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Elsanne Eikenaar
Princess Heiress
‘Fair’ Anne Burton
Sheep, Dogs & Tyeusfort
Part III
-Drunken captain’s treasure-
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“So ‘Jade Eyes’, what did he say?” Mutiny Carter asked casually, one leg crossed afore the other, her back resting on the beam next to the staircase.
“We talked politics mostly,” Elsanne murmured playing it down as well and jumped on the counter to find her goblet. She had it hidden underneath it.
“Must’ve been heavy. Didn’t seem very happy,” Mutiny commented and reached to refill it with Burton’s wine, bought at the Cofol market. The pirate woman loved its taste.
Or the fact she could drink it for free near Elsanne.
“You have to get used to him. He’s mostly like that, but yeah I thought the same in the past.”
There’s a world salad, she thought just as Jasi returned to the tavern.
“Here I was speakin’ of virile knights ‘Rouge Lips’,” Mutiny started spotting the Eunuch approach. “And ye sail in the venue. Took the alcohol out me drink.”
Jasi paused pondering whether to reply, but then decided against it.
“They went straight for the stables,” he informed Elsanne. “With Sir Reuten.”
“Gust used to keep his distance from the Colle boys,” Elsanne mused. “This is strange considering he’s still not fond of Lord Bach.”
“I like him more and more,” Mutiny admitted with a sigh that turned into a shiver. “Shite, got all wet between them legs and all I have to work wit is you ‘Rouge Lips’.”
Jasi raised his right hand, pinky and thumb touching, three fingers kept straight.
“Ahm,” Elsanne intervened not wanting to know what the gesture meant. “Where are they going?”
“You want to follow them? What was the ‘meeting’ about?” Jasi asked.
“Politics,” Mutiny replied mimicking Jasi’s lewd gesture with her hand as if to figure it out.
“He wants to save the army. Attack Tyeusfort,” Elsanne explained. “Just as he says something wonderful… he goes right back. They are not taking me serious.”
“What would that be? That wonderful thing,” Mutiny asked. “Politically speaking.”
“Well,” Elsanne replied, Jasi intervening to salvage the conversation from derailing completely.
“If he’s looking for soldiers, then they are going to Garth’s District,” Jasi said. “If you want to get it out of his system, the best thing to do is show up and convince the mercenaries to reject their proposal.”
“Hmm,” Mutiny murmured.
“I really don’t like visiting the place,” Elsanne admitted. “How am I going to convince them?”
“Same way you can force the knights to fall in line,” Jasi replied. “Order them Princess and don’t back down.”
So Elsanne went for a ride across Eikenport with Jasi and Carter in tow. The small group starting together, but with the Princess being a better rider than both of them leaving them behind.
That and her horse being way more powerful.
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Fiend is a wonderful horse. Tall and proud, but also with sad eyes full of emotion, she thought staring at his rich mane. Tall being the crucial word here, as Elsanne wasn’t really accustomed to the fine art of jumping off a saddle, or was really ever allowed to.
She considered it, the moment dragging and soldiers gathering around her. Some coming from the gates the princess had stormed through almost getting shot at, but for a keen-eyed sergeant and from the neatly arranged wooden and stone walled barracks.
Then Sir Gust marched out of the headquarters and stood rigid a meter from her saddle, right arm extended.
Elsanne glanced at the knight’s arm and then put hers on it, afore hesitating.
“I’m heavy,” she warned, not wanting to embarrass him and Gust in his silliness stooped, grabbed her by the waist and put her down without a word.
“Ahm,” Elsanne gasped a bit shocked.
Fiend snorted on one side. Sir Gust scowling not a foot from her on the other all tensed up. The moment awkward, despite this being the second time she’d seen him in a day.
“Ah,” Elsanne sighed, trying to break the tension. “You visit the barracks frequently?”
“No,” Gust replied scrunching his jaw. “What are you doing here Princess?”
Following you.
Nay, that sounds more creepy than cute.
