Act
"There's something I've been thinking about," Dorissa said. Her feet were beginning to get a little cold from walking in the snow around the mountains. It was just after midday, and the weather was slightly misty. To their right the Frozen Sea stretched far below the bluffs they were currently passing.
"Tell me," Zaladin said.
"Well... you're awfully talkative and sarcastic for a walking corpse."
"It walks hand in hand with boredom. As for the sarcasm, I use it because I know how to. It is not because I try to insult others; it is merely because I strive to get a response from whomever it is I am having a conversation with."
Dorissa shot him a quick glance. "I suppose you have a point. The wars of the world are very consuming. It's becoming harder and harder to have a talk with anyone about other things than strategy and death."
"It is, indeed."
For a while the only sound that filled the frosty air was that of their trotting through the snow. Zaladin then turned his head and regarded her.
"What are you thinking?" Dorissa asked after staring back at him for a minute.
"Yesterday..."
"... Yes?" Dorissa swallowed hard. He had not mentioned it at all that day, and she had just begun to think he might have forgotten about the happenings the night before. She had not actually believed that was the case, but she had hoped.
"Do you usually move that much in your sleep?"
"... No."
"What about the noises, then?"
"Noises?" Oh crap.
"You moaned and gasped a lot."
"I... don't recall that happening before. Why do you ask about it?"
"I am doing research."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I might have to consider such things when picking locations for camps."
"There shouldn't be anything to worry about, that's never happened before." Dorissa looked to her left, away from the troll's face. She had not entirely been able to keep her voice casual when phrasing the last sentence.
"What was it you dreamt?"
Dorissa did not need to look at Zaladin to know his eyes had narrowed. There was an undertone of suspicion in his voice.
"My hands were... bound. I was pinned to the ground and unable to get away."
"Unable to get away from what?"
"Someone I do not know." That's technically not a lie.
"You said my name."
"I... needed help... I must have called for you. Can we please not talk about this? I think it's better if I forget about it so I don't put us both through that again tonight."
"If you wish."
He doesn't believe a word I've said. Not that anyone would. Those were the worst lies in the history of deception.
The snowy path they followed ended.
The Grizzly Hills seemed even greener than the Fjord. Dorissa noticed a herd of silver-coated stags grazing close by, but when they smelled and spotted the death knight they fled.
After having walked for a little while the unusual couple reached a bridge that gave passage across a stream that ran from within the forest to the left.
Zaladin dumped his packs on the ground, and so did Dorissa. He squatted near the stream and emptied his seemingly untouched waterskin to refill it with fresh water. Dorissa regarded him from a few steps away. She caught herself hoping he would take off some of his heavy armour so she could perhaps catch a glimpse of what his body looked like underneath it.
She sighed and pushed the thought aside. Instead she asked: "Is it alright if I go a little upstream and refresh myself?"
"I see no problem with that." He straightened up and shot her a quick glance. "Do not linger too long, though."
Dorissa left Zaladin and followed the stream further into the woods. When she was out of the death knight's sight she took off her robe, folded it and left it on the ground near the water. She laid her staff down next to it and then kneeled by the stream and let her fingers break the soft, cool surface. She filled her waterskin and then sat down to wash her face and neck. Closing her eyes, she listened to the peaceful chirping of birds nearby.
What is it about him that makes me feel this way? she wondered. I've never had a dream like that about anyone else... Could that mean it's more than just a physical attraction? Or is it simply because I have never met anyone as extraordinary as him before?
Debating the issue with herself, Dorissa suddenly sensed a presence behind her. Out of reflex she jumped up, grabbed her staff and spun around in a flash to face whomever it would be, for a moment forgetting the chances of it being someone else than her travel partner were very small.
She slammed right into Zaladin's rock hard, armoured chest. She stared at him for a second and noticed he had all their things with him. She then blushed, realising that her undershirt was treacherously thin and slightly transparent.
She was about to apologise when he strikingly fast covered her lips with his hand.
He leaned in and whispered in her right ear: "We are being followed. They are not yet aware that we know of their presence, but we will have to strike swiftly if we want an advantage." He removed his hand from her mouth, but he was still alarmingly close. Dorissa felt his cold breath on her neck. She shivered, but she annoyingly discovered that it was not from discomfort.
"Ambush them?" was all she managed to whisper back.
"Something like that. It will not be much of an ambush, though, since they seem to have scattered all over the area. And I should warn you. We will be outnumbered by many."
"I am no coward, Zaladin," Dorissa answered coolly.
"I am only giving you the opportunity to choose your path before it is too late. My other so-called lifeguards never got that chance."
