with a shrug of his shoulders. 

Who then nods when the scout Maera says "He's probably followed us since we all left the inn earlier". 

The other three all nod their heads in agreement with the attractive young woman who is originally from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury. 

Still leaning back against the tree where he stands, Tovis yawns then quietly says "Whatever happens, it's going to be a shit show for sure". 

The war engineer who is originally from the south of the kingdom of Druvic, follows that with "He definitely doesn't take things like this lightly". 

Referring to Lord Farque, and the theft of one the shipments of gold in one of the nearby counting houses here in the north of the city of Vexil. 

"That's for sure" dryly says Lisell Maera who has been with the group the longest out of the four of them. 

The junior officer in the Armies of Farque who has seen a number of things in her time with the group, then adds "Stealing from him is about one of the dumbest things anyone can do". 

The attractive young woman whose mother was a prostitute on the streets of Brattonbury, and whose father was a sailor who plied his trade on The Great Western Ocean, continues with "He's definitely got a vindictive streak". 

The other three all nod in agreement with the lead scout, who then says "I know, I've seen it enough over the years". 

The scout Maera is just about to say something else when Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy enters the small quiet square from the lane to the right. 

And he makes way over to the tree where the four of them are waiting. 

"Right we've found both contacts of that Barju fellow" says Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy, who continues on with "His highness is going to check on some others, who we've found out had a hand in it also". 

Zam slightly nods when the spy Tanith who hails from the elven principality of Alinlae, continues with "The Lord Farque wants them dealt to all at once". 

Then switching to the elven language, even though there's only the five of them in the small square, Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by those who know him well, quietly says "This might not just be a criminal gang, there could be a connection with the higher ups here in Vexil". 

"As in the councils?" quietly asks the scout Maera in the same language, referring to both The Mage Council and The City Council of Vexil. 

"Or businesses" adds the attractive young woman who is a junior officer in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque. 

The spy Tanith who is a commander in the same division as Lis, says "Could be both" he continues on from that with "That's what his highness is checking up on at the moment". 

"This could get ugly real quick" quietly says Beldane the cleric, who has also switched to the elven language. 

Zam nods his hooded head in agreement, when the fighting cleric in the church of Glaine continues with "Especially if someone from either council are involved". 

The youngest member of the group slightly winces when Tovis quietly says in elvish "Worse if someone from both councils are involved". 

The ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins who is looking across the small square, sees Axe pop his back up from the roof he's on top of. 

And the massive undead wardog is looking away to the east, which is in the direction of the lane to the right from where the five are them are waiting beneath the tree. 

"I think he's coming back this way" quietly says Zam with a nod of his hooded head to across the square, where Axe can just be seen on top of one of the buildings there. 

The others look that way, and see the massive animal looking expectantly away to the east from the roof he's on. 

The spy Tanith slightly nods his hooded head, then after closing his eyes as he listens carefully, Dalin who previously served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland of Alinlae, quietly says in elvish "Yeah they're heading this way". 

The elven spy who is a commander in the Armies of Farque then dryly adds "I can hear Dorc complaining about something". 

"Probably whining how's it going to rain soon" dryly says Lisell Maera as she gestures up at the increasingly cloudy sky above the city of Vexil. 

That gets a number of grins from the others, and a quiet chuckle from the war engineer who hails from the south of the kingdom of Druvic. 

A short time later and Lord Farque, along with Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, and a older looking man by the name of Barrix, who is really Mira Reinholt the mage, thanks to a spell created by Helbe the elven thief. Enter the square from the lane to the right, and make their way to where the others are waiting. 

A few moments later, a disgruntled looking Dorc da Orc enters the small square. The large ork is repeatedly looking up at the increasingly cloudy skies above the city. 

The big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world is scowling every time he looks up at the afternoon sky. 

"He'll be here shortly" says Lord Farque in response to Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy asking "His highness?". 

"Tam and Saanea?" asks Lisell Maera referring to the other two who left the Merchant's Rest inn early. Where Shur Kee the monk and sir Percavelle Lé Dic remain this afternoon. 

