Ilea finished eating too, exchanging so stories about the north with them. She decided not to ntion Elfie and his crew yet, not before she talked to them about this new group of Cerithil Hunters.
She sat back and smiled, crossing her arms. So, youre a dragon or what was that?
The elf laughed, showing his sharp teeth now that he wasnt wearing his helt anymore. Perhaps one day one day Ill be one of them. He looked up with longing red eyes.
Ben laughed. Keep dreaming. Shapeshifting is all youll ever get.
Possibilities are unlimited. Isalthar comnted, drinking from a beautiful white porcelain cup.
Ilea thought it was tea, the sll at least reminded her of herbs.
Were talking about dragons. Ben said, rolling his eyes. There are limits. Hes a fighter, hes not going to be as old as you are.
I sadly have to agree there. Feyrair sighed.
So youre shapeshifting into one? How did you get the class? Ilea asked with interest. Did you et one? Fight one?
Feyrair laughed. That, dear human, is not sothing I would tell to soone who couldnt defeat .
I defeated you though. Ilea said, squinting her eyes.
Who couldnt defeat at least twice. The elf changed the requirents.
Youre going to raise that once I slap you around again, arent you. She comnted.
He is. Ben said.
Ill go check with my associates then but if youre staying for a while, Id love to train so resistances and have more bouts. I think itd be beneficial for all of us. Ilea said and got up. Her Heat Resistance hadnt leveled in a while and just a couple attacks from Feyrair were enough.
She wanted to know what the story behind his classes were, that dude packed a punch she wouldnt expect from anyone below three hundred.
Ilea thought he was perhaps stronger even than Maro and that guy had been a king, studying for ages and out there fighting dangerous monsters. If anyone had a good class it was him. The white fire reminds of that noble. What was his class called again?
She didnt rember but she knew it had been powerful for soone at level one hundred.
You do not intend to give us the goods we need right now? Isalthar asked.
Ilea looked at him and smiled. You do not trust ?
Would thou trust an elf on their word? He asked.
She shrugged. Probably. But I know Im too trusting.
Your words prove the truth inherent. Isalthar replied. Go then, human, Guardian. I have decided to trust you. He said.
Ilea bowed lightly and smirked. Ill be back in a couple hours hopefully.
Ben raised a mug to her.
Feyrair showed his teeth and hissed, an approving challenge. Or sothing like that.
Ilea was still learning her hisses.
The last elf hovered, empty plate in hand before he bowed, a warm smile on his face.
Hope you liked it. She said and spread her wings, shooting off into the tunnel she had co from.
Ah fuck, Im not going to find back, am I?
Using her magic perception and Sentinel Huntress, she could reverse engineer the path she had co from. An extended ashen limb cut lightly into the walls from ti to ti, marking the way for her latter return.
The first city officials and guards were already present in the smugglers den. Heavily ard soldiers with massive tal shields led squads of rogues as they dismantled the hidden traps one by one.
Ilea glanced at them and got a couple scared looks.
The guards reassured each other, many having seen her before in her ashen armor.
She didnt find Dale but was directed by a waiting guard whose job it was to inform her about his whereabouts.
Miss Shadow. The man called out when he saw her exiting out into the warehouse.
Ilea landed next to him, her wings snugly folding on her back. Yes?
Captain Dale inford to inform you about where he is. The man stuttered out and got a small piece of paper from his pocked. With the girl, he said. I hope you know what that ans. He laughed awkwardly, sweat forming on his hands.
I think I do, thanks. She replied and spread her wings once more, flying up and blinking through the ceiling before she headed towards the house Walter and Vin were staying at.
She landed a couple minutes away and ran the rest on foot, blinking into the stairwell before she slowed down.
A knock on the door notified the others waiting behind.
Co in. Dale said. He had glanced her way even before she arrived.
You didnt want to join the search? She asked, looking at the captain.
Walter was there too, as were Vin and Kevan. Another man too, one of the survivors she had freed. An officer.
Vin rushed her, tackle hugging Ilea as the air was pushed out of her lungs. Like running into a tree.
Im Eli by the way. The man said and chuckled at the sight. Olive skin, black short hair and brown eyes. He had several noticeable scars on his neck and right cheek. A rapier was fastened to his belt.
One of the missing ones. Good to see not all of you died. Ilea said and patted Vins back.
The girl was in tears, hugging her with all the strength she had. You ca back you did it,
I did, I did. Ilea replied. Kevan, youre still here too.
The man grumbled. They didnt let look through the hideout. Because Im not an official. Even though I saved his ass.
I thanked you. Dale said. We will inform you if there is anything related to you.
You heard that fucker, Nolan. He said they tried to set up. I want to know who did it. Kevan hissed.
Yes, yes. Dale said. Your foraging went well? He asked, glancing at Ilea with a glint in his eye.
It did. She said simply.
