The morning air was crisp as the teams prepared for their separate missions. The camp was a hive of activity, with soldiers and commanders bustling about, readying themselves for the challenges ahead. Arden stood at the edge of the camp, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon, his mind was wandering to the dinner with Berdine. He found her wishes for hope and peace kind of naive. She had a gentle heart, there was no doubt. But Arden also thought gentleness in such a world full of conflicts might cost her her head someday. He was surprised to find himself actually caring about someone's life, but he couldn't blame himself. Berdine was a useful healer and her unique ability to reflect magic was a formidable defense. And now she was going off to another dangerous mission but at least Arden was sure that Ninloth would protect her with his life.
As he stared off at the distant mountains which already had snowy tops even though it was not even winter yet, Ravana approached him, her expression a mix of disappointment and concern. ''So, you are going away again.''
Arden turned to face her, his expression unreadable. "Duty calls," he replied curtly.
Ravana crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "You always put duty before everything else. Before us."
Arden sighed, the weight of his responsibilities heavy on his shoulders. "You knew what I was when we met. This is who I am, Ravana. There's no changing that."
She shook her head, a bitter smile playing on her lips. "I just thought...maybe you could find a way to balance it. To find a place for something other than death and duty."
Arden's jaw tightened. "There is no balance in war. Only survival."
Ravana looked away, her disappointment palpable. "I hope you come back safe, Arden. Even if you don't care about anything else, at least care about that."
Without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving Arden standing alone. He watched her go, a pang of something he couldn't quite identify tightening in his chest. Shaking off the feeling, he refocused on the task ahead. He couldn't afford distractions, not now.
He made his way to the meeting point where his team was assembling. Each member was handpicked for their skills and loyalty, and Arden knew they were the best for this mission. As he approached, his second-in-command, Lyra, a sharp-eyed dark elf with a talent for stealth and finesse, greeted him with a nod.
"Everyone's ready," she said, her voice low and steady. "We're just waiting for your orders."
Arden nodded, his mind already calculating their next moves. "Good. We move out in ten minutes. Make sure everyone is clear on the plan."
Lyra nodded and turned to relay the instructions. Arden took a moment to observe his team; five assassins from the Adders, fifteen blue-blood vampire warriors and mages waiting beside Lord Valerius, and Captain Drazel with twenty of his best soldiers waiting for the thrill of battle.
As they prepared to leave, a familiar figure approached. Berdine, wearing dark cloth armor, her feline features partially obscured by the hood of her cloak, walked up to him. Her lavender eyes met his with a mixture of determination and concern.
Arden was surprised to see her, thinking she was already on her way with Ninloth but apparently that team had not started their journey yet. ''Well…hello,'' he said with a confident smile.
The felinar lady returned the smile. ''Hello, Arden,'' she said her voice soft yet firm. Then she momentarily turned to the blue blood lord saluting him ''Lord Valerius.''
Valerius gave her a courteous bow. ''Lady Starmane,'' he saluted back, smiling.
Berdine returned her gaze to Arden placing a clawed yet soft hand on his shoulder. "I just wanted to wish you luck. This mission is crucial, and I know you'll succeed."
Arden snickered, his confidence radiating from his proud expression. ''Well.. you very well know I don't need luck, Berdine. But thanks anyway.'' Even though he would not admit it even to himself, he felt glad to hear and feel this sentiment from her. His smile turned into a more sincere one before he went on. ''And I wish the same to you. Watch your back out there. Ninloth may be a strong protector, but it's your skills that will keep you alive."
She nodded, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "I'll keep that in mind. Stay safe, Arden."
With a final nod, Berdine turned and walked away, heading towards her own team. Arden watched her go, feeling a strange mix of emotions. Shaking off the thought, he refocused on the mission at hand.
Lyra returned, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Ready to leave?"
Arden took a deep breath to clear and focus his mind. He then gave the female dark elf a curt nod and approached the team waiting for him. "We head out through the eastern pass. It's the least guarded route, but it won't be easy. Once we reach Valthor's stronghold, we split into two groups. Captain Drazel, you'll lead the first team to create a diversion while I take the second team and infiltrate the main keep. Our objective is simple; eliminate every single one of them. Especially the key leaders."
Lord Valerius, listening to Arden with a hand on his chin, nodded his agreement. ''Sounds good. We'll follow your lead.''
Arden gave him a sharp nod, then turned to the rest of the team. "Remember, speed and stealth are our greatest assets. We strike hard and fast, and we let no one escape. Let's move out."
