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As a dangerous Kelish mercenary, Kela doesn’t care much about linguistics or books, and instead makes it clear her interests lie in treasures galore. She grunts, ”good haul, boss.” She scratches her nose, her fury generally abated, ”his wife is still missing. I don’t like loose ends. What do we do?”
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Having gotten the ram to calm down from actively murderous, Barcos hangs back with it while the group finishes searching the compound. He sends Baron Barksley away for a moment, asking him to use his collar of disguise to make himself look like one of the great white dogs that Taldan farmers use to guard sheep before returning.
Taking a different approach, he simply sits near it at a safe distance, humming a shepherd's tune he learned as a boy while chewing on a stalk of grass. Herd animals like sheep trusted their own, and he did his best to make himself seem like one.
He says calmly to the ram while maintaining the mystic connection possible from his druidcraft, "Your master is hurt. We can help, but only if you let us. Come with her as she comes with us, and we will heal her as best we can."
With the rest of the group not there and the threatening wolf miraculously morphed into a trustworthy, dependable sheep hound, the soothing tune and Barcos's calm demeanour finally convey the right message to the stubborn ram. Reluctantly, he backs away from the commander's unconscious form, still keeping a watchful eye on the proceedings and stomping in warning if it looks like anyone might handle his master roughly.
Marius watches, uncomprehending but impressed as Barcos engages in his strange but successful diplomacy with the ram. "Nicely done, Goodman Barcos. Is it...safe to recover her?" Considering it was his blade that put the Commander down, he decides against being the one to try and moves to help gather and sort the loot.
”His wife is still missing. I don’t like loose ends. What do we do?”
"Yes, we'll want to ask him about that. There aren't nearly enough bandits here for how many of the Horse abandoned Yanmass. Some of them will likely be out there as additional pickets, but my gut tells me there are more camps hidden elsewhere."
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Jondus Staubel, the commander's brother, doesn't have much to add beyond what he has already said. If asked about his bracelet, he confesses that his wife Fathrie is out on patrol with a squad of the ex-Taldan Horse and the other desert drake. There are other patrols out there, on the lookout for both danger and opportunity, but there are no other camps as far as he is aware.
With a bit more healing, the commander herself awakens - at first panicked as she realizes her situation, then guarded.
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As Commander Jaliessa jerks awake, Marius drags a chair over and sits, looking down at her with a flat, hostile stare.
"I'm sure you have some narrative you've spun for yourself to justify your treason--spare us, we're not interested. What we are interested in," he holds up the bundle of letters Elmar had decoded. "--is this Gray Kingmaker, who seems to be quite active in undermining Yanmass. Tell us what you know about him, and I will inform the Baron that you were cooperative. We did him a good turn recently, thwarting some fiends that were tormenting the dreams of many of the city's good people, so our word on your behalf may well be enough to save you from the hangman's noose."
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The Whistling Plains are vast, so the patrols could be gone for several days at a time.
The commanders starts at the mention of the Gray Kingmaker, then examines Marius with a discerning stare. Eventually, she gives a curt nod.
"Very well. He is Earl Yander Merkondus, who arrived some weeks ago to allegedly help Yanmass with its problems. But before he arrived, he contacted me." She clears her throat, glancing to the side. "He- offered a lot of coin. A fortune, really. My task was to defect from the cavalry along with my troops, and then disguise my unit as Qadiran bandits. We were to attack caravans crossing the Whistling Plains, based on intelligence and instructions from the earl. He would often boast of his friendship with someone powerful, but he never said exactly who that was." She raises her head, looking Marius in the eye. "That is all I know and I have proof for. The rest is suspicion and speculation."
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Oh commander, regret would have served you better before you'd lost this fight.
"I see. Thank you for your candor." He stands and moves off a short distance where he can still keep an eye on the prisoners, then calls the others over for a brief conference.
"We had our suspicions, of course, but this is a breakthrough. I think we should return to Yanmass with all speed--if the Commander is willing to name Merkondus as the Gray Kingmaker directly we should get her in front of the Baron and the city council immediately. Perhaps we can post a proclamation here for the patrols; when they return they can learn their options are to surrender or be hunted as traitors. Our first priority should be locking in Yanmass's support for the Princess, and our second should be stopping Merkondus from escaping once he realizes he's lost. These remnants can be dealt with later."
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"I agree. We could lose days waiting for all remaining stragglers to show up here. And we don't have do this this ourselves, either. Just warning the Baron should be enough. Yanmass is a wealthy trade city; it will have forces able to deal with bandit deserters," Rose reasons as she looks up from the mountain of items and valuables the group had collected from the bandit stronghold.
