Yrantan adventures (Completed)

[Ezri]

Two steps into the camp and they'd already hit a snag. Anna had hoped that she would be permitted to have people with her at the meeting, if only for moral support, but this was still a very tense situation. It was natural that they would be wary of a sneak attack or something similar, and considering how Zach had been talking the night before she couldn't blame them. 


As anxious as she was, if she wanted to get on their good sides it would be better to comply. Resigned, she shook her head at her companion. "Just go with them, I'll be alright." she insisted, although she knew Zach wouldn't be happy about it. Especially giving up his weapons -- he did seem pretty fond of that knife.

 

[ArcticFox]

"I don't like this, woman." Zach hissed at Anna like she was the one at fault. But, his eyes softened soon and there was that hint worry in them that was so unlike him. His gaze shifty, he scanned the mounted soldiers and then pulled out the knife from his belt. For a moment it seemed that he would just fling it at nearest man, but he flipped it over and gave it to the soldier, handle-first. Then he pulled another knife from the small of his back. Another one from underneath his travelling coat. And a third one from his boot. The Ulmo soldiers looked at him in amusement.


"Is that all?" The one who held all his knives asked suspiciously.


"Yeah." Zach waved a hand dismissively. The soldier looked to his commanding officer for judgement.


"Search him thoroughly inside the camp." The lieutenant ordered, then looked back to Anna. "Please follow me, miss."


"If they make one wrong move, just scream." Zach said with a smirk, challenge written on his face as he was looking at the soldier who could not hold his reins under the weight of all the knives. "Weapons, or no weapons, I'll handle them." And he winked at Anna, a gesture that would be charming if it did not come from the brutish rogue.


Anna was led through the gates of the encampment and deep into the enemy lines. Her horse walked slowly, closely following the lieutenant. There was a huge mass of soldiers concentrated on this farm. And they did not look like mere raiders. There were far too many of them to be sent on such a menial task as molesting farmers. There was a rising feeling of dread in Anna's gut as the soldiers looked at her when he passed among them. They were not particularly unfriendly, but they were sharp. Veterans. That was the odd thing about them. Most of them were grizzled men that seemed to have been through a couple of skirmishes. They looked ready.


"Dismount here." The lieutenant ordered as they stopped in front of a large two-floored house that must have been a home for the owners of this farm. Now it was converted to a headquarters of the captain of Ulmo's forces. Both of them dismounted and Anna was led inside, again passing by a number of soldiers and military staff, and climbing up the stairs into a makeshift office that must have been a bedroom not so long ago. Behind a small writing table set an older man, his hair almost completely white, but his eyes were a sharp blue and they seemed to belong to a man half his age.


"You can leave now, lieutenant." He ordered to his men who left with a salute. The two of them were now alone in that room. "Welcome, miss... Penrose, was it? My men tell me that your sneaky duke sent you to break words instead of him? A cowardly move. Or does he think that I will be softer when conversing with a woman?" He laughed, hands on his desk. "I assure you, that will not be the case." Raising one hand very slowly he indicated to a wooden stool opposite of him. "Sit. Talk."


It was obvious that the men expected some sort of a starting offer. He held around a hundred people hostage in various farms spread through the countryside. There were a lot more farms that he did not occupy, instead concentrating his raiding around the main road that led from Ulmo to Yranta. It was a tactical placement that would open a path toward Yranta should an army wish to move at it. There was an ulterior motive behind this man's movements. Did he really just come to raid the farms and demand a compensation in gold?


- Ask him what he wants.


- Offer a payment for the hostages.


- Offer something else.

 

[Ezri]

This man had a lot of gall, suggested that Yranta's diplomacy efforts were underhanded when he was the one kidnapping a bunch of innocent farmers. Of course, Anna shouldn't have expected him to be respectful; it wouldn't do any good to let his accusations get to her head. And while the captain was leaving it up to her, she wasn't sure how she was supposed to start this. Business deals were one thing, but how could she come up with a fair exchange for human lives? Especially since he might not be after money at all... no, it would be better just to avoid guessing and ask outright.


Keeping her best poker face, Anna crossed her arms. She decided on tough but reasonable, and all business -- the captain might be intimidating, but she couldn't let him know that! "Since you agreed to negotiate, I assume you had some preferred outcome in mind. What is it that you want?"