Why would you want to be cute with Sir Gust?
“Am I not allowed?”
“Of course,” Gust stepped back.
The years had given him more bulk and height on her.
Give him another decade and I’ll need a ladder to reach that high.
What?
“I wanted to see for myself,” she finally mumbled, trying to think of a plausible reason to be there.
Gust frowned. “You wish to use the Dogs?”
Eh, no.
Should I?
“You left abruptly,” she finally said with a sigh. “And I wanted to… ehem, some things weren’t sufficiently explained to my person. It would be gainful, if we found a way to communicate better.”
Oh my gods, she thought horrified. What the hells are you talking about girl?
Sir Gust stared at her intensely.
The stare as much exciting as horrifying.
“You’ve reconsidered then?” He rustled hopefully.
“Mm,” Elsanne hummed not wanting to take it that far. Yes, it was stunning hearing him put in words the way she’d felt about her ordeal all those years back, just before the tourney. Unexpected. As in, she didn’t really thought him capable of sensitive thoughts…
“Perhaps we can convince them. Time is of the essence,” Sir Gust continued eagerly interrupting her thinking.
“Wait,” Elsanne stopped him a bit annoyed, realizing they weren’t talking about the same thing. “I haven’t reconsidered anything Sir Gust. I told you, I shall contemplate your proposal.”
Rollon Martel had walked outside of his office to greet her in the meantime.
“Princess Elsanne,” the officer started. “It is great seeing your grace again.”
“Mister Martel,” Elsanne retorted not in the mood to talk with him and the man frowned. “Ah, I… don’t recall your rank dear Martel,” she added remembering her manners.
“Commandant. I’ve assumed the leadership of our merry company,” Martel replied readily.
Sir Gust had swallowed his tongue. Elsanne sighed and turned to the mercenary officer.
“Can we get inside? This heat is dreadful,” she griped, already sweating.
Martel pursed his mouth. “I was about to offer a tour of the new barracks your grace,” he started, blushing a bit.
Elsanne stopped him.
“Some other time. I’m really burning up here. Let us use your office,” she signed for him to lead the way and the officer grimaced afore complying.
Order them Jasi had said, the eunuch arriving with Mutiny Carter. Elsanne paused to wave at the mercenaries that had gathered to watch her and followed after the flustered officer. Sir Gust coming with them looking like she’d just killed his cat.
The analogy probably falling flat on its face since Gust didn’t really seem like a ‘cat person.’
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Martel’s office looked roughed up. Elsanne returned Sir Jan’s greeting with a guarded smile and waited for the officer to navigate the ruins of his desk. The furniture was broken up in several pieces and there was even more broken wood thrown in the fireplace. Martel made to sit on his chair, saw the Princess standing and frowned.
“I apologize for the mess your grace,” the burly officer said. “We had a bit of work done to the place. We weren’t really expecting such lofty visitors.”
Mm.
There was a disheveled young man sitting on a chair behind another table, a pained expression on his face. An older Northman checking on his ribs.
The young man beamed despite the pain he was in seeing the princess looking at him.
Elsanne pursed her lips unsure and the mercenary leader cleaned his throat awkwardly to try again. “Your being here answers one of the matters we were discussing actually,” Martel said and she turned her head to look at him, noticing Gust’s expression souring.
Wow. Can you calm down for a bit?
“What would these matters be?” Elsanne asked.
“The matter of the campaign against Tyeusfort obviously,” Martel continued.
Aha.
“I assume by your grace’s presence, you’ve changed your stance on the matter?”
“Which was…?” Elsanne trailed, Sir Jan’s face showing the signs of stress as well.
“Not fully agreeing I believe was the word,” Martel replied.
Ah.
“You assumed wrong,” Elsanne retorted and felt Gust’s eyes drilling holes at the side of her head. She glanced his way. Seriously? Why can’t you just let it go? She puffed out. “Was that the only… ehem, obstacle to your scheme?”
