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 . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 18.

Vexil. 

Looking across the quiet street, Zam the ex mercenary can't actually see the building in question due to the wall that goes around most of the compound belonging to a trading company, here in the city of Vexil. 

The youngest member of the group steps back into the relative shelter of the alleyway they're in, as the constant drizzle has turned to light rain.

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins looks at Helbe the elven thief, who winces then sourly says "Could you have that damn thing shut up for a bit". 

The highly talented elven magic user from the island principality of Laerel then mutters "Can't hear myself think with it going on like that". 

"Sorry" says Beldane the cleric, who sighs before he puts a gloved hand on his mace at his hip. A magical weapon that can both think for itself, and is highly irritating to spellcasters near it whenever it's excited about something. 

After a moments silence, the elven masterthief quietly says "She says it's there". Zam slightly nods to himself as he figures the 'she' the elven master assassin is referring to, is the ground pixie named Narladene, who is attached to the young elven noble who is a member of the royal family that rules the principality of Laerel.

Both Beldane the cleric and Saanea the witch nod at hearing that, then the elf who is a member of Lord Farque's personal council, looks at the fighting cleric and quietly asks him "Can you sense it?". 

After a pause, the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel continues on with "Maybe with a spell you clerics use?". 

The powerful cleric in the church of Glaine slightly nods, then he briefly closes his eyes, and Zam figures Beldane is casting a spell of some kind. 

After opening his eyes, the powerful practitioner of magic who is originally from the kingdom of Nastell, the north of that particular kingdom to be exact, quietly says "Got it". 

"Can you take it out from a distance?" asks Helbe the elven thief, who follows that with "Without seeing it?". 

Then he gestures at the fighting cleric's powerful magical weapon, and adds in a slightly dry tone of voice "Or nuisance there can?". 

Beldane faintly smiles, then the Nastellian born spellcaster says "Nope" he continues on with "I have to see it" followed by "And it needs to make contact with it" as he gestures at his mace on his wide belt. 

Sourly smiling, the elven master archer wryly says "How did I know you were going to say something like that". 

Zam glances over at Tamric Drubine the field commander, the only other non practitioner of magic here. 

The young field commander who is originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin, shrugs his shoulders in reply to Zam's look. 

Then the youngest member of the group who hails from The City Of Ruins, looks at Helbe the elven thief, who is saying "I guess I better take you in there, then". 

The elf who is of the royal family that rules the island principality of Laerel, in fact he's prince Helbenthril Raendril, the grandson of Prince Raendril, the ruler of Laerel. 

Doesn't sound in the least bit interested in taking Beldane into the building in question, that's behind the wall that surrounds the trading company's warehouse compound. 

"What's the worst it can do?" asks Tamric Drubine the field commander as he looks out of the alleyway, then back at the elven master assassin. 

"Kill me" is the extremely dry sounding reply from the highly talented elven practitioner of magic, who isn't just a member of Lord Farque's personal council. But is also the undead warlord's envoy, and chief negotiator. 

"Well" says the fighting cleric who stretches out that particular word, then the powerful cleric in the church of Glaine adds "It can actually do a lot worse". 

"Like what?" asks the young noble who is the son of a former Knight of Castle Drubine, whose castle and lands are found in the forested north of the kingdom of Sarcrin. 

"Oh, you know" says the fighting cleric in the half plate armour, who continues on with "Like take over your body for instance". 

"Definitely don't want that to happen" sarcasticly says the highly talented elven practitioner of magic. 

"You'll be fine" says the member of the church of Glaine, a god predominantly worshipped in the north of his homeland, the kingdom of Nastell. 

Beldane who can't help but grin, as that's something the elven masterthief would normally say to him. 

Then the powerful cleric in the church of Glaine says "It should be fairly easy to deal with it, no matter how powerful it is". 

The fighting cleric then glances down at his mace, in the loop on his belt, and adds in a slightly dry tone "Besides, I think it'll deal to it before I even get a chance". 

The elven master assassin who is part of the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque's personal council, rolls his eyes, then dryly tells the powerful cleric "Just make sure it doesn't over do things". 

Then the young elven noble whose mother is the heir to the rulership of the island principality of Laerel, looks at Zam, Tamric and Saanea the witch, and tells them "You three wait here". 

The highly talented elven magic user then says "It shouldn't take too long" he then says to his fellow practitioner of magic from the kingdom of Nastell "Come on then" followed by "Let's do this". 

Beldane nods his head, then he follows the elven masterthief out of the alleyway, and the two of them turn right as they head down the street.

The youngest member of the group looks out of the alley, and away to the right down the street, as it continuess to rain here in the city of Vexil. 

One moment Zam sees the pair of spellcasters heading down the street, then the next moment they suddenly vanish. 

The ex mercenary looks quickly around, and sees that the handful of people on the street, didn't notice a single thing out of the ordinary. 

For the simple reason most of them have got their heads down, as they walk through the steadily falling rain, as they go about their way, here in the north of the city of Vexil, on this spring day. 

The teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins, steps back into the alleyway, and looks at the attractive woman originally from the Maldin Hills, and asks her "Will they be okay?". 

"They'll be fine" is the reply from Saanea the witch, who continues with "Before either one of you ask, I have absolutely no idea how to banish an evil spirit". 

The spellcaster who happens to be field commander Drubine's lover, continues with "Beldane will take care of it fairly easily" she briefly pauses before adding "Or that mace of his will deal to it without asking". 

The dark haired witch follows on in a slightly dry tone with "If it does, just hope the silly thing doesn't overdo things". 

Both Tamric Drubine and Zam nod in agreement with that, as they've both been witness to Beldane's magical weapon when it's kind of overdone things. Usually to dramatic effect. 

The ex mercenary from The City Of Ruins steps back against the wall to his right, trying to get as much shelter as possible next to the building that runs along this side of the alleyway. 

The youngest member of the group moves along the wall, and looks out of the alley, to the warehouse compound down the street to the right. 

Zam can just make out the roof of the building that's drawn their attention this day, here in the north of the city. Not that far from the main airdocks here in Vexil. 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins wonders how long it'll take for Beldane the cleric, and Helbe the elven thief to deal with the evil spirit that's in that particular building. 

Just as he wonders about that, the ex mercenary hears a thud in the distance, that sounds like it comes from the compound of the trading company, and in particular the building that the elven masterthief and fighting cleric were going into it. 

Zam turns around, and is just about to ask Tamric Drubine and Saanea the witch if they heard that thud in the distance. 

When the attractive looking woman originally from the Maldin Hills mutters "Hell" as she winces. 

"What is it?" quickly asks Tamric Drubine the field commander as he looks at his lover, the witch who hails from near the coast of The Southlands.

The dark haired witch sourly smiles, then says "They've got it" followed by "Or should say Beldane's mace got it". 

After a slight pause, Saanea continues with "It didn't just banish it" the practitioner of magic then adds "It totally destroyed that spirit". 

Both Zam and Tamric Drubine or Tam as he's more commonly called by those who know him well, share a look. 

Then just as the young field commander in the Armies of Farque is about to say something to his lover Saanea. 

