"Well since you didnt actually make a bet, I didn't loose" Fox winked back to Sparrow before looking at the others

"And the Fox is right here ya know!" he said feigning annoyance "Jeez you lot should learn about tact!"

"And you should learn about true modesty sometimes."

Storm Ash was clearly that of someone willing - perhaps even eager - to start a discussion just for the sake of it, but Sparrow cuffed him on the head and said, in a tone halfway between mocking and serious that adressed both him and Sabre Fox:

"Act like adults for five minutes, you two - I won't have these people thinks that the Kai are a bunch of kids who can't take things seriously when they're on the battlefield."

That said, he strode forward, nodding slightly in greeting to the two people in front of him and saying, his tone respectful but firm:

"Sers, I'm Kai Warman Golden Sparrow, leader of this group; these are my fellow Kai Green Rabbit, Sabre Fox, Storm Ash, Grey Sword and Sun Nightningale. We're here as the frontline of a force six-hundred strong of the Sommerlending army who is marching to bring reinforcement to this force; they'll be here tomorrow at sunrise. Who might I refer to as commanding officer?"

There was a pause as the man in sommerlending armour glanced to the doctor, who shrugged and said, hesitantly:

"I'm sergeant Lovas, and I'm currently the higher ranked officer among this force, so I guess that would be me. And this here is ser Ralon Abhenar, second son of Lord Veynor Abhenar, Baron of Anskaven; he and the Knight of Sommerlund he was training under where in visit to our outpost when it was attacked, and he's currently acting as our chirurgeon, seeing as the force's medicwas taken out during the assault."

At that, the noble cut in, his tone serious and commanding:

"Speaking of which, these men are in no condition to fight at this time, Warman Sparrow. I managed to save the life of about a dozen of them, but the more severe cases were beyond my limited skill; in fact, if any of you has any skill in handling wounds, I would like your competent help to go over everybody who's wounded and determine their recovery time."

Golden Sparrow nodded seriously, then made a commanding gesture toward the blonde girl in the group:

"Sun Nightingale, assist ser Abhenar in this job of his."

The girl nodded, then turned to the group and said, with a smile:

"Sabre, what do you say about lending me an hand? I might need somebody strong to help with keeping the wounded in place and stuff like that."

Your choice, you can follow Nightingale and the nobleman, or stay with Sparrow and the shaky sergeant. :)

"Why of course my lady" Fox winked towards the Kai lady before addressing Sparrow

"Am i dismissed for this service Sir?"

To anyone but the Kai, it sounded like a serious request, but the glint in Fox's eye was enough to clue them in about him mocking Sparrows request for them to 'act like adults'

Sparrow nodded curtly to Sabre Fox, although the glint in his eye was enough for the Kai to know that his friend and commander knew what he was doing.

"You're authorized, Sabre Fox."

And with that, he and the other four moved to speak with the sergeant, while Sun Nightningale took Sabre Fox's hand and dragged him away toward the direction ser Abhenar was already moving into.

As they closed him, the noble turned toward them, taking in their look, and then said, in a doubtful tone:

"Young Kai Lady and Lord, forgive me for asking, but have you really that much experience i treating wound? I know your Order is still recovering from the Darklords' last attack, but you two seem incredibly young for a task of importance like this one is."

I'll give you some time to answer this if you want to, Sabre - if, when I check back this evening, you haven't answered yet, then I will have Sun Nightningale answer it. :)

The young Kai Lady assumed a solemn expression that made her look older than she was, and then said, in a tone completely appropriate to the appearance she's conjured for herself:

"I'll have you know, Ser, that I trained under the current head of the Monastery's healers, Master White Mantis, who you might have heard, earler this year, healed King Ulnar himself from a disease that even some of the greatest medician's in the kingdom had failed to cure? And my friend Sabre, here, is one of Master Starfire's own disciple - the same Starfire who is currently in command of the Order. I assure you, we are the most qualified members of the Order that could be here on such short notice, and are more than capable of taking care of your wonded."

She put an harm around Sabre Fox's shoulder, dragging him next to her, and then offered a blindingly wide grin as she added, her vboice back to her more carefree tone:

"Isn't that true, Sabre?"

