Private Tales Lions and Dreadlords and Elves, oh my!

[Gabriel Banick]

The young Banick noble waited for one of the apprentice Dreadlords to arrive as added escort for his excursion to Alliria. A shipment of Cat's Paw ale along with some financial paperwork to sign over for a lasting contract not only for the continued shipments but further business with him had elicited the trip.

The standard assortment of guards were gathered but passing by the Falwood had given him reason to set his sights on another venture. Attracting the attention of an apprentice in hopes of swaying them to his side. Well, to House Banick at least.

The group had come into a new fold of able bodied youngsters, and the most likely to sway them in his own house was most certainly the one who had established himself more so independently from the house. Which was why he had been convinced to take on the idea. Not that he had already planned on doing so, but with his father's blessing for the task.

It made doing so a lot easier.

He waited patiently at the north gate for whomever they sent, be it one or two. He hadn't been given the details so much as the assurance that at least one would likely accompany him.

Rosalyn was none too happy to be seeing him off for this trip. His fiery haired lady standing beside his armored form as she chastised him once more.

"I will know where you have been. Best behaviour. And avoid the taverns, you'll get drunk and thrown in jail or end up slobbering on some poor girl." She hissed, pulling on one of the chains his chest piece and weapon was connected to.

"Oh don't start that now. You've had the month to fret and be ripe with me. Yet now you choose to do so. And quit playing with the chain, you'll set it to bind. I know how you are." Gabriel snapped with amusement clearly across his face.

The guards knew the routine between them, chuckling and nudging each other at the show. Even though Rosalyn wasn't recognized by his family, anyone around the man knew the pair well.

"It won't stick in your head for a month and never you mind longer than it takes to pass the gate house." She sassed him, now pulling at the mane around his shoulders.

While she looked dressed for a party, Gabriel was in his half plate. A chest piece, partial arm and leg armor, with three weapons on him. A pair of swords and a notched dagger, all chained to the cuirass.

His mount, a smaller horse than was typical had a small bit of armor at the neck and had a crossbow and short spear tied to it.

The pair stood for a moment in silence before they both grinned before hugging.

"Be safe. I don't want your head beside the lions." she teased, getting a chuckle out of him.

"Be a damn nice sight for you though." He teased back before sending her away. "Off with you then."

 

[Talus]

There were few opportunities for Apprentices to ever truly relax.

Even at the Academy relaxing for a single second was as dangerous as wandering through the Falwood on your own. Most fellow students were out to either kill or harm you and the Proctors weren't all that much better.

Talus could not remember the last time he could actually take it easy in any way shape or form. In fact, he was pretty sure that he'd never been able to.

That was why he had practically jumped at this chance. The Mission sounded so simple, so easy, that he had half expected it to be a trick of some sort. When the Proctor had given him the assignment and told him the details, he'd almost screamed for joy.

Escorting some sort of noble to Alliria?

That was a dream.

For him it didn't matter who the noble was, what opportunity he could give him, or even the power that he held. All that Talus cared about was that for a month he wouldn't have to constantly be on hawk like vigilance.

That was enough.

So when he rode up to the group of soldiers lead by the second son of Banick Talus was wearing a smile. "Sir."

The Apprentice said in greeting as he slid off his horse and bowed.

 

[Gabriel Banick]

The horse gave him plenty of warning that someone was approaching. They dismounted as he was occupied for a moment too long as the word sir hit his ears. Sir? Rosalyn blinked once, twice, as she pursed her lips to avoid laughing. Gabriel seemed dumbstruck by the word and turned a bemused smile towards the newcomer.

"Sir? Gods above, only the new family servants call me that." Gabriel chuckled looking back to the woman before him while Rosalyn was trying very hard to not laugh once more. Small rocking motions threatening to throw her into a laughing fit. Gabriel shook his head and gave her a measuring look as he nudged her to leave.

"Go on before you laugh yourself silly thinking I'm fit for that title." Gabriel chided her while smoothing his hair and shaking his head. "Alright, first thing. No need to be that formal with me. Gabriel, Gabe; Something other than sir, or anything Banick please." He sighed before looking at him once more.

"And don't bow. I am no better than you are." He waved off the bow with a smile, motioning to the guards. "So then, I'm Gabriel. This is Harry, Reuben, Sticks-"

"You said-" one of the guards protested.

