Dala  Nodded, popping a chocolate  covered  blue berry into her  mouth,

  we should, after  all..I am a princess and  should be intereted  in events of the realm.

Grabbing a chocolate himself...

"Well, let's inquire when he's had some rest. It looks like he pushed himself pretty hard to get here."

But he has a wry smile.

  Dala watched  Antok and another guard  who held a bottle of wine along with a bowl of  fruits, and  rolls to go along with the  food Antok carried... the  courier  had a  Goblet  and a handful of chocolate covered  strawberries and Blueberries.

  Let us go visit him, in an hour or so...he should be....relaxed...then.

Luthien was having a good time, all around. There's somebody running in with business...

He gets to learn a bunch of dances with the only person he really wants to dance with...

And they might do any number of things while waiting for the wedding.

"Sounds about right."

  Dala and Luthien split the  time between dancing, eating and  sitting  up near the  dais . Nelk was in conversation with   Axehandle.

The Consort was talkign to   the other DAughters, as  suitors   would glide past loking up, like serpants  waiting for a washer woman to get too close to the  river.

There's just something...relaxing...about knowing he's engaged. And something frustrating about the fact the wedding being so far away.

"You think that messenger has relaxed enough to talk to yet?"

 she looks up at the water clock, as she munches  another  covered  strawberry.He should be?  Let us  take a Look, the worst he can say is 'go away'..but, somehow i do notnthink he will say that to me!

"Well, then let's go!"

So he'll escort Dala to where the man has hopefully been restored, so they can get further information out of him.

on there walk down through the  Half, Antok's  #1 SGT  follows  them. Not because   Antok felt the need, but rules were rules.

 A guard outside the  door  saw them , he  stood to, but he didn't look like he was relaxing , too Much.

 Princess Dala?  I...I...am not  supposed to let anyone  distrub the   courier


  Dala makes a pouty frown,Are youb saying , I am distrubing?

The guards  eyes  widened N..N...No Princess..i would never..I.. well..

The SGT recued his  trooper. Let them In. you and I will be outside the  door. If they kill and eat him, we will know who it was...

  The Guard, still flustered, tapped  on the   door  with  his Pike, a  acknowldge ment  came from with in.)P..Princess Dala and ....and  Sir  Luthien  to see You...

  The trooper opened the door, allowing the two to enter.. The Sgt  just gives the trooper a wink. when the door  closed  he  reached in side his   Breash plate  and  pulled  out  a fresh peach for the  the trooper  and one for himself...The trooper loked at the SGT.

 what? all that food? I was leaving the HAll. may as well grab a treat, eh?

............

 inside the room, the   Man sat on a  stuffed chair, he looked  tired, but the plates  and  goblets  said, he was at least, sated.

  Dala  dismissed his attempt  to stand with a wave of her hand...

 You wished to see me, Princess? his eyes  shifted to Luthien

Luthien has a wry smile...

"I recall you saying something about a group...whose numbers often change, as people come and go. I don't suppose you saw any crimson arrows on that group?"

Luthien adds, "Because of it is them, they're friends of mine, and I wish to know what else you might've heard of them."

  The  fellow  motioned to  the Divan.

  Aye, there  were Arrows there. They  found some  Hargenites   at trhe various  towns. There were some...um... altercations. There were less hargenites  when they left...

 They seem intend  on going North.  The Arrows  are known for   'hunting' folks who they don't agree  with, but this  didn't seem like a hunt, it seems like they were passing through, and , merely , helped take out the trash.

  and you are certain they  where Crimson Arrows.

 Aye Princess. and they seem to be the   main unti. there were  tw0o elves, couod be kin, save for thier  eyes?  One seemed  more, at ease the   other . The  other seemed to be  the leader. He was...how can i say this...less-then-gentle, with hargenites.

"The captain has always been a fan of harsh justice. My powers sometimes see a soul who should be spared, but I never get in the way of the justice he deals out when I see a soul that's black." Those that have it coming...mercy is only for those his goddess chooses to point out.



"That'll be Ivy and Kree. I look forward to see them again." He really does miss his adventuring friends.

 The fellow  studied Luthien, he saw the pin, , there was just the  briefest of recognition.

 Your  friends   are in Yad, or , close. There is some big  porject up the   Gorge  from Tad, the  waters  still  flow, but some what slower.. The  thinking  is, the   hargenites  want to take over the Gorged,perhaps  make  the   towns   pay for  access or something.. whatever it is, it cannot be good. And  i do not think one band of ners will change much?

Dala smorted.

Luthien chuckles, "Oh, I don't know about that. You'd be amazed what a small, highly mobile elite group of warriors can do. Sure, it doesn't have the manpower of an army, but if all you need to do is cut the heads off of various snakes...that smaller unit can find enemy leaders much faster than an army, and are plenty to dispatch that leader. Armies target space to control land. Small elite units target people."

Armies are effective at what they do, but they're not generally manhunters.

Suddenly, there's a glowing in his pocket...a magical communication device he'd set up activates, and a message link to the Arrows is created.

"Dala...the Captain finally used that link I gave him. I don't know what he needs yet, but I can give him the good news now."

Speaking into the device...

"Captain? Good timing. I am pleased to announce Dala and I are engaged."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:03, Mon 30 Jan 2023.

"We are in Yad.. w have some new people, I sent some people away. There  are some people , I am not sure if they will continue with us... also...we have 6 children here, that we...um...liberated , from their late master...we need a way to get them to The Timber.

Luthien considers this. While he isn't actually in command of anything yet...

