Mercenary Tales 79.

Border Region. 

They step out of the gateway. With Dorc da Orc leading the way, followed by Lord Farque, then Beldane the cleric, who drops his spell behind him. And the gateway vanishes. 

Over the right shoulder of the undead warlord is the elven maiden Salinéll. Who at the moment is unconscious. 

The three of them look around in the early morning light, here in the border region between the kingdom of Girdane and the city-state of Vexil. On what's another cold winters day here in this region of The Southlands. 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque goes to take a step, but he stays still, and frowns after sensing in all directions. 

Having just done the same thing, well magically sensed that is. And seeing the large, heavily armoured deathlord go still. 

Beldane the cleric asks him "Something wrong?". The powerful practitioner of magic who hails from the kingdom of Nastell, senses again to see if he notices anything untowards in the immediate vicinity. 

He's silent for a few moments, then Lord Farque after glancing away to the north, gestures that way, then says "The others are heading back south" he continues with "They're about eighteen miles away I guess". 

The lord of the death realm pauses for a moment before he says "That's not the problem though". The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque who has the name of Draugodrottin that his people also know him by. 

Then explains to the cleric in the church of Glaine what's actually the problem. Whilst Dorc da Orc, who is standing nearby. Watches on, not really understanding what's going on. Or for that matter, caring about what's going on. 

"Shit" mutters the fighting cleric after the deathlord of Farque tells him what's happening. The powerful spellcaster winces, then says "They're on the move" he briefly pauses before adding "Well, some of them are" followed by "Going over the border". As he's sensed some fellow practitioners of magic that he recognizes heading that way. 

Des'tier, which is Lord Farque's elven name, nods his full helmed head in agreement, then he says "And that's the problem". 

The undead warlord starts walking, and Beldane walks along side him, with the large ork following behind the two of them. 

"Fucking idiots should of got moving earlier" says the large heavily armoured deathlord, who follows on from that with "They'll have half their army on one side of the border, and the other half still here in Girdane". 

The lord of the death realm who has informed the fighting cleric that there's Girdanian warships on the way, has also told Beldane that there's Vexillian ground forces across the border. Not all that far away to the south. 

"She might get what she's after anyway" says the cleric in the half plate armour who nods at the unconscious elven maiden over the right shoulder of the lord of the death realm. 

The deathlord of Farque grunts at that, then says "More than likely" he briefly pauses as they start going downhill between the trees, then he adds "Whatever happens, that mercenary army is done for". 

Draugodrottin continues on with "I doubt either the Vexillians or the Girdanians will want that lot hanging around the border region any longer". 

As they make their way on to a game trail that goes downhill, the undead warlord says "Both sides definitely know they're here, in this area along the border" he follows that with "They'll want to wipe them out". Beldane the cleric nods in agreement with that from the heavily armoured deathlord. 

Then as Dorc da Orc or Dorkindle which is his given name, takes a steamed ham from one of his sacks. The ham being some of the food and drink the ork warleader purchased early this morning, before they departed the city of Oaklynn. 

The fighting cleric who ignores the loud chewing coming from behind him and Lord Farque, quietly asks Des'tier "Should we warn them?". 

"Maybe" is the reply from the deathlord of Farque, who thinks about something for a moment, then he tells the Nastellian born spellcaster "You should probably do the talking" he then adds "They know you" followed by "Not us two". Referring to himself and the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world. 

The fighting cleric in the church of Glaine nods to that, then he listens as Draugodrottin quietly tells him something in the elven language. 

The powerful cleric who is originally from the north of the kingdom of Nastell, can't help but slightly grin after hearing what the undead warlord has to stay. 

Then the trio fall silent, with the exception of Dorc da Orc eating in his usual noisy way as he follows behind the lord of the death realm and the fighting cleric. 

The three are heading down to the camp of the Geist mercenary army. A camp that's breaking up in the early light of the cold winters morning. 

Already about a quarter of the mercenary army is on the move. With quite a lot of them over the border in the city-state of Vexil. 

A border which is less than half a mile away to the south, over one of the hills that the camp is behind. Here in the very south of the kingdom of Girdane. 

It's not long before the trio, and the unconscious elven maiden Salinéll enter the camp that's packing up and leaving. 

Beldane is recognized, as the fighting cleric in the church of Glaine is part of captain Marqand's company. As is the rest of the group who are posing as mercenaries whilst in the army of the Geist cousins, Gamil and Farsen. 

The powerful practitioner of magic who hails from the kingdom of Nastell, spots the command tent used by the Geist cousins, which has yet to be taken down. 

The fighting cleric leads the undead warlord, and the ork weaponsmith that way. The two of whom, garner more than a few looks from those who are packing up, and who are about to depart the camp site. 

Lord Farque glances back at Dorc da Orc, and quietly says to him "Ogahar namgul cakl". The big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world who is drinking from a small barrel of ale at the moment. Burps, then grunts in a positive manner in response to what the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque just said in orkish. 

There's a few members of the Geist company guard outside the command tent. And Beldane the cleric informs one he recognizes is an officer. That he's brought a prisoner for the Geist cousins to see. Gesturing at the unconscious elven maiden Salinéll as he does so. 

With a wary eye at both Lord Farque and Dorc da Orc, the officer from the trading company's guard, heads into the command tent. And a few moments later, he comes back outside, waving the three of them and their prisoner in. 

The trio make their way into the command tent, with both the undead warlord and the ork general in the Armies of Farque, having to duck down to enter. 

The Geist cousins Gamil and Farsen who at the moment are overseeing the packing up of their tent. Turn around at the entrance of the trio and their prisoner. 

With them is their guard commander Kilmas, along with the wizard Hoptas. And a couple of camp followers who are packing up. 

Gamil Farsen sends the camp followers outside, while Farsen Geist mutters "Damn, that's the ugliest looking troll I've ever seen". 

Dorc da Orc who doesn't really care what's being said, or done for that matter. Definitely heard that from the younger Geist cousin. 

The big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world growls, and is about to walk over and kill the younger of the Geist cousins for calling him a troll. Until he hears Lord Farque quietly say just a single word in orkish. 

Dorkindle who is from the wolf tribe of orks glances sideways at the large heavily armoured deathlord of Farque, and he sees a bright blue flash of light briefly appear in the eye slot of the undead warlord's helm. 

The large ork sighs in frustration, then he just glares at Farsen Geist, imagining brutal ways in which he can kill the younger of the two Geist cousins. 

"That cleric in Marqand's company aren't you?" asks Gamil Farsen as he recognizes the fighting cleric in the church of Glaine. 

"I am" says Beldane the cleric, who follows that with "With young Tam's squad". The powerful practitioner of magic gestures at the deathlord of Farque and the ork warleader, and says "So are my associates". 

The Nastellian born spellcaster continues with "They've been going about gathering information for captain Marqand away from the army" he then dryly adds "Though they're a little conspicuous, they have an amazing ability to find things out". 

Both Geist cousins, along with their guard commander, and the wizard who is their lead magical consultant, all lift their eyebrows in surprise at that. 

Then Gamil Geist gestures at the unconscious elven maiden over the right shoulder of the large heavily armoured deathlord, and says "And her,?" followed by "Your prisoner?". 

"She's the cause of all your problems" is the reply from the powerful cleric who is a member of the church of Glaine. That definitely gets the attention of the Geist cousins, their guard commander and the wizard. 

Draugodrottin shrugs the unconscious elven maiden off his shoulder, and she falls to the ground. 

The lord of the death realm draws his massive sword from across his back, then drives it into the ground beside the unconscious elven magic user. The hilt going more than halfway into the ground. The undead warlord takes a leather strap from Beldane the cleric, and wraps it around the right wrist and hand of the unconscious elf. Then takes that hand and has it grasp the hilt of the massive sword. Then wraps the hand to the hilt with the rest of the leather strap. 

Des'tier stands up and nods to the fighting cleric in the church of Glaine, and tells the powerful practitioner of magic "Wake her". 

The Geist cousins along with guard commander Kilmas and the wizard Hoptas, who are wondering what the hell is going on. 

Watch as the unconscious elven maiden starts to stir, as she's awoken by the spellcaster who hails from northern Nastell. 

The elven magic user wakes up after a few moments, she's slightly disoriented for a bit, then as she looks around, she goes completely still as she realizes where she is, and who it is that's watching her. 

"Sit up" quietly says Lord Farque who nudges the prisoner with one of his steel boots, she grimaces, and with a glare directed at the undead warlord, she sits up, with her right hand firmly tied to the hilt of the massive sword that's been driven more than halfway down it's length, into the ground. 

The elven magic then scowls, and hisses in anger as she spots the massive figure of Dorc da Orc standing off to one side. 

The large ork just glances her way, and chuckles at the predicament that she finds herself in. As he knows exactly, kind of. What the elven maiden is tied to at the moment. 

"This is Salinéll from Alinlae" explains Beldane the cleric to the Geist cousins, their guard commander, and the wizard Hoptas. 

