The girls could see the sickly-looking green sign from almost a kilometre (a little over half a mile) away. The ride had gone smoothly, minus one wild boar that had almost given Blanca a heart attack. He was happily eating a late-night snack and didn’t even hear the girls coming.

“Dragon balls, you trying to scare me to death?” He shouted after them riding.

Sylvie only had time to answer with a quick, “sorry sir”. But from what she could tell he had already gone back to eating.

The Poisoned Oak was directly under the gates of the city. It had its own crooked lodging attached to it. The owner went by the name Slan, he was a half giant, half dwarf, a strange combination in Azuren. He was almost the height of a giant, but with far wider shoulders, and wore his long brown hair in the style of a dwarf. He was smart in business, quite greedy, but had a wild sense of humour. It was rumoured he sold his own family to hard labour just to have a few more coins.

His pub’s location could not have been better. Directly outside of the city’s gate, he was the first establishment weary travellers would see coming in to the city, but also the first establishment they would see if getting kicked out of the city. An additional plus was he didn’t have to pay any of those city’s damn taxes. The only thing he didn’t have access to was the safety of the city’s walls. But in his last 15 years of operation, he had less than a handful of fights that he couldn’t stop with his own fist and axe. Every morning, after his night crowd left, he would sit at his huge- specially made for him- desk, and count his coins smiling.

Avery said a soft, “woah boy,” stopping Ace about 200 meters from The Poisoned Oak’s sign. The three sisters slid down from the horses.

“What’s the plan?” asked Sylvie.

“Always one ready for action but with no plan of action,” Avery said shaking her head disapprovingly.

“Well, with you around, no one else is allowed to plan,” teased Sylvie.

Blanca felt impending dread, “stop it you two! The sooner we find father the sooner we can go home.”

“Aye, right you are. Sylvie and I will go inside and see if father is there, if he is, it will be easy and we will be back outside in a minute. If he’s not, then maybe it will take a little persuading to see if anyone has seen him.”

“And what about me?” Blanca asked, feeling the colour draining from her face for the third time today.

Sylvie stepped in before Avery could answer, “you will be safe out here with Cato, Ace, and Diella, ok? We won’t be long I promise.”

“Cato, my friend, go a bit off path, where you can still hear me, but aren’t seen from the roads. I think everything will be fine, but better to be safe than sorry.”

“As you wish. Tell Blanca to not be afraid,” answered Cato.

“I have a bad feeling you guys. There are too many coincidences about today,” protested Blanca.

“If that is true, then we should be more resolved in finding father tonight and bringing him home,” replied Avery. “I will go in as a traveling bard, keeping my hair and ears hidden in my cloak. The problem will be Sylvie; you are too pretty for your own good”.

“Knock it off Avery!” Sylvie was embarrassed. She walked over to the edge of the path and smeared dirt on her face and tasselled her hair with leaves. The result was a rogue looking beauty.

“Boar’s breath, you might be making it worse. Now you just look more exotic. Just keep your hood up ok, and try not to make any guys fall in love with you at first sight.”

Sylvie gave Avery a hard punch and then turned to Blanca. She placed her strong hands on her sister’s petite shoulders, hugged her and whispered in her ear, “everything is going to be all right. Cato will be right next to you.”

Blanca giving a tight-lipped smile, nodded, and started walking with the horses off the main path.

“Here we go,” laughed Avery.

She looks so confident, typical bard. Sylvie watched her baby sister walk with her head held high towards the pub’s entrance.

The heavy tall door moaned, as if protesting the sisters walking in. The ceiling heights were an incredible 9 meters high (almost 30 feet). Slan had built the pub to suit even the tallest of giants. The front part of the pub had no windows, which had saved him money and was practical as windows often break.

The girls quickly scanned the pub looking for their father’s familiar face. The tables were about three quarters full and they saw less than a handful of women, but no sign of Fergus. The only light in the place was from ill-fitted green lanterns on each table, and two huge green lanterns by the bar. Sylvie’s eyes adjusted quickly. So far, no one besides the tavern owner had seemed to notice them. Slan was unconsciously glaring as he looked at them, two pretty young ladies usually meant trouble.

