34 Chapter 33: Back to present times

Lireesa arrived at the royal court with her mother and just a mere procedure for an entry tired her out. When they arrived at the royal court, where meetings were usually held, the king stood up and welcomed them. Lireesa felt strange for a monarch to personally willing to befriend her and not her mother. Alleria understood what the king had in mind, especially early engagement between the two was before Lireesa took the position of the Windrunner house. The current king was the younger junior for Alleria and her prestige might have frightened him slightly, which wasn't a good sign, as there could be cracks between the monarch and minister. Luckily, it wouldn't be long for Lireesa after this war and the king seemed to sense the situation.

After polite greetings and nonchalant chats between her mother and the king, all of them took their seats. Her mother and the king discussed about the frontline situation and later mentioned how Lireesa had alleviated their predicaments. Because Lireesa created troubles deep in the trolls' settlement, their coalition had many disagreements and were unable to launch a coordinated offensive on Quel'Thalas. It meant Lireesa's contribution was very essential in giving enough time for the high elves to react and plan. She and her fellow rangers gave a strategic opportunity. Now while trolls were still not coordinated yet, Alleria advised for a counter-offensive, which the king agreed very much and told them would surely be discussed in the council meeting. Afterward, the topic returns to Lireesa, where the king decided to show his favor by giving rewards.

"Ladies, as much as one has responsibilities and conduct their duties faithfully without complaint, we mustn't chill our heroes' hearts and Quel'Thalas will never hold back the honors and gifts they deserved. Lady Lireesa will be granted.." The king paused amid the audience gleaming eyes.

After hearing the king mentioned the reward, her anticipation grew, because as the heiress to Windrunner house titles, money and treasures were all available. If the king really wanted to grant her for her meritorious service, it was definitely going to be out of her expectations. She would own the nobility titles in the future, inheriting her mother's rank of Marquese and the rank above the duke was impossible, because her contribution wasn't sufficient for such entitlement. As the Windrunner house, whose family existed since ancient times and were the ancestors of ranger professionals, Lireesa's connection and financial ability needed not to be doubted. Windrunner naturally had their unique heirloom treasure, Thas'dorah. The legend once told this elven heirloom was wield by the infamous Ranger-General, which could transform an amateur archer into a peerless elite master in archery. This majestic treasure was carved from a branch of a mother tree, known as Thas'alah of the Eversong Woods, which was the ancient sacred tree that grew alongside with Quel'Thalas since its founding. Although this weapon wasn't in Lireesa's hand yet, her mother held it, receiving from generation to generation.

However, such similar gift could be considered exceptionally huge, if the king rewarded her, because the longbow's equipment rank wasn't low and was regarded as Semi-artifact. However, just this particular heirloom costed enormous resources to be produced and it became rare for similar equipment to be born. As Lireesa expected, the royal family reward for her was exactly as she had thought. None of these titles, money and treasures were involved. It wasn't high but respectable gift. The king allowed her family, Windrunner house, to recruit the extra 2000 personal guards. Adding up with her mother's previous Marquese rank allowance to have 3000 guards, the award meant the Windrunner house now had 5000 guards.

In the evening, the two mother and daughter enjoyed the rare reunion before going to war, on the carriage returning back to their fief. In addition to the reward granted to Lireesa, her Windrunner unit could now be regarded as exceptionally decorated unit. All her subordinates who participated along with her journey were promoted to the next rank, along with some bonuses from the royal family. Listening to the narration of the king's description about many events during this war broadened her hindsight and taught her one important lesson. Information and the intelligence were the most vital components for a leader and mustn't be ignored during the decision-making process.

Lireesa also learnt the prospect of the upcoming war and preparations required to be managed. And the reason why the two were in a very happy mood was because of another gifts from the king. They received 5 eggs of dragonhawk, which meant that Windrunner house possessed a small air force power after these dragonhawks matured and served as their mounts. These dragonhawks could later reproduce among themselves and increased Windrunner's combat capabilities. This king's favor had already allowed themselves to be top rank even among all the great house of nobility.

Dragonhawks were rarely used in gifts, because they were so precious and symbols of the power of royal families. Therefore, all the riders were aristocrats, entourages serving the royal family, similar to knights in human kingdoms. Therefore, there was no possibility for Windrunner to receive such gift, but Alleria and Lireesa understood the implication shown by the royal family. In the whirlpool of Silvermoon, the king was young and his prestige wasn't sufficient for the other member in the council to agree his plan. He needed allies and Windrunner, as one of the great noble houses, was exactly the help he desired. Windrunner, despite their capabilities, refused to enter the high-level silvermoon council and decided to only served in the military guarding Quel'Thalas from trolls. Although Windrunner couldn't help the king in the court, the influence was still there.

