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

Quietly, he snuck around the gatehouse's rounded front, snowball in hand which he had packed tightly for the barrage. Markus knew that his archrival, Michael the eldest son of Sir Lericanin would be looking for him in turn. During their annual visits to Warwick the boys enjoyed games of skill while their parents talked of the 'old days' when they adventured around the world. As far as hunting war parties of orcs or undead, he would settle for this battle of wills.
He moved slowly around to a good spot underneath the arrowslit and waited, crouched and ready for the attack that the older boy wouldn't see coming at all. Soon, he noticed a shadow walking through the gatehouse and waited to ensure that he didn't accidentally hit Adgertesse or someone like that. The dark elven friend to Kailee had a habit of making them pay dearly for such things.

Instead of Michael, he saw Faer, the youngest son of Lady Selyria who noticed him crouched in the snow and just smirked and continued on. As the half-elven teenager continued, he glanced back in time to see the explosion of ice atop the ambusher's head. From the arrowslit, he jumped up and backed, firing his own projectile into the darkened interior and moved to his left for cover and to gain more ammunition. Laughing from his distant right made him glance to his sister Ehlana and the Averitt counterpart, Breeanna. Being older than all of them, she was nearing twenty-four years old herself and eight years his senior. He knew it would take Michael some time to escape the protection of the tower so, he fired his available snowball at them which both dodged easily. Only problem now was, he had gained two more enemies outside the walls of the castle who quickly attacked him with impunity.

He laughed as he dodged right and towards more open ground where Michael couldn't sneak up on him while fending off both girls.

From the main street that separated the livery and blacksmith shop from a residence, Anthony emerged and noticed the fight. Being Michael's youngest brother, he joined in and caught Markus in the flank who finally saw himself cornered and did what any sensible victim would do. He charged Ehlana and used her as a shield as he retreated up the hill.

"Thanks, I'll remember this," she laughed as their attackers tried in vain to miss the human shield.

"You've got a thick coat on, don't worry." As he crouched to gain more ammunition, she dodged right just in time for a dual salvo which caught him squarely in the chest as well as one from behind. He spun to see Faer had joined in as Michael charged up the hill at him also with a handful of snowballs, one of which he handed to Anthony. "Alright, alright," he yelled. "You've won."

Michael and the others approached and stared down at him, arms on hips. "Seems we've caught an assassin. What should we do with him," the tall, lean teenager asked his allies.

"He's stocky enough for a meal or two," Faer suggested.

"Eww, you're disgusting," Ehlana's lips pursed, nose upturned. "I've seen him eat, no way."

Markus stood in the center of his accusers and brushed himself off as Breeanna cleared her throat. "I say we submit him to the courts. Where's Tess?" A name that caused all to chuckle as Markus' face paled.

"That's not funny."

"But a good suggestion," Anthony agreed which prompted Markus to attempt an escape. Rushing through the gap between Ehlana and Faer, he ran for it and was quickly apprehended by the fleet footed half-elf.

"Where you going," he joked as the others caught up quickly. "She loves handing out chores."

Markus mockingly tried to struggle. "My kingdom for a horse," he yelled.

"Sad, isn't it," Ehlana piped in. "Our father owns a horse ranch and he can't find one."

"That's what happens when you forsake your family's ways for the highway," Anthony added. They hauled him up and brushed him off. "One of these days you'll learn how to ambush the correct way."

"Yeah, yeah," Markus shoved Michael's brother playfully.

* * *

Markus reminisced on the road from Carbost of those days with fondness. Now leading a small unit of men himself, they moved as quickly as they could for Purbeck as he smiled in thought. The thirty-five year old man was now a veteran of the duke's army in Carbost and had taken up his father's mantle as best he knew how. Still unmarried, the energetic son of a knight and lady of the court who had both recently passed not two months prior was now focusing on helping his best friends and their families survive the recent invasion from a massive Jann and Macau army.

After the long ride south and then east across the Dovey, he set out flanking riders to keep an eye out for the enemy. The guards at the castle on the Dovey's southern bridge mentioned seeing foreign cavalry not a few days prior and he was now hoping for an engagement. Once the first clash of steel was over, he would be able to get to planning.

