[hr][hr][center][h3]Nadia - The Old Road[/h3][/center][hr][hr]
Nadia had awoken as the pre-dawn chill melted away before the first rays of the rising sun. She had spent a restless night beneath a thicket of shrubbery a small ways off the Old Road that ran between the petty kingdom of Brugge and the former principality of Sodden. Mostly Temerian land now of course. Foltest had done exceedingly well for himself in the aftermath of Sodden Hill, picking over the choice leavings of Cintra and Nilfgaard. But here she was, loyal and faithful servant of the Temerian crown and veteran of said battle, sleeping in the mud, under a pile of twigs. 

[b]"Fucking peace. Doesn't do me any good."[/b]

She muttered to herself as unwrapped the blanket around her and stretched out her aching muscles. It had been a lean year or so after everything had calmed down with Nilfgaard. Coin had been thin, hence why she was sharing a hedge with all of gods creatures instead of waking up in a nice warm bed in an inn. But that would all change hopefully, if Foltest came through on his promise of payment for taking and holding the fortress she would soon be a rich woman.

The embers of last night's fire were rekindled with fresh wood. Nadia set her fire irons and pan above it to make a thin porridge of oats and water. She poured the dregs of her wine skin into the pot as well in order to give it some flavour. Wasn't worth drinking away, after a few days in a skin, the wine would taste more of leather than anything else. All in all it only took her an hour or so eat, groom her horse, and squat above the overgrown ditch that lined the ancient thoroughfare. She did take the time to don her brigantine and some of her other armour. The road had been quiet thus far, but she wouldn't be taking any chances on this side of the border. 

The female mercenary unhitched Wander and mounted the saddle, one of her spears careless balanced across her thighs. As the sun continued to warm the day she could help but feel a faint smile creep across her lips. [i]Soon.[/i] It could not be that far from the meeting point now.

[b]"Come on boy, let's go find us some fucking Temerians."[/b] 

Nadia and Wander set off a brisk trot.
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They smelt them before they saw them, the scent of wood smoke and cooked meat seemed irresistible after Nadia's own paltry breakfast. From the road she could not see where they were, the woods were thick in this part of Sodden, but she could see a path beaten down through the brush leading west off of the Old Road. [i]Looks likely enough...[/i] 

It did not hurt to be a little cautious though. She paused before riding into the woods, put on her helm and picked up her shield. Her reins she held in the left hand and with her right she gripped her spear. Nadia held it overarm, the haft resting on her shoulder, her hand wrapped around shaft about two thirds of the way towards the tip where the balance point was. The head of spear was an ugly thing, not a large thin bladed head meant for cutting as well as thrusting, but a narrow diamond sectioned spike of grey iron, designed to pierce through flesh and mail with its savage point. It would take a small movement and Nadia would be ready to hurl her weapon into the nearest attacker. 

[b]"Let's see if anyone is home."[/b]

She urged Wander forward at a slow pace, trying to make as little noise through the trampled brush as she did so. The camp was not far beyond, a cluster of horselines, cookfires and small tents around a large oddly shaped stone. There were armed men there, as well as labours and crafts men. All flying Temerian colours. It seemed she had found the right place after all.

There was a man waiting at the edge of the path that lead to the camp. He had a hard look about him, a nose that had been broken one too many times, mean looking eyes, a swordsman physique. He reminded her of a lot of mercenaries she had ridden with in the past. But he wasn't one, too well dressed. One of Foltest's knights perhaps? As she approached she lowered the spear and drew off her helm with her newly freed hand, letting her tangled black locks fall freely down the side of her shaved head again. There was wide grin across her face, revealing her missing and cracked tooth.

[b]"I'm guessing that you're Foltest's merry little band headed South? Care to spare a sausage for a veteran of Temaria?"[/b]