One of the riders speaks, "His Grace Demiu, son of Demui, of the House of Lions, Lionrider, Runewriter, Vanquisher of Corellus."
He pauses for moment, then says, "Also present are Sir Mardan and Sir Vinbrig, Knights of Morñornia, and seven and ten Warriors of the Northern Sun. We bear with us Corellus, General of the Xain Cavalry."
The soldier nods, opening the door. "Go on in. Someone will escort you to General Dror."
The men dismount, helping the wounded Demiu and bound Corellus. Two of the men-at-arms remain at the door, while five enter. Demiu and the knights usher Corellus inside, and the other ten men follow.
The soldier nods, opening the door. "Go on in. Someone will escort you to General Dror."
The men dismount, helping the wounded Demiu and bound Corellus. Two of the men-at-arms remain at the door, while five enter. Demiu and the knights usher Corellus inside, and the other ten men follow.
Before all the men are inside, the soldier slams the door shut, trapping ten of them outside, including the two at the door. Twenty soldiers wearing brown tunics emblazoned with a red bird and brown hoods that come to a point a few inches past the face walk around from the side of the Tavern, weapons drawn. The Xain soldier says, "Don't resist and they won't harm you. Just let them take you."
Inside, Demiu, Corellus, and the others are met with some twenty Xain soldiers sitting at various tables. As the door slams shut, they rise to their feet and draw weapons.
The men dismount, helping the wounded Demiu and bound Corellus. Two of the men-at-arms remain at the door, while five enter. Demiu and the knights usher Corellus inside, and the other ten men follow.
Before all the men are inside, the soldier slams the door shut, trapping ten of them outside, including the two at the door. Twenty soldiers wearing brown tunics emblazoned with a red bird and brown hoods that come to a point a few inches past the face walk around from the side of the Tavern, weapons drawn. The Xain soldier says, "Don't resist and they won't harm you. Just let them take you."
Inside, Demiu, Corellus, and the others are met with some twenty Xain soldiers sitting at various tables. As the door slams shut, they rise to their feet and draw weapons.
The two men at the door seize the Xain soldier just after he slams the door, forcing him to his knees. Two of the others spring onto their horses, which are still standing in the courtyard, and try to gallop away. All those that do not flee draw their swords. "Is this a parley or an ambush, Xain dog?"
The hands of those who enter move to their sword hilts as the door slams, but Demiu raises his hand to stop them. "Where is this General Dror?"
Before all the men are inside, the soldier slams the door shut, trapping ten of them outside, including the two at the door. Twenty soldiers wearing brown tunics emblazoned with a red bird and brown hoods that come to a point a few inches past the face walk around from the side of the Tavern, weapons drawn. The Xain soldier says, "Don't resist and they won't harm you. Just let them take you."
Inside, Demiu, Corellus, and the others are met with some twenty Xain soldiers sitting at various tables. As the door slams shut, they rise to their feet and draw weapons.
The two men at the door seize the Xain soldier just after he slams the door, forcing him to his knees. Two of the others spring onto their horses, which are still standing in the courtyard, and try to gallop away. All those that do not flee draw their swords. "Is this a parley or an ambush, Xain dog?"
The hands of those who enter move to their sword hilts as the door slams, but Demiu raises his hand to stop them. "Where is this General Dror?"
No attempt is made to stop the riders, but the soldiers in brown now move so that they stand in a semicircle around the Mornornians, between them and the horses. The Xain soldier smiles. "Both. The prisoners you came for will be returned, unharmed. If you cooperate, so will you, once you are no longer needed."
"Dror will not be speaking with you. Draw your weapons."
Xavic and Valithor are brought down to a room on the first floor. Dror, Broen, and Ormrir await them there. Dror smiles when he sees them. "Your rescue is on its way. They're bringing General Corellus for the prisoner exchange."
He dismisses the soldiers who escorted them, and Ormrir leaves as well.
