Springtime In The City 77.

Vexil. 

"What else?" asks Zam the ex mercenary "They have absolutely no idea where everyone's gone" is the reply from Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy. 

Who then motions for the teenager originally from The City Of Ruins to silence as Lord Farque, along with Dorc da Orc and Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman make their way down the lane. 

"Well?" asks Lord Farque when he gets to the elven spy and the ex mercenary, who move into an alcove along one side of the lane, as people are making their way in both directions in it. 

As the undead warlord goes into the alcove, and Zam exits it. And the spy Tanith explains to the large heavily armoured deathlord what he's just found out. 

Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman quietly asks the youngest member of the group in elvish "What did he find out?". 

Zam then tells the rotund woman what the elven spy quickly told him in regards to what he saw and heard from a rooftop that overlooks the chapter house of the order of the Knights of Saint Mar'che here in the city of Vexil. 

And how those of the order who have just arrived back in the city this morning, are at a loss as to why their headquarters here in Vexil is empty.

And not just the ten or so knights and knights apprentices who remained in the city while the rest went south in pursuit of sir Percavelle Lé Dic are missing. But also the locals who work in the chapter house are no where to be seen as well. 

"They'll be confused for a while for sure" quietly says the rotund woman who is really Zubutai Timaginson who just happens to inhabit her body. 

Malisse then nods for Zam to move out of the way as Lord Farque and Dalinvardèl Tanith step out from the alcove. 

"Let's go" says the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque who then gestures for the spy Tanith to lead the way through the northeast of the city, back to the Merchant's Rest inn on this clear and sunny, but cool spring morning. 

As they walk through the city streets, with Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by those who know him well, leading the way. 

The teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins finds himself walking alongside Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson, who is a member of Lord Farque's personal council. 

As for the lord of the death realm himself, he's walking behind them, alongside Dorc da Orc, who is a general in his Armies. 

Zam who wonders how long they'll remain here in the city of Vexil. Considering quite a few people are after Mira Reinholt the mage. And the Knights of Saint Mar'che want revenge upon sir Percavelle Lé Dic for what he did during The Spring Tourney of Vexil. 

Not to mention the noble born knight from the kingdom of Druvic, along with Shur Kee the monk have pissed off quite a few people in a nearby neighbourhood, here in the city's north. 

Along with Dorc da Orc because of what happened in a recent night market in the north of the city. 

Quietly says in the elven language to the rotund woman walking beside him "I've got a feeling things are gonna come to a head soon". 

The teenager who was making a living, a meager one at that, as a mercenary when the group found him in The City Of Ruins, continues with "Even with Mira and Percy keeping out of the public eye". 

The youngest member of the group glances back at the pair following him and Malisse, and nods in their direction as he adds "Those two aren't exactly hard to miss". 

He follows that with "And now with that mage Garmen knowing about their connection to Mira" Zam continues with "The chances of us being found out has definitely become more of a possibility". 

"It always has been" says the member of Lord Farque's personal council, who though is a rotund woman who may or may not be in her thirties, is really the hordes outrider Zubutai Timaginson. 

With a nod back at the pair following them, Malisse continues with "In all the years I've known them, they never shy away from any potential problems". 

She follows that with "They'll take any problem head on if they can" Malisse aka Zubutai the son of Timagin then adds "It's why they never bother to disguise themselves". 

The member of Lord Farque's personal council briefly pauses before continuing in a slightly dry tone of voice with "Almost impossible to do so, even with the help of magic". 

Zam nods at that, and does so again as Malisse quietly tells him "He'll have Helbe quiet things down as best he can, but even so something or another usually happens, then all hell breaks loose". 

Up ahead Dalin comes to a stop at the end of the street they're on, as there's a line of wagons going along the intersecting street. 

The other four catch up to the elven spy as they and others wait to cross as the wagons, which have come from the main airdocks, continue north through the city this spring morning. 

As the last of the dozen or so horse drawn wagons goes by, Zam turns to the undead warlord to ask him something. 

When out of the corner of his eye, the ex mercenary who is originally from The City Of Ruins sees someone move through the group of gathered people waiting to cross the street, and quickly approach Dorc da Orc. 

The youngest member of the group sees the flash of a blade, and is about to shout a warning to the ork warleader. But he doesn't have to, as the big burly ork from the southern polar region of world is already reacting to something before it even happens. 

Dorc as an ork has superior senses compared to a human. Both his hearing and eyesight is at least ten times better than a human being. 

But his sense of smell is on another level all together. Where it's even better than many animals which have an excellent sense of smell. 

And the weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks, who could easily hear the approaching danger, and clearly see it out of the corner of his eye. Smelled it first, as he caught the scent of a metal blade being stealthily drawn, as well as the person holding it, before they even approached the crowd of people waiting to cross the street. 

For someone so large, Dorc da Orc or Dorkindle which is his given name. Can move surprisingly quickly. 

So it's with ease, he turns a bit to his right, and quickly reaches out with his right hand, and grabs the left arm of the man holding a long dagger he's trying to keep hidden. 

The fellow yelps in pain as he's lifted up off the ground by his left arm, which breaks when the ork warleader squeezes it in his frying pan sized right hand. 

The man who is hissing in pain, is about to be flung away by the large ork, who instead drops him on the ground after Lord Farque quietly says something to him in orkish. 

Dorc puts a boot on the man so he doesn't scamper away, while people hurriedly move off as they don't want to be near anything violent. 

And because across the street which is now clear of the line of wagons, is a patrol of city guards, who were waiting on the other side to cross. 

"Dalin, Zubutai do the talking" quietly says Lord Farque in elvish as the four man patrol cross the street to see what's going on. 

Both the elven spy who hails from the principality of Alinlae, and the rotund woman who is really a hordes outrider from southern tundra region of The Southlands, slightly nod to acknowledge that from the deathlord of Farque, who is also known by the name of Draugodrottin to his people. 

"What's going on here then?" asks the patrol leader as he looks at the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world, who has a boot on the back of the man who attempted to attack him. 

"This fellow try to attack my servant here" says Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman who saw what happened. 

"Servant, the fuck?" loudly mutters Dorc da Orc, who then grunts and falls silent when Lord Farque quietly says to him "Sarg cakl". 

Zam isn't exactly sure what the undead warlord said to Dorkindle in orkish. But he's pretty sure he told the large ork to shut up. 

In fact the large heavily armoured deathlord said, "Quiet cunt". To the big burly ork who is a general in his Armies. 

