Chapter 1

Zoberan marched through the empty hall of the elders' palace. The elder called him for an unknown reason, but to any call Zoberan immediately responded. His post as a general of the human army had recently become quite boring. He did not want to admit it, but he started to get impatient. So many of his men praised him for his great strategies and strength in combat and also suggested his promotion to the elder. So why, why hadn't he been promoted to the elders elite force yet? His spirit lifted at the thought that the promotion might come today.

"He has been expecting you."

The guards stepped aside to let Zoberan into the grand meeting room. Zoberan bowed respectfully in front of the blademasters and wizards inside. The grand doors slammed shut behind him.

Finally the elder stood up and addressed him, "My young general, welcome. I thank you for coming so far at such short notice."

"Anything to protect the people."

Moderes, the leader of the wizard core stood up. She single handedly created the wizard core and some of the most powerful spells ever to be known. Only the most powerful wizards and blademasters were allowed to even lay eyes on her. Zoberan couldn't help but bow a little. He noticed that all other six members of the wizard core also sat at the table.

She approached him calmly, without expression. Her long, gold hair flew behind her pale but beautiful body. Zoberan didn't dare to move as she paced around him. She turned her attention back to the elder. Zoberan didn't know if he should judge her expression as pleased or disappointed.

"If this is the best you have, we'll take it," Moderes spoke in an unexpectedly strong voice.

Zoberan felt a wave of disappointment run through him. For some reason he wanted to please Moderes. Who could please someone as powerful as her? It didn't even occur to him that she judged him like a defect product that someone forced her to buy. She strode back to her seat next to the elder. A servant hurried forward and pulled back a chair for Zoberan to sit.

His heart pounded as he forced himself to calmly sit. They really invited him to sit at the table of the elite! He could have jumped with joy, but not here, not now. They gave him the chance of a lifetime. He couldn't blow it.

"We have a very important mission for you," the elder began, "as you know, the elves recent activities completely contradict their usual calm nature."

"Yes sir," Zoberan confirmed, "we have several reports of sky attack on caravans or soldiers. Although we cannot confirm the elves involvement, we do not yet know of a wraith that can strategies like the attackers."

"Yes, in fact any negotiators we send to the elves never return. In the last racial meeting we managed to establish, they completely denied ever seeing any humans near their territory."

"After the meetings, rather unfriendly, debate the three races have been nowhere near speaking terms," Moderes filled in for the elders silence.

"You have been chosen to investigate the elves strange behavior. We need to know exactly what their planning!" The elder picked up the explanation again.

"You'll have me spy on them, sir?" Zoberan asked unsure.

"Did he stutter?" Moderes snapped.

"Please my dear," the elder calmed her, "let us avoid a fight."

"I will be immediately recognized as a human," Zoberan expressed his concern.

"That's what where here for," Moderes announced proudly.

"I understand if you wish to reject this quest. It is quite a difficult and dangerous one. We will give you until tonight to decide if you want to accept," the elder stood up, "know that you could save many lives if you decide to accept."

Everyone stood up. Zoberan bowed again and left the meeting room. Just like that they left him with the biggest decision of his life.

Zoberan made his way through the long halls of the palace to the outside. All heads turned. Not to him, but to the sky. Three elves descended right in front of the palace. Only the female in the middle landed. As a natural reaction everyone grabbed their weapon. The two archers in the sky grabbed an arrow and aimed at Zoberan.

"Stand down," the woman ordered gently, "we're not here to fight."

She slowly reached into the bag she carried around her waist and pulled out a letter. She cautiously approached Zoberan and handed it to him. He let go of his blade and accepted it.

"Please deliver it to your elder. It's confidential so please don't read it," she smiled, spread her wings, and joined her partners. Together they disappeared high into the sky.

What are they planning? Zoberan wondered. They could have gotten killed.

I Zoberan gave a servant the letter. The elder still remained in the meeting room with Moderes. It worried Zoberan that the elder even gave him the choice to reject the quest. Although, telling him exactly what this mission would have him do would help Zoberan's decision a lot. Why didn't they? Were they afraid he would surely reject it? At any rate, now an entire day of deciding lay before him.