Springtime In The City 35.

The City Of Vexil. 

"I don't know about that" says Zam the ex mercenary, who follows that with "I took a beating earlier when we practiced out in the stables". 

In reply to Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy asking him about the spring tourney, and how things are getting along with sir Percavelle Lé Dic. 

The youngest member of the group who sparred with the heavily armoured knight just after dawn back at the Merchant's Rest inn. 

Then says to the spy who hails from the elven principality of Alinlae "That's if it even goes ahead with this weather". 

As he gestures up at the morning sky, which again is cloudy, with a light drizzle of rain falling upon the city of Vexil. 

"It'll be fine and sunny tomorrow" says Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy who is a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque. 

"So says his highness" adds Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by the others in the group. 

The ex mercenary who is originally from The City Of Ruins sourly smiles at hearing that, then he nods when the elven spy quietly tells him "Even if it wasn't, the mages would make sure the weather was fine and clear for the tourney to proceed". 

Dalin who previously served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland of Alinlae continues with "It's one of the largest events not just in spring, but for the entire year here in the city". 

The spy Tanith follows that with "People are already arriving from elsewhere throughout the city-state and beyond". 

He then adds "You've seen them coming into the city over the last couple of days" commander Tanith of the Armies of Farque continues with "A hell of a lot of coin is spent in the city at this time, the councils both the City and Mage Council will make sure the tourney will go ahead no matter what". 

Zam is quiet for a few moments after hearing that from the elven spy, then when he's thought of something, the ex mercenary quietly says to Dalin "With all the coin coming into the city at this time, does that mean we'll". 

He doesn't finish his sentence because the spy Tanith looks sharply at him, and slightly shakes his hooded head. 

The teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins then looks to the north from their position on top of the north wall of the city. 

The ex mercenary looks away to the right where the tourney grounds are still being prepared for what's about to take place tomorrow, and the following day. 

Stands have been put up for the audience, surrounding two sides of the tourney field, which on the first day will host the lists, or the Joust as it's more commonly called. 

While the following day the lists will be taken away, as Le Grande Meleé will be on the second day of the Spring Tourney. 

Zam watches as tents are erected, while stall holders are setting up for what's going to be two of the busiest days of the year for them. 

Dalin who has just glanced up and said "This will probably clear by midday" followed by "Well it'll stop drizzling for sure". 

The elven spy from the principality of Alinlae then looks towards the busy tourney field preparations, and he says "Uh oh". 

"What is it?" asks Zam the ex mercenary as the two of them stand to the side of one of the towers upon the north wall of the city. 

"That large blue and white tent that's just been put up" says Dalinvardèl Tanith who like the youngest member of the group is conversing in the elven language. 

"The order of the Knights of Saint Mar'che" continues the commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque. 

Zam slightly winces at hearing that, then he mutters "Hell" the teenager originally from The City Of Ruins sighs, then quietly says "We always knew some of them would take part". 

The ex mercenary follows on from that with "Let's just hope none of them recognize Percy" he then adds "I figure he'll be far older than those from his order who are participating in the tourney, and they won't know him". 

Dalin nods his hooded head in agreement with that, then he quietly says to the youngest member of the group "It's the others who might be here, who will be watching the tourney who we should be worried about". 

The spy who is originally from the elven principality of Alinlae continues with "They might be of Percy's generation" followed by "And know exactly who he is". 

The commander in the Armies of Farque briefly pauses before adding "By all accounts, Percy isn't exactly popular amongst his order" he then quietly says "And that was before he stole one their most important artifacts" Dalin pauses again, before saying "That damn shield of his". 

The teenager who before he was found by the group, was scratching a meager living as a mercenary in The City Of Ruins winces, then nods his head when the spy Tanith quietly says "So who knows what they think of him now, and what they'll do if he's recognized". 

Zam after another look at the preparations for the tourney, sighs and looks north along the road that leads from the gate that the wall tower they're next to is above. 

Dalinvardèl Tanith looks that way too, and after a few moments of watching the traffic along the road, the elven spy originally from the principality of Alinlae quietly says "There they are". 

The commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque continues with "Just coming around that far bend in the road there". 

It's too far away for Zam to see, but he trusts the eye sight of the elven spy, who grins and quietly tells him "Dorc doesn't look exactly pleased being out in this drizzle". 

As the ex mercenary grins too, the spy Tanith adds "He's following behind the wagon, scowling like mad" he briefly pauses before continuing with "Well, I should say scowling more than usual". 

