The sound of working people started to emerge. Several servants set up tents, cooked, and did maintenance work and other tasks; it was like constant work was in session.
Guards patrolled the camp: their armor shone in the diffused light filtering through the treetops above, and their deep voices filled the air. All were armed with swords or spears, ready for any threat.
As soon as Light, Triss and Lara appeared outside the forest, the travelers walked up to the guards.The guards looked suspiciously at them straightaway.
"Halt right there!" one of the guards shouted, raising his spear threateningly. "Who are you? What brings you here?
Light stepped forward; in a soft, friendly tone, he said, "We've come to return an elf that was separated from her group. We found her in the forest and decided that we would escort her back to camp ourselves."
The guardian's eyes narrowed and his gaze shifted quickly between Light, Lara, and Triss. "A lost elf, huh? How convenient." He nodded toward two of his comrades. "Check the girl. We can't be too careful, especially with the Faceless lurking around."
Triss said nothing, but Light felt the tension in her. Lara was nervous, darting anxious glances about as guards neared, trying to smile but concerned.
One of them, a tall man with a serious expression, started sizing Lara up as though taking in every minute detail. He muttered a few words under his breath-some assurance he gave himself, she decided-she could not be dangerous. The other firmly clutched his spear ready in action at the slightest sign of danger.
"Where were you?" he suspiciously asked the tall guard.
"I lost … I lost my way in the forest" Lara stuttered, her voice most revealing a slight quiver. "I was part of a gathering group, but we were separated."
"Who is supposed to be in charge of you?" the guard asked as he narrowed his eyes.
"The Initiate, Rhys Ravaro."
The guard said nothing for a few moments, weighing her reply in his mind. Finally, he nodded curtly, seeming to think that she was telling the truth.
"She seems to be telling the truth" he said in voice full of doubt nonetheless. "But we'll keep an eye on her, still. We cannot afford taking chances." Then he turned to the adventurers.
The guard stepped forward, and upon his face lay the weight of his responsibility. Again, his eyes landed on Light and Triss, weights of prudence even on them.
"You've done your job, so now you can leave!" The tone was conclusive, to make them grasp that they were no longer needed nor welcomed. Light stepped forward; his tone was persuasive, yet laced with an undertone of threat.
"Allow me to remind you that I saved one of your servants, and so I would like a reward in return..." He turned to regard Lara once more as he finished. "I have grown accustomed to having her along on our short journey, and at the very least wish to have her safety and kind treatment guaranteed."
The guard was reminded of hostile land they were in, his group suffering from constant attacks. And here was this traveler, who waltzed through these lands and was even saving damsels in distress.
He turned to his companion and requested that he inform those in command of the situation, and alert Lara's responsible party of her return. Time went by with tense stares exchanged on both sides in silence.
At last, the man returned.
"Captain Silvyr has allowed passage and would like to meet the outsiders." His firm voice continued "As for Lara, she will be sent to her responsible party and can reunite with the adventurer after the meeting."
"Great" Light replied, still as commanding as before. "Then let's go and meet this Captain Silvyr." They walked through the camp, which was filled with suspicious and disdainful glances whenever they passed by-particularly those of the elves. The dwarves, whenever in their sight, had their axes tightly gripped.
Another guard took Lara away to meet with her responsible party, casting a nervous glance backward at Light before she disappeared. Light did not turn around but kept his gaze ahead; however, he could not get his mind off Lara. The situation was far from over, and a part of him told him things were not quite right.
They came to a larger tent, where Captain Silvyr was waiting for them. Silvyr was an elf to behold: his hair was as gold as might be, and his eyes were like bottomless wells in which one could see all of nature. Like all elves, he was fabulously handsome, shining in armor and with a gaze that pierced through, grave and serious. He did not get up but invited them to sit down with him for tea. Light and Triss greeted him with a bow.
"Cut the formalities. Who are you two?" There was an undertone of hostility.
"We are the envoys of Azrael, and we have a mission" Triss replied.
"An angel, then…" The hostility broke, replaced by the tired, worried man. "We were recently attacked by a group that follows demons. I imagine if you serve an angel, you're certainly not with them…"
"The situation in the camp is difficult due to both direct and indirect threats from monsters and a new, unknown enemy…"
"I'll be frank: I'm glad we managed to recover one of our servants, but for us, she's worthless in terms of any reward, and I can't let you stay here."
"I understand your stand, Captain" Light said, his voice still respectful. "But maybe we can help in other ways. We do not expect any goods in return; our task is to protect and, if possible, destroy the terrors of these lands."
Silvyr raised one eyebrow, his interest caught by the words of Light. "You're offering to fight alongside us?"
"Yes" Triss replied, her voice barely above a whisper, but firm.
After a few moments, the captain did not answer, weighing the proposition in his mind. He realized any help would be appreciated yet at the same time knew how dangerous it was to trust strangers, especially during those restless times.
"If you are indeed allies of Azrael, as you say, your skills could be worthy" Silvyr finally said, rising. "But let me make one thing clear: any betrayal will be paid for in blood. I cannot afford another threat inside my domain. And you'll be under constant watch day and night, with no privacy whatsoever!" Both Light and Triss nodded in agreement, trying to soothe the captain.
They left the tent to find Lara. Light had reason to hope that, since there was a group of people concerned about her safety, she would be treated well. However, as they approached, the scene before their eyes was one that sent shivers down their spines: Lara lying on the ground, being brutally held by the wrist as some man mercilessly hit her.
Something dark stirred in Light's heart at that vision, and his right hand instinctively grasped the hilt of his sword. Triss, standing by his side, similarly felt her anger boil. A vow had been made by them to protect her, and now it was being tested in the cruelest possible way anyone could have imagined.