"Keeping an eye on one of the contacts" replies the undead warlord, who then adds "Dead". In reply to the attractive young woman originally from the city-state of Brattonbury then asking "And the other contact?". 

"He outlived his usefulness" says the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque in a cool tone of voice. Which causes more than a few of them, including Zam to wince. 

"The gold?" quietly asks the war engineer Tovis "We know of it's whereabouts" says Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman supplying the answer to that particular question. 

"Best where it is" says the undead warlord, who follows on from that with "For it'll serve a purpose with our plans". 

What those plans are. No one's exactly sure. As the large heavily armoured deathlord hasn't shared them with anyone with the exception of Helbe the elven thief. 

Who is somewhere in the city, gathering more information to found out about those who stole one of the lord of the death realm's shipment of gold. 

Switching to the elven language, the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque goes over some of the plans he has once Helbe the elven thief returns. 

The deathlord of Farque doesn't go into detail about everything, as they've yet to find out everyone involved. 

But the undead warlord who also goes by the name of Draugodrottin that the people of his lands know him by. 

Does outline what he wants done later after the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel shows up with all the information he's gathered. 

Hell, this is going to cause a bit of an upheaval, Zam the ex mercenary thinks to himself. The youngest member of the group who hails from The City Of Ruins, nods as he listens to Lord Farque explains things he wants done later on after the elven masterthief returns. 

The deathlord of Farque who has the elven name of Des'tier, then says "If some cunt higher up on one of the councils is involved, which we suspect". 

The undead warlord briefly pauses for a bit, before he continues on with "Then they'll be made a fucking example of". 

Draugodrottin points at the ground to the right of the tree, and says "Kårgl Gülk" to Dorc da Orc who was just about to wander away. 

The large ork sourly smiles as he looks sideways at the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque. Then the ork warleader sits down where the undead warlord pointed. 

The only good thing about it in the opinion of the weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks, is that he's sitting beneath the branches of the tree. 

For the big burly ork is pretty certain that it's going to rain sometime this afternoon, or early evening. 

He's also pretty certain that it'll be sooner rather than later, if his sense of smell is accurate about it. Which it usually is when it comes to the weather. 

"If it is someone from either council that's involved with it, or behind it" says Barrix, who in reality is Mira Reinholt the mage under a spell from his fellow practitioner of magic, Helbe the elven thief. 

"You going to get rid of them?" continues the man who appears to be around sixty years old, though he stands tall, and doesn't have too much grey in his hair. 

"Or make an example of them?" adds the once powerful mage who is in disguise thanks to the spell craft of the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel. 

"Both" is the reply from Draugodrottin to those questions from the spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in The Southlands. 

Until he lost most of his powers a number of years ago when he accidentally cast a rift/void spell that sent him offworld. 

All of which, the Vexillian mage in exile does not remember apart from miss casting that particular spell. 

When the mage Reinholt goes to ask something else, the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque interrupts him by saying "Later mage". The undead warlord follows on from that with "I'll explain in detail later". 

The man of advancing years by the name of Barrix nods his head at that. And falls silent, as do the others when the large heavily armoured deathlord quietly says "The annoying thief is heading back this way". The lord of the death realm briefly pauses before adding "Shouldn't be too long now". 

They all wait in silence for the young elven noble who is the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel to show up. 

It's not too long before the elven master assassin turns up, he walks from the lane to the right, and goes over to the tree where the others are waiting. 

The elven princeling from Laerel nods his hooded head to one side, and he and the undead warlord move away from the others, and stand beneath another tree on this side of the small square. Where the two of them have a brief conversation in the royal elven language. 

After their brief conversation, the undead warlord nods his full helmed head, then he and the highly talented elven magic user walk back to the tree where the others are waiting. 

"A member of The City Council is involved" explains Helbe the elven thief, who follows that with "This shipment isn't the only gold this group has stolen in recent months from various counting houses, not just here in the city, but right across the city-state". 

The young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel, continues with "This is definitely the most they've stolen though". 

There's a few nods at hearing that, then the mage Reinholt asks his fellow practitioner of magic "Who's this city councilor that's involved?". 

