Chapter 4

Ezra's plan

* edit: the chapter is not yet done.

"Night falls over Osira," Adrian said looking down into the valley. From their perch, Ezra and Adrian saw for many miles. Their destination, the capital city Milos lay down by the sea, its white tower rose like a great obelisk, the setting sun only accentuated its brightness. But to these strangers Asnine was no pillar of hope; it was a tower of despair. One that they would see reduced to a smoldering of rubble before the end; for they had come a long way, from the fields of Drínath, with vengeance on their minds.

"Don't worry brother, you will soon get revenge," Ezra said quietly as they walked slowly downhill. The both of them were hooded and cloaked, the great number of blades that they had conquered adorned their belts, but the steel did not weigh them down for they were tireless, their eyes were hungry and their minds focused on the task ahead.

As they went southward, Ezra and Adrian had dutifully burnt down every Milosi outpost that they could find and now only the open wild lay between them and Osira. Just ahead of them lay the Forest of Raison, its wood was thick and its trees close. The few paths that cut across the region had belonged to the Milosi country folk who dared live so far away from the city walls. Most of these far-dwellers had lived by farming and hunting, a few even took to logging the vast forest as it was a lucrative business. There had been a time when there were many more Milosi in the Raison but since the war began their numbers had dwindled. Their roads became eroded, and the homesteads were abandoned as the dwellers fled and returned within the safety of Osira.

The region now lay under the threat of wood elves and rogue Tesvarians. In this time the Raison was quiet and dangerous, and there were rumors that more and more elves were migrating en masse to the wood. They quickly became a formidable opponent to Milosi patrols whose swords barely kept them at bay, but it was during the winter that they were most feared. As the cold expanded their hunting territory elves came, at times, within a stone's throw of the Osirian walls causing the King to grow tense. With the war going on the city had too few men to launch a bold offensive against them, so the elves were grudgingly left alone, and cursed by the patrols they harried.

It was in this manner that Ezra and Adrian came into the valley of Milos. Unbeknownst to them elven scouts were watching their every move, quite certain that they were Milosi spies. Without a word the scouts suddenly knocked their arrows and came out of the bush, descending around the companions like wolves around their prey. Ezra and Adrian stopped dead in their tracks as a good dozen arrows were drawn at their faces. Suddenly an elf emerged confidently from the ring. Like all elves he stood over ten feet tall and his skin was the deepest and darkest shade of green. Orange tribal paint patterned itself up his bare chest and stopped at his ridged forehead revealing the beginnings of a long black tress. At first Ezra marveled looking up at the strange creature but then she saw the glint in his eyes and she grew stern.

"Tut, tut," Began the elf, "You Milosi men are either very silly of very brave to walk into my woods so recklessly," He said slowly unsheathing a brandishing a long knife. Ezra, who was wearing a stolen helmet, took it off and drew back her cloak, revealing the thick armor of the Tesvarians. Despite being several heads taller and surrounded by a dozen loyal elves the leader took a step back in wonder.

"I am neither man nor Milosi," Ezra said her eyes flashing with warning, "But if you came to kill us do so quickly, you didn't bring enough elves to take us alive." Ezra Unsheathed her sword so quickly and Adrian lifted his hammer with such swiftness that the elves hesitated for a second. But their leader raised his arm and the elves lowered their bows.

The elf peered down at them. He had great Hazel eyes that glowed bright from the backdrop of his dark skin, and his long arms were corded with muscle. As he stared at the two of them Ezra couldn't help but notice how his eyes lingered on her.

"No, I don't think I have the heart or men to take you dead either. There is a fire in your eyes one that I have never seen in any human. You say you're no Milosi? What is your name girl?" The leader said, the edge leaving his voice. Ezra glared at him. A bead of sweat fell from her nose and she gripped her sword harder. An entire night of killing Milosi soldiers had made her indeed reckless and bold. But before Ezra could lash out at the elf Adrian touched her shoulder.

"She is Ezra Phoenix of the north, and I am Adrian Alluran. We are on an errand to kill the spawn of a demon and we do not mean to trespass, but this road is the only way to the city," his voice was calm and collected, but also mirthless. The elf nodded, looking wearily at the both of them; he had never seen creatures with such venom in their eyes.

"I am Razgul, and these are my men," he said sheathing his blade. "I would say that the Osirians are expecting you, for their damned patrols have tripled! But alas the enemy of my enemy is my friend! Come with me and I will lead you on safer paths through the forest, I believe it may be fate that has entwined our paths."

Ezra and Adrian exchanged glances, and each nodded silently in tandem. They knew that if they were to succeed on their quest any help would be welcome. After all they would need their rest if she wanted her plan to succeed, especially Adrian. Ezra looked up at the sky and thanked God for her fortune, and then slowly she followed the elves as they disappeared into the trees...