Springtime In The City 25.

The City Of Vexil. 

"What the hell am I'm doing here?" mutters Zam the ex mercenary as he crawls across a rooftop on what's another rainy morning here in the city of Vexil. 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins sighs and pulls the hood of his cloak down lower to try and stop water getting into his eyes. 

He's somewhat successful as he gets to the edge of the roof and looks down into the narrow alleyway below him. 

The youngest member of the group hauls himself over the edge of the roof, which he holds onto for a bit. 

Before letting go, and falling about six feet to the ground. The ex mercenary let's out a breath he was holding. 

Then looks both ways in the alley, and decides to go to his right. Hoping he's not spotted by anyone, anytime soon.

Zam gets to the end of the alleyway, and glances out of it, looking out into a fairly quiet street, here in the north of the capital city of Vexil. 

The teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins slightly smiles to himself, and is just about to walk out onto the street. 

When all of a sudden a gloved hand falls upon his left shoulder, and he's quickly turned around by someone. 

"Nice try" quietly says Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy, who continues on with "Did you go across the rooftops from that street behind that square?". 

Zam wryly smiles, then nods his hooded head, before quietly telling the elven spy who is a commander in the Armies of Farque "Thought I had got away from you". 

"You almost did" is the quiet reply from the elf who is originally from the principality of Alinlae, who follows that with "Good move going up on the rooftops". 

"Think I'll make a good spy?" asks the youngest member of the group as the two of them look out onto the street. 

"Well" says Dalinvardèl Tanith who pauses, before continuing with "Maybe". The elven spy doesn't exactly sound positive about it. 

"Think you're more suited for the infantry if you join the Armies of Farque" says the elven spy who follows that with "Especially considering you'll achieve the rank of blade master sooner rather than later". 

The youngster from The City Of Ruins nods, then he slightly frowns when the spy Tanith quietly says "That's if you decide to join Lord Farque's Armies". 

"You mean I've got a choice?" asks the ex mercenary after the commander in the Armies of Farque gestures that they go out onto the street, and head back to the Merchant's Rest inn. 

"Of course" says Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by the others in the group. 

As they walk through the steadily falling rain that's hit the city this morning, the elven spy who previously served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland of Alinlae, quietly says "More than half of the group isn't in his Armies". 

Zam whose eyebrows shoot up in surprise at hearing that, nods his hooded head when the spy Tanith tells him "Beldane isn't in the Armies of Farque" he slightly pauses, before adding in a dry tone of voice "For obvious reasons". 

The teenager who is the youngest member of the group knows that Beldane as a cleric can never set foot into the Lands Farque, let alone join one of the Armies of the undead warlord. 

"Saanea isn't, nor is Shur Kee" quietly says the elf in the gray hooded cloak, who continues with "And of course Percy". 

Zam nods once more, then Dalin quietly says to him "And though he's a member of Lord Farque's personal council, Mira isn't in the Armies as well". 

The ex mercenary who knows that Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman is a calvary commander in the Armies of Farque, isn't too sure if Helbe the elven thief is part of Lord Farque's Armies. 

So he asks the spy Tanith as they round a corner "What about Helbe?" followed by "I'm not sure if he is". 

As they make their way down a slightly sloping street, that has just a few people on the other side, hurrying to get out of the rain. 

The youthful looking elf who hails from the principality of Alinlae slightly nods in reply, then quietly says "You wouldn't know it, but he is". 

Dalinvardèl Tanith continues with "Though he's a council member, and Lord Farque's personal envoy". 

He follows that with "His highness is also a senior commander in the Armies of Farque" the elven spy then adds "He's the overall commander of the Scouts and Rangers division in all the Armies of Farque". 

Dalin follows that with "So technically he's my boss" the commander in the Armies of Farque continues with "If you don't know already, from within those divisions you get Lord Farque's spy network which his highness runs". 

Zam's eyebrows shoot up at hearing that, as that's something he didn't know. Though he figured Helbe the elven thief, or prince Helbenthril Raendril of Laerel to give him his full name and title. Had something to do with the running of the spies that Lord Farque has at his disposal. 

The two of them fall silent as they walk by an open shop front door, which the shopkeeper is looking out of. Looking slightly miserable at the prospect of having no customers for the day. 

The elven spy who hails from the principality of Alinlae and the teenager originally from The City Of Ruins nod in greeting to the shop keeper. Who just replies with a sour sounding grunt. 

The two, the elf in the gray hooded cloak and the human teenager in predominantly leather armour. Only resume their conversation until they're much further down the street from the shop with the open front door. 

"Along with his highness it's only myself, Lis, Tovis and Tam who are in Lord Farque's Armies" quietly says Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy, who after a moments pause, continues with "And of course Dorc". 

Zam slightly grins when the spy Tanith dryly adds "Not that anyone bothers to remember that" followed by "Including Dorc". 

The ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins snorts in amusement when Dalin adds "I'm pretty sure most of the time he doesn't even know that he's a general in the Armies of Farque, and that he even outranks Tam". 

The youngest member of the group nods his hooded head in agreement with the spy Tanith who tells him "Which when you think about it, is a good thing to be honest". 

The pair turn onto another street as they make their way back to the Merchant's Rest inn on this rainy spring morning. 

After Zam under took a bit of evasion training, to see how long he could keep away from Dalin, before the elven spy located him. 

As they cross a small square, that has a statue on a plinth in the middle of it. Of who, Zam has absolutely no idea. 

And they enter a lane, which they both know is a short cut back to the inn that they, and the rest of the group are staying in whilst here in the city of Vexil. 

Dalinvardèl Tanith slightly frowns, then holds up a hand to the ex mercenary who is originally from The City Of Ruins. 

"What is it?" quietly asks Zam in the elven language when they've come to a stop, and stand in a deep recessed doorway. 

"Trouble" is the quiet reply from the spy Tanith in the same language, who gestures in the direction they're heading, and to the right. 

"Up ahead" quietly adds Dalin, the elven spy who hails from the principality of Alinlae quietly continues with "I can hear them". 

The ex mercenary who is always amazed at the hearing and seeing abilities of the non human members of the group. 

Watches as the commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque stands there with his eyes closed, listening to what's happening not far from here, through the falling rain. 

After a while, the spy Tanith opens his eyes, then quietly tells the youngest member of the group "Three of them" followed by "Don't know who, but they're searching for Mira". 

The elf in the dark grey hooded cloak who is just over three centuries old, continues with "Not just that, I heard them describe both Lord Farque and Dorc". 

He follows that with "They know if they find them, they'll probably find Mira" the elven spy who previously served in one of more prominent noble houses of his homeland of Alinlae, then says "Even though they believe the mage is not in the city, but elsewhere". 

"Damn" murmurs the youngest member of the group, who after a pause, asks the commander in the Armies of Farque "Should we do anything?". 

After a few moments of silence, Dalinvardèl Tanith quietly says "Maybe" followed by "Don't really want an altercation in public. 

Zam can agree with that, then he looks out of the recessed doorway when Dalin does, and they find the street they're on at the moment, is practically empty. With hardly anybody on this street, due to the constant rain that's been falling this morning here in the city of Vexil. 

"Anyone on the street they're on?" quietly the ex mercenary who is originally from The City Of Ruins. 

"Not really" is the reply from the spy Tanith after he briefly closes his eyes and listens to what's happening on the street just up ahead, and around the corner to the right. 

"Come on" says the spy who is originally from the elven principality of Alinlae, who continues with "They're moving". 

The pair exit the recessed doorway and head off, as they do, Dalinvardèl Tanith quietly says "We should probably deal to them". 

The commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque tells Zam "After we take them down, you run to the inn" who then adds "It's not far" followed by "You know how to get there?". 

"I do" replies the youngest member of the group after looking around, and realising where they are, here in the north of the city. 

The teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins nods his hooded head when Dalin tells him "We'll need help moving them". 

The spy Tanith follows that with "Besides the others can find out what they're up to, and who they're working for a hell of a lot easier than you or I could find out". 

As they close in on the corner up ahead, Dalin quietly tells Zam "Try and not to kill any of them" followed by "Don't want to make a mess". 

They round the corner, and the ex mercenary immediately spots the trio in question up ahead through the rain, on this side of the street, heading away from the Zam and Dalin. 

The teenager who is the youngest member of the group slightly nods when Dalin quietly tells him "You take the first one you come on" followed by "Then run". 

The elf who is a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque then adds "I'll take care of the other two". 

Zam finds himself walking quicker and quicker through the constant rain, with the spy Tanith close on his heels. 

