Tales of Deadly Daring Do

[Caterpillar]

"Not just any help, my pal", there was a sudden, jagged voice behind the Ferret. It belonged to black furred rat who stood there, hands on his hips while he was looking at companions by the table. He had dark eel-leather vest, snake-skin belt and bracers made from same poor reptile's skin. Over the vest there was an another belt which run over rat's chest diagonally. Seemingly the beast didn't carry any other weapons than two curve-bladed combat-knives attached on his snake-belt.

The rat's muzzle looked crooked, like it had been broken once or twice too many. And the beast got only one eye. His right eye-ball was replaced with glass-pearl which had poorly painted black spot in it. like it was trying to be eye's pupil. It would have been better if it hadn't been painted at all, as the glass-pearl rolled constantly in rat's eye-socket, therefore making the apple of rat's eyes look up and down, right and left regardless where the rodent's true eye was looking at.

It looked funny at first, but then it got disturbing. As that painted pupil had a very creepy stare when it by chance happened to look in right direction.

"Our dear, beloved king needs the help of thugs and cut-throat, can you believe it?" the rat continued chuckling as he stepped besides the table. "Oh how the mighty have fallen...",

He slammed the flier onto the table's surface, his stare locking onto Poppin as he smirked widely, revealing a line needle-like teeth when doing so.
"So -- you're the one who's hiring for... what did that fine chap said again when reading this to me?", the rat lifted the flier from the table, turning it towards him and gazing its content with his only one good eye. By now the beast around the table might have noted that there were small bloodstains on the paper - which seemed unnerving fresh....

The rat shrug and tossed the paper aside.
"Naaah, can't remember anymore...But I DO recall he mentioned the pay is good" the rat leaned over the table and both of his eyes gleamed in the light of the candles.
"So how GOOD exactly?"

------

"Mfmmph-mmmhrhhnnng!", Kinktail tried to speak, but his articulation (since Dylan was still holding his muzzle) or his waving hands couldn't intelligibly transfer what the rat was trying to say. The thing was fixed when Dylan released rat's snout, and Kinktail was able to speak clearly again.

"She still refuses to eat", Kinktail said, rubbing his sore snout. "You think it's because of the food? I thinks the grub Elena make is pretty good, just like my mom used to made... Maybe she is just trying to starve purposely? You know, there was this red-fox I knew - although I doubts she really was a red-fox, to me her fur seemed more like red-brownish... Anyhow she once told me about this slaver who almost went out of business because the beasts he had captured rather starved themselves to death than accepted to be sold as slaves... You know, no-one is interested to buy dead merchandise...."

Kinktail's jabbering went on and on



"Who is he?", the weasel asked from the Knar, as the unknown ferret passed him after Dylan.

"Not now Errot", Knar said, an unsaid command in his voice which made - luckily - young weasel close his mouth. The boy, however, did glare the marten and other adults. Adults always ignored him - they acted like he mattered nothing and that made Errot angry and irritated. But he would show them -- he would show then all!
Nevertheless he followed inside and knar pushed the heavy door shut after the boy. The mill came even more shadowy than it already was.

Since Dylan went straight talking with Kinktail, Knar fathomed it was now up to him fill the new recruit in... Great, the bigger marten had hoped Dylan would do that as he was the one with the way of words...

Knar moved his eyes on the ferret. The lance-beast didn't seem puzzled at slightest, even though Knar was sure he had heard the conservation between Dylan and Kinktail. Which was - quite frankly - a little bit suspicious. He really needed keep an eye on this one until he knew if the Ferret could be trusted...

"I suppose yah have heard the rumors by now", Knar said to the Ferret while crossing his arms. "About the princess of Gilmar bein' kidnapped..."
Knar went always straight to the point - he didn't like beat around the bushes.
"We're the kidnappers" a pause between to sentences. "You're now the kidnapper"
Maybe that would be a fill in enough.

[coolcoyote]

Dylan sighed heavily, clamping his paw down on the rats muzzle again. Turn his head and most of his body around, dangmarten dexterity, he replied, "Oh right, sorry forgot to mention that. But yeah...we are the kidnappers. This is Kinktail, please don't kill him. He we need all the help we can get. Trust me, its easier said then done. Oh! We also have a cat around as well! Please don't kill him either."

Turning back to the rat he reluctantly released the creature. Heading down stairs by himself the marten came into a small cellar he had to bend to fit into. There in the back of this windowless room sat their prize and key to their future.

"Good evenin me lady. How are we this fine evening." He said with a smile to the weasel who's paws were bound in front of her.

----

Poppins didn't know who to be more frightened of. The ferret clearly looked like trouble. Only trouble makers wore hoods like that. He felt himself leaning away from the ferret and towards the rat, only to lean back away from them both when he saw the rats horribly painted eye.

"By all that is unholy..." Basil gasped at the sight of them both. "I have never seen a more disreptuable pair of vermin in all my life."

"I know..." the fox aggreed. He was going to have to work with these...these hooligans? "Er...yes. I am-" the fox hesitated, deciding it unwise to give them his full name, "Call me Poppin. I'm here to represent the king in...in his quest to save his daughter...He is calling upon...calling upon all of his loyal subjects to...too..dear light what is wrong with your eye?"

