The Hire 10.

Unruled Lands. The Southern Reaches. The Colevar Mountains...

Another of the airships lands and more of the soldiers in the armies of the robber barons disembark, by making their way over the sides, and climbing down the cargo nets to the ground.
And though the soldiers are perfectly fine with this. For the simple reason they didn't have to march south from the main camp of the army to get here.
Their robber barons along with their seconds and senior officers aren't so enamoured with the way in which their troops have been brought south.
Tamric Drubine, the field commander of this particular force. Glances at Helbe the elven thief who is standing beside him.
"I'll leave it up to you ah envoy" says Tamric Drubine, who turns and walks away, taking a number of his senior staff with him.
As the two robber barons, Almard and Larimer. Along with their seconds and other officers in their armies. Quickly walk in this direction from the airship they've just disembarked from.
The young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel sourly smiles as he watches the disgruntled looking robber barons making their way to where he stands off to one side of the road that goes through the hills in this part of the southern reaches of the unruled lands in the Colevar Mountains.
The elven princeling who is a member of the personal council of lord Farque. Would like nothing better than to disappear and not deal with the robber barons Almard and Larimer. The two out of the five robber barons who were dead set against the mercenary army from the lands Farque taking over their campaign against the duke of Phelm.
But he knows he has to deal with them, and placate them. So that Tamric Drubine and others can go about with the planning of the campaign, and execution of those plans, in the war against duke Hargen of Phelm.
The field commander as he makes his way along the road with his senior officers. Looks back and sees the elven envoy in conversation with the two robber barons, Almard and Larimer.
And by the animated gestures of the two so called robber barons. They're obviously not happy about something. Which doesn't come as a surprise to the nobleborn teenager from the kingdom of Sarcrin.
For Almard and Larimer, the two oldest of the robber barons of the unruled lands in the southern reaches of the Colevar Mountains.
Haven't been happy about much, ever since the mercenary army from the lands Farque took over command in their campaign against the duke of Phelm.
"Commander" says one of the subofficers from the lands Farque. Tamric Drubine or Tam as he's more commonly called by those who know him well. Looks to where the officer, who has a wry look upon his face, is pointing.
The former heir of a previous knight of castle Drubine in northern Sarcrin, rolls his eyes as he looks to another of the transporters that has just put down.
"I'd almost forgotten about them" quietly says Tam as he watches the goblins scrambling over the side of the airship that's just put down near the road.
Quite a few of the goblins, who are in the armies of Farque. Fall off the cargo nets they're hurrying down. Hitting the ground. Though without any serious damage by the looks of it.
Then their "General" climbs over the side of the transporter. Yelling at the goblins below to get out of his fucken way.
The field commander shakes his head as he watches Dorc da Orc disembark. And wonders if the heavy cargo net will hold under the weight of the large ork.
It stretches and barely holds the ork warleader as he makes his way down to the ground.
Once he does, the big, burly ork who has an angry scowl upon his broad, green, feral looking face, as it's another dry, hot morning here in the foothills of the Colevar Mountains.
Yells at his battalion, his goblin army. To get into order, and onto the road, to continue the march southwards.
They're already doing so without the prompting of the warleader of the ork race.
For accident prone goblins. Tam must admit they're well trained and organised. Not only that, he knows they're fearless in battle. As he's fought alongside them in the past.
When they were in the elven principality of Alínlae. When the group Tamric Drubine was traveling with. Searched for, and found the elven spy Dalinvardél Tanith.
"Better trained than that lot there" quietly says one of the three field commanders in the mercenary army from the lands Farque. Who nods from the goblin army with their ork general. To some of the robber baron's soldiers, who are ambling down to the road, to continue the march southwards to the kingdom of Nastell.
They've flown south during the night, as both sides of the conflict have warships up in the skies, on both sides of the border.
A border that from what the nobleborn teenager from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin has learnt. Is definitely only on maps, and no where else.
For the foothills in the southern reaches of the Colevar Mountains, that go from the unruled lands down into the duchy of Phelm, in the north of the kingdom of Nastell.
Are pretty indistinguishable on both sides of the 'border'. The country looks similar in northern Phelm, as it does here in the unruled lands.
With roads and trails going between the two along the border.
Towns, villages and hamlets on either side of the border look awfully similar too, as do the people.
Just another sign, that those across the southern reaches of the Colevar Mountains. Whether they be in northern Nastell, or the south of the unruled lands that the robber barons claim. Are all basically the same people.
Just that some live within the duchy of Phelm in the kingdom of Nastell. While others do not.