“What are two little girls doing out at this time of night?” he questioned.

His booming voice, made everyone turn and look at them. Sylvie was about to protest being called a little girl, but Avery stepped hard on her toe and sung out, “we are simply traveling bards sir, looking to see if you need any for upcoming shows”.

“I don’t waste my hard-earned money on cheap entertainment.” This earned a groan from a few of the pub’s regulars.

“Oh,” answered Avery smiling, she turned to look at the other patrons. “Well that’s a shame sir, cause normally we make the tavern owners quite a bit of coin.”

Slan, already looked like he was regretting his decision and was about to speak, but Avery didn’t give him a chance. “I don’t suppose any of you find gents could tell us where we’d find Fergus? We heard he might have some work for us.”

Upon hearing the name ‘Fergus’ the entire pub went quiet. Someone from one of the tables shouted out, “we don’t know no Fergus,” someone else, “ain’t no likes of Fergus around here.”

Why are they scared of father? What has he been up to? Sylvie wished she could mentally communicate with Avery.

Someone to their right whispered, “take a seat, buy me a drink, and I’ll tell you what you want to know.”

Avery glanced up and down at the potential prospect. He was wearing a heavy cloak and there was something about him she couldn’t put her finger on. She nodded to her sister, and Sylvie sat down.

“Hey barkeeper, you trying to let us die of thirst? Bring a round of hard cider.” Avery commanded, like she owned the place, and then turned her attention back to the man sitting next to her. As he turned his head, she saw it, the unmistakable pointed ears hiding behind his hood, he was a Elf-hu, like them.

“I didn’t think the Elf-hu frequented the Poison Oak,” she began but before she could even blink, he grabbed a knife and pressed it to her stomach.

“You stupid girl, do not mention what we are, especially here. Do you understand?”

Sylvie already had her hand on her dagger, ready to throw in a second’s notice, “Listen, if you even lay even one little scratch on my sister, you will be dead before your next breath. Do you understand?”

His eyes opened wide, he looked back and forth between the two girls, but then he chuckled slowly and hide his knife back in his cloak. Slan arrived then with the three large stone mugs. He looked at them suspiciously, but before he could ask any questions, Avery smiled, slid him a coin, and waved him away.

The Elf-hu was still grinning. Sylvie didn’t like the way he grinned. “What in Mother of Gods is so funny? And now you got your cider, what do you know about Fergus?”

“I am smiling, because I now know who you two are. You should have kept letting your little sister do the talking,” he paused and then looked directly at Avery, “Fergus is not going be happy that you two came here. And where is your other sister? The one I heard looks like Celeste?”

“Who are you? How did you know our mother?”

“My name is Larkin. More you don’t need to know right now. Your father, the leader of the Cloaked Knights, is on a mission tonight.”

Sylvie gasped, “the Cloaked Knights? Our father? It’s not possible. How do we know you aren’t lying?”

“He hasn’t told you that he’s part of the Cloaked Knights. Mother of Gods, he’s going to kill me later.”

The Cloaked Knights were a secret order of warriors. No one knew quite when they started, but it was rumoured they were started and organized by a woman. Unlike the Legionnaires, they prided themselves of having no political orientation.

Avery was a little in awe, she admired the Cloaked Knights. They admitted all races into the order, and had done a lot to help the Elves cause in Azuren, but her father? She couldn’t picture it. On the other hand, she knew he had been hiding something.

Avery added, “if we can trust this information is true, why aren’t you with the Cloaked Knights? Only a current or former knight knows the identity of the other knights. You could get my father in a whole lot of trouble with accusations like that.”

Larkin smiled again, “You are a smart little one, aren’t you? I am from an interested party, and let’s say my unique upbringing gives me an advantage.”

Avery looked at him with disgust. “You are spying on the order?” She looked at Sylvie questionably, wondering if she should go into his mind, Sylvie nodded.

