"And, there I was… About the bushes hunting fair game before, all the sudden…-"
The hot bonfire crackled.
"There she was. An icy wolf straight from Hel, one that'll give Fenrir himself a fright!" The nordling exclaimed.
She smiled.
"With breath as cold as the snows of the mountain, teeth as sharp as daggers, this beast took my prey." He tossed a stick into the fire, his voice dying down.
"Was that prior to your prey being shrooms?" Another soldier childishly remarked with an amused laugh from the others.
"No, you ass." He replied, defensively.
"Oh? Moon beans then?" Another asked.
"What the fuck even is that?" Yet, another knight spoke.
The other shrugged to act oblivious. The whole Battalion had set up camp. About a few bonfires were set in a patch of woods. They all surrounded them. The sun had already set after a days journey. It was no longer in the sky to produce its light. It was simply darkness in the large patch of forests the men and women have traversed through. Their chatter and banter proceeded, having large groups between the three bonfires. Meanwhile, there was one that was simply surrounded by the higher stature soldiers. The Captain, a few loyalists to her, and the Emperor's watchdog.
"Do you Valerian's believe in fate?" Wrafe of Savencrone asked, a curious tilt to his head as his yellow eyes directed to Davina.
"The look of golden crowns tend to be more believable than the sound of fate."
She answered.
They were all sitting or laying back against saddles.
"But, you clearly don't live by that mantra." He replied, more so as an observation.
"I did. Once." She shrugged.
He chuckled.
"What's got you all amused?" She asked, cocking a brow.
"So many wouldn't even dare talk to the General the way you do. In some places, that's punishable by death." Wrafe answered, crossing his arms as he wore an uneven smile.
Davina stared at him with the same look from before. A brow raised and her lips resting in a mild frown.
"Well, this isn't the great city that the Emperor hides in. Out here, we don't share your or Mor Vendrel's 'mantra' for death." She stated, rather defensively.
"Do I really appear to care for following such ways?" He asked, almost as if it was rhetorical to her opposing answer.
"Yes. Perhaps… Well, perhaps you just have someone do your dirty work for you." She forced her own smile.
He still smiled as well.
"Trust me, my dear. When the time comes that I have to defend my life…-" He looked at the fire and flames that nearly matched his eyes.
"You will know." He finally added.
Davina found that to be an odd thing to have been said. But, she supposed she must've began to irritate him with her thinking that he was weak. To be fair- He looked it.
"Ominous omens aside," Davina said.
"Are we to go to Mor Vendrel first once we retrieve the Emperor's scandalism?" She asked, changing this conversation to business.
"Indeed. Your superior simply couldn't discuss anything further with you without growing paranoid." He answered.
The Valerian was to go to the great city. Lovely. She shifted in her position, which was leaned against a log, sitting up straight with a canteen of water being handed to her.
"Thank you." She said to her follower.
He nodded.
"We will be making a stop before we get to the mountains." He decided to add.
"And, before you even think about it, it won't be to your birth home. No, Valeria is simply too conniving for us to even venture there. We'll be going to a small town- Brytwood - A worthless little place but, one nonetheless."
Curious, Davina thought. This must've implied some more secret business that Emperor Tyr Malin requested. She began to wonder if he was going to make a habit of this.
"What's in Brytwood that's so important as to hinder our journey furthermore?" She asked, before then taking a good gulp of water.
"Hmm…-" Wrafe seemed to need to think.
So far, the noble of Savencrone seemed to have been quick witted and decisive with his words very quickly.
Yet, he was unsure of what to say. Or, perhaps, how much to tell.
"I have heard a great many things about you, Davina. Your valiant efforts. Though, you don't get all the personality through simple stories." He said, looking to the side right at her.
"You show so much displeasure for the General's wishes. And, the Emperor's. In a way… I admire that you follow your oath without being a petty sycophant or mindless soldier. Honest people are rare, which is why I'll tell you this: We will be meeting a contact to sneak us to the mountains." He explained.
