Southern Torrs Central Market, Morning.

Gerard had already pledged to fight alongside Pattou and company, as a result, he entrusted the trade post to a fellow merchant as he will be unable to manage both fighting and managing at the same time. Gerard before the market opens gathers the other merchants and bids farewell. As part of the support and to ensure safety, Rikkou has assigned some of his Wrecker members to guard the market.

Cooke Manor, Southern Torrs, Late Morning.

Gerard prepares a meal and refreshments for his allies. They all ate and during the meal, Pattou then asks, 

Pattou: Gerard, given that you and your merchants are hearing about anything and everything about the happenings in Southern Torrs, do you perhaps have any knowledge about any bards in the area? 

Gerard: Well, actually Bards do not necessarily earn much here unless they are here on some charity run. You know this place is filled with peasants or merchants. But I do know of one bard who apparently is more than a bard. 

Rikkou: Yes! That's the one we need to search for. But how do we exactly track or find a bard at a place like this, more so someone who fits that bill? 

Pattou: We just need to keep our eyes and ears open. If I know anything from my wanderer days, bards do not necessarily stay in one place.

Southern Torrs farmlands, Noon.

The farmlands serve as one of the lifelines of Southern Torrs, more so of Torrs to provide sustenance for the general populace. Some of the farm maidens are toiling away aiding the men with the harvest. They were beaten by the labor but need to still contribute in their own way. Suddenly, they heard the strumming of a guitar and crooning from afar. Their hearts went aflutter and were suddenly given more strength to continue. When they looked up after planting the root crops, they found a bard, with black and silver hair with a man bun. The bard smiled when he was given attention by the ladies and said in a rhythmic voice, 

Bard?: Oh you ladies. Do not look upon me but to the crops you grow. Maybe in time something in us will grow. But for now, tend to the land for it feeds us all~ 

However, the men in the farm suddenly tried to chase him away, telling him to back away from their women and daughters. 

Bard?: Bah, as if you can provide for them what I can. Ah, where to now? Where will the winds take me? No Inns around this neck of Torrs. Man, Riff Chosoukabe we need some money to at least allow us to journey on.

On his way from the farmlands, Corrvin-Torrs soldiers saw him and then asked, 

Corrvin-Torrs Soldier: Kind bard, do you happen to see some rebels coming along? 

Riff: I know not of any rebels coming this way. 

Corrvin-Torrs Soldier: Thank you kind bard. If you happen to see any rebels, inform us right away.

Upon the soldiers going past, Riff then says under his breath, 

Riff: Imbeciles. You are the true rebels. History in due time will sweep you away for standing on the wrong side of it. 

Unfortunately, one of the soldiers heard the insult from the bard and marched back to confront him, 

Corrvin-Torrs soldier: Who did you call morons huh? 

Riff: I was singing to myself. Is it now wrong to sing and ply my craft?

Luckily, a sniper falcon was flying above the scene and flew back to its owner.

Cooke Manor, Southern Torrs, Noon.

Liger while resting atop one of the trees in the manor was alerted when his sniper falcon returned. 

Liger: What is it? 

The falcon was shrieking and Liger understood every shriek and caw coming it. Sayfuro and company were amazed how the two were understanding each other. 

Pattou: That is a skill of the snipers. They grow together with those falcons and they are like their alter egos and fellow men. Such a bond is fascinating to say the least.

Liger then informs the other four, 

Liger: I think my falcon sniper has found our new ally. Lead the way! 

The sniper falcon then flew back to where it found their possible new ally.

Southern Torrs Farmlands, Afternoon.

The detachment of Corrvin-Torrs have encircled Riff after being provoked by his words. Bards are rarely combative but Riff was not to let these men arrest him for speaking out. One soldier charged at him and he would merely sidestep while strumming his guitar. It did not help him that as he strummed, he was taunting the soldiers. The soldiers then aimed for the guitar. As their swords tried to reach for his instrument, he strummed violently and shockwaves emitted from the guitar, sweeping the soldiers down to the ground.

Upon seeing the scene, Pattou and company aided Riff by taking down the rest of the soldiers until they were unconscious. With one soldier left standing, Pattou was about to deal the knockout blow, Riff interrupted him, 

Riff: Let me take this one down. For the ladies watching. 

Pattou gave in and let Riff produce an energy ball out of the guitar and struck down the last soldier. As the soldiers were knocked down, Riff bowed down as if it were a performance with the farmers present clapping and cheering for them.

Riff: You do know I was softening them up until you all came in. 

Rikkou: Why don't I show you softening up? 

Liger restrained him, 

Liger: Now now. And anyway, correct me if I'm wrong. You're a bard. Yes? 

Riff: -smugly- Why yes I am! Now to whom do I thank for this concerted effort? 

Pattou: I am Patriarch Blade. Lord of the Blade Empire. These are my allies, Liger Chance, Rikkou Slingblade, Sayfuro Wuyong, and Gerard Cooke.

Riff was then surprised and his smug persona had dropped. 

Riff: Oh my.... Oh I am so sorry for that. Uh.. what kind of a disgrace am I for trying to steal the show from the true heroes... - sees farm maidens - Oh yeah. For them. But still, my apologies for my show of arrogance.

Pattou: Think nothing of it. Why don't you join us back and we can talk this out. Surely we need your aid in these times. 

Riff: I do not know how but anything to remove the unsightliness of those Corrvin-Torrs cretins. Apologies for not introducing myself, Riff Chousokabe at your service. Allow me to lend both my talents and presence to the cause you espouse.

Another one joins the Blade Army. What does this Riff bring to his new allies? Stay tuned.

And that was Chapter 10. Chapter 11 and 12 will be out this coming weekend. (Heads up, prepare the tissues, drama bombs be coming...unless you have a high emotional tolerance, which I will not take against).

Keep safe and stay awesome!