She sighs tiredly. "Gods, there's also so many implications to this that it makes my head spin. If Merkorius is Pythareus' envoy, and he ordered all this, that would mean Pythareus is likely trying to engineer a war between Taldor and Qadira... probably hoping the general population would rally around a general rather than a progressive peace-seeker." Her face falls at the thought. "That would mean lives mean essentially nothing to Pythareus so long as he gains his power... which makes it more likely he was behind the Senate massacre too."
Rousing her remaining energy, she slowly rises and re-attaches Dignity's Barb to het backpack. "Of course, there's no direct proof of such and if confronted, Pythareus could just say Merkorius went rogue. But it the most we've found thusfar. Let's hope we can make it back before nightfall... and that the beds are soft and the baths warm. I'm pretty much exhausted after all the tracking we did."
The shadows lengthen as the sun begins to descend behind the Fog Peaks. The spoils and bodies are loaded on the heavy horses that had been hidden behind the tarp in the courtyard, all of them marked with the stamp of the Taldan Horse. The light Qadiran horses carry what's left, together with the deserters who still live and the halfling servants who will bear witness in the trial that is undoubtedly coming. Anua the ram and Grimtusk the war elephant follow close to the commander's horse, shadowing her. All in all, an impressive procession through the tall grasses of the Whistling Plains, lined by the soft golden light of late afternoon.
About an hour after departing from the caravanserai, the daylight now fading into dusk, a large flying shape is sighted to the south, approaching swiftly. Minutes later, the shape resolves into another desert drake, and beneath it a dozen or so riders whipping their mounts into a headlong gallop.
Jondus Staubel straightens in the saddle, lifting his bound hands to get Marius's attention. "I believe that is my beloved wife. She may be... distraught, and will likely attack. Please remember your promise."
Marius nods absently at Staubel, never taking his eyes off the approaching drake as he retrieves a white kerchief from inside his coat. Riding out a little distance to visually separate himself from the procession he waves the little white banner to signify his desire to parlay.
The ranger follows, guiding his horse with his knees as he raises his bound hands in an awkward wave. He whistles, a distinct sound that is likely a signal - a keening, high note followed by two short low ones.
The lead rider, a stout, powerful woman with short hair and large eyes, pulls on the reins of her horse, slowing it to a canter, then a trot. Like the soldiers who accompany her, she is dressed as a Qadiran bandit despite being ethnically Taldan. She stares intensely at Jondus, then lifts her left wrist to tug at the matching bracelet there.
"Jondus? But I felt..."
"Ah, yes, they did knock me out. But I got better! As you can see."
She frowns at his bound hands, then looks at Marius and his white kerchief. "Who are you?"
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"Lord Marius Erallan, a loyal son of Taldor tasked by Baron Kustios with dealing with the bandits plaguing Yanmass." He eyes Fathrie with a cool disdain, gauging her and her companions.
"Fathrie, was it? I'm curious--what exactly did Commander Jaliessa tell you all to convince you to turn your coats? That's the thing that's been burning me up this whole time--why? Why would you all turn traitor? Do you even know who is pulling your strings?"
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Fathrie's attention returns to Jondus, frowning as she takes in the half-healed wounds and bruises. Her gaze then travels down the long line of horses and people, assessing, calculating.
Marius can discern that Fathrie is a skilled fighter, although probably not as much as a threat as the commander. The desert drake seems to be under her command as it wheels overhead watchfully, and the dozen or so cavalry are watching tensely from a few paces back, ready to spring into action. Marius and his companions would most likely win if a fight breaks out, but it would be bloody, and many of their resources are expended.
The woman gives him a cold look in response to his questions. "I will not explain myself to you. Let my husband go, he has nothing to do with this."
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Steering her horse closer, Rose joins the conversation. "Forgive me, but you will have to give us more than that. The five of us just dismantled your entire base alongside your commander with very little effort. We could probably dispatch of you and yours just as easily. It is only courtesy towards your husband's wishes and to you as fellow countrymen that stays our hand. Which, I should add, is more courtesy than you have showed our country by your actions. You have not only betrayed the Horse, you are also enacting what appears to be a False Flag operation designed to instigate another war with Qadira. Do you *truly* feel no need to explain yourself, nor feel any shame when you look at yourself - yourselves -" She raises her volume to the knights in the background. "And see yourself dressed as Qadirans, robbing and attacking innocent people, the escalation of which would lead to untold suffering on the populace? Now, in a time where we are so divided?"
