Sitting at his table, Lord Haart looked as fresh as he did at the conference last night. Hair and uniform immaculate, he toyed with an amulet. Taryn kept seeing flashes of white as his fingers restlessly roamed over it.
You agreed to stay for the whole campaign. I need you and your company to stay especially with the unfortunate death of Sir Christian. His voice was deceptively mild, but his hand clenched on the amulet before relaxing and resuming to toy with it.
What campaign? We agreed to supplement your forces for a single battle, not a massacre
Its been very useful. We have tested the mettle of the enemy, and it is weak, Lord Haart interrupted.
My Company is the weakest it has been in all of its existence, even worse than our last campaign. Im being forced to promote soldiers wet behind the ears and far too young into my command structure. Were not sticking around to get slaughtered by the Deyjans. We want out payment.
Ill double the payment if you stay for another day. Protecting the wounded and attending the burial is the most youll do. Surely, youll need time to care for your own wounded.
Moneys no use to the dead.
You show your true colors. His voice dripped venom. You call yourself a Captain? Youre despicable. Youd leave our wounded and dead just because youre scared. Youre not a Captain. Youre a coward.
Taryn said evenly, I never claimed to be anything but a mercenary. The money.
Sinking back into his chair, he released his death grip on the amulet and called out, Sandro, the captain wants her money.
Stiffening, Taryn watched warily as a figure wearing a dark blue cowl stepped through the curtain from an inner part of the tent, holding a purse with a pale, bony hand. Handing it to Taryn, Sandro silently glided back into the darkness beyond the curtain.
Taryn weighed the purse in one hand and loosened the drawstrings.
Per usual, an almost remarkable lack of manners. Dont worry. I have not cheated you. In fact, he smiled coldly, I have personally checked it.
Taryn gave him a long look then pulled the drawstrings tight and turned around. At the tent flaps, she paused and turned slightly when Lord Haart spoke, his voice silky with menace.
Dont go blabbing to the soldiers now. After all, I wouldnt want them to be contaminated by your superstitious nonsense. Ive been very lenient, but in this case, if you do, I might have to tell my Queen about your insubordination and incompetence. I wouldnt want a misunderstanding to make your Company disappear.
Taryn walked out.
***
After instructing her remaining lieutenant to get everyone ready to march, she went to find Adela. She found her inside the first aid tent, directing other medics and bonesetters.
Adela, I need to speak to you. Its important. Taryn kept her voice soft but pitched to carry over the noise.
For once, Adelas hood had fallen back and as she hurriedly ran her hands through her hair, she said in a distracted tone, Not right now YOU! She pointed imperiously at an apprentice healer.
Get me more bandages! While the apprentice scrambled to do her bidding, Adela turned to Taryn and raised an eyebrow.
You should leave.
I cant.
Why not?
Because I, unlike you, have duties! Taryn flinched, and the hubbub in the tent quieted.
Bring them along too, Taryn insisted.
First, we cant; there are several that cant be moved without gravely injuring them. Second, whos going to protect us?
We will. Were stopping by Fair Feather first to pick up supplies and talk with the Mercenary Guild representatives. Leave those who cant be moved behind and save as many as you can.
Adelas eyes flashed and the air around them became chill. I really thought better of you. But youre just as cold-hearted as the rest. I cannot leave wounded behind when I can help them; its a direct violation of my oath as a cleric. Its my job to help them, and I will do it. If youre not helping, youre in the way. Get out.
Adela, Lord Ha
Magic rang and Taryn found herself pushed out of the tent by a ring of frost, tent flaps frozen shut.
Get out!
***
Early next morn, the distinctive clang of swords and screams disturbed the silence. Taryn rode without expression as she led her decimated company on their forced march toward Fair Feather and from there, to AvLee. Behind them, in the distance, fire clawed hungrily at the sky as the sun hid behind the smoke.
She loosened the drawstrings of the purse and took out a coin.
It was Deyjan.
---
I relied a lot on the info on this HoMM3 website.
Game spoilers below in white:
This is set sometime after the rescue of Fair Feather but before the liberation of Steadwick. Later, the necromancers would seek to find a commander as tactically good as Queen Catherine and end up resurrecting King Gryphonheart of Erathia to be their new general. Unfortunately, they lose control of him and Gryphonheart kills King Vilmar, the leader of the necromancers, and takes control of the army. In the "Song for the Father" campaign, Sandro is the necromancer hero who is sent by the necromancers as a gesture of good faith to reveal who the traitor is, that is the person who killed King Gryphonheart originally. Lord Haart is revealed to be the traitor and he apparently killed King Gryphonheart, acting on orders from King Vilmar, in revenge for the expulsion of necromancers from Erathia. At this point in time though, Gryphonheart has not yet been resurrected and both Sandro and Lord Haart are working under the direction of King Vilmar.
