Springtime In The City 16.

Vexil. 

Lying on top of a rooftop while it steadily rains, wasn't how Zam the ex mercenary was expecting his day to go. But here we are. 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins is in the northeast of the city of Vexil, and is looking towards a block like building on the other side of the square, from the building he's on top of. 

The youngest member of the group sighs again as he wonders why he got tasked to do this. He knows exactly why. 

It's because he's the youngest and least experienced in the group. So he's ended up with this rather uncomfortable job. 

Ever since they learned the Mage Council of Vexil has been hiring private guards from various businesses and trading companies, to help locate Mira Reinholt the mage. 

Members of the group have been keeping an eye on such companies. And if needs be, eliminating any who happen to run across the once powerful mage. 

Who has gathered the attention of the Mage Council that effectively rules the city-state of Vexil. In particular one member of the Mage Council, the mage Garmen. 

Zam who wipes his face for the umpteenth time. Is just glad it's once again not that cold this spring day. 

And as he looks over to the block like building, the ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins, wonders of those he's been tasked to look out for, actually make an appearance today. 

"Probably not" murmurs Zam the ex mercenary, who after a pause adds in a sour sounding mutter "Because it's too bloody wet". 

The youngest member of the group, who just hopes one of the spellcasters in the group is nearby, who can dry him out. 

Doesn't have to wait long, as those he's been tasked to look out for, make their way out of the side of the block like building on the other side of the square. 

"Of course they have to go out on such a lovely day like today" dryly mutters the ex mercenary, who continues muttering with "Why wouldn't they Zam?" he then adds "Instead of staying cooped up inside". 

Looking across the square, Zam winces, then mutters "Fuck" as he sees a carriage approaching the side of the block like building, where the trio he's watching, are waiting. 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins gets up, and hurries back along the rooftop, and quickly heads down the steps that go down one side of the building. 

Careful not to slip on the slick steps, the ex mercenary gets down into the lane to the side of the building, and hurries forward. 

Zam who is glad there's not too many people about due to the weather today, looks out from the end of the lane. 

And looking across the square, he sees the trio get into the horse drawn carriage that's pulled up beside the block like building he's been observing. 

The ex mercenary, walks out into the square, and heads out after the wagon, hoping it doesn't move too quickly, on this rainy spring day here in the city of Vexil 

The youngest member of the group slightly nods his hooded head, as he sees the carriage driver is being cautious. 

Zam is glad he is, as he can keep up with it, and keep it in sight, as they head west through the streets, here in the north of the capital city. 

The teenager who was found by the group, scavenging a living as a mercenary in the massive hole in the ground that's The City Of Ruins. 

Keeps the horse drawn carriage in view as he follows after it. Which briefly stops on a street, not all that far from the square it left from. 

And the driver gets down and enters a shop. Which Zam sees is a bakery. Which causes his stomach to rumble, as he hasn't eaten anything since breakfast this morning at the Merchant's Rest inn. 

After the driver returns, and hands a basket of baked goods to those inside the covered carriage. 

It gets underway again, with the youngest member of the group following it more closely this time. So it doesn't get out of sight as it, and he, head through the north of the city of Vexil on this rainy spring day. 

As he follows after the horse drawn carriage, Zam constantly looks around. So he's not too surprised when he spots Lisell Maera the scout leader. 

Who makes her way from an alleyway, and joins the ex mercenary who is originally from The City Of Ruins. 

"Which ones?" quietly asks Lisell Maera the scout in the elven language, as they follow after the covered carriage, which is only about thirty yards in front of them. 

Zam tells her who, then quietly adds "Two of the senior company guards" followed by "Along with one of the managers". 

The attractive young woman who hails from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury, nods her hooded head as it continues to steadily rain here in the city of Vexil. 

Lisell Maera or Lis as she's more commonly called by the others in the group, quietly says "It's the guards who are of interest". 

"I know" is the quiet reply from the teenager, who like the scout Maera, is speaking the elven language. 

"Wonder if they've got any interesting information?" quietly murmurs Lisell Maera who is in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque. 

Zam is wondering the same thing as they cross an intersecting street, keeping the horse drawn carriage about thirty to forty yards in front of them. Careful to not let it get out of view. 

They get closer to the wagon as it turns right into another street, here in the north of the city. And the teenager from The City Of Ruins slightly nods when next to him, Lis quietly says in elvish "Heading to the nicest part of the city" . 

"Don't think they'll actually go in there" quietly says Zam in the same language, who has a sneaking suspicion that the carriage and it's occupants won't actually enter the most exclusive, and expensive neighbourhoods in the capital city of Vexil. 

The scout Maera slightly nods when the carriage turns, and makes it's way along a street just to the south of probably the most exclusive area of the city. 

"Isn't Mira's family compound that way?" quietly asks the ex mercenary with a slight gesture to the north. 

"Yeah" is the reply from the attractive young woman who hails from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury. 

"In some park like grounds" continues the scout leader, essentially a junior officer in the ranks of the Armies of Farque. 

Zam nods his hooded head at that as the rain, though still steady, starts to slacken off in this part of the city. 

The youngest member of the group who has a feeling what those they've been following, are about to do something. 

Something that he's fairly certain, he knows what they're going to do, and he quietly tells Lisell Maera "Get ready". 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins then adds "They're going to stop, and get out is my guess". 

The scout Maera looks sharply at the ex mercenary walking beside her, then after a moments thought, she nods her head in understanding. 

As the horse drawn carriage is starting to slow down in front of them, Zam quietly says "Quick, that street there". 

The pair hurry into the street the teenager from The City Of Ruins gestured to, then they look back around the corner. 

And they see that the covered carriage has come to a stop, and that two of the passengers, are getting out. The two in question, are senior members of the company guard they belong to. 

After a few moments, as they see the pair turn into a street, parallel to the one they're in, and move away to the north. 

Lisell Maera the scout quietly and quickly say "Go" the attractive young woman leads the way along the street they're on. 

Always looking to their left, whenever there's a gap in the buildings they're hurrying along in front of. 

"Should we?" quietly asks Zam the ex mercenary, the scout Maera replies with "Probably not" she quickly follows that with "Don't want to risk being seen killing them". 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins nods his hooded head as he follows closely behind the attractive young woman who hails from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury. 

Then the scout leader in the Armies of Farque says "We'll knock 'em out through" quickly followed by "Have Beldane find out what they're up to" she then adds "He's somewhere in this part of the city". 

Once again Zam nods as he follows Lis, who tells him "Quick, this way" and she turns to the left into an alleyway. Which is really just a narrow gap between two buildings. 

They hurry forward, and at the end of the alley, they come to a stop, and the scout Maera quietly says "Might as well drag them in here". 

The ex mercenary who is the youngest member of the group slightly nods in response to that as they wait. 

Then Zam follows Lisell Maera out of the alley, she's taken a quick step out, ducked and spun around doing a sweeping low kick. 

