laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

After four days of rest, the group was rejoined by Avion as well as the others who had been magically healed by Thurgen. Kailee was glad to be leaving this town as the baron seemed to be a self centered, egotistical type of leader that had cowered behind his walls during the fighting while brave knights of Arhus fought to save Byala. She followed Sceva and the others down the stairwell to the front door as morning light spilled through the narrow windows. Alister had their horses waiting as squires ran about readying their charge's steads also. Bidding farewell to their host, the large unit continued north as Avion rode with the forward scouts through the Valis Mountains and the elusive camp.

Within seven days, they reached the outer defenses of the compound hidden within a small, rounded canyon that Avion informed them would be crawling with guards. Kailee's nose told them otherwise. The templar dismounted and formed up, line abreast and quietly moved to the entrance, shields at the ready as they peered upwards into the boughs and sloping ground that rose to either side. Soon, a forward scout emerged from the bordering trees, motioned with his left hand side to side, then waved them in. Kailee followed the group as they walked with the paladin and passed through the opened doors, well camoflauged by the surrounding trees and bushes to see the empty enclave. Homes built of stone and thatch stood quietly while they fanned out. In pairs, the templar investigated each building as they worked their way to the center of the community to find a horse that perked up. Saddled, he watched and waited and Kailee noted his owner who rummaged through the remaining goods that spoiled in baskets. He stepped out and smiled as he walked to his horse, turned and dropped the apple from a dirty hand as his smile faded.

"I was just looking around. I didn't take anything," he pleaded as the group and Sir Bodin stopped.

"Where are the inhabitants of this community," the paladin asked.

"Been gone for some time now, rumor has it."

"And how would you know this?"

"I'm a scout for the king's army, Abik's the name." His dishevelled look and dirty countenance told of someone who survived in the wild. "I've kept the gypsies in these hills under surveillance for years, kept me in a warm bath at least once a month. Hot meals are a nice bonus too," he smiled, yellowed teeth gleaming.

"Since your extensive knowledge of these mountains has kept you in your lord's favor, where else would Balor encamp?"

Hazel-green eyes glanced to the arriving templar as they finished their searches and Kailee could tell that this ranger was becoming nervous. "I think they may have moved to Lake T'Asha," he informed quietly, eyes watching as the circle closed around him.

"And you know the penalty for lying to a Knight Captain of Arhus, don't you," Sir Marcus asked.

Abik nodded, "I wouldn't be that foolish. And I have no love for Balor or his family."

"If this report turns to fruition, I'll be in your debt," Sir Bodin informed.

Bowing, the ranger grinned again, happy that he was going to be able to leave this area unmolested as Kailee read his surface thoughts.

The unit marched back out to their awaiting horses being held by their patient squires and mounted for the continuing search. Another four days found rain soaked paths treacherous as they passed over narrow, rocky gaps and descended into the lush river valley that passed through the lake they sought. Sir Bodin and his lieutenants sat atop their horses side by side as the rest of the unit broke for lunch.

"Marcus, take fourteen men and scout the northern banks of this lake, we'll take the rest and head south and meet you on the far side. If contact is made, hold your positions and send one rider to inform us and we'll attack from the other flank."

"Yes, milord," the obedient reply as the eager lieutenant rode up and picked his men for the reconaissance mission.

Once they had departed, the main group rode down the rocky slope, dotted with trees at the higher elevations that thickened as they entered the valley. Kailee enjoyed the peace of the forest around them and longed for the time when they would be returning home and be out of the presence of these men. An armored fist rose into the air and the unit stopped. She noticed that their scout had apparently found something up ahead and the whole group dismounted and formed up in a wedge with Lericanin and the group holding the right wing. Kailee, Thurgen and Avion made up the second rank behind the fighters as they quietly moved forward through the trees to finally catch sight of the grassy embankment that butted against a sheer wall of granite. As they waited for the second unit to arrive from the opposite side, Kailee noticed the odd flowers that graced the man made hill that they were about to assault. An odd scent drifted on the wind that she had never encountered before and she looked to Avion.