Helbe the elven thief and Beldane the cleric suddenly appear at the mouth of the alleyway. The two of them hurry into the alley, to join the trio who have been waiting for them. 

The elven masterthief has a slightly sour look upon his youthful looking face. While the powerful cleric in the church of Glaine, has a rather sheepish look upon his face. 

The highly talented elven magic user dryly says to the fighting cleric "Remind me to keep away from you in the next battle we find ourselves in". 

The grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel with a look of disgust directed at Beldane's mace, continues with "That damn thing is a menace". 

The young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel grunts, then says "It did" dryly followed by "Kind of". 

In response to Tamric Drubine the field commander asking "I take it things went well concerning that spirit?". 

The elven master assassin, who is carrying a small ornate looking chest as well as what looks like a couple of small scrolls, says "Here lad" followed by "Hold this". 

Zam takes a hold of the small ornate chest that's thrust into his hands. The ex mercenary winces, as he feels a weird, and rather unpleasant sensation in his hands, and up his arms. 

As Helbe the elven thief places the two small scrolls, they're actually letters of credit, into a hidden pocket in his cloak. 

The youngest member of the group says in a slightly panicked tone of voice "Ah" quickly followed by "What's that I feel?". 

"It's fine" says the highly talented elven practitioner of magic, who then tells the ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins "It's just a ward". 

The strange, skin crawling sensation remains until the elven master assassin takes the small ornate chest from him. 

Zam can't help but shiver as the small chest disappears from sight as the elven masterthief places it in a small cloth sack, which also disappears. 

"What's in it?" asks the youngest member of the group, which earns a "Oh nothing much, just this and that" from the young elven noble who is originally from the island principality of Laerel. 

Before the ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins, or for that matter, any of the others can ask anything else about the small ornate chest. 

The elven princeling, or prince Helbenthril Raendril of Laerel to give him his full name and title says "A half a dozen of their guards are scouring the city, trying to find any sign of Mira". 

Tamric Drubine nods when he hears this, and does so again, when the elven master archer adds "They'll be heading off to the southwest of the city later tonight". 

The highly talented elven magic user explains how he quickly tampered with the mind of the owner of the trading company after learning about what they're up to. 

Specifically being another company paid by the Mage Council of Vexil to find, or at least locate the whereabouts of Mira Reinholt the mage. 

"When those guards report in at the end of the day, the owner will tell them he's got word that Mira is outside of the city" says the elven master assassin, who continues with "And they'll be sent on their way". 

The young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel then says "Well, I'm on my way" then he looks at the fighting cleric in the church of Glaine, and adds "I'd thank you for the help". 

Helbe the elven thief briefly pauses before continuing in a dry tone with "But I won't". Then with a look at the mace that belongs to Beldane, then a shake of his hooded head, the highly talented elven magic user disappears as he shifts away. 

"So what happened?" asks field commander Drubine with a look at the powerful cleric in the church of Glaine. 

"It was destroyed" says Beldane, who then adds in a dry tone of voice "Not by me". He then explains how his mace, which basically hopped into his right hand straight after the fighting cleric and the elven masterthief entered the building at the edge of the nearby warehouse compound. 

And destroyed the evil spirit that's dwelled in that building, before both Beldane and Helbe knew what was going on. Surprising the two of them would be an understatement to say the least. 

"Best we head back as well" says the powerful practitioner of magic who hails from the kingdom of Nastell. 

Who is still so surprised at what happened just a short while ago, that he just walks away. And doesn't even bother teleporting back to the Merchant's Rest inn. 

"Must of been something eh?" quietly says Tamric Drubine to both Zam and Saanea, both of whom nod in agreement. 

Then the three of them follow after the fighting cleric, on this rainy spring day here in the city of Vexil . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 17.

The City-State Of Vexil. 

Entering the common room of the Merchant's Rest, Zam the ex mercenary looks around and only sees a few members of the group are present at the moment. 

The teenager from The City Of Ruins spots Dorc da Orc sitting near the stairs to the second floor, looking bored as he drinks from a barrel of ale. 

The youngest member of the group is just wondering who to speak to, when he's waved over to the table where three of the group are sitting. 

The ex mercenary who has spent the morning out and about in the city, on what's another rainy spring day. 

Heads over to the table where Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, Helbe the elven thief, and Mira Reinholt the mage are sitting. 

As he sits, Zam the ex mercenary says "Thanks" as he's suddenly dry after entering the inn, wet from the constant rain outside. 

Nodding his hooded head in reply, Helbe the elven thief says "No worries" the young elven noble who hails from the island principality of Laerel, then asks the teenager from The City Of Ruins "What have you been up to this morning?". 

Zam who is glad he's been tasked to observed another trading company, this one he can watch from a wine seller's, with tables and chairs outside under an awning. 

Unlike yesterday's one, where he was exposed on a rooftop, where he got thoroughly drenched by the rain that's been falling over the last few days. 

Tells the trio at the table "Not much" followed by "Lis has taken my spot" he continues with "Nothing out of the ordinary there" the then adds "Their guards have only left with their wagons full of goods, none of them have gone off elsewhere". 

The highly talented elven magic nods, then briefly closes his eyes. Zam guesses he's looking through one of his hidden viewing spells that he's got scattered throughout the city. 

The elven masterthief nods his hooded head after opening his eyes, then asks the ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins "Anything else?". 

The youngest member of the group nods his head, then quietly says "As I was coming back here, I ran into the field commander and the witch Saanea". 

The ex mercenary continues on with "Saanea told me there was something odd with a side building to a company's warehouse and headquarters they were checking out". 

"Oh?" says Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman who follows that with "Such as what?" she then adds "Be specific now lad". 

"She's not sure" says Zam who after a brief pause continues with "Just that she's unable to see what's in it, and her familiar refuses to go into it". 

The eyebrows of the two spellcasters lift up in surprise at hearing that, then Mira Reinholt the mage asks his fellow practitioner of magic "Which place were Tam and Saanea watching today?". 

Helbe the elven thief replies with which one, then the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel asks the ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins "Did Saanea say anything else?". 

Zam nods his head, then says "Just that no one in the company goes near that particular building" he briefly pauses before adding "And that she senses dread from it". 

The mage Reinholt and the elven magic user share a look, then the highly talented elven spellcaster mutters "Hell". 

Then Helbe the elven thief closes his eyes, as once again he looks through another of his hidden viewing spells that he has placed throughout the capital city of Vexil. 

After a few moments of silence, the elven master assassin opens his eyes and murmurs "Hmmm" followed by "Can't really see it that clearly". 

He follows in a slightly dry tone of voice with "Thing is on the other side of the warehouse compound" he then adds "Not close to anything significant". 

"I take it you could sense it through your spell?" asks the Vexillian mage in exile, who is answered with a nod from the elven princeling who is a fellow member of Lord Farque's personal council. 

"Barely" says the elven masterthief who is a member of the royal family that rules the principality of Laerel. 

"My spells aren't as good as the Krean version" adds prince Helbenthril Raendril of Laerel to give him his full name and title. 

"You might have to go and check it out in person" says Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson to the highly talented elven magic user. 