You agreed to stay for the whole campaign. I need you and your company to stay especially with the unfortunate death of Sir Christian. His voice was deceptively mild, but his hand clenched on the amulet before relaxing and resuming to toy with it.
What campaign? We agreed to supplement your forces for a single battle, not a massacre
Its been very useful. We have tested the mettle of the enemy, and it is weak, Lord Haart interrupted.
My Company is the weakest it has been in all of its existence, even worse than our last campaign. Im being forced to promote soldiers wet behind the ears and far too young into my command structure. Were not sticking around to get slaughtered by the Deyjans. We want out payment.
Ill double the payment if you stay for another day. Protecting the wounded and attending the burial is the most youll do. Surely, youll need time to care for your own wounded.
Moneys no use to the dead.
You show your true colors. His voice dripped venom. You call yourself a Captain? Youre despicable. Youd leave our wounded and dead just because youre scared. Youre not a Captain. Youre a coward.
Taryn said evenly, I never claimed to be anything but a mercenary. The money.
Sinking back into his chair, he released his death grip on the amulet and called out, Sandro, the captain wants her money.
Stiffening, Taryn watched warily as a figure wearing a dark blue cowl stepped through the curtain from an inner part of the tent, holding a purse with a pale, bony hand. Handing it to Taryn, Sandro silently glided back into the darkness beyond the curtain.
Taryn weighed the purse in one hand and loosened the drawstrings.
Per usual, an almost remarkable lack of manners. Dont worry. I have not cheated you. In fact, he smiled coldly, I have personally checked it.
Taryn gave him a long look then pulled the drawstrings tight and turned around. At the tent flaps, she paused and turned slightly when Lord Haart spoke, his voice silky with menace.
Dont go blabbing to the soldiers now. After all, I wouldnt want them to be contaminated by your superstitious nonsense. Ive been very lenient, but in this case, if you do, I might have to tell my Queen about your insubordination and incompetence. I wouldnt want a misunderstanding to make your Company disappear.
Taryn walked out.
***
After instructing her remaining lieutenant to get everyone ready to march, she went to find Adela. She found her inside the first aid tent, directing other medics and bonesetters.
Adela, I need to speak to you. Its important. Taryn kept her voice soft but pitched to carry over the noise.
For once, Adelas hood had fallen back and as she hurriedly ran her hands through her hair, she said in a distracted tone, Not right now YOU! She pointed imperiously at an apprentice healer.
Get me more bandages! While the apprentice scrambled to do her bidding, Adela turned to Taryn and raised an eyebrow.
You should leave.
I cant.
Why not?
Because I, unlike you, have duties! Taryn flinched, and the hubbub in the tent quieted.
Bring them along too, Taryn insisted.
First, we cant; there are several that cant be moved without gravely injuring them. Second, whos going to protect us?
We will. Were stopping by Fair Feather first to pick up supplies and talk with the Mercenary Guild representatives. Leave those who cant be moved behind and save as many as you can.
Adelas eyes flashed and the air around them became chill. I really thought better of you. But youre just as cold-hearted as the rest. I cannot leave wounded behind when I can help them; its a direct violation of my oath as a cleric. Its my job to help them, and I will do it. If youre not helping, youre in the way. Get out.
Adela, Lord Ha
Magic rang and Taryn found herself pushed out of the tent by a ring of frost, tent flaps frozen shut.
Get out!
***
Early next morn, the distinctive clang of swords and screams disturbed the silence. Taryn rode without expression as she led her decimated company on their forced march toward Fair Feather and from there, to AvLee. Behind them, in the distance, fire clawed hungrily at the sky as the sun hid behind the smoke.
She loosened the drawstrings of the purse and took out a coin.
It was Deyjan.
---
I relied a lot on the info on this HoMM3 website.
Game spoilers below in white:
This is set sometime after the rescue of Fair Feather but before the liberation of Steadwick. Later, the necromancers would seek to find a commander as tactically good as Queen Catherine and end up resurrecting King Gryphonheart of Erathia to be their new general. Unfortunately, they lose control of him and Gryphonheart kills King Vilmar, the leader of the necromancers, and takes control of the army. In the "Song for the Father" campaign, Sandro is the necromancer hero who is sent by the necromancers as a gesture of good faith to reveal who the traitor is, that is the person who killed King Gryphonheart originally. Lord Haart is revealed to be the traitor and he apparently killed King Gryphonheart, acting on orders from King Vilmar, in revenge for the expulsion of necromancers from Erathia. At this point in time though, Gryphonheart has not yet been resurrected and both Sandro and Lord Haart are working under the direction of King Vilmar.