The Lost Ones 13.

Summer. Maldin Hill Country. In The West Of The Southlands.

"Looks like this road goes over to the west side of the range" says Tamric Drubine the field commander.
It's another hot and dry day here in the Maldin Hills.
And the group have stopped beside some small, bare trees on the side of the road they've been traveling on for the last couple of days.
The young field commander in the armies of Farque who is looking through his brass, cylindrical eyepiece, says "There must be another one that continues south".
Next to him, Lisell Maera the messenger who is looking at a map of this area of the hill range, nods her head then says "The map says there's one".
Tamric Drubine or Tam as he's more commonly called by those who know him well, slightly nods, then after a few moments, he says "There it is".
The nobleborn teenager who is originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin points to where he sees another road that continues southwards, and he says "It's down there".
As the road in question, is down near the base of a hill over a mile away, it looks like it comes up from the lowlands to the east.
"Now we just have to find a trail that leads down there" dryly says Lisell Maera or Lis as the others in the group tend to call her.
Field commander Drubine grunts in agreement with that, then the senior officer in the armies of Farque says "We might as well keep on this road until we either find a trail that goes downhill, or until it heads over to the west side of the range".
Lis nods in agreement, then as she looks at the map one last time before handing it back to Tam, she says "We're definitely in the southern half of the range now".
The attractive young woman who is originally from the city-state of Brattonbury then quietly adds "Hopefully she's down here somewhere".
The young field commander can only nod in agreement to that, as he returns his eyepiece and the map to his pack.
Then the two of them, who have been speaking in the elven language, make their way across the road, to the bare looking trees that the others have been either standing or sitting beneath. As they offer a little bit of shade this afternoon.
"Let's get going" says Tamric Drubine in the common language.
And though Dorc da Orc grumbles and mutters in the language of his race as he gets up off the ground where he's been sitting, sipping from a barrel of wine.
They get underway again, as they continue on their way southwards down the east side of the Maldin Hills.
Here in the southern part of the hill range, it's very similar to the very north of the hill country.
Where the hills aren't as tall or high as elsewhere in the range. Nor are they as close together. The lower hills tend to roll out over longer distances.
And though traveling on foot is easier, as the climbs up and down the hills aren't as steep or strenuous. It takes almost as long to traverse them, because of how far apart they are.
In some places, there's actual valleys between the hills where they spread out. The only other place in the hill range you find such, is in the very north of the range.
And like the very north, there isn't as many people. And here on the east side of the Maldin Hills. Which is already the side of the hill range with a smaller population. There's even less people.
The group of five, continue along the road, until they eventually find a trail that goes downhill, just before the road turns and goes over the hill, in the direction of the west side of the range.
Lisell Maera is out infront as usual, and also as usual, Dorc da Orc is to the rear, where he's following the rest of the group.
The large ork who usually moves more slowly in the summertime. Especially in the hot, dry summer conditions here in the Maldin Hills.
Also likes to walk at the rear, as it's far as possible from his bitter rival, sir Percavelle Lé Dic. Who is always first to follow Lis, who scouts out infront.
The big, burly ork from the southern polar region of the world doesn't like being in the company of the former paladin.
It's the same for the nobleborn knight from the kingdom of Druvic. Who doesn't like walking anywhere near the ork warleader.
Not just because he dislikes him. But also because the large ork smells absolutely disgusting at the moment.
As he has done for the entire time they've been here in the Maldin Hills during the summer.
Going down the trail that crosses two hills. They eventually get onto the next road that goes south down this side of the hill range.
On the road, a lot of which is already in shade at this time of the afternoon, as the sun is no longer directly hitting this side of the Maldin Hills.
And only higher up here on the east side of the range, is still basked in sunshine.
Lisell Maera who has dropped back to join the others, says "That map shows there's actually a village somewhere further south of here" she continues with "By my best guess, we'll probably get there some time early tomorrow morning".
The son and former heir of a previous knight of castle Drubine, a castle located in the forested north of the kingdom of Sarcrin.
Knows that some of the maps he has of the Maldin Hills. Are accurate with the locations of places. Are also highly inaccurate when it comes to the distances between places and features.
As it turns out in the morning the next day, when they eventually spot the village in question, late in the morning, during the hottest time of the day on this side of the hill range.
"We fucken stopping there" pants Dorc da Orc, it isn't a question, but a statement. As the large ork wants to get into some shade, and out of the sunlight. On what's another hot and dry day here in the hill country. That has a clear blue sky above the range.
It's midday when they finally reach the village. A fairly small place, that has just a dozen or so houses. With a few other buildings scattered throughout it. While there's a small bit of fairly flat land on the south side of the village, that has the local orchard.
"See if anyone knows of her" quietly says Tamric Drubine the field commander as they enter the village, where hillmen have come out to watch them.
Seeing that the group of travelers, even with Dorc da Orc and sir Percavelle Lé Dic, pose no real danger to the hillmen of this village.
Especially given that the large ork yells out for booze. Then chucks a bunch of coins in the direction of the villagers as he goes and sits in the shade along one side of the building.
The coins being a mix of copper, silver and gold coins. Worth way more than all the alcohol in the village. As Dorkindle has never really been clued up into how much coins are worth.
Just that gold is worth the most out of the common coins, and copper the least. Don't even get him started on their weights and sizes. That's way too much for him to figure out.
The hillmen, men, women and children all look at the coins scattered across the ground. And after a moments pause, they hurry and gather them up.
Then rush to get bottles and barrels of wine for the ork weaponsmith, who is running low on the wine he got from the previous village they stopped at.
As some of the hillmen hurry off to get wine for the large ork sitting in the shade.
Tamric Drubine, Lisell Maera and Shur Kee the monk speak to a number of others.
While sir Percavelle Lé Dic asks some of the others if there's by chance a bathtub in the village.
The former earl of Lé Dic wants to scrub himself clean after walking on foot down the east side of the Maldin Hills.
As the nobleborn knight from the kingdom of Druvic is led to one of the houses that actually has a wooden bathtub.
And as some of the villagers start putting bottles and barrels of wine near Dorc da Orc. None of them want to get too close to him as stinks like dried animal dung.
Shur Kee the monk speaks with an older couple, in their house. The acolyte in the philosophical order of Bru Li is quiet as he listens to the couple answer his questions.
The short statured monk who is from beyond the Southlands, from the far east coast of the continent to be exact. Where the kingdom of Wah Lee, his homeland is located.
Soon exits the older couple's house once he's found out what he wanted to hear.
The physical adept puts his odd, conical shaped hat back on when he's outside. He looks around, and soon spots field commander Drubine making his way out of another of the houses in the village.
Shur Kee the monk makes his way over to Tam, and quietly tells him "She lived here last year" followed by "For quite some time too".
"I know" says Tamric Drubine with a nod of his head, then the nobleborn teenager from the kingdom of Sarcrin gestures to the house he was just in as he adds "They just told me" followed by "She made an impression on them too".
Shur Kee nods to that, as that is what he was told by the older couple who he just spoke to.
"It sounds like they miss her" quietly says the physical adept, who then continues on with "All i know is that those i spoke with said she went south after leaving the village".
"Same" says the young field commander, who along with the honorary member of lord Farque's personal council, make their way to a shaded corner of one the buildings, where they can keep an eye on Dorc da Orc.
Who is getting stuck into the bottles and barrels of wine the villagers have brought him.
"They have any idea where south she went?" quietly asks Tam who is a senior officer in the armies of Farque.
Shur Kee shakes his head no, and the young field commander slightly winces, as he got a similar answer from those he spoke with.
Then he along with the physical adept, who is the living conduit of the Jade Warrior, Bru Li. Spot Lisell Maera speaking with a couple of the hillwomen who live here as they walk around from the side of one of the houses.
After the attractive young woman from the coast of the Southlands speaks with the two villagers. She spots Tam and Shur Kee, and makes her way over to them.
When she gets to them, and before they can ask her anything, Lisell Maera quietly says "I've found her".
"What?" says a stunned sounding field commander Drubine, who after a brief pause as he gathers his thoughts, adds "Where?".
"There's a settlement of about four houses south of here" says the messenger in the armies of Farque, who continues on with "Nearly twenty miles away, close to some abandoned mines".
Lis follows that with "She's on a farm a few miles further south of there" she continues with "One of the hillwomen i just spoke to. Her brother lives down in that settlement. And when he came for a visit at the start of summer, he told her of the woman who lived here last year. Who now lives with a family on one of the isolated farmholds here in the south of the range".
"About twenty five miles away then" quietly says Tamric Drubine as he looks at Lisell Maera and Shur Kee "We should get there sometime the day after tomorrow" adds the nobleborn teenager who is the son and former heir of a previous knight of castle Drubine.
Both the monk and the messenger nods when the young field commander tells them "Might as well stay here for now" as he nods to where Dorc da Orc is busy downing bottles and barrels of wine.
"Leave in the late afternoon?" asks the attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury "Walk into the early evening when it's cool?" adds Lis.
Tam nods yes to that, then he says in a slightly dry tone of voice "That's if Dorc doesn't get drunk" he continues with "No way in hell we're going anywhere if he can't move".
Turns out they don't have to worry about that, as it takes an awful lot of alcohol to get Dorkindle or any ork for that matter, so drunk that they can't move.
And surprisingly for the ork warleader, he doesn't drink everything in sight.
As he knows getting booze in parts of the Maldin Hills is difficult to begin with. So he keeps a lot of the wine the villagers bring him, to drink later on.
The alcohol is the only thing along with the shade, that keeps the ork general cooler than the air temperature during the day. And also makes him bearable to be around.
After the hottest part of the day passes, they leave the village having purchased more food, and refilling their water sacks. While Dorc da Orc basically buys all the alcohol in the village.
They set off along the road that continues south, which drops down low along the hillside. In the shade as the sun in the late afternoon is only hitting the top of the hills on this side of the range.
They walk into the early evening, and only stop when it's halfway between dusk and midnight.
After having something to eat, they settle down for the rest of the night. Though they set a watch, they don't really have to. As Dorkindle doesn't sleep during the night. The large ork doesn't have to sleep unless he's tired.
He also doesn't wander away in the night, as he doesn't smell any wild goats in the area to try and catch and violate. Much to his disappointment.
They set off early in the morning, well before dawn when it's still relatively cool. As the middle of the morning, to just after midday, is the hottest time of the day on this side, the east side of the Maldin Hills.
They have another day of uneventful travel on foot. Only seeing a couple of farmholds, one of which they stop at as it's close to the road.
There, they ask about the woman they're searching for. And the hillmen there know of her. For she lives on a farm further to the south.
After spending the hottest time of the day at the farmhold, they continue on their way along the dry and dusty road that goes south.
Late in the afternoon they spot a large cargo ship going over the hill range, as it heads eastwards further inland to somewhere else in the Southlands.
It's the only thing they see of interest during the day, apart from Dorkindle catching the scent of an Arassas over on the otherside of one the hills they make their way across in the late afternoon.
They make camp at night again, and again they set a watch, though it's unnecessary as the ork warleader doesn't sleep again.
The big, burly ork from the frozen bottom of the world, like all of his kind, can go a week or more without sleep.
Though in the summertime, especially here in the dry, hot Maldin Hills. Dorc da Orc usually sleeps every third night.
They're on the road again early the next day, well before dawn again. And in the early morning, after walking for a short while. They spot a cluster of homes not that far away, close to the road.
There's a wagon track that leads uphill from the four houses. A track that leads up to some mines, which apparently were abandoned many decades ago.
As they walk towards the four houses in the early morning sunshine, Lisell Maera the messenger who has dropped back to the others, quietly says "She's on a farm just a few miles south of here".
"Hopefully she's there" quietly says Tamric Drubine the field commander who hopes the search for the woman they're looking for, is about to finally come to an end . . . . . .