The ex mercenary almost stops when the rear most of the trio, briefly looks back, and peers through the rain. Though he doesn't notice the approaching pair in hooded cloaks. 

The youngster who hails from The City of Ruins, is soon upon the last of the trio. Who goes to turn as he definitely hears the approaching pair..

As the man goes to turn, Zam grabs him by the collar and the left shoulder. The ex mercenary then smashes the man sideways, head first into the front of the building to the right. 

Then the teenager who is the youngest member of the group takes off running, surprising the two other men, who spin around to see what's just happened. 

Those two find themselves under attack from Dalinvardèl Tanith by the time Zam has run by them, heading quickly down the street. 

And before the ex mercenary turns into the next street to the right, he glances back, and sees those two men are now down on the ground, hardly moving, if at all. While the elven spy Tanith stands over them. 

Zam heads around the corner, and continues running to the Merchant's Rest inn which isn't all that far away, on this rainy spring morning, here in the city of Vexil . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 24.

Vexil. 

"Is that normal?" asks Zam the ex mercenary as they hurry back down the street opposite the west end of the main airdocks of the city of Vexil. 

"No idea" is the reply from Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy, who continues with "But he's willing to go, even in this weather" followed by "So that's all that matters". 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins nods his head as they hurry through the drizzle on this spring day here in the capital of the city-state of Vexil. 

They get to the corner of the street, where beneath an awning in front of a shop, wait the others. 

"Well?" asks Lord Farque as he looks at the elf in the dark grey hooded cloak, and the youngster who is wiping rain off his face. 

"Found one" replies Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin as he's called more often than not by the others in the group. 

"Not many going out this morning, because of the weather" adds the elven spy who hails from the principality of Alinlae. 

"Hardly any customers too" continues the elf who is a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque. 

The undead warlord nods his full helmed head, then says "When?". "Anytime we want" is the reply from the spy Tanith who follows that with "Just him and one crew member". 

Once again the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque nods, then says to everyone "Come on, let's go" and gestures to the nearby airdocks. 

Dorc da Orc sourly grunts, then sighs as he they make their way from beneath the shop front awning. 

The large ork didn't want to come out today, for the simple reason it started raining during the night. And though it's only drizzling now, the ork warleader is more than a little uncomfortable that he's getting wet. 

This morning with Lord Farque, Dorc da Orc, Dalinvardèl Tanith, and Zam the ex mercenary. Is Tamric Drubine the field commander, Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman and Mira Reinholt the mage. 

Once again, the once powerful mage is the slightly rotund woman named Daisy. As he's under a spell that's been cast by Helbe the elven thief. 

As for the elven masterthief, he's somewhere around. Where exactly, no one is sure with the exception of Lord Farque. 

"Which one?" asks Mira Reinholt the mage who once again isn't exactly pleased that the Greater Illusion spell the highly talented elven magic user has cast on him, has him looking like the younger sister of Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson. 

"That one there" is the response from Dalinvardèl Tanith who points to the end of one of the long airdocks, where there's a number of small single masted airships tied up. 

The small vessels are sight seeing ships, which usually travel over and around the city of Vexil. But on a day like today, where it's raining. Not many, if any of the small sight seeing ships are in the skies above the capital city. 

""How much?" asks the practitioner of magic who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in The Southlands. 

"Two gold for all seven of us" is the reply from the spy Tanith, who is walking alongside Zam the ex mercenary and the Vexillian mage in exile. 

"Not too bad I guess" says the mage Reinholt who continues on with "Especially considering the weather". 

The slightly rotund woman follows that with "All those sight seeing ships are a rip off, always have been". 

The spellcaster who is also a highly talented swordmaster, then says "The captain is desperate for any business on a day like this" the woman named Daisy adds "It's why you didn't get completely ripped off". 

They climb the steps to the top of the airdock, which is a good thirty feet high. And though it's a long, straight dock. Not like most of the docks, which are circular. 

It doesn't take them long to walk to the end where the small airship they're taking is tied up, on this drizzling spring day here in the city of Vexil. 

They board the vessel, with both the captain and his crewman staring in disbelief at the large form of Dorc da Orc. 

Until the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world growls at the two of them, which causes the captain and air sailor to quickly get underway. 

The small, single masted airship has soon disembarked, and though the captain usually has a set flight. He nods and says "Yes sir" when Lord Farque points and tells him "That way". 

The small vessel, isn't particularly quick. Though it's fairly agile due to it's small size. And it passes over the main airdocks of the city, as they go north and east. 

Once they're clear of the main airdocks, and other larger vessels going in and out of the airdocks. The undead warlord tells the ship's captain "Drop down closer to that building there". 

Though the captain, a man in his forties, whose nephew is the lone crew member, is reluctant to do so. 

He agrees to, as he nervously stands at the wheel, because the large heavily armoured figure of the deathlord of Farque is standing right next to him. 

As they drop down towards the building in question and start passing by it, there's a loud thump behind the captain. 

Who turns around, then falls over backwards in fright. And as he sits there on the deck, pointing with a shaking hand, he stammers out in fright "What's that?". 

"A cat" dryly replies Lord Farque who has taken the wheel, and doesn't even bother to look around at what's behind him. 

Still on the deck, the captain of the small airship looks at the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque as if he's crazy. 

Then he looks at the massive black dog, that's appeared on his vessel, and has now flopped down. And is lying there, with one eye slightly open, looking at the ship's captain. 

"Probably best if you go and help your crewman at the mast" says Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman who has moved aft to stand with Lord Farque at the wheel. 

The rotund woman who is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra by the name of Zubutai Timaginson, who just happens to inhabit the body of Malisse, looks at the captain of the airship, and tells him "In fact it's probably be best if you and crewman went down in the hold until we get back to the docks". 

After a moment, the captain, who is still staring at the massive dog, that jumped up onto the small airship from the building they flew closely by. 

Vigorously nods his head, then scrambles to his feet, then hurries forward to get his nephew, before going down into the hold, through a hatch forward of the mast. 

Though only after Lord Farque has to yell out to Dorc da Orc in the ork language to get out of the fucking way. 

As the ork warleader had his head down through the hatch to the hold, looking for a spare sail or something similar. 

Which he could drape over himself, to stop himself getting wet from the constant drizzle that's falling this morning across the city of Vexil. 

The woman named Daisy and Dalinvardèl Tanith are at the mast, and both reef the fore sail after a command from the large heavily armoured deathlord. 

The airship slows, and the undead warlord who has the name of Draugodrottin that the people of his lands know him by, turns the wheel to starboard. 

And the small single masted airship, slowly turns in a circular arc, just a hundred feet above the tallest buildings in this part of the capital of the city-state. 

The lord of the death realm who has the elven name of Des'tier, which translates to The Destroyer. 

Pushes the wheel slightly forward on it's plinth, and the small sight seeing airship drops in altitude. 

The undead warlord who is watching Mira Reinholt in amidships, looking over the starboard rail. 

Pulls back on the wheel when the exiled Vexillian mage looks back at him at the wheel, and nods his full helmed head. 

After Draugodrottin gives the order to drop the main sail, he calls out "Zam!" followed by "Get back here". 

The ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins who is in the bow, hurries back along the deck to aft. 

"Take the wheel" says Lord Farque to the youngest member of the group, who lifts his eyebrows in surprise and says "Er?". 

"It's either you or Dorc" says the large heavily armoured deathlord, who then dryly adds "Trust me, you don't want that fucking idiot Dorc in control of an airship". 

Zam nods in agreement with that, and the teenager who has never been in control of an airship in his life, suddenly finds himself at the wheel of a small single masted airship, above the city of Vexil on what's a rainy spring day. 

"Just hold it steady like that" explains the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque who continues on with "You're just holding position, and not going anywhere". 

"Yes my lord" says Zam the ex mercenary, who holds the wheel absolutely steady, not moving it back and forth or side to side at all. 

While the deathlord of Farque moves forward to amidships, where Tamric Drubine the field commander, Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman and the woman named Daisy, who in actual fact is Mira Reinholt the mage. 

Are at the starboard rail, looking down at something below them, here in the northeast of the city of Vexil. 

The teenager who is originally from The City Of Ruins, who hears Axe the undead wardog behind him, sigh then roll over. 

Watches as Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy makes his way aft, to join the ex mercenary at the wheel. 

While the others quietly discuss things, as the look down at something in this part of the capital of the city-state of Vexil. 