The rotund woman who is really an outrider from the Pony Archers horde, points at the long dagger on the ground next to the would be assailant. 

"Tried to stab him in broad daylight" says Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, who follows that with "He was just defending himself". 

The patrol leader, a grizzled veteran in his forties, who as a teenager fought during the Battle of Vexil, looks at the man on the ground beneath Dorc's right boot, then grunts before he says "Tarmil isn't it?" followed by "From Marvic's Knives over on Masell Street?". 

The fellow on the ground doesn't say anything in reply to that, but he does nod his head to answer that from the patrol leader. 

"Why did you try and stab this troll here?" asks the leader of the patrol of city guardsmen, which gets an angry hiss from the large ork at being called a troll. 

The ork warleader is about to say something rather angry, and full of swear words at the patrol leader. When he sees a brief flash of bright blue light, come from the eye slot of Lord Farque's full helm, looking his way. 

The weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks keeps his mouth shut. But he stands there with a deep scowl upon his broad brutish looking face as he stares at the patrol leader. 

"Well, answer me" says the senior city guardsman to the fellow named Tarmil, who lies there on his stomach, breathing heavily from the pain of a broken arm. 

It doesn't look like he's going to answer until Dorkindle puts a little bit of pressure on his back, which Tarmil can tell, would break his spine if it was just a little bit more. 

"Okay, okay" gasps Tarmil who works at a nearby knife shop, who turns his head to look at the patrol leader, and tell him "It's because he killed Hovar the other night". 

"Who?" asks the senior guardsman, who looks at his patrol, who shrug their shoulders in reply. So do the members of the group when he looks at them. 

"At the market the other night" says Tarmil, who continues with "Killed him dead during that fight, saw it with my own eyes". 

"There was a fracas at the Beren Square night market" says one of the city guards, who follows that with "Didn't hear about anyone dying". 

"That's because we took him away before you lot could show up" is what Lord Farque and Dorc da Orc and no else hear Tarmil mutter to himself. 

"I don't know anything about that" says Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, who continues on with "But I do know is that he attacked my servant for no good reason". 

"Probably mistook him for another troll" says Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven who said that with a straight face, easily suppressing the grin that was trying to break out on his youthful looking face. 

Dorc da Orc who was scowling heavily once more at being called a servant again. Scowls even more as he looks at the spy Tanith. 

"More than likely" says the patrol leader, who then tells two of his men "Pick him up, we'll take him back to the tower" he then tells Tarmil "You're under arrest for an unprovoked attack upon this troll fellow here". 

The large ork scowls even deeper, but he does take his boot off the back of Tarmil when Lord Farque murmurs something to him in orkish. 

And the city guardsmen haul Tarmil to his feet, then the patrol march him away to the nearby tower of the city guard. 

"Servant?" Dorc da Orc hisses at Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson "Troll?" growls Dorkindle as he looks at Dalinvardèl Tanith. 

Who ignores the large ork as Lord Farque tells the elven spy to lead the way again, and the group sets off once more. 

As the ork weaponsmith says to the undead warlord "You hear that guard cunt call me a troll?" followed by "What a fucken shitbag of a cunt calling Dorc that". 

And the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque replying to the ork general with "Stop whining like a little bitch". 

Zam the ex mercenary can't but help think that more such incidents will start happening to certain members of the group. 

As more and more people here in the city of Vexil this spring, want various members of the group found for all sorts of reasons, and want revenge upon them . . . . . .

 

Springtime In The City 76.

The City-State Of Vexil. 

The next day dawns clear and sunny, though a little cool for this time of spring. And as the city awakens, Zam the ex mercenary is hurrying back to the Merchant's Rest inn which he left earlier. 

The youngest member of the group rushes through the reception chamber after entering. And he makes his way into the common room, and to the table where Lord Farque is sitting with Mira Reinholt the mage and Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman. 

"The knights from Percy's order have returned to the city" says Zam the ex mercenary in elvish after taking a few deep breaths. 

"They're heading to their chapter house right now" adds the teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins. 

"They're going to be in for a surprise when they find no one there" dryly says Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman in the same language. 

Lord Farque nods his full helmed head in agreement, for he along with Dorc da Orc killed the remaining handful of knights and the like at the order of The Knights of Saint Mar'che after the bulk of them went south in pursuit of sir Percavelle Lé Dic who they thought had left the city. For they wanted revenge for what happened during The Spring Tourney of Vexil. When the former paladin won The Joust. And was close to winning Le Grande Meleé where he defeated a large group from the order he belongs to. 

"And that you and Dorc ran off everyone else who works there" adds the rotund woman who is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra. 

Once again the undead warlord nods in agreement with the barbarian hordesman who is a member of his personal council. 

"They'll eventually find out Percy is here in the city" says Mira Reinholt the mage, who having learnt the elven language nearly two decades ago. Still has an atrocious accent, even though he's fluent in the language. 

"Especially with what happened at that market a few nights ago, and how some of the locals weren't too happy seeing him and Shur Kee hanging out together" continues the once powerful mage, who after a brief pause, adds "Not to mention what Dorc did that night". 

The large heavily armoured deathlord grunts in agreement with that, then in elvish Lord Farque asks Zam "I gather Dalin is watching them?". 

"He is" replies the youngest member of the group who was scratching together a living as a mercenary in The City Of Ruins when the group found him. 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque who has the name of Draugodrottin that his people also know him by, briefly closes his eyes and senses outwards in the direction of the headquarters of the order of the Knights of Saint Mar'che. 

And he quickly locates the familiar elven life that's Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy. Who the lord of the death realm can tell is moving along the rooftops in that part of the city. Following a group of horsemen, obviously knights and other members of the order that Percy belongs to, who are based here in the city of Vexil. 

"Is this going to be a problem?" quietly asks the spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in The Southlands. 

"An annoyance more than anything" is the reply from the undead warlord, who after a brief pause, looks at the mage who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, and says "The real problem is that  mage Garmen, and his pursuit of you". 

The large heavily armoured deathlord continues with "He's now going beyond The Mage Council and hiring others to track you down". 

Lord Farque follows that with "Now that he knows there's a link between you, and me and Dorc, things will start to get fucking hectic here in the city". 

"Especially considering how recognisable you and Dorc are" says Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman with a nod at the lord of the death realm. 

"Exactly" sourly says the undead warlord who has the elven name of Des'tier, which translates to The Destroyer. 

