Chapter 2

Skidding to a halt, Turi identified an elegant looking residence as the source of the strange sound. On the outside, nothing appeared to be off.

Moving in closer to investigate, Turi quickly recognised this as the home of one of the wealthiest elven traders of the realm.

The ornately decorated wooden structure had large round windows in the front, but Turi couldn't make out anything inside. Just as she was about to go around the back, the sound grew louder, like a low rumble emanating from deep within.

Suddenly massive fireballs blew out the round glass panels of the front windows and she was knocked back against the ground. Flames burst through the top of the building, and Turi scrambled to back away from the intense heat that engulfed the house.

Disbelief, shock. This was a most exceptional sight, and passersby now flocked to gawk at the incidence. Fires rarely occurred within the forest kingdom, and certainly not at this time of year.

With a jolt Turi realised someone might still be inside the residence, which was now completely ablaze. Her pulse raced as she considered her options. Without further ado she wrapped a handkerchief in front of her mouth and nose and decided to go straight through the front door.

It collapsed easily, the fire now having consumed most of the wooden frame. Turi made her way through the hall, crouching low and shielding herself from the flames and thick smoke overhead.

She only made it as far as the living room when she realized the futility of her enterprise. Feeling faint from smoke inhalation, Turi understood no one could have survived the initial blast, let alone the smolder and heat that followed.

The smoke came in thick and black now, and Turi felt disoriented. No one seemed to be here, so she double backed to the hallway, feeling increasingly nauseous. Confusion set in to her fogged up brain.

Unsure of which way to turn she crawled towards the light. Coughing and feeling her way forward, two pairs of hands suddenly reached for her and pulled her out of the smoking building.

Panting and wheezing she lay on her back, tears streaming from her eyes. 

'Well that was heroic' one of the shapes said. 'Pretty impressive-come-mad' the other shape quipped, bending over her and wiping her face with a wet cloth. 'Do I know you?' Turi managed to rasp between greedily breathing in gulps of fresh air.

'We're your new recruits, boss' the two elves chimed together. With a low moan the residence partly collapsed, and the three of them were showered with a cloud of soot.

'Welcome to the team' Turi smiled at their shocked faces. This promised to be an interesting case for the internal surveys team.

Little did they know.