Midas

The sun was setting over Baile and the sky was painted a glorious pink as King Lawrence slammed the butt of his staff into the floor and his voice boomed throughout the room: "This court is closed for the day! Begone! All of you!" Nearly a hundred peasants--some leaving in good spirits after having the King grant their requests, and some leaving in sorrow after rejection or not being seeing at all--exited the gigantic chamber through the large doors opposite the King's throne. The King handed his staff, crown and cape to the nearest servant and stood up to leave for his dinner.

"Wait!" exclaimed a voice nearby. The King turned around and saw Ulrich MacManus striding towards him. "My liege, you can't leave yet. We have to wait for the other members of my team to arrive so you can give them their instructions."

The King sighed. "Ah, yes, yes. The group that will rescue my daughter. When you're my age, you'll understand, Ulrich, even the most important things begin to slip away. But do choose your words more carefully around your new comrades. It isn't your team. I handpicked each and every one of them. They're the best and the brightest. You'll all be equals and I doubt they'll take kindly to your condescension. Understand?"

"Yes, your highness," Ulrich responded enthusiastically, but the King thought he might have caught the young man pouting a bit as he turned to sit again.

"Where are they, Ulrich?" Lawrence asked, sinking into his chair. It was after a long day such as this that he really felt his age.
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"I'm sure they're on their way," Ulrich said. He descended the stairs from the King's platform and stood on the ground floor where the audience always stood during the court. When the others arrived, they would have to stand there and, even if Ulrich wouldn't be a leader, he knew he should still set a good example. His heart felt heavy with the events of the last few days, as he was sure King Lawrence's did too. Princess Elena had disappeared, her kidnapper's note spelled out on the wall of her room in the night guard's blood. 'I, Azazel, have taken the Princess. You will never see her again.'

Why leave a message like that? Ulrich wondered. He answered his own question, To taunt us, of course. That's what it's always been about. To weaken Baile, to weaken Midas, to weaken King Lawrence. Azazel's only aim is pain and chaos. He heard footsteps from the other side of the door across the room. "I believe the first has just arrived, my King."

"Ulrich," the King said. "I don't blame you for this. If I did, I wouldn't trust you to be a part of this group. I know you'll do your best out there. Just... Just bring my daughter home. Please."

Ulrich watched the King's face for a moment. He seemed on the verge of tears. The sight of his Lord in such a state made Ulrich quite uncomfortable and so he just nodded silently and turned to meet his first teammate.

Leslie was not sure why she was joining this. But in her heart she knew, the only reason was because the King had asked her to. She would have refused him if he had not been king. Her? Leslie Pickering a common noble become a hero and help rescue the princess? Pshaw, you may as well as donkeys to fly around and talk! Leslie walked quietly through the grand halls of the palace and to the double doors of the King's throne room. She took a deep breathe and tightened the leather string that held her hair in place at the top of her skull, and straightened her sword at her waist. She closed her eyes, then pushed the door open, slightly frightened, but still none the less exhilarated.

"Your Majesty.." Though she wore armor, Leslie walked as gracefully as a duchess in her finest dress. She swept through the room, curtsying the deepest she could muster, though she would preferably have bowed. She knelt at his feet, her head to the floor before slowly rising up, her head still looking down at her flat-soled leather shoes. She had never been in His Kingship's presence before and was honored in doing so. She raised her head, but not high enough to look at the king. She did not dare look him full in the face. "I have come to serve you, and only you." She spoke in a slight accent, though her father Lord Pickering had tried and tried again to get rid of the horrid accent, she could not. She held her hands at her sides and her arms limp as they dangled there. Her back was straight as a ruler and her mind as sharp as the edge of a dagger. She could not help but wonder why the King had chosen her.

She had heard about the quest, and had longed to go. But she had never dreamed she would be chosen to join the team. She had nearly whooped with glee when the letter had arrived and she had gone riding afterwards training with her personal expert. She had had her sword sharpened and oiled until it gleamed and her armor polished. That was when Leslie noticed a man near the doorway which he had been looking at, as though he expected her to come. Had she really been that loud? She must have, Leslie nearly grimaced at this, she'd tried to so hard to be quiet, could it be true that she had been clunking down the hallways like a rogue elephant? If she had, Leslie would never be able to face the king again. Ever. Leslie looked around the throne room in her peripheral vision. It was spacious, airy and delightful. But something seemed sad about the room, as though there was no one to laugh in it, no smile to light it up..The ghost of the princess. Leslie had vowed she would help all she could to get the princess back, and she would. She would do everything it took. And when Leslie made up her mind, it was made up. No turning back. Ever.

Galain stepped into the massive throne room adorned with his finest clothing –which just so happens to be the only clothing he wears. His simple green dyed tunic covering his tough leather hide which gives him the protection he needs will still keeping mobility a top priority. He walked in a little more confident than he should have given that the king was present, but alas he wasn’t the modest type. He never really gave much thought to royalty and preferred to believe his was the only law he truly had to fallow. He was however not a fool and knelt respectfully in front of the king drawing his blades. He crossed the runic engraved rapiers in front of himself ad spoke.

