The City Of Vexil.
"What did he do?" asks Zam the ex mercenary as he stands at the stable doors looking at the rain that's falling this morning.
"They think you and Percy left the city yesterday after celebrating how things went in the tourney" replies Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy.
"He put into the heads of a few of them looking for you two yesterday in the south of the city" adds the elf who is originally from the principality of Alinlae.
"Pretty much the rest of the order here in the city know it now" continues the elven spy who is a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque.
"A whole bunch of them left the city last night, heading south looking for you and Percy" says Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by those who know him well.
The ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins grunts when he hears that. And hopes that he doesn't run into any members of the order of the Knights of Saint Mar'che who remain in the city.
The youngest member of the group who has come into the stables to check up on sir Percavelle Lé Dic's warhorse this morning, and to train knife fighting with the spy Tanith.
Turns back around to look at the warhorse in it's stall one more time, then at Dalin who is sitting on a hay bale inspecting a number of his knives and daggers, now that they've finished the training session.
"Any problems yesterday with that latest shipment?" asks Zam who is speaking in elvish to the commander in the Armies of Farque.
"Went smoothly" is the reply from Dalinvardèl Tanith, who follows that with "The krean are expecting to bring down another one in about four or five days time".
The spy who previously served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland of Alinlae before joining the group, says "Production is all go in a couple of those mines now, and they're smelting it as fast as they can find it".
The spy Tanith continues with "And they've just found a new seam in another of the mines, so once they dig all that out, even more will be shipped down here".
The youngest member of the group nods his head, and wonders how much gold Lord Farque will eventually get out of those mines in the hill country up in northern Vexil.
A damn lot, Zam thinks to himself, who looks back outside through the rain that started just before dawn this morning.
And he faintly smiles when he spots Dorc da Orc sticking his out of the window of his room up on the second floor of the Merchant's Rest.
The big burly ork from the southern polar region the world quickly pops his head back inside after scowling in disgust, before closing the window to his room.
The ex mercenary who knows the ork warleader was looking at the stables. As he's made it no secret that he's interested in sir Percavelle Lé Dic's warhorse.
And that interest, would be to either fuck the horse or eat it. Though Zam is of the opinion the large ork would probably want to do both.
The youngest member of the group who was earning a living, a meager one at that, as a mercenary in The City Of Ruins before the others found him.
Turns back around when the spy Tanith says "Mira being wanted by a fair few people" followed by "Now you and Percy by those in Percy's order".
The commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque continues on with "Wonder who else will end up being wanted by whoever by the time we actually leave the city".
The ex mercenary grunts, then says in a slightly dry tone of voice "I'm surprised Dorc hasn't been sought out by someone or another".
Zam pauses for a moment before adding "He's bound to of pissed off a whole lot of people over the years here in Vexil".
"Him and Lord Farque both" says Dalinvardèl Tanith, who after a brief pause, continues in a dry tone with "They tend to eliminate en masse those who hold a grudge against them".
The youngest member of the group snorts at that, then nods his head in agreement with the spy who hails from the elven principality of Alinlae.
Dalin gets up off the hay bale he's been sitting on, and after slipping the last of his daggers he's been inspecting into a hidden sheath beneath his tunic and cloak.
He makes his way over to the ex mercenary who is standing near the open doors to the stables, on this cool and rainy morning here in the city of Vexil.
"Might as well head back in" says the spy Tanith with a nod of his hooded head at the inn across the small square that separates it from the stables.
Zam nods his head in agreement, then lifting up the hood of his own cloak, and placing it upon his head.
The teenager who is originally from The City Of Ruins looks back into the stables and says in the common language "Make sure to keep an eye on the knight's mount".
The stable boy up in the loft, who was wide eyed as he was watching Zam and Dalin knife fight, vigorously nods his head that he will.
Then the ex mercenary and the elven spy exit the stables and hurry across to the Merchant's Rest which they quickly enter as it continues to rain across the city of Vexil.
Once inside and through the reception room, they enter the common room, where they find the rest of the group. With the exception of Helbe the elven thief. Who no doubt is up to something, somewhere in the city.
Zam faintly smiles as he sees that Dorc da Orc has come down from upstairs, and he's sitting on the floor near the table where Lord Farque is sitting.
And though the large ork is scowling, which isn't surprising, as he scowls pretty much most of the time anyway.
He's got a number of wine bottles, and other liquor bottles on the floor next to him, and he's drinking from them.
While he looks towards the kitchen, as no doubt he's waiting for some food that he's ordered for breakfast this morning.
"Raining out there I see" says Lisell Maera the scout when Zam and Dalin sit down at the table where she is, and she notices their damp cloaks.
"Pretty steady out there" says the ex mercenary who is the youngest member of the group, who then nods over to the next table over from them as he continues with "Saanea says it will do so for the next three days".
The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins who spoke to the witch Saanea earlier, then says "Fourth day it'll just shower, then clear up later that day".
Lisell Maera or Lis as she's more commonly called by the others in the group grunts, then quietly says "That's probably for the best".
Looking at Zam, then over to where sir Percavelle Lé Dic is at a table with Tovis the war engineer and Shur Kee the monk, the scout leader in the Armies of Farque continues with "Unlikely you and Percy will be found out in this weather, with whoever from his order are still left in the city".
Both Zam and Dalin nod their heads in agreement with the attractive young woman who is originally from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury, and is now a junior officer in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque.
Lis with her elbows on the table, leans forward and quietly says "With you and Percy, as well as Mira being wanted by who knows who".
The scout Maera briefly pauses before continuing with "I wouldn't be surprised if more of us don't end up being wanted by someone for something by the time we eventually leave the city".
