Mercenary Tales 91.

Vexil. 

"Calithmél iln Novumëd" quietly says Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy, who follows that with "Milathril nillm Halisethelle niem". 

Lisell Maera the scout nods her head and moves off to the right where the smaller trees in this part of the forest is thickest. 

The scout leader in the Armies of Farque, arms her crossbow, and drops to a knee. While away to her left, behind a tall tree. The spy Tanith has his own unique crossbow in hand. And that too is ready to shoot. 

To their right, intersecting with the game trail they've been following this morning as they head south. 

Is an old overgrown cart track, which meanders it's way through this part of the forest, going east through the hill country. 

And on it at this moment, on this cold winters morning. Are a number of Vexillian soldiers, who have either broken off, or gotten themselves lost. From the bulk of their army who have been battling the mercenary army of the Geist cousins Gamil and Farsen. 

Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by those who know him well. Glances back in the direction he and the scout Maera have come from. 

The elven spy who hails from the principality of Alinlae, can hear the rest of the group coming from that direction. 

The spy Tanith looks around the tree trunk again, down towards the overgrown cart track. And watches the Vexillian soldiers heading this way. Who will pass less than twenty yards from where he and Lisell Maera are hiding. 

The two of them, both in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque. Are basically completely still. 

Dalin with the natural stillness of elven kind. While the scout Maera has been trained to stay completely still, since she was basically a child. When it was decided she would be assigned to the division in the Armies of Farque after she was found by the group on the streets of the city of Brattonbury. 

As he stands there completely still, the spy Tanith who previously served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland of Alinlae. 

Can hear the rest of the group getting closer and closer, in particular a certain ork warleader at the back of the group. 

Who Dalin suspects even the human soldiers of the Vexillian army approaching nearby. Will be able to hear the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world fairly soon. 

The elven spy who is a commander in the Armies of Farque, sees Lisell Maera or Lis as more often than not she's called by the others in the group..

Make a small hand moment, and glance back his way. The spy Tanith slightly nods his hooded head as they wait in hiding. 

Lis takes aim as she brings the stock of her crossbow up to her right shoulder. A crossbow that once belonged to Shur Kee the monk which was designed by the ork weaponsmith Dorc da Orc. 

The scout Maera takes a calming breath as she continues to wait, and in the line of the Vexillian soldiers, who are basically moving in single file, with just a lone soldier out in front of the others. 

The scout leader in the Armies of Farque takes aim at an individual about four from the front. The soldier is a sergeant at arms, and is clearly older than the others in the line of march. 

While behind the large tree further to the left, the spy Tanith who has also raised his crossbow. A weapon that can extend it's arms to increase it's range. 

Has taken aim at what's clearly an officer amongst the Vexillian soldiers on the old overgrown cart track, which heads slightly uphill where it intersects with the game trail Dalin, Lis and the rest of the group have been using. 

Now Lisell Maera is pretty certain she can hear the rest of the group approaching from the north on the game trail. 

So she slightly nods to signify to the spy Tanith what's she's going to do, takes another calming breath. And shoots off the bolt in her loaded crossbow. 

An instant later, Dalinvardèl Tanith shoots off the bolt in his own crossbow. And the officer in the line of march drops with a steel bolt through his throat. 

While the sergeant at arms is already down, with the crossbow bolt shot from the scout leaders weapon going right through his face, and out the side of his skull. 

Lisell Maera has already pulled the underside of her crossbow back, and reloaded the automatic weapon. 

She shoots off another bolt as the Vexillian soldiers yell and shout, and scramble for cover. And the soldier who was out in the lead, drops to the ground screaming, with the bolt in the middle of his back. 

The spy Tanith's crossbow is also self loading, though it's slower to reload, and has less shots. But because it's can extend, it's more powerful than the one that Lisell Maera uses. And the next bolt he shoots off, proves it. 

For a Vexillian soldier running for cover, heads straight in the direction of the two who have ambushed them. 

And his head shatters apart when it's hit by the elven spy's shot. And the bolt continues on. And though it's flight is wobbly, it still slams into the guts of another Vexillian soldier. Easily going through his leather armour vest and gambeson. 

