A SWIFT DELEGATION
The warmarshall paused for effect and then asked
Teflar, who had been quiet throughout the discussion, answered " I would estimate over one hundred orcs within the forest fortress due west of Airrdale. How many would accompany us to verify our report?"
The captain decreed " I sent word to collect a dozen men to escort you back north to the locations you deemed a threat to humanity. Half will bear towards Airrdale; the others into Nalmiar to see this hideout. We need a verified account of their positioning and time to explore this den and to see if Airrdale has collapsed."
Teflar twisted his lips perversely " Is it not best to send enough to be able to do something about the orcs? At least even odds, say 150 with equipment to kill them?"
The baliffs chuckled whereas Metlivon remained serious " That is out of the question. I cannot make such an order and leave Pinedroi exposed. Had you not heard we need word from Bethlun to mandate such a call to war?!"
Aramil looked over at Telfar with concordance and then back to the warmarshall
" I understand your worries about leaving any place undefended under your watchful eyes. However, I must add in one piece of information. These orcs have travelled a fair distance and have been on the constant move. We have barely been able to keep up. At worse, by foot it took us five days. But the matter is now, how long will it take for us to get to their last spot and find the location of them if they have moved? For it is a good chance that that was not a permanent camp for the orcs and, if the orcs are not there anymore, we miss a decisive chance for an ambush to destroy this contingency. It is a over a day's walk from here to the ruins."
Metlivon allayed " Your team shall have horses for the few days given to you. Evidence, should this horde be missing, will be in abundance and therefore enough to conclude a reaction by our city. This will not be a plan to destroy. Gather all clues necessary and report back by noon on the 11th."
Giving out a distinctive grunt, the dwarf cast a disparaging glance at the warmarshall and mumbled something about "being treated with threats" until the monk laid a calm, reassuring hand on Oktavianus' shoulder.
And so, with a proclamation from the judge at hand, the full team of seven gathered in front of the chair and were officially sworn in as delegates of the fair city of Pinedroi. They were to be quick with their lead of the field soldiers and compliant in giving the scouts time in determining the current assessments of the horde. They would return swiftly and stand before a War Council so the facts could be obstensibly assessed and compared.
The fellowship were to leave that night at dusk leading a full squadron from the Trynsian Stables located on the east side of the city. With the precious hours they had to gather supplies and pool their thoughts, they left the courttroom with a new, yet, parallel purpose.
" This orc horde...where do you say they mass?"