Which connects with the legs of the man who was just walking by the alleyway. He grunts in pain, before he slams forward, face first into the ground. 

The second man following closely behind him, goes to dodge out of the way, only to end up with Zam's right fist connecting with his jaw. 

His legs buckle, and he drops towards the ground already unconscious, but the ex mercenary grabs him, and starts dragging him back into the alleyway. 

While Lis grabs the other man, who is groaning, and by under the arms she drags the him back to the alley too. 

She's helped by Zam after he's dumped the other fellow in the narrow gap between the two buildings. 

Breathing deeply to calm himself, the teenager originally from The City Of Ruins glances back out onto the street, to make sure they haven't been spotted. 

He looks away to the right, and sees the park like grounds in the distance that way. Where many of the wealthiest of Vexil's residents live. 

He moves back into the narrow alleyway and joins Lisell Maera, who stands over the two unconscious men. 

"Now what?" quietly asks Zam after the scout Maera has checked the men to see if they were carrying anything of interest. 

Finding nothing but concealed weapons, the officer in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque, replies with "We wait I guess". 

The ex mercenary nods, and does so again after Lis quietly tells him "My best guess is that they were going to the Reinholt Estate". 

Which the youngest member of the group knows is a number of residences on park like grounds, not all that far from here in the north of the city. 

The two of them don't have to wait all that long, because Beldane the cleric soon finds them. After Helbe the elven thief sent him, as the young elven noble has a number of hidden viewing spells in this part of the city. And in real time, he watched what Zam and Lisell got up to. 

Walking from the other end of the narrow gap between the two buildings, the powerful cleric in the church of Glaine joins them, as they stand over the two unconscious men, who are guards from a certain trading company here in the city-state of Vexil. 

"What will you do?" quietly asks Zam the ex mercenary after the fighting cleric bends down and checks up on the two unconscious men. 

Beldane the cleric who has just read the minds of the two company guards Zam and Lisell have knocked out, quietly says "Make so they think they've gone onto the grounds of the Reinholt Estate, and have been unable to find any sign or information about Mira". 

The powerful practitioner of magic who hails from the kingdom of Nastell, stands there rubbing his chin as he looks down at the two unconscious men. 

"Problem?" quietly asks the scout Maera "Not really" is the reply from Beldane, who after a slight pause continues with "Just not as good at these kind of spells compared to Helbe". 

After another slight pause, the fighting cleric in the church of Glaine dryly adds "I just hope it works". 

After a few moments as Lis and Zam watch on, the Nastellian born spellcaster quietly says "There, it's done" followed by "They'll wake in a little bit, and won't know what's happened to them here". 

The ex mercenary and the scout leader nod to that, then they exit the narrow gap between the two buildings. 

While the powerful practitioner of magic heads the other way, as they leave the two unconscious men to wake up. 

A short while later, from a nearby lane. Zam the ex mercenary and Lisell Maera the scout watch as the pair of guards from a certain trading company. 

Make their way out the alleyway, looking a little dazed. Which quickly clears. Then they turn, and walk back the down the street in the direction they came from. Thinking that they've been on the grounds of the Reinholt Estate for some time, here in the affluent part of the city. 

Finding no sign of Mira Reinholt the mage or his whereabouts. On this spring day, where the rain continues to fall in the capital of the city-state of Vexil . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 15.

The City Of Vexil. 

They got back to the city yesterday afternoon. And that's when the weather closed in. And sometime during the night it started raining. 

So in the morning, Zam the ex mercenary finds himself walking through the rain. It isn't a particularly cold spring day. But the rain, though not heavy, is constant. 

And as the teenager who is originally from The City Of Ruins walks through the streets of Vexil. He sees that the city isn't as busy as it usually is due to the rain. 

The youngest member of the group looks at Lisell Maera the scout who is walking beside him, who has just tapped him on the arm. 

She gestures across the street, and the ex mercenary spots Beldane the cleric standing under an overhanging awning in front of a shop. 

The scout leader in the Armies of Farque, along with the ex mercenary wait for a wagon to go by, then they cross the street, and join the fighting cleric beneath the awning. 

"The royal thief has found some more of them" quietly says Beldane the cleric "City guard?" asks Lisell Maera the scout, who follows that with "The city council?" she then adds "Mage Council?". 

The powerful practitioner of magic who is a member of the church of Glaine shakes his head no, then quietly says "Company guards". 

"A trading company?" quietly asks Zam the ex mercenary, and the cleric in the half plate armour nods his head yes in response to that from the teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins. 

Beldane gestures them to follow him, and they step out from beneath the awning, and head off in the rain. 

Walking down the street, then turning into a lane, the powerful spellcaster who is originally from the kingdom of Nastell, tells the other two "Paying a bit too much attention to one of the counting houses we've used". 

Beldane briefly pauses as a pair of goblins carrying wooden boxes go by them, then the cleric in the church of Glaine says in elvish "They were asking questions, and found out Mira was at the counting house when the first lot of gold came down from the northern hill country". 

Both Zam and Lisell nod when they hear that, then the three of them fall silent as they continue walking through the rain. 

The fighting cleric eventually leads them to an old tower near the edge of park in the northeast of the city of Vexil. 

The tower, a former guard tower that's disused. For the simple fact a fair chunk out of the top is missing. And there's a lean to the tower. Which suffered damage during the Battle of Vexil a little over two and a half decades ago. 

Beldane pushes open the door, and the youngest member of the group, and the scout leader who is originally from the city-state of Brattonbury, follow him into the tower, glad to be out of the rain. 

"Thanks" says Zam the ex mercenary after the fighting cleric waves a hand, and both Zam and Lisell find themselves dry, with tendrils of steam briefly coming off them. 

"Who did you learn that from?" asks Lisell Maera or Lis as more often than not she's called by those who know her well. 

"Helbe?" adds the attractive young woman who is originally from coastal city-state of Brattonbury, where she was found as a child by the group at the time. 

Nodding his head, Beldane says "I did" followed by "It's also why I don't get wet while it rains". He then grins when the scout Maera sourly smiles and says "Lucky for some". 

Zam slightly nods at that, as he's noticed that all the spellcasters in the group never get wet when it's raining. 

The only times the ex mercenary has seen them getting wet from rain, is when they don't want to cast, or they're actively casting other spells, and just forget to keep themselves dry. 

Though the youngest member of the group has never seen Helbe the elven thief get wet from rain fall at all, no matter what. 

The powerful cleric who hails from northern Nastell, where his god Glaine is predominantly worshipped. 

Leads the way up the tower, and on what's the fifth floor of the tower, they enter a chamber. The floor of which slopes to one side accounting for the lean of the old tower. 

"He'll be back soon, no doubt" says Beldane the cleric as the find the chamber empty, who nods his head and says "Didn't interfere with them" followed by "Let them go on their way". 

In response to Lis asking him "What did you do with those two he found?". The officer in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque then says "He's following them I take it?". 