 

[ArcticFox]

Captain Zielihn was a very conniving man, but the Duke said that he would be reasonable. It really all depended of what your definition of reasonable was and for Captain Zielihn it meant naming an impossible price. He grinned, his light blue eyes focused on Anna, hands crossed on the desk. "Why, I want Yranta, of course." He said slyly. "Is it not that obvious?" When he saw that Anna was at a loss, not knowing how to respond, he sighed, shaking his head. In silence he stood up, walked over the wooden cabinet opening the doors with a creak. He pulled out one glass bottle with a brown-reddish liquid that could have been whisky and two crude and chipped glasses and walked back to his chair. He placed one of the glasses in front of Anna and the other in front of himself and then poured two fingers of the drink the smell of which instantly hit Anna's nostrils. Without much ceremony, he downed his glass, his nose wrinkling. "Peasant stuff." He said in explanation. "But, still good enough to warm your bones. You should try it, miss." And he leaned over the table slightly, fingers intertwined, back on topic. "We are in the same position here, really. My masters want me to take Yranta and your masters want you to save it. Or that sneaky duke had just sent you as a scapegoat, who knows. The thing is, I never asked for a negotiation. I asked for a messenger. Someone to hear me out in person and bring my message to all of the sleazy, fat Councilors of Yranta: Your actions will have consequences."


"I'm not sure what you are talking about." Anna said, her voice steady.


"Oh, you pretend well, miss. But I know that you are not a diplomat. You are not a politician. And be glad of it. It will save your skin today." The captain said cryptically. "I would offer you to stay and rest, but I won't." He continued, brows furrowed. "However, you are welcome to stay for a meal and then be on your way."


- Ask for an explanation.


- Accept his offer as a chance to look around the camp for clues.


- Refuse his offer and go home.

 

[Ezri]

Leaving the drink in front of her untouched, Anna was quiet as Zielihn went on. After all that worry spent on how to convince the captain, it turned out that he had no interest in compromise. Did he realize what he was saying? It was practically a declaration of war!


After a pause she nodded, polite but stiff. "Right. I can see you won't be swayed. In that case, we'll accept the meal and leave as to deliver your message as soon as possible." She couldn't think of anything she wanted to do less than spend any more time in this camp or anywhere close to this man's vicinity, but they'd come all this way and she hadn't accomplished anything. All the farmers were still held captive, and there didn't seem to be any way that she could get them freed on her own. If there was no way to escape this conflict, she could at least look around and go back to the Duke with some useful information.

 

[ArcticFox]

Anna was escorted to a smaller tent pitched in between the farm house and a barn. There were many soldiers in its vicinity, some cooking, some drinking and some sharpening their weapons. Overall, even the ones that were drinking and talking, were doing it very silently. The whole camp was too silent for the amount of people it held. It was very eerie. A soldier opened the tent flap and let Anna inside.


"You can have your meal here." He announced and then disappeared.


"Well, you came back pretty quickly." Zach's voice. The brunette was sprawled on a cot at the far end of the tent, which was actually only three steps away from the entrance. He put his hands behind his head, stretched out in a very relaxed manner, but his face portrayed caution. "Are we leaving now?"


"No." Anna answered and took a seat at one of the two rickety chairs placed around an equally decrepit table. She wobbled. "We are going to have lunch here and then go back."


"Lunch?" Zach rose into a sitting position. "Really?" Something in Anna's expression beckoned him closer. He stood up and approached her, leaning down to whisper in her ear. "Did you actually decide to take on my plan?"


- Wait for lunch and then sneak out.


- Sneak out before lunch.


- Stay put.

 

[Ezri]

Her companion didn't look bothered at all, but the sudden proximity was enough to make a very anxious Anna jump. As if they could go through with his plan -- Zach might be able to get to the captain himself, if they were lucky, but since they would have the entire surrounding army on them in a heartbeat it didn't seem like  viable alternative. 


"No, I didn't." she replied in as much of a whisper. They couldn't risk being heard, but he didn't have to get so close either... "I'm not actually concerned about lunch. I just think we shouldn't be in too much of a rush to leave. Since I didn't get to see much of the... countryside." It was kind of a vague explanation, but just speaking in hushed tones didn't seem sufficient when armed enemy soldiers were only paces away. Hopefully no one would notice them leaving before they ate at all, or suspect what she was up to.