Whilst Dorc da Orc makes a forlorn looking figure, sitting up in the bow. Looking both miserable and angry, as the drizzly rain continues to fall across the city of Vexil this spring morning. 

Zam who only has a small semblance of what's going on here while they're in the city of Vexil, nods his head to those at the starboard rail in amidships, and quietly says to the elven spy beside him "What are they planning?". 

"You don't want to know" is the slightly wry sounding reply from Dalinvardèl Tanith, who after a pause continues with "And they're just looking at something at the moment". 

The youngest member of the group slightly nods, then does so again when the elf who is a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque quietly tells him "It's to do with that list of names we took from that lot observing that counting house the other day". 

"Oh?" says the ex mercenary who is careful not to move the wheel either forward or backwards, or side to side. 

"Someone on it?" quietly asks Zam, who after blowing drops of water off his nose, continues with "Or who actually wanted it?". 

"The latter" is the quiet reply from the elf who previously served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland, the principality of Alinlae. 

Interesting, the ex mercenary thinks to himself, who then silently adds, I wonder what they'll end up doing? 

"Keep it steady" quietly says Dalin to the youngest member of the group when Lord Farque glances back at them. 

"Will do" quietly says Zam who slightly turned the wheel as he thought about what he and the spy Tanith have been discussing. 

Then it's not too long before the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque makes his way back aft, while Mira Reinholt and Tamric Drubine raise the main sail again. 

"Stay on the wheel" says Draugodrottin to the ex mercenary who was going to get out of the way, so the deathlord of Farque could take the wheel again. While Dalinvardèl Tanith nods, and makes his way forward to join the others in amidships. 

Once the main sail has been hoisted, the undead warlord tells Zam "Come about" followed "Three to starboard". 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque quickly explains to the ex mercenary what that means. And the teenager from The City Of Ruins nods in understanding, and he turns the wheel to starboard, not that much. Three spokes of the wheel to be exact. When Des'tier shows him that there's notch on the top of the wheel to show when everything is zeroed out. 

"A full turn is obvious" explains Lord Farque who follows that with "A half turn is six spikes, three is more often than not called a quarter turn". 

"Seems simple enough my lord" says Zam the ex mercenary who now finds himself actually flying the airship above the city of Vexil. 

The lord of the death realm softly chuckles, then says "So it seems" then after a moments silence, he adds "To drop in altitude you push the wheel forward, then backwards to rise up again". 

The large heavily armoured deathlord follows that with "This is a three setting airship" he continues with "When you push or pull the wheel, you'll feel it click with each position, that determines the speed in how to drop or rise". 

Lord Farque adds "Larger and quicker vessels will have four or five positions" followed by "All depends on their lines, and draw". 

Zam listens as Draugodrottin explains what all that means. After he does, the undead warlord tells the ex mercenary to push forward on the wheel one position. 

After the teenager from The City Of Ruins does so, and the small sight seeing airship drops in altitude as it heads back to the main airdocks of the city. 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque snaps his fingers and gestures away to the side with his right gauntleted hand as he says something in a language that Zam doesn't understand. 

There's a slight rocking of the stern of the small vessel, and the ex mercenary glances back over his shoulder, and sees that Axe the undead wardog is no longer onboard. 

The youngest member of the group then pulls the wheel back in the full upright position when the deathlord of Farque tells him to so that the vessel is now level. 

As they head back to the main airdocks north of the city center, on this this drizzly spring morning here in the capital of the city-state of Vexil . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 23.

The City-State Of Vexil. 

Looking over at one of the halls that a steady stream of people are going in and out of. Zam the ex mercenary wonders how anyone can train in such a place. 

The teenager who is originally from The City Of Ruins and who is the youngest member of the group. Sees that Mira Reinholt the mage is looking over at that particular hall too. 

The ex mercenary sees the once powerful mage glance at him, well the slightly rotund woman named Daisy glances at him. 

"That's the hall I mainly trained in" quietly says Mira Reinholt the mage, who this morning looks nothing like he really is, due to the illusion spell that's been cast upon him by Helbe the elven thief. 

"You did?" says Zam the ex mercenary in surprise, who figured the Vexillian born mage had a number of hired blade and sword masters who taught him privately, considering he comes from basically the wealthiest family in the city-state. 

"I thought you would had masters who taught you privately, you know considering" says the teen who hails from The City Of Ruins. 

The woman who has been named Daisy of all things, faintly smiles then quietly tells the ex mercenary "I wish". 

The slightly rotund woman who in reality is the spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation, in all of The Southlands, continues with "Remember I'm a mage, and that takes presidence over all". 

She follows that with "I trained with the blade on the quiet" adding "When I had time off from classes and lectures at the Mage College I would come down here and train". 

The mage Reinholt who is a member of Lord Farque's personal council gestures at the training hall they were looking at, and the one next to it, then says "Predominantly in those two". 

He, well I mean she, points back to one of the halls over on this side of the large square and adds "Occasionally in that one". 

"And this one?" asks Zam with a nod of his head to the training hall that they're standing in front of with Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman. 

The once powerful mage who is also a highly skilled swordmaster snorts, then says "Hardly" the woman named Daisy follows that with "This one's for knights and the like, both ordered and landed". 

"The city knows to keep those idiots separated from everyone else" adds Mira Reinholt who follows that with "And even then they can be a handful, especially since most knights of the various orders don't particularly care for landed, or noble born knights". 

"Unless you're both" says Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman who is listening to the conversation between the Vexillian mage in exile and the ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins. 

"Like Percy" says the rotund woman who is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra, who continues on in a dry tone with "Which is why he's twice as annoying as anyone else you'll ever meet". Zam grins at that, then nods his head when the woman who has been named Daisy by Helbe the elven thief says "Thankfully only a small percentage of noble born knights join the various orders". 

The exiled Vexillian spellcaster who is also a highly accomplished swordmaster, continues with "Like Percy, who if I remember joined the Knights of Saint Mar'che because it was tradition amongst his family". 

"And the fact he had to leave his earldom to his brother because he fell in love with his brother's future wife" adds Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson. 

"That too" says the practitioner of magic who at seventeen, was the youngest ever member of the Mage Council of Vexil. 

Zam's eyebrows shoot up in surprise at hearing that about the large heavily armoured knight who is the former earl of Le Dic, an earldom found in the southeast of the kingdom of Druvic. 

"Speaking of" says the rotund woman who is in fact the hordes outrider Zubutai Timaginson, who just happens to inhabit the body of the woman named Malisse. 

Who gestures to the wide open front doors of the training hall they're standing in front of this morning here near the city center.

Walking this way is sir Percavelle Lé Dic along with Shur Kee the monk. They're walking down the middle of the long hall, which has a sand covered floor. With the floor just being compacted dirt beneath that. 

While to either side of where the former paladin and the short statured monk are walking, are various training circles. 

Probably about twenty or so are occupied this morning, in the fairly quiet training hall. Most have squires and appreciate knights squaring off against one another. There's few actual knights going at it with weapons this morning. 

But there are a number of knights in the training hall, where at the far end of the hall, are knights gathered in front of a couple of tables. 

Sitting behind which are representatives from The City Council of Vexil, each of whom are speaking to various knights, and writing things down. 

"Well?" asks Malisse aka Zubutai the son of Timagin once they're joined by the noble born knight from the kingdom of Druvic, and the physical adept who hails from beyond The Southlands, the far east coast of the continent, and the kingdom of Wah Lee to be exact. 

"Friend Percy has been signed up" says Shur Kee the monk after they step to one side of the near hundred and fifty yard long, and forty yard wide public training hall. 

Which the city of Vexil has four of, two on either side of a large square towards the center of the city. 

Where hundreds if not thousands of people can train with weapons at the same time on any given day, here in the capital of the city-state. 

"The Melee?" asks the slightly rotund woman who is really Mira Reinholt the mage as he looks at the noble born knight from the kingdom of Druvic. 

"Lé Grande Meleé" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic who continues on with "Of course" he quickly adds "Should be easy for I to win against my inferior opponents, wot". 

Zam can't help but grin at the over confidence from the former paladin. The ex mercenary then look at the other three, all of whom slightly nod at that declaration from the large heavily armoured knight. 

"The Lists?" asks Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson, who follows on from that with "The Joust?" the rotund woman adds "You enter that as well?". 

"Verily" is the reply from the nobleman from the kingdom of Druvic, who continues with "The very first thing I signed up for, wot" followed by "Should be an easy victory for the great sir Percavelle". 

The ex mercenary from The City Of Ruins looks at the other three, all of whom nod at that confident answer from the member of the order of the Knights of Saint Mar'che.