The deathlord of Farque refrains from sighing, then shrugs his broad, heavily armoured shoulders, and says "Ah well" followed by "We'll just have to deal with whatever problem there is when it fucking pops up" he then adds "Whoever it comes from". 

The rotund woman who is really Zubutai the son of Timagin, an outrider from the Pony Archers horde, slightly nods her head, then says "Could probably put a permanent end to that mage Garmen?". 

She follows that with "Have Helbe" and Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman then makes a slashing gesture across her throat. 

"Which would be fitting" says the mage Reinholt, who continues in a slightly sour tone of voice with "Considering he's the one, and not me who killed the son". 

The Vexillian mage in exile briefly pauses before continuing with "Though that could be more of a problem than it's worth". 

"How so?" asks Zam the ex mercenary who has remained silent while the undead warlord, and two of the members of his personal council discuss things. 

"The entire council of mages will get involved if one of their more prominent members is suddenly killed" says the practitioner of magic, who lost most of his powers when he accidentally cast a spell that sent him offworld. 

"The council, and those they're in charge of have been giving Garmen free reign to do whatever he wants because he's a grieving father" continues the swordmaster Reinholt. 

"If he dies, you can bet every council member, and those they command will be hell bent on finding who killed him, not to mention investigating the younger Garmen's death more thoroughly" adds the mage who is a member of the family that owns the largest trading company, not just in Vexil, but quite possibly all of The Southlands too. 

"It's why I haven't had Helbe eliminate him already" states the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque. 

The large heavily armoured deathlord follows that with "Though that won't stop us keeping a closer fucking eye on him" he then adds "And everyone else he's hired to find you mage". 

The spellcaster who at one time was more powerful than any other mage to be found right across The Southlands, nods his head in agreement with the lord of the death realm. 

Then Mira Reinholt quietly says "That could be quite a few people according to that sorcerer we captured yesterday". 

Draugodrottin grunts in agreement with the mage who is a member of his personal council, then the large heavily armoured deathlord quietly says "Helbe is already out and about trying to locate as many of them, and sending them off on a wild fucking goose chase". 

The undead warlord briefly pauses before continuing on with "Though it'll be impossible to keep them all from trying to find you mage" followed by "Especially now that they know of the link between you, me and Dorc". 

The mage Reinholt who is himself this morning, and not under any illusion spell cast by Helbe the elven thief, nods his head in agreement with the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque. 

Then the exiled Vexillian mage says "I've got a feeling things are gonna come to ahead with Garmen" the spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster follows that with "He's never liked me, and never liked that I made it onto the council". 

For it was the mage Garmen who was one of those that found out that Mira betrayed Vexil during the Battle of Vexil. And had him exiled during the middle of the battle. 

That was when Lord Farque along with Dorc da Orc first met the then seventeen year old mage Reinholt. 

"Was there any rivalry before that?" asks Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson, followed by "Between the two of you?". 

"None" replies the once powerful practitioner of magic, who continues on with "He's a bit older than me, nearly a decade older" followed by "Didn't have much to do with him before I got onto the council". 

Mira Reinholt briefly pauses before adding "Probably only met once or twice before I was appointed to the Mage Council" he then says "Worked with him on the defenses of the city leading up to, and during the war". 

The spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster continues with "He was the main instigator in my arrest, and subsequent exile" he then adds "He's obviously still pissed off about that". 

"Hell, I can't imagine why?" dryly says the rotund woman who is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra. 

Which earns a sour look directed at her from the mage Reinholt, and a soft chuckle from the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque. 

The undead warlord then says "Nothing we can do about that at the moment" the lord of the death realm continues with "Like I said, we'll have to deal with it when they pop up". 

Draugodrottin then looks around, then quietly says "Let's go check up on those knights who have returned to the city". 

The large heavily armoured deathlord as he stands up, nods his full helmed head to where sir Percavelle Lé Dic is at one of the tables here in the common room, with Tovis the war engineer and Shur Kee the monk. 

"Don't tell Percy they're back" quietly says the lord of the death realm, who notices the mage Reinholt is about to stand up too, and he tells him "Not you". 

The undead warlord follows that with "From now on, no leaving the inn unless you're under one of Helbe's illusion spells". 

The exiled Vexillian spellcaster nods his head as he remains seated while Malisse gets up out of her chair. 

Then Des'tier switches to the common language and says "Dorc let's go" followed by "We're going for a walk". 

The large ork who is sitting nearby on the floor, grunts then gets up, picking up the ale barrel that's just been opened for him. 

Zam the ex mercenary nods his head, and says "Yes my lord" in response to the deathlord of Farque telling him to lead the way. 

The four of them, the teenager originally from The City Of Ruins, the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque, the rotund woman who is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra. And the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world. 

Make their way out of the common room, then through the reception chamber, then out the front doors of the Merchant's Rest inn. 

The youngest member of the group leads the way out of the small secluded square where the inn is located. 

And once out on the street outside the square where the inn is surrounded by other buildings. The ex mercenary turns left, then left again onto another street when Draugodrottin quietly says "They're back at their headquarters". 

The undead warlord briefly pauses before continuing on with "Dalin is nearby watching the lot of them". 

With Zam in the lead, followed by Lord Farque and Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman. With Dorc da Orc closely following them. 

The four of them head eastwards through the city, on what's turned out to be a clear and sunny, though cool spring morning, here in the city of Vexil . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 75.

The City Of Vexil. 

At the city's main airdocks, standing beneath one of the large circular docks that are at least fifty feet high. 

Zam the ex mercenary looks across at another of the circular docks opposite the one he's currently beneath. 

The youngest member of the group who is originally from The City Of Ruins who is standing beside one of the many buildings on the ground beneath the docks. 

Slightly frowns as he sees someone in the rain up on the opposite dock, near some stacked cargo that's yet to be loaded on one of the airships tied to that particular dock. 

They're looking in this direction, in particular at the building Zam is next to. A building owned by The Reinholt Trading Company. 

Which Lord Farque is in at the moment, conducting business. As the company owned by Mira Reinholt's family. Is used by the undead warlord to ship things of his. Mostly gold and the like. Down to his lands, far to the south of this region of The Southlands. 

"Dorc" says Zam the ex mercenary to the large ork who is standing nearby. Happy to be under the shelter of the docks as it continues to rain this spring morning, here in the city of Vexil. 

