You Want A War? You've Got One! 75.

Falnic. Belinswae. Winter...

A couple of weeks after the fall of the city of Falnic. And life has pretty much returned to normal in the coastal city.
Though repair work continues throughout the city, especially in the north and east. Life is pretty much the same as it was before the winter.
With the exception that just one Justifier rules in Falnic now. As well as that dwarves are now on the streets of the city. When at the start of winter, most of them had fled Falnic because of the invasion of the Stone Hills by the Justifiers of Belinswae.
"Another one was it?" asks Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy "It was" replies Mira Reinholt the mage as they stand upon the east wall of the city watching wyvern riders heading southeast.
Another Justifier of Belinswae has just visited the city, and though those in the south of the region hardly ever participated in the raids into the Nomads Plains to kill or capture tribal nomads.
They're still not comfortable with the decree from Falnic that all raids into the dry, arid plains to the east of Belinswae are to cease.
"He should be fine with those southern Justifiers" says the mage Reinholt, who continues with "It's the one's who are left in the east, he's got to worry about" the exiled Vexilian mage then adds "They're pissed off they can't raid anymore, he'll have to deal to them eventually".
"Think one or some of them might be dead now" says the spy Tanith "Oh?" says the once powerful mage who looks at the taller elf as the two of them lean forward against the top of the wall.
"I haven't seen his highness for the last couple of days" says Dalinvardél Tanith referring to Helbe the elven thief, the elven spy continues with "Think he went with Riley and Dorc".
The spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster nods his head, as he knows the large ork and the mercenary ranger are out of the city at the moment, with good reason.
A few days ago, the first dead dwarf was found. A total of a dozen have been found since. It's obvious to those who know him, who is responsible for the deaths of the dwarves. Both warriors from the Stone Hills, and residents of Falnic who have recently returned to the city.
Lord Farque who can't keep an eye on Dorc da Orc all the time, sent the large ork out of the city, along with the ranger Hait. The two of them are checking on the half blood villages close to the Nomads Plains. To inform them that are free to travel into the plains, and throughout all of Belinswae.
When previously you would hardly ever see a half blood venture out of the area near the southeast edge of Belinswae. Even though they weren't persecuted by the townsmen of the region, they weren't exactly made welcome either.
"More of them" quietly says the elf who is referred to as Dalin by those who know him, the mage from the city-state of Vexil looks to where his fellow Southlander points, and he can just make out figures in the distance on the road that leads southeast from the city.
The highly skilled swordmaster can just make out that they're heading towards Falnic "Half bloods?" asks the mage Reinholt "Half bloods" confirms the spy from the elven principality of Alínlae in the Southlands.
"Well the locals seem not to care about them too much" says the spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in the Southlands, the exiled Vexilian mage glances to either side of them along the top of the wall, then switching to the elven language, he adds "Wonder what they'll think when the first of the nomads turn up here to trade?".
"That should be interesting" quietly says Dalinvardél Tanith in the same language, the elven spy who is watching the road that leads southeast from the city, then adds "That's if we're still here when the first of them return" Mira Reinholt nods then murmurs "That's true".
It's later in the morning, on what's a fairly mild day for this time of the year, near the end of winter. That the once powerful mage and the elven spy, who are still on top of the east wall of Falnic. That they find out they probably won't be in the city when the first of the nomads return to Falnic to trade goods with the townsmen, who for thousands of years, have been their enemies.
The two Southlanders spot the youngsters Tamric Drubine and Lisell Maera coming along the top of the wall. The mage Reinholt sees that Tam is no longer followed by the two dwarves, Jarka Mard and Omick. Who must of been amongst the dwarves who flew out early this morning to return to the Stone Hills.
Once they reach the two older Southlanders, the youngsters inform them that they'll be leaving Falnic when Dorc da Orc and Riley Hait the mercenary ranger return to the city.
"He say where we're going?" asks Mira Reinholt "Back to the Southlands" is the reply of Lisell Maera "It will be good to go back" quietly says Dalinvardél Tanith, the swordmaster nods in agreement with the elven spy from the principality of Alínlae.
Here north of the equator, especially here in the region of Belinswae. It lacks the diverse nature of life that is found throughout the Southlands. Even in the most backwards of feudal kingdoms such as Sarcrin that Tamric Drubine is from. Life is more diverse than it is anywhere in Belinswae.
And the fact that magic is far more prevalent in the Southlands than it is here in north of the equator. Though a lot of that has to do with the fact that the Justifiers of Belinswae eliminate other spellcasters who they don't have working for them.
That too is about to stop, as the new ruler of Falnic changes law after law in his city, that he hopes will spread throughout the region.
"Definitely good to go back" quietly says Tamric Drubine, who continues with "It's still weird to be in a city this size and not see a single airship in the sky".
"Though seeing wyverns flying everywhere is kind of cool" adds Lisell Maera who is from the largest coastal city in the Southlands, Brattonbury, which probably has ten times the population of Falnic, and is probably ten times bigger than the largest city in the region of Belinswae.
A pair of wyverns pass over the east wall of the city, and head away to the east, then south "Traders and merchants" says Dalinvardél Tanith as they look up at the wyverns leaving the city "Some of the first going to the plains no doubt" says Mira Reinholt.
"Things are definitely changing around here, that's for sure" says the nobleborn youngster from the kingdom of Sarcrin, the other three Southlanders nod in agreement with the former heir of castle Drubine as they watch the pair of wyverns heading off to the Nomads Plains.
With those flying upon them, going off to trade. When previously wyverns that had townsmen upon them, that went that way, went to raid on the dry, arid plains to the east of Belinswae. To kill and capture tribal nomads, but now, no more.
