"There is plenty of time, though I admire your excitement" came Isendir's steady reply.<br/><br/>Isendir kept a brisk, but even pace as he travelled along the aged dirt road that lead to Banur.  It was only a day or so's walk from this point.<br/><br/>Isendir was of elven lineage, and he showed it.  He stood a few inches over five feet tall, had a sinewy, lean build, chiseled features, and shoulder-length, deep brown hair tied into a ponytail.  His emerald colored eyes shone with a wisdom that seemed out of place for a man as youthful in appearance as he.  He wore a dark green cloak (a cloak given to all full-fledged rangers), a chain-shirt of elven mail, brown leggings, and a pair of fine leather boots.  Strapped to his belt was a longsword and a dagger--Isendir's preferred weapons in combat.  Though, that was another benefit of his elven lineage.  Though he appeared to be a man barely into his thirties, Isendir had just recently seen his 200th birthday.<br/><br/>His mind wandered over the recent decades of his life, filling him with nostalgia and dread.  Banur had grown quickly and at a disturbing pace.  He remembered his childhood when Banur had been but a fledgling kingdom.  He rembered humans clearing out acre upon acre of forest to expand their small kingdom.  In but a single century, it had become one of the largest nations on the entire continent.  Truly, for as short-lived as they were, humans were surely a capable and ambituous people.<br/><br/>Ambition...however, had its dark sides.  It was the elf's own personal understanding that such rapid growth for any kingdom was unhealthy.  As unified and powerful as it seemed from an external view, the ranger could not help but ponder the state of the empire's government.   Casting aside his thoughts for the moment, he shot a glance to his student, Rikki, who was still sitting atop a tree branch.  He could not deny his joy in being entrusted to train her.  He'd known and been good friends with the girl's parents.  Her high spirits were remarkable, surely a gift from her mother...<br/><br/>Rikki was of mixed orc and elven blood; these two peoples had rarely seen eye to eye for the centuries of recorded history.  Granted, she was born among the rangers, who claimed both orcs and elves in their ranks...but a being of such heritage was sure to be unpopular anywhere else, such as his homeland, the elven kingdom of El'Rhea.<br/><br/>"ease yourself, pupil.  Need I remind you that we are travelling to Banur on behalf of the Rangers?  There are important matters to discuss regarding recent Banur's recent expansion...not to mention continued trade disputes and conflicts with the neighboring orc tribes."<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>