The Thorns Torment

Mercenary Maiden

It was nearly dawn, as the young woman stood atop the tallest tower in the abandoned fortress that the Black Rose mercenary group now called home. The young woman stood watching the sunrise over the Forrest her blood red hair cascading down her back ending just below her waist. The young woman wore a loosely fitting white shirt, with a pair of brown breeches, and black boots that stopped just below her knees. She also was armed with several different weapons, firstly she wore a short sword at her hip. Along with several daggers of various sizes with differing makes. The red haired young woman also wore a short bow and quiver filled with arrows. Although, both the bow and quiver were obscured by the woman's long red hair. 
Suddenly , the woman spun around having heard footsteps approach, and a gruff voice called out, " Brooding again, darling." At that the woman simply smirked saying nothing she turned back around to stare out over the Forrest surrounding the place she called home.
The man approached her stopping once he was just the the right of the woman, finally saying, " The boss has a new assignment for us, Darling. We leave today."
" Jax, how many times have I told you I hate it when you call me Darling, especially since I'm a better mercenary than you will ever be."
The man just shook his head and said, " Alanna , I am only using your name now because I would rather not be gutted where I stand."
Alanna spun around to face Jax who, stood at least a head taller than herself with broad shoulders, and darker tan skin, he had a large square jaw, and fierce blue eyes, and hair that reached his broad shoulders and was almost as black as coffee. Jax also carried and array of weapons on his person the most notable being the double bladed axe that hung in between his shoulders. Alanna started down the stairs, making her way through the fortress heading straight for the command center inside the keep. Upon reaching the door to the command center she knocked three quick raps on the door, and soon it swung open to reveal, several of the highest ranked members of the Black Rose. The most notable was the current leader he had silver hair, and a beard long enough to be noticable in any crowded room, he also had a scar across his forehead from one job gone horribly wrong. Alanna waited patiently, knowing that although she had been raised by the people in this room, she was on official business and should act as such.
Eventually, the leader of the group spoke, " Alanna, there is a task of the utmost importance for which we require you and your squad to attend to, you must leave today, preparations are already being made."
Alanna nodded, " Sir , might I now inquire about the task at hand?"
Again the man spoke saying, " A noble in the city has requested you're squad by name, the only information we have received is a location to meet them, and that this is a caravan escort you will be undertaking."
Alanna nodded, and then waited as the rest of the members of the upper leadership dispersed.
Alanna finally said, " Alexious, I know you mean well giving me rank and status among the men, but some of them are becoming disquieted about how quickly I jumped through the ranks once I started taking important jobs. Although I know I could best all but you in a fight, they still challenge your decisions on any matters concerning me, as they have a right to do. You did indeed raise me to eventually replace you. "
Alexious sighed morning for Alanna to sit down across from him, " So I have already heard dear, but they only do so because you are truly better than them in every way except one, you know as well as I when it comes to being socially available you are not, and some of the men resent you for it, but I raised you to know that your heart is the most valuable thing in your possession and to use it wisely."
Alanna got up, hugged Alexious, said her goodbyes, and left the keep in search of her squad."