Both the ex mercenary and the elven spy faintly smile, then the youngest member of the group says to Lis "Dalin basically said the same thing when we were out in the stables".
Looking around at the others in the common room of the inn, the attractive young woman who hails from the city-state of Brattonbury quietly says "I wonder who else?".
Then after a brief moment of silence, the junior officer in the Armies of Farque dryly says "Well apart from Dorc and Lord Farque himself". Which causes both Zam and the spy Tanith to grin.
The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins knows that the undead warlord, and the ork warleader, along with Beldane the cleric.
Have been keeping well clear of the western side of the city, specifically away from just southwest of the city center. Where many of the churches and temples in Vexil can be found.
Due to what the three of them got up to whilst here in the city back in the winter that's just gone by.
"Who knows how many of us will end up having to be disguised by one of Helbe's spells whenever we go out, before we finally end up leaving the city" says the attractive young woman who is a lead scout in the Armies of Farque.
Nodding his head, Zam as he looks around, quietly says "Speaking of his highness" the teenager who is the youngest in the group, then asks the scout Maera "Where is he this morning?".
"Probably stealing something somewhere" is the dry sounding reply from Lis, who shrugs her shoulders, then says "Who knows?".
The attractive young woman who is from the coast of The Southlands, slightly nods over to the table where Lord Farque is sitting with Mira Reinholt the mage and the woman named Malisse, who is really Zubutai the barbarian hordesman.
"He was talking with Lord Farque about something earlier when I came down from upstairs" quietly says the junior officer in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque.
"By the time I sat down, and looked over again, he was gone" quietly adds Lis who then drinks the last of her tea in the mug she's been holding.
"Nothing new there" states the spy Tanith who follows that with "He's probably doing something for Lord Farque". "More than likely" says the scout Maera with a nod of her head.
"Or stealing something" quietly adds the elf who is a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque.
"Definitely likely" dryly says the junior officer who is the same division of the Armies of the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque as the elven spy.
Zam quietly chuckles, and after the serving woman and one of her helpers bring over a lot of food for Dorc da Orc.
The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins orders some breakfast, even though he ate earlier before heading out to the stables with Dalinvardèl Tanith.
"Hungry I gather?" dryly says commander Tanith to the youngest member of the group, followed by "You broke your fast before we trained".
"What can I say, I'm still growing I guess" says the ex mercenary, which illicits a snort from both the elven spy and the lead scout.
Dalin is just about to say something else, until he spots a discreet hand signal from the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque.
"Be back in a moment" quietly says the spy Tanith to Zam and Lis, before he gets up, and heads over to the corner table the deathlord of Farque is sitting at with two of the members of his personal council.
"Wonder what's up?" quietly says the ex mercenary to the attractive young woman who is originally from the city-state of Brattonbury.
"We'll find out I guess" quietly says Lisell Maera, who after a slight pause, continues on with "Or not".
The teenager who is originally from The City Of Ruins grunts in response to that, as he's learnt since joining the group. He's only told what he needs to be told.
And though he's gathered that he's told in detail of certain things, after the fact. It's slightly frustrating not knowing exactly what's going on.
The ex mercenary has been told by a number of others in the group that this is done on purpose. To prepare him for battle. For during combat in wartime, you often don't know what's going on. Definitely not the larger picture, unless you're part of the command group.
Zam who has yet to decide if he's going to join the Armies of Farque, or remain separate to it. Like Beldane the cleric, Shur Kee the monk, Mira Reinholt the mage and sir Percavelle Lé Dic are. Though both the once powerful mage and the short statured monk are members of Lord Farque's personal council. With Shur Kee being an honorary member.
The serving woman brings over a small plate of food, and the ex mercenary gets stuck into it. And he's almost finished it by the time Dalinvardèl Tanith returns to the table after quietly speaking with the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque.
"Zam you're to remain here at the inn today" says the spy who previously served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland, the principality of Alinlae.
"That goes for Percy as well" adds the spy Tanith with a nod of his hooded head to the table where the noble born knight from the kingdom of Druvic is sitting.
The youngest member of the group shrugs his shoulders, then says to the spy Tanith "Doesn't bother me".
The teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins was expecting something like this after what he and Lis found out yesterday when they were exploring the neighbourhoods in the south of the city of Vexil.
"Besides it's raining today " continues Zam, who follows that with "Don't really want to go out in it anyway".
Both the scout Maera and the spy Tanith nod to that, then the commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque, says "I better go over and tell Percy".
"Wonder how he'll take it?" asks the ex mercenary referring to the nobleman who hails from the kingdom of Druvic.
"Badly no doubt" is the reply from Lisell Maera, who then dryly adds "See". After an indignant sounding sir Percavelle Lé Dic demands to know why he has to stay here at the inn today when Dalin tells him so. Even though the large heavily armoured knight had no plans to go out and about in the city today.
"Yes er, very well" states sir Percavelle Lé Dic when the spy Tanith tells him exactly who told the former paladin he has to remain here in the Merchant's Rest today.
"I shall stay here today, wot" declares the noble born knight who is a member of the order of the Knights of Saint Mar'che. Zam softly chuckles, while Lis rolls her eyes at that from the former earl of Lé Dic.
Then the teenager who is the youngest member of the group and who has finished his second breakfast, says to the attractive young woman who hails from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury "Cards?".
"Sure" says the scout Maera, who after a moments pause gestures to upstairs, then adds "Though after we go over your map reading skills".
Which earns a sigh from Zam, before he gets up as a grinning Lis watches on. And he heads up stairs to his room to get the various maps of all types he's been studying and using, which a number of the group have been teaching him to use correctly.
Whilst they stay in the secluded inn, that's the Merchant's Rest, during their time here in the city of Vexil this spring . . . . . .
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