I am a novice writer desperate for any kind of honest feedback on this story. If you could let me know what you think of it, however brief, I will be so very grateful. Thank You.
Razor in the Dark
Chapter 1
Rasek took one last look at the dusty plain before he turned and crept into the dark mouth of the cave. He thought not to unhinge his shield or unsheathe his sword at that moment, because although he'd heard that the dangers of this darkness were numerous, and that a more cautious adventurer might have readied his arms immediately upon entering, Rasek had planned to conserve his powers until they were absolutely needed. He would not allow a trickling fear to wind him into a state of frenzy. That would be asking for failure.
Instead he slogged deeper into the throat of the cave with his weapons still secured to their hinges, and he held his bare hands out in front of him while he waited for his eyes to adjust to the dimness. His boots traipsed over the shrubs that sunk deep into the mud, and soon the sunlit rim of the cave entrance disappeared behind him in the distance. He was alone, with his heartbeat and his canteen. His body was draped in itchy chainmail armor.
There was an oddity about this cave, something that made it seem dethatched from the roads he'd journeyed over to reach it. Unlike the skies and the weeds and the surrounding outer plains, this cave was not dry and barren, the air was damp, and the sweet taste of magic hovered inside these cavernous ceilings of stone. It was as if he'd fallen away from the earth and into the pocket of a twisted dimension. He could feel incense floating on the rising dusts, grains of dark magic, swirling up into his nose. Something unearthly was lurking in the pit, and its aura pervaded the entire cave even up to where Rasek currently plodded. He hoped that whatever monstrosity dwelled down there, it would not be for a long way off, and that in his mission he could completely avoid it.
He was gradually moving forward when something hissed in the black. It sounded like a snake. Rasek stopped suddenly and gripped the handle of his sword, but he still did not unsheathe it. He steadied his pulse and soon released his grasp from the weapon. What sort of warrior would he be if he sprung at the slightest sound? He needed to keep calm. Slowly he crouched and waited. There was no further sound, no soft slithering in the mud, no more hissing. It couldn't have been a snake anyhow, for he'd studied the layout and habitat of this cave back in the libraries of Stormwind. He knew that serpents and other varieties of lizard were not popular here. The hiss must have been the signal he was instructed to listen out for. It was his foreign ally, waiting patiently in the dark for him. At that comforting thought, he stood up straight and opened his dry lips to speak.
"Verin?" he said.
"Aye," came a woman's voice. The voice had a feathery sound, too light and pure for the wicked cave. "Rasek," came the voice again. "Well met."
A few feet in front of him, light from the end of a wooden staff flickered on, and next to it, a beautiful elven face was illuminated. The face had a purple hue with faded blue splotches around the eyes, and a spool of fine white hair glistening behind it. Verin, she was, and she looked like a goddess to Rasek. A goddess who had to morphed to human form but couldn't quite shed her divine beauty in the process. Verin. The first living elf he'd seen.
She smiled. "You move softly for a human." Her silver dress was woven of fine silk and golden links made up the collar. "I am priestess Verin," she said.
Rasek nodded. "Well met," he said. He tried not to lose himself in her radiance.
Across her shoulder, the leather band of a small purse was draped. She patted the purse gently. "I have your payment in here," she said. "Which I will bequeath to you once the mission is completed."
"Deal," said Rasek. He looked around. "Has the other member of our party not arrived?"
"Jiff is here," she said. "He is deeper inside scouting the route. Let us go and retrieve him."
They ventured deeper into the cave, which was now an underground labyrinth. Rasek took the lead, though he did not know precisely where he was going from this point, he thought it his duty to stand in front as a warrior guard, first to absorb any trouble. And this way he could also avoid staring at Verin and dropping his guard.
But there was no other movement in the cave yet. No signs of life, death, or worse. Verin's staff lit the way with its holy beam, Rasek could see exactly how vast the walls were as their shapes made dancing shadows upon it. They were both in the belly of a beast of earth and stone, and their path took them down a winding slope. Rasek had never been to Kalimdor and he decided that venturing deep into the caverns of Razorfen was not the best way to get acquainted with such a splendid continent.