“So, tell us about this interested party of yours,” Sylvie asked, trying to distract him.

Avery’s eyes flickered closed, while the memories started flooding. She saw her father, was that from yesterday? He was shaking Larkin’s hand, she saw the orcs, first 10 of them, then just three lying dead on the ground, and then came what she had been looking for, Colonel Rojel barging into a little flat in the alleyway. Two elf kids screaming, and a woman, his wife? being taken away by the Legionnaires. She heard, ‘no harm will come to them if you do as we ask, you will join the Order, and tell us every name you know…. I want to know who is leading this abomination’. And then the last memory, his kids and wife locked up in the dungeon.

“What in Mother of Gods is wrong with her?” Larkin asked looking at Avery finally opening her eyes again.

“Oh, didn’t my father tell you?” Sylvie was disgusted with this Larkin character. “Avery is sick and sometimes has these episodes.”

Avery leaned over to Sylvie and whispered in her ear, “we need to leave. They have his family, and there is nothing more dangerous than a man who has everything to lose.”

Avery cleared her throat, “Have a good evening Larkin. I hope it will be awhile before we cross paths again.”

“Wait, don’t you want me to bring you to your father?” he stood up rather too quickly.

As if on cue, they heard the Legionnaire horn in the background. The three of them looked at one another. A second blast, and the rest of the pub crowd heard it. Everyone started talking anxiously. Slan said to no one in particular, “Dragon balls, what are they doing outside of the city walls at this time of night.” He turned around to look at his heavy axe hanging behind the bar.

Avery grabbed Larkin’s arm and hissed, “What mission are the Cloaked Knights on? Did you sell them out to the Legionnaires? They will hurt your family no matter what you tell them.”

Larkin’s eyes grew huge, he grabbed her back and shook her, “I didn’t say a fucking word yet, I respect your father too much. But they have my kids and my wife, what was I supposed to do?” he whispered almost hysterically. “I had no choice.”

Avery patted his arm, “I know, shhh shhh I know. We need to get to the Cloaked Knights before the Legionnaires do. Do you know where they are?”

“Yes,” he said looking defeated. “Our scouts saw the orcs preparing for another ambush tonight, you father was going to cut them off before they could get near the city.”

“Mother of Gods, Blanca has probably fainted by now. Larkin can you ride?” said Sylvie already bolting for the door.

He never got the opportunity to answer as both of them were already running a pace in front of him. As he pushed open the tavern door he froze. There in front of him, was Celeste. He blinked his eyes over and over thinking it was just a trick. The older of the girls, jumped up on the horse behind her and was readying her bow.

“What are you gaping at? Do you not know how to ride?” shouted Sylvie.

He finally realized it wasn’t Celeste, but must be her middle daughter. She was a spitting image of her mother. He walked trance-like towards her. She looked down confused at him and smiled, “Are you ok?”

She even had her smile, he sighed, this would make everything more difficult. “Yes, of course my lady,” he replied kissing her hand.

“Dragon balls, have I missed something? Larkin what is going on with you, are you going to get on my horse or not!” Sylvie was losing her patience and Cato also seemed confused.

“She gets called a lady, and I get a knife to my stomach. How quickly one can change their disposition…” Avery chimed in.

Larkin looked at the strong black horse standing next to him, he could tell it was a good horse, and without another word hopped up and started in the opposite direction of the city.

The horses’ adrenaline was pumping so hard that the ride took less than 10 minutes. They were on a path that Sylvie wasn’t familiar with, but according to the direction they headed it must have run parallel to the main road. They could already hear the commotion of a battle. A shiver ran through her body and she tightened her grip on her sister.

“Blanca, you will stay on Diella. No matter what happens you will not dismount. Get one of your fire spells ready. Orcs hate fire. And the second I jump down, load your crossbow.”

Blanca simply nodded in agreement. Sylvie glanced over at Avery. “Avery, are you ready?”

“Ready as ever,” she answered grinning. Avery didn’t train daily, like Sylvie, more like twice a week. She was however very good with a sword. She enjoyed fighting immensely, and it frightened her.