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Kela keeps her hand on her falchion, "and let us all be clear, we can talk about things but - we are not going to go back and forth on this forever. Decide soon - it does not really f+!%ing matter why you all tried to start a war," She shakes her head, "فشلت خطتك." She draws the falchion, "if the conversation is over - here's a final choice - lay down your arms and come along or, if you're lucky - we'll beat you unconscious and drag you behind our horses while Jondus watches your body hit every rock along the way." Kela seems somehow to be bulkier in the saddle, and she seems angrier.
She flicks her sword to point at Jondus' neck, "or I can just kill your husband now and we can fight it out. I do not f@*+ing care. I am tired of dealing with you a&!#&$%s." Her brow is furrowed, and she looks on the verge of losing it.
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Fathrie starts forward and Jondus freezes as Kela levels her blade at his neck.
"Stop."
"Don't hurt him. I- I'll..." Without finishing her sentence, Fathrie slowly sheathes her scimitar, then unbuckles her weapon belt and tosses it to Marius. She half-turns in the saddle to give a signal to her troop, who likewise disarm. Then she whistles, a low, ululating sound, and the drake flaps its powerful wings before coming to land a few dozen paces away, kicking up a small cloud of dust and bits of grass as it thuds to the ground.
"We will come willingly. Now leave my husband alone." She fixes Kela with a look of intense hatred. Even disarmed, she has the look of one who is ready to rip someone apart with her bare hands if any harm comes to her beloved spouse.
Kela laughs, ”you will what? Kill me? Betray more people?” She snorts, as the disarmed riders disarm. ”these are the good guys. They hired me to be a bad guy. If you push people enough, eventually they fight back. What did you think would happen?”
"Kela, that is enough." Rose insists, genuine worry over the skald's sudden agression creeping into her thoughts. "We are civilized Taldans and they are still our countrymen. Even if they have taken misssteps, as our prisoners, we will treat them with respect. Fathrie, you and your men have my word that I will speak on your behalf during the resolution with the baron, and the trial too if I can be present."
She sighs. "Now come, we need to warn the city."
Though he winces internally at the threat to execute a prisoner, Marius doesn't let it show on his face and lets the bluff--he reasonably sure it was a bluff, but you never really tell with Faenia--play out.
When Fathrie surrenders, he nods and nudges his horse forward. More coils of rope are produced and the new prisoner's hands are tied off and their stirrups removed; if any of them tried to run for it, they'd have a bad time.
That done, he turns to consider the drake circling ahead and beckons it down. "What is your name?" he asks the creature.
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The former commander, Jaliessa Staubel, kicks her horse forward to stand next to her brother. After a quick appraising glance confirms he hasn't suffered any additional injuries, she calls out to Fathrie.
"They are not lying. Their capabilities are formidable, far beyond those of hired soldiers. They could have killed all of us, but they didn't." She looks at Marius. "Fathrie is hot-tempered and her emotions run high right now, so I will answer you. It wasn't just the money. Yanmass is a backwater, a dead-end for any soldier looking to advance their career. If things worked out for our... sponsor, we were promised promotions, postings in Zimar or even Oppara. Titles, seats in the Senate, estates." She sighs heavily. "We were blinded by greed. All you said- yes, we are traitors. We betrayed the trust of the people. I will cooperate with whatever investigation or trial will be carried out, and my officers as well." She gives Fathrie a pointed look with that last part.
The drake does not respond to Marius's command, nor his inquiry. There are no drakes in the cavalry as far as he knows, so these creatures were likely recruited by the band of deserters.
"Her name is Ember," calls out Jondus. "I raised her from an egg, and her brother too." His voice turns hoarse with pain on the last bit, and he blinks away tears.
Marius twists in his saddle to give Jondus an impressed look. "That...is extraordinary," he offers, his icy attitude thawing a bit.
"I am sorry for your loss," Rose offers Jondus, a quiet tone of respect for the dead. "If I could have, I would have tried to subdue it instead. He was strong and loyal - a credit to its trainer."
Jondus nods wordlessly at the words of compassion and appreciation, his fond gaze fixed on Ember. "Are you planning to bring her to Yanmass as well? I wouldn't recommend it, she is not used being among that many people. Perhaps we can just set her free?"