“I wouldn’t call it that your grace,” Martel said. “We’ve only touched on the details, but your blessing and the matter of compensation are big obstacles to consider.”
“Uhm,” Elsanne nodded, her palms sweating. That was a bit more palatable. At least they had considered her. She stared at the frowning Sir Gust, but the knight wasn’t going to speak. “What is the compensation you’re seeking commandant?”
“If I may your grace,” the older Northman tending to the injured young man intervened.
“This is Crafton,” Martel explained. “He handles the company’s finances.”
“Proceed Mister Crafton,” Elsanne urged him politely. She glanced at the two knights again standing right and left from her and both appeared to be dying inside.
“For a three month effort, if the whole unit is mobilized we’re looking at a four thousand gold Eagles per month, plus a thousand for the supplies. That would be a fifteen thousand gold sum. Of course the affair could last longer, but I’m giving your grace the minimum here.”
Martel glanced at his colleague appreciatively, as if he had just answered a question bothering him.
Elsanne had no idea if that was a big sum. Judging from the pensive looks on the knights faces it was. Well boys, it seems your plan has hit a roadblock. So I’m not to blame for this.
“You’ll get paid after the campaign is over,” Sir Gust grunted unable to keep it in.
That unwillingness to yield was actually quite endearing.
“Out of the question,” Martel deadpanned and Gust’s eyes narrowed creating wrinkles on his angular face. Elsanne knowing this could turn ugly for the officer fast, decided to intervene.
“Would you accept a partial payment? You are aware of my excellent relations with Lord Garth and the fondness with which I regard the Gallant Dogs,” she asked and Gust blinked not expecting it.
“How partial?” Martel queried.
“A month up front, the rest after the campaign is over.”
Martel smacked his lips, not as easy to turn her offer down as it had been for Sir Gust’s and glanced at Crafton for help.
“Within three months,” Crafton haggled staring at a scroll he’d grabbed from the table.
“After the campaign is over,” Elsanne repeated staring him down. “And Captain Dawson will handle the matter of your supplies, which means that extra thousand gold per month, you must deduct from the sum Mister Crafton.”
“All the supplies?” Crafton queried.
“You want everything in order to leave yes?”
“That is correct your grace,” Crafton replied with a conman’s smirk. Elsanne raised a brow, but frowned seeing the still sitting young man’s goofy grin.
“Assume the matter dealt,” she started soberly. “Now, can you deliver on your part?”
“I’ll need to have a good hard look at what we’re facing your grace,” Martel replied. “While the unit can move within days, the planning part might take some time. We are obligated to ensure the district’s safety.”
“Which is what this campaign is about,” Elsanne reminded him, then pouted. “In a sense you should have done it for free commandant.”
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
“Not seeing that sense from where I’m standing… your grace,” Martel replied with a frown.
Elsanne shot an arm out to block Gust’s advance and the knight let out a frustrated growl. Her father always said you can only push a man so far in a deal. Once that limit is reached, the partnership might turn sour even if you manage to shove the deal down his throat.
“A month?” She asked the Gallant Dogs officer to gauge how much time they had.
Martel blinked unsure. Crafton answering for him.
“A month.”
“Gentlemen,” Elsanne said to the officers and turned around, Gust staring at her confused. “I believe your meeting is adjourned dear knight,” she told him with a smile, Gust managing a half- strangled grunt.
“Hmm.”
Eh.
How about a thank you princess? You did a great job?
“Princess,” Martel asked behind her back. “Do we have your blessing?”
Elsanne sighed. “You do, commandant,” she replied and Gust’s face relaxed, Sir Jan chortling unable to contain his enthusiasm. “Walk with me,” Elsanne told them and strolled outside the Dogs bombarded headquarters. “Jasi, the knights will come with us,” she informed the sweating in the sun eunuch.