Meanwhile further back up the game trail, Dorc da Orc who at the back of the group, can hear and smell what's about to happen, suddenly says "Fight". 

Then the large ork takes off running, growling "Out the way cunts" to the others in front of him on the game trail. 

The ork warleader is already cackling, as he draws weapons in anticipation of what's up ahead. 

The others briefly share looks, with the exception of Shur Kee the monk and sir Percavelle Lé Dic who have taken off after the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world. 

Then with a wry smile upon his face, Tamric Drubine the field commander dryly says "Might as well go after them". Next to him, Saanea the witch who briefly closed her eyes, says "There's about forty or so I guess". 

Tamric Drubine or Tam as he's more commonly called by the others in the ground, nods then moves off, followed by the witch who is his lover. Along with Beldane the cleric, Zam the ex mercenary and Tovis the war engineer. 

While Mira Reinholt the mage, and Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman share a look again, and the rotund woman who is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra, just shrugs her shoulders. 

And Mira Reinholt the mage dryly says "They're fucked". Referring to the Vexillian soldiers up ahead. 

And the two of them, members of Lord Farque's personal council. Continue walking at the pace they were previously. While the others rush ahead to where Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy and Lisell Maera the scout have ambushed a group of Vexillian soldiers. 

The spy Tanith who has just shot off another bolt into some nearby bushes, and is rewarded with a yell of pain from a soldier in the army of the city-state of Vexil. 

Suddenly says "Hell" in a dry tone of voice when he hears the loud commotion coming up behind him along the game trail. 

The spy originally from the elven principality of Alinlae steps further to one side of the tree he's behind. 

Then a chortling Dorc da Orc runs by him saying "Hey cunt" the large ork goes by Lisell Maera, who mutters "Fucking hell Dorc" after the large ork almost runs her over. 

Then the warleader of the ork race who is a general in the Armies of Farque, who amongst the group is only second to Lord Farque himself when it comes to all things military. Not that anyone bothers to tell that to the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world. 

Is quickly amongst the Vexillian soldiers, some of whom are taking cover, or at least trying to. While others are trying to locate who has ambushed them. 

The large ork who is from the wolf tribe of orks, in fact he's the son of the former matriarch of that particular tribe of orks, shouts "Get some!". In the common language as he swings a hammer at one of the soldiers, who has turned and just stands there in shock, not really understanding what's running at him. 

Dalinvardèl Tanith just rolls his eyes, as sir Percavelle Lé Dic runs by him loudly muttering "Damn filthy beast shall not defeat them all, wot". 

As he runs after his bitter rival the ork weaponsmith, who has already slammed one of the Vexillian soldiers into the ground, with a swing of the hammer in his hands. 

While other soldiers scatter at the appearance of the seven and half foot tall, seven hundred and fifty pound warleader of the ork race. 

The former paladin in the order of The Knights of Saint Mar'che goes running by the kneeling Lisell Maera, and runs at the closest of the Vexillian soldiers, and in his usual loud fashion. 

The noble born knight originally from the kingdom of Druvic, in fact he's a earl from the south of that nation, shouts "Take that you dastardly villain!". 

As he swings a pick axe in one hand, whilst holding a hammer in the other, at a stunned looking Vexillian soldier, who has turned to find a fully armoured knight, over six foot in height, bearing down on him. 

The scout Maera winces when sir Percavelle or Percy as he's called by the others in the group, slams the pick into the top of the Vexillian soldier's skull he's run up to. 

Lis looks over at Dalinvardèl Tanith and shakes her head, and the elven spy who is a commander in the Armies of Farque just shrugs in reply to her look. 

Dalin lowers his crossbow as Shur Kee the monk who was following the ork warleader and the large heavily armoured knight, stops next to the elf who hails from the principality of Alinlae. 

"You probably shouldn't bother" says Dalinvardèl Tanith to the short statured monk beside him. Then with a nod of his hooded head at what's happening on and around the old overgrown cart track, the elven spy dryly adds "Those two idiots will take care of everything". 

Faintly smiling, Shur Kee the monk says "No doubt". And though the physical adept, who is an honorary member of Lord Farque's personal council, doesn't engage with the Vexillian soldiers. 

