Chapter 28: Past memories (9) - Encounter & Rescue

"Are we leaving from the north?" Sariria asked the obvious, because Que'Thalas was located on the northern direction and was the viable option to regroup with other force.

Her other friend, Tarilia was silent. If Lireesa had decided this alternative, she wouldn't really be discussing. Instead, there would only be her command and others adding up to compensate. Sena and Ella who knew Lireesa long enough already understood, she wanted what others didn't expect. The most probable direction should be the opposite, deep into enemy lines. If they were to retreat northward, there was higher chance of encountering huge number of trolls and they'd have to force their way in. Her 100 women, a platoon size, wasn't enough to accomplish it, plus none of them received the news from the headquarter, how far the frontline was being pushed back. If it was longer than they'd expected, they were clearly seeking by choosing this direction.

"According to my estimate, our location's probably closer to the sea in the western part," Lireesa said while recalling her memories. "If we move west, we can also link up with the humans and pay the fees for our return by sailing across the sea back to our capital." She also scratched her head, because humans were not reliable in a sense. Although they were grateful for the humans' intervention during the Great troll war, it wasn't for nothing.

Back to the present, Sena'eyes showed dissatisfaction with her idea of seeking help from the human. She felt extremely unreliable. Her eyes still blamed Lireesa for losing the map during the fight against high-level trolls. Because the map in Lireesa's possessions contained explicit details and topography, for any military expedition. Now that this map was gone and what everyone had was an ugly drawing indicating rough locations of where they were at. Fortunately, waterfall besides them was a landmark and easy to find; they could plan their way out.

Ella remained silent, as she wasn't so great in giving new ideas, but was well-versed being an adjutant organizing the plans and preparations. She was unanimously regarded as secretary by the whole group. Lireesa stated her plan, "If we didn't want to seek humanity, it's still okay. That'll be a last resort. But my plan remains unchanged. We'll move south or south west, avoiding the large groups of trolls. What I'm now ambiguous was whether we should wreck chaos behind the enemies while we moved. Or should we quietly just escape?"

Sarira was unwilling to leave without damaging the trolls. She asked, "Can we damage them without compromising our retreat?"

"If our direction is toward the human settlement, the plan doesn't change, no matter how much we create chaos, I think we can pretty much fight along the way," Lireesa answered Sariria's question seriously. Everyone had recovered and their strength output was more than their previous battle, because they grew mature from these bitter battles. Even if they were outnumbered, as long as they didn't meet quasi-legend powerhouse, they were fine. Luckily all enemies' quasi-legend were piled near the frontline, which was also another reason why Lireesa was reluctant to retreat directly northward.

"So, we're leaving at night?" Sena said as if the question didn't need to be answered, because their current situation was the most dangerous and only by maneuvering would their safety level rise. During the precarious moment, it was best for them to use all the advantages in the surrounding to themselves. For example, since elves had better eyesight than the trolls and their quiet movement, night evacuation was on the table. "We'll probably have 2 days distance before the trolls checked on this location."

They carried on their plans specifically in details and soon the sun set. Darkness envelope the whole forest, but the stars above shone enough power to be able to see slightly in the darkness. The whole group marched slowly without making noises in the direction of the west, or what they thought would be. They were silent, methodical and meticulous throughout the whole night operations; Sena and her group were tasked with clearing the trails left behind by the elves. If the trolls tried to pursue, they would find themselves lost and the elves disappeared from the map as if magically. The night was naturally the time when trolls fell asleep. Their journey never encountered any trolls and they were relieved to escape from their encampment smoothly. Soon, the whole night, Lireesa and her subordinates walked until the sunlight started to come out from behind on the horizon.

They immediately looked out for a perfect hiding place to rest for a moment before the sun came out and dawn arrived. All of them got busy, placing traps and some ordered to scout around. Lireesa ordered the rest of the platoon to take a rest. She asked her friends to also rest and she would take the post of guarding the whole camp. The others agreed, although they weren't tired to the extent of needing a rest, it was best to maintain their state to the peak. Besides, Lireesa, high-level peak, was comparable to the four of them, if not crushing them in terms of strength.

Glancing at the whole camp, most of the rangers were lying flat without any grace of elven women, Lireesa's cheek twitched uncontrollably. These girls weren't probably considering to marry. But who knew the future. While Lireesa was deep in thoughts, scouts quickly reported back. Most of their reports indicated no trolls' appearance nearby until one broke in seemingly in a hurry. According to her statement, she found a group of 70 trolls transporting around a dozen prisoners. They were now resting, apparently in their dream, except for very few sentries. It appeared they felt the whole war was away from them and their security became lax, not expecting there were elite rangers now eyeing at them.

