"Asthan Windcrown", the death knight's ear caught. It was Xugar, his Argent Dawn friend. One of the few who ever tolerated his own existence after being raised to an abomination. The raven haired blood elf turned his chin in the direction of his left shoulder to see a large, grey haired orc waving in the distance. The large warrior's ape like arm swung ridiculous from side to side, high and proud with a white toothed grin doting his expression.
"You damn blood elf, you better return", the green skinned male bellowed out in deep baritones. "I owe you a damn drink, you son of a bitch! I don't plan on dying owing anything to anyone!"
The raspy deep voice of the orc forced a chuckle to bubble from the ordinarily stone cold knight. Asthan's head turned back to face the direction his steed was taking him. A long arm clasped in midnight black armor, rose. He wasn't one to leave with pleasantries in the air but he wasn't one to ignore a friend either. Just the gesture itself spoke more than words could ever do and Xugar didn't need any explaining. "I'll be back, you bastard", the death knight whispered.
Xugar knew if anyone could survive in the Eastern Plaguelands, it was Asthan. The blood elf death knight had taken on hordes of undead alone and saved a few garrisons of the Argent Dawn from utter annihilation. The orc didn't know much about the elf's past and nor was he going to pry. He never once questioned the death knight either about such trivial pasts. What the commander did know was enough to earn his complete trust.
Asthan was quiet for the most part and always kept to himself. Despite the other knights in the Argent Dawn not liking him due to what the elf was and is, the orc couldn't over look an obvious detail. The death knight had no say in his creation but enough will to break that hold over his very soul. Xugar couldn't even imagine how desperate that battle must have been nor could he even relate! It was enough to earn the old commander's trust and respect.
The commanding orc sighed with a heavy breath. The church seemed more of a rest stop for the knight, now a days. He rarely said his good byes and the elf sure didn't make conversation, especially over a drink. The officer scratched his head, allowing his thick green fingers to comb through his braided snow white hair. A gruff grunt parted his lips slightly. He began to ponder, while watching Asthan's figure disappear into the shadows of the land. "I bet all this awkward feeling is from that time involving Lieutenant Roland."
"I see that brat left without saying good bye again", a woman's voice spoke up. Xugar flinched as his hand slipped down to his hip. An instinctual reaction from troops that had slept many nights outside the church's protection. His dark blue eyes shot over to see the person who intruded on his thoughts. "Merewen", the orc breathed before relief washed over him. His large mitt removing itself from the hilt of his battle axe.
Now standing next to the orc commander was an elder human captain. Her age really did reflect on her features but the orc couldn't over look her beauty. Even as a human, the woman was more tenacious than any female of his own kind. If one would describe the old bat, it was like a war chief of old had been crossed with a commanding presence of a demon, and sprinkled with a personality of a mad worg. She was one he'd never raise his voice too despite his position being higher.
"You, old coot", the salt and peppered haired woman snapped while she adjusted her long pony tail. Her copper eyes turning up at the taller male in silver and white armor. "You think you can just walk around in your uniform on your time off", the captain continued to scold. "Look at you", she pointed out without skipping a beat. "Your armor still covered in grime and filth. You haven't even bathed. No wonder that brat runs away as fast as he gets here. I could smell you over the stalls we're standing next to", the officer continued to berate.
"First off Merewen, thanks. I'm so old, I can't remember these small details anymore. What would I do if I didn't have you to remind me", the orc's sarcastic tone seeped through the small tusks jetting from his lower jaw.
"I'd smack you, you silly fool", the gray and raven haired woman warned with a small smirk forming on her aged lips. "But you're still wearing your armor and I'm afraid that wouldn't be enough to protect you from me."
The two shared a snicker before Xugar continued. "And keep in mind, you aged bat that '…kid' is older than you."
The woman threw up both her hands in a shrug. Her eyes closed for a moment as a wide grin formed on her thin lips. "Eh, if he acts like a kid… Still a kid. I'd still pull his ears if he ever stepped out of line."
The two officers couldn't help but burst into laughter. "An Argent Dawn captain pulling the ears of a death knight", the orc roared. "That'd be the day! I'd buy you a drink! Na… The whole damn keg!"
Laughter echoed through the dark forests and lands of the Plaguelands. A rare sound that wasn't accompanied by malicious intent or insanity. The two's conversation was even carried by the wind and Asthan couldn't help but let out a sigh of annoyance. The elf's sharp hearing heard the whole conversation. His cheeks grew hot with both embarrassment and irritation. They acted like parents seeing their son off but he was nothing to be proud of nor was he anything his real parents recognized. "So why did they have to act like that", he hissed lowly.
"I wish they would stop", his whisper came a little louder than expected. The pure sound gave him a slight startle. "I know what they are doing and it won't solve anything. I'm still an undead no matter how anyone puts it. I'm just ok at using a sword", the elf's whispers came a little brasher.
"I want them to stop but that agonizing feeling inside doesn't want it to either. Common sense would say I'm not someone to be chummy with, to drink with, let alone to even tease. One shouldn't approach me yet those two do it so damned easy!" In the end his tones broke free of their caged whispers and Asthan found himself growling and gripping the reins a little tighter than he normally would. Even the leather padding under the heavy armor protested from his grip.
"Mare", he spoke clearly towards his Deathcharger neighed. His hand reached down and padded the bare part of the neck, just below the steed's armor. "You've been with me through everything. You'll also never grow old or die from disease. Your legs will never break and you'll never misguide me into thinking I'm something when I'm not. You truly are a knight's best companion."
Mare neighed once more as if she understood his words and confusion. Like a cherished friend, she could only waver her head up and down while making small neighs in return. In truth, she could feel his discomfort when he was near due to their common blight and being a herd animal, instinctually she saw her rider as her precious family. A true knight, undead or not, would understand how important such a relationship was. In many cases, knight's wives would complain that they treated the horses better. In actuality, they would and with good reasoning. Asthan would never compromise Mare for a lover and sworn women off well before his death knight days had begun.
"Well… To sum things up… I guess you're the only female I will ever need", he half joked with a smirk touching his lips. "Let's go. I heard some trouble brewing in the North near Ghostlands." With a gentle nudge, the Deathcharger lunged forward and began heading towards their destination.