The streets of Nyhem were bustling with life; night had fallen and the roads were packed with people who had decided to finish their hard days work by getting drunk at the nearest tavern. Alenius pushed her way through the drunken crowd as she made her way to the tavern that Claus had been staying in. As Alenius made her way into the tavern she knew immediately that finding Claus would be problematic, the tavern was completely filled with people, almost half of which were steel fist mercenaries. Trying to find Claus in here would be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. As she forced her way towards the bar she called out to the bartender.
"Barkeep" She shouted, her many years as a general had trained her voice to be heard even over the most deafening noise. The bartender turned to face her. He was red in the face and the crowded pub was clearly keeping him busy. Still he knew better than to ignore a Cawanor solider. Soldiers of Cawanor always demanded respect, and those who didn't show it tended to regret it.

"Yes. What do you want"? He exclaimed

"I'm looking for a man called Claus Rotstein" She shouted "Do you know where he is"?

"He should be here milady..." The barman yelled in response, he paused while he looked over the patrons in his establishment.
"Can't see 'im now milady, used to sit o'er there tho'" He pointed with a nod. Alenius was about to go check when two readily 'refreshed' steel fist men blocked her path.

"What have we got here, nice girl with nice gear!" One of the two said, the other was chuckling and Alenius noticed another one trying to encircle her.
The 'gear' they were referring to probably not focused on her actual equipment. A whistle from the one who had encircled her with a snide comment of her bosom confirmed their plans.
Alenius just shook her head and was about to act when a sharp penetrating voice was heard from one of the stalls.

"Morgan, is that how we treat a lady?" Claus was seen with his feet on top of a table along with several of his men, one was knocked out from the evenings activities.
The three who had hindered Alenius suddenly froze and the one who had spoken made a full 180 and sprang into attention.
"Sir!... i dunno sir, we just wanted... to ask her to have some fun later...." Alenius could now see Claus sitting with a cup and a piece of bread and shaking his head.

"I'd suggest you wait with that for later." He glanced on each of the men whom in turn fled into the crowd.
"As for you miss, have a seat." He pointed at the opposite side of his stall with his bread, made a flick of the head to his men who dragged away the slumbering one. The stall was quickly emptied, but Alenius saw that one of Claus's closest stood put next to Claus with his arms crossed.
Claus smiled to Alenius and motioned with the bread again.
"Got some Orog wine." His smile was closing on the realm of disturbing.

Alenius shook her head at Claus's offer of wine, she found his smile somewhat unsettling. Though it was good that he had stepped in when he did, another second and she may have punched Morgan's teeth out. "Not while I still have work to do I'm afraid" She said. She decided to remain standing, on any normal occasion she would of considered sitting down next to Claus, and may of even taken him up on his offer to drink with him. However she could not delay, she was under orders from Patrick De Reimer to bring Claus back to him as soon as possible, and Patrick was a man who did not like being kept waiting. "I have been sent to bring you back to the keep as soon as possible. Patrick De Reimer wishes to speak to you"

"My dear, this is the second time you have been tasked to take me to the keep. And last time wasn't really an event i'd like to recall." Claus stated bluntly.
"Let's do it like this. I'd claim you owe me one since last time." Claus was looking very untrustworthy just there, but he kept on.

"You sit down, and have a nice... small... cup of wine, we chat for a couple of minutes and then i join you for a walk to the keep. No need to hurry, unless you brought that 'lovely' guard that helped me get to the keep last time." He took his feet down from the table, took a cup standing beside him and poured a small serving of wine in it and then offered it to Alenius. With one of his trademark smirks on his lips.

"I think the keep and mr De-Reimer will still be there even after a small chat and some wine? Hm?" Claus even uses the puppy eye technique, truly a sly negotiator.

Alenius gave Claus a look of disgust. She would rather return to Patrick empty handed then give in to Claus's request. She was a proud woman and would not accept his proposal...at least not in front of everyone, and certainly not while he was drunk.
"I owe you nothing sir, and I assure you that Patrick De Reimer does not appreciate being kept waiting" She snapped. Claus sighed in disappointment as he gulped down the wine from both cups.

"Too bad" He said begrudgingly. As he stood up he signaled to two of his most trusted men so as to escort him to the keep. He then followed Alenius out of the tavern and into the busy streets of Nyhem.


______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Patrick had not left the The Council Chambers since his discussion with his siblings. Even now he gazed over the maps and scrolls that sprawled across the table. Half the candles had already burnt out and the room had become dark in their absence. A knock on the door broke Patrick's focus as he slowly looked up towards the door.
"Who is it" Patrick demanded
"Duncan's bodyguard Alenius" replied the voice from outside "I have brought the mercenary captain you have requested"
"Very well then, send him in" barked Patrick. It was time to find out what type of man this Claus was.

Claus was shown into the rather nice council chambers, his two men stayed outside, inside he saw a man he did not recognize.
He then just remembered that it was not Duncan De Reimer who had sent for him, but a Patrick. This man was probably Patrick De Reimer.

For a few seconds Claus stood and watched the man in the seat. A rather grim man it seemed, looking even more so since most of the candles had burnt out and left the stern faced man covered mostly in darkness behind the table covered in maps and scrolls.
Claus didn't really know what to do, normally if one invited someone one usually welcomes the guest and introduces oneself, but not this man.

