To War 87.

Summer. In The South Of The Kingdom Of Melaurn.

The evening, like the day is cool. Especially for the summertime, here in the south of the kingdom of Melaurn.
Jarjin Littlefoot the hobbit, who is standing next to where the Quick Gull is moored at the edge of the camp.
Looks away to his right, and sees the two spellcasters. Mira Reinholt the mage and Beldane the cleric, walking this way.
The two practitioners of magic, who couldn't be more different in personality and temperament than you'll ever likely to find.
Have been helping out the healers, who are tending to the wounded and injured from this morning's battle.
"How was it?" asks Jarjin Littlefoot when the two spellcasters join him next to the Quick Gull.
The mage Reinholt just shrugs, while Beldane the cleric says "Those who'll live, will live".
The fighting cleric from the kingdom of Nastell, continues with "Lord Gormica's vassal, sir Riknall is going to live" followed by "I got to him in time".
The halfling, who isn't what he appears to be, nods. As he caught sight of sir Riknall after the battle. And thought the nobleman from the province of Karricaw, wouldn't survive that long.
As Beldane, who is a member of the church of Glaine, a god worshiped primarily in the north of the kingdom of Nastell, yawns after a busy afternoon and early evening healing.
The hobbit, who is a former air sailor from the far east coast of the continent, the Sultanate of Dreese to be exact.
Asks his fellow member of lord Farque's personal council "You heard anything from the royal thief?".
"Nothing" is the reply from Mira Reinholt the mage, who then asks the halfling, who isn't what he appears to be "Have you?".
"No" says councilor Littlefoot, who continues on with "Nothing since just before the enemy broke off, and retreated" he briefly pauses before adding "Or what was left of them.
The once powerful mage grunts, then the spellcaster from the city-state of Vexil, sourly says "Typical".
While next to him, the powerful cleric in the church of Glaine grins.
"Are you casting aspersions on my character again Mira?" says Helbe the elven thief who suddenly appears out of thin air, beside the three of them. Standing next to the small, sleek looking, single masted airship that like Jarjin Littlefoot, is originally from the Sultanate of Dreese.
"Yes" dryly says the mage Reinholt, who is in exile from his homeland, the city-state of Vexil.
Which earns a chuckle from the young elven noble who hails from the island principality of Laerel. Which lies across the Kuyriers Straits from the kingdom of Melaurn.
"Where have you been?" asks the hobbit, who isn't what he appears to be.
Though councilor Littlefoot, a former air sailor in the fleet of the Sultan of Dreese. Looks and acts like he does.
He's actually a hordes outrider from the southern tundra by the name of Zubutai Timaginson.
Who just happens to find himself inhabiting the body of Jarjin Littlefoot. Who died last summer during a battle in the halfling's homeland of Dreese.
"The question should be, what have i been doing" says the highly talented elven magic user.
"They've been wiped out" continues the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel.
"The retreating enemy" adds the elven masterthief who like Mira Reinholt and Jarjin aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, is a member of the personal council to lord Farque.
"Oh?" says the halfling, whose eyebrows rise in surprise.
Nodding his hooded head, the elf who is a member of the royal family that rules the island principality of Laerel, says "They ran into that lot from Selvah Na late this afternoon".
The grandson of Prince Raendril of Laerel briefly pauses, before adding "They didn't stand a chance".
The other three, the halfling, the human mage, and the human cleric share looks.
Then Jarjin aka Zubutai Timaginson asks the elven princeling "What happened?".
The elven master assassin explains to them what happened to the enemy army after they retreated from the battle, that they soundly lost this morning.
How they crossed back over the border into the province of Moleau.
Where Helbe the elven thief, manipulated them into heading northwest, the direction he wanted them to go.
For waiting in that direction, was a large army of nearly ten thousand strong, from the rebellious southern province of Selvah Na, who absolutely despise the crown.
The enemy army consisting of the king's own, and allies to the crown and king from the provinces of Calinar and Alindar.
Or to be precise, those who survived the morning battle, that took place not far from here, in and around some woods.
Had no chance when they ran into the army from Selvah Na, who were lying in wait for them.
The survivors in the enemy army from this morning's battle, stood no chance against the large army from the province of Selvah Na.
They were wiped out to a man, killing all the soldiers, and most of the camp followers too.
The army from the province of Selvah Na only let a relatively small number of the camp followers go free after the battle, that was short and brutal, finishing as the sun started to go down in the west, here in the south of the kingdom of Melaurn.
As some of the ship's lamps are lit to offer a bit of illumination. The young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel says "I told them to let some of the camp followers to escape".
The highly talented elven magic user continues with "So word can spread that another of the crown's armies has been defeated down here in the south of the kingdom".
