Larend shakes his head.

"He has not. I have not seen him since he departed with Lady Veldorn's friend yesterday evening. We found a hollow yonder, as per his instructions, and have been doing our best to remain hidden. We have seen several parties dispatched from the town, no doubt searching for the boy and Lady Veldorn, but have thus far managed to avoid being spotted."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:01, Sun 05 Mar 2023.

"A miracle in itself," Calvorn mutters.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:35, Mon 06 Mar 2023.

Larend doesn't seem to hear the ranger, and gives a bracing smile.

"I will take you to the Lady," he suggests, gesturing to the leafy hollow below them, "They were discussing how they might attempt a rescue of Their Highnesses, and will certainly be glad of your skills and knowledge."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:59, Sun 05 Mar 2023.

Apparently deciding he has been ignored long enough, Falnis steps out of the shadows beside Calvorn.

"I assume that if it is skills and knowledge that you are after, that a 'varim friend' such as myself is also more than welcome to join you?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:01, Fri 31 Dec 2021.

Larend gives another start.

"You are here!" he says somewhat unnecessarily, then, after a moment, "Caled is not with you?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:01, Fri 31 Dec 2021.

"With your skills of observation I'm amazed you never became an agent," Calvorn says dryly.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:02, Fri 31 Dec 2021.

"Good Sir Caled charged off heroically some hours ago to rescue Their Highnesses without the help of this varim friend, whose aid he felt it was not worth paying for. I imagine, since there are only two possible routes they could have taken, that he will eventually manage to catch up with us," Falnis says, with an air that suggests he thinks Caled will manage to do this later rather than sooner.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:38, Fri 31 Dec 2021.

"Quite so," agrees Calvorn idly, having already begun to make his way down the steep embankment into the hollow.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:02, Sun 05 Mar 2023.

A large boulder juts out beneath the foliage, and beneath this natural shelter that Lyria sits with Erald beside her. Ralen stands not far off, pacing restlessly. Lyria glances up as Calvorn and Falnis approach, as does Ralen who halts in his pacing.

"Falnis!" smiles Lyria as her gaze passes from Calvorn to the varim, "Thank Camendur you're back!"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:03, Mon 06 Mar 2023.

Falnis, who may or may not enjoy the attention of a human female rather less when Marabir is not around to be annoyed by it, nevertheless sends Lyria and her brother what looks to be a genuine smile.

"In the flesh, Lady Veldorn," Falnis agrees, with a flourishing bow.

"Yes, yes," Calvorn waves a dismissive hand, "We'll have plenty of time to thank Camendur in due course, but for now I believe we have a rescue to plan."

"Not to mention terms of payment."

Calvorn sighs resignedly.

"Of course. How could we possibly forget that?"

"One does feel for your budget, Calvorn, but alas, experience has shown that everyone is so much more agreeable to sorting out these pesky details before the job is done rather than after. Shall we agree on standard mercenary rates, or would you be wanting to purchase additional services, such as my insight into helping you with your planning for that rescue?"

Calvorn frowns, but he can't disagree with Falnis' logic, so at length he shrugs.

"Standard mercenaries do not plan?" he argues.

Falnis smiles, tilting his head slightly to one side.

"Calvorn, Calvorn. Do you mean you will be wanting my insight into your rescue plans, but you are hoping enough goodness exists in my heart that I will not be charging you for it? I suppose," Falnis' gaze strays to Lyria, "if the Royal budget is stretched-- though why it should be with Thanian tax rates these days is something of a mystery-- I could muster up enough goodness in me to offer you a 50% discount, since this is a noble cause. 3,000 now, 3,000 when the job is done."

Calvorn has the distinct impression that Falnis has discerned Calvorn is not the one who usually handles negotiations with hiring mercenaries, and he is being blatantly fleeced.

Calvorn may not be regarded as an authority on mercenary rates, but even he can see that this is a bad deal.

"I'll make you a deal," he says evenly, "These rescues seem to be adding up, and yes, the Royal budget is stretched. I will offer you 4,000 carens in return for your services for the next two days. I can offer you whatever is left in here up front," he upends his gemstone pouch to drop an emerald and two amethysts into Falnis' hand. "Let's call it 1,000 carens worth. And the rest will have to be a debenture. Deal?"
This message was last edited by the player at 11:58, Mon 06 Mar 2023.

Falnis does his best to look disappointed instead of smug that he is getting twice the going rate for mercenaries (albeit not half more up front.)

"I think I can probably make that work, Calvorn," he smiles. "I assume you have no objections to writing out an IOU, in the event-- may Larethna prevent it from occurring-- that you yourself don't survive the rescue? I doubt either of Their Highnesses is likely to take my word for it that they owe me 3,000 carens without that to prove it."
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:57, Mon 06 Mar 2023.

"Well, you'll have a good incentive to make sure I stay alive then, won't you?" Calvorn replies unhelpfully, turning to Larend and Lyria and the others.

"I appreciate your desire to help, all of you," he says not bothering to sound sincere, "However rescuing the princes will require stealth and silence and no matter our numbers we won't succeed in overcoming the town by force. Falnis and I will handle the matter. All of you just wait here and try not to get yourselves spotted."

His tone suggests that this last bit might be asking a bit much.

Falnis looks mildly disappointed to be denied his IUO, but not surprised.

Look on the bright side, Calvorn, he signs. This is an inter-human conflict. I'm sure the men trying to spot them will be just as bad at doing that as they will be at hiding.

Calvorn seems to see the logic of this and gives a subtle nod of acknowledgement.

"We will need to wait for the cover of nightfall," he says out loud, "Sunset won't be more than a few hours and we will have a much better chance of slipping in undetected."

"Not to mention sneaking out with Their Highnesses after," Falnis agrees, in the tone of one who thinks this is much more to the point. "One assumes you are all plentifully supplied with blankets and/or cloaks, by the way, and intend to use those to keep yourselves warm while you hide; nobody here plans to light fires for that purpose?"

"We have cloaks," Larend assures the varim, as Vandal, who has just appeared from the far side of the hollow, glances sheepishly down at the pile of firewood he is carrying before surreptitiously placing the pile behind the trunk of a nearby oak tree.

"Wonderful," Falnis says dryly. "Well, in the spirit of leaving in two hours, now that has been sorted, Calvorn, I will be getting some rest," Falnis says, vaulting up to the branches of one of the oak trees and rapidly disappearing into the darkness of the interlocking branches. "Scream if you need me, yes? Otherwise, call me when you are ready to leave."

Calvorn watches Falnis disappear into the branches above, before glancing at the still visible firewood protruding from behind the trunk of the oak, then finally at Lyria's brother who stares back at him glumly. The ranger shakes his head as he slumps himself against the trunk of Falnis' tree and closes his eyes.

"I really don't get paid enough for this."

OOC: End of Chapter VI...