The Lost Ones 12.

Summer. Western Southlands. Maldin Hill Country.

"Can't say that i have" says the owner of the trading post, who continues with "But a lot of people come through here, so she might have" he follows that with "Ask around and you might find someone who knows her".
Nodding her head to that, Lisell Maera the messenger says "Thanks for that".
Then the attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury who has put a number of supplies on the counter, says "Yes, this lot". In reply to the shop owner asking her "All this lot then?".
The messenger in the armies of Farque pays for the goods and supplies, and with the help of the assistant, she carries the lot outside.
"Where the hell is he?" Lisell Maera mutters to herself in the elven language as she looks around.
She nods for the assistant to put the supplies down on the outside bench, and the young hillman who has been staring at the attractive young woman from the coast of the Southlands, does so.
Then continues to do so, until the trading post owner yells at him to get back inside. He reluctantly does so after one more look at the messenger who is in the scouts and rangers division in the armies of Farque.
Lisell Maera or Lis as she's more commonly called by those who know her well. Looks up and down the road that runs through the mining town. The largest town or village they've been too on this side, the eastern side of the Maldin Hills.
A slight frown appears upon the attractive young face of the messenger, who wonders where he could of got to.
Then Lis sourly smiles as she sees a some hillmen carrying out a number of barrels from the nearby tavern.
They're stacking them up out the front of the tavern, and a few moments later Dorc da Orc walks out of the tavern. Eating a haunch of roast lamb or goat. And drinking from a small barrel.
The large ork pays the hillmen, and after Lis yells out to him. And he puts the barrels in his sacks. And ties the remainder to his weapon harness.
The ork warleader who is now gnawing on the bone of the leg of meat he's eaten.
Makes his way over to the trading post that the messenger in the armies of Farque is standing infront of.
"That's all yours" says the attractive young woman from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury, whose mother was a street prostitute, and whose father, a man she never knew or met, was a sailor.
The ork weaponsmith looks at all the supplies on the bench. All of which is dried and cured meat. As well as rounds of cheese. There's a lot of it.
"Fucken sweet" says Dorc da Orc after he bites the lamb bone to bits and swallows it.
Then he starts stuffing all the supplies into his already full sacks that are bulging as they're full of small barrels. And other things he carries around.
After he does, Lis asks him "Where are the others?". The big, burly ork from the southern polar region of the world nods to where he can smell the rest of the group.
The messenger, and the ork general, both of whom are in the armies of Farque. A nation that lies faraway to the south.
Start walking through the busy mining town. The mines of which, are up a wagon track further up the hillside.
It's the afternoon, and though still warm at the moment. It's much cooler than it was this morning. Which was one of the hottest mornings they've experienced so far on this side, the east side of the hill range.
Now there's actually a smattering of clouds drifting across the blue afternoon sky on this hot summer's day.
Lisell Maera looks up behind the buildings, to the smaller road that goes up to the mines. There she spots Tamric Drubine the field commander hurrying down the wagon track to the town.
The attractive young woman from the coast of the Southlands, and the big, burly ork from the frozen bottom of the world. Find Shur Kee the monk, and sir Percavelle Lé Dic. Both of whom are waiting for the nobleborn teenager originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin to come back down the hillside. The senior officer in the armies of Farque soon joins them.
"She worked up in the mines for a few months last year" says Tamric Drubine the field commander, much to the surprise of the others.
Except for Dorc da Orc who isn't paying attention to the others as they make their way to a covered porch behind one of the boarding houses in the hillside town.
In the shade of the covered porch, Lisell Maera says "That's not something i would expect". Both Shur Kee the monk and sir Percavelle Lé Dic nod in agreement with the messenger.
"She was helping the healer who deals with the injured and sick miners" says the young field commander in the armies of Farque.
"Well, that makes sense then" says the attractive young woman from the coast of the Southlands.
"True, wot" adds sir Percavelle Lé Dic, who has sat down at the other end of the porch from where Dorc da Orc is sitting.
"Did she move on again?" asks Shur Kee the monk as they watch the busy wagon track, and the trails on either side of it. Which are all busy as people make their way between the mines and the town, and vice versa.
"Yes, continued south" is the reply of Tamric Drubine or Tam as he's more often referred to by the others in the group. Not just those of the group here in the Maldin Hills. But the rest of the group, who are not here at the moment. As they disappeared through a rift/void a few months ago during the spring.
"Where?" says the nobleborn teenager, who continues with "No one knows that I've spoken to" he follows that with "We might have to ask around more to see if anyone else knows".
Then their conversation at this end of the covered porch is interpreted by a hoot of laughter from the other end, where Dorc da Orc is sitting in the shade.
They all look that way, where the large ork has burst into a fit of laughter. The ork warleader is holding his sides as he laughs uncontrollably.
"Uncouth beast" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic or Percy as he's more commonly called by those who know him well.
"What's set him off?" asks Lisell Maera as she looks around to see what's set the ork weaponsmith off into a fit of laughter. Which could be anything, as ork general finds an awful lot of things hilarious.
"Oh dear" says Shur Kee the monk after he hears Dorkindle gasp "Look at it" and point up the hill to the mines.
The short, statured monk has spotted up the hill, what it is that's set the warleader of the ork race off into a fit of laughter.
Tam rolls his eyes as he sees it too. Or to be exact, a who, not an it. Lis sees as well, and sourly smiles.
Eventually Percy sees as well, then says "Like i said, wot" followed by "An uncouth beast is what he is".
Up the hillside, making their way down to the mining town, is a group of miners. One of whom is a hobbit. Or halfling, as they're sometimes referred to as.
The hobbit isn't the only non hillmen in town. There's quite a few of them. From far and wide, they've come to work in the mines. And though there's a few goblin families in town. The hobbit is the only other non human.
There's no dwarves in town. If there was. Field commander Drubine wouldn't of stopped here. Because he knows Dorc da Orc would be uncontrollable if there were dwarves living in town, and working in the mines.
"Look at the fucken hobbitch" gasps the large ork between the laughter "It's a teeny weeny miner" adds the son of the former matriarch of the wolf tribe of orks.
The hobbit in question has a large lamp strapped to his back, while the other miners have candle lamps strapped to their heads.
As they carry their shovels and picks as they make their way down to the fairly large town. Well, large for the Maldin Hills. Especially the east side of the range.
The miners as they approach the back of town. All hear then see the ork warleader as he continues laughing.
The big, burly ork from the southern polar region of the world is crying with laughter as he points at the hobbit.
Who has now realised, as have the other miners, what the ork weaponsmith is laughing at.
It looks like the halfling is going to say something, until he quickly figures out what exactly Dorc is.
