Port village, Ashfeld. Night/Rain
The mercenary has a dagger stuck to his neck to his left side, struggling violently and his mouth wrapped by a hand of a peacekeeper to keep him silence of alerting others. The raindrops are hitting on both of them, the man is still struggling to get her off but the peacekeeper pulled the dagger quickly before she shoves the blade into his neck again, whimpering through the gloved hand muffling. Blood is pouring on her gloves, she got the dagger out and shoves him on the ground. She wipes the dagger through her sleeves looking up of the horizon of a port village.
"Come on I don't have all day!"
"The wagon is full! We need wait for the next one!"
Mercy kept her head down and crouched over the bushes, searching for the voices until the voice came closer, stopping her tracks she moves the branches slowly to get a better view. Seeing two men wearing poncho raincoats and hoods wearing over their heads, holding torches.
"I hate this damn rain. I should be with my family tonight but no. We get a job out to collect shit in this fucking storm." The red eagle merc growled in frustration, walking with his friend to head back to the village.
"Hey relax. We'll be finished when you know it." The other man assured.
"Yeah. She hates me taking this job but hey. We need that supplies to fight the blackstones rats."
"Maybe you can take your family out of Ashfeld once we get that big payment."
"Yeah I hope. Let's get back to mess hall."
Mercy stops looking the two men as they enter the port village, she observe at the entrance with more Mercenaries guarding front with their crossbows, she needs to get a better look of the view. She leaves the side of the road getting out of the bushes, running through the woods to get to the large hill of a viewpoint so she can find their head leader name Amorges. Apollyon thinks if we kill him. We cut off the group with no leadership and they will turned against each other. She smirks at this, the others are still camping for further information, Liam is currently is keeping an eye out if their presence, she walks up to the hill to see liam wearing helmet to cover from the rain and Kanis is there with him as instructed to keep an eye of Liam.
"Find anything?" Liam said through his helmet. Mercy shifts her head at the warden.
"There's a lot of them. No sign of the leader either. He's probably hiding somewhere in those buildings or something." Mercy informed him.
"Shit. You're not thinking about finding him around the village?"" He said concerned.
"I am actually. I can move faster alone, once I find him and we can end this bounty hunt tonight, hopefully there's Intel that we're dealing with." She said serious.
"Do you know them or something?"
"Hell no. They just started killing us and now they are after us. I don't even know who they are or where they came from. And sorry to get you involved perv." She let out a snicker, he gave her a annoyed look but she can almost hear a chuckle from him.
He kneels down to look at the view with Mercy. She is kneels down as well l, letting the rain pouring on them. Both of them didn't talk for a minute as they observe the port village. Until he saw a captive is laying down the ground, he couldn't help to worry of the man situation. "H-Hey Mercy." He nudged her with his elbow. But she still kept looking at the village.
"What." She said to him but kept her eyes on the village as she sees people coming in and out of the buildings. She assumed that's the inn.
"There's a guy down there! In one of the cages, we gotta help him!" Liam exclaimed.
She gazes are the warden. "Are you crazy? There's alot of them, it's too risky to save someone right now! We came here to kill their leader." She spoke harshly.
"We can't just leave him though!"
She groans in frustration and looks at him fully. "Screw it. Fine. But he's your responsibility when we rescue that guy." She grumbles, getting up on her feet to head down. "Come on let's go free him."
Meanwhile... at the wilderness.
"Sofia. We looked everywhere outside the gates of Harrowgate. The search is pointless. We need to head back to the settlement. We can try tomorrow." The iron knight said to her as they are standing in the middle of the woods, holding a torches around to brighten the area around them, Jacques is walking up to the commander, he lays his hand on her shoulder.
"I can wake up in the first morning to look for him. I'll have my squad to volunteer to go further look among the colonies." He suggested to her, who is quiet during the search. It doesn't help the rain is making it worse to find his tracks.
"No. Let's not waste time searching for him. We need to focus on the blackstones and finding them tomorrow." Malcolm argued with them.
"The blackstones can wait damn you!" Jacques snapped at him.
Sofia was stood silently with her body taking shelter under a dark fur cloak with its hood rested upon her head. The shadow and heavy rainfall covered the saddened yet frantic look within her eyes. How could have stone just vanished ? It wasn't like him to get this drunk and wander off. Her mind was going a mile a minute, and the arguing just made it worse.
"He has to be out here...he has to be.." Sofia silently muttered to herself in a hopeless tone as she lowered her head. "Stone is a Sheriff of the Iron Legion, and he will not be left to die like an animal. Tomorrow, we will assemble a search team to find Stone..." Sofia finally spoke to break her unending silence as she casted a glance at Malcom, one that showed a raw mix of emotions.
"Listen commander no offense to your missing sheriff. He was not suitable to work anyway. We can always find replacement." Malcolm replies to her comment harshly, Edmund is seen walking up to the group, wearing his coat to protect from the rain.
Sofia was nowhere in the mood to bicker and argue, she was drained completely today and merely sighed at his comment as she shook her head, looking away from him as she did so. "These are no time moronic comments, "Commander". Stone is one of my most skilled men, and if not my most trusted man and I will not stand by and let him die. My word here is final, do remember-it was you who said both you and Edmund were guests in the settlement of Harrowgate..." Sofia then sharply reminded him, her gaze was simply set dead ahead with nothing but a look drained of any emotion.
"She's right. We are guest in the colonies of South region. Our priorities is to look for a mission iron knight. We are not savages." Edmund spoke up from this, standing in front of them.
"This is bullshit. We are going waste our time on a missing sheriff??!." Malcolm angered by this.
"Let's head back everyone. Your commander needs rest, we will keep searching tomorrow like he said." Edmund replied to the group and the iron knights standing with them. He finally looks at his associate. "Malcolm. The blackstones can wait. Our objective is to find him."
"Fine." Malcolm scoffs at this, started walking back.
Stone is laying on the cold mud g ground nothing but cuts and bruises on his face and body that can be seen through his half rip shirt. He doesn't know where he is.. He was knocked out twice. Nothing but torture from a Mercenary that Malcolm hired and now they are turning their back's on him. He swears if he sees him. He will kill him, he did not care. Shit... Sofia is probably looking for him and she doesn't know his situation, well fuck... He can't do nothing in this situation.
