He quickly got to work making a large, canvas covered cart. He wanted it covered so that the prisoners wouldn’t be left out in the sun all day in their state, and also so that a bunch of emaciated people weren’t noticed as easily. That would be a dead giveaway to anyone who was looking that they had come from a prison camp.
The cart was simple, consisting of a flat, wooden bed with slightly raised walls that sat on two axles with wooden wheels banded in steel. Three wooden arches supported the canvas that would shield the prisoners. Making it out of wood kept the mana cost low, and the material grew more quickly from Xander’s hands than steel did, cutting down on build time. By the time that the rest of the group managed to walk, or stagger in some of their cases, to the copse of trees, Xander was just finishing hitching the cart to the back of the APC. The ramp wouldn’t fully open anymore, but there was still the top hatch that could be used to enter and exit the vehicle.
There were sighs of relief from the tired former prisoners as they reached their destination. Not all of them had abilities that enhanced their endurance, and even those that did were strained. It had been a hard march for them, but with the only other prospect being that of being left behind in Thrask, they had all managed to push through and make it. They milled about tiredly as they set down their plundered supplies and talked amongst themselves.
One of the refugees, as Xander had started to think of them, peeled away from the group, tiredly making their way towards him. He looked familiar somehow, but Xander couldn’t quite place it, especially through the emaciation of his figure.
“Xander? Is that you?” Asked the man. He had a mop of disheveled black hair, with a few streaks of grey running through it.
“Ah, yes?” Xander said uncertainly, still trying to place how the man knew him.
“Ah, I thought I recognized that black armor... though the wings are certainly new. Ah,” The man said, recognizing the confusion of Xander’s slightly cocked head, “You don’t recognize me. I suppose not, considering the circumstances and my... physical state. Lord Huraven. Gavin Huraven, I suppose, feels more fitting at the moment, though. I neither feel like a lord, nor do I technically have any land holdings since the loss of Anlet to the Thraskians,” Gavin said, dejectedly.
“Oh!” Xander said, finally placing the jet-black hair and hard facial structure of the man before him. “Lord Huraven, uhhh, Gavin, how are you? It’s good to see you again!” Xander said, awkwardly unsure of what to say. Obviously, the man was not doing well, with the exception of the rescue, but he had no idea what else to say.
“Better, I would say, than yesterday, when I had no hope of escape,” Gavin replied. “You have my thanks, by the way. The prospect of any kind of rescue seemed... far away, I must admit.” He looked around, as if searching for someone else for a moment, before asking, “Where is the rest of your team? Or have you all made your separate ways?”
“Ah, well, this is a bit of special case,” Xander explained. “I got pinned by Lady Grefelt and some of the remaining Dardian nobility that’s in Sempta to help liberate the Dardian spymaster... everyone else was supposed to be secondary, but I couldn’t stand to just leave you all there. I think things were supposed to be a little stealthier than clearing out the whole base...” Xander said, rubbing the back of his helm.
“Mmm, yes I had heard that Karlon was being held here as well, though I hadn’t seen him personally. They tended to keep us as separated into small groups as possible. Still, even though we may have been a ‘secondary’ objective, you have my sincere thanks. I am glad to hear that there are still at least some remnants of Dardin in exile. I can only hope that Alesse managed to make her way to them.” He said, some relief entering his tired voice. “Now, I think I need to rest... the journey here has left me exhausted.”
Xander nodded in understanding and indicated towards the cart he’d created. “The cart has benches built into it and will keep you out of the sun. Once we get all the supplies sorted, we’ll be off. I want to get as far away from this place as I can as fast as I can.”
Xander and Rald busied themselves with loading the supplies that had been hauled from the prison camp onto the cart. With a little bit of rationing, it looked like there should be enough for them to feed everyone on the journey back without having to stop at a town. Which was good, because Xander did not want to have to stop at a town and risk word of the group spreading back to Thrask. Norin, Florin, and Varnne were busy speaking with Karlon, and Xander saw no need to interrupt their reunion. By the time they were finished loading up the cart, it was fully night. Xander had neglected to install headlights on the APC, so it was decided that they would camp here for the night and leave at first light. Xander also thought that lights moving through the wilds after a prison escape might draw attention. It was also decided that there would be no fires tonight, stealth still being of importance. Xander did create several large tarps and blankets for people to lay on and sleep under, however. It wasn’t too terribly cold, but with the state of the refugees, Xander wasn’t entirely sure that a cool breeze wouldn’t turn them hypothermic.