Some of the other miners don't know what he is. And with their eyesight, they can't clearly see him as he sits in the shade beneath the covered porch.
So they come to the aid of their fellow miner the hobbit as they know he's being ridiculed.
"Hey, what are you laughing at?" demands one of the miners, which is echoed by another, then a third demands "Are you laughing at our friend?".
The hobbit in question, tries to get them to quiet, and move on. But they refuse to, and the one who spoke first says "Hey, we're talking to you!". As they reach town, and turn to the back of the boarding house.
"Hell, this is all we need" mutters Tamric Drubine, next to him, both Lisell Maera and Shur Kee nod in agreement.
While sir Percavelle, isn't exactly enamoured with the idea there might be a bit of conflict here, created by the behaviour of Dorc da Orc.
But the prospect of a fight is always exhilarating. And the large, heavily armoured knight leans a gauntleted hand on the pommel of one of his swords. As he watches with anticipation to see if a fight is about to begin.
Dorkindle who finally realises that the miners have walked this way to confront him, chortles under his breath. Then he stands up, which gives the miners pause. As he's hell of a lot taller and bigger than one thinks, compared to when he's sitting down.
The big, burly ork from the frozen bottom of the world who has to stoop as he stands under the covered part of the porch.
Steps off it, then properly stands upright and says "Yeah cunt, me is laughing at that fucken hobbitch" followed by "What you gonna fucken do about it?".
The large ork, with his deep, growling voice, and his thick accent is sometimes difficult to understand if you haven't spent a lot of time around him.
But the ten miners, one of whom is a halfling, originally from near the coast, and the port town of Gilsom. Clearly heard and understood what the ork warleader just said.
The miners, all of whom have backed up as they realise they're facing a seven and half foot tall, more than seven hundred and fifty pound maniacal psycho, who is covered in weapons from head to foot.
All glance at one another, as the hobbit amongst them, who actually knows that what they're facing is an ork.
And has got himself behind his fellow miners, and is tugging on the shirts of those at the back, imploring them to leave.
Wondering how they can get out of this situation without leading to violence. For though they have picks and shovels. And they've been hardened by their occupation. None of them are actually trained to fight or be in combat.
"Fucken thought not" says Dorc da Orc in his deep, rumbling and growling voice, the ork weaponsmith continues with "Now fuck off ya cunts".
The ork general then adds "And take that fucken hobbitch with ya" as he takes a threatening step towards them all.
The miners hastily back away, with some of them tripping over one another, and themselves.
Dorkindle bursts into laughter again, as the miners flee, with the halfling running just as fast as the others, which causes the laughing weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks, to say "Look at it's little fucken legs" followed by "Silly fucken hobbitch".
The miners flee into town with the sound of the maniacally laughing ork warleader behind them.
"Probably shouldn't stay here tonight" dryly says Tamric Drubine, who is relieved the large ork didn't just murder the group of miners.
Both Shur Kee the monk and Lisell Maera the messenger are relieved too.
Sir Percavelle Lé Dic not so much. As he was actually looking forward to a fight breaking out. The nobleborn knight who hails from the kingdom of Druvic is a little disappointed the miners after confronting the ork warleader, didn't actually engage in a fight with him.
The former paladin who is a member of the order of the Knights of Saint Mar-che was looking for a fight there. "Much disappointed" Percy murmurs to himself after the miners flee into town.
The former earl of Lé Dic, which is his family's fief in eastern Druvic. Lets out a sigh of disappointment.
Which Lis hears, causing her to roll her eyes, as she quickly, and correctly figures out why the large, heavily armoured knight sounds so disappointed.
"Come on, we'll go" says field commander Drubine after he asks Lis is she got all they needed in the way of supplies, and she replies that she did.
"It's cooler in the late afternoon anyway" continues the nobleborn teen from the kingdom of Sarcrin, who follows that with "And the early evening, so we can travel until late".
Tam as he hops off the porch, then says "We can stop at one of the farmholds or crofters on the road south of here. Apparently there's plenty of them that way".
Shur Kee, Lis and Percy follow him off the porch, and along with Dorkindle, they make their way around the boarding house. And go into town further, to get to the road that cuts through the middle of the mining town.
Who have a number of mines up the hill from it. Which are still producing gold, silver and tin. And which seem won't be mined out for decades to come.
Once on the road, they turn south. And as they walk through town. They spot a few of the miners who confronted Dorc da Orc.
One look at the big, burly ork from the southern polar region of the world. Is enough to send them scrambling again.
As they make their way through the town, the warleader of the ork race, who does smell him, doesn't see the hobbit again. Much to the disappointment of the general in the armies of Farque as they leave town.
They continue on their way south, on the road that leaves the mining town.
As they walk through the late afternoon, then the early evening. They go by numerous little farmholds that are dotted up and down the hillsides. With sheep in their stone pens, that Dorc da Orc always eyes up as they pass them.
The large ork isn't just looking at them wondering what they taste like. He has other more nefarious thoughts towards them as well.
As the farmholds get further and further apart in the early evening. They eventually stop at one, where Tamric Drubine asks the hillmen living there if they can stay the night.
The farmer and his wife agree to, even though they're frightened of the presence of the ork warleader. More because he reeks than anything else. Dorkindle absolutely pongs at the moment, as he hasn't had an enforced wash since the spring time.
They also agree to let the group stay because field commander Drubine will pay for them to stay. And coins, which are often hard to come by for the hillmen farmers, are always welcomed.
The group set up outside, behind the farmhouse, where the holders have a table and benches where they have their meals.
Infact they're just about to have dinner when the group arrive. A meal they all share when the group add some of their supplies to what's being eaten.
And even Dorc da Orc shares one of his small wine barrels with everyone. Though only after Tamric Drubine tells him too. And the fact it's a barrel of the white wine that's made here in the Maldin Hills. Which he doesn't like as much as the sweet, red wine that's produced throughout the hill range.
As they eat and drink, and before they settle down for the night. And as the ork general chortles to himself every so often, remembering seeing a hobbit back in the mining town in the afternoon.
Tam asks the farmers if they've seen the woman the group are here in the hill country to find.
They answer that they have, as she stopped here one morning to rest at the beginning of last year. She stayed just that morning, before heading off to the south in the afternoon.
"Well, at least we know we're still going in the right direction, and she still continued on her way southwards" quietly says Tamric Drubine the field commander in the elven language after they've finished the meal, and settle down outside just before they go to sleep.
"Hopefully she has stopped somewhere for good, and hasn't moved around too much" quietly says Lisell Maera the messenger in the same language, as they put their bedrolls down next to one another.
"Let's hope so" quietly says the young field commander as they wonder where exactly the woman they're searching for has ended up here in the Maldin Hills . . . . . .

