(Somewhere in an oak forest on the edge of Elyria some meters from the kingdom of Magnitia)
"Like I said, the princess should be passing through this route anytime from now" an elf dressed in a crimson cloak whispered to another standing on an opposite tree.
The other elf nodded and brought out his bow; taking aim at the empty footpath that lay beneath them. A loud neigh followed by some gallops signaled the arrival of an incoming coach.
The purple coach adorned with the stag symbol of Elyria, passed through the footpath; the chubby coach man whistling an elven tune as he checked his golden pocket watch from time to time.
*Twang*
The coachman dropped to the ground dead; a red arrow sticking out from his jugular while another arrow immediately after the first shattered the coach's window and struck a seated guard right in the skull.
The elf archer closed his eyes and in one swift motion shot two more arrows that soared through the air only to strike two figures attempting to flee the coach.
"I believe that should be a mission well done" the elf in the crimson cloak grinned, jumping down with a thud, followed by his comrade.
The archer retrieved his arrows before storing the coachman's pocket watch for 'safe-keeping'.
The crimson elf ignored the two writhing guards on the ground and proceeded to inspect the feminine figure dressed in a black dress with an even darker veil covering her face.
Grinning wildly he raised the veil seconds before his face contorted in deep anger.
"What is it Conrad? Asked the archer, was already making his way towards the corpse to find out what had annoyed his comrade to this extent.
"Shit! Conrad cursed "This is not the princess".
"I guess you're right, but still this elf must have been some high ranking noble. His comrade pointed out. "So don't fret after all we just got rid of another threat".
Conrad kicked the body of a guard in anger. "This is Cassie!
"Impossible, what could she be doing inside a royal coach? The archer wondered before like a nail a rather bad thought hit his head.
With a gulp he flipped the bodies of the guards over and retreated from the corpses trembling.
"Conrad, those guards are members of the brotherhood too".
Conrad remained speechless, his mind confused on how any of this even made sense.
"What in Draghyr's name are they doing in a royal coach and why did they pass around the same time we were expecting the princess's own coach? Conrad said out loud, drawing a short sword from its scabbard with his brown eyes searching the area for any movement.
And then, emerging from the bushes with a smile so sinister and charming at the same time was a bulky man dressed in black, his two green eyes peeking out from a hood.
Bethran bowed towards the archers and raised his head in a smile.
"Hope you all enjoyed the performance?
"I knew it, It's a setup" Conrad cursed.
"I wonder why it took you guys this long to find out" Bethran jabbed, his eyes never leaving the two faces as a thick cutlass emerged from his back.
Conrad with a hiss ran forward under the cover of his comrade's bow that released two arrows in less than a blink.
With a spin Bethran dodged both arrows, Conrad seized the opportunity and ran forward, delivering a thrust that was executed with a finesse that could make any swordsman proud.
*Crack*
Conrad flew some metres, crashing into a tree with warm blood spewing out of his broken nose.
Bethran pulled back his right fist and with a swing of his left arm, slashed, his cutlass severing a red arrow heading for his face.
"Today, is you guy's lucky day, for my order in their benevolence has ordered me to bring one of you alive" Bethran smiled, his bulging leg muscles contracted leaving behind a small crack in the ground as he shot forward. .
"I wonder which one it will be! Bethran roared.
The archer shot another arrow aimed at the assassin's chest and with another twang a second one left the bow heading straight for his head.
His face however turned pale when the first arrow struck Bethran's chest while the second one was swatted away with an open right slap as though it was some pestering fly.
" Running will be useless in this situation; all I can do is hope that the distance between us will prove to be an advantage" the assassin said to himself, drawing his bow to its extreme as it formed a full crescent shape.
"And besides the poison in the arrows should eventually knock him out"
The arrow in the chest (contrary to the archer's expectation) didn't slow the barreling assassin one bit and even after the archer had emptied his quiver in an attempt to kill the monster, the green-eyed brute kept on charging forward and with a jump landed in front of the archer that had decided to turn tail and flee.
"Lucky you" Bethran smiled and after a swift punch, the archer collapsed to the floor unconscious.
"Unlucky you" He added, followed by a backward throw of his cutlass.
*Thump*
Conrad's run was brought to a painful halt as he collapsed to the ground; his eyes holding a disappointed expression while his entire body went limp never to move again.
"And that's what I call a mission well done" Bethran smiled and followed by a rough pull, his cutlass rested comfortably in his massive hands.
And with a loud victory howl the green-eyed wolf vanished into the forest hoisting a very unfortunate elf over his wide shoulders.