80 A swig of poison
1259 Words
Sweat piled in front of his brows again. He took a few dips in his Wellspring and spoke with the Commander.
Commander Kierka was a knight of Mydir two decades ago. She had been a well-decorated general who had led Mydir in conquering several territories in the past. Things didn't go so well later on in her career. Rumors spoke that she was demoted in rank due to her harsh treatment of subordinates.
She rallied a few staunch supporters who chose to follow her and they formed one of the strongest bands of knights for hire in the continent of Kalesia. Sir Arthan of course hated their designation due to their lack of a code of chivalry, but even he wouldn't deny the group's prowess in battle.
The Commander was a woman in her forties. She had plenty of scars and wore thick make-up that embellished her beauty. It made her sharp eyes look more menacing, and her cheekbones more imposing. She wore a full plate armor painted in black and purple, with scorpions embossed in her shoulders. Her helmet had what looked like a scorpion tail at its back, striking forward menacingly. It was displayed at her makeshift desk. Janus was surprised to see that she was bald, which made sense, as everyone in the camp had a clean shave.
Janus took a deep breath tried to calm himself despite feeling outclassed. He had wished that Yvaine was here, but at the same time, if he was to become a good leader he had to learn to deal with other leaders such as Kierka.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Commander Kierka. I've heard legends of your company and its deeds around Kalesia. I had always hoped to visit ever since I learned that you and your men were one of our nearest neighbors. I am happy to have finally had the chance." Janus bowed as decently as he could muster.
"Interesting. So you are Prince Janus. You don't look like a madman to me."
"Pardon?"
The knight laughed.
"You look like someone who came home from school. Am I to believe that you are the Prince who led a group of men and women and established a village in the middle of a forsaken land?"
"Pardon me commander, but not only do we have men and women. Goblinfolk and dwarves are welcome in our village. And they're not even the most interesting folk we have, for the I'reen have also taken to call our village their home."
"As the Master merchant has told me a hundred times before. Although I did not doubt his word, I surely did doubt the possibility of such a thing to last. Very well then, what reason did you have to visit our encampment yourself? When the merchant's visits had previously sufficed?"
"I came merely to extend a hand of fellowship." Janus said. "You call me a madman, which I admit I've been called a few occasions now. But from what I can see in your esteemed barracks, you and I are no different. We strive and survive in the harshest of land, training men and women alike in conditions that would break the best of them. Having an ally such as yourself would prove a great asset if you would agree. I have also heard reports that our scouts have been meeting each other in expeditions in the Forests of Mists, something that I would like to personally address to you that if such an occurrence happens, I've ordered there would be no aggression from Wayward Home. Unless provoked of course." Janus said. Impressed that he didn't stutter.
"I see. That is admirable, you are indeed not as frail as you look. I must say, you are using your unassuming demeanor quite well as an advantage."
"Why thank you, commander, I try my best to do so."
"As much as it pains me, The Stings of Venom are not one to have any allegiances. As you can see, my company is an organization for hire, we lend our services to the highest bidder and when the contract is over we lower our weapons in search of the next contract. As such I cannot form alliances with other nations. That would mean cutting off a portion of our customer base, which I cannot allow."
"Understandable..."
"I am, however, interested in the products that the Master has been supplying us of late. The sweet potatoes are filling up my soldiers really well, along with the surplus of vegetables. We have shifted most of our trades to consist of a majority of your products. If your expeditions do find our scouts and trainees in the field, instruct them to present the sigil of the stingers, which should guarantee them no aggression. Feel free to replicate this and provide it to your troops."
Commander Kierka handed Janus a piece of cloth with an embroidered emblem on it of a teardrop encased in a rose. It was presumably the commander's personal seal.
"Which I humbly do appreciate..."
"In return, I would like to order a larger shipment from you on a twenty percent discount. This would seem much at first, but that is the only way I could guarantee fair trade. This would also ensure that in the event that King Blackfield personally comes to us for employment against you. I would vehemently deny his request. I've heard that the King harbors great resentment for you and your sister. Although that is merely what the birds have been telling me."
Janus pondered this. They had more sweet potatoes than they know what to do with, and since their territory was still expanding... Surely it wouldn't be a problem.
He took out a parchment and started writing down the terms.
Janus was happy to get out of that situation alive. Twenty percent was a little too much, something that Master Roban clearly opposed, but he felt stuck into a corner. The Stingers were a much more experienced force than they were, and they had no issues traversing the Forest of Mist. With this agreement, they have secured a good relationship with their biggest threat.
He came back to the encampment while the merchants did their trade. Janus was waiting for one more detail before retreating to bed. He didn't expect his meeting with the commander to be so draining, even with magical self-healing.
Janus felt a presence beside him in camp while he was enjoying his stew, he almost spilled soup on the poor goblin. Skeeter appeared beside him out of nowhere.
"Princey, Skeeter has and his whiskers discovered something about the stingers." The goblin looked around, wary of other listeners.
"You can speak, although not too loud. I trust everyone around us. What is it?"
"Stingers are dealing with orcs in the mountains. They are planning to sell the sweet potatoes to them at a higher price."
Janus thought about this, but he didn't feel like they had the power to oppose it.
After the trades were over they rallied back home with cloths and silks which the Stingers themselves traded from the merchants of Mydir.
Skeeter and their crew left with one other task. Find those who felt trapped and wanted to escape out of the Stingers. Be as quiet as possible so as not to draw any suspicion.
In the dead of night, they found twenty individuals who were locked up and ordered to be thrown away to the Forest of Mists. Cadets whose injuries would last for months to heal were thrown out of the camps, as the Commander didn't want to pay for those who are inebriated.
They met these cadets in the dead of night. And Janus enticed them with his usual offer.
- Writer
