The next day, the mercenaries arrive.

Later that day, scouts ride into the castle's courtyard once again, bearing word from advance lookouts.

It would seem the bulk of the support Madeleine is providing has arrived. There's less outright panic amongst the coalition forces than there was at the princess' completely unexpected arrival, more curiosity, a wariness of these sell-swords from far off lands.

As the Oro Elide and Sinnabarrovian forces merge into the main camp atop the hill, you head to the castle courtyard, ready to receive their leaders. Donald, Kara and Jana are there, as is Madeleine, and Seki. Next to the experienced mercenary queen is a young man about a year your junior, his head shaved, a resplendent cloak covering his slight frame. You can only assume he's the son the southerner referred to.

The chiefs of the Oro Elide make quite the entrance. There are two of them, women, with the very same exotic countenance. They're beastfolk, more specifically, the sisters are leonine, their faces as much lion as human, sleek golden fur covering the exposed portions of their bodies.

Scimitars hang from their belts. They wear light armour, sleeveless, with light cloaks, the same golden clasps everyone in the Oro Elide seems to possess keeping them in place. Neither woman seems particularly fazed by the chill in the air.

Reaching your party, the lionesses drop to their knees, bowing before Seki.

“Your Excellency, allow me to introduce Rana and Juhi, war chiefs of the Oro Elide, trueborn daughters of my late husband, half-sisters to our dear Prince Khaliq.” Seki announces to Madeleine, squeezing the boy by her side's shoulders.

The lionesses rankle at their regent's introduction, but for now, they say nothing.

“It's an honour.” Madeleine grins, unable to hide her fascination with the two specimens before her. “For you as well, I'm sure.”

“I hope you're prepared to fight, lasses.” Donald interjects. “Our enemy is close at hand. She'll be upon us any day now.”

“The Oro Elide live for the hunt, O King.” one of the sisters boasts.

“We fear no raider's war-axe. Nor the sight of their sails.” the other concludes fiercely.

“There's far more to fear.” Kara warns them. “The Deanian's king is a mage, of nearly untold power, if even half the stories are true.”

“Ever hear of Beher-iset, princess?” Seki asks. The mere mention of it brings a smile to Rana and Juhi's leonine faces.

“Can't say that I have.” Kara responds.

“It's one of the great city-states back on our home continent. Nearly two centuries ago, the rightful rulers were deposed by a cabal of mages. The king and his brides driven out, the mages set up a republic, a system where innate magical ability, not noble birth, dictated right to rule. Five years ago, the king's descendants hired the Oro Elide to take back the city. And we did. We used ambushes, ****, poison. Every trick in the book, because if mages won't play fair, why should we? The end result? Beher-iset once again knows the warming luminance of a king, the Oro Elide sup for free in any of her taverns, and anyone found to possess any trace of magical talent is exiled or put to ****.” Seki relates. “I trust you can ascertain the moral of that particular story, princess.”

“Aye, never give up on your dreams, right?” Kara quips. “The king reclaimed his birth right eventually. Just had to hire the most unscrupulous killers he could find.”

“Very droll, your grace.” Seki responds. “What I meant to explain is: mages are our specialty.”

“They don't frighten us!” One of the lionesses says exuberantly.

“Let's see if this weak king can cast his spells once we've ripped off his arms!” the other chimes in.

They certainly talked a strong game. It wouldn't be long until the Oro Elide's mettle was put to the test, however.