The following is the account of Ryth (Fyrethil) on his first job as a Phoenix Fire Mercenary. It is the job where he became the Vice-Captain of the Merc Company.
Ryth dug his heels into his horse's flank, forcing it into trot. He stopped his horse beside his Captain, Loraina Keraka, who sat atop her horse and seemed to stare out at the horizon. Loraina was elven, and she was near as old as Ryth was. Her long ears twitched as she heard him coming, he long white hair blowing behind her in the wind. Her armor and riding breeches remained still, however. She turned to look at him when he came up next to her.
"So, Ryth," she began, she continued to look forward. "You are one among the first phoenixes ever to become a mercenary and it's finally time for your first job. Scared?" She smiled when she noticed he had turned his head to look at her.
"Nope, I've been through worse dangers than this," he said softly. He was currently in his human form, he was riding ahorse, he had no need for wings. "I just want to see what we're up against. The briefing didn't sound all that specific."
"It wasn't meant to, our employers didn't give me many specifics as to what they were like. Just an army of bandits I suppose," Loraina said to him.
Ryth was about to speak again, but a horn in the distance cut him off. The enemy was in retreat, the allied company seemed to have done their job well. He smiled a bit but it faded. This meant that they had to move out toward where the battle had just ended. He exchanged glances with Loraina and fell back as the company began moving. He brought his horse back beside his friend Gorta who had a smirk on his face, his dark skin wrinkling under his eyes as he did so.
"So, we're moving out already, huh?" He said.
"Apparently so, I just hope we get some action while we're out there."
"Same here, let's catch up with Loraina just in case we split."
Ryth winced when he said that. "You may have just jinxed us, Gorta." He joked, Gorta just smirked as they caught up with Loraina. They were now entering the forest, it would be easy going from here for anyone who was careless. But a merc could never be careless. They were always on guard, just in case something went wrong.
They had been moving now for around three hours when they came to a clearing with a fork in the path. Loraina called a halt here. "Ok, here's what we'll do," she said just as an arrow came whipping by and hit one of the merc's in the chest, knocking him off the horse. The first arrow was joined by a flurry of arrows. Thankfully, only a few found their targets. "SPLIT!" Loraina cried.
Ryth and Gorta kicked their horses into a full gallop splitting off with Loraina's group while the Vice-Captain took her own group off. Their speed was breakneck and they were still hearing arrows whizzing by their heads. Ryth looked to his left and saw another of his companions fall. This would be a long night, they had been ambushed, and it was a cat and mouse maneuver from here.
Loraina finally called a halt in a clearing and sent a scout back. "Everybody rest for a moment," she said but the scout came running back. "Already?!"
"Ma'am, they're right behind us!"
"Damn it! MOUNT UP!" Everybody mounted and took off immediately, but Ryth's horse stumbled and the enemy was already in plain sight. He turned toward them and drew his blade. There were fifteen of them.
"Fle'chara Kethendil!" He cried and dashed them, drawing his second bladae and setting them ablaze, they were firebrand katanas, his choice weapons.
As he came to the group of soldiers he slashed out at them, taking two down at once while his horse kicked with her hind legs, bashing the skulls in of two more. She reeled around and took three more out just as Ryth slashed down another and blasted down three more with fireballs. Then he slashed down two more as his horse bashed in the skulls of the remaining two.
He looked around, he had beaten them single handedly, but his group was likely way ahead of him now. "Come on, Vellie, let's go, full gallop." Vellie grunted and took off at breakneck speed once more.
He had been riding for twenty minutes when he spotted something in the road ahead. A horse...and its rider was wounded...unconscious. Then his eyes widened as he recognized them: Loraina. "Captain!" He vaulted off of Vellie and kneeled beside her. She was only unconscious, but if he didn't do something soon, she would likely die. He quickly put a healing spell into effect. Her horse was dead, however, so he'd have to carry her.
"Sorry, love," he said to Vellie. "You're going to have a heavy load." He hoisted Loraina over Vellie's back and climbed on himself, picking his Captain up into his arms, Vellie took off again at the same speed.
* * *
It seemed like an eternity before the lights of the camp came into view. "Finally...home...at last..." Ryth mumbled. He looked like an undead, he had been riding non stop for several hours. He got to the front post and the guard squinted at him and looked at the body on his horse.
"RYTH! YOU'RE ALIVE!" The guard exclaimed.
Ryth only nodded, he was about ready to pass out. "I have...the...Captain...too..." He said just as a massive group of mercs came running at them, shouting cheers of joy. He saw them all and was yanked off his horse by Gorta.
"You are a rather foolish b*****d, Ryth, and that's just the way I like you," Gorta laughed and hugged him hard. Ryth smiled but a moment later, passed out.
Ryth awoke to find his friend Nere looking down at him, her orangish eyes held a happy expression. "You're awake, you gave us a scare. Loraina wants to see you in her tent, VC." She said.
Ryth scratched his eyes. "Already, how---" He stopped for a moment. "VC?" He asked confused.
"I'll let her tell you, now come on!" She grabbed his arm and yanked him out of bed, despite the fact he was shirtless. She brought him over to Loraina's tent and shoved him in. He stood in front of her, shirtless and blushing.
"Just wake up?" She asked. He nodded. "Well, I owe you my life, Ryth," she said, her smile gone, but she wasn't frowning either. "So...I have an offer for you."
"I'm listening," he said.
"I'm afraid, our Vice-Captain fell in the skirmish....and I am in debted to you. Would you do us the honor of taking her place?"
Ryth's eyes widened in shock. "I-I'd love to..." he said, Loraina smiled and held out her hand, he took it and shook it.
"Thank you, VC." She said. "You may go."
He smiled and saluted her. As he turned to leave he winked and pulled the tent flap aside, only to be welcomed by a roar of cheers. Loraina approved, now so did his company.
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