The elven masterthief glances at Lord Farque, who slightly nods his full helmed head. Then Helbe the elven thief, or prince Helbenthril Raendril to give him his full name and title, says the name of the city councilor that's involved. 

Mira Reinholt slightly frowns as he's sure he recognizes that particular name, then the Vexillian mage in exile remembers who that person is. 

"Oh shit" says the once powerful mage in a tone of surprise "Indeed" says young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel. 

Then the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque starts discussing the plans in detail about what they're going to do later in the afternoon, and this evening. 

Here in the city of Vexil, on an increasingly cloudy spring day, where rain looks like it could very well fall, sooner rather than later . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 67.

The City-State Of Vexil. 

"Don't think this will go well" Zam the ex mercenary murmurs to Lisell Maera the scout, who glances at him and gestures to him to be silent. 

They're in the common room of the Merchant's Rest inn, and are looking over at the corner table where Lord Farque is sitting with Mira Reinholt the mage and Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman. 

Tamric Drubine the field commander and Saanea the witch have just sat down at that table, and are explaining something to the undead warlord. 

The youngest member of the group and the lead scout look over to where Dorc da Orc has just come back into the common room. And is now calling out to the innkeeper for beer and food. 

Zam and Lisell Maera or Lis as she's more commonly called, look back to the corner table where the heavily armoured deathlord is sitting. 

The ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins slightly winces, and the scout Maera who hails from the city-state of Brattonbury nods her head. 

When they both see the moment that field commander Drubine actually tells the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque what they've found out this morning, here in the city of Vexil. 

The lord of the death realm unclenches his right gauntleted fist, and let's go of the metal tankard he's just crushed. 

The undead warlord nods his full helmed head for Tamric Drubine to continue, and the young field commander resumes telling him what they found out from the man that the ex mercenary, the lead scout and the ork warleader captured earlier. 

After a little bit, Lord Farque holds up a hand, then says "Wait here". The large heavily armoured deathlord gets up, and makes his way across the common room, and out through the reception room, then outside. 

There he stamps on the brickwork outside on the ground a couple of times with his right steel boot. The undead warlord then heads back inside, and returns to the common room, and sits back down at the corner table. 

The deathlord of Farque looks around, then gestures for Lisell Maera or Lis as she's more commonly called by those who know her well, along with Zam to come over to the corner table. 

"Had you seen this man before?" quietly asks Lord Farque when the ex mercenary and the junior officer in the Armies of Farque stand before the table. 

"Never seen him before this morning when we spotted him following us" replies the scout Maera who is originally from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury. 

The youngest member of the group nods in agreement with the attractive young woman who is in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque. 

"Dorc?" asks the undead warlord who also has the name of Draugodrottin that the people of his lands know him by. 

"Nah" replies Dorc da Orc who has sat down on the floor next to the corner table, and is actually listening to the what the others are talking about. 

"Never seen the cunt before" adds the large ork who looks to the counter waiting to see what the innkeeper and the serving women bring him. 

The deathlord of Farque or Des'tier to give him his elven name, nods his full helmed head. Who then falls silent as he contemplates things. 

Mira Reinholt the mage who is actually himself at the moment, picks up the conversation, by saying "I thought the elven thief checked everyone working at those counting houses?". 

"He did" replies Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, who continues with "My guess this happened after he did all that". 

The rotund woman who is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra, who just happens to inhabit the body that's Malisse, adds "And that particular counting house was the first one we went to after the one your family owns Mira". 

The once powerful mage nods, then he asks the noble born field commander sitting opposite him "What did you do with him?". 

After slightly wincing, Tamric Drubine the field commander replies with "Dorc killed him after Saanea got all the information we needed". 

The mage Reinholt who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, rolls his eyes, then dryly says "Why am I not surprised?". 

Tamric Drubine or Tam as more often than not he's called by the others in the group, says "We disposed of the body". 

In response to Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson asking him and the others "What did you do with the body?". 

They fall silent again when the undead warlord slightly turns his head, and quietly says something in a language none of them understand. But they recognize as it as the language he speaks with Narladene the ground pixie. 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque slightly nods his full helmed head, then he looks back at the others, and tells them "He'll be back in a little bit". 