The fighting cleric continues with "She's of elven nobility, so that makes her a spellcaster" Beldane then flips something to the wizard Hoptas. 

It's a ring, which is magical, and the member of the church of Glaine says "She uses that to hide herself from other spellcasters". 

The wizard Hoptas after a moment where he looks closely at the ring in his hand, nods his head after sensing what it is, and what it can do. 

"She's been passing herself off as someone else" says the powerful cleric who is originally from the kingdom of Nastell, who then glances at the lord of the death realm. 

"Show them" says Draugodrottin to the prisoner, who from where she sits on the ground, next to him, glares up at him. 

"I can't feel my damn magic you" says an angry Salinéll the elven maiden, who then grunts as she suddenly feels her magical powers again. 

"That one spell only" says the undead warlord, who continues with "If you try something else you'll die". 

Then switching to the elven language, Des'tier tells the prisoner "Good fucking riddance if you do" he briefly pauses before adding "Sly One". 

Salinéll looks sharply at the large heavily armoured figure standing beside her. Wondering who he is. 

For he just called her by the actual meaning of her name, Sly One. Salinéll doesn't speak the noble, or what's sometimes referred to the royal elven language. 

But when she was young, her father, a noble born  elf from the principality of Alinlae. Did teach her the meaning of her name in the noble elven language. 

After a moments pause, she slightly nods, then casts the spell she was told to cast when they got here to southern Girdane, before she was knocked out this morning. 

"Fuck" yelps Gamil Geist in surprise, while next to him his cousin Farsen stands there completely flabbergasted, as suddenly their cousin Misa Geist sits there, where the elven prisoner was. 

They look from the mercenary cleric Beldane, then at the wizard Hoptas, who tells them "An illusion spell" he follows that with "An excellent one at that". 

Holding the ring up he's holding, the Vexillian practitioner of magic continues with "It'll be impossible to know of it, if she was wearing this". 

Beldane the cleric nods in agreement with that, then he says to the prisoner "Explain to them what you've done, and why". 

The elven magic user in the guise of Misa Geist, sits there and doesn't move or do anything, until Lord Farque nudges her with one of his steel boots again, then says "You heard him" he follows that with "And drop the spell too". 

After a moment as she sits there seething in anger at the situation she finds herself in, Salinéll the elven maiden drops her illusion spell. When she does, she can no longer feel her magical powers, as she's cut off from it again. 

The elven practitioner of magic who is certain that the massive sword she finds herself tied to, has something to do with cutting her off from her powers. 

Sighs, a sigh of frustration more than anything else. As she knows she has no escape. Especially as she doesn't have her magic. 

And because of the undead being standing right beside her. Watching everything she does and says. 

Salinéll the elven maiden looks at the Geist cousins, and snares in disgust at the two of them. Who she has duped for quite some time. 

Then after another nudge in the side from the large heavily armoured figure beside her, this one a little harder, which causes her to grimace in pain. 

The elven magic user who hails from the principality of Alinlae, who has tried to start a full scale war here in the central region of The Southlands. 

Starts talking, explaining what she had planned, and what she had been up to. In particular getting the Geist cousins Gamil and Farsen to do what she wanted. 

When they thought it was their long lost cousin Misa doing it, who has been dead for quite some time . . . . . .

 

Mercenary Tales 78.

Girdane. 

Marqand has his company up and moving before dawn. The mercenary captain is no fool whilst he's in enemy territory. And has most of his company off the road they've traveled north on from the border since yesterday afternoon. 

Captain Marqand is expecting one of Tamric Drubine's squad to show up later in the morning. To inform him how things are further to the north of them. 

As they yet to run into any of the local lords forces in this part of the kingdom. Marqand doesn't expect any royal forces here in the south of the kingdom as of yet. 

With the exception of the occasional patrol ship, that on and off fly over the south, and southern border region of the kingdom. 

The mercenary captain knows that they, along with the rest of the Geists mercenary army, have been lucky to avoid the kingdom's aircorp so far. 

"Have that lot move down to the road" quietly says captain Marqand to one of his officers as they stand amongst some trees in the gloom before dawn, on what's another cold winters day here in this region of The Southlands. 

The mercenary captain is just about to say something else after he looks up to the sky to the east as the first rays of sun appear. 

When a voice out of nowhere suddenly says behind him "You'll want to get as many of them off the road quickly". 

Captain Marqand and his officer spin around and find Tamric Drubine and one of his squad standing there. 

The mercenary captain after peering at the tall lean fellow standing next to young Tam. And figures the hooded figure is one of the elves in Tam's squad. An elf who Marqand is sure is a spellcaster of some type. 

Asks the young mercenary who he has an officer in his company "Why?" followed by "What's happened?". 

Tamric Drubine the field commander informs the mercenary captain what's transpired. And more importantly what's heading this way. 

"Hell" mutters Marqand, who then orders all of the company off the road, and to break up into smaller squads. Trios and pairs at best. And for them to take cover if they're out in the open. 

The mercenary captain also has them turn around and head back south to the border. As he's pretty certain the Geists mercenary army will need all the help they can get with what's heading their way. 

"One warship has already gone by" quietly says Tamric Drubine the field commander, or Tam as he's more commonly called by those who know him well. 

The young noble originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin gestures away to the west, as he adds "A few miles that way" followed by "They passed in the darkness without spotting you". 

They're on the move, and the young field commander in the Armies of Farque tells the mercenary captain as they head through the woods they're in "Another one isn't all that far to the north of here". Tam follows that with "Two more are further behind that one". 

Marqand winces when he hears this, then he glances at the elf in the white hooded cloak, who quietly says something in the elven language to young Tam. 

The young noble who hails from the forested north of the kingdom of Sarcrin, tells the captain of the company "There's a pair of patrol ships further to the south as well". 

The senior officer in the Armies of Farque continues with "They'll soon have orders to look out for mercenary companies and destroy them" he then adds "Not to mention find and destroy the cousins army". 

Marqand sourly smiles, then mutters "Hell" followed by "Going back south, am I leading us to our doom?". 

Field commander Drubine just shrugs his shoulders in reply to that, while the officer walking on the other side of the mercenary captain, shrugs his shoulders too when Marqand looks his way. 

After a few moments silence as they head downhill, and quickly cross the road, and enter the woods on the other side. 

Tamric Drubine tells captain Marqand "If the army quickly get over the border" followed by "And we cross it as well without being attacked, we should be fine".

The heir of a former Knight of Castle Drubine, which can be found in the north of the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin, pauses for a moment, before adding in a slightly dry tone of voice "That's if the Girdanians don't cross the border themselves to attack us". 

The mercenary captain once again sourly smiles, then in a voice that matches that smile, he says "You seem to forget, that's exactly what the Geist cousins want". 

Marqand follows that with "Remember they want a border war between the kingdom and Vexil" he then adds "And more than likely, they're going to get it". 

Both Tamric Drubine the field commander and Helbe the elven thief, as well as the other company officer walking with them, nod in agreement with captain Marqand. 

Who lets out a sigh of frustration, before muttering "Those damn cousins don't pay us enough to get attacked by warships on both sides". 

Though the mercenary captain is a professional through and through. One of the few in the army that the Geist cousins Gamil and Farsen have gathered to start a border war between the city-state of Vexil and the kingdom of Girdane. 

So he has his company, who have split up into small groups, many of who are in pairs, or trios. Continue southwards, back to the border region. As the sun rises in the east, on what's a cold winters morning, here in the south of the kingdom of Girdane. 

Captain Marqand glances to his left, and sees that the elf in the white hooded cloak has disappeared from where he was walking beside young Tam. 

And in just a few moments, the mercenary captain sees that he has reappeared next to the young man who Marqand thinks is a mercenary. 

"That other warship is quickly approaching from the north" quietly says Helbe the elven thief in the elven language to the young field commander in the Armies of Farque. 

"It might of spotted some of the company" quietly adds the highly talented elven magic user who is from the island principality of Laerel. 

The young elven noble from Laerel, who is in fact, a member of the royal family that rules that particular elven principality. 

Pauses for a moment or two, before he quietly tells Tamric Drubine "You want me to take care of it?". 

The young noble who hails from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin, who knows that the elven masterthief can easily take care of a warship by himself. 

Is glad that the elf who is a member of Lord Farque's personal council, is asking his permission to do so. 

When he could easily go off and destroy the Girdanian warship approaching quickly from the north without informing Tam he was doing so. 

"Probably best if you do" quietly replies field commander Drubine in the elven language, who continues on with "Though the ships to the north might see it suddenly fall out of the sky near us" he then dryly adds "That wouldn't be ideal all things considered". 

"Trust me" says the young elven noble who is the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel, who flashes a grin when Tam looks sideways at him, and sourly smiles. 

The elven master assassin then tells the Sarcrinian noble "It'll be fine, I'll make sure it crashes further to the west of here". 

Helbe the elven thief then adds "Have the captain order the company to head more to the east as they continue south". 

