The Reformation Wars: The Venerable Rogues

Chapter 3

The four swordsmen sat at a table inside a brick building located in the heart of the marketplace. Near the center of the colorful bazaar, a select few buildings like this one could be found, businesses successful enough that their presence became permanent. And as Trevor had once told them, most Kemarian towns had been born this way. 

Their table carried a load of food, dozens of dishes sprawled across its surface for the four men to pass around and partake. In one bowl sat an assortment of steamed vegetables, and in another, a sort of brothy soup with noodles. A well-seasoned goose dripping with juices took up a large portion of the space, wings removed and relocated to James' plate. 

Tom and Jay had just finished informing Trevor and James of their run-in with the Alcontean senator and explaining her request. It'd taken longer than it should have, with James having more than a few off-topic questions on the Alcontean religion, and Trevor's attention often wavering to pay too much attention to their attractive server. But at last, they'd finished their report, and James and Trevor took a moment to digest the information alongside their food. 

"So, let me make sure I understand what exactly you mean." Trevor said between bites of juicy goose meat, "Alice Delquez is going to Rostacia to retrieve an 'artifact' in order to ensure both Alconte and Innutuk never get a chance to have it. And she wants us to come as well, just in case she needs backup, and all this before Innutuk can set up a siege around the town." 

Tom nodded. "Exactly." 

"I'm not clear on one thing: Why does she need us, when she could simply get more guards from her homeland?" 

"I believe this is a rather covert move on her part." Tom said, leaning forward to grab a crispy rice patty, "And I doubt even her personal guards can be trusted, as they are provided by the Republic themselves." 

Trevor raised an eyebrow, twirling a noodle in the prongs of his fork. "What about independent contractors?" 

"Well, contract bodyguards owe their success or the lack thereof to their reputation, or so I've heard. And surely, working for some anonymous figure in a gray cloak isn't exactly the best way to establish a reputable name." 

"That's fair." 

"So that's why she called on us, more than likely." Tom said, "She knows us, or me at least, well. And we stand to lose nothing more than we already have." 

Trevor smirked. "Speak for yourself." 

Jay cleared his throat, and placing his elbows on the table, he leaned forward. "How long would it take to ride to Rostacia?" 

Tom narrowed his eyes in thought. "From here? I'm afraid I've never made that trip. But I'd estimate...three weeks, perhaps?" 

"It might be longer." James asserted, "Especially if we attempt making a straight shot from here." 

"Why?" the others asked in unison. 

"We'd be traveling through the swamp lands. Dangerous and time-consuming." 

"That's a good point." Tom said, "I think that would be an unwise decision on our part, as none of us have travelled through there, and I can only imagine it's easy to get lost." 

"Especially with us competing against time." James added. 

"Yes, exactly." Jay said, leaning back in his chair, "How long...from Monterayne? I promised my wife I'd be back for our anniversary, and that's on the 62nd of the month." 

Tom bared his teeth. "That's only ten days from now. I think we could make it back by then, but it'd be a race." He took a sip of the broth in his bowl. "As for travel time from there to Rostacia, I'd estimate...just over two weeks, maybe 17 days. It all depends on whether we take the risk of traveling through Innutuk itself or take a presumed shortcut through the wildlands."