As far as ermine went, Eroket Nightblade was not particularly
special. He had average height and was somewhat muscular with a handsome
face that almost concealed the empty coldness within his amber eyes. A
black cloak was wrapped tightly around his body to protect him from the
cold morning air, a longsword lay next to him a he currently dined on a
recently caught trout. The ermine was one of the youngest Calpathions, and
one of the best, the prodigy and student of the leader Kalis. And Eroket
was a good student, learning strategy and war studies as easily as he
mastered the sword.
The young ermine surveyed the camp. In the middle of the spring, the Calpathions lived well, despite constant roaming when their missions came to light. He could see Calpathions training with weapons, fishing, hunting or grumbling and complaining about the cold.
At least the pay was often good, Ero mused, taking a bite of the well cooked trout in his paws as he sat by the fire.
"Hey, Ero!" A cheerful voice cried.
Ero turned to see another ermine walking towards him, this ermine was a bit taller then Eroket but less muscular, wearing a blue tunic and cloak, his blue eyes holding a merry look within, a small belt holding a long dagger and his usual weapon, a bow and a quiver of arrows, was noticeably absent.
"Deran." Eroket greeted his best friend. Deran Arakias was the head of the Calpathion's archers. Like Eroket, Deran was young but Kalis seemed to think their skills preceded their youth and inexperience. He was right, too.
"What does the old weasel want, Deran?" Eroket asked, eyeing his friend
Deran shrugged. "Dunno, Ero. He's called the commanders inside the main tent and asked me to get you. Oh, Jald will be there too."
Ero's good mood vanished at the mention of the ferret. Jald was a valuable asset to the Calpathions. He was strong, smart and skilled but he was also selfish and self-serving. Nobeast trusted him.no beast that valued their lives anyway. Jald loved battle, the first to attack and he usually the last to leave.
"Kalis should know better then put that bastard in the same room as me, Deran!"
"Guess he doesn't, Ero.he gave specific instructions to bring you.and if you refused then to knock you out and drag you. I gather it's real important."
Eroket grumbled to himself and rose to his feet, crimson dyed paws irritably placing the half eaten fish back on the spit over the flames. "Lead the way, Der."
Deran nodded, turned quickly and began walking to the main tent of command.
Eroket hadn't been a member long but he was expected by many to be elected for he position of leader when Kalis stepped down. Jald was an exception, every beast knew that he wanted the position.
Ero had been lived happily with his family until he had turned twelve. Then the Death Watch came, seeking the remaining Calpathions. Eroket's father and mother were killed for refusing to help.Ero and his twin sister and younger brother captured and sold. Eroket never saw either of them again. There was more to the story but Ero never spoke of it.he preferred to forget.
Deran reached out and undid the tent flap. "Got him, Kalis."
Kalis Deiran was a weasel younger then his aging brother Visla but resembled him in most regards. He was slightly smaller but his mottled black and gray fur was the same shade. Unlike Visla, his face was smooth with no terrible scars. Gray armor , complemented by a broadsword made him seem bigger then he was. He also wore a crossbow across his back for times of need.
"Thank you, Deran." Kalis replied in a soft voice, gray eyes blinking slowly. He motioned to the three other mercenary commanders around them and Eroket and Deran promptly joined them.
The five commanders eyes their leader who replied slowly. "the Death Watch is on the move again."
Well, no surprise here. It would be news if that group of murderers wasn't on the move.
"And the surprise here would be.?" A fox named Sarhein replied. A veteran like most of the beasts in the tent, he had encountered the Death Watch before and had lost his left ear and tail to the stoat commander Mahk.
"If you would make your report, Jald." Kalis replied, nodding to a ferret that stood alone.
Jald Nightson was large for a ferret. Big and very muscular dressed in a long green cloak and red tunic adorned with a belt of adderskin from a snake he claimed to have killed. His fur was ebon black with silver streaks across his face, emerald eyes holding a spark of definite cruelty Wielding a massive broadsword or his three daggers, Jald was a terror on the battle. One wanted the ferret on their side and never behind them when the fighting starts.
The ferret, without giving Kalis a glance said in a growling voice. "My squad found a group of Death Watcher scouts. Before we killed them they told us that General Visla had information on where to find us from somebeast.probably our last employer. " The commanders took note that Jald had said he had questioned them before he killed them, "What's more.they have Farris."