The Lost Ones 11.

Summer. The Maldin Hills. The Southlands.

Lisell Maera the messenger comes running back along the road they've been traveling along for the past two days, and says "There's some kind of lizard creature up ahead in the distance" when she gets back to the others.
"Know what it is?" asks Tamric Drubine the field commander.
"It doth a basilisk perhaps?" asks sir Percavelle Lé Dic.
"I certainly hope not" dryly murmurs the young field commander in the armies of Farque, who definitely doesn't want to run across a basilisk this morning.
"No not a basilisk" says Lisell Maera who is more commonly called Lis by the others.
"Thank fuck for that" murmurs field commander Drubine in the elven language.
Lis nods her head in agreement with the nobleborn teenager who is originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin.
Then the attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury, says "It's about twelve to fourteen foot long, and has a cat like shaped head". As she describes what she saw through Tamric Drubine's brass cylindrical eyepiece that she has this morning, as she scouts out infront of the others.
"Any idea what that is?" asks the son and former heir of a previous knight of castle Drubine, a castle located in the forested north of the kingdom of Sarcrin.
"Hmmm i don't recall ever seeing such a creature, wot" admits sir Percavelle Lé Dic, or Percy as he's more commonly called by the others.
The large heavily, armoured knight from the kingdom of Druvic, where he was once the earl of his family's fief, then adds "Or heard of such a beast, wot".
Next to the nobleman from the kingdom of Druvic, Shur Kee the monk shakes his head no, and says "Nor have i seen or heard of such a creature".
The short, statured monk who is from beyond the Southlands, from the far east coast of the continent infact. Looks back along the road, and says "If anyone is to know, i am sure it is friend Dorc".
A reluctant sounding grunt of agreement comes from Percy as they all look back along the road, to where Dorc da Orc is still walking this way. As he follows the others by a couple hundred yards in the hot sunshine of the morning, on what's another clear and hot summer's day here in the Maldin Hills.
Field commander Drubine calls out to him to hurry up, which of course the large ork doesn't do, though eventually he catches up to where the others have stopped on the hillside road as they travel south down the eastern side of the hill range.
"There's a large lizard creature not that far away Dorc" says Tamric Drubine or Tam as he's more commonly called by the others in the group.
The nobleborn teenager from the kingdom of Sarcrin continues with "It's not a basilisk".
He's interrupted by Dorc da Orc who says "Me had a pet basilisk once" followed by "He was such good fucken cunt" followed by "Dorc called him Basil" he then adds in a tone of fondness "The scaly fucker".
The young field commander rolls his eyes, and dryly says "I know" followed by "You've told us about him plenty of times in the past".
Tam who has got the full story of Basil, from Shur Kee the monk. Knows that it was the head of particular basilisk that the ork warleader killed in the Sunreach Mountains one winter just over fifteen years ago. The first year that the acolyte in the philosophical order of Bru Li came to the Southlands.
A basilisk head the large ork carried around with him as he was traveling through the Sunreach Mountains at the time.
"It's not a basilisk" reiterates Tamric Drubine, which causes the big, burly ork from the southern polar region of the world to grunt in disappointment.
Then the young field commander in the armies of Farque describes the large lizard creature that Lisell Maera spotted.
"Hmmmm" murmurs Dorkindle as he screws up his face as he thinks about what it could be.
Then the ork weaponsmith grunts, and says a word in the harsh and frankly brutal sounding language of the orks, which of course none of the others understand.
"A what?" asks field commander Drubine, Dorc da Orc repeats the word, then says in the common language "It one of them cunts".
The large ork, who is a general in the armies of Farque, continues with "It what you fuckers call" the warleader of the ork race pauses for a few moments, as he tries to figure out what the creature is referred to in the common language.
After a few more moments, and one of the myriad of bickering and arguing voices in his head, shouts out louder than the others, what the creature is called in common.
The big, burly ork who is from the frozen bottom of the world, grunts then says "Arassas" followed by "That's what you cunts call 'em".
Nodding his head in understanding, Tamric Drubine says "I know it" followed by "They're not dangerous unless you're a solo or unwary traveler".
The young field commander who has never seen one, has only read about Arassas. And only a few years ago too. When he was in the lands Farque, studying and training.
"Yes i know of the beasts too" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic who sourly smiles when Dorc da Orc says in a disappointed tone of voice "Don't taste that fucken good, def not as good as a basilisk". The large ork pronounces basilisk as basee-liss.
The five of them set off again along the road, sticking together for the most part. With Lis out just forty to fifty yards infront of the others. And Dorkindle occasionally dropping back behind the rest of them. Mostly to drink from the small barrel of wine he's opened.
The ork general grunts when he walks with the others for a bit, and says "Can smell the cunt good now" the big, burly ork who is the son of the previous matriarch of the wolf tribe of orks then adds "He not fucken far away".
They go around a bend on the hillside road, and Lisell Maera who has stopped, points in the distance, down the slope of the next hilltop along.
"There" says the attractive young woman from the coast of the Southlands, followed by "It's sunning itself on those rocks down there".
Dorc da Orc easily spots it, and mutters "Dumb fucken cunt out in the sun like that".
It takes the other three a bit longer to spot it, and eventually all three of them. Tamric Drubine, sir Percavelle Lé Dic and Shur Kee the monk all spot the Arassas.
It's slightly darker than the dry, sand coloured hillside, and it's got it's cat or feline shaped head up, with its eyes closed, as it basks in the morning sunshine.
It's not as bulky or large as a basilisk. But at nearly fourteen foot long, and weighing well over a thousand pounds. It would be a formidable threat if you were to come up against it alone.
"Hmmm one wonders if it would make good sport for a hunt?" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic, who then adds "Wot".
"Forget about it" states field commander Drubine, who continues with "We've got more important things to do".
The nobleborn knight looks a little disappointed as they continue on their way. Eventually crossing over to the next hill, and going by the Arassas, that's a few hundred feet below the road they're on.
"No wonder no one lives in this area of the hills" says Lisell Maera as they leave the Arassas behind them, the messenger in the scouts and rangers division of the armies of Farque continues with "That thing would feed on the hillmens herds for sure".
"And the fucken hillmen too" says Dorc da Orc with a cackle of laughter, which earns him a sideways look of disgust from his bitter rival, the former earl of Lé Dic.
They continue walking until midmorning, as the mornings until just after midday, is the hottest time of the day on this side of the hill range.
By mid afternoon, and definitely later in the afternoon, it's much more cooler, here on the eastern side of the Maldin Hills, than it is over on the west side of the range.
They stop beneath an outcrop the road goes under, as it offers some shade. Which Dorc da Orc is definitely grateful for. As the large ork struggles in the hottest part of the day.
The big, burly ork from the southern polar region of the world. Has been out of his home range for well over twenty years now, infact closer to twenty five years.
But he's never truly accustomed to the warmer climes here in the Southlands. Where even the most bitterly winters, in the most inhospitable places. Is like the warmer months in the polar region where he's from.
As for the summers in the Southlands. He'll never get used to them. No matter how long he's been here. His body is just not made for the warmer climes of the Southlands. Especially the summers in places like the Maldin Hills, where he is at the moment.
They rest throughout the heat of the day, and in the middle of the afternoon they get underway again.
As they continue south through the hill country, as they search for the person they've come here to find.
It's not until late in the afternoon that they come across signs of other people again. When Dorc da Orc, who sense of smell and hearing is far more powerful than the four humans he's traveling with, says "Fucken peoples up ahead".
"How far?" asks Tamric Drubine who takes out his brass, cylindrical eyepiece and looks through it, as the hills they're approaching are significantly lower and shorter than the ones they've traveled over these past few days.
"Not fucking far" says the ork weaponsmith.
The nobleborn teenager from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin nods his head, and spots a settlement a couple of miles away through his eyepiece.
It can't be called a village, as it's only four homes on a trail, just up from the road they're on.
Tam follows the trail, then sees it disappear over one of the lower hills further south.
"That must go somewhere" says the young field commander who points out the trail, and hands his eyepiece to Lis to look through.
After looking through it, she nods in agreement, then hands the instrument back, as she says "Let's see if they know anything about her".
They set off to the houses in the distance, and as it nears dusk, they make their way towards the hillmen homes that are on the trail just up from the road that goes through this part of the Maldin Hills.
They're met by the hillmen, who come out to watch them approach. And as always, it's sir Percavelle Lé Dic and especially Dorc da Orc the locals stare at. Though Shur Kee the monk gets a few strange looks directed at him too. Due to the odd conical shaped hat he wears.
They decide to stay the night here. Where they're sleep outside, next to the largest of the four houses that's next to the trail.
After the excited chatter from their arrival, and as they about to join the locals for the evening meal. Field commander Drubine finally gets the chance to speak to a couple of them.
"So she came through here then?" asks Tam after he tells the two hillmen who they're looking for, and they reply with something positive.
"She did, infact she stayed for just over a month before she moved on, and continued south" says the hillman named Sopica, the other hillman Greesyn, his neighbour, nods his head in agreement.
Both men are typical looking hillmen, tan skinned like Lisell Maera and anyone else from much of the coast of the Southlands. Though the hillmen tend to have fair or light coloured hair.
"Did she say where she was going down south?" asks the nobleborn teenager from the kingdom of Sarcrin as they stand on the north side of Sopica's house.
"She didn't say" replies Greesyn this time, he's the older of the two hillmen the young field commander in the armies of Farque is talking to.
Tam, who in the fading light at the end of the day, spots an airship in the distance in the sky to the northeast, approaching the Maldin Hills, as it travels west to the coast.
Is silent as the two hillmen tell him what the woman he and the others are searching for. Got up to while she stayed here for a month or so.
"Though a little odd, she was a hard worker and helped us out with our herds" says Sopica, who continues with "She told my wife Darcee that she left her husband back up north because he was no good or something".
Tam nods, as he already knows this about the woman they're searching for.
Then the nobleborn teenager from the kingdom of Sarcrin, who is now a senior officer in the armies of Farque, says "We might need her help with some things" in reply to Sopica asking him "What exactly do you want with her then?".
The son and former heir of a previous knight of castle Drubine, continues with "And to see if she will travel with us for a bit" Tamric Drubine then silent adds, well, i certainly hope she does.
The young field commander nods his head as Greesyn tells him "I think she might like that, there's something of a restless nature to her, being on the move is what she likes i think".
I certainly hope so, Tam thinks to himself, who has often wondered how they're going to get the woman they're searching for, to actually come along with them.
It's what field commander Drubine discusses later that night, after they've eaten with the locals.
He along with Lisell Maera the messenger and Shur Kee the monk are standing on the trail just south of the four homes.
Looking back they can hear Dorc da Orc drinking with the locals, as he tells them an outrageous tale about something he got up to in the past. While sir Percavelle Lé Dic contradicts most things the large ork says. Much to the amusement of the locals, who enjoy the bickering between the two rivals.
There's actual a breeze blowing this evening, that's dropped the usual nighttime temperature. And as they stand in the breeze on the trail just forty yards from the small settlement.
Field commander Drubine says "Still don't know how we're going to get her to come along with us".
Tam gestures back to the nearby houses as he continues with "The hillmen i spoke to said she's got a bit of restless, or wandering nature to her" he then adds "Maybe she'll come along anyway".
"If not, we could always knock her out, and get Dorc to carry her" wryly says Lisell Maera.
Tamric Drubine sourly smiles at the prospect of that, then he says in a tone that rather matches his smile "Hopefully it won't come to that".
Lis nods, then the attractive young woman from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury says "Besides that might prove a little difficult to do considering what she is".
"There is that" murmurs the nobleborn teenager from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin, who then looks at the short, statured monk standing beside him, and asks him "What do you think Shur Kee?" followed by "How should we get her to come along with us once we've found her?".
The acolyte in the philosophical order of Bru Li is silent for a few moments as he enjoys the nighttime breeze, then the honorary member of the personal council to lord Farque says "We must discuss with her if she would like to take up the life of a wandering adventurer".
The physical adept briefly pauses before continuing on with "And if it is true, and she has a restless, wandering nature. She might readily agree" he then adds "But we must make a good first impression upon her, so what we do in our lives, is something she will find attractive to do too".
Tamric Drubine looks to the nearby houses, where the bickering of Dorc da Orc and sir Percavelle Lé Dic can be heard along with the laughter of the locals who are listening to the two rivals.
"We don't exactly do first impressions well" dryly says field commander Drubine, beside him, both Shur Kee and Lisell Maera nod in agreement.
Then as they all look back to where the large ork is telling a tale from his past, much to the amusement of the local hillmen, as he's contradicted and argued with by the nobleman from the kingdom of Druvic who is his bitter rival.
The messenger in the armies of Farque says in an extremely dry tone "That's for damn sure" as they continue to contemplate the potential trouble they might have of getting the person they're searching for, to actually come along with them . . . . . .