The elf who is a member of the personal council to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, then adds "The more people throughout the kingdom know how poorly things are going for the crown, the better".
The other three, Jarjin Littlefoot, Mira Reinholt, and Beldane Pollét nod in agreement with the elven masterthief.
As they've already got confirmation from the capital city, that some of the population in Calinar have heard of the other defeats the crown has had, in it's war with lord Gormica of Salmah Forest.
The nobleman from the province of Karricaw, the crown holds responsible for attacks in the south of the province of Moleau.
Infact, the one who informed them about that information from the capital, walks across the deck of the Quick Gull, and at the starboard rail looks down at the four of them standing next to the small, sleek looking, single masted airship that's originally from the far east coast of the continent.
Jarjin Littlefoot, Mira Reinholt, Beldane Pollét and prince Helbenthril Raendril look up at Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy who says to them "Just had an interesting conversation with general Sumic".
The elf who hails from the principality of Alínlae, who is now a company commander in the scouts and rangers division of the first army of Farque, adds "Come up onboard and listen to what he has to say".
The four others make their way onboard, simply by levitating up onto the deck of the Quick Gull.
Jarjin aka Zubutai the son of Timagin sourly smiled as Helbe the elven thief floated him onto the deck of the small, single mashed vessel that was previously in the fleet of the Sultan of Dreese, and is now in the Farqian fleet.
They head down below deck to the captain's cabin, where the spy Tanith has food and wine set out for them.
In the lamp lit cabin this cool summer's evening, they listen to what the prisoner, general Sumic of the king's own has to say.
After the general in the king's own explains to them an idea of his.
The others, who are all part of the group that travels with lord Farque, are silent for a little while.
Eventually it's Jarjin Littlefoot who breaks the silence with "You think it's a possibility?" followed by "Do you think it actually has merit?".
"I do" says general Sumic of the king's own, who was taken prisoner in battle, in the east of the province of Corlinda early last week.
"He does" says Helbe the elven thief after reading the mind of the prisoner.
The others nod, then Jarjin Littlefoot says to the elven masterthief, the human mage, the elven spy and the human cleric "We'll have to get in contact with him, to see what he thinks of it". Referring to lord Farque.
"I'll get a hold of him" says the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel, who then dryly adds "Whenever that may be".
The mage Reinholt nods, then he says "Think the twins will like this idea?". Referring to the twin brothers, lord Gormica of Salmah Forest, and baron Wilmot of Pirtgott.
"Maybe" says prince Helbenthril Raendril, who after a brief pause, adds "We might actually have to tell them about it".
For though they give lord Gormica of Salmah Forest a basic, overall strategy of what they're doing in the war against the crown and king of Melaurn.
They don't tell him too much in the way of specifics. Unless it involves his own army. Like the did in the build up of this morning's battle. Near some woods, here in the northwest of the province of Corlinda.
"Should i go and get them?" asks Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy, followed by "Both of them?".
"I will" says Helbe the elven thief, who continues with "After all, it is my job". As he's the envoy for the first army of Farque to the nobleman from the kingdom of Karricaw. Who has hired them in the war against the crown and king of Melaurn.
The elven masterthief who is a member of the royal family that rules the island principality of Laerel, glances out the stern windows of the captain's cabin, then disappears.
As the elven princeling goes into camp to get the twin brothers, lord Gormica and baron Wilmot.
The others, including the prisoner general Sumic, sit down at the captain's table, and have something to eat and drink.
They discuss a number of things as they dine, just not the suggestion that the general in the king's own has put forth.
A little while later, and the two noblemen who are twins. Who recently led each other's provinces to war against one another.
Come onboard the Quick Gull with Helbe the elven thief, who brings them below deck to the captain's cabin.
The mage Reinholt who has created a lightball, that offers better illumination than the lamps in the cabin.
Says to the noblemen who are twin brothers "As they envoy has probably told you, there's something we would like to discuss with you".
The twins nod, then lord Gormica of Salmah Forest asks "What is it?".
Both the mage Reinholt, and Jarjin aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman nod to their fellow council member, Helbe the elven thief to explain.
"It's something the general here has suggested" says the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel, gesturing at the prisoner, general Sumic of the king's own.
The lord of Salmah Forest nods, then the elven masterthief tells him "The recent victories we've had in battle is definitely an advantage to your cause".
The elven princeling briefly pauses before he adds "Though there might be something we can do to give you complete victory, and give you what you want".
The nobleman from the province of Karricaw shares a look with his twin brother Wilmot, who rules the baroncy of Pirtgott, here in the province of Corlinda.
Then lord Gormica looks at the elven envoy, and asks him "And what's that?".
"That we get rid of the influence of the dowager queen at court" says Helbe the elven thief, who after a brief pause, adds "By getting rid of her" . . . . . .