He was a young man of 20 years, groomed to serve the Stormwind Guard for the duration of his life—a noble career, but one of terrifying blandness. Currently he was in his apprentice phase where he had been fast tracked to active duty in zones between Westfall and Northshire. But more soldiers were returning home from far off lands. There was a surplus of experienced officers now and Rasek was needed less and less as the days passed. Often he found himself twiddling his thumbs, performing the menial tasks of an understudy, which he did not particularly mind. Because during lulls he could tuck himself away in the nooks of Stormwind's vast bookshops and read to his heart's content about the entirety of Azeroth. Soon he became entranced by the fascinating histories of foreign domains and the unique people who dwelled there. It was the desire of a young fool, but he began to thirst for adventure, and now, to his well suppressed glee, he happened to find himself in one.
He was concerned, however, that in his eagerness to capitalize on the first opportunity to travel, he had chosen a task far above his still growing capabilities. For this damp labyrinth was thick with peril, it seemed, and the magic he'd faintly felt before was now smothering each one of his senses as they traveled deeper.
Something shifted. Rasek and Verin both stopped moving. Suddenly Rasek felt the sharp point of a dagger poking his side through the space in his armor.
A male's voice breathed softly in his ear. "You would be dead here."
But Rasek's shock only lasted a moment as he guessed what was happening. He didn't freeze, nor did he reach for his sword. Instead he growled, and with his right hand he grasped the dagger-bearing wrist of his assailant and flung the man forward onto the ground before him. It was a male night-elf, clad in black leather with a small green ponytail flopping about his shoulders. Rasek drew his sword, but the elf was back on his feet and backed away out of reach.
"Stop!" Came Verin's voice. "Jiff!" she hissed. "What is the meaning of this?"
The elf slipped his dagger back inside his pocket and dusted himself off. "I am merely testing the competence of our warrior friend here." He peered at Rasek with an expression that wasn't friendly. "What sort of warrior allows himself to be so easily approached?"
Rasek did not back down. "And what sort of rogue allows his dagger wielding hand to be snatched by that very same warrior?" he said. "Surely you have not gotten outpaced by a stout man such as myself clad in heavy armor?"
"Enough," snapped Verin. "Jiff, don't be a fool. That was enirely unnecessary."
"We don't know this man," Jiff said. "I have my reservations about working with humans and I will not risk my life with an unproven stranger. These deeps are not for amateurs."
"I am no amateur," said Rasek. "I've been trained by longstanding champions of my class. Some of the best warriors in Azeroth. Molok has vouched for me has he not? And since you've entered into a binding arrangement, you've forfeited your doubts. You must uphold your honor. That's how we handle things in Stormwind."
Jiff scoffed. "In Stormwind," he said. "Surely you jest. Or you are even more of a fool than I took you for."
"No," said Rasek. "I do not jest. And I have not travelled this way to be put to the test by my supposed comrades. Let us allow the dark things that swarm in this cave to be our challenge."
Jiff still looked unconvinced. But he understood that he had little choice if they were to continue and his animosity seemed to lessen in vigor.
"Rasek is right," said Verin. "We must trust him. We too value abiding our words."
Jiff said nothing.
Verin turned to Rasek. "He is a stubborn rogue, and he seldom warms himself to people, human, elf or otherwise, but he is a faithful companion. You can rely on him."
Rasek frowned. "As long as there are no further self inflicted setbacks, I will stay, as I promised."
"Let us proceed," said Jiff sternly.
Verin nodded. She closed her eyes. With both palms she gripped her staff and a held it forward. A dazzling yellow glow encircled both of her hands. "Now," she said, with her eyes remaining closed. "Before we begin, allow me a prayer to Elune, for if we make it as far as we have planned, we will need every ounce of her blessing that she will grant us."