Alec entered the underground club house. Men and women danced to the funky music, as well as the junky drinks in their hands. He, however, went straight to the bar and pulled his sleeve up to his shoulder. The bartender nodded and led him into the backroom.
"Welcome home." A man greeted him. His hair, tied behind his head in a bun, was black-ish silver. He sported a grizzly beard of the same color that almost covered his mouth. Wearing a shirt jacket and short pants, his skin shone an oily, health brown. He sat in a tall back chair, swirling a glass of wine in his hand.
"How goes our business with the Nether?" He asked.
"We have a plan to wipe the Nether off of Felden maps in two days, my liege." Alec kneeled, crossing his left hand over his chest. "We require some assistance."
"For that cause, you have all our resources." The man sipped his drink. "What do you need?"
"The finest archers." Alec replied. "We need to take down that wither if we are to stand a chance."
"How many?"
"How many are available?" Alec asked. "We need every one."
"I would like to oblige. The Nether has interfered with Legion business far too much." The man emptied his glass and waved his hand for more. "But we will need some defense here at home as well."
"Can I have a dozen archers?" Alec requested.
"Yes, but we have no arrows nor bows for them." The man said.
"That shouldn't be a problem. A friend of mine currently in the Nether's armory will provide them."
"Does this, friend, of yours, have any interest in joining us?" He took up his glass with a fresh fill of wine and sipped it.
"He is a former warden, which means he is unlikely to join." Alec replied.
"You know," the man stood up. Placing down his glass on the table, he walked forward. "When you first came to us for help after Felora fell, I thought we had opened a door to recruiting other veterans into our ranks." He walked to a wall full of names. "Or one way to shorten our bounty list. The only reason you have so much access to our resources right now is you are fighting the Nether on our behalf. But you have taken more than given back. What services can you offer us after this war?"
"Anything the Legion requires me to, apart from killing." Alec answered. "I joined the Legion because I had no other choice. The country I once served could not provide for my basic needs, and I cannot stand by and see another, weaker than myself, be harmed. I owe the Legion my life, as well as hers."
The man nodded. "Does she know? The Felina girl?"
"No one knows."
"I will have our archers ready and sent to your location tomorrow. Do not fail us in your plan, Alec."
"Thank you." Alec rose up and exited the room.
"Wait!" Alec stopped.
"Is there something else? My liege?"
"Give me your arm." He pulled up Alec's sleeve, revealing his Legionnaire tattoo. Instead of the sword and shield, he had only a shield. "From now on," he took out an iron stamp, "You now are an official member of the Unyielding Legion." He pressed it onto his arm, adding the sword to his tattoo.