[i]The Silverhill Skirmish, the men were calling it. I felt it was a trite more harrowing considering my experiences, but we did come out relatively unscathed. I acquiesced to Lady Blackwood's request and did as I was bid. We fortified our position at Silverhill, and I gave Merie command of the Rearguard and half the Free Booters to escort our patron back to Gallow's End. We lost five men on the journey there and back. Three mysteriously disappeared, one man dehydrated himself to death from some unknown affliction, and the final was killed by the walking dead. I was assured it was an isolated incident from a number of unmarked graves that had been disturbed on our first journey, and were awaiting our return as Merie walked them across disturbed soil. However, three days after our victory over the Shaman, the lady returned to us, and we marched with a token force to Nehren. I personally met with the mayor at the gates, and my force of men were told to wait outside, for an occupying force could not simply walk in, legitimate or not. However, Calliope Blackwood and a smaller retinue could enter. We did so. It had been an eventful week, working for the Black Rose. It was by no means over.[/i]  
[center][i]The Imperial Campaign, Pflugzeit 13, 2508
Prince Kayden Caladwarden[/i]
[/center]  

"What do you make of it?" Kayden asked him. 

"I won't say my opinion as fact, Captain." Cyrdic Becker remarked, sipping his mead. The clouds made way for the sun, giving the humble mining town of Nehren a dappled look of light and dark. Kayden had kept his one hundred men and women encamped outside the walls, and had brought in twenty five of the Linebreakers with the mayor's acquiescence. The mayor was a slim, skittish man, by the look Kayden had of him. He could tell immediately he was in the pocket of someone else at best, and a mongrel lapdog at worst. Well, he looked more akin to a weasel, but that was beside the point. Kayden had informed his men to not wear the Wyvern colors coming in, and to spread out when they entered. If worst came to worst, he didn't want them all found in one location, and to be ready to spring at a moment's notice. Kayden, however, could not blend in to the crowd. He was too striking of a figure to meld in, due to his unnaturally good looks and his modest jewelry to denote his status. On the side of the street, the prince had seemingly "bumped" into Cyrdic, however he seemed to pay little heed to subterfuge, out of his own choice than happenstance. Cyrdic motioned his mug across the way, to the billing house where four toughs in boiled leather, messers sheathed at their sides, stood. They watched the two Wyvern's openly, holding the cold stares of killers. "But they look like men who were told to strike, and soon."  

"They do look like dogs at a table." Kayden agreed, turning away from Ernst's paid men and giving Cyrdic a subtle wink. "Keep close to your batch of the men, but not too close. I'll be in touch." 

"Yes, Captain." He said, taking another sip of his mead, his wolfish eyes never leaving the steel gaze of the thugs. He was an Ostermark man, but he bore a Norscan shield and a sword with a wolfish pommel. Kayden had never bothered to ask, but there was a story there. The prince let the mercenary be, striding up the street to busy himself while Lady Blackwood finished negotiations with this Ernst fellow, a petty merchant prince with some evident influence in this part of old Solland.  

He stepped out of the sun and into the local Alehouse, dubbed [i]The Gold Vein[/i]. An auspicious name for what he felt amounted to pretty much a nothing of an establishment. A few tables full, a few empty. He smelled alcohol and sweat, and saw when he glanced around the timber constructed room, prospectors and townsfolk made half of the customers, and the other half seemed to be as rough as the men waiting outside. He made a conscious effort not to look at a few of his men planted in the crowd, and instead decided to busy himself with the barmaid. She was a pretty, plump, blonde haired girl who had a snaggle tooth one could not miss when she smiled, and she smiled widely when she saw Kayden. He mirrored her smile, having approached the counter so casually it seemed as if he had simply glided up. 

"It's a pleasure to meet you, fraulein" Kayden said, his voice like silk. She let out a small, unconscious breath, and it made him smile wider. 

"Welcome, ser. We um, we have ale, wine, and beer. All locally brewed." She said, catching herself idly rummaging with the silverware she was supposed to put up and placed it down on the counter. 

"The darkest ale you have, and once you get that, maybe we can talk awhile if that's no trouble for you." He offered. When given the chance, he was a shameless flirt. She said yes a bit too quickly and went to fetch his drink. No sooner had she turned around that a grunt could be heard behind him, and a portly man with a lined face and a weather coat set down on the stool next to him. 

"Yeah, Helga's well liked around here, stranger." He said, placing his cup of beer down, half full. Kayden raised an eyebrow at that. He sat down for a desire rather than a need, then. When Kayden did not reply, he continued. "So, how long have you been walking to get to this little town?" 

"Hard to answer." Kayden remarked. 

"How come?" 

"Does that mean how long have I walked before I got here from my last destination, or how long have I walked since I planned on arriving?" 

The figure shook his head and smiled. His teeth were full of ivory and silver, and one wooden molar. "You're very precise, herr Captain." He said, chuckling at a private joke. "I like that. I bet you're a shrewd businessman. You'd have to be, wouldn't you? I wanted to offer you a bit of business myself." Helga had returned, but having noticed the stranger joining Kayden at the counter, her smile had disappeared. She placed the drink down and walked away, busying herself with other matters that suddenly needed her attention. Kayden took the drink and sipped, staying quiet. "See, Ernst and Co is a big conglomerate. Growing larger, actually. I hear soon, we're going to own the whole southern half of Wissenland. Bringing civilization back to Solland, cities, towns, commerce! No more curses or the talk of superstitious locals. You seem like just the man for the job, and we pay better than black bitches from a dying family. With respect."  

"Really? And what do you propose?" Kayden asked idly, nursing his drink. 

"Oh, nothing much. Say, righting a few wrongs you made under duress. Seems you had some trouble few miles south of here, yeah? Maybe escorting the good lady home, see to it she stays there. If you get my meaning..." 

Kayden took another swig of his drink, smiling to himself. He drained the mug, and set it down on the table before placing two crowns, double the price of the drink, for Helga. "I think I do. Maybe when my contract is up, I'll see to it. Until then though," He said, turning to lean on the counter and look the man dead in the eyes. "I'm afraid I'm a Blackwood man. She might not pay much, but she's easier on the eyes than Ernst, I bet. You as well." He grinned at that last bit, and without further talk he walked out, the chuckles of a few listeners following him. 

He needed to find Calliope and talk to her about it.