"Get more of our sergeant at arms amongst their men, and get them into order and get them going" orders the young field commander who is in charge of this particular force that's going south towards the kingdom of Nastell.
He looks back to where Helbe the elven thief is still in conversation with the robber barons Almard and Larimer and quietly adds "Quick, while his highness has those two occupied".
As his orders are carried out, Tamric Drubine continues down the road. For though he has a large contingent from the armies of the robber barons Larimer and Almard with him. He also has a sizeable force from the mercenary army from the lands Farque with him too.
The majority of them are already on the road, and are heading south as the morning warms up.
And as Tam and his staff follow after them, the nobleborn teenager from the kingdom of Sarcrin, who is now a field commander in the armies of Farque.
Winces as he hears a familiar voice. For amongst those within the mercenary army from the lands Farque who he's got under his command, many of whom are in the heavy foot and heavy horse battalions. Is one individual who has decided to tag along with them.
Which is a bit of a surprise, as it was no secret that Dorc da Orc and his goblin army would be going wherever Tamric Drubine was going.
"Oh hell" mutters the young field commander, as once again he hears the familiar, and overly loud voice of sir Percavelle Lé Dic call out to him once more with "Tam lad!" followed by "Over here!"
The nobleborn knight from the kingdom of Druvic, who is repleasant in his suit of shining steel armour, and flowing white cape as he sticks out amongst the heavy foot troopers from the lands Farque in their black armour, and black tabbards.
Waves to the nobleborn youngster from the kingdom of Sarcrin, and calls out to him with "Come along and march with me and these fine troopers on this sunny morning!".
The former earl of Lé Dic who must be baking in his suit of full heavy plate armour, doesn't show it, as he has a broad smile upon his face.
The only concession the heavily armoured knight is making to the growing heat of the morning, is that he's carrying his full helm tucked under an arm.
Tamric Drubine faintly smiles as one of his subcommanders quietly says in a dry tone in the elven language "Hell if the enemy doesn't hear him first, they'll definitely see him with all that shining armour" the Farqian then dryly adds "He almost sticks out as much as the warleader".
"I wouldn't mention that to him if i was you" quietly says Tam in the same language, the young field commander continues in elven with "He won't take too kindly to any comparisons with warleader Dorc".
Then deciding it's best to keep the former paladin quiet. The nobleborn teenager who is originally from the kingdom of Sarcrin. Makes his way over to the nobleborn knight from the kingdom of Druvic.
"Capital, capital" says the knight in the order of Saint Mar-che when Tamric Drubine joins him for a little while.
The heavily armoured knight who steadfastly refuses to look back along the road, to where Dorc da Orc is with his goblin army.
Says to the young field commander "I say, how long will it be before we're into this duke's lands in Nastell?".
"A couple of days and we'll be in the duchy of Phelm" is the reply of Tamric Drubine who continues with "That's if we don't run into them before we even get to the border".
The force that field commander Drubine is leading, is the main thrust of the attack against the duke's army in Phelm.
While the force led by field commander Leivyn is further to the east in the foothills of the southern reaches. And to the west, is the force led by field commander Talbot.
While further to the north, is the majority of the mercenary army from the lands Farque, which is led by general Halvane.
With the general is many of those in the robber barons armies who it was deemed weren't worthy, or competent enough to be in battle any time soon.
Many of them have come from the armies of the robber barons Almard and Larimer. Infact nearly a third of both of their armies are back with the main force of the mercenary army from the lands Farque under the command of general Halvane.
As Tamric Drubine vaguely listens to the former earl of Lé Dic, prattle on about how he, the great sir Percavelle shall defeat the army of the dastardly duke of Phelm. Whose name escapes him again. Until Tam tells him it's "Hargen".
The young field commander in the armies of Farque. Glances back behind them along the road, which on either side of it, the green grass of the foothills, is turning brown in the hot sun of the early summer.
There must of been a bit of rain here recently, because further north, much of the foothills are already brown and dry. And the first month of summer is still not yet over.
The nobleborn teenager looks beyond the battalion of goblins and their general, the ork warleader.
To the armies of the robber barons, who are finally underway now that they've all been dropped off by the airships that have flown them here.
The young field commander sees a number of the Farqian sergeants and sergeant at arms keeping the robber baron's soldiers moving.
And though there's mercenaries amongst them. It hasn't passed the notice of Tam that the robber barons Almard and Larimer have the lest amount of mercenaries in their two armies.