The warm sun of Loran warned of a long, hot summer this year and from what he had heard about these invaders, they weren't used to the more humid air that this kingdom enjoyed. Soon, the covered road gave way to empty farms that stood eerily silent. They moved on to the walled town to soon notice the closed gates. As the unit approached, Markus, Sir Guy and Kevin, both younger trainees under the Chosen so long ago, reined in their horses.

"We come by way of Carbost to lend a hand," Sir Guy announced.

"Who be you, sir," the bold reply as they noticed an older armored man stare down at them from the gatehouse.

"Sir Guy, Knight of Carbost and servant to the Duke. I bring word to your baron of his vowed support, open the gates."

Shortly afterwards, the groan from large, iron hinges announced their acceptance and he followed the unit within the protected town. Animals clogged the side streets and the refuse of too many people became immediately apparent as they all had to guard their noses from the stench.

"Have to suggest to the baron about this," Kevin suggested. "These people will be dead of disease long before the Jann get here."

Guy nodded, "Agreed". They continued through the narrow streets where his father had begun his own journey and he wondered how the town had changed since that day, over fifty years ago. They reined left and towards the baron's keep which was a modest building that centered the town and commanded the northeastern corner of the marketplace.

"I'll see to the men's billet," Kevin volunteered as they dismounted near the main door.

"Okay. I would suggest the nearest inn, if possible. Might be a good idea to keep them all together before we spread into gaps on the wall." Guy's understanding of military organization wasn't lost on either of them as Kevin also taught at the Military College in Carbost, a school that Markus also had attended some years before.

He followed Sir Guy into the keep and heard several familiar voices within the hall upstairs as they passed the stables and climbed the rounded steps to the gathering room. Within, he recognized Sir Michael, now Duke of Zariva, his younger brother Anthony and Lucian, the eldest son of Breeanna and her husband William. Smiles erupted as the pair entered the room, then bowed to the duke.

"By the gods, Carbost has arrived," Michael greeted and approached them with his brother and nephew as their captains looked on. "About time."

Markus laughed as Guy cleared his throat. "Sir, it's good to see you well but, what brings you to Purbeck? Has Zariva fallen?"

Michael sobered quickly. "It has but, we're going to retake it soon. Have no fears." He turned towards the table topped with maps, tankards and wooden plates of half-eaten bread and cheese. "Take your rest, friends. No doubt your ride was hard."

"Just ready to get into the action," Markus stated eagerly, a comment that gained the attention of all.

Anthony placed a friendly arm around his shoulders. "Still ready for a fight. I'd say you're more like our father than yours."

Markus was taken aback by that misconception. "My father never backed from what needed to be done. He was the first to stand for the church and Carbost."

"I meant no offense," Anthony retreated. "I'm just saying that Sir Allaster was a great man who was more eager to talk things out than go to sword. At least in his later years." An apology that still wasn't sincere enough in Markus' eyes. "He was our uncle and godfather. I miss him too, Markus."

Markus nodded and continued on to the table with the others. "What's the situation?" He studied the crude map of the surrounding area as the others gathered around the table and sat down.

"Jann cavalry have made some sorties to the south and west, I think they mean to take the fort on the Dovey to cut off our support from Carbost and Thomson. I've sent out scouts to keep an eye on them and they've given me a number of about three thousand." A number that caught Markus' attention.

"And how many for us? We only could muster another fifty."

Michael's blue eyes glanced up to meet his. "Enough to do what needs to be done if we have surprise on our side. Arhus already strengthens our arms. What need we of anything else?" Michael smiled confidently. "Just like our fathers once did during their travels, aye?"

Markus grinned but, still wasn't totally convinced. Arhus never sponsored the foolhardy either. "How many?"

"Twenty-five hundred. But, I've been notified that the Order of the Golden Scepter is on their way as is the duke of Bakony. Once they arrive we'll outnumber our enemy enough to chase them from Zariva." He leaned on the table. "Have faith brother, while together there's nothing we can't accomplish. The sons of Stormfrost and Averitt have gathered for war again."