The Delegates of Erimead {kingdomkeylight & Irell Starling}

[kingdomkeylight]

The road of Favlema was not the most suitable of choices for most on a long journey, its numerous region changes from lush grasslands to full on deserts to even more uneven mountain paths made it a very unstable, and fearsome trek yet for a certain band of twenty knights, and one delegate such was the only "safe" option to get to the agreed location of one of the lands most important meetings.
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Lately the kingdom of Erimead had been seeing clear signs of instability as sections of the land fought each other over crops, currency, and land itself. Such a event had also choosen a worse time to reveal itself as the kingdom was currently recovering from a war with a neighboring kingdom that had expanded out to three years only ending about a few months ago. Thanks to the damages done it seemed the king had very little resources to now handle its own problem, and as such left it the governing powers that be to settle the matter themselves while trying to recover. For the capitasl region itself the delegate choosen was the one grouped in on this insane path of Favlema. Alphonse Swerch, only at the age of nineteen was tasked with handling with other great minds to distrupt the problem at hand in a manner that would make everyone happy... easier said then done really yet the real challenge was making it there alive at this point. Even though the teenager thought it unlikely a chance of attack was the very reason they had choosen this path to the agreed location.
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"You seem tired my friend," Alphonse's thoughts were pulled away from the horse dragging his wagon to the man riding next to him. The one who had spoken was Isa Santoka Ex- High Knight as well as current the one of twelve Kings Guard. Isa had a interesting history about him not only had he given up the position of high knight once... he had actually done it twice giving in both times to a pupil of his... though from what he understood the first pupil Isa had intrusted with the position had been deemed unworthy and was thus replaced by Isa again until he gave it to the new current "High Knight".
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"I am not as use to such travels as you are my friend, though your worry is much appreciated," Alphonse said giving a soft smile that made the swordsman chuckle back at him with great enthusiam. It was at times like this Isa's age clearly did not show. However at least he was good company unlike miss "high" knight herself... in fact if anything Alphonse was sure he had more to worry about with her then any enemy around.... for unlike Isa who had no issue with such a task she herself seemed quiet annoyed with it, and showed it clearly towards Alphonse.

[Irell Starling]

Laural Falco, known to her subordinates simply as ‘Red’, listened to the conversation flowing around her as her eyes continuously scanned the surrounding countryside. Her surely chestnut named Hueron plodded along and although she was relaxed was very aware of the tension in her rider. Laural didn’t like the path they had chosen and if circumstances allowed would have chosen a different one. She and her men had taken the King’s Highway down. That way was much faster, partially paved, and had various towns and taverns along the way. But that road was not suitable for her precious cargo. No, they had to take the long, arduous, road that offered little in the way of hospitality or even shelter whatsoever back to the capital.

Her eyes narrowed at Isa’s question to Alphonse. ”Tired already?” she called back to them, ”We haven’t even been traveling for an entire day. Yuno, do you still have some of the ale we had last night? Perhaps that will raise our delegate’s spirits, that is if he can bear to swallow it.”Laural had made it clear from the beginning that she thought of Alphonse as a child although she was only four years his senior. Still, four years held an awful amount of experience because at the age of nineteen little Red had barely been recruited before she’d been shipped to the battle front. Ironically, in facing death almost every day, she had grown years older than she should have. In her mind she wondered if war too could taint Alphonse’s boyish ways, although it certainly hadn’t for Isa, a fact she was ever in awe and envy over.

It was true however, that the road thus far had been a little difficult. Some of her soldier, who were less practiced at riding than she would ache tomorrow. The path they were following could only be called that in the loosest sense - rocks and pebbles springing out of the undergrowth causing horses to misstep and riders to be ever wary, pot holes were ever trying to trip the unobservant, shrubs reached out to scratch any exposed ankle. Still, Laural couldn’t completely curse the undergrowth which meant that their travel left no rising cloud of dust for trackers to follow.

Suddenly, a squeal went up as one of the horses, stepping into a larger hole lost its balance and broke formation, causing the ones behind it to side step out of the way. Laural turned Hueron around and went over to survey the damage. Just as she was heading over another hose reared up, eyes white with panic as she saw blood trickling down its flank. Chaos began to ensure as fear trickled to the other members of the herd as riders tried to calm their mounts. Not letting her or her horse get distracted for even a moment, Laural searched the crowd trying to discern who had injured the animal and why.