Wonder if Mauros ring holds any evidence in regards to Kevan. The ring was safely in her bracelet, just like the rest of the loot she had taken from the Gray Company. She had worn it on her finger, unclaid until she killed the man.
The fight with Feyrair forced her to either claim or store it. The latter was faster and actually worked. Likely because nobody had a claim on it anymore.
Will you talk to Alistair? I could report to him too. We will be covered in paperwork for the next week either way. Dale suggested.
She sighed and nodded. Id appreciate that. Let him know the pay for the job can go to Walter.
What? Walter asked, stepping away from the wall he had been leaning on.
I have a proposal for you. Well talk about it later. Ilea said and smirked.
What did she plan this ti? The sorcerer grumbled and stepped back again, exchanging a knowing glance with Dale.
Dont act like I didnt see that. Ilea said but that was exactly what they did.
Vin finally let go and walked back to Eli. Her young age really showed then, a stark contrast to the young rogue from before,clutching her knife behind her back.
Eli, can you get in contact with Alistair. I could get you three a house sowhere in Riverwatch. And you could stop taking dangerous missions. Ilea suggested.
The man laughed before he shook his head. Ill look into an apartnt in a better area for them. Yet I wont stop going on my missions. Vin is already independent and next year she can join the Hunters if she wants to. He explained. You wont stop doing Shadow missions either, just because theyre dangerous. Will you?
I dont have two kids at ho. Ilea thought but kept it to herself. She knew that Vin would grow up to beco a feared hunter, with her help or without. Maybe one day, she would beco a Shadow too.
If Eli didnt want her help, then that was his choice. Make sure you have healers around next ti.
Of course. Well be closer to a guard station. Dale already chewed out, Miss. Eli said and gave the captain a nod.
Good. Ilea said and winked at Dale.
Ill be taking my leave then. Is it alright if I check back in on the Gray company hideout in a couple hours? I wanted to look through so of the lower tunnels, there were so interesting poisons I want to test on myself. Ilea said, stepping over to Walter.
Ill be there again shortly. Of course youre free to co and go. Most of the guards know you already anyway. Its going to take a couple days or even weeks to go through all that. Dale said, sighing.
You know you can leave so work for others. Like Eli. Ilea suggested and watched him shake his head.
This has priority right now. At least until the brunt of it is done. Dale rejected her idea.
If you want more work on your desk. She smiled and shrugged. Then Ill see you around. Walter?
They said their goodbyes, Vin hugging Ilea once more and thanking her profoundly.
She wasnt sure about them, about Eli especially. The man would take another mission and there was a possibility that he would die. At one point or the other. Ilea just hoped Vin was old enough and prepared enough by then.
What are you thinking about? Walter asked, the two walking back to the western gate.
She hadnt yet explained any of her intentions. The question Eli asked . If I would stop doing missions. If I had a little girl that needed .
He huffed and glanced her way. Its difficult isnt it. Youre pretty rich by now so you could just get a house and soone to take care of them.
And not be there? Ilea asked. No.
What if theres an important mission, soone needing your help? He asked as they reached the gate.
Exiting was a much simpler affair than getting into the city.
Fuck them. Id stay. Probably. Ilea said. She didnt have a kid, the decision seeming uncertain to her. Perhaps if she did, it would be easier.
I would stay. Walter said after a while.
We should fly now. Ilea said, her wings appearing on her back as she ended the conversation. She didnt want to think more about Eli and his adopted kids.
Walter nodded and started hovering as well.
They went back to the Vultures hideout, a couple minutes of flying away from Riverwatch.
What did you want to talk about? You know that I cant take that gold from you. Walter said when they landed, the two walking towards the cave entrance.
Ilea sighed and shook her head. I thought about giving you guys so gold anyway. Now I have sothing that I believe nobody is quite ready for yet, no one but you. You and your necromancers.
Walter glanced at her, uncertainty showing on his face. What do you have in mind? I dont want to expose the Vultures, I dont want to put us out there.
You already did by agreeing to et Alistair. Ilea said with a smirk. But of course in the end, its your decision. I think it would benefit humanity, you, and perhaps even all of Elos. She chuckled and shook her head. I sound like a naive idealist, dont I?
Walter looked at her and smiled lightly. I dont even know what youre talking about yet. You do, a little. Then again, you just convinced the governor of a whole city with nearly a hundred thousand people living in it to et a necromancer and look at a trade deal.
That I did. Ilea agreed. I want Lucia there too, her, Hartho, Celene, Indra and Neeto. Maro will push his way in too of course but I suppose its good that he likes you lot. His protection could an a lot.
Youre starting to scare , Ilea. Walter said. What did you find down in that smugglers den?
So new potential friends. She said and smirked, watching the man frown and open the door to the brotherhoods hideout.
Ill get them together.
It didnt take long but the necromancers were of course annoyed about the interruption to their tinkering.
