The Sellswords

Things had happened too fast and Lennel was struggling to get a handle on the situation.

"He said that Smith sent him?" Lennel asked Piper. She nodded in reply.

"Who is Smith?" Cara demanded.

"He used to be a part of the gryphon mercenaries, but he has gone independent. Apparently he's making quite a name for himself. So the assassin is dead?" Again Piper nodded.

"Pity. It would have been better if we knew more on how he penetrated our security and how he knew we were here."

Especially if one of us told him we were here. Lennel thought. Smith was very dangerous and very well financed. It wouldn't be long before he launched another attempt.

"Your Majesty, we'll have to leave sooner than we planned. If one assassin has penetrated our security it won't be long before another attempt is made. Can you be ready to leave in an hour?"

"Yes."

"Then I won't waste any more of your time." Lennel left the tent only to see Cedrick.

"It was Smith."

"I know. We're going to try to slip out before he realizes he's failed. Our team has to be ready to deploy within the hour. You have ten minutes to let them know. If you can't find someone, then their contract is null and void. Go now."

Lennel went to make his own preparations.

thanks...can someone bring me in? i have no ideas what so ever!

Cara-

Cara quickly put all her stuff into the small bags that she had. Folding up the supplies and stuffing them in saddle bags. She changed into drab brown clothes, and pulled a long black coat with a hood over it. She kept the hood off for now looking at her sister.

"Pack up, we don't have much time, I don't want anything happening to you." She said urgently. She stuffed the letter into her pocket, she needed to tell Lennel about her mother if he didn't already know. She looked at her four saddle bags and smiled, she had used five on the way here. She would be leaving a few items, one dress and a few blankets taht she wouldn't need.

Dent:
Dent saw the look on lennels face as he left the royals tent. He ran over to ask what was going on.

"We are leaving within the hour." Lennel replied

"Okay, what about the assassin I stabbed?"

"Correction killed, and he is the first of many to come."

"So, can I have a mission!"

"I will think about it."

"Okay, but please consider it... I prefer to work alone and with specific targets."

"So you are an assassin!"

"More or less, yeah."

Dent ran over to Pipers tent to what she was doing then he realized that he had made the first kill, and he was prouder than ever of himself.

"Why are you so happy all of a sudden?" Piper asked

"I killed the first one." Dent replied

"So let me get this straight, You are happy you killed the first enemy. Even though the remaider of the royal family was in danger."

"Well when you say it like that I sound like the bad guy."

"I don't get you. why did you take the arrow? To save cara and Kaiya, or to kill a person."

Dent thought about this for a few moments, "To make a ki...he stopped. Wow, I didn't think about the...I should have, but..." Dent bowed his head in respect and thanked Piper for expossing a flaw in his logic. He went back to his tent and packed his few belongings and waited for the next phase of his life to unfold.

Cedric had told all who needed to be told and rushed to his "tent" to prepare his belongings. He walked in to see Cara and her sister all ready to go, "I'm sorry, shall we leave you?"

"No, you two are fine." He worked quickly preparing a single knapsack and a small carry on bag. He strapped on a simple leather tunic and tied a black cloth band around his forehead. He sighed, "Are you willing to give your lives to regain the throne?"

"Yes, of course. Our father's legacy cannot end like this." The other sister nodded with a serious look on her face.

"Alright, lets go."

Once Piper had heard the news that the Princesses were leaving, she immediately went to find Cedrick or Lennel. She wished to help escort the Princesses. Who knows who could attack them while they were on the move, in their most vulnerable form. She decided to look in the Princesses tent first. "Hello?" she called from outside first.

"Enter," called Lennel's voice.

Piper stepped inside. "Have you seen- oh! Lennel! I was wondering if I could talk to you?"

"Sure, come in. What is it?" Lennel said.

"I would like to request to aid in the Princesses escape," Piper said.

Lennel nodded, thinking. "Alright," he said. "They could use someone with your talent. I believe you have proved your loyalty to our cause. Go to Cedrick's tent, they are leaving from there," he said.

"Thank you, sir," Piper said, bowing as she ran out of the Princesses' desserted tent. She carried with her, her two swords, her less-favorite bow and arrow, and her trusty knife.

It seemed that no sooner had he arrived than he was expected to leave.

The mercenaries continued to make plans with the princess as though they were partners in some endeavour. In Thomas's opinion, they were bound to serve the rightful heirs, and yet...this Lennel and his subordinates showed very little respect. Yes the assassination attempt had been thwarted and yes the princess and her new allies had the foresight to leave the camp, but that did not mean they were in command of the situation.

Worst of all, Thomas knew this and could say nothing. He was a personal guard and though the king had valued his opinion, he could not hope to continue that relationship with these children of his old king, whom he knew by sight alone.

His lack of faith in the security of the camp was vindicated with the ease with which he gained access to supplies.

He quickly learned of who was to take part in the escapade and was pleasantly surprised. The mercenary wthat had killed the assassin had acted with speed and skill. The female elf too seemed sure of herself, and walked with that fluid gait of someone actually educated in the ways of the sword.

He might not trust their motives, but for the first time, Thomas felt he could trust the skills of these mercenaries.

Cara-

Cara walked over to Thomas who was studying the others that were going with them. Her brother trusted him, and it wasn't easy to gain her brothers, or father's trust.

"Do you think the mercenaries will work?" She asked, he looked at her then back.