"What are those red flowers there?"

Avion peered between Sceva and Alister and squinted. "Bloodlums. We should avoid those if at all possible."

"I thought I recognized those," Sceva confirmed. "Great. If we have any way to fire those plants, we should do that."

"Why," Lericanin asked.

"They fire needle-like spikes that don't allow the wound to heal. The blood that hits the ground feeds them. It's like having additional archers on those walls along with the defenders."

Lericanin turned to the paladin as he watched for the signal from Sir Marcus. "My lord. We should fire the hill and kill those flowers that line it."

Sir Bodin trained his eyes on the hill as some of the templar chuckled to themselves. "Good idea," he turned to the squires. "Fire those slopes there, the smoke will also shield our approach."

Quickly, the younger acolytes readied their longbows and lit the oiled cloth wrapped around the heads, drew and fired. Coursing through the air, between the tall trees, the lines of orange light hit the green hill and slowly began to burn. Suddenly, return fire from the defenders rained projectiles on their shields and the surrounding ground.

"Forward!" Sir Bodin commanded as the wedge moved as one towards the earthen defenses.

Kailee hated this part, sword in hand and no targets that she could get to. Crouched, she followed closely behind Alister as they approached the embankment, now engulfed in fire that rose high into the air and consumed everything in it's path, including the trees above them. Kailee was beginning to wonder if this was such a good idea after all as arrows blindly sped through the black smoke and one hit Alister in the side of the head, glancing off of his right ear and removing a sizeable chunk.

"Close ranks," the command rang out amidst cursing and the raging inferno around them. Shields rose and protected the heads and shoulders of the unit as they entered the dark gateway cut into the side of the hill and protected some from the blaze. Using magic, they blew the doors open and charged into the narrow entrance guarded by another, more shallow embankment protecting archers who fired into the shields of the oncoming wave of death. Kailee quickly looked upwards to find that no one manned the parapets above them which would have been smart and probably have taken out some. A long building whose side protected their right flank, the templar assaulted the archers and formed up as a wave of swordsmen attacked from the central courtyard.
Kailee followed Thurgen and Rupert as they ran to the opposite wing and charged over the embankment, hammer and axe raised for the killer blows. She charged as Thurgen carried one archer to the ground and pummeled him with a strike to the chest as Rupert fought another with a bit more skill. Battle raged as the opposing gateway opened to reveal the second unit of templar who charged into the fray. She neared the dwarven assault in time to see Thurgen caught by a shot to the head and dropped. Rupert screamed and swung his axe, nearly cutting his brother's assailant in two, then ran to his twin and dragged him over the embankment as Kailee helped get the cleric to safety.

"Sir Bodin," Rupert yelled, gaining the captain's attention. "Get over here!"

As the paladin ran to Thurgen's aid, Kailee moved around the left wing and fought her way up to the front as the wedge quickly cut it's way through the defenders, sending some into flight towards a door on the far side of the compound and into the rock face. She sprinted, overtaking them easily and passed the fleeing duo and stood in front of the door that they raced to. Stopping, they stood momentarily, weapons raised as Alister charged and Lericanin threw his hammer, catching one in the back. As he dropped, the second turned to face the large farmer and Kailee leaned forward and stabbed him. Wrenching the bastardsword back out, she straightened as Lericanin approached and picked up his hammer.

"Nice shot," Alister congratulated the larger veteran.

"Thanks. I actually didn't think that would work," he smiled, then approached the door that the gypsies had tried to get to. The trio quickly entered, shields and weapons at the ready to find a meeting room furnished with large, ornately decorated pillows around a stone hearth. Cooked meat and potatoes filled long, clay trays that they moved to and tasted.

"Any sign of Balor," Lericanin asked, glancing to Kailee.

"No one else is here but us. Maybe he escaped again," she informed as Avion entered and scanned the dining area.

"Well," Alister began. "His army is quickly shrinking." The trio ate as the other long buildings were searched and cleared. No sign of the outlaw king was found.