He keeps a close eye on both Dorc da Orc and sir Percavelle Lé Dic, especially the ork general, as they fight the soldiers in the army of the city-state of Vexil, that Lis and Dalin have ambushed. 

The ork warleader throws his hammer, which slams into the back of a fleeing Vexillian soldier. Who goes flying forward from the impact of the heavy weapon. His back broken, which is insignificant, as he's already dead from the force of the impact. 

Dorc da Orc or Dorkindle which is his given name, slaps another of the Vexillian soldiers across the face, snapping the man's neck, killing him instantly. 

At the same time, the large ork grabs a spear that's jabbed at him. The ork general who has got it by the haft, yanks it forward, and out of the hands of the Vexillian soldier who attempted to stab the large ork. 

Dorkindle headbutts down, catching the Vexillian soldier in the top of the head, who stumbled towards the ork weaponsmith after the spear was ripped out of his hands. 

After dropping that soldier, the large ork flips the spear, and catches it in his right hand. The big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world, is surprisingly dextrous. In fact he's ambidextrous like all orks are. 

And he throws the spear, while at the same time taking a throwing axe from the front of his weapon harness. 

"Get some ya cunt!" shouts Dorc da Orc when the spear slams into the back of another Vexillian soldier, pinning him to a tree. 

The ork general is loudly chuckling as Tamric Drubine the field commander joins Dalinvardèl Tanith and Shur Kee the monk. 

The senior officer in the Armies of Farque is quickly joined by Zam the ex mercenary, Saanea the witch, Tovis the war engineer and Beldane the cleric. 

And a little bit later, by finally Mira Reinholt the mage and Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman. 

As they watch the ork warleader and the noble born knight fight those Vexillian soldiers who have remained, and haven't fled like a lot of them did when Dorc da Orc and sir Percavelle Lé Dic showed up. 

On this cold winters morning, here in the heavily forested hill country that's found here in the north of the city-state of Vexil . . . . . .

Mercenary Tales 90.

Hill Country. Northern Vexil. 

They head south through the heavily forested hill country of northern Vexil. With Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy and Lisell Maera the scout out in front of everyone else. 

After making a brief return, there's no sign of Helbe the elven thief again. While Lord Farque is up in the sky on a wyvern he took earlier from a rider in the Vexillian aircorp. 

They occasionally come across combatants from both sides of the mornings battle, here in the northern hills of Vexil. 

With most giving the group a wide birth when they catch sight of them. Especially when they see Dorc da Orc, who tends to trail the rest of the group, with the exception of Shur Kee the monk, who keeps an eye on the large ork. 

They come across a wounded mercenary, who recognizes them from being part of captain Marqand's company. 

He informs them that further south in the direction they're heading, is a fairly large force of the mercenary army. 

Those with commander Kilmas of the Geist company guards. And others in the mercenary army who have gone along with them. 

Beldane the cleric heals the wounded mercenary. Which ends up being a waste of time just a few moments later. 

As tends to happen when one is healed by either magic or a magic potion. The mercenary is a little dazed as he staggers away, not really looking where he's going. 

And where he's going, is right into Dorc da Orc, who has stopped to look into one of his sacks for something to eat. 

And the ork warleader being who he is, lashes out without even looking at who has bumped into him. And with a backhanded swipe, the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world. Caves in the skull of the recently healed mercenary. 

Much to the chargin of Beldane the cleric who yells at the ork weaponsmith to watch what he's doing. 

The ork general in the Armies of Farque pulled his head out of the sack he was looking into, and looks down at the dead body at his feet. 

Then after shrugging, and ignoring the fuming cleric in the church of Glaine, the large ork went back to looking into the sack he just had his head inside of. 

A little bit later, and Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy and Lisell Maera the scout come to a stop halfway up a hill. 

As they look down to the south, to be exact the southeast, the elven spy originally from the principality of Alinlae, spots a fairly large column of Vexillian foot soldiers in the distance, making their way up one of the forest roads in this area of the hill country of northern Vexil. 

As they wait for the rest of the group to catch up, Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy points and quietly says "There in the trees, further to the right". 