"It stuck." Gabriel shook his hand harshly to shut him up. "Anyways. Sticks, Hunter, and then the others are here for their first assignment. You guys got lucky this time." The Banick gave them a long look, making the watching you motion at what could be assumed to be new bloods.

"So, who do we have the pleasure of being accompanied by today?" Gabriel finally asked, hand extended towards the dreadlord in an attempt to shake.

 

[Talus]

Talus blinked in stunned silence for a few seconds, not sure what to make of the noble or the kindness that he was immediately shown by him. Most Nobles he'd met, no, every noble he'd meant either looked down on him or completely ignored him without fail.

To be greeted like this was…shocking.

In an instant every mental wall that Talus had shot up. It was a form of protection, a mark of what he had been through. Kindness was never kindness without purpose. He did not know why this man acted the way he did, but Talus was sure he either wanted something or would end up placing a knife between his ribs.

He would have to be careful. "Understood s-Gabriel."

Briefly the Apprentice frowned at having to say the Nobles name. Usually the only ones he addressed by their actual names were his compatriots in the Academy, and that had only started after they'd survived in the Falwood together.

"I am Talus." The young man said in greeting, glancing at the guards behind the noble for a second.

Strange.

 

[Gabriel Banick]

"Much better." Gabriel nodded to Talus before turning to his own men. The named ones nodded to Talus before looking back to Gabriel knowing what was coming next.

"Alright, should be an easy job. But passing the Falwood always brings the random chance for elves with grudges. You see a knife ear, you shoot, stab, or slash them before they get too close. They don't have a weapon in hand, you tell them to stop moving and wait for backup. Don't be dumb and go off by yourself." Gabriel snapped at his own guards before addressing Talus.

"You've been in a few fights right? Shouldn't need to babysit you like them then." Gabriel shrugged, mounting his horse before turning a few times to take a look over his small gathering. He had a number of guards with him, a pair of wagons, and now a dreadlord. His eyes scanned the group one last time before setting the order.

"You newer men ride towards the center around the wagons. Harry, your lead; Sticks, rear guard; Reuben keep an eye on the men; Hunter, ride ahead and check for blockades. Check back per usual" Gabriel almost never stopped speaking until motioning for Talus to mount up and join him.

"You ever rode escort before?" He asked once Talus joined him.

 

[Talus]

Talus never had a chance to respond to anything Gabriel said until the very last question that he posed.

He wondered briefly if the noble realized the actual value of the young Apprentice. He was sixteen, the junior of every single person in this caravan, but he reckoned he could have killed them all in just a few moments.

Since he was six years old Talus had been taught to kill. Steel and magic. That was all he knew. He didn't need to be told how to fight or act towards the enemy. It came as naturally to him as cutting came to a sword. That was what he was after all.

A weapon.

"In a way." Talus said quietly, grimacing at the memory of the last time he'd escorted someone.

It had been a short trip, just from Vel Anir to Vel Berathal. He and Hal had been with a contingent of Anirian Knights escorting a woman that was to be executed. A sentence that he had eventually been selected to carry out.

 

[Gabriel Banick]

The short response made him wonder what that had meant. A myriad of possibilities given the difference between the two of them. Gabriel was a noble, held to a short leash at times but still able to cause some mischief at times. Talus on the other hand, from what he understood about the Dreadlords, was likely held to an even short leash.

If he wasn't just kept at arms length.

The group moved around and Gabriel watched silently, rearranging a few of the newer guards before turning to Talus again. "Not too difficult, hardest part is just making sure you don't get ambushed around the Falwood. Don't know why but the knife ears have been keeping an eye on caravans out of here lately."

 

[Talus]

Talus didn't say anything for a few moments, instead focusing on why this Noble was acting so...strangely.

In truth it made him slightly uncomfortable, if only because it was one hundred percent opposite of everything that he had ever experienced. A part of him thought that it was some sort of trick he couldnt quite explain yet.

It seemed the most logical thought. "They hate us."

The words were a parroting of what the Proctors at the academy always said. He quickly realized though that it would likely anger the man, after all everything else had been different about him.

