Zack unleashed a chuckle as he watched the group." I'm going to agree with Jiro here, this will not be a short trip so we should make sure we are well supplied for this venture well we have the chance, if we don't well probably run into problems real quick."Said Zack as a smirk slowly grew on the corner of his mouth." It will alone take me probably an hour and a half to two hours to gather some extra Intel if it's there and to gather supplies and get permission to join you." Said Zack as he dug for piece of wrapped candy from his pocket he carried for children in the slums and grabbed the last one he had left and offered it to Isabelle after her short brief episode. "So are we in agreement we will form at the gate in roughly two hours before departing."Said Zack

Isabelle looked at Zack in indignation, "I'm not a baby damn it! I'm eighteen years old not ten!" Isabelle said her lips pursed as Jiro laughed. "Well yeah in roughly two hours plus I suppose. Just try not to piss off Isabelle. It's never fun to piss off the little girl in charge of making sure you survive when someone smacks you upside the head with a mace. And for the record she really does like candy it's just she's got pride." Jiro said as Isabelle smacked him with her staff to no effect. "Naga take you Jiro! I'm going back to the inn! At least Zaku won't tease me like i'm last week's joke of the week!" Isabelle stomped off with puffed cheeks but Jiro stuck around just in case anyone had any questions.

"No Offense was intended i will apologize next time i see her,I'm going to head back to the barrack and talk to some people and then i will see you at the gate."Said Zack as he tossed the candy to Jiro before he left.Zack left the Tavern stuffing his hands into his pockets and began his walk back to the barracks contemplating what he was going to say to Falcon Knight Alexandra.

"If that is all then I am fine." Samuel said. He was in no rush to spend time with these strangers just because he was hunting with them. That was when Samantha ran off after Zach. "Mister soldier you look so brave." she began. Samuel almost went after his sister but she was a grown girl so she could fend for herself. " I was wondering if you could spare some gold because my air head brother gave everything we have away." Samantha pleaded to the soldier. Mean while Samuel grabbed his horse by the reigns and wandered throughout the village. Maybe he could rob someone for their food or something.

"This is my last five coin."Said Zack as he fought back a thought of not helping the Plegia women.He poured his last five pieces of currency into his hand."If you don't mind me asking, you and your brother didn't fight in the war did you?"asked Zack as a thought back to the times he fought and slayed female Plegian soldiers of all ages. He presented Samantha the coins, the thought that he was being conned crept into his mind be he forced the thought away, He continued his march toward the barracks.

Matthew stopped over hear the two knight need for funds he groaned. "Silk I'll meet you later." he said walking over as the soldier left looking the young Plegian woman. "I heard your in need of funds, I've got more than I need. I was one of the winners in the arena yesterday so I've got a tidy profit. One condition is I go with you, make sure the gold isn't spent frivolously." He told the girl as reached into his pocket pulling out a few hundred gold. "Name's Matthew, your brothers the cavalier from before right? I'm a tactician." He told her as showed her the money in his bag.

"Oh that is mighty generous of you." Samantha told the tactician. She was beginning to feel like everything seemed hopeless until this charming fellow showed up out of nowhere with an intention of saving her. " I would be glad to accompany you until it is time to embark." Samantha said as she grabbed Hiki's reigns to follow the man. As that was happening she noticed that her brother seemed to disappear. Knowing him he was just about to kill someone for food which would not be good. Then again there was this charming tactician who had offered to buy her everything she ever wanted. She was completely sure that Samuel would be fine by himself.

Isabelle worked alongside Jiro as he caught up to her, not hard seeing as she was in a dress, and she looked up to him. "You're an ass you know that boss!?" Isabelle said still pouting about how Jiro had basically thrown her to the wolves. Her pride hurt and feeling a bit silly she walked as briskly as possible in order to get back to the inn where Zaku undoubtedly was located at. Isabelle couldn't even think of Zaku being anywhere else but the inn quite frankly. Where the hell would he go otherwise? To the arena to bet? Without Jiro at his side Zaku wouldn't risk it. Not because Zaku couldn't handle his own but because Jiro would keep him out of fights that would prove stupid to enter for various reasons.