The ork warleader is also happy because he's drinking from a barrel of ale that he purchased on the way here to the main airdocks of the city. 

"What cunt?" asks Dorc da Orc who has been happily sipping away at his barrel of ale since they got here to the airdocks. 

"Across at the dock opposite us" says the teenager who was scratching together a living, a meager one at that, in The City Of Ruins when the group found him. 

"Up top" adds the ex mercenary, who follows that with "Near that large triple masted ship" he continues with "There's some cargo up there". 

The ork weaponsmith looks up at where Zam has indicated, and the youngest member of the group tells him "Fellow up there, see he just ducked down behind that stack of crates". 

The large ork who is a general in the Armies of Farque, grunts as he indeed did just see that, then the large ork asks "So fucken what?" followed by "What about him?". 

"He's watching us" replies the ex mercenary, who continues on with "Well not specifically us, but the Reinholt's building here". 

The big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world grunts, then scowls as he looks at the building they're beside, then again up at the large circular dock opposite the one they're beneath. 

"What that cunt doin' up there?" mutters Dorc da Orc or Dorkindle which is his given name. Who has just seen the cloaked figure up there, peeking around the side of the crates he's hiding behind. 

And that fellow is definitely watching the building that the Reinholt Trading Company uses here in the main airdocks of the city of Vexil. 

"I think I'll go and tell Dalin" quietly says Zam to the warleader of the ork race, who grunts and replies with "You go and do that cunt". 

The youngest member of the group moves away, while the large ork, who goes back to sipping on the barrel of ale he'd got. Keeps an eye on the person up on the opposite dock, who is clearly observing the building owned by the Reinholt Trading Company. 

Zam nods to one of the company guards at the front door, who lets him in. The teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins goes through the reception room, and down the hallway to the right. 

Where he finds Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy leaning back against the wall, next to a closed door, to one of the rooms here in the hallway. 

The ex mercenary in elvish, quietly tells the commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque what he's spotted outside. 

"Wait here" quietly says Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy, who continues with "I'll be back in a little bit". 

Zam nods, and the spy Tanith who is originally from the elven principality of Alinlae, heads down the hallway in the direction the ex mercenary has just come from. 

The youngest member of the group leans back against the wall where the elven spy just was, there he waits for the commander in the Armies of Farque to return from outside. 

It doesn't take long for Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by those who know him well, to return from outside. 

And the elven spy nods his hooded for Zam to follow him, as he knocks on the door, then enters the room with the ex mercenary following behind him. 

In the room, sitting on one side of a desk, is Lord Farque, with a short stocky fellow by the name of Mekar sitting in the chair beside him. 

Mekar is infact Mira Reinholt the mage, under an illusion spell cast by Helbe the elven thief. The once powerful mage was already here, waiting for them to arrive. 

On the other side of the desk, sits one of Mira Reinholt's cousins, who runs this particular office and warehouse here in the main airdocks of the city of Vexil. 

"Bit of a problem" says Dalinvardèl Tanith after apologizing for the interruption, the elven spy continues with "The building is being observed by someone up on the dock across from the front of the building". 

"Oh?" says Mira Reinholt the mage, while beside the Vexillian born mage, the undead warlord slightly nods his full helmed head after briefly closing his eyes. 

"Spellcaster" says Lord Farque, while next to him the mage Reinholt mutters "I can't sense them". While his cousin, Halden Reinholt who is also a practitioner of magic, says "Nor can I". 

"He's wearing an amulet, something similar to yours mage" says the large heavily armoured deathlord, which illicits a grunt from the short stocky fellow named Mekar. 

The spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation, to be found anywhere in The Southlands, gets up, as does Lord Farque, as well as Halden Reinholt, who is about a decade younger than his notorious cousin. 

"Any problems of late?" asks the mage to his younger cousin, who is a magic user, and a former captain in the Vexillian aircorp. Who joined the company business about five years ago. 

"Nothing out of the ordinary" replies Halden Reinholt, who only met his famous cousin, or that should be infamous cousin, a handful of times when he was a child, before the once powerful mage was exiled from Vexil a little over twenty five years ago, when Mira was just seventeen years old. 

"Just the usual company rivalries" adds the younger of the Reinholt cousins, which gets a nod from the once powerful practitioner of magic. 

"What is he?" asks the short stocky fellow named Mekar "Sorcerer" is the reply from the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque, who then asks Halden Reinholt if there's a room along the front of the building with a window. 

The younger of the two Reinholt cousins leads them to such a room, and after the lord of the death realm glances out the window, to the circular dock opposite the one the building owned by The Reinholt Trading Company is beneath, he quietly says "Right, this is what we'll do". 

The undead warlord who has the name of Draugodrottin that the people of his lands also know him by, continues with "Zam go back outside, and stay by Dorc" followed by "And keep an eye on that sorcerer". 

The youngest member of the group nods, and moves out, as he exits the room, he hears the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque say "Dalin I want to you head around the back, and make your way to the". 

The ex mercenary who is originally from The City Of Ruins doesn't hear anymore than that, as he's soon too far down the hallway, and is then back in the reception room. 

Zam then makes his way outside, turns left, and heads around to where Dorc da Orc is to the side of the building owned by the Reinholt Trading Company. 

"He's a sorcerer" quietly says the ex mercenary to the large ork "He's definitely observing the building" adds the youngest member of the group. 

"Magicky cunt" mutters Dorc da Orc, who then sniffs deeply a couple of times, then grunts as he catches the scent, even through the rain, of the spellcaster hiding up on the opposite dock, behind some cargo. 

The big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world, who is a general in the Armies of Farque, grunts again and gestures to their right. 

Zam looks that way, and he sees that Lord Farque and Mira Reinholt the mage have just exited the front of the building owned by the Reinholt Trading Company. 

Both the ex mercenary and the ork warleader look back to the top of the circular dock opposite the one they're beneath. 

And they both spot the sorcerer looking around the side of stack of crates he's crouching behind as it continues to rain. 

And they both see him watching Lord Farque who is heading away to the right, while the mage Reinholt, or more specifically the short stocky fellow named Mekar, is heading this way. 

"He's definitely watching Lord Farque" quietly says Zam to the ork weaponsmith, who grunts in agreement with the teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins. 

They both look beyond Mekar who is walking this way. And they see the undead warlord basically disappear. 

Though the ex mercenary can't see him, the ork general briefly catches sight of a figure, a streak of black/blue colour. 

