The rogues who would stay behind knew what to do.
As the drama fizzled out, they continued their preparations; doing their exercises, warming their bodies up with their training drills and sparing, eating their lunch, bathing in the streams and under the waterfalls, stacking up their strength, waiting.
==========
Early evening, Darius stood hurriedly. The elite with the furry body was approaching him. The shifter’s eyes were deep yellow as his wolf pushed forward. Darius stared.
He had never seen wolves in part shift with anything but black eyes.
“My prince, it is almost time. You will wait here. We will move into the forest. No matter what you hear or see, do not leave this place.”
Darius nodded. He knew enough not to bother countering the shifter. The wolves with him were not his
