Avenger Returns (part one)

Mina took a seat next to Nix on the grassy riverbank and waited until the rest of the officers had left. She held up three Ricoli artifacts. "We can use all three of these."

Nix whistled softly. "They should have some beasts still in them, right? Three Elder Matriarchs should have a stable of a hundred and twenty between all of them."

Mina nodded. "There were less than half that numbered deployed to deal with us. I guess they figured we'd be easy prey."

"Elder Matriarchs... What kind of beasts are we talking about?" Nix watched her pale eyes closely, they weren't sad but there was a feeling of loneliness or perhaps isolationism.

"My grandmother didn't deploy any of hers. They have been combined and altered to the point where I can't even guess what they are." Mina scooted closer and slid her hand through his arm. "She was the last of my family Nix, the very last."