The lord of the death realm who is obviously referring to Helbe the elven thief, continues with "He's in the very east of the city at the moment, checking up on something else". 

The mage Reinholt then quietly says "You'd think the owner would know something's a miss in such a business". 

"Unless they've got a manager running things" says Draugodrottin who follows that with "Which I recall that particular counting house does". 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque continues with "Even then the manager might not know" followed by "Considering this fellow had just one contact in the counting house". 

The undead warlord nods his full helmed head when Malisse aka Zubutai the son of Timagin quietly says "And the workers move gold and the like in and out of there all the time, they probably don't even know which shipment goes to after it's gone". 

Once again the lord of the death realm nods his full helmed head in agreement. Then he and the others fall silent as the innkeeper, along with two of his helpers. Bring over a barrel of beer for Dorc da Orc, and a couple of wooden trenchers stacked with food for the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world. 

Once the innkeeper returns to the counter on the other side of the common room, and the helpers head back into the kitchen. 

And Dorc da Orc or Dorkindle to give him his full name, is busy munching on racks of ribs, and slabs of bacon, and crusty bread covered in melted cheese. 

The undead warlord quietly says "He'll find out pretty quickly once he goes in and find out what's happening". 

The deathlord of Farque slightly grunts when the Vexillian mage in exile says "At least it's only one wagon full". 

"That we know of" say the rotund woman who is really an outrider from the pony archers horde from the southern tundra by the name of Zubutai Timaginson. 

"Whatever, or how many" says Des'tier, who looks over at the witch who hails from The Maldin Hills as he continues with "It's happened recently". 

"Yes my lord" says Saanea the witch who continues with "Just two days ago from what he knew". 

"That means it was the most recent shipment we brought into the city three days ago" says the mage Reinholt. 

The others all nod, then the young field commander who is the son and former heir of a previous Knight of Castle Drubine, which can be found in the forested north of the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin, says "Pretty much most of us have been to that counting house". 

Tam continues with "So they've got a description of most if not all of us" followed by "Wonder how many are actually involved in this?". 

He continues on with "That fellow, whose name was Barju by the way, only knew his contact at the counting house, and another outsider who hired the wagon that they moved it on". 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque nods, then quietly says "There's definitely others involved, including whoever set this all up". 

The large heavily armoured deathlord continues with "From what you said, the fuckhead wasn't the smartest individual". 

The attractive brunette witch nods her head, while Tamric Drubine says "He was determined in what he was trying to do". 

The young field commander in the Armies of Farque briefly pauses before continuing in a slightly dry tone with "Until Dorc grabbed him"..

Which causes the large ork who has just taken a few big gulps from the barrel of beer to happily chuckle. 

"He dead" chortles the ork who was named warleader of his race a number of years ago by Lord Farque himself. 

"At what was he trying to do?" asks the spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in The Southlands. 

"Specifically?" adds the practitioner of magic who technically is still in exile from his homeland of Vexil. 

"Following Lis and Zam" is the reply from Tamric Drubine the field commander, his lover Saanea the witch nods her head in agreement, then she says "Seeing if they went to any of the other counting houses in that part of the city". 

The mage who is also a highly skilled swordmaster nods his head, then quietly says "This might be a bit more elaborate than we thought". 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque grunts in agreement with that, then after a few moments of silence, the large heavily armoured deathlord quietly says "He's heading back". 

The undead warlord who can sense Helbe the elven thief, along with Narladene the ground pixie. Who he summoned by stomping on the ground outside. And sent off to go and tell the elven masterthief to return to the inn as fast as possible. 

Moving quickly in this direction from the eastern quarter of the city. Where the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel, was checking up on something for Lord Farque. 

"Won't be too long" adds Draugodrottin, who can sense the highly talented elven practitioner of magic is moving as quickly as he can. 

And it turns out it's not too long before the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel appears in the middle of the common room of The Merchant's Rest inn. 

The elven master assassin who is a member of Lord Farque's personal council, walks over to the corner table, where a fair number of the group are either sitting at, or standing in front of. 

