After our victory over the monstrous horde of orcs, there was a brief moment of relaxation. Then, I heard the mechanisms of the firmly secured door unbolting with a metallic clank, and a uniformed guard entered the chamber. I had seen that face before when we had survived the ambush after having vanquished the hordes of Orcs. That battle reminded me we still had a long way to go before we could genuinely breathe easily.
Whoever his superiors were must have assigned him to escort us here. However, having an ally in such unfamiliar surroundings was comforting. As the leader of the guard, he was probably accustomed to this place and its inhabitants, making him the perfect companion for this strange situation. He had a stern look on his face, and I didn't know whether to interpret his cold stare as a compliment for our hard-fought victory or a warning not to let our guards down.