"But of course!" Fox echoed. "You wouldnt want fresh faced recruits here would you sir? Top of our class we are"

The noblemen nodded, apparently satisfied by the comment, then lead the two Kai to the group of wounded that were lying on the ground.

While Sun Nightningale studied the soldiers and started to heal them one at a time, ser Abhenar commented, a serious expression on his face:

"This force is in no condition to keep fighting, don't you agree, my lady and lord? Not that they were all that good soldiers to begin with, of course; losing a Sommerlending outpost to the enemy's forces is such a shameful act, they shouldn't even be allowed to keep wearing the ensigns of our kingdom. Could you believe that the blacksmith was even speaking of mounting a counterattack to take the fort back?"

He scoffed at the thought, then turned a disdainful glare over the camp and concluded, in a very matter-of-fact tone:

"These aren't men worthy of such a task; I'm glad that some true soldier of our kingdom will be coming in the morning to actually carry Sommerlund's banner with honor, and show these waste of air how a true Sommerlending soldier fights."

At the mention of a counter attack, Fox's ears immediately picked up

"Counter attack? Why does he think that's possible?" Fox asked

The man looked quite annoyed at the question, but answered nonetheless, his tone turning venomous:

"Because he's an overconfident fool, that's why. There remain only ten men still fighting-capable within the camp, while the assault force that now occupies the fort is at least two hundred strong. And beside, that force was good enough to push the entirety of these soldiers - and the many more who actually died in the attack - out of the fortress they were holding; the mere idea that an even smaller force would be able to retake the fortress is simply ridicolous."

He scoffed to give his opinion more strenght and then added, in a more disdainful tone:

"Beside, these men woudln't be able to win a fight if they had a four on one advantage, how anybody could think them good enough to win when outnumbered twenty to one is beyond me."

The grin across Fox's face was evident as the morning sun

"Becuase they would be a smaller sneak attack force of course. Headed with Kai to even out the score"

Fox's eyes then wandered for a moment

"Where is this blacksmith of yours? I think he and I could enjoy a chat"

Ser Abhenar looked disdainful, but then waved into a direction vaguely to the southern edge of the camp and said, his tone filled with dismissal:

"Somewhere in that direction, although why one like you would want to talk with such a fool, Kai Lord, is something I don't understand."

"Well if he is a fool, then who better to truly label him as such than a Kai" Fox sniggered. "Then again, he might have some merit for such a bold action. And I like bold actions. So hearing him out is all good!"

Fox funded to interrupt his Kin for a moment

"Mind if I sneak away for a moment Night?" he asked

Sun Nightingale, who was getting up from a wounded soldier, looked up at Sabre Fox with curiosity, but then nodded, with a smile, while saying:

"That's ok with me - it deosn't seems like I'll need your help with any of these wounds, they've all been treated pretty well already; all I can do is speed up the recovery process."

She nodded in direction of ser Abhenar, then turned to Sabre Fox again and added, with a smile:

"Just try not to take too long, ok? I don't know when I might end up needing your help, and timing at times can be crucial when treating wounds."

"Okie dokey" Fox smirked. "Try not to get into too much trouble now you hear?" he said like a parent before heading off in the general direction that he had been indicated

Even as he moved away, Sabre Fox could hear Sun Nightingale laugh at Sabre Fox's parting words.

It didn't took the Kai long to locate the blacksmith; the big, burly guy who'd been arguing with ser Abhenar and sergeant Lovar was settled among ten soldiers, and the group was quickly discussing among each other, but they suddenly shut up when they noticed the young Kai getting closer. Then, the burly man turned toward him and aked, his tone curt:

"What do you want, boy? Here to carry some more insults on behalf of that prissy noble who's all posturing and no substance?"