The spy Tanith who is speaking in elven, quietly continues with "Must be some of those in the mercenary army". 

Nodding her head when she looks to where Dalinvardèl Tanith has pointed, Lisell Maera quietly says in elven "Probably commander Kilmas and those with him". 

As they watch a spot in the forest over a mile and a half to the south of the hill that they're part way up. 

Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin as more often than not he's called by the others in the group, is fairly certain he spotted some of the cockatrice riders in captain Hafnah's company in that direction too. 

Then points to a clearing a bit further west to where they assume, correctly as it turns out, is commander Kilmas and those with him are. 

"There, that clearing" quietly says the spy who previously served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland Alinlae. 

"There they are" adds the elven spy who is now a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque. 

Lisell Maera or Lis as she's more commonly called by those who know her well, can't see them all that clearly because of the distance, and she lacks the eyesight of an elf. 

But even from this distance, she can see the distinctive shapes of horse drawn wagons crossing the forest clearing that Dalin has pointed out. 

"Hell" quietly says Lisell Maera the scout, while next to her the spy Tanith nods his hooded head in agreement with her. 

Then the two of them look up, and they both quickly find Lord Farque and the wyvern he's riding, up in the clear blue sky, on what's a cold winters morning here in the hill country of northern Vexil. 

The elven commander in the Armies of Farque is just about to say something, when he suddenly turns and looks behind them down the hill. 

And instead says "Something's up" he follows that with "Zam's hurrying up here". 

The scout Maera looks back and after a few moments she too spots the ex mercenary originally from the City Of Ruins, making his way quickly up the hillside to where they are. 

A short time later, and the trio of Lis, Dalin and Zam the ex mercenary are back with the rest of the group. 

And the spy originally from the elven principality of Alinlae asks "What is it?" followed by "Zam said there's a bit of a problem". 

Tamric Drubine the field commander nods his head, then says "You could say that". The young noble who hails from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin, after glancing sideways at Mira Reinholt the mage, looks over at Beldane the cleric and says to him "Tell them". 

"Bit of a problem alright" dryly says Beldane the cleric, then after a brief pause, the powerful practitioner of magic who is a member of the church of Glaine, says "Pretty certain a mage is after us". 

"Oh great" sourly says Lisell Maera the scout, who after immediately looking at the mage Reinholt, as she figures it's got something to do with him, she asks the powerful fighting cleric "And why's that?". 

"Because Mira killed one earlier that's why" states Beldane the cleric, who shakes his head, as the mage Reinholt just stands there and shrugs his shoulders. 

As he couldn't care less that a mage in either the Vexillian army or aircorp is after them. Since he killed one earlier in the morning, after a mageglobe was sent their way. And he sent one back in return to where that particular one came from. 

And the living piece of magic created by the once powerful mage was highly successful to say the least. 

Now there's another mage from the military of the city-state of Vexil hunting after whoever it was that killed their fellow practitioner of magic in the Vexillian forces. That whoever, being the mage Reinholt . 

"We'll be fine" says Mira Reinholt the mage, who silent adds, I hope. Before he continues with "We can deal with any threat to us". 

Though the spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, wouldn't mind having his fellow practitioner of magic, Helbe the elven thief back here with them. 

As he knows the highly talented elven magic user can easily kill any spellcaster, no matter how powerful they are. 

And mages, especially those with all their powers. Are the most powerful of all the human spellcasters. 

The once powerful mage who is a Vexillian, looks at his fellow practitioners of magic. Beldane the cleric and Saanea the witch. Both of whom are holding their power within themselves. 

And he tells them "Make sure that you remain undetected" dryly followed by "If any of us are located, we're fucking done". 

Both spellcasters just nod, knowing that it will be either one, or both of them who will have to protect everyone else if they're found by a Vexillian mage. 

"Let's keep going then" says Tamric Drubine the field commander, who gestures for them all to continue. 

Which causes Dorc da Orc to grunt, as he wants to get going. As he found standing around doing nothing, particularly aggravating since he knows there's fighting going on here in the forests of northern Vexil. 