"He is" replies the powerful practitioner of magic, who continues on with "To see what else he can find out about them, and their company" he follows that with "And their interest in Mira". 

The mage himself is keeping a low profile now, staying back at the Merchant's Rest inn, and not leaving it at all. 

Since many people who are after him, which are quite a lot. Know that he's either in the city, or has been in the city recently. 

Nearby, in the offices of a trading company here in the city of Vexil. Helbe the elven thief makes his way from the warehouse, into the adjoining office. 

The highly talented elven magic user who is blurred and shielded, shifts into the office through a slightly open window shutter. 

Which one of the occupants then closes so that none of the persistent rain gets inside as the wind outside has changed direction. 

The elven masterthief who hails from the island principality of Laerel reads the minds of the trio in this office. Then he follows one of them out into the hallway beyond. 

Within the mind of the man he's following. The elven master assassin sees he's heading to the office down the hallway. The young elven noble who is a member of the royal family that rules the principality of Laerel. 

Sends that fellow the other way, and outside to the adjoining warehouse to do something else entirely different. 

The elven master archer, whose mother is the heir to the principality of Laerel, and whose father is the Warden of Quinthain. An elven forest city to the east of the Lands Farque. 

Makes his way into the office at the other end of the hallway. Quietly closing the door behind him without anyone noticing. 

The blurred and shielded elven magic user goes straight to a floorboard next to the chair, behind the desk. 

The highly talented elven spellcaster faintly smiles to himself after he presses on one end of the floorboard, and reveals a hidden cubby hole. 

He takes out a fairly hefty coin bag, full of gold, and pockets it. Grinning to himself as he does so. 

After all he's a masterthief, and has a reputation to live up to. Besides not that anyone else in the trading company is going to miss it. 

As the co-owner whose office this is, has been stealing from the company without anyone knowing. 

Helbe the elven thief as he kneels, turns around and mutters "Fuck" in the royal elven language when he sees Narladene the ground pixie standing on the desk, with a disapproving look upon her face. 

"Old habits hard to break I see" dryly says Narladene the ground pixie in the elven language as she stares at the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel. 

After softly cleaning his throat, the elven magic user nods his hooded head, then says in the regular elven language "Something like that". 

Then he gets up, and moves closer to the drawers in the desk. The elven master assassin who is a member of Lord Farque's personal council, undoes the hidden lock in one of the draws, and opens it. 

Helbe the elven thief or prince Helbenthril Raendril to give him his full name and title, takes out a ledger. 

He's not interested in what's written in the ledger. What he is interested in, is an envelope between two of the pages in the ledger. 

He takes out the envelope, and opens it. Taking the letter out of it. Which he quickly reads to himself as the ground pixie who is attached to him, watches on. 

"Damn" murmurs the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel, who then adds "Looks like they're hiring trading companies to locate the mage". 

In response to Narladene quietly asking him "What is it?". The tiny winged creature who is originally from the Sunreach Mountains, then asks the elven master archer "Who?". 

"The Mage Council" is the quiet reply from the elven princeling who returns the letter to the envelope, which he reseals, and puts back in the ledger, which he returns to the draw he took it out of. 

The elven masterthief resets the hidden lock for the draw, telling Narladene as he does so "Seems a number of companies, not just trading companies, are taking payment from the Mage Council to find Mira". 

"And in the Mage Council, you mean that mage Garmen?" says the naturally magical creature who first met Helbe in the city of Leeabra, the capital of the kingdom of Druvic. 

The blurred and shielded elven magic user nods in response to that from the ground pixie, then quietly says to her "I don't think the rest of the Mage Council cares that much about Mira being here in the city". 

The highly talented elven practitioner of magic continues with "True, they want to keep an eye on him, so he doesn't get into any trouble". 

Narladene wryly smiles at that, as the mage Reinholt is the one in the group most likely to get into trouble with the exception of Dorc da Orc and sir Percavelle Lé Dic. 

"But they're not overly zealous about it" says the elven princeling from Laerel, who follows that with "Unlike the mage Garmen". 

"Who still doesn't know about Mira's involvement in his son's death?" says the tiny winged creature, who briefly pauses before adding in a dry tone "Or your involvement?". 

Helbe the elven thief winces at that, for it was he who actually killed the younger mage Garmen, during a confrontation in the hill country of northern Vexil in the winter that's just gone by. 

Softly clearing his throat again, the elven master assassin quietly says "No he doesn't" then he nods his hooded head. In reply to Narladene saying "I guess it's to do with their past then?". 

"He still can't get over the fact that Mira survived the Battle of Vexil after being kicked off the Mage Council, then exiled" quietly says prince Helbenthril Raendril. 

Who follows on from that with "Considering he was the one at the time, who actually teleported Mira out of the city, right into the middle of the enemy army". 

"Where he met little, er I mean Lord Farque" quietly says the naturally magical creature who continues on with "And Dorc". 

"And the world has never been the same since" dryly says Helbe the elven thief, who then adds "Come on, let's get back to Beldane". 

The ground pixie nods her head, and makes her way onto the right shoulder of the elven magic user she's attached to. 

"He's back at that old tower" quietly says Narladene as the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel slips out of the office. 

"Lis and Zam are with him" quietly adds the tiny winged creature who is originally from the Sunreach Mountains. 

Helbe the elven thief nods his hooded head, then the blurred and shielded elven practitioner of magic, follows one of office workers outside. 

Then he shifts away, heading to the old abandoned tower where Beldane the cleric, Lisell Maera the scout, and Zam the ex mercenary are waiting. 

On this cloudy, rainy, though not particularly cold spring morning here in the capital of the city-state of Vexil . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 14.

The City-State Of Vexil. 

They leave the city well before dawn on what feels like is going to be another cold spring morning, here in this region of Vexil. 

With Zam the ex mercenary and Dorc da Orc, is Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy as they make their way along one of the main roads north out of the city. 

Behind them is a horse drawn wagon, with the same driver that Zam and Dorc accompanied over a week ago during a trip down from northern Vexil. 

This time there's no hired guard with the wagon. For the simple reason they're not going to the border region up in northern Vexil this time. 

The ex mercenary who is originally from The City Of Ruins walks alongside the spy Tanith, out in front of the wagon. 

While Dorc da Orc brings up the rear, following behind the horse drawn wagon as they head north from the city. 

"Doubt we'll run into any trouble this morning" says Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy as he and Zam quietly converse in the darkness before dawn. 

"We're not exactly going too far" adds the elven spy who is a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque. 

"Besides both the city guard and army keep things quiet in and around the capital" continues the elf who hails from the principality of Alinlae, where he used to serve in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland. 

The teenager who is the youngest member of the group nods his head in agreement, then he glances up into the gloomy sky before dawn, and in the distance away to his right, he spots the outline of an airship heading towards the city of Vexil. 

The ex mercenary then glances at the elven spy walking beside him, who quietly tells him in elvish "Even if we do run into trouble, Axe will take care of it". 