"Pssst."
He felt a poke on his back, he tries swing it away, it's probably the Mercenaries want to pick him off.
"Psst hey! Wake up!"
He turns his back who was whispering him, he slowly opens his eyes to see a Blackstone peacekeeper and her armor is doned with orange and black dyes.
"S-Stone?! W-What are you doing here!??!" Mercy said in shock as she looks at the injured conqueror with no armor or anything, just his standard clothing.
"Mercy?" Stone fully gets up, embraces the prison bars. Looking at the peacekeeper. "Thank god! Man am I glad to see you!" He said with a relief, Mercy is trying to picklock the pad to get him out...
"Those bastards. The commander of the west, Malcolm? Yeah. He hired goons to kidnap me out!" He said growingly.
"Same. They kidnapped three of us and killed them one by one. They are good with their tactics of kidnapping people." She answered but mix with frustration in her tone of attempt breaking the lock.
Warden is coming up to them and he sees Mercy finally picking the lock, Stone is getting out of the cage. Stone sees the new guy looking at him. "Hey. I'm Liam." He greeted and got his hand out to shake. And Stone shook his hand.
"Liam huh? I'm Stone and I am forever grateful to be saved by you both!" He grinned but he groaned in pain clutching his lowrt side of his body.
"Take him out of here. I'll find the leader in this village." She said coldly to them standing in the rain.
"Be careful when you're looking around!" He whispered to her before he takes his leave with Stone to find a safety spot.
Mercy nodded at him before she looks back at the alleyway, she crouch down and stays against the walls, walking up close to the streets until she saw a wagon that stopped her tracks, she stayed close to the shadows looking around to her left and right if the coast is clear, she sprinted forward towards the building and hugged the wall behind her back, breathing heavily. She gazes at the building across to her that is next to the mess hall building, she assumes the leader is there and maybe some information to gather of where their hideout is.
Mercy opens the door slowly, she takes a peak closely around the inn, there's nothing but empty tables and chairs and the bar is empty as well, two windows in the right side, the glass is covered by the rain. She closes the door behind her as she enters inside the inn. Wiping her sleeves and clothes to be dry, looking around as she sees upstairs of rooms. She walks forward to walk up the stairs to look for some information.
As she looks at straight forward and sees a door open, she walks in and peaking around before she sees a bed, a few barrel in the corner and bags laying around on the mattress and seeing a table that has a candle litting up the table area. She walks up to the table, moving the books and trying to look around of information, grabbing papers one by one as she inspects them before she puts them aside. No sign of the leader.
She grabs a letter from the table, opening it up slowly and unfolds the paper, she carefully reads it.
Hey Amorges. It's been awhile since I received your letter, how's things going in Ashfeld? Must be a big deal that your hunting the blackstones for a damn money, such a shame I'm not there to participate in your big game. Hey check this out. would you believe that I found a Blackstone as well? Yeah! We had fun with her for awhile and we kept her for a month till those bastards came and ambushed us. Snyder's gang, fucking killed half of my group and they probably took the girl. Shit... We could've kept her. Anyways you should come by at the cabin lodge at dolo plains. I'm always there. Stay safe and good hunting on the Blackstones.- Bastion"This was a month old..." She mutters to herself.
They found a blackstone? What? She decided to keep the letter for more information about it, she shoves the paper into her satchel and she digged to search any Intel of where their hideout is.
Hey Amorges. The main camp is getting flooded from this rain. We're moving tomorrow morning at secluded keep got a new campsite. Meet us there.
"Perfect... I got you now." She smirked at this, folding the letter and shoves into the satchel bags. Taking a map of the place of where they are heading, she got everything ready. She was about to leave until she saw her again... The peacekeeper leaning against the doorframe, spinning the dagger around.
"We gotta stop meeting like this." Grace said coldly, getting off her back from the doorframe walking up to Mercy with her dagger. "Who are you here with Blackstone? And don't lie to me."
"It just me." She poorly lied but it caused Grace to chuckled, circling around each other.
"Why do you insist keep on lying blackstone? I gave you a offer to let you live and now..." She stopped her tracks to face the Blackstone, getting her other sword out. "You wasted that opportunity."
"Yeah? Maybe you should've killed me earlier this morning or. You should've stayed the hell out of our way." Mercy said hissed, getting her swords out as well.
Grace lunged at Mercy with her shortsword, Mercy saw this coming when the blade is going straight towards, she dodges out of the way and the blade stabs the wooden wall, Mercy raises her sword to slash her but Grace gather her momentum by moving her dagger and it cuts of Mercy's helmet, making a Metallic scratching nosie across her face helm causing small sparks to come out. Mercy got out of the way putting her gloved hand on her face helmet for quick second before she saw Grace getting her sword out of the wall and she swings at her dagger at Mercy in roaring, she ducked down and she saw another blade coming across of the right, she dodged her head back, Grace spun around and kicking Mercy on her gut causing Mercy to shoved on the wall.
Mercy quickly gather herself and she blocks her sword on the middle and she shoved her shortsword across the room where the door is, Graces swung the blade to cut her throat but Mercy blocks it once again and she shoves both of her hands on the hilt to stab her in the gut but she moved her body to the side, it stabbed on the wall, Mercy backhanded her across the face while using her shortsword, Grace grabbed her jaw through her face mask, glaring at her in full hatred, she grabs the dagger and pulls it out of the wall, she charges and clashes Mercy of nothing but clanking nosies and sparks coming out of their blade whenever they clash.
Mercy got sword out of her grasp until she hears shouting coming from the downstairs, the red eagle... They're here. Grace must've warned them. She looks at Grace once more through her visor, standing there chuckling and she points at her dagger at the Blackstone.
"I suggest you should start running. We'll meet again." She said as she kept on chuckling through her face mask. "SHE'S IN HERE!! A BLACKSTONE INFILTRATING US!" She roared across the room.
Mercy turned her back by opening up the window behind her, she climbs out of the window and the rain started to hit on Mercy's clothing, looking around in the village as she started to hear bells going off, she jumps out of the inn, landing in impact on the muddy street's.