The elven master archer grunts, then wryly says "I just might have to" he looks across the table at Zam after thinking of something, and tells the youngest member of the group "Go and get Lord Farque, he ought to know". 

"Where is he?" asks the ex mercenary who noticed when he walked in, that the undead warlord wasn't here in the common room of the Merchant's Rest. 

"Out in the stables with his dog" is the reply from Mira Reinholt the mage, who faintly smiles when he sees the slight hesitation from the teenager originally from The City Of Ruins. 

"Don't worry he won't bite" says the spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in The Southlands. 

"Nor will Axe" dryly adds the rotund woman who is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra. 

Which causes both of the spellcasters to chuckle, then the mage Reinholt tells the ex mercenary "Unless you touch him of course". 

Swallowing his nervousness, Zam gets up and nods his head in reply to prince Helbenthril Raendril telling him "Probably best if you announce yourself before stepping in there". 

The youngest member of the group makes his way from the common room, and briefly pauses when he's in the reception chamber, as he's pretty certain Lord Farque will know he's approaching no matter what. 

The ex mercenary shrugs his shoulders, and heads out of the inn, and makes his way around to the back, where on the other side of the small courtyard, is the inn's stables. 

Taking heed of the elven masterthief's words to announce himself, the teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins stops just outside the open stable doors, then says "My lord, it's Zam". After a moment, he hears Lord Farque say "Enter". 

The ex mercenary walks into the stables, and he spots the undead warlord sitting on the ground, with his back against one of the closed stall doors, with the massive undead wardog Axe sprawled over his legs. 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque is taking his gauntleted hands down from his head, as if he's just put his full helm back on. 

The deathlord of Farque, who has the name of Draugodrottin that the people of his lands also know him by, looks at the teenager originally from The City Of Ruins, and says "What is it?". 

Zam who is just as glad that Axe completely ignores him, says "My lord" followed by "Helbe wishes to talk to you" followed by "There's something odd at one of the trading companies we've been observing". 

The large heavily armoured deathlord sighs, then mutters something in a language that the ex mercenary doesn't understand. 

Then the undead warlord says in the common language "Guess I better find out what's happening".

The lord of the death realm then says to the massive canine sprawled over him "Axe you big lump, move". 

Zam refrains from grinning as that was definitely said with affection by the undead warlord, who rubs behind the ears of his wardog, after it rolls off his legs. 

The deathlord of Farque gets up, and makes his way from the stables, gesturing for the youngest member of the group to lead the way back to the inn. 

Zam does so, walking quickly through the drizzling rain, and once they're inside, and in the common room, they head over to the table where Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, Helbe the elven thief and Mira Reinholt the mage are sitting. 

"Well?" asks Lord Farque as he stands over those at the table, while Zam slips into the chair next to the rotund woman who is not what she appears to be. 

"Bit of a problem by the sounds of things" says the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel in response to the deathlord of Farque. 

"Saanea has noticed something at the place she and Tam have been watching" continues the highly talented elven magic user who follows that with "Her familiar won't check out one of the side buildings there" he then adds after a pause "And she senses dread from it". 

The undead warlord quirks an eyebrow at that, then he asks the elven princeling who is his envoy "You taken a look?". 

The elven masterthief nods his hooded head, then says "I can't see it too clearly" and after a slight pause he adds "I get a faint feeling of dread coming from it through my spell". 

The lord of the death realm nods his full helmed head, and instead of asking to look through the young elven noble's spell, he just senses in all directions, out from him. 

And quickly finds Saanea the witch, who as usual is in the company of her lover, the young field commander Tamric Drubine. 

The large heavily armoured deathlord then senses all around the two of them. And in an instant he finds what's got the attention of the witch who hails from the Maldin Hills, which lie near the coast of The Southlands. 

Draugodrottin or Des'tier to give him his elven name, sourly smiles behind the faceplate of his full helm. 

"You better go deal with it" says Lord Farque to the elven princeling who is a member of his personal council. 

"What is it?" asks the elven masterthief who is a member of the royal family that rules the island principality of Laerel. 

"An evil spirit" is the dry sounding reply from the large undead being who is the absolute ruler of the nation that bear his family's name. 

"Er?" says the highly talented elven practitioner of magic, who then silently adds, I'd rather fucking not. 

"Do I have to?" adds the elven master assassin, which earns him a stare from the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque, who after a few moments eventually says "You pussy" followed by "I'm certainly not wasting my fucking time dealing with it". 

Prince Helbenthril Raendril who is just about to suggest that the undead wardog Axe go and destroy this evil spirit. 

Nods his hooded head, and says "Sounds like a good idea" after the undead warlord tells him "Go and get Beldane then, he'll sort it out". 

The lord of the death realm then dryly adds "Hell, that annoying fucking mace of his will probably do it all by itself without being asked to". 

Helbe the elven thief who wasn't too interested in it until Lord Farque suggested he get Beldane to sort it out, gets way more interested when Draugodrottin adds "It's bound to something" followed by "Guarding it". 

"Know what it is?" asks the young elven noble who hails from the island principality of Laerel as he stands up. 

"Something inanimate" is the reply from the large heavily armoured deathlord, who then dryly adds "You can guess what it is" in the same dry tone, he adds in the royal elven language "Don't get caught stealing it". 

The elven masterthief grins at hearing that, then after Des'tier slightly nods his full helmed head, then makes his way up the stairs to the suite of rooms he staying in. 

Helbe the elven thief looks over at the youngest member of the group, and after a moments thought, says "Come along then Zam, let's go sort this out". 

"Me?" says an alarmed looking ex mercenary, who wants to keep far away from random evil spirits as much as possible. 

"Yep, you" says the elven master archer, who follows on from that with "You're the one who brought the information about it, so you have to see things through". 

As the two of them make their way out of the common room, and into the reception chamber, the elven princeling from Laerel quietly says in elvish to the teenager from The City Of Ruins "Don't worry, we'll get Beldane to deal with all the dangerous stuff". 

Zam faintly smiles in relief at hearing that, as the two of them step outside into the drizzling rain on this spring day in the city of Vexil. 

Then after a few moments, they disappear when the highly talented elven magic user shifts them away . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 16.

Vexil. 

Lying on top of a rooftop while it steadily rains, wasn't how Zam the ex mercenary was expecting his day to go. But here we are. 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins is in the northeast of the city of Vexil, and is looking towards a block like building on the other side of the square, from the building he's on top of. 

The youngest member of the group sighs again as he wonders why he got tasked to do this. He knows exactly why. 

It's because he's the youngest and least experienced in the group. So he's ended up with this rather uncomfortable job. 

Ever since they learned the Mage Council of Vexil has been hiring private guards from various businesses and trading companies, to help locate Mira Reinholt the mage. 

Members of the group have been keeping an eye on such companies. And if needs be, eliminating any who happen to run across the once powerful mage. 

Who has gathered the attention of the Mage Council that effectively rules the city-state of Vexil. In particular one member of the Mage Council, the mage Garmen. 

Zam who wipes his face for the umpteenth time. Is just glad it's once again not that cold this spring day. 