The team of five mercenaries took turns keeping watch through the night, anxious of discovery, but no search parties were seen or heard in the night. Perhaps the remaining guards were still regrouping in the town, or were busy first resecuring their camp. Regardless, Xander was glad – defending twenty escaped prisoners who had no weapons and were weak from starvation seemed a difficult task.
As dawn rose and enough light to begin a cold breakfast was had, everyone loaded up, the refugees filing up into the cart and taking seats on the benches Xander had made on the cart. Then, they were off. This time, Xander gave an even wider berth to towns than they had on their journey before, wanting to do his best to make sure that no one got a good look at the emaciated people in he was towing around. One of the refugees had taken up the mantle of medical care, having some experience with it, and was doing their best to nurse everyone back to health and prevent overeating, acclimating the group slowly back to having adequate amounts of food.
Now having to haul a cart of people, the trip took a little bit longer than the two and a half months it had taken to get to the prison camp. But not much longer. Varnne’s estimate was three months for the return trip at the pace they were making currently, which was about as fast as Xander felt he could go without throwing the cart around on every rut and pothole on the road. Spirits were high, however, so no one minded too terribly much.
The return trip was as uneventful as the original trip had been. The border was crossed at an empty spot, far away from any towns, and they found themselves back in Sempta. Some of the tensions that still lingered in the group relieved itself as the ever-present fear of discovery by Thraskian forces began to dissolve now that they were firmly in allied territory.
The city looked the same as it ever had as they approached Rock’s Bay. Wagons trundled down the road in both directions, and foot traffic became ever more plentiful as they came closer. Following a road that circled around the city, Xander steered them towards to palatial estate of the governor. He wondered if he’d ever actually meet the governor. He shrugged to himself. Brinn Grefelt was enough nobility to deal with, what with the air of command about her and the expectation that he fight fifty men. Maybe the fewer nobles he met, the better.
The high gates and the statues guarding them came into view around the city, signaling the end of their journey, and the contract. Xander could hear the muffled, excited chatter of the refugees from their cart as they, too, spied the gates of the estate. Xander once again pulled up to the guard shack posted befoer the gate and announced himself and his business. There was a rush to get the gates open, and someone else ran to get Lady Grefelt. Xander decided that the best place to go would be to the store rooms again, as it was the only place he knew had easy space for him to park the APC.
Once Xander parked, everyone slowly began leaving the APC and the cart, the refugees standing in an awkward gaggle, unsure of what to do. Their five rescuers stood slightly apart, waiting for someone to arrive and take the group off their hands. After ten minutes or so of quiet conversation amongst the refugees, Xander spied Lady Grefelt along with a small host of servants, likely to receive the twenty new guests. They were walking with the speed of purpose behind them, and within little time at all, they were withing hailing distance. With a wave of her hand, the servants dispersed, each one carrying with them clothes for the new arrivals. They were met with enthusiasm and thanks from the refugees, who gratefully took the clothes into their own hands.
“I see you were successful. Quite… successful.” Brinn Grefelt said to the mercenaries, eyeing the large group they’d brought.
“Ah, yes, the uh, the distraction ended up being more… effective than we anticipated,” Xander admitted, rubbing the back of his head nervously.
“I see… And were there any issues on the trip back, or were you able to go undiscovered?”
Varnne stepped into the conversation. “No discoveries, my lady. I don’t think the attack will be easy to connect directly to us or you. Xander and Rald hit them fast and hard, the guards cleared out and retreated after just a few minutes of fighting and explosions. At best they’ll have some general descriptions of two armed and armored men assaulting the base suddenly.”