"He's here?" quietly asks Zam the ex mercenary in the same language, who as he looks around, continues with "Where?". 

"Beats me" is the reply from Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by the others in the group. 

"I have no idea" adds the elven spy with a shrug of his shoulders, who after a pause continues with "I saw him jump off the north wall just after we went out the gates". 

Zam winces at that, for the walls of Vexil are over fifty feet high, closer to sixty, and are pretty much the tallest walls of any city in The Southlands, or for that matter any city on the world of Volunell. 

The spy Tanith gestures away to the northeast, and quietly says "He took off that way" he follows that with "Even I can't see him". 

The ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins nods, as that's the general direction they're going this morning. 

The youngest member of the group then quietly says in elven "He's probably heading to where we're going". 

"More than likely" says Dalin with a nod of his hooded head in agreement with the ex mercenary, who used to ply his trade in the massive hole in the ground where the City Of Ruins is located. 

The teenager then looks back behind them, and can just make out Dorc da Orc, who he's glad to see is still following them. And hasn't wandered off to do gods know what. 

A while later as the sun starts to rise in the east on a chilly morning here just to the north of the capital city. 

And they encounter more traffic on the road, those in wagons, carts, carriages, horses and on foot. Mostly going towards the city of Vexil. 

They turn off the road they're on, and head east. Bypassing one of the larger towns just north of the capital of the city-state. 

After glancing back to make sure the ork warleader Dorc da Orc is still following them and the wagon. Which he is, much to the relief of Zam who Lord Farque has put in charge of the large ork for this quick sojourn north this morning. 

"He's going to be there, is he?" quietly asks the ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins, who looks around in the growing light of dawn, and sees they're traveling through farmland just to the north of the city. 

"Should be" is the quiet reply of Dalinvardèl Tanith, who then dryly adds "He probably hasn't even left the city yet". 

The elven spy who is a senior officer in the Armies of Farque dryly continues with "One of the advantages of magic". 

Zam grins and nods his head in agreement with the spy Tanith as they walk up an incline in the road they're on, followed by the horse drawn wagon, which is followed by Dorc da Orc. 

Who Zam sees is snacking on a large meat covered bone. Which the ex mercenary hopes to hell is an animal bone of some kind. And not one that once belonged to a person. 

At the top of the incline, the elf who is originally from the principality of Alinlae briefly stops, then points further to the east, and a bit south, and quietly says "Those woods there". 

With a hand up above his eyes to shade them from the rising sun, the teenager who is the youngest member of the group, who has stopped next to the elven spy, sees the woods in the distance about four miles away. 

As they get going again as the wagon tops the incline, Zam the ex mercenary asks Dalinvardèl Tanith "Can you see it?". 

With a shake of his hooded head, the spy Tanith replies with "No" he continues with "That doesn't mean anything though" followed by "Considering it's probably invisible, which they can easily do". 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins nods his head as they head down the other side of the incline. 

As they do, Dalin points and quietly says "There's a wagon track just beyond that small lake, or pond really" he then adds "It heads into those woods, where we want to go". 

There's not much in the way of traffic on the side road they're on. They only person they encounter is a farmer on his wagon, heading the other way, late to the morning market in the nearby town. 

He barely acknowledgeds Zam and Dalin's good morning, as he's so distracted by the sight of Dorc da Orc. 

So much so he briefly sends his horse and wagon off the side of the road as he looks back at the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world. 

Once they get beyond the relatively small body of water, they turn onto the wagon track, which leads to the nearby woods. 

In which the locals from the farms in the area, gather both firewood, as well as harvest some of the trees to build things. 

Though this morning, the woods are empty of any of the local farm community. Though that doesn't mean the woods are actually empty. 

"Know where it is?" quietly asks Zam the ex mercenary as they enter the woods "Where they are?" adds the teenager originally from The City Of Ruins. 

Dalinvardèl Tanith shakes his hooded head no, then the elven spy looks back at the ork weaponsmith following the wagon, and asks in the common language "Dorc you know where they are?". 

The large ork who is has finished eating the large bone he was gnawing on early, looks up from one of his sacks he was peering into. 

Then after glancing around, then sniffing a few times, Dorc da Orc gestures, then says "Fucken that way" followed by "Not fucken far". 

Dalin nods his thanks, then says to Zam "Keep following this track I guess" he continues with "Won't be too long now". 

The ex mercenary who is glad it isn't too chilly here amongst the trees this spring morning, nods his head as they continue on along the wagon track which goes through the woods they're in. 

And it's too far before they see a clearing though the trees, and in the clearing stands a familiar hooded figure, next to a square canvas covered stack. As they enter the clearing, the hooded figure who is yawning, waves to them in greeting. 

"Morning" says Helbe the elven thief by way of greeting, both Zam and Dalin greet the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel. While Dorc da Orc just grunts at the sight of the elven masterthief who was waiting for them. 

"Been here long?" asks the spy Tanith "Not long" is the reply from the highly talented elven magic user. 

"Told you" dryly says Dalinvardèl Tanith to the ex mercenary who is the youngest member of the group. 

Zam grins, then nods as the elven master assassin gestures at the canvas covered stack he's standing next to, and says "You lot get to load it". 

Switching to elvish, the elven master archer says "Just get Dorc to load it all" followed by "Tell him some of it's his". 

The elven masterthief who just happens to be the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel briefly pauses, before he continues with "To be fair some of it probably is". 

Both Zam and Dalin nod, then Helbe the elven thief says in common to the large ork "Hey Dorc, get this loaded into the wagon". 

The warleader of the ork race who has just taken a bottle of wine from one of his sacks, and is about to drink, is about to tell the elven princeling to get fucked. 

When the spy Tanith speaks up, and tells the ork who is a general in the Armies of Farque "Some of it's yours Dorc, so you might as well stack it in the wagon". 

"Oh?" says Dorc da Orc who is suddenly interested in what's happening this morning in the middle of the woods they're in. 

As the large ork and the wagon driver take off the canvas covering to reveal a stack of gold bars, prince Helbenthril Raendril quietly says to Zam and Dalin "I'll see you back in the city" followed by "At the new counting house". 

Gesturing behind him, the elven magic user adds "Nothing will bother you between here and the city" he then adds "Axe will make sure of it". 

The ex mercenary from The City Of Ruins looks up, and sees the massive form of the Farqian wardog Axe come into view..

It looks like the undead wardog is standing on nothing but air, about eighteen feet above the ground. 

He's in fact standing on the deck of the krean scoutship, which is invisible along one side of the clearing..

The scoutship that during the night picked up the load of gold from one of the mines in the hill country of northern Vexil, that Lord Farque has taken over. 

"You got this?" asks Helbe the elven thief "We do" is the reply from Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy, the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel nods, then he disappears as he shifts away and starts making his way back to the city. 

