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

Already geared for combat, it was hard to watch Lericanin and Allaster lead the rest of the group to the home within Cimpeni which Allaster had discovered housed the servants of the lich pair. Knowing they were more than capable, she watched from the window upstairs as they marched through the market area and soon disappeared down a side street.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” Alandria finally broke the silence as Tess turned to gaze at the young ranger sitting on the bed. “I was worried that all of you were...,” she bowed her head.

Adgertesse neared and sat beside her best friend’s student. “I feared the same for you,” she confided as she placed an arm around the teenager’s shoulders. “Brittany and I moved quickly until reaching Davos where Bernard told us where he lived. Then we got captured by those two liches that we fought today and I was afraid that my quest to save your lives would end in that cell,” she grinned, realizing how odd fate was. “Now, I find myself fearing for Kailee when I should be happy that all of you are fine at least.”

Hazel-green eyes rose to her. “How did you ever get started in this life?”

Taken offguard by the question, Tess glanced back to the ranger. “I was born to it. My kind know nothing else but combat and survival. It’s what we live for. Fighting and playing hard is the only thing I knew until I met all of you.”

“I’ve noticed a lot of people join us, especially the five with us now,” she wiped her cheeks and straightened. Tess had totally ignored the paladin and his followers as Sir Hanlen had left her alone also. “Not all survive long unfortunately but, those that do end up being great allies later on. My father and mother hate that I’m so far from home all the time although, they traveled just as much when they were young.”

“I doubt they’ve seen half of the places you’ve seen. Matter of fact, I’d wager all the gold I have on it.”

Alandria chuckled. “True.”

Tess pulled her friend close. “We have to be strong for her. As hard as that may seem right now, you have to keep focused and be ready to do what’s necessary when the time comes. Actually, that’s good advice for both of us.”

“I never thought that was a problem for you.”

Orange eyes looked into the young face beside her. “I wanted to stay there and get her out. Even sacrifice myself to lower those wards to get her out if need be but, Brittany and the others talked me out of it.” She remembered how she found the ranger and mage. “Now, I’m glad they did.”

“Otherwise, we would’ve been in trouble,” Alandria finished. “I felt the same way you did,” she studied her hands. “I didn’t care what it took, I just wanted her back.”

“We’re going to get her back if we have to go to the gates of Nurmes to do it. I vow it.”

Alandria glanced back up at her, determination in her eyes as well, and nodded.

* * *

The following morning, the group mounted up and headed back west as Allaster had been given a letter to deliver to Father Arthur in Carbost. Errands were meant for couriers and servants, she thought as they departed the walled town but, Allaster was a good servant to the church that he believed in. She would never fault him of that.

Several days later, Tess noticed a change in the air as Sceva and Alandria stopped the group. Ahead, she noticed the tail ends of two horses which raced across the road and disappeared into the forest beyond. Hopefully no one was dumb enough to try and ambush this group but, stranger things had happened. Sir Adwen, the templar accompanying the paladin now riding with them, rode back to the central core of the group and pulled in his reins.

“Two orcs heading north,” he informed as Tess eyed the blue sky above. How odd.

“What are they doing in this area,” Allaster inquired to no one in particular. “Let’s follow them and see why they’re here.”

Nodding, the knight returned to the front which soon prompted the group to turn north and push their steeds into the forest and soon, climb the steep faces of the Black Mountains. Through thick snow and down into quiet valleys they pursued their quarry, keeping watches active as the territory now would become more dangerous. Giants, trolls, ogres, orcs and goblins lived in these mountains which was one of the reasons Duke William chose to build his second home in the range keeping any prying eyes from their castle.
After two weeks of pursuit, the group finally took a breather as Selyria’s raven kept them apprised of their enemy’s progress and found out the duo had rested on the distant mountain top, not fifteen miles from them now. Well within range of several mage abilities.

“These two are definitely on a mission,” Justyn mentioned to Kevin as they watered the horses. “Be nice once we finally catch them, gut the bastards so our horses can get a rest finally.”

“We may be doing that tonight,” Tess informed as she filled her waterskin, prompting both to turn and eye the unannounced eavesdropper. “They’re within range finally.”

“Of what? Alandria’s bow can’t reach them,” Kevin mentioned.

She smiled. “We mages have our tricks too.”

Climbing back up to their campsite, she neared as Allaster, Sceva, Selyria and the others sat around and tried to determine the next course of action.

“The raven has them in sight, they’re not going anywhere but, I’m not sure how long they’re going to stay,” Selyria informed. “They haven’t unpacked anything.”

“Alright,” Allaster nodded. “You think you could take two of us up there tonight?”

“Yes.”

“Sceva and I could go also,” Tess volunteered. “Make sure we immobilize them for interrogation which I have some experience in,” she grinned darkly.

“There’s a possibility that their orders were only spoken,” Lericanin interjected. “But, go through their gear anyway and once you’re done make sure there are no survivors. We’ll lead the group up to you after we get some rest.”

Allaster nodded. “These horses need it. They’ve been going too hard lately.”

“Alright, let’s get to it,” Sceva prompted as they gathered their things from saddles and backpacks.

Adgertesse watched as the small team assembled and soon readied for departure. She eyed the distant, snow capped ridge and concentrated, weapons in hand. Within an instant, she stood near the pair who spun, hands to weapons. Connecting with the leftmost orc, she numbed his brain and began sifting through it for clues to their mission which she found interesting. Once done, she broke contact with them and turned to the others.

“Does anyone speak orcish,” Allaster inquired.

“I do,” Tess stated. “They were headed to an army assembling to attack the Black Anvil clan and then heading to the Flemalle River valley. Once done up here, they were being asked to have the army march south to assist Salekhard which is amassing to hit Kevelaer soon.”

“You got all that from his blank stare,” Sceva asked sarcastically. “You are good.”

“Trade secrets,” she smiled as she neared the victim of her interrogation, sword in hand which she lowered across his neck. “We done here?”

“Pretty much, it would seem,” Allaster nodded as she cut the orc’s throat prompting the knight to kill his comrade. The others began sifting through saddlebags and backpacks as she turned and continued up the mountain top, trudging through the knee-high snow as her eyes glanced westward and noticed the distant peaks, one of which housed Kristal and her ladies. Hopefully they were safe without someone to watch over them during the daytime.

“I wonder where they were headed,” Allaster thought aloud as Tess turned and looked down into the next valley and noticed the multitude of campfires.

“There,” she motioned. As they walked up beside her, she couldn’t count how many the small lights signified only that there had to be thousands.

“Good thing we didn’t wait another day,” Allaster stated dryly.

“No kidding,” Sceva agreed. “Would’ve put a dampner on any retirement plans.”

“We need to warn Venaselt of this army,” Selyria stated as a cool breeze blew across them, whistling at the top of the world. “Let’s get back to the others.”