Elya looked around at the others in her group with a frown as she held a whetstone in one hand, and an arrow in the other. While the most of the others were in small groups chatting amongst themselves she sat off to the side in silence, slowly sharpening each arrowhead before placing it in a small pile on her left. As she worked she was reminded once again of how moronic this mission seemed,

'Even the smallest groups that go into the Under Dark usually have at least four people of the Fourth Order with everyone being above the Second, but this group … most of them don't barely pass as Second Order even if they were Fighters. I really don't understand why Alrick took this damned job, so help me Gods above, if this idiot gets me killed I'm going to hunt him down in the afterlife.'

Shortly after that thought came to her Elya noticed a tall man walking over, the dull black armor covering his chest and strangely shaped red tattoos that stretch halfway up his arms giving away who he was,

“Think of the demon and he'll appear, any news from that Lord who hired us, Alrick, or is he still set on sending almost a hundred of his men to die?”

Upon hearing Elya's statement the man nervously runs his hand across his bald head, tracing a scar that went from above his eye back to his ear, as he laughs and shakes his head. Seeing the action Elya's frown let up slightly as she remembered he'd gotten that scar saving her life …

Seemingly noting her change Alrick sat down on the ground beside her and started talking as a slight grin started to creep on his face,

“Oh, come now this job ain't that bad El, I mean we're getting paid eighty thousand gold just to lead some fellows through the Under Dark, and back. With that kinda payment you could head to the Gral Trade Union, purchase yourself a noble title, a nice mansion, and be set to live the rest of your life in luxury that few people ever get to experience.

Besides, we both know that even if this job goes badly that you and me have pretty good chances of making it out of the Under Dark alive with that hazard pay Lord Raven was so kind to provide ahead of time. Of course out of all of us you're the most likely to survive aren't you Ms. Peak Fourth Order Archer, with your background what risk do the creatu-”

The moment Alrick brings up Elya's background she glares at him as her hand seemed to blur before reappearing near his throat with an arrow pressed against it. Alrick takes a moment to look down at the arrow before waving his hands in the air in a show of surrender.

“Fine, fine El, I won't bring it up, but you're going to have to learn to talk about it someday. It's been almost six years El ...”

With a sigh Alrick trailed off and let the discussion drop as he turned his attention to a hunched figure making its way into the courtyard with four knights in full plate trailing behind him. Seeing the scene he remarks,

“Looks like they've brought out four Third Order practitioners to come with us, probably Knights by their looks though me, and you have seen plenty of warriors or even fighters prancing around in that kinda armor.”

Elya nodded as she continued to sharpen her arrows, but part of her attention was on the old man as he looked about to make some kind of speech. She had a feeling they were about to get under way.

Almost on cue the old man's voice seemed to echo throughout the courtyard reaching every single one of them with ease.

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“Our Lord Raven has entrusted upon you all a task of such importance that it could decide the outcome of the very war fight in order for our cause to come to fruition. We all seek peace, we have all gathered in service of Lord Raven to throw off the shackles of slavery that the Vandine Kingdom has tried to force us to wear. In this perilous time when their forces bear down upon this place of freedom we've carved out the Lord has seen that we must obtain an item from the far side of the continent.

Your journey will be dangerous, many may yet die in the darkness that you are about to descend in, but that which you go in search of must be obtained at all cost. To ensure that it is our Lord has ordered four of his most trusted Beast Knights to command you … and hired two experts of the Under Dark to guide.”

At the old man's last word he turned in the direction of Alrick and Elya causing El to hastily pull her dark green hood up to try, and cover her face from sight. As the group's eyes fell on them she growled lowly to Alrick,

“You know I hate being the center of attention you bastard, you came over here just to make sure that old foggy looked towards me didn't you!?”

Alrick laughed and gave her a sheepish grin before nodding towards the direction of the soldiers gathered around them,

“We're going to have to lead them anyway so I figured I'd let them know you were one of the hired guides before we got down there, and you could start hiding out of sight. Its bad to only communicate with me El, you're going to have to learn to talk to others aside from me … Plus, for how strong you are supposed to be your reaction to others attention is priceless.”

Elya glared at the tattooed warrior before waving her left hand over pile of arrows next to her causing them to turn to fragments of black light before converging hastily towards a plain looking wooden ring on her middle finger. The sight caused most of the soldiers to stare at her in utter shock which only served to enrage her more as her voice cut through the air, it was no longer cheerful or angry but ice cold and devoid of emotion.

“Old man, I assume you're hear to tell them that we're departing now otherwise you wouldn't have brought those four along, so let us skip to it. All of you get ready, we're leaving in ten minutes to go to the Under Dark, if any of you don't have your gear together by then I'll put an arrow in you and leave you behind.”

With that she hopped up from the rock she sat on and seemed to gently float to the ground before turning to walk out of the now dead silent courtyard. Everyone stared at that small figure obscured by a dark green cloak with a bow that seemed to be taller than her strapped to her back, and all of them could feel sweat pouring down there back at the killing intent she had left in her words.

As Elya left the courtyard Alrick simply took a small jug that seemed to appear out of thin air, and took a small sip from it before muttering,

“And into the Dark we go once more, perhaps this time she'll be able to shake off the weight she carries. I'd like to see that before ...”

Hesitating Alrick dropped into silence and looked at the red tattoos engraved on his skin. As he stared at them black blood seemed to slowly ooze out of them, and he couldn't help but sadly smile as he took another sip from the jug.