He had sat down in a bit more relaxed position, and Claus figured the man was testing him.
So Claus decided to sit down leaning back heavily on the chair and clasped his hands over his heart.

"Usually it's common courtesy to introduce oneself when you have guests. But perhaps that is not custom in Cawanor. Or perhaps the maps have insulted you in some way and now you are in a terrible mood. Should I leave? Or have someone defeat the maps in chivalric combat to restore your honor?" Claus ended this sentence in one of his trademark smirks. His teeth gleaming slightly in the dim candlelight.

Like most mercenary captains he was as sharp with his tongue as he was with his sword. Patrick did not change his expression and seemingly ignored Claus's comment
"So you are the leader of the steel fist company, do have a drink" Patrick said bluntly and he gestured towards a jug of wine on the table "I have been told that you have been looking for a new employer. I have called you hear to 'persuade' you to fight on the side of the Imperial Concord. I can guarantee I will make it worth your while. Tell me what do your normal employers pay you for your services"?

Claus helped himself to the jug of whine, sniffed the content and poured some for himself in a nearby cup.
"The imperial concord, now that's a fancy title." Claus took a sip of the wine. Then he kept on.
"It is true that i will be needing a new employer rather soon, the Steel fist doesn't pay its salaries from nothing, even if we aren't exactly short on funds it is prudent to always be in some sort of employment." He took another sip, swirled the wine in the cup and let the taste properly fill his mouth.
"This wine isn't too bad, not as good as Orog wine, but not bad." Claus lost his train of thought slightly, but made a quicker than usual recovery.
"Thing is, the times are rather... let's say interesting, and thus i can't just jump on just about any job opportunity. After all, i wouldn't want to be on the losing side in a war, even if that probably isn't the case with working for the concord." Claus looked into his cup which he rotated to swirl the wine inside, he looked troubled.

"Usual pay for the fist is normally 50 gold per month of service. The reason for the higher fee being our excellent quality of course. But i'd say that the times call for a bit more. Perhaps thirty percent more?" Claus raised his eyebrows at the last statement, making a pouting face while watching Patrick. Shifting his legs to put them crossed on the table in his usual laid back pose.

"I see" said Patrick "You need to make sure that the benefits of joining up with the Imperial Concord outweighs the negatives of potentially ending up on the losing side. I cannot blame you it is a logical view to have" Patrick paused and gave Claus a hard stare "So I will remove the doubt for you. Not only will I pay thirty percent more, I will pay double your normal rate. As you know house De Reimer is the richest kingdom in Formaroth, so whatever the enemy may offer you I will always be able to beat it. Not only can I offer you gold, but I can offer you something far more valuable: I can offer you a legacy. House Tunaia is stuck between both the 'Manshrew Alliance' and 'The Soldiers Entente', unfortunately for them they do not have much in the way of competent military leaders. That is where you come in, I have been learning much about you, your military prowess is something to behold. I will give you a additional force of 7500 mercenaries to reinforce Telmarion. With that you will lead the forces of Tuania against our enemies and create a legacy for both you and your mercenary company.

Claus emptied his cup with a pair of gulps followed by a heavy almost growling exhale and then poured another one at these news.
"Now we're talking business." Claus was grinning now but trying to contain it, although without any luck.

"With rewards like those it's hard to think anyone else can come close. And lord Rotstein does have a clang to it that i like." Claus swirled his wine and made a dreamy look towards the distance before returning to the conversation.

"If you can keep that offer going you will have the finest army at your disposal and a battlefield commander like few others. So i say you are a hard bargain sir, or should i say your highness?" Claus humoured, then he extended his hand for Patrick.

As Patrick took his hand Claus continued to speak
"But do not be mistaken, remember the Tulza's." Claus said, at first it sounded like a warning, but the look he made afterwards was of a genuine concern. Not a threat. Patrick tightened his grip .
"And I will ask you sir to remember what happens to those who betray the De Reimer family, don't let this army I'm giving you go to your head, they are loyal to nothing but coin, coin that I am giving them, if you decide to go turncoat then you will find that you have very few allies to back you up" Patrick said firmly. "But lets not dwell on that thought, I look forward to what our new alliance can bring us" with that said Patrick went back to studying the maps that lay before him.
"If there isn't anything else, I need to get back to my work"

"We are mercenaries, as long you have the coin we are all on your side." Claus said to the stern monarch.

"That should be all, we should get this written down but i can sign that when the document is ready, i don't think i need to trouble you any further this evening... boss." Claus followed the last sentence with a small laugh and a tip of the hat.

Claus left the room to find Alenius in a far better mood than before, it appeared that she had joined his guards outside and were like them excited about the meeting.
"So how did it go?" She asked with an actual smile on her face. Claus was slightly taken aback by this since he was not used to her positive side but quickly resumed his usual mannerisms.

"Boys and girls, the steel fist got itself some work now." He took his two men with one arm around each of their shoulders and smiled at Alenius.
"The Steel fist has been hired by the imperial concord. And it seems like i can call myself a general without lying too much." Claus informed as his men seemed a bit excited, he kept on.
"I'd say this calls for a celebratory drink.... care to join?" Claus was smiling broadly at Alenius.

Alenius shook her head with a smile on her lips before answering. "Maybe another time when the taverns are not so crowded, till then you know where to find me" she finished as she turned round and walked away.


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