The stoat behind him coughed politely, "er...right." the fox continued. "I'm authorized to pay any beast two hundred gold as a reward for his daughters safe return, and the safe return of his advisor...that's me by the way." Poppin added that last part less any of these ingrates thought about stabbing him in the gut as soon as they got the princess.

One learned to distrust people in his line of work. "I am also able to pay for any expenses we may incure while on this...endevor." treating them like an emplouer giving out an assignment to his employees the fox leaned forward and steppled his paws. Prehaps the effect would have looked more intimidating, or even respectfull, if his swollen belly didn't spill out onto the table infront of him.

Either way it was the only way Poppin could bring himself to stare at these beasts eye to eye. Even then he was so terrified of either of them he chose to focus in on their ear.

"The job is simple. To catch a criminal we want to think like a criminal. We need to scour the country sides dark and seedy underbelly for clues to the whereabouts of the princess. We are authorized to use any methods to find the princess..."

It was clear that Poppin had no idea what that statement truely ment. After all, the only violence he had scene was in story books and the occasional execution.

Little did he know just what he was in for.

[unknownsoldier]

The hooded had a annoyed look even though one couldn't see the look on his face. How a rat like that existed was beyond him, but the reward though, just for some maiden royalty? This would be too easy for someone in his line of work as a bounty hunter, a job literally about finding beasts, either dead or alive. Though in this case it offered a challenge though, bringing back someone alive, first one to be exact. Most jobs he took had a better pay for bringing back dead over alive, but it was no different the other way around. "Lucky for you, I'm a actual Bounty Hunter, so your getting your money's worth and I haven't failed a single job." He said clearly with pride in his tone.
---
"So? I took and killed my own share of royalty, more like false royalty, but a few were actual royalty and they were good enough jobs." He said with a shrug and a face of uncaring as well. "I don't kill partners," He started to say as he turned back to Dylan, "Unless their either snitches or do something incredibly stupid in front of me." He said in a flat tone. He would to, he did indeed killed any dissenters that were in any group he was part of either under orders or not. He wouldn't hesitate to kill anyone, other then a young one, he has own standards even for a mercenary.

[Caterpillar]

"Oh, don't let it bother you, mister", the rat grinned wickedly at Poppin, while his artificial-eye continued whirling around. "It's just lil' somethin' I got back in my younger days...You get used to it in no-time -- I certainly did!"

"Well blast me into smithereens, you heard that fellows?" the rat announced, slamming has palm against the bounty hunter's back somewhat in friendly manner - thought it was unclear if he was being sarcastic or not. "We have a real professional in our midst! With a clear record, no less! I would tip my hat, laddie, if I only got one!"
The rat laughed coarsely. It was very unpleasant laugh.

The rodent grabbed a chair from its back rest and spun the seat under him, sitting down.
"Me, I'm just a plain ordinary rat short in cash - but I sure can think like criminal, I really do.."

The promise of 'any methods necessary' seemed to be music to the rat's ears.
"Sound good to meh. Buuuuuut...", the rat stretched the word like a fisher-beast would first stretches a worm before cutting it half and piercing it in the hook. He grinned maliciously "...how about those oh so despicable and vile kidnappers? Does our glorious king want them brought to him too or...?"
The rest of sentence was left in hanging on the air.

"However, me and my bros aren't in before I see some of that gold you're promisin'..."

___

Princess Senerre was sitting on her resting on her resting place, made on the floor. She was now wearing a simple commoner's dress - a measurement which had been taken in order to ensure Senerra didn't look like a royalty when the gang had traveled to Dar'vin. Her silken dress would have been too noticeable in common beasts eyes.

As Kinktail had said, she hadn't eaten anything for a while and it was starting to show in her frail frame. Her face was turning more and more exhausted even though all she had done past these couple of days, was sitting inside this small "cell" of hers. But her bright green eyes were still sharp with pride.

Very likely it was the pride that made Senerra not to touch the food which were brought to her.

The Emerald of the Crown only just glanced to the Dylan's direction before lifting her chin and returning to stare the opposite stone-wall like it was much more interesting to look at than the marten. There was nothing she wished to say to this low-life who dared keep her locked in here. She might had accepted this sorry excuse of dress but only because her beautiful silken clothes had been reduced into the dirty shredded rags after the escape through that horrible secret passageway. But she still didn't like it, not a least bit. This dress was ugly - ugly color, ugly cut...The fabric was too rough for her beautiful fur, there was no jewels, no pearls... And top of that her slippers were ruined from the walk of muddy and dusty roads!


Knar offered no comment to the Ferret's words. Errot on the other hand was looking at the newcomer his head slightly tilted to the side. He tried to hide it, but he was a bit curious about this new face. The Ferret did seem like a warrior - he had lot of scars so he had to been in many fights...
"Who are you, mister?", he asked suddenly. "What's your name?"

[coolcoyote]

Dylan tried to approach this situation in a kind way. He didn't consider himself a brutish thug but more of a refined, noble bandit. There were deep rooted psycological issues involved about being able to justify his profession that would not fully understood until psycology was invented several hundred years later.

"Good morning your royalness-ness." The marten took off his hat, placing it on a box not too far away. "I see that you are still on you starvation diet. While it is commendable to keep ones health in mind I never thought of you as too plump to begin with."