"Fuck!!" She groaned, laying on the muddy paths, clutching to her side in pain. She gets up by pulling herself on her other arm, she limped as fast she can, battling through the pain.
"There she is!! She's running out of the village!" A voice can be heard shouting behind her.
She quickly limped as she almost makes to towards the woods until a dog pounced at her, falling on the ground of mud from the rain as she let out of horrifying scream as the dog bitting through her sleeves savagely, blood is staring to come out, She got her dagger out from her sheathe and stabs the dog side, the dog yelped in pain, getting on her feet to run off to the forest, she can hear the shouting behind her but she kept running as fast she can.
After a few minutes, She is letting out rapidly pants as she limped and half running through the forest. She stopped for a second to look for something. But she quickly looks through her bag to see the letters if she still has it, she unfolds the paper and reads it quickly, it's the missing blackstone and but she dugs her hand to search for more but it's empty...
"No no no no." She mutters to herself, digging through her satchel but the note was gone... She must've dropped it when the gaurd dog pounced at her. "No. No. NO!! DAMN IT!" She yelled in frustration, throwing her bag on the ground. She literally had the information in front of her! Fuck... She can't believe she lost it.. at least she has the place she know...
Harrowgate, Ashfeld. Morning/Rain
Eve is sitting at the table eating with her father across each other eating their breakfast, it's morning but the sky is grey with no clouds around, still raining heavily like yesterday night. Jacques eats his remaining food.
"How did the search go?" Evelyn said concerned, haven't touched her eggs with her spoon, she gazes at her father.
"So far nothing. But I have to go back and search for him more, I promised Sofia." He said to her.
"You're going back?" She said in suprised. "But father. You been going in this non stop since yesterday. You should rest fully!"
"I can't. Sofia is determined to look for Stone, I don't blame her." He said frowning.
"I can't imagine what's she going through, I liked Stone. He was fun to have around but now he's missing." She said softly, she doesn't know how to feel about it, it's like a big shock to her that a person went missing that she used to know.
"I liked Stone as well, I will not be around Harrowgate all morning. I'm going be outside once again to find him with my troops." He replied getting up from his chair to clean his plate.
"Should i volunteer to find Stone as well? I'm old enough like Travis. I can help you so we can find find him together." She said.
"No. Just sit this one out, it's too risky and you need to focus on your work in the legion." He said as he washes the plate in the sink.
"Ok." She gets up as well, she grabbed the plate that she never touched the food, she's going to give Mia of her. She wants to tell her father that she has a friend name Mia and she is in love with her but she doesn't want to risk it. "Hey father?"
"What is it Eve."
I-... Have a friend and she wants to join our legion." She wanted to say that she came from a Blackstone legion but her father wouldn't approve her because she's affiliated with the Blackstone so she had to lie in front of her father, feeling guilt. "Is it ok if she join?"
"It depends. Where she came from exactly?" He said washing the plate.
"Well. I don't know much perhaps if you talk with her and maybe she would give you the answers?" She said nicely, looking at her father. "I can have her under my wing If you let me!"
He sighs at this as he puts the plate away and glances at her before he takes his leave to go out in a searching party to find Stone. "Have her meet me in the academy in the afternoon. I'll come back during that time. So for now, she's your responsibility till she's fully a Templar." He said walking out of the door, closes behind him..
"I-I will!! Thank you!" She said out loud to make sure that he heard her, but she is smiling at this that Mia has a possibility to join.
"What the hell happened to your arm."
"A dog fucking bit me. Can't you believe that?"
Mercy is sitting at the log getting patched by Liam, he is wrapping the bandages on her arm to cover the wound, Apollyon and others are sitting down in a campfire away from the outskirts of the port village, Mercy hissed in pain as she watched her arm getting tied up of the bandage's.
"It will do for now. But. It's only much I can do." Liam said to her, she nodded and take her wounded arm away back to her place.
"Did you find any Intel? Their leader?" Holden replies to her but Mercy shooked her head.
"I- I had the information in my bag, the location of where they are but I was alerted and the guard dog came out of nowhere attacked me, I must've dropped it when I was running away." She curses herself, gripping her fist.
"Yeah good luck with that. They already know who you are and your stuck with us." She scoffed.
"I thank you guys for saving me but. I need to head back to Harrowgate." Stone spoke loudly to them, getting up from the log to find his direction.
"Yeah good luck with that. They already know who you are and your stuck with us." She snorts.
Stone stopped his tracks to look at Mercy. "Hey man. I didn't ask for anything of this, I just want to go home and be on my bed." He said tiredly.
"Just let him. After all we saved him from the trouble." Liam said softly.
"There you go see!? Liam. Your a life savior! You know that? I might consider you as my new best friend, look I'll be fine on my way towards Harrowgate." Stone said assuredly to her.
"It doesn't change the fact that a iron commander and hired mercenaries are after you." She said to him in a serious tone.
"Shit..." Stone rubbed his temples and started to groan in frustration, he's basically stuck with them for the time being. She may be right, if he goes back and the iron commander of the west will kill him. "Guess I don't have a choice don't I?"
"Afraid not. I need to go notify the master of the letter." She said to the group.
"She's waiting for you actually. She's hoping for a good answers." Holden said letting out a sad smile.
"Yeah. Thanks." She said tiredly, getting up from her log and started walking away from the group.
She walked towards Apollyon's direction , she's leaning her back against the tree watching the horizon of the port village, she expecting for good answer? She doesn't know what to say, this was not like Valkenheim of them used to be strong, being the best of the best. But now? They were not strong enough like they used to be.
"Master. And hello deathbringer." She greeted to the both, she did a small bow before she got into her usual standing. "My task of finding the leader was long gone before I arrived but I had a information but I dropped it during the attack."
Apollyon was simply at behind her desk, her helmet was rested upon her desk and off to the side. When she heard Mercy enter the tent, her gaze would slowly look up from her book and at Mercy. "That is most unfortunate news, Mercy..but it is good that you were able to at least see some information while there. Tell me, what did it say upon the letter you dropped ?" Apollyon asked in a simply calm tone as she pressed her hands together upon her desk.
Kanis was stood beside Apollyon's desk as usual with his arms rested within his dark and draping cloak, his gaze was set ahead at the entrance of the tent in pure silence. But knowing Kanis, he was definitely listening in on their conversation.
