The Homecoming 47.

Rendezvous...

They observe the border town of Falshire for nearly a day, before some of them are sent back to inform those who are still making their way towards the border.
While a few riders head back directly west, the way in which they originally came from.
Three others are sent north, then west. As that's the direction, the first force led by sir Galmot are expecting to come from.
Though Dalinvardél Tanith wasn't originally picked to be one of the three riders to go that way. He tells the officer in command, that he'll be going that way anyway.
The officer who has no say in what sir Percavelle Lé Dic's friend does. Just shrugs his shoulders, and tells the elven spy from the principality of Alínlae. What he tells the two soldiers who are going with them.
That the forces of baron Harkonin who have taken over the town of Falshire. Are digging in, and are expecting a retaliatory attack from the army of the Lé Dic fief at anytime now.
The spy Tanith and the two soldiers with him. Having left well before sunrise. Ride through the forest that's to the north of the border town that's been a bone of contention between the Lé Dic and Harkonin families for many generations.
They ride along a narrow road, cart track really, for a lot of the morning. Before the road widens a bit, as they forest thins out, and the pass through more open land.
They see very few people as they ride. Just an occasional shepherd, tending to a flock here and there, along some of the nearby hilltops as the forest gives away to meadows, and more open woodland.
And some workers in an orchard, up one of the larger hills to their right. Dalinvardél Tanith spots an old temple or church, or a monastery on the hilltop with the orchard all the way around it.
One of the soldiers riding with him, informs the elven spy that it was once a monastic outpost for an order of knights. Which one, he's not too sure. Just that they were driven out by the local nobility many centuries ago.
Probably when most, if not all the nobility in this area of the kingdom followed the ways of the druids. Whether they be dark druids or not.
Back then, the worship of the gods of Volunell in this region of Druvic, wasn't as widespread as it is now.
The old ways, as it's commonly referred to. Was worshiped far more than it is now. Even here in eastern Druvic. Probably the last true stronghold of the druidic way, not just in the kingdom of Druvic. But all the Southlands.
They don't stop at all, continuing to ride throughout the morning. On what's a relatively cool day, in that time when the seasons are changing. In this case, between winter and spring.
It's late in the morning, when Dalinvardél Tanith or Dalin to those who know him well. With his superior eyesight and hearing in comparison to the two humans he's riding with.
Spots the column of riders and foot soldiers in the distance on the road, further to the northwest. Heading in this direction.
The elf who once served in one of the more notable noble houses in the principality of Alínlae. Sees it's soldiers from castle Lé Dic, led by sir Galmot the army leader.
He informs the two soldiers with him that he's seen the column in the distance. And the three of them speed up, and it's not too long before they encounter the scouts who are acting as the fore riders for the column of about a hundred and twenty or so who have come from castle Lé Dic, and another twenty five who joined them when they stopped at castle Duc de Laér.
One of the scouts rides back to the column with them. There the two soldiers who Dalinvardél Tanith has ridden with all morning. Inform sir Galmot and his officers what's happening at the border town of Falshire, that's now under baron Harkonin's control.
The elven spy from the principality of Alínlae heads back along the column to where he's spotted the rest of the group who are on foot, including sir Percavelle Lé Dic and Tamric Drubine who are on foot as well, as they lead their borrowed mounts.
The spy Tanith dismounts, glances at Dorc da Orc who is walking right behind the former earl of Lé Dic, and a nervous looking horse. The elf who is nearing three hundred years of age. Walks beside Riley Hait the mercenary ranger, and in elvish. Tells him what he's seen at the town of Falshire.
Both Tamric Drubine and Lisell Maera listen to the elven spy tell the mercenary ranger, what's happening at the border town they're heading towards. They, like the ranger Hait listen in silence to what Dalin has to say.
"The pace you lot are going, you'll probably get into the forest to the north of Falshire sometime late this afternoon, more likely tonight" says Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy after he's told Riley Hait what he's seen, and observed of Falshire, and the forces of baron Harkonin who have taken it over.
"Was it that easy to see in there, to get such an accurate count of their forces?" asks Riley Hait the mercenary ranger, who then adds "Or did you sneak in when no one was looking, and get a good look at them?".
"Easier than that" says the elven spy from the principality of Alínlae, who continues with "I got a couple of farmers to go into town and count them all for me" Dalin shrugs his shoulders, then adds "They don't seem to care about the local farmers and town folk coming and going" he then says "They're commoners, they don't care what they get up to".
The mercenary ranger from the elven principality of Envadarlen nods his head to that, as he has been in many a kingdom such as Druvic, where the common people are treated as inconsequential. And they're only thought of if they're in jobs that bring a direct benefit to the nobility. Such as soldiers in the armies, either volunteers, or conscripts.
Or as workers, in their armies. Or at the castles and keeps. Outside of that, the common people are pretty much only seen as a source of income. As in how much tax can be collected from there.
And though it's slightly different in cities, such as Leeabra, the capital of Druvic. Here in more rual fiefs, that's the life the common folk have to endure.
