To War 79.

Summer. The Corlinda Corner.

Numbnuts the Ninth jumps over a fallen branch. And to his amazement, lands on his feet, and continues running between the trees.
The goblin soldier in a mismatch of dark leather armour, to go with a black tunic, and short black summer cloak.
Ducks under the branches of a tree, so he doesn't hit his head. He avoids smacking his head into the low hanging branch.
But this time he trips up over his own feet, and hits the ground face first.
Numbnuts groans as he lies there, but only briefly as he's hauled to his feet.
"Come on you" says Dickhead Thirty Something, who gives Numbnuts a shove after picking him up off the ground.
"Get moving" adds the goblin officer, who is more commonly called Thirty Something by the others in the battalion.
The two goblins continue running through the woods, while behind them, smoke can be seen rising up into the air.
It's a village, not all that far from lord Measum's castle. And the enemy have just set fire to it. After taking anything of worth that remained in the village, when the inhabitants deserted it, when they left it for the local nobleman's castle.
The goblins run out of the woods, and onto the road, then go left. Eastwards, which leads to lord Measum's ancestral home.
And though Numbnuts the Ninth is a little unsteady on his feet as he runs. Dickhead Thirty Something occasionally puts a hand out to steady the other goblin.
And then, even though Numbnuts is slightly dazed, the two goblins in the battalion of them that serve in the armies of Farque.
Glance at one another, as they both hear behind them on the road, a pair of horses approaching, and approachin quickly too.
As Numbnuts keeps looking ahead, as he doesn't trust himself to look back, just incase he trips up again.
Dickhead Thirty Something does look back, and spots the two riders come around the bend in the road, around the woods they were just in.
"They're ours" says the newly promoted officer in the goblin battalion.
Next to him, Numbnuts the Ninth lets out a sigh in relief as the two of them continue to run along the road, that eventually leads to lord Measum's castle.
Here in the northeast of the province of Corlinda, not far from the borders of the provinces of Moleau and Mofosild.
In the area of the province called the Corlinda Corner by the locals who live here.
The two black clad riders approach fast, they're a pair of Farqian scouts who ride straight at the two goblins who move to one side of the dusty road.
One of the riders reaches down, and grabs Numbnuts, and lifts him up onto his horse, plonking him down infront of him.
The other scout from the lands Farque does the same with Dickhead Thirty Something.
And once the goblin is seated infront of her, she asks the goblin officer "What were you two doing?" followed by "You should of been back by now".
She has to repeat herself in the common language as she forgot the goblins don't speak the elven language.
"We got lost" admits Dickhead Thirty Something, who was part of a squad of goblins their commander, Teabagger the Goblin Cunt, and their general, Dorc da Orc. Sent out to scout the enemy who are approaching from the north.
"The rest of your squad?" asks the scout, who is glad the goblin can keep his seat as they ride quickly along the road that goes to lord Measum's castle.
Unlike the other scout, who as he rides. Has got an arm around the goblin on his horse.
As Numbnuts the Ninth, who has never been on a horse in his life. Looks absolutely petrified as the scouts ride quicker than a gallop.
"They've headed back" says Thirty Something, who then mutters in the goblin language "Left us, and they're probably back at the castle by now".
Then the newly appointed officer in the goblin battalion in the armies of Farque, says in the common language "They've set that village on fire".
"We know, we were watching from the west of it" says the Farqian scout, who continues on with "We're the last ones back" followed by "The enemy army is heading our way".
Dickhead Thirty Something winces when he hears that. As he realises that he and Numbnuts the Ninth might of been caught by the enemy scouts and foreriders if the scouts hadn't picked them up.
The continue riding at pace, only slowing down when the large castle of the local nobleman, lord Measum comes into view.
Much to the relief of Numbnuts, who thought he was going to throw up if they kept riding as fast as they were.
The goblin quickly came to opinion he doesn't like riding on a horse. Admittedly something he has always wanted to try.
Now he's tried it, he doesn't ever what to do it again. And he wants to get to the nearby castle as soon as possible, so he can get down off the damn beast.
They approach some locals on the road heading towards lord Measum's castle, and the young female scout yells at them with "Run!" followed by "The enemy is down the road, and are approaching".
The locals, from a farm by the looks of it. Three adults, two pushing a cart. With them are trio of teens, and two younger children, beak out into a run.
They'll be the last of the locals from the surrounding countryside into lord Measum's castle before the enemy turns up.
The Farqian scouts, and their two passengers ride across the drawbridge, and enter the large castle.
They all dismount, much to the relief of Numbnuts the Ninth, who along with Dickhead Thirty Something.
Hurry over to where their squad is talking with Teabagger the Goblin Cunt, and their general, Dorc da Orc.
While the two scouts walk over to where Tovis the war engineer is with Shur Kee the monk. Here in the shade along the west wall of the large castle. As it's late in the afternoon now, on what's been a warm, and fairly sunny summer's day, here in the northeast of the province of Corlinda.
Lord Measum himself, along either his captain of the guard, Domall. Who have just up on the walls, checking the battlements.
Make their way down to where the young engineer along with the short, statured monk are.
After the two scouts inform the captain in the engineering corp of the armies of Farque what they've seen.
Tovis the war engineer says "We'll close the gates after those locals on the road come in"
The young engineer originally from the kingdom of Druvic looks over at the local lord, who nods his head in agreement with that suggestion.
"If it's alright, we might want to keep the east gate open longer" says lord Measum who continues with "Others approaching from that side can still come in" he then adds "I doubt they'll circle us in force".
The local nobleman is right about that. As his castle, his family's ancestral home is not just large, but it's massive.
Only the north facing wall is what one would call straight. The other three bend, and curve depending on the ground it's on.
The west wall, the longest of the walls at over five hundred feet.
Curves away to the southeast, as it follows the moat, that goes down that side of the castle, and turns around to the south side of the castle. Following that wall for a couple hundred feet. Before it joins a small river that runs away to the south.
The large castle is not a square, far from it. It's more of a tapered shape, ending somewhat at a point at the southeast corner of it.
And though the long west wall, and the south wall would appear to be the best defensively of all sides. What with the moat along those sides of the castle.
They're actually lower in height than the north and east sides of the castle. With the long, west side wall. Only being twenty five feet high for most of it's length.
Only gaining in height where it meets the south wall, at the southwest corner tower.
And with the enemy army numbering around two and a thousand strong. It's impossible for them to surround such a large castle.
Though just as importantly, it's impossible for those inside lord Measum's ancestral home to defend the entire length of all four walls.
And though they have the goblin battalion, and a number of the engineering corp from the first army of Farque here.
They can't defend every foot of the battlements of the massive castle, that has a small town within it's walls.
"Even with the moat, they'll concentrate their attack upon this wall" says Tovis the war engineer, followed by "It's what i would do".
Dorc da Orc and Teabagger the Goblin Cunt who have just finished speaking with the squad of goblins who went out to observe the enemy army.
Make their way over to Tovis and the others. As does sir Percavelle Lé Dic, who has been standing in the shade a bit further down the wall.
Where he's been keeping an eye on his bitter rival, the large ork who is a general in the armies of Farque.
"When they get here" says Tovis, who commands the engineering corp in the first army of Farque.
"Which will be well before dusk" adds the young engineer who previously served in the army of a baron Harkonin, is the east of his homeland, the kingdom of Druvic.
"Think they'll attack straight away when they get here?" asks Domall, the captain of the guard.
"Maybe" says the war engineer, who is the one in charge here at lord Measum's castle.
"They'll have to set up any siege equipment they may have first" says Tovis, who continues on with "They really can't make a serious assault without any of that they might have".
Dorc da Orc grunts in agreement with that. While the ork warleader's bitter rival.
The nobleborn knight who like the young engineer, hails from the kingdom of Druvic.
Nods in agreement with the captain who commands the engineering corp in the first army of Farque.
A mercenary army hired by the nobleman from the province of Karricaw, lord Gormica of Salmah Forest. Who is at war with the crown and king of Melaurn.
Some of who's allies are on the march along the road that comes to lord Measum's castle from the west.
Looking at the local lord and the captain of the guard, Tovis the war engineer tells them "You'll have to have your people do the support roles so all of your guards can concentrate defending the walls".
"We've explained this to all of those who have come in over the last couple of days" says lord Measum, who follows on from that with "They'll do what's asked of them".
The young engineer who commands the corp of engineers in the first army of Farque nods his head.
Tovis who is really only worried about what spellcasters the enemy have with them, if any.
Has plans to keep the enemy army, who are allies of the crown. From the province of Olind mainly, as well as Moleau and a lesser amount from Mofosild.
Engaged with them here at lord Measum's castle for as long as possible.
For the more time they spend here in a siege upon the local lord's castle. The less time they'll have going further south here in the province of Corlinda, or southeast into the province of Karricaw.
Both provinces effectively under the leadership of lord Gormica of Salmah Forest.
Who recently won the war between the two neighbouring provinces, here in the south of the kingdom of Melaurn.
The war engineer who hails from the kingdom of Druvic, and is now a commanding officer in the armies of Farque.
Knows that his role, and those with him here in the castle of the local nobleman, lord Measum.
Is to hold up any of the enemy who come down across the border into the Corlinda Corner.
To keep them occupied so they don't continue onwards, to further south into the province of Corlinda, or over into the province of Karricaw.
Looks at those watching him, then says "They'll get a surprise when they try to take the walls".
As his engineers have brought most, if not all of their equipment, they have with them here in the kingdom of Melaurn. Equipment they've already assembled, and are ready to use.
Tovis looks over to the gates, and sees the locals who were out on the road, come in through the west wall of the castle.
The captain in the first army of Farque then says to lord Measum "Give the order to lift the drawbridge, and shut the gates".
The local nobleman nods, then starts calling out orders to his men who are on gate duty.
Tovis looks at the others, then tells them "Might as well go up on the wall and watch them arrive".
As they all troop off to the nearest set of steps that go up to the top of the west wall of the large castle.
The two goblins Numbnuts the Ninth and Dickhead Thirty Something share a look.
Then the two of them, follow after the group with includes Tovis the war engineer, Shur Kee the monk, Dorc da Orc, Teabagger the Goblin Cunt, and sir Percavelle Lé Dic.
Who are making their way up a set of steps to the parapet of the west wall of lord Measum's castle.
On what's a warm and sunny, summer afternoon, here in the northeast of the province of Corlinda.
In the area of the province the locals refer to as the Corlinda Corner . . . . . .