The teenager originally from the City Of Ruins nods when Dalin tells him "Come on, let's go down and wait for them below". 

The two of them don't go into the tower, instead they head along the top of the wall to the next set of steps. 

Which they take down to the ground, then head back towards the nearby gate, where they'll wait for the wagon with the latest shipment of gold that's been brought down from the hill country in northern Vexil by the krean scoutship. 

With the wagon and it's driver, is Dorc da Orc and Beldane the cleric, who left at dawn by way of gateway the powerful practitioner of magic in the church of Glaine created. 

Which took them to the woods on some farmland about fifteen miles to the northeast of the city. Where the krean scoutship secretly waited with the shipment of gold it brought down from the border region in the north of the city-state. 

A little while later and the wagon, along with Beldane the cleric and Dorc da Orc enter the city of Vexil. 

And with Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy and Zam the ex mercenary following discreetly from a distance. 

They head to a counting house here in the north of the city, another one that wasn't previously used by Lord Farque, and doesn't have a connection to the Reinholt Trading Company. 

As they walk through the streets here in the north of the city, while following the wagon that Beldane the cleric and Dorc da Orc are accompanying. 

Zam quietly asks the elven spy walking beside him "What happened to that fellow yesterday?" he continues with "The one me and Lis caught, and his highness took away?". 

"You don't want to know" is the quiet reply from Dalinvardèl Tanith, who follows on from that with "Especially considering what he was trying to move on from that shop". 

The youngest member of the group slightly nods, then as they cross a street, to cut through a small park on the other side of a square, once again nods when Dalin quietly says to him "You see what he was carrying?". 

As they walk behind a couple who are also going across the small square, Zam quietly asks the elven spy who is a commander in the Armies of Farque "That connected to the mage Garmen?". 

The spy Tanith who before he joined the group, served in one of the more prominent noble houses to be found in his homeland of Alinlae, says "It is". 

"That's odd" quietly says the ex mercenary as they walk through the park, and catch sight again of the wagon full of gold, which Beldane the cleric is walking alongside of, and Dorc da Orc is walking behind. 

"I mean, a mage wanting anything to do with that" adds the teenager originally from The City Of Ruins who is the youngest member of the group. 

As they make their way onto the street the wagon, Beldane and Dorc are on, the spy Tanith tells the young human walking beside "Maybe" he continues with "Remember he basically owns that business that's a front for all types of stolen goods". 

The commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque as they dodge around a pair of goblins struggling to carry some wooden crates full of vegetables, quietly says "He's also the reason the city guard haven't shut down what's obviously a front for receiving and redistribution of stolen goods". 

Zam who whole heartedly agrees with that, nods as they head down the street that the wagon they're following at a distance, is just about to leave, and turn a corner to the right. 

The ex mercenary and the elven spy as they walk, look out for anything untowards. Watching people in doorways and shop fronts, and looking up at the rooftops on either side of the street. 

And though Zam knows Helbe the elven thief is somewhere nearby, also keeping an eye on the latest shipment of gold that's been brought down from the hill country in northern Vexil. 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins finds it to be good practice to be observant of everything that's going on around him. 

Besides it takes his mind of tomorrow and the Spring Tourney that's being held. Where he will be squiring for sir Percavelle Lé Dic for the duration of the two days of the tournament. 

Zam who is trying to forget about it as the drizzle starts to let up, sourly smiles when Dalin says to him "See it's clearing up" followed by "Kind of". 

The elven spy who hails from the principality of Alinlae, continues with "All ready for you tomorrow". 

"Thanks" dryly says the ex mercenary, who follows that with "I was trying to forget all about it" as they turn onto the street to the right. 

And in the distance, see the wagon, along with Dorc da Orc and Beldane the cleric, approaching the counting house towards the end of the street they're now on. 

"Good luck with that" says Dalin with a grin upon his youthful looking face, who then adds "Just keep clear of those idiot knights, and you'll be fine". 

Zam grunts as they stop at the entrance of a lane, which they step into. From which they watch the counting house on the other side of the street. 

Which Beldane the cleric has just entered, while Dorc da Orc accompanies the wagon to the side of the building that stands alone. Which has a wide door along the side where the wagon has just stopped. 

As the drizzle continues to lessen, Zam the ex mercenary and Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy from the lane across the street. 

Watch as workers from the counting house, come out of the side door, and help unhook the horses, so that the wagon can be rolled into the large side door of the counting house, on this spring morning here in the north of the city of Vexil . . . . . .