 

[ArcticFox]

"I'm sure if we ask one of the soldiers nicely, they would show us around." Zach said with a mischievous smile. He stepped away from Anna when the tent flap rose and in walked one young Ulmo solider, carrying a tray with two bowls of some much of indescribable color. As soon as he set it on the table, Zach was on him, his arm around his throat, holding the man firmly. The soldier tried to grab Zach's arm or to claw at his face, but it was apparent that his strength left him quickly, his eyes closed and he slumped in the brunette's arms. Zach let the man down, careful not to make a sound. "Relax." He said. "The rest of them are not that close, I would have heard them." He knelt down next to the soldier and begun to undress him. When he noticed Anna's petrified look he shook his head. "He's only unconscious."


A couple of minutes passed until Zach managed to take everything off the soldier except his underpants. He tied him and rolled him underneath the bed, which had a crate placed in front of it so he would not be visible if someone entered the tent. Now, Zach held up the soldier's uniform and looked at Anna. "You have two choices. Either stay here and watch him or get into this uniform and go scout." Neither of the choices was ideal and both were very risky. If she stayed in the tent she would need to be careful, if the soldier awoke, she would need to knock him out again. She would also need to make an excuse to any of the soldiers that would want to enter the tent. But, going outside would be more difficult still, as she would walk among so many unfamiliar people who could call her out at any moment. Otherwise, she was not fully clear on what she would search for.


- Stay in the tent.


- Leave the tent.

 

[Ezri]

Anna remained in startled alarm while Zach got on with his business, wondering if she'd ever get used to how quickly he could act so harshly. His next question was enough to snap her out of it -- she had plenty of experience improvising by now, but she still wasn't confident that she could act convincingly as a soldier. Uniform or no, she would stick out like a sore thumb.


Zach, on the other hand, would be much better at avoiding attention. And he must have a lot of experience in tactically examining places and buildings, albeit for reasons very different from her own. "I'll stay here. I'm sure you'd make a better scout than I would."  She decided, sounding more confident than she felt. Anna was hardly sure about her ablities as a guard either, but she'd have to make do.

 

[ArcticFox]

"You are right." Zach said. In the next couple of moments he removed his clothes in front of her, not even bothering to turn around. His body was lean but muscular and when he finally put on the uniform of the Ulmo soldier, he could not do the last three buttons on the shirt. With a shrug he left it open, his toned chest showing through it. Anna had to admit that he was a very handsome man. As he walked to the tent flap, he arched his head sideways. "Don't worry, little lady." He said with a smirk. "I'll be right back." His manner was much less rude than some days earlier.


Zach had been gone for just slightly over thirty minutes and Anna was still in the tent, feeling very anxious. Any moment one of the enemy soldiers could burst in and then she would need to try her best at making a plausible excuse. And then it happened. The tent flap swung open slightly and a form sneaked in. Anna was hit with realization - it was Levon.


"Madam." He said as he walked in casually. "Your companion will be found and caught. He will be killed and so will you, unless you leave immediately." His tone of voice was very cold.


- Ask for an explanation.


- Run to find Zach.


- Attack Levon.

 

[Ezri]

Anna didn't allow herself much time to worry about Zach's shamelessness, although flush on her cheeks was hard to ignore -- even if he was treating her more kindly now, some things might never change. He was frustratingly brazen even in a time like this, but she had plenty of other things keeping her mind occupied, and trying to think of proper excuses in case a soldier dropped by was enough to keep her solemn despite her nerves.


 Instead Levon's sudden appearance caused her such a strange combination of relief and confusion that for a moment, Anna thought she might be imagining things. But no, that was him without a doubt, which only made his uncharacteristic coldness more perplexing.


"Where-- you're alright!" she started, speaking before she knew what to say and then stopping herself. She had a number of questions, probably more than she could think of in the moment, but there were some more urgent than others. Her brow furrowed with worry. "Killed? What are you talking about?"

 

[ArcticFox]

Levon's eyes flashed with fury when Anna spoke. "Hurry it up, human." He suddenly hissed in a manner that was much different from the gentle steward she was used to. His tone angry and urgent with a hint of masked worry, he took a step closer to Anna. "That man will be caught by these soldiers soon. He sticks out. There is nothing you can do about this." Suddenly his eyes grew warmer. "But, you can escape if you leave now."


