Author's Note: Well, I'm sure there are those of you who are asking: 'Wait, what?' with these last few chapters. I just want to assure you that these are all connected, and will be made clear in the future.
Enjoy!
Chapter 4 – Tidings and Meetings
Teledin wrenched himself out of sleep, sitting up with a sudden start. The blood elf's normally wholesome looking skin was now the color of a Lich's bones. Cold sweat clustered in great beads along his brow. His breath came in short pants, and his eyes looked around wildly, searching for something that wasn't present. His hands gripped the sheets as if he were throttling an enemy.
It took a moment for Teledin to get his bearings. Eventually, his panting subsided, and his trembling stopped. His hands slowly unclenched from their grip, the whitened knuckles tinting as blood rushed back into it.
Sighing, and clearing his forehead of perspiration with a swipe of his hand, the paladin swung his legs over the side of the bed, resting his hands on either side of him.
Teledin gazed into space dully, wishing that he could clear his head. Sleeping erratically did not suit someone in his profession, but it wasn't as if he had a choice in the matter. Oh well. He'd learned to live with it.
Standing, the elf flexed his arms above his head, stretching his body to wring it out of weariness. After a few seconds of this exercise, he yawned, and grabbed his tunic. Sliding it on, and pausing to grab his locket, Teledin stepped out of the door…
…and straight into the hall of the Mok'nathal inn.
The inn was located in the capital city of Orgrimmar, which was especially busy during the morning, as it was the time where people ate, and then went about their duties. Whether that was work in keeping the orc and troll city in top shape, or more violent labor like mercenary work, the Mok'nathal was the place to go. The food was good, the rooms didn't have insects, or many insects anyway, the rent was cheap. No wonder it had needed the two additions.
Teledin sat down at the counter of the inn's bottom floor and bar, sliding the locket on. Looking up in time to receive the breakfast special of the morning, he quickly dug into the meal.
The food was good. He didn't know what it was, and perhaps that was best, but he voraciously ate, savoring the taste of warm sustenance.
All around him, the inn echoed with talk. Two trolls sat together, nursing their mugs of ale. A tauren conversed animatedly with an orc; it looked like they were debating the finer point of sword fighting, using forks and knives. Three Forsaken sat in a corner, gibbering in Gutterspeak.
It was funny, Teledin mused, that he had never bothered to associate himself with anyone here. He had seen most of these people before, but for some reason, he had shied away from actually communicating with them. Then again, he had only been here for a week.
"Old habits die hard I guess…" He muttered into his mug as he drank.
Behind him, he was aware of the two trolls speaking. He could make out what they were saying, even though their accents were hard to translate over the hubbub. Their conversation caught his interest when he heard the word 'Scourge'.
"…must be behind it." The first troll finished, raising his mug to toast his companion, and then taking a swig. His accent was very thick. He was the bulkier of the two, covered in mail armor, and was missing his pinky finger. His eyes were like flinty rocks. A scar ran across his chin.
"How can you be so sure?" His companion asked. He was dressed in white robes befitting members of his Priest class. His eyes were softer than his companions, and he bore no scars. He drank from a flask on his hip. Even from his seat, Teledin could smell the strong concoction within.
"It's gotta be." The troll, Teledin guessed was a hunter, continued. "Who else would attack da Dawn's scouts?" He took another draft of ale. "Dey're disappearin' in places that Scourge have been known to patrol. Though it is a bold move, even for dem."
Teledin listened, troubled. The war between the Alliance and Horde, a conflict in and of itself, was nothing compared to the vendetta each faction held against the undead Scourge, and the Lich King, Arthas. Some members of the two factions even went so far as to form groups together to combat the Scourge. One of them was the Argent Dawn. Teledin himself was a member of the Argent Dawn, and he knew that as long as you were in the dawn, not many people of either the Alliance or Horde would challenge you.
If people were attacking the Dawn, and succeeding, then Teledin knew there would be trouble. It might be worth investigating…
'Or,' a voice in his head hissed, 'you're just delaying yourself…again.'
'I'll go to Silvermoon in my own time!' He shot back, knowing that there would be no answer. There never was. A pang of guilt rushed through him, but he pushed it aside.
Inner voices aside, Teledin knew that if the Dawn was losing its soldiers, it would need all the help he could get. But in order to know how to help them, he needed more information. So it was time for him to do the one thing that he wanted to do the very least. Something that required him to put aside everything he had ever done.
It was time for him to socialize.
Teledin got out of his chair and headed for the table containing the two trolls. They looked up as he drew level with them.
"What do ya want Ears?" The hunter asked, not even glancing at Teledin. His speech was not unfriendly, but it was clear he had no time for intrusions. The other troll regarded Teledin silently.
"Nothing in particular." Teledin said, seating himself at the table. "Could be I just wanted to buy you gentlemen a drink." He winced at the clichéd statement. Buy them a drink? Why didn't he just dump his own drink over his head, and make a complete fool of himself now instead of later?
"Already got one." The hunter answered shortly. At least he didn't laugh. "And Barz just drinks dat foul plant stuff." He indicated the priest, who gave a toothy grin to Teledin, and then said: "I've told you, doctor's orders Az'kug."
Teledin knew a dead end in a conversation when he saw one. He changed tact. Time to get straight to the point. "I overheard you talking about the Argent Dawn over at the bar."
"Yeah, so?" Az'kug downed some more ale. "It's common knowledge to anyone who's even heard of the Eastern Kingdoms." He eyed Teledin. "Seein as how you're from der, I thought you woulda known."