The group head of again, going along the game trail they've been following as they continue southwards through the forested hills, here in the north of the city-state of Vexil. 

Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy and Lisell Maera the scout, who are only a short distance out in front of the others at the moment. 

Come to a stop when the elven commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque hears a familiar whistle come from behind them. 

And it's not too long before the rest of the group catch up to the two of them who are out in front as they make way south through the hill country of northern Vexil. 

"Dorc smells some people close by" quietly says Tamric Drubine the field commander when he and the others join Dalin and Lis. 

The spy Tanith looks at the others, and notices that Saanea the witch is standing there with her eyes closed. 

The commander in the Armies of Farque slightly nods to himself as he realizes that the spellcaster who hails from the Maldin Hills is communicating with her familiar at the moment. 

"That way" quietly says Saanea the witch after she opens her eyes after looking through the eyes of her familiar, which is a tawny owl at the moment. 

Dorc da Orc or Dorkindle which is his given name, who is actually paying attention for once, grunts in agreement with the practitioner of magic, who is the partner of field commander Drubine. 

"Who?" asks Lisell Maera the scout "Vexillian soldiers" replies Saanea, who follows that with "Cut off from the bulk of their forces further west as they chase after the mercenary army". 

"How many?" Tamric Drubine asks his lover, the dark haired witch from the Maldin Hills, which is far to the west, near the coast of The Southlands. 

Saanea replies with how many, and the young field commander nods his head and thinks about it for a moment. 

He quickly makes a decision after Saanea tells him which way the nearby Vexillian soldiers are going. 

"Dalin, Lis you can start taking them out if they go across our path" quietly says the young noble who is originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin. 

The two of them nod, then quickly move off. Shortly followed by the rest of the group, who Tamric Drubine warns to be ready for any Vexillian soldiers who might come their way. 

He also quietly tells his lover Saanea to keep an eye out for the Vexillian mage in the area, who in all likelihood is searching for them. To be exact, searching for Mira Reinholt the mage. 

Field commander Drubine looks up into the clear blue sky on this cold winters morning, when Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson quietly says "He's coming back this way". 

After a moment, Tam spots up in the sky, the wyvern with Lord Farque on it, circling back this way. 

Looking down at the forests and hills below, Lord Farque looks to the south, and sees those he's set in motion, about to converge and meet up. 

The undead warlord slightly nods his full helmed head, then he looks straight down beneath him, as he has the wyvern slow down. 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque who is about five hundred feet above the treetops here in the hill country of northern Vexil. 

Spots the group, who he has been keeping a constant look upon. Though look isn't the correct word, as he's been constantly sensing them. 

The large heavily armoured deathlord who senses a number of others, not all that far from the group. 

Has the wyvern continue to circle, and in a few moments, the lord of the death realm sees that it's a number of Vexillian soldiers who are fairly close to the group. 

The undead warlord slightly nods to himself again, as he sees that though the group is relatively small. 

They'll easily take care of those Vexillian soldiers who in most likelihood, they'll run into fairly quickly. 

Lord Farque after sensing further west, where he locates Helbe the elven thief and Narladene the ground pixie. 

Has the wyvern turn back south, so that he can keep an eye on the column of nearly four hundred Vexillian foot soldiers who are making their way northwards, or to be precise to the northeast. 

Which the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque definitely doesn't want them going to, as he has plans for a nearby old gold mine, which they might come across if they keep going to the northeast .

On this cold winters day, here in the heavily forested hill country that's the border region between Vexil and it's northern neighbour, the kingdom of Girdane . . . . . .

 

Mercenary Tales 89.

Border Region. 

The wagon driver brings his pair of horses to a stop, much to the chargin of his fellow mercenary on the front seat with him, who demands "What the hell are you doing?" followed by "Keep going". 

The slightly injured merc from another company in the wagon bed, who has hitched a ride with them, is thinking the same thing. As he eyes the odd shaped boxes in the back of the wagon with him. 

Clucking to his horses to get them going again, the driver says "Change of plans". "Huh?" says his fellow mercenary beside him, who continues with "You do know that's fighting we can hear back there". 