"Sneak? What the hell for?" She said, being dumbfounded by such an unnecessary secret.
She didn't just forget the compliments.
"Because, I have plenty of reports that Valeria is well guarding Cira Khan Mountain. As mysterious as it is, we have been trying for weeks to get into that mine and take what's owed, yet we have failed. As have anyone else… Valerian's, Bandits, Thieves, Murderous Cultists, you take your pick. All of those in one guild, Valeria's guild, they guard the mountain." He explained.
"Think, Davina. The Empire is this land's greatest threat to all. Why would its own city hoard an entire mountain, even murdering imperial soldiers, for the sake of something they themselves cannot even obtain?" He asked. She stared at him in growing curiosity. He spoke as if there was… Some strange plot of masterful deceit going about.
Cira Khan Mountain, where the abandoned mine is, such a massive amount of land was being controlled by a mere guild of a hold a ways from it. A guild was to be smarter, more discreet with its control of things. Murdering soldiers simply tossed suspicion in their direction.
"You believe there is a strong opposer to the Empire?" She concluded.
"Perhaps. Something more than what just appears to be an innocently murderous guild." He facetiously answered.
"I see… As per why we require you to get us to the mountains." Davina nodded a bit, easing her voice now that there was understanding.
"Indeed." He answered.
"Poor Emperor doesn't even see it coming though…" He sighed, leaning back against his saddle with an arm propped up against it.
He held his hands together, fingers intertwined as he looked at the crackling fire. Davina was appalled to what she just heard.
"You haven't told him?" She asked, as if he was an absolute fool.
Debatably, he seemed like it now.
"I'm his Specialist. Not his advisor." Wrafe replied, quite bluntly.
Now she understood. What kind of man he was. He wasn't here on behalf of the Emperor, nor did he live by some promise or oath to anything that his occupation required of him. He simply lived for himself. It is odd, but she wasn't too surprised. Or, judgmental. She was somewhat similar.
"You would let the Emperor fall?" She asked.
"A leader who cannot see what's right in front of him isn't one suited to be leading. But… I have bored you enough with unnecessary chatter. Shall we get some rest?" He seemed to deter the question elsewhere.
"Much needed rest." She answered.
The next day, it was early. The sun was just barely peeking over the horizon, shining over the trees with bliss to the horrible things of the world and transparency to the finer. It was there that the Battalion was moving through a long pathway. A long line of Imperials on their horse's riding their way through the forests and the world.
"Whoa!" Davina called out, holding a hand up as she pulled on the reins of her horse.
Beatrix stopped. As did everyone. Apart from Wrafe, to whom had gone right up to the Captain's side.
"There it is. Brytwood." He said.
The Battalion stopped at a point in the path where they were at the edge of a gorge. A cliff side where, in the distance far below, a small settlement was in sight.
"Your contact." Davina spoke again, taking his attention.
"He won't want to meet dozens of Imps, I'm sure?" She asked, rhetorically.
"Probably not." He answered.
"Hrokir, Djor, with me. The rest of you? Set up a camp down below by the stream." She ordered.
And, they all did so. Most of them separated from the Captain and the Nobleman while two soldiers stayed. Those four soon went down around the gorge and traversed through the woods to get down to the small town. They eventually made it to a path where the town was in view.
Davina, Wrafe, and the two soldiers had dismounted from their horse's and led them into town. Their boots all lightly thudding and crunching against the Fall leaves. While the trees were colored with reds, oranges, and yellows. The subtle chilling breeze blew a lot of the leaves away and only brought some more passing by. With that, they officially entered the town.
"You two go gather supplies." Davina ordered, gesturing them off. They did so. All while Wrafe and her had proceeded down the road while earning a few gazes. Especially such a wealthy looking individual who looked like a perfect example of why people tend to get robbed.
"Your presence will be needed." Wrafe stated, somewhat quietly.