“Larkin! How many do you see?”

“We are outnumbered. Maybe 40 orcs to 15 Cloaked Knights!” He grabbed his bow and sent his first arrow flying into the nearest orc.

Sylvie’s eyes frantically scanned the crowd looking for her father’s large frame. She found him; he was smack in the middle surrounded by orcs. She jumped down from Diella and started running towards him.

“Blanca NOW!”

Blanca closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and screamed “Raaaaaaaaa” as she sent six fireballs flying through the air. One hit a huge orc right in the chest. He let out an unnatural howl and began to flop on the ground trying to get the flames out.

Fergus, recognized his daughter’s voice instantly, looked up, and saw Sylvie running towards him sending arrows flying as she ran. His ice blue eyes turned scared, and he screamed, “Get out of here! Get your sisters, get out of here now!”

Sylvie ignored him, and sent an arrow flying into an orc getting ready to swing at her father.

“Blanca, your poison is working marvellously,” shouted Avery from on top of Ace. She was riding and stabbing at the same time. Over a handful of the orcs were already screaming and grasping desperately at their eyes.

“LLAF KCAB- NOITCERID EKAL,” (fall back- direction lake) bellowed the leader of the orc group. He was almost 3 meters tall, had blood red hair and a mouth so large it took up half of his face.

One of his own came running towards him screaming and gauging at his own eyes. “I NAC TON EES, EHT EHTIW KOOT YM SEYE!” (I cannot see the white witch took my eyes).

“DNA WON UOY ERA DAED” (and now you are dead) replied the leader while slicing his head off.

Larkin, pulled his sword out of a now dead orc, it was covered in their black bubbly blood. He spit and then saw what he dreaded more than the orcs. Colonel Rojel and his men were almost reaching the battle.

Colonel Rojel surveyed the scene; there were maybe twenty orcs, twelve Cloaked Knights, and what he assumed was two healers on horseback left. He had 50 men. He turned around; “this half,” he motioned with his hands, “will take down the remaining orcs. You remaining,” pointing at his other men, “will collect the Cloaked Knights. The dungeons will be full tonight,” he said laughing.

Larkin was horrified. The Colonel would slaughter them all. He had let Fergus and Celeste down. He ran over towards Fergus, “Commander of the Cloaked Knights, GO NOW!”

He glanced up and saw Avery next to him. “We will stay,” she said firmly while slicing a smaller orc in half.

“The Commander won’t ever leave if you do. Go now, the Colonel hasn’t recognized you yet”.

Avery knew he was right, “What about you?”.

“Just get my family out of there!” He looked at her with pleading eyes.

“I promise you, we will save your family,” she glanced and saw her father, “Commander, we must leave now the Colonel has the intention to slaughter us all”.

Fergus looked from Avery to Blanca, nodded, and shouted “Mother of Gods! Retreat Men…. Retreat!”.

The men scrambled to the remaining horses, and began to ride off. Avery didn’t see Sylvie anywhere. As she turned around, she made eye contact with the Legionnaire, Alaric. His eyes got huge as he instantly recognized her. He quickly turned his head as if he hadn’t seen anything.

There were maybe only 10 orcs left and Alaric knew they would be all wiped out in a matter of minutes. The orc next to him was a huge ugly brute, but was waving his axe wildly in a circle. He can’t see Alaric realized. He waited until the orc swung again, and then drove his sword through his heart.

Sylvie was still on the ground fighting, when she saw the leader of the orcs coming up behind Larkin. She grabbed her favourite dagger, and threw it as hard as she could. “Plop,” was the sound of the dagger landing square between the orc leaders’ eyes.

“HCTIB EID,” (bitch die) he screamed running towards her with his battle axe raised.

Colonel Rojel came riding up behind the orc leader and stabbed him through the back. The orc fell with a huge thud next to Sylvie. She wiped the blood off her face, and looked around. All the orcs were dead. She saw three Cloaked Knights lying dead and Larkin pulling his sword out of another dead orc. She ran over to check on him.