At that moment, Anna could clearly see an insignia on Levon's right shoulder. Even though he did not wear a soldier's uniform, on his slick black clothes was a sigil, a snake curled around a tree - the same sigil that was on the banners of Ulmo soldiers. Realization hit her and she blinked, looking at Levon perplexed. He only smiled bitterly. "It is true, madam. I am a spy. An immortal and a spy." He chuckled as if that amused him. "Ulmo will conquer Yranta and that is something that was supposed to happen a long time ago. But you, you... distracted me." There was a hint of sadness in his eyes now. He raised his hand and touched Anna's cheek, softly. "You were not supposed to be here. Yranta will get what it deserves, but you have a chance to save yourself. Go home now, pack your possessions, leave on the first merchant ship. Start a new life somewhere."


His words sounded very ominous even if they were spoken gently. It seemed like he had a personal grudge against Yranta and judging by Zach's description of him and Levon's admittance that he was not human, it looked like he had some sort of a power to urge people in a certain direction. He said that he was from Ulmo when he started his service with the Penrose family, but that did not seem as important at the time. He did not look suspicious. Yet, here he was now, openly admitting he was a spy and planning an attack on Yranta. And captain Zielihn and Levon both had said that Yranta deserved what was coming to it. There was something deeper here than just a mere personal grudge or a desire for blood. But, that did not change the fact that Levon had used her to possibly gather information about Yranta and had just said to her that Zach is as good as dead. Can she just run and leave him to his faith?


- Agree to leave.


- Question Levon.


- Try to find Zach.


- Ask Levon to find Zach.

 

[Ezri]

Levon's startling change was almost too much to take in, as if she was just having a very bizarre nightmare. Anna stared up at him, trying to reconcile the sudden jumps between nonchalant cruelty and concern, but as the reality hit her she felt like her heart had dropped to the floor. His betrayal was infuriating, and more than that it was painful. How much of his kindness before had been sincere? Surely some of it... even now, while he was insisting on the destruction of her city, he seemed to care about her somehow. At the moment, that thought wasn't making her feel much better.


"You... I trusted you! I was worried sick about you!" she cried, pulling away from his hand. The gesture was comforting to her before -- part of her worried that she'd still be comforted by it now, if she let herself. "I don't know why you're doing this, or why you're telling me these things... I'm going to find Zach. I can't just leave him." Trying to keep the waver out of her voice and not entirely succeeding, she made to move past him towards the tent flap. Levon made it sound like an inevitability that Zach would be captured, but she couldn't believe that.

 

[ArcticFox]

Levon listened to her speak with a sad smile on his face. He watched her like you might watch a child strugle against ineffability, hands at his sides stiffly held. But as soon as she tried to make her way past him, he grabber her. His grip was strong, but not rough and no matrer her struggles, he held her tight. 


"I cannot let you do this." He whispered in her ear, holding her as if in an embrace. Slowly he held her in front of him, head lowering. "I am sorry." It happened suddenly, his lips met hers for a brief moment. They were warm. The world went blank.


Anna awoke in a forest. Alone. She had no supplies, no horse. She felt a chill down her spine as the wind swept over her. The night was falling slowly. Taking a couple of steps forward he could hear the familiar bustle of a city. Her city. Yranta. Its walls arose just outside the row of trees. She was transported there somehow, but she did not remember a thing.


- Go home.


- Look around for clues.

 

[Ezri]

Blinking, Anna looked towards the very familiar wall in the near distance. It felt like just a second ago she was far from here; she wasn't sure exactly how much time she had lost, or what had caused her to lose time at all... Levon must have done something. Running through the events again in her mind, he'd grabbed her and she couldn't wriggle away, as hard as she tried. And then, unexpectedly enough to stop her in her tracks, he...


The moments flooded back, still crystal clear in her memory, and the reminder sent a rush of panic through her. Levon kissed her, and he had all these strange powers, and what about Zach? Had he managed to escape by himself? She didn't want to imagine that he was caught, that he'd been executed -- Anna forced herself to stop and took a breath. It was all too much, and she would drive herself to tears thinking about it. Until she could get home and try to make sense of it all she had to keep herself together. First, however, Anna paced anxiously around her little spot in the forest, hoping to spot some clue as to how she arrived there.

 

[ArcticFox]

Looking around the place where she awoke provided no answers. There was nothing around her but a row of trees and grass. The sun was low on the horizon, now hidden behind Yranta's walls and the light was scarce. Soon it would be too dark to safely get to the city, even though it was so close. Anna had to move. She made her way toward the main gate that led into the city's military district, placing his hands in her pocket to warm them. But, just as she had made a couple of steps out of the tree line, her hand grasped a folded piece of parchment. She pulled it out and unfolded it, revealing a note. Barely being able to read it, Anna had to squint and focus.