"Well, I'll be betting on you" says Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, who after a slight pause, adds "Though it'll be a bit difficult for you to win the lists, considering you don't have a war horse". 

"Drats" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic or Percy as he's more commonly called by the others in the group "Didn't think of that" adds the former paladin, who has his full helm tucked under his left arm, and is rubbing his chin as he thinks about what he'll do. 

"I'm sure you'll find one" says the slightly rotund woman named Daisy, who follows on from that with "You can definitely afford one". 

As the nobleman from the southwest of the kingdom of Druvic, like everyone else in the group is extremely wealthy. 

"But you've got another problem" says the mage Reinholt, who points at the shield strapped to the back of the noble born knight, and adds "Can't use anything magical, so you can't use that shield of yours". 

The slightly rotund woman named Daisy quickly looks at the belt of sir Percavelle Lé Dic, and sees that he doesn't have the sword of knockdown with him. And remembers that Dorc da Orc has the magical sword at the moment. 

As the two bitter rivals tend to take that particular magical weapon off one another whenever they get the chance. 

"Silly rule that" sourly says Percy, who ordinarily dislikes anything to do with magic. But when it comes to it benefiting him, especially the shield of Saint Mar'che that he possess. 

And also his magical sword of knockdown. Which at this time here in the city of Vexil, he doesn't have in his possession. He's perfectly fine to have anything to do with magic. 

"Tis unbefitting to go into a tourney without a shield" says the former earl of Le Dic, which causes both women who appear to be sisters, to roll their eyes. 

"I'm sure you'll be okay" says Daisy aka Mira Reinholt the mage in a slightly dry tone of voice, who then follows that with "I think the main problem you might encounter is if anyone from your order enters the tourney". 

The large heavily armoured knight winces at hearing that, then he mutters "Narille". The god that he and others in his order follow. 

"Saint Mar'che" is also muttered by sir Percavelle Lé Dic, with Saint Mar'che being the patron saint in the church of Narille, who also founded the knightly order that bears his name. 

Both Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson and Daisy aka Mira Reinholt grin at that from the noble born knight who hails from the kingdom of Druvic. 

"Hmmm I have much to ponder, wot" states the large heavily armoured knight, who was previously a paladin in the order of Saint Mar'che. 

"And you'll need an apprentice" says the swordmaster Reinholt, who continues with "Or a squire" he, I mean she then adds "To help during the lists". 

"Damnit" sourly mutters the nobleman from the kingdom of Druvic, who then sighs in frustration at everything he has to do. 

"Do not worry about it friend Percy" says Shur Kee the monk, who follows that with "You have two weeks to sort these things out". 

Sir Percavelle Lé Dic brightens at the prospect of that, then says "Tis true, my fine short fellow" followed by "Things shall be sorted by then, wot". 

The large heavily armoured knight who is now in a better mood, suggests they head back to the Merchant's Rest inn, as it's getting near to midday. And he has a lot of things to think about concerning the Spring Tourney here in the city of Vexil. 

The five of them set off, with the slightly rotund woman named Daisy, who in reality is Mira Reinholt the mage disguised by a greater illusion spell cast by Helbe the elven thief. 

Telling Percy which way to go, since the former paladin is out in front, leading the way back to the inn they're staying at. 

Even though the noble born knight doesn't exactly know the way back to the inn from this part of the city of Vexil, on this still clear and mild day in the capital of the city-state . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 22.

The City Of Vexil. 

Zam the ex mercenary stretches, then slightly groans as he's still a bit sore and stiff after yesterday's little misadventure. 

The youngest member of the group who is originally from The City Of Ruins sighs in relief when Beldane the cleric walks by, and puts a hand on his right shoulder. 

"Thanks" says Zam the ex mercenary who no longer feels sore "No worries" is the reply from Beldane the cleric who has just finished his breakfast, and is making his way back upstairs. 

Zam looks across to the table where Lord Farque is sitting with Helbe the elven thief, Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, and another woman who somewhat resembles Malisse. 

While sir Percavelle Lé Dic is standing there, talking to the undead warlord who is listening to the noble born knight who hails from the kingdom of Druvic. 

"Fine" eventually says Lord Farque to the former paladin, followed by "You can enter". While the Druvician nobleman stands there grinning. 

Nearby, sitting on the floor, is Dorc da Orc. Who is looking at sir Percavelle in disgust. For a number of reasons really. Such as the usual, being that he utterly dislikes his bitter rival. 

But more than anything, because of what's just happened. And that the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque has just given the knight in the order of Saint Mar'che permission to go ahead and do something that the large ork would dearly like to do himself. 

Gesturing at Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson and the woman sitting next to her, Lord Farque tells the former paladin "Since they're going out, you can go with them to register". 

"Thank you my lord" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic who with a beaming smile upon his face, looks over at his bitter rival the ork warleader, and chuckles. 

Which is answered by a growl, and a loudly muttered "Cunt" from Dorc da Orc who still has a look of utter disgust upon his broad green brutish looking face as he eyes the noble born knight from the kingdom of Druvic. 

The lord of the death realm looks over to the table next to the one that Zam is sitting at with Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy, and Lisell Maera the scout. 

"Shur Kee" says the large heavily armoured deathlord, who then points at sir Percavelle Lé Dic and says something in a language that Zam, and for that matter everyone else here in the common room doesn't understands. 

"Of course Lord Farque" replies Shur Kee the monk, who gets up and waits for the large heavily armoured knight who is the former earl of Le Dic. 

While after a brief word with Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, from the woman next to her. 

The two of them get up from where they're sitting, and follow after the former paladin who is a member of the order of the Knights of Saint Mar'che. 

While a grinning Helbe the elven thief watches the two women crossing the common room of The Merchant's Rest. 

Where Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson briefly stops and says to the ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins "Come along Zam". 

The rotund woman who is really hordes outrider from the southern tundra who just happens to inhabit the body they're in, adds "We'll need a guard to keep up with appearances". 

The youngest member of the group nods, and after quickly downing his mug of tea, and taking the last pastry roll off his plate. 

He follows the two women out of the common room of the inn, and through the reception chamber then outside. Where Shur Kee the monk and sir Percavelle Lé Dic wait for them. 

"Where to?" asks Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman as she looks at the woman beside her, grinning as she does so, before softly chuckling. 

"Oh shut up" sourly mutters the woman, which only causes Malisse to chuckle even more, as well as cause Shur Kee and Zam to grin. While sir Percavelle Lé Dic or Percy as he's more commonly called by the others in the group, to shake his head as he looks on. 

"You must admit friend Mira" says Shur Kee the monk, who after a pause, and while still grinning, adds "You do look a little odd". 

Which only causes the rotund woman who is really an outrider from the Pony Archers horde, to chuckle even more. 

The woman, who could pass for being the sister of Malisse, rolls her eyes, then sighs in disgust before saying to the rotund woman beside her "Do you mind?". 

Somewhat getting her laughter under control, Malisse aka Zubutai the son of Timagin says "Of course" followed by a pause, before adding "Dear sister". 

Which only causes her to laugh even more, and for Zam to grin again, and try not to laugh, as the woman who is really Mira Reinholt the mage, who has had a spell cast upon him, to mutter "That fucking elven thief". 

Eventually Malisse gets her laughter under control, and Mira Reinholt, who has been named Daisy of all things, tells them which way to go after they make their way onto the nearby street, that the Merchant's Rest inn is back away from. 

The mage Reinholt who hasn't left the Merchant's Rest since they learned that there's quite a few people interested in where he is, and what he's doing here in the city of his birth, Vexil. 

Asked Lord Farque if he could go and get something this morning, which though isn't foggy like yesterday. It's still fairly clear and sunny, though clouds are starting to roll in from the north. A sure sign that it's going to rain again, most likely tomorrow. 

Getting permission to leave the inn, only if he was in disguise. A disguise created by a spell from Helbe the elven thief. 

A Greater Illusion spell that no one in the city of Vexil will be able to see through. With the exception of Helbe himself, Narladene the ground pixie, and Lord Farque. And one other, that being Mira's old tutor at the Mage College of Vexil, the dragon Nol. 

"Do you mind?" sourly says the once powerful mage when Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson links arms with her as they walk down a street. 

"Not in the least dear sister" says the hordes outrider from the southern tundra, to the woman who clearly looks like the younger sister of Malisse. 

The Vexillian mage in exile just sighs, then sourly smiles and mutters "Fucking idiot". When the rotund woman who is a member of Lord Farque's personal council adds "Come along sister Daisy, it's a morning of shopping we shall enjoy". 