"I looked there, and couldn't find any of what you" says Helbe the elven thief to the undead warlord, who then pauses and adds "What?". When he notices everyone at and around the corner table are all staring at him. 

Gesturing first at Lisell Maera the scout where she stands next to Zam the ex mercenary. Then at Tamric Drubine the field commander, who is sitting next to Saanea the witch, Lord Farque says "Tell him". 

"Well, earlier this morning, Zam and I were" is all the scout Maera gets out, when the elven princeling slightly grimaces, then quietly says "Fuck". 

While Lis sourly smiles, and Tam wryly smiles as they both figure, correctly as it turns out. That the highly talented elven magic user just read their minds. 

"Hmmm" murmurs the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel, who isn't just a member of Draugodrottin's personal council, but is also his envoy. 

"I better go and check that counting house" says Helbe the elven thief or prince Helbenthril Raendril to give him his full name and title. 

"And see about this Barju's contact there" adds the elven master archer, who is the son of the heir to Laerel. And the son of The Warder of Quinthain, the elven forest city that lies to the east of The Lands Farque. 

"And see what else I can find out" continues the elven master assassin, who then slightly grunts when Des'tier tells him "Wait a moment". 

Then the undead warlord switches to the royal elven language, and he and elven princeling have a conversation in it that others don't understand. 

Eventually the large heavily armoured deathlord switches back to the common language and says "Be as fucking quick about it as you can"..

Helbe the elven thief nods his hooded head, then he vanishes as he blurs himself. And only Lord Farque sees him quickly walk out of the common room of Merchant's Rest. 

Once the young elven noble from the island principality of is gone, the lord of the death realm quietly tells the others "Get ready to go out once he comes back". 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque briefly pauses for a moment, before continuing on with "When we find the cunts responsible for stealing that wagon of my gold" Draugodrottin pauses again, then adds "We're going to find them and make them fucking regret ever living, let alone stealing my fucking shit". 

"They dead" says Dorc da Orc from where he sits on the floor, the large ork chortles before gulping down a fair bit of the remaining beer in the barrel he's drinking from today, here in the Merchant's Rest inn . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 66.

"Dorc don't kill him" says Zam the ex mercenary after hurrying back around the corner where the large ork is waiting. 

"Remember we want to capture him" adds the youngest member of the group who is originally from The City Of Ruins. 

The ork warleader sourly smiles, and after snorting he grunts. Zam hopes that's a positive grunt that agrees with him. As you can never be too certain when it comes to the big burly ork who is from the southern polar region of the world. 

It's a partly cloudy morning today. Though it's still hasn't started raining again. This is definitely the longest stretch of fine weather this spring here in the city of Vexil. 

Zam glances up between the buildings where he and the ork weaponsmith are waiting. And sees the clouds are passing overhead fairly quickly now. A sure sign that the wind has picked up this morning. And tomorrow more than likely it'll start raining again. 

The ex mercenary is glad it's not raining today. For the simple reason the ork general in the Armies of Farque would be in more of a foul mood. 

He's already unhappy that they left the Merchant's Rest inn, where he was intending to spend the day drinking and eating. If it was raining, the large ork would be an absolute nightmare to be around. 

The teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins glances at the warleader of the ork race, who is scowling as he looks out of the alleyway the two of them are in. 

Then Zam briefly pops his head out from the side of the building he's up against, and he glances to the left down the street. 

He pops his head back and quietly says to Dorc da Orc or Dorkindle which is his given name "Person wearing a blue hoodless cloak" he then adds by "He's following Lis". 

Zam continues on with "He's basically right behind her" the ex mercenary then quietly says "Any moment now". 

The large ork grunts, with his enhanced hearing he can easily locate the two in question coming this way up the street. 

"Move cunt" grunts Dorc da Orc to the youngest member of the group, who steps back and out of the way of the ork warleader who steps forward. 

A moment later and they watch Lisell Maera the scout walk by the mouth of the alleyway the two of them are waiting in. 

Then the son of the former matriarch of the wolf tribe of orks grabs the man in the blue cloak who comes into view. 