Sometimes even Dylan doesn't know what is going to come out of his mouth, and sometimes his own efforts to make small talk make him cringe as well.

Standing closer to the young weasel princess Dylan showed her the loaf of bread in paw. Breaking it in half and offering her one slice while nibbling on the other.

"I know it's not up to par with the meals you are used to but it's still good. Sure you don't want some?"


----

"Bro's?" Poppin said with a raised eyebrow. "You...you mean there are more of you?" The fox clearly looked desturbed that more than one rat like this could exist. He finally shook his head.

"Well that's excellent news. Both to you and our bounty hunting friend bere. I'm sure we will find the princess in no time." A glimmer of hope settled in the fox's heart. There was a small chance he might survive this. A very small one but you cling to what you had in a storm, right?

Basil was...neutral at best. He would have prefured to be with the other enforcers, even the soldiers who were tossing up the entire country side, looking for these ...interlopers.

Then again, all those enforcers and soldiers had failed to drudge up a single reliable clue which was what prompted this whole escapade to begin with. Maybe they really stood a chance to rescue the princess before the dead line.

For as much as the king loved his daughter he would rather face the blazes rather than shell out one coin to some dreg of a kidnapper. The stoat subconciously rubbed af his throat, realizing now what the fox had said about being doomed. It never occured to him that the king would probbibly execute them for failing to find the pricess before the week was up...

"Fear not, you will have your reward when you finish the quest. But if you both must have reasasurance..." reaching into his coat the stoat tossed a small black velvet back omto the table. It's contents spilled over, spilling out several gold marks that seemed to shine in the low light.

"As for the bandits, if you can't bring them back alive you will get a small bonus for every hide, tail or head you turn in."

"Our king is partial to violent dissembowelment." The fox said with a cringe at the though of bring back a creatures hide or head or even their tail. Then again prehaps he felt sympathy for those about to lose their tails. He rested his own fluffy, beautifull fox tail over his lap and petted it.

"Sounds like someone I would get along with."

Both fox and stoat turned their heads upward. The voice came from the beast leaning over the stair well to their right, to the rat and ferrets left. A beast of glossy brown fur wearing a red vest and hard cloth trousers with many pockets. The vest used to be a tunic at one point but was cut in half to leave the beasts middle exposed.

It was unusual to see otters in Gilmar, especially here in the captlital but not unheard of. Although otter's wearing an otter hide belt around their waist, not so much. The trio of fox tails hanging from the side of her belt, partially covering one of the knives at her waist, also didn't help make Poppin feel easy. What is with people collecting fox tails these days?

The otter half stepped, half stumbled down the stairs from the second floor, partially due to the pint of ale in her free paw.

"Word on the street is you lot are lookin to find yerselves a lost princess." The otter chuckled, "I kin help with that..."

"Well...that's good. We certainly have room for more Miss..." he paused waiting for a name.

The otter just smiled, taking a sip of her drink after replying, "Call me Kacy..."

[unknownsoldier]

The hooded ferret suppressed a growl in his throat from the two Partners hes apparently having to work with now. He'd rather have preferred to do this alone of course, but extra meat shields aren't to shabby either as a distraction or actual use. The rat...possibly, but leaning more towards usable meat shield. The otter on the other paw...he felt something...off about her, something he didn't like at all when meeting a complete stranger. The gold wasn't too shabby either when the fat fox showed it so carelessly onto the table. The rat did have a point though, why do a job when a little incentive is in order as such. "I'm convinced, usually I work alone, but I'll make an exception...just this once." He said in a business like tone and gave a unseen glare to the rat who pat him on the back. He still kept a careful eye on the otter though...and these...bros the rat said as well.

---

Lance soon heard the young weasel ask his name, curiosity in his tone obviously. He gave a rare smile the ferret did under his hood, might as well make his introduction to curb this weasels curiosity. "My name is Lance...or the "Crimson Lance", as some would call me by my unofficial title." He said as if hes said the same thing over and over again. "Honestly, I don't know why they call me that, maybe because of my lance tip having a maroon colored edge," he said while taking the aforementioned lance tip out of a hidden pocket on his person, the blade had a red gleam and was indeed maroon colored," or maybe because of the blood I wash of it after every battle." Afterwards he put the lance tip back in its pocket.

OOC: If ya didn't know already, I'm using library computers, so I don't have internet back yet, and I'm still doing posts to pm and here you two.

[Caterpillar]

The rat smiled wickedly.
"You darn right there is, me fella", the rat laughed. "Me dear ol' bros... Told 'dem to wait outside, didn't wanna to scare you out of deir fur.."

As the money pouch landed on the table, spilling out cold coins, the rat's eyes gleamed even more than before. Quicker than a flame could catch a moth, the rat's sly fingers snatched one of the cold pieces and the rodent tested the coins true value between his sharp teeth. And seemed very pleasant at the result.
"Well 'dis is enough assure me and me bros' -- enough indeed...", he said chuckling. "We're at yar service"

-------

Errot looked at Lance very thoughtfully - and for a boy who was only around eight season old, it seemed a bit off-place. You would expect a kid of his age to be more cautious, if not scared of a larger battle-battered warrior like Lance was. But the boy didn't seem to be scared at all - in fact he was very interested about the lance's tip the ferret showed to him.