Tamric Drubine nods in understanding, then the elven master archer disappears as he shifts away. 

"Where's he gone?" asks captain Marqand noticing that the elf in the white hooded cloak has disappeared again, and hasn't returned like he did previously. 

"That next warship is fast approaching" replies Tam who like the rest of the group is passing themselves off as mercenaries whilst in the army gathered by the Geist cousins. 

"He's going to deal with it" adds the field commander in the Armies of Farque who decides to tell the mercenary captain, more or less the truth of what Helbe the elven thief is up to. 

"He can do that?" says captain Marqand in surprise, whose eyebrows also shoot up in surprise when he hears that from young Tam. 

You wouldn't believe what that royal thief can do, Tamric Drubine dryly thinks to himself, who then nods his head in reply to Marqand. 

Then he tells the mercenary captain that it's probably best to order the company to head more to the east as they continue south towards the border region on this cold winters day. 

Floating a few hundred feet above the ground, the blurred and shielded elven magic user watches the approaching Girdanian warship. 

It's a frigate, and by the way it's dropping in altitude towards the canopy of the trees below. One of the lookouts, either mundane or magical, has caught sight of some of captain Marqand's company who are hurrying south back to the border region. 

Glancing at his right shoulder, Helbe the elven thief quietly says "Distract the helmsman" he continues with "Make sure no one can get the wheel" followed by "Get it turning to starboard". 

Narladene the ground pixie nods in understanding, then she takes off from the right shoulder of the elven magic user she's attached to. And heads towards the frigate that's coming right at them. 

The elven master assassin waits until he spots Narladene winging her way to the wheelhouse that's on the aft deck. 

The highly talented elven spellcaster then shifts towards the oncoming Girdanian aircorp vessel when it's less than five hundred feet from him. 

The grandson of Prince Raendril of Laerel who easily gets by the wards protecting the warship. And he stands on the underside of the airship, is a stride the magical keel. The elven princeling who is upside down, crouches and places his gloved hands upon the frigate's keel. And prepares to cast a shatter spell. 

Up in wheelhouse, the helmsman suddenly yelps and takes hold of his bleeding right hand. Letting go of the wheel as he does so. 

An officer goes to grab the wheel as the warship turns to starboard. And he too yelps in pain, and grabs his right hand which is bleeding. 

Narladene the ground pixie with her sharp, needle like sword in her hand. Grins to herself as she hovers there, invisible to all in the wheelhouse. Waiting if anyone else is game enough to grab the wheel, which is spinning uncontrollably. Sending the frigate turning to starboard. 

The naturally magical creature grins even more as she senses what's about to happen. As shouting and yelling, from those in wheelhouse. And others of the crew on the deck. 

She feels Helbe the elven on the underside of the Girdanian warship cast a spell that will doom the airship, and send it flying towards the ground. 

"There" quietly says Tamric Drubine the field commander who points into the early morning sky. 

Captain Marqand and one his officers see it too. A Girdanian warship, not that far from them. About three hundred yards away to the west, heading further west. Tilting out of control, with a badly damaged keel, that's visible to them on the ground. 

They can see parts of the airship's hull, breaking apart, and falling away as it gathers speed, heading westwards above the treetops in that direction. 

"Might want to hurry up" says Helbe the elven thief in the common language when he suddenly appears next to the three watching the Girdanian warship plummet out of the early morning sky. 

"There's more of them heading this way" adds the highly talented elven magic user who hails from the island principality of Laerel. 

Captain Marqand closes his mouth, after it dropped open in disbelief at what he just witnessed. 

He clears his throat, then says to the other three "Come on then" followed by "Let's see if we can get the company back to the border without any of the Girdanians attacking us". 

Tamric Drubine the field commander nods in agreement. And they continue on their way, hurrying southwards along the nearby road after Helbe the elven thief informs them that it'll be safe to use for a bit. As no Girdanian forces, either local, or royal. Are in the immediate area. 

The elven master assassin disappears soon after. Before he does so, he quietly tells the young Sarcrinian noble that he's going to check on the rest of the group who are following. 

After the elf in the white hooded cloak vanishes again, and doesn't reappear. Captain Marqand dryly says to the young field commander in the Armies of Farque "You didn't exactly tell me what that elven fellow was capable of Tam". 

With a slight shrug of his shoulders, after they hear a dull thud, far in the distance, that can only mean the Girdanian frigate has finally hit the ground, Tamric Drubine says "He's got all kinds of secrets". 

Hell, I don't even know all of what he's capable of, the young noble from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin thinks to himself. 

While next to him on the road, that's going through a clearing at the moment. The mercenary captain, Marqand. Just grunts as they, along with the rest of the company, hurry back to the border on what's another cold winters day here in the south of the kingdom of Girdane . . . . . .

Mercenary Tales 77.

The Kingdom Of Girdane. 

Meanwhile in southern Girdane. Closing on dawn. Helbe the elven thief frowns as he watches another pair of riders go by on the road below him in the darkness before dawn. 

The young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel grunts to himself after reading their minds as they enter some trees. 

The blurred and shielded elven magic user then glances to his right shoulder, and nods his hooded head in response to Narladene the ground pixie quietly ask him "Messengers again?". 

The elven masterthief looks around, then he shifts up to small hill further behind them. Once on the hilltop, the elven master assassin looks around in all directions, up in the sky. 

Narladene does likewise once the elven practitioner of magic quietly tells her what to look out for. 

After a little while, Helbe the elven thief quietly says "There". The tiny winged creature standing upon his right shoulder nods when she spots it too. 

In the darkness of the night, an airship is traveling south, likely coming from the capital city of Oaklynn. It's a warship belonging to the kingdom's aircorp. 

The elven master archer and the naturally magical creature who is attached to him. Look beyond that warship which is about twelve miles to the north of their position. And look away, further to the north. 

The darkness doesn't bother them and their sight. Nor the distance. For further north, about twenty miles from where they are. Is another warship, that's part of the Girdanian aircorp. It too is heading south. 

"Hell" mutters the young elven noble who is the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel, who then tells Narladene "We better warn the others". 

The ground pixie who is originally from the Sunreach Mountains, is in agreement with that. And she holds onto the right shoulder of the highly talented elven magic user, who shifts away, heading south to where the others are. 

Mira Reinholt the mage is up early, well before dawn. He steps out of the barn they've spent the night in. 

A barn in a distant field of a farm. Where the farmhouse is over a good mile from the barn at this end of the farm. 

The once powerful mage who hails from the city-state of Vexil yawns as he wraps his thick black cloak tightly around himself. To try and ward off the chill of what's definitely going to be another cold winters day here in the central region of The Southlands. 

The Vexillian born spellcaster turns to look at the road that passes by not all that far from the barn at this end of the farm. 

The practitioner of magic who is also a highly skilled swordmaster wonders if they should leave early. 

For the simple reason the road will soon get busy, as it leads to a nearby town. A town that the local lord has his castle near. 

And a town, even in the depths of winter. Has the surrounding farmers bringing in their produce almost daily. 

The spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation, not just from Vexil. But the entire Southlands. 

Until he lost most of his powers when he went offworld through a rift/void that he accidentally cast a number of years ago. 

Yawns as he peers towards the nearby road. Which he can't see too clearly in the darkness. After all, he is human and lacks the enhanced eyesight of other races. 

The Vexillian mage who is exiled from his homeland goes to yawn again, when suddenly a familiar voice says right beside him "There's a problem". 

"Fuck" mutters Mira Reinholt the mage who almost jumped in fright when he heard Helbe the elven thief, who is now standing right beside him. 

"Oh, and what problem's that?" asks the human practitioner of magic to his fellow spellcaster, the elven masterthief. 

The young elven noble who is the grandson of Prince Raendril of Laerel then explains to the mage Reinholt what he's found out while he's been out and about during the night. 

"Fuck" mutters the exiled Vexillian mage again, after hearing what the elven master assassin has discovered. 

"We should be alright" quietly says the once powerful mage, who like the elven magic user, is a member of Lord Farque's personal council. 

"Especially if we break up, and don't travel as a group" adds the highly talented swordmaster, the elven master archer nods his hooded head in agreement with his fellow practitioner of magic. 

Then prince Helbenthril Raendril of Laerel, to give his full name and title, quietly says "Best we wake Tam and see what he thinks". 

The once powerful mage nods his hooded head in agreement with his fellow council member, then he quietly says "And if we should warn Marqand and his lot". 

Referring to the mercenary captain, and his company. Who they're part of. As they're out in front, about a dozen miles further ahead, supposedly scouting. 

"Might not have time to" quietly says Helbe the elven thief, who follows that with "That first airship I spotted isn't all that far away". 

The highly talented elven magic user continues on from that with "And if they catch them on the road, or in the open, that company is fucked". 

The Vexillian mage in exile grunts at that, then he quietly says "Well those Geist cousins wanted to stir up things here in southern Girdane" he follows that with "Just not as badly as it's turning out to be". 