The team set off, moving quickly and silently through the forest. The eastern pass was narrow and treacherous, but Arden's team navigated it with ease. The journey had been uneventful so far, except the bickering two soldiers had which Captain Drazel stopped with his harsh looks. Arden and Lord Valerius rode their swift horses in the lead while Captain Drazel and the Second Adder Lyra followed with the other soldiers, assassins, and mages.
''So, Lord Valerius.'' Arden said as they rode through the dense oak trees of the woods. ''I believe you do agree with our distrust considering the light elves.''
Valerius gave him a cold smile. ''Isn't distrust a light word for that, assassin?'' He said with a hint of amusement in his dignified voice. ''Are you trying to be polite with me?''
Arden chuckled softly, his eyes not leaving the path ahead now. "Polite? Perhaps. But I suppose 'hatred' might have been more accurate."
Valerius nodded, his smile fading into a more serious expression. "Indeed. The history between your people and the light elves is full of blood and betrayal. Trust between those two kins is not possible." He shifted his grip on his horse and went on. ''But I cannot say that I agree with every aspect of it. Do not resent me for saying this but the light elves have their own reasons for what they have been. They distrust our means of shadow magic and believe it corrupts nature itself. We are sinners in their eyes, guilty of unforgivable actions.''
Arden let out a mocking snort. ''That is only because they are self-righteous, naive bastards with a superiority complex who never understand one of the major branches of magic. My kind thrived with shadow magic for centuries and we are a part of this nature as much as they are.''
Valerius nodded thoughtfully, his eyes reflecting a mix of contemplation and agreement. "Your points are valid, Arden. Shadow magic is as natural as any other form, and it is the user who defines its morality. But it's not just about magic; it's about power and control. They fear you because they cannot control you."
Arden grunted in agreement. "Precisely. Centuries ago, light elves banished us for using shadow magic because they feared the power we held. The power we were born with. They shunned us for how we were born. And now allied with some other people that are as self-righteous as they are, they are trying to completely banish us from this world.''
The blue blood lord's expression darkened as he absorbed Arden's words. ''And that is what Valthor is up to. He believes King Faelor is too weak to do what is necessary to banish Tenebryan Alliance. This new weapon, the gun, is key in his actions.''
"Exactly," Arden replied, his eyes narrowing as they approached the outskirts of Valthor's stronghold. "Valthor thinks he can turn the tide with this weapon, but we can't let that happen. We need to destroy his plans and make sure he never has the chance to use it."
They rode in silence for a couple of hours until the dense forest gave way to a clearing, revealing Valthor's stronghold in the distance. The imposing fortress was fortified with high walls and numerous guards patrolling its perimeter. Arden signaled for the team to dismount and proceed on foot, their movements silent and coordinated.
He turned to his team, his voice low and commanding. "Drazel, take your team along with four mages and start the diversion. Make it loud and chaotic. Draw as many guards away from the main keep as possible."
Captain Drazel nodded, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Consider it done."
As Drazel and his team moved into position, Arden addressed the rest of his group. "We wait for Drazel's signal, then we move. Stay close and stay quiet. Do not forget, our main targets are Valthor and any key leaders we encounter but we should also leave no one standing to tell the story."
The minutes stretched into tense silence as they waited. Finally, a series of explosions and shouts echoed from the western side of the stronghold. Arden's eyes narrowed. "That's our cue. Move out."
His team slipped through the shadows, moving with practiced precision. The diversion had drawn a significant number of guards away from the main keep, just as planned. Arden led his team through a narrow passage, avoiding patrols and making their way towards the inner courtyard.
As they approached the entrance to the keep, Arden raised a hand, signaling for the team to halt. He peered around the corner, noting the two guards stationed at the door. With a swift motion, he drew a dagger and hurled it towards the nearest guard. The blade found its mark, and the guard crumpled to the ground. The second guard barely had time to react before one of the blue blood vampires silenced him with a swift strike devouring the blood that seeped out the guard's throat.
Arden signaled for the team to move forward. They slipped through the entrance, their footsteps silent on the cold stone floor. The interior of the keep was dimly lit, with flickering torches casting long shadows on the walls. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and old wood, a stark contrast to the crisp air outside.
Lord Valerius moved beside Arden, his eyes scanning the surroundings with a predatory gleam. "We need to locate Valthor quickly," he murmured. "The longer we stay here, the higher the risk of discovery."
Arden nodded, his senses sharp and alert. "Agreed. We'll split into smaller groups to cover more ground. Lyra, take two Adders and five blue bloods to search the upper floors. Lord Valerius, you and your remaning blue bloods handle the lower levels. The remaining Adders and I will sweep through the main hall and adjoining chambers."
Lyra nodded, her face a mask of determination as she signaled her soldiers to follow her up the winding staircase. Valerius gave a sharp nod, his mages and warriors already moving with calculated precision toward the lower levels. Arden watched them for a moment before turning to his team.