The wagon driver nods, and turns his horses and wagons off the forest road they're on, and as the merc in the back holds on as they start heading through the trees off the road. 

The driver says "There's a track not far this way". "There is?" says the mercenary sitting beside him, who has a loaded crossbow in his lap. 

"I saw it on the map" says the wagon driver, his fellow mercenary grunts, as he knows all the drivers in the company have been shown a number of maps by captain Mackrin, whose company they're in. 

"If you say so" mutters the mercenary next to the driver as the ride has got a hell of a lot bumpier now that they're going through the trees. 

Behind them, the wagon that was on the road with them, has also turned off the forest road, and is following them. 

It, like this one, has a number of odd shaped boxes in the back of it. As they continue south, though now they're going southeast instead of directly south. 

As the mercenary army that they're part of, is in a running battle with elements of the Vexillian army, here in the hill country in the north of the city-state. 

Helbe the elven thief looks down from where he's floating in the air, above the treetops. The blurred and shielded elven magic user watches two more of the wagons in captain Mackrin's company heading through the forest, in the direction he's sent them. 

The young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel has sent all of the wagons in Mackrin's company, those with the odd shaped boxes in the back of them. 

Which due to the spells he cast on them quite some time ago, have survived unscathed so far since the Geists mercenary army have been here in northern Vexil. 

Away to the southeast as they flee the running battle which is predominantly behind them, here in the heavily forested hills of the border region, that straddles the city-state of Vexil and the kingdom of Girdane. 

The highly talented elven spellcaster glances at Narladene the ground pixie, who gestures up and behind them to the north. 

The elven masterthief looks that way, and spots the wyvern, and Lord Farque who is on it. High in the morning sky, watching the wagons that the elven master assassin has sent to the southeast. 

"Feel sorry for that lot" murmurs Helbe the elven thief, who continues with "And those they're going to run into". 

Narladene winces, then the tiny winged creature nods her head in agreement with the young elven noble who she's attached to. 

Then the grandson of the ruling prince of the island principality of Laerel shifts away, as he starts heading back to where the rest of the group are making their way southwards through the forest. 

Kilmas, the commander of the Geist company guards. Along with quite a number of his guards, not to mention quite a few mercenaries from various other companies. 

Have been cut off from the bulk of the mercenary army that the Geist cousins Gamil and Farsen have gathered in their attempt to start a border war between their homeland of Vexil, and it's northern neighbour, the kingdom of Girdane. 

The guard commander sourly smiles as he knows that's not going to happen anytime soon, or for that matter, ever. 

But what he does know, is that the remnants of the Geist cousins mercenary army, is in a battle of survival this winters morning. Here in northern Vexil, against elements of the city-state's army. 

A couple of his most trusted men, have just run back down from a nearby hill, and informed him of what they were able to see. 

Commander Kilmas who was worried about more Vexillian warships turning up, sighs with relief that a pair of vessels in the city-state's aircorp, are further to the west as they head north. 

The commander of the guard in the Geist Trading Company doesn't fancy getting bombarded again anytime soon. 

He had enough of that earlier in the campaign, when nearly a quarter of the mercenary army was either wiped out, or incapacitated. 

A scout comes running in, and breathing heavily, he tells Kilmas "Commander, heavy enemy movement on our right". 

The guard commander grimaces, as that's the way he wanted to go. As he knows that the Geist cousins Gamil and Farsen, along with most of the rest of the mercenary army, are that way. As they all head south, away from the border, which they crossed over earlier in the morning. 

Commander Kilmas sighs, then gives the order to continue south through the forest. Though it's actually more to the southeast, thanks to the terrain in this part of the border region they're in. 

The mercenary captain Hafnah runs down a Vexillian soldier just standing there between two trees, not moving at all. 

The mercenary captain's cockatrice tramples the poor soldier dead, stabbing it's beak into the man's neck and throat to make sure the deed is complete. 

Hafnah looks around, and seeing no other enemy soldiers alive in the vicinity. He has his mount move off. 

"To them" commands captain Hafnah, knowing that his cockatrice will head off to where the nearest of it's kind are. 

Hafnah who has been around cockatrice basically his entire life. Know that the animals, which are naturally magical. 

