The Matriarch's Daughter

Chapter Ten: Clemency

It was late by the time Thepa went to bed, but she woke up ready to start the new mission. She had prepared, she had seen her sister, and she was going to see the other two. Nothing was going to get her down. If it came down to it, she was going to lay down the law. She would make the team listen because she was Thepa Warbol: Captain of the Goldale Army and Leader of the Elite Team.

"Alright, listen up," she said upon arrival, making sure she was the last one in the room. She half expected to catch them off guard, but instead, she was met with a wall of ice. Stone silence radiated from the team, all save Rory, who hummed an unfamiliar tune.

"Our trip today will take us into Clayborn territory. King Starmoon reports an attack on the Clayborn outpost deep in the dark forest. Our charge is liberating it. Mr. Bidant, I expect we will meet your people at the outpost by the ionic crystal?"

"Correct," Bidant answered stoically.

"Are we doing more reconnaissance?" Claudia asked.

"Not really. I have a few strategies already in front of you. Once we assess the situation, I'll make a plan on which one to execute. Is everyone familiar with orcs?"

Claudia and Rory nodded, but beyond an eye-roll from Lily, the rest looked back with blank stares.

"Well, just in case, let's go over it. Unlike goblins, orcs are formidable, battle-hardened beings known for their brute strength. They—"

"We can move on... Sister Thepa," Vivian interrupted.

Thepa looked towards the elder satyr, feeling awkward under her gaze. Back in the Beachwick, the pause between the statement and her title would have been a slight—a humiliation to show her respect wasn't valued. She couldn't help but wonder if Vivian might have done something similar to her own mother or what her mother might have done about it.

Maybe I'm trying too hard.

"Right... Well, if that's the case, we stick to the plan. Bidant will confirm our credentials, then we'll make the six-hour journey to the outpost. Barring any complications, we should be there by mid-afternoon. Rory? You're up."

Rory nodded and began to cast the spell, her movements fluid. Watching Rory perform magic was always joy for Thepa. The colors dazzled her, almost youngling-like in nature, filling her with awe. She had seen both Einkidi and Claudia use magic, but when Rory did it, she danced as if it was a deep part of her soul. There was always something different about the way she harnessed her power, like she was weaving a melody through her fingertips.

As the spell neared completion, Thepa braced herself. The beauty of the magic was mesmerizing, but this time it made her nervous. Not because she didn't trust Rory, but because the last time had gone horribly wrong. As the familiar sense of weightlessness overtook her, pulling her away from the moment, Thepa closed her eyes and held her breath, trusting that Rory's grace would guide them to safety. Moments later, the sensation subsided, and when she opened her eyes, they arrived at the ionic crystal. Already, things were moving more smoothly than she'd anticipated.

Upon arrival, they were greeted by members of the outpost, who verified their credentials. The sergeant in charge informed Thepa that some of the enemy had already been killed in a counterattack, and a few of the soldiers had managed to escape. Although they were unsure of the exact number of orcs present, Thepa was grateful for the information and accepted a map from the sergeant, in case they needed it. She thanked the sergeant for his help and promised to fetch him once the problem had been resolved.

However, peace eluded Thepa. The team was still not talking to each other, making the journey unbearable. Occasionally, one of them would snip at the other, normally over some small comment or gesture the other found annoying. Will in particular was in rare form. He would occasionally make a comment about Bidant's 'elvan ways' until Bidant finally had enough, responding in kind.