She looked around, noticing that some of the townspeople stopped what they were doing just to glare.
"I take it they prefer the old ways instead of us?" She asked, not hesitating to glare right back at them and rest her steel and leather covered hand onto the handle of her sword strapped to her hip.
"Indeed. And, unfortunately, we are the epitome of what they hate." He answered, walking directly towards one of the bigger buildings of the sorts.
The tavern.
"Unfortunately for them, I enjoy being defined if it's out of spite." She remarked.
He merely scoffed and kept walking. The two had then entered the tavern.
It immediately went silent, with nearly all eyes on them.
Davina sighed out of disappointment. Of course there wouldn't be rest, even in a town. She couldn't imagine what poor Hrokir and Djor must be going through right now. The two simply stepped up to the bar. Wrafe so kindly put down a coin pouch, pushing it to the displeased looking bartender.
"I need to see a friend of mine. Aloysius." The man of Savencrone said.
The barkeep just looked down at the coin pouch and shook his head, picking up a cloth to clean a tankard as he had then looked at them both. The man stood a good few inches above the woman. To whom, was quite obvious with her alignment due to her armored attire. The cuirass on her chest and back, the steel shoulder guards and gauntlets on her forearms and greaves. The dark tunic underneath, the white tattered and dirtied cloak on her back with the Empire insignia , his is what brought the man's disdain.
"I doubt anyone here's a friend with a couple of Imperial dogs like you two." He answered, rudely.
Davina's emerald orbs for eyes narrowed a bit as she then leaned forward, putting her leather covered hands onto the counter.
"Official Imperial business, wise man. Care to reconsider? Lest you wish to be hanged." The Captain threatened.
Of course, this was an idle threat not meant to be seen through. However, even so, the Bartender looked down at her and simply huffed. This was as the tavern doors opened again.
"A bunch of fucking sun-bearer's entering our town. Great!" A man exclaimed.
He and a few other men came through the door, looking quite eager to make disruption and interloop the mission the two were on. Wrafe and Davina looked at each other before they had turned around to gaze upon the sight of the townspeople confronting them.
"Were you lying to me when you said you could handle yourself?" Davina asked him.
"No." Wrafe answered, glancing between the men.
"Good." She said.
They got to watch as they withdrew petty weapons. Clubs, daggers and hammers. Davina was mildly amused. She would've been more if it weren't for the inappropriate timing.
"Do you truly want this fight?" She asked them all.
The entire tavern's worth of people, aside from the women and the elder men of the place, had all stood up.
"I know I do…" The barkeepers voice hissed before Davina heard a little clink. She glanced over at Wrafe, seeing something relatively shocking.
The darkly red haired man was still facing the men who confronted them both. Yet, his arm was out as he had been holding a bottle of mead. One the barkeeper was no doubt using to hit him. The rings he wore had clearly made the sound when he caught it, yet without even looking.
"Lovely." Wrafe remarked.
He then jerked the bottle away, turning around to grab the barkeeper by the shirt and quite violently bash the bottle into his face. It made a loud crash and splatter of thick glass shattering against the man's head as he staggered over to the side. Then, it broke out.
Davina turned her attention to the approaching men. The first three, at least. She acted fast. She pulled back, thrusting her leg out to kick the table corner right into one of the men's leg to really stun him back. All whilst the other two came. She was met with the sprinting step of the one wielding the hammer with a yell. Her body moved to the side with her head whipping back as the hammer slammed into the bar counter. She quickly slapped her hand onto his wrist, brutally bashing her steel covered elbow into his face before swinging back and slapping him with the back of her fist to the point it sent the drunken fool tumbling to the side. All while she reacted to the blade coming right for her.
Wrafe immediately had his presence over, catching the thrust blade by the wrist of the man. She spun around on her heeled boots, grabbing the club up and swinging it right into his face. There was an immediate splatter of blood, the crimson liquid spewing onto the pathetic weapon and the man's face as bones got broken. He fell. A woman screamed. She dropped the club.