To War 78.

Summer. Northeastern Corlinda.

After the rain and drizzle of the last few days. It's once again fine, with a smattering of cloud in the skies, here in the northeast of the province of Corlinda.
Tovis the war engineer who has made it up onto the walls of lord Measum's castle.
Makes his way along the battlements, to the northwest tower of the large castle.
And though the day is fine, it's once again warm, after the last few days, were it's been cooler due to the rain.
Up here on the parapet, there's a breeze blowing, unlike down in the castle proper, where it's warm and muggy.
The young engineer who is originally from the kingdom of Druvic. And is now an officer in the engineering corp of the armies of Farque.
The captain in the first army of Farque, briefly stops, and looks down into the castle.
The keep is back near the east wall, while towards this end, the west end, stands what's essentially a town.
A town that was relatively quiet a couple of days ago, is now busy as more and more people from the surrounding countryside make their way into lord Measum's ancestral home.
The war engineer who previously served in the army of a baron Harkonin in his homeland of Druvic.
Looks down towards the main gates of the castle, which is in the west wall.
There a couple of farmers, their wives, and children are coming in with a flock of sheep.
They're not the first to do so, and they won't be the last. As the populace here in the very northeast of the province of Corlinda. Seek the castle of lord Measum for protection.
Tovis continues on his way along the north wall of the large castle, heading for the northwest tower.
The young engineer, enjoys the breeze along the parapet. Making it much more comfortable up on the battlements, than down inside the castle itself.
Another person enjoying the breeze along the parapet is Dorc da Orc. The large ork is standing in the open doorway on the north facing side of the northwest tower.
Eyes closed, as he stands there trying to cool down in the shade on that part of the wall, with the breeze blowing in his direction.
The ork warleader opens his eyes and grunts when Tovis the war engineer stops infront of him, and asks "Any enemy wyvern riders around in the area Dorc?".
"Nah cunt" is the reply from Dorc da Orc as he looks away to the north, then the northwest.
"Ships?" asks the war engineer, who though is a lower rank in the armies of Farque than the big, burly ork from the southern polar region of the world.
He's the one who is actually in charge of things here. Not the large ork who is a general in the armies of Farque.
The ork weaponsmith grunts in a negative manner in reply, and does so again, when the young engineer asks him "Enemy soldiers?".
The big, burly ork from the frozen bottom of the world, who is repeatedly sniffing, trying to catch the scent of whoever, and whatever is in the surrounding countryside.
Pauses for a moment or two, then a grin appears on his broad, green brutish looking face, and he says "More fucken sheeps come in".
"Yes" wryly says the war engineer, who is just glad that it's a flock of sheep that's come into the castle.
And not goats, as herd of goats wouldn't last long with the large ork around.
As Tovis knows Dorc da Orc, or Dorkindle which is his given name. Would rape, kill, and eat a herd of goats. Sometimes in that order too.
As the large ork isn't all that picky about how he goes about killing, eating and fucking animals.
"Dorc likes me some sexy sheeps sometimes" murmurs the warleader of the ork race.
Who suddenly realises he just spoke out loud, and he quickly looks at the war engineer who hails from the kingdom of Druvic.
Tovis just sourly smiles, and doesn't say anything in response to what the large ork just murmured.
Instead the captain in the engineering crop of the armies of Farque gestures for the large ork to move out of the way.
The weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks grunts, then moves to one side.
The young engineer steps into the tower, followed by the ork general, who instantly scowls as he looks over at one of those already in the tower room.
"I'm afraid not, wot" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic who continues with "Just more of the peasants is all".
In response to Tovis the war engineer asking him if there's anyone on the road.
The captain in the armies of Farque steps outside the other door, onto the west wall, and looks in that direction.
And spots more people on the road heading towards the large castle that's lord Measum's ancestral home.
Farmers and others from the villages here in the very northeast of the province of Corlinda.
Where the provinces of Moleau, Mofosild and Corlinda all meet. Sometimes referred to by the locals as the Corlinda Corner.
Tovis steps aside as one of those in the tower room comes outside. It's Shur Kee the monk, who looks away to the west along the road that comes from that direction, before it turns away to the north, and the border with the province of Moleau.
"The scouts and rangers report no more attacks upon the farmsteads to the north and east" quietly says the young engineer who is originally from the kingdom of Druvic.
"Probably because most of them are here in the castle now" adds the captain in the engineering corp in the first army of Farque.
Next to the war engineer, the short, statured monk in the strange white clothing, and the even stranger looking conical shaped hat, nods.
Then Shur Kee the monk quietly asks "Do you think they will come in force now?" followed by "Not these small roving bands of riders?".
"I'm not sure" is the quietly reply of the war engineer, who then glances away to their left. Where a number of the goblins are making their way along the parapet.
Tovis inwardly winces hoping none of them trip over, and fall off the back of the battlements.
Which is an all to strong possibility, as goblins can be extremely accident prone at times.
As many of them see their demise caused by one another, but more often than not, by themselves.
The young engineer who is a member of the group that travels with lord Farque.
Sees that most of the goblins are going onto guard duty here on top of the wall.
And unlike the soldiers in lord Measum's guard. The goblins couldn't care less about being out in the sun and summer heat for long periods of times.
And unlike their human equivalents. The goblins who are in a battalion of them, serving in the armies of Farque.
Have the advantage of naturally enhanced hearing and eyesight. Making them much better lookouts in comparison to the local guards.
Two of the goblins continue on their way along the parapet towards the northwest tower.
It's the goblin commander, Teabagger the Goblin Cunt. And one of his newly promoted officers, Dickhead Thirty Something.
The goblin commander Teabagger doesn't spend too much time away from his general, Dorc da Orc.
So Tovis as he goes back to looking out along the road, isn't that surprised the goblin commander is coming this way.
"Getting busy down in there captain" says Teabagger the Goblin Cunt after he greets the war engineer, and the physical adept.
"It'll get busier too" adds the small, bright green goblin, who is actually a higher rank in the armies of Farque than Tovis.
But the young engineer is in charge of them all here, based at the castle of the local nobleman, lord Measum.
"Or so captain Domall says" continues Teabagger, who glances through the open doorway, and sees his general sitting in the tower room, near the other doorway. Keeping in the shade, and out of the sun. As today is much warmer than it has been the last few days, that were quite rainy here in the northeast of the province of Corlinda.
Tovis nods in agreement with the goblin commander, then points away to the west, and says "There's more of them there".
Teabagger, who is originally from here in the kingdom of Melaurn, the northern province of Sorros to be exact.
Is like most, if not all goblins. And is fairly short compared to most humans.
The goblin commander, who doesn't stand five foot tall. Has to step to one side, so he can look between two of the merlons.
So that he can get a clear look of the road that's away to the west. His offsider, Dickhead Thirty Something does likewise. And they see a number of locals on the road, heading this way.
Teabagger whose eyesight is much better than either Tovis or Shur Kee, slightly frowns.
Then he quietly says "Looks like some of those villagers have been attacked".
"Oh?" says the young engineer, who hails from the east of his homeland, the kingdom of Druvic.
The small, bright, lurid green goblin nods his head, then says "A few of them are bandaged up, and some are struggling to walk".
Next to him, Dickhead Thirty Something, or just Thirty Something as he's more commonly called by the others in the goblin battalion. Nods his head in agreement with his commander.
"Another patrol of enemy riders perhaps?" says Shur Kee the monk, who is the honorary member of the personal council to lord Farque.
"Perhaps" quietly says the war engineer, who is a captain in the armies of Farque.
"We'll soon find out" adds the young engineer, who hails from the kingdom of Druvic.
That's what they find out a little later, when those locals reach the lord Measum's castle.
The captain of the local lord's guard, captain Domall. After speaking with the new arrivals, about twenty five of them. Men, women and children, all from the same village.
The guard captain seeks out Tovis the war engineer. And soon finds him up on the castle walls.
"They're all from the same village" says captain Domall, who wears a steel breastplate along with his leather armour. Which distinguishes him from the other soldiers in lord Measum's garrison.
"They were the only ones to escape after it was attacked two days ago" adds Domall, the captain of the guard.
"Where's the village?" asks the young engineer, who is a captain in the first army of Farque.
The Farqian army that has been hired by lord Gormica of Salmah Forest. The nobleman from the province of Karricaw, who finds himself at war with the crown and king of Melaurn.
"It's the one closest to the border" says the captain of the guard, who follows that up with "In the very west of my lord's lands".
Tovis nods, then asks "Riders?". The guard captain nods in the affirmative, then says "They were mounted".
"Damn" murmurs the war engineer, who was hoping the enemy would come across the border in force, and not continue raiding in mounted parties.
As the whole point of him, and the others in the first army of Farque he's in charge of here in the castle of the local nobleman, lord Measum.
Was to draw a substantial sized enemy force this way. And to hold them up in a siege. So they wouldn't carry on further south into Corlinda. Or southeast into the neighbouring province of Karricaw.
The young engineer who is standing on the west wall of the large castle, next to the northwest tower.
Is about to turn and enter the tower room, when from nearby, Dickhead Thirty Something says something in goblin, followed in common with "Boss, er captain, riders on the road".
Tovis looks to the west, and is just able to make a couple of riders in the distance heading this way.
"Ours?" asks the young engineer originally from the kingdom of Druvic.
"Yes captain" replies Thirty Something, who continues with "Scouts".
The war engineer who commands the engineering corp in the first army of Farque nods his head.
Then he heads inside the tower room, and starts making his way down the stairs.
He's followed by Shur Kee the monk, the captain of the guard, Domall. Teabagger the Goblin Cunt, Dickhead Thirty Something. And eventually Dorc da Orc, and sir Percavelle Lé Dic.
They head to the main gates of lord Measum's ancestral home. And in the gatehouse they don't have to wait long for the two Farqian scouts to make their way across the drawbridge, and enter the castle.
The young engineer, who previously served in the army of a certain baron Harkonin in eastern Druvic.
Speaks with the two black clad Farqian soldiers in the elven language while the others look on.
After the two scouts tell captain Tovis what they've found out, he gives them some orders.
They hurry away with their mounts, heading to the barracks and stables, so they get fresh mounts, before they head out again.
Turning to the others, Tovis the war engineer says "Those mounted raiders of their's are advanced parties alright".
The young engineer who hails from the kingdom of Druvic, which is far away to the north from the kingdom of Melaurn, then says "They're part of an enemy army that will soon cross the border" followed by "If it hasn't already".
Pointing out the gates, and along the road that eventually turns north, the war engineer says "They're coming down the road" he continues with "So there's a good chance they'll come by here".
Dorc da Orc grunts when he hears that, while his bitter rival, sir Percavelle Lé Dic nods.
As the two of them are both looking forward to some action. After a number of days waiting around doing nothing.
Meanwhile, it's Shur Kee the monk who asks the young engineer "How large is this army friend Tovis?".
"Not as large as that one you lot fought against with Tam and the others" says the commander of the engineering corp of the first army of Farque, who after a slight pause adds "But from the best guess of the scouts, they say it's easily over two thousand strong, maybe two and a half".
General Dorc grunts, as does his bitter rival, the nobleborn knight originally from the kingdom of Druvic.
While Shur Kee the monk nods, and the two goblins Teabagger and Thirty Something share a look.
And the captain of lord  Measum's guard, Domall mutters "Hell".
Tovis the war engineer looks at them all, then he says "Time to prepare for their arrival" . . . . . .