"At least that is what they say." He frowned, then quickly added. "I would not worry, Si-Gabriel. I can handle any Elves that may attack."

That was not ego, just simple fact.

At least in his mind.

 

[Gabriel Banick]

"Yes, everyone knows they hate humans, but for the most part they usually don't go out of their way to let us know that they are agitated until arrows are flying." Gabriel seemed to be on the same page with the elves hating them all.

That Talus was confident in his ability to handle the elves attack, Gabriel gave him a small and deserved smile. "Well good. I'm sure you have more experience than these men given your lifestyle. Not to say they haven't had their own battles but I'm told that you all have a rather hard life from young to old." Gabriel rambled, beginning to move everyone along to begin the journey.

"Rather harsh that kind of life. No room for fun like having a drink with your friends about your victories and such is there?" Gabriel began his fishing already.

 

[Talus]

"No." He said plainly. "Not much at all."

None in fact.

Talus had never had a drop of alcohol in his entire life. Two weeks ago he and his friends had mildly celebrated over their finding of a sausage with real meat. It was a rather pathetic mark when thought about it like that, but true.

He decided not to mention that. "This trip will be...relaxing for me."

Talus decided to admit that fact to the other man, perhaps put at ease by his more open demeanor.

"Most of our missions are more demanding." He tried not to sound too bitter about that fact.

 

[Gabriel Banick]

"Not much? Shame then. Gabriel here owns a tavern that has some decent ale, cheap too for who he is." Sticks spoke up from behind them, leaning on the horn of his saddle.

"You enjoy it because you get a cheaper cut for being one of my guards. Nevermind the time off you get. You have been keeping up on your training right slacker?" Gabriel tossed back towards Stick.

"Haha yeah. Just cause you are relaxed doesn't mean we skip practice Gabe." Sticks shot back. Gabriel nodded at Talus's comment.

"I see. Glad you get a chance to take a breath for yourself then. Takes a hardy kind of person to live that life. Made of stout stuff you are. I doubt these lot would know what to do if I weren't in charge." Gabriel chuckled.

"It'd be misery is what it is." Rueben huffed. "It gets rather boring looking like a stuffed hen in front of your families house. Least with you we can walk around town and cut loose when we aren't needed."

 

[Talus]

Talus did not say anything, but he did observe. He had never quite met a noble that acted this way with others.

His only other exposure to the upper class came from Luther and a few others that had passed through the Academy every now and again. This was...wildly different. It made him feel uncomfortable in an odd way, as though the balance of things was off.

Fingers tightened around his reigns. "It's not easy."

Talus agreed slowly.

He still felt like this was a trap of some sort.

"I believe my father ran a Tavern at one point." Talus commented quietly. "Though I can't really remember."

 

[Gabriel Banick]

"Honorable thing running a tavern. Not as glorious or dangerous compared to going out and striking down enemies of Vel Anir. but you do have to deal with guards, mercenaries, so on and so forth. Gain a reputation with people. They rely on you for news and such about what is going on." Gabriel shrugged. He always checked in with Gregor when he had a chance. The man that ran the tavern for him was always a wealth of information simply from what he overheard at times.

"Course owning it and running it are two different things. I'll have to bring you by the Cat's Paw when we get back." His face slowly turned to Talus at the mention of visiting the tavern he owned. "Supposing you would enjoy that I mean. Don't want to put you in a bad spot with whoever is overseeing you."

One of the men snorted.

"You concerned about making someone other than Rose happy? That's news to me." Hunter chuckled.

"For the prosperity and peace of Vel Anir, it is a good idea to keep an amiable and working relationship with those that defend it from the beings outside our walls." Gabriel replied quietly.

"I would rather give the people a healthy respect for our Dreadlords given that they risk their lives for us. And an easy job here and there I imagine doesn't hurt their ego given how often they do put their lives on the line, or is that a bit of a reaching assumption?" Gabriel finished speaking, the question at the end directed at Talus.

 

[Talus]

"It is doubtful such a thing would be allowed." Talus answered to the mans invite to his tavern.

The Proctors would sooner die than see an Apprentice go to a Tavern, he was sure of that.

When the other question came he did not offer an immediate answer, mostly because there was one glaring problem with the mans words. His lips thinned and he tried to keep from biting his tongue in order to force silence.