Jiro merely yawned as he listened to his young ward grumble at him and told her to stick a sock in it. Really he loved Isabelle as much as he would any great friend but sometimes she was as annoying as a block of wood being slammed against your face. Jiro couldn't help but think of the two friends of his as good friends at the very least. They'd been together for years now and been through a lot. True comrades in arms. He just hoped the other members of the group could hold up with the two of his little buddies. "So what do you think of the other people Isabelle? Think they can keep up with us?" Jiro asked as Isabelle frowned and put a finger to her lips. "I don't know really. Silk seems smart, Matthew is a ass, the jerk with the armor left Zaku with a mess, Zack is a nice guy but he doesn't seem too good with a spear, and the others I don't know about." Isabelle said shrugging as Jiro nodded. "What about you?" Isabelle questioned as Jiro gave a non committed shrug.

By this point Silk had already slipped away from the group and had found her way into a series of dark alleys that seemed to go on forever, each leading deeper and deeper into the underbelly of the merchant quarter. The part of the city that didn’t officially exist on any map. Every city of note had such a place of course. Wherever there was prosperity there were people ready and very much willing to take advantage of it. The information broker she had visited the previous evening resided close to the heart of this area, however it was not to him that she headed this time. She needed something more tangible than information and rumour, which is why she ended up outside of an especially nondescript looking establishment.

From the outside it looked no different than any other mercantile establishment, a dusty rarely cleaned window revealing knick-knacks and all other manner of random items. The store front was in a poor sate, with faded paint peeling away from the wooden door and window frame in places. The store sign, its name faded and illegible from age and disrepair hanging on an angle, threatening to fall off entirely from the first gust of wind. It was all a front of course, a carefully engineered veneer of dilapidation designed to distract from the stores true purpose. One that required a very special key.

Zack pulled his hands from his pockets and straightened his uniform and equipment as he approached the small guard base with two vigilant guards stood watch by the bar gate. " Welcome back."said a guard as Zack approached. "Thanks no trouble today." responded Zack with a nod before he went through the lifted gate. Zack passed the wide open air parade ground full of recruits running through drills that Zack remembered running through before going to war in Plegian three years ago when he was sixteen. Zack passed the barracks and headed to the administrative building. Each of Zack's footfalls echoed through the hall of polished tiles a lone recruit polishing the floor with a rage. Zack checked in his weapons and equipment with a chubby clerk that never saw combat his mid section was hanging over his belt. Zack walked up the hall and and up a flight of stairs until he arrived in front of a large oak door guarded by a lone secretary."I'm here to see commander Alexandra." said Zack as he stood as he sat down in one of the trio of chairs.

Matthew sighed, he really could help but play the hero. One of these day that would get him dead in ditch and some credit with Naga. Still he was glad to help out the young women and her brother, they would all be fighting together so it only made sense he help them now so they could fight there best later. I mean he had enough gold and was pretty much ready to go aside from finishing his letter, that would have to wait. Silk would no doubt want to read it if he worked on it in front of her.

His mind settled back on the task at hand as he looked at Samantha. "So where to first? We can pick up what you need then I'm going to gather up a few things." He told Sam before speaking to himself. "Maybe finish that letter to my sister before we go, will be weeks before it's delivered back to Rosanne. Might make it in time for her birthday." He said hoping he'd like the present he'd gotten her.