Move at impossible speed across to the airdock opposite the one they're beneath, then shoot up to the top of that fifty foot tall circular dock. 

They both see the cloaked sorcerer quickly get up from where he's been crouching, then look hastily around down this way. 

He suddenly disappears behind the stack of crates and cargo as he's yanked backwards out of view. 

"Quick, around the back of the building" says Mira Reinholt the mage when he gets to the large ork and the ex mercenary. 

The three of them hurry around to the back of the warehouse section of the building owned by the Reinholt Trading Company, beneath one of the docks, here in the main airdocks of Vexil. 

There they find Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy waiting for them, then all four of them look up, when they hear the familiar voice of Lord Farque quietly say "Mage get up here, and bring the others". 

The short stocky man named Mekar sourly smiles as he glances at Dorc, then mutters in elvish "By the shape of fire, does he know how fucking heavy that ork lump is?". "Yes" says Lord Farque from the roof of the warehouse thirty feet above them. 

The mage Reinholt sighs, then after draining some power from a spell gem hidden in his cloak. The once powerful mage levitates himself and the other three up to the roof of the building beneath one of the circular docks, here in the main airdocks of the capital city. 

"Know who he is?" asks Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy as they look down at the unconscious figure lying at the feet of the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque. 

"No idea" replies Mira Reinholt, who then nods when the undead warlord who has the elven name of Des'tier, tells him "Read his mind, and find out who he is, and what he's up to". 

Spells of the mind might not be his specialty. But the mage Reinholt has got better at them over the years. Thanks to casting such spells a lot. And a little bit of know how from Helbe the elven thief.  

After a few moments, the man named Mekar lifts his eyebrows in surprise, and looks at Lord Farque, who says to him "Let me fucking guess, one of the lesser spellcasters working for The Mage Council?". 

"Yes" says the exiled Vexillian mage who also happens to be a highly skilled swordmaster "No" continues Mira Reinholt, who follows that with "Well, not exactly". 

"Spit it out mage" says the large heavily armoured deathlord who easily knocked out and captured the sorcerer lying unconscious on the roof with them. 

"He works for the mage Garmen directly, not the Council" says the spellcaster, who still to this day, is the youngest ever member of The Mage Council of Vexil. 

The once powerful mage continues with "He's still searching for me" Mira Reinholt as the man named Mekar gestures at the undead warlord, then at the ork warleader. 

"He now knows of our association from back during the war" says the swordmaster Reinholt referring to the battle of Vexil. 

The once powerful mage briefly pauses, before continuing with "He's now searching for you and Dorc, hoping to find me". 

They're all silent for a few moments, a silence that's eventually broken when Lord Farque sourly says "Shit" . . . . . . 

Springtime In The City 74.

Vexil. 

"Think they're looking for us?" asks Zam the ex mercenary, who after a slight pause continues with "Well, those of us who were at that market last night?". 

"Probably" is the reply from Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy as they keep close to the buildings on their right as it's raining this morning. 

"Especially since Dorc is so recognisable" adds the elf who is a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque. 

"Not to mention Percy and Shur Kee" continues the elven spy who is originally from the principality of Alinlae. 

The youngest member of the group grunts in agreement with that as he does up the hood of his cloak a bit tighter. For though the rain this morning isn't particularly heavy, it is consistent. 

Glancing at the teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins, the spy Tanith tells him "I wouldn't worry too much about it". 

The elf who previously served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland of Alinlae, then says "His highness will no doubt make the city guard forget about it fairly quickly". 

Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly referred to by the others in the group, continues with "He's probably done so already". 

The commander in the Armies of Farque then says after a moments pause "Though that doesn't mean those who was there last night and got into a scrap with you lot won't forget about it anytime soon". 

The elven spy follows that with "I bet some of them will be out for blood" he then adds "Especially if someone was killed". 

Zam slightly winces at that, and when Dalin asks him "Anyone killed?" he continues with "With Dorc involved, I'm guessing so". 

"Maybe" says the ex mercenary who is originally from The City Of Ruins, who then adds "Could be" and follows with "Think Dorc might of killed someone, when he threw him at a tree". 

The youngest member of the group pauses, then says "Which was about twenty or so feet from him" he pauses again, then says "And that was after he knocked him down, and knocked him out". 

"Yeah" dryly says the elven spy who is a senior officer in the Armies of Farque, who continues on with "He probably killed him".  

Zam who was scratching together a meager living as a mercenary in The City Of Ruins when the others found him, nods his head in agreement with Dalinvardèl Tanith as they turn a corner onto another street. 

He nods again, when the spy Tanith quietly tells him "Just up ahead on the right". The ex mercenary sees the tower that's there destination this spring morning, here in the north of the city of Vexil. 

And though the two of them have been chatting in elvish as they've walked here through the rain, the two of them fall silent as they approach the tower. 

Dalin hands a couple of silver coins to one of the guards at the front of the tower, who nods to them both and allows them to go through the tower doors once his fellow guard opens them. 

Inside the tower, the elven spy quietly says in his native language to the teenager who is the youngest member of the group "Know how to use one of these?". 

"I do" replies Zam in the same language as he walks alongside the elven spy to the opening of a shaft that goes up the tower. 

"Top level" says the commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque, the ex mercenary nods in understanding. 

Then he watches as Dalin steps in through the opening, which is slightly wider than a normal doorway found in a tower of this size and height. 

The spy Tanith quickly floats up and disappears from view. The youngest member of the group waits a few moments. Then he steps through the opening, and after quickly looking up. 

Zam who has his hands by his side, and has both of them as a fist. Opens his hand, and holds them palm side up. 

The ex mercenary who is originally from The City Of Ruins starts floating upwards through the central shaft of the Wind Tower. 

He might know how to use one, but this is actually the first time the youngest member of the group has actually been in one. 

And Zam finds that he's going up it a lot quicker than he thought he would. He starts turning his hands over, and he starts slowing down. 

And once he's got his hands facing palm down, he's slowed down enough that he makes them into fists. And he comes to a stop at the top level of the Wind Tower. 

The ex mercenary steps out of the opening on the top level, and he finds Dalin waiting on the landing there. 

The spy Tanith nods his hooded head for the teenager originally from The City Of Ruins to follow him to a nearby set of steps that head up, and go through an opening on the roof. 

They step up onto roof, and into the falling rain. Lord Farque turns his full helmed head and glances at them, while Dorc da Orc who is near the opening in the roof where the steps come up. 

