Danath and Alleria
By Sir Captain Delyon
Alleria felt an intruder in the air. The very air smelled of an entity neither elf nor animal, the only things to live in this wood. This was also not the hated stench of Orc. She pulled an arrow from her quiver and fitted it to her bow.
Orcish throwing-axes pounded against the heavy armor of Danath. He drew his sword and leaped from the bushes. This seasoned fighter would never run from a battle, even with a group of Berserkers, the feared breed of Troll, created in darkness and set loose to destroy all light. Danath ran toward the first one and began to swing his sword. Had this Troll been a simple soldier instead of the warrior of filth it was, Danath would have run into battle without qualms, but the Berserker strain could be deadly. He brought his sword down on the Troll's body, and then watched as the grievous wound healed itself. These horrible legions had apparently undergone Regeneration Engineering. Danath ran into the forest, not knowing that what he found there would be equally dangerous, but very different.
The Berserker captain, Lon'akat, ordered a retreat of his army. He, unlike Danath, knew what lurked in the Dark Wood.
Alleria walked stealthily toward the scent of the trespasser. Ten black-caped escorts dropped out of the trees and drew arrows. Although the Dark Wood spanned miles, not a branch fell without the Forest Guard knowing it. A blue-armored figure ran noisily toward the elves.
"Stop!" Alleria commanded. She now spoke to Danath. "What brings an Alliance soldier into the territory of the Forest Guard?"
"I am Colonel Danath of the Alliance. I was under attack by Berserkers. I ran into the wood hoping I would find safety." Danath replied.
"Safety is something you will not find here." Alleria returned. "However, we will grand you lodging for a time. I know the Berserkers only too well."
"Thank you. We in the Alliance have heard much of the Forest Guard, but we have never known of your location."
"We intended it to be that way. I am Alleria, chief Ranger of the Forest Guard. You will not exercise any authority over me or over any of my Archers. Is that understood?"
Danath nodded.
"Good. Your area will be up there." She pointed to the nearest tree. Danath looked up. He could barely see the small wooden structure in the limbs of the elm.
"I'm not afraid." he said.
"Afraid?" asked Alleria, puzzled.
"Step aside. I'll settle in up there."
The fighter climbed the tree, but even after dark he did not sleep. Some said Danath never slept, that he was always alert and ready for combat. This myth held true tonight.
Alleria did not sleep either. She thought of this new arrival with a mixture of emotions. Puzzlement, anger at his audacity, fear of his fighting prowess, but sympathy for the hardship he must have endured at the hands of the Orcs.
To be continued. The plot gets more interesting later!