While Zam and Dalin share a look, then wander over to the wagon, to make sure Dorc da Orc and the driver stack the gold bars properly, and don't just chuck them into the back of the wagon. 

Whilst the undead wardog Axe watches on from the deck of the invisible krean scoutship on this cool spring morning here in some woods, just a dozen miles or so to the northeast of the city of Vexil . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 13.

Vexil. 

Zam the ex mercenary crosses the street, and enters the darkness of the short covered lane that leads to the Merchant's Rest inn. 

Making his way out of the lane, and into the small square, essentially a walled courtyard in front of the inn. 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins looks up at the night sky, and sees two of the three moons are already up, on what's a cold spring night here in the city of Vexil. 

As he makes his way to the front door to the inn, the youngest member of the group jumps in fight, and spins around with a hand on the hilt of his sword when he hears something behind him. 

"Axe" murmurs Zam the ex mercenary after swallowing in fright at seeing the massive canine in the courtyard with him. 

The teenager glances up at the nearby rooftops, and figures the Farqian wardog jumped down from one of them. No doubt after he's probably been following him. 

The youngest member of the group wryly smiles, as the massive animal walks by him with a sideways glance. 

Before he heads around the side of the inn, and heads to the empty stables around the back of the Merchant's Rest. 

Zam takes a deep breath to settle his racing heart, then he heads into the inn where the group are staying whilst here in the city of Vexil. 

This evening like all nights at the Merchant's Rest since the group have basically settled in here. A handful of locals are having dinner in the common room. 

Zam as he takes a seat at the table with Lisell Maera the scout leader and Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy. 

Recognizes the regulars who come in for the evening meal. Who are now accustomed to the group. 

Then the ex mercenary spots a pair of men sitting at the corner table where Tamric Drubine the field commander and Saanea the witch usually have their meals at. 

The teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins glances their way as the serving woman takes his order. 

When she's gone, Zam glances first at Lisell Maera then Dalinvardèl Tanith, both of whom slightly nod to him. 

Then the ex mercenary sees the spy Tanith give him a discreet hand signal, Zam slightly nods in response to that. As he knows to only speak in elven if he wants to discuss something of importance. 

After the serving woman drops off his drink, Zam the ex mercenary who has noticed something, quietly says in elvish "Where is he?". 

"Upstairs in his room" is the quiet reply from Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy referring to Mira Reinholt the mage. 

"They don't know" adds the elven spy who hails from the principality of Alinlae, referring to the two strangers in one of the corner tables. 

"Know who they are?" quietly asks the ex mercenary who is both the youngest, and newest member of the group. 

"No" is the reply from Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by those who know him well. 

"But no doubt Beldane, Saanea and Helbe know who they are, and what they're up to" continues the elven spy who is a commander in the Armies of Farque. 

Zam nods, then falls silent as the serving woman brings him his meal, on this cold spring night here in the capital of the city-state of Vexil. 

The ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins takes his time eating his meal, both savouring it, as well as taking as long as possible to eat it. 

By the time he's eventually finished, the regulars have left the inn, and the only ones who remain apart from the group, are the pair of strangers at one of the corner tables. 

And once the serving woman has cleared away Zam's plate and trencher, and heads into the kitchen. 

One of the strangers goes to stand up, but he starts to fall. And the other goes to steady him. But he slumps forward onto the table. 

"Grab them and bring them upstairs" quietly and quickly says Lord Farque as Helbe the elven thief appears out of thin air behind the two strangers who are clearly unconscious. 

Zam along with Dalin hurry over the to the corner table, and pick up one of the men. While Tovis the war engineer grabs the other, shouldering him with ease. 

And the trio carry the two strangers upstairs, followed by Lord Farque, Helbe the elven thief and Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman. 

They carry the strangers to the end suite which the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque is using. And Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson stops at Mira Reinholt the mage's room, and tells him to join them in the undead warlord's suite. 

"Who are they?" asks Mira Reinholt the mage as he looks at two unconscious men on the floor in the middle of the main room in Lord Farque's suite. 

"Two more with an interest in you" is the reply from Helbe the elven thief, who then goes onto tell them what he's learnt from reading the minds of the pair he knocked out. 

Zam who hasn't been told to leave, stands with Dalinvardèl Tanith next to the closed door of the suite. 

Along with the others listens to what the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel has learnt from the pair of strangers. 

After the highly talented elven magic user finishes, the mage Reinholt sourly smiles then says "What are we going to do with them?". 

The once powerful mage looks at the deathlord of Farque as he adds "If Helbe tampers with their minds, it could be noticed". 

"Highly unlikely" says the elf who is a member of the royal family that rules the principality of Laerel, who pauses for a moment before adding "Though a slight possibility". 

"If we kill them, they'll be missed for sure" says the spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in The Southlands. 

"And others will come looking for them" continues the Vexillian born mage who is in exile from his homeland. 

"All true" says Lord Farque, who looks over at Helbe the elven thief, then at Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, and finally Mira Reinholt the mage. 

The large heavily armoured deathlord is silent for a few moments, then he asks them all "Any ideas?". 

It's Zam the ex mercenary who speaks up first, who says "We could just send them off somewhere". 

The youngest member of the group follows that with "Say have them tell their superiors that they've got a lead on Mira, and have them go off somewhere elsewhere". 

"Good of a plan as any, since they already know Mira is here in the city" says Helbe the elven thief with a nod of his hooded head of approval with the suggestion from the youngest member of the group. Next to Zam, Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy nods in agreement too. 

"Good enough" says Lord Farque, who then tells the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel "Whatever you do, don't send them north". 

The undead warlord who has the name of Draugodrottin that the people of his lands also know him by, continues with "I don't want anyone else of authority going up to the hill country than there already is". 

"Will do" says the elven masterthief who just happens to be the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel. 

"See to it" orders the lord of the death realm, who follows on from that with "Now get them out of my suite". 

"Zam, Dalin, Tovis bring them" says Helbe the elven thief, the trio pick up the unconscious men. With the ex mercenary and the elven spy carrying the larger of the two. 

While the other is no burden for the war engineer, who is probably physically the strongest member of the group who isn't an undead warlord, or an ork warleader. 

They head out the back stairs of the inn, and in the darkness of the small yard between the inn itself, and the stables. 

From which Axe the undead wardog watches them from the open stable doors, the elven master assassin quietly tells the others what he'll do. 

After a moment Tovis and the unconscious man he's carrying disappear as the highly talented elven magic user shifts them away. 

Quickly after that, Zam and Dalin, along with the unconscious stranger they're carrying, vanish as well. 

The elven princeling from Laerel follows after them. Heading to a nearby rooftop he's shifted them to. 

A little while later, and a few shifts later. The four of them along with the two unconscious men are in an alleyway. 

The elven master archer glances out of the alley, and looks to the left down the street. He then steps back and joins the others. 

"Stand them up" quietly says Helbe the elven thief who follows on from that with "Keep them upright and steady". 

Zam the ex mercenary and Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy, as well as Tovis the war engineer do so. Having the unconscious men face towards the street. 