"As of yet." He began. "I am not a Dreadlord."

Just an Apprentice. "This is just an opportunity to...relax my training. I can't tell you how true Dreadlords think."

Mostly because the lot of them seemed cruel and calculated as could be.

At least those Talus had met.

 

[Gabriel Banick]

Gabriel nodded, expecting the answer to be as such. He was certain that they had a very strict regimen that the lot of them had to abide by. That did however raise a few more questions that he would have to sneak in at some point.

"Regardless of not yet attaining the full rank, you still represent the Dreadlord's with your presence. Your opinion is still valid Talus, at least with me it is." Gabriel went ahead with the words, sure that he would hear about it later from someone in Vel Anir should the utterance ever reach back to their home.

"I am glad that you have a chance to relax, even if it isn't as most would." The man shrugged, content with the pace they were keeping. "To each their own I suppose. Do you enjoy reading by chance? Or is it strictly kept to instructional texts?"

 

[Talus]

Talus stiffened slightly.

He'd never been quite...good at reading. He could do it, just not well. There had been attempts to explain to the Proctors that the letters for him were...odd, like they moved when he wasn't deeply concentrating, but such things weren't listened to at the Academy.

The young Apprentices always did his best, though more often than not he ended up spending three times as long in the library figuring out the same thing as another Apprentice. It was embarrassing, and something he did his best to hide.

"My skills lay elsewhere, I'm afraid." Talus approached the topic carefully.

Dreadlords were not uneducated idiots, or they weren't supposed to be anyway.

"I enjoy games of war." He scrambled for something that would make him seem smart. "Stones is something I excel at."

A true statement, he'd even managed to beat a few Proctors.

 

[Gabriel Banick]

He noticed the slight tense, but said nothing of it. It was never kind to poke at a sore spot more than was needed, and never mind when trying to become more acquainted with a person. He let the subject drop entirely when Talus spoke again.

"Excellent, I would enjoy a few rounds if you would share your time for a game." Gabriel offered, always content to allow people to show their strengths. It made them comfortable. If they were willing that was. "If that is something you wouldn't mind of course."

 

[Talus]

A small flicker of appreciation crossed his features. Stones was something he excelled in, and at the end of the day Talus was...well still a kid.

Only sixteen years old, he had been raised as a weapon, but that didn't make him any less human. The idea of showing off a skill was appealing to him, mostly because he almost never got the chance to actually do so. "I would like that."

The young man said simply.

Despite himself, Talus felt himself getting a bit more relaxed.

 

[Gabriel Banick]

Gabriel smiled and nodded. "We shall have a few games when we set camp then." The man informed him. The ride continued, small talk about past achievements, future plans for the tavern, or even going hunting in the savanna once more came up in the time it took to reach the Falwood. Camping at night was not a busy ordeal, the men Gabriel had brought from his house while not lazy, certainly were not in any hurry or felt any need to impress.

The younger man was definitely quite skilled with stones, and Gabriel found himself more often than not on the losing side of the table. His brow knit together, he was pleasantly astonished a number of times from either the one sided victory, or the subtle slow bleeding of pieces. "You've the mark of a battlefield commander, Talus. It will be a sight to see you on the battlefield some day." Gabriel had remarked after a thorough defeat, that had left the young noble astounded at the quickness of the match.

The meals prepared for both on the road and at night were not extravagant, but never where they lacking. Water or spirits were available, and meat was usually at least a part of one course for the day. Light-hearted talk about the path ahead and plans for the next day about who was going to be where.

---

The next day, they set off skirting the edge of the Falwood, and more than a few of them had their eyes trained on the trees as they passed them by. The occasional shift that seemed either to close, or far to loud to merely be a small animal made the guards skittish. Gabriel however, did not seem as daunted by the obvious signs of attention.

"Should we sing a song in response, Hunter? If only to irritate them?" Gabriel chuckled, watching the man release his hand of the sword.

"I think it best not to smack a hornets nest sir." Hunter replied quickly, the small addition of title making Gabriel look more sincerely at the man before looking to the trees.

"Are you in agreeance with his suggestion Talus?" He asked the young Dreadlord.

 

[Talus]

There was a brief moment of silence as Talus straightened himself in his saddle.

