“Well, my servants, I could use such armed and competent men as yourselves. I’ve been afraid of thieves the past few days. Could you stare off that way and make sure none chase after me? I’ll sleep better tonight if you do.”

“Welcome to Veldaren,” both guards said in unison. They uncrossed their spears and pointedly ignored the two half-orcs as they entered the city.

“Since when are you a rich little elf?” Harruq asked once they were beyond earshot.

“Since never,” she laughed. “In about an hour, those two will find themselves three copper pieces richer. I hope it is enough to buy them a drink to drown their sorrow.”

“And I thought I was the devious one,” Qurrah said.

A few peddlers eagerly brought out their wares as the trio passed by. Aurelia waved them off without slowing. For the most part, however, they were ignored. The southern districts of Veldaren were filled with homes of the poorer inhabitants. It wasn’t until the center of the city that the real merchants set up shop. A beautiful fountain carved as a statue of a crowned man wielding a sword marked where the roads leading from the southern and western gates met. Aurelia paused before the statue, reading aloud the writing beneath.

“Valius Kren, first great King of Neldar…”

She chuckled at the blurred writing underneath, knowing full well what it originally said.

“…to be appointed by the hand of glorious Karak himself,” she finished. Harruq gave her a funny look, but Qurrah seemed far more intrigued.

“How is it you know this?” he asked.

“About sixty years ago some priests of Ashhur demanded the statue be destroyed, or the words below erased. Karak founded this entire nation, and placed the stones with his hands, yet it seems many would like to forget such an allegiance. It was all the talk among the elves, many fearing the humans would soon forget, and then repeat, the mistakes of their past.”