The two spellcasters make their way into the barn, where they wake up Tamric Drubine the field commander. 

With the young noble originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin awake, the elven princeling from Laerel quietly tells him what he's found out during the night. 

"Think they've been warned?" quietly asks Tamric Drubine the field commander after Helbe the elven thief has explained things. 

"Or they're finally acting because of what's been going on down in the border region" quietly adds the young man who is already a senior officer in the Armies of Farque. 

Tamric Drubine or Tam as he's more commonly called by the others in the group, moves away from his lover, Saanea the witch. Who is still asleep beneath the blankets they share. 

Sitting on a hay bale, putting on his boots, with a faint lightball floating above them that the elven magic user has cast. 

Field commander Drubine looks at the two who are members of Lord Farque's personal council, then quietly says "With orders to attack any mercenary company they come across" he follows that with "Captain Marqand and his company are fucked if they're caught". 

"They knew the consequences of what they were doing" states Mira Reinholt the mage, which though true. The young field commander in the Armies of Farque isn't particularly happy with. 

As he's come to like the mercenary captain Marqand since they joined up with them. 

"Think they'll be safe?" asks Tam as he looks at the elven masterthief who is a member of the royal family that rules the principality of Laerel. 

"Marqand's company?" says Helbe the elven thief, who then shrugs his shoulders, before adding "Who knows?". 

The highly talented elven magic user continues on with "With it still dark out, that first ship will probably not spot them". 

The elven master assassin who is a member of Lord Farque's personal council, then says "That second ship won't though, as it'll be dawn by the time it gets down here" he then adds "Especially if Marqand's lot continue to use the main road that's nearby". 

The young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel glances at his right shoulder, where Narladene who is invisible to Tamric Drubine and Mira Reinholt, has just landed. 

The elven master archer listens to what the ground pixie whispers to him, then he quietly tells the young field commander, and the once powerful mage "There's two more warships heading this way, trailing the second one by about twenty miles or so". 

Rubbing his chin, field commander Drubine quietly says "Hell, four royal warships that aren't patrol vessels, here in the south of the kingdom". 

The young noble originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin follows that with "They mean business". 

Both councillor Raendril and councilor Reinholt nod in agreement with the young field commander in the Armies of Farque. 

"And who knows how many will turn up later in the morning" adds Tam, who is the son of a former Knight of Castle Drubine. A castle that can be found in the heavily forested north of the kingdom of Sarcrin. 

The senior officer in the Armies of Farque falls silent, when they see Shur Kee the monk get up from where he's been sleeping. 

The honorary member of Lord Farque's personal council, glances their way, and nods before he makes his way out of the barn. 

They known the acolyte in the order of Bru Li does his physical routine, then meditates before the sun rises, as he does every day. 

Field commander Drubine thinks about something for a moment, and after making a decision, he quietly says "We'll warn Marqand". 

Looking at the young elven noble from the principality of Laerel, the young noble who hails from the kingdom of Sarcrin asks him "Think you can get me to them before that first warship, or at least that second one shows up?". 

Without even hesitating, Helbe the elven thief nods his hooded head, then says "Easily". The elven magic user continues with "Not so to there". 

In reply to Tam asking him "What about back down to the border, and the army still there?". 

"If they're still on this side of the border when those warships show up, they're fucked " says Mira Reinholt the mage, both the young field commander, and the elven master assassin nod in agreement with that. 

The young noble originally from the kingdom of Sarcrin then quietly explains to the pair who are members of Lord Farque's personal council, what they'll do. 

After Tamric Drubine outlines what they'll do, he quietly says "After all, we've achieved what we set out to do when we left camp yesterday afternoon" he follows that, in a dry tone of voice with "Not that we actually did anything". 

Prince Helbenthril Raendril faintly smiles at that, then the young field commander tells the once powerful mage "Get the others up, and get moving as quickly as you can". 

Tam continues on from that with "And try to stay out of sight of any passing warships" followed by "And any mounted patrols too" he then adds "Whether local ones, or ones sent down from the capital". 

"I will" says Mira Reinholt the mage with a nod of his hooded head, then field commander Drubine says "Let's get moving then". 

As the Vexillian mage in exile moves off to start waking the others up. And Helbe the elven thief makes his way outside. 

Tamric Drubine gathers his pack and weapons, then quietly wakes up his lover, Saanea the witch. The young noble who hails from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin, quickly and quietly tells her what's going on, and that he's going with the highly talented elven magic user. 

Once he's finished speaking with the practitioner of magic who is his lover, field commander Drubine heads outside. 

Where he finds the elven master archer off to one side, quietly talking with Shur Kee the monk. Who has paused in his predawn, early morning exercises. 

After speaking with the physical adept, who is the only member of the group not from The Southlands. 

The elven princeling from Laerel makes his way over to where field commander Drubine is quietly waiting for him in front of the barn. 

"Ready?" quietly asks the highly talented elven spellcaster, the young field commander in the Armies of Farque nods his head in reply to the member of the undead warlord's personal council. 

Helbe the elven thief then takes a hold of the left arm of Tamric Drubine. And in the gloom of predawn, the two of them vanish when the elven magic user looks southwards, and shifts them away on what's going to be another cold winters day in this region of The Southlands . . . . . .

Mercenary Tales 76.

Oaklynn. 

Salinéll the elven maiden wakes up in a daze, she doesn't know how long she's been out. But figures it's not long. As she hears shouting down below on the first floor of the house they're staying in. 

The elven magic user who hails from the principality of Alinlae winces as she hears an explosion downstairs. 

Then the elven practitioner of magic in her daze, pauses as she realizes that she didn't sense whatever they spell was. Which she figures was cast by Margin the wizard. 

The elven spellcaster then realizes that also she can't sense her own magic. And though dazed, she should be able to sense it, and draw from it. But as she lies here on the floor of the upstairs bedroom. Salinéll the elven maiden is unable to draw upon her magic, and cast. 

The elven magic user groans as she tries to move, and finds that something is lying across her back, as she lies on her stomach upon the floor. And whatever that something is, it's heavy. So much so, that she's unable to move from where she's prone on the floor. 

The elven maiden from the principality of Alinlae hears a stangled scream, that's abruptly cut off. Salinéll is more than certain, that was her fellow elf, Jarkellé the warden who was screaming there. 

The practitioner of magic who is the bastard child of elven nobility, hears and feels another explosion downstairs. 

This time the floorboards to her left, are blasted upwards, barely missing her. Residue of magic in the form of bright red sparks, float in the air, coming up through the hole in the floor next to the elven maiden who is originally from the principality of Alinlae, before they dissipate to nothing. 

Salinéll hears a thud downstairs, and she winces as it definitely sounded like a body hitting something, the floor, or a wall. And hitting it fairly hard too. 

The elven maiden groans as she tries to move, and get out from under whatever it is that's across her back. 

The spellcaster from the elven principality of Alinlae turns her head as she feels a cold breeze that way. And she sees a hole in the wall where the bedroom window once was. 

Then Salinéll suddenly stops squirming, trying to get out from underneath whatever it is that's holding her down, when she hears someone coming up the stairs to the second floor of the narrow home they're staying in while here in the city of Oaklynn. 

The elven practitioner of magic even in her daze, is certain that whoever it is that's making their way upstairs, is wearing steel boots. 

Then when the elven magic user from Alinlae hears that person out in the hallway, she tries to turn her head to look at the door to the bedroom she was sleeping in, on this cold winters night, here in the city of Oaklynn. 

Salinéll is unable to turn her head enough to see who it is that's just walked into the room. 

The elven spellcaster winces as she takes a deep breath, causing quite a bit of pain down the length of her body. 

Then a voice, a man's voice, say "Don't bother trying to cast" followed by "You're cut off from your magic". 

The elven practitioner of magic then frowns as in front of her face, she sees a pair of large steel boots. Dark blue, almost black in colour. 

The voice, then tells her "Those other two fuckers, Margin and Jarkellé are dead" followed by "Don't expect any help from them". 

The elf originally from the principality of Alinlae grimaces when she hears that. For if it's true, which she assumes it is. She realizes she's the only one left alive of the group she's gathered over the last quarter century or so, since the Battle of Vexil. 

"Time for you to take a trip Salinéll" says the voice right beside her, a voice that's cold to the ears of the elven magic user who just now realizes the human is speaking her native language. 

"Or should I say Misa Geist, which is the name you take in your human form" adds the human standing right next to her. 

The elven maiden who hails from the principality of Alinlae goes completely still when she hears that, and just tries to relax as she feels panic trying to set in. 

Salinéll hears the person next to her moving, then suddenly she feels something wrapped around her left forearm and wrist. 

And her left hand suddenly takes hold of something as whatever it is that's across her back, is lifted off the elven practitioner of magic. 

Salinéll whose hand is now wrapped around whatever she's holding, groans as she's picked up off the floor with ease. 