"I think I have heard about you", he finally said, looking up and down Lance, like trying to measure if the ferret in front of him lived up the rumors of Crimson Lance. "Is it true you impaled s whole battalion only using your lance while your main hand was tied behind your back?"



Senerre's emerald eyes turned towards Dylan, as the marten spoke, but scornful look stayen in those eyes, like the weasel was looking at a worm at her feet. And most likely Senerre was thinking she was.
"I refuse to eat even one bite if I don't get bathe first", she then snapped, turning her head away from the marten and from the bread. And instead she gazed down her appearance: this wrinkled dress, her messy fur and
muddy feet. The princes wrinkled his snout in disgust. There was no way he should have tolerate something like this!

"I might have forced to look like some lowly common beast - But I sure refuse to smell like one!"
Yes, the ugly dress and the mud on her feet he could still somewhat bear... But not this intolerable feeling of two weeks of sweat and dirt that covered her beautiful fur! And then there was this smell! Oh what she would give from her perfumes she had lost with her carriage!

Even more determined the princess crossed her arms over her chest like an embodiment of firmness.
"If you don't get me a nice hot bath, I'll starve myself to the death. And then you and your wretched group of brutes can forget about the ransom money"
Senerre sounded so determinate that she might very well do it. After all, it was their own pride that usually killed the royalty.


# OOC: Because I just liiike to make Dylan's live even more difficult! >xD #

[coolcoyote]

The pine marten growled deeply while clutching at the sides of his hat. "You do realize we are in a mill, right? Not much here to use as a bath aside from tossing uou into a river...prefurably with stones tied to your feet!"

Dylan seemed to control himself after a moment of anger. Paws on his hips he shook his head, "Fine. I'll see what I can do to get you something to bathe with."

The maten turned for the stairs. He didn't have time for games. Too much was at stake as it was and he didn't feel like hog tieing the weasel and force feeding her meals. Dylan was far from a decent beast but he wasn't a complete tramp either.

So for now the weasel won this round...although the thought of tossing her into the river did bring a smile to his lips as Dylan took to the stairs.

Ooc

So sorry for the wait XD there isnt much for poppin and co to say at the moment so ill skip him this round.

[unknownsoldier]

The ferret just sighed at the young weasel's question, "They always exaggerate that skirmish, half of it was true though, my main paw was tied behind my back because I escaped my captors, who was the many bodies that could've been considered a battalion, roughly. While I attempted to free my paws, I only got my second main paw free when they reached, so with little choice, I did fight with my main paw tied behind my back and the river did turn red from the bodies for a bit, and my lance tip as well. So...yes it could technically be true that I did indeed fight off a battalion with my main paw tied behind my back." He explained to young Errot. "How about you...Knar Crookeye? Any interesting battles you would like to share swordsbeast?" He said as he turned to the marten with a poker face essentially.

[Caterpillar]

# OOC: Before I can write my reply, I need confirm something first from you, soldier. ^^

So is Lance calling my marten "Knar Croockeye" because he knows who Knar really is? (a former Third-in-Command of Grendel's Horde etc... After all, I did give you the permission to know Knar's past, if you can logically explain how Lance came to recognize my marten ^^)

Or is this only a small error where it slipped from the mind that Knar hasn't told his real name to anyone? As he always uses the name "Crookeye" when dealing with strangers.
(thought, I admit I always write my replies using name "Knar", but only because I want to underline the fact "Crookeye" is only name-alias Knar uses, not his real name)

This fact I need to clear out, before I can start writing. Since in these two outcomes Knar's reaction/actions will be very different from each others. n_n #

[unknownsoldier]

OOC: Yes hes heard of knar and its because hes dealt with a few soldiers that were knwr once upon a time ago. And not it wasn't a slip up when i typed his name. Posting from phone sucks but useful.

[Caterpillar]

# Thanks, now I know where I'm going from here n.n ...This is getting pretty interesting #


It seemed like Errot had taken interest in this ferret - and Knar couldn't understand how that change of attitude was even possible. To him it seemed like when meeting someone first time, the boy made an instant decision whatever he liked the new face or not. Apparently Errot didn't like Dylan and was also giving hard time to other group members too... And now the weasel was almost behaving himself when talking with warrior-ferret who he had just met!

Knar was ready put his hand up in this matter. He really couldn't figure out that kid - but at least Errot behaved now, if just in presence of one beast. It might have something to do with the fact the boy seemed interested in this Crimson Lance - or at least his battle-tales... Well, Errot was a kid after all - guess it was natural for kids like the stories...

Crimson Lance - Knar had heard that name before. After all, he and Errot weren't just traveling only on the backwaters of the lands but they also sometimes stopped in the local towns and villages (mostly populated by vermin only). And in towns' taverns there always was bunch of rumors and tales moving through the air.

So yeah, he had heard about a mercenary called Crimson Lance. And if this ferret really was that beast, then they had got a very capable beast in their group. Crimson Lance maybe had a fierce reputation behind him (what Errot had just asked was a small slice of the tales which traveled before that name) but they also told the ferret did the job he was hired at. And he did it with good results. And those were the features they were looking for from the recruits.

Knar was about to move to the upper levels of the mill - it might be the high time to free Cat from his watch-out duty - when one sentence made him stopoin his tracks.
'How about you... Knar Crookeye?'
Must likely that sudden halt didn't go unnoticed by the ferret, as the marten stopped almost middle of the step, before turning slowly towards Lance, unreadable expression on his face. Errot, however. was clearly alerted, taking couple steps aback from the ferret - clearly out of the hand's reach.

