Rolthin lead them inside the large building, which was one large room. Jack could have compared it to a throne room, with a long walkway to a raised platform, but instead of a throne, there sat a large table. The side closest to them had enough chairs for all of them, impressing him on how fast they prepared once they heard of their arrival. Sitting on the far side of the table was three larger chairs, where the council sat. In the middle was a male elf, somehow looking older than any other elf he had met, despite the fact that they do not really age. What surprised Jack was that his hair was black, not blonde like he was used to seeing, and instead of the emerald eyes most elves had, he had sky blue eyes. He wore a stern expression, with his hands folded on top of the table.
To the right, to Jacks surprise again, was a female dwarf. Her hair was brown, long, and braided, hanging over her shoulder. She had brown eyes, a clear face, and looked muscular enough to lift him up and throw him. Jack hoped against all odds that Drake did not make a joke about her not having a beard.
And the third councilor, sitting on the left, surprised him the most of all, stopping him in his tracks. There sat Annie Lionheart, the vampire that trained him when he was a little boy, and taught him everything he knew about swordsmanship. Her long, light brown hair was put up in a ponytail, her red eyes, still the darkest red of any vampire he had met, caught his gaze, and she smirked as she recognized him.
He regained his composure, and they climbed the small set of stairs to the table, where Rolthin gestured for them to sit down, and they all took a set, Jack unable to tell how comfortable the chair was because he was still in his armor. The council looked at them, the elf's expression like stone, Annie still smirking, and the dwarf grinning widely and speaking first.
"Damn, I knew getting here would be rough, but you lot look like you went through an entire war. And, unless my memory is failing me, Noelle had two arms when she left for the forest of the elves. I thought sending Jerry would be enough, but it seems that we were mistaken."
Noelle smirked at the dwarf, leaning back and getting as comfortable as she could, still keeping Drakes cloak around herself; Jack frowned at the thought, irked that they were not allowed to at least change before this. Annie saw his frown, leaning forward on the table and gesturing to him.
"Seems like you have something on your mind, Benson. Care to share with the rest of us?"
He furrowed his brow, hating when people called him by his last name and deciding to answer her honestly.
"We just went through fighting for our lives against vampires and a werewolf the size of a house, and we were forced to come here right away. Noelle's clothes were torn, and we are all barely able to stay on our feet. We have been traveling for a long time, and I think this could have waited until tomorrow at least."
He crossed his arms, having said his piece. He thought they would be upset, as most leaders have an idea that they are more important than everything else. But to his surprise he saw the elf nodding, his expression softening as he looked over at Elaine.
"I agree with the vampire, but I had to see if the princess was alive. She is my niece, and since I have heard that the elves were defeated, she might be the only family I have left."
Elaine gasped, her eyes growing wide in surprise.
"Uncle Bellator? My mother would speak of you, but she never said what happened to you."
He smiled, looking relieved but sad at the same time.
"Not many know of this sanctuary, and I wanted it to stay that way, so I told her to keep my location a secret. I am grieved to hear of her death, and you have my condolences. I am glad that at least you yet live, and I can never thank the rest of you enough for getting her here."
The dwarf spoke up again, getting their attention as she cleared her throat.
"I know you were eager to see her, Bellator, but I also agree with the vampire; they have had a long and tedious journey, and we should not keep them any longer than we need to."
She turned to the group, a grin spreading across her face as she pointed to the council members in order.
"The members of the council are Annie Lionheart, the most skilled swordswoman in the sanctuary, Bellator Skyfurst, considered one of the wisest of the elves, and me, Sigra Stone, of the ancient Stone bloodline that has been around for longer than we even know of. One of the reasons we wanted to meet you was to introduce ourselves, but there is another reason."
Annie took over for her, standing up and gesturing to the entire group.
"Not only is the princess of the elves here, the next in line, but the members her mother chose to protect her. With the fall of Anastasia, we have a grave favor to ask of you, and know that we do not ask this lightly of you."
The other two stood up as well, Bellator taking the reigns, as if they practiced this speech beforehand.
"With the elves defeat, the leader of the Nation of Blood, Zillion, is unlikely to stop there. Annie has informed us that, even before she left, the Nation of Blood was running low on their only source of food, blood. With all of the more powerful races out of the way, and the dwarfs refusal to assist anyone but themselves, the human race is going to be next, to be conquered and turned into cattle for their blood."
"Princess Elaine Skyfurst." the elf said, putting his hands behind his back and bowing his head to her. "While we hold power here, we mean nothing to the human nations. You, however, are the daughter of Anastasia Skyfurst, and your words carry more weight than you realize. If we do nothing, Zillion will take over the entire country and rule it with an iron fist. We ask that you, and any of your companions who are willing, prepare to ask for the aid of the human nations, ask them to put aside their personal war and combine their forces for one final attempt to defeat the Nation of Blood, before we all fall before his might."