Something in Zaladin's tone made Dorissa ask: "What exactly happened to them, Zaladin?"
"They fled and got too far for me to protect them, but not far enough to escape with their lives. The Horde does not know of this. I did not see it necessary to inform them of it," Zaladin said. Dorissa nodded. What Zaladin had muttered on the zeppelin about the families of his dead companions owing him more than they knew of all made sense now.
It seemed that the troll had actually spared the ones left behind of the details of their loved ones' cowardly actions when it mattered most. So at least Zaladin knew what was best for the ones who were able to feel.
"How far away are our pursuers?" she asked.
"Very close. I am quite convinced they have scouts placed nearby. They seem to be following our exact trail, so they have given us the advantage of choosing the location where we will fight them. I need you to take care of the casters and whatever other ranged fighters they have brought. I will handle the melee."
"Where do you prefer to let them catch up to us?"
"There are no extremely ideal places that are close enough to where we are now, but it could be worse. There is a tad more space at the small lake up ahead, and I believe that should do fine."
"How many times have you been here since you know every detail of the landscape?"
"I have been to the Grizzly Hills a few times, but I have only seen the lake once."
"Ironic that your memory is so brilliant when you remember absolutely nothing of your old life."
He merely shrugged in response. "Let us get going," he then said quietly.
Zaladin waited for Dorissa to put her robe back on, and then led the way further upstream to the small lake he had mentioned. A mossy hill dominated the other side, and the trees stood close to the water's edge to both the left and the right. Dorissa's brow furrowed when she took it into view.
"You said there would be more space here?"
"I did."
"As far as I can see there is much more freedom of movement at the spot where you surprised me before?"
"Not with the right adjustments."
Dorissa looked at him curiously. He seemed to be concentrating on something. Half a second later Dorissa felt a wave of cold emit outwards from his body. The chill reached out and enveloped her body as well as his, and it quickly flushed downwards and settled around their feet, only visible once in a while as brief clouds of cold.
"I thought the Path of Frost was an ability that broke if the one upholding it took any damage?" Dorissa said questioningly.
"That is indeed the most common thing, but I was never satisfied with being limited in that way, and having practised on it I am able to hold it through attacks that are not life threatening, and in general I do not let many hits get through my defence. I may have to break it during the upcoming attack. I will let you know before that happens to give us both time to get off the water before the effect wears off," Zaladin explained.
I wonder if there's anything besides feelings he hasn't practised to perfection, Dorissa thought and nodded. "Have you estimated how long it will take for them to arrive here?" she then asked.
Zaladin's eyes scanned the area, and Dorissa thought she caught a glimpse of bloodlust in his cold gaze. "The main group appears to be stalking about nearby trying to position themselves. They may be waiting for a signal as well. As for the scouts I briefly mentioned and was ever so slightly unsure about..."
It happened so fast it took all of Dorissa's concentration to follow what happened.
One moment Zaladin stood completely frozen in place while briefing her. The next he drew his runeblade in a flash, and in the same movement took off from the ground, turned one hundred and eighty degrees midair and let the full power of his swing separate something Dorissa assumed was someone's head from its body. He landed agilely on his feet again and wiped his bloody weapon on a nearby tree.
"And so it begins," he stated.
Dorissa found herself paralysed for a moment. This was the first taste she had had of his combat skills, and her heart raced with an unfamiliar sort of excitement that frightened her a little. He sure is extraordinary.
She quickly recovered and turned around to see for herself what exactly it was he had killed.
From what she could tell, the body lying on the now blood-soaked ground was that of a man dressed in armour that was quite similar to what Zaladin wore, although it also looked far less protecting than the troll's. The colours were also different, mainly purple, black and dark grey. She kneeled down to take a closer look at the head and saw that the face had purple and black markings. So we're dealing with cultists.
A movement to the right very close to the tree Zaladin had used to wipe his sword on caught Dorissa's eye. She got to her feet instantly, drew on her mana and hit the incoming scout with a solid beam of Starfire. He collapsed, dead before his body touched the ground. Zaladin looked at her and gave her an acknowledging nod. Dorissa's heart skipped a beat.
"Right now the majority of them are on the opposite side of the water. If we position ourselves in the centre of the lake now it should work out to our advantage. In the beginning I would like you to cover my back and take out anything that may still be sneaking around behind us while I thin out the main group's numbers, and then I want you to move on to the original plan," he said.
Dorissa agreed, and side by side they stepped out on the water, leaving frozen prints that quickly melted again on the surface where they walked. They placed themselves in the centre as Zaladin had suggested and waited for the enemy to show their face.
