Fireside Chat

Now that they were within four days' ride of Anglia City, Faolan and Tanner were feeling ill-at-ease. Their successful delivery of The Price had averted certain war, but the news they'd brought of Lord Reed's treachery had Gahanna frothing for a fight with the Fish Lords.

Before heading west with a few men and Our Heroes, Gahanna had ordered Wheeling to begin preparing his Host for battle.

As was their practice, Tanner and Faolan sat up talking late into the evening. The conversation touched on many topics, before turning, as it always did, to the war sure to come. Tanner had a keen interest in all aspects of the arts of war, and, while he tended to shift into lecturing, Faolan had learned to listen attentively to his comrade's voice.

"The key to besting the Kaluut is taking out their mages. The whole mess at The Falls was a combination of surprise and superior firepower. A few shafts from the Copperhead would have made all the difference", opined Tanner.

"Don't forget their archers. Primitive as they were, the Gaels had nothing to answer them. It was an arrow that took out the First Gael, ya know, not witchery". Faolan paused, an evil grin creeping across his face. "Besides, it was Regan turned the tide of that battle, using magic against magic."

Tanner looked as if he'd just bitten into a lemon. "Don't even mention that bitch to me. She's lucky I didn't run her through for killing my prisoner. If you've still got her collar, maybe we should re-chain her."

Faolan made a show of looking over his shoulders, and he replied with a stage whisper: "Be careful, Witch Hammer, lest ye become the hammered. I wouldn't want to cross Regan". He chuckled, "Besides, haven't you had enough trouble with witchy women from other countries."

Tanner, ever touchy of being mocked, glared at Faolan with iron eyes before he, too, began to chuckle. "Well, in Regan's case, when I say 'Go to Hell', I mean it!"

"So Tanner, whaddya say we head back home, round up some archers, and ride north with Gahanna. It may be the only good chance we have to kill Gents for a long time."

Tanner's smile took on a greater level of glee. "Can you imagine the look on the Fish Lords' faces when they see the Dragon Banner?"

Faolan groaned. "I doubt I'll have to imagine it for much longer."

Tags: Side Stories