This ferret knew his real name -- and Knar was quite sure he didn't remember seeing a face like that before in his life. It made things even more harder - was the other friend or foe? Of course a foe probably wouldn't just reveal himself in front of him (as everybody could guess what Knar did those who he considered his and Errot's enemies) but then again you couldn't never be sure... Knar knew he wasn't the brightest beast when it come to understand the most scheming plans. Which really made it damn difficult for him to see the clever traps laid ahead... He just wasn't gifted in that way.

But was this some kind of trap or not, he just couldnät kill the beast before he knew better... First he had to know what the ferret wanted.

"Errot", the marten said to weasel though his eyes never moved from the ferret. "Go keep company with Kinktail. You" - Knar pointed at Lance - "You come with me. We gonna free Cat from his guard duty"
Knar nodded towards the wooden stairs that leaded to the second and then on the third level of the mill.
"...'Dere we can change battle-stories if yah so wish"

This wasn't a right place to clear it out. Kinktail might have a concentration of the goldfish, so maybe it had slipped out of his notice that something was definitely going on... But Knar knew Dylan wasn't that stupid. In fact the younger marten was going to be back up any minute now - Knar doubted the gang leader could withstand the princess unreasonable behavior much longer. Which meant this talk had to be taken to somewhere else. Knar had couple of reason why he didn't wish to get this bandit group mixed up in Grendel's Horde business.

[coolcoyote]

Dylan was indeed coming up the stairs. Grumbling to himself about princesses and royal pains in the...he paused to censor himself due to having dibbuns about.

Then again the weasel ran with a warrior merc. It was debatable exactly how much censoring he needed to do. Spoiled little brat.

And the princess too. Both of them. Dylan had half a mind to hog tie the vermin and stuff her like a turkey, her and her little hunger strike. And her bath. The other half of his mind vowed to toss her into the river. Together both halfs said to stuff her full of stone before tossing her into a river. Filled with pike!

He scowled. If he were a more villainous villain he would...he would...

The marten paused on the steps. He sighed in defeat. If he were a more villaious villain he would be unable to live with himself.

Upstairs he could almost hear the rat Kinktail salute as he said. "Sure thing sir! I'll watch over the little varment! I'll show him the honorable trade of bandit, thief, and professional chatter box."

Dylan cringed. How did he ever get straddled with a nitwit like Kinktail? He sighed. In truth he kind of missed Liam. No sense in worring about that poor blighter though. He was probibly still digesting in shrew gullets or crushed under the weight of the tower...

----


Liam gulped as he watched rather helplessly as the soldiers raided the cave. He already knew they would find nothing of Dylan's old camp site. The universe wasn't that kind to him.

The reptile almost wished he was back with the shrews. Or even Dylan's gang. Compared with this...monster, even those savage shrews were good company.

Liam stood a little ways from the cave entrence. His paws were tied even though there really was no need. Two weeks of being fed and fattened like cattle in a savage shrew camp made sure his running days were over. The red scales of the lizard were saturated with rolls of flesh, enough that his belly hung down around his knees.

At the moment his scales were also bruised from his interogation. A gift from his rescuers.

Rescuers who may be killing him very shortly if they dont find that hated Dylan Locke in the next few moments.

Or worse...

[unknownsoldier]

He knew his question was answered when the pine marten stopped in mid step and turn to look at him. He also notice the young weasel take a step back as well, out of arms reach. It was kinda expected considering the dangerous game he was playing, but he wanted to clear a few things with the marten first. What was even better was Knar asking him to go with him to relieve Cat from his post up higher in the mill. Perfect, a chance to be alone with the pine marten and settle things about old business he once did against the Grendal Horde. "Gladly, Crookeye." He said with no emotion and a blank face as Dylan came up from his little visit with the prisoner royalty most likely. He went up the stairs indicated by the marten, walking past him.

[Caterpillar]

As the bandit leader left the cellar, Senerre dropped her surly act and smiled to herself as he knew he had gained the victory. This was more liked it -- at the Tower the bandit leader had managed to thrown her off her balance and out of her game, but now she felt like she was back at it again.

Those bandits wanted keep her alive if they wanted the ransom. And Senerra was planning to make full use of that. She had already succeeded to make the bandit leader lose his cool and it had been fun. After all, many things were just a games for Princess of Gilmar.

Despite her delicate frame and spoiled behavior, princess Senerre the Emerald was very crafty weasel-maiden. Years living in her father's court had taught her all kind of means of manipulation and plotting. At a very young age she had already learned how to push beasts buttons to get what he wanted. Even his father couldn't really deny her anything if she really put her mind on it.

Smugly Senerre lied down on her bedrolls. What should she want next? Prettier dress would be nice, but he really needed new slippers...But let's just settle for that bath for now... If she started to act too greedy, then this game of minds would cut short. Especially when the marten in that stupid hat seemed to have some clue about how the mind games of royalty... But no matter, that ruffian couldn't never be as good as she was! This victory had proven it. Of course there wasn't anything he couldn't get...