"Sure, we can have a detachment of guards bring them back to the Timber. ...But that doesn't solve your manpower problem...are you asking us to join you in Yad?"

Us? He defaults to presuming Dala will want to come...he is having this conversation in front of her, after all.

Congratulations, I assume  you picked Dala? She is the one I would pick, if  it were in that situation...We are going to do some  clean up in Yad,  Have Axe handle  send the troopers  to  take  these  kids, they can Sail up the Alt river, and m bring a  wagon or to  to yad from thur.

 If you are  not tied up with court life, It might be a good idea  to  head this  way, we have a Mage, and  a Holy woman, the rest of us  rely on blades and such...Maybe  seek out   Reedrick. I would like to clean out  as  much of Yad  as we are able before   moving to the gorge to see what problems lie there.

Luthien, smiling at Dala, who is still with him...

"Yes. My initial message must not have gotten through, I tried to announce Dala and I are engaged. But no, I don't think we're tied up now. We can probably go out on 'tour'...unless there's royal stuff I'm not aware of saying we can't."

  Dala  Moved to the Door and Called  for  Antok, the  door  guard  ran like   they were under siege.

 She  came over  to Luthien and  said,Tell him i think his  choice is a compliment.

Luthien, this is  important....go to  Reedrick. have him contact our  friends in the  dark. Have the  ship  that will bring the  children  to  the tow  ferry, sail for the Alt  river..

 as  for you and  any  who come with you, our friends in the Dark will get you here faster. There will be a price to pay, but I am most certain, I will have the coin.

Luthien grins, and says, "Dala feels complimented by you saying so. Alright, we'll meet up with Reedrick. Friends in the Dark? Got it. Anything else we need to be aware of heading in?"

Be armed, ready.  The  clean up in Yad  , should not be to to heavy of a task. It must be done. to eliminate  enemies  at our back, once we move up the mountain.

 Be careful on your journey  and  keep in mind, those who help get you here, have saved  us  more then a few times.

"Alright. We'll suit up, notify the people who need to be, and head out."

Dala was looking less than happy with all these parties, and now she gets to get out of the palace. He figures she'll be so happy to get out of here.

 There was a knock on the poor messenger's  door, Dala  called  for them to enter.

  Antok came in with the  guard that had  fetched him.This there a problem, Princess...

his hand rest on the  Hilt of hi  Drik on his  right hip. but it was an easy movement to  turn those him and  bring the sword to bear.

 Dala  pointed to   Luthien,we will be departing  the City..Sir Luthien will tell  you waht we need.

 she walked past him to go to her apartments to gather her  gear...

 Antok looked from Luthien to Dalas, to the hapless trooper, to the messenger. The Messenger  simply held his hand up and  shrugged.

 `

"Alright...there's two phases to this...the Captain has rescued 6 children in Yad. They'll need an escort back to Ironmound. The Captain recommends Axehandle send a ship up the Alt river, and then take a wagon from there to get the kids.

We're going to see Reedrick for quicker transport. Please inform His Majesty we will be departing."

He doesn't want his Majesty, or the Consort, who's been quite kind to him, to think they were running off without a word. There were a bunch of people who needed to be informed of such a departure to Yad. Dot is, cross ts, etc.

Once the procedures for departing the castle with his new fiancée were in place, he'd grab his armor...he never felt quite right without it, his gear, and his weapons.

Once he was ready, and Dala was ready...he'd again follow proper departure procedures...and head off to Reedrick.

 Antok looked  more then a little upset..I can't.....we  can't.. I mean...

 Dala  reentered the   quarters ( no knocking) she  was    slipping the straps  into the buckles of her Leather  armor. behind her  two servants, and  the much used  guard  carried  items of hers.

  Captain Antok. You are  babbling. We  will send  off now, through the  lower  back gate. We will take a boat  across  The Storm, to  the   ' walk The Plank'..where  Commander Reedrick  will take  care of  our travel needs. You will tell  Father  and  Mother that we have left..Tomorrow.


Tonight, you will tell General  Axehandle  to  get that  vessel ready to sail.. and send  at least 10 troopers to bring the  children to where  The Captain wants them delivered. That must be  done tonight..a fast ship, The do not need a frigate to  bring home  6  children, they need  speed.  shucking on her pack. she   slipped the quiver of  arrows   expertly around to   use it as a hip   quiver, the  hilt of her blade, just under the quiver, much in the manner  of  The Crimson Arrows.

 Antok looked at  Dala,But Princess, this  could cost me  , my station.

 she  gave  him a  cute little smile,You know where   'The Plank' is.  I am most certain Reedrick would sign you up. Its not like he never signed  an 'ex-Captain of the palace Guard'  before. she giggled.

  To Luthien she says,You are dawdling? we go to your  quarters to get your gear... The Captain will not save us  any Hargenites to kill. we have to earn those ourselves.

Luthien chuckled at himself...

"You're right."

With no further adieu than that, he went back to his quarters to armor up, get his weapons, shield, sword, axe, gauntlet, and other gear. He liked being shiny, it's true.

Telling her you're right already...this happened to his father a lot too. ...apparently marriage is proceeding as planned.

From there...

"Alright, let's get down to the Plank..."

...And it's time to go. She's not wrong about Kree not saving them anyone to kill.

when they were ready,  the pair left along with Antok. He wanted to make sure she got to  The Plank alright, but  somewhere in there, he was using  this  to put off  telling the Emperor. Antok did  send a   guard, to  tell Axhandle  about the  need of a small fast ship to  retrieve the kids.

 Luth>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> walk the Plank