By borrowing their power and influence, the current royal family, whose prestige wasn't enough, could prevent the suppression of other great nobles and strived for his own goals. Naturally, these competitions were healthy and didn't reach life and death situation. If it did, the one who initiated was most likely to be suppressed by every noble house and sanctioned. Although, Alleria abhorred participation in wresting with the old elves in the council, the king had given too much for them to deny. Lireesa also supported her decision, not to mention improving Windrunner house militarily and politically.

.................

Back to the present, while Lireesa was deep in her own thoughts, she heard Sena's chuckle and Alleria's uncontrollable laughter, discussing how the old Lireesa overcame her embarrassment. Her friend really only told her shameful stories and skipped her heroic deeds. This mustn't be done, especially her daughter Alleria shouldn't misinterpret her mother based on Sena's depiction. Despite knowing Alleria wouldn't change her opinion easily about her mother, Lireesa signed in relief after thinking Alleria used to see her as too perfect, which was never a good sign. There existed no such thing as perfect in the whole world. Learning about Lireesa's mistakes and her cute behavior of running away from the blame might draw a completely different image of her. But Alleria found herself getting close to her mother who she really admired and loved, because she saw her mother's flaw.

Alleria's eyes gleamed sometime when she was interested in the stories and she held her breath, whenever the excitement and dangerous part came, even if she knew her mother safe and sound. She immersed herself as one of the small characters visualizing what Sena narrated. Speaking of Alleria, Lireesa also recognized her own mother who had the exactly same name as her daughter. The old Lireesa admired and idolized her mother, who passed away peacefully and satisfied of her daughter's achievement. Lireesa expected her eldest daughter to reach her mother's height and along with her immense love comparable to her mother, she gave her the same name. Her daughter beyond doubt wasn't a substitute for her mother. Her expectations killed the two relationships, although nothing had occurred yet.

Now after thoroughly sifting through these specific memories, Lireesa was a little embarrassed to request the king increase the number of her guards. But she quickly threw that thought away, determining the importance of having sufficient numbers for her family's lifeline. She also remembered Windrunner house still possessed a small number of air force around 20 dragonhawks. These dragonhawks born in Quel'Thalas were affected by the arcane energy emitting from the sunwell, causing them to mutate and become a long-lived specie. Long-live species had one obvious shortcoming, which was reproduction.

Even after nearly a millennium passed, these 5 dragonhawks given by the current king, merely increased four times where the original ten were already dead. In the coming event, her air force could act as qualified scouts and messengers to have a more coordinated effort. Lireesa was elated whenever she saw her family possessed many force multipliers except for arcane mages, which she now seriously considered the recruitment on the agenda.

Tomorrow, Lireesa must prepared her thoughts and scenarios, to explain her subordinates carefully. She even drew a plan in her mind the whole process to avoid any awkwardness and common mistakes, which she had to address, where the situation could turn into lethal one. In addition to training her own guards, Lireesa felt her maids also ought to train in some way of combat. Since entering as a maid instead of a guard in Windrunner house meant their talent in becoming rangers was terrible. However, as a modern person, she knew for a fact, someone would always have talent in something. Their archer seemed horrible, but they could still be trained as melee professionals, such as swordsman unlike arcane swordsmen in the royal family, where they could also utilize magic.

Lireesa herself was a sword enthusiastic in previous life and enjoyed wielding one. She had the knowledge of training process, drills, and secrets. She couldn't produce arcane swordswomen with her training, because these secrets were exclusive to Quel'Thalas royal families. She had no guidance nor books related to these professions. Loud laughter from Alleria, her daughter, broke her deep thoughts and attracted her attention on what topics they were now at. After listening to Sena, Lireesa's mouth twitched non-stop. She exceeded what Lireesa originally allowed her to say. Some exaggerations were told. Lireesa just let her be for today. She really couldn't beat Sena yet. Patience and tolerance were the mother of success. Revenge was never too late. Lireesa smiled and gazed at Sena inexplicably. Sena noticed her sight and her spine shivered from premonition for what's going to happen to her in the coming days.

Sena really forgot Lireesa could recover in a few days and surpassed her previous level, which meant anything that bothered her at the current moment, would likely to be retaliated. She hoped Lireesa wasn't narrowminded person. Watching Lireesa got up from her seat and walked toward her, made her stop her speech. This was quickly noticed by Alleria, who was puzzled at the moment why her aunt Sena was being overwhelmed by her mother. Lireesa got close to Sena and put her hand on Sena's shoulder, giving a squeeze and gently moved her mouth besides her ear. Lireesa softly blow into it and whispered.

Sena's heart chilled for the final moment when Lireesa moved her hand, until her ear itched from Lireesa's breath and reddened instantly from every single word of whisper. Her mind went blank from Lireesa exuding her confidence and surprised from Lireesa's initiative. Until Sena felt her ear being bitten subtly, her body trembled and regained her thoughts. Right then, Lireesa was out of her sight, leaving Sena's confused face and bafflement of Alleria.