Then the elven magic user blinks as she's held up, feet dangling off the floor, right in front of whoever it is that's captured her, and who killed Jarkellé the elven warden and Margin the wizard. 

Once again, the elven maiden originally from the principality of Alinlae goes completely still, and panic does set it, when she clearly sees who has got a hold of her. 

She gulps in fright, as she looks at the large heavily armoured figure who is just standing there, staring at her as it holds her. 

Salinéll then gasps as she's flung over the broad heavily armoured right shoulder of her captor, and it's then that the elven spellcaster sees that her left hand is wrapped to the hilt of a massive sword. 

A massive sword that's now strapped to the back of the large heavily armoured figure that the elven maiden knows isn't what it appears to be. As she knows for a fact that it isn't alive, and is in fact dead. To be exact, undead. 

Salinéll who absolutely had no idea the undead could speak, or think for that matter. As she thought they were just mindless destructive creatures. 

Winces as the large heavily armoured figure steps out of the bedroom, through the hole in the wall, which obviously it created when it smashed into the second storey room she was sleeping in. 

The elven maiden's thoughts are in a whirlwind as the undead being once down in the lane behind the narrow home. 

Leaps to the roof of home behind it. Then it's moving, and moving at speed. Across rooftops as it moves away. 

Heading, Salinéll has no idea. As she's disoriented at the moment as they cross the city of Oaklynn on this cold winters night. 

The elven magic user who hails from the principality of Alinlae is wondering how the hell this undead human, got here to Oaklynn, the capital of Girdane so quickly. Since yesterday, just before noon. It was down in the capital city of Vexil. 

The elven practitioner of magic who isn't certain how's she's been cut off from her power, but figures it might have something to do with the sword she finds she's tied to. 

Blinks when she realizes that the ring on her left hand, which hides her from other spellcasters, is missing. She figures, correctly as it turns out. That the undead being has taken it off her. 

And now knows that's she's way more vulnerable than she initially thought. She's now unable to touch her power. But also, she is able to be sensed by other practitioners of magic. 

Salinéll tries to look around, and see where they are. But she quickly gives up on that, as most of everything is a blur as they move quickly across the rooftops of the buildings, here in the city of Oaklynn. 

After a while, the large heavily armoured undead being slows down, enough for the elven maiden from the principality of Alinlae to see where they are. 

The elven spellcaster spots a tower away to their right, a tower that she recognizes. Salinéll slightly nods to herself as she realizes they're in the south of the city of Oaklynn, the capital of the kingdom of Girdane. 

She gets a glance up into the sky when the undead being leaps over a wide street to a four storey building. 

And by the position of two of the three moons of Volunell in the night sky, Salinéll figures it's closer to dawn than it is to the middle of the night. 

Probably a couple of turns of a sand glass is the elven magic user's best guess. 

After leaping from rooftop to rooftop for a little while longer, the undead being drops down into a lane. 

The elven practitioner of magic sourly smiles to herself, then grunts in reply to the undead being quietly saying to her "Remain silent" followed by "If not I'll crush your throat enough that you lose your voice". 

The attractive elven maiden refrains from saying anything as they exit a lane, and head down a street. 

Salinéll spots an inn to the left a bit further down the street, an inn that they enter. The undead being passes the sleepy innkeeper dozing at the front desk. 

And heads upstairs to one of the rooms up there. A room that the elven magic user sees is actually a suite. 

She winces when she's casually dropped on the floor, while the large sword she's still gripping, and tied to, is placed carefully down beside her. 

Salinéll hears the large heavily armoured undead being say something in a language she has no idea what it is. 

Then head to another room in the suite. While the elven maiden who is originally from the principality of Alinlae screws up her face as she smells something rather disgusting. 

Salinéll turns her head when she hears movement to her right, she goes completely still when she sees who it is, that's sitting on the floor, not that far from her. 

Someone who chuckles, in what can only be described as, delight. When the elven practitioner of magic looks at him. 

"Bitch, you gone fucked up" says the large ork named Dorc da Orc who looks at the massive sword Salinéll finds herself tied to, then loudly mutter "Fuck touching that thing" followed by another mutter, with "She fucken nasty". 

The elven magic user sighs, then wonders what's going to happen to her, now that's she's a captive of the undead being, and the large ork named Dorc. 

Both of whom Salinéll has tried to either kill or destroy over the last two and a half decades, since the Battle of Vexil. 

The elven practitioner of magic who hails from the principality of Alinlae hears the undead being return, and with him is someone else. As she lies on the floor, she turns her head to see who it is. 

"The fuck?" mutters Salinéll the elven maiden in disbelief when she sees who it is, that's with the large heavily armoured undead being. 

"You're dead" says the elven magic user, who starts seething in anger as she lies there, basically unable to move because of what's she's tied to. 

"As you can see, I'm not" says Beldane the cleric, who looks at the undead being, and tells him "What that Mercer told us was true" he briefly pauses before adding "From what he told us before Dorc chopped him up". 

Well, so that's what happened to Mercer I guess, Salinéll the elven magic user sourly thinks to herself when she realizes what happened to one of the group she's gathered over the years. 

Then the elven magic user, realizes that the fighting cleric in the church of Glaine must of just read her mind. 

"Betrayer" hisses Salinéll as she looks at the powerful cleric in the church of Glaine, who yesterday and the day before, she thought was helping her and the others, when they were down in the city of Vexil. 

"That's rich coming from you" says the cleric in the half plate armour, who then wryly adds "Considering you've tried to forment a wide ranging war between nations, here in this region of The Southlands". 

Salinéll the elven maiden shuts up at that. For through she'd hate to admit it. But Beldane the cleric speaks the truth there. 

The elven practitioner of magic doesn't catch what the fighting cleric and the undead being quietly discuss, as she's too busy lying there, seething in anger at the situation she finds herself in. 

The maiden who hails from the elven principality of Alinlae takes notice of things again, when the undead being and the fighting cleric move to stand next to her. 

Then composing herself after taking a few deep breaths to calm herself down, the elven spellcaster asks them "What are you going to do to me?". 

"We're going to go somewhere" is the reply from the undead being as he looks down at the prone elven magic user. 

"Where?" asks the elf who is the bastard child of elven nobility, who figures, what could be worse than this?. 

"Why, we're going to pay a visit to your cousins Gamil and Farsen Geist" is the reply from Lord Farque after a moments silence as he and Beldane the cleric continue to look down at their captive. 

"Fuck" mutters Salinéll the elven maiden with a grimace upon her youthful and beautiful looking face when she hears that . . . . . .

Mercenary Tales 75.

The City Of Oaklynn. 

They enter the city of Oaklynn proper just before midnight. Going by the massive airdocks that lie to the southwest of the city. 

There's no walls around Oaklynn, and they enter the city between two buildings, and end up on a street. 

They turn right along the street, that like a lot of streets at night in the capital city, even during winter, is lit. In this case, torch lit. Just like most of the streets in the south of the city. 

The three of them cross the street, and head down a dark lane. The lane is fairly short, and they come out onto another street. That has a few people on it, even though it's close to midnight. 

One glance at the trio, and people keep well clear of them. 

The large heavily armoured figure leading the way, gestures to the other side of the street, which they cross over to. 

The one in the half plate armour walking beside him, yawns. Something that's noticed by the one leading the way. 

While the massive figure at the back, trudges along behind the other two. Scowling and glaring at anyone and anything that catches his attention. 

Seeing that Beldane the cleric is more than a little tired after all that's taken place today. Which began down in the city of Vexil, and is now here in Oaklynn, the capital city of the kingdom of Girdane. Lord Farque leads the way to an inn that he knows of in this part of the city. 

The undead warlord slightly nods his full helmed head when next to him, Beldane the cleric quietly asks him "Know where they are?". 

As they turn a corner, the fighting cleric in the church of Glaine asks the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque "We heading there now?". 

The lord of the death realm doesn't reply immediately, until he finally answers with a shake of his head. 

"You're in no state to take them on" quietly says Lord Farque, who follows that with "You're almost out on your feet now". 

The powerful cleric who hails from the kingdom of Nastell, refrains from yawning again, but only briefly, as he soon yawns as they cross a small square, here in the southwest of the city of Oaklynn. 

The large heavily armoured deathlord, who has the name of Draugodrottin that the people of his lands also know him by. Knows that the fighting cleric is struggling to keep holding his power within himself. 

"You need rest" quietly says the deathlord of Farque, who slightly nods his head back behind them, then quietly says in the elven language "Besides fatso hasn't eaten in while" followed in the same language with "I can tell when he's getting fucking cranky". 

The undead warlord then tells the Nastellian born spellcaster "The big fuckwit needs to be fed and watered". 

Beldane the cleric slightly grins at that, then once again he yawns. Proving that indeed, he does need rest. 

As they head down a long street, Dorc da Orc perks up when he spots what's obviously an inn further down the other side of the street. 

An inn, that by the looks and sounds of things, still takes customers even though it's close to midnight. 

