Her Final Chance

(The year 1075, The wasteland outside of Tkaronto Columbia)

A group of Sarkaz mercenaries had set up camp in the wastelands to rest during their travels. Two such mercenaries were sitting near a campfire offering them respite during the otherwise cold night. One was a large man with ram-like horns and a strong body denoting him as the Goliath sub-race of Sarkaz. He wore a grey coat and had his rugged sword sitting nearby. His face was blocked by a metal mask leaving only his horns and sharp ears visible. As he sat near the crackling fire he slowly roasted a recently butchered fowlbeast.

The other man had three sets of horns upon his head with each set stretching out wider than the last. This unique trait marked him as an Alecto sub-race of the Sarkaz. Only his head with his short brown hair was visible as the rest of his body was covered in black plate armor. He sat on a rock with serious eyes as he concentrated on sharpening his sword.

*Shing*

*Shing*

*Shing*

The Goliath man's eye twitched under his mask at the constant sound of the whetstone, but remained silently focused on his task. 10 minutes passed like this, and as the fowlbeast was nearing completion the constant noise ceased. The man let out a silent sigh of relief until a few moments later the sound resumed once more.

*Shing*

*Shing*

*Shing*

A vein popped on the Goliath's forehead, and as he looked up he saw that his compatriot was sharpening a second sword with even more focus than before. No longer able to hold his complaints he spoke out.

"Captain Anders, why do you bother maintaining that blade? I've never even see you use it. How dull could it have gotten?"

Captain Anders paused for a moment to look up before going back to his work.

"It does not matter, Emlyn. This blade must be perfect. It is more important than my own."

Confusion marred Emlyn's face. After all, the blade was just a normal looking steel long sword. No matter how he looked at it there was nothing special about it. In his eyes the captains long sword even looked to be of better quality.

"What do you mean captain?"

Captain Anders let out a small sigh and ran his hand over the blade.

"This blade is for an old friend who lives in Tkaronto these days . I'm holding on to it for her. It would bring me shame to present her a dull blade when I visit."

The answer only further fueled Emlyn's confusion.

"You've had that blade for as long as I've been apart of the company. Captain that's 17 years. Why haven't you just had a messenger deliver it to her?"

A trace of sadness flashed in Anders' eyes as he replied.

"She will not take it. She has given up. She fought in the name of Kazdel for longer and harder than any of us and what is there to show for it? In the end we are still sitting out in the wastelands risking our lives for money at the bidding of those who keep our homeland in ruin. A person can only fight for nothing in return for so long. Now she can't even muster up the will to raise a sword. Even so, I must keep this one sharp in case she ever finds the strength to hold it."

Emlyn could not hide his curiosity as he focused his attention on Anders.

"Captain how could she serve Kazdel for as long as you claim? She would have to have served longer than the Nachzehrer King and he is rumored to be over a thousand years old. I don't think an Alecto can even live that long."

Anders scoffed at the Goliath's words.

"Shows was you young people know, but I will forgive your ignorance since it is not a well known fact. Alecto will not die of old age. The only reason people have forgotten this is because we are drawn to battle. We tend to die a bloody death long before people notice we don't waste away. There are only a handful of us that reached beyond a few hundred years."

Emlyn was shocked both at being called young at the age of 62 and the new information.

"How old is she? Surely there would be a few stories about her? What is her name?"

At those words the captain had a shiver go down his spine and he grew more serious than Emlyn had ever seen.

"Boy don't say such dangerous words. Let's not talk about a woman's age. As for stories? There are many. She has had many titles over the years and even now every Sarkaz would recognize them. Now though? She is only a simple woman that goes by the name Valeria."

Emlyn pondered over the name, but couldn't place it in Sarkaz history. Perhaps the titles his captain spoke of were more well known. However, Anders didn't seem to want to say. Even though he was curious Emlyn has known the man long enough to understand that he was too stubborn to say something he wanted to keep to himself. The Goliath simply shrugged his shoulders and continued to speak while turning his gaze to the direction of Tkaronto.

"Fine then. Do you think we'll find our next job in Columbia? It's been a while since our last pay."

Anders simply rolled his eyes.

"There's always someone who wants another person dead in Columbia. Easiest place to find work. Get some rest soon. We leave at dawn tomorrow."

Emlyn nodded his head resolutely.

"And one more thing Emlyn."

"Yes?"

"Your fowlbeast is burnt."

"Damn!"