[center]__________Vespar__________[/center]
[center]Genshal, Raven, Nyirr and Rali[/center]

Sir Elric mulled over Nyirr's thoughts for a moment in silence, rocking back in his wooden seat as he rubbed his chin in thought, "You're right, Theron isn't in a position to refuse. An evacuation may buy us enough time to properly fortify the city." Sir Elric then turned to the mage and asked ," You're lucky to have this man as a mentor, I hope you're learning from the experience."

"I am, I've learned he can't cook," Nitia jested and Sir Elric laughed. Nyirr, on a more serious note inquired how far Nitia was prepared to push herself when the battle may come to which she replied ," As far as I can."

It was then did Sir Doyle enter the room, his face flustered with concern. He glanced over at Nitia and Nyirr and a bewildered expression crossed his face, "Nyirr of the tower?"

"Nyirr of the tower," Sir Elric affirmed with a light laugh. He turned to Nyirr and commented, "I expect you're going to get that a lot."

Sir Doyle made an uneasy smile and a small bow to Nyirr before turning to Sir Elric with dire eyes, "We have a serious issue at hand."

"And what would that be, friend?" 

Sir Doyle exhaled and turned to look at the door behind him, motioning for Genshal and Raven to enter. Genshal entered first and promptly explained Lord Theron had diverted the majority of his army to deal with the Valeans to the north, and then after a few ill chosen words was thereafter excluded from the conversation. Raven then chimed in with her discovery of the Valean fleet, showing the commanders the cipher she had discovered. Following the light of this recent news, there was brief moment of silence between the party before more talks went underway.

Finally Sir Elric stated, "A Valean fleet sailing on Vespar would not only have to sail around the Gorgon peninsula but through the central channel. By itself the channel is nearly impossible to navigate, but with hostile armies on either shore I can't see any fleet managing this feat," he finished looking to Nyirr with his brow furrowed, shaking his head in disbelief.

"It's possible," Sir Doyle began ," That Lord Theron discovered this and deployed his forces to capture Vespar first. He could have attacked us earlier in the year but he chose now to act, I think because this was a new discovery to him as well. The Valeans countered by mobilizing an army to march on his domain, forcing him to double back. Leaving a small enough detachment to corner us in would fit with both the mercenaries statements and Raven's findings."

"You haven't been wrong yet," Sir Elric murmured in agreement as he looked to the spy. He then stood and wandered to a nearby window which overlooked the docks and the ocean. A storm was approaching, earlier it had been but a glimpse over the ocean but now it covered the horizon and lumbered forward menacingly, the very fient sounds of thunder echoed through the air. He loosed a heavy sigh and turned to the others ,"Begin the evacuation of the city. Prepare the ships in dock to set sail immediately, we may still have time." 

Sir Elric looked at Doyle, Nyirr and Nitia respectively, "Follow the coast to the House of the Fallen God, you know the island?" Sir Erlic inquired looking to Doyle, who shook his head in affirmation. "Good. The civilians will be evacuated immediately."

"We don't have enough ships for everyone, even if we pack them to the rim we can't fit everyone," Sir Doyle reminded Elric.
"Anyone not on the ships will stay behind with me."

"Are you mad?"

"Not at all," Sir Elric responded with a weak grin, "Lord Theron has no calvalry, remember? We have horses when they don't."

"Pack horses! Not fit to lay your life on!"

"But faster than men on foot. We may be able to escape into the forest if we leave before Theron surrounds the city."

"Then you'll be cut off from your army with enemy forces in every direction, reconsider!"

Sir Elric looked at Nyirr a final time, "This may be fate. If in two weeks time if I do not rejoin you on the island, you'll take the mantle of the republic, and Doyle is here to witness you being pledged my successor," Sir Elric gave a soft laugh, "News that Nyirr of the Tower is leading the faction will do more good for the cause then an old, disgruntled knight leading the cause. If I don't see you again, congratulations, you're a Bannerlord." 

Nitia turned to Nyirr who was seated at her side and raised her eyebrows in quiet shock

Then Sir Elric's attention shifted to Raven, he gave her a small reassuring nod , "I trust you."

Either Sir Elric's army would narrowly escape the jaws of death, or he would needlessly abandon the city to his enemies without a fight. Losing Vespar would cost their foothold in Valaria and reestablishing themselves would be nigh impossible, but if Raven's report was true then there was nothing more which could be done. Then, another guest entered the room, a woman.