While walking right behind them, Zam the ex mercenary who is posing as a private guard for the two women, grins at what he's listening to, and watching. 

While behind the teenager originally from The City Of Ruins, walks sir Percavelle Lé Dic and Shur Kee the monk. 

"Where to first?" asks the rotund woman to the woman, who is slightly less rotund than her, and a bit taller. 

"The shops I want to go to" is the reply from the woman named Daisy, who follows that with "They're quite close to one another" she then adds "One of them is bound to have it". 

Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson nods, then her fellow member of Lord Farque's personal council says "We'll go to the training halls for Percy after that" .

Mira Reinholt who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in The Southlands, until he lost most of his vast amounts of power due to a spell he miscast, adds "They sign up there" followed by "None of the orders can be trusted to run it fairly, so the city itself organizes and runs it". 

"Makes sense" says Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, while behind the two women who appear to be siblings, the youngest member of the group nods in agreement with the hordes outrider who just happens to inhabit the body of the rotund woman named Malisse. 

They pretty much walk in silence to their destination, even the usually boisterous sir Percavelle is quiet as they head through this part of the city. 

Once they get around a small square, and cross a wide street, essentially an avenue. They turn into a quiet street, a few hundred yards to the north of the mage college of Vexil. 

"Side street just up here" says Daisy aka Mira Reinholt the mage, who continues on from that with "They're both on the same street". 

The spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, glances back at Zam and hands the ex mercenary a fairly large coin bag. 

Then the mage Reinholt quietly tells the teenager originally from The City Of Ruins "Ladies of means don't carry any wealth" followed by "Their servants do". 

The ex mercenary nods in understanding, then as they turn onto the side street, the youngest member of the group quietly asks the two women in front of him "Been meaning to ask, did you find out anything from what me and Dalin found yesterday?". 

"Not now Zam" quietly says the rotund woman who is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra .

Next to her, the woman known as Daisy gestures ahead, to where a man in a black cloak has just exited a shop. 

Then the once powerful practitioner of magic, who is in disguise due to a spell cast upon him by Helbe the elven thief, tells the ex mercenary "Mage". 

Zam slightly nods, as the fellow definitely looks like a mage, even the dark cloak is nearly identical to the one that the mage Reinholt wears. 

As the mage heads down the street in the other direction, while the five of them approach the shop he just exited from. 

"Shur Kee, Percy wait out here" quietly says the exiled Vexillian mage who just happens to look like a woman at the moment. 

Then he nods for the ex mercenary to follow him and Zubutai Timaginson into the shop, which is a scriveners, and dealer in curio's. 

Inside the shop, which is larger than Zam expected, being two storey's. The youngest member of the group quietly follows the two women around. 

After Daisy speaks to one of the scriveners, who directs them to an aisle near the stairs that go up to the second floor. 

The ex mercenary who sees that there's a few other customers, slightly nods his head when the woman who is in fact the mage Reinholt, quietly says to him and Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman "Spellcasters, one a mage". 

Then the once powerful practitioner of magic who also happens to be a highly skilled swordmaster, adds "They tend to make up the bulk of customers". 

The woman named Daisy then says to Zam and Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson "On this self, and that one" followed by "If they've got, it'll be there". 

After nodding, the rotund woman who is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra, quietly asks "What's it called again?". 

Mira Reinholt tells them, then the three of them get to searching, and it's eventually the ex mercenary from The City Of Ruins who finds it, and hands it to Daisy. 

It's the only one the shop has, and the mage Reinholt slightly unrolls the scroll, he or I should say, she. Nods her head in satisfaction, and quietly says "Better get some light reading too". 

The swordmaster who is exile from the city-state of Vexil continues with "Or they'll wonder why two women and their young guard have purchased an expensive spell scroll, of a rarely used spell and start asking us some questions which we don't want to answer". 

They wander around a bit, with Daisy along with Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman picking up a couple of books each. Which are fiction, predominantly romance.

And when they make their purchases, and the shop keeper raises an eyebrow at seeing the magical scroll being brought, Daisy says "A gift for my husband" she leans forward and quietly adds "He's a mage". 

The shop keeper nods at that, then the mage Reinholt says to Zam "Pay him" followed by "My sister and I will be outside". 

The ex mercenary sees Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson refrain from grinning at that last bit from the exiled Vexillian mage in disguise. 

Then after the shop keeper wraps the purchases with the exception of the scroll, which he placed on top of the books with a thread of fabric cord tied around it. 

Zam almost pauses in disbelief when the shop keeper tells him how much it'll cost for the bills and scroll. 

The youngest member of the group counts out the gold coins from the bag Mira Reinholt gave him. Which is nearly empty after paying for it. 

The ex mercenary with the purchases in hand, makes his way outside, to where the others are waiting. 

"Fifty one gold coins" says Zam with a shake of his head, who hands the scroll and what's left of the coins to the mage Reinholt. "Fifty for that scroll alone" adds the youngest member of the group. 

"I know" says Daisy who puts the scroll into what appears to be the front of her skirt, but is actually in the Vexillian mage in exile's cloak. 

"What about these?" asks the ex mercenary referring to the wrapped books "Keep them" says the spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, who follows that with "You might enjoy them". 

The teenager who is originally from The City Of Ruins sourly smiles at that, as he saw the names of the books the two women picked out, and there's no way in hell he would willingly read books such as those. 

Mira Reinholt then says "Let's go then" he looks at sir Percavelle Lé Dic as he adds "Might as well sign you up Percy". 

"Yes indeed" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic with a grin on his face, which quickly changes to confusion as he adds "Doth lead the way madam, er I mean mage". 

Both Zam and Shur Kee the monk grin, while Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman snorts, then chuckles. While the woman named Daisy sourly smiles. 

Then she heads off, with the others following, on this fairly clear and mild spring morning here in the city of Vexil . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 21.

Vexil. 

Walking out of a small bakery, where he got a savoury pastry and a hot drink for breakfast. Zam the ex mercenary stops and looks around. 

There's fog here this morning in the city of Vexil. Which no doubt will burn off later to reveal another clear spring day. 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins, looks up when he hears the sound of large wings flapping somewhere above him. 

Zam slightly nods to himself when he spots the ghostly figure of a wyvern flying overhead. Either one belonging to the Vexillian aircorp. Or a privately owned one. 

Either way it's heading to the main airdocks of the city, which is somewhere to the south of where the ex mercenary is this morning. 

The youngest member of the group looks to his right, and after a pair of arguing goblins walk by. Almost tripping one another up. 

Zam walks away to his right, and he soon gets his bearings on this foggy morning here in the capital city of Vexil. 

The teenager stops at the corner of two intersecting streets, and to his right out of the fog walks a tall hooded figure who heads straight to the ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins. 

"Find it?" quietly asks Zam the ex mercenary "Just a bit further that way" quietly replies Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy who gestures back the way he's come from. 

The two of them head that way, while a horse drawn carriage goes by, followed by a pair of mounted mercenary guards. 

"Didn't think they'd get this type of weather here" says Zam who is accustomed to being in foggy conditions. As the City Of Ruins often experiences days of fog due to it's location, and basically being down a giant hole in the ground..

"Mostly from the nearby river" replies the spy Tanith who like the ex mercenary is speaking in elven. 

The commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque, who hails from the elven principality of Alinlae, where he previously served in one of the more prominent noble houses there, continues with "They only get it around this time of the year". 

The elven spy in the grey hooded cloak follows that with "At least you know it's going to be a fine and sunny day if it's like this early in the morning". 

Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by the others in the group, then dryly adds "Unlike every other day here in the spring when it's bloody well raining". 

The teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins nods in agreement with that. As so far all that he's experienced while here in the city of Vexil, is rainy day after rainy day, followed by a couple of clear and sunny days before the rains return. 

The two of them cross a street, and the spy Tanith who leads the way down a lane, with just a sole individual in it, who is opening up a shop. 

Quietly tells the ex mercenary "Up ahead, just around the corner". 

The elven spy who is a senior officer in the Armies of Farque continues with "Away to the right". 

They get to the end of the lane, where there's a tree on the corner, which they stand under, and Zam looks away to the right through the fog. 

And as the youngest member of the group mutters "What am I looking at?". Dalin quietly tells him "Dark building three down from here". The spy Tanith follows that with "They're watching it from across the street". 

The ex mercenary slightly nods as he can easily see the building in question. It's one of the newer counting houses that Lord Farque is using. 