Have a sense that allows them to locate their own kind. And it's not too long before the mercenary captain and his mount join up with a number of their company. 

Among them, Hafnah's daughter Danielle, as well as his second in command, Marnell. A short, almost tubby man. Who looks like he's always angry. But is probably the most level headed of everyone in the mercenary company. 

"Anything?" asks captain Hafnah after he joins up with about fifteen of his company amongst the trees. 

"Nothing here" replies Marnell, who then waves away to their right, as he continues with "Heavy fighting back that way, to the west". 

The second in command of the mercenary company follows that with "Think commander Kilmas and quite a few others are somewhere to the south of us" Marnell then adds "Looks like he might of been cut off from the rest of the army". 

Captain Hafnah grunts at hearing that, then as he tries to recall a number of details from the maps of the area. 

Another of the company rides in, this one from the south. And informs his captain that what Marnell said was correct. 

And that Kilmas, the commander of the Geist Trading Company guards, and quite a number of others, are away to the south, heading southeast. 

He also informs the mercenary captain, whilst up the tallest hill in the immediate area. He spotted a large Vexillian force coming up from the south. On one of the forest roads, the one that splits. And they've taken the easier route, which is to the east. 

"Hell" mutters captain Hafnah, who follows that with "They'll run into commander Kilmas and those with him". 

The mercenary captain winces, then after sighing as he's made up his mind, he orders those with him to head south, to be exact, to the southeast. 

So that they can help out guard commander Kilmas, and those of his company, and the others with them. 

Hafnah has a quick word with his daughter Danielle to see if she's alright. Which she informs him that she is. 

Then father and daughter, along with the rest of the cockatrice riders with them, move off. Heading to the south and east, on this cold winters morning, here in the heavily forested hill country of northern Vexil. 

The soldiers in the Vexillian army who left their camp before dawn further away to the south, are making their way up one of the forest roads in this part of the hill country that makes up the border region between the city-state and it's northern neighbour, the kingdom of Girdane. 

They're an element of the army's infantry, a mix of both lightly armoured and more heavily armoured soldiers. 

And though they're foot soldiers, they make good ground throughout the morning, as they head north to the border, where they've been informed of activity of what's likely mercenaries. 

Who last week, attacked a number of villages and small towns here in the very north of the city-state that's their homeland. 

A couple of scouts return to the column after making their way up one of the hills to the left of them. 

And inform the company commander that a couple of aircorp vessels are further to the west, and that they also spotted a wyvern in the aircorp. Seemingly circling near the border with the kingdom of Girdane. 

One of the scouts points it out, and the commander along with his second in command, can just make it out in the distance to the north as the column continues on it's way along the forest road. 

The company commander as he walks towards the front of the column, is waiting for the other scouts to report back in. 

As he sent out a number of them, in all directions as the company heads north along the forest road through the border region. 

And it's not too long before three more pairs of scouts return to inform him what they've seen and found. 

They tell of him nothing untowards in the immediate vicinity. But when the last pair of scouts finally make their way back to the column. 

These two who went further north, than any of the other scouts. They tell the company commander that they could here the sounds of battle in the distance, away to the north. Though more to the northwest than directly north. 

The commander of the nearly four hundred foot soldiers in the army of the city-state of Vexil slightly winces. 

As this branch of the forest road he decided to take, which will get them to the border quicker than the branch that goes westwards, before heading north. Goes more to the northeast, than it does north. As it goes around a few of the heavily forested hills in the area. 

"Ah well, nothing to do about it" murmurs the company commander, who after a shrug of the shoulders, orders the column to pick up the pace. 

The foot soldiers respond as they continue northwards. As they do, the commander in the army of the city-state of Vexil. Looks up into the morning sky to the north. 

And he spots the wyvern in the aircorp again. And he sees that though it's still circling. It's heading southwards, more or less in this direction. 

The company commander along with his soldiers have no idea that a number of different elements are heading their way. 

And that soon they'll be in the fight of their lives, on this cold winters day, here in the heavily forested hill country that straddles the border region between the city-state of Vexil and the kingdom of Girdane . . . . . .