To War 97.

Summer. In The South Of The Kingdom Of Melaurn.

"Well, we can't all go" says Jarjin Littlefoot the hobbit, who looks around at the others, finally looking at one of them, and saying "You should remain, you're the one who has dealt with them the most".
"Are you fucking nuts?" says Helbe the elven thief, who continues with "I'm the one to do the job" followed by "We all know i am".
The halfling, who is a member of the personal council to lord Farque, slightly winces in embarrassment, then says "Well, maybe Dalin can do it?".
"I can i guess" says Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy, who continues on with "But let's be honest, his highness here will get it done without anyone knowing" he then adds "Which is what we want".
"Well, maybe you can be the one to stay behind with them Dalin" says the hobbit, who is from the far east coast of the continent. Where his homeland, the Sultanate of Dreese is located.
"Me?" says the elven spy who hails from the principality of Alínlae, who follows that up with "I'm just a company commander in the S and R division, they're not going to take any notice of me".
The spy Tanith, who is the scouts and rangers division of the armies of Farque, then says "Somebody else will have to stay behind with the field commander".
Jarjin Littlefoot, who isn't really what he appears to be, grunts as he knows that the spy Tanith speaks the truth.
Then the halfling, who is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra by the name of Zubutai Timaginson.
Who just happens to find himself inhabiting the body of the hobbit, who was previously an air sailor, who served in the air fleet of the Sultan of Dreese.
Looks over at the figure in the black hooded cloak.
But before the halfling can say anything to him, Mira Reinholt the mage tells him "No".
Jarjin aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman gives up on that idea. As he knows how stubborn the once powerful mage can be.
He doesn't even bother asking Beldane the cleric. As he knows the others won't let the fighting cleric to stay behind and be in charge.
Having to deal with the brothers, lord Gormica of Salmah Forest, and baron Wilmot of Pirtgott.
The hobbit, who like the Helbe the elven thief and Mira Reinholt the mage, is part of the personal council to lord Farque.
Grimaces when the mage Reinholt says to him "That just leaves you".
The spellcaster from the city-state of Vexil, who is in exile from his homeland, continues with "You'll be the one to stay behind and deal with Gormica and his brother Wilmot".
The mage, who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, then says "And keep an eye on the army as they continue northwards".
Though he tried to argue against it, Jarjin Littlefoot knows he's the one who will remain here.
While the others go off to the capital city Calinar. Where they intend to take out the dominating figure behind the crown of Melaurn. The king's mother, the dowager queen.
They're onboard the Quick Gull, here in the west of the province of Moleau.
The army they're with, is predominantly made up of the forces from the provinces of Karricaw and Corlinda.
Led by the Karricawian nobleman, lord Gormica of Salmah Forest, and his brother from the province of Corlinda, baron Wilmot of Pirtgott.
They're been making inroads here in western Moleau. Especially as the army from the southern province of Selvah Na, particularly the lords of the port city of Ramgee.
Are also in the area, fighting the king's own, and the allies of the crown.
In the captain's cabin of the small, sleek, single masted airship with them, is the prisoner, general Sumic.
And though the enemy general can understand the elven language, and even speak it.
He finds it a little difficult to follow what the five others in the cabin are discussing.
But the general in the king's own, the commoner who has achieved the highest rank in the army of the king of Melaurn.
Does know that they're planning to return to the capital city of Calinar. And that they'll be taking him with them.
He knows what they plan to do in the capital city of the kingdom of Melaurn.
And though technically it's an attack upon what he believes in. The general who hails from the city of Calinar.
Isn't against what they plan to do. Infact, general Sumic heartily agrees with what they plan to do in the capital city.
And that's to eliminate the power behind the crown, the most influential person at court. The dowager queen.
Who if rumours are true, sent him off from the king's own. To join up with a bunch of allies to the crown and king. From the provinces of Mofosild, Olind and even Sorros.
Who were easily trounced in battle in the northeast of the province of Corlinda.
By a force of the first army of Farque led by field commander Tamric Drubine.
Since then, the general in the king's own. Has been taken to the city of Calinar. And come back from there, after fleeing to the lands Farque.
"We're agreed then?" says Helbe the elven thief as he looks at the others.
"You're staying" adds the young elven noble who is from the island principality of Laerel.
Jarjin Littlefoot as he looks at the highly talented elven magic user, sourly smiles as he nods with what the elven masterthief just said.
"Good" says the elven master assassin, who is the one who will kill the dowager queen once they're in the city of Calinar.
Well, that's the plan. Though they all know any number of things could go wrong before that happens.
It's the reason why the others with the exception of Jarjin aka Zubutai Timaginson. Who will remain here, basically babysitting the nobleborn brothers. Lord Gormica of Salmah Forest, and baron Wilmot of Pirtgott.
Are going along with the nobleborn elf who is the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel.