The Lost Ones 10.

Summer. The Sultanate Of Dreese. Off The Far East Coast Of The Continent.

The ship, a twin masted schooner approaches another island in the chain off the coast of the mainland.
Tovis the war engineer turns and nods his head yes, when one of the local soldiers says in his heavily accented common "We should have the equipment and weapons off pretty quickly, the port facilities here are more than adequate".
The local soldiers, both from the mainland and the islands, treat the hired mercenaries with respect. After all they've won them victory after victory against the Viceroy's forces.
Not so the Sultan's personal guards, and others of his inner circle. Who couldn't care less about the mercenaries from the otherside of the continent. Just as long as they defeat the Viceroy's forces, and capture him.
The first part of that is going fairly easily. Not so the second part. As no one knows where the Viceroy is.
Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy crosses the deck, and joins the young engineer at the starboard rail.
"Pretty place" says Tovis the war engineer "That it is" says Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy, who after a brief pause adds "Then again so are most of these islands".
The war engineer originally from the kingdom of Druvic, where he served in the army of a baron Harkonin, nods his head in agreement with the elven spy who is from the principality of Alínlae.
Both nations which are in the Southlands, which is twelve thousand miles away, on the otherside of the continent.
As the schooner cuts through the warm tropical water towards the island that the fleet is stopping at. 
Tovis asks the spy Tanith "Getting ready to deal with them again?".
"That i am" sourly says Dalinvardél Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by the others in the group.
The young engineer can't help but grin at hearing that tone from the elven spy, and he tells him "Better you than me".
"Wouldn't be so bad if i didn't see Mira most of the time i talk to them" says the elven spy, which causes the war engineer to wince.
"Poor bastard" murmurs Tovis, next to him, Dalin nods his hooded head in agreement.
The two of them are silent for a few moments, then the spy Tanith gestures towards the island they're approaching, and quietly says "Helbe's already over there" followed by "Seeing what he can find out before the army lands, and before you know who gets there".
Tovis nods in understanding. As the you know who in question. Is the Sultan of Dreese.
A man who doesn't like other spellcasters around who aren't under his control.
He also doesn't like undead warlords in his immediate vicinity as well. As lord Farque will kill him the first chance he gets. But hasn't, because the Sultan has Mira Reinholt the mage under his control. And will kill the spellcaster from the city-state of Vexil in the Southlands, if the lord and ruler of the lands Farque gets too close to him.
Tovis glances at Dalin, and quietly asks him "How's he doing?".
Knowing exactly who the young engineer is referring to, the spy Tanith can't help but grin, then softly burst into laughter, before he says "He's still not taking it well".
The war engineer can't help but grin too, and after he softly chuckles, he says "I can well imagine".
Tovis shakes his head, then adds "It must be such a shock".
"That my young engineer" says the elven spy who formerly served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland of Alínlae "Is truly an understatement if I've ever heard one" adds Dalin who along with Tovis, continues chuckling.
The schooner puts in at dock, one of four vessels to do so at this dock. While a similar number put in at the next dock over, and three other vessels, put in at the smaller dock in the bay port.
Smaller vessels are anchoring off the beaches to the north and south along the bay. Where airships are putting down too. Airships that the Sultan and his personal guards fly on. As the regular army of the Sultanate travel by sea.
The others onboard come up on deck, with Beldane the cleric leading the way. Followed by lord Farque himself. Then the last member of the group who is onboard.
"Fuck" mutters Jarjin Littlefoot who almost trips up as he makes his way up the ladder onto the deck.
Looking back, and down, lord Farque says "What are you fucking bitching about now?".
"These damn legs, they're too short" mutters Jarjin who hails from the mainland of the Sultanate of Dreese.
"I can't climb steps most of the time" adds Jarjin, whose youthful face belies who he really is.
Shaking his full helmed head, the undead warlord as they make their way forward to where Tovis the war engineer and Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy are, says "You'll get used to it".
The heavily armoured deathlord, who gets nods and bows from the ship's crew and the local soldiers as he passes them, then says "If not, and you keep fucking complaining, I'll throw you into the ocean and see how well you swim".
"Maybe i can't swim" murmurs Jarjin, who then adds in a hopeful tone "And I'll drown" he grins at the thought of that.
Until the grin is wiped off his face, when the lord and ruler of the lands Farque quietly tells him in an ominous tone "You better fucking hope not, because if you do, I'll bring you back into a body you'll really fucking hate".
Jarjin Littlefoot the hobbit sourly smiles as he struggles with his pack as he follows behind the large, heavily armoured figure of the lord of the death realm.
Fuck me, he'd probably bring me back as a goblin, or something even worse, Jarjin thinks to himself, the hobbit who is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra by the name of Zubutai Timaginson, who just happens to inhabit the body of Jarjin, then silently adds, that fucking elven thief!
As it was Helbe the elven thief who picked this particular body. As it was the only one that was intact from an enemy airship that crashed and burned in the previous battle on one of the islands further to the south, where Arvelle Ganard the plainsman was killed.
Well, that's not strictly true. There were two or three other dead bodies that would be suitable for Zubutai the barbarian hordesman to inhabit.
But the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel, which lies off the coast of the Southlands, on the otherside of the continent.
Thought it would be funny that Zubutai the son of Timagin was a hobbit. And so far that has proven to be correct. As the others in the group have found the barbarian hordesman being in the body of the hobbit named Jarjin Littlefoot to be hilarious.
Switching from the halfling language that he's speaking in with Jarjin aka Zubutai Timagin, lord Farque says "Dalin take Littlefoot with you".
The hobbit sourly smiles at being called by his last name, which the others all find hilarious.
"Why me?" asks the halfling who was a crew member on one of the Viceroy's airships until it was blasted out of the sky in the last battle by the cadre of spellcasters at the Sultan's disposal.
"Because you can speak and understand the local language, that's fucking why" says undead warlord in the elven language.
The hobbit nods in understanding, then does so again, when the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, who is also known by the name of Draugadrottin to the people of his lands, tells him "Don't lose that spell gem, you'll be fucked without it".
As the spy Tanith goes to hop over the starboard rail, and jump onto the deck, he asks Jarjin "You need a lift over the rail?".
"I'll wait for the gangplank thanks" sourly says the hobbit air sailor, which causes Dalin, Tovis and Beldane the cleric to all chuckle.
The halfling goes to say something disparaging to all of them, but keeps his mouth shut when he sees the heavily armoured deathlord looking closely at him.
Jarjin aka Zubutai Timaginson lets out a sigh, then struggling with his pack, he makes his way over to the gap in the rail, where the gangplank is being put out to the dock.
He's one of the first to cross it, after he yells at a number of the crew in their own dialect to get out of his way.
The halfling who was previously in the Viceroy's military, makes his way over to where the spy Tanith is waiting for him.
Zubutai the barbarian hordesman still isn't accustomed to this body. He's been short before, when he was a dwarf after he first died. And to be honest, he was quite happy being a dwarf. Apart from when Dorc da Orc was trying to kill him. Which was all the time.
He liked the sturdy, grounded nature of being a dwarf. As he was always stable on his feet. As well as being fairly strong. But the best thing about being a dwarf was the endurance and stamina he had.
Something he's missed in the numerous bodies he's been in since then.
As for being a halfling, or hobbit as they're more commonly known as. He can't see too many advantages apart from the enhanced hearing and eyesight that all non humans have.
He's got large hairy feet that the boots he's got, barely fit into.
Lord Farque has told him a couple of advantages of being a hobbit. Which Jarjin aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman has yet to discover.
Supposedly he's light on his feet. Though he has to go barefoot to do so, which he's unwilling to do at this time.
And he's also resilient. Which the former air sailor, who is a member of the personal council to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, finds a little hard to believe.
Jarjin Littlefoot looks back, and sees the others disembarking from the schooner.
The halfling then hurries up, as Dalinvardél Tanith has set off and is making his way off the dock.
"Wait up you long legged prick" says Jarjin the hobbit, who admits having another language, two of them infact if you include the local dialect of the Sultanate of Dreese, to be an advantage.
Having caught up to the spy Tanith, councillor Littlefoot says in elven "Slow down will you" followed by "My legs aren't as long as yours".
"That's for sure" dryly says Dalin who at six and a half foot tall, is just above average height for an elf.
All the same, the elven spy from the principality of Alínlae slows down so that the former air sailor, who was previously in the Viceroy's forces, is able to keep up.
"In which direction has that fat idiot landed?" asks Jarjin aka Zubutai the son of Timagin.
"South of town" replies the spy Tanith as the two of them converse in the language of the elves.
The town is fairly large for one found in the island chain. There must be near ten thousand people living and working here.
It's under the control of the Sultan. Though much of the island, which is one of the largest in the entire chain. Is under the control of the Viceroy's forces.
"Doesn't feel like a town that could be in the middle of battle soon" quietly says the hobbit, who is really a barbarian hordesman from the southern tundra by the name of Zubutai Timaginson, who just happens to inhabit the body of Jarjin Littlefoot.
The elven spy in the gray hooded cloak nods his head in agreement with the halfling from the mainland as they head south through the port town.
A town with white walled buildings, and colourful rooftops. That contrast with the bright blue tropical waters of the ocean on one side. And the thick green tropical forest that goes up the mountain behind the town on the otherside.
The two of them, halfling and elf. Are pretty quiet as they make their way through the town, that the Sultan's forces are pouring into.
Then once they're on the road that leads south behind the beaches in that direction as they leave town.
They see a figure in a white hooded cloak waiting on the side of the road for them.
Jarjin aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman sourly smiles at the sight of Helbe the elven thief. As the elven magic user is the one who is responsible for him being a hobbit now.
"They've landed, best not i go further south" says Helbe the elven thief after they greet one another. Well, Dalin and the elven magic user greet one another. Jarjin ignores the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel.
"What did you find out?" asks the spy Tanith as they stand off the side of the road, conversing in the elven language.
"They're on the otherside of the island as lord Farque predicted" says the elven masterthief who nods his hooded head towards the mountain to the east, and adds "We'll probably have to go over that, as the roads here don't go around the island, nor do they go that far".
The grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel, who like Jarjin aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman is a member of the personal council to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, gestures to the town behind them.
"The Sultan might be in control here, but there's a fair few locals there who are sympathetic to the Viceroy" quietly says the elven princeling.
Dalinvardél Tanith who stands a couple inches taller than the nobleborn elf, nods his hooded head then quietly says "As they were on some of the other islands".
The two elves are quiet for a few moments, then the elven spy who hails from the principality of Alínlae says "Seems the younger brother might be the better ruler".
"That's for sure" says the elven master assassin, who then adds "Then again, just about anyone would be a better ruler than that fat degenerate".
The spy Tanith slightly nods his hooded head, then he quietly says "We're fighting on the wrong side of the war".
"True" admits prince Helbenthril Raendril, who follows that with "But we came through the void, and ended up in the middle of his palace grounds of all places, and Mira was immediately captured, so that was that".
Dalin nods, while Jarjin grunts, his first contribution to the conversation, off to the side of the road, just south of the port town, on what's another warm tropical day here in the island chain that makes up part of the Sultanate of Dreese.
Looking at his fellow member of lord Farque's personal council, Helbe the elven thief asks Jarjin Littlefoot "Still pissed off with me?".
"Yes" is the sour reply from the hobbit, who stands just a little over four foot tall.
"Like i said, it was the only suitable body i could find" lies the elven master archer.
The former air sailor in the Viceroy's forces grunts to that, then he grimaces when the highly talented elven magic says "Just be glad we're not back in the Southlands with the others".
Councillor Raendril continues with "If we were, Dorc would be pissing on you all the time" the young elven noble briefly pauses before continuing with "No, that's right, he does that to gnomes".
The elven princeling follows that with "All the same, he'd make your life a living hell, probably carry you around in one of his filthy sacks all the time" he briefly pauses then adds "And still piss on you, knowing that big green psycho".
Jarjin who fervently hopes he dies again, and is in another body before they return to the Southlands, sourly says "Thanks" followed in an extremely dry tone with "That makes being here feel so much better".
"You're welcome" says Helbe the elven thief, who can't help but grin at the predicament his fellow councillor is in.
Then to put things into perspective, the elven master assassin says "It could be worse" followed by "You could be in Mira's situation".
Both Jarjin and Dalin wince at that, then the hobbit nods in agreement with what his fellow councillor just said.
Then the young elven noble from the principality of Laerel says "Stay safe" he continues with "And whatever you do, don't lose those spell gems".
Both Jarjin aka Zubutai Timaginson and Dalinvardél Tanith nod to that.
Then after the elven princeling disappears as he shifts into town. The hobbit from the mainland, and the elf from the principality of Alínlae continue along the road.
Making their way to where the Sultan is setting up camp, as the spy Tanith is to meet with him, to discuss lord Farque's plans of attack against the Viceroy's forces here on the island . . . . . .

The Lost Ones 9.

Summer. The Maldin Hills.