“Why, I be riding with Sir Gust,” Mutiny started saying but saw Elsanne’s frozen stare and pivoted mid-sentence with a fierce smile that reminded Elsanne of the teenager inside Martel’s office. “Sir man was my meaning,” Mutiny gushed with the nonchalant knight correcting her civilly.
“Sir Jan Reuten,” the knight from Colle said and added a tease right at the end as if to demonstrate it on Mutiny. “But yer right on both counts charming milady.”
Mutiny Carter wasn’t partial to sweet-talking, but she just gulped it all down and even purred a bit.
Arr.
Well, Elsanne thought amazed walking towards Fiend. There’s an amiable knight girl.
A waiting to help her up the saddle Gust’s scowl wiping that smirk from the princess’ face.
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“What changed your mind Princess?” Sir Gust asked on the way back, just as Elsanne had given up on his mood changing, despite all she had done back there.
You.
“I said I shall contemplate whether it was feasible, or not,” she replied going the diplomatic way.
“You must have left minutes after we did,” Gust argued sounding perturbed on top of mildly angry.
Stopping Anker’s men from killing me was your turning point. Up to then, you were pretty low in my mind.
Though strangely I sort of knew you wouldn’t let them touch me.
So that was strange as well.
“Your princess is a quick thinker Sir Gust,” Elsanne retorted with a grin, since she couldn’t say all that.
Come on. You can say nice things, she urged him. Say something nice! Her eyes ordered.
Something witty.
Like I was never in doubt dear, or I’m forever in debt and in awe of the way you handled it.
Gust frowned, their horses keeping the same slow tempo down Eikenport’s lightly busy main street that led to the docks.
“So you have the coin available?”
Uh?
“The… won’t Lord Ruud foot the bill?” a bewildered Elsanne asked just like her father would.
Gust snorted. “Only if the men are saved and he’ll look to delay it as much as possible.”
“Surely with you here, he won’t chance it!”
“The point is, we need gold soon to get the mercenaries moving,” Gust rustled.
“Uhm,” Elsanne murmured with a pout.
“Are the pirates on board with supplying Martel?” Gust asked next.
“I’ll talk to them!” she snapped.
“Eh,” Gust grunted and that pissed her off even more.
“You know, I’m taking a chance with your idea,” Elsanne told him. “What if Robert doesn’t agree with your plan?”
“He’s no fool,” Gust argued.
“Ehm,” Elsanne said thinking of the boastful teasing knight. “He is plenty foolish.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Gust growled agitating the horses.
Hmm.
Elsanne had hit a nerve there. Mutiny’s cackling from behind them snapping her out of her reverie.
“Jasi,” she asked glancing back. “Is ‘Yellow’ Dawson still in port?”
“Corsair’s Gold is,” Jasi replied readily. Corsair’s Gold being Dawson’s sloop-of-war. “He’s staying in the ‘Palace’, but since the Marquette returned yesterday, I expect the place to be packed,” the eunuch added warningly.
“The palace?” Sir Gust queried earning a ton of points in Elsanne’s eyes, with the rapidly dropping in the same list Sir Jan expounding knowingly.
“A great place,” he declared.
Mutiny slapping his arm and then yelping in pain as Sir Jan -alike Sir Gust- carried a lot of plate on him. When near a knight a girl must take care of her soft bits, or any bits.
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A fiercely smiling pirate wench tossed a mug full of beer over the counter aimed at ‘Lucky’ Trifton’s head but missed, the froth spreading mug smacking a pirate standing right behind him in the chest and splashing its contents all over his face.
“Grog be flying!” Someone shouted nigh enthused and hurled his half-empty mug back at the counter, the wench ducking under it, then standing up to laugh at the near miss but slipping in the spillage and toppling backwards feet taking the place of her wild head.
Ouch.
“HAHAHA!” A pirate roared and the band moved in to play their repetitious catchy tune even louder.
For the time of day.
PLINK
TA DUM
PLONK
TA DAM
The sole drum a new addition to their band giving it his all to keep up.
