1. Trouble Ahead

"Brother I still believe this is a bad decision," a young elf lady spoke, her silky silver hair whipping about from the chilling mountain wind. Sitting across from her in their wolf drawn carriage was her brother, twin brother to be precise carrying the same features as he did, the piercing blue eyes, milky white skin as well as the silver hair albeit shorter than her sisters.

"It was our only option sister. We can't afford to drag on anymore. Those barbarians will catch up to us soon. I'd rather us reach the Vale sooner rather than later," the young man turned to look at the thundering blizzard outside the carriage window. It was a white out to say the least, even the voices of their escorts shouting to each other outside was barely audible against the howling wind.

Fey leaned back in her seat in a huff, hoping all went well in their already burdensome journey. Just beyond the ridges and snowy hills of the mountains and a little beyond the borders of the lands of the humans they currently were in resided their sanctuary.

The Vale would be their refuge, an elven stronghold, a fortress their pursuers wouldn't dare try to attack. Now they just had to brave this final stretch and they'd be safe.

*Knock*knock*

Fey jerked a little startled by the sudden tapping on their carriage door. Her brother Faus drew back the window letting the snow blast in furiously along with a bearded human man. His thick mane, bushy brows and thick dark hair made it hard to see his actual face as he peered into the carriage.

"M'lord, the storm's not lettin' up. If it keeps up we might have to break before nightfall," the man wiped off snow that blew into his face.

"Unfortunately Gus we don't have the luxury to do so. That's why I paid you that much gold to find me a way out of Garlon quick!" The elf was exasperated, he did understand the man's plight bit they didn't have the time to take a pause.

"I understand sir but we didn't expect the weather to be this damning. The frost wolves won't last too long if we push them too hard," Gus scratched at his beard which agitated Faus to no end. If his hair was such a problem he should just groom it.

Another one of Gus' men walked up next to him yelling something into his ear.

"What's that one saying now," Faus really didn't need anymore trip ups but he could tell it was just more trouble.

"M'lord it would be best if we break and set up camp. The wolves picked up a scent and by their reactions I'd wager we're looking at mountain trolls. We can't risk going on," Faus let out a long sigh resting his face in his palms hearing that.

"Brother, we have to listen to them. Pressing on could prove fatal," Fey clutched at his other hand urging him to give in.

"Fine! And where do you suggest we camp for the night?"

"Don't worry M'lord. I know a cavern just a short trip east. I'll guide the wolves there."

"Fine,just make it quick," He slammed shut the window and let out another sigh.

"Incompetent fools," he meant to whisper to himself but his sister picked up on it.

"Give them a break brother. They're doing the best they can. Without this crew we'd still be in a nutshell back at the human village," Fey tried to calm him down, switching over to his seat and making him lay his head on her lap as she massaged his temples.

"I know Fey. I just can't help but feel restless knowing every second we're not moving Mongol, his band and that witch of his are gaining ground," Fey's soft hands soothed his nerves.

"Don't worry Faus. Everything will be alright. By Astra's light we will surely make it," Fey made a silent prayer to their goddess, the nature mother as the elves fondly refered to her.

And in the short while they were making their detour to seek shelter that she should have hoped that prayer counted for something when the carriage stopped abruptly. The wolves howled into the wind sending a chill down Fey's spine.

"For f*ck's sake what is it now," Faus who rarely spoke out of turn was now cursing multiply as he hastily opened the window again.

"GUS! WHAT --," he could only manage those to words as chilling screams made there way into his ears.

"TROLLS!" One man yelled in fear looking down at the three ten foot tall muscular trolls making their way towards him, one holding a great axe, probably plundered from some unfortunate adventurer while the others had their makeshift clubs made from bones and stone respectively.

If it wasn't bad enough two more approached from the side while a single came up from behind. Their grunts audible even in the raging wind since the escort crew gave their full focus to the approaching danger.

"STEEL YOUR WITS AND KEEP THEM ABOUT MEN! LOOSE THE WOLVES, GET IN FORMATION, PROTECT THE CARRIAGE!!" Gus gave his commands. His group of nine bundled round the carriage as soon as they released the wolves who joined their ranks to make an additional four.

The wolves attacked first, choosing to attack the first group of three and try and overwhelm them. They lunged at them one sinking its teeth to the axe wielding troll while another rammed into it toppling it to the ground while trying to bite its neck. The other two tried to keep the remaining at bay, circling around them trying to go for the legs while trying to avoid the powerful swing of their clubs.

