First Contact

Braeth'el checked his daggers one final time, turning to look over the group with him. From House Dayfire's limited manpower, a total of six would be accompanying him on their journey to Silvermoon. Three were rangers, with one of them being the elf that Braeth'el had met during the conference and later come to learn was named Kesteran. He was the leader of House Dayfire's military forces and had many years of experience in the field; simply having him and his well trained rangers along for the trip put Braeth'el somewhat at ease.

The other three included Telatha herself, and two other members of her coven including the elf Laerille that Braeth'el had met during the meeting. The other elf was named Bellemasra and, like Telatha and Laerille, had Fel runes decorating her face and arms. As for Telatha herself, Braeth'el had insisted that if she were going to accompany the group, she would need to at least hide her face so as not to be mistaken for Biara and attacked by the enemies of House Sunfire.

The noble had agreed to Braeth'el's suggestion, adorning her face with a red and gold half-mask that obscured her features. As Braeth'el turned to look over the group, he could tell she was smiling at him from beneath her mask by the way her eyes scrunched up at the corners. Rather than looking fierce as a half-masked warlock with visible Fel runes might, Braeth'el thought she looked almost cute beneath the disguise, her petite form and simple robes hiding how important she was and any powers she might have.

Shaking his head to clear such thoughts from his mind, he nodded at Kesteran and then addressed the group, his voice firm, "Alright everyone, we're ready to proceed it seems. I need you to all stay close to me, as there may still be foes in the ruins that this portal connects to. We need only win free of the ruins and enter the city proper to achieve some level of safety; there is no way that either House Sunfire nor House Dawnsea will openly attack us on the cobblestones of Sunfury Court."

The other elves all nodded, several looking solemn or grim, and Braeth'el took a deep breath before turning towards the portal, muttering to himself, "Well, here goes nothing."

With that he slipped through the portal, the magic swallowing him up and depositing him back within the ruins of Dayfire Spire, the empty portal room around him looking much the same as when he'd left. The others quickly appeared behind him, staying close and the rangers holding their weapons ready. With silent hand signals to Kesteran, Braeth'el indicated that the rangers should keep a wary eyes on their surroundings and began to lead the group further into the ruins.

At first all went well, and the party moved swiftly through the ruins without incident. As Braeth'el rounded a corner, something alerted him and he held up a hand to halt the group. He dropped down into a crouch, peering ahead along the path. At first he could not identify what it was that had alerted him, but after carefully looking over the rubble strewn path he saw what it was finally; there was freshly fallen rubble blocking a path off to the right. It was clear that someone had altered the path away from the portal room, funneling any travelers down a narrow corridor of fallen stone.

Braeth'el was about to warn the others behind him when he felt someone crouch down beside him and a delicate hand pressed against his shoulder. Telatha's voice came to him over his shoulder, "Is there trouble?"

For a moment he was surprised that she had come forward herself, and then he was struck by the faint but pleasant scent of mint that she perfumed herself with. He shook his head, having to clear his thoughts for the second time that morning before replying, "I think we're being herded down a specific path. They were probably expecting me to come out this way and have prepared an ambush. I'm sorry, my Lady. I may be responsible for leading you into danger."

He felt her hand squeeze his shoulder in reassurance as she answered, "Nonsense. This was always going to be dangerous. And please, call me Telatha or Tela. You are not my vassal, Braeth'el."

He smiled at this, nodding, "Very well...Tela. We're going to need to run from one section of cover to the next. If you look a head, there are fallen arches that we can shelter beneath. I would suggest we hurry to them and assess the situation before proceeding further into more open spaces."

She nodded, turning and whispering the instructions to those behind her. Braeth'el took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come before rising and dashing down the narrow corridor ahead. Behind him he could hear the others doing the same, their footsteps pounding on the rubble. Just as he'd expected, the minute they moved out into the open heads appeared above them on the rubble 'walls' of the corridor, spells and arrows beginning to fall. Fortunately they space they had to dash through was not overly long, and all of the party managed to hurry beneath the shelter of the broken rock arch, each of them gasping for breath.

"Is anyone hit?" Braeth'el asked. Behind them, the narrow corridor where they'd run had scorched and smoking spots where spells had hit and spent arrows laying along the path. The party checked themselves over, each shaking their heads to indicate they were well. Just as they had done this, a bolt of fire was hurled down into the opening of the archway, striking one of the walls and sending chips of stone flying in all directions. A ranger grunted as he was hit by shrapnel.

Telatha hurried over to the ranger, checking his wound, "Are you alright?!"

The ranger nodded, pulling his ringmail away from his skin to examine the wound, "It's just a scratch, my Lady. Please, let us hurry and get you out of danger."

Braeth'el grunted, seconding the opinion and looking to the path ahead. Above them he could hear the shouts of their ambushers and the sounds of boots scurrying on stones as they attempted to cut off further retreat through the rubble. "We need to hurry! The next part is longer, and we will be under fire the whole time. Everyone move as quickly as possible and stay together!"

With that he was off, dashing down the narrow corridor of stone as arrows came down around him. Behind him the rest of the group ran as fast as they could, narrowly avoiding the deadly rain of fire from the elves above them. As Braeth'el made it to cover, he turned and watched as Kesteran joined him, another ranger and Telatha's coven member Bellemasra arriving quickly behind him. Trailing further behind was the last ranger, Telatha, and Laerille.