Abruptly, Dror stands up. "If you'll excuse me, I need to take care of something. I'll be back shortly. Please stay here." He and Broen exit, leaving Xavic and Valithor alone.
The two men at the door seize the Xain soldier just after he slams the door, forcing him to his knees. Two of the others spring onto their horses, which are still standing in the courtyard, and try to gallop away. All those that do not flee draw their swords. "Is this a parley or an ambush, Xain dog?"
The hands of those who enter move to their sword hilts as the door slams, but Demiu raises his hand to stop them. "Where is this General Dror?"
No attempt is made to stop the riders, but the soldiers in brown now move so that they stand in a semicircle around the Mornornians, between them and the horses. The Xain soldier smiles. "Both. The prisoners you came for will be returned, unharmed. If you cooperate, so will you, once you are no longer needed."
"Dror will not be speaking with you. Draw your weapons."
The soldiers retreat slightly, forming their own semicircle around the door. "And what would we be needed for?"
"I think not." Demiu waves his hand, blasting the enemy soldiers and the furniture backwards towards the opposite walls with a Tier 5 spell.
He dismisses the soldiers who escorted them, and Ormrir leaves as well.
Abruptly, Dror stands up. "If you'll excuse me, I need to take care of something. I'll be back shortly. Please stay here." He and Broen exit, leaving Xavic and Valithor alone.
Abruptly, Dror stands up. "If you'll excuse me, I need to take care of something. I'll be back shortly. Please stay here." He and Broen exit, leaving Xavic and Valithor alone.
No attempt is made to stop the riders, but the soldiers in brown now move so that they stand in a semicircle around the Mornornians, between them and the horses. The Xain soldier smiles. "Both. The prisoners you came for will be returned, unharmed. If you cooperate, so will you, once you are no longer needed."
"Dror will not be speaking with you. Draw your weapons."
The soldiers retreat slightly, forming their own semicircle around the door. "And what would we be needed for?"
"I think not." Demiu waves his hand, blasting the enemy soldiers and the furniture backwards towards the opposite walls with a Tier 5 spell.
"I cannot tell you. If you do not come peacefully now, we will be forced to smash you. Make no mistake. You, as individuals, are not required. If we have to smash you, we can and will. However, I would prefer not to."
A few of the soldiers get back up and move shakily toward Demiu.
The soldiers retreat slightly, forming their own semicircle around the door. "And what would we be needed for?"
"I think not." Demiu waves his hand, blasting the enemy soldiers and the furniture backwards towards the opposite walls with a Tier 5 spell.
"I cannot tell you. If you do not come peacefully now, we will be forced to smash you. Make no mistake. You, as individuals, are not required. If we have to smash you, we can and will. However, I would prefer not to."
A few of the soldiers get back up and move shakily toward Demiu.
"I see." One of the soldiers tries to open the door, hoping that the Xain soldier did not have time to lock it.
The seven men-at-arms draw their swords, moving forwards and starting to dispatch the soldiers.
He dismisses the soldiers who escorted them, and Ormrir leaves as well.
Abruptly, Dror stands up. "If you'll excuse me, I need to take care of something. I'll be back shortly. Please stay here." He and Broen exit, leaving Xavic and Valithor alone.
"I cannot tell you. If you do not come peacefully now, we will be forced to smash you. Make no mistake. You, as individuals, are not required. If we have to smash you, we can and will. However, I would prefer not to."
A few of the soldiers get back up and move shakily toward Demiu.
"I see." One of the soldiers tries to open the door, hoping that the Xain soldier did not have time to lock it.
The seven men-at-arms draw their swords, moving forwards and starting to dispatch the soldiers.
One of the Sparrows shoots him in the back with an arrow. The Xain soldier draws his sword and finishes him off.
The soldiers fight back, but the way they do so is strange. They don't seem to be trying to smash the men-at-arms.
Abruptly, Dror stands up. "If you'll excuse me, I need to take care of something. I'll be back shortly. Please stay here." He and Broen exit, leaving Xavic and Valithor alone.