The last time he'd been to the Falwood there had been threats beyond just elves. His class at the Academy had been sent into the wood on a mission, once complete, they had all turned on one another in an attempt to thin the ranks of graduating Dreadlords.

He and three of his friends had managed to not only survive, but turn the whole thing around on the rest of their class. It had been a wild success, but it had also been the first time Talus had killed someone he'd spent most of his life with.

Some of those memories crept to the surface as they rode along.

It was only after he noticed the silence that Talus managed to shake himself free. "Hunter is right."

Talus said quietly.

"The Elves are best not...poked." Fal'addas and Vel Anir were at peace right now, but Talus knew more than a few elves who would happily cut a few human throats.

 

[Gabriel Banick]

Eyes watched them as they drew near, intent and focused on their possible pray as voices behind the shadows spoke in low hushed tones. Shifting back and forth as bodies found positions or better vantages to watch from. The voices were low enough to miss, chattering among themselves as they argued back and forth about what to do.

---

Gabriel frowned a bit, eyeing the treeline before looking ahead as if dismissing the obvious signs. "I'd say that is a fair assessment. I won't go against what you say. Hey Sticks-"

He twisted around to address Sticks as an arrow whistled past where his head had been a moment ago. Human nature kicked in as he stared at the arrow that poked out of the ground and he blinked. Hunter was speechless for another moment before his voice rang out.

"Get it movin'!" He whooped, circling the wagon and the others as more arrows came in sporadically.

"Gods above, out in the open with no cover. Don't you love it?! Come on Talus!" Gabriel laughed as he kicked up his horse. It was a bit exciting in his opinion to be running the gauntlet of renegade elves. Granted he would have like to actually square off with them rather than simply run, but beggars couldn't be choosers.

 

[Talus]

The moment Arrows started to fly Talus drew his sword.

He knew that the blade wasn't going to really do much good at this point, but he'd never been much for the bow and using a crossbow was impossible while mounted. He'd only the one weapon, and in a situation like this it would have to do.

Lord Gabriel...just Gabriel began to whoop and holler as the Arrows went flying.

A brief moment passed before Talus followed after him, his head shaking in disbelief as the lordling began to call in triumph and glee as arrows rained down.

They came faster and faster, not in groups but in wild arching shots.

He moved his horse quickly, trampling down the road and galloping behind Gabriel.

Then he saw it. A flicker he could not describe, something flashing from the forest and flying towards the open road. It was an arrow, one cloaked in an odd sort of white shimmer that flew directly towards Gabriel's mount.

 

[Gabriel Banick]

He had no sooner taken off than he found his horse nose diving for the earth. He was glad he had crouched into the gallop he had spurred the horse into, at least that was the afterthought when he rolled across the ground in front of the beast that was now lame and writhing with an arrow in it.

Having rolled a full length further than the horse had, he was barely spared being crushed by the thing. Sparing a moments pity to his trusty steed and the pain it was likely in. He was dumbfounded, shocked at the roll and unsolicited attack they were under.

Sure he was guts and blunder, but his horse? That was simply uncalled for.

He sat for a moment on his rear, blankly staring at the horse as his bearings came back. Another arrow found the ground beside him, shifting his gaze to it before realizing that they were still under attack.

"Well shit." He huffed, half rolling as he stood and skirted the horse. Arrows whistled past his head, one glancing off his armored chest as he looked to the group that had slowed at his dismount.

"Keep moving you dolts! Don't stop!" Gabriel yelled.

 

[Talus]

Talus did not listen.

He couldn't listen really. If Gabriel died in the middle of all this and he showed up back In Vel Anir without the noble…he would probably be out to death. Talus was just a Dreadlord Apprentice, a nothing, nobody. He'd been sent along to make sure Gabriel survived.

That was what he was going to do.

Talus rushed forward on his mount, galloping into place just a few feet in front of Gabriel and slipping off the horse. "Here!"

He shouted to the nobleman.

"Take my horse!" The act must have seemed insane to Gabriel, to anyone watching, but Talus seemed more than confident in what he was doing. His blade was out, and as an arrow flew towards him the sword bounded forward and caught the broadhead before it could strike.

An odd ghostly wisp surrounded Talus arm a brief second after, his gaze flashing to Gabriel. "Go!"