To War 77.

Summer. The Kingdom Of Melaurn.

"Do you know where it is?" asks the sorcerer Tamille.
"I do" replies Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy, who then adds "Though i don't know where it comes out".
"About a quarter mile north of the city" says the Farqian spellcaster who just happens to be a spy.
"You know where that first stretch of woods is?" asks the sorcerer Tamille, who looks and dresses like he's a journeyman woodworker, not a practitioner of magic, who then adds "On the coast side of the road?".
"Yeah i do" says the elven spy who is originally from the principality of Alínlae, who continues with "It's there, is it?".
"It is" says the sorcerer, who continues on with "Hopefully you'll be able to get to safety from there".
"Hopefully" murmurs Dalinvardèl Tanith, or Dalin as he's more commonly called by those who know him well.
"Luck" says the spellcaster who is an adjunctant in the scouts and rangers division of the armies of Farque.
"Thanks" quietly says the spy Tanith, who nods in gratitude to the sorcerer Tamille.
Who exits the alleyway they're in, and turns right down the lane at this end of the alley.
"Let's get going" quietly says Dalin as he turns to the enemy general Sumic.
Who nods his head, and follows the elven spy out of the alleyway.
And the two of them turn left down the lane. And make their way through the northern districts of the city of Calinar. The capital city of the kingdom of Melaurn.
After the sorcerer Tamille teleported Dalin, the ranger Falnic, the scout Sethil, and general Sumic out of the palace grounds. They spilt up, as the enemy were soon chasing them through the city.
Tamille teleported himself, the spy Tanith, the enemy general and one other away from the palace, into the northern districts of Calinar.
As the search is on for the prisoners who escaped the dungeons beneath the palace grounds.
And though general Sumic's incarceration was only known to the faction at court, loyal to the dowager queen.
They make up a fairly decent proportion of those searching for the escaped prisoners, and those responsible for getting them out of the palace dungeons.
The elven spy who is a company commander in the scouts and rangers division of the armies of Farque.
Looks back down the lane, and says in the elven language "Might as well keep up with us". As his shadow is following him and the enemy general.
The young woman who is a Farqian scout, and who also happens to be an assassin and bodyguard, whose training was completed by Helbe the elven thief.
Sourly smiles, though she hurries up, and joins the two of them as they make their way out of the lane, and onto a street.
The three of them briefly pause, as they see down the end of another lane across the street.
A squad of mounted soldiers ride by on the next street over, coming from the direction of the palace of the king, and heading further into the northern districts of the city of Calinar.
Then they continue on their way, heading north through the capital city of the kingdom of Melaurn.
As they do, the prisoner, general Sumic who though still in his leather armour, is out of uniform, quietly says in the elven language "Is this wise?".
Dalinvardèl Tanith who is basically dry again after taking a drenching earlier in the morning by a rather watery explosion as he, the ranger Falnic, and the scout Sethil, busted the enemy general out of the palace dungeons, says "Yes".
Then the spy, who previously served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland, the elven principality of Alínlae.
Glances sideways at the commonborn general in the army of the crown of Melaurn, more commonly referred to as the king's own. And quietly tells him "For you as well".
"If you're caught again by her men, I'm guessing you won't last all that long" adds the spy Tanith.
The enemy general, who was taken prisoner during a battle between a force of the first army of Farque, against an army of allies to the king of Melaurn.
An army that general Sumic was basically forced into commanding. As the dowager queen, the mother of the king of Melaurn. Had Sumic take command of that army.
Instead of his regular post, as a commander of an army in the king's own.
Slowly nods in agreement with the elf who brought him here to the city of Melaurn. To deliver messages to the king.
Which he was unable to do, as the dowager queen's men caught him before he was able to complete that task.
"Next on the right is quicker" quietly says the young woman behind the two infront.
The spy Tanith nods his head in appreciation, then he turns right onto another street as they head to one of the safehouses here in the northern outskirts of the city of Calinar.
A safehouse that has in it's cellar, the entrance to a tunnel, that leads all the way out of the city, a quarter of a mile to the north of it to be exact.
As Dalinvardèl Tanith intends to take general Sumic to safety. And the safest place there is, happens to be the lands Farque.
The border to which, is just a handful of miles to the north of the northern outskirts of Calinar, the capital city of the kingdom of Melaurn.
Meanwhile, back in the palace of the king, the sovereign is more than a little displeased there's been an attack in his palace this morning.
Not only that, there's also been one in the city airdocks and in the port, with the docks and the harbour not all that far from the palace.
In an antechamber just off the throne room, a captain in the king's air fleet is giving the sovereign a report of what's happening.
"They've chased it out to sea your majesty" says the airship captain, who follows that with "They're having trouble keeping up with it, and have been unable to knock it out of the sky".
The king of Melaurn, a man in his mid thirties, nods his head, that has the less formal, ring crown on it today, then says "Whose ship is it?" followed by "From the lands Farque?".
As that seems the most logical explanation, as the southern lords he's at war with at the moment.
Don't really have a fleet to speak of. And the most likely ship to attack the capital, would seem to of come from the lands Farque.
As one of the armies of Farque, is fighting on behalf of the nobleman from the province of Karricaw.
Lord Gormica of Salmah Forest, who the crown is at war with.
"It doesn't appear to be your majesty" says the airship captain, who continues on with "It's a design we haven't seen from the Farqians".
He follows that with "A small, single masted vessel, that's obviously foreign in design that what we wouldn't normally find down here in this part of the Southlands".
Sir Dalacain the underlord looks around at those in the antechamber.
He figures more than half of those in attendance, the nobility that is, not the servants or soldiers.
Are truly loyal to the king outright, while the bulk of the rest, are loyal to the dowager queen.
That's not to say they're traitorous in anyway, far from it. As they support the king and pretty much everything he does.
It's just that they prefer the decisions their majesty makes. Are ideas that his mother, the dowager queen has come up with first.
As they prefer her more traditional, conservative ideas of how politics should be here.
Not just at court, but right throughout the kingdom of Melaurn.
Sir Dalacain looks over to where the old queen is sitting, surrounded by some of her sycophants.
Looking like an old buzzard amongst the brighter, more colourful looking plumage of those who fawn over her.