They cross the street, and Draugodrottin nods his full helmed head in reply to Dorc da Orc asking "We fucken going there?". Referring to the inn they're approaching. 

They enter the establishment, and after getting what's essentially a suite up on the second floor of the two storey building. 

The trio enter the common room of the inn, a common room, that even at this time of the night, is easily half full. 

The conversations die down as the patrons look at the trio who have just entered. And more than a few stares are directed their way, as they head to a corner table, here in the inn's common room. 

The conversations from the other patrons pick up again after the trio sit down. Well Lord Farque and Beldane the cleric sit down at the corner table. While Dorc da Orc sits on the floor, next to the table. As no chair or bench here in the common room can support his weight. 

While the large ork, whose actual name is Dorkindle, fidgets as he waits for the food and drink he's ordered to arrive. 

Beldane the cleric after looking around at the other customers in the common room, quietly asks the lord of the death realm "Where exactly are they?". 

"North of here" is the quiet reply of the undead being who has the elven name of Des'tier, which means, The Destroyer. 

"On the other side of the city center, and the royal palace" quietly adds the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque. 

"The three of them?" quietly asks the powerful practitioner of magic who is a member of the church of Glaine. 

The deathlord of Farque replies with a nod of his full helmed head. Then he and the fighting cleric fall silent as the serving woman, and a helper stop at their table to deliver drinks. 

Most of which, including a barrel that's rolled over. Ends up with the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world. 

As the ork warleader yanks the cork from a bottle of wine, and downs it's contents in one go. Beldane the cleric quietly asks the undead warlord "Notice all that activity at the airdocks when we went by?". 

With a nod of his full helmed head, the lord of the death realm quietly says "At the docks of their aircorp". 

Des'tier continues with "Word's probably got to them of all the activity down on the border" followed by "It was bound to happen". 

"Wonder if they got word of it from that trio who turned up today?" muses the fighting cleric who hails from the north of the kingdom of Nastell, where his god Glaine, is predominantly worshipped. 

"A possibility" quietly says the undead warlord, who follows that with "Especially considering all the other shit they've tried to stir up in this region". 

The powerful spellcaster nods his head in agreement with the large heavily armoured deathlord. 

Then they fall silent again when the serving woman and her helper return with food. Which like the drink, most of it goes to the big burly ork sitting on the floor next to the table the other two are sitting at. 

As Dorc chows down on a rolled roast pork, Beldane the cleric nibbles on some bread and cheese. 

The powerful practitioner of magic slightly nods when the deathlord of Farque quietly tells him "They've settled down for the night from what I can tell". 

Then the fighting cleric in the church of Glaine lifts an eyebrow in surprise when the undead warlord quietly tells him "Think we'll take this Salinéll alive". 

"Oh" says Beldane, who after pouring himself some wine, and taking a drink of it, adds "And why's that?". 

The Nastellian born spellcaster listens as Draugodrottin, quietly and in the elven language, explains why they'll take the elven magic user who they're after, alive. 

The cleric in the half plate armour eyebrows shoot up in surprise again once the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque finishes explaining why. 

"Hell" murmurs the cleric who hails from the north of the kingdom of Nastell, who then quietly says in elven "That's if they're still alive down there in the border region". 

The lord of the death realm just shrugs his broad heavily armoured shoulders in reply to that, and does so again, when Beldane asks him "And the other two, the wizard and that elven warden?". 

Well, they're dead then, the fighting cleric dryly thinks to himself referring to the wizard Margin, and Jarkellé the elven warden. 

Then the powerful practitioner of magic who is a member of the church of Glaine, quietly asks the undead warlord "When should we get her?". 

"Halfway to dawn I guess" is the quiet reply of Des'tier, who falls silent for a few moments as the serving woman and her helper return once more, bringing Dorc da Orc more alcohol. Barrels of ale to be exact. 

"I'll do it" quietly says the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque after the serving woman and her helper move away. 

"You two stay here" quietly adds the large heavily armoured deathlord, followed by "You need rest if we're to go south to the border first thing in the morning". 

Draugodrottin then glances at the large ork sitting on the floor trying to shove a whole cooked leg of lamb into his mouth at once. 

"And the fat fucking idiot will just get in the way if I take him" adds Lord Farque, who has learned over the years. That true, Dorc da Orc is great in a fight. But capturing someone isn't exactly his specialty. Considering he tends to just kill everyone. 

The fighting cleric finishes his meal, and finally the ork warleader finishes eating too. Though the large ork who is a general in the Armies of Farque, takes a lot of booze with him up to their suite when they head up there. 

While Beldane quickly falls asleep, the undead warlord remains with the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world for a while. 

It's not until much later, nearly halfway to dawn, that the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque leaves. Though only after telling Dorkindle to guard the sleeping cleric. Which is fine by him, as he intends to drink the last of the alcohol he's brought up to their rooms with him. 

Draugodrottin quickly departs the inn, and as usual when he wants to move with speed through a city, he heads up. 

The large heavily armoured deathlord of Farque is moving quickly across the rooftops, here in the southwest of the city of Oaklynn. Heading more or less towards the city center. On what's a cold winters night for this part of the kingdom of Girdane. 

The undead warlord leaps over a street, going over a pair of the city watch. Who are escorting a street lighter. Who is dousing some of the torches in the neighbourhoods in the southwest corner of the city. 

It doesn't take Des'tier long to reach the city center, and he's soon moving northwards through Oaklynn. Keeping clear of the royal palace and the parliament building. 

The lord of the death realm leaps to the top of a fifty foot tower. Where he briefly stops. Draugodrottin who has been continuously sensing since he left the inn they're staying at. Slightly nods to himself, when he spots the building in the distance, the targets he's after are in. 

The warlord of Farque sees that it's a fairly narrow two storey house, in one of the nicer neighbourhoods here in Oaklynn. 

The large heavily armoured deathlord then leaps off the tower and lands on a nearby rooftop. He lands mid stride, and continues running and leaping from rooftop to rooftop, as he heads towards the building the trio he's after, are in this cold winters night. 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque soon comes to a stop when he jumps down into a lane, and looks down a street, to the rear of the house that Salinéll the elven magic user, Jarkellé the elven warden and Margin the wizard are in this night. 

The undead warlord wryly smiles to himself as he can clearly sense, and see the hidden spells that both Margin and Salinéll have placed around, and inside the house they're staying in while here in the city of Oaklynn. 

Draugodrottin leaps up to the roof of the building to his right. It's in fact a house, a row of which the undead warlord makes his way along until he's opposite the rear of the narrow, street front house that trio he's after are in. 

The deathlord of Farque who can see all life, and death for that matter. Basically looks through the rear wall of the two storey home opposite the one he's standing on top of. 

Des'tier sees that Salinéll the elven maiden is asleep in the bedroom on the second floor. While Margin the wizard is in the first room bedroom. And Jarkellé the elven warden, is awake on watch, in the front parlour of the two storey home, looking out the window to the street on that side of the house. 

The large heavily armoured deathlord moves a bit to his right, so that he's directly in line with the second floor bedroom that the elven magic user from the principality of Alinlae, Salinéll is asleep in. 

Lord Farque slightly nods his full helmed head to himself then draws his massive sword that's strapped to his back. The undead warlord wants to capture Salinéll alive. And The Sword of Power will be easiest for that to occur. Draugodrottin briefly glances down to the ground floor of the narrow home across the street. 

Before looking back up to the second floor, and the window of the bedroom that Salinéll the elven maiden is asleep in. 

The undead warlord then leaps across the twenty foot wide lane between the row of homes on this side, and the ones in front of them. 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque with Ryn the Sword of Power in hand, passes through the wards protecting the narrow home the trio he's after are in. 

And smashes through the window, and to be fair much of the wall that surrounds the window, and enters the second storey bedroom on this cold winters night, here in the city of Oaklynn, the capital of the kingdom of Girdane . . . . . .

Mercenary Tales 74.

The City Of Oaklynn. The Kingdom Of Girdane. 

They spend the evening at one of their safe houses after seeing a number of their contacts during the late afternoon, here in the city of Oaklynn. 

They don't have much in the way of influence amongst the kingdom's royalty and government. Compared to what they have down in the city-state of Vexil. 

But here in the kingdom of Girdane, they have more influence amongst those in the business community. 

And it's in a spare home of one of the kingdom's business leaders. That they find themselves in, this cold winters night. 

"Must be where he meets his mistress" dryly says Margin the wizard referring to the two storey home they're in. Located in a nicer part of the city, but not where the truly wealthy of the kingdom reside. They tend to live closer to the royal palace. Which is near the center of the city of Girdane. 

The elven warden Jarkellé just grunts in reply to that from the practitioner of magic who hails from the city-state of Vexil. 

The elf originally from the principality of Alinlae is in a foul mood since they left the city of Vexil in a hurry just before noon today. 

To be fair, Margin has been in a similar mood since they hurriedly departed the capital of the city-state of Vexil. 

