The lodging I had been given in the noble district had been annoying, The early adventure. An inn, accessible by a short flight in hippogriffs, stood atop a rocky promontory overlooking the rest of the city. Built with the characteristic elven structure.
Extravagant for an inn, yes, but if you took into account the constant extravagance of the elves it was something expected for what they used to do, I didn't like the capital and much less a place like this.
Even with the bad taste in my mouth of the day, I got what I needed: a chance to get where I needed to go. With their support, I could avoid the pressure from the other houses. Unfortunately, I hadn't gotten to know the group I would have to go out with.
The next morning and the day of departure, the squadron met at the guard's headquarters. When I arrived at the meeting point, as expected, all the members seemed to be elite warriors. the hunters were already formed, lined up in martial ranks, their armor glittering in the moonlight. They were twenty in all, elite warriors of the elven society, hardened in combat and trained since childhood for hunting and extermination. But of them all, five were known even to a hermit like me.
As I waited at the foot of the stairs, mostly out of respect, I noticed that Vaelarion Nightgale, the squad leader looked much more imposing since the last time I had seen him.
"Vaelarion," I greeted, "I hope I didn't interrupt anything."
Vaelarion looked at me in surprise before raising his head to look down at my staff, he probably hadn't been informed of me.
-Not at all, we were on our way out. Although I must confess I didn't expect to see you here," the man ran down the last stairs. But it's a pleasant surprise to know you'll be joining us, Isen.
-Please," I grabbed his hand. It was a last-minute order, so you couldn't have known. In fact, I'm surprised I was assigned to your team, too.
Vaelarion smiled. -Didn't they tell you, I lost the leadership a few years ago, now there's a new leader who has been a promise since we were little.
"That's definitely a surprise," I laughed, seeing that Vaelarion seemed unaffected by what I said, "I hope he's as capable as you say he is."
-Something tells me that you'll like it, my friend," he said with a smile that seemed to slip from his lips, "I have to go, I have to coordinate what we'll bring, but take the liberty to get to know the others.
It was good to know that Vaelarion Nightgale, I knew him as a child because we had attended the same school and he used to talk to me. He was a charismatic and calm elf always among the others, his silver hair fell in an elaborate braid down his back, and his eyes always scanned each of his subordinates making sure they would not make any mistakes.
He had heard a lot about his battalion, about how it was made up of only the best of the best, and how they had had continued total success in all the missions they had been sent on.
To his right stood Kaelith Moonstrike, an elite archer with eyes as sharp as arrows, his bow, of a dark ebony with silver engravings, was as lethal as his aim. With his tall, slender figure and stoic expression, he looked more like a spirit of the night than a mere elf.
Beside him stood Vaelrion Dawnshade, a former sentry of the Queen's guard. His golden hair and haughty bearing contrasted with his fierce attitude on the battlefield. It was said that he could kill a man with a single thrust before he even realized he was under attack.
The fourth in rank was Elandor Sylveris, the strategist of the group. He saw the battlefield as a shatranj board (Shatranj or shatranji is the name of an ancient form of chess), a mage of great reputation who preferred meticulous planning to direct combat. His eyes, glowing green, revealed the cunning of someone who saw beyond the immediate, and the relaxed gesture on his face hid an ever-calculating mind.
Next to Elandor was an apprentice, something that was of a great surprise since none of the other captains had one in their ranks, Vaeris Starbloom, one of the youngest mages to achieve mastery in spells of control and disorientation.
I decided not to intrude on their preparations as I took a seat in the corner of the room. It didn't look like any of them had taken the lead from Vaelarion, and the others weren't recognized enough to make it, but it didn't look like the whole group with nineteen of them in the room either.
Finally, Aarawi Duskwhisper, a warrior of incredible talent, entered the room. Unlike the rest, who were dressed in demure tunics, she wore tight-fitting leather armor, reinforced in key areas designed for mobility rather than protection.
On her back rested a sword of mammoth size for someone with her build. It measured longer than would have seemed possible for a woman of her stature, and yet she wielded it with disconcerting ease, few elves were strong enough to wield a weapon of that size with precision and speed. It was a weapon that would be associated more with a seasoned veteran of a thousand battles than such a young warrior. moreover, she was not only a skilled swordswoman, but also one of the best trackers in the empire.
"I didn't know you had connections in such high places," she said as she approached.
She was a figure made for war, but her beauty seemed out of place in a combat unit, Her long white hair, and sharp, dark blue eyes flashed with an intensity that spoke of unwavering determination, so deep and enigmatic that they seemed capable of piercing your soul.
I took a deep breath and, without looking away, gave him a gentle smile before turning my attention back to the others.
-I didn't expect you to take the leadership of an elite team so soon," I said.
-It's bound to happen soon," he grumbled, "Noble?
I suppressed a satisfied smile. "Soon, looks like I beat you to it."
-You were in the east," he replied enviously. Nothing was happening in the south. Not much chance of promotion.
"Well, that seems to have changed in the last few days."
-I've heard about your situation, it seems that the Vashj house is not being easy on you," he said with a satisfied smile on his lips.
I pursed my lips. "...Well, in a way. I'll have to get to know new possibilities because of this."
-I don't think you have room to show off this time, I won't let a new untrained element interrupt and cause chaos between us- I looked over his shoulder...his gaze rested slightly on me and he smiled slyly.
-It's not like you to be so insecure about others, but don't worry, I'll make sure I don't overshadow your team's accomplishments.
I left the discussion halfway, it was not a good idea to worsen relations with the leader of the squad that was going to accompany me to a battle to the death with Trolls.