Wiccer stood side by side with the rest of the ARO recruits. What he assumed would be just another long day of training on that old, familiar parade field quickly turned into something new and exciting. Standing next to Elucard was a Long Whisper soldier. He was an older looking elf. His hair was trimmed neatly short. His straightened gold and green jacket had various emblems denoting his rank as an officer, letting everyone know that he was due a certain amount of respect. His insignia of rank on his lower arm displayed three chevrons balancing on a fulcrum, which meant he was a Staff Sergeant. He was most likely in charge of a platoon. Above it, but below his shoulder, was his unit patch. The patch depicted a true north arrow with an eight pointed star in the background.
‘The 2nd Roving Protectors Detachment.’ Wiccer’s father put together the first three RPD units to patrol each village and city within Long Whisper as well as the borderlands. ‘Our vigilance is immeasurable’ was the Rovers’ creed.
“This is Sergeant Ilaird Jackdaw,” Elucard finally said, gesturing a hand to the Rover, “He has agreed to allow you recruits to accompany his patrol to Outpost Wolfcry.”
Wiccer knew that outpost well. It once served as his former guild hall and was half a day’s travel from his home. It would be a three day’s march from Lost Dawns. However, it was not the travel time that concerned him. It was the location of the road leading to the outpost that was so disconcerting. He knew Elucard’s reason for picking this particular mission. This route bordered Black Rabbit territory and could be the mission that would make or break the ARO. This was their final test.
“Ilaird’s patrol will be escorting a supply convoy to Wolfcry. The road rubs against Black Rabbit territory and though I doubt they will make a move against such a protected train of wagons, you’ll be seeing that the convoy makes it to the outpost in one piece,” Elucard said, confirming Wiccer’s thoughts.
“Will you be leading us, Elucard?” asked Timber. Her voice was unusually shaky from either anxiety or excitement.
“No, Elisa and I will not be joining you. Wiccer will be leading this mission.”
Murmurs erupted from the recruits. A chance to confront the Black Rabbits and Elucard was not leading them?
“Succeed in this mission and you’ll officially be ARO,” said Elucard. He motioned for Wiccer to step in front of the squad, “They’re all yours, Captain.”
Ilaird nodded to Wiccer, “We’ll be waiting outside the gates”.
Wiccer stood motionless in front of his waiting soldiers, each wearing worry on their faces. This would be Wiccer’s first true mission since his failed attempt at saving Jaelyn, and he was not sure if he was prepared to be responsible for so many lives. His hands shook as he choked on the words within his dry mouth, “M-Move out!”
***
ARO had been trained in escort maneuvers just as Black Rabbits were. Hidden deep in the shadows, a Rabbit can watch without interruption and keep the element of surprise if its objective were to be attacked. Those that would attack would be unaware of the Rabbit and thus lose any upper hand they would have had otherwise. Not only this, but if several Rabbits were escorting, Rabbits could break away and scout ahead or hunt for possible ambushers before a trap was sprung. A Rabbit was at home within the shadows. ARO had been trained to be no different.
Wiccer stalked closely alongside Sergeant Ilaird, using a variety of bird calls that Elucard and Elisa taught him to communicate with his team. This allowed him to be able to coordinate with his men who were too far to whisper to.
“Rulan and Trek, keep alert in the eastern woods,” Wiccer signaled with a long coo.
“Roger that, captain,” A series of stuttering chirps echoed from the trees on the eastern side of the road.
Lear sprinted up to Wiccer, making sure to stay light on his feet and incognito. He had been running about the convoy keeping tabs on all the ARO in their various positions.
“What do you have to report, Lear?” Wiccer whispered lowly.
“This Yakahti reports that Timber spots no one following us. Calsoon–” Lear stopped suddenly as Blayvaar appeared before them, urgency in his eyes.
“What is it Blayvaar?” asked Wiccer, scanning frantically ahead of the convoy.
“A fallen tree lies ahead of us, captain. A single path heads west into the forest. It is very narrow with very little light.”
“Did you scout out the path?”
“I did.”
“Well, what did you find?” asked Wiccer, growing a bit impatient.
“I heard silent whispers – the kind that Elucard and Elisa taught us. They were saying, ‘The caravan is heading this way.’ They were Rabbits, I’m sure of it, captain.”
Wiccer bit his lip. He knew that Blayvaar was right. ‘This is it. This is what we trained for.’ However, a simple ambush was a breezy morning stroll for the Black Rabbits. It was in their blood. ‘How would Elucard react?’ He checked his surroundings, hoping that the answer would present itself in some obvious way. And in a sense it did. All at once his training kicked in. ’With precision.’
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“Lear, relay the possibility of an ambush to the Rovers. I’ll call the rest of the team about the situation.”
The western path was a thin wooded road that took a longer route to the southwest. It would pour into a large highway that would eventually arrive at Outpost Wolfcry. However, it proved to be a very precarious method of travel for the convoy. The trees were huddled close together and encroached onto the already narrow road. The RPD patrol needed to march single file or else they would bump clumsily into the trees.
Despite it being mid-afternoon, the sun barely breached through the canopy of the arching branches. Had it not been for most of the soldiers being Elven, they would be traveling at an even more labored rate.
“Be on alert, men. That fallen tree was probably not a coincidence,” Ilaird called out to his Rovers. Although he had been briefed on the eminent ambush, he was specifically told not act as though he knew about it.
At this point, it was Wiccer’s job to flush out any and all Black Rabbits that were skulking about. Both Calsoon and Timber took to the trees. Trek and Rulan used their combined tracking skills to hunt the Rabbits, while Blayvaar and Lear stayed at the caravan’s rear. Essie was on standby with the Rover medic, awaiting any sudden emergency.