"Something about their camp being flooded from the storm and moving somewhere deep in secluded keep." She is trying to remember the letter of what it said. "But I only have this." She goes through her satchel bag and she found a letter. But It was crumbled. "There's a guy he communicated with a month back. It's the only lead for now but its unimportant." She hands it to her master.
Apollyon began to read the letter Mercy had handed her, un-crumbling it to read it better. "Amorges...what an interesting name. He must be an important one.." Apollyon spoke as she read on, her eyes calmly reading the letter word for word. "A female Blackstone...found a month ago..." She mumbled to herself as she placed a hand to her chin at the brutal manner they had treated this woman.
Hearing the mention of a Blackstone woman found a month ago made his head turn to the two women, deep within him he had a really bad feeling of who this woman was..
"Now this is just too ironic..." Kanis spoke out loud finally to the two.
Mercy looks at Kanis in suprised. But she looks back at Apollyon. "He must be close to Amorges. but dolo plains is far away at the untamed lands from here. I may have dropped the letter but at least we know where they're heading." She answered.
"Excellent" Apollyon spoke, her gaze had been fixated upon Kanis after he had spoke his words. "Its how convenient that we met that man before. Snyder." Apollyon came to say as she then looked back to Mercy, her gaze was simply just as calm as ever.
"Snyder? We met him didn't we? Back at the tavern when we're going after the smugglers. Didn't know the red eagle Mercenaries has rivals." She said serious.
"So it seems we aren't the only ones with a common enemy..."Apollyon came to say as she brought an metal claw to her chin, obviously dwelling in her thoughts about the current situation. "Maybe, Snyder and his men have their own intel.."
"This is too much of a coincidence, it has to be her-right ?" Kanis thought out loud, he was pondering heavily about this and did not notice he silently said it out loud. He then went back to his pondering in silence as his gaze simply looked elsewhere within the tent.
"I guess we can find out more information about it once we go back home." Mercy said once more before she takes her leave, gripping her bandage arm. She looks at Kanis who lost in his thoughts but she's too tired to talk with anybody, but all she knows needs rest and regroup with the others.
"Well I got news for you. My father wants to meet you this afternoon. And be warned-Oh...Oh! I thought you were asleep still." Evelyn stammering as she sees Mia working out.
Mia was in the middle of working out when Evelyn came downstairs. To say Mia wasn't covered in sweat was an Understatement. With the limited amount of clothing she was wearing many of her scars were visible some on her stomach and others scattered around her. Her abs yes she had abs had large scar an indication of a previous injury that was very life threatening. "Oh hey Eve what's up!?"
"AH!" Evelyn screeched and turns around quickly so she won't look. W-Where you get that many injuries? BUT I wasn'tlookingatthewrongway I swear!" She said quickly at her words hiding herself into her hands.
"Eh...Eve I was a slave and I grew up on the streets I'm lucky I don't have anymore." She said with a laugh as she grabbed towel to wipe herself down. "Have I scared you forever?" She teased.
"S-So. All these things you said when we first met. Was true!? I-I thought that- what.. I thought it was a tale you wanted to impress me o-or something! Oh my..." Evelyn started to mutter herself. "I'm so stupid, I didn't know everything you said is true."
"Eve I've never told you a lie I've said this many times I don't like lying." Mia said with a sigh as she sat down on her bed.
"I'm sorry. It just I couldn't help it." Evelyn turn's around to face Mia, she walks up to her and sat down next to her on the bed. "Well, I got news for you though!" She smiles at her friend.
"Its ok I'm not judging you." Mia said happily as her face lit up. "Oh what's the news!" She asked excitedly.
Evelyn holds her Mia both of her hands in front of her. "My father said I can take you under my wing by doing work with me for trials! But he wants to speak with you in person before you join!" She squealed in excitement.
"What will he want to talk about? My past or something or my past experience?" Mia asked curiously as she was obviously excited beyond belief.
"Well he wants to know your past so that's a start but he literally wants to know everything about you! But don't tell him your from the blackstone, he doesn't appreciate them so start with a clean slate." Evelyn explained.
"I can't even tell him that I was a slave? I didn't want to be a Blackstone not ever." Mia said with a frown.
"I mean... Why don't you start over? Not mentioning from your past? Like a fresh start, you have a house and you live with me." Eve is still holding her hands but she rubbed her thumbs on top of her hand. "If you want to mention you that you were a ex slave. that's fine. I'm sure he would understand of your captivity in the blackstone." She said softly.
"This honestly can be a fresh start for me in a way. But I can't hide my past forever Evelyn I'll have to mention it or it will come up at a really bad time." She smiled when they held hands. "This is what I'll do. Ill come out clean as to who I am but I am Not a blackstone I despise everything about that legion. I just want what's best for you and me and if I come out clean I see that as the best option. Im a girl who grew up on the streets I was brought in by the ace company then enslaved. I hated life in that legion until I was freed. I wanted a fresh start on life and here I am."
She listened to Mia's words as she looks at her in sad but mix with a happy look, it is true of what she said. She does want what's best for her and Mia. "Ok." She nodded to her words. But smiled at her. "You know. You amazes me with your words. Like you give a good speech. It makes you attractive." She teases her.
"What can I say I have a way with words." Mia said with a sly grin. "You know I try my best for you."
"Psh stop being cute you big flirt. You need to be presented when you meet the grandmaster of the legion also known as my father." She snorts, but yet still smiling. She falls down on the mattress to look at the ceiling.
"Right! Ill take a bath and make sure im all cleaned up. Ill shine and clean my armor and put on my nicest standards!" Mia said triumphantly as she raised a fist into the air confidently.
"That's the spirit!" She sits up from the bed, raises both of her fist into air and grinning. "You can do it! I gotta go anyways to do some courier work at Harrowgate. My part time job besides the templar legion work. Tell me how that goes!" She said to her before she takes her leave to go upstairs.
"I've got some work to do in the meantime before I meet him" Mia said as she had to get cleaned up and get her stuff ready.
Evelyn went to the kitchen to grab her bag and but she decided to keep wearing her uniform of Templar, she strapped thing around her shoulders, she approaches to the door to open, once she opened it and she saw a iron commander standing at her steps.