After a while the Southlanders make their way off the east wall of the city, and head back to the inn that they've taken over. By the time they get back, the midday meal will most likely be served.
As they make their way through the streets in the east of the city, they see few guards out and about. Most they do see, are helping with the rebuilding of damaged business and houses.
Amongst the builders, carpenters and masons fixing the damaged buildings. Are a number of dwarven warriors who came south from the Stone Hills. Those who are proficient at stonework, are helping to rebuild the city of Falnic.
As they get back to the street the inn is on, they spot sir Percavelle Lé Dic pacing back and forth infront of the inn. With the heavily armoured knight is a handful of elves from the principality of Maladimbáh, and dwarves from the Stone Hills. All of whom are milling about infront of the inn.
"Wonder what's got Percy so worked up?" quietly says Dalinvardél Tanith who is the first to spot the earl of Lé Dic pacing back and forth infront of the inn.
When they get to the front of the establishment that they, the former occupying forces of Falnic have been staying at. Mira Reinholt the mage asks the heavily armoured knight "Percy what is it?".
The knight in the order of Saint Mar-che who has a bit of a pensive look upon his face and has his helm tucked under his right arm, gestures at the inn, then clears his throat.
"Er?" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic, who then falls silent which causes eyebrows to be raised from the other Southlanders as the knight from south of the equator is hardly ever short for words.
Infact it's usually the opposite, as you usually can't keep the nobleborn knight quiet. As he is a rather boisterous individual to say the least.
"Yes?" eventually asks the mage who is in exile from his homeland of Vexil, the heavily armoured knight clears his throat again, then says "Ah lord Farque".
The others all look at the mage Reinholt, who with the exception of Dorc da Orc, has known the undead warlord the longest.
Hell! I guess I'm the one to find out what's happened, the once powerful mage thinks to himself, the spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, sourly smiles and makes his way inside.
The others remain outside when sir Percavelle vigorously shakes his head no at them when they go to follow the mage Reinholt inside.
In the common room of the inn, the highly skilled swordmaster finds it empty with the exception of Shur Kee the monk, and the innkeeper who is peeking over the bar, looking towards the stairs.
In one corner of the room, the table the group usually sits at when they're having their meals, is broken. Infact the solid, not to mention large round table, is smashed to bits.
The Vexilian mage in exile walks over to the short, statured monk, who is standing there holding his conical shaped hat in his hands.
"What happened Shur Kee?" quietly asks Mira Reinholt the mage "Ah lord Farque got a message from one of wyvern riders who flew in from the Stone Hills this morning" is the reply of Shur Kee the monk, who then adds after a slight pause "I do not think he was happy with it"
The once powerful mage slightly winces, then he looks towards the stairs and asks the acolyte in the order of Bru Li "Is he upstairs?" the short, statured monk replies with "He is" followed by "In his room".
By the shape of fire, i hope it isn't what i think it is, Mira Reinholt thinks to himself, who then says to Shur Kee "Get the others inside, and help the innkeeper clear up this mess" the swordmaster Reinholt then makes his way to the stairs, and goes up them.
On the second floor of inn, the spellcaster from the Southlands stands at the door to the undead warlord's room, and is about to knock on it, when he hears lord Farque say from the otherside "Get in here mage" followed by "Now".
"Fuck" mutters the mage Reinholt who winces, before he opens the door and enters the room.
Inside the once powerful mage finds the heavily armoured deathlord standing at the open window, which he's looking out of. The lord and ruler of the lands Farque without looking back, says to the Vexilian mage in exile "On the table".
After closing the door behind him, Mira Reinholt makes his way to the table, and picks up the letter there, the practitioner of magic starts reading it. And seeing that it's in dwarven, which he can barely speak, he casts a spell to help him read it.
"Shit" mutters the swordmaster Reinholt after he reads the first couple of lines "Indeed" sourly says lord Farque.
"He was from the clan furtherest to the east in the mountains, he and others made their way west once they found out the fucking Justifiers had invaded the Stone Hills, to help out the clanholds under attack" explains the lord of the death realm, who as the mage Reinholt continues to read, he continues with "He got his dumb ass killed just a few weeks ago, just as the Justifiers and their armies were retreating out of those fucking mountains".
The spellcaster who was the youngest ever member of the mage council of Vexil winces, then after finishing the letter, which expanded into more detail what lord Farque just said. The once powerful mage puts the letter down, then looks at the heavily armoured deathlord and says to him "Would he of worked in the group anyway?" the mage from south of the equator then adds "What with that idiot Dorc, and how he feels about dwarves".
The undead warlord slightly nods his full helmed head, and says "It would of been difficult, but it would of worked" the lord and ruler of the lands Farque who is also known as Draugadrottin to the people of his lands, then adds in a sour tone "Not that we'll fucking know now".
Mira Reinholt glances down at the letter, and slightly shakes his head. For the sole reason they decided to help out the dwarven clanholds in the Stone Hills that came under attack at the start of winter from some of the Justifiers of Belinswae and their armies.
Is because Helbe the elven thief's power of foresight came upon him again during the end of autumn here in Falnic. And that the next person the undead warlord would be looking for, was to be found in the Stone Hills.
The once powerful mage who never thought the dwarf in question would last a day in their company, let alone any length of time, due to Dorc da Orc, and his racial hatred of dwarven kind.
Looks at the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, and says to him "Hopefully the next one who comes along, whoever it might be, won't be so difficult to find" he then adds "Or be difficult fitting into the group like this dwarf would of been".
The lord of the death realm just slightly nods as he stands there looking out of the open window on this fairly mild day towards the end of winter here in the city of Falnic.

Author's Note - Here ends "You Want A War? You've Got One!". The main storyline will return in "The Homecoming".