“Tyeus spear!” Gust growled slapping an approaching pirate away, the man hurled on another group staring at a harlot’s exposed tit, whilst bargaining the cost of unveiling the other. “What is this treacherous place?”
“Hey Marcie!” Mutiny hollered to be heard by the harlot. “Is Dawson moored at the back?”
“Remove the princess,” Gust ordered an amused Sir Jan and made to grab her arm, but a flushed Elsanne stopped him.
“Sir Gust,” she said as somberly as she could, given there were a lot of drunken people fighting, fucking and singing at the top of their lungs around them. “We are here to speak with Captain Dawson.”
“Princess,” Gust rustled ogling his eyes. “This is a house of ill-repute!”
“Trust me,” Elsanne replied with a grin. “I was as surprised as you to find out.”
“That wasn’t what I—”
“Why, it’ll be considered impolite matey,” a flushed pirate said approaching their group. “Hurling a man across a room without sufficient reasoning given.”
“That’s right!” another said backing him.
Gust breathed once deeply and unsheathed his sword.
PLONK went the lute dying as the place went quiet.
“Ye know,” a one-eared pirate said from his spot at the bar. “Tis a big blade dis Rev. Just sayin’, ye might consider takin’ a step back.”
“That’s enough,” Dawson’s voice barked from the back of the venue. “Move aside ye scallywags so I can solve this.”
“Hah,” Rev said with a grin. “Ye be sleeping with ‘em fishes soon,” he warned a scowling Gust, the silly man still breathing because Elsanne had stepped in front of the fuming knight.
“Shut up Rev,” Dawson hissed stepping out of the crowd. “Abrakas curse ye, that’s Anne Burton!”
“Captain Dawson,” Elsanne said. “We just want to talk.”
“Parley!” someone yelled enthusiastically.
“I take it ye prefer a more private place?” the veteran captain asked rolling his eyes.
“If it’s possible.”
“Mister Vail,” Dawson ordered scrunching his mouth. “Is the backroom available perchance?”
“Leona be using it Captain,” Byron Vail replied with a nod at Elsanne. “So it’s pretty crowded.”
“It’s been a day so she’s either unconscious by now, or dead,” Dawson decided. “Run in there and cover up the… weird stuff, pay the girls to leave,” he gave Elsanne a reassuring fatherly look and a gold-toothed smile. “It’ll be a moment lass. Sir Gust kindly sheathe that blade if ye please. The princess friends are our friends as well. Right Rev?”
“Sure ‘Yellow’ Dawson,” the pirate griped not happy, but seeing no other way around it.
“Good lad. Have a pint o’ grog on me,” Dawson said keeping that smile, though his eyes were now deathly serious.
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Elsanne glanced at a comatose Leona covered with a sheet on a large bed inside Burton’s brothel backroom and frowned. Dawson’s aged face signing with his eyes for her to sit across from him. She did, Sir Gust remaining standing rigid behind her.
“You’re familiar wit Byron Vail and ‘Lucky’ Trifton,” the pirate captain started. “And I assume you’ve run onto Leona as well.”
“I have,” Elsanne replied, pausing to phrase it in a civil manner. “It was entertaining.”
Dawson glanced at the knight behind her and nodded. “One could call it that I suppose. What does the Princess want from the brotherhood? I guess this isn’t a social visit given the venue and yer escort.”
“I want to strike at Tyeusfort, open a land route to Tirifort and Devil’s Cove,” Elsanne said without mincing her words. She respected the pirate captain. Dawson’s intervention had opened the door for her to escape and she couldn’t forget that. The princess had never felt freer than in these past months in Eikenport. “I know the pirate crews don’t like fighting deep inland on Eplas, so I’m thinking to use the Gallant Dogs for the task and save Sir Robert’s army.”
Dawson sat back on the chair and wiped his sweaty face with a hankie. The backroom was windowless and the light came from many oil-lambs on its walls that made eyes tearing up while raising the temperature a couple of degrees at least.