“Your highness, I would like to pledge myself to your daughters rescue and use these blades and my bow to defend her from any potential harm if you will accept this humble ranger as your servent.”

Leslie did not speak, only nodding once to the king as he adressed her so. She stared straight ahead, her sword hanging at her side and her hair tucked into a leather string. Everyone was older..She was probably the youngest here. That made her feel..Somewhat incompetant but she wouldn't show it, not now, or ever. She straightened up ever so slightly as the king finished introducing everyone, she was listening, yet she wasn't listening to hard. She tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword and pushed her hair back, it was a nervous habit of hers. She bit her lip as she watched the king speak.

"--And return my daughter to me safely. Any questions?" The king had finished speaking and as he adressed them all, Leslie snapped out of her mind and back to reality. She straightened her posture once more before pondering to herself, did she have any questions? It seemed quite straight forwards. But all of a sudden, Leslie felt stupid. She had come here because the king had asked her, not because of anything else, was she up for this? Leslie didn't know if she cared to find out, but she did something bold, something that she had never done before.

"Your majesty," She trilled in a melodious voice, the accent still there. "I must say that I am honored to be here as we all are, but do tell us, do you think we will survive this?" She bowed her head before stepping backwards, her head still bowed as she glanced up. She was being a fool! To ask the king such an idiotic question. Leslie had never known how to hold her tongue and she probably never would.

"I shall leave paths and herbs to you as you will leave blood and steel to me... we would be in a sorry state if our scout was mauled by Goblins five miles beyond the City gates!" good, that would leave no problem to Orana this man could be trusted, he was not in for honor or personal pride, just another job well done in his list that meant several things to her, he was not new at this, he had seen years of battle and already he had acknowledged her authority in her field she would do well to do the same "Thank you my good man, it ill be good to know that I have someone that has done these things before"

And then, a fool of a man waltzed in

A drunkard, a beggar that would have been beaten out of the places she had visited just out of respect to good taste had walked into the room, he looked well... wearied like a pair of boots that have seen too many summers

"the peasant`s hearing is over im afraid" she said lightly while looking to his direction, maybe he was the fool? o yes the joker that entertained the king! that was it! he was here to sooth some humour into the king`s words and make the briefing all the less dire, Orana decided to humor him and laugh out loud "Ive seen you got quite the joker at your court king, a laugh can ease out the stress of the perils ahead to be certain"

She looked briefly at the marksman with a devious smile

There are other things that can ease the stress now that I think of it

The king then began to introduce them all

The knight Ulrich. as she suspected he was the kingdom`s token and was the one who represented the King`s best interests as well as knowing the princess personally

But then her ears began to fail her

"Krankas?" she mutter to herself in awe, at first at a low voice and then she almost shouted "Krankas Adimis?" her face reflected her shock "The titan of midas? The flesh sculptor? The bone breaker? The slave made god? The King of blood and sand?!" this was no mercenary, this was a legend!

His exploits were well known amongst all of Baile, she had heard from pirates how they used to flood the arenas with water creatures and that Krankas had killed a Vethialon, whatever the hell that was the pirates told her it had tentacles and rows of razor sharp teeth, she had heard at the bars how he had the strength of the gods on his legs... all three of them and the magnificent tale of how he once ripped the spine of a man with the naked hands he had been born with and used it to choke a lion of all things! and of course that time when he threw a horse at ship to sunk it and that time when-

Reality came crashing back to her as she heard her own name told by the sovereign of Midas

Uh who wha?

She was in time to hear of this Kerrix, he was no joker and was instead an infiltrator, surely the king would not hire two persons to do the same job so she suspected that maybe this was the man that had ties to the magician... the one who would put a dagger in his back maybe? she was interested in finding out more about him

The king then indicated them that now was the time for questions, and the tall girl made one that irked Orana

What does she mean by "do you think well survive this"

"Hey you" she walked towards the tall female "This is not going to be a field trip girl, death will be stalking us and the fact that a wizard is our target should take some sleep off you, but look around you we have got the King`s first knight, and the mighty Krankas Adimis that has already left a stain upon this world you cannot walk a million steps without meeting someone who has heard of him and then there is me" she smiled not minding to give herself a pat to the back "Orana Lopia! the explorer who has charted what is known to man, im going to trust in the king when he chose you, but if you dont think you are up to it then say so because I will not carry dead weight around"

It was time to tell the king of her own doubts, she had heard many tales of wizards and their kidnappings this would not be a first to her ears but still a princess was too bold "Your highness" she bowed as the words escaped her lips "What is the magician after? riches? political gain? and pardon my audacity but... is he after a heir? does he expect us to infiltrate his domain with a small group? or is he waiting for a ransom? an army of footsoldiers shouting for his head mayhap? did he left any sign of his intentions?