Senerre's smile turned a bit sour.
...Of course this ridiculous arranged marriage was only major set-back in her perfect record. Seriously, what were her father thinking? Send her off to marry a lowly mercenary's son? That had been one and only argument she hadn't managed to win against his father and it still nagged the princess mind.

Then cunning smile worked up her lips. But maybe - just maybe she could turn this situation to her advantage. Senerra had given it a thought and more she thought about it, more she liked it. These bandit's could prove to be useful... If she played this right, it was going to be her way out off that unwanted union that waited for her...

____


Knar decided he wouldn't bother to respond to Kinktail's chatter - as giving the rat a verbal answer had usually the same effect as adding the oil on the fire: the rat would only talk even more with lesser sense.

So he just gave a small nod to the talkative rodent before turning to follow Lance up the stairs. The wind-mill had three level's and look-out spot was on second floor, where small door leaded outside to a balcony which rounded all over the mill.

Knar didn't know anything about farming, but he assumed the balcony was there for fixing purposes of the mill's blades as they couldn't be reached from the ground. But whatever the reason was, right now the balcony offered a perfect place to keep watch for the mill's surroundings.

Cat was standing by the railing and turned around when ferret and marten stepped through the door.

"About the time", the feline greeted both of them, his paws resting on his recurved bow. Cat gave the ferret longer, observing look.
"So another new recruit?", the feline asked and Knar nodded. "I hope this one doesn't talk our ears off"

"'Dis is Lance. Lance, 'dis is Cat", the marten introduced shortly, ignoring Cat statement. The wildcat and the ferret could play getting-to-know-you in better time. Right now marten wanted Cat out from the balcony as quick as possibly without rising suspicious.
"Go git somethin' to eat", he said to feline. Luckily Cat seemed to be eager to get inside since the suggestion made his strained expression brighten.
"You bet I will -- have nice and boring lookout you two"

Knar waited until Cat had closed the creaking door after him and was out of the ear's reach before turning towards Lance, intentionally placing himself between the ferret and the door. Marten's eyes didn't move from Ferret.

"Who you are?" Even though Ferret had introduced himself already, Knar wanted to repeat that question. After all, anybody could take a name that wasn't really his.
"And how you know my name?"

Depending of Ferret's answer he might have to kill him... And it would be troublesome since then he would have to explain his actions to Dylan. Which meant he had probably lie -- In which he wasn't practically good at.

There was many possibilities to who the ferret could be. A spy for the Grendel Horde: those who would send a word to the army if they heard something that would benefit the Army. Or Ferret could be send here by a friend - he had associates who sometimes tried to contact him by different means. Or the ferret was just a bounty hunter after the reward which Draggan most probably would pay if the ferret delivered him, boy and the sword to the Commander of Grendel.


______


Errot was sitting in the company of Kinktail, but weasel-boy didn't listen even the half of what the rat talked as time to time he secretly looked upstairs thinking, what might happen there right now.

Errot wasn't stupid - quite the opposite if the brat just would stop behaving like self-centered brat - and he understood it wasn't a slight matter if someone recognized Knar. Usually it meant bad things and that they would have to leave in hurry. Well, he really wasn't feeling bad from that last part as he had wanted to leave these bandits already, especially Dylan. But Knar had decided they would stay, which made weasel even more mad - both at warrior and Dylan. He couldn't understand why Knar wanted to stay with such useless leader! Dylan was nothing but a joke and still Knar choose to follow his orders! It didn't make a sense and so weasel was starting to think that bandit-leader was trying to steal Knar from him! That dirty sneaky smelly execute of marten!

Well, that wasn't going to happen - maybe they would finally leave this group... But this waiting made Errot restless and he wished he could hear what was talked on the balcony.

Well, Knar would handle that -- meanwhile he could make sure that no-one went up before the warrior had dealt with the things. And same time he could also ensure that others didn't even notice the absence of two beast. He would create them something else to think about - as he was the master of diversions! And make fun of Dylan while he was at it.

In fact, the mischievous weasel already had an idea. He had wound a stone from the floor about size of his palm, and was now tossing it from his paw to another, his eyes sharply fixed on the stairs if cellar. He didn't have to wait long before he caught a glimpse of a hat with two big feathers in it, rising in his line of sight.

"Hey Kinktail - watch this" the weasel said and on the same moment tossed the stone. It hit on its mark the hat knocking it off from Dylan's head.

"Bull's-eye!", the weasel-brat shouted with glee as he saw how Dylan's hat fell on the floor.

_____


Liam wasn't the only one who didn't have high expectations about the raid. Draggan the Grendel stood just a few meters in front of the lizard, watching how his soldiers turned the campsite upside down in their search.

But of course they couldn't find anything, Draggan knew that. It had been two weeks so he would be surprised if the gang was still loitering in their hideout. It was a good thing he had already disbanded couple of soldier travel ahead to the towns of Gilmar. He needed some news... If the princess was still missing, it would mean she was with the thieves. So it would mean the whole Kingdom of Gilmar was looking for the bandits and Draggan wasn't planning to be beaten in the race. He wouldn't care less about the rest of the bandits or the kingdom's princess -- he wanted the sword that was rightfully his! And both that marten and the brat bound before him.

It didn't take long before sergeant came to him reporting that they hadn't find anything notable. The camp had been deserted for quite a time for now.

Now, back to his "other source of information"...