Lady Grefelt nodded. “Mm. Good,” she said curtly, as if nothing less was to be expected or accepted.
At this point, the refugees were being led away from the storehouses towards the guest houses that dotted the estate. Scattered calls of thanks and gratitude were made towards the mercenaries as they passed by.
“Now, I’m sure you’re eager to receive your payment,” Lady Grefelt began, “But due to the ammount of people you’ve managed to bring back, I’ve decided it would be prudent to wait a day or two to dole it out. There are going to be any grateful family members who will wish to contribute to your rewards, and it would be easiest to give it all out at once.”
Xander and the other team members nodded in understanding.
“No complaints here about a higher payout,” Xander offered.
“I’m sure,” Lady Grefelt offered. “While Karlon was our main objective, having so many former prisoners will allow us to, perhaps, ascertain some of Thrask’s next goals. The questions the prisoners were asked will hopefully give us some guidance on what their focus may be on. For this, you have my personal thanks as well.”
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“Well, we couldn’t just leave them there.” Xander stated.
Lady Grefelt nodded. “Indeed. I was advised, actually, that one of the most likely cases of failure for the mission would be a decision to try and rescue all of the prisoners when it would not be advisable to do so... ‘tis fortunate that things played out as they did.” She cleared her throat slightly before continuing. “Now, I’m sure you’re tired from your travels and would like to retire to your own accommodations – should you wish to rest here at the estate, a room will be made available, of course. I will contact you via courier when your payment is ready. Good day, and once again, thank you.” With that, Brinn Grefelt disengaged herself from speaking distance and began making her way back to the main building of the estate.
Xander looked around at the group he’d spent the last five months with, realizing that he hadn’t really gotten to know them at all. ”So, ah, I guess that’s it, then. It was good working with you all.”
“Aye,” Rald agreed. “’Twas a good mission, and for a good cause. I would be happy to work again with any of you.”
“You two did a good job with the distraction – next time I find myself in need of something like that, you’ll be at the top of my list,” Varnne complemented.
“Mmhmm,” Norin and Florin agreed.
“I’ll see you around, I guess,” Xander said to the four.
The group began to split apart, Norin, Florin, and Varnne splitting off first, heading towards the governor’s mansion. Rald offered a final nod to Xander as he, too, made his way towards the manse. Xander looked around, thinking where to go first, and wondering where exactly he was supposed to park the APC now that the mission was over. He shrugged to himself. Might as well leave it where it was for now. He could always come get it if they asked him to move it, and there weren’t many other places he could safely park it away from prying fingers. He didn’t want to leave a vehicle full of gear and explosives out and about for the general public. He supposed he ought to come up with a locking mechanism for the drop down door and hatch. Now, where to go first? He checked his watch, confirming that it was past lunch time – the team would be dispersed, most likely. Or maybe they’d taken a contract or two in the city whilst he was away. He wouldn’t blame them for it, it’s not like he expected them to do nothing but sit around and wait on him to come back. Either way, he’d have a hard time tracking them down, he decided. Much easier to head to Valteria’s.
Deciding the eschew going back through the gate to leave, Xander lifted off with a few powerful flaps of his wings, scattering dust across the courtyard in a small area around himself. He quickly gained altitude, rising above the manicured trees of the estate, and then angled himself towards the city, flying over the decorative wall that surrounded the property.
He wondered, as he flew, if what he’d done would really have an impact on the city and the people that were passing below him. Or if the spiel about curbing Thraskian efforts had just been a hook to get him on board with the mission. He supposed it didn’t matter too much. In one instance, he’d done good for the country he was currently living and working in, and in the other, he still got to stick it to a warmongering country that had gotten him killed. Win-win. With his thoughts occupied, he almost flew by Valteria’s shop, noticing only at the last minute that he was over the correct area of the city and forcing him to spread his wings wide to bring himself to an aerial halt. He reoriented himself as he flapped in place, bobbing up and down as he hovered. Ah, there was Valteria’s. He glided down at a much slower place, looking for an optimal place to touch down. A mostly empty plaza nearby caught his eye, and he carefully alighted on the ground, careful to do his best not to mow down any passersby as he came in from the sky.