The underlord has always thought the dowager queen looks like how one describes an old crone in stories.
The fact she still wears mourning black for her dead husband the former king has something to do with it.
Her husband, if whispered rumours of the last dozen years since his death is anything to go by.
She might of a hand in his demise. Where officially the cause of death was a failed heart. Though many believed, and still do. His wife, the then queen, had him poisoned.
So that she could have her son take the throne, as she had more influence over him, than her husband.
Sir Dalacain doesn't know for sure if those rumours are true. But he can definitely believe that is something the dowager queen might of had done.
As the conversation in the antechamber continues. The underlord sees that the current queen hasn't returned.
She briefly showed up earlier, to see what was going on out on the palace grounds.
But when she caught sight of the dowager queen sitting with her sympathisers. The queen and her ladies in waiting departed.
Sir Dalacain isn't at all surprised at that. As the entire court, and probably the entire city. Knows that the current queen and the dowager queen don't exactly get along.
All because the queen isn't from a noble family of importance. Who is a southern noble too.
Who the king married when he was the prince, and heir. Against the wishes of both his parents.
As the king of Melaurn, Harmard the Third says "Have more of our men sent out to find these escaped prisoners" followed by "And make sure the city guard knows who to look for too".
Sir Dalacain the underlord glances sideways to his right, and quietly says "I need an audience with the king" followed by "As soon as possible" he then adds "Right now would be best".
His liege lord, sir Macell glances sideways at him, and murmurs "Are you nuts?" he then adds "With everything that's going on at the moment?". The underlord nods yes, and quietly says "Make it happen".
Sir Macell, who is one of the city lords, making him one of the highest ranked individuals at court, sighs then sourly says "Fine".
The city lord then continues with "I can't guarantee anything of course".
Sir Dalacain who is a vassal to the city lord, who has him at a disadvantage, as he knows his liege lord's secret.
Which would get him in trouble with both sides of court. As over the last few years, sir Macell has been selling weapons and goods to the upstart nobility in the southern province of Selvah Na. The most rebellious province in the entire kingdom.
And though sir Macell is firmly in the king's camp. As he despises the dowager queen. If the king was to find out what he's been doing. He'd been executed.
As trade to and from the province of Selvah Na is dictated, and controlled by the crown.
"A private audience" quietly says sir Dalacain the underlord to his liege lord, sir Macell the city lord, who sourly mutters "Any other miracle you'd like me to achieve?".
The underlord just faintly smiles as he knows his liege lord will make it happen.
North of the city, beneath the ground. Dalinvardèl Tanith who has the advantage of low light vision.
Leads the way through the dark tunnel, they entered in the cellar of one of safehouses in the northern districts of the city of Calinar, the capital of the kingdom of Melaurn.
The spy Tanith who stands a few inches over six foot, has to slightly duck down as they hurry through the dark tunnel.
While general Sumic, and the young Farqian assassin can walk upright as they both hold onto Dalin's cloak as he leads the way.
They soon get to the end of the tunnel, and climb the dirt packed steps to a wooden trapdoor, that the elven spy opens.
The three of them make their way up and out of the tunnel. And after Dalinvardèl Tanith closes the trapdoor, and he and the young assassin kick dirt over it to hide it.
The spy originally from the principality of Alínlae, who is now a company commander in the scouts and rangers division of the armies of Farque.
Nods his hooded head to the north, and quietly says in the elven language "That way".
The three of them break out into a jog as they head northwards through the woods.
After about a mile and a half, the trees start to noticeably thin out, as the nearby road curves closer to the road.
Dalin stays off the road for as long as possible, but eventually he decides to get on it, as it's the quickest way to the border, which lies just handful of miles to north of the outskirts of the city of Calinar.
Though the summer day is partly cloudy now, and fairly windy. Once on the road there's a clear view to the vast rocky mountain like tor on the coast, that marks the border.
Dalin along with the young Farqian assassin who know exactly who and what's is in that tor.
Who no doubt are watching them now, that they're on the coast road to  the border.
Keep an eye on the prisoner as they hurry northwards along the road. Which has very few people on it. As is often the case. As the only ones going north to the border most days, are returning Farqians.
"Not far" says Dalinvardèl Tanith who sees the lone sentinel standing about fifty yards infront of the tor in the distance, the exact spot of the border.
As they get closer to the lands Farque, the elven spy hears riders on the road behind them, and he says to his shadow "Riders to the south" followed by "Heading this way".
"How far?" asks the Farqian scout who also happens to be a bodyguard and an assassin.
"About a mile" is the reply from the spy Tanith, who continues with "Just near the end of the woods".
The young Farqian assassin nods, then she says "I'll slow them down sir" she nods at the prisoner as she adds "Just get him there".
Dalin nods his hooded head, and before he can say anything to the young scout, she's turned around and is heading back the way they've come from.
As she walks quickly, she starts taking out weapons from beneath her black cloak.
"Run" says the elven spy to general Sumic.
The commonborn senior officer in the king's own breaks out into a run as he keeps up with the elf who is a company commander in the scouts and rangers division of the armies of Farque.
As they run the spy Tanith doesn't look back behind them. As he's fairly certain the approaching riders are in the king's own.
Searching for the prisoners who escaped the palace dungeons. And those responsible for breaking them out.
It's not long before Dalin and the prisoner approach the border. And the two of them sprint to where the large, heavily armoured figure is standing still like a statue.
Breathing heavily as they come to a stop about five yards from the sentinel.
Dalinvardèl Tanith says between breathes "Draugadrottin".
The sentinel slightly moves his full helmed head, and looks directly at general Sumic.
"A prisoner" says the spy Tanith, as now even the general can hear the riders on the road heading this way.
There's a momentary pause, then the sentinel says "Enter".
Dalin nods in appreciation, and holding onto the right arm of general Sumic, walks forward and goes by the sentinel.
Once they step by the undead being, the elven spy knows that they're finally safe and in the lands Farque.
At the exact same time, back in the city of Calinar. In the palace of the king.
Sir Dalacain the underlord is having a private audience with king Harmard the Third. Who blinks in surprise as he reads the missives the underlord has just handed to him . . . . . .