“There are brothers who would follow you, like Reinut’s blood-raiders. Not everyone in Eikenport and Lord’s Burrow likes sailing. I know how it sounds given our profession, but it is the truth,” Dawson finally said.
“I was thinking to supply the mercenaries for the duration and lessen the cost,” Elsanne replied. “But I also like your suggestion Captain Dawson.”
“It was Van Fleet’s idea,” the pirate replied with a shrug. “He’s quite taken wit you. Old men get foolish in their later years I reckon.”
“I see.”
“Don’t overthink it,” Dawson added. “But training a large group of men isn’t a quick matter. Am I right Sir Knight? This must have been your idea.”
“The princess can decide for herself,” Sir Gust grunted unfriendly. “But yeah, men need training afore being useful.”
“Never said they weren’t useful right away,” Dawson retorted with a smirk. “These lads know how to hold a blade and will cut a man’s throat without a second thought. I was talking about turning them into a unit.”
“How many are we talking about?” Elsanne asked to avoid a potential escalation.
“Van Fleet took the ships to Burrow to test the waters in the taverns and find recruits. It was for a different campaign in mind, what you have discussed afore, but it behooves me they be useful in this one just the same.”
“What about the supplies?” Elsanne probed.
“You give us access to the Black Market in Merchant’s Triage and the brothers will agree to help.”
“Triage?”
“The merchant’s won’t stop coming and I presumed you want control of the desert road,” Dawson replied.
“I’m not sure the realm would look at me favorably if I condone piracy in these times,” Elsanne murmured.
“These times princess,” Dawson told her. “Are shaping to be the age of piracy.”
“Hmm,” Gust grunted behind her.
“What about coin? I need gold to placate the mercenaries,” she thought out loud. “Will a month suffice for your father to help us? Two?” Elsanne asked turning her head around to look at the glowering knight.
“There’s a treasure in Cediorum,” a drunken Leona blurted out raising her head, before Gust could reply.
“What treasure ye be talking about?” Dawson queried twisting around.
“Gold, as in fuckin’ coins,” Leona had replied slurring her words. “Tons of it.”
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“She’s drunk!” Gust growled breaking the silence that had followed the now snorting Leona’s words. “Are we to attack Lesia now? We can’t be seriously contemplating such a thing!”
“No one said anything about attacking anyone,” Dawson cut him off and signed for Trifton to wake Leona up via the time-tested method of dipping her naked inside a water barrel. “We are engaged in conversation and exchanging ideas De Weer.”
“About stealing?” Gust snapped. “Princess we can find another way, lets go.”
“Gust,” Elsanne said and got up. “While Leona’s idea is distasteful, we do need the brotherhood’s help.”
“That wasn’t the plan,” Gust protested.
“There was no viable plan until I got involved,” Elsanne insisted standing her ground. “How are we to win, if they hold all the cards?”
“They are talking murder and pillage,” Gust told her gruffly.
“Your campaign ‘up the road’ isn’t?” Dawson retorted with a snort. “Let’s call it what it is.”
“Captain Dawson!” Elsanne snapped fearing the conversation would get derailed completely. “Sir Gust is right. I can’t have crimes committed under my banner.”
“How about raids?” Dawson asked hint of razz in his voice.
“Only if they can be justified,” Elsanne hissed.
“Anne, we’re pirates. You’re one of us,” Dawson told her. “If you want to lay down your plans of something new or different, you need to come to Lord’s Burrow and talk to the captains. We are not sheep, but we can listen.”
“Princess,” Sir Gust grunted. Elsanne puffed her cheeks out and nodded with her head.
“I’ll do it,” she told him. “I’ll return to Burrow, but first I want to get Robert out of this mess.”
“He can do it,” Dawson said getting up, pointing at the hale knight. “They don’t need your presence.”
“It is better you stay here princess,” Gust agreed for the first time with the pirate captain and Elsanne all but screamed in frustration.