"Well, by the looks of things this was quite waste of my time" Draggan pointed out rather needlessly when slowly turning around so that he could lay his eyes on the lizard. The retile was sweating his scales off and with good reason: it was made evident to that non-furred creature that it was always bad thing when Draggan was unpleased.

"I do believe you remember what I said about me being disappointed..."



# It's a monster post, I tell you! O___o'' Hope you have the strength to read it.... writing four alt's actions surely takes some space. xD

Oh and I forgot mention this earlier: I love the way you have named this thread, coyote! xD It fits so perfectly to Senerre #

[coolcoyote]

Indeed the lizard truely did know what would happen next. He did not look forward to being force fed his own tail in the least. He doubted he would live much longer after that either.

"N-no wait!" Liam shrieked as he stepped backward. "I can...I can still help you find them. J-just hear me out! Dylan thinks I'm dead but...but would happen if he found out I was alive? I know him. He is a currious little blighter. And you know what they said about curriosity and the cat right?"

Liam tried to muster up the courage to smile but after offering himself up as bait he realized he really, truely was desperate. "And he has royalty with him. That will really make it hard to find a safe place to hide. Every low life and greedy beast will be out after him. I wouldn't suspect if each person in this kingdom is selling out their neighbor on suspision of having the pricess just to get some kind of reward out of it."

The heavy set lizard continued to shuffle backward until a gard firmly grasped him by the shoulder. With a terrified yelp Liam shouted, "That's a lot of rumors and false leads to sort through. You may have a lot of beasts at your disposal but only I have met Dylan! I can help you sort through all of that! I can help you find him!"

----

Elena leaned forward across the table and groaned softly. The vixen had so far managed to win three drinking games, two eating contests, and several card games. As a result her pockets were full and her white furred belly portruded between her vest and pants like a ripe watermellon.

The vixen moaned as she slowly leaned backward. She slumped in her chair as she clutched at her gorged guts with both paws. "If I eat another bite...I think..." she gagged at the mere thought of food. Curse that pine marten for leaving her here!

And not one soul to show for it! Not one beast has taken up the offer for mercenary work.

Looking at the emptu mug on the table Elena debated if she sbould stay until relieved or call it a night and head home...

---- MEANWHILE ----

There was a long, terrible moment of silence broken only by the rats laughter. "Wow! Did ya see that boss! Kit's a crack shot if ever saw one. Why, I bet he could hit a bumble bee's eye from ten paces! Eh Dylan?"

The rat got no response however. Dylan just stood there, stoic, cold...staring blankly towards his felt hat. Slowly he reached down to retrieve his possesion.

"Er...boss? You ok?" Kinktail began.

"You hit my hat."

Kinktail gulped as the marten slowly turned his head around with the dexterity known only to mustilids and some species of bird. The marten's body then followed suit.

"You. Hit. My. HAT."

"N-now Dylan...no need ta get upset! It was nothing but good clean fun! R-right? Just a spot of humor. No harm no fowl...right?"

...
...
...

A moment passed.

Seconds later Kinktail came flying out the nearest window. He managed a single yelp of terror before Dylan was rewarded with a loud Splash for his efforts.

Dusting off his paws the pine marten then turned to his weasely companion. "Of course you realize, I have to murder you now."

----

Elena kicked up her foot paws a d rocked her cbair back and forth. "Naaaaah. Dylan will be fine with out me." She waved down the nearest waiter, "Yo! Bar keep! Bring me another pie!"

[coolcoyote]

(Ooc lol! That was fun! And yes! Very hard to spoof more than one scene at once. Liam's fat is still in your hands pillar. If it is in your npcs personality to kill /maim liam then by all means.

And i really should consider letting one of my alts glut kill them off one day XD its just...such an unepic way to kill a character that i havnt XD)

[unknownsoldier]

Now, after the wildcat left, the marten made his move and got between him and the door. Same thing he would've done if he was in the same situation on the other side of course. Once he asked his question, asking who he was and how he knew him, he was prepared to give his full honest answer.

"Like I told you before, my name is Lance, and if your thinking I was sent here, you would be half right. See, a couple of soldiers that worked for...Draggan Grendel was it?" He said as he rubbed his chin. "Yes, that was the name he used as if it had weight behind it. He and his two compatriots heard of me and wanted to "recruit" me to help him find you and Errot, take all the glory and such. So naturally, I asked him questions about you two and happily obliged, thinking that I accepted." He said with disgust in his voice.

"So after the questioning, I swung my lance hilt and knocked the idiot to his left out cold. Then drew out my dagger and threw it at the stoat to his right, hitting him in the heart. After that, he yelled out whatever stupid warcry and tried to slash me with his sword, I parried with my lance, then I tripped him with one end. Before he could even get up, I drew out the lance tip and held it to his throat, one cut ended it. Then I unwrapped my sling and roped it around the knocked out soldiers neck, a rat, and tightened it. After a few seconds of him trying to beg for his life, I snapped his neck. Two more showed up after that, a old rat and young stoat, the rat came at me with another warcry, but I delt with him the same way like with the rat before him. The stoat ran off with his tail between his legs crying and spewing half threats." Lance said as he finished his story. Then he hears kinktails yelp and a splash followed suit. "It seems our boss is quite unhappy for whatever reason. To conclude our little talk, I'm here on my own terms, not for whoever that Grendal fool is. And besides," he smirked, "I don't hurt dibbuns and I keep my word that none of this is heard by the others ears." He said with honesty in his voice.

