The assault had gone better than expected -- almost too well. Supply lines between the newly established front and the previous Imperial garrison were now secured, and legionnaires were making their way to and from the front. Under Lanik's order his rangers were dispersed throughout the front-line forces, acting as knowledgeable liaisons between the undiscovered forests of Aetherion and the Imperial officers. From what he understood what his men were doing proved to be invaluable to the spearheading forces, and he could not be prouder. The Covenant Rangers were making a name for themselves, not simply under the guise as the hooded men of the North.

While Rayne was in charge of the cohort during his absence, Lanik made his way to Midhaven on horseback alongside Darian and his personal guard. Fin had been dispatched back to Northaven, where mages with magical talent beyond his expertise could assist him with the new life he was to embark on. Lanik cringed at the thought. He could not imagine an existence bound to a chair should the mages magic fail. He wished the best to his man.

There was a distilled silence between the duo as they made way down the road tread by so many others before them. The rolling hills West of them and the lush forests to the East, dotting farming villages sprouting up here and there as far as the eye can see. The sun was at its highest point in the sky prompting Lanik to pull over his hood. He noted the looks of the farmers working their fields, the shepherds lazily watching their herd run amok among the vivid green grasses like a tarp over cresting mounds. The sun was hot, and he could feel himself boil underneath his ranger plate mail. But Midhaven was not terribly far away, so he did not complain.

And while the trek had been long Lanik kept occupied with the thought of the mysterious elf he had encountered in the forest. Kindness was something seldom encountered in the field of battle, and yet she had shown more than such. Guilt stung Lanik’s gut as he remembered the look she gave as she was being dragged away. He was not a man who would sit idly by while a person he was indebted to was dragged off in chains. As warlike as his beloved Imperial culture was, that did not mean all soldiers under said banner functioned without honor. She would most like be sold off into slavery.. . unless Captain Moor had something  else in mind. He shuddered. By Lanik's account she would be at the grand auction house in Midhaven, thus giving reason to his trek back to the mighty capital. 

Lanik couldn't help but note Darian's change in disposition compared to the last time they spoke. The usually jovial and amiable little Darian was keeping to himself, as if experiencing a sudden mood-spell. He even was riding in the front of the line, Lanik four horses to his rear. It was strange to say the least. Darian must not have found the glory he was expecting during his assault on Aetherion. Though.. . he had plenty of time. The invasion had only begun, and this victory only marked the first of a long line of treacherous campaigns to push further into the heart of elven country.

Marië was finding her way into Lanik's thoughts ever since the journey began. Luck, as it would see fit would grant Lanik another visit with his beloved daughter. One misstep scaling that cliff with Finnigan on his back.. . one wrong direction through the forest.. . hell one single encounter with an elf not so keen on his aid and Lanik would have been a dead man. He was thankful before he left to have Rayne send out a few of his rangers to her school and escort her personally back to Midhaven where he would be meeting her. And though the they shared great distances apart, Lanik was never uninformed about her safety. He was looking forward to seeing her.

The captain reared his horse and galloped to the front, sick of the silence and curious to see if he could break Darian's acrimonious mood.

"It's strange Darian," Lanik said, "I figured with such a great victory you would be more talkative than you usually are. Not the opposite,"

Darian sighed, pulling his blonde lock behind his ears and looking over to see his brother, "Why didn't tell me you had Marië escorted by your personal guard. She is my niece brother, and I'd like to know about these things,"

Lanik frowned at such an odd statement, "I didn't I was supposed to. And she may be your niece but she's [i]my[/i] daughter," and that was the truth. It was perplexing to hear that since Darian had never shown an interest in Marië's well-being before.

Darian gave a halfhearted grunt before pointing in the distance, catching Lanik's gaze ahead. He gave a nod before proceeding forward.

Midhaven loomed in the distance, beckoning the group ever closer in the shadow of her ferocity. To this day Lanik's breath was taken away every time he saw the ivory towers standing center, shooting upwards and prodding the light blue that cast over the city on a day like today. As he passed through the mighty wrought iron gates into the city Darian briefly turned to him.

"I'll be in the military quarter," he gave a nod before taking off. Lanik sat there perched on his horse, watching his little brother and cohort of guards take off. Strange.

Lanik glanced up, admiring the architecture of particularly the older buildings he could see. There was a charm that could not be replicated with those older buildings, and despite construction methods changing within the last decade Lanik could swear that those older buildings would outlive anything built now. Even now he could feel a boyish happiness inside him. He remembered his days as a young boy, staring over schematics and buildings plans. And then his time at the Carpenter's Guild. He was a talented woodworker, good with his hands with a keen eye for detail as his professors would say. It was the one thing he was better at than [i]Marcus[/i].

Something stung a Lanik's heart, leaving him apprehensive as he approached the grandeur doors of the Auction House. Just as vividly as he remembered the late nights planning and sharps chisels striking parallel to the grain of the wood, Lanik could remember his brother being there alongside him the whole way. He cursed himself. He had spent the better part of a year toiling over his loss.. . he thought he was over the pain. He thought he was over the aching he could never explain to himself, let alone to little Marië when she asked where uncle Marcus was. That was a long time ago, but if Lanik learned anything from that experience it was that some wounds never truly heal.

Lanik walked through the auction house towards the great room. His silverite plate armor shined and long elegant sky-blue cape caressed the floor behind him as he moved. There were all sorts of people here. To his left were lesser merchants selling off their wares of sickly slaves and the weak, and to his right were the human spoils of those the Imperium had conquered down south. Lanik could hear their bids to and fro. [i]5 pieces! 7 pieces! 10 pieces![/i] The fact that a human life could be condensed into the value of a hunk of metal was beyond him. Lanik noted a ruckus in the great hall, men and women, legionnaire and officer alike chanting in unison.

[i]Kill! Kill! Kill![/i]

Lanik pushed through the crowd of people, exerting more effort as he approached the front. It was as if the sea of people became denser the closer he neared. Soon enough he broke the mob of people. He widened his eyes at the sight before him.

[i]Erudessa. [/i]

The elf had a knife to her throat. He had to do something or surely she would be bleeding out right in front of his eyes. Between the manic of the crowd and the chanting growing louder and louder with each passing moment Lanik raised his hand, unthinking of his position or the consequence. Unthinking of the fact that her kind drew blood from Marcus and ended his life. This elf had saved his ranger, and he was in debt.

"Fifty pieces!" he shouted, the crowd hushed. This man, bearing the sigil of the Ranger Covenant had just bought a slave.