“Stop it!” she snapped. “Both of you! I shall visit Burrow and I shall come with you Sir Gust to talk to Robert.”
“I can’t in good conscience allow you to endanger yourself,” the knight grunted. “I can’t.”
Aww...
Elsanne turned around to look into his troubled face. “Robert would want guarantees, an assurance he’ll get his lands back,” she explained. “Better to hear it from the horse’s mouth. Anyone cracks a smile at this I’ll slap him,” Elsanne added with a frown.
‘Yellow’ Dawson shrugged his shoulders, Gust just rubbed his face unhappy and Leona woke up, mess of a head bursting out of the barrel, her half-breed eyes haunted.
“Eight mustn’t know,” she gasped spitting foul water out, but no one had any idea what the pirate captain meant.
> With Prince Sahand injured and retreating to Rida -where he met his untimely demise later that year, the Khan found himself on the back foot for the first time in the war. Sir Ton Van De Aesst and Sir Thor Est Ravn seeing the prince’s massive army retreating over Teid River came out of Hellfort Pass emboldened and marched straight for Altarin.
>
> But it was a long journey, the army slow to move out of the Pass and then it got bogged down in the small rebuilt bridge over the river. The two young scions managed to get the army going in three weeks and were halfway to Altarin when the scattered but present in the nearby redwood forest prince’s cavalry burst out of the woods and caught them in the open road.
>
> It was a massacre.
>
> The crashed Issirs had to literally jump into the river and swim across to escape, Sir Thor’s quick decision to destroy the bridge saving the supply train and the injured. Having lost half the soldiers and with Sir Ton injured, Sir Thor retreated to Hellfort again to regroup. A stubborn and ambitious man, he wanted to try again and asked Lord Anker and Lord Rinus for reinforcements.
>
> Lord Rinus would launch a naval assault on Alrarinport later that summer, partially successful, but the situation would remain fluid in that part of the front until the next summer. By that time the aggrieved Khan had moved out of Rin An-Pur on his war chariot and the war had changed dramatically on Jelin with the introduction of new players in the field.
>
> Lord Anker managed to negotiate a deal with the Royal Guard and he would have taken Colle in a surprise assault with the remnants of the Second Foot but Castalor had reinforced the city and he failed, despite the royal troops withdrawing to Issir’s Eagle near the ailing Antoon. He ordered the rebuilt in part First Foot to move out of Riverdor to assist his firstborn Sir Mark, but Lord Janos of Badum had promised to help Lord Daan Hoff reclaim the marshes beyond Serene River due to the latter allowing him to wed his young daughter and petitioned the Lord of Riverdor for assistance, which blocked Lord Anker’s order. Lord Albert Van Durren who was to make the final call found himself torn as his son Sir Henk wanted to get his cousin out of Lord Van Calcar’s clutches and sided with Janos and the Lord of Tollor.
>
> With the First Foot otherwise engaged a livid Lord Anker ordered the Order of the Golden Spears to march to Issir’s Eagle and then down the coast to Colle, but halfway into their journey news reached him that Lucius’ Legions had come down from the mountains and Lesia was on war footing as well. Before the great Lord could put everything into proper context the funds he was counting on to replenish his coffers –Midlanor had shouldered much of the war cost so far- went missing.
>
> It was at this point that Lord Anker realized he was fighting multiple enemies on many fronts and perhaps a different approach was needed.
>
>
>
> Lord Sirio Veturius
>
> Circa 206 NC
>
> The Fall of Heroes
>
> Chapter XXXV
>
> (Lord Anker Est Ravn,
>
> Duke of Midlanor,
>
> Keeper of the Forests, Guardian of Nordland Pass,
>
> Uher’s First Sentinel and High Regent of the Realm.)
>
> The Bank’s Galleass Fleet
>
> Volume I
>
> -‘Mighty Saracen’ & Forty tons of gold-
>
>
>
> Circa,
>
> Late fall
>
> 191 NC – summer 192 NC