Tamric Drubine the field commander hops back out of the way as the water comes down the wooden sluice dug into the ground, and starts filling up the low trough.
The nobleborn teenager from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin looks over at Shur Kee the monk, who he finds is grinning like himself.
"Ingenious" says Shur Kee the monk "That it is" says Tamric Drubine the field commander as some of the hillmen start filling their buckets up from the trough, which they carry further into the orchard and vineyard.
As the villagers start watering the individual vines and trees. The young field commander looks towards the winery.
There he sees the large form of Dorc da Orc sitting in the shade, looking this way.
Tamric Drubine or Tam as he's more commonly called by the others in the group. Can't see the ork warleader's face that clearly as he sits in the shade. But he can imagine the look of disgust on the broad, green brutish looking face of Dorkindle as he watches them help the hillmen with their irrigation system.
A system that sees their vineyard and orchard thrive in the hot, dry conditions of the Maldin Hills, especially during the summer.
After washing their hands in the water of the trough. The young field commander and the short, statured monk make their way through the orchard and vineyard. Heading to the winery that's located between them and the village proper.
"Do you think they shall return today?" quietly asks the acolyte in the philosophical order of Bru Li. It's a question they've asked one another quite often over the last couple of days.
"I hope so" is the quiet reply of the son and former heir of a previous knight of castle Drubine, which is located in the forested north of the kingdom of Sarcrin.
The physical adept in the lightweight white clothing, wearing an odd conical shaped hat, that protects him from the harsh sunshine.
Nods his head in agreement with Tam. As that's all they can really do. As both Lisell Maera the messenger and sir Percavelle Lé Dic are overdue by at least a couple of days.
Both the young field commander and the monk who is an honorary member of the personal council to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque. Hope nothing untowards has happened to the messenger and the nobleborn knight.
Who only went north, to check out a couple of villages further north of an old mining town, which is less than twenty miles from here.
The nobleborn teenager from the kingdom of Sarcrin, and the short, statured monk who is from the far east coast of the continent, who has been in the Southlands for fifteen years now.
Get to the winery, where they find the ork warleader sitting in the shade drinking from a small barrel of the white wine, that he's less favourable towards. Though he's not complaining about it, as the villagers are giving him the wine for free.
Because of him killing most of the raiders who attempted to attack the village. And because he dug most of the trench that the sluice is in.
"Any sign of them Dorc?" asks Tam "Huh?" says Dorc da Orc with a frown upon his broad, green feral looking face.
"Can you smell them yet?" asks the nobleborn teen who is a senior officer in the armies of Farque.
"Who?" asks the large ork, who often forgets what he's supposed to be doing.
"Lis and Percy" dryly says field commander Drubine with a shake of his head. While behind him, Shur Kee refrains from grinning as he looks at the big, burly ork who is from the southern polar region of the world.
"Oh them cunts" says the ork weaponsmith, who after slurping some of the wine in the open barrel, starts sniffing, deeply and repeatedly as he looks northwards.
"Nah can't smell lil Lis and that cunt, sir Fuckface of Fuckland" says Dorkindle making it clear what he thinks of his bitter rival, sir Percavelle Lé Dic.
Tam nods his head, then he and the acolyte in the philosophical order of Bru Li start making their way to the village.
When they stop after only taking a handful of steps, and look back when the warleader of the ork race suddenly says "Wait a fucken mo".
He briefly pauses as he sniffs in deeply through his wide, flaring nostrils, then he adds "Me smell horsies".
Dorc da Orc grunts, then says "Yeah it's them cunts" followed by "Coming fucken this way from the north" the large ork then adds in a loud mutter "Me was hoping that knight cunt would fall off his horsey and brake his fucken neck".
Shaking his head in disappointment, the weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks continues muttering with "No such fucken luck".
Tam and Shur Kee walk downhill, through the orchard and vineyard. To where the road that goes north is.
There they wait under one of the trees at the edge of the orchard.
The physical adept looks westwards out over the flatlands, or lowlands as they're often referred to.
And in the distance he spots an airship, that's most likely come over the Maldin Hills, and is now heading towards the coast.
Most likely to the port town of Gilsom. Which is a major hub of activity in this part of the Southlands. Especially over last fifteen years or so. Since trade was opened up across the Great Western Ocean. When the empire of Nors and Tran fell at the hands of a number of the group.
Including Shur Kee who was over in the continent to the west at that time with some of the others in the group, like Dorc da Orc.
"It is odd do you not think" quietly says the acolyte in the philosophical order of Bru Li, who continues with "That more airships do not stop here in the hills".
Nodding his head, the young field commander says "I know what you mean".
As the nobleborn teenager from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin looks northwards along the road, he says "The only real thing of value in the range apart from what's in the mines, is the wine and fruit the hillmen produce" he continues with "The lamb and cheese, as well as the glazed pottery they make is of varying quality across the hills" Tam follows that with "I can see why few airships actually stop in the hills".
The young field commander who is a senior officer in the armies of Farque after briefly pausing, continues with "And the fact there's no docks for large, shallower cargo vessels to berth at, is a bit of a problem".
Shur Kee the monk nods in agreement as Tamric Drubine adds "Not to mention the high winds that supposedly hit this side of the range in the wintertime is probably enough for any ship to not put down in the hills".
Though both field commander Drubine, and honorary councillor Kee suspect more vessels could put down and trade with the hillmen during the late spring, and early autumn. If they truly wanted to. But for the most part they choose not to.
The two of them wait under the citrus tree for quite some time, until eventually they spot Lisell Maera and sir Percavelle Lé Dic in the distance, riding along the dry and dusty road that winds it's way from the north along the side of the hill, towards the village.
They're both surprised to see that the pair who went north to find any information about the person they're all looking for in the Maldin Hills.
Have another mount with them, a pack horse by the looks of it.
As the attractive young woman from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury, and the nobleborn knight from the kingdom of Druvic get closer to the village.
Both the field commander and the physical adept step out from beneath the citrus tree they've been waiting under.
The short, statured monk from beyond the Southlands waves to the approaching riders.
And when they rein up infront of the two waiting beside the road, and after they greet them. Lisell Maera the messenger says "We may of found her".
"Where?" asks Tamric Drubine "Further south down the range" replies the messenger in the armies of Farque.
The young field commander frowns when he hears that, then he slightly nods as the attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury says "Over on the otherside of the range, the east side".
"Tell us what you've found out" says the nobleborn teenager who is the son and former heir of a previous knight of castle Drubine, a castle and lands located in the very north of the kingdom of Sarcrin.
After sir Percavelle Lé Dic and Lisell Maera dismount, the messenger quickly explains what she and the nobleborn knight from the kingdom of Druvic have found out as they've traveled north towards the end the range of hills.
As they walk into the village, and hearing what Lisell Maera or Lis as she's more commonly called by the others in the group, has to say.
Field commander Drubine says "Shur Kee go and get Dorc".
"Are we leaving?" asks the short, statured monk, who then adds "All of us?".
Tam replies with a nod of yes to both questions, and the physical adept heads off, making his way to the winery where the ork warleader is.
While the other three head up through the terraced village, to where the house they're living in, is located.
As they head up the path, the senior officer in the armies of Farque says "We can leave late in the afternoon or early in the morning".
"Early tomorrow morning" says Lis who continues with "Travel down this side of the hills as it's still fairly cool, then cross over to the east side, when it's cooler in the afternoon there".
"Makes sense" says the young field commander as he contemplates traveling down the less populated east side of the Maldin Hills.
When they get to the house, and Lis and Percy lead the mounts into the rough looking shelter for the animals.
The attractive young woman from the coast of the Southlands asks "What's been happening here while we've been gone?".
"Nothing much" says Tam who follows that with "This morning we finished the last of the trench and sluice to the trough they built".
"Doth it work?" asks sir Percavelle Lé Dic who dug a fair bit of the trench in competition with his bitter rival, Dorc da Orc.
"It sure does" says the young field commander, who then adds "Quite well too".
"Capital" says the heavily armoured knight who takes off his full helm after putting his mount and the pack horse in the rough stable.
As they walk to the house, and enter it, Tamric Drubine says "Oh and traveling merchant visited a few days ago".
The nobleborn teenager from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin tells them of the traveling merchant who stopped in the village to trade and sell things to the hillmen.
"That's quite few hired guards for just one wagon, no matter how big it is" muses Lisell Maera who pours herself a goblet of water from the jug on the table in the kitchen.
"I thought so to" says Tam who continues on with "But you can run into trouble at times here in the hill country" followed by "Like those miners who tried to raid the village".
The messenger in the armies of Farque nods to that, and as the former earl of Lé Dic starts taking off his armour, and the young field commander goes over to help him.
Tamric Drubine says "The odd thing was that they actually turned up now in the summertime, when the villagers say they hardly see any of the traveling merchants during the summer or the winter".
"Makes sense with the weather they get up here in the summer and winter, not to travel here with laden wagons during those times" quietly says the attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury, whose mother was a street prostitute, and whose father, who she never knew or met, was a sailor.
"The truly odd thing though, was that one of the mercenary guards was a spellcaster" says Tam, the eyebrows of both the messenger and the former paladin lift up in surprise when they hear that.
"You sure?" asks the messenger who is part of the scouts and rangers divisions in the armies of Farque.
"Dorc smelled he was a spellcaster" says the young field commander, the nobleman from the kingdom of Druvic sourly smiles when he hears that.
Then he grunts and nods, when Tam says "Shur Kee recognised he was a spellcaster too".
"Those mercs weren't cheap then" quietly says Lis "I know" says field commander Drubine, who then nods when the attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury says "I wonder what else they're up to while they're up here in the hill country".
Tamric Drubine has thought exactly the same thing ever since seeing the traveling merchant, and his hired mercenary guards.
The nobleborn teenager from the kingdom of Sarcrin continues to help sir Percavelle Lé Dic or Percy as he's more commonly called by the others in the group, take off his heavy plate armour.
While Shur Kee and Dorc da Orc show up. And as the large ork scowls at his bitter rival, the former paladin who is a member of the order of the Knights of Saint Mar-che.
Field commander Drubine tells him and the short, statured monk what they'll be doing, and that they'll all be leaving early tomorrow morning.
Grunting when he hears that, Dorc da Orc says "Better get me some heaps of fucken booze to take" followed by "Fucken thirsty work being in these fucken hills".
They leave early the next morning, well before dawn, and on foot. For the simple reason Dorc da Orc can't ride a horse as he's far too big and heavy to do so. Not to mention he'd fuck any horse that was given to him.
As they leave, Tamric Drubine informs those villagers who are up early to watch their departure. That they'll return no matter what. For the simple purposes off getting their mounts which they purchased here, and left in the care of the hillmen.
Tam who hopes they return with the woman they're searching for. Has Lis walk out infront of the rest of them, as their forward scout as they walk along the dry and dusty road that goes south along the hillside.
While in the fading darkness before dawn, Dorc da Orc walks the rear guard. With the big, burly ork from the southern polar region of the world, has his sacks stuffed with small barrels of wine. Not to mention others that he's tied to his weapon harness. And even more he's carrying in his arms.
As the first light of the new day starts to show on the crest of the hill range, they walk south, hoping to finally find the woman they've been searching for in the Maldin Hills . . . . . .

The Lost Ones 8.

Summer. The Maldin Hills. In Western Southlands.

