Valeria

I woke up feeling refreshed and stretched my muscles before getting dressed. I was already in my undergarments, so I just had to put on my gambeson and boots.

Yesterday went well. Had I not strained my hearing and overheard what Percival and the others were discussing and how much he wanted to recruit me, I would not have been so bold in negotiating my contract. “Descendants of Gods” is unfamiliar to me, but the word “Gods” seems familiar. The Bookkeeper didn’t seem to believe I had a connection to them, but I’ll investigate myself.

Finished putting my gambeson and boots on I took a look at the end of my tent where I moved Lucille, Pascal, and Dennis who were still sleeping. I had removed their weapons lest they hurt themselves in their sleep, but I left them with their clothes as I didn’t feel like undressing them.

I let them stay because they were too drunk to set up their tents and they paid for my drinks, but it’s time for them to wake up and leave.

I walked up to and stood over them debating how to wake them. Making my decision I leaned down to Lucille and Pascal then pinched their nose. After a few seconds, they snorted and opened their eyes and I let them go.

Lucille and Pascal looked groggily at each other before sitting up looking up at me. “Now that you two are awake help me wake up Dennis, I can’t pinch his nose as I did to the two of you.”

Lucille held her head looked around and spoke tiredly. “What are we doing in Commander Percival’s tent?”

They were quite drunk, so I’m not surprised they don’t know what happened last night.

“It was included in the contract, so it’s mine now,” I said slightly proud.

Pascal looked up to me in realization. “I remember! you led us and our horses to Mercenaries Last Stop when we left the tavern then we came with you to the Commander's tent, and you swindled this tent from him!”

Amused I shook my head. “Swindled? I did no such thing, I said I wanted this tent and he agreed to give it to me.”

Pascal chuckled and got up helping Lucille up as well. He looked down on Dennis who was sleeping undisturbed by our conversation, and clapped his hands loudly Clap! startling Lucille and jolting Dennis. I decided to clap my hands as well Clap! My clap was far louder than Pascals causing Lucille to jump and stare at me resentfully, Pascal was also startled but he wasn’t as hungover as Lucille, so he wasn’t as shaken. Dennis opened his eyes and sat up immediately.

“What’s going on!” he said startled.

I chuckled at his reaction. “Nothing, just waking you up.” I pointed at the table where I set their weapons. “Pick up your weapons and sober up outside.”

They nodded and Pascal helped Dennis up. They went to their weapons and picked them up. Then they made their way out of my tent still groggy. When they opened the tent flap I saw that Percival, The Bookkeeper, and Max were waiting outside.

Percival looked at the group with slight disapproval. “Valeria’s right go sober up.” He stepped aside to let them pass but he stopped Dennis with a hand on his shoulder. “Make yourself presentable and come back here quickly. Your presence will be needed.” Dennis nodded and left with the others.

Percival entered the tent cleared his throat and looked at me slightly embarrassed. “We have guests, and my ten-.” He paused. “Your tent is the most appropriate place to receive them. You are welcome to stay for the meeting as well.”

“Very well. What is the nature of this meeting with our guests?” I said combing my hair with a comb I found in the tent last night.

Percival looked at what was most likely his comb irritated. “Commanders from other mercenary bands accompanied by some of their comrades are here to discuss an alliance that I proposed.”

An alliance? Perhaps because the Golden Tree is low on members Percival decided that the work in the lands beyond the sea was impossible as we are now.

I finished combing my hair and nodded. Percival ran his hand through his long unruly blonde hair and glared at me. “I will need my comb back.”

In my tent, hair now combed Percival sat at the head of the table, on his right Max who occasionally glanced at me but said nothing. On Percival’s left was the Bookkeeper dressed in black and with her book, and me sitting next to her. Standing and flanking Percival was Dennis who looked sober, the burly man I remembered was named Claude, and between them a brown-skinned woman with short black hair and a serious face, I believe I heard her be called Naila. We waited patiently until the tent flap opened and a middle-aged, bald tanned man entered wearing plated armor with a golden tree engraved on the breastplate. He paused and looked at Dennis who was glaring at him, but they said nothing as the bald man was followed by a small group of people.

That must be Lieutenant Jacques. As expected Dennis doesn’t seem to like him.

Now that all the guests had arrived Percival stood up and made his greeting as Jacques sat next to Max and stared at me curiously. “I am Percival the Commander of the Golden Tree mercenary band it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Please introduce yourselves then take a seat and we can discuss the terms of our alliance.”

A muscular dark-skinned woman, with short black hair, wearing an eyepatch on her right eye, and a surcoat over plated armor with a giant spider rising from the sea emblazoned on it introduced herself. “I am Aminah the Commander of the Spiders of the Sea mercenary band, and I have not accepted this alliance, but I am interested.” She said roughly then sat down taking a seat across from Percival, two similarly dark-skinned men in plated armor flanking her.