[center]__________Somewhere in the Valean Countryside__________[/center]
[center]Kotori, Alaric and Tegan[/center]

Thanks to Kotori's direction the team was able to maneuver around the Order's search party. Alaric's water constructs were fast in their search, with physical barriers doing little to slow them down. They seeped through every crack and crevice and swept from house to house. The grasshopper jumped unto the ledge of a window and pushed its head under the glass, liquefying itself to slide under only to reform on the the inside of the home. The creature searched room to room but found nothing of note, the occupants of the home were gathered by the front window, whispering to one another as they glanced out. One of them turned to look at the floor boards for a moment before redirecting his attention back outside. The grasshopper then promptly allowed itself to seep between the floor boards of the home and found itself in a narrow space under the flooring. Dark and damp the feint sound of breathing could be heard for nestled in the corner, covered in dirt and crying with fear was a little girl. Quickly the grasshopper lifted itself out of the hiding hole and darted back to its master, prepared to lead him to the young girl. 

The search party of the Order was drawing near the home, now only a few houses down. They were slow in their search, deliberate and leaving nothing unturned, but they would be upon the girl soon. It was possible for the group to sneak in and grab the girl if they approached the home from the back, but with the ever larger growing number of people wandering to watch the search it was doubtful they would be able to leave with the girl unseen. Once they had the girl they would have to be quick in their escape, for surely the Order would see and pursue. Nine against three, on horseback and escorting a child it would be a task to truly test their steel, the Order after all were men trained and experienced specifically in fighting Mages and their Guardians. 

[center]__________Somewhere in the Gorgon Swamplands___________[/center]
[center]Lucien and Itzli[/center]

"Lucien Blackwater!" Lorian, the Hunstman, announced at the sight of his target, "You've been a hard catch, but now I have you. Make it easy for us both Lucien, and surrender," Lorain said with a wide smile as he opened his arms in a beckoning motion. "Despite being a rebel leader, we're prepared to offer you a swift beheading."
The Huntsman removed his black leather gloves and tied them off to his belt, the fire started within the camp was spreading now from tent to tent, and as fighting encircled the two, the ranger and the huntsman, soldiers from both sides did not dare interfere with the quarrel between these two men. Lorian unsheathed his blade, a curved short sword with a dark leather handle. He then began sidestepping to circle Lucien, the embers from the burning tents fell like snow around them and smoke trapped by the dense foliage of the swamp was beginning to cloud the area. 

The Huntsman was no trifling foe. Rested and well Lucien stood on even ground with the man, but Lorian was a veteran hunter, having tracked and fought a number of men in single combat he was no matter to take lightly. He swirled his blade about in his right hand in a graceful arc as he slowly approached the ranger, he spoke as he came forward , "You'll be my fourth Blackwater since the war. The other three were... disappointing. What a fuss everyone makes over a simple name. Blackwater. The sooner your kind is a thing of the past the easier my job will be. I must say, the Gorgon's said you could vanish into the swamp, but you so haphazardly left me a trail to follow I question their competence now."

Lucien's forces were holding their own well enough for having been ambushed, but they were dying quickly and would not be able to hold their ground for much longer. If Lucien chose to engage the Hunstman, he had a chance of killing the man, as dismal as it may be, but if the fight took too long his own forces would be defeated and he would find himself surrounded. Lucien could entertain the fight, but if he was unable to defeat the Huntsman quickly he may have to withdraw and collect his forces. 

[center]_________Somewhere in the Valarian Wilderness__________[/center]
[center]Edessa and Emil[/center]

In the glimpse of a moment Edessa caught the site of a man unlike the petty thieves besieging them. Dressed in intricate leather armor and with a fine steel blade at his side he watched the fight from atop his black mare, peering at her as if the fog was no obstacle. When he realized she had seen him, he silently retreated into the fog, vanishing. The fog around the convoy lessened, it was possible Edessa had been right, this fog was no natural fog for as the man retreated this interruption to his concentration caused the fog to visibly alter. He keen perception allowed her to hear the feint sounds of a horse galloping away, the man, whoever he was, was retreating and the fog was quickly dissipating with his retreat. He had not counted on the ranger being among them, and he had not gauged her abilities to navigate past his spell. 
"It's been a while since i've seen a mage," Gaarth remarked idly to his companion as they waited for the thieves to act. 

When the thieves saw the fog begin to lift, and with those that saw the man retreat, they too began to flee. A few were still assaulting the caravan, and those who had encircled the trio of Emil, Edessa and Gaarth did not budge, for they were poised to strike. First came the lunge of a spear, quickly deflected by Gaarth's sword, with a mighty strike Gaarth backhanded the assailant with his gauntlet with a loud crack, knocking a few of the cut throat's teeth from his mouth. The others attacked simultaneously, they were slow and inexperienced however, allowing Emil and Edessa to dodge their attacks with relative ease, but they were numerous. An arrow fired from one in the rear caught Edessa in the shoulder, but shattered as it struck Emil's protective ward, leaving the woman unscathed. Emil himself narrowly dodged a swing at his head, but was caught in the shin by another spear. The blade only skimmed his armor, leaving a scratch, but the wielder reared back and prepared for another lunge.