Southern Allies

For a moment, Count Chace had thought the man serious. He and a few servants, and one or two guards, were dotted here and there in the castle's grand gardens, which seemed to literally glint and sparkle in the gentle, cool daylight. As always, the might river flowed past undisturbed by times or changes, constantly watering the strong count's riverside orchards, crop fields and personal luxury gardens...as with the one he stood in. Occasionally a small skiff would sail downriver, and from his shady perch among a few close growing trees by the bank, the count would watch it sail past lazily, hands behind his head as he leaned back in the chair. The guards and servants stood a little behind him, talking quietly among themselves and also enjoying the (relatively) warm weather.

However, when the messenger arrived on weary horseback, dusty from the road and eyes wide, and had nearly dashed into the garden with his news, the count had stood up frantically, almost instinctively fumbling for his sword.

"What?! Slow down, man, slow down!" He ordered briskly as the guards rushed forward.

Coming up from the castle proper and stables there, the messenger was still breathing hard from his ride. Dressed in Kairok green and grey, he looked like a fairly young man, dark hair and eyes and bold face. His look was one of grim fear though as he got as close as the guards would let him.

He bowed, as the count turned to face him, the quiet afternoon forgotten. "My lord, Count Herrsan!" He gasped out, "I bring urgent news from Count Samuel of House Kairok, your allies beg your assistance in mass numbers!"


The count's eyes narrowed. "What happened? Did goblins come down from the mountains again?"

"No, my lord, far worse...Kire'falaedis has been attacked. And lost."

The same dead silence that had been at House Vadirska and Kairok at that same news filled the garden. The quiet was broken only by the river's constant flowing and a bird not too far away in the trees.

"What kind of sour joke is that?" Chace spat at last, honestly annoyed. If someone had walked into his garden and fearfully proclaimed that his friend Count Samuel had turned into a dwarf, he would found it about as believable as this.

"My lord, I beg you believe me, it is no jest!" The messenger returned frantically, "Count Kairok and his family beg you assemble whatever forces you can spare and march to their aid! Already forces of snow elves, trolls, and goblins sweep down from the gap in Savarica's defenses in the north!" He paused for a moment, regaining his breath. His eyes betrayed his shaken look.

The count snorted. "Your humor is misplaced, man. Now get back to wherever you came from, before I have you thrown into a jester's clothes and a cell where you can wear out your own sense of humor."

"My lord, PLEASE! You MUST listen!" The poor, wretched herald recruit tried to argue further, and realized he had made a small mistake.

As the huscarl guards grabbed his arms, the count waved a hand wearily at him, grumbling. “Go put him back on his horse and get him out of here.” He muttered, and his servants nodded, all hastily dragging the poor limp man out.

The count got to have about ten minutes of a little of his restored peace, until his garden was interrupted again, this time by a visitor he knew wasn't going to be lying.

He was mildly surprised to see his ranger captain, Christopher, striding hurriedly across the grounds, and the look on his face alone made him sit up.

You're supposed to be halfway to Kire'Sephal, Christopher!” The count looked up narrowly, trying to decide if this was good or bad.

Seeing the ranger's pale face made him stand up yet again. The ranger, let alone by the guards, walked up to his employer easily, standing though a little bowed over.

"Kire'Sephal is under siege." He paused, letting this information sink in. “I've just come from the forest around it...we rode for four days after crossing the river, and ran into a siege line...of various creatures. The Spire is being slowly beaten down.” He swallowed. We rode back as fast as we could.”

Within the space of an hour, the entire of House Herrsan was in an uproar. Various guards and forces were called in, the rally bells were rung in the higher towers, and the countryside was immediately put on the alert as all of the Count's strong fighting forces were called in. Taking hand of the situation as best as his shaken nerves could manage, Chace hurriedly organized two companies, one to march north to the aid of his friends in Kairok and one to march with himself leading, to Kire'Sephal. The following morning, Herrsan would be on the march.