"Guardsman Zack wait one moment please." the guard by the door said as he knocked on the door and a loud male voice came booming from the other side, ""-ALRIGHT YOU CANDY ASS GUARD WHAT IS IT? YOU BETTER TELL ME WHY YOU HAVE THE NEED TO INTERRUPT A MEETING BETWEEN TWO OF THE TOP OFFICERS IN THIS TOWN!? WELL DO YOU HAVE AN EXPLANATION BEHIND THIS HUH!?" it was the voice of the Knight of The Deadlands and clearly not of Falcon Knight Alexandra. As usual he was bombastic and over the top which frightened most of the guards who didn't understand him. More so he was quite frankly crazy. "Come in..." came the more stressed but calm Alexandra as she opened up the door. "What the hell do you think your doin' Alex? I came here to talk not to be shoved out like some mongrel flea bitten pup!" The Knight said as he looked at his contemporary with disdain. "I am Knight Commander of this city for the next couple of days. That means despite our similar rankings Harold. Now please leave so I can talk to my guardsman." she said to The Knight of The Deadlands as he walked out of the room pushing Zack aside. "I'd recommend making it quick pretty boy or I'll make you do twenty thousand jumping jacks while I drink a barrel of god damn beer in front of you." The Knight of The Deadlands said to Zack as he moved along. He was suddenly flanked by two guards with a skull on their pauldrons indicating they were from his legion. The beautiful Falcon Knight ushered Zack into the room quickly and had him sit down in the chair that undoubtedly her last guest had been sitting in. Alexandra ran her hands through her pink hair and groaned as soon as she was sure Harold was gone. It took her a moment before she addressed Zack. "Alright then soldier state your name and you rank and tell me what you need. I'm a busy woman."

"Guardsman first class Zack, Kosnin of the 3rd Capital Guard company,Mam."Said Zack as he sat bolt upright int the seat."Mam as you surely remember the group of mercenaries that were also involved in the rescue of the kidnapped child and partial destruction of the gang involved, Their group consist of several people of Ylisse, Valm, and, Plegian nationality of multiple skill sets and are preparing to embark on seeking the abductees and gang from the bounty board."he said as he kept a neutral look across his face. "These people are not quite the friendly type and their intentions are not clear and should not be roam the country side freely or, undue harm may come to innocent citizens of Ylisse or unlawful activities , but no evidence has surface of crimes related to them in my presence, mam."he said as if handing over a verbal report.

"As you rmember mam i transffered from the captial to bolster the Guards manpower during the festival and as it has come to it's close and we will resume are down sizing of the force in this area to thier orginal numbers, Rather then returning to the capital my services could be utilised here and i could venture with this group and keep tab on their movements and actions and protect innocent citzens from undue harm by this group."said Zack as he watched the commander." I was part of the clean up forces forces hunting down remanent forces of Plega and personally do not trust them mam."he said as he rested his hand on his legs waiting and watching.

Isaac smiled to himself as he watched Silk skulk about before heading inside into a place that even he would not be able to easily follow. The door was guarded by magic and not the cheap hedge wizard type, the kind that commanded considerable gold and required considerable talent. He didn't like magic and knew well enough the kind of spell cast on that door. He would have nothing to do with such filthy arcane powers. Of course had the mood taken him she would have never even made it this far. He could have dragged her into any number of dark alleyways and had his fun with her, braking her piece by piece until she begged, begged him to kill her. But alas that part of the game would have to wait, else his employer might take offence. After all he was not simply being paid to hurt dear little Silk but to prolong that hurt.

Besides before Isaac could have his fun his employer would want to have his. Isaac understood his employer’s needs and he was nothing if not a consummate professional. With that said Silk had made the game a little more interesting. Not only did she not flee the city as predicted she might but she had allied herself with some honest looking men of obvious calibre. For protection no doubt. Silk was averse, like many of her kind to honest labour and so he surmised that this course of action would be purely practical in nature. Surprising but by no needs unanticipated. It would affect his next move but not considerably so. Plus his employer made no demands on Silk associates so Isaac would have a completely free hand in how he dealt with them.

"Oh I don't need much." Samantha said as she diverted her attention to the shops. She looked around at ll the shiny merchandise but No. She would not ask for someone good for nothing player to buy her gifts. Before she knew it he would ask for payment for extra favors. Samantha would be as cheap as possible. "Could you buy me enough bread and other provisions to last maybe a weeks for my brother and me?" She asked. Even though she did want some jewelry. "Oh and for a horse and pegasus as well." she pleaded as they strolled closer to the market area.

