Rowen Frostbane

The great rock wall adorned with all sorts of high-tech weaponry stood tall before our small group. 

A guard job for a member of the council will be good they said. Well, they were lying bastards. The amount of effort ever been through over the last few days is deserved far more than one aurum. 

Our group set out with 15 and arrived with only 9 still standing. Good men were lost in this stupid little expedition. Why do they care what those filthy forest creatures are getting up to? 

"Rowan!, Stop daydreaming and fall in. We're almost in the city walls now."

The Elarindorion capital city, Sylvaria. Supposed to be the most beautiful city ever built. Constructed by the Aetherians in the third age. If only they could see the cesspit it is now, apart from the inner city built around the Everwood tree. The rest is a snivelling slum. 

"We offer our condolences to the elder for his tricky journey, yet implore he meets with the Elowen as soon as possible."

The guards at the gate were much less lax than usual. Most likely trying to show off to the elder. 

Our leader, Garrick Ironclan, stepped forward to meet the guards. A name most fitting for his large size and habit of sleeping in his armour. To us, however, Gary fits just as well. 

"The elder agrees with the council on this conclusion. We will head there at once"

A few more handing over of paper occurred before we were ushered through. The city hadn't changed since my youth. The same musty smell as before. I'd hoped I'd stay away from Elarindor but it seems the pull of the Elarindor gold is just too strong. 

I should have never joined this shitty mercenary group. But it was a convenient money-maker and the danger does little to thwart me. 

We walked cautiously through the outer city. The 4 large horses gently pull the golden and red carriage in tow. The outer city was a dangerous place for some elders. Thankfully the one we carried seemed in good relations with the poorer folk. We would walk through unscathed. 

We finally reached the inner city gate being let in without even a passing phrase. The inner city was night and day compared to the outer city. Bewjelled and marble mansions lined the roads. Most belonged to big business owners or the elders. 

The inner city used to be a dream of mine. Now I think I'd rather be anywhere but here. The smell of fresh fruit and warm smoky meats flourished in the air playfully bouncing into my nose. 

It took another 20 minutes for us to reach the Everwood tree. A stunning golden brown tree which towered over even the tallest of buildings. Its sapphire and emerald leaves hung gracefully in the soft bellows of the wind. A beauty few got to see up close. It seems I get to join this small group. 

Thankfully this is where our guard duty ended. The less time I spent getting involved with these silly politics the less chance I had of being discovered. 

The elder gracefully departed from his carriage and stepped down onto the intricate cobble paving. 

"Elder Oakheart, We thank you for this opportunity however this is as far as we can take you."

"Thank you my dear chaps, Ill get my assistant to send you your payment."

"Yet again I thank you dearly"

Gary was one hell of a suck-up when he wanted to be.

"Hmmm, I'll pay one more Argent to hire one of you to escort me up around for today's proceedings"

"We would be delighted"

Please don't pick me. please don't pick me. 

"I'll take the tall one over there"

"Rowan, come escort this kind young man"

"hohohoh, I am far from young now my kind sir"

"I can barely tell"

I watched in despair as Gary sucked up to the elder. He looks fucking 90 let alone looking young. 

I solemnly plodded over trying to look as happy and cheerful as I could and prepared to go with the old man. 

"Elder, I would be honoured to take you, sir, My name is Rowan"

"Call me Eldrin"

The old man was quick for his age as he began briskly walking closer to the large building which wrapped wholly around the Everwood.

I followed closely behind making sure to look content with my new position as geriatric care. 

"Rowan, my good boy, what did you think about the situation"

"I do not generally think too much about the politics of such basic and indiscriminately evil creatures."

"Neither do I, but this little war those two factions are having could pose a grand opportunity to finally retake the Verdant forests"

"Sir, those rats and goblins are child play for our elites. If we wanted to we could decimate them both in days"

"Hohoho, you are confident. Sadly though this is not the case. Like most night spawn their civilisation revolves around one figure. Their king."

"Surely that just makes it easier sir"

"You are mistaken there. The rat king is supposedly a prodigy, so is the king of those goblins as well"

"That can't be. A prodigy!"

"Yes, it has been a most troubling issue for quite some time. However, if these two were to take each other out, then we sweep through for the treasures."

I'm starting to like this elder more and more. 

After some more small talk, we came to an office door. Etched into a small golden piece at the front were the words 'Final commandment'. My palms became sweaty. If I had known we be meeting with such a figure I would not have chosen this worn-down armour.

Eldrin knocked steadily on the oak wood door eliciting a soft voice to ring out from within. 

"Enter"

Eldrin swung the door open and confidently walked inside. I followed closely behind. 

"Ahhh, Eldring my good friend come take a seat. I am eager to hear the news."

I stood straight as an arrow to the side of the door looking as professional as I could. 

I waited as Eldrin filled in the man with all the information we had acquired about the ongoing war. We had arrived at just the time to watch an ongoing battle between the goblins and rats. It was a brutal event. 

I knew some of them were wielders however to such as degree of prodigy. We were in more danger than we were paid for that's for sure.

"So it is your belief Eldrin that there are at least 6 weilders already identified."

"Yes Elowen, The obvious two are the two kings however in the battle we identified both another devourer-wielding rat and also an old friend of ours."

"Who would that be"

"Lorath Arcon"

"Hmm, that is troubling indeed. And the other two."

"The two children of the goblin king have inherited part of his innate characteristic it would seem".

"Prince Skulk is reported to be an Artisan and Princess Zelara is a novice at most"

"Well, it seemed our original hypothesis is correct. The two kings are clearly our biggest issues."

"And Lorath"

"Well Im sure he can still hold Lorath back"

I wondered briefly who He was however decided that most of this was above my pay grade and it would be better to just stay out of it.

"Well, Eldrin it seems clear what we must do. Follow through with your current plans. You will be justly rewarded for your services in retaking the Verdant forests. 

Now you"

He points his bony old finger towards me. 

"You will join Eldring on this journey as his personal guard. A Maven is more than good enough for such an esteemed elder"

Shit, shit, shit.

How did this bastard know? 

My hand edged onto my sword hilt.

"Do not be afraid boy, It is a good job with high pay. While Ice may be a powerful characteristic to hold. You must remember who you are talking to"

His eyes revealed a glint of threat before returning to their joyful nature. 

My hand fled from the hilt. 

"You are dismissed Eldrin"

"Thank you, my lord"

We stepped out of the room. 

"Well, my boy Rowen it seems we will be with each other for the foreseeable future. A maven, you hid it well. Now come we have work to do."

Well, it seems I have been promoted again to rat and pest killer.