It's just at the moment the spellcaster in the red robes hides his feelings a bit better than the elf who is one of only two others than himself, left in their group. As they stand in the front parlour of the narrow two storey house, with a fire lit in the fireplace to ward of the cold this evening. 

The wizard who yawns, as he's tired after creating two rifts this day, quietly says "I don't know" dryly followed by "You know I can't sense her". In response to Jarkellé the elven warden asking him "Where is she?". 

The elf originally from the principality of Alinlae sighs, then mutters in his native tongue "I should of gone with her". 

Margin who can kind of understand elven, asks Jarkellé "What was that?' followed by "Something about Salinéll I gather?". 

The elven warden nods his head, then in the common language, says "I said, I should of gone with her". 

"You know how she is, when she gets it in her head to do something" says the Vexillian born spellcaster, who continues on with "She'll do whatever it takes" the practitioner of magic follows that with "You of all people should know this". 

Jarkellé sourly grunts, then sighs as he knows all too well how Salinéll the elven maiden can be. Especially considering how bad things have got, now that the three of them are all that's left of the group that the elven maiden had gathered to her over the last quarter century since the Battle of Vexil. 

There's real glass windows in this house, and Margin the wizard parts one of the closed curtains to glance outside of the two storey house that's right on the street front. 

The street outside is lamp lit, and the spellcaster who hails from the city-state of Vexil sees a few people on the street, huddled in their cloaks, as they hurry about on what's a cold night here in the city of Oaklynn. 

Margin fully closes the curtains again, and takes a seat, as he sees that Jarkellé has sat down on one of the chairs here in the front parlour of the home that belongs to a fairly prominent business owner, here in the kingdom of Girdane. 

The wizard in the red coloured robes yawns, then leans back in the comfortable chair he's sitting in, and finally says what they've all thought about today, but have yet to voice. 

"Well, that went to shit today" says the practitioner of magic who hails from the city-state of Vexil. 

"And that's putting it lightly" adds the wizard who is the last human left in the group that had been gathered over the last quarter century or so by Salinéll the elven magic user. 

Jarkellé the elven warden slightly grunts, then nods his head in agreement with the practitioner of magic sitting on the other side of the small parlour they find themselves in. 

Then the elf who hails from the principality of Alinlae says "The entire group wiped out except for the three of us" he briefly pauses before adding in a dry tone of voice "Not to mention that damn ork is still alive". 

Margin winces at hearing that, as he too thought the ork named Dorc da Orc was finally dead. Killed by Mercer after they had captured it. 

"No idea how that thing is still alive" says the Vexillian born spellcaster with a shake of his head as the two of them wait for Salinéll the elven maiden to return from whatever it is she's doing this night, here in the city of Oaklynn, the capital of the kingdom of Girdane. 

"I hope it's alive" mutters the wizard Margin, who follows that with "And not, you know" he briefly pauses before continuing with "Undead". 

Jarkellé winces at the thought of that, then he says "No, it's alive" followed by a muttered "Thank the forest gods". 

The elven warden from the principality of Alinlae continues with "Definitely alive" he then says "It still stank like the cesspit it is when it rushed us". 

Jarkellé then tells the Vexillian born spellcaster "Undead smell cold and metallic, and that bloody thing was definitely not cold". 

The wizard Margin grunts as he figured as much. Besides if the large ork named Dorc da Orc was undead. The three of them would be dead like the rest of the group. 

The two of them are silent for a few moments, then the practitioner of magic quietly says "We've no clerics to help us out if we run into them again". 

The elven warden nods in agreement with that, then he says "Maybe Salinéll can get some more help from the church of Famal here again?". 

"Hopefully" murmurs Margin, who is fairly certain that word from Vexil will reach here, probably by tomorrow, as to what's happened down in the capital of the neighbouring city-state. 

And how the church of Famal here in Oaklynn won't be too pleased to learn that the leader of their church in Vexil has died. And that the interim leader who took over, is also dead. 

The practitioner of magic originally from the city-state of Vexil is about to say something, when Jarkellé holds up hand, then quietly says "Someone approaching on this side of the street". 

The two of them get up from their chairs, and as they make their way to the front door of the house they're staying in, the warden from the elven principality of Alinlae quietly says "It's her". 

There's a knock on the front door, and Jarkellé opens it, and with the cold air that comes in, is Salinéll the elven maiden. 

After closing the front door, then making their way back into the front parlour of the two storey home they've got use of, while here in the city of Oaklynn. Margin the wizard asks his fellow practitioner of magic "Well?". 

The elven magic user sits down in the chair closet to the fireplace, then Salinéll the elven maiden says "Something good for once". 

She briefly pauses before adding in a sour tone of voice "Especially considering how badly things went today down in Vexil". 

The elven spellcaster who is the bastard child of elven nobility, which explains why she's a practitioner of magic. As only elven nobles are capable of casting. 

Then tells the other two "I got a hold of one of our contacts" followed by "The shipping magnate with ties to the palace and the house of lords". 

Both Margin and Jarkellé nod in understanding as they know who the attractive elven maiden is referring to. 

"He's gone immediately to the palace to inform them of an incursion across the border from Vexil" says Salinéll the elven magic user. 

Margin the wizard slightly winces at that, as they know just the one mercenary company from the army gathered by Geist cousins Gamil and Farsen are heading north through southern Girdane. 

While the rest of the mercenary army will head back into Vexil early tomorrow morning, sometime before dawn. 

"I suspect the response will be swift from the palace" continues the elven maiden from the principality of Alinlae. 

Who in her guise as Misa Geist, has got her so called cousins Gamil and Farsen, to do what she wants them to do. 

And though the cousins who run the company business want to create a border war between Vexil and Girdane, so that they can profit from it. 

Salinéll the elven maiden has other plans. She wants an all out war between the two nations. Hopefully a war that will expand to involve other nations here in the central region of The Southlands. Not too mention the robber barons and others who attempt to rule the unruled lands scattered across this region of The Southlands. 

"Could be sometime tonight" says the elven magic user who hides her ability to cast thanks to a magical charm she wears. 

"Early tomorrow morning at the latest" adds the elven maiden who has spent the last quarter century trying to start a wide ranging war in this region. As well as trying to kill two people, who were involved in the death of her father a quarter of a century ago during The Battle of Vexil. 

"At least that's something good that's come out of today" says Margin the wizard, Jarkellé the elven warden grunts in agreement with the spellcaster from the city-state of Vexil. 

"They might cross over the border themselves" adds the practitioner of magic who wears dark red coloured robes. 

"Let us hope" says Salinéll the elven maiden, who after a moments pause, continues with "As for our other problem". Margin and Jarkellé share a look as they're both certain where this is going. 

"That damn ork" says the elven practitioner of magic, who follows on from that with "And the undead creature". 

The elven spellcaster who like Jarkellé hails from the principality of Alinlae, looks sharply at the human wizard, before saying "Considering that damn ork is supposed to be dead, and it isn't". 

The wizard Margin winces at that, for Salinéll is more than annoyed at finding that the ork named Dorc da Orc is still alive. When she was told it was dead. 

"We'll have to try and get some more help from the churches and temples here, as well as down in Vexil" adds the elven practitioner of magic, who follows that with "With them is our only chance of getting rid of that undead thing". 

Salinéll looks at both the wizard and the elven warden and tells them "Mark my words, when we return to the city of Vexil, we'll find those two and destroy them once and for all". 

Meanwhile, a little earlier in the evening. A gateway appeared near a town about six and a half miles away to the southwest of the city of Oaklynn. 

Well out of the range for Salinéll the elven magic user and Margin the wizard to sense. And for that matter, pretty much every other spellcaster in the capital city of the kingdom of Girdane with the exception of the strongest of mages. 

And out of the gateway came the pair that Salinéll, Margin and Jarkellé were just discussing. Along with a third person. Who the trio saw die earlier in the day, down in the city of Vexil. Or so they thought he died . . . . . . 

Mercenary Tales 73.

Northern Vexil. 

Lord Farque goes through the gateway first, followed by Dorc da Orc, then finally Beldane the cleric. 

The powerful practitioner of magic in the church of Glaine, drops his spell. And the gateway disappears behind him. 

The fighting cleric looks around, then looks over at the undead warlord. And though Beldane can't see the face behind the deathlord of Farque's helm's visor. 

He's pretty sure the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque is frowning from what he can catch a glimpse of through the eye slot of the full helm. 

"What is it?" quietly asks Beldane the cleric as the undead warlord just stands there, looking off to the northwest. 

"They're not here" is the reply from Lord Farque "The three we're" says the fighting cleric in the church of Glaine, who is interrupted by the large heavily armoured deathlord with "No" followed by "The group". 

Beldane's eyebrows lift in surprise when he hears that and does so again, when the lord of the death realm says "That army is that way". 

The undead being gestures to the northwest, then adds "And they're not there" he then mutters "Where the fuck have they gone off to?". 