The teenager who is originally from The City Of Ruins then looks across the street, and though he can see the outlines of buildings across there, he can't see them clearly due to the fog, that's across pretty much all of the city of Vexil this morning. 

"Can you see them?" quietly asks Zam, in response Dalin tells him "When they look out of the window of the room they're in". 

The elven spy who formerly served in one of the most notable houses of nobility in his homeland of Alinlae, continues with "Up on the second floor". 

The ex mercenary slightly nods, then he quietly asks "Did his highness say who they're working for?". 

"The City Council" is the reply from the spy Tanith, who continues on with "Which most likely means the Mage Council". 

"Directly for them?" asks the teenager who is the youngest member of the group, who then adds "Or are they hired mercs?". 

"Hired" is the quiet reply from the elf in the grey hooded cloak, who follows on from that with "If they're caught, they can deny who they actually work for".

Dalinvardèl Tanith continues with "Even if they are, they'll probably get away with it" he then adds "Is not as though the city guard is going to punish someone who works for the City Council, directly or not". 

Zam slightly nods again, then quietly says "And is watching one of the city's counting houses an actual crime". 

"No" is the response from Dalin, who continues on with "Though it's highly dubious to write down everyone who enters and exits that counting house". 

The elven spy who hails from the principality of Alinlae, then says "You could easily see that as planning for a crime, either robbing the counting house itself, or anyone who uses it". 

The ex mercenary nods at that, then he looks directly across the street from them, as the commander in the Armies of Farque quietly tells him "Cross here" followed by "They can't see us here from up in that room they're in". 

The pair, a teenage human, and an elf basically three hundred years older than him, cross the street, walking through the fog. 

Across the street, and up against one of the buildings there, Zam looks towards the building, that's directly opposite the counting house back on the other side of the street. 

As the hull of an airship can be seen parting the fog up in early morning sky, above the street they're on. 

The two of them, the ex mercenary and the elven spy walk quickly towards the building they've come to observe. 

They turn into an alleyway between it and the building next to it. Which they quickly walk down, before turning right, which finds them right behind the building in question. 

"It's supposed to be open" murmurs the spy Tanith as they stand in front of the back door of the building. 

"Might as well see what's inside" adds the elven spy who hails from the principality of Alinlae, who looks at Zam, and the teenager from The City Of Ruins nods in return. 

"There's supposed to be four of them" quietly explains Dalin after they enter the building, he follows that with "Two at all times in the room upstairs facing the counting house". 

They move throughout the first floor of the building, moving quietly. With the spy Tanith making no noise whatsoever as they search downstairs. Where they find nothing of interest. 

Looking at the stairs that lead up, Zam glances at Dalinvardèl Tanith, and nods to upstairs. 

The elven spy who is a commander in the Armies of Farque, replies with a hand signal and the ex mercenary nods in understanding. 

Dalin heads upstairs without making a sound, and the youngest member of the group follows him, keeping as quiet as possible. 

Once they get to the second floor, the elf who previously served in one of the more prominent noble houses in his homeland of Alinlae, pauses. 

He nods to the closed doorway at the far end of the hallway, and Zam nods in understanding. As that's the room two hired mercenaries are watching the comings and goings at the counting house across the street. 

Then after the spy Tanith briefly closes his eyes, he points to another closed door. Two to the right of them. And he makes the hand signal for two people inside there. 

Dalin steps back, and murmurs to Zam "If we can get into one of the rooms down there on the left, I'll be able to hear what those two in the room at the end of the hallway are talking about as they watch the counting house". 

The ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins nods, and does so again when the elven spy tells him "Keep as quiet as you can". 

The spy Tanith moves forward, and as usual he's basically silent as heads down the hallway. Zam follows him, and though he's not silent. He hardly makes a noise as he follows after the elf who is a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque..

It's by pure luck more than anything else, that they're found out. For as they pass the room two to the right from the stairs they came up, specifically as Zam is going by them. The door to that room opens. Before Dalin can spin around and warn the teen who is the youngest member of the group. 

"What?" says a startled looking man as he sees Zam who has stopped in surprise. The man yells something, then rushes the teenager who used to live and work, if you could call it that, in The City Of Ruins. 

"Fuck" mutters the ex mercenary who is shoved up against the hallway wall, when the man, a hired mercenary runs into him. 

Zam tries to knee the man, but he can't get his knee up, as the hired mercenary shoves his forearm into the throat of the youngest member of the group. 

Who gulps in relief as the pressure comes off his throat when a boot connects to the side of the man's head, dropping him to the floor of the hallway, totally unconscious. 

Dalin who has just executed a flawless spin kick to the side of the head of the hired mercenary, calmly says to the ex mercenary from The City Of Ruins "Watch out". 

The youngest member of the group who is trying to get his breath back, instantly ducks when he hears that warning from the spy Tanith. 

A large throwing knife slams into the hallway wall, exactly where the ex mercenary was standing. Zam looks up, and sees the second hired mercenary coming running out of the open doorway. 

As he does, the door to the room at the end of the hallway opens, and the two hired mercenaries who have been watching the counting house come running out of that room. 

"Shit" is what Zam hears Dalin mutter, just before the elven spy, spins and kicks the hired mercenary rushing into the hallway, in the legs. 

Who had no idea the spy Tanith was there, and he screams in pain, and falls forward with a fair bit of momentum. 

And he slams into the wall, and falls down on top of the ex mercenary from The City Of Ruins who is trying to get up off floor. 

"Fuck me" mutters Zam, who goes to shove the man who has fallen on top of him off. The hired mercenary groans, then realising his predicament. He throws a punch at the teenager he's fallen on top of. 

The ex mercenary moves his head quickly to one side, and the man on top of him, yells in pain when his fist connects with the floor. 

Zam brings his knee up, and this time he connects. And the hired mercenary on top of him, rolls off, trying to clutch his groin. 

The youngest member of the group, from his back, throws an elbow. Which slams into the side of the hired mercenary's head. 

His eyes roll up, and he tries to move. But he softly groans as he starts to fall into unconscious. Which he eventually does, when Zam elbows him again, this time in the temple. 

"Fuck" mutters the ex mercenary, who takes a deep breath before sitting up, then he looks to the other end of the hallway. 

Where he sees the two other hired mercenaries, on the floor. Knocked out by the looks of things. And a moment later, Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy walks out of the room at the end of the hallway. 

He's folding up a piece of parchment, which he puts into a hidden pocket in his vest beneath his cloak. 

"Come on Zam, up you get" says Dalin as he helps the youngest member of the group to stand up "You alright?" asks the elven spy who is a commander in the Armies of Farque..

"Fine" is the reply from Zam the ex mercenary, who takes a deep breath, and is pretty sure he's taken no injuries, apart from a few bruises.

The elven spy who hails from the principality of Alinlae nods his hooded head, then quietly says "Come on, let's go". 

The ex mercenary from The City Of Ruins follows Dalin back along the hallway, then downstairs, and eventually out of the building .

Then they head off through the fog that still covers pretty much all of the city on this early spring day, in the capital of the city-state of Vexil . . . . . .

"

Springtime In The City 20.

The City-State Of Vexil. 

"Hmmm I'm not sure about that one" says Zam the ex mercenary with a rub of his chin as he looks down at the sword on the countertop. 

The teenager from The City Of Ruins glances over at Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy, who slightly shakes his hooded head. Then Zam looks back at the shop owner, and tells him "Not that one, maybe the other". 

The proprietor of the shop, a weapons dealer, nods his head. Then takes the sword off the countertop, and returns it to the rack on the wall behind him. 

He then places the second sword that the ex mercenary picked out, onto the countertop. Which after a nod from the weapons dealer, Zam picks up to study the blade more carefully. 

The youngest member of the group then steps back and away from the counter to swing the sword a few times. 

A grunt comes from near the doorway, followed by a "Fucken that one" from Dorc da Orc, who is leaning against the wall next to the front door. 

Zam nods, then returns the sword to the countertop, then after glancing at the spy Tanith, who slightly nods his hooded head. 

The ex mercenary who is originally from The City Of Ruins tells the shop keeper "I'll take it" followed by "And the scabbard as well". 

After paying the weapons dealer, the trio of Zam, Dalinvardèl Tanith and Dorc da Orc make their way out of the shop. 

With the youngest member of the group owning a brand new sword. His current sword is more serviceable than anything else. 

He got it from the body of a dead mercenary in The City Of Ruins when he was fifteen. And he was always meaning to get a better quality sword, but never got around to it. Until today, here in the city of Vexil. 