Ilea was a little intrigued in what exactly they were cooking up with the remains of Green. However it could wait for after her announcent and the connected suggestion. She didnt know how long exactly Isalthar was willing to wait.
Glad youre all here. Im gonna make it quick. We found the missing people in Riverwatch, so of them at least. A smuggler organization was responsible and we took them out.
So murmurs went through the room but nobody interrupted. Maro was looking on with a big smirk.
Now. There were so associates that I got introduced to before I killed one of the leaders. Associates that are desperate to trade with Riverwatch. She paused. With humans.
Maro laughed out loud.
Who did you find? Walter asked, one hand massaging his brow.
A group of Cerithil Hunters, elven warriors and mages. Ilea said.
What? So close to the city? Lucia blurted out.
You want us to trade with them? Hartho asked, a terrified look on his face.
Why? Walter asked. Why not Alistair? You could convince him, Im sure of it.
Ilea looked at the man and smiled. I dont intend to keep this sothing small. I intend to help support the hunters, strengthen and organize them, have them find shelter and support in human lands.
Why? Lucia asked. Theyre monsters, they see us as ants.
Because thats what they were taught. The hunters want to end the blight that are the Taleen, they want to protect their people. I think at one point or the other, they will prevail. Either that or we have a couple hundred thousands or however many Taleen machines there are, roaming the forests. We should worry about the elves in the domains. Do you think the Hunters would care for humanity once the oracles look our way?
I dont want either of those things to happen without us having better relations. Theyre incredibly powerful, could likely teach us a lot about a ton of magic schools and they could help protect humans in case sothing worse cos up. Ilea explained.
Like demons. Celene said.
That still doesnt answer the question I asked. Walter said. Alistair has more resources.
Not more than . Ilea said simply. Not with Ravenhall and the Hand, with Claire. Thats not the point though. The point is you. You have necromancers here, a living skeleton, a Mind Weaver, a demon and you still manage to respect each other. Why not add elves to the mix? It could just be a trading proxy, between the elves and Riverwatch. They will see humans that dont see them as monsters and perhaps, they wont see us as ants in turn.
Youre trying to change a whole peoples perception of a whole race. Hartho said.
Maro chuckled. Wrong, two peoples. But honestly, most wouldnt give a shit if you told them that elves werent actually as one sided as they believed. So would revolt, sure but who cares?The sa is true for the elves. I t the hunters up north and they were alright enough, a little crazy sotis, sure but not worse than anything Ive t with a human head on their shoulder.
The domains will flip their shit as soon as they realize the cursed elves are supported by humans. It would be interesting to see for sure. If we help them now, now that they have this issue, in a thousand years, they will rember. He added.
We are talking about a war that has been going on for thousands of years already. Do you think so traded goods and organization will suddenly turn the tides? Walter asked.
Of course not. Ilea replied. It might take another thousand or even ten to finish the Taleen and their endless assault. Do you want to face the surviving elves who went through that afterwards? Or even have them close by? With their oracles? Or do you want to know that humans have helped the Cerithil Hunters for hundreds of years, the hunters that are now perhaps their own people, separate from the oracles or who knows, even overthrew them?
It sounds good in theory, yes. Then again, we could just leave them in their endless cycle of war. Let the elves fight against the machines, let the hunters try and stop it. Maybe they will succeed, maybe they fail. Humanity will find a way to antagonized them.
Maro snorted. And have them think we are all ants? Id rather they know the Vultures, Riverwatch and maybe the Shadows Hand supported them. I wont be part of those conversations once we get there but Ilea has sothing very special here. Sothing not nor any of the powerful people I knew could achieve. She knows powerful elves, dark ones and humans. All of them trust her. It would be a waste not to try at least.
They need food, ropes and lanterns for fucks sake, not our secret tech and knowledge. Plus, were just talking about a trade agreent. The Vultures helping out those four hunters. Thats it. Anything else that might co of it will be tackled as soon as it cos up.
Walter crossed his arms. And I will have to deal with it.
You deal with the Vultures and your trade. The main elf in that crew will deal with their shit, Im sure of that. I on the other hand will make sure that soone who wants to will step in as soon as things expand. Claire maybe, or soone else. She said and glanced at Maro.
No. Fuck no, find soone else to do your shit job. The man said and smiled. I do want to et them though.
Fair enough. I dont want to do it either. Ilea said with a smile. Walter, they really dont need a lot. et them at least before you make a decision. Alistair and Ravenhall could get involved too at a later ti but for now I think it would be great to have you.
The man shook his head and sighed. He looked at Lucia, the woman giving him a slight nod. The sa confirmation ca from the others before he sighed again. Ill et them. But I swear to you, Ilea. If in a hundred years, Im stuck with managing a trade empire, Im going to use all that gold to hunt you down and sit you on that managent chair. Do you understand?
Ilea smiled brightly and nodded.
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