"Oh hey commander Malcolm! Can I help you!" She grinned at him, but Malcolm didn't find this amused.
"I'm looking for your grandmaster. Your father, any idea where he go?" Malcolm said impatiently.
"He's out looking for Stone but he's coming back an hour for his break. Do you need something from him?" She said to him.
"I do. But I rather not state my business to you. No offense to the daughter of the grandmaster, let him know that I need to have a chat with him." Malcolm said before he walks down the steps to walk at sidewalk, marching away.
"W-Wait. Is miss Sofia ok?" She spoke loudly to get his attention.
"Why don't you ask her yourself you damn peasant!" He spat while marching away before he's long gone.
"Ok..? That was rude." She mutters in annoyance, closes the door behind her to go to her work but she gazes at the commander that he is talking with the two people that she doesn't recognize before, he is cursing at them both and stomped his boot on the ground, the other stranger glances at her in suspicious including the commander but she gasped and quickly leaves to go back to her to notify Mia, pretending that she didn't see them.
"H-Hey Mia! When you finish talking to my father! let's have a meal together later!" She said loudly but luckily there are people walking in the streets but she didn't like the two were giving her the eye, she shouldn't never looked at them.
Mia had just gotten out of the bath she was very quick and was currently putting on her cleaned armor when Evelyn came back downstairs. "Sure! What do you think out Namielle's new look?" Mia asked as she picked up the matchlock rifle it already looked nothing like it did originally it used much darker wood and silver accented metal instead of gold for a much sleeker look. Mia's armor was the cleanest and shiniest it has been in a long time. "How do I look?"
"I like it! You look really great!" She quickly glances at the commander and the two mysterious men at the street corner that she saw but they were long gone. She swore she felt uncomfortable when they were giving her the look. She looks back at Mia. "Well I gotta go. I'll catch you later!" She was about to leave until she stopped.
She quickly walk to Mia and gave a kiss on her cheek. "Forgot to do that." She smiles sweetly at her, holding her bag. Mia smiles at this and Eve takes her leave.
"After hours and hours. Still no lead on Stone..." Jacques said muttering to himself walking back towards the gates of Harrowgate with his templar troops.
"We're all trying our best, he just vanished out of thin air, something is not right don't you think?" Serene said as she is walking with Jacques.
"My guts is telling me that he deserted. That's my only answer of all this, probably doesn't want to be found." Jacques answered.
"Good luck telling the commander of giving up the search for Stone. She's wants to find him really bad." Serene pointed out.
"I know. She hasn't sleep, she wouldn't talk with nobody. She just isolated herself in her office since yesterday." He sighed.
"Wyot and you should-"
"Grandmaster Jacques! I need to have a word with you!" Malcolm said out in the distance as he is walking up to the gates of Harrowgate, it is being opened by the templar troops.
"You need to convice your commander to get her shit together! Or I'm taking her rank off to get permission from Beaufort headquarters!" He yells at Jacques, walking up to him.
"Would you take it easy on her? She's mourning in her office, can you blame her? Her close friend is missing." Jacques said glaring at him.
"I don't give a damn about that, tell her or I'm going to take action in Harrowgate!" He spat, walking away from the gates.
"That man is rude."
"Yeah tell me about it." Jacques said once more, walking towards the gate with his squad.
Soon the man came into view range. A brilliant white tunic and cape billowed as he rode towards the gates. A white kite shield on his left arm, black crosses emblazoned on the kite shield, tunic and cape. Eventually the man made it through the gates into the fort, giving it a quick look around.
"Talus. Anything happened at your end?" Jacques nodded at him with respect of his friend, stopped his tracks in front of the gates and the troops including Serene went ahead inside Harrowgate.
Talus nodded to his close friend and master "I has't hath found nay troubles in the west grandmast'r. Only brigands whom I dispatched quickly" The teutonic knight replied as he hopped off his horse turning back to Jacques "Wh're is evelyn? i wisheth to seeth how much the lady hast grown?"
"She's at her home probably going to her job as a courier you'll see there! Always running around to deliver letters, she's doing great though, working hard as ever to be a great Templar like me." Jacques said as he smiles at talus.
Talus pat his brother in arms on his shoulder "P'rhaps i'll go payeth the troublemak'r a visit" He said cheerfully as he walked away, turning back to add one more thing on "Ah and we wilt talketh of mine own promotion lat'r" He gave Jacques a wave before setting off to find Evelyn.
"Of course talus, your promotion will talk after I have a meeting with one of Eve's friends. Come. We must gather our strength to find one of the missing commander of Harrowgate." Jacques patting him on the shoulder as well. Walking inside the gates.
Talus tilted his head "Missing commander? What hath transpired?" He asked curiously
"Stone. He's a commander of the Harrowgate, he hasn't been seen since yesterday morning, he just... Vanished. Me and the others have been looking for him non stop." Jacques said frowning, walking at the sidewalk with his friend as they enter Harrowgate.
Talus sighed and looked down as they walked, thinking for a moment"Then it shouldst beest imp'rtant for someone to guardeth evelyn, less the lady wend missing too" Talus said worriedly.
"I know. That's what I'm worried as well." Jacques said serious.
"Forth now let us meet this friend of hers. Then we shalt talk to her" Talus said, back to his cheerful tone of voice
Jacques is approaching to the building of Templars and his friend talus went to find Evelyn to talk with her to catch up. It's been awhile since they talked but it was good to see him, he is walking up the small steps till he saw a girl sitting at the courtyard, he assumes thats her that Eve was talking about. He adjust his armor and coat of the templar uniform. He stopped his tracks in front of Mia.
"Are you friends with my daughter I presume?" Jacques said to the knight.
Mia saw Jacques approach her and she had a mini panic attack as she got herself together and stood up taking her helmet off. "Yes sir I'm Mia its a pleasure to meet you this evening." She said politely.
By the way she carried herself and most undoubtedly her armor along with a sword and what looked like a very customized rifle over her shoulder Mia was definitely experienced in her fields. "You are correct there I've been speaking with Evelyn about joining the templars for a while now."
"Interesting. What makes you want to join the templars? Tell me about yourself." Jacques said to her looking at the garden that the workers doing before he glances at her to hear about her.