Has an empty ale barrel on his head. And though it's a fairly large barrel, it does not slip down over the broad shoulders of the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world. 

The ork warleader has whacked a chunk out of the side of the barrel so that he can see out of it. One glance up at the hole in the side of the barrel, Zam sees the look of disgust and anger, on the broad green brutish looking face of the large ork. Who is more than a little pissed off to be out in the rain this spring morning, here in the north of the city of Vexil. 

The elven spy and the ex mercenary stand by the undead warlord, here on top of the tower that's at least two hundred and fifty feet tall. 

One of the tallest ones in the city, that isn't used by the city guard, or the Mage and City Councils of Vexil. 

It belongs to a merchant's guild here in the capital of the city-state. And though guilds aren't as prevalent here in Vexil than say in some other places in The Southlands, like the city-state of Brattonbury where guilds are common. You can still find some of them here in Vexil. 

Gesturing away to the north, Lord Farque says in elvish to Dalin and Zam "Tovis and Beldane should be there soon". 

The undead warlord is referring to the pair of the war engineer and the fighting cleric, who left the city early this morning with the wagon, it's hired driver and guard. 

Heading to the patch of woods not far from a village about a dozen miles to the north of the capital of the city-state. 

Woods where the krean scoutship is waiting with another shipment of gold, that it's brought down from the mines under control of the deathlord of Farque, in the hill country of northern Vexil near the border with the kingdom of Girdane. 

"The royal thief will keep a close eye on it when it returns to the city" says the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque, who follows that with "Just in case some other fucking idiot tries to fill in the void of that cunt councilman Meecham, and get it into their heads to steal from me". 

Both the elven spy who hails from the principality of Alinlae, and the ex mercenary who is originally from The City Of Ruins nod in understanding to that from lord of the death realm. 

Lord Farque who is also goes by the name of Draugodrottin that the people of his lands know him by, briefly pauses as he glances first back at the ork warleader, then at the youngest member of the group, before he says in a slightly dry tone of voice "Though that's after Helbe fixes up that fucking mess you were involved in last night Zam". 

The teenager winces at hearing that, then he says "Sorry about that my lord" the ex mercenary continues on from that with "Didn't think anything like that would happen last night". 

Zam starts to explain how a group of people at the market last night, took umbrage that Shur Kee the monk and sir Percavelle Lé Dic seem to be friends. 

When not so long ago they were opponents during Le Grande Meleé on the second day of the Spring Tourney of Vexil. 

Before the youngest member of the group gets too far into explaining what happened yesterday evening, at the main night market to be found in the north of the city. 

The undead warlord holds up a gauntleted hand for Zam to be silent, the ex mercenary shuts up and large heavily armoured deathlord says "No need to explain, I know what happened". 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque who has an elven name of Des'tier, which translates to The Destroyer, glances over at Dorc da Orc who is itching to head back down into the tower. 

For a couple of reasons, one because he hates to get wet, and he wants to get out of the rain. And two, because he enjoys using a Wind Tower. For in the past, the large ork has spent time going up and down Wind Towers for the hell of it. Even though he doesn't exactly know how to properly use them. 

Lord Farque just shakes his head at the sight of Dorc da Orc wearing a barrel on his head, then Draugodrottin says in elvish to Zam and Dalin "Let's go" followed by "There's something we need to check up on". 

"Where?" asks Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy "The airdocks" replies the lord of the death realm, who continues with "The main ones". 

Gesturing to where the warleader of the ork race is, the deathlord of Farque adds "It won't be a fucking hassle having him there" followed by "There's plenty of trolls at the nearby ship building yards, so he shouldn't really stick out" he briefly pauses before saying in a dry tone of voice "Too much". 

Zam twists his lips to refrain from smiling, while next to him, Dalin chuckles a bit, before falling silent when the large heavily armoured deathlord stares at him for a moment. 

Before quietly saying "Keep your ears and eyes open" he follows that with "Who knows what you could pick up concerning what we've been up to in the city since we got here at the start of spring". 

The move off, with Lord Farque telling the large ork beside the steps that lead down into the tower proper "We're going cunt". 

Dorc da Orc or Dorkindle to give him his full name, doesn't have to be told twice. He's off and moving. The first one down the steps. 

Even though he can barely see where he's going due to the barrel he's wearing on his head to protect from the rain this morning. 

Following the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque down the steps into the tower, Zam spots the ork weaponsmith hurrying to the shaft in the center of the tower. 

And by the time they're heading to that opening, the big burly ork has hoped into the shaft and disappeared. 

The ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins goes to stick his head through the opening, and look down to see the large ork, but he's hauled back by the undead warlord who dryly says to him "You don't want to do that". 

Just then a chuckling Dorc da Orc appears at the top of the shaft, floating there, with the large barrel askew on his head. 

There comes a sigh from the full helmed head of the large heavily armoured deathlord of Farque, as the ork general in the Armies of Farque drops back down the Wind Tower. 

Des'tier steps into the tower and drops, and both Zam and Dalin look down the shaft, when they hear an indignant sounding squawk come from Dorc da Orc. 

"He's got him" says the spy Tanith as they see Lord Farque haul Dorc da Orc out of the bottom of The Wind Tower. 

The elf who is a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque steps into the opening, then drops down through the center of the Wind Tower. 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins looks down through the opening, then he steps into the Wind Tower proper, then he too drops down. 

Zam gulps after he steps out through the opening at the bottom of the tower, as he almost didn't bring himself to a stop in time. 

And through the ex mercenary knows that the magical tower itself won't let you actually hit the ground. 

It sure doesn't feel like it when you're dropping down it at speed. And you almost forget to make a fist on either hand when you're near the very button of the Wind Tower. 

The youngest member of the group follows Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy out of the tower itself. 

Where Lord Farque is waiting outside on the street, with a disgruntled looking Dorc da Orc beside him. 

The barrel the large ork was wearing on his head is now gone, where exactly. Zam and Dalin have no idea. Just that they figure the undead warlord has thrown it away. 

Gesturing at the spy Tanith, the lord of the death realm tells Dalin "Lead the way" Draugodrottin follows on from that with "We'll follow". 

Dalinvardèl Tanith sets off as it continues to rain this spring morning here in the city of Vexil. Lord Farque, Dorc da Orc and Zam the ex mercenary follow after the elven spy as they head south to the main airdocks here in the capital of the city-state of Vexil . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 73.

