"Doc, one more thing before you go!" called Sterling immediately after the Drow Chiurgeon. Doc immediately stuck his head back through the tent flap. "Get together a team of siege engineers--the best we've got--and send them to Yarfell. Their orders are to work with the Yarfellians, to help them improve their city defenses.""Yes, sir! Sir!" replied the Dark Elf Chiurgeon snapping him a salute with sarcasm dripping from his voice. "You know, you have a Lieutenant, a Sergeant, and a War Mage at your service, so how the hell did I get to be your messenger boy?"
"Because--until those supplies arrive--you've got time on your hands and they don't, Doc!" replied Sterling sarcastically, "Now scram!"
"Yes, sir! Sir! Thank you, sir!" responded the Drow Chiurgeon with equal sarcasm as he turned to leave. "Oh, wait a minute! It seems like we have a late addition to the Captain Irzen Clubhouse, it's Mr. High-And-Mighty Wizard! Shall I let him in?"
"Yes!" replied Sterling evenly.
Gareth entered the enclosure and greeted Doc by saying, "Chiurgeon."
Doc responded in kind, "Druid." And then left.
Sterling invited Gareth to sit and then said, "I have a couple of favors to ask of you. First, would you be willing to work with my War Mage, Spirits? He believes there is a lot that he could learn from you and I tend to agree with him. And second, would you be willing to serve as a second War Mage in my army, using your magics to aid our cause?"
Gareth smiled noticeably at the first request and frowned a little at the second one. Finally, the Druid said, "I am a little surprised that a Dark Elf would be willing to learn anything from a Wood Elf. Indeed, I am honored, so yes, I will be willing to teach him a thing or two about magic. However, I will do so at my discretion, Captain Irzen, not yours! And I will be more than willing to help you in your campaign against the Orcs! What do you have in mind?"
"Setting a few fires when the time is right, making it rain hard enough on the King's Highway so that the Orcs will have to march through mud, and blowing up a few bridges along the way!" replied Sterling evenly.
"Very well," said the High Wizard, "I shall prepare myself accordingly. Good day to you, Captain Irzen."
"Before you go, can you please inform the rest of my men that I'll be taking a nap for a few hours and that I do not want to be disturbed--unless we come under attack, Lord Tolan arrives, or the supplies come in, understood?" requested the Dark Elf stripping off his armor and moving over to his cot.
"I understand," replied Gareth who immediately departed, leaving behind an exhausted Sterling to catch up on some hard won, yet long overdue sleep.
A Point To Ponder