To War 76.

Summer. The City Of Calinar.

Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy is almost knocked off his feet by the explosion.
And is almost again, when he's hit by the water that blasts up in all directions from the steps leading down to the entrance of the dungeons.
Here next to the armory, beside one of the barracks, within the grounds of the palace of the king of Melaurn.
Sir Dalacain the underlord has taken his warning to heart, and takes off running when the explosion occurs.
Not so the captain in the king's own, who turns to see what's happened. And ends up getting kicked in the side of the head by the elven ranger Falnic, who knocks him out.
Meanwhile, the officer in the quartermasters office is hit full in the back by some of the water.
And he is knocked off his feet, sent tumbling across the courtyard infront of the armory. He's knocked out before he even comes to a stop.
The three elves, all spies serving in the scouts and rangers division of the armies of Farque.
All look at one another, standing there, drenched from the watery explosion.
Then it's the oldest of them, the ranger Falnic, who breaks the silence by dryly saying "Fucking mages".
The other two can only nod in agreement, then Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy says "Quick, let's go".
The three of them hurry to the steps that lead down to the dungeons. While overhead, the Quick Gull is making it's way over the palace, heading towards the harbour. As magetube shots tear through the morning sky after the small, sleek looking, single masted airship that's in the Farqian fleet.
The trio of elves, one from the principality of Alínlae, and the other two from the island principality of Laerel, hurry down the steps.
As they do, the oldest of the three, the ranger Falnic mutters "You could of picked a better one".
"How the hell do i know what it's going to do" is the reply of the scout Sethil, who then sourly adds "The damn thing didn't have an inscription on it".
At the bottom of the steps they find the doors ripped off their hinges, and the guards gone.
They make their way through the entrance of the palace dungeons, and down a tunnel.
That's fill of water, about an inch or two deep. In the tunnel they find the two soldiers who were standing guard.
Both dead, as they were at the epicenter of the explosion. As Sethil the elven scout threw a mage canister at them. That landed right at their feet.
Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by those who know him well, stops at the two dead guards, and starts searching one of them.
"Search the other" says the spy Tanith who nods his damp, hooded head at the other dead guard.
The ranger Falnic does so, while Sethil the scout keeps an eye out for any of the king's own who might show up.
"Keys" says Dalin, holding up a set of keys from the dead soldier he's been searching.
"Same" says the elven ranger, who is originally from the island principality of Laerel.
And has been fighting under the command of lord Farque since before the undead warlord died.
When the then Kaiuss Farque the battlelord, was the heir to the then lord and ruler of the lands Farque.
"Didn't fancy using one of those damn things to blast him out" says the elven spy who hails from the principality of Alínlae, where he served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland.
"It would probably kill him, and blow us up in the process" dryly adds the spy Tanith.
The older elf, Falnic grunts in agreement. Then the two of them, along with Sethil, hurry to the end of the tunnel.
Where there's another set of steps, where the water is running down, and which they hurry down.
"Open all of them" says Dalin once they're down the steps, he continues on with "A bit of confusion will help with our escape".
I hope, silently adds the elven spy who is a member of the group that travels with lord Farque.
With the scout Sethil standing at the base of the steps, keeping an eye out, and listening for any of the king's own who might show up.
The two other elves, the spy Tanith and the ranger Falnic hurry along either side of this lower tunnel in the dungeons. Where they open up cell after cell with the keys they took from the dead guards.
And though most of the cells end up being empty, they eventually release eight prisoners being held in the dungeons beneath the palace of the king of Melaurn.
"Run!" shouts the elven ranger Falnic in the common language to a prisoner who stumbles out of one of the cells.
"It's a jail break" adds the ranger who also happens to be a spy, who serves in the armies of Farque.
The disoriented prisoner looks around, and though the tunnel is dark and gloomy. He along with the other prisoners hurry to the steps.
Where the scout Sethil tells each and everyone of them to hurry up, and to flee before the king's own shows up.
Dalinvardèl Tanith opens up the last cell on the side of the tunnel he's on, and he finds a disheveled looking general Sumic sitting in the cell.
"We're getting you out of here" says Dalin to the prisoner, who was captured in a battle between the first army of Farque, and an army of allies to the king of Melaurn, an army the general was in command of.
"Never thought those who took me prisoner would release me from my own king's dungeons" dryly says general Sumic, a commoner who has attained the highest rank in the king's own army.
"Still got those missives with you?" asks Dalinvardèl Tanith who then adds "Or did they take them from you?".
"I've got them" says the common born general, who grew up here in the palace. As his parents were servants who worked here.
"They didn't even bother to search me" sourly says general Sumic, who is friends with the king.
Though that didn't save him from being shoved into a cell in the dungeons.
As he was caught by the dowager queen's men before he had a chance to give the missives to the king of Melaurn.
"Good" says Dalin, who follows that with "Hand them over".
Once general Sumic does, and the spy Tanith tucks them away beneath his tunic.
The elf who hails from the principality of Alínlae says "Someone else can get it to the king".
As they hurry to the steps that water is still running down, Dalinvardèl Tanith tells the general "We have to get you out of here" followed by "It's not safe for you here anymore".
The enemy general grunts in agreement with that as they follow Sethil and Falnic up the steps.
Last week, Sumic never thought he'd have to rely on his enemies to keep him safe.
But here he is, getting busted out of the palace dungeons by three of them.
As his position is seen as a threat to the dowager queen. As she thinks he's too much of an influence upon the king.
A definite no, no in her opinion. Considering he's a commoner too. A son of servants of all things.
Who has risen through the ranks of the crown's army, to the highest rank of general.
Up in the next tunnel, they see the last of the other prisoners going through where the doors previously stood.
They take just a few steps, when Sethil the scout stops, and puts up a hand.
"Soldiers" quietly says the scout who is originally from the island principality of Laerel.
He looks at the other two elves, and quietly says "I've just got the one left".
General Sumic, who can understand the elven language. Frowns as he wonders what the elf who spoke is talking about.
Then he looks at the one called Dalin next to him, who says "Here, use one of mine". And he takes something out from beneath his cloak.
The general in the army of the crown of Melaurn has never seen one before. But he knows what it is, as he's been told about them. And he's read about them in battle manuals from his time in officer's training.
"Hell" mutters general Sumic with a wince upon his face, followed by "You're using those things?".
"They're highly effective" says Dalinvardèl Tanith as he hands the mage canister over to Sethil the elven scout.
"Highly fucking dangerous too" mutters the elven ranger Falnic.
With that, general Sumic wholeheartedly agrees upon. As everything he knows about mage canister is that they're highly unpredictable, and very lethal for the main part.
Just like those who make them, mages. The most powerful of the human spellcasters.
"We'll stay back here" quietly says the elven spy who is a company commander in the scouts and rangers division of the armies of Farque.
He, along with the ranger Falnic, and the prisoner general Sumic remain at this end of the tunnel.
While Sethil jogs across the watery floor to the other end of the tunnel, where the doors to outside previously stood.
As the elven scout who is a spy gets near the end of the tunnel, he twists one end of the two foot long, metal cylindrical canister he's carrying.
He stops where the doors previously stood, and throws the mage canister up the steps to the courtyard infront of the armory.
Sethil has turned and is running back to the others as the mage canister lands up in the courtyard, amongst some of the king's own, who have to come to find out what's happening.
There's a large explosion that knocks Sethil down, sending dirt and debris flying down into the tunnel.
And sends Dalin, Falnic, and general Sumic stumbling, barely able to keep their footing as the ground beneath, and above them violently shakes.
"Move" orders the spy Tanith who grabs a hold of the enemy prisoner to keep him steady.
The ranger Falnic is already moving, and Dalinvardèl Tanith and general Sumic follow him into the dust and debris filled air.
The elven ranger finds his fellow spy on the floor, coughing up dust as the air is fill of it.
"Up you get youngster" says the rangers Falnic to the scout Sethil, who he hauls to his feet.
The scout, who is the middle in age of the trio of elven spies. Looks a little dazed as he and the others peer through the dust and dirt, trying to see what's happened.
"No use standing around here, might as well get moving" says Dalinvardèl Tanith, who while he's here in the city of Calinar. Is in charge of all the Farqian spies who are based here.
They move forward through the debris filled air, and though general Sumic can't really see what's happened.
The trio of elven spies with their naturally enhanced eyesight, can.
Outside, the top half of the steps has gone. As has about forty feet of the courtyard infront of the entrance to the dungeons beneath the palace grounds.
Instead there's a crater there, caused by the spell in the mage canister that Sethil the scout threw up here.
The three elves along with the enemy general scramble up the side of the crater and out.
Here up in the courtyard next to the armory, and the barracks. The debris in the air isn't so thick.
And even general Sumic can see the bodies scattered across the courtyard.
Soldiers in the crown's army, or the king's own as they're more commonly referred to as.
Most dead, though a number of them are wounded from the explosion that's ripped apart this courtyard.
The three elves turn as someone comes towards them through the dust and debris filled air.
It's sir Dalacain the underlord who says "What the hell happened?".
General Sumic blinks in surprise when he realises the nobleman just spoke in elven.
He does so again, when the elf named Dalin hands the missive to the underlord, and tells him in elvish "Get these into the hands of the king" followed by "And whatever you do, don't get caught by her supporters".
Sir Dalacain nods, and after stuffing the missives under his tunic, he turns and hurries away through the dissipating dust and debris.
General Sumic who is utterly shocked that sir Dalacain is a traitor. As he always thought of him as just a lackey to one of the city lords. Sir Macell, who is a notorious rabble rouser at court, who is a drunkard and womanizer.
The enemy general shakes his head, as he and the trio of elves turn and hurry the other way.
The general in the crown's army whose right arm is being held by the elf named Dalin is wondering how they're going to get out of the palace of the king of Melaurn.
As they hear, and see people running in the direction of the armory. Coming to see what's happened.
When suddenly Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy, Falnic the ranger, Sethil the scout, and general Sumic vanish into thin air . . . . . .

To War 75.

Summer. Calinar. Melaurn.