"Boys stay at home and look after thier mothers. Warriors are on the battlefield like us" Fox grinned. "And I came to find the man who gave such a bold statement as to try a counter attack that I heard. And I'm a fan of bold things and wanted to see what you have planned"

All the soldiers exchanges suspicious glances with each other, while the blacksmith took a moment to study Sabre Fox's look before speaking, in a less aggreesive - but still quite rude - tone:

"You're a Kai, aren't you? I hadn't realized that initially; I suppose that gives you the right to stay among men as if you were one. Even so, I'm not planning anything - so you can go and inform that sycophant of a sergeant that I'm not going to be so stupid as to give him a reason to put me in chains."

Even if he had yet to develop Sixth Sense, Sabre Fox could easily tell that the man was lying - but, of course, if he was doing so not to be arrested, it was hard to hold it against him.

"I'm not here to play games with you Sir, I'm here to fight, as it looks like both you and these men here are. If you have some form of plan then I'm here to tell you I'm in. If both another sword arm and one of a Kai is not good enough for you then feel free to sit and wallow in your own self pity. I've credited you my attention Sir as well as the respect as to not insult you despite not getting the same in return. I've better things to do than tell tales to your superiors, but if you want my help you have it, but it will be no doubt difficult if you do not include me"

Fox knew how to rally troops, it had been one of the first things he had learnt in Weaponskill training, and his tone was both commanding and serious enough to convey just that

The blacksmith looked stunned for a moment when Sabre Fox adressed him so agressively, then let out an hearty laugh.

"Ah, boy, it seems you're really a spitfire, aren't you? Alright, I take you along on this offer you're making - but if I have or not a plan, I'm not going to tell you; you understand, I've met you just now, I can't really trust your word like that. However, if you really do are honest in your offer, then I will inform you when we're going to leave, and if you come along, you will know of my plan at that time, once we're far enough that I'll feel sure you're not going to rat us out. Do we have a deal?"

And with that, the man offered his big hand for Sabre Fox to shake, in a gesture that, if a bit gruff, was certainly also meant to be friendly.

Fox accepted the handshake with a firm grip of his own despite his young age.

"Done" He said simply. "However, perhaps at least some information or at least letting me know that you indeed have a plan  whether you tell me or not would be helpful. After all, you could potentially have five Kai onboard if I can pitch this to my Commanding officer, who I do have the ear of by the way"

The blacksmith offered a solemn look to Sabre Fox, and then shook his head.

"I'm sorry, young man, but I really can't tell you anytHing. I don't know your commanding officer and cannot be sure he wouldn't just report my intentions. If you can persuade him to see things the same way you do, you're welcome to try; I would be glad of having more than one Kai along, if I was to go on a dangerous place - but, as I said, I'm not going to confirm that I'm about to do any such thing."

It was clear that the man had no intention of being swayed from his position.

"Well for such a small force against an enemy that size, it's not unreasonable for you to have a plan. After all, throwing yourself to your deaths wouldn't be fun would it?" Fox smirked "But I will rejoin my commrade before consulting my Commanding Officer, I will return soon"

Unless the blacksmith had a change of heart, Fox knew he best return to Nightingale promptly

When Sabre Fox turned to reach Sun Nightingale, he found that she was not where he'd left her - rather, it seemed she was now in a different point of the camp, clearly checking over those wounded who could move.

Once he got closer, the girl turned toward him and smiled, then asked, in a quite curious tone:

"So, was that blacksmith as interesting as you hoped?"

At the words, Ser Abhenar, who was walking nervously, turned to regard Sabre Fox with interest, clearly curious about the young Kai's opinion on the matter.

"He wouldn't tell me anything. He was worried what other people might think of him" Fox said, sneaking a glance to the Knight

"It's not something worth talking about" Fox said, giving a knowing wink to Nightingale hoping she would catch on. "How are the wounded?" he asked

Sun Nightingale nodded in undertanding to Sabre Fox's word, clearly understanding that there was more to them than what he'd said, and then answered, her tone more professional:

"I think most of the men are not as heavily wounded as they first appeared. It's likely that, with a couple hours of rest and some more of my medication, about half of them could be on their feet, probaly even fighting-capable."

She didn't added anything more, stealing a glance to the nobleman who scoffed and muttered, in a dark tone:

"They never were fighting-capable in the first place even when they had perfect healt."