With a dozen new prisoners in tow, the convoy resumes its journey towards the city. Soon enough, the sun dips behind the mountains and it gets dark, but there are enough lanterns and magical lights to allow them to continue the journey. The ex-Taldan Horse seem to be quite loyal to their commander, for even though they would have opportunity to escape in the dark, they appear to have decided to follow her even towards judgment and the inevitable punishment.
At the first likely farmhand or traveler on the road, Marius sends them on ahead with a gold crown and a horse to deliver a message to the Baron, asking him to have some guards ready to take the prisoners into custody as well as a request for an audience with the full council immediately when they all arrive.
He pulls his horse over by the rest of his companions' hashing out a plan in soft tones.
"I think speed is our ally here in more ways than one; if we take Commander Jaliessa and her testimony to the Council right away no on can credibly claim we coerced her. It also denies Merkondus time to realize he's been found out as the 'Gray Kingmaker' and either prepare counter-testimony--or worse, flee the city. I want to deliver him to the Martella."
Elmar eyes the man's wife suspiciously. Between the two she looks the more dangerous.
He raises a brow at Rose's pointed accusations, slightly stiffening in case they react violently to them.
But that is quickly overshadowed by Kela's much more direct threat.
"I see no advantage in keeping Ember, and it would be a show of good faith to set her free."
Ember follows at a distance for a while, but as they approach the city the desert drake veers off and keeps its distance, looping lazy circles until they lose sight of it.
By the time they reach Yanmass, it is late evening. There aren't many people on the road, but they do catch up with a caravan preparing to enter and one of their guards agrees to speed ahead and take the message. She returns with a group of red-uniformed Firewatch and Baron Kustios himself in a carriage.
He descends in a hurry, staring in disbelief at the scene in front of him, then frowns. "What is the meaning of this? These- these are Taldan soldiers! Why are they all bound? When the messenger mentioned prisoners, I thought she was talking about bandits!"
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Elmar's lip twitches for a moment, but he steps forward and speaks in a loud, but calm and matter-of-fact voice. "Your messenger spoke truth, and your eyes do not deceive you. They are both Taldan soldiers and bandits. Their status in the military does not preclude them from partaking in banditry, and if anything makes the crime only more heinous as they were given the trust of the public to enact a duty to protect its citizens rather than prey on them. Now that they have failed in their public duty, it has come to rest on your shoulders to ensure justice is served for the sake of the citizens whose trust has already been betrayed." He looks at the Baron expectantly, knowing the position he has just publicly thrust him in.
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A small crowd has begun to gather, watching the scene and murmuring comments. The baron stands speechless for a moment, then his eyes begin to rove over the faces of the captives. Several of them turn away in shame or embarrassment, others scowl. His gaze alights on Jaliessa Staubel with a start. "Commander...! Is this true?"
The commander clears her throat. "Your Lordship, I- I am afraid it is. I am willing to stand trial for my crimes, but let's not make such a public display now. Consider the morale of the citizens."
"Right, right, of course. Hmm." Baron Kustios signals the Firewatch, who split up in two groups - one of them begins to disperse the crowd, while the other starts to help the prisoners dismount, arranging them into a tight group to be escorted away.
Then the baron turns to Marius and his companions. "Lord Erallan, I am shocked by all this. When I received your message, I did not understand while catching a few bandits warranted a council session... I'm afraid that at this late hour it will not be possible to gather the councilors. Let's wait until the morning. And you must be tired as well- were any of you injured? Do you need the services of a cleric, or..."
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The tailor smiles. "Thank you for your concern. We are in good health at present, your Lordship. Whatever injuries We sustained, we were able to undo magically ourselves. I'm sure your clerics could be put to better use this night." Rose says as she studies the baron, pondering what to do next.
"And I well understand that the council might not be summonable at this moment. However, we have obtained critical information concerning the safety of the city as well as your own, a matter that I believe cannot wait out the night, especially since it will soon be widely known soon that the soldiers masking as brigands have been caught. The window of opportunity to catch the mastermind behind these events unaware is very narrow. Of course, I can only advise you on what to do. Perhaps, if the council cannot be summoned, it could be discussed in private with you first?"
Kela keeps her mouth shut as she watches the developments and the discussion, but she tries to get a sense whether the Baron truly is the Baron, if he’s been mind controlled, and if Firewatch really is present.
"She speaks truly, my lord Baron--this was not a spontaneous defection but an orchestrated attempt to undermine Yanmass. We have letters and testimony from Commander Jaliessa to prove it, which is why it's so vital to call an emergency session of the council. Will you allow us to present our evidence to you in private, at least?"