Dorkindle with one hand clamped on the right arm of the man, puts his other hand across the face and mouth of the man as he pulls him into the alleyway. 

The large ork lifts the man up against the building to the left by the arm he's holding, whilst his other hand remains clamped across the man's face and mouth. 

Zam winces as the ork weaponsmith with one squeeze breaks the man's right arm, while holding him up off the ground by it. 

Even standing fairly closely, the ex mercenary can barely hear the man scream in pain as he's muffled by the massive frying pan sized hand clamped across his face. 

Lisell Maera hurries back into the alleyway, and quietly says "Quick, further back into the alley". While the teenager originally from The City Of Ruins quietly says "I think he pissed himself". 

Which causes Dorc da Orc to chuckle as he walks further back into the alley, continuing to hold the captured man up off the ground by the broken arm, while holding his other hand across his face and mouth. 

Lisell Maera or Lis as she's more commonly called by the others in the group, takes out a cloth when they get into the gloomy shadows at the other end of the alley, which only has one way out of it and one way into it. 

And she says to the man they've captured, who is softly groaning in pain, while he cries in pain "Say anything, and this big green fellow here will break your other arm, then your legs". 

The attractive young woman who hails from the city-state of Brattonbury pauses for a moment then adds "You understand?". 

The man in blue cloak nods, then Lis quietly says "Dorc". The large ork grunts, then after growling at the man they've captured and tells him "Better be quiets cunt". 

Then he takes his hand off the man's face, and the scout Maera stuffs the cloth into the mouth of the man. 

Dorc da Orc let's the man down to the ground, and let's go off his broken arm, and takes a hold of his other arm. 

Then Lis who is a junior officer in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque, quietly says to their prisoner "Now you're going to answer some questions". 

The lead scout continues with "Answer with a nod for yes, and shake of the head for no" she follows that with "You understand?". 

After a moment as the man breathes heavily through his nose, and him wincing in pain when Dorkindle applies a little bit of pressure on his left arm. A sure sign if he doesn't cooperate, the large ork will break that arm. The man in the blue cloak nods yes to Lis. 

Who after saying in elvish to Zam "This would be better if one of the spellcasters were with us". And the ex mercenary replying in the same language with "We had no time to find one" followed by "It was either take him or not". 

The attractive young woman from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury whose mother was a street prostitute, and whose father was a sailor. 

Starts questioning the man in the blue cloak who the trio have captured this spring morning here in the city of Vexil. 

"Now you were watching the counting house across from square where the farmers market is this morning" says the scout Maera, who follows that with "Correct?". 

The junior officer in the Armies of Farque gestures at herself and Zam after the man nods his head yes in answer to that first question. 

"Then you saw us two" says Lisell Maera who continues on with "And began following us" she then adds "Is that so?". 

Once again the man who was following her and the youngest member of the group for a bit, nods his head yes in reply to the attractive young woman who hails from the coast of The Southlands. 

After glancing at Zam, who slightly nods in reply to her look, the lead scout quietly says to their prisoner "I'm going to start naming names, as well as trading companies and other shall we say organizations here in the city". 

Lis pauses for a moment or two then says "Nod when I get to who you're working for" she continues with "We'll eventually find out if you lie to us or not" she follows that with "So you might as well be truthful". 

The junior officer in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque along with the ex mercenary. 

Are pretty certain that whoever it is from the group who is following them this morning. Most likely Narladene the ground pixie, or Saanea the witch's familiar. And maybe the undead wardog Axe. 

Has gone off to inform someone in the group that Lis and Zam were followed this morning. And that they along with Dorc da Orc have captured that particular person. 

And that one of spellcasters in the group will show up eventually, to find out everything about the man in the blue cloak they've captured on this partly cloudy, and windy spring morning here in the capital of the city-state of Vexil. 

As the scout Maera starts naming names, not to mention trading companies, both The Mage Council and City Council of Vexil. As well as the order of the Knights of Saint Mar'che. 

Zam glances up when he hears a sqwauk, and he spots a raven on the edge of the roof to the left, looking down at them in the alleyway. 