A small murmur ran through the commanders and Kalis frowned. Jald continued. "Poor bastard is probably being tortured as we speak." His voice held no sympathy.
One commander, a ferret with a jagged scar running down his forehead to his chin growled. "Farris was trained to resist torture, Jald. I doubt-'
"To hell with your doubts, Talrid!" Jald roared. "Beasts crack under pain.especially if a beast like Visla or that pain loving bastard Taren wields the device. Promise of pain or gold loosens tongues."
Kalis spoke. "even if Farris talks we can be ready for them.or be out of here shortly."
"Run away, Kalis?!" Jald growled. "We never run! Not from a fight and not from a job. You'd know this if you were half the beast your father was!"
Kalis's eyes narrowed in anger. Eroket was furious at the ferret's blatant disrespect to Kalis and may have attacked him had no Deran and a ferret named Kallen placed paw son his shoulders. Kalis could handle himself.
"If you think me weak, Jald. You are welcome to try me for position of leader." Jald lowered his head and growled something unintelligible. Kalis nodded. "Good..Eroket. What do you propose we do?"
"You put our fates in the paws of a child?!" Jald yelled suddenly
"Jald, for the last time. Shut up or I will have you thrown out of this tent if I hear one more outburst!" This cowed the ferret, tough as he was, he couldn't defeat Kalis in battle and he knew that.
Eroket smiled at Deran before replying. "Its best we leave and leave soon.but to preserve our reputation we seek an easy job.if all goes well then we can find one to take us away from here and put up barricades and leave a little.surprise for the Death Watch.I can let Commander Deran handle that." Deran smiled a bit at this as Ero gestured to him. The other ermine took over.
"While that will prove useless against Taren or Visla.you know how good they are at recognizing traps, we can easily keep some archers ready and loose some shafts to low them down in the night."
Kalis nodded and Kallen replied. "What concerns me is how they caught Farris.he was smart and careful."
This concerned Kalis. A traitor now could be...devastating.
"Visla was obviously smarter. " Jald replied. "If we're gonna do it then lets do it and be outta here.even I don't fancy an all out fight."
Kalis smiled and nodded. "Very well.tell the others and assemble then.Kallen send runners to towns. I'd say the Calpathions need a job." His paws clapped together. "Dismissed!"
The young ermine surveyed the camp. In the middle of the spring, the Calpathions lived well, despite constant roaming when their missions came to light. He could see Calpathions training with weapons, fishing, hunting or grumbling and complaining about the cold.
At least the pay was often good, Ero mused, taking a bite of the well cooked trout in his paws as he sat by the fire.
"Hey, Ero!" A cheerful voice cried.
Ero turned to see another ermine walking towards him, this ermine was a bit taller then Eroket but less muscular, wearing a blue tunic and cloak, his blue eyes holding a merry look within, a small belt holding a long dagger and his usual weapon, a bow and a quiver of arrows, was noticeably absent.
"Deran." Eroket greeted his best friend. Deran Arakias was the head of the Calpathion's archers. Like Eroket, Deran was young but Kalis seemed to think their skills preceded their youth and inexperience. He was right, too.
"What does the old weasel want, Deran?" Eroket asked, eyeing his friend
Deran shrugged. "Dunno, Ero. He's called the commanders inside the main tent and asked me to get you. Oh, Jald will be there too."
Ero's good mood vanished at the mention of the ferret. Jald was a valuable asset to the Calpathions. He was strong, smart and skilled but he was also selfish and self-serving. Nobeast trusted him.no beast that valued their lives anyway. Jald loved battle, the first to attack and he usually the last to leave.
"Kalis should know better then put that bastard in the same room as me, Deran!"
"Guess he doesn't, Ero.he gave specific instructions to bring you.and if you refused then to knock you out and drag you. I gather it's real important."
Eroket grumbled to himself and rose to his feet, crimson dyed paws irritably placing the half eaten fish back on the spit over the flames. "Lead the way, Der."
Deran nodded, turned quickly and began walking to the main tent of command.
Eroket hadn't been a member long but he was expected by many to be elected for he position of leader when Kalis stepped down. Jald was an exception, every beast knew that he wanted the position.