They've stopped at a cluster of houses. It can't be called a village, as it's only a trio of houses on either side of a trail.
Behind one of which, is some shade. Which sir Percavelle Lé Dic is glad for. As the mornings here on the east side of the hill range is especially hot.
The former paladin who is a member of the order of the Knights of Saint Mar-che, shakes his head as he watches a pair of chickens waddle by him in the shade, then hop through the open back door of the house he's standing behind.
The nobleborn knight from the kingdom of Druvic who hears sheep bleating somewhere down the hillside. Wonders if they'll have any luck here. He rather doubts it, as they've had no luck so far in trying to find the woman they're searching for.
It's been two days since they left the second village that was to the northeast of the old mining town.
The former earl of Lé Dic along with Lisell Maera the messenger have continued north along the east side of the Maldin Hills.
Stopping at small communities like this one, or farms and croftholds on the side of the hills. Trying to find any information about the woman they're searching for.
They've been told there's no more hillside villages between the last village they stopped at, and the very end of the Maldin Hills, where it heads eastwards, going inland.
And though the hillmen they meet are a little standoffish at first. Because the former paladin in his full suit of shining plate armour can be intimidating.
They soon relax and open up, when Lisell Maera greets them in their own dialect.
The messenger does most of the talking. As she's doing now, as she's inside the small house that the nobleman from the kingdom of Druvic is standing behind.
The heavily armoured knight spots something out of the corner of his eye. And he looks northwards, and in the sky, in the distance. He spots an airship passing over the Maldin Hills.
It's a cargo vessel, heading west towards the coast.
It's a sight one sees most days. As you usually see an airship or two. Either traveling to the coast, or from the coast, heading inland to elsewhere across the Southlands.
The former earl of Lé Dic, which is his family's fief in the east of the kingdom of Druvic. Briefly wonders what the cargo vessel is carrying. When Lisell Maera makes her way out the open backdoor of the small house, and joins him outside.
"Any luck?" asks sir Percavelle Lé Dic, who then adds a "Wot".
"A bit" says Lisell Maera the messenger, who continues with "Finally".
"Splendid" says the nobleborn knight from the kingdom of Druvic as they walk over to the hitching post where their mounts are tied up.
As the attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury checks on the pack horse that was given to them by the hillmen, who were appreciative for them in returning three of their women to their village, after they were taken by some miners.
She tells the Druvician nobleman "Her name is vaguely familiar to one of the women here" the messenger in the armies of Farque continues with "There's a nearby farmhold, and the people there might know of her".
Lisell Maera or Lis as she's more commonly called by the others in the group, then says "I've got the directions to get there" she follows that with "We should get there in the afternoon some time".
With a sour looking smile upon his face, the middle aged nobleborn knight sourly says "Great" followed by "I truly look forward to riding during the hottest part of the day".
"We could stay here until the middle of the afternoon, and get there sometime in the early evening" says the attractive young woman from the coast of the Southlands.
The member of the order of the Knights of Saint Mar-che looks around at their surroundings, and the three small houses on either side of the trail that goes down this particular hill.
The former earl of Lé Dic, whose young niece now rules his family's fief, says in a dour tone "I'd rather bake in the midday heat than stay here any longer".
"I rather thought so" murmurs Lis in the elven language, who then says in common "Let's get going then".
They mount up, and ride away from the houses on either side of the trail. With the sound of chickens bawking and squawking in the morning heat behind them.
The trail they're on goes downhill to a road that continues northwards. They ride slowly down to the road, going by two boys and their dog, who are herding some sheep up the hill.
Lisell Maera waves to them and greets them in the hillmen dialect. They all but ignore her, as they're too busy staring at sir Percavelle Lé Dic. As they've never seen a knight before. And have only heard about them in tales told to them by their parents.
"You seem to of made an impression on those two" says Lis once they're down on the dry and dusty road, and continue on their way to the northeast.
"Of course" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic or Percy as he's more commonly called by those who know him well.
"I am a symbol for those of a lesser standing to look up to, to try and attain a similar sort of achievement in life that i have gained, wot" adds the nobleborn knight without any modesty in his tone whatsoever.
"Now of course, they can aspire, but they can never achieve what i, the great sir Percavelle has achieved in my lifetime" continues the former paladin, who like his bitter rival, Dorc da Orc, often refers to himself in the third person.
"But one must hope, they can try and achieve to the level of courage, fortitude, and knightly ways that i have attained" says the nobleborn knight from the kingdom of Druvic, who slightly pauses before he adds "Wot".
"Of course" dryly says the attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury, who definitely prefers traveling through the Maldin Hills with Shur Kee the monk, than with sir Percavelle Lé Dic.
The short, statured monk is quiet while the Druvician nobleman is boisterous.
The physical adept is considerate, while the former paladin is not.
The heavily armoured knight likes to talk about himself, a lot. While the acolyte in the philosophical order of Bru Li does not. And so on and so forth.
Though Lis will admit that Percy can be highly entertaining at times. As the overly loud member of the order of the Knights of Saint Mar-che, can tell a good tale at times.
Which usually involves himself being the center of the story. Often about his previous fights and battles against his bitter rival, Dorc da Orc.
As the two of them spent many years on the otherside of wars and battles across the Southlands, trying to kill one another.
Until that came to a stop, kind of. When the former earl of Lé Dic joined the group.
"This place must be one of most desolate places in all of the Southlands" says the nobleman from the kingdom of Druvic, whose previous times he's been here in the Maldin Hills, is when he's been flying over it onboard an airship.
"It is pretty unforgiving" says the messenger in the armies of Farque, who feels like she's riding through a furnace as it's so hot and dry this morning.
The only saving grace to being here on the east side of the hill range, is that by later in the afternoon, it's much cooler than it is now in the morning.
"Almost as desolate as what's in the head of the big green, smelly demon, wot" says the former earl of Lé Dic, who never passes up the chance to disparage his bitter rival Dorc da Orc.
"Or i should say, what's not in that fat ugly lump of a head of his" adds the nobleborn knight from the kingdom of Druvic, who guffaws as Lis looks sideways at him, and shakes her head.
They ride throughout the rest of the morning, with Percy describing a battle he was part of. Where he ended up fighting Dorc da Orc, while the two of them were also fighting a dragon at the same time.
Though sounding completely fanciful, Lis knows the tale that the former paladin is telling her about, is completely true.
As she has heard about it from a number of others who were there at the same time.
They ride till well after midday, only stopping at a tiny trickle of a downhill stream, where they water their mounts.
A stream that they see, is near a trail they goes off the road. A trail that Lisell Maera turns onto, as this is the way to the farm they're heading towards.
A farm they get to in the middle of the afternoon. A farm that's quite low on the side of one of the hills. That has some fairly flat bits of ground near the farmhouse.
On those flat bits of ground, are a number of the stone corrals, that the hillmen use to hold their sheep.
In one of the corrals, are about twenty sheep. While in the distance, there's a similar number of sheep, grazing on the straw like, long grass and shrubs that are dotted all across the Maldin Hills.
There's a herd boy, and his dog watching over the sheep that are grazing.
While a hillman and his wife step out of the farm house, which like a lot of the individual farm houses across the hill country. Is much larger than the other houses you find in the villages and elsewhere.
"Greetings" says Lisell Maera in the hillmen dialect as she and sir Percavelle Lé Dic rein up infront of the farm house, then they dismount.
"Greetings" replies the hillman in the same language.
Then the attractive young woman from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury says in the common language "I wonder if you could help us with something".
Lis indicates herself and the former earl of Lé Dic, and she adds "My companion and i are looking for someone" she continues with "We understand you might know of her".
"Oh?" says the hillman, who continues with "Who might that be?".
The messenger says who, and the hillman shares a look with the hillwoman, who is his wife.
Then he looks back at Lis and Percy, and tells them "You better come inside" he points away to the right, and adds "You can put your mounts in the lean to. Old Jarce won't mind the company" referring to the old nag that's already in the shelter.
The attractive young woman from the coast of the Southlands, whose mother was a street prostitute in the city of Brattonbury. And whose father, a man she never knew, and who she never met, was a sailor.
Nods her head, and along with sir Percavelle Lé Dic lead their mounts over to the lean to. Getting the horses out of the sunshine.
Then the two of them head into the farm house, with the former paladin taking off his full helm as he does so. Glad to do so, as it felt like he was baking his head while he was wearing it during the hottest time of the day.
The farm house is large alright, so large that it has a small square courtyard in the middle of it.
Which is a common design along the coast of the Southlands. And only found in the larger homes in both the flatlands, and in the hill country.
The hillman leads them to the courtyard, which is already all in shade, and is quite cool compared to outside.
Lis and Percy take a seat at the round table with him in the small courtyard. While his wife gets refreshments and something to drink from the kitchen.
Once she has joined them, and poured them all white wine, which is chilled, and she explains the outside stream, runs underground, and they have a coolroom under their kitchen.
The hillman, who is named Marniss, asks the messenger and the former paladin "What do you want to know about her?".
"So you know her then?" asks Lisell Maera "We do" says Marniss, who continues with "She was married to a cousin of mine, who lives near the very end of the range".
"Married?" says the former paladin in surprise "Was?" adds the attractive young woman from the coast of the Southlands, who takes another sip of the chilled white wine, as it's rather refreshing after riding throughout the heat of the day.
"She was" says Marniss "So she's?" says Lis, dreading what the hillman might say next. As it could mean their time here in the Maldin Hills has been a complete waste of time.
"Alive as far as i know" says Marniss, both Lisell Maera and sir Percavelle Lé Dic let out a breath in relief after hearing that.
"She left my cousin Dalonic a couple of years ago, she said she had enough of him" says the hillman, who continues in a slightly dry tone with "She was ever the flighty kind, i couldn't believe they married in the first place". Next to him, his wife nods in agreement.
"Though she left for other reasons too" says Marniss, who pauses for more than a few moments, before he continues with "Their boy died in an accident, some scree came loose and came down the hillside he was on, and hit him".
The hillman pauses again, before he says "She couldn't save him, and the two of them were never the same after that".
The hillwoman, Darra looks at Lis and Percy, and says to them "You know what she is then?".
"We do" says the messenger in the armies of Farque, while the nobleborn knight just grunts in a positive manner.
"Some people from outside the range don't particularly care for her kind" says the hillwoman.
"We know" says the attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury, who follows that with "And we don't care".
"Trust me madam" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic, who then adds "With some of the people we know and work with, she'd be absolutely normal compared to them, wot".
The nobleman from the kingdom of Druvic then adds in a mutter under his breath "Especially that smelly green beast".
The farmer Marniss nods, then asks "So why exactly do you want to find her?".
"We have a proposition for her" replies Lisell Maera who continues with "An offer of a job" the messenger then silently adds, kind of.
"Well, i guess she'll probably listen to that offer" says Marniss the hillman, who follows that with "Don't know if she'll take it though" he then adds "Like i said, she can be flighty at times".
The messenger in the armies of Farque after drinking more of the chilled wine, and as next to her, the heavily armoured knight gets stuck into the sliced meat and flatbread, asks the couple who farm here on this hill "So is she still in the northeast?" followed by "Near the end of the range?".
Marniss shakes his head no, then says "She's no longer up there" the hillman who farms his heard of sheep with his wife and son, then adds "She moved away after she left my cousin. Moved down south somewhere".
Lis slightly frowns, then asks "How far south?" as they've already searched quite extensively further to the south.
"I'm not sure" says Marniss, who continues on with "A fair distance I'd say".
"Still in the hill country?" asks Lis who wonders if the woman they've been searching for has actually left the Maldin Hills.
She shouldn't have, Helbe was definite about her being in this hill range, the messenger in the scouts and rangers divisions of the armies of Farque thinks to herself.
"Yes, still in the hills as far as i know" says Marniss, his wife Darra next to him, nods her head in agreement with her husband.
"This side?" asks the attractive young woman from the coast of the Southlands, who then adds "Or over on the west side of range?".
"Oh definitely on this side" replies Marniss, who continues with "She never did like the afternoon heat they get over there, nor the high winds they get in the wintertime".
Figures, Lis dryly thinks to herself, as they along with field commander Tamric Drubine, Shur Kee the monk and Dorc da Orc. Have extensively searched further to the south on the western side of the Maldin Hills. Where the vast majority of those who dwell in the hill country live.
The messenger and the nobleborn knight share a look, then sir Percavelle Lé Dic says "South then?" followed by "Wot".
"Certainly looks like it" quietly says Lisell Maera as she contemplates a trip south down the east side of the Maldin Hills, as they continue their search for the woman they've come here to find . . . . . .

The Lost Ones 7.

Summer. Maldin Hill Country. Western Southlands.