"Above us" quietly says the ex mercenary in the elven language to the scout Maera, who briefly stops in her questioning of the man they've captured, and she glances up. 

"Think it's Saanea's familiar" quietly adds the youngest member of the group, which gets a slight nod from the attractive young woman who hails from the city-state of Brattonbury. 

"Dorc" says the scout Maera in common, and gestures up at the raven watching them from the edge of the roof to the building on the left. 

The large ork looks up, and after spotting the black coloured bird, and sniffing. The ork warleader who is a general in the Armies of Farque sourly smiles, then mutters "Magicky". 

"Saanea's?" asks the junior officer in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque, which gets a positive sounding grunt from the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world. 

"She should be here fairly soon I guess" quietly says Lisell Maera in elvish to the ex mercenary who is originally from The City Of Ruins. 

"Or one of the others" continues the attractive young woman who hails from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury. 

Zam nods in agreement to that, then pointing at their prisoner, the ex mercenary says in elvish "Keep questioning him anyway". 

Lis nods, then ignoring the sour look directed at her and Zam by Dorc da Orc, who is more than a little annoyed at not understanding what they were just talking about. 

The lead scout continues her questioning of the man in the blue cloak, who stands there in piss drenched breeches. 

While Dorkindle keeps a firm grip upon his left arm. Which the large ork is ready to break, just like he broke his right arm. 

When the scout Maera runs out of names, Zam says to her in elvish "Maybe it's someone else he's working for?" followed by "Definitely not one of ones we know about". 

"Looks like it" says Lis in the same language, as she contemplates removing the prisoner's gag, so he answer more than just yes and no head movements. 

Just as the lead scout is thinking about that. A pair of familiar figures appear just inside the alleyway, and make their way down it, where amongst the shadows is Zam the ex mercenary, Lisell Maera the scout and Dorc da Orc, along with a man they've captured. 

"What's this then?" asks Tamric Drubine the field commander who is with his lover, Saanea the witch. 

"Bads man" is the reply from the ork weaponsmith who gives the prisoner a little shake, causing him to whimper in fear and pain. 

"Went to one of the nearby counting houses" says Lis when they're joined by the young field commander, and the attractive spellcaster who hails from the Maldin Hills. 

The junior officer in the Armies of Farque who is speaking in elvish, continues with "Zam had to get some coins after sending most of his yesterday when he went shopping with Mira". 

Tamric Drubine or Tam as he's more commonly called by the rest of the group, nods at that. Then the scout Maera says "This fellow was watching the counting house, and started following us around when we left". 

The attractive young woman originally from the coast of The Southlands continues on with "Doesn't seem to be with or working for any of those who are after Mira" followed by "Or those knights after Percy and Zam". 

Not knowing exactly what the others are talking about, but figuring it's something to do with the man he's holding. 

Dorc da Orc takes out his wicked looking curved knife, and says to Tamric Drubine "You wants me to fucken cut him up some?". 

With tears in eyes, the man in the blue cloak groans as he looks at what's a knife for Dorc, but it's the size of a short sword for anyone else. 

"Hold up a bit Dorc" says the young field commander in the common language to the large ork who essentially raised Tam from childhood. 

As the senior officer in the Armies of Farque was only seven years old when he was found by the group at the time. 

The noble born field commander originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin, continues with "We have to find out what's he actually up to first". 

The son and former heir of a previous Knight of Castle Drubine, which can be found in the forested north of Sarcrin, follows that with "Then you can slice him apart depending on who he is". 

The man almost faints hearing that, while the warleader of the ork race chuckles in delight at the prospect of cutting up the prisoner. 

Field commander Drubine glances at his lover, the witch Saanea, who slightly nods her head, before she casts a mind reading spell upon the man that's been captured by Zam the ex mercenary, Lisell Maera the scout and Dorc da Orc on this increasingly cloudy, not to mention windy, spring morning here in the city of Vexil. 

After a few moments, as she frowns as she goes through the mind of the man in the blue cloak while the others watch on expectedly. 

Saanea the witch blinks in surprise, then after a few more moments of silence, she eventually says "Shit" . . . . . .