Ero had been lived happily with his family until he had turned twelve. Then the Death Watch came, seeking the remaining Calpathions. Eroket's father and mother were killed for refusing to help.Ero and his twin sister and younger brother captured and sold. Eroket never saw either of them again. There was more to the story but Ero never spoke of it.he preferred to forget.
Deran reached out and undid the tent flap. "Got him, Kalis."
Kalis Deiran was a weasel younger then his aging brother Visla but resembled him in most regards. He was slightly smaller but his mottled black and gray fur was the same shade. Unlike Visla, his face was smooth with no terrible scars. Gray armor , complemented by a broadsword made him seem bigger then he was. He also wore a crossbow across his back for times of need.
"Thank you, Deran." Kalis replied in a soft voice, gray eyes blinking slowly. He motioned to the three other mercenary commanders around them and Eroket and Deran promptly joined them.
The five commanders eyes their leader who replied slowly. "the Death Watch is on the move again."
Well, no surprise here. It would be news if that group of murderers wasn't on the move.
"And the surprise here would be.?" A fox named Sarhein replied. A veteran like most of the beasts in the tent, he had encountered the Death Watch before and had lost his left ear and tail to the stoat commander Mahk.
"If you would make your report, Jald." Kalis replied, nodding to a ferret that stood alone.
Jald Nightson was large for a ferret. Big and very muscular dressed in a long green cloak and red tunic adorned with a belt of adderskin from a snake he claimed to have killed. His fur was ebon black with silver streaks across his face, emerald eyes holding a spark of definite cruelty Wielding a massive broadsword or his three daggers, Jald was a terror on the battle. One wanted the ferret on their side and never behind them when the fighting starts.
The ferret, without giving Kalis a glance said in a growling voice. "My squad found a group of Death Watcher scouts. Before we killed them they told us that General Visla had information on where to find us from somebeast.probably our last employer. " The commanders took note that Jald had said he had questioned them before he killed them, "What's more.they have Farris."
A small murmur ran through the commanders and Kalis frowned. Jald continued. "Poor bastard is probably being tortured as we speak." His voice held no sympathy.
One commander, a ferret with a jagged scar running down his forehead to his chin growled. "Farris was trained to resist torture, Jald. I doubt-'
"To hell with your doubts, Talrid!" Jald roared. "Beasts crack under pain.especially if a beast like Visla or that pain loving bastard Taren wields the device. Promise of pain or gold loosens tongues."
Kalis spoke. "even if Farris talks we can be ready for them.or be out of here shortly."
"Run away, Kalis?!" Jald growled. "We never run! Not from a fight and not from a job. You'd know this if you were half the beast your father was!"
Kalis's eyes narrowed in anger. Eroket was furious at the ferret's blatant disrespect to Kalis and may have attacked him had no Deran and a ferret named Kallen placed paw son his shoulders. Kalis could handle himself.
"If you think me weak, Jald. You are welcome to try me for position of leader." Jald lowered his head and growled something unintelligible. Kalis nodded. "Good..Eroket. What do you propose we do?"
"You put our fates in the paws of a child?!" Jald yelled suddenly
"Jald, for the last time. Shut up or I will have you thrown out of this tent if I hear one more outburst!" This cowed the ferret, tough as he was, he couldn't defeat Kalis in battle and he knew that.
Eroket smiled at Deran before replying. "Its best we leave and leave soon.but to preserve our reputation we seek an easy job.if all goes well then we can find one to take us away from here and put up barricades and leave a little.surprise for the Death Watch.I can let Commander Deran handle that." Deran smiled a bit at this as Ero gestured to him. The other ermine took over.
"While that will prove useless against Taren or Visla.you know how good they are at recognizing traps, we can easily keep some archers ready and loose some shafts to low them down in the night."
Kalis nodded and Kallen replied. "What concerns me is how they caught Farris.he was smart and careful."
This concerned Kalis. A traitor now could be...devastating.
"Visla was obviously smarter. " Jald replied. "If we're gonna do it then lets do it and be outta here.even I don't fancy an all out fight."
Kalis smiled and nodded. "Very well.tell the others and assemble then.Kallen send runners to towns. I'd say the Calpathions need a job." His paws clapped together. "Dismissed!"