The councilors did not call them in again over the next several days. But Lady Exentine did send them messages, usually saying that, regretfully, she would be unable to entertain them that evening. On the third day, however, she did come by to take dinner with them at the inn.

“I am, indeed, sorry we have not been able to reprise our little strategy session”, she said, appearing genuinely regretful. “It was probably the most fun I’ve had in a year. So many more conversations to have!”

The dining room at the inn was quite formal. They were always somewhat intimidated to eat there, with their tabards being the most presentable clothes they had to wear. But the food was included in their tab and was very good, and that inspired them to attend, albeit usually towards the end of the evening. Tonight, though, many eyes were turned in their direction. Not just because of their out-of-place clothes and unusual racial composition, but also because of the company they were keeping.

“It has been very interesting to hear another view of Master Athanasius’s teachings”, said Delta. “I will certainly pass it on the next time I see him.”

“May he live that long!” toasted Exentine. She waved her knife towards Gwen. “And we should definitely employ more goblins. You do not think like we do and that makes for a very challenging adversary.”

Gwen ducked her head, not entirely comfortable. The room was well lit, but it wasn’t with sunshine, which was more tolerable. But she was the target of many stares and did not like that. “I give you good fight. Anytime” she said.

“Does this mean we’re getting booted?” asked Zipper.

Lady Exentine laughed. “The royal purse can only be plundered so deep. And I can’t, in all honesty, justify your splendid lodgings merely for my personal amusement.”

“So has the King decided upon a course of action?” asked Delta.

Exentine did a quick look around, and said, “Let us just say that the King is now deciding and will probably take a few more days yet to finish deciding.” She gestured with her cup. “If you were to remain in town, and at a place I knew to contact you, then I would be sure to recommend you at the top of my list should, say, any more messages need to be delivered to those you have proven to be familiar with.”

Delta considered what might be overheard. “I think we would certainly be open to taking further contracts on behalf of the King.”

“Excellent”, said Exentine. “And if you are going to be a few days in the city with time on your hands, I have some suggestions as to places you might find interesting to visit!”

The rest of the dinner was taken up with her describing things in Germarnis that she thought would interest them. Some of them were purely aesthetic, like the harbor or the stained-glass windows in the temple of Water Bearer, but many were martial in nature. “If you take the courier job, I’m sure the recipient will have as many questions for you as we did”, she joked. “I am more than happy for the full extent of our defenses to be known.” She directed them to more notable elements of their fortifications, and gave them names to talk to, and how to invoke her name to get permission to be given a full tour where civilians were not generally allowed.

But many other recommendations were for shops and factors. Germarnis was the largest city for some distance, and there were things here that just could not be acquired elsewhere. What they did not have, they could often make. In particular, martial goods were seldom just available for purchase. But the city was large enough to have armorers and weaponsmiths who could craft whatever you had money for. And, if they did not have it and could not craft it, there was the commerce gate. There were quite a few merchants with gate privileges who specialized in getting anything from anywhere. That was quite pricy though.

As the patrons filtered out Exentine sighed deeply and bade her farewells. “If you are ever in the city again, please do drop by and see me”, she extolled them. “Even if you are at the head of an invading army, I will hold no grudges.” She laughed, embraced each one of them, and set off after having a word with the innkeeper.

The mercenaries finished up what little was left, gave a generous tip to the staff, and got the choicest bits of the uneaten scraps for Johnston. As they had been assured of the safety of the neighborhood, they set out for a night stroll to settle their food.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“Nice sort”, summarized Zipper, “for a noble. Not as clueless as most.”

“Goblin say, watch how one treats animals. That tells nature true”, said Gwen.

“A pity she isn’t in charge”, said Delta. “This is going to end up one mess.” She looked up and down as they walked the streets. “Pity. It’s a fine city.”

“You think the Imperialists will win?” Zipper asked, looking up at her. “They lost most of the scenarios we gamed out last night.”

“That’s because we acted like they were any other army.” Delta shook her head. “They aren’t like any other army. And, if you treat them like that, you will lose to them. I don’t know how. This place is impregnable. They would be fools to attack it.”