(You can put whatever you want about what happened to the stoat he said got away. His fate is up to you guys, though it would've been a whole if he made his report.)

[Caterpillar]

Knar crossed his arms and let the ferret talk uo until he was finished. Lance sounded sincere, but Knar had been backstabbed before, so he couldn't say he wholly trusted the other yet.

What came to the loud crash on the downstairs.... It sounded like the princess had been unreasonable again and Dylan was about to have enough of that. Knar considered for a moment, if he should go check the situation, but decided against it. He wasn't done here yet..

So he turned back to Lance.
"Why didn't ya take the job?" he then asked. "I bet 'dey offered a good money with 'dat glory and such... Not many sword-on-hire can pass an opportunity lik' 'dat"

No matter what all those songs and tales romanticized about mercenaries, this profession was a hard lifestyle unfitting just for anybody. Surely you were free to go where ever you wanted, pick your jobs and be your own master between the missions, but that didn't even cover the half of what being a mercenary really was.

For example it wasn't that easy find an employment - they weren't waiting around in every corner, so finding one was a hard job in itself. And even though you'd manage to get a job it wasn't like you got enriched at the end of the day. The every coin that you earned was quickly spent in the food, lodging and the gear... Knar never understood how the storysingers ever got the idea that mercenaries rolled in the money.

The songs also forget to mention how hard it was to survive long cold winters in this profession. Kings and lords didn't go to war at the winter nor did the merchants travel as much as they did on no-snow-seasons. So if you were unemployed on winter, it was live in hell trying to find a warm place to sleep your nights or some scraps to eat.

So every mercenary's or bounty hunter's dream was to hit a jackpot: a job which would drop a pile of money without too much risks of not to live to use it. Catching one marten and weasel-pup surely sounded like a easy one, expecially now when you had found both of them.

So why would the ferret let such an opportunity pass? Judging how the ferret sounded, it wasn't because of some personal grudge against Grendel Horde. And most likely it wasn't because he and Knar were such a good friends as this was the forts time they had ever met.


----


Errot laughed with Kinktail, but it died out as soon as the weasel noticed how Dylan's posture changed. It kind of reminded him how Knar sometimes looked, when he was really angry. It kind of made him alerted...

And with good reason. As almost instantly Kinktail, who had tried to calm down Dylan, was tossed out of the window by the marten. Errot, on the other hand didn't sit and wait for his turn. When Dylan had jumped on the poor rat, the boy was already on his feet, dashing for more saver place. Using one of the poles, that supported the ceiling. Errot climbed quickly as a squirrel up to one of the beams which connected the ceiling's supporting poles.

From there he looked down at Dylan who really sounded like he was going to live up his promise, if he ever got the chance wrap his finger around boys' throat.
"You try! I'm not afraid of you!", Errot shouted from his safe-place, sticking out his tongue. "You stupid fat-face!"
Of course he wasn't afraid of the marten! But he wasn't stupid either, so best strategy was stay up here and let the meathead steam out his anger.


Cat arrived to the ground floor about the same time when Kinktail was sent flying out of the window. That was a good sigh for sore eyes as feline had dreamed to do something like that for a long time... But before he could compliment Dylan from his tossing-skills he realized that situation down here might have been much more serious than Dylan just finally snapping at their walking chatter-box.

Or so you could assume when you saw a weasel-brat up the ceiling and Dylan looking like he was ready to commit a cold-blooded murder. Scout had seen the marten in such state only once and that was back when...

Cat slammed paw on his forehead face horrified. Oh no!
"Don't tell me you messed with his hat" he cried out.


----


When Liam stepped aback. a soldier behind him put his paw on the reptile's shoulder, keeping him firmly from moving any further.

"So you're saying", Draggan began, taking his time close the small distance between him and the reptile, "if by any chance he would learn you're still alive, he would come looking for you?"
The weasel stopped in front of Liam, holding his hands behind his back while his dark eyes pierced through Liam's skin.
"Is he really that much of caring leader?"



# I'll let Liam sweat little bit more before deciding what Draggan wil do with him xD I love it when I can make characters squirm!

And the stoat probably made it back tot he army - but it's whole different story if he dares to tell that all the other group's members where slaughtered by one beast alone x) Maybe someday we'll know...#

[coolcoyote]

Oh! But the little twerp of a weasel did! And now he was to pay the consiquences.

Paws on his hips Dylan peered up at the weasel above him. For a moment it seemed like he was going to climb up after him. Instead the marten turned away, walking towards a series of supplies and boxes. He rummaged through them for a moment before he found what he wanted.

A deadly smile spread across his lips as Dylan rested the ax across his shoulder. He whistled merrily as he almost skipped back to the pole the weasel rested on.

He whistled merrily as he began to chop at the pole...


----

The lizard was clearly terrified. The rolls of flesh under his scales shivered with fear as the weasel came forward.

"He's crazier than a fox in a hen house that one! Dylan's got this...this sort of gentalbeast bandit thing going on. He....he would come..." his voice trailed off. Liam seemed to shrink before the war lord.

"P-please...just give me another chance! I'm sure it would work!"