[kingdomkeylight]

"Red its a distraction keep your eyes foward," Isa yelled out to his ex-pupil as he pulled out his purple tainted blade Miasma at the sound of something moving fast through the shrubs, and then launched out towards Alphonse. The flying projectile was negated by a single fast swing from Isa's left sword arm. The sudden tension that filled the group as the projectile was revealed to be an arrow was so staggering that even the next slight moment would turn the field to chaos. "Everyone stay calm..... Rear flank aid Red front flank with me.... dammit were in a pincer," Isa growled as not to far in the distance the sound of camouflaged netting rustled the area.... apparently someone was prepared for there arrival, but how? Isa Wouldn't get to much time to think about it as foot soldiers suddenly blocked off both pathways as expected.
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"I may not be much a military man Isa, but on this terrain horse back is highly less effect then foot, they have a slight advantage if you people stay on your horses," Isa turned a raised eyebrow in a impressed manner. Though Alphonse was raised as a politician it seemed the boy had gained some of his mothers tactician abilities, or Alphonses mother had gone against her husband wishes, and taught her son some of the trade.
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"You heard him, I don't want any casualities Snipers take out any long ranged units, and guard Swerch," Isa commanded in a more military type voice. Though in truth Red was the leading party it was clear Isa had apparently forgotten that in the heat of adrenline as he jumped of his horse. In a surprised battle cry the man rushed over at the closes enemy who in panic of the sudden turn around in surprise attack was easily cut down as blade shredded clothing and flesh in a flash of light. The dead body due to the surprising force backing up Miasma was sent backward towards a now startled group of attacker. Clearly even with age Isa was still quiet a man to fear. The other troops now boosting with morale at the fear struck to the enemy dismounted quickly with a few failed attempts here, and there as they waged combat with the unknown foe.
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These arn't Coalition soldiers by no means.... which means the ambush has been set up farther in the trail.... dammit Jade you could have warned me some how. Yuna the only spearman of the group grumbled at the miscommunication between her, and the Black Coalition as she headed to help Red with the enemy. As such keeping my skills sharp for when my time to really earn my pay comes is not a bad idea. Yuna jumped to the back side of Red as she negated a back strick with her spear.
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"Best not to lose are heads to early won't be able to laugh about Alphonse's boyish ways with if you die on me now," Yuna chuckled as she twirled her spear in response to the current deadlock with her opponent making him lose ground as she brought the bladed point down to dig into the mans back.
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".....," Alphonse watched silently as this attack continued on these people were unlikely the main force. they were so.... weak? There numbers did little to effectively fight their group, and the moment Isa cut on of them down their morale completely disappeared. "Somethings not right here.... I feel like were being tested," alphonse pondered as a sudden surprise appearance of a bloody faced Isa scared the ever loving life out of him. "Are you daft man.... appearing out of nowh.... ARE YOU BLEEDING," Alphonse yelled to Isa's no surprised look followed by a blood curtled laugh.
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"Sorry about that... it really gets messy out there thankfully theres a hot spring not to far from here thatly help clean the blood off," Isa responded as he then sheathed Miasma. "Besides as much as the front line suits me this is Red's part of the work mines simply to guard you."

[Irell Starling]

”Stay in your formation!” Red screamed as the first projectile flung towards the group only to be stopped by Isa just in time. As he took charge of the troop, she kicked out of her stirrups and leaped down off of Hueron’s back, pulling her saber out in mid-air. With a quick hand she slapped the horses flank. ”Fly!” The horse took off from the group of soldiers at a breakneck speed in a smear of mahogany. Some of her soldiers followed her lead and dismounted although their beasts stayed close.

As she rushed towards the enemy, Red let out a growl. Her sword glittered in the sunlight as ran towards the awaiting enemy. They collided in a mass as metal hit metal and sparked. Spears flew over their heads as the remaining group on horseback aimed at the enemy snipers. Red stepped left and followed through with her sword as a spear came flying down, almost slicing open her side. ”Watch yourself!” she yelled back at the group turning back, ”If you can’t aim don’t…” She caught something out of the corner of her eye just in time to turn back around in time. Annoyed, but needed to stay focused Red continued fighting until the last was either dead or unconscious. Once she was sure the battle was through she jogged over to Isa and Alphonse.

”I don’t understand,” Laural said as she joined the men. Her eyes briefly taking in the blood dribbling off Isa’s face. It looked bad but facial wounds tended to bleed more than any other and didn’t let up for a while. ”How did they know where we were.” Her eyes scanned her soldiers before turning back to Isa and Alphonse, ”We took all the precautions but still…” she didn’t add that the road they had chosen was only out of secrecy, it was far harsher and longer than the other option. She felt like they had somehow walked into a trap with no hope of safety anytime soon.

”We need to move on as quickly as possible. We can stop briefly at the springs up ahead but afterwards I suggest we continue riding late into the night.” The enemy clearly knew where they were and what road they were taking, Laural hoped the darkness could be used to aid their travels. Sure, they wouldn't be able to see the enemy coming, but the enemy wouldn't be able to pin-point them either.