"I'm looking for a fresh start. I haven't had the greatest of experiences you could say." Mia said with a deep sigh as she began to explain who she was.
"I was a homeless kid by the age of six fighting for myself for some odd years. I was brought into a smaller company of Knights known as the Ace company i'm sure you've heard things about them. Anyways I was with them for another few years and I guess you could say that was the most normal life I've lived. That is until our leader lost a duel to Apollyon.." Mia sucked up a deep breath as she continued. "Me and my friends were enslaved like dogs used as their personal play things. Killing and raping us without a care in the world. I was freed by one of them and stuck around for a little until my former friends turned against me." She pointed to the scar on her face. "I didn't want anything to do with that sick legion anymore I couldn't take it so I've abandoned them for good." She was hoping she didn't raise any red flags.
Jacques sits there in shock and suprised, he gathered his brain like it was on reboot of what she said.
"That's a lot to take in. That you were slave for the Blackstone, I am sorry for your experience in your captivity with them, no one should experience that. And yes I heard of the ace company years ago when I was a knight rank close friend's with the second grandmaster in Ashfeld but I didn't know you tangled with them for awhile, But I see. You were slave for the Blackstone. The only person I can tolerate is Mercy who saved Eve from the Vikings. I was grateful for that." Jacques answered in frowned and looks back at the garden.
"You seem like a good kid with potential, but I do hope your intentions will be good for the Templars and my daughter Eve. Who will be working with you." He replied.
"Mercy was the one who helped me actually. All I want to do is the right thing and being with the Blackstones won't be that." She looked down briefly and sighed. "I hope you'll accept me." Mia said hopefully.
Mia couldn't help but let a tear or two out this was the start she wanted. "Thank you! I won't let you down." She said with pure excitement as she looked at the new armor and Uniform.
"I know you won't Mia. And Eve seems has great fond with your presence around til she told me, never seen her smile that much." Jacques smiles through his helmet looked at Mia once.
"We get along well yeah." She smiled and looked down at her current gear It was old and worn down so she was grateful for new equipment. "I should go tell her the news."
"Go ahead. I know she would go crazy about it. Anyways I'll see you tomorrow." He nodded before he takes his leave to go back inside the academy, leaving Mia alone at bench.
Mia nodded and smiled. "Thank you once again!" She said before running off with her new armor and Uniform back to Evelyns place.
At Evening...
Evelyn opens the door in front of her and closes the door behind her, she sits one of the chair nearby to take off her boots one by one until she is barefoot. She is tired all day from working. She goes to the kitchen and sets her bag on the table and grabs some vegtables and ingredients to start cooking, she takes a pot and sets it. Her father is staying overnight with talus to catch up with his friend. It was nice to meet talus during her work. She ties her hair into a ponytail and started to get work of cooking.
Eve cuts down the vegetables with a kitchen knife, grabbing a tomato next to her, cutting into slices before she cuts into pieces, before she grabs a bread to cut some slice for herself to eat until she cut herself on her palm by accident that her hand was grabbing the bread.
"Damn it! Ow-Ow-Ow! Ouch!" *She goes went to grab some cloth from the table and putting on the cut to stop the bleeding that flowing down. She goes to the sink to wash the wound, as dumb it is but hopefully helps.
"M-Mia?! Are you in here?!" She said whimpered but she controlling her emotions, wrapping the cloth around her hand. Walking towards the basement door opening it and she heads downstairs.
"Mia? Do you have bandages? I cut my hand by accidental, I know I was clumsy-" Evelyn said before she looks at the entire room that she isn't there, shes probably still in a meeting with her father or went our for something.
"Oh shit. Shes not here. Where's the damn- oh there it is " She sees the rolls of bandages in the corner that is stack with crates that she forgot to unload it, she snatched the bandage and started to wrapping it around her hand to get finished back at cooking the soup.
"Ah- Careful damn it!..."
"Jesus... That mutt took chunk out of you." Roberts grimaced unwrapping the bandage on her arm on her ripped sleeves.
Mercy is back at the blackstone camp after a long travel from the port village and gathering Intel that went wrong, she is currently sitting on a chair inside a large medic tent from a doctor. Roberts, the one was serving rations before to the camp before.
"How bad is it?" She breathed in hysterically, she doesn't want to see her bite wound.
"Well. Whoever patched you up, kinda worked for a bit but we need something. An alcohol to pour it to stop prevent infection and other wise you'll be fine." Roberts, leans back to gather an clean bandage and a alcohol set on the stand. "That dog must've been aggressive."
"Tell me about it..." She mumbles, Robert raises the bottle and pours a bit on her arm. She grunted in pain, gripping the chair to not to scream. Roberts put down the alcohol and starts wrapping the bandage on her arm.
"Never thought the red eagles can have trained dogs as their advantages, just be careful next time." Robert replies as he goes to back to his table to finish his reports.
"Thanks. I'll definitely do." She said tiredly, getting up from the chair holding her arm and walking out of the tent. seeing everyone outside doing their activities, Holden, Jacob and Davis are talking to each other but laughing towards another. Till she saw the warden walking up to her.
"Hey... How you holding up?" Liam said holding a canteen to drink. Mercy looked at him but she let's out a pain smile.
"Pain. I'm in a lot of pain. Would that answer your question?" She said but she let out a small groan clutching to her side that she fell jumped out of the window but landed in impact.
"You'll be fine. Aren't you like tough as nails?" He joked with her but she gave him a sharp glare.
"Ha. Ha. Ha. Very funny liam, don't joke around like that. Hehe- ow..." She chuckles before she clutches to her side again in pain.
"Well look at the bright side. Your alive, so it doesn't hurt to lighten up the mood!" Liam grinned.
"Have you been hanging out with Stone?" She looked at him in disgust expression.
"W-Well. He-He'e nice guy alright? We just became fast friends and talked...well..."
She came to an realize. "Ugh... You really are a perv! That Stone... You and him became something worse." She said in annoyance.
"Hey! I have a woman back home I like ok? I have zero interest in you. And trust me your not my type." Liam snorted.
"I'm not your type? I don't know I should be offended or glad, I thought we had something special Liam." She smirked at him.
