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.He threw his arms out wide and puffed out his chest."But we cannot do this alone.And thanks to the illustrious rajah, the government of Durpar, and of course, the All and the One, we need not.Today, friends to both Estagund and Durpar join us.With their help, we shall prevail in our mission here!" Jhoqo said with a flourish.He waved his arm in a beckoning motion, and three dozen men stepped into view from behind one of the nearby bunkhouses.They all wore black leather armor with thin cloaks in the shade of blue that the sky attains between dusk and nightfall on a warm summer night.Most wore thin beards and were fairer of skin, having a more honeyed hue.Taennen recognized them immediately: Chondathan mercenaries from the west on the Sea of Fallen Stars.He had met a few in his time.Instead of marching in rank and file, they walked ina triangular pattern with one man at the front and rows successively widening behind him.The foremost man was about the same height as Taennen, but he had a more muscular frame.His beard was trimmed and neat and he sported no moustache.Jhoqo motioned the man forward as waves of murmurs rippled through the gathered Maquar and Durpari.A nearby soldier caught Taennen's eye and gave him a confused look, as if imploring his durir to explain what it could mean that western foreigners were meant to be their saviors.Taennen nodded to the man, unsure what else to do, and looked back toward the stranger.The newcomer joined Jhoqo on the crate and smiled, offering a tight wave much too practiced to be genuine.The Durpari were called mercenaries, but at least they worked for their government and people exclusively.The Chondathans, on the other hand, worked only for the right price, no matter whose gold paid them.They were truly mercenaries, soldiers-for-hire.Taennen's mouth filled with a tang he found sickening.These men had no place in Neversfall.The murmurs quieted, and the stranger spoke in a thick accent of soft consonants and tight vowels."Greetings friends.I am Bascou, commander of the rakrathen you see before you.We are honored to assist the great nations of Estagund and Durpar in their time of need."At first, no response came.Jhoqo clapped alone in slow, measured beats until more joined in, and then nearly everyone's hands were applauding.Taennen's arms hung limply at his sides."Bascou, may I present my second in command, Durir Taennen Tamoor," Jhoqo said.Taennen stepped toward the man and nodded, notoffering his hand.His face was blank and he did not speak.Jhoqo narrowed his eyes at Taennen but never shed his smile.He turned to the crowd and said, "Please make our new brethren comfortable.Treat them as you would any comrade among you.Maquar, treat them as you would any other Maquar, Durpari, the same as you would another of your comrades-at-arms."A tidal wave of whispers and murmurs rushed through the assembly.Soldiers huddled together in hurried dialogues, some gesticulating, others looking stunned.Jhoqo ignored the reaction, clapping Bascou on the shoulder, dismissing the man and motioning for one of the Maquar to show the newcomers to their quarters.Jhoqo and Taennen stepped down from the crate, and Jhoqo placed an arm around Taennen's shoulders, walking with the younger man.Jhoqo smiled and waved at the gathered troops who were now whispering among themselves.Still smiling, he growled into Taennen's ear, "That will not do, Durir."Taennen glanced over his shoulder to see the crowd dispersing, breaking into small clusters of soldiers, all still talking among themselves.Looking back to Jhoqo's face, Taennen saw his phony smile, but he did not miss the anger burning in the man's eyes."That was inappropriate," Jhoqo said.Taennen flashed back to his youth, to Jhoqo schooling him in proper etiquette while he was being introduced to the upper echelon members of the Maquar.Taennen felt all the more confused by the regression of their roles.Confusion gave way to frustration.Frustration hinted at anger like red skin around a wound hints at infection."Excuse me, sir?" Taennen asked, more loudly than he intended.Jhoqo stopped their stroll and turned to face his second
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