After a moment, the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel quietly says "You can let them go". 

The strangers, though still unconscious, stand upright by themselves. And after a moment, they start moving. 

Walking out of the alleyway, and turning left down the street. After a few moments, their eyes open. Then quickly they wake, not knowing that they've been unconscious. As they head down the street to a watchtower of the city guard. 

The two of them are officers in the city guard of Vexil, who work discreetly, and out of uniform when they don't want to be noticed. 

And though they're city guardsmen, they infact operate on behalf of the Mage Council of Vexil. Who have a fair few city guard officers working for them. 

And these two have just found out the whereabouts of an individual that a certain member of the Mage Council is more than a little interested in. 

After they glance out of the alley and watch the pair of undercover city guardsmen head to a nearby tower of the city guard. 

Dalinvardèl Tanith quietly asks Helbe the elven thief "What did you do?" he continues with "Where did you send them?". 

Zam the ex mercenary slightly nods as he was thinking the same thing. So was Tovis the war engineer. 

As he walks back to the other end of the alley, and the others follow him, the highly talented elven spellcaster quietly says "They think they've found solid evidence that Mira has recently gone to a town in the southeast of the city-state". 

When they reach the other end of the alleyway, Helbe the elven thief or prince Helbenthril Raendril of Laerel to give him his full name and title, adds "They're just going to inform their superior, who will get in touch with the Mage Council, well the mage Garmen to be exact, and tell him of it". 

The elven masterthief continues with "While those two will leave the city as soon as possible, tonight to be exact" followed by "Because the information they've just gathered, is both recent, and accurate". 

Zam the ex mercenary can't help but grin, then he along with Dalinvardèl Tanith disappear after the elven master magic user shifts them away, just after he shifts Tovis the war engineer away. 

Then the young elven noble who is a member of Lord Farque's personal council shifts himself away, on this cold spring night here in the city of Vexil . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 12.

The City-State Of Vexil. 

Zam the ex mercenary looks back at the trees they've just come through, then he looks forward again and finds Helbe the elven thief has suddenly joined them. 

The teenager from The City Of Ruins looks at the krean scoutship that's just ahead, as Lord Farque tells them "Wait here". 

The undead warlord moves forward, and Zam who sees no one up on the deck, glances at Beldane the cleric who is beside him. 

The powerful cleric in the church of Glaine notices, and just shrugs his shoulders, and is about to say something. 

When something rather large and dark comes bounding off the flat, mast less deck of the small sleek looking airship, and crashes into Lord Farque. 

Zam hears an audible grunt from the large heavily armoured deathlord, who staggers back a step before steadying himself. 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque dryly says in the common language "Get off me you big idiot". Before he switches to a language that Zam doesn't understand. 

The massive dog the lord of the death is cradling, gets off him. Then proceeds to run tight circles around the lord of the death realm. 

The large canine that stands well over six and half foot tall at the shoulders, and weighs at least as twice as much as Dorc da Orc. 

Let's out contented growls and yips as the undead warlord walks forward to the krean scoutship in a small clearing amongst the woods they're in. 

The deathlord of Farque who has the name of Draugodrottin that the people of his lands also know him by, gives the massive dog a command. 

It barks, then sits down, while his master leaps up onto the deck of the small sleek, dark krean vessel. 

The undead warlord soon disappears from sight as he heads into the wheelhouse of the krean scoutship. 

As he does, Beldane the cleric looks at both Dorc da Orc and Helbe the elven thief, and with a nod of  his head at the massive dog, he asks the two of them "Which one's that?". 

The powerful practitioner of magic who hails from the kingdom of Nastell, follows that with "I can never tell which one's which". 

"Er?" says Dorc da Orc who has a wary eye upon the massive canine, for good reason. As he's been around the Farque wardogs quite a bit in the past. And even fought side by side with some of them in battle. 

And he knows they've got a mind of their own, and will do whatever they want, whenever they want. And that includes doing what they like to him. And there's nothing he can do to stop them. 

Especially the cold smelling ones. Which this one clearly is. 

"Ah?" says Helbe the elven thief, who then adds "That's". The young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel pauses for a moment as he tries to figure out which wardog of Farque this one is. 

The highly talented elven magic user immediately recognizes that it's one of the undead wardogs of Farque. So that narrows it down. 

He knows it isn't Lightning, as she's the smallest of the undead wardogs. Who Lord Farque has informed him, is also the most lethal of his undead pack. 

Nor is it either Javelin or Sword, both of whom are leaner than the undead wardog sitting close by. 

For a moment, the elven masterthief thinks it's either Anvil or Hammer due to the sheer bulk of the massive canine. Those two being the most destructive of the undead wardogs of Farque. 

The elven master assassin who is a member of Lord Farque's personal council nods his hooded head. 

Then he quietly says "That's Axe". Who is almost the same size as his larger siblings, Anvil and Hammer. Except his bulky head isn't as wide, and is more pointed than his litter mates. 

Helbe the elven thief, or prince Helbenthril Raendril of Laerel to give him his full name, also knows that Axe is the deadliest of the wardogs of Farque. 

The undead wardog turns his head to look at the elven master archer, who says to him "How's things with you Axe?" followed by "Keeping out of trouble there boy?". 

The undead wardog, who is over seven foot tall at the head, and weighs at least fifteen hundred pounds gives a series of barks and yips, as he answers the young elven princeling from the island principality of Laerel. 

"They can talk" Beldane the cleric murmurs to Zam the ex mercenary, who quietly follows that with "Kind of". 

The youngest and newest member of the group, who has never been to the Lands Farque. Nor seen one of the lord of the death realm's wardogs, especially the undead ones. 

Watches on as Helbe the elven thief says "I see" in response to the massive canine, who is sitting there, wagging his stubby tail as he looks at the four of them. 

Then Axe looks specifically at Dorc da Orc, and sneezes before giving a few barks, followed by a soft rumbling growl. 

With a grin upon his face, the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel says "Pretty sure he said you need a bath Dorc". 

The highly talented elven practitioner of magic continues with "Right boy?" as he looks at the nearby wardog, who replies with a single bark. 

"See, he said yes" says the elven master assassin who is a member of Lord Farque's personal council. 

The large ork nervously chuckles, and watches the undead wardog closely. Hoping to hell and to his god Krom. That Axe doesn't get it in his head, to make him take a bath. 

As Dorc da Orc or Dorkindle which is his given name, knows there's nothing he can do to stop the massive canine. 

Who he's pretty sure has dunked him in pools, rivers, lakes, and the ocean in the past. Axe has indeed done that to him. 

The big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world, who is a general in the Armies of Farque. 

Then looks up at the deck, and to the wheelhouse of the krean scoutship. Hoping that Lord Farque returns pretty quickly. Before Axe decides that Dorc needs a bath immediately. As the deathlord of Farque is the only one who can truly control his pack of wardogs, both the living ones, and the small pack of undead ones. 