Outside of the shop where Lisell Maera the scout and Shur Kee the monk wait, Dorc da Orc or Dorkindle to give him his full name, says to Zam "Here cunt, give's a look". 

The large ork takes the newly purchased sword, and looks at it closely after taking the blade out of the scabbard.

The ork weaponsmith even sniffs the blade, before he hands the sword back to the ex mercenary. 

"Fucken good enough" says the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world, who then adds in a dry tone for him "Better than that shit metal bar you call a sword you fucken been using". 

The ork warleader definitely has opinions on weapons. And he's made it no secret that he thinks the sword Zam's had been using was totally useless. 

As the large ork stands there looking around, scratching his ample stomach, loudly murmuring "Any place with cakes around here?". 

Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by the others in the group says "Let's head back". Referring to the Merchant's Rest, the inn the group has been staying in whilst here in the city of Vexil. 

The five of them, the ex mercenary, the elven spy, the scout leader, the ork weaponsmith, and the physical adept move off down the street. 

Though Dorc da Orc only starts moving after Shur Kee tells him to hurry up, or he'll miss dinner back at the Merchant's Rest. 

Zam, Dalin and Lisell Maera spent the day watching a few warehouse compounds belonging to trading companies here in the city of Vexil. 

And as sun was setting here in the capital of the city-state, and they were making their way back to the Merchant's Rest. 

They ran across the short statured monk from the far eastern coast of the continent, the kingdom of Wah Lee to be exact. 

And the large ork who is a member of the wolf tribe of orks, whose home range, like all the ork tribes, is found in the southern polar region of the world. 

The ork general in the Armies of Farque, who was feeling cooped up in the inn , wanted to go out for a walk. 

He got permission to do so from Lord Farque, only if the monk who is a member of the order of Bru Li. A philosophical order that's found in Shur Kee's homeland of Wah Lee. 

Was to accompany the warleader of the ork race. Basically to keep an eye on him, and to keep the ork weaponsmith out of trouble. 

Which is an almost impossible job to do. Unless you're someone like Shur Kee who has kept Dorkindle in line, and out of quite a bit of trouble over the years. 

As they head back to the Merchant's Rest inn on what's been another cool, but clear spring day here in the city of Vexil. 

Zam who has strapped his new sword to his waist, and slung his old one across his back quietly says to Dalin and Lisell Maera or Lis as she's more commonly called by the others in the group "Think that weapons dealer was going to charge me more for it there for a moment". 

"I think the presence of that raving psycho Dorc stopped him from ripping you off" dryly says the spy Tanith in his native language. 

Dalin who is a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque then adds "Though a bit expensive, it's definitely worth it". 

The spy who hails from the principality of Alinlae, where he previously served in one of the more prominent noble houses of that particular nation, continues with "Like Dorc said, it's a hell of a lot better than that steel bar you've been using". 

Zam the ex mercenary sourly smiles at that, while next to him, Lisell Maera the scout quietly chuckles as the group heads down a street, then turns into a wide lane, that's lined with trees. And has a number of eateries, wine shops, and ale houses along it.

One of which they have to stop at, because Dorc da Orc wants a barrel of ale to drink as they head back to the Merchant's Rest. 

Once the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world has purchased a barrel of ale, a fine dark ale in the opinion of the weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks. 

The five of them continue on their way back to the exclusive, and out of the way inn they've been staying in whilst here in the capital city of Vexil. 

As they do, and while Shur Kee keeps an eye on Dorc da Orc to make sure the large follows after the others. 

The ex mercenary from The City Of Ruins says in elvish to the spy Tanith and the scout Maera "No more of those companies are sending out their guards to search for Mira". 

The youngest member of the group follows on from that with "Well, none of the ones that we've been watching". 

Nodding his hooded head in agreement, Dalin quietly says "You're right" he continues on with "Word has definitely got around that Mira is somewhere outside of the city". 

The elven spy who is a senior officer in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque, continues with "The mage council will have to find some other way to find Mira". 

"You mean the mage Garmen" quietly says Lisell Maera the scout, which gets a nod in response from the elven spy, who hails from the principality of Alinlae. 

"Not only that" says the spy Tanith as they turn onto a long street, as dusk starts to turn to darkness. 

And along the street, there's a lamp lighter, making his way down the street, lighting the lamps in their glass and metal coverings. 

"With more gold coming into the city from the mines up north near the border with the kingdom of Girdane" adds Dalinvardèl Tanith who follows that with "Officials will be snooping around them for sure". 

"Will it be a problem?" asks Zam the ex mercenary, as they make their way down the long street, here in the north of the city of Vexil. 

"Hopefully not" is the reply from the commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque. 

Who then nods his hooded head, when Lisell Maera quietly says "Apparently Helbe has legitimate paperwork showing that Lord Farque owns those mines up in the hill country". 

"Legitimately forged" dryly says the elven spy, who before joining the group, and the Armies of Farque, spied for one of the more prominent noble houses in his homeland, the elven principality of Alinlae. 

"You know what I mean" wryly says the scout Maera as they pass the lamp lighter, who jumps in fright when the large form of Dorc da Orc walks by him. 

The big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world who was too busy drinking from the barrel of dark ale to even notice the lamp lighter. 

Briefly stops, sniffs, then looks around in the gloom of dusk turning to night. The ork warleader sourly smiles, then grunts and continues on his way after the others, after Shur Kee the monk tells him to hurry, and keep up with the others. 

A little bit later, after they cross a small square, passing a couple of people who are returning home after a day of work. 

And are about to enter a lane, the trio of Zam, Dalinvardèl Tanith and Lisell Maera, who are in front. 

Stop and look back at Dorc da Orc, who has stepped up right behind the three of them, then grunted. 

"What is it Dorc?" asks the spy Tanith, who is a senior officer in the Armies of Farque as he notices the ork warleader sniffing quite often too. 

The son of a former matriarch of the wolf tribe of orks, grunts again as he peers around in the darkness of the early evening. 

"Dorc?" says the scout Maera to get the large ork's attention, which she does when Dorc finally replies with a gesture away to the right, and up. 

Zam, Lis and Dalin, along with Shur Kee the monk, look to where the ork weaponsmith has gestured to. 

After slightly frowning as he looks that way, the spy Tanith nods his grey hooded head, then says "Ah". 

"Ah, what?" asks the scout Maera, who is originally from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury. Where her mother was a street prostitute, and her father a sailor. Who predominantly plied his trade out on the Great Western Ocean, and along the west coast of The Southlands. 

The elven spy who is a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque gets moving again. 

With Zam and Lis walking beside him. While Dorc da Orc and Shur Kee the monk follow behind the three of them. 

As they do, the elf from the principality of Alinlae quietly says "Axe" with a nod of his hooded head up to the roofs of the buildings to their right. 

"Following us" quietly adds the elven spy, who continues on with "Keeping an eye on us no doubt". 

The ex mercenary who is originally from The City Of Ruins, looks up that way, and though he searches the near darkness. He sees, or for that matter, hears no sign of the massive canine, who like it's master, is undead. 

Zam tells Dalin this too, and the elven spy who previously served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland, slightly shrugs then quietly says "He's there alright". 

The spy Tanith as they round a corner, continues with "If he doesn't want to be seen, then he won't be seen" followed by "Or heard for that matter". 

"Just hope no one's up on those rooftops tonight" quietly says the scout Maera "Because if they are, they'll be in for one hell of a surprise, that's for damn sure" dryly adds the attractive young woman who hails from the coast of The Southlands. 

Zam the ex mercenary chuckles at that as they walk to the Merchant's Rest, through the early evening darkness, on what's been a cool, but clear spring day here in the city of Vexil, the capital of the city-state of the same name . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 19.

The City Of Vexil. 

Looking across the market square on what's turned into a cool spring morning here in the city of Vexil. 

Zam the ex mercenary watches as a pair of city guardsmen head towards a stall, where the stall holder is struggling with a youngster, who has apparently stolen something from him. 

"What's going on there?" quietly asks Lisell Maera the scout after she joins the teenager originally from The City Of Ruins. 

"A thief by the looks of it" is the quiet reply of Zam the ex mercenary, who like the attractive young woman who hails from the city-state of Brattonbury, is speaking in elven. 

"Or so the stall holder thinks" adds the youngest member of the group as the apparent thief, yells his innocence when the guardsmen get to the stall and grab him. 

"What is it?" asks Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy who joins Zam and Lisell Maera who are standing at the end of a lane that joins the square where the market is. 