"W-What? Of course we had something- no! Stop twisting my words woman!" Liam looks at her a angrily but hiding his blush, walking away from her.
"You're welcome! Hehe." She said chuckling, walking away as she goes to get rest in her tent.
"Heyo Sofia! I brought home made soup!" Evelyn said loudly, she's standing at Sofia's house and she's been there for a minute. "Come on Sofia! My father and I were worry about you! It's not healthy to isolate yourself. At least eat the soup and you'll feel better! Commander Stone wouldn't want you to be like this..." She frowned, holding the bowl of soup. Looking at Sofia's doorframe but no answer.
She leaves the bowl at her doorstep that is wrapped up incase if she opens the door and sees it, she walks down the steps to head back home till she a man sleeping on the bench, he has his head down snoring, and a sack bag is resting in the bench next to him. Evelyn didn't want to leave him there as he was sleeping, what if a person rob him? She doesn't want that. Evelyn walks up to the sleeping stanger.
"Uh sir? Wake up." She poked him lightly on his leather coat sleeves arm, she poked him again. "S-Sir. You need to wake up."
It was no use. This man is a heavy sleeper so she used booth of her hands to shake him to wake up. "Mister! You need to wake up!"
"Mm... what.." The stranger opened his eyes, gazing at the streets in front of him. But he closes his eye yet again.
"Sir you can't be sleeping outside! It's bad for you." Evelyn exclaimed.
"I'll take my chances." He muttering sleepily as he went to go back to his snoring.
She shoved home again to wake him but his eyes went open wide and looks at her angrily. "I said you-"
"Listen-I have a fucked up day. I don't need this for shit. Alright? Now beat it!" the stranger snapped.
"Oh... You smell like liquor. Have you been drinking..?" Evelyn said in disgust and covering her nose with her arm.
"That none of your business.. just leave me alone. I just want to sleep." Lucius said sternly.
"Well you can't sleep out in public. You can get in trouble." She said worriedly.
"I could care less if I get in trouble, let them." He said as he lays on the bench and pulling his hood over his face to cover.
"People go missing everyday kid. It's not the first time that I hear people goes vanish out of thin air." The stranger said tiredly but muffling through his hood
"Then you know what I'm talking about then?" Evelyn said correctly.
"If I were you. I would stop asking questions, that's how people gets snatched easily. Because they are closer than you think." He answered.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
The stranger sits up from his bench but still wearing his old hood. "Your sheriff right?" Eve nodded. "Why do you think he vanished?
"Wrong. My best answer for this? He probably got kidnapped. Don't ask me how. Because I know. I seen it happen a few times when people don't show up." He said
"You're wrong. That never happens here..." She said before she started to reply. "What makes you think your theory is true then? If your actually saying of what's true-"
The stranger gets from his bench and grabbing his sack bag, taking the alcohol bottle with him before he looks at her once more. "It happens everywhere, now Excuse me. I gotta drink my sorrows." He snorts walking away to head to the tavern at the corner.
"Well nice to meet you! I'm Eve by the way! And I'm pretty sure your theory is wrong!" She said loudly. But he ignores her as he keeps walking away, but she sees Sofia opening the door wearing her normal clothing. She looked at sofia smiling.
"Commander Sofia!! Hi!! I left you the soup at your door! My father and I was worrying about you that you been locked up in your isolation." Evelyn said worriedly.
As Sofia heard Evelyns jolly tone, she couldnt help but crack a small smile. She always enjoyed talking with the young peacekeeper.
"Good morning, Eve...I did get your soup and it was just as delicious as always!" She spoke with a small smile at the mention of the soup but it turned into a slight frown at hearing their worry. "I'm just busy is all...I'm peachy as can be..." Even if Sofia tried harder to make that seem like the truth, she wouldn't be able to. She was simply just a terrible liar.
"Oh ok! Just making sure commander! And oh there was a random homeless guy sleeping at the bench next to your house so I didn't want him to go vanished like Stone." She said assuredly.
"Wonder where he went off to...what did the man have to say when you spoke to him ?" Sofia simply asked before she gently rubbed her tired eyes with a gentle yawn, she had been up the past two days trying to find any evidence of stones location.
"Some mumbo jumbo that he was ranting that I didn't want to believe. He said something about a theory that Stone didn't magically vanished, he got kidnapped but it never happens here!" Evelyn answered. "He went to a tavern if you want to speak with him, he smelled like liquor UGH!"
"I'll speak to him...maybe he knows something we don't.." The smell of alcohol on someone didn't bother Sofia, she's had to deal with a men who smelled like that for years on end..
"Thank you though once again for the soup, I definitely need some more of it." Sofia said with a little smile to Evelyn and ruffled her hair. "I'll see you around, kiddo. I'll inform your father if I find anything out from this man.."
"Just giving you heads up though. He's a very stubborn old man." She chuckles, leaving to go back to her house.
"Theres a lot more things than a grumpy old man, I hope you'll never have to witness them.." Sofia silently said to herself as Evelyn walked away before she too headed for the tavern in silence and her hands placed behind her back and cloak.
As Sofia heads inside the tavern, she sees nothing but a few people inside sitting at the table chatting and drinking. It's a quiet day, but she gazes at the man who is sitting a trip counter who is sitting by himself, the sack is laying on the floor next to him and hooded cloak but his hood is off, and an old gladius is sheathed in his side. His eyes is closed for a minute resting his head against his arm, snoring softly to himself and a empty mug is resting on the counter.
As Sofia looked around, her eyes fell upon the drunken and sleeping man. What caught her attention most was the Gladius upon his side.
"This man was a Centurion..." She thought to herself, never in her life had she met a person of Roman descent or even a centurion. But, there's a first for everything.
"Excuse me, sir.." Sofia softly spoke as she approached the man. But holy lord was Evelyn not lying, he smelt purely of fresh whiskey.
"You're not in trouble or have done any wrong doing, I would just wish to have a word with you.."
He jumped a bit and looked at the commander and he sighs heavily, rubbing his temples out of tiredness. "What do you want." He said gruff tone, grabbing a mug and takes a look at it but it was empty. His rough beard and under his eyes like he hasn't slept for awhile, he leans his head against his arm once more to close his eyes for a minute
"The young Peacekeeper told me you two had chatted before about the disappearance of our Sheriff, Stone. Do you possibly know anything about his disappearance ? Maybe if he was actually kidnapped ?" Sofia then asked before she placed four pieces of steel down upon the bar and got herself a tankard of mead.
