The Matriarch's Daughter

Chapter Twelve: 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 friend, 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 Fox: First female Captain of the Goldale Army and Leader of an Elite Strike 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 mission 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 arrive, I'll assess the situation and choose which one to execute or adapt. 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 battle-hardened beings known for their brute strength. They—"

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

Thepa looked towards the elder satyr, feeling awkward under her gaze.

Maybe I'm trying too hard.

"Right... Well, if that's the case, we stick to the plan. After we teleport to the ionic crystal, Bidant will confirm our credentials, then we'll 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 a joy for Thepa. The colors dazzled her, almost youngling-like in their brilliance, filling her with awe. She had seen both Einkidi and Claudia use magic, but Rory danced as if the magic was a part of her soul, 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 uneasy. Not because she didn't trust Rory, but because the last time had gone wrong. When the familiar sense of weightlessness overtook her, she clenched her jaw, held her breath, and trusted Rory's grace to guide them to safety.

Moments later, the sensation subsided. When Thepa opened her eyes, they had arrived safely at the ionic crystal.

So far, so good.

Upon arrival, the outpost soldiers verified their credentials, and the sergeant in charge delivered an update. Some of the enemy had already been killed in a counterattack, and a few had fled. The number of remaining Orcs was unknown, but any intel was better than none. Thepa accepted a map, thanked the sergeant, and promised to fetch him once the mission was complete.

And that's when the nightmare began.

The minute Thepa handed Bidant the map, Will scoffed as he adjusted his gear. "Is it really a good idea to rely on the senses of an elf to get us through the woods?"

Bidant stiffened but kept walking. "Say what you mean, Commander."

"I think I just did."

"You imply that being an elf makes me unreliable."