He walked the rest of the way to Vateria’s, at a casual pace, but with certain spring in his step. He was hoping that Valteria would be as excited to see her as he was to see her. It was also mixed with some anxiety, of course. They’d been a ‘thing’ for less than a month when he’d been called away to be gone for more than six. What if she had changed her mind? He shook the thoughts off. There wasn’t anything he could do about it if that was the case other than not get too beat up about what ended up just being a fling. Besides, that didn’t seem like the Valteria he’d gotten to know, albeit for a relatively brief time.
Pausing in front of her shop door, Xander raised his hand to knock, but paused as he heard muffled, but raised voices inside. He couldn’t make out what was being said, but from the tone, someone was unhappy about something. If he still had a heartbeat, this was the kind of thing that would have elevated it. Was he walking into something serious? Was it just a customer blowing the price of an item out of proportion? Honestly, he felt like he could handle a fight better at this point with all the mercenary work he’d done than he could navigate an angry customer. Still, for Valteria’s sake, he hoped it was just someone being rude. And perhaps him entering the shop would break the spell of anger, or at least lead them to feel some shame for how they were acting now that they were no longer alone. Especially since he was still in his armor – the sight of a full plate armored warrior loitering on site would probably mollify the average person.
Xander knocked on the door politely, and the raised voices quickly died down. No one came to the door however, so he decided to open it himself. Locked. Hm. That was definitely not normal at this hour. Xander did the mental equivalent of chewing on his fingernails, worrying at thoughts that rose to his mind. Was something sinister happening? Valteria has never locked the door to the shop during business hours the entire time he’d been visiting. And the raised voices suddenly hushing after he knocked seemed suspicious. His anxiety rose – not from the prospect of a fight, but from the prospect of being wrong about what was going on and being berated for kicking the door in. He didn’t want to come across as clingy or possessive, especially right as he was coming back and getting comfortable with Valteria again, but at the same time, he certainly didn’t feel like he could just walk away from whatever was happening.
Oh, what the hell, he could always explain himself that he thought she was being robbed or something and fix the door with his powers later. Surely she’d understand. He swiftly lifted his leg into the air and kicked, the door flying open with the sound of cracking wood. The scene that greeted him as he looked in from the door, was not one of an angry customer. Or if it was, it had gotten far, far out of hand.
Jarrett was backed up against one wall, his hands raised slightly in that unconscious way that someone does when someone has you backed against a wall while holding a sword – which is exactly what was happening. A short figure – a Pix, Xander realized – was keeping Jarrett from going anywhere, having him backed against the wall and pinned in by a desk and a shelf. Two more were by Valteria, though their weapons were not drawn at the moment. All heads were turned to face Xander.
“Uhhhh…” Xander said, trailing off as he took in the scene. Alarm overtook him as he took in the drawn weapon and figures cornering Valteria and Jarrett. “What the fuck is going on in here?” He asked, anger beginning to overtake alarm.
“Xander!” Valteria said, surprised. “Thank the gods you’re here!”
“This is none of your concern, peasant,” one of the Pix near Valteria snarled at him.
“Don’t you dare talk to him like that!” Valteria shouted at the one who had spoken.
Jarrett stayed silent, mollified by the sword pointed at him.
“He has no right to interfere in any of our duties!” The Pix that Valteria had shouted at retorted.
“SHUT UP! Everyone just shut up!” Xander roared, pouring mana into the runes powering his voice for increased volume. There was a stunned silence afterwards as once again, all eyes were on Xander. He looked at the three Pix that had invaded Valteria’s shop one at a time, taking them in.
They were dressed and armored finely, covered in plates of metal with sheets of chain over traditional weak points. Their weapons gleamed, well-polished. Each was equipped with a short sword – short for someone of Xander’s stature, standard sized for a Pix, he supposed – and a shield. Xander took a deep mental breath.
