Tales of the Trio: Unbroken

Chapter Seventeen

     After traveling, they arrived to the city where Derrick was located, this looked like a mining focused city, it had a few statues around and quite a few stray dogs roaming the streets. They headed to the tavern in the center of town and when they entered they quickly found out that Derrick was amongst the group of men at a table, so the trio approached them and asked "Which of you are Derrick?", one of the men responded with "Why? You looking to hire?" Lela wasn't sure if that one was actually Derrick so she said "Verdell is calling in his favor." Another man, presumably it was Derrick this time said "None of you are him so either hire or get lost." The trio backed away and talked to themselves, Maximus starting with "So what now?"
Dominic: "Let's hire them all to help us siege the castle."
Lela: "None of the people from Starlight, including us have the money to hire any of them."
Dominic: "Yes but we're going to take back the kingdom including their treasury."
Maximus: "That's a lot of gold, how could they say no?"
Lela: shrugged and walked back to the table of bodyguards "You guys want a big payday? The kingdom was overtaken by orcs, I'm sure you've heard rumors. We got the kings guard and many others already going to help take it back. Why should you help? You see there'll be nice houses available, a new ruler who would be happy to reward those who have helped take it back, after-all they'll be in charge of the treasury." The group of men looked at each other and talked to each other, Derrick spoke "They'll need new highly paid guards as well." Lela nodded and the men agreed, they'd head to Starlight tomorrow. The trio decided to use the few coin they had to rent a room for that night. When night came and they were going to head to sleep that same little fox snuck in through the taverns open window to watch the trio and to rest in safety. In the morning and for the next few days the trio escorted the bodyguards to Starlight Haven.

     Ever since they dropped off the bodyguards for them to meet Wesley, the little fox began to follow the trio in the open rather than sneakily follow them, almost close enough to pet. The next people on their list is Alina, a magic using bard, a former miner named Jack, and professor Cedric. They were going to skip the miner and the professor but since they live in the same town as the bard they decided to visit them as well. They took another few days traveling to the city, and decided to spilt up. Dominic would talk to the professor, Lela would see the bard and Maximus would go find the miner. They agreed they'd fill each other in once they were on their way back to Starlight. This city looks nice which is unusual since this place makes most of their money from their animal products through trade. However it does attract tourist due to one of its theaters.

     Maximus spent some time wandering around the city, seeing as he was looking for a former miner he went into one of the cheaper looking taverns. He was listening around and he overheard some conversations, mostly drunken ones, but he finally heard someone say "Sorry Jack, we can't offer you guys work." Maximus figured out which one Jack was and began asking "Hey Jack, you need a job?" The man faced Maximus and said "Yes! Do I know you?"
Maximus: "No but you know Verdell and that's how I found you. Anyways I heard you and some of your buddies need work?"
Jack: "Yes, we got laid off at the mine since it was starting to dry up of valuables, and a stone mine for a city can only afford so many miners. What can we do for you?"
Maximus: "We're going to take back the kingdom from the orcs, we need the extra manpower. Can you guys be of help?"
Jack: "We're no fighters but we can handle weapons, the mines sometimes have surprises, the price would need to be high to convince these men."
Maximus: "Perhaps when we take back the kingdom we'll start a dedicated royal mine, we'll need experienced miners to be in charge of that."
Jack nodded and stuck his hand out, Maximus took it and they shook hands and headed back to the city entrance.

     Dominic went to the only school this place has, it's rather sizable, and it has many different teachers, but only one professor Cedric. Dominic sat and waited for him to finish teaching so he could talk to him, so after a while Dominic went up to him and said "You're a great professor, what's someone like you owing a debt to a man like Verdell?"
Cedric: Quickly looked at Dominic and said with what sounded like desperation "What do you want from me? Please don't tell, I'll lose my credibility!"
Dominic: "Hey now, I'm just here for your assistance with taking back the castle from orcs."
Cedric: "Ah so that is true, how do you expect me to help? I'm a simple professor."
Dominic: "A simple professor who owes a debt to Verdell?"
Cedric: Sighed "Fine I have magic, one of my far ancestors was wood elf and they had the power to connect with animals along with knowing what a plant needs to grow more, I inherited those powers. I went to a secret magic school to learn how to understand my magic, and I still have connections. So unless you can find a way for me to convince them to help you guys or how I'd convince animals to help you guys attack a castle, I'm of no use."
Dominic: "I see well perhaps you can help us understand the fox then?" Cedric agreed and they began to walk to the city entrance.

     Lela had no trouble tracking down Alina, she had posters announcing where she would be performing, since she was a big star around here. Lela entered the theater that Alina was playing at, and Alina is actually pretty talented but Lela could tell that she was using her magic to greatly increase her music and using some type of charm spell to have people enjoy it even more. To be fair it's not wrong because then people are getting their money's worth at least and are having a good time. Lela walked up to Alina and said "Should I call in Verdell's favor you owe him or should I explain to these people you're charming them with magic."
Alina: Laughed and said "It's nice to meet you too nameless one, friend of Verdell. No worries I pay my debts, what is it you require?"
Lela: Smiled "I'm Lela, you're going to help us take back the kingdom from the orcs, we could use your charm spells on our side."
Alina: Smiled as well "My my, that's quite a big repayment from what I owe, however I'll agree since I haven't fought in a while, however you'll do something for me first that'll also help you."
Lela: "Is that so?"
Alina: "Indeed, see some people have been captured by some goblins who are going to be forced to work as slaves for the orcs. I was going to use tonight's earnings to hire some mercenaries but perhaps I can hire them to help you guys and the people we rescue will be inclined to help."
Lela: Smirkingly said "I like you, let's go." Alina took a bit to gather her stuff but then they went to the tavern and hired the mercenaries, then they went to the entrance.

     The trio quickly summarized everything to each other so everyone was in the loop, Lela saying "Of course he can speak to the fox, out of all the powers, I hate conveniences like this." Cedric went over to the fox who was hiding nearby and spoke with it and he came back saying "The fox seems to have connected to you Lela, he trust you and is loyal to you, as well as both of you Dominic and Maximus, kind of like their family bond. Little fox got separated from its mother. He can understand you by the way. My job is done, I wish you good luck for all of our sakes." Cedric headed back into the city. Maximus said to Alina "I suppose you know where this goblin camp is?" She nodded and they began heading there, the trio, Alina, the mercenaries, Jack and his mining crew, along with the fox.