Madam,


You should leave Yranta as soon as you arrive. There will be slaughter, there will be chaos. I would know, I have been through it a number of times already. But, this time, it will be even worse. Your Council has been too ambitious, too greedy. You have reached too far. Do not ally yourself with them. Leave and be saved.


Should you by any chance decide to stay, know that we will meet again and I will not be able to save you another time. Please leave.


It was unsigned, but it was clear who wrote it. Just as Levon's words in the tent, this note sounded very ominous. What did the Council do? What was Yranta's wrongdoing? Is Ulmo attacking out of spite? Out of their own ambition and want for more land? It all seemed very confusing.


- Go straight to the Duke.


- Go home and rest now.

 

[Ezri]

Whatever grievance Ulmo had against Yranta, it seemed beyond helping. The captain and even Levon didn't just sound angry, they sounded hateful... Yranta was far from a perfect place, but did they deserve total destruction? Although she hadn't planned on it, she was a Councilor and had so far had been taking that responsibility seriously. With her thoughts scattered, it was hard to say what her place in this conflict was, or if she should try to have a place in it at all.


Anna made her way towards the walls, doing her best not to let her tiredness and regret slow her down. She hardly felt like speaking to the Duke now, or to anyone in general, but this didn't seem like a matter that could wait.  The sooner he was informed, the sooner she could go home.

 

[ArcticFox]

"What is the matter?" Duke Teil's look was puzzled when Anna burst through the doors of his chambers, without much ado. She had made her way past the guards, without saying anything, just holding up her sigil of office. The Duke was retired from his duty for the day and resting in his private chambers, but that was not the day for idle pleasantries.


"Its Ulmo." Anna said, panting. She just realized that she had ran most of the way to here. "They are... attacking Yranta."


Lord Teil gave out a gasp and then urged Anna to take a seat on a sofa in his salon and tell him everything that happened.


"I should have known." Duke said when Anna finished her story, carefully omitting the part with Levon. His brows were furrowed and his eyes grim. But, then his face lightened up and voice became urgent. "But, please understand that whatever that captain might have told you is just pure deceit. He was trying to win you over by making your doubt your own homeland. Despicable." He hissed the last word in anger. "I do hope that you did not buy any thing he said and understand that it is just ambition that's guiding Ulmo. As it had been the case for so long."


- Trust Lord Teil and agree with him.


- Tell him about Levon.


- Be suspicious, but don't say anything.


- Be suspicious and ask him for details about Yranta.

 

[Ezri]

If it had only been the captain going on about greed and the like she wouldn't have given him much thought, but Levon had echoed the same sentiments. Whether their feelings were justified or not, they didn't sound like just a baseless attempt at giving her doubts. Yranta must have its share of dark secrets, and though it seemed like the Duke would know about those sorts of things, Anna doubted that he would be eager to divulge them to her. Lord Tiel had never done anything to make her suspicious of him specifically -- all in all he actually seemed rather kind, but... Anna wondered if she should be more selective about who she trusted.


"Right, of course... it was difficult to believe the captain's accusations, anyway. He sounded like a madman." she said with a small shudder; at least it wasn't it a total lie. Anna couldn't deny that she was curious about what Yranta might have been hiding, and asking the Duke would be the most straightforward way to go about it, but for now it would be best to keep her cards close to her chest. If she wanted to investigate further, she could find a more discreet way to do so.

 

[ArcticFox]

"I had hoped that Captain Zielihn would be reasonable." Duke said, a grievous expression on his face. He let his head fall into his hands for a moment, taking a deep breath. Then he straightened his back and looked at Anna who sat on a sofa opposite him. "Go home for the night. Have some rest. I will call the meeting of the Council early tomorrow and I expect you here with the first light of the day. It seems, my friend, that Yranta is going to war."


As dawn arrived and Councilors gathered in the meeting chamber, Anna felt too tired to think about anything let alone provide any amazing insight into their current situation. Her sleep had been restless and feeling the absence of Zach and Levon in her too big of a mansion did not help her matters at all. The whole was felt too empty and quiet. She could not help but wonder did she lose two people in one day? Two... friends? Could she remember them as such, anyway?