The City-State Of Vexil. 

As he hurries through the busy night market. Zam the ex mercenary grabs a steel tankard, pewter by the looks of it. From one of the tables he rushes by. 

The youngest member of the group ignores the startled yell of indignation directed his way. For the person upset with him, suddenly shuts up because of who's following the teenager originally from The City Of Ruins. 

A bit behind Zam is Dorc da Orc, and the large ork growls at the man upset with the ex mercenary. Infact the ork warleader growls at everyone at that particular table. 

While Zam continues to hurry towards a corner of the square where the night market is located, here in the north of the city of Vexil. 

The ex mercenary grimaces as he sees the group of people who have gathered, and who are angered at the apparent friendship between Shur Kee the monk and sir Percavelle Lé Dic. 

And are moving swiftly towards the table beneath the tree, where Lisell Maera the scout, Tovis the war engineer, Shur Kee the monk and sir Percavelle Lé Dic have been sitting at. 

Zam sees that he and Dorc da Orc won't get to the others before that group of, what appears to be predominantly locals, get to them first. 

And as Lisell Maera or Lis as she's more commonly called by those who know her well. Along with Tovis, the war engineer who is originally from the kingdom of Druvic. 

Both of whom are on their feet, waiting for the approaching locals. Get ready to defend themselves, as well the short statured monk, who has just stood up. Along with the large heavily armoured knight, who is still oblivious to the imminent threat they face. 

Zam the ex mercenary mutters "Fuck" as the first of the locals goes to grab Lis and try to shove her out of the way. And another of the group of locals goes to tackle the war engineer who is a commander in the Armies of Farque. 

The teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins throws the pewter tankard he's holding. And he watches it sail over the heads of those attending the night market. Who have turned to look at all the commotion near one of the corners in the square. 

Zam watches the flight of the pewter tankard, which ends when it smacks into the back of the head of one of the group of locals trying to crowd around the table where the scout Maera, Tovis the war engineer, Shur Kee the monk and sir Percavelle Lé Dic. Have been waiting for Zam the ex mercenary and Dorc da Orc who have been at one of the stalls, here at the main night market in this part of the city of Vexil. 

The youngest member of the group is frankly amazed he hit anyone, let alone someone in the back of the head, dropping him to the ground. 

A bit behind him, Dorc da Orc saw what just happened, and he chortles and says "That cunt got the fucken sleeps for sure". 

Zam couldn't agree more with the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world. Then the ex mercenary grimaces as he sees that both Lis and Tovis are now fighting some of those who have rushed them. 

The teenager who is originally from The City Of Ruins then grimaces again, and mutters "Fucking hell, that's all we need". 

As behind him, a rather annoyed sounding Dorc da Orc shouts "Cunt!". When the table the others have been waiting at. Is jostled, and a couple of the wine bottles that was on it, fall off and smash upon the cobblestones of the square. 

Zam is pretty certain the large ork couldn't care less that the others are in a fight. What he certainly does know is that the ork weaponsmith is definitely worried about all the alcohol that was waiting for him at the table. 

The ork general in the Armies of Farque is rushing to save all that alcohol. And not the other members of the group, who three of them at least, are in the midst of a brawl here towards a corner of the square, where the main night market in this part of the city of Vexil is being held. 

Lisell Maera the scout mutters "Prick" as she ducks beneath a swinging arm, in the hand of which is a danger, that's being held tightly. 

The attractive young woman who is a originally from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury, punches up, catching her attacker right under the chin. Sending the man stumbling backwards, dazed and falling into unconsciousness. While tripping up a couple of people right behind him. 

A bit to the left of the scout Maera, Tovis the war engineer has grabbed a man who was trying to grab him. 

He's got him by the throat and by the groin, and the commander in the engineering corp of the Armies of Farque, picks up the man with ease. 

And quickly lifts him overhead, before throwing the screaming man at a number of the others who are trying to rush him and Lis, knocking them over. 

The war engineer who hails from the south of the kingdom of Druvic, where he previously served in the army of a nobleman in that region of Druvic. 

Dodgers a dagger that's stabbed at him from his left, the strongest human in the group with the exception of Lord Farque. 

Backhands the individual who just tried to stab him. The left fist of Tovis smashes into the side of that man's face, cracking his jaw if the scream of pain coming from him is anything to go by. 

That man staggers away to one side of the table. Unfortunately right into the barrels of ale that the Druvician war engineer purchased for Dorc da Orc. 

The larger barrel is fine, the smaller one not so much. As the man with the broken jaw stumbles into it, knocking it over, and falling upon it, which breaks it open. 

"Uh oh" murmurs Tovis the war engineer when he hears an outraged sounding roar, followed by a very loud "Cunt!". 

Coming from what sounds like a rapidly approaching Dorc da Orc, somewhere away to the right across the square. 

The commander in the Armies of Farque doesn't look that way, nor does Lisell Maera the scout when she hears it. 

As the two of them are too busy concentrating on those, mostly locals, who are still trying to attack the two of them as they try to get to Shur Kee the monk and sir Percavelle Lé Dic who are behind the war engineer and the lead scout. 

Lis sidesteps to her right, and with a palm strike, smashes in the nose of one individuals attacking them. 

Out of the corner of her eye as she sidesteps the other way. She sees Tovis knock out a man with a swift punch to the side of the head. 

The scout Maera moves again, avoiding another of the attackers. Who it turns out wasn't going for her. 

As his target is Shur Kee the monk who says "Please, calm down people". Before he grabs the man by the right wrist, which he twists, forcing the man to yelp in pain and drop the dagger he was holding in that hand. 

The short statured monk who is originally from beyond The Southlands, the far east coast of the continent, where his homeland, the kingdom of Wah Lee is located. 

In one smooth motion, quickly turns whilst still holding the man's wrist. The physical adept who now has his back to the man, is slightly bent at the knees, and crouching as he sweeps the man's arm over his right shoulder. 

Shur Kee's assailant, yelps again as he goes flying up and over the right shoulder of the short statured monk. 

The acolyte in the philosophical order of Bru Li flings the man away, sending him tumbling overv and across the table. Where he sends bottles of wine and cups flying, before tumbling off the table. 

"I say chap" says a slightly annoyed sounding sir Percavelle Lé Dic who ignores the loud roar of anger he hears from his bitter rival Dorc da Orc. 