Beldane the cleric knows that the deathlord of Farque can easily sense anyone, especially those he knows, from well over twenty miles away. 

So Tamric Drubine the field commander and the rest of the group must be some distance away from here. 

"What about the ones we're after?" asks the powerful spellcaster who hails from the kingdom of Nastell. 

"They're here" is the quiet reply of undead warlord, who also has the name of Draugodrottin that the people of his lands know him by. 

"At that camp" adds the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque, who continues on from that with "About three or so miles to the northwest" he follows that with "I guess over the border in Girdane". 

Beldane nods his head when he hears that, then follows after the large heavily armoured deathlord who sets off. 

Dorc da Orc who has been standing there, busy scratching his nuts, not really listening to the conversation between the other two. 

Grunts then follows after them when the lord of the death realm tells him in orkish "Hurry up cunt, we're going". 

It's far colder up here in the hill country that straddles the border region between the city-state of Vexil and the kingdom of Girdane compared to down in the city of Vexil itself. 

And the powerful cleric in the church of Glaine wraps his cloak tightly around himself as he keeps pace with the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque who has the elven name of Des'tier. 

Behind them, the ork warleader is just glad to be in the colder weather up here in the hill country. Though he wishes it was colder still, far below freezing if he had his way. 

The three of them left the capital city of Vexil, and came up here for the simple reason this is the direction that Lord Farque sensed that the trio they're after, fled to. 

They know a hell of a lot more after Beldane read the mind of Mercer, just before Dorc da Orc finally killed the so called mercenary. After the large ork chopped off his limbs, and finished shitting on him. 

As he walks beside Draugodrottin as they head uphill through some trees, Beldane the cleric shakes his head, before he says "What some will do for revenge". 

Glancing at the large heavily armoured deathlord walking beside him, then back at the big burly ork walking behind them, the fighting cleric in the church of Glaine says "That lot really hate you two". 

"The perks of getting involved in a lot of things, and killing a lot of people over the years" dryly says the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque. 

The lord of the death realm shrugs his broad heavily armoured shoulders, then says "It happens" Draugodrottin continues on from that with "I bet the three who remain alive are regretting things at the moment". 

The Nastellian born practitioner of magic nods his head in agreement with that, then quietly says "They sure are". 

They weave through the trees as they continue on up the hill they're on, then after a while as they approach the crest of the hill, the undead warlord quietly tells the fighting cleric beside him "Hold your power within yourself" followed by "Remember they, in particular that Salinéll thinks you're dead". 

The member of the church of Glaine grunts in agreement with that, then holds his considerable amount of magical power within himself. Making it basically impossible for other spellcasters to sense him. 

Lord Farque glances at the fighting cleric's magical mace, and after a word to the Sword of Power Ryn, strapped to his back. 

The magical weapon belonging to the cleric who hails from the kingdom of Nastell, falls silent so to speak. And it too becomes impossible for those with magical powers to sense it. 

On top of the hill, the trio pause and look westwards, and in the distance, amongst the trees, about two and a bit miles away, they spot the camp they're after. 

After a few moments of silence as they stand in the freezing afternoon wind, the deathlord of Farque tells Beldane "You'll have to go into camp and see where they've gone off to". 

The cleric in the church of Glaine looks at the undead warlord and the large ork, knowing that the two of them would be more than a little conspicuous if they showed up in the camp of the Geist cousins mercenary army. 

Besides the two of them have never been part of the rest of the group, who are posing as mercenaries whilst in the army of the Geist cousins. 

Unlike Beldane who until recently was traveling with the rest of the group, and is known amongst the mercenary army, who have been gathered to start a war between the city-state of Vexil and the kingdom of Girdane. 

"Might be bit of a problem if those three spot me" says the powerful spellcaster referring to the elves Salinéll and Jarkellé, as well as the wizard Margin. 

Lord Farque nods his full helmed head in agreement with that from the fighting cleric, then after a few moments of silence as they look off to the west, the lord of the death realm says "That might not be a problem". 

"Oh?" says the practitioner of magic who is originally from the north of the kingdom of Nastell. 

"I have a feeling they're leaving" says Des'tier who has sensed the trio they're after, are at the northern edge of the army camp in the distance amongst the trees, moving away from it. 

After a moment the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque nods, then says "A rift" he continues with "They're going north" followed by "They're gone". 

"Quick" says Draugodrottin to the fighting cleric "Head down there and find out where Tam and the others have gone" adds the large heavily armoured deathlord. 

The powerful cleric stops holding his power within himself, then teleports himself away, heading to the camp of the mercenary army gathered by Geist cousins Gamil and Farsen. 

"What we gonna fucken do?" asks Dorc da Orc as they wait for the Nastellian born spellcaster to return. 

"Go after those three" is the quiet reply from Lord Farque, who continues with "I've got a feeling where they're going". 

The undead warlord suspects that Tamric Drubine and the rest of the group have gone off in the same direction. 

Especially after they found out from Mercer what Salinéll the elven maiden, as Misa Geist wants her cousins, so to speak, to do with their mercenary army. 

It's not too long before the fighting cleric returns to the hilltop the deathlord of Farque and the ork warleader are waiting on. 

"They've gone north" says Beldane the cleric after appearing beside the other two, he then adds "The Geists have sent captain Marqand's company off that way". 

The member of the church of Glaine then explains what the Geist cousins want the mercenary company of captain Marqand to do. While the rest of the mercenary army heads back south over the border into northern Vexil as they hope to start an all out war between the city-state and the kingdom that share a border. 

"I figured as much" quietly says Des'tier, who then nods when Beldane says "Marqand's company left earlier today, just after noon". 

Lord Farque figures if they've been doing what they've been normally been doing whilst in the Geists mercenary army. 

Tam and the rest will be out further in front of the rest of captain Marqand's company. With Helbe the elven thief way out in front of the rest of the group. 

Who no doubt have been moving northwards by Mira Reinholt the mage and Saanea the witch teleporting the rest of the group. 

It's why he can't sense any of them, for even though they left the camp just after noon today, they're already well over twenty miles to the north from here. 

Draugodrottin senses once more to the north, then nods his full helmed head when he senses what must be the rest of captain Marqand's company on both foot, and horseback, about fifteen miles to the north. On what he figures is one of the roads that heads further north into the kingdom of Girdane. 

"Map" says the large heavily armoured deathlord to the fighting cleric, who takes out one of the maps he has tucked in an inner pocket of his cloak. 

After looking at the map, the lord of the death realm says "They're going this way" as he points at the map that shows most of eastern Girdane, and northern Vexil. 

"And those three fucks have definitely gone to Oaklynn" adds the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque referring to the capital city of the kingdom of Girdane. 

"Hoping to stir up some shit there no doubt" continues the undead warlord, the fighting cleric nods in agreement with that. 

As they now know that the group they've been after, have been trying to accomplish a couple of things as they've stirred up discord here in the central region of The Southlands. 

Of course they've tried to kill Lord Farque and Dorc da Orc for revenge. But they've also wanted to see the city-state of Vexil come under attack in earnest. Basically enter a war. First with the city-state of Tuledare. Which failed due to the efforts of the group in stopping a war over the unruled lands between the two city-states. And now with a potential war between Vexil and the kingdom of Girdane. 

For a number of reasons by the group led by Salinéll the elven maiden. Foremost being the aftermath of the war over a quarter of a century ago known as The Battle of Vexil. 

And how things didn't turn out as they wanted from the points of view of the various members of Salinéll's group that she has gathered since that particular war. 

"Tam and the others?" asks Beldane the cleric, who continues with "Or those three who have gone to the capital?" referring to who they should go after. 

Running a finger along the map, that leads to the city of Oaklynn, which lies only about sixty miles from the southern border of the kingdom, Draugodrottin says "Same thing really". 

The deathlord of Farque continues on with "Tam and the rest of them will eventually end up there" Des'tier briefly pauses before adding "But we'll go to the capital first, to see if we can stop those three fuckers stirring up shit". 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque asks the fighting cleric how well he knows the area around the city of Oaklynn. 

After the member of the church of Glaine explains the places he knows near the capital of Girdane. The heavily armoured deathlord of Farque points at a spot about six miles south of the capital city, and says "There". 

The lord of the death realm continues with "Once we're through, make sure to hold your power within yourself" he follows that with "They don't know you're still alive, and that will be an advantage for us". 

Beldane the cleric nods his head, then he starts casting a gateway, the clerics version of a rift. And it soon forms, the other side of which is outside of a town about a half a dozen miles to the southwest of the city of Oaklynn. 

Lord Farque points at Dorc da Orc and gestures to the gateway, the large ork grunts and goes through it first. 

He's followed by the undead warlord, then finally the fighting cleric in the church of Glaine. As they leave the freezing windswept hilltop in the border region between the city-state of Vexil and the kingdom of Girdane. 

And make their way to a town just six or so miles from the city of Oaklynn, the capital of Girdane on what's a cold winters day in this part of central region of The Southlands . . . . . .