"A thief by the looks of things" is the reply of the scout Maera, who the others in the group refer to as Lis more than anything else. 

As the city guards start to haul the youngster away, the spy Tanith quietly tells Zam and Lisell "Distraction". 

The elven spy who hails from the principality of Alinlae, where he served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland. 

Gestures to a stall two to the right of where the theft apparently took place, and adds "Behind the cart". 

Both the ex mercenary and the lead scout look to where the elven spy has indicated, and they see the stall holder there, and two people waiting to be served. Watching the commotion of the apparent thief being hauled away.

While two children are taking cloth wrapped flat breads, from the cart behind that stall holder, who is leaning on a table he's set up, while watching what's going on nearby. 

Lisell Maera faintly smiles as she watches the two children hurry away through the other side of the market, with a sack full of cloth wrapped flatbread. 

While Zam just shakes his head watching them escape, while the apparent thief continues to cause a commotion, yelling and struggling while he's dragged away by the city guardsmen. 

The three of them, who have just been to see off Tovis the war engineer, and sir Percavelle Lé Dic. Who have just left the city, along with a horse drawn wagon and driver. 

To head to some woodlands about a dozen miles north of the city, to pick up another load of gold bars, from the krean scoutship, that arrived there during the night, after getting the gold from one of the four mines in northern Vexil that Lord Farque has taken over. 

Head down the lane from the market square, with Zam asking "What do you think will happen to that third one?" followed by "The one who caused the distraction". 

Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by the rest of the group, faintly smiles as he can hear in the distance, the stall holder who actually got robbed yell and curse as he realizes some of his goods have been stolen. 

Replies to the ex mercenary with "Probably nothing" he continues with "I doubt he stole anything, and the guards will have to let him go". 

The elven spy who is a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque, then says "They're pretty quick to solve crimes here in the city". 

Dalin follows that with "They'll have a spellcaster question him, they're employed by the city guards" he continues with "Basic and quick, such as, did you steal such and such". 

The spy Tanith follows that with "Just basic and to the point truth spells". Both Zam and Lis nod at hearing that. 

And do so again when the commander in the Armies of Farque adds "They tend not to drag things out with petty crime" followed by "It's really only serious crimes where a full investigation will take place, and a mage will usually help out with that". 

Zam has learnt that the city guards here in Vexil use what they term as lesser spellcasters, those who aren't mages. To help them solve crimes and keep the peace. 

Which according to both Mira Reinholt the mage and Helbe the elven thief, is actually a pretty good thing. 

Considering pretty much most mages don't know the more subtle spells which are best to help solve crime. 

And if they do know them, they're not that proficient at them. Like the mage Reinholt was, until he was forced to lean better spell casting techniques with such spells after he lost the bulk of his powers due to a spell he accidentally cast a number of years ago. 

A spell that sent him offworld, a time he still can't remember. The result of which, not only saw him lose the majority of his fairly considerable powers. But also well over a year of his memories. 

"Pretty good scam they've got going there" quietly says the ex mercenary referring to the distraction and stealing they just witnessed. 

"Until they get caught" is the quiet reply from Dalinvardèl Tanith as they turn onto another street, just north of the main airdocks here in the city of Vexil. 

"What's the punishment here for theft like that?" quietly asks the teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins. 

"Nothing that bad for a first offence" replies the elven spy, who continues with "If they can't pay it back, they'll be forced to work for the council, usually a month for something petty like that". 

Dalin follows that with "Working to clear either the sewers, or repairing the streets". 

Zam nods at hearing that, as he's seen plenty of work gangs repairing damaged cobblestone streets across the city. 

"Repeat offenders will be put to work on the repairing and expansion of the city walls" adds the spy Tanith, who continues on from that with "Which is inherently more dangerous, and people occasionally die during it". 

After they round a corner, the elf in the grey hooded cloak, who hails from the principality of Alinlae, says "After that, habitual offenders will just have a hand chopped off to teach them a lesson" he follows that with "They don't execute offenders for petty crime here". 

The youngest member of the group who slightly winced at hearing the fate of anyone who continually steals here in the city of Vexil. 

Nods his head, when the elven spy quietly says in a slightly dry tone of voice "Beats what they do in some places". 

He continues with "Say in a kingdom like where Tam is from, the local lord could just have a hand cut off for a minor theft, no matter the age of the thief". 

"Hell most of them are executed, doesn't matter if they're innocent or not" adds the elven spy who is a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque. 

Zam glances at Lisell Maera walking beside him, who nods and says "Tam told me that years ago" she follows that with "Even though his own father was pretty fair when it came to petty crimes, making sure the offender was guilty before punishing them". 

The attractive young woman originally from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury, then adds "Not so some of the neighbouring lords, who would just hang or behead anyone, no matter what they did". 

The ex mercenary from The City Of Ruins winces at that, then he quietly says to the other two "Remind me to never go to Sarcrin". The kingdom that the field commander Tamric Drubine is originally from. 

"Oh it's not so bad there" says Dalinvardèl Tanith who then adds in a extremely dry tone of voice "That's if you don't mind the abject misery and poverty of the serfs living there". 

The elven spy who is an officer in the Armies of Farque, then says "Who are basically the closest thing we have to slavery here in The Southland". 

Zam grunts in disgust at hearing that, while next to him Lis sourly smiles, then quietly says "No wonder Tam has never gone back there". 

"Among other things" quietly says the spy Tanith referring to why the young field commander in the Armies of Farque has never returned to his homeland of Sarcrin. 

Dalin who has pretty much traveled to everywhere across The Southlands, then says "Those in serfdom in Sarcrin make peasants in other kingdoms look like nobles". 

The elven spy originally from the principality of Alinlae, gestures across the street they're on, and the three of them cross it to the other side. 

The youngest member of the group glances up at the morning sky, which is clearing on this cool spring day after a number of days of rain here in the capital of the city-state of Vexil. 

And if what some of the others in the group have told the ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins about the weather here in Vexil during the early spring. 

It should be clear for the next two or three days. Before another wave of rain blows in, lasting between five days to a week. 

As they make their way through the north of the city, Zam who has gotten accustomed to the life here in the city of Vexil. Watches things go by in the lives of those living here. 

Some of the streets are busy, especially near the main airdocks of the city. While other streets and lanes are quite. Especially near the wealthiest neighbourhoods to be found in the capital city. 

The ex mercenary watches the comings and goings of the residents of the city that's the capital of Vexil. 

From goblins carrying, and dropping, boxes and crates. To wagons, predominantly drawn by horses, along with more exotic animals. Going through the streets in the north of the city. 

He sees shops and street stalls, many of them busy. While others, no matter what type of business they are. Empty, and the streets they're on, quiet, if not empty. 

Zam sees all manner of people, and all races too. Elves, goblins and dwarves, as well as halflings are on the streets here in the north of the city of Vexil. 

He even spots a pair of trolls, working in the city's ship building yards. Head down a lane away to the left of the street they're on at the time. 

The ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins is just glad that Dorc da Orc isn't with them this morning, and is back at the Merchant's Rest. 

As the large ork would definitely wonder off to commit murder when he caught sight of the two trolls, and especially the dwarves he's seen this morning in this area of the capital city of Vexil. 

After Zam stops to give a few silver coins to some nuns gathering alms for charity. Only after Dalin quietly told him the sisters were from a non religious temple nearby. 

And he catches up to both Lisell Maera and Dalinvardèl Tanith, the trio stop at the edge of a square, where another morning market is taking place. 

This one not so busy, and definitely catering towards a more affluent crowd by the looks of things. 

They've stopped because there's a crier, declaring something from the city council. And that there's a pair of city guards behind him, hanging up a proclamation on a board on the front of a business on the edge of the square. 

As an airship passes overhead fairly low, the ex mercenary from The City Of Ruins says "Races?". After the crier moves on with the pair of city guardsmen following him. 

"Horse races mainly" says the spy Tanith, who continues with "The spring racing season will start soon by the sounds of things, in another couple of weeks". 

"And a tourney?" says the youngest member of the group, who continues on from that with "I thought they're held those in kingdoms". 

"They're held pretty much everywhere where there's a large population" replies the commander in the Armies of Farque, who follows that with "Especially considering all of the large knightly orders, and pretty much all of the smaller ones have chapter houses, if not outright headquarters here in Vexil". 

Zam the ex mercenary nods his head at that, as they set off again, skirting the market square, as they head through the streets in the north of the city. 

On what's turned out to be a clearing, but cool spring morning here in the capital of the city-state of Vexil . . . . . .