"Do you know who the prisoners are?" Lireesa asked because this was important to her next action.

The scout shook her head and said, "I wasn't able to get close and they hide their prisoners in the center. I fear it would alert them if I got any closer. Captain." Lireesa waved her hand signaling her she understood and didn't mean to blame her. Lireesa asked her to act as guide to show her the location. She summoned 20 mid-level peak rangers with her. After 10 minutes, they arrived at the scene and discovered the perfect opportunity to attack. But Lireesa held her idea back and demanded to scout this surrounding area again to see if there were other trolls nearby. She received the news quickly there were none and the trolls were alone by themselves.

The assault was expected to be quick and easy, because there were only 10 mid-level trolls and the rest were low-level or in apprentice stage. She called all 20 rangers and assigned them their task. She would kill all mid-level by herself. They tried to approach closer, while Lireesa eliminated the sentries cleanly without making a noise. She signaled with her hand to commence the battle. It took less than 20 seconds and all trolls were eliminated. Lireesa now could have a clear picture inside the cages. They were her compatriots. She ordered her subordinates to release them quickly. After cleaning up the battlefield, they returned back to the camp while Lireesa stayed behind cleaning up the trails.

She rescued 15 elves, 10 men and 5 women, among which most of them were rangers, while five were arcane mages, 3 men and 2 women. This group appeared to have no leaders, apparently, they were from different teams and unfortunately being held captive. But a male elf who was also mid-level mage came forward and thanked Lireesa, who appreciated and said, it was their luck to be discovered by them. After flattery between both sides finished, Lireesa showed her happiness to receive the help of mages and asked them if the poison potion could be manufactured for the current crisis.

The man's name was Arden Eveningrest, which she never had heard of, probably part of the lower houses of the noble families. The reason she regarded him as noble wasn't strange, given that most mages were nobles or vassals of them. Civilian could also become mage, but it was only a small chance and most were immediately recruited into noble families. He said, "Your excellency, Captain. We're glad to help your rangers. Our abilities are sufficient enough to meet your requirements although more potent and lethal potions required several other instruments not currently available."

"That would be enough, your excellency. Your contribution will save many of our rangers and our mission success become easier to attain." Lireesa generously butter up this humble mage. Arcane mages were highly respected and their professions were envied by others. Therefore, most sorcerers disdained to talk with non-arcane professions and even if they must, they always had condescending attitude, which also made Lireesa uncomfortable to make friends with. When she now appreciated his humbleness, her reciprocal was definitely going to be more polite and respectable. "Before we met you, we actually plan to make a little chaos and retreat completely. Now that we have your respectable mages, I believe we could wreak havoc for the trolls. Worry not, I'll quit these actions as soon as a slight danger pops up. Your safety had also become our priority."

"I'm flattered. I hope soon to get to my work, so that potions are ready for you."

"Definitely, you can request my subordinates any necessary materials and they'll help you as best as they can." Lireesa replied, returning the salute of this mage when he left. Lireesa summoned two other female high elves' mages for a conversation. They were initially estranged at first and Lireesa talked about various topic to get them comfortable and asked them how they were captured. The women became more familiar as time passed and called each other sisters soon. Mage Arden would definitely be pissed about the way of treatment by Lireesa toward different genders, if he knew.

After chatting unrelated topics for a while, Lireesa decided to introduce herself, "My name is Lireesa Windrunner. I'm now serving as a captain of the scout unit." The two women gasped when they heard her surname, because Windrunner was the great house of noble, who were eligible to take part in Silvermoon council but decided not to. They were highly loved by common people and could be regarded as the ancestor of ranger professions. The two noticed, Lireesa only introduced herself completely to them and they were pleased. As arcane mages, they were highly sought by noble families. Except for Windrunner, arcane mage were rarely followers of them. Now they knew they were going to be recruited strangely by Lireesa, because among Windrunner, she was the first to invite the mage into her family.

In order not to offend this young lord in front of them, two women decided to speak and confess their situation first to avoid embarrassment. "Milady, I'm grateful for your recruitment, but we, unfortunately, already served in the noble family." If they hadn't entered the noble house, they would instantly agree. In most noble house, arcane mages were not rare and competition was very high. In Windrunner house, the two would become very few who would definitely be supported greatly and cared for. They might even become darlings of Windrunner.

"Ah. That's a pity." Lireesa signed out in disappointment. Two mages looked into each other's eyes and voiced out in agreement and smiled wryly. Shaking the sadness out of her mind, she still sent them gifts or two friendship tokens of Windrunner and said, "If you need any help, you can find me. You are now my Windrunner's friends."

They were immediately flattered and bowed their heads slightly in thanks. Being treated highly by the member of great house of nobility, satisfied their vanity.a