"Why would I care of someone disappeared, people goes missing everyday." The man said muttering tiredly to her, but his eyes still closed of resting.
"People do, but not someone as important as our Sheriff. I ask only because you said he could have potentially been kidnapped. But I could be wrong, wrong about the helping nature of the Roman people..." She then came to narrowly say to the man with her back rested against the bar before taking a sip from her tankard.
"I see the gladius in your sheathe, who are you really ?" Sofia then came to ask the drunken man.
"Who wants to know? And yeah it's my gladius. Never seen a roman before?" He raised his eyebow, opening his one to glance at her.
"Commander Sofia Valencia of the Iron Legion.." Sofia came to reply before she took an impressive gulp from her tankard.
"No, I haven't. I've only heard stories as a child about your people. I've heard rumors about a man in the Blackstone's being a Roman but, those rumors grew quiet." She spoke again before taking a drink again.
"Lucius, I used to be a centurion in the fourteenth legion. Came for a haven in Ashfeld till the war broke out and Vikings raided. It just me now. And rumors about a man of descent of roman? It's been decades since I heard one. It just old tales we were used to be." Lucius explains now fully awake. But still tired.
"I have always had respect for the Roman people, you all knew how to fight and how to treat a woman right.." Sofia then said her final words with a laid back chuckle as she leaned against the bar. "The culture and everything about the romans always caught my eye. But it's a privilege to meet a Roman like you, Lucius. But what brought you all the way here, to this state ? If you want, I could offer you a job in the legion..." Sofia offered Lucius.
He chuckled as he pulls the hood over his head. "We're just people like you. Nothing special, I don't want a job I'll be out of your hair soon I'm just kinda drifting place to place but I'll remember that and what brought me to this state?" Lucius paused before he takes a heavily sigh. "I had people who i used to be with till they passed. They are no longer with me, friends and legion. All gone. So it just me like I said, so I just wander around." He said quietly but looking at his mug in cold eyes.
"You can stay in Harrowgate as long as you please, Lucius." Sofia spoke as she raised her tankard to her lips, taking another sip of her tankard before placing it down upon the bar and crossing her arms with a slightly saddened sigh at his response. "The people you lost along the way, don't let the memories of them kill you...remember who they were and the great times you had together. I know what it's like, dealing with the past. Hell, I still am..." After the commander spoke her words, she then looked away from the Roman and simply at something else within the tavern.
Lucius shift his gaze at Sofia but looks back at the empty mug. He breathed through his nose but he frowned. He doesn't want to remember it as much he wants to. It pains when he wants to talk about it but he refuse. "When was the last time you spoke to your sheriff?" He asked.
Lucius went quiet for a minute but still looking at the empty mug until he looked around the tavern for a second but shift his eyes back at the counter in front of him. "There is a possibility that he did indeed got kidnapped, but I need to go where it started. Can you show me where he lives?" He looks at her.
If Sofia could say a million yes' at this moment she would, she was glad she could have another form of help, one that could surely have a good set of skills.
"Of course, come and follow me." She spoke again before finishing what was left in her tankard and sliding it back to the bark keeper before motioning for Lucius to follow as she began to head for the exit.
Lucius grabbed his bag from the floor and throws it around on his back carrying it, getting up from his clutching to his old hardened armor underneath his coat. Walking out the exit with her.
Lucius and Sofia arrived at Stone's building where he lives across from Sofia, standing in front of the steps. Lucius looks at the house and inspecting around, he walk up to the steps but carrying his sack on his back. He looks underneath him before he moves further, he saw dry blood stain on stone ground... That's caught his eye. He looks behind him but sofia is standing looking at him for answers.
He looks back at the stain. "Probably he did got kidnapped or killed him in the streets when they dragged him." He mutters to himself before he looks at Sofia. "Did he had enemies I should know of?" Lucius spoke while looking around.
Sofia's calm look would then turn to a slight look of concern after Lucius had hypothesized the situation.
"There's no way Vikings would sneak in just to take out Stone..." Sofia said, thinking out loud. "There is another commander who came from from the west to help us get rid of the Blackstone's, two weeks later he hires a group of mercenaries to help us get rid of the Blackstone legion, I doubt they would do this but something isn't right about them.."
"Stealth is not their option for the Vikings, they are ruthless and unpredictable. Mostly focus on raids." Lucius answered, walking back to Sofia and looking around any blindspot. "But mercenaries? That's unusual for the iron legion to hired outside. The west? I been there once before when I was traveling but never thought they come here, must be important if they arrived." Lucius explains to her, looks back at Sofia.
"Precisely, Viking's are too barbaric to do something like this.." Sofia replied, her gaze now focused upon the blood stain upon the ground.
"They came here to help rid of the Blackstone's due to their, small yet strong numbers..." She explained further, her gaze was still focused upon the blood stain, she could only wonder what happened to Stone..
"I'll look more into it, whatever they did to him. It was planned, could be someone who didn't like him or anything. If you have somebody who didn't like him, let me know. You have my word that I'll keep looking for your missing sheriff." Lucius said to her, clutching to his bag of supplies.
"You will be rewarded for giving a helping hand, Lucius..you have my word." Sofia then said to him with a nod.
"If you ever wish to chat or have any information on the situation, I'm always at the head building in my office.." Sofia then explained with her hands now simply rested behind her back.
"No need for reward, I don't mind helping. And duly noted, for now I need to look into this more. You can go and rest." Lucius replies, looks at her.
"You're not getting out of here without a reward, and that's final.." Sofia said then with a little playful smirk to Lucius. "Thank you though once again, Lucius. I'll meet with you again in two days, maybe we'll both have newfound information for each other."
Lucius nodded at her as they depart ways, he is standing in the sidewalk and started to rub his temples, sighed. He needs a long drink for this, to find a missing person...
Hope you enjoy reading the part as always!!!! and wow! I'm getting likes from this story than I expected! besides my Grammers and such! but hey I'm still trying my best to do a wonderful storytelling!stay tuned!!