Turning back towards her soldiers, Laural barked for them to mount up and get ready to move again. Then she let out a low lilting whistle the carried on the wind, summoning Hueron back. Before the group moved she went over to her second commander, Yuna to speak with her about the spear incident. Up until now she had trusted all of the soldiers under her command with her life but a niggling in the back of her mind told her to beware of everyone and everything. ”One of our spears almost hit me out there,” Laural said to the young woman, indicated the battlefield now strew with bodies, ”You didn’t happen to see which of the soldiers under your watch threw it did you?”

[kingdomkeylight]

"Wah... a spear.... your kidding....ALRIGHT WHOSE THE IDIOT WHO CANT TELL FRIEND FROM FOE," after registering the fact she had missed Red to avoid all keen design of thought she was a likely canidate for throwing the missing spear. Without hesitationg like someone who had no idea such a thing had happen Yuna started to chew out all soldier's who wielded spears to find the "idiot" who had apparently almost jabbed there commander. As the show of violence continued Alphonse turned to Isa who was currenlty cleaning himself off with a rag.
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"So do you think its possible," Alphonse asked. It wasn't hard for the vetran warrior to figure out what exactly the politician meant by such a question the idea of treason wasn't hard to swallow at time like this... especially around those whose job was to dismantle a cival war. Sighing to himself isa threw the blood dripping rag away before answering.
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"Its not impossible to say the least... in the presence of people with roles like yourself... anythings possible sadly my friend no worries though I think Red would rather keep ya close and tight before letting such harm come to you," Isa chuckled before being countered in amusement.
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"Really... cause I think she's highest on my list to kill me before its all said and done," Isa laughed even louder at the small response as he gave a soft grin towards the boy. It was sorta true it didn't seem like Red liked having anything to do with this trek or Alphonse himself a fact the warrior maiden made clear almost every moment she had to.
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"Hey maybe thats her way of saying she's interested in you... from my recollection all the guys she fancied.... well actually... I think she beat up some of them in a playful... manner," Isa hesitantly chuckled causing Alphonse to raise a worried brow.
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"I highly.... and hopefully doubt it then my friend," alphonse said as they regrouped and continued their trek on the uneven terrain. As nightfall hit the land with the moon at its fullest it wasn't to many hours long before they had halted movement at the hot springs that Isa had meantioned... yes the road of Favlema was quiet a strange one indeed.
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"So then if we rest here are best bet would be to set up camp just before the canyon sections presuming the men can handle such a distance in lack of time... honestly red it may be wise to let them rest here... enemy attack from the hill side or springs side would be pretty fruitless and leave them wide open for a good amount of arrows before they even reached us," Isa said as he and red dicussed the next plan of action all the while Alphonse helped set up the tents as the men were a bit shocked he knew such things.
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"Camping was somtheing me and my father did alot," was Alphonses response when asked how he was familiar with such outdoor recreation.

[Irell Starling]

”I don’t like it at all.” Red replied to Isa’s suggestion of the troop stopping. ”but we can’t push on forever and if the enemy can ambush us while we’re well rested…” she let her voice trail off as she began to bark instructions to the rest of the soldiers. ”I want two men on watch at all times. Standard shifts. Anyone who falls asleep on accident will find they won’t be waking up again.” It seemed harsh but everyone’s life was on the line and the ambush earlier had just reinforced that fact. Eventually everyone had to sleep and you had to be able to trust the men that had your back.

The soldiers busied themselves with setting up the four-men tents. No one went in search for kindling, they’re be no camp fire this night. Unlike most of the others, Red did not set up the tent first but busied herself with grooming her mount. Only when Hueron was brushed down, unbridled, and fed did she get her things settled. ”It’s surprising you like to go camping,” Red called out to Alphonses as she pasted by him in camp. ”Figured it’d be too dirty for you. Still, it’s nice to have a Spring to wash off the road dirt. We won’t always be this lucky.” Finished with the mare, Red began to set up her tent for the night. She was one of the few that had her own personal tent and it was smaller but more decorated than the others.

A few soldiers waited their turn and stood on guard as the others began to strip off their heavy armor and traveling clothes but leaving on the under wraps made of linen. Even Red joined in the communal affair but she kept her eyes focused on the water right in front of her feet. In the moonlight, her bare shoulders, usually protected by bracers, shone like ivory. Bending over, she unwound the crimson curls bound tightly to her head and began to wash her hair. In the distance, she could hear some of the male and female soldiers talking in low voices. Everything felt so relaxed, as if just hours before, their lives hadn’t been in danger.