And as he looks over to the block like building, the ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins, wonders of those he's been tasked to look out for, actually make an appearance today. 

"Probably not" murmurs Zam the ex mercenary, who after a pause adds in a sour sounding mutter "Because it's too bloody wet". 

The youngest member of the group, who just hopes one of the spellcasters in the group is nearby, who can dry him out. 

Doesn't have to wait long, as those he's been tasked to look out for, make their way out of the side of the block like building on the other side of the square. 

"Of course they have to go out on such a lovely day like today" dryly mutters the ex mercenary, who continues muttering with "Why wouldn't they Zam?" he then adds "Instead of staying cooped up inside". 

Looking across the square, Zam winces, then mutters "Fuck" as he sees a carriage approaching the side of the block like building, where the trio he's watching, are waiting. 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins gets up, and hurries back along the rooftop, and quickly heads down the steps that go down one side of the building. 

Careful not to slip on the slick steps, the ex mercenary gets down into the lane to the side of the building, and hurries forward. 

Zam who is glad there's not too many people about due to the weather today, looks out from the end of the lane. 

And looking across the square, he sees the trio get into the horse drawn carriage that's pulled up beside the block like building he's been observing. 

The ex mercenary, walks out into the square, and heads out after the wagon, hoping it doesn't move too quickly, on this rainy spring day here in the city of Vexil 

The youngest member of the group slightly nods his hooded head, as he sees the carriage driver is being cautious. 

Zam is glad he is, as he can keep up with it, and keep it in sight, as they head west through the streets, here in the north of the capital city. 

The teenager who was found by the group, scavenging a living as a mercenary in the massive hole in the ground that's The City Of Ruins. 

Keeps the horse drawn carriage in view as he follows after it. Which briefly stops on a street, not all that far from the square it left from. 

And the driver gets down and enters a shop. Which Zam sees is a bakery. Which causes his stomach to rumble, as he hasn't eaten anything since breakfast this morning at the Merchant's Rest inn. 

After the driver returns, and hands a basket of baked goods to those inside the covered carriage. 

It gets underway again, with the youngest member of the group following it more closely this time. So it doesn't get out of sight as it, and he, head through the north of the city of Vexil on this rainy spring day. 

As he follows after the horse drawn carriage, Zam constantly looks around. So he's not too surprised when he spots Lisell Maera the scout leader. 

Who makes her way from an alleyway, and joins the ex mercenary who is originally from The City Of Ruins. 

"Which ones?" quietly asks Lisell Maera the scout in the elven language, as they follow after the covered carriage, which is only about thirty yards in front of them. 

Zam tells her who, then quietly adds "Two of the senior company guards" followed by "Along with one of the managers". 

The attractive young woman who hails from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury, nods her hooded head as it continues to steadily rain here in the city of Vexil. 

Lisell Maera or Lis as she's more commonly called by the others in the group, quietly says "It's the guards who are of interest". 

"I know" is the quiet reply from the teenager, who like the scout Maera, is speaking the elven language. 

"Wonder if they've got any interesting information?" quietly murmurs Lisell Maera who is in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque. 

Zam is wondering the same thing as they cross an intersecting street, keeping the horse drawn carriage about thirty to forty yards in front of them. Careful to not let it get out of view. 

They get closer to the wagon as it turns right into another street, here in the north of the city. And the teenager from The City Of Ruins slightly nods when next to him, Lis quietly says in elvish "Heading to the nicest part of the city" . 

"Don't think they'll actually go in there" quietly says Zam in the same language, who has a sneaking suspicion that the carriage and it's occupants won't actually enter the most exclusive, and expensive neighbourhoods in the capital city of Vexil. 

The scout Maera slightly nods when the carriage turns, and makes it's way along a street just to the south of probably the most exclusive area of the city. 

"Isn't Mira's family compound that way?" quietly asks the ex mercenary with a slight gesture to the north. 

"Yeah" is the reply from the attractive young woman who hails from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury. 

"In some park like grounds" continues the scout leader, essentially a junior officer in the ranks of the Armies of Farque. 

Zam nods his hooded head at that as the rain, though still steady, starts to slacken off in this part of the city. 

The youngest member of the group who has a feeling what those they've been following, are about to do something. 

Something that he's fairly certain, he knows what they're going to do, and he quietly tells Lisell Maera "Get ready". 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins then adds "They're going to stop, and get out is my guess". 

The scout Maera looks sharply at the ex mercenary walking beside her, then after a moments thought, she nods her head in understanding. 

As the horse drawn carriage is starting to slow down in front of them, Zam quietly says "Quick, that street there". 

The pair hurry into the street the teenager from The City Of Ruins gestured to, then they look back around the corner. 

And they see that the covered carriage has come to a stop, and that two of the passengers, are getting out. The two in question, are senior members of the company guard they belong to. 

After a few moments, as they see the pair turn into a street, parallel to the one they're in, and move away to the north. 

Lisell Maera the scout quietly and quickly say "Go" the attractive young woman leads the way along the street they're on. 

Always looking to their left, whenever there's a gap in the buildings they're hurrying along in front of. 

"Should we?" quietly asks Zam the ex mercenary, the scout Maera replies with "Probably not" she quickly follows that with "Don't want to risk being seen killing them". 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins nods his hooded head as he follows closely behind the attractive young woman who hails from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury. 

Then the scout leader in the Armies of Farque says "We'll knock 'em out through" quickly followed by "Have Beldane find out what they're up to" she then adds "He's somewhere in this part of the city". 

Once again Zam nods as he follows Lis, who tells him "Quick, this way" and she turns to the left into an alleyway. Which is really just a narrow gap between two buildings. 

They hurry forward, and at the end of the alley, they come to a stop, and the scout Maera quietly says "Might as well drag them in here". 

The ex mercenary who is the youngest member of the group slightly nods in response to that as they wait. 

Then Zam follows Lisell Maera out of the alley, she's taken a quick step out, ducked and spun around doing a sweeping low kick. 

Which connects with the legs of the man who was just walking by the alleyway. He grunts in pain, before he slams forward, face first into the ground. 

The second man following closely behind him, goes to dodge out of the way, only to end up with Zam's right fist connecting with his jaw. 

His legs buckle, and he drops towards the ground already unconscious, but the ex mercenary grabs him, and starts dragging him back into the alleyway. 

While Lis grabs the other man, who is groaning, and by under the arms she drags the him back to the alley too. 

She's helped by Zam after he's dumped the other fellow in the narrow gap between the two buildings. 

Breathing deeply to calm himself, the teenager originally from The City Of Ruins glances back out onto the street, to make sure they haven't been spotted. 

He looks away to the right, and sees the park like grounds in the distance that way. Where many of the wealthiest of Vexil's residents live. 

He moves back into the narrow alleyway and joins Lisell Maera, who stands over the two unconscious men. 

"Now what?" quietly asks Zam after the scout Maera has checked the men to see if they were carrying anything of interest. 

Finding nothing but concealed weapons, the officer in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque, replies with "We wait I guess". 

The ex mercenary nods, and does so again after Lis quietly tells him "My best guess is that they were going to the Reinholt Estate". 