“Now, tell me exactly why I shouldn’t violently dismantle you three for invading my girlfriend’s shop and holding her hostage?” He said, in what he hoped came across as a menacing tone. He manifested his shield and mace into his hands as he spoke for added emphasis.
“We’re bringing her back to her family, not taking her hostage!” The second Pix near Valteria said, defensively. “She’s shirked her duties long enough, and the Lord and Lady of House Creft will tolerate her absence no longer. We were instructed to ensure that she attended her brother’s wedding.”
Valteria positively growled out, “You’ll have to knock me out and tie me in a sack to take my anywhere. I’ve already told you, I’m not going, and I have no intention of ever going back.”
The pix who’d spoken up scoffed at Valteria. “You bring shame to the family name, acting like this, and to your brother for not attending,” he said, shaking his head. “And to think, you’ve debased yourself with this… this commoner,” he continued, disbelief entering his voice.
Xander glared at the Pix. “I’d tread very carefully and choose my next words wisely, if I were you.” The sound of his grip tightening on his mace was audible to the room. “Valteria has told you in no uncertain terms that she is not interested in going with you. You have two options, currently. You can leave of your own volition right now, or you can leave in more pieces than you entered.”
The three Pix bristled and glared at Xander. He glared right back, readying himself for a fight.
The Pix that was holding the sword at Jarrett was the first to cave, lowering the short sword slightly and sagging his shoulders as he sighed. “There’s too much risk of Lady Creft being hurt in a fight here, in these tight confines,” he spoke to his compatriots.
Reluctant nods from the other two followed his statement.
“Get the hell out of my shop and never come back.” Valteria spat at them as they began to exit the shop, giving as much of a berth to Xander as they could.
Xander turned to watch them go, silently glaring as each one passed him in turn, filing out of the broken door and out of sight. He kept watching, tensely, for another moment or two after they passed out of vision. Finally, he relaxed. “Are you okay?” he asked as he turned back around.
His answer was Valteria hurtling into his arms before he even finished turning around. She must have started running as soon as the three Pix left. She clung tightly to him as he restabilized himself from the sudden impact. Xander let his mace and shield slip back into his inventory and wrapped his arms around Valteria. Her cheek was smooshed up against his plate armored chest in what looked like an uncomfortable way, but that didn’t seem to deter her.
“I thought they were going to take me away,” Valteria said quietly, and Xander could see tears in her eyes as she looked up at him, finally.
Xander squeezed her tighter. “I’m glad I got back when I did,” he said, simply.
The two shared their hug for a moment longer, before separating. Xander looked about the shop again, his eyes alighting on Jarrett, still in the same corner he had been. “Are you alright, too?” he asked.
Jarrett seemed like he’d been broken from a trance by the question, shaking himself slightly. “Ah, uh, yes, I suppose I am. I can’t say I’ve ever been held at sword point before… That was…” He shuddered.
“If you’d like, you’re free to take the next few days off, Jarrett. I know what just happened can’t have been easy on you,” Valteria said soothingly. “Frankly, I might take the time off, too. At least the rest of the day.”
“Thank you, Miss Valteria. I could, ah, use some time to regather myself, I think,” Jarrett responded. Xander could tell the man was shaken. Hopefully some time at home, a nice break, and maybe a stiff drink would fix it.
Jarrett made his way to the door, and carefully opened it. Carefully, because it appeared to be almost falling off the hinges from Xander’s kick. Then he, too, was gone, leaving Xander and Valteria alone.
“I should fix that…” Xander murmured, looking at the door. He moved to inspect it more closely, Valteria trailing behind. The latch, fortunately, was just bent, and therefore easy for him to shape back into place. It had ripped though the portion of the wooden doorframe it been slotted in when Xander kicked the door. The nails holding the hinges had pulled partially loose as well, leaving the door off kilter. With his powers, it was easy for Xander to fix the shattered wood of the doorframe and press the hinges back into position, melting them to the wood so that they would no longer need to rely on nails.
Once he was done, he turned to look at Valteria again, who stood silently nearby, and seemed unsure of what to say. “Sooo…” He said, trailing off for a second. “Lady Cleft?”