Then there's the noble family who rules the various fiefs. Life under them can either be comfortable depending how the lord or lady of the fief behaves. Or it can be oppressive. As some of the nobility who rule the fiefs in a kingdom such as Druvic. Are nothing but tyrants.
It's fairly rare that you'll get one in the middle. Most fiefs in Druvic are lead by one or the other. A fair minded, but tough nobleman or woman. Or a complete egotistical tyrant, who rules his or her fief with violence or terror, many times both.
The ranger Hait, who slightly frowned at something Dalin said earlier, quietly asks him "Get a good look at the siege equipment and war machines there?".
"Some of them" says the spy Tanith, who continues with "The others were saying most of them is from what was already there from the previous border conflict eighteen months ago, when Percy's brother was killed" the elf from Alínlae then adds "From both sides by the looks of it".
Dalinvardél Tanith pauses for a few moments, then says "The baron's forces might of bought some stuff with them from castle Harkonin when more of them arrived a few days ago" he continues on with "One of the farmers i had go in and look around at things, said he saw some of them working in the town's largest smithy they've taken over. And that they've got some canvas covered wagons with something in them. He couldn't get close enough to see what, without bringing too attention to himself".
The mercenary ranger, who in actual fact, is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra by the name of Zubutai Timaginson, who just happens to inhabit the body of Riley Hait. Nods his head, and quietly says "Our engineer's work perhaps?" the ranger Hait then adds "Think he might actually be there?".
"Perhaps" says Dalin who then adds "And i have" in reply to the mercenary ranger's questions, then the spy Tanith tells Riley aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman "It might be a good thing he's there, and it might not" the elven spy continues with "We may find him quickly. But if not, he could very well get himself killed, since I'm fairly certain this lot is going to attack Falshire the first chance they get".
The mercenary ranger who was raised and trained by some of the elven warders of Envadarlen, grimaces as that's a very distinct possibility. If the war engineer they're searching for in the eastern region of Druvic. Is in baron Harkonin's forces, and happens to be in the town of Falshire. He could very well get himself killed in battle, before they get a chance to find him, and take him away with them.
"Fuck that's all we need, him in Falshire, and getting killed before we can even get to him" mutters Riley aka Zubutai Timaginson, who once again, wishes that lord Farque, Mira Reinholt the mage and Helbe the elven thief were here with them. As either one of the spellcasters, in particular the elven magic user, prince Helbenthril Raendril could easily locate the individual they're searching for. And take him out of harms way, before the engineer even knows what's happening.
"And the fact he might not exactly want to come along with us" quietly says Dalin, who continues with "We don't exactly have his highness here to persuade him to come along. One of us will have to do some pretty fast talking, to explain to him, that it's best to leave his life and home behind, and to come along with us".
Once again the ranger Hait grimaces, as that's another problem he's thought about since the group split up, and he's the nominal leader now that lord Farque, Mira Reinholt, and Helbenthril Raendril aren't with them at this time.
Riley Hait who thought that those three would of rejoined them by now. After all, they were only in the capital Leeabra, which is less than five days travel away on foot from castle Lé Dic. Quietly tells the elven spy "We'll deal with that problem when we come across it" he then adds "That's if he's even in Falshire in the first place".
Dalinvardél Tanith, who is wearing his hood up at the moment, nods in agreement, then he glances at sir Percavelle Lé Dic. Who is suspiciously quiet. As he thought the heavily armoured knight who is the former earl of the Lé Dic fief. Would of been pressuring him to tell him everything about what's happening at the border town of Falshire.
Instead the knight in the order of Saint Mar-che is just staring ahead as he walks, leading his borrowed mount. He's not even annoyed that Dorc da Orc is following him so closely. Infact in looks like sir Percavelle doesn't even know the large ork is right behind him and his borrowed horse. A horse that's clearly skittish that the big, burly ork is following right behind it.
"What's wrong with Percy?" quietly asks Dalin who continues speaking in the elven language "He's withdrawn to say the least" adds the elven spy from Alínlae.
"Huh?" says Riley Hait who was just thinking about what they'll have to do, if the engineer they're searching for, is in the town of Falshire when they get there.
"Oh" says the mercenary ranger from the elven principality of Envadarlen, who then tells that spy Tanith "He had a run in with his ex wife when we stopped at her family's castle and picked up some more of this lot".
"Not good?" asks Dalinvardél Tanith "Not good" replies Zubutai Timaginson, who then dryly adds "Definitely not good". The elven spy from the principality of Alínlae raises an eyebrow at that, then murmurs "Bit disappointed i missed out on seeing all that".
The ranger Hait wryly smiles when he hears that, then he quietly says to Dalin "Well there was definitely one positive to come out of all that" Riley aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman continues with "It was the most effective thing ever to getting him to shut up. Hardly heard a thing from him since we left there".
The spy Tanith glances at the former earl of Lé Dic, who is silent as he walks and leads his borrowed horse "A silent Percy, now that's a novelty" says Dalinvardél Tanith who after a brief pause continues with "Wonder if he'll be so quiet when we reach Falshire, and this lot go into battle?" answering his own question, the elven spy from Alínlae quietly adds "For some reason, i rather doubt it" . . . . . .