Wrafe flipped the dagger from the blade to where he caught it by the handle.
"Welldone." He casually complimented.
"Yet, we still have more." She said, wide eyed with adrenaline as she straightened her stance.
His bright yellow eyes glanced amongst the men, all before he had flipped the dagger right back into it's previous position in his hand, bringing his arm back before throwing the small blade.
It stopped right in the middle of the room. Everyone had suddenly stopped moving. A hand covered in leather had caught it by the blade. Clearly, it was dull. The reasonably tall man who caught it had lowered it, tossing it to hold it upright as he walked out into view plenty more. Blond hair all tied back, a bit for a beard and stache, and with hazel eyes to his fair complexion and shades of green and brown for his attire around his well built masculine appearance. A little smile on his lips as he had glanced at the Valerian and the Savencroner.
"I wouldn't mind mucking up the streets. But, my tavern?" He spoke, a deep voice with a rough stab into the table to leave the dagger there as he approached the two.
"That's a mess I'd rather not let get any messier." He said.
Seemingly calm despite the discord that ensued within his own place. Davina eased herself, releasing her grip on her sword and leaning back against the bar. It was easy to recognize what he meant with his presence and directional stare to Wrafe. To whom, never seemed to panic a bit.
"Fair enough, Aloysius." Wrafe stated, nodding his head once as he adjusted the sleeves to his tight fitting coat.
Aloysius The Bold. A man to whom was greatly known for more nefarious acts of treason against everyone.
"Come, let's have an honest drink." He said, glancing down to see the unconscious barkeeper.
"I doubt he's able to even mind a fucking shit's worth." He chuckled, going behind the counter to take a few bottles for the troubles.
The three were soon seated at a table in the back, away from the crowd that was more than happy to stay away now. Hrokir and Djor were also there, holding big cloth bags of supplies with them as they simply seated a table next to them.
"Did you find a way?" Wrafe asked, seated with his legs crossed and his fingers intertwined with hands onto his lap. Davina was more relaxed in her seat, holding a bottle of mead. She took a good swig.
"I did. Won't by any means be easy, though." Aloysius said after a quick nod.
He took a big sip of his own drink.
"Friend o' mine here's got a tunnel going. Straight under the line of those damnable guildsmen." He groaned, shaking his head in disgust as he took another drink.
"Why's it hard then?" Davina asked, earning his intimidating gaze. Not to her.
"Because, it'll cost us something fierce." Aloysius answered.
"Currency isn't an issue, my friend. Even if he doesn't accept Imperial Crowns, I have plenty of illegal coin." Wrafe reasoned.
Davina glanced at him, noting his confession to having illegal currency. He just kept growing to be more interestingly defiant. Not directly, though.
"Aye, but gold isn't what's fierce, Red." He corrected, hunching over the table.
Wrafe's head tilted a bit as he read in between the lines.
"You mean someone or thing we need to kill." Davina said, practically exactly what the Savencroner would've.
Aloysius nodded.
"Jokul-Dogs." He said.
Davina's eyes widened a bit. She made a little noise of surprise. It was truly stunning to hear. Almost disbelieved entirely.
"Your 'friend' wants us to kill those things? Shit…-" She puffed, slapping her bottle of mead down.
"Afraid so." Aloysius answered.
"Probably for the sake of the town." Wrafe spoke to the Battalion Captain.
"I never recall hearing of such a possible predicament like this." Davina muttered, hissing as she spoke and glared at Wrafe.
He merely tried to keep a straight face. Now, her men were in jeopardy. And, they had to be. On the Emperor's orders. The Savencroner had greatly failed to mention the consequences of what the price for passage into the mountains might be.
"I see…- Our business transaction has troubled your friend." Aloysius said, sounding a little mocking with it.
Her glare passed onto him. There was no debate or question, unfortunately. There was only one way this day would end. Fighting Jokul-Dogs and hopefully surviving.
"No. We'll do it."