"Gentlemen, ladies!" Duke Teil raised his hands for silence. He had explained Anna's findings exactly as she had told them to him previously. This had caused a disturbance among the Councilors and many of them looked to her to provide them some clearance. But, she did not know any more than them and she tried telling them so. Lord Teil tried to stop their endless questions only when he stood up and banged the table with his fist, furiously shouting, had they shut their mouths. "There is nothing else to be said!" He spoke in a commanding tone. "We have no other information except the imminent threat of invading Ulmo forces. They have our farmlands already and are slowly progressing toward the city. If they decide to, they can move their whole army in front of Yranta's walls in three days. We have no time to argue. Lord Tavish." 


The grey-haired man with a pinched, strict face and an icy stare, stood up. He was the current military adviser. "Our troupes will be ready, sir." He said with a sharp salute, ever the soldier. "I'll have them positioned on the walls and in garrisons behind them in a day. But, I will need new recruits, sir, as our numbers have dwindled over the years of peace."


"And you will have them. Councilor Penrose." Duke turned to Anna. "As a Councilor of law you will be Lord Tavish's right hand. Please start a drafting procession and gather as many recruits as possible. You have two days."


It would seem that the Councilors were very eager to defend their homeland, but Anna couldn't help but notice some of the odds looks among them. Some looked frightened and some guilty, and once again a question arose - was there some deeper reason behind this attack? Still, this was not the time nor the place to make assumptions. Yranta needed to be defended first and after that she could ask any questions she needed. But, drafting people into military ranks was a complicated and long process. 


- Get help from Nate.


- Get help from the Duke.


- Do it alone.

 

[Ezri]

Anna had hoped that a good sleep and some time at home would make her feel better, but on top of Levon and Zach's absences she now had to face her fellow councillors as the talk of war continued. While she did her best to stay calm and civil being bombarded with questions had done a number on her nerves, and if the Duke hadn't intervened she might have gotten short with them herself. But thankfully they avoided a scene, and Anna spent the rest of the meeting quietly battling her own worries instead.


It would seem that she was right to be suspicious, judging by some of her colleagues' reactions to the news, but for now she had to soldier on with her duties anyway. He might not be the most knowledgable on the subject, but Anna decided to ask for Nate's help with the recruitment -- just being around someone she trusted, someone she didn't have to be so guarded around, would help her state of mind tremendously. Figuring out the details would surely be much easier then.

 

[ArcticFox]

Conscripting people into military ranks proved to be a much harder task than Anna could ever hope for. Man of the citizens of Yranta held their own shops, taverns, private schools, bakeries and whatnot. And they were all reluctant to leave the safety of their work for the uncertainty of military life. Of course, there were always those who had no other income and thus needed this opportunity. Many vagrants, drunkards, runaway teenagers and orphans conscripted, looking for glory or at least enough funds to keep themselves fed (or drunk). All in all, Anna's little drafting procession turned out some four thousand people in two days. It might seem a large number, but considering that Yranta was a city of more than a million citizens... well, the numbers did not seem promising.


It was good that she had help at least. Duke gave her two thirds of the city guard, well they were Anna's to command either way, to help with the conscription and that amounted to some two hundred men. It was good that there were now finally some commanders among them and it was obvious that the guardsmen were more organized and capable, albeit scarce. Nate was of much help with the scouting party, as he brought on some two dozens of his fellow sailors to help out with the work. They were all good and loyal men, but still were not intent on joining the military.


With the news of war spreading through the city many of the people packed their things and left. Most of the square of nobles was now empty, but the docks were a mess. Ships were filled to bursting and many of them arrived and went in those two days, undoubtedly making their owners very rich men in the process. Land roads were closed as the main gate of Yranta was shut immediately after Anna's arrival. The streets in the military square were busy, but cleared of civilians. Yranta's military forces were preparing for war.


On the second night of their preparations, Anna returned to her mansion exhausted. Nate accompanied her serving as sort of a protection, as there were now thieves and bandits on the streets, with guardsmen busy elsewhere. They walked into the Penrose estate where they were greeted by the servants and served refreshment. Nate was out of immense value to Anna in the past two days. He was at her side the whole time, helping her prepare, write every name of the conscripted people down, count the funds that would go toward paying them all and equipping them, and helping her run odd errands for Councilor Tavish when needed. They did not part even during the night, as they both ended up falling asleep in Anna's study, exhausted by all the calculations. This night, though, they were done with their work. Tomorrow was the third day and Yrantan scouts had spotted Ulmo's forces a kilometer away from their walls. They had camped there, but would progress to surround Yranta in the next day possibly.