The ork warleader does sourly smile, as he figures the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque won't do anything to stop Axe if the undead wardog decides to take Dorc to the nearest stream or river, and throw him in it. 

The ork weaponsmith sighs, then grimaces and just hopes the massive wardog doesn't do anything untowards to him. 

Meanwhile Beldane along with Zam who have stepped closer to stand next to Helbe the elven thief, quietly asks the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel "Wonder why they're here in Vexil". 

"We'll know soon enough I guess" quietly says the elven master archer who is a member of Lord Farque's personal council. 

The son of the heir of the elven principality of Laerel, would normally go and have a peek to see what's happening. But since the undead warlord told him to wait here, he thinks it's better he does so. 

Nor can he send Narladene the ground pixie. Who at the moment is clinging to his right shoulder, almost hugging his neck. 

The young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel faintly smiles, as he can see Axe looking his way. 

And the undead wardog is clearly watching the invisible ground pixie. Who is always cautious around the wardogs of Farque. Even the living ones. For the simple reason they can see her no matter what. And they're one of the few things on the world of Volunell that can kill her. 

Helbe knows they won't actually harm her. Though on occasion, they have chased after the tiny winged creature for fun. Especially the younger living wardogs. 

The elven masterthief moves forward to stand closer to Axe, and as the massive canine looks his way, the elven princeling gestures at the krean scoutship, and says "Know what's going on Axe?". 

The elven master assassin is pretty certain that the undead wardog shrugs, then Axe barks a few times, before he lies down flat, then onto his side. 

Resisting the urge to give the massive animal a scratch on his tummy. After all he doesn't want to lose something important, like an arm, or his head. As that's bound to happen if you touch them no matter who you are.

Prince Helbenthril Raendril nods his hooded head. For though he doesn't actually understand the wardogs of Farque, who speak to their master, and their handlers. The elven magic user definitely knows the barks for yes, no and maybe, that Farqian wardogs have. 

He's also pretty sure that Axe said he doesn't know, or he can't be bothered. One of those two is Helbe the elven thief's best guess. 

He looks back at Beldane the cleric, Zam the ex mercenary and Dorc da Orc, and tells them "I guess we keep waiting". 

Next to the elven master archer, the undead wardog Axe just huffs, before he yawns then closes his eyes. 

The elven princeling walks back to the others, and briefly thinks about going for a wander. But decides to stay, just in case he's needed for something. 

Seeing Zam watching Axe, the highly talented elven magic user says "He's not actually sleeping". 

After glancing at Dorc da Orc, Helbe switches to elvish and tells the ex mercenary "He's like his master, he's undead". 

"Ah" says the youngest member of the group, who in the elven language continues with "I see" who grins when the elf who is a member of Lord Farque's personal council, dryly adds "That doesn't mean he can't be totally lazy though". 

The elven master assassin then quietly says "And just like his master, he's all powerful" followed by "In fact he's has a couple of advantages over his master". "Oh?" says the teenager from The City Of Ruins, who then adds "What's that?". 

"He's immune to even the most powerful spells cast by cleric's" states Helbe the elven thief, he then adds "And holy or sacred ground has no effect on him, unlike his master". 

Zam looks at Beldane the cleric, who nods his head in agreement with the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel. 

Gesturing at the nearby undead wardog, the elven masterthief quietly says "He and his litter mates all died in the battle when Lord Farque died over four and half centuries ago". 

The ex mercenary nods, as he knows the then battlelord Farque, died in the final battle against the Holy Norstran Empire, who had invaded The Southlands. In fact the young battlelord died when he killed the last emperor of Norstran. 

"I'm pretty certain Axe was the last of the siblings to fall as his master died" quietly says the elven princeling, who falls silent when the undead wardog, slightly lifts his head, opens an eyelid, looks their way and barks once, before putting his head back down, closing his eyelid. 

After a few more moments of silence as Zam and Beldane look at him, Helbe the elven thief quietly murmurs "He says yes". 

Both the ex mercenary from The City Of Ruins, and the fighting cleric from the kingdom of Nastell nod. 

Then the three of them, along with Dorc da Orc look at the small sleek dark krean scoutship, as an officer in the krean aircorp crosses the mast less deck. 

"Your highness" says the krean officer in common, who like all of his kind, resembles a dragon, who walks on two legs. Though the facial features of a krean aren't as pointed or pronounced as an actual dragon. 

Though they do have wings, which they keep tucked against their backs when they're not flying. 

"The Lord Farque along with our captain and navigator wish to speak with you" says the krean who is the ship's second officer. 

"Of course, I'll be right there" says Helbe the elven thief, who tells the others to remain here with Axe. Before he floats up to the deck of the krean scoutship. And along with the officer, heads to the wheelhouse of the small sleek looking airship. 

Zam the ex mercenary and Beldane the cleric share a look. Then the powerful practitioner of magic shrugs his shoulders. 

While nearby Dorc da Orc sighs, and sits down and leans back against a tree. As the three of them, along with the undead wardog Axe wait on this cool spring morning, here in some woodlands about fifteen miles south of the city of Vexil . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 11.

The City Of Vexil. 

Zam the ex mercenary grins when next to him Lisell Maera the scout says in a sarcastic tone of voice "Oh look it's mr popular himself". 

Which causes Mira Reinholt the mage to smile, then say "Hey, what can I say" the once powerful mage then adds "Everybody likes me". 

The spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, continues on his way, and takes a seat at the table where Lord Farque is with Helbe the elven thief and Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman. 

The ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins looks at the scout Maera, then at Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy, who is sitting at the table with him. 

As the three of them try to listen to the conversation taking place at the corner table, here in the common room of The Merchant's Rest. 

Shaking his head, Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy quietly says "Nothing" followed by "His highness must of cast a spell of some kind". 

Both Zam and the Lisell Maera nod in agreement with the elven spy, as they're unable to hear anything from the table in the corner. 

Then the young man who hails from The City Of Ruins, looks around the rest of the common room this morning, and sees that Tovis the war engineer is missing. Along with sir Percavelle Lé Dic. 

"Where's Tovis and Percy?" quietly asks Zam the ex mercenary who woke up later than usual this morning. 

"Out in the stables" is the reply from Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by those who know him well. 

"Sparring" adds the spy who is originally from the elven principality of Alinlae, where he served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland, who follows that with "Beldane is keeping an eye on them". 

Zam who spots Shur Kee the monk sitting on a chair reading a book of some kind, isn't all that far from Dorc da Orc, who is on the opposite side of the common room from the fireplace. 

Which the large ork is glaring at, while he drinks from an open barrel of ale. Even though the fire is low, and not generating all that much heat. While outside it's a sunny, but cool spring morning here in the city of Vexil. 

The ex mercenary who is the youngest member of the group, looks over at the other corner table, where Tamric Drubine the field commander is sitting with Saanea the witch. 