After glancing over at where the prisoner is sitting on the bench seat beneath the stern window' here in the captain's cabin.
Helbe the elven thief, or prince Helbenthril Raendril if using his full name and title.
Switches to the common language, as he knows the enemy general can understand elven fair enough, he's not the best at speaking that language.
"What do you think?" asks the highly talented elven spellcaster, who at around two hundred and twenty years old, is still relatively young for a royal elf. Who could live to be fifteen hundred years old.
"You think it's the right thing to do?" asks the elven master archer, who already knows what the prisoner thinks of the plan.
As he's already read the man's mind. Though he really didn't have to. As the enemy general has already expressed how he feels about the dowager queen.
"I don't know if it's right" says general Sumic, who after a moment's pause, continues with "But it's the right thing to do".
The enemy general, who grew up at the Palace of the King, in the capital city, Calinar.
As his parents were servants who worked there.
And where he became a good friend of the now king of Melaurn, king Harmard the Third.
Probably the only common born friend the then young royal prince ever had.
Then says to his captors, who saved his life, and rescued him from the dungeons beneath the Palace of the King "Even though she has plenty of allies in the west of the kingdom, and up in the province of Sorros".
The enemy general, who looks younger than his actual age, continues with "The rest of the kingdom will be glad she is gone".
Followed by "Especially here in the southern provinces".
The other five in the cabin, three of whom are members of lord Farque's personal council, nod in agreement with that.
"So you personally don't mind if we kill her then?" asks the member of the royal family that rules the elven principality of Laerel.
"Not in the least" is the reply of general Sumic, who then dryly adds "After all she did have me taken prisoner by her lackeys, who were going to kill me".
Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy who is the one who freed the enemy general from the dungeons beneath the palace in the capital city Calinar, chuckles.
Causing the friend of the king of Melaurn to wryly smile.
General Sumic who is the one to actually suggest to them to eliminate the dowager queen, then tells them "Though there will be a lot of anger from some of the nobility, especially those from around the capital, and up in parts of Sorros at her death".
The prisoner continues with "They'll still remain loyal to the king, as they won't want to be seen as seditious in anyway".
The enemy general momentarily pauses before he adds "Deep down i suspect Harmard will be glad his mother has gone".
He pauses once again before he says "I do know for certain the queen will be glad she's gone".
"She's from down in Corlinda, or Karricaw isn't she?" asks Dalinvardèl Tanith, or Dalin as he's more commonly called by the others in the group.
"She is" says general Sumic referring to the queen of Melaurn.
"It's one of the reasons why the crown was so quick to go to war against lord Gormica" adds the enemy general, who continues with "The dowager queen has never liked that her son married a woman from the south, a woman from a fairly insignificant noble family too".
Mira Reinholt the mage shakes his hooded head, then says "What a bitch" referring to the dowager queen.
General Sumic nods his head in agreement with the Vexilian mage in exile.
They take off late in the afternoon, leaving behind Jarjin Littlefoot the hobbit, who will remain with the army who is predominantly made up of forces from the provinces of Corlinda and Karricaw.
The Quick Gull won't go into the airdocks in the city of Calinar. For the simple reason of the previous visit the small, single masted airship originally from the far east coast of continent, that's now in the Farqian fleet, made to the capital city of the kingdom of Melaurn.
Where they were a distraction for when Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy and others broke general Sumic out of the palace dungeons.
After the group sent him to the capital, to give the king a message from lord Gormica of Salmah Forest.
The king eventually got that message. But so far they've yet to hear any response from him.
The small, sleek looking, single masted airship that was previously in the fleet of the Sultan of Dreese.
Before it came halfway around the world to the Southlands. When a large portion of the group that travels with lord Farque, returned from the far east coast of the continent.
Heads northwest from the west of the province of Moleau. Where it looks like more and more of the fighting between the opposing forces at war with one another, is taking place as the conflict continues.
They make good speed with a favourable wind helping them along.
And by early evening they're getting near the western border the province of Moleau shares with the province of Alindar.
The western most province in the kingdom of Melaurn, and the province directly south of the province of Calinar, where the capital is located.
After getting something to eat for dinner in the ship's galley.
Dalinvardèl Tanith makes his way up onto the deck of the small, single masted vessel.
There he finds general Sumic on the bow, looking away in the direction they're heading as the night continues.
The elven spy who previously served in one of the more prominent noble houses of the principality of Alínlae, joins the enemy general on the bow deck.
"Nervous?" asks the spy Tanith, who then adds "For going back?".
"A bit" is the reply of common born general who continue with "I'd be lying if i said otherwise".
Dalin nods his head, then says in a dry tone of voice "Hopefully it won't be like our last visit".
"Hopefully" says general Sumic with a chortle as the Quick Gull continues towards the capital city, Calinar . . . . . .