Which the youngest member of the group knows is a number of residences on park like grounds, not all that far from here in the north of the city. 

The two of them don't have to wait all that long, because Beldane the cleric soon finds them. After Helbe the elven thief sent him, as the young elven noble has a number of hidden viewing spells in this part of the city. And in real time, he watched what Zam and Lisell got up to. 

Walking from the other end of the narrow gap between the two buildings, the powerful cleric in the church of Glaine joins them, as they stand over the two unconscious men, who are guards from a certain trading company here in the city-state of Vexil. 

"What will you do?" quietly asks Zam the ex mercenary after the fighting cleric bends down and checks up on the two unconscious men. 

Beldane the cleric who has just read the minds of the two company guards Zam and Lisell have knocked out, quietly says "Make so they think they've gone onto the grounds of the Reinholt Estate, and have been unable to find any sign or information about Mira". 

The powerful practitioner of magic who hails from the kingdom of Nastell, stands there rubbing his chin as he looks down at the two unconscious men. 

"Problem?" quietly asks the scout Maera "Not really" is the reply from Beldane, who after a slight pause continues with "Just not as good at these kind of spells compared to Helbe". 

After another slight pause, the fighting cleric in the church of Glaine dryly adds "I just hope it works". 

After a few moments as Lis and Zam watch on, the Nastellian born spellcaster quietly says "There, it's done" followed by "They'll wake in a little bit, and won't know what's happened to them here". 

The ex mercenary and the scout leader nod to that, then they exit the narrow gap between the two buildings. 

While the powerful practitioner of magic heads the other way, as they leave the two unconscious men to wake up. 

A short while later, from a nearby lane. Zam the ex mercenary and Lisell Maera the scout watch as the pair of guards from a certain trading company. 

Make their way out the alleyway, looking a little dazed. Which quickly clears. Then they turn, and walk back the down the street in the direction they came from. Thinking that they've been on the grounds of the Reinholt Estate for some time, here in the affluent part of the city. 

Finding no sign of Mira Reinholt the mage or his whereabouts. On this spring day, where the rain continues to fall in the capital of the city-state of Vexil . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 15.

The City Of Vexil. 

They got back to the city yesterday afternoon. And that's when the weather closed in. And sometime during the night it started raining. 

So in the morning, Zam the ex mercenary finds himself walking through the rain. It isn't a particularly cold spring day. But the rain, though not heavy, is constant. 

And as the teenager who is originally from The City Of Ruins walks through the streets of Vexil. He sees that the city isn't as busy as it usually is due to the rain. 

The youngest member of the group looks at Lisell Maera the scout who is walking beside him, who has just tapped him on the arm. 

She gestures across the street, and the ex mercenary spots Beldane the cleric standing under an overhanging awning in front of a shop. 

The scout leader in the Armies of Farque, along with the ex mercenary wait for a wagon to go by, then they cross the street, and join the fighting cleric beneath the awning. 

"The royal thief has found some more of them" quietly says Beldane the cleric "City guard?" asks Lisell Maera the scout, who follows that with "The city council?" she then adds "Mage Council?". 

The powerful practitioner of magic who is a member of the church of Glaine shakes his head no, then quietly says "Company guards". 

"A trading company?" quietly asks Zam the ex mercenary, and the cleric in the half plate armour nods his head yes in response to that from the teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins. 

Beldane gestures them to follow him, and they step out from beneath the awning, and head off in the rain. 

Walking down the street, then turning into a lane, the powerful spellcaster who is originally from the kingdom of Nastell, tells the other two "Paying a bit too much attention to one of the counting houses we've used". 

Beldane briefly pauses as a pair of goblins carrying wooden boxes go by them, then the cleric in the church of Glaine says in elvish "They were asking questions, and found out Mira was at the counting house when the first lot of gold came down from the northern hill country". 

Both Zam and Lisell nod when they hear that, then the three of them fall silent as they continue walking through the rain. 

The fighting cleric eventually leads them to an old tower near the edge of park in the northeast of the city of Vexil. 

The tower, a former guard tower that's disused. For the simple fact a fair chunk out of the top is missing. And there's a lean to the tower. Which suffered damage during the Battle of Vexil a little over two and a half decades ago. 

Beldane pushes open the door, and the youngest member of the group, and the scout leader who is originally from the city-state of Brattonbury, follow him into the tower, glad to be out of the rain. 

"Thanks" says Zam the ex mercenary after the fighting cleric waves a hand, and both Zam and Lisell find themselves dry, with tendrils of steam briefly coming off them. 

"Who did you learn that from?" asks Lisell Maera or Lis as more often than not she's called by those who know her well. 

"Helbe?" adds the attractive young woman who is originally from coastal city-state of Brattonbury, where she was found as a child by the group at the time. 

Nodding his head, Beldane says "I did" followed by "It's also why I don't get wet while it rains". He then grins when the scout Maera sourly smiles and says "Lucky for some". 

Zam slightly nods at that, as he's noticed that all the spellcasters in the group never get wet when it's raining. 

The only times the ex mercenary has seen them getting wet from rain, is when they don't want to cast, or they're actively casting other spells, and just forget to keep themselves dry. 

Though the youngest member of the group has never seen Helbe the elven thief get wet from rain fall at all, no matter what. 

The powerful cleric who hails from northern Nastell, where his god Glaine is predominantly worshipped. 

Leads the way up the tower, and on what's the fifth floor of the tower, they enter a chamber. The floor of which slopes to one side accounting for the lean of the old tower. 

"He'll be back soon, no doubt" says Beldane the cleric as the find the chamber empty, who nods his head and says "Didn't interfere with them" followed by "Let them go on their way". 

In response to Lis asking him "What did you do with those two he found?". The officer in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque then says "He's following them I take it?". 

"He is" replies the powerful practitioner of magic, who continues on with "To see what else he can find out about them, and their company" he follows that with "And their interest in Mira". 

The mage himself is keeping a low profile now, staying back at the Merchant's Rest inn, and not leaving it at all. 

Since many people who are after him, which are quite a lot. Know that he's either in the city, or has been in the city recently. 

Nearby, in the offices of a trading company here in the city of Vexil. Helbe the elven thief makes his way from the warehouse, into the adjoining office. 

The highly talented elven magic user who is blurred and shielded, shifts into the office through a slightly open window shutter. 

Which one of the occupants then closes so that none of the persistent rain gets inside as the wind outside has changed direction. 

The elven masterthief who hails from the island principality of Laerel reads the minds of the trio in this office. Then he follows one of them out into the hallway beyond. 

Within the mind of the man he's following. The elven master assassin sees he's heading to the office down the hallway. The young elven noble who is a member of the royal family that rules the principality of Laerel. 

Sends that fellow the other way, and outside to the adjoining warehouse to do something else entirely different. 

The elven master archer, whose mother is the heir to the principality of Laerel, and whose father is the Warden of Quinthain. An elven forest city to the east of the Lands Farque. 

Makes his way into the office at the other end of the hallway. Quietly closing the door behind him without anyone noticing. 