Wiccer attempted to rest his pulse as he kept his senses strained for any sign of danger. As a White Cloak he was trained to expect attacks, but never had he expected an attack that he knew about in advance. This was the single most nerve-racking moment in his life. If he were in the heat of battle he would feel at home, distracted from his fears and anxiety, but the anticipation of battle was more than he could bear.
A whiffling sound ripped through the air as a wagon driver let out a short scream of agony. Another similar series of sounds broke through the previously silent scene. Two more wagon drivers screamed, signaling that the convoy was under attack.
A screeching whistle echoed through the treetops followed by a careening arrow flying from one side of the road to the other. Wiccer watched as a shadowy Black Rabbit fell from his perch in the trees. Its body crashed to the ground, one of Timber’s arrows lodged into his chest.
In a fraction of a moment, a hail of shurikens showered from the trees into the convoy below. Rovers slid under the wagons for cover as Wiccer scrambled for the nearby wood line. Keeping a steady mind set, he whistled commands to his nearby allies, telling them to scurry up the trees and relieve the Rovers from the hailstorm of deadly attacks.
Wiccer watched as the nimble soldiers rushed up the trunks of the trees, daggers clenched between their teeth. The clashing of steel rang out throughout the canopy as ARO engaged the Rabbits. One by one, assassins fell from the trees and smashed into the woodland floor below.
From either side of the caravan burst bands of Rabbits from the shadowy brush, all brandishing swords and hatchets. Wiccer shouted out several orders commanding ARO and the Rovers to defend the supply wagons at all costs. An all-out battle ensued as blade sparked against blade. Blood sprayed onto the nearby leaves and gathered in pools in the grass beneath the warriors’ feet.
Between engaging the advancing enemies, Wiccer made sure to keep an eye on his own forces. He kept his ears open for reports from each area of the battlefield and watched as both medics ran frantically to the aid of any fallen soldier. Arrows whizzed past Wiccer and his allies as Timber sniped out any unaware Black Rabbits. Calsoon and Blayvaar lurked from behind the Black Rabbit lines, slicing open unsuspecting throats. Lear, Trek, and Rulan slowly battered back the Rabbit offensive. Wiccer grinned widely, the battle was won.
Outpost Wolfcry opened its gates as the caravan entered. Arrows and shuriken protruded from the splintered wooden sides of the three wagons. New drivers were assigned from the squad of Roving Guards.
“Well done, captain. We were weary of having ARO assist us in this mission, given the reputation of your commander, but you proved useful. You aren’t the scumbags you are rumored to be,” said a relieved Ilaird at the breach of the outpost’s gate.
Wiccer nodded. ARO’s had a reputation as a motley crew of losers and rogues that came together under the wing of the vilest criminal Long Whisper had ever known. Not only this, but they were sanctioned by the king to learn the very techniques that were used against other soldiers. It was easy to question ARO’s trustworthiness with such a pedigree. And yet Wiccer witnessed first hand that ARO was worthy to carry the banner of Long Whisper. He was proud of his ragtag unit. He was proud to be a part of it too.
“Thank you, sergeant. We’ll be heading back to Lost Dawns in the morning,” grinned Wiccer.
“My men and I would be more than happy to have ARO watching our backs on future missions. You may never earn the complete respect of our forces, but I don’t think that you’ll lose much sleep over that. You seem to only care about getting your mission accomplished successfully.”
“Aye, respect is overrated, Sergeant.”
“Rogues who hunt rogues. The shadows that guard the light,” mused Ilaird.
Wiccer smirked at the thought.
Ilaird threw a salute to Wiccer before joining his men in the soup line.
***
ARO returned to their city victorious in the following days. They all stood in formation on the parade Field. Before them Elucard stood beside a large, mysterious crate. Elucard himself was no longer dressed in his familiar training armor, but instead donned light armor that was a deep black. A black half mask covered his lower face and a crimson hood and a long red cloak covered the rest of his head. His ninjato was strapped behind his waist. His upper arms stuck out the most. On his right shoulder was the patch of Long Whisper’s flag: An elaborate eight looped knot with a ring of leaves encasing it. On his left shoulder, a patch depicting a red lightning bolt with an eye in the foreground. Below that patch was the triple chevron and fulcrum of a staff sergeant, just like the one that Ilaird wore. Elucard was officially a Long Whisper soldier now.
“Looking slick, Elucard,” Blayvaar said, grinning widely.
“Sergeant Elucard,” Elucard corrected. He kicked open the crate, revealing a stack of black leather armor and red cloaks, “Wiccer reported to me that you all ran into Black Rabbits.” The squad smiled and chuckled. Elucard continued, “And despite some injuries, there were no deaths.”
Several of the ARO recruits hooted in excitement
“Quiet down!” harped Wiccer.
“Thank you, captain,” Elucard said, nodding toward Wiccer, “Men, you have performed with precision and perfection. Three months of training. Three months! I have worked you like dogs. Hell, worse than dogs. Instead of snapping like a rust-eaten sword, you cut into those Rabbit bastards like a freshly forged blade. You are now ARO.” Elucard paused, watching their grins grow wider, “More than that. You are now a clan. Every clan needs a name – a name that the enemy will utter in fear when your shadow falls upon them.”
“What name would that be?” questioned Essie.
“The Watchers,” Elucard replied with a sliver of menace woven into his tone, “And we Watchers need to look the part. Come get your new uniforms!” Elucard passed the newly sewn ARO uniforms to the soldiers.
“Elucard, a suggestion for our unit’s motto?” Wiccer piped up dawning his new red cloak.
“What do you have in mind?”
“The shadows that guard the light.”