“Stand down, girl. He is mine,” hissed Colonel Rojel. “Larkin, you TRAITOR, now you can die imagining what I will do to your family.” He charged him, and with one quick jab stabbed him through the gut.

Larkin dropped his sword and gripped his stomach, he stood there swaying for a minute, mouth open his eyes desperately found Sylvie, “save them”, before dropping to the ground.

Alaric turned his head. This was not what the Legionnaires were called to duty for. That man had just killed a bunch of orcs; a valuable soldier dead for no reason. It made him feel sick to his stomach he began to quickly walk towards the Elf-hu girl.

Sylvie was screaming, “Nooooooo,” and reached to grab one of her remaining daggers. But two other Legionnaires and Alaric quickly grabbed her arms and held her back.

She was much stronger than they had imagined. Alaric whispered quick in her ear, “Now is not the time.”

Colonel Rojel, jumped off his horse and began to walk towards them.

He all of a sudden realized who the girl was. It was that elven bitch that put a hole through his hat and humiliated him in front of his men.

“You…of course it has to be you,” and punched her in her face.

She would have fallen over, but the other Legionnaires were still holding her. Alaric was mortified.

She turned her head, looked him square in the face and spit. “You have no honour,” she wheezed.

“I will show you honour you little leaf-eared bitch,” he replied. “Undress her now,” he commanded the men.

Alaric, placed his arm in front of her, “Colonel, no. This is not the way of the Legionnaires. We would never defile a woman.” A few of the other Legionnaires nodded their head in agreement.

The Colonel, stood nose to nose with Alaric, Alaric could smell his putrid hot breath. “This is not a woman” he replied. A few of the men laughed. The Colonel took out his sword and cut her cloak off of her.

She stood, shocked, bare chested, trying to cover herself and quickly turned around to face Alaric. “Please help me…."

The Colonel used the opportunity to hit her in the head with the blunt of sword. Sylvie crumpled in Alaric's arms.

Alaric had never felt such anger before. His voice started shaking with hatred.

“We have sworn an oath to protect mankind. We take our orders from the King and the Mother of Gods. This is no order from an honourable man.”

About 2/3 of the men aligned themselves behind him and shouted out, “Aye, Alaric is right…. We don’t hurt women…. What you did with that elf man wasn’t right.”

Alaric, wrapped the woman in his cloak. She had looked so strong on the battlefield but now so fragile, he adjusted his arms, and then scooped her up like a sleepy child.

Colonel Rojel placed his sword back in his sheath, “We will hear what the King has to say about this, boy. Not obeying your orders is a serious crime,” he turned to the others, “She will be placed in the dungeon, no one is to lay a hand on her. When the time comes, I want her to be untouched.”

Alaric spit and whipped his head around. “This woman killed more orcs than most male warriors are able to say they have, she didn’t desert the field when the cowardly Cloaked Knights abandoned her, if anything she is a hero. Or at the very least a brilliant warrior.” He gently brushed some of her hair out of her face, leaned very close and said, “I will not let anything happen to you.”

The Legionnaire horn blower, a chubby but jolly man, wanted to cause a distraction, blew the victory sound and mounted his horse. The other men took his cue.

The Colonel shouted out, “Wait, collect the dead Cloaked Knights. We will see if we can learn anything about them from their identities. At least we will know who their families are.”

Two Legionnaires gave Alaric and the woman still laying in arms a boost to mount his horse. He took one last look around the battlefield. It would soon be dawn. There were pools of black blood everywhere, he noticed a few orcs had smoke coming out of them, one of the girls can do spells he realized. He was just about to tell his horse to start moving when he saw two large eyes staring back at him from the woods. It was the large horse the woman had been riding when he saw her earlier that day. He mentally pleaded for the horse to turn home. He didn’t want to think what the Colonel would do if he saw him. As if the horse understood, he started to slowly back up deeper into the woods.

He had never defied an order before, but this Rojel was a bad man. Alaric sighed, watching bats circle in the air as he rode towards the dungeons; he had a feeling this was only the beginning of trouble to come.