That didn't last long however, the downed troll grabbing neck of the wolf on top of it and snapping it effortlessly and throwing the lifeless body at the one desperately biting its leg. The wolf released him as it was sent flying into the snow and the troll wasted no time getting up, picking up its axe and ending the wolf's life by cleaving clean through its neck. Blood colored the snow red while the orc went over to assist its companion even though it was hobbling now. The wolf still did its damage not that it mattered now that the other two wolves had no chance of winning.

The men watched in shock as the remaining wolves were pummelled and bashed repeatedly till they were disfigured bloody corpses. Some of them were already thinking it'd better of they tried to make an escape rather than face them head on.

Gus could see it written all over their faces.

"Don't even think 'bout runnin'. You can't outrun 'em. If you're going to die today at least take one of 'em bastards with you," Even saying this didn't lift their spirits much now they were getting surrounded from all sides.

"Men, ATTACK!" Issuing the marching orders Gus ran first into battle as the others followed while the one mage they had in their ranks played supports, giving them physical buffs being adept at light magic more than the combat classes.

However what followed was a massacre. The trolls didn't have minds for tactics and such and they disregarded the humans' formations and plans, just swing wildly as simple minded as they were.

What gave them a complete edge was there strength and speed outclassing the humans by a good margin. To make matters was the harsh conditions didn't drag them down one bit.

Their clubs hammered down on the humans, crushing and shattering bones and spilling blood while they only received a few cuts which they brushed off, only seeing they prey in front of them.

Even the physical buff from the mage proved useless as one by one the crew fell with heads being caved in, rib cages shattered or bodies just being cut clean in half till the mage was the only one still alive.

He couldn't help but watch his colleagues' lives be forfeit in such a barbaric manner, fear had rooted him in place, his only movement being the shivering of his body as he broke a cold sweat.

One of the trolls approached him, stopping Infront of him as if assessing him before grabbing him and lifting of the ground in one hand. Opening its mouth it bit of the mages head in one fell swoop with the last sound coming from the man was a yell before his life ended.

Inside the carriage the twins listened it as the battle cries and eventual screams of defeat died down to trotting of the trolls as they swept through the battlefield for their prize, a hearty meal.

"Faus, are they all dead?" Fey couldn't believe what just happened. She had never expected such a situation to occur.

"It seems so. Useless..." He whispered that last part clutching his face again.

"Don't worry sister. We're not going to die here."

"But-"

"No buts. We are the children of Valia Nuf Ravin, heirs to the house of Ravin and two of the most promising magical talents in the country of Pandor. Filthy mongrels such as trolls are nothing to us. So sister don't fear, we shall overcome this," Faus gently held Fey's hand in his own before opening the carriage door and stepping out to the gory scene.

Blood and guts strewn over and mixed in with the snow while the trolls feasted on whatever flesh they could gather including even the wolves' corpses. Faus found it sickening, repulsive but it wasn't the time to dwell on such thoughts especially when the trolls had already taken notice of him. The magically rich scent of elf wafted through the air making them drop their current meal and hunger for a new one.

Fey followed her brother, stepping out of the carriage to engage the enemy. She might not have been as confident but she did have a certain level of belief in their chances remembering how their mother ensured they were properly schooled in magic use.

"Filthy creatures, come meet your doom," Faus beckoned them and as if responding to his taunt they all rushed towards him, the blood lust let loose. The first of them to draw closest to the elf met head on a flame spell that exploded right in its face. It was blinded falling back onto the snow as it clawed at its seared face.

That however didn't deter the rest, still charging towards the elf with every intent to dine on his flesh.

"Ice spears," Faus stretched out his hand as the snow Infront of him formed into icy pointed protrusions that suddenly jutted from the ground and pierced three trolls halting their progress. The remaining two slowed down, now exercising more caution. They seemed to conclude their current prey posed more of a threat.

Faus conjured more ice spears aiming for the remaining two and shot at them. The trolls didn't wait to be impaled moving out of the way then charged at the elf once more.

"Brother, watch out," Faus heard his sister behind him then looked at the source of her distress only to see the burnt troll rising once more and the other three as well freeing themselves from the ice spears and picking up their weapons.

It seemed mountain trolls had impressive regenerative abilities, ignoring their already healing wounds.