[color=a0410d][h1]Jerod Staudinger[/h1][/color]

[hr]

The two weeks of travel had gone relatively smoothly, a small miracle considering the problems with bandits, as well as impending war, would have possibly suggested. He'd had little to say once confirming he would indeed be receiving a fair pay, having shared what valid information he had that would be of assistance, otherwise it was just another job at this point. As much as most of the group was opposed to the outbreak of war, and his own beliefs it would be a damn fool amount of blood shed if war sparked off properly, he couldn't say it wouldn't be good for business. When you sold your swordarm for coin, anytime a war sparked off was good for business, and that was the long and short of it really. Of course, his own private thoughts were interrupted when they spotted a group of bandits on their way to whomever was unfortunate enough to cross paths and be an easy target.

Resting on one knee, Jerod observed the situation at hand while getting a handle on the situation. Mostly axes, leader was much of the same, bigger and tougher. Typical bandit hierarchy, biggest led by example, which meant break him, break the bandits. Once again, one singular leader holding everything together was a idiotic idea, but he kept the idle mental sidetracks to a minimum. He was about to quietly suggest letting the bandits pass undisturbed, but of course some young woman was playing at hero. Alone, against an entire band of bandits, the hell kind of thinking was that? He briefly pinched the brow of his nose, the fact she was taking on an entire band of axe wielding bandits stupid. Of course, the Crown Prince wished to aid her and asked for battle plans, and he spoke briefly, low and fast as time was of the essence.

[color=a0410d]"Hit their flank, wheel in to link up with that damn fool playing at hero. She joins the maneuver, we take out their leader, and kill those too stupid to run. We'll move fast, hard, and don't give them a chance to rally properly. Put Merilia on our left flank, I'll lead the right. As we swing by, either the Crown Prince or Rionach support the damn fool, get her moving with us. The other watch Merilia's ass. Keerin, you cover me so I can reach their leader once we save the fool, otherwise, provide support for anyone in need and stay out of axe reach. Questions?"[/color] Jerod spoke from experience, having taken part in ambushes before, though not for nearly as noble of causes, the coin had been good none the less. Considering their group's lack of a healer, the last thing they needed was some half dead woman that the Crown Prince would insist on dragging to the nearest town to have patched up. Then again, he was being paid to follow orders, so if his orders were to shoulder some half dead fool, so be it. He'd earned harder coin then that before, after all.