Chapter four: the reunion.
A scout dressed in light elven armor walks towards me fast.
"My lord we see their headquarters over there" a scout said while also pointing his finger towards and old villa.
"Hmm what are there estimated numbers and locations?" i asked the scout.
"Well sir we don't know their true numbers but we spotted sentries outside."
I looked towards the villa and see that it's design is standard noble house meaning that it was build good but also a fast pattern which we could use to get in.
I looked around at the makeshift camp and started walking towards the war tent. "follow me if you would" i asked looking at the scout.
The camp was small few tents and around the villa there are 4 more camps like this each camp has a hundred soldiers so five hundred soldiers in total to attack the villa.
Seems a bit too much but we don't have numbers on the enemy so everything is possible.
"So scout how close did you went?" i looked at the scout who showed signs of restlessness.
"I went approximately fifty yards close sir."
"And you weren't caught by their sentries?"
I look around to see several soldiers sharpening their glass swords or looking for dents or other defects on their armor. I slightly nod to a smith who fletches some arrows with his apprentices.
"No sir i don't think so."
I stopped looked at him and said "well do you see that tower there?" as i pointed my finger towards a tower on the villa's left corner.
"Yes sir i do i checked before getting close to see if anyone was there and i saw no one"
I hope your right many lives will depend on your report i thought bitterly.
I arrived with the scout at the tent and two soldiers open the flap for me which i thank with a nod
"Greetings gentleman" i said as i enter and saw four commanders at the table.
All dressed in there glass armor , i still like the way our smith made special face mask for the red legion it hides our faces but also gives us a fearsome look.
"Sir every camp is ready to march at your signal, everyone is ready."
"Good well scout report the locations of their sentries" as i looked at the scout i realize he is young like barely out of training.
"Well i saw three sentries posted here at this point" he said as he pointed the main gate, back gate and storage room entrance.
"How many were posted at each location?" the commander of the west group asked
"i saw three guards at each location sir" the scout replied confidential.
"Sir Thorein please tell us of what happened at their headquarters i heard it was brutal and a damned slaughter" Aiden said pulling me out of a memory.
"No sorry i can't tell you about it, not tonight at least" i said as i poured another drink in for everyone.
"Well Aiden why did you join the red legion it is not a decision you make lightly?" trandil said while nodding towards me in a manner of i-get-it-we-al-got-those look.
Mental note thank Trandil for aiding me.
"Well i joined up because i wanted to see the world serving the dominion with the elite well nothing will beat that." he said "and you Arundil?" he looked towards a female who looked like she didn't want to be noticed by anyone.
She looked up she had beautiful black hair short just to the base of her neck.
"I joined because i didn't want to get married to a noble mer who did nothing but sit at a party and talk how good life is" she said with a voice that would melt even the fiercest heart i think.
"But how did you join because most red legions are maybe former criminals or people who have nothing to lose no noble would want to fight at the front line like us grunts." Aiden asked.
"My father, i told him what i wanted he was disappointed, i think but he still helped me get her." She looked down looking sad.
"Arundil your father is proud of you he knows you are happier here then at some nobles party, trust me" i said as put my hand on her shoulder.
She looked at me dead in the eyes after a while she said "thank you sir but how would you know?"
"Call me Thorein please all of you we are off duty so no more ranks, but to answer your question your father sometimes writes to me asking how you are doing." I looked at her with a small smile.
The corner of her lips started to turn upwards. "Thank you Thorein i think i will visit him tomorrow i believe."
Everyone was silent for a while sipping there drinks thinking about their families.
If i wasn't the prince nor mother the queen would mother be proud of what i am and doing?
Arundil broke the silence "Thorein why did you start the red legion, and why do you accept criminals and thieves into your folds?
I gave a slight chuckle "well thief would make excellent spies or infiltrators, and most criminals did what they did because no one gave them a chance but i did in the army. But Trandil what about you, why did you join the red legion?"i asked trandil while my eyes lingered on Arundil.
"Well as you know, i served in the first Great War against the Empire, I assisted in the capture of Bravil and Skingrad, i saw mer fight and die for a dream, I've held friends in my arms while they died by those imperials, when i returned home i was hailed as a hero but i didn't feel like a hero i felt like a failure. A few months after i was send to help thalmor operations in Cyrodiil i saw a imperial man who forced himself on a bosmer serving girl while calling her filthy slut and whore of the dominion, i killed him and brought the bosmer with me to the embassy when i told my superior what happened he was angry, He send me as a traitor to alinor, there your father recruited me into a special task force that you would lead."Trandil said while looking down on the table.
"Well trandil you served us well and we can't lose someone who knows loyalty and duty like you" i said trying to cheer him up.
The door of the bar opened up.
I looked toward the door and saw Catha in a beautiful black dress with golden embroidery.
She looked beautiful, i smiled at the thought of a few years ago.
"the drinks are paid for so enjoy it now if you will excuse me" i said while i stood up and walked towards Catha.
"Hello Thorein you look good in your Thalmor robes."Catha said with a soft smile.
"Thank you Catha but you look dazzling in your beautiful dress!" I gave her hand a small kiss.
"Flatterer i bet you say that to all the ladies you meet" Catha replied with a blush on her cheeks.
"Just you Catha shall we go somewhere secluded?"
"That seems like a fine idea, then i will tell you about my day and i have a question for you if you don't mind me asking"
Catha lead us towards the back room of the bar, i looked at her beauty from behind her long slender body which seems to move with such a grace you think she was of noble birth.
She opened the door of the room and closed it behind me.
"So let's sit and talk Thorein, well to start of my day ways quiet there was nothing wrong at the prison the usual things prisoners grumpy, soldiers bored you know. But the question that burns on my lips is about a rumor, it says you like spending time with common folk instead of balls and parties of the noble class, which i know but the reason behind is very unclear to me, could you please explain that to me?" Catha said while taking a bottle of wine and poured our drinks in two glasses.
"Well that is because my trainer in the art of war taught me that, if you have the people you have the war, meaning that if you are hated your enemies succeed if they love you they will help you in any way they can. So if the people love me they will help me when i need it and in return i will to and because i don't like being overly noble sometimes it is good to become one of the people do you understand?" i said while sipping from my wine.
"Yes i see and i like that about you, you know what happened all those years ago i do not regret spending time with you, your kind to the mer races and khajiit, the aldmeri dominion owns you much for what you have done and what happe-"
I interrupted Catha by hugging her tight "Catha thank you but please let's not open old wounds if that is unnecessary, let's just enjoy each other's company." I gave Catha a peck on the check and smiled faintly at her.
"Yes i am sorry but i want you to know that whatever happens i still love you! And i do not want to lose you again!"Catha said blushing more