What an impressive and intimidating-looking woman and that curved sword at her waist is the first of its kind I’ve seen since losing my memories.

A youthful-looking tanned man with blonde curly hair, blue eyes, and wearing a surcoat over plated armor with a man slamming his spear on his shield emblazoned on it over introduced himself next. “I am Kane the Commander of the Warrior Bards mercenary band.” He had a smooth voice and smiled at me as he sat down next to Aminah. He had brought four men in gambeson and chain carrying shields and spears with them and they stood behind him forming a small wall.

Hmm… Though he has blue eyes they are not like mine and he doesn’t have pale skin or red hair. I don’t believe there is a connection between us.

Percival sat down and began addressing the two Commanders. “The alliance I’m proposing is for our three mercenary bands to work together till the duration of our contract in the lands beyond the sea. Since we are of similar size and strength we will split the contract three ways and share the spoils of war equally. If you’ve done work in the lands beyond the sea then you know that the descendants pay well, so even a three-way split will be a generous sum for all of us, not to mention the spoils of war from what seems to be a larger conflict between the descendants. You have my terms now I’d like to hear your thoughts.”

Aminah chuckled then spoke in a mocking tone. “Percival, our bands are not of equal strength. From what I saw and heard you lost a considerable number of your band in your campaign with the Orion Kingdom. Your lieutenant Jacques has been recruiting tirelessly since he’s arrived, and he didn’t recruit the best of the crop either.” She shook her head and stared at Percival with one dark eye. “My band, 450 men and woman experienced and strong have been working steadily here helping merchants guard their ships from pirates and on occasion raiding some of those pirates ourselves. If I were to agree to this alliance we would need more than a third of the contract. Half will do, and whether that half comes from your band's share or Kane’s or both I don’t care you can work it out amongst yourselves.”

While I don’t know about the strength of the members recruited here, I don't think she is wrong to assume she is stronger. Now, how will Percival respond?

Max glared at her no doubt insulted, but Percival shook his head and stared back at Aminah seriously. “Yes, we have suffered losses and our recruits may not be the best, but do not think that makes us weak. Our members that survived the Orion campaign have gained a considerable amount of experience, we are well armed and well trained, and most importantly we have experience working in the lands beyond the sea. We know the terrain, who pays more, which side is stronger, how to negotiate with the descendants, and quite frankly we are better fighting on land than you are.”

Aminah held Percival's gaze with her one eye before relaxing on her chair and smirking. “You are not wrong our specialty is naval warfare, and we have never worked in the lands beyond the sea. I just have one question. Can you guarantee that we will be hired? Bigger mercenary bands than ours are already fighting there and smaller bands are no doubt doing the same as us and forming an alliance. In fact, before coming here I was approached by the Commanders of Lady Lucks Chosen, and The Prowlers to join their alliance cutting you out. The only reason I didn’t join them was because I know that the Golden Tree has a reputation in the lands beyond the sea, so I thought it more likely we get hired and receive a better contract with you.”

Percival smiled and spoke with confidence. “You made the right choice. Not only can I guarantee we’ll be hired I can also guarantee that our contract will be worth more than double of the contracts you received here. You’ll want to know how I can guarantee this I’m sure, but I will not say and instead promise you that if I cannot do so I’ll give you half of the contract from our share.”

How can he guarantee such a thing I wonder? He doesn’t seem to be lying and I don’t think he would gamble the band’s share recklessly. The Bookkeeper, Jaques, and Max also look like they don’t have any doubts.

Aminah’s smirk turned into a grin. “I do like your confidence. I believe you’ll be able to secure us a contract, I’m more skeptical about your claim that you can guarantee it's double of what I’m used to, but if you’re wrong I get the bigger share I wanted, so I won’t be too upset. As a show of good faith, I will procure passage to the lands beyond the sea. I have worked with most of the merchants and ship Captains here, I assure you I will procure the best ships and Captains at a good price.”

Percival nodded his head in appreciation and turned to Kane who was silent throughout the conversation. “Kane, now that Aminah and the Spiders of the Sea have joined this alliance will you and the Warrior Bards join us as well?”

Kane smiled and nodded his head. “Of course, I find your terms agreeable.”

…That it? So easily?

It seems that I was not the only one confused as everyone from our band present including Percival stared at Kane with a puzzled expression, and Aminah had a similar reaction as she examined Kane with her one eye.

“I see, then we should move on and discuss when to depart, and other details,” Percival said carefully.

Again, Kane just smiled and nodded his head.

There is something off about that man of that I have no doubt.