The blurred and shielded elven magic user goes straight to a floorboard next to the chair, behind the desk. 

The highly talented elven spellcaster faintly smiles to himself after he presses on one end of the floorboard, and reveals a hidden cubby hole. 

He takes out a fairly hefty coin bag, full of gold, and pockets it. Grinning to himself as he does so. 

After all he's a masterthief, and has a reputation to live up to. Besides not that anyone else in the trading company is going to miss it. 

As the co-owner whose office this is, has been stealing from the company without anyone knowing. 

Helbe the elven thief as he kneels, turns around and mutters "Fuck" in the royal elven language when he sees Narladene the ground pixie standing on the desk, with a disapproving look upon her face. 

"Old habits hard to break I see" dryly says Narladene the ground pixie in the elven language as she stares at the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel. 

After softly cleaning his throat, the elven magic user nods his hooded head, then says in the regular elven language "Something like that". 

Then he gets up, and moves closer to the drawers in the desk. The elven master assassin who is a member of Lord Farque's personal council, undoes the hidden lock in one of the draws, and opens it. 

Helbe the elven thief or prince Helbenthril Raendril to give him his full name and title, takes out a ledger. 

He's not interested in what's written in the ledger. What he is interested in, is an envelope between two of the pages in the ledger. 

He takes out the envelope, and opens it. Taking the letter out of it. Which he quickly reads to himself as the ground pixie who is attached to him, watches on. 

"Damn" murmurs the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel, who then adds "Looks like they're hiring trading companies to locate the mage". 

In response to Narladene quietly asking him "What is it?". The tiny winged creature who is originally from the Sunreach Mountains, then asks the elven master archer "Who?". 

"The Mage Council" is the quiet reply from the elven princeling who returns the letter to the envelope, which he reseals, and puts back in the ledger, which he returns to the draw he took it out of. 

The elven masterthief resets the hidden lock for the draw, telling Narladene as he does so "Seems a number of companies, not just trading companies, are taking payment from the Mage Council to find Mira". 

"And in the Mage Council, you mean that mage Garmen?" says the naturally magical creature who first met Helbe in the city of Leeabra, the capital of the kingdom of Druvic. 

The blurred and shielded elven magic user nods in response to that from the ground pixie, then quietly says to her "I don't think the rest of the Mage Council cares that much about Mira being here in the city". 

The highly talented elven practitioner of magic continues with "True, they want to keep an eye on him, so he doesn't get into any trouble". 

Narladene wryly smiles at that, as the mage Reinholt is the one in the group most likely to get into trouble with the exception of Dorc da Orc and sir Percavelle Lé Dic. 

"But they're not overly zealous about it" says the elven princeling from Laerel, who follows that with "Unlike the mage Garmen". 

"Who still doesn't know about Mira's involvement in his son's death?" says the tiny winged creature, who briefly pauses before adding in a dry tone "Or your involvement?". 

Helbe the elven thief winces at that, for it was he who actually killed the younger mage Garmen, during a confrontation in the hill country of northern Vexil in the winter that's just gone by. 

Softly clearing his throat again, the elven master assassin quietly says "No he doesn't" then he nods his hooded head. In reply to Narladene saying "I guess it's to do with their past then?". 

"He still can't get over the fact that Mira survived the Battle of Vexil after being kicked off the Mage Council, then exiled" quietly says prince Helbenthril Raendril. 

Who follows on from that with "Considering he was the one at the time, who actually teleported Mira out of the city, right into the middle of the enemy army". 

"Where he met little, er I mean Lord Farque" quietly says the naturally magical creature who continues on with "And Dorc". 

"And the world has never been the same since" dryly says Helbe the elven thief, who then adds "Come on, let's get back to Beldane". 

The ground pixie nods her head, and makes her way onto the right shoulder of the elven magic user she's attached to. 

"He's back at that old tower" quietly says Narladene as the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel slips out of the office. 

"Lis and Zam are with him" quietly adds the tiny winged creature who is originally from the Sunreach Mountains. 

Helbe the elven thief nods his hooded head, then the blurred and shielded elven practitioner of magic, follows one of office workers outside. 

Then he shifts away, heading to the old abandoned tower where Beldane the cleric, Lisell Maera the scout, and Zam the ex mercenary are waiting. 

On this cloudy, rainy, though not particularly cold spring morning here in the capital of the city-state of Vexil . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 14.

The City-State Of Vexil. 

They leave the city well before dawn on what feels like is going to be another cold spring morning, here in this region of Vexil. 

With Zam the ex mercenary and Dorc da Orc, is Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy as they make their way along one of the main roads north out of the city. 

Behind them is a horse drawn wagon, with the same driver that Zam and Dorc accompanied over a week ago during a trip down from northern Vexil. 

This time there's no hired guard with the wagon. For the simple reason they're not going to the border region up in northern Vexil this time. 

The ex mercenary who is originally from The City Of Ruins walks alongside the spy Tanith, out in front of the wagon. 

While Dorc da Orc brings up the rear, following behind the horse drawn wagon as they head north from the city. 

"Doubt we'll run into any trouble this morning" says Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy as he and Zam quietly converse in the darkness before dawn. 

"We're not exactly going too far" adds the elven spy who is a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque. 

"Besides both the city guard and army keep things quiet in and around the capital" continues the elf who hails from the principality of Alinlae, where he used to serve in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland. 

The teenager who is the youngest member of the group nods his head in agreement, then he glances up into the gloomy sky before dawn, and in the distance away to his right, he spots the outline of an airship heading towards the city of Vexil. 

The ex mercenary then glances at the elven spy walking beside him, who quietly tells him in elvish "Even if we do run into trouble, Axe will take care of it". 

"He's here?" quietly asks Zam the ex mercenary in the same language, who as he looks around, continues with "Where?". 

"Beats me" is the reply from Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by the others in the group. 

"I have no idea" adds the elven spy with a shrug of his shoulders, who after a pause continues with "I saw him jump off the north wall just after we went out the gates". 

Zam winces at that, for the walls of Vexil are over fifty feet high, closer to sixty, and are pretty much the tallest walls of any city in The Southlands, or for that matter any city on the world of Volunell. 

The spy Tanith gestures away to the northeast, and quietly says "He took off that way" he follows that with "Even I can't see him". 

The ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins nods, as that's the general direction they're going this morning. 

The youngest member of the group then quietly says in elven "He's probably heading to where we're going". 

"More than likely" says Dalin with a nod of his hooded head in agreement with the ex mercenary, who used to ply his trade in the massive hole in the ground where the City Of Ruins is located. 

The teenager then looks back behind them, and can just make out Dorc da Orc, who he's glad to see is still following them. And hasn't wandered off to do gods know what. 

A while later as the sun starts to rise in the east on a chilly morning here just to the north of the capital city. 

And they encounter more traffic on the road, those in wagons, carts, carriages, horses and on foot. Mostly going towards the city of Vexil. 

They turn off the road they're on, and head east. Bypassing one of the larger towns just north of the capital of the city-state. 

After glancing back to make sure the ork warleader Dorc da Orc is still following them and the wagon. Which he is, much to the relief of Zam who Lord Farque has put in charge of the large ork for this quick sojourn north this morning. 