"Quite frankly I don't know anything about you other than that event last night. You served well and I passed that onto your commanding officers back home. As for that mercenary group you looked into and the description matches that of a small band of mercs who specialize in guarding people. They're talented from what my informants tell me." Alexandra said sighing as she opened up a book and looked at a roster of soldiers until she got to Zack's page. "Your record is alright for the most part. And I can easily attach another man to your job back at the capital from my own brigade. I'll personally allow you the expense of 500 gold for the trip and allow you to go on the way. You may take your spear and shield and armor alongside one additional weapon. Is that fine with you? Personally even if these strangers are dangerous I don't think anyone's particularly stupid enough to do something after the last event and if that girl you mentioned is with them I supposed they helped you take down the people who were kidnapping others. Why would someone up to something try to lure one random guardsman out who has no high ranking anyways?" Alexandra said in a rhetorical manner as she closed the book and turned her purple eyes onto Zack. "Do not besmirch Lady Emmeryn on your journey. She has enough trouble as it is. Am I clear?" she said calmly as she looked at Zack with indifference.

"Crystal clear,Mam." Zack said as he nodded "I will server Ylisse proudly mam."he added as he kept the neutral expression across his face thinking as to what all provisions he would need for the journey as he await to be dismissed by his superior officer.

"Very well Zack you are dismissed. I trust you that you will make it back alive. Ylisse needs every person willing to defend it." Alexandra said as she got up to open the door for Zack and once he was let out the door closed just as quickly. The soldiers didn't even bid Zack a farewell.

===

Timeskip Four Hours Later

===

It was a quick trip to the Inn to get Zaku who was indifferent towards the whole thing. While he'd prefer to go to Ferox he didn't exactly complain about going. The three of them got together and bought some healing supplies, some new camping equipment, and made sure they got their weapons looked at. As usual all of them were in working condition for the journey which was undoubtedly going to be bloody. On the way out however Isabelle couldn't help but feel that they were walking right into something bigger. But she didn't comment to it about to Jiro only Zaku who commented he had the same feeling.

After the group has left the gate they had taken along the road less traveled west towards Plegia. One of the gate guards informed one of the captured people had said they had set up a base in that general direction but he didn't know anymore or he was holding information from them. It would take longer to get more info out of him but Alexandra wanted the job done as soon as possible so she was not exactly unwilling to send people out in that general direction. "So does anyone have any fun trail stories to tell while walking?" Jiro asked as the group trudged around the dirt road. Isabelle trudged alongside him and Zaku brought up the rear of everyone. "I do hope they aren't stupid ones if you all do." Zaku said dully as he kicked a rock backwards. "You know I was expecting more talking from a group with over five people in it." Isabelle complained as she nearly tripped over her own dress.

Samantha came over to Jiro and Isabelle on her pegasus Hiki. "Mr Jiro I have a story. One time when me and Samuel were traveling back in Plegia we were chased by rattle snakes. I was so scared but then Samuel just stomped on them and decapitated them. I was so little and I thought I was going to die." Samantha said almost with tears in her eyes thinking about the memory. Then Samuel rode up on his horse right behind them. "Samantha I think it would be good idea if you flew up and scouted the road ahead for a moment." Samuel said. Then his sisters flying creature gained some distance from the others before it stretched out its wings and took off from the ground into the sky flying in a circular rotation going straight up. Samuel sighed thinking how his sister always had a one track mind to embarrass herself and mainly him from old stories.

Silk hovered toward the back of the group, her pace relaxed as the group made steady progress toward their destination. She had not found what she had wanted from ‘that’ store, though with that said it had not been an entirely wasted trip either. It had allowed her to confirm that which now plagued her thoughts. Isaac was indeed the one who was following her. She had caught sight of him through the one way glass as he lingered in the shadows, though only for the briefest of moments. It had been enough to put the fear of god into her heathen heart. After all, it was one thing to suspect something but another to know it for certain.

Afterwards she had wasted no time in returning to the rest of the group, fearful of what was no doubt following her even at this very moment. She looked behind herself but of course saw nothing that concerned her, which only seemed to worry her even more. Paranoia was a cruel, unfair mistress. Not wanting to be away from the swords and their weilders she increased her pace until she was alongside the one known as Samuel, watching with admiration as his sister ascended on her pegusi. She waited a moment before speaking. “She’s a cute girl. You must take very good care of her. Do you two always travel together?” Silk said with genuine interest, careful not to ask anything too personal.