"Stay sharp, Adders" he whispered to the three assassins with him. "We don't know how many enemies we're dealing with inside, but we can't afford any mistakes."
The main hall was a vast, echoing space, the high ceilings and dark stone walls giving it a foreboding atmosphere. Arden led the way, his footsteps silent as he navigated through the shadows. The Adders followed closely, their eyes scanning every corner for signs of movement.
As they approached a set of large double doors, Arden signaled for them to halt. He pressed his ear to the cold wood, listening intently for any sounds from within. Hearing nothing, he motioned for two of his assassins to take positions on either side of the doors.
With a swift, silent count, Arden kicked the doors open, and they burst into the room. The chamber was empty, save for a large wooden table covered with maps and documents. Arden's amber eyes narrowed as he approached the table, quickly scanning the papers.
"These are plans," he said, his voice low. "Valthor's strategies and troop movements. This could be useful."
One of the Adders, a male felinar assassin named Sarvin, looked around, his eyes sharp. "But where is he?"
Arden's gaze swept the room as well, landing on another set of doors at the far end. "There's only one way to find out."
They moved quickly and quietly, slipping through the second set of doors and into a narrow corridor. The sounds of the diversion outside were faint but persistent, a constant reminder of the ticking clock. As they advanced, the corridor widened into a series of interconnected chambers, each one filled with more maps, weapons, and signs of recent activity.
Arden's senses were on high alert, every instinct honed from years of assassinations and covert missions. Suddenly, a faint sound caught his attention—a murmur of excited voices from a room ahead. He signaled for silence, his team falling into a crouch as they approached the source of the noise.
They crept forward, their steps as silent as death. The voices grew clearer, and Arden could make out snippets of conversation.
"...need to move quickly. Valthor won't tolerate any losses," a voice said, the tone urgent and fearful.
"Don't worry. Everything is in place. It is just a small group of Tenebryan bastards. We will repel them in no time," another voice replied, calm and authoritative.
Arden's eyes narrowed as he signaled for his team to wait. He motioned for the felinar assassin to position himself near the door, ready to strike at a moment's notice. Arden then crept closer, peering through a small crack in the door to assess the situation inside.
Two high-ranking soldiers, one apparently looking in panic, were discussing the situation outside.
Arden took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. He recognized the opportunity at hand. If they could take these soldiers by surprise, they might extract valuable information about Valthor's exact location.
He signaled to Sarvin, who nodded in understanding. On Arden's count, they would breach the room and incapacitate the soldiers.
Three... Two... One...
Arden shouldered the door open, and the team surged in, weapons at the ready. The soldiers were caught off guard, their expressions of shock quickly replaced by fear. Sarvin moved with lightning speed, disarming one of the soldiers and pinning him to the ground.
With two other Adders, Arden circled the remaining soldier and killed him with a swift cut to his throat. Then he returned to the other soldier that the felinar assassin was holding down. "Don't move," he growled
Sarvin was pressing his dagger to the throat of the panicking soldier.
"Where is Valthor?" Arden asked with an icy cold voice.
The soldier's eyes widened with fear. "He's... he's in the central chamber, down the main corridor. Please, don't kill me!"
Arden's gaze remained cold and unyielding. "Kill him. We have no time for delays."
The panicked soldier's mouth opened for a scream yet death came to him with a swift movement of the blade on his throat before he could make any sound.
Arden stepped back, his expression steely. "Let's move," he ordered, his voice low but urgent.
They moved through the narrow corridor, every sense on high alert. The air grew colder, the dim light casting eerie shadows on the stone walls. As they approached the central chamber, the sounds of the ongoing diversion outside began to fade, replaced by an ominous silence.
Arden's expression remained cold and determined as they neared the heavy double doors of the central chamber. Two guards were waiting at the door swords drawn. Apparently, the news of the commotion outside had quickly come to Valthor and he was expecting the company.
"Intruders!" one of the guards shouted, raising his weapon.
Arden moved with lightning speed, engaging the first guard. Their swords clashed in a flurry of sparks. Meanwhile, Sarvin and another Adder took on the second guard, their movements precise and deadly.
The fight was brief but intense. Arden's blade found its mark, and the first guard crumpled to the ground. Sarvin and his companion swiftly overpowered the second guard, ending the threat.
With the guards neutralized, Arden turned back to the door. He took a deep breath and pushed it open. The sight that greeted them was one of stark contrast to the rest of the fortress. The room was opulent, with rich tapestries adorning the walls and a large, ornate commanding table at its center.
And there, standing before the table, with four of his lieutenants, stood Valthor.