Shadows over Nothross | Page 3

greeting to
Facyr. These few guards were of older generation who still
remembered the time when Facyr had been Jenyr's second in command.
Two arguing people appeared from behind the next bend of the street.
Jenyr grinned as he noted they were elves; he liked elves a lot and often
wished to see them more. He also just sometimes hated that he felt so
duty-bound to the city and guarding it. If the Regent ever felt Jenyr was
too overworked and kicked him to a vacation for his own good, he
would probably head to Furinel right away. His friends, of course,
didn't question this at all - they just found it a bit funny: Jenyr, a manly
man and among the toughest guards the city had seen, didn't seem like
a type that constantly admired elven elegance.
"Oh, look, there's two elves who seem to be lost in our fine city", Jenyr
said as the elves headed their way.
"Good morning, guards", the elf said. "...ah, captain." he smiled to them
as the two guards nodded in friendly greeting and smiled. "Would you
be of assistance? We're looking for Jenyr Adatel's mercenary company.
We were told it would be close by."
Jenyr's face split to smile. "Well, you're in luck. I would be Jenyr
Adatel. Glad to meet the fairer folk." He smiled heartily and shook the

elven lord's hand - he guessed the two had been arguing about where to
go and weren't just expecting to run into the people they were looking
for. "What can we do for you? Oh - and this is one of my associates,
Facyr Tann, who is usually the mastermind behind all of our company's
great deeds. I am just the financier, really."
"Good morning, sir, madam", Facyr said with a smile and nodded to the
pair of elves.
"I am Aleln Valntathalen ath Valntathalen", the elf introduced himself,
with a rather hushed voice. Jenyr and Facyr found the name a bit
surprising. "And this is my wife Realn Valntathalen ath Elthosthalen."
"You're the Duke of Nothross? Forgive me, your grace", Jenyr said,
head bowed. "I should have recognized you earlier. I saw your grace
during your visit to Anchorfall a couple of years ago--"
Aleln looked alarmed. "Quiet! Please, there's no need for posturing",
Aleln said, with a hushed voice, "Right now, we'd really appreciate it if
we could stay unrecognised. If everyone know I'd be here, they'd want
me to attend formal meetings, and every formal meeting always has a
number of spies. I'm not good at coming up with cover stories, I'm
afraid."
"Oh?" Jenyr went, surprise on his voice not masked very well, but he
figured out that if the duke wanted to be here incognito for whatever
reason, that was just fine with him. "Anyway, if you wish us to help
you, your grace, we're happy to help in whatever way you see
necessary", Jenyr said, with his ordinary, more relaxed voice that he
used when addressing the Regent, with whom he was good friends with,
but not quite friends enough to drop the titles. "we'd be happy to help
the royalty of such a fine nation as Furinel. Now", he said, relaxing a
bit more, "I cannot do much about your problem personally, I'm afraid,
but have no worry, my fine friends will be able to do wonders for you.
Facyr?"
"Yep?" Facyr snapped half-heartedly, but almost convincingly, to
attention.

"Could you take these fine folks to our fine house and listen to what
they have to say? I'll have to continue the patrols. We have here elven
royalty who obviously want to get their castle back!" He glanced at the
nobles, who just smiled, happy that the guard had guessed their
intentions right. Jenyr, after all, kept up with the news from the elven
lands, and was aware of the situation the nobles were in. "Terrifying
adventures in the northern frontier! Look, Facyr, I trust you can do this
job properly, okay?"
Chapter 2
They were "a completely forgettable adventuring party". Or maybe a
"The nameless league of extraordinary adventurers". Maybe not, they
sure weren't the only nameless group, and not into grandiose names
anyway. Or maybe "yet another mercenary group." No, not that in
million years. None of those.
Since Facyr Tann, Faira Ativel and Gnedrnygr Adithebadoggr loved to
do adventurous and daring things together, and there was always some
jobs for cunning and resourceful adventurers, Jenyr Adatel had helped
his good friends to form an adventuring company. Anchorfall had
always been the city where adventurers, mercenaries, and other people
with the need to do daring things for fame and fortune had headquarters
in. It had always been somewhat disorganised, save perhaps for
Privateers of Varmhjelm. After the Revolution, the Regent had worked
hard to establish