Calinar is not just the largest city in the kingdom of Melaurn. It's the largest city in the entire southern region of the Southlands.
Though that's not saying much, as there isn't all that many cities in the very south of the Southlands.
And that most inhabitants in the Southlands don't even know of the existence of those in the very south.
For example the lands Farque, which by size is the largest nation in all the Southlands.
Isn't all that well known outside of the southern region of the Southlands.
Infact you'd be hard pressed to find anyone outside of the southern regions, to of heard of the lands Farque.
Or the kingdom of Melaurn, or the Great Southern Tundra, or the elven forest city-state of Quinthain.
The only nation in the southern region of the Southlands, that's vaguely known elsewhere.
Is the elven island principality of Laerel, and then only mainly by other elves in the two other elven principalities found throughout the Southlands.
This is why, when there's trade deals and the like done within the southern region of the Southlands.
It tends to be done between the neighbouring nations in the southern region.
As the representatives from other nations further north in the Southlands, where it's far more populated, with far more nations.
Don't even bother coming south, that's if they even knew of the existence of the various lands, kingdoms, city-states and the like in the very south of the Southlands.
So it's no great surprise that in the morning, a trio of elven representatives of a number of merchants on the island principality of Laerel.
Turn up at the gates of the Palace of the King, here in the city of Calinar, the capital city of the kingdom of Melaurn.
"We arrived last night" explains Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy who is passing himself off as a trade representative from the island principality of Laerel.
"And we went to sir Macell's townhouse at first light" continues the elven spy who is originally from the principality of Alínlae.
"And his majordomo said he was staying here at the palace" continues Dalinvardèl Tanith, or Dalin as he's more commonly called by those who know him well.
"He should be expecting us" says the elven spy who is an officer in the scouts and rangers division of the armies of Farque.
The commander of the gate guard sends one of his men to find sir Macell, who probably isn't even awake as he's a notorious knockabout, who dines and drinks late into the night.
Then the gate guard commander invites the trio of elves who he believes are from the island principality of Laerel into the palace.
Where they wait for the city lord, sir Macell in the gate house just inside the palace grounds.
It's not all that long, and much to the surprise of the gate guard commander that the guard he sent off, returns with sir Macell, and one of the nobleman's vassals.
"Ah Dalin isn't it?" says sir Macell when he gets to the trio of elves who have stepped outside of the gate house.
"Yes indeed it is" says Dalinvardèl Tanith who shakes hands with the city lord.
"Falnic" says the ranger in the armies of Farque.
"Sethil" says the third of the elves, who happens to be a scout in the armies of Farque.
All three elves, preferring to use the diminutive of their actual names. Not their full names.
Which most humans have difficulty pronouncing anyway. As some elven names can be a tongue twister for humans.
"If you would come along with me" says sir Macell, after he introduces his vassal, a sir Dalacain, an underlord here in the city of Melaurn.
The city lord leads the trio of elves away from the gate house.
Where the gate guard commander who is still surprised sir Macell is awake, and doesn't appear to be hungover.
Hears the nobleman with a bit of a reputation, ask the trio of elves walking with him "Have any of you ever been the to the Palace of the King before".
"I have" truthfully answers the elven ranger Falnic, who actually is from the island principality of Laerel.
"Though it was quite some time ago" adds the elven ranger, who has been in the armies of Farque since the invasion of the Southlands by the Holy Norstran Empire four and a half centuries ago.
"Quite a bit has changed since then" adds the ranger Falnic.
"I'd guess so" says sir Macell, one of a number of city lords here in Calinar, the capital city of the kingdom Melaurn.
They don't go to the frontdoors of the main building of the palace. They head around to the side of it.
Where in an ornamental garden, the city lord, sir Macell says to the trio of elves "I'll leave you in Dalacain's hands then".
The nobleman from here in the city of Calinar nods to the trio of elves. Then makes his way out of the ornamental garden. Back to the main building of the palace.
The three elves who are posing as trade representatives from the island principality of Laerel, along with the underlord sir Dalacain watch sir Macell all the way back into the main building of the palace.
Then sir Dalacain turns and quietly says in the elven language "This way".
The underlord who is the main contact of the spies in the Farqian armies, here in the palace of the king of Melaurn.
Leads the trio in the other direction from the main building of the palace.
And once they're out of the ornamental garden, and heading across a courtyard.
Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy quietly asks the local nobleman "How much does he know?".
"Nothing" replies sir Dalacain, a vassal to the city lord, sir Macell.
"I had to have my liege lord get you in the palace" continues the underlord, who follows that with "He'll do anything i ask, as I've got something pretty damming on him".
"Oh what's that?" asks the spy who is originally from the elven principality of Alínlae, who is now a company commander in the scouts and rangers division of the first army of Farque.
"He's one of the old bat's favourites" quietly says sir Dalacain, the old bat being the dowager queen. The mother of the king of Melaurn.
Who aside from the king himself, is the most influential political force in the kingdom.
"But he's also been selling goods and weapons to the rebel lords down in Selvah Na" says the underlord here in the city of Calinar.
"You've definitely got one over him" murmurs the spy Tanith.
Behind him, his fellow elven spies, Falnic the ranger, and Sethil the scout, nod in agreement.
Seeing where they're heading, Dalin glances sideways at their contact, and quietly says to him "Is there a reason we're going to those barracks".
"The entrance to the dungeon is there" says the local nobleman, who quietly and quickly adds "If anyone asks I'm giving you a tour of the palace".
The underlord sir Dalacain continues on with "Pretend you're here to sell weapons to the crown".
The city breed nobleman then says "The dungeon entrance is right next to the armory behind the barracks" followed by "So that'll give us an excuse for being here".
As they approach the barracks, the local noble who is one of the contacts here in the Palace of the King, quietly asks "So what's the plan?".
"You don't want to know" is the quiet reply of Dalinvardèl Tanith.
Behind him and the underlord, the other elves, Falnic and Sethil. Who, both are originally from the island principality of Laerel, slightly nod.
As they're of the opinion that the plan devised by Dalin, though brilliant. Is absolutely crazy too.
They both figure it's probably come about due to the amount of time the spy Tanith has been in the group that travels with lord Farque.
Some of the members of which, are the craziest, and most carefree individuals you'll ever likely to meet.
"How will i know when it starts?" asks sir Dalacain.
"You'll know" is the dry sounding reply from the elf who is a company commander in the scouts and rangers division of the armies of Farque.
As they step through the front doors of the barracks, and the underlord calls out to an officer in the king's own that he knows.
As the officer calls out hello, and heads over this way. The spy Tanith quietly tells sir Dalacain "You might want to run when things kick off" quickly followed by "It's not going to be safe around here".
A little while later, and the officer, a captain in the king's own. Is showing them around the armory.
Where Falnic is chatting with some of the weapons makers, and an officer of the quartermasters office.
After the ranger Falnic finishes speaking with the weapons makers. They step outside the armory, where Dalin speaks with sir Dalacain, the captain in the king's own, and the officer from the quartermasters office.
The spy Tanith is just discussing how many elven bows the crown would like to purchase.
When he shares a quick look with his fellow elven spies, Falnic and Sethil.
All three of them have just heard what they've been waiting for. Something that they with naturally enhanced hearing have picked up.
Which the humans with them, definitely aren't able to hear.
An explosion in the distance to the southwest across the city. To be exact, over a mile and a half away. Where the main airdocks of the city of Calinar is located.
The spy Tanith looks at the scout Sethil, and gives him slight hand signal. That if you don't know to look for, you'll never notice it.
Sethil, who is older than Dalin, but not as old as Falnic, slightly nods in reply to the hand signal from the elf who is a member of the group who travels with the lord and ruler of the lands Farque.
Then the elven scout originally from the island principality of Laerel, starts to silently count.
"Longbows will be a little bit more difficult, it takes a while to grow the right tree for each one of them" Dalinvardèl Tanith is saying to the two officers in the king's own.
"And frankly our bow makers don't like them ending up in human hands" says the elven spy, who then adds "Sorry".
"I figured as much" says the captain in the king's guard, next to him, the officer from the quartermasters office nods in agreement.
As he has tried to secure a supply of elven longbows for a number of years from the island principality of Laerel, but has been unsuccessful.
"I could try buying some from people who already own them" says Dalin, who then adds "But it'll be expensive, and it'll only be very small numbers of them".
The two officers in the king's own share a look, then the captain says "Even a handful would be good enough" followed by "If you want to try that, then go for it".
It's the nobleman, sir Dalacain who is standing next to the elven ranger Falnic.
Who spots it, as he looking in the exact direction to see it.
"That ship is flying low" says sir Dalacain the underlord.
The others turn, and look in the direction the nobleman from here in the city of Calinar, points.
"Heading this way, or at least out towards the harbour" says the captain in the king's own as they see a small, sleek looking, single masted airship heading this way, the captain then adds "It's moving fast too".
Then they all hear the unmistakable thud of magetubes firing in the distance, from somewhere near the airdocks of the city.
There's a slight pause, and the captain in the king's own says "That was magetubes firing" followed by "What the hell is going on?".
Sethil the scout, steps back, turns and wanders away a short distance, as the others discuss what could be happening.
The elven spy who hails from the island principality of Laerel, stops at the top of some steps right next to the armory.
Down the steps, is the entrance to the palace dungeon. The doors down there, are guarded by a pair of soldiers.
The spy Sethil nods in greeting, and waves in a friendly manner to the two guards. Who are wondering who he is. And why they're pretty certain, they just heard magetubes firing.
Sethil takes something from beneath his cloak, twists the end of it, and tosses it down the steps, where it lands at the feet of one of the soldiers in the king's own.
The soldier along with his fellow guard look at the cylindrical metal canister, about two feet in length, wondering what it is.
Then they look back up the steps, and see that the elf who was standing up there, has gone.
Sethil the scout walks back to the others, trying not to flinch in anticipation.
He doesn't, but when he quickly rejoins the others, he does flinch in fright, as a fairly large explosion occurs not that far behind them.
From down the steps that leads to the dungeon beneath the palace grounds. As the mage canister he just activated, explodes.
"Run!" shouts Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy after some of them stumble forward from the explosion behind them.
"To safety!" adds the elven spy, who hopes to hell, and the forest gods too, that what he and the other spies in the armies of Farque here in the city of Calinar are about to do, is going to work . . . . . .

To War 74.

Summer. The City Of Calinar. The Capital Of The Kingdom Of Melaurn.

Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy looks across the street, and watches the Farqian scout heading this way.
The elf originally from the principality of Alínlae, is standing infront of a merchant's shop, that gives him a clear view away to the left, where across a square, stands the palace of the king of Melaurn.
"Anything?" quietly asks Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy when he's joined by the scout.
"It's confirmed" quietly replies the Farqian scout, who though dressed like a local, is wearing armour, and has weapons beneath his clothing.
Dalinvardèl Tanith, or Dalin as he's more commonly called by those who know him well, winces as the scout in the armies of Farque, who like him, is a spy, quietly tells him "Our contacts in there tell us that it was the dowager queen's men who took him".
"Shit" mutters the elven spy who previously served in one of the more prominent noble houses in the principality of Alínlae.
Dalin, who is an officer in the scouts and rangers division of the armies of Farque, a company commander to be exact.
Tells his fellow spy "See what else you can find out" followed by "Especially where he's being held".
"That's easy" says the Farqian scout, who like the spy Tanith, is speaking in elven.
"In the palace dungeons" adds the scout who is also a spy.
The elf, who is part of the group that travels with lord Farque, winces once more when he hears that, then he quietly says "Well, find out whatever you can from our contacts" followed by "I'm going back, send word when you've got more information".
The scout nods, then he turns, and goes back across the street, and wanders in the direction of the palace.
Meanwhile, the elven spy who is a company commander in the scouts and rangers division.
Turns, and heads the other way. Making his way back to the safehouse that's nearby.
The spy Tanith doesn't even bother to look back to see if his shadow is following him.
He knows he's been followed, as his shadow has been watching him from an alleyway a bit further down the street.
The day is cloudy and overcast, but without any rain or drizzle. Though quite windy, as is often the case here on the coast.
And as it tends to do on the coast when it's windy. It's a much cooler summer day than further inland in the kingdom.
Much to the relief of the residents of the capital city Calinar. As the summer days here can often get humid.
It doesn't take long for Dalinvardèl Tanith to get back to the safehouse. The three storey building that has a clear view to both the west. To the port and the harbour, which the palace is close to.
And the north, to beyond the northern outskirts of Calinar. As just another handful miles north of the capital, lies the border with the lands Farque.
At the backdoor of the safehouse, the elven spy who hails from the principality of Laerel.
Looks across the lane behind the three storey building, to a gap between two buildings on the otherside of the lane.
He makes a beckoning motion, then says in elven "Come out" followed by "I need you to do something".
There's a slight pause, then from the gap between the two buildings across the lane, walks Dalinvardèl Tanith's shadow.
His shadow today is a young woman, in her early twenties by the looks of it.
Who is a scout in the armies of Farque. Who has had specialised training, completed by Helbe the elven thief.
The scout is no ordinary scout. She's also a personal bodyguard, and an assassin.
"Guard this door" quietly says the spy Tanith, who continues with "Don't let anyone in, including our own" he then adds "With the exception of the one i just spoke to near the palace".
The Farqian scout, who also happens to be an assassin, nods her head.
Then as Dalin turns, and goes to open the backdoor of the safehouse, the young woman quietly asks him "Sir, how did you know i was there?".
"One of the advantages of being an elf" replies the spy Tanith, who barely even heard her in the gap between the two buildings across the lane.
She was so good at keeping completely still without moving, that the elven company commander. Had to concentrate for a few moments as he listened to where she was.
The elven spy originally from the principality of Alínlae, makes his way into the safehouse.
A little while later, and Dalin enters a third storey room, closing the door behind him.
"Find out anything new?" asks the elven ranger at the window who turned when the spy Tanith entered the room.
"He's been taken prisoner" replies Dalinvardèl Tanith who makes his way over to the window, to join the other elf.
The window is the best spot in the entire safehouse, to give a clear view away to the west, and to the north.
"By the old queen's men" adds the elf who previously served as a spy in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland, Alínlae.
The elven ranger winces and mutters "Shit" when he hears that from Dalin.
The spy Tanith, who is the younger of the two elves, by nearly three hundred years, then says "He was unable to get any of the messages to the king".
The elven ranger, who is originally from the island principality of Laerel, which lies across the Kuyriers Straits from the kingdom of Melaurn.
And who like Dalin, is a spy. And who is in command of those Farqian spies here in the capital city Calinar.
Shakes his head, then asks the younger elf "So what now?" followed by "You're the one in charge of this".
The company commander in the scouts and rangers division of the first army of Farque, slightly nods, then after a brief pause, says "I've got an idea".
"Oh and what's that?" asks the elven ranger who at over five and a half centuries old, served under lord Farque when the undead warlord was still alive.
When he was the battlelord Kaiuss Farque, the heir to the then lord and ruler of the lands that bare his family name.
"We'll bust him out" says Dalinvardèl Tanith, the older elf blinks in surprise, then says "Er?".
Then watches as Dalin takes out something from under his cloak, that he got from down in the cellar, before making his way up to the third storey of the safehouse.
"Oh shit" says the elven ranger in the armies of Farque as he looks at what the spy Tanith is holding.
"Got plenty of these here" says the elf who hails from the principality of Alínlae, who continues on with "Might as well use them".
The older elf, originally from the island principality of Laerel, sourly smiles, and shakes his head as he looks at what the younger is holding, and quietly, and dryly says to him "The forest gods help us all".
Dalinvardèl Tanith flashes a grin, then he returns what he's holding, to under his gray cloak.
The company commander in the scouts and rangers division of the first army of Farque then says "Have someone go to the airdocks, and bring back the captain of the Quick Gull".
The ranger, who was a youngster, barely a hundred and twenty years old, when he fought under the command of the now lord Farque.
During the invasion of the Southlands by the Holy Norstran Empire.
Frowns as he looks at the younger elf, then asks him "Why do you need the airship captain?".
"He and his ship are going to provide a distraction" is the reply from the spy Tanith.
"I thought that's what you were going to use those for" says the elven ranger with a nod of his head to what Dalin has beneath his cloak.
"Not exactly" says the younger of the two elves, who follows that with "Actually going to use those to get him out".
The older of the two elves, who is also an officer in the scouts and rangers division of the armies of Farque, though of a lower rank than Dalin, grimaces when he hears that.
"By all the damn gods, help us all" sourly says the ranger who hails from the elven island principality of Laerel.
Which on a bright, clear sunny day. And you happen to have enhanced eyesight like an elf. You can see it from the light towers at either end ot the city's harbour.
A little while later in the morning, almost three days since Dalinvardèl Tanith took the prisoner, general Sumic to near the gates of the palace, and released him.
A small group has gathered in the third storey room of the safehouse, here near the docks in the port.
One of those in the gathered group, is the captain of the airship, the Quick Gull, who frowns then says "You want me to do what?". After the spy Tanith explains to the group what he has planned.
The elf who hails from the principality of Alínlae, who is now a company commander in the scouts and rangers division of the armies of Farque.
Once again, goes over the plan, specifically what he wants the captain of the Quick Gull, and his small, sleek looking vessel to do.
The airship captain who is originally from the Sultanate of Dreese, which is on the far east coast of the continent, then mutters in his native dialect "Fucking hell".
Then switching to the common language, as he isn't that fluent at the elven language, which he only started learning about half year ago, he asks "What do they do?".
As he looks from the spy Tanith, to another in the group, a man in his mid twenties, who looks like he's a journeyman of some kind, who plies a trade maybe in woodwork and carpentry.
Dalin shrugs his shoulders, then says "Anything from my experience in using them".
The fellow who looks like a journeyman carpenter, who is actually a sorcerer, nods in agreement, then says "Who knows".
Followed by "You might get a bunch of flowers from one knowing them" he continues with "Or the largest explosion imaginable from the next".
The captain of the Quick Gull sourly smiles, then he looks over at the elven ranger who tells him "Just treat everyone of them as if they'll kill you and destroy your ship".
The older of the two elves in the room, then says "Which from what I've seen of them over the years, is pretty much true".
"Great" sourly says the airship captain who hails from the far east coast of the continent.
Who along with his ship and crew, decided to stay in the lands Farque, and join the Farqian fleet after flying lord Farque and much of the group back to the Southlands from the otherside of the continent.
"Whatever you do, don't head north into the lands Farque" says Dalinvardèl Tanith, who then murmurs in a dry tone "I might have to flee that way".
The captain of the Quick Gull nods, when the elven spy who is a company commander in the armies of Farque tells him "Head out over the ocean if you're chased".
Dalin continues on with "I doubt there's a single ship in the fleet who can keep up with the Quick Gull".
"There isn't" says the airship captain, who has had a good look around the city airdocks.
At the vessels in dock, both in the fleet of the king of Melaurn, as well as merchant vessels.
Not a single one he judges as fast, or as agile as his airship, the Quick Gull.
The spy who hails from the elven principality of Alínlae looks at the others in the room, and asks "Any other questions?".
It's the older elf, the ranger originally from the island principality of Laerel, who speaks up, and says "If you do get him out, and you get the messages to the king".
The elven ranger in the armies of Farque pauses for a moment, before he continues on with "And by some miracle you actually get out of there alive with him" he then adds "Then what?".
"Like i said, it would be best if we hide out in the city" says Dalinvardèl Tanith who continues on with "But if that's not possible, we'll do as i suggest".
The company commander in the scouts and rangers division of the first army of Farque after a brief pause, adds "We'll go north".
There's silence in the room, as there was when the Dalin first outlined his plan.
Especially the detail of going north of the city. As there's only one place that way. The lands Farque.
Surprisingly this time, it's the figure standing in a corner of the room, who thus far has remained silent, who speaks up now.
"Is that wise sir?" asks the young woman who is a scout, but also an assassin and a bodyguard.
"You could send their men and ships towards our lord's lands" adds the bodyguard to the spy Tanith.
Looking over at his shadow, Dalinvardèl Tanith says "You're right, it could send their men and ships towards the lands Farque".
The elf, originally from the principality of Alínlae, where he served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland, then adds "But they won't go there, no matter what".
After a slight pause, Dalinvardèl Tanith says "They know the consequences if they do" followed by "And if they do, well they'll face the consequences". Everyone in the room nods in agreement with that.
Then the elven company commander in the scouts and rangers division of the armies of Farque then tells them all "Like i said, it'll only be my last option".
Which seems more and more likely if i actually do get him free and out of there, Dalin thinks to himself.
Who then gestures to the others to join him at the window, where they can get a clear view of the palace of the king of Melaurn.
So that he can once again go over the details of the rather audacious. And if he's totally honest with himself, rather crazy plan he's come up with to get the enemy prisoner, general Sumic out of the palace dungeons . . . . . .

To War 73.

Summer. Corlinda. Melaurn.