Just as it seemed the others might make it, a bolt of ice from one of the ambushing spellcasters on the wall struck the stones in front of Laerille. With a scream she threw her hands up and skidded to a halt as she was pelted with stones. It was too late though as a section of the rubble broke away and fell on her, hurling her to the ground and pinning one of her legs beneath it. Her voice cried out in terror, "I've been hit!"

Telatha and the last ranger skidded to a halt, both of them having just reached the edge of the archway. In horror, Telatha looked back, seeing her friend fallen on the path behind them, "Oh Light we need to help her!"

Braeth'el reached out, grabbing her shoulder and shaking his head, "Leave her! You can't go out there again, you'll be murdered!"

Kesteran nodded his agreement, his voice sad, "Aye, my Lady, there are too many foes!"

It was in that moment that Braeth'el came to know that Telatha was truly of Dayfire blood. With anger marring what features of her face he could see, she shoved him away, her voice venomous, "I will NOT leave her! Stay here if you like but I am going back!"

"My Lady! NO!" Kesteran yelled. Braeth'el tried to reach a hand out to stop her but it was too late; she easily avoided his grasp and ran back out into the open, her boots pounding on the stones as she dashed towards Laerille.

To Braeth'el's everlasting surprise, he found himself dashing after the foolish young noble, shaking his head at her audacity and his own stupidity. He shouldn't care; he knew what was going to happen and he was only adding to the body count by putting himself out in the open. And yet....he had to help her. Her bravery deserved at least that much.

Ahead of him Telatha reached Laerille, spells slashing into the ground around her and arrows clattering from the stones. She skidded to a halt, futilely attempting to lift the stone from her friend. Laerille cried out, shaking her head, "My Lady! Go! Get away! They'll kill you too!"

Telatha steadfastly refused, continuing to pull on the stone as her voice echoed out, "No! I will not leave you behind!"

Braeth'el's heart jumped into his throat as he saw two Sin'dorei rise up on the walls above, magic already flaring in their hands. Ahead of him, an assassin jumped down, blades drawn as he dashed towards Telatha's unprotected back. Another jumped down on the far side, speeding towards the two elves struggling in the ruins.

He didn't even think. Fully into his combat awareness, Braeth'el did what he was trained to do; he killed. His blades flashed out, a knife hitting the would-be assassin in the back and spinning him around. Braeth'el's blade parried the next blow, and he lunged, impaling the elf whom he recognized as a House Sunfire assassin on his blade.

Even as his foe fell, Braeth'el's heart sank. Magic flashed on the walls above him, trailing down towards the struggling noble. He had only a second to call out before the spells struck, his voice almost a dirge, "Telatha! WATCH OUT!"

He saw Telatha fall over her friend in the second before the spells hit, explosions rocking the stones and creating a vortex of fire that filled his view. Already mourning, Braeth'el almost turned away but paused as the fire began to swirl up into the air, whipping in a frenzy.

Within the fire stood Telatha, Fel magic surrounding her like a bubble, the flames not reaching her or Laerille who she sheltered beneath herself. In that moment Braeth'el saw her power, saw the runes on her face flaring so brightly he could barely see the young noble. He could tell from where he was that she was angry though, and her anger finally was given release.

Fire rained down upon the walls as she pointed, Fel magic conjured in a second and sweeping her foes from their perches. Elves screamed as they were burned alive, Laerille reaching out to grasp Telatha's leg and feeding more magic into the flames. The coven members had trained together for years, and together their spells were more than enough to drive back the would-be assailants.

Behind Telatha the second assassin lunged, his blade arcing down towards her head. It was halted an inch from her flame-red locks as a voidwalker appeared, its claws grabbing the assassin's wrist and hurling him backwards. From behind the flames and spells Braeth'el could hear him screaming as the vicious demon began to tear him apart, Telatha standing amidst the destruction, directing her magic one final time to drive those who would kill her people...no, her FRIENDS, away from the battle.

And then it was over. The flames died, the Fel magic receeded, the demon disappeared back into whatever hell it had been conjured from, and there was only Telatha and Laerille remaining. With magic flaring on her runes again, she turned and reached down, using some demonic strength to hurl what was probably a boulder weighing a few hundred pounds off of her friend, kneeling down to embrace the fallen elf.

Braeth'el finally reached them, skidding to a halt as he watched Telatha apply a glowing fel-green stone to Laerille's wounded leg, hearing the elf sigh as her injuries were partially mended. He shook his head, reaching down to scoop up the wounded elf before meeting Telatha's gaze.

There was determination in her eyes now, and he got a sense that she would let nothing stop her from saving her people. They said nothing, there being nothing that needed to be said in the silence between them. He merely nodded at her, and she turned and walked towards the rangers who were even now securing the area, their bows at the ready.

As she walked away, Braeth'el found himself admiring Telatha, his voice barely a whisper, "She's...something isn't she?"

In his arms, the wounded Laerille nodded, smiling up at the assassin, "She'll be the best friend you will ever have, if you let her be. I promise you that."

Braeth'el merely nodded, walking after the young noble, the wounded coven member clinging to him as they continued to make their way to safety from the ruins.