Finances

Income

Missions #16 & #17

£0

Spying mission on Kuthenians

9s 4d

Expenses

Wages

£2 8s 4d

Loss

£1 19s

Total

£27 17s 7p

‘You spoke to Foberoy?’ Lothar asked The Baron.

The thief had arrived in Eisenberg after completing his spying mission on the Kuthenians. He still looked a little bemused by the changes that had taken place in the meantime.

‘I did. He and the council have a full report.’

‘Care to give me the gist?’

‘Their port of Fuyang is fully operational. Kuthenian boats full of settlers and goods arrive almost daily. But since those pirates were cleared out, most neutral ships still prefer to use Avolo.

‘On the other hand, the Kuthenians have a standing army operating in Gal’azu. Its leaders are appointed and dismissed by the emperor back home, with strict orders from him. It has pushed north from the coast, founding settlements and defeating any opposition it finds. In a much shorter space of time, they are not far from reaching the same population size as the rest of Gal’azu.’

‘Sounds ominous. What are Foberoy and his friends going to do about it?’

‘They intend to promote Gal’azu with the old countries, as a place to forge a new life. Might be you get some new recruits soon.’

‘That would be good. Though I fear The Blades will catch them all.’

‘It’s that bad?’

‘It wasn’t. I’ve poached some of their mercs, and we got a good treasure trove from another barrow. But I heard The Blades weren’t too happy with me. So I ran here, only to run into a war with this orc band.’

‘And that’s where everyone is?’

‘Aye. They should return here any day. I’ll have the crew back together, and all our weapons. But we’re talking about a hundred orcs; probably another hundred goblins; and they have wargs.’

The Baron’s eyes widened. ‘I see. Maybe I should have transferred my loyalties to those Kuthenians.’

Lothar didn’t think The Baron’s arrival made any difference to Wade and Femke’s decision. They were already determined to leave. This time, he didn’t try to stop them.

Ashlyn and Mila organised a little gathering in the garden of The Pig and Iron to say farewell. Those mercs who had known them a while came to see them off.

Lothar rustled Eden’s hair. ‘I’ll miss you, boy.’ He approached his father. ‘Thanks for your service. Did you know you were the first merc I recruited? Number one on my roster.’

‘Number one, eh? I suppose that bloody Baron heads the list now.’

Lothar grinned. ‘He does, actually. Why, having second thoughts?’

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‘No way!’

‘It was worth a try.’

‘Did you know I was one bloody point off levelling up? That’s a matter of some small regret. But then I think of all the injuries, and I realise I was lucky to get this far.’

‘Lucky? That’s one way of looking at it.’

Femke joined them. ‘Look after my nephew, Lothar.’

‘I will. Look after yourselves. And thanks for your contribution, Femke. We’d be in an even worse bloody state without you.’

For a moment, she looked almost ashamed to be leaving at this juncture. But she shook that feeling off. ‘I’ll take that as a compliment.’

‘Good. I was wondering—’

‘—Oh here we go. I might have known we wouldn’t get a simple goodbye.’

‘Since I am up against it a little, I was wondering if you could return to the farm via Avolo? I have messages for a couple of individuals in the city, that’s all.’

They shared a look. ‘Very well, Lothar,’ Femke said. ‘I suppose, in a strange way, you could say we owe you that much. You know, you could walk away from this fight.’

Lothar produced his letters and handed them over. ‘Thank you. Unfortunately, I don’t think I can. But it does my heart good to see you two retiring. You deserve your happiness.’

***

Wilson watched the little human family leave. Christoph, the one they left behind, had tears in his eyes. But Ashlyn was comforting him. No one needed a gnome’s interference.

He left for the smithy’s yard. This was where the rest of The Apples spent their time. Cap’s crew, he thought of them in his head. Here they trained and socialised together.

When he arrived in the yard, he found them all handing over their pennies to Bletcher. They each had one of the wizard’s stupid little gifts held awkwardly in their hands.

‘I thought,’ Cap said from the side, nearly making the gnome jump, ‘that it would be a nice touch for the boys to show Bletcher some appreciation for his efforts.’

‘Yes. Wonderful idea,’ Wilson lied.

‘Here’s our hero,’ Cap called out, and his crew quickly dumped their tat and came over to greet Wilson. Even Fortune, who Wilson had decided was an ass, seemed pleased to see him.

‘Look, Twerk,’ Victor said with a goofy smile, holding the Spear of Riposte. ‘Cap rewarded me.’

Rewarded you, Wilson wanted to say. For doing what, exactly? Wasn’t I the one who risked my life to get into the tower?

But it made sense. Give Victor the spear, and Cap would almost certainly get Breaker from Stiff. He’d lost nothing.

‘You deserved it, Pecs,’ Cap told him. ‘Of course, you all deserved it. But stick with me boys, and there’ll be plenty more.’

Wilson visited Eisenberg’s church. Looking over his shoulder first, he pushed open the door. He found Stiff alone.

‘I find it peaceful here,’ the merc captain explained. ‘Helps me think.’

‘No doubt you’ve a lot on your mind, what with Queen Brid, and orcs and goblins, and all that.’

‘Quite.’

‘Sorry to lay one more thing on you.’

‘Oh yes?’

‘Cap.’

Stiff’s mouth twitched. ‘Go on.’

How much does he know? Wilson wondered. ‘It’s a lot of small things, really, that together make a big thing. That whole meeting with Queen Brid. I wondered afterwards, was it necessary? And he has quite a hold over the ex-Blades in your squad. They’re all very nice to me, which is suspicious in itself. They’ve just been giving money to Bletcher for his stupid fucking—’ Wilson couldn’t find a word.

‘Things.’

‘Aye. Things. And Cap has just given Pecs the Spear of Riposte. So no doubt you’ll give Cap Breaker. Which in one sense is fine. A man who can fight like that should have the best of weapons. But now, to Pecs and the others—’

‘—It feels like Cap is the one giving out the weapons,’ Stiff finished for him.

‘Yes.’

Stiff sighed and looked up at the whitewashed ceiling of the church, as if looking for answers from above. ‘When Cap came to me, I was suspicious at first. Then he warned me about the Blairs. It was all so convincing. But now I think about it, the Blairs want me dead. They also want the weapons we have won. What if they sent Cap to take The Apples from me? They get my mercs; my weapons; Eisenberg; the lot.’

‘You mean he’s still working for The Blades?’

‘I don’t know, Wilson. But wouldn’t that make more sense than Sal’s second in command ditching him for me?’

Wilson thought about it. ‘It certainly would.’

‘But I’m stuck with him now. I need him to defeat Brid. I’ve lost Wade and Femke, and gained a bunch of warriors I don’t know, and don’t trust.’ He looked at Wilson. ‘I appreciate you coming to tell me. When Cap is a better version of me, it takes some loyalty to do that.’

‘Cap is a better version than you—’

‘Thanks.’

‘—in most respects. But not all. You’ve still got a few of us who are loyal to you.’

‘I suppose so. Now what do I do with Breaker?’

‘Give it to him. Like you said, you need him. None of this matters if the Black Orcs slaughter us all. And if you withhold it, you’ll be giving him a warning. The man is ruthless. I don’t advise letting him even wonder whether you have suspicions.’