Tamric Drubine the field commander makes his way through the village, to the winery between the northern end of the village, and the orchard and vineyard.
There he finds Dorc da Orc sitting in the shade on one side of the winery building, looking in through the open barn like doors, watching the hillmen inside at work.
"Watching the cunts fill up the little barrels" says Dorc da Orc in response to field commander Drubine asking him what he's doing.
The nobleborn teenager from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin faintly smiles when the large ork tells him "They gonna give Dorc some wines for killing them cuntheads who tried to attack the village".
"You haven't smelled any of them around have you?" asks Tamric Drubine the field commander, who then adds "The raiders who fled?".
"Nah cunt" replies the ork warleader, who sniffs a few times, then he turns his head and looks south and says "Oooh horsies".
Tamric Drubine or Tam as he's more commonly called by those who know him well, rolls his eyes, then says in a slightly dry tone of voice "Of course you smell horses, that's the village you're looking at".
Directing a sideways look of disgust at the young field commander in the armies of Farque, the big, burly ork from the southern polar region of the world says "Not them ya cunt".
The ork weaponsmith continues on with "Other fucken horsies" Dorkindle tilts his head to one side, then he grunts and adds "Fucken wagon too".
Wonder who it could be? Tam thinks to himself, and a few moments later, one of the village youngsters comes running their way, calling out in the hillmen dialect to those in the winery.
"What them cunts saying?" asks Dorc da Orc who is a general in the armies of Farque.
"I have absolutely no idea" says the nobleborn teenager from the kingdom of Sarcrin, who has learnt some phrases in the local dialect, but he can't understand an in-depth conversation, especially when the hillmen tend to speak quickly in their own language.
As those in the winery head quickly to the village, field commander Drubine asks one of them "Darmin, what is it?".
Darmin the hillmen replies with "It's a" he then adds a word in the local dialect that Tam doesn't understand.
Seeing the slight look of confusion on the face of the young field commander, the hillmen Darmin tells him "It is a, you would say, traveling merchant, yes that's it".
"Ah i see" says Tamric Drubine who then adds "Thanks".
And as the hillmen hurry into the village, the senior officer in the armies of Farque, who is still only nineteen years old, says to the warleader of the ork race "Let's go and see what's being traded".
"But they not finish putting all the fucken wines in the little barrels" says Dorc da Orc in a disappointed tone of voice.
The big, burly ork from the frozen bottom of the world, grunts then gets up off the ground, picking up the small barrel of wine he already has, when field commander Drubine says to him "They might have something you like" followed by "Like booze".
The two of them, the young field commander and the ork general make their way into the village, where they're met by Shur Kee the monk who tells them "A trader is on the south road approaching the village".
The short, statured monk whose odd looking, conical shaped hat nicely protects him from the mid morning sunlight on what's another hot and dry summers day in this part of the Maldin Hills, then says "From what the hillmen quickly told me, they do not get many merchants coming this way, and usually only in the spring or early autumn".
The acolyte in the philosophical order of Bru Li, follows that with "Hardly ever in the summertime and the winter".
The three of them stand in the shade along one side of the house they're staying in, and look towards the road to the south.
Tam takes out his brass, cylindrical eyepiece and looks through it after Dorkindle grunts and says "Guards".
"Hired mercenaries" quietly says the young field commander as he looks through his eyepiece at the wagon and the half a dozen riders coming up the dusty road from the south.
"Pretty good armour and weapons too" adds the nobleborn teenager who is the son and former heir of a previous knight of castle Drubine, which is located in the forested north of the kingdom of Sarcrin.
"Bit much for a traveling merchant" quietly says Tamric Drubine as he sees the two people on the wagon seat are clearly the merchant, and his hauler as the large wagon that's pulled by a team of four horses comes up the hillside road from the south.
"They do get a bit of trouble around here" says Shur Kee, who continues with "Like the raiders we fought".
"Maybe" murmurs the young field commander, who looks even further away to the south through his eyepiece, then Tam asks the large ork "You smell anyone else away to the south Dorc?".
"Not north" mutters the weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks, who then adds "Nah, no one" after he sniffs a few times as he looks at the road that winds it's way southwards from the village, that's high up a hillside, a hill that's nearly a thousand feet up over the flatland to the west.
Field commander Drubine nods his head, then he hands his eyepiece to Shur Kee, and says "I'll just go and have a quick word with the villagers".
The nobleborn teenager from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin hurries down the path to where a lot of the hillmen are waiting along the south side of the village.
While the big, burly ork form the southern polar region of the world, and the short, statured monk from beyond the Southlands, the far east coast of the continent to be exact.
Remain in the shade along one side of the house they're living in, and continue to watch the merchant's wagon, and the half a dozen riders making their way up the road towards the village.
After Tam speaks with some of the hillmen, who are going to sell some of the armour and weapons they took from the dead raiders. As well the usual goods they sell to the traveling merchants. Like their wine, fruit preserves, cheese as well as dried meat. As well as the stone glazed pottery that's made throughout the hill country.
The young field commander in the armies of Farque make his way back up the path to where Dorc and Shur Kee are still standing in the shade of the house they're living in, Tam says to them "Come on, lets get closer" followed by "I want to watch, and hear what's happening".
They make their way down into the village, with Dorkindle muttering away to himself that he can hear and see what's happening from up the hill fine enough. Not like you stupid fucken humans.
The large ork who is the son of the former matriarch of the wolf tribe of orks, grunts in relief when they end up in somebody's home, after Tam asks the holder if they can observe things from inside, and they agree to it. As they'll be outside with most of the rest of the villagers, who have come to see what the traveling merchant has for sale.
The ork weaponsmith who is glad for of the cooler temperature inside, eats the rounds of cheese on a board on the table, as the three of them look out the kitchen window.
Down to what's essentially the only square in the village, a village like many others throughout the Maldin Hills, is terraced on many levels.
The square is on the south side of the village, where the road in that direction comes up to the village. Where the bulk of the hillmen, young and old, men, women and children have gathered. With many on the rooftops around the square.
Two of the riders are infront of the wagon, while the remaining four are following the large wagon, which has a team of four horses hauling it.
"The merchant and the wagon driver are definitely from the flatlands or along the coast" quietly says Tamric Drubine, who then looks carefully at the guards on their mounts as they ride into the hillside village, then he adds "Those mercenaries are from all over the Southlands by the looks of it".
Next to the young field commander, the physical adept who is an honorary member of the personal council to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, nods in agreement.
While behind the two of them, the ork general grunts in agreement with Tam.
Then after he sniffs a few times, Dorkindle says "They got fucken booze in that wagon" followed by "The good shit too" he then adds "Made from the dark sugar".
"Molasses liquor?" asks field commander Drubine "That's the shit" says Dorc da Orc who then adds "Me just go out and fucken get it".
"Not to worry" says the nobleborn teenager from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin, who follows that with "I told Darmin to buy any alcohol they might have, and that we'll pay for it".
"Fucken sweet" murmurs the warleader of the ork race in pleasure, who then goes back to sniffing, as the merchant and wagoner get down off the wagon, and start talking with some of the hillmen in the village square. While the hired mercenaries who are the merchant's guards, remain mounted, carefully watching the villagers.
"Hmmmm" murmurs the big, burly ork from the southern polar region of the world, who has a frown upon his broad, green, brutish looking face as he looks at the mounted guards.
Tamric Drubine looks back at the large ork standing behind him and Shur Kee, and asks him "What is it?".
"A magicky cunt" replies the general in the armies of Farque "Who?" asks the young field commander, who like Shur Kee next to him, is suddenly a lot more interested in those who have just entered the village, as they know the large ork can smell who is a spellcaster.
"That asshead on the pretty horsey" says Dorkindle, who then adds "The cunt with the dark hair".
There's two dark haired guards out of the six of them, but Tam immediately picks the one who Dorc da Orc has identified as a practitioner of magic.
"The one wearing a leather vest, and no other armour?" asks field commander Drubine "Yeah, that the fuckface" is the reply from the ork weaponsmith who then takes another round of cheese from the table, and stuffs it in his mouth.
"Keep an eye on him Shur Kee" quietly says the son and former heir of a previous knight of castle Drubine, a castle that's in the very north of the kingdom of Sarcrin.
"I will" says the acolyte in the philosophical order of Bru Li, who then shakes his head no in response to Tamric Drubine quietly asking him "Can you tell when someone's casting?".
"Pity" murmurs the field commander in the armies of Farque, who knows that the short, statured monk is their best defence against magic. He's also their best offence against magic too.
"What about you Dorc?" asks Tam, who then adds "Can you tell when someone's casting".
"Yeah" says the warleader of the ork race, who then sourly adds "When the cunts trying to blow Dorc up with their magics".
Field commander Drubine rolls his eyes, then dryly says "Never mind" as they watch the hillmen and the merchant discuss their wares, what they're willing to sell, and anything else they wish to trade for.
The three of them remain inside, out of sight, watching the trading going on between the hillmen and the traveling merchant.
Business is done fairly quickly, and once goods are traded, with a lot taken from the wagon. To be replaced by what the villagers have sold.
The merchant and the hauler get back up on the wagon, and turn it around. And head back down the road to the south. Followed by the half a dozen mounted guards.
"That went fairly quickly and efficiently" quietly says field commander Drubine, who then looks at the physical adept beside him, and asks "Think that magic user cast at all?".
"I am not certain" replies the monk who is the living conduit of the Jade Warrior Bru Li "But i would hazard to guess that he did" continues Shur Kee who follows that with "Just from the way he was staring at some of the villagers".
As Dorc da Orc hurries outside, to get down to the square, to get the small barrel of dark molasses liquor. Tamric Drubine nods in agreement with the short, statured monk. For though he might not know when a practitioner of magic is actually casting. But the way that dark haired fellow was staring at some of the hillmen. The young field commander is fairly certain he was casting at times.
"How the hell did they get all that armour and weapons?" asks Spranen, who follows that with "You think it's true about what they said about those miners who tried to attack the village?".
"I have absolutely no idea" says Halnard as they ride behind the heavy wagon as they head downhill.
"They might be able to shoot their hunting bows at the wild goats in these damn hills, but i doubt many of them have the stomach to shoot another man" says Halnard, who like Spranen, is from the port town of Gilsom. The two of them are the least experienced of the group of mercenaries, who have been hired by Sharnd the merchant.
Well, he's a merchant when he wants to be. At other times, he's a whole lot more than that.
"Were that lot telling the truth?" asks Sharnd the merchant as he looks back up at the village, that's over a couple hundred yards away now, as the winding road heads down the side of the hill.
"Well, were they?" adds the merchant, who is from the flatlands between the hill country, and the coast of the Southlands, which is only about forty miles from this part of the Maldin Hills.
"They were" says Grunna the sorcerer as he rides to the side of the large wagon.
The spellcaster who is from further north along the coast, continues with "I wouldn't know, reading minds isn't my forte, but they were telling the truth" in response to Sharnd asking him "What were that lot thinking?".
"Hell, where did they get it in them to fight off some disillusioned miners" quietly says the flatland merchant, who then adds "That's not like the hillmen at all".
"If they get desperate, they can fight" says Brossic, who is riding on the otherside of the heavy wagon as they continue downhill.
Brossic, who is also a flatlander, though from further to the south, continues with "They've fought off invaders throughout the centuries".
He pauses for a few moments, and looks at the merchant who has hired him and his crew, then asks him "You still want to go ahead with it?".
Sharnd, who has taken out a parasol, and opened it, to give him some shade from the sun that's beating down upon the Maldin Hills on this hot, summers day, nods his head, then says "Yes".
The merchant, among other things, continues with "Summertime isn't the usual time for traders to ply their trade up here in the hill country, so they definitely won't expect us to return later in the summer".
"You'll need a lot more than us to take that village" says Brossic, a fairly short fellow, tan skinned, but with fair coloured hair.
"I'll leave that up to you lot" says Sharnd the merchant.
The two mercenaries Brossic and Grunna share a look, as they try to figure out how they can find some trust worthy mercenaries. As trust isn't exactly common in their line of work.
While Sharnd sits there on the wagon seat, silently contemplating the plans he has come up with. Which will see him push into the Maldin Hills, starting with the village that they've just been in, a village that he sees as a stepping stone to create a new nation here in the hill country . . . . . .