The lovers are quietly discussing something, as they do, the witch who hails from the Maldin Hills, which lies near the coast of The Southlands. 

Is patting a cat that's sleeping in her lap. It's her familiar, which is keeping close to her this morning. 

Zam then looks at Dalin and Lisell Maera, who are discussing the same thing, that no doubt those at Lord Farque's table are talking about in secret. 

"Well, we know they can't find him by magical means" says the scout Maera, who more often than not is called Lis by the others in the group. 

Both Zam and Dalin nod in agreement, as they know the mage Reinholt can't been sensed by other spellcasters due to an amulet that he wears, that hides his ability to spellcast. 

"Unless someone puts up one of  those viewing spell that spots him" says Zam the ex mercenary who doesn't know all that much about magic, but he does know of that type of spell that allows a practitioner of magic to see things. 

The spy Tanith, who has the hood of his cloak down off his head at the moment, shakes his head no, then says "They're not common". 

The elf who is a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque continues with "Especially by mages" followed by "Who tend not to bother learning such spells". 

Lis nods in agreement with the elven spy, then the attractive young woman originally from the city-state of Brattonbury, then says "From what I understand, the type that Helbe uses, where he can see things as they're happening, is rare". 

The scout Maera continues with "The one used by other spellcasters, is where they have to actually physically check on the spell at the location they've set it". 

The elven spy who hails from the principality of Alinlae nods in agreement with the scout leader, then says "In the oft chance they spot him with such a spell, it could be quite a while before they actually know it". 

Dalinvardèl Tanith after a brief pause, then quietly says "No it's by mundane means they'll keep an eye out for him". 

The elf who is a senior officer in the Armies of Farque, continues on with "It's why we've found so many people from different walks of life, who have been hired to locate him, and keep an eye on him". 

Both the ex mercenary from The City Of Ruins and the scout leader originally from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury, nod in agreement with the elven spy who hails from the principality of Alinlae. 

Zam who was expecting to leave the capital city of Vexil either today or tomorrow, and head up north to one of the mines that Lord Farque has taken over. To help bring back a load of gold, along, most likely with Dorc da Orc. 

Can tell that plans have been changed due to the sudden interest by various people in Mira Reinholt the mage. 

Who though technically is still in exile from his homeland of Vexil, is allowed to visit because he helped stop a war before it actually got started a little over a decade ago, between Vexil and it's rival, the city-state of Tuledare. 

Interest that includes both private citizens, mostly rivals and competitors in business, to the Reinholt Trading Company. Which is owned by Mira's family. Though he has nothing to do with it. 

And by the city council of the city-state of Vexil. Which in reality is actually the Mage Council of Vexil, who everyone knows are the ones who actually rule the city-state, which is located in the central region of The Southlands. 

"Think they'll do anything?" asks Zam with a glance over at the corner table where the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque is sitting with members of his personal council. 

"Maybe" is the reply from Lisell Maera or Lis as she's more commonly called by those who know her well. 

"Who knows" continues the attractive young woman who is a leader of scouts in the Armies of Farque. 

After a brief pause, the scout Maera quietly adds "They're probably working out if any of this interrupts with what's going on up in the hill country". Lis follows that with "And the shipments coming down here to the city". 

Both Zam the ex mercenary and Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy nod in agreement with the young officer in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque. 

"I don't think he'll be happy if it does" says Lisell Maera, with the 'he' she's referring to being Lord Farque himself. 

The spy Tanith nods in agreement with Lis, and is just about to say something, when he pauses as he sees the deathlord of Farque raise a gauntleted hand for silence to those at the corner table with him. 

Zam and Lisell look over at the corner table, and they see the lord of the death realm say something to Helbe the elven thief, who after a moment, nods his hooded head, then disappears. 

The three of them, then hear the undead warlord tell Mira Reinholt and Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson to remain here in the inn. 

Then he gets up and crosses the common room, saying something in orkish to Dorc da Orc. Who after a surprised grunt, gets up, and after picking up the half empty barrel of ale he's been drinking from, follows the large heavily armoured deathlord. 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque briefly stops near the table where Zam, Lis and Dalin are sitting at. 

Lord Farque is silent for a moment as he looks at the three of them, then he says "Zam with us" the undead warlord then tells the ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins "Go and get Beldane, he's in the stables". 

The undead warlord who has the name of Draugodrottin that the people of his lands also know him by, continues with "Meet us around the front of the inn". 

Zam quickly gets up, and hurries out of the common room of the inn, out the reception chamber, then outside. 

He makes his way around to the back of the inn to the stables, to get the fighting cleric in the church of Glaine. 

It's not too long before the ex mercenary, and the powerful practitioner of magic are back around to the front of inn, where Lord Farque is waiting with Dorc da Orc. 

In the small walled in square in front of the Merchant's Rest inn, the large heavily armoured deathlord of Farque, looks around then nods his full helmed head, and tells the cleric in the half plate armour "It's safe to cast".

The lord of the death realm then gives the powerful cleric directions, and after a moment Beldane the cleric says "How far away from the main road to the south?". 

"A few miles to the west" is the reply from Lord Farque, who ignores the muttered "Not north" from Dorc da Orc, as he adds "In some woodlands, behind a hill that way". 

The fighting cleric who hails from the kingdom of Nastell, nods his head, then says "Pretty sure I know which hill". 

Then the powerful practitioner of magic starts casting, and a gateway starts to quickly form, once it's complete, Dorc da Orc is quickly through it. 

After a glance at the undead warlord, who nods his full helmed head, Zam the ex mercenary follows after the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world. 

Once on the other side of the magical doorway, the youngest member of the group quickly steps to the side, and Lord Farque walks out of the gateway, followed by Beldane, who drops his spell, and the gateway vanishes. 

Seeing that they're on top of a hill, Zam turns to his right, and in the distance on this cool spring morning, he sees the city of Vexil about fifteen miles away to the north is his best guess. 

The ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins, then looks to the west, and down the hill, to some nearby woods. 

The youngest member of the group blinks as he spots an odd looking airship down amongst the trees. It takes him a moment to realize that it's a krean vessel, a scoutship to be exact. 

"Zam, keep up" says Beldane the cleric, who along with Lord Farque and Dorc da Orc, are already walking down the side of the hill. 

The teenager who is the youngest member of the group, says "Right" and hurries to catch up to the fighting cleric, who is trailing behind the undead warlord and the ork warleader. 

Once he's alongside the powerful practitioner of magic, and they're almost down the side of the hill, the ex mercenary quietly asks the member of the church of Glaine "What's it doing here?". 

"No idea" is the quiet reply from the Nastellian born spellcaster, who follows that with "But we're about to find out I guess". 

Then the powerful cleric motions for Zam to fall silent after the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque briefly glances back at the two of them. 

Then the large heavily armoured deathlord leads the way into the woods, where amongst the trees is a krean scoutship. 

On this cool, clear and sunny spring morning, here to the south of the capital of the city-state of Vexil . . . . . .