"He's going to be there, is he?" quietly asks the ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins, who looks around in the growing light of dawn, and sees they're traveling through farmland just to the north of the city. 

"Should be" is the quiet reply of Dalinvardèl Tanith, who then dryly adds "He probably hasn't even left the city yet". 

The elven spy who is a senior officer in the Armies of Farque dryly continues with "One of the advantages of magic". 

Zam grins and nods his head in agreement with the spy Tanith as they walk up an incline in the road they're on, followed by the horse drawn wagon, which is followed by Dorc da Orc. 

Who Zam sees is snacking on a large meat covered bone. Which the ex mercenary hopes to hell is an animal bone of some kind. And not one that once belonged to a person. 

At the top of the incline, the elf who is originally from the principality of Alinlae briefly stops, then points further to the east, and a bit south, and quietly says "Those woods there". 

With a hand up above his eyes to shade them from the rising sun, the teenager who is the youngest member of the group, who has stopped next to the elven spy, sees the woods in the distance about four miles away. 

As they get going again as the wagon tops the incline, Zam the ex mercenary asks Dalinvardèl Tanith "Can you see it?". 

With a shake of his hooded head, the spy Tanith replies with "No" he continues with "That doesn't mean anything though" followed by "Considering it's probably invisible, which they can easily do". 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins nods his head as they head down the other side of the incline. 

As they do, Dalin points and quietly says "There's a wagon track just beyond that small lake, or pond really" he then adds "It heads into those woods, where we want to go". 

There's not much in the way of traffic on the side road they're on. They only person they encounter is a farmer on his wagon, heading the other way, late to the morning market in the nearby town. 

He barely acknowledgeds Zam and Dalin's good morning, as he's so distracted by the sight of Dorc da Orc. 

So much so he briefly sends his horse and wagon off the side of the road as he looks back at the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world. 

Once they get beyond the relatively small body of water, they turn onto the wagon track, which leads to the nearby woods. 

In which the locals from the farms in the area, gather both firewood, as well as harvest some of the trees to build things. 

Though this morning, the woods are empty of any of the local farm community. Though that doesn't mean the woods are actually empty. 

"Know where it is?" quietly asks Zam the ex mercenary as they enter the woods "Where they are?" adds the teenager originally from The City Of Ruins. 

Dalinvardèl Tanith shakes his hooded head no, then the elven spy looks back at the ork weaponsmith following the wagon, and asks in the common language "Dorc you know where they are?". 

The large ork who is has finished eating the large bone he was gnawing on early, looks up from one of his sacks he was peering into. 

Then after glancing around, then sniffing a few times, Dorc da Orc gestures, then says "Fucken that way" followed by "Not fucken far". 

Dalin nods his thanks, then says to Zam "Keep following this track I guess" he continues with "Won't be too long now". 

The ex mercenary who is glad it isn't too chilly here amongst the trees this spring morning, nods his head as they continue on along the wagon track which goes through the woods they're in. 

And it's too far before they see a clearing though the trees, and in the clearing stands a familiar hooded figure, next to a square canvas covered stack. As they enter the clearing, the hooded figure who is yawning, waves to them in greeting. 

"Morning" says Helbe the elven thief by way of greeting, both Zam and Dalin greet the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel. While Dorc da Orc just grunts at the sight of the elven masterthief who was waiting for them. 

"Been here long?" asks the spy Tanith "Not long" is the reply from the highly talented elven magic user. 

"Told you" dryly says Dalinvardèl Tanith to the ex mercenary who is the youngest member of the group. 

Zam grins, then nods as the elven master assassin gestures at the canvas covered stack he's standing next to, and says "You lot get to load it". 

Switching to elvish, the elven master archer says "Just get Dorc to load it all" followed by "Tell him some of it's his". 

The elven masterthief who just happens to be the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel briefly pauses, before he continues with "To be fair some of it probably is". 

Both Zam and Dalin nod, then Helbe the elven thief says in common to the large ork "Hey Dorc, get this loaded into the wagon". 

The warleader of the ork race who has just taken a bottle of wine from one of his sacks, and is about to drink, is about to tell the elven princeling to get fucked. 

When the spy Tanith speaks up, and tells the ork who is a general in the Armies of Farque "Some of it's yours Dorc, so you might as well stack it in the wagon". 

"Oh?" says Dorc da Orc who is suddenly interested in what's happening this morning in the middle of the woods they're in. 

As the large ork and the wagon driver take off the canvas covering to reveal a stack of gold bars, prince Helbenthril Raendril quietly says to Zam and Dalin "I'll see you back in the city" followed by "At the new counting house". 

Gesturing behind him, the elven magic user adds "Nothing will bother you between here and the city" he then adds "Axe will make sure of it". 

The ex mercenary from The City Of Ruins looks up, and sees the massive form of the Farqian wardog Axe come into view..

It looks like the undead wardog is standing on nothing but air, about eighteen feet above the ground. 

He's in fact standing on the deck of the krean scoutship, which is invisible along one side of the clearing..

The scoutship that during the night picked up the load of gold from one of the mines in the hill country of northern Vexil, that Lord Farque has taken over. 

"You got this?" asks Helbe the elven thief "We do" is the reply from Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy, the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel nods, then he disappears as he shifts away and starts making his way back to the city. 

While Zam and Dalin share a look, then wander over to the wagon, to make sure Dorc da Orc and the driver stack the gold bars properly, and don't just chuck them into the back of the wagon. 

Whilst the undead wardog Axe watches on from the deck of the invisible krean scoutship on this cool spring morning here in some woods, just a dozen miles or so to the northeast of the city of Vexil . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 13.

Vexil. 

Zam the ex mercenary crosses the street, and enters the darkness of the short covered lane that leads to the Merchant's Rest inn. 

Making his way out of the lane, and into the small square, essentially a walled courtyard in front of the inn. 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins looks up at the night sky, and sees two of the three moons are already up, on what's a cold spring night here in the city of Vexil. 

As he makes his way to the front door to the inn, the youngest member of the group jumps in fight, and spins around with a hand on the hilt of his sword when he hears something behind him. 

"Axe" murmurs Zam the ex mercenary after swallowing in fright at seeing the massive canine in the courtyard with him. 

The teenager glances up at the nearby rooftops, and figures the Farqian wardog jumped down from one of them. No doubt after he's probably been following him. 

The youngest member of the group wryly smiles, as the massive animal walks by him with a sideways glance. 

Before he heads around the side of the inn, and heads to the empty stables around the back of the Merchant's Rest. 

Zam takes a deep breath to settle his racing heart, then he heads into the inn where the group are staying whilst here in the city of Vexil. 

This evening like all nights at the Merchant's Rest since the group have basically settled in here. A handful of locals are having dinner in the common room. 

Zam as he takes a seat at the table with Lisell Maera the scout leader and Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy. 

Recognizes the regulars who come in for the evening meal. Who are now accustomed to the group. 

Then the ex mercenary spots a pair of men sitting at the corner table where Tamric Drubine the field commander and Saanea the witch usually have their meals at. 

The teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins glances their way as the serving woman takes his order. 

When she's gone, Zam glances first at Lisell Maera then Dalinvardèl Tanith, both of whom slightly nod to him. 

Then the ex mercenary sees the spy Tanith give him a discreet hand signal, Zam slightly nods in response to that. As he knows to only speak in elven if he wants to discuss something of importance. 

After the serving woman drops off his drink, Zam the ex mercenary who has noticed something, quietly says in elvish "Where is he?". 

"Upstairs in his room" is the quiet reply from Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy referring to Mira Reinholt the mage. 

"They don't know" adds the elven spy who hails from the principality of Alinlae, referring to the two strangers in one of the corner tables. 

"Know who they are?" quietly asks the ex mercenary who is both the youngest, and newest member of the group. 

"No" is the reply from Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by those who know him well. 

"But no doubt Beldane, Saanea and Helbe know who they are, and what they're up to" continues the elven spy who is a commander in the Armies of Farque. 

Zam nods, then falls silent as the serving woman brings him his meal, on this cold spring night here in the capital of the city-state of Vexil. 

The ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins takes his time eating his meal, both savouring it, as well as taking as long as possible to eat it. 

By the time he's eventually finished, the regulars have left the inn, and the only ones who remain apart from the group, are the pair of strangers at one of the corner tables. 

And once the serving woman has cleared away Zam's plate and trencher, and heads into the kitchen. 

One of the strangers goes to stand up, but he starts to fall. And the other goes to steady him. But he slumps forward onto the table. 

"Grab them and bring them upstairs" quietly and quickly says Lord Farque as Helbe the elven thief appears out of thin air behind the two strangers who are clearly unconscious. 

Zam along with Dalin hurry over the to the corner table, and pick up one of the men. While Tovis the war engineer grabs the other, shouldering him with ease. 

And the trio carry the two strangers upstairs, followed by Lord Farque, Helbe the elven thief and Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman. 

They carry the strangers to the end suite which the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque is using. And Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson stops at Mira Reinholt the mage's room, and tells him to join them in the undead warlord's suite. 

"Who are they?" asks Mira Reinholt the mage as he looks at two unconscious men on the floor in the middle of the main room in Lord Farque's suite. 

"Two more with an interest in you" is the reply from Helbe the elven thief, who then goes onto tell them what he's learnt from reading the minds of the pair he knocked out. 

Zam who hasn't been told to leave, stands with Dalinvardèl Tanith next to the closed door of the suite. 

Along with the others listens to what the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel has learnt from the pair of strangers. 

After the highly talented elven magic user finishes, the mage Reinholt sourly smiles then says "What are we going to do with them?". 

The once powerful mage looks at the deathlord of Farque as he adds "If Helbe tampers with their minds, it could be noticed". 

"Highly unlikely" says the elf who is a member of the royal family that rules the principality of Laerel, who pauses for a moment before adding "Though a slight possibility". 

"If we kill them, they'll be missed for sure" says the spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in The Southlands. 

"And others will come looking for them" continues the Vexillian born mage who is in exile from his homeland. 

"All true" says Lord Farque, who looks over at Helbe the elven thief, then at Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, and finally Mira Reinholt the mage. 

The large heavily armoured deathlord is silent for a few moments, then he asks them all "Any ideas?". 

It's Zam the ex mercenary who speaks up first, who says "We could just send them off somewhere". 

The youngest member of the group follows that with "Say have them tell their superiors that they've got a lead on Mira, and have them go off somewhere elsewhere". 

"Good of a plan as any, since they already know Mira is here in the city" says Helbe the elven thief with a nod of his hooded head of approval with the suggestion from the youngest member of the group. Next to Zam, Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy nods in agreement too. 

"Good enough" says Lord Farque, who then tells the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel "Whatever you do, don't send them north". 

The undead warlord who has the name of Draugodrottin that the people of his lands also know him by, continues with "I don't want anyone else of authority going up to the hill country than there already is". 

"Will do" says the elven masterthief who just happens to be the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel. 

"See to it" orders the lord of the death realm, who follows on from that with "Now get them out of my suite". 

"Zam, Dalin, Tovis bring them" says Helbe the elven thief, the trio pick up the unconscious men. With the ex mercenary and the elven spy carrying the larger of the two. 

While the other is no burden for the war engineer, who is probably physically the strongest member of the group who isn't an undead warlord, or an ork warleader. 

They head out the back stairs of the inn, and in the darkness of the small yard between the inn itself, and the stables. 

From which Axe the undead wardog watches them from the open stable doors, the elven master assassin quietly tells the others what he'll do. 

After a moment Tovis and the unconscious man he's carrying disappear as the highly talented elven magic user shifts them away. 

Quickly after that, Zam and Dalin, along with the unconscious stranger they're carrying, vanish as well. 

The elven princeling from Laerel follows after them. Heading to a nearby rooftop he's shifted them to. 

A little while later, and a few shifts later. The four of them along with the two unconscious men are in an alleyway. 

The elven master archer glances out of the alley, and looks to the left down the street. He then steps back and joins the others. 

"Stand them up" quietly says Helbe the elven thief who follows on from that with "Keep them upright and steady". 

Zam the ex mercenary and Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy, as well as Tovis the war engineer do so. Having the unconscious men face towards the street. 

After a moment, the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel quietly says "You can let them go". 

The strangers, though still unconscious, stand upright by themselves. And after a moment, they start moving. 

Walking out of the alleyway, and turning left down the street. After a few moments, their eyes open. Then quickly they wake, not knowing that they've been unconscious. As they head down the street to a watchtower of the city guard. 

The two of them are officers in the city guard of Vexil, who work discreetly, and out of uniform when they don't want to be noticed. 

And though they're city guardsmen, they infact operate on behalf of the Mage Council of Vexil. Who have a fair few city guard officers working for them. 

And these two have just found out the whereabouts of an individual that a certain member of the Mage Council is more than a little interested in. 

After they glance out of the alley and watch the pair of undercover city guardsmen head to a nearby tower of the city guard. 

Dalinvardèl Tanith quietly asks Helbe the elven thief "What did you do?" he continues with "Where did you send them?". 

Zam the ex mercenary slightly nods as he was thinking the same thing. So was Tovis the war engineer. 

As he walks back to the other end of the alley, and the others follow him, the highly talented elven spellcaster quietly says "They think they've found solid evidence that Mira has recently gone to a town in the southeast of the city-state". 

When they reach the other end of the alleyway, Helbe the elven thief or prince Helbenthril Raendril of Laerel to give him his full name and title, adds "They're just going to inform their superior, who will get in touch with the Mage Council, well the mage Garmen to be exact, and tell him of it". 

The elven masterthief continues with "While those two will leave the city as soon as possible, tonight to be exact" followed by "Because the information they've just gathered, is both recent, and accurate". 

Zam the ex mercenary can't help but grin, then he along with Dalinvardèl Tanith disappear after the elven master magic user shifts them away, just after he shifts Tovis the war engineer away. 

Then the young elven noble who is a member of Lord Farque's personal council shifts himself away, on this cold spring night here in the city of Vexil . . . . . .