Snippet #2519842

The twenty Elite stood straight in two ordered lines on either side of the perfectly smooth stone bridge before the Great Doors to the surface. Any other day, they would have worn their parade armour, a light mix of black cloth and steel, yet today they wore massive black armour much similar to that of Weyellin's, yet nowhere near as protective. They were armed with large halberds, yet also had a sword ready at their side for close combat. Weyellin made his way out of the keep with his grey horse onto the bridge, walking slowly before stopping at the fifth man and thumping his chest twice with his right hand. He was much more well armed, carrying his crested shield and sheathed sword at his side, with a compact repeating crossbow at his hip. A dagger concealed itself within his boot, and he smiled to himself before his face returned to it's regular sternness.
"You may stand at ease."
The two lines of Elite swung their arms behind their back in unison.
"Men. You are some of the best in the lower arm of the Everlast Force. This turn of the stone, I entrust my life unto you. We will travel to the Raraku, slamming any and every obstacle in our way. The man we are looking for is a mage, but do not be fooled; He is a pyromancer of the highest rank, and bloodthirsty, at that." Weyellin looked over the men. Not one had a strike of fear in their dark faces. This pleased him, and he continued.
"He is suspected of having an blade of obsidian in his possession, and if that is true, he will like nothing more than to colour your bodies black with it's edge. His flame will be his dominant weapon, however, and so we will need the aid of a magical barrier." He looked behind him to see the Grandmaster, who swiftly bowed and met Weyellin's eye.
"Grandmaster, go and collect the keep's Betrayed."
The Grandmaster bowed again and left hurriedly into the shadows between the two towers that guarded the entrance to the keep. Weyellin took another look at the keep. He had admired it since he was a boy, and it still amazed him to this day. It was built upon a large circular rock, it's black walls following the natural contours of the rock perfectly before coming to a halt halfway into the keep. The keep itself was very large, and was carved out of the natural pillar of rock that held up the great kingdom. From this distance, the keep appeared as if thorned, as many of the towers had incredibly spiked roofs. Below the great circular rock laid the kingdom of Everlast, a giant city of dark, blackened further by the shadow of the underground, all carved into the rock. Along the walls, lava flowed down into pools of stone, letting it run down further underneath the city for heating. It was an effective system that Weyellin himself had thought of.
Parish bells rang, and faintly, Weyellin could hear the bustle of the city's streets below the bridge, market traders shouting their prices, the metallic clang of a hammer against the forge. It was all too much to take in at once, yet Weyellin was used to it. He had ruled here most of his life, and it had taken him years to fully appreciate the beauty of the city. All throughout his admiration of the city, his face never once changed to one of emotion. It was blank. Cold. He turned to face the Elite and speak once again, but the Grandmaster's raspy voice interrupted him.
"The keep's Betrayed, sir."
Weyellin turned his head to the side and saw the girl out of the corner of his eye. Her mouth had been stitched shut, and her eyes were gleaming and watery.
"Betrayed. We are in need of a magical barrier to protect us from flame. Is this something you can do?"
The girl bowed silently.
"Good. Then we will take you along with us." He turned and walked towards the girl. He opened his mouth to speak before his eyes met hers. They were a gorgeous bright blue, almost turquoise in the light of the lantern the Grandmaster now had held close to her face. It didn't seem to bother her, however. Perhaps the warmth of the lantern made a change from the large and empty cell the Betrayed are kept in. Weyellin ran his finger across the girl's mouth.
"Mages are not to be trusted." He said, turning once again to face the Elite.
"There are 22 of us, and only one of him. Let us show him the true meaning of Everlast Justice!" He shouted, unsheathing is sword from his side and thrusting it into the air triumphantly.
"We live to serve Everlast, and will die to protect it further!" The Elite screamed together.
"Arahu!" Weyellin said, changing the position of his sword in the air towards the Great Doors in front of him, which had now slowly begun opening, the singing of chains bringing the doors to life. Weyellin hauled himself onto his large horse and began to trot down the centre of the two lines of Elite.
"Superiors! Orders!"
The two men at the front of either line barked orders to their men, and all men turned to face the doors, and began marching.
"It has begun." Weyellin said with a smile, taking his helm from the rope at his hip and placing it onto his head once again.