The large heavily armoured knight continues with "That was my supper" followed by "Wot" as he looks at the groaning man lying on the ground next to him. 

Who just tumbled across the table sending things flying, including the former paladin's plate of food he purchased here at the night market. 

With a slight scowl upon his face, the noble born knight who like Tovis, hails from the kingdom of Druvic. 

As he still sits there, looks to his left, then mutters "Saint Mar'che" as he sees the other three who were waiting here at the table with him..

Are fighting what appears to be a rather enraged looking group of what he assumes are locals to the eyes of the former earl of Lé Dic. 

Sir Percavelle or Percy as he's more commonly called by the others in the group, snorts in derision. As he's pretty certain that the monk could deal to all of these fools in his opinion. 

For it looks like most of them seem to be targeting the short statured monk who won Le Grande Meleé during the recent Spring Tourney of Vexil. 

"By Narille!" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic in anger as someone hits him in the back. The large heavily armoured knight turns his head, and sees a fellow with a wooden mallet. 

The member of the order of the Knights of Saint Mar'che whose steel back plate wasn't even scratched by that hit. 

Swings back with his right gauntleted hand, connecting with the groin of the man holding the mallet. Which instantly drops the man to the ground. 

The former paladin gets up, and not bothering to draw any of his weapons. He kicks out at another fellow who has tried to approach him from behind. 

The right steel boot of the large heavily armoured knight, slams into the left knee of that individual. Who shouts in pain, as he staggers to one side, before dropping to the ground, where he groans in pain. 

"Right, wot" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic in his usual boisterous way he speaks "Which one of you chaps is next?" continues the Druvician born nobleman, who then adds "Wot". 

When he gets close to the corner of the square, and the table where the others have been waiting here at the night market. 

Zam the ex mercenary goes running into a fellow to the right of Lisell Maera the scout, sending the fellow into the man next to him. Knocking them both off their feet. 

As the youngest member of the group who is originally from The City Of Ruins, sees Lis drop another of the attackers with a quick three punch attack to the face, and side of the head. 

And sees Tovis the war engineer slam his right elbow into the face of another of the group hell bent on attacking them. Well hell bent on attacking sir Percavelle Lé Dic and Shur Kee the monk. 

The ex mercenary sees the short statured monk send another of the attacking locals, flying backwards with an open palm strike to the sternum. 

Zam is just glad the physical adept hasn't gone into a trance like he does on occasion during combat. For that fellow who just got hit in the sternum, would really go flying backwards thirty to forty feet, instead of the eight feet or so he stumbled backwards, before falling on his rump. Gasping for breath as he sits there on the cobblestones of the square. 

The ex mercenary then remembers who's behind him, and he mutters "Shit" and quickly moves to the side. Just before Dorc da Orc says to him "Move cunt". 

Zam winces as the large ork hurries by him, and runs into those attacking the others. Here towards one of the corners of the square, where the main night market is held in this part of the city of Vexil. 

"Fuck" mutters Lisell Maera the scout, who quickly takes a few steps back. While nearby Tovis the war engineer mutters the same thing as he moves quickly backwards towards the table. 

As bodies go flying when the massive form of Dorc da Orc goes barreling into the remaining group of people who are trying to get to Shur Kee the monk and sir Percavelle Lé Dic. 

Shur Kee the monk who has also dodged backwards out of the way, quickly says "Friend Dorc, don't kill any". 

The acolyte in the order of Bru Li doesn't finish what he was about to say. And instead he sourly smiles as the large ork has grabbed one of men he's just bowled over. 

The ork warleader who has the groaning man by the right leg, flings him away. Throwing him a good twenty feet or so, until that fellow smashes into the trunk of the nearby tree. 

The big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world, who is looking towards the table, or next to it to be precise. 

Hisses loudly like a giant enraged cat, when he sees that the remaining barrel of ale has been knocked over. 

The weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks then grunts in relief as he sees that the remaining barrel of ale though on it's side, is still intact. 

Even so, that doesn't stop the ork general in the Armies of Farque from stomping on the right leg of one of the men he's knocked over. Who is trying to crawl away. Breaking the man's leg if the audible snap of bone, and scream of pain is anything to go by. 

There's almost a calm silence, as no one who was attacking members of the group, remain standing after Dorc da Orc ran into them. 

Others in the square, attending the night market. As well as stall holders, and merchants. Are all looking towards this corner of the square. 

"We better go" quickly says Zam the ex mercenary who breaks the silence, nodding in agreement with the youngest member of the group, Lisell Maera adds "Let's go". 

As someone in the crowded night market calls out for the city guard. A tower of their's isn't all that far away from the square where the main night market, here in the north of the city is held. 

"Let's go Percy" says Tovis the war engineer to the large heavily armoured knight, who is loudly muttering "Pray tell, who's going to pay for another supper for I, the great sir Percavelle?". 

"Move Percy" says Lis, who quickly looks at the former paladin's bitter rival, and adds "And you too Dorc". 

The ork warleader who has just stood on the left hand of an unconscious fellow on the ground, clearly breaking it. 

Picks up the remaining barrel of ale, then swipes off the table, the sole remaining bottle of wine that's still intact after that quick fight. 

And he heads off after Tovis the war engineer, who is leading the way out of the square, followed by Shur Kee the monk, then sir Percavelle Lé and Lisell Maera the scout. 

The youngest member of the group follows behind the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world. 

Who turns around and growls, then roars. As couple of people who didn't partake in the attack upon members of the group. 

Go to follow the six of them who came to the night market, here this evening in the north of the city of Vexil. 

Those two stop and don't take a step further after that for the large ork. Who exists the square, with the teenager originally from The City Of Ruins following closely behind him. 

Moving past a contented looking Dorc da Orc, who has already drunk the bottle of wine he took off the table. 

Zam catches up to Lisell Maera, who is saying "What the hell was that all about?" followed by "Why did they attack us?". 

As they round a corner, and head down another street, the ex mercenary says "Pretty sure they were after Percy and Shur Kee". 

The teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins continues with "Think they thought the two of them were in cohoots during Le Grande Meleé". 

"Hell" mutters the attractive young woman who is a junior officer in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque. 

"That's all we need" sourly adds Lisell Maera, Zam the ex mercenary nods in agreement with her as they make their way back to the Merchant's Rest inn, on this spring evening here in the city of Vexil . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 72.

The City Of Vexil. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Springtime In The City 71.

Vexil. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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