Maria
Terrance's figure appeared, greeting her silently. Dina gave him a nod as well, her eyebrows frowning slightly with interrogations. She focused on the things to do before departure, chasing away the ranger's case in order to get ready. She went out before the Jack, gathering with her team. Once outside, the mercenaries could observe that they were 3 instead of 5... 
Disappearing wasn't professional, but could happen. They didn't know much about the two lads who were supposed to join them. A few casual questions rang, but no answers. Vague hypotheses... Dina had a sigh, pinched the bridge of her nose, a bit annoyed.
The caravan arrived soon after. Terrance got out of the stable, conveniently ready, and from afar they could hear the short conversation they had. Alright... So only one man to recruit.
The group of mercs led by Dina turned towards the ranger as well, the horses marching close to each other and near the merchants.

**"Missed me already, ranger?"** She said, a slightly bitter smile answering his grin. She didn't mind him joining, but she was always annoyed to find a lack of reliability among her, now, peers.
**"This is Gus, and this is Theodora."** She said, designating a man around his age, with ash blonde hair growing a little too long and a sword. The other one was a little woman, probably holding elvish blood giving her traits. A crossbow on her back and many scabbards on her outfit, some holding daggers, other seeming to hold round flasks. She looked at the Jack with a grin resembling his. They both nodded without interrupting the former general.

**"I heard about an old friend who is supposed to come back from Tinker's Hollow today. We should catch his path on our way before having to cross the Southern Mountains. If I ask him to join us, he will. Sounds good to you, to fill the missing spot?"** She asked, raising her voice and looking at the merchant; after all, he was the one hiring them.

The man she was talking about meeting on their way was one of the soldiers who fled with her from Port Iryen. Even if lots of them scattered across the world, sometimes a letter would arrive and if they could, they would meet, and chat, and feast. A friendly and familiar face to release the pressure a little, and keep the head sane through the lies and the secrets.

*// Gus & Theodora >* ||
Anthony
Terrance shrugged effortlessly as his friesian slow-stepped toward the small group of well-armed mercaneries. "Man's gotta work," He said gruffly, guiding his horse to turn in beside that of Theodora's to listen to Dina's plan. He nodded along with the other two at her suggestion for picking up their last member, and the exasperated merchant threw his arms up in defeat. "Just so long as you can provide protection through the southern pass," The balding merchant warned her. "Goblins are harassing every caravan that comes, even with guards these days. They must breed like rabbits!"

Once the merchant had dismissed them, they got down to assignments. Terrance's first assignment was the right side, riding across from Gus on the left, with Theo taking point and Dina filling in the rear to oversee everything. He realized it was one of the positions with the least responsibility, but he didn't argue; he was the new face, and it would take time to establish himself with this crew who had at least some experience together. 

....

It would not take long for their services to be required. A few hours later, the combined caravan of some dozen wagons headed out to the southwest beyond the bountiful plains and up into the steadily rolling foothills. They were barely into the higher elevations when Theodara trotted back on her dappled mare to report trouble ahead. "Burned out caravan, small, but they were armed," She reported. "You'll see the smoke over the next ridge. The woman was light, fast and quiet, and took her position at point seriously, but as the caravan leader called a halt, Theo looked for Dina to make the call. "Want me to take the fresh meat and scout ahead a bit?" She asked with a grinning glance at Terrance, who smirked in response.
Maria
Of course, the merchant wasn't pleased. He wanted his things to get to their destination and avoid troubles: that's why he paid them. Dina nodded when he mentioned goblins: she knew the southern path was home for a lot of creatures.
After a few words to reassure him, they finally hit the road.


After a while, Theodora spotted something ahead of their route. They stopped and turned towards the blonde woman who gauged the words of their scout very seriously. The way she put it, she wanted to see him at work and evaluate what he was capable of. At this point, it could be something interesting to know.
Dina was willing to trust this woman, maybe by solidarity, or maybe because she knew her as swift and smart. She gave Terrance a look, then back to her.

**"Alright. Be careful, you two. We need you in one piece."**

**"Sure thing, ma'am!"** She said.

Theo gave the Jack a sign of the head to invite him to follow her, and they left together, leaving Dina and an already irritated merchant on the road.