And though his sergeants and sergeant at arms are doing a fine job in moving the robber baron's soldiers, they could be moving quicker in the opinion of the young field commander.
Tam thinks of something, and slightly nods to himself. He quickly dismisses the idea of Dorc da Orc from doing it. For the simple reason the large ork would probably just kill a bunch of them. Then complain that they're not doing what he wants.
Besides the nobleborn teenager who is in command of this force heading south towards the kingdom of Nastell. Thinks it's best the ork warleader keeps close to his goblin army, and keeps an eye on them instead.
So the field commander, one of three of them in the mercenary army from the lands Farque, here in the foothills of the Colevar Mountains.
Glances at the heavily armoured knight walking beside him. Who is still going on about how he'll defeat duke Hargen's army, single handedly if necessary.
The former earl of Lé Dic who is member of the order of knights of Saint Mar-che. Basically did what Tam wants him to do now. When the armies were camped in the valley, away to the north here in the unruled lands north of the border with the kingdom of Nastell.
"Percy" says Tamric Drubine as he interrupts the former paladin's diatribe, the young field commander gestures back up the road behind them and adds "I want you to go back there and".
"No" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic as interrupts the nobleborn teenager from the kingdom of Sarcrin.
"I haven't even told you what i want you to do" dryly says Tam.
"That smelly green beast, and his ragtag army of goblins is back there, and i don't want anything to with them" declares the heavily armoured knight, whose steel plate armour glistens in the morning sunshine.
"You won't" says the young field commander, who continues with "I want you to". He then explains to the former knight of the first class that he wants the armies of the robber barons to hurry up.
The nobleman from the kingdom of Druvic, who has no real position in the armies of Farque. Just that he's in them, not that he really thinks of himself as being part of them. And that he's more or less free to do what he wants while he's with them.
Grunts in the affirmative at the suggestion of the young field command who leads this force heading south to the border with the kingdom of Nastell, and it's northern most duchy, Phelm.
"Ah yes, capital there young Tam" says the boisterous knight, who continues with "That is quite within reason, and is something that i, the great sir Percavelle, with my skills beyond peer, can easily accomplish".
The nobleborn knight nods, then steps out of the line of march. Turns around, and walks back up the road in the direction they've come from.
The former earl of Lé Dic, and the ork warleader Dorc da Orc stare at one another as they walk by one another in opposite directions.
With the large ork scowling, and muttering to himself in his native language as he watches the heavily armoured knight walking the other way.
As for sir Percavelle Lé Dic, he has a haughty look upon his face as he sneers at the big, burly ork.
Many of the goblins in the battalion led by the ork warleader. Look at their general and the former paladin, and back again. As they know there's animosity between the two of them.
They pass by without incident, much to the relief of all watching. Including Tamric Drubine.
The young field commander sees that the robber barons Larimer and Almard have rejoined their armies. And that Helbe the elven thief is no longer in sight back along the road.
The nobleborn teenager is just about to ask one of subofficers if they've seen the elven envoy.
When he notices that the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel, is now walking right beside him. Where sir Percavelle Lé Dic was walking previously.
"Why did you send Percy back there?" asks prince Helbenthril Raendril who speaks in the elven language "To get that lot back there to move a bit quicker" is the reply in the same language from the commander Drubine.
With a nod of his hooded head, the elven magic user says "Well if there's one person who can get them to hurry up, it's him".
The elven masterthief briefly pauses, then continues with "Well, Dorc could too" he then adds in a dry tone of voice with "Though he'd probably kill a shitload of them in the process".
Tam nods to that, then he asks the young elven noble "What were they complaining about this time?".
"The usual" is the reply of Helbe the elven thief, who continues with "And the fact that they haven't got any mounts, and they have to walk like most of their soldiers".
"The walk will do them good" dryly murmurs the nobleborn teenager from the kingdom of Sarcrin.
The highly talented elven spellcaster chuckles at that, then the member of the personal council of lord Farque tells the young field commander "I'll go ahead and help the scouts" he then adds "See if any of the enemy are on our path to the border".
The elven master assassin glances back as they hear the loud voice of sir Percavelle Lé Dic admonishing soldiers in the robber barons armies to hurry up.
The grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel tells Tamric Drubine "Keep an eye on him, and on Dorc too" Helbe the elven thief quietly adds "Don't let Dorc or his goblins do anything until we're actually in a battle".
The young field commander nods in understanding, then the elven masterthief vanishes as he shifts ahead of the army that's heading to the duchy of Phelm in northern Nastell . . . . . .