Commando Part 23

Both groups looked at each other observantly and wary of the other after the quick skirmish. One of the Vestrisians spotted Maurice's Vestrisian commando shoulder patch and collection of dog tags. He nodded to Maurice who seemed to stunned to see these Vestrisians. Seeing fellow Vestrisians alive again in this part of the world made Maurice feel very surprised, confused, and fortunate.

He introduced himself to the Vestrisians and their allies. Each side exchanged greetings, names, information, and reasons for being here. The locals could not speak their language, but shook hands any ways. Just three of the Vestrisians and several of the Eothians, and Condor tribesmen introduced themselves. There was a Lieutenant Overton, Sergeant Kidham, Privates Oghoss, Kemnir, and Levistson. Among the Eothians and Condor tribesmen were Cassirer, Augenstein, Noshi, Gorvitsin, and Abonai. The rest of the names escaped him plus the eight Uxane locals told them they needed to leave or that is what seemed to translate from the way these locals left the party.

Maurice and his band of warriors exchanged information with their new friends who lured the recently rescued monks. Behind this group Maurice thought he saw a small nest of forty five crocodiles close by. He did not bother it since they were on higher ground and those crocodiles were more part of the scenery despite the dangers. These monk students slowly walked up to them with their heads bowed low in mourning. Something else had happened to their fellow students and master. Each female pupil begged them to help them to get back to their master and ensure their safe passage through these swamps. Lieutenant Overton offered his help and handed a map to Maurice. This Vestrisian Lieutenant would not aid Maurice yet since their duty was to aid those crossing the swamp roads.

The two groups went separate ways on the road. Maurice, Taregan, and Hilastes paused a few times down the swamp road to see the map Overton gave them. For several minutes they studied the map taking note at their current location which Overton had marked down. He counted seven villages and temples close by. Only two of these villages were locations where Vestrisian soldiers were said to reside in the Swamps. Both villages were a few miles away from Tsubi Pajibe. As he studied the map further he discovered a small dot on the map the read five troops from the 31^st Infantrymen Division. Maurice showed this to Hilastes and Taregan who looked over his shoulders. Before heading towards those locations Maurice contacted Maphai telling her what they found and where they themselves were headed now. She warned him not to go near Tsubib Pajibe yet.

When he asked why she told him there was a war going on between Tsubib Pajibe, the Guutso tribesmen, Magesar, the Anopezawi and a few other city-states. Each one fought against the other as well as the Caligari Syndicate's forces. She said it would be best to leave that area alone for a few more days. The two leaders left their conversation with that and Maurice mounted his steed. With the two companions at his heels he proceeded down the road towards the closest village marked on the map in blue ink. A few more hours past their encounter with monks and fellow Vestrisians Maurice's companions ran into a few villages and small settlements too small to be villages but dwellings in the swamps. Each one appeared no different from Kunmar, and Ujal Voge.

He tried talking to the locals who did not seem to understand his language. Not a single word was understood between him an eastern outsider and the local native of the swamp landscapes in the Unknown Lands. They passed through a few villages until they found someone who spoke the Tuxir tongue which came in handier than the previous villages. While Taregan spoke to this linguistic tribesman Maurice looked over to the right where a pack of sixteen or more large lizards elongate fin like spines. These reptilian like monsters appeared vicious creatures if antagonized or anyone trespassed onto their territories. Not too far away were other creatures of the swamps such as raccoon, snakes, tree frogs, stags, large slow moving slugs, some turtles, and flies, and swamp cats.

Taregan grabbed his attention from the scenery telling him there was a village not too far away where five Vestrisians were living. Maurice gave out a sigh of relief as a small pack of squealing swamp boars burst out of the wooded part of the swamps. These wild pigs were chased by whooping, and screaming hunters wielding spears, bows and arrows, and shooting darts after them. The trio watched for a few moments before returning down the path to the next village. Along the way they saw more clearings and patches of land with bushes, and various wildlife flanking the road. Going for a village where his brethren were made Maurice feel more accomplished on this very day. A day full of traveling, rescuing pupils, coming across fellow Vestrisians, possible allies and discovering another village where more of his brethren were was not common for a warrior in these days. He could not help but wonder if there were other close by or if these were the same ones Maphai had told him about. With this in mind Maurice sped up his steed to a gallop urging his companions to do the same. He raced through the swamp taking the wooden and natural road with his companions following him. The speed his steed galloped made him feel like he was running against a heavy wind. He kept a sharp eye out for the village where their missing comrades were located. Although he could not decipher which village was which Maurice still kept going until he heard Taregan's voice. His Uxane companion hollered for him to stop.

Listening to his companion Maurice slowed his own steed to a trot then settled it down to halt. Taregan and Hilastes caught up with him at the entrance to a village. He looked over at Taregan who nodded that this was the village they were looking for. This village had an entrance that resembled an arch entrance to a garden. It was made from branches, vines, twigs, and grass intertwined creatively. Maurice gathered these villagers were craftsman weavers, and carpenters limited by their surroundings but made the best use of them. He dismounted letting his steed rest for a few moments or for however long it would take to find the lost Vestrisians. Hilastes chose to stay behind to watch over the steeds and keep an eye out. Taregan joined him down the road entering the limits of this village.

Over fifty to seventy structures made up this village that was set up in a clearing located with a section of dense woods near the boggy, treeless parts covered with swamp grass and foliage. There were three types of structures that made up the buildings of this village. Waddle and daubs, stilted dwellings along the edges of the clearing, and huts made from the abundance of resources nature provided in this part of the world. Its inhabitants appeared to be a mix of Uxanes, Borvadosians, and those of Maphai's people. These people appear to be basket weavers, carpenters on a small scale, hunters, pottery makers, shamans, medicine people, crocodile, boar or lizard herders. Dressed in various dyed loincloths, animal hide tunics, large shawls, and some modernized clothing. All eyes were on these pair of outsiders who just entered their village. Taregan spoke in a few languages hoping to communicate which only one could be recognized by an elderly looking shaman. As Taregan conversed with this shaman who was the village leader Maurice studied the hairstyles of these people. Many of them wore their hair in dreads, and braids with bones, shells, beads, claws, and some trade items meant for other uses.

Someone touched him forcing his attention from these people who only stared back but kept their distance. Maurice turned to Taregan who had five rugged looked, unshaven men wearing torn up uniforms with bits of grass, hide, and woven clothing. Each one of them wore a Vestrisian dog tag around his neck. All of them came from the 31^st Infantryman Division sent in several years ago during the expeditionary operations in the Unknown Lands. Their names and ranks were Lieutenant Vortice Sorrowmind, Private Ryfon Greymirson, Corporal Tylen Ordovacar, Privates Nudd Price Safrax, and Demitry Artomavich of Castaria. Shaking hands with all five of these lost Vestrisians Maurice felt more confident in finding more missing soldiers alive.