Teledin forced a smile. "I've been busy." Very, very, very, very busy.
Az'kug snorted. "That I have no doubt of. I see you come down here every day. You finish your breakfast, then vanish. No time for a chat." He spat into a pot near the corner.
"Ah, give 'im a break Az'kug." Barz interjected. Turning to Teledin, he said, "Forgive my cousin. He doesn't understand the finer nuances of the subtler arts of mystical energy, so he's naturally hostile to most wielders of such magic."
Az'kug snorted again, but this time said nothing. Barz inspected Teledin.
"You seem hardier 'den 'dose other book-lovers we've seen…" He waggled a finger. "Paladin?"
Teledin gave a genuine grin. "Am I that obvious?"
"Nah, but I'd watch out if I was you." Barz paused to sip from his flask. He smacked his lips. "Terrible stuff, but it gets the job done." He looked at Teledin, holding up the flask. "I have an ailment. This helps me suppress it, though it's a beastly potion."
Teledin coughed slightly as the odor of the drink overwhelmed him. "I'll take your word for it." He gasped. Then Barz's warning came back to him. "Wait, why should I watch out? What's wrong?"
Az'kug cut in. "He wouldn't know much about it. Dat's my story." He had finished his drink. Another was set before him a few seconds later. He grunted his thanks, and then focused back on the paladin. "Now then…"
He drank, and then began to speak. His speech was set so that it was a murmur, but Teledin could hear every word.
"Recently." Az'kug began. "The Argent Dawn's been havin' some bad luck indeed. It all began a few months back…"
Teledin wrinkled his nose. "Incidents?"
"If you want a story tol'," Az'kug said patiently, "ya gotta let the storyteller tell it." He looked amused despite his reproach. "Now then…" He settled back into a more comfortable position. "I'll give you da gist of the recent events. I'm not a member of da Dawn myself, mind you, but my brotha, Az'gurz is. Been gettin' news from him."
Teledin cocked his head to the side. "And?"
And so he listened. With each minute of the news, he grew more worried. The hunter elaborated on different raids, kidnappings, and murders that had been occurring. An emissary of the Dawn had his throat slit in Stormwind, and the killer never found. The guards had found his body floating in the canals, staining the water red. And that was the lightest incident. Members of the group had been disappearing recently, never to be seen again. The only ones who had were three elite members who had been found dead, each in different bizarre ways. The most recent had been beheaded, with his dislodged body part being found three miles away. No evidence was left at the scene, and there was no way to find out who was behind it.
"But do you know what da strangest part of this is?" Az'kug asked, leaning back in his chair, rubbing his chin with his mug-free hand.
Teledin considered the events. There wasn't a single part of them that wasn't strange. He had a shot anyway. "The…fact that no evidence was left behind?"
"No." Az'kug said. "Though that is rather interesting." He looked Teledin straight in the eye. "The strangest part is not what happened, but rather who it was happening to."
Comprehension began to dawn on Teledin. "You mean…"
"Paladins." Barz cut in. "Every single person that's been captured or killed in this manner has been a paladin." He fell silent, watching Teledin.
Teledin's blood went cold. His hands clenched convulsively, digging his nails into the palm of his hand. His stomach churned, and a knot of fear settled into his stomach. This pattern…he had seen it before! A hunt for paladins…Mysterious murders and disappearances…No evidence as to their attackers…It sounded just like…
Stay calm. He told himself. It's not what you think. There's no way…
He let nothing show on his face, something he was used to doing. He looked calmly at Barz, and cocked his head to the side. His voice was level when he spoke, to his relief. "Is that so?"
Barz nodded. "Yep. Every single one."
Az'kug yawned, and fixed his attention on Teledin. "My only question is, why should we care? The majority of paladins in this land are Alliance. If they're getting the chop, then I say god speed." He stretched.
Teledin's eyes hardened. "And for those paladins who aren't Alliance?" He asked through gritted teeth.
"Well as far as I see it." Az'kug drawled. "It doesn't concern me." He stood. "C'mon Barz. We gotta get goin."
Barz stood, and nodded to Teledin. "Later mon." They both walked away.
Teledin suddenly felt like there was no air in the room. It stifled him, pressing down on him like a hand. He needed to get out of there.
Getting up, he walked outside. The crisp air felt like cool water on his face. He inhaled sharply, his eyes closed. Emotions raced through him. Pain, anger, sadness, and strangely, a sense of freedom. Pain from his past, sadness for the lives that had been lost in the attacks, and a sense of freedom for being able
"Teledin?!"
Teledin barely had time to turn around when a hand grabbed his shoulder roughly. Instinctively, Teledin flinched away from the grasp, and began to reach for his sword.
Wait… He thought. Wait just one second…
He paused, and looked at his assailant. He was dressed in a traveling cloak, which had been worn down to a thin layer. Tattoos lined his face, and he looked completely unfamiliar. But that voice…and that punch on the arm. He squinted, trying to see past the outlandish armor, and tattoos. And…
Teledin's face broke into a wild grin, and he gripped the man's shoulders with new energy.
"Dauros!?" He cried. "Dauros Bazun is that you?"
To be continued…
Author's Note: They meet at last! Now maybe we'll get somewhere. Thanks for reading this, and I'll try to get the next chapter in soon. As always, I remind my readers that they are gods to me (not literally, but you're very important), and that I really appreciate the positive comments. See ya next chapter!