= ( ALCADAR – LADY FIRDANNA ) =

A fuming lady Firdana did the rounds of her command. Fort Remembrance was all but deserted, the only armed men she had left were Smiler and Tharkos, her own personal retainers, men whose loyalty she had inherited from her father. And then there were four villagers, the only refugees that hadn’t fled over the frontier. It was a totally inadequate force.

She stalked into her office and dropped into her chair. Scowling she opened the velvet lined drawer that contained the communications mirror. She set it carefully on her desk, breathed in slowly in an attempt to calm herself before feeding it a thread of her mana, even as she said, “HQ, Baron Fullbright.”

Her reflection in the mirror was replaced by a multicoloured swirl of light. When it cleared she was looking at a stout, bald, grey bearded man.

“What do you have to report, lady Firdanna,” sneered baron Fullbright.

“The useless militia dregs you wished on me have deserted to Hasvettia. And all because you ordered me not to leave this stinking outpost for any reason, me or my retainers.”

Fullbright’s face flushed with mounting rage, “Are you sure it isn’t because you are incompetent?”

Firdana snorted contemptuously, further raising Fullbright’s choler. “Three days ago the villagers of the benighted village near the haunted forest fled here for refuge. Their so called prophet, your toady, messed up and got himself killed by one of his would be victims.”

“WHAT!” roared the irate Baron. “Kill the beast responsible, immediately.”

“What part of the story about how your miserable militia deserted to our enemies did you miss? How am I to do anything when I’ve been stuck with that filthy geas of yours? Neither my retainers nor I can leave this miserable post, remember.”

Fullbright glared at a seemingly unconcerned lady Firdana. “Hasvettia are not our enemies.”

After enduring the glare of the King’s marshal for several minutes Firdana forced herself to smile sweetly, “Oh? By the way, the villagers who fled are spouting tales of a demon overlord. You know, three meters tall, wreathed in flames, eats babies for breakfast. That sort of thing. And the f’ing militia scouts I sent to check the village returned in a state of terror. They reported that the demon had scouts that can fade into the fields, a medusa and hordes of red eyed monsters hiding in the forest.”

“There’s a Demon Overlord? Why didn’t you report this sooner,” gasped Fullbright.

“Don’t be silly. If there was a medusa, my scouts would be decorating the village. They would have made very ugly statues. And the demon, or whatever he was, restrained himself to only killing his would be murderer. Admittedly a baby has gone missing, but by the story the villagers told, I don’t see how he could have gotten hold of it.”

Fullbright snapped, “Hold the fort, Firdana. I’ll see about rounding up a force to take on this Demon Overlord before he grows too strong.”

“There is no demon overlord!” the mirror connection was cut and Firdana was once again looking at her own reflection. She pounded her fist on the desk in frustration, “Oh! Damn! F’ing lackwit! He’s going to cause an absolute panic.”

After replacing the communication mirror back in its safe place, Firdana went to see what she had to work with.

= ( ALCADAR – BRAZOS’ CREW ) =

They worked their way west, skirting the forest as they went. Towards the end of the first day they crossed the north road, after a short wait to ensure they wouldn’t be seen. By that time Dee was being given piggyback rides by Duke and Brazos.

The second day went by in much the same way. They stopped for the night when they came in sight of another road that headed north.

After breaking their fast, they strode onto the road and made their way northwards. Dee, somewhat reluctantly, consented to wear a long hooded cloak that served to hide her snakes and tail. Gussy for his part cast an illusion on himself.

“How long can you keep that illusion going Gussy?” asked Brazos.

“Several hours at least,” observed Gussy. “I will need an hour or so rest to recuperate my mana at lunchtime. I suggest we find a secluded place to rest.”

All went well until early afternoon, not long after their long lunch hour. They were heading north and had just overtaken a lumbering string of lightly escorted wagons. The merchants had ignored them, as was usual in these circumstances.

Approaching from the direction of Castle Redstone was a group of well-equipped adventurers. There were three warriors in heavy armour, a rogue in leathers and a mage in colourful robes. Following behind were a couple of servants leading a pair of laden mules. When they got to about one hundred yards their mage stared at Gussy. He appeared horrified, then he shouted, “It’s them!”

The rogue prepared his bow hastily and let off an arrow while the mage pointed his wand at Gussy.

The hurriedly released arrow passed between Dee and Natercia, almost hitting the former. Gussy roared in rage and dropped his illusion even as he hastened to erect a barrier. Dee’s snakes flared out from her head in alarm dislodging the hood of her cloak, as she concentrated her ire on the rogue.

Brazos, Duke and Oliveira readied their G3s and when the opposing mage launched a spell at Gussy they opened fire on the opposing warriors who had just started to charge, sword in hand.

Ignoring the statue of the rogue, Dee now concentrated her attention on the mage who had attacked Gussy, her friend and fount of varied treats.

Hearing shouts of alarm, Natercia and Vitor faced the rear and readied their rifles in turn. The merchant caravan had stopped and three of their mounted guard were charging with levelled lances. Once again the Midgardian adventurers proved that cavalry do not fare well against assault rifles.

Brazos watched as the two men who had been leading the adventurer’s mules fled down the road ahead. The mules were fleeing too, scared by the gunfire. “Duke, Oliveira, check ’em out. See if they have anything that explains their actions.”

Turning round he noted that the merchant caravan were attempting to create a laager for defence. He kept an eye on them. “Anyone hurt?” he asked.

A series of negatives answered him. Gussy for his part, after ascertaining that Dee was unhurt, was now berating her, telling her to seek cover and hide in like circumstances. “I couldn’t bear it if you were to get hurt,” he concluded.

Duke returned from searching their assailants with a bloodstained pamphlet. “Hey boss. They were on a quest to find the Demon Overlord, his medusa, his chameleon scouts and his horde of red-eyed demonic monsters. Gussy did you know you were three meters tall and covered in flames?”

“Oh flaming hell!” exclaimed Brazos. “Well, that’s one plan scuppered. We’re not going to get anywhere in Castle Redstone if they’re looking for a medusa.”

“So, back to the Forest I guess,” offered Natercia. “What about those guys?” she asked looking at the merchants.

“Ignore them,” suggested Brazos. “The two camp followers have already fled to spread the news.” Returning his attention to Oliveira, he asked, “What was the loot like?”

“Fair,” replied his friend.

The merchant in charge of the caravan watched the demon and his entourage pass as they returned to the south. He breathed a deep sigh of relief at being ignored.