Twilight surrendered to darkness as Sorrel led the AMAZON squad through the dense forest that marked the boundary between Moonlight Kingdom and the lawless territories beyond. Fifteen of Queen Elysia's finest elven warriors moved silently through the undergrowth, their leather boots barely disturbing the carpet of fallen leaves beneath them.
'Mother thinks her throne room intimidations will stop what's coming,' Sorrel thought bitterly as she signaled for the squad to halt in a small clearing. 'As if threats and executions could rewrite prophecy.'
"We'll make camp here for the night," she announced, her silver hair gleaming in what little moonlight filtered through the canopy. "Set a perimeter. Double watch rotations."
Commander Lynnae approached, her tall elven frame moving with predatory grace. Of all the AMAZON warriors, she was the most formidable—a master of water manipulation who could draw moisture from the very air around her.