"Yes, they seem to be very well trained in their skills." He replied,

"Do you think we can trust them?" He seemed surprised she would be asking his opinion. "My brother and father both trusted your opinion as will I. I can't speak for my younger sister, but if you can't trust someone, I don't think I will readily do so either, unless I know the person better. My brother and father were both very slow to trust, and they both spoke very highly of you. It puts me at ease to know someone that they both trust to watch over us is with us." She looked at the others. The only one she had acctually been able to talk to was Piper. She seem loyal enough and nice enough, but anyone could cover up the real motive. She had done it plenty of times herself, and had become skilled in the art of acting. She only hoped that she would be able to look and act like one of the mercenaires, but she doubted it would matter.

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It gladdened Thomas to know that the old king had thought highly of him.

He also realised that Cara was likely to become his chief ward for the forceable future, as he doubted Kaiya was level-headed enough to act in her brother's stead, and if Cara became a leader, then she was to become a target.

"There are levels of trust princess. For now I doubt treachery beyond what we have seen so far, though it concerns me that the assassin is a former associate of our hosts."

"I'm sure Leneel wouldn't betray us, he seems genuinely interested in aiding our cause. And besides, we're paying him, so even as a mercenary, serving us is within his interest."

"And as long as the status quo remains that way, I too would trust the gryphon mercenaries. But if things change we may find ourselves having to rely on these freelancers, like Piper, Dent and that human with the throwing spears."

"I think his name is Alejandro."

"Indeed. I think we need to ferment trust with these freelancers, because the gyphon mercenaries will always be loyal to themselves first, whilst I doubt many of the freelancers serve higher causes."

He looked down into his princesses eyes, to make sure she grasped his meaning, "but I do not trust them yet. We sit in a camp surrounded by fighters who are only held off from handing you in for a reward by your family's coin. We need to build alliances before that coin runs dry."

Lennel's belongings were few, but they would serve him well. The first was a pair of steel claws. They were equal in strength to swords, if they had less range. The second was a map case. He hastily packed it with the maps he'd need. The third item was a tinderbox for lighting fires. After this was a small coin pouch. Lennel also grabbed some rope. It had been useful in the past. The only other thing he'd need would be a cloak to keep dry. He packed these items within ten minutes.

His next stop was to stock up on provisions. He took out various spices, dried meats, nuts, dried fruit. He also took out a goodly amount of flour. He put these in sealed containers. They were heavy, so he would split it up with the group.

Now, he started collecting the cooking equipment: pots, pans, and various cooking utensils. Getting all this done took over thirty minutes.

He found the others waiting for him. After distributing the gear, they left. The group members rode on horseback, except for Lennel who moved alongside them.

"Where are we going?" Cara asked.

"There is a landing area known as the Garden, we'll be heading there to discuss our next move. It shouldn't take too long to get there and we'll be able to have some security."

"How long?"

"About three hours ride," Lennel responded.

Cedrick took up the rear with one of the royals bodyguards, an elf named Tom. They looked at each other, and Tom gave Cedrick a nasty look. Cedrick sighed, "You don't trust me do you?"

"Not at all. I question weather or not you believe in my lady's cause."

Cedrick thought a moment at the comment, "I believe in them. Cara is strong willed and ready to die to reclaim her fathers thrown. As for Kaiya, she's naive, but sure of her self in what she wants. She seems to be trying to prove her worth."

"You're very perspective, but how can I trust you?"

"You come to that on your own time, I don't have full faith in you either to tell the truth. I will say this though, it is not the mission, but the people I fall in love with. I treat all those close to me as family. Lennel, he's like a father to me and everyone else are my siblings. I will protect them, what do you say brother?"

Family. It was a sore spot for Thomas but he let it slide, Cedrick wasn't to know.

"We are comrades and we may yet become friends, you seem a decent individual, but family is family and not to be traded for a whim."

Without another word he moved up to the princesses and the elf Piper.

*short because I don't want to overpost*

Cedrick sighed as Tom left. Cedrick was a good judge of character and didn't want anything to happen to them. "Hey Lennel, I have to tend to some business, I'll catch up in a bit."

Lennel nodded, but all of the girls started yelling at him telling him to keep that kind of stuff private. he told them to shut it and let Dent take his horse as he left for the bushes, but just stood there standing.

Soon a group of three people came up the road and smiled. They were simple mercenaries from camp. Lennel was right, there are traders.

He walked out and startled the lot of them, "Tell me, are you working for Smith?" One of the men drew his sword and rushed him, but he blocked it with his steel plate on his gloves and punched him square in the face, "I wont ask again."

The other two drew their swords as well and circled him. Cedrick closed his eyes for a moment and then got in a fighting stance. The two ran in and he dodged the first lunge, but was grazed across the shoulder. He elbowed on in the gut and drew his short sword blocking another attack. He knocked the sword away and back handed him.

He knelt down by one and reached inside his pocket pulling out a letter. It said they were to follow the group and find where they were staying. At the bottom was a symbol of twin swords, "So Smith, it is you."

****This is probably going to be short :'(******

Cara-

Cara looked at Thomas as he rode next to her and Piper. He just sat there looking around quiet. She shook her head and looked forward again, she had found someone she couldn't read and it angried her. She looked behind them,

"Where did Cedrick go?" She asked Thomas.

"He had to relieve himself." Thomas replied eyes still scanning.

"I know that, but he isn't back, don't you think he would be back by now?" It had been a good ten minutes, and judging by the build of his horse it wouldn't be hard to catch them if he pushed it. They were just walking right now.