"So, war, huh?" Nate sat on the sofa right next to Anna, drinking his tea. "I did not think that I would see it happen. It was so peaceful in the last decades, don't you think it feels weird?"


"I do." Anna answered. But, what else was to be said there. There they were, caught in the middle of it all. "Are you not leaving?" It suddenly occurred to her. Nate could board the last ship tomorrow with his mates and be gone until it all passed.


"No." The blonde chuckled as if amused. "Of course not. You cannot leave and so I'm staying too." He grinned at her, but that grin quickly disappeared. "Hey, Anna... I would like you to know something, in case I don't get another chance to say it."


But as soon as he opened his mouth to speak again, there was a loud knock on the doors of the salon.


"Miss Penrose." A serving girl called. "There's someone at the door for you."


- Let Nate finish.


- Answer the door.

 

[Ezri]

The number of their new recruits was far from ideal, but considering what a gargantuan task she'd been given with such a short time to accomplish it, Anna couldn't feel too bad about their efforts. Nate had been an incredible help, so much so that she felt a bit guilty for doubting him before. They'd done all they could, and Anna wanted to take every chance at rest that she could get. Even now the idea of war didn't feel quite real ('weird' was an apt description) but she was sure it would feel very real soon.


She had been listening to Nate quite intently until the knock on the door stopped him, suddenly enough to make her tense in surprise. "Um, I'll be right there! Just a moment!" she called back to the serving girl. Anna didn't have any idea what Nate could be intending to tell her, but he looked serious about whatever it was. It would be harsh to just run off in the middle of it, and the person at the door could hopefully wait a second or two. She turned back to Nate, inquisitive and expectant. "Sorry, what were you going to say?"

 

[ArcticFox]

"Anna." Nate leaned toward her, his eyes glinting, face a little bit flushed. "I have always-"


"Miss Penrose!" The double doors to her salon burst open and in walked a familiar dark-skinned man. "I am sorry to intrude, but this is of utmost urgency." Nerith bowed deeply and then turned his eyes to Anna, a serious look on his face. Nate flushed a bit deeper because of this interruption, and his brows furrowed. Fuming, he jumped up from the sofa and marched through the doors, not letting anyone speak. "I apologize for this." Nerith said when Nate left. "I did not mean to drive your friend off. But, I do prefer to speak in private."


"Of course." Was all Anna could say as she gestured to a chair. Nerith shook his head.


"My people have recovered in the past week." He said, with a small smile. "Thanks to your kind help we were able to overcome the plague with minimal casualties. But then we heard that Yranta was invaded." His eyes were serious now. "Thus, I have come to help. I know it is not much, but I have twenty archers with me, all ready to give their lives for you, Miss Penrose." His smile appeared again. "Because without you they would not have them."


That was a welcome aid in all, but there something bothering Anna - where would all those dark elves find accommodation. The people of Yranta would not look at them with favor, they would be shunned out of inns and denied food. The only solution would be for Anna to accept them into her own home, which was big enough for all of them. But then again, she would also need to explain that sudden aid and make Yrantan soldiers actually cooperate with dark elves. Somehow, she knew that this alliance would stir a lot of trouble.


- Accept Nerith's help and invite them to stay.


- Accept but let them stay somewhere else.


- Thank Nerith but refuse.

 

[Ezri]

Apparently the person at the door couldn't wait after all. Anna hadn't been expecting Nerith, especially because of how difficult it must be to enter Yranta these days. Nate on the other hand had never seemed to like the dark elf very much, although whether he was more angry about that or being interrupted was hard to say. But he'd left so quickly and there were more pressing matters at the moment; for the moment, all she could do was hope that he would be alright.


At the good news, Anna lit up and clapped her hands together. "I'm relieved to hear it! And extremely grateful, any help at all is more than enough..." When she had the luxury of unoccupied thoughts, the fate of Nerith and his people had crossed her mind more than once.. Then she frowned, pursing her lips and carefully considering the dilemma of where to put them all. It would be an uphill battle trying to get their existing army to work with the elves, and they would certainly face all sorts of hostility from the rest of the city. The archers had very generously offered to fight in a war that had nothing to do with them, just for her sake -- the least she could do was give them a place to stay. It might be a bit crowded around the mansion for a while, but that was better than it feeling unbearably empty. After a moment of thought, Anna nodded and her smile returned."You and your men are welcome to stay here. We'll make sure you're well taken care of."