Mira Reinholt the mage looks over to the surgeons and healers tents. Where he's just seen lord Gormica of Salmah Forest make his way into one.
The once powerful mage looks at Jarjin Littlefoot the hobbit standing beside him, who quietly says in the elven language "He's checking on sir Holjma".
The spellcaster from the city-state of Vexil, which he's in exile from. Nods his hooded head as the halfling from the far east coast of the continent, the Sultanate of Dreese to be exact, quietly adds "Beldane healed him, but he's still not completely right".
The hobbit, who like the mage Reinholt, is a member of the personal council to lord Farque, then says "Beldane says he needs rest for a day or so, then he'll be right".
The two of them, continue on their way, heading up the slight rise that overlooks where the army has set up camp.
There's no rain, nor drizzle in this part of northern Corlinda. But the day is overcast, with gray skies above them in all directions.
The army, predominantly made up of the combined armies of the provinces of Karricaw and Corlinda.
Were victorious against the enemy. The king's own army who had crossed over into the province of Corlinda, from the province of Moleau.
And though they didn't totally annihilate the enemy army. They did wipe out a large proportion of the enemy army.
And left the remainder of them retreating to the north. Back all the way to the border, and across into the province of Moleau.
Mira Reinholt, and Jarjin Littlefoot along with their fellow councilor, Helbe the elven thief.
Are happy enough with the result of the battle. But they're more happy that the armies led by lord Gormica of Salmah Forest, and his twin brother, baron Wilmot of Pirtgott.
Actually fought together for the first time, and gave a good accounting of themselves against an army of the king's own.
Up the rise, which is essentially a small hill. The once powerful mage and the halfling former air sailor.
Find the prisoner, under the watchful eye of his guards. A trio of black clad Farqian soldiers.
"They definitely made a mistake putting him in command" quietly says councilor Littlefoot as they look at the city lord.
The halfling who isn't really what he appears to be, then adds "They should of definitely had that general Tam captured in command of them, instead of him".
The Vexilian mage in exile nods his hooded head in agreement with the hobbit, who is a former air sailor, who served in the fleet of the Sultan of Dreese.
"Didn't get much useful information from him either" quietly says Mira Reinholt the mage.
The halfling from the far east coast of the continent, who in actuality. Is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra, by the name of Zubutai Timaginson.
Who just happens to find himself inhabiting the body of Jarjin Littlefoot. Who died in a battle last summer, in his homeland, the Sultanate of Dreese.
Nods his head in agreement with the once powerful mage, while looking around in all directions. Though paying particular attention to the north.
Whilst the spellcaster from the city-state of Vexil, who also happens to be a highly skilled swordmaster.
Watches the nobleman from the capital city Calinar. Who sits there on the damp ground, head cast down, looking at the grass between his boots.
The mage, who is a member of one of the most influential, not to mention wealthiest trading families. Not just in Vexil, but in all the Southlands.
Looks at his fellow council member, who quietly says "What's that?".
"What's what?" asks the spellcaster, who was once the most powerful mage of his generation, to be found anywhere in the Southlands.
Until he lost the vast majority of his powers, when he went offworld through a rift/void spell he accidentally cast.
The exiled Vexilian swordmaster looks to the north, to see what Jarjin aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman is looking at.
"I don't know" says Mira Reinholt, who continues on with "You're the one with the better eyesight".
"Can't quite make it out" mutters the halfling who is a former air sailor.
The mage Reinholt thinks about taking out his leather wrapped, brass cylindrical eyepiece.
But he doesn't bother, and instead casts a farsight spell upon himself instead.
"Hmmmm don't see anything" quietly says the once powerful mage as he looks away to the north.
The cloudy skies doesn't make things easy to see, and it's a few moments later when councilor Reinholt finally sees it.
"Wyvern and rider" quietly says the spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster.
"Heading west" adds the practitioner of magic who at the age of seventeen, was the youngest ever member of the mage council of Vexil.
Until he was kicked off it, and sent into exile, when he betrayed his homeland during the Battle of Vexil.
"Thought it was" says Jarjin aka Zubutai Timaginson, who follows that with "One of their's I'm guessing?".
"Definitely" says Mira Reinholt, who then nods his hooded head, then quietly adds "Maybe".
In response to his fellow councilor the hobbit, asking him "Can you get it from here?".
As the wyvern and it's rider, is easily fifteen miles away to the north. Basically over in the province of Moleau, as it heads westwards in the cloudy skies.
The spellcaster in the black hooded cloak creates a mageglobe in his right gloved hand, which takes off, heading north over the camp below. In pursuit of the wyvern heading westwards to the north of their position.
"It either gets it, or it doesn't" says the mage Reinholt to the halfling who is a former air sailor.
"Too damn faraway for me to do anything else" continues the once powerful mage, who then adds "And it's getting further away too".
Jarjin aka Zubutai the son of Timagin nods in understanding. As in one of the many lives he's been in the last fifteen years, has been as a practitioner of magic.
When he was the Kail Arriss the sorceress. And he knows all about the limitations of spellcasting.
The two of them look down the rise they're up, and spot Beldane the cleric making his way up here.
The fighting cleric, who was in the thick of the battle yesterday. More so than any of the three members of lord Farque's personal council who are with this particular army.
Walks up to where the mage and the former air sailor are standing on the top of the rise.
After glancing at the dejected looking prisoner sitting on the ground.
Beldane the cleric asks Mira Reinholt in the elven language "Why did you do that?".
Referring to the mageglobe the spellcaster from the city-state of Vexil just created, and sent on it's way.
"Enemy wyvern" is the laconic reply of the practitioner of magic, who also happens to be a highly skilled swordmaster.
The cleric originally from the kingdom of Nastell, looks to the north, where the mage Reinholt gestures.
Beldane, who is a member of the church of Glaine. A god predominantly worshiped in the north of his homeland, Nastell.
Frowns as he tries to look for a wyvern and it's rider, in the distance to the north.
The fighting cleric in the halfplate armour who can't see Mira Reinholt's mageglobe, but can just sense further away to the north, and getting even further away.
Eventually nods his head, after casting a spell similar to farsight, so that he can see in the distance.
"That's quite far" murmurs the churchman from northern Nastell, who doesn't have any specific rank or position in the armies of Farque.
He's just a member of the group that travels around with lord Farque himself.
The powerful spellcaster, who can barely see the wyvern and it's rider against the gray skies, more than seventeen miles away now.
Even with the cleric's equivalent of a farsight spell cast upon himself, says to his fellow practitioner of magic "Will your mageglobe get it?".
"Maybe" is the reply of Mira Reinholt the mage with a shrug of his shoulders.
Who then drops the farsight spell he's cast, then turns to look at the prisoner.
"What do we do with him then?" asks the Vexilian mage in exile, who follows that with "He hasn't exactly been a fountain of information".
Jarjin Littlefoot turns and looks at the prisoner too, as does Beldane the cleric after he drops the spell he's been casting.
"Not sure" says the halfling who is a former air sailor, who was part of the fleet in the Sultanate of Dreese.
Rubbing his chin, a habit he's had since he was actually Zubutai the barbarian hordesman.
The hobbit who is a member of the personal council to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, adds "We might want to find out how things went for Dalin in the capital".
Jarjin aka Zubutai the son of Timagin, continues on with "How that general was received at court, and what were the crown's replies to those terms we sent".
Nodding his hooded head in agreement, Mira Reinholt the mage says "That might be for the best".
As the three of them look at the nobleborn prisoner, the once powerful mage from the city-state of Vexil says "Since he's a favourite of the dowager queen, he might come in handy" followed by "Probably best if we didn't kill him out of hand".
Both the former air sailor, and the fighting cleric nod in agreement with the once powerful mage.
Then the spellcaster who also happens to be a highly skilled swordmaster, looks from the dejected looking prisoner.
To the practitioner of magic standing on his left, and the hobbit who is a member of lord Farque's personal council on his right, and he asks them in elven "Anyone seen the royal thief?".
The mage Reinholt then dryly adds "He's probably out stealing something knowing him".
Jarjin aka Zubutai Timaginson grunts in agreement, then tells the Vexilian mage in exile "He went north with those who chased after the remnants of the enemy army".
The halfling who is member of lord Farque's personal council, then adds "He could be anywhere at this time".
Helbe the elven thief is walking through some woods, when he comes to a stop when he thinks he senses something approaching from the south.
The young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel, frowns when he turns and looks to the south.
He's pretty sure he sensed something to the south, but he just can't sense it at the moment.
"I'm sure there's something there" Helbe the elven thief murmurs to himself.
The highly talented elven magic user, who as usual when he's out and about, is blurred and shielded.
Senses again, concentrating as he does so. As he's certain there's something magical coming this way.
Then the elven masterthief, who is a member of the royal family that rules the island principality of Laerel, mutters "Shit".
As he realises what it is he's sensed. They're notoriously difficult to sense anyway. And he's just able to sense it again. Mere moments before he spots it coming through the trees to the south of him.
The elven master assassin, who is one of the members of the personal council to lord Farque.
Moves to one side, as he sees he's basically in the path of it, as it comes flying through the trees in this direction.
The young elven noble who is the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel.
Grimaces as it barely passes by him, as it continues on it's way northwards through the woods.
"Damn stupid things" mutters the elven spellcaster as he turns and watches the dull red coloured ball of light, about the size of a small apple heading through the woods.
The elven princeling from Laerel sourly smiles as he watches the mageglobe go through the trees, before losing sight of it. And once again he's unable to sense it.
The elven archer is just glad the living piece of magic wasn't sent to him. As you can never be too certain what they'll do.
The grandson of Prince Raendril of Laerel who is across the border in the province of Moleau, continues on his way.
He shifts away, as he too heads northwards. Though more to the northeast. Unlike the mageglobe which was heading northwest.
A short time later, and prince Helbenthril Raendril is walking near the edge of the woods.
Where Narladene the ground pixie suddenly appears on his right shoulder, and quietly says "Was that one of Mira's mageglobes i sensed a little while ago?".
The elf who is the envoy for the armies of Farque, grunts in the affirmative to that.
Then he quietly says "Dull red coloured one, heading to the northwest".
"A deadly one then" says the naturally magical creature who is attached to the young elven noble who hails from the island principality of Laerel.
"That's no surprise" dryly says the highly talented elven spellcaster.
Who after a brief pause, murmurs "I wonder who Mira has sent it to kill?".
The tiny winged creature who is originally from the Sunreach Mountains, nods in agreement.
Then she takes off, heading straight up into the cloudy skies above.
She returns a short time later, and says to elven master assassin "There's a wyvern and rider in the distance to the west" the ground pixie continues with "It's after them".
Councilor Raendril nods his hooded head, and quietly says "One of their messenger riders".
Narladene nods in agreement with that, as the elven master archer continues walking towards the edge of the woods.
Once he's at the treeline, the blurred and shielded elven magic user, quietly asks the tiny winged creature standing on his right shoulder "Anymore of them about?".
"There's some about two miles to the northeast" is the reply from Narladene the ground pixie.
Helbe the elven thief nods his hooded head as he looks at the rough camp of some of the enemy who survived yesterday's battle, who have fled north into the province of Moleau.
"Let's see what we can find out then" murmurs the elven princeling as he makes his way towards the king's own camp.
In search of any of their officers and noblemen who survived the battle, to find out any useful information.
The blurred and shielded elven master assassin will then kill any of them who are of high rank that he finds here . . . . . .