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 . . . . . .