“I hope they don’t”, said Zipper. “I like it here.”

“You like because full belly”, said Gwen. “Tomorrow we find flea biting rat sack to live in. See how you like then!”

“I figured it wouldn’t last forever”, said Delta. “I made some enquiries at the inn. Tomorrow we join the local mercenary’s guild. Their dues are modest, and we’ll get free stabling for the animals and a bunk to sleep in. Seems worth it.”

“See Gwen”, said Zipper. “It’s good to have at least one strategic thinker in the group.”

They did get up early the next morning, before most of the other patrons. They retrieved their wagon and donkeys from the stables and passed on a modest gratuity to the innkeeper for the staff. He politely thanked them and wished them well. The kitchen staff, who had a much higher opinion of them, snuck out after he had gone, and gave them a bag of what they had been preparing for breakfast since they were going to miss it.

As they moved down slope to the lower city, the streets got busier. Many had been up a while here, and as they moved through the main market square the going was slow with many other carts.

The main street ran from the gate to the harbor, through the middle of the city. But the mercenary’s guild was not quite so prestigious as to have a frontage on that thoroughfare. They had to get across it, and into the side streets and lanes on the other side. Going was easer then, but they had to ask for directions once or twice to find the location.

They were received with curiosity, and their tabards raised a few eyebrows. Things had been slow since most mercenaries had headed north to where the main conflict was. Once they found out they had been part of that and had just come back with a message from the head of their army to the King, their interest grew much greater. The formality of joining the guild was done with haste, and very few questions, so they could move directly on to asking about the war situation, and what prospects there were for mercenaries.

Delta left Zipper to bend their ears on their journey, got their animals and wagon quartered, and found a safe bunk for Gwen. “You OK here?”, she asked.

Gwen patted Johnston and gave a thumbs up. “I speak better now. Anyone mess with me I can give good insult.” Delta clapped her on the back and returned to the small common room.

The people there were encouraged that things might be heating up. That would be good for business. The Imperialists might finally raise their rates. Delta poured cold water on that idea. She did point out some of the side benefits of working for them though.

Eventually as the conversation turned more reflective and speculative, Delta promised more details in the tavern they usually patronized that evening in return for their advice on arms and armor shops. It aligned well with what Lady Exentine had said so Delta was satisfied.

“First there’s something I want to check in on that I ordered before”, said Delta. Zipper didn’t mind. She was already thinking ahead to what free drinks she could garner with their stories that evening.

“I thought we were all set for tack and harness”, said Zipper, when they turned down a farrier street. Delta just grinned and went into a shop.

The keeper there greeted her with a broad smile and familiarity. “You come? Yes! It is ready.”

“Thank you. That was very fast”, said Delta. “I thought it would take longer.”

“It would have, but it was just too interesting a project”, said the man, with a twinkle in his eye. “It’s good to try something different. Let me get my grandson.” He scurried off into the back.

Zipper gave Delta a wary look. “What have you been up to?”

“I’m not going to spoil it. And you shouldn’t either, after you see it”, she said.

“See what!” pleaded Zipper. But she could hear the others approaching.

A young lad entered, followed by the beaming craftsman. The child had an odd sort of hood over his head that strongly resembled horse blinders. To the front there were rims of leather but instead of being open, as on a horse’s harness, they had a pane of colored glass over them.

“Once I had the basics down, I went back to the glazier you got the panes from and had them cut it to size and fitted into cames. It was then a simple matter to pierce the lead and stitch them to the harness.” He looked proudly upon his creation. “Never seen it done before. But not all that hard when you think about it.”

Zipper stared at the kid, who was walking around proclaiming how red everything looked. “For Gwen?” asked Zipper.

“Yes”, said Delta. “I had thought of the idea a while back, but we hadn’t been anywhere that had the fine craftsmen that this city has”, she added a bit loudly, and bowing to the farrier.

“I guess someone’s got to maintain all those stained-glass portraits of Water Bearer”, said Zipper.

“Do you think she’ll like them?” asked Delta.

“I think she’ll love them!”