I marched across the grass, my footsteps squelching in the sodden ground. My anger seemed to fizzle out as I neared the Elder Tower. I had only been inside a couple of times before, slowing my pace I looked up at the large structure looming before me. At first glance you would think that it was constructed from sandstone, it had the same colour and pattern as the soft stone. I knew otherwise, when you placed a hand on the stone it was smooth and cold to the touch more like marble than sandstone, we had been told in one of our history classes that the stone was mined from the Fire Mountains in the Inferno tribes land. The base of the tower was a wide hexagonal shape and stretched up 7 floors, this is where the offices and conference rooms resided along with the quarters of the high Elder Guard members. Above the seventh floor the tower became more slender stretching high into the air where it comes to the Sky Deck. The Sky Deck is where the Elder Mages reside where then can watch over Thane, very few people had been to this area of the tower but I had heard that each Elder Mage had a floor to themselves but how you got up there I had no idea. I looked down the height of the Sky Deck was making me feel queasy. It was unusual for apprentice Guards to be Summoned to a Conference room in the tower and this made me feel uneasy, was something big really happening in Thane or was this merely another bog-standard mission and our mentors were just upping the bar slightly making it feel more official to get us ready for our graduation. Two pairs of feet stopped beside me pulling me from my musings.

"Keera?" Jet said cautiously. I turned and looked at him giving him a feeble smile. "What's up?"

"I was just deciding why we have been asked to go to a conference room, thinking over a few scenarios, but the only way to know is to get ourselves in there right?" I replied, the others nodded.

"I can't remember the last time I was inside the Tower" Gyn muttered I guessed more to herself than to anyone else.

"Shall we?" Jet said motioning with his arm for the ladies to go first. I smiled at him and moved to the large mahogany doors, I commanded them to open pushing the wood with my mind. The doors slowly swung open revealing a grand entrance hall. People milled about moving from room to room, I stepped inside not wanting to look stupid by lingering in the door way. Taking a deep calming breath I focused my mind, if this was an important mission I needed a level head, I needed to show the Elders what I was capable of, this was no time for nerves. With my new found confidence I marched to the desk in the centre of the room. The old woman looked up and pushed her glasses back up the bridge of her nose, she stared at me sternly obviously I had to speak first.

"We have been summoned to a meeting in conference room 11, but I do not know which direction I need to go to get there" I explained. The woman made a sound of annoyance and riffled through a series of papers on her desk, she found the one she wanted, scanned it and then demanded our names. We told the old grump, she looked us over seeking out a lie. Once satisfied she called over a page and told him where we needed to go. I was glad to leave the lady and followed the page down a corridor to the left of the hall.

"Personally I think that she needs to work on her people skills, what I don't get is how people with manners like hers get jobs which require hospitality, there is no way she is from the Airwalker tribe we are friendly folk." Jet exclaimed as we made our way down a wide corridor. Numerous doors lined the walls, we had just passed conference room 8 and as we got closer to room 11 once again I had to swallow my nerves and lock them away. The page knocked on the door.

A few moments later the door was opened revealing Sir Marthol, he smiled when he saw us and motioned for us to enter. I lead my friends into the room and the three of us froze momentarily just inside the room obviously seeing the same thing. Two Sneaks were at the front of the room, one standing in a shaded corner and the other standing talking to Lady Thalweight. I stole a glance at my friends and their expressions mirrored each other. Shock.

"Take a seat and we can begin" Sir Marthol instructed from behind us ushering us further into the room. Sneaks were different from the Elder Guards; they were the non magical assassins that the Elder mages used when discrete methods were required to deal with a problem. They were trained in stealth, agility and speed. Seeing them here confirmed my suspicions that something bigger was going down. I took a seat at the large round table placed in the room, Jet and Gyn sat down either side of me. Sir Marthol Took his place at the front of the room next to the Sneak and Lady Thalweight. The younger sneak was instructed to sit at the table, he moved away from the dark corner of the room the light lit his face, the first thing that you noticed was his bright blue eyes, he had sharp features making him look stern, a mop of curly brown hair covered his head. He took a seat near the front and away from us. I turned to Gyn expecting her to return the glance but her eyes were fixed on the young Sneak. I smirked. My attention returned to the front when Sir Marthol cleared his throat.

"I will get straight to business, we have summoned you here for an assignment briefing" he began. I wanted to interrupt him and demand to know why Sneaks are involved if this is a regular assignment, but I swallowed it answering my own demand, clearly this was not a regular assignment. "We have had concerning reports from the Mayor of the Aqua Tribe and the Aqua Elder himself has asked us to send a team to see what is going on in the Tribes lands..."

"And you chose us, excuse me Sir but I don't understand why you would send Apprentice Guards to look into something which and elder mage has requested" I blurted out, Jet shot me a look. Sir Marthol chuckled at my outburst.

"My dear, we are sending you to make a preliminary assessment of the situation in the Aqua Tribes lands, particularly the capital City Mirage. Depending on your findings we can then dispatch qualified Elder Guards. I am sending a Sneak with you he may come in handy." Sir Marthol looked to the Man standing beside him; first impressions told me that this was the young Sneaks farther.

"I am sending my son Blake with you he is the best apprentice Sneak we have. He will be able to help with any reconnaissance work that may help you with your research and he is trained in tactics." The Sneak explained he had a rough voice which grated on me. I glanced at Blake he seemed nonchalant, his gaze fixed on his Farther.

"So summing up we want you three and Blake to head into the Aqua Tribes land and head for the City of Mirage. Once there you are to meet with the Mayor and he will explain his concerns and problems to you. From there you will be required to collect information on these issues, I'm sure the Mayor will give you somewhere to stay where you can collate your findings and report back to us. Is that understood?" Lady Thalweight stated formally ensuring she made eye contact with each of us in turn.

"Yes my lady" I answered, Gyn and Jet nodded in agreement.

"When do we leave?" Gyn asked.

"As soon as possible, you need to go and pack a travel bag and meet at the stables, from there you will leave immediately. Keera I need you to summon one of your Hawks, it will be useful to you and can carry messages back to us, but I'm sure you know how to make use of a hawk... any more questions?" she asked.

"Go to Mirage, talk to mayor, collect info, report, nope I think I've got it" Jet said. Gyn and I nodded in agreement.

"Very well, then I suggest you go and pack, I will get food reserves from the dining hall sent to the stables for the journey" Sir Marthol Said, he headed to the door opening it indicating that this briefing was now over.