It was no long wait, as the cultists knew that the two were aware of their presence. Gradually, grey faces with purple and black markings appeared between the trees on the top of the hill and on either side of it. Dorissa counted fourteen of them, all dressed in the same sort of armour she had seen on the ones that were already dead. There were some exceptions that only wore robes of the same gloomy colours, and Dorissa assumed those were the casters she was to deal with.
One of the cultists in the midst of the formation stepped out of the shadows between the trees. He looked a little older and slightly more accustomed to the situation than the others. "Lord Zaladin Grimtusk, we have come on orders from the Lich King himself to return you to his service. If you come of your own free will, we will forget that you have just now murdered two of our men and escort you back to Icecrown where you will once more be incorporated in the King's inner circle." His voice was emotionless and hoarse. Zaladin snorted. "If you choose to decline our generous offer, we have been commanded to subdue you and take you back, regardless of your wish," the cultist finished in a self-assured tone. He must definitely have missed the demonstration of Zaladin's skills just before, Dorissa thought. Poor fellow."Such a generous offer, indeed. Unfortunately for you I have no desire to be considered Arthas' entrusted minion anymore. Leave now and you may have a chance of escaping the King's wrath when he finds out. Stay, and my blade will feast upon your flesh, and the soil will taste your blood." Zaladin's voice was dripping with a deadly cocktail of lazy sarcasm and pure boredom. Dorissa's lips twitched and she did her best to avoid snickering. The troll had definitely tried this many times before, and his act was brilliant. He knew exactly what their ignorance would lead them into choosing.
The cultist cocked an eyebrow. "So be it. Archers, take aim!" The sounds of bows being readied came from between the trees behind them where they had been standing a few minutes earlier.
"Hmm, so they have encircled us. And cultists have archers now. That is a new one," Zaladin stated, but he still sounded dreadfully bored. "Get out of the range of my sword when they open fire, and take them down as soon as you have a few seconds to spare. Do not let anyone past you," he said quietly, his eyes still locked on the cultist who had spoken.
"Understood." Dorissa took a few steps to the right to make it easier to avoid his deadly swing. She then turned to face the archers. About the same number of grey-faced men and women awaited her on that side of the lake.
"Fire!"
The twangs of the bowstrings being released filled the air, and Dorissa ducked just in time to make way for Zaladin's blade when the troll spun and parried every single arrow in one strike. He then turned, reached up and caught the leading cultist in a Death Grip. The spell's twisting purple light pulled the cultist from the edge of the hill and towards the troll, and Zaladin decapitated him in the air. The body broke the calm surface with a splash, and the water began to turn red.
"What are you waiting for, attack!" one of the other cultists shouted, and then they started down each side of the small hill.
At the same time Dorissa had leapt to her feet again and had started to aggressively fling spells at the archers who had halted the firing for a moment to ready the next round of arrows. She managed to injure half the group before the other half started to fire again and she had to duck to let Zaladin parry the new wave.
When the archers were done firing she began casting again, and this time the ones she hit did not rise when they fell. Shortly after the entire row of archers had been narrowed down to one lonely woman who quickly realised she did not stand a chance and ran to assist the melee group that was gathering on each side of the lake.
"Casters incoming," Zaladin said and pointed towards the waterfall. "For my part it will be up close now. Do not pay any attention to what I do before the casters are down." He had barely finished the sentence before he charged headfirst at the right half of the group. The sound of breaking bones and metal against metal filled the air. Dorissa turned to face the casters. They were already weaving signs in the air with ominously glowing hands. She began casting another Starfire, but when it hit and her target fell dead to the ground, she felt something wrong. She was being attacked by all the others as well: her mana was being drained at an alarming rate. So I have to do this fast, she thought. She activated her Innervate ability to restore a little of her lost mana.
Reaching for the sky, she closed her eyes for a split second and concentrated. When she opened her eyes again, stars were falling from the sky, hitting every single enemy at the scene, and lightning struck the casters from a violent miniature hurricane above their heads. A few seconds later they all lay dead on the forest floor.
Just in time, Dorissa thought with relief, for whatever draining spells they had cast against her had now worn off, but they had taken her last mana with them. She also now noticed a sharp throbbing inside her head indicating that other magic of an unknown sort was also robbing her of life force. At least I can keep my Starfall lasting for a few moments longer, she thought and sighed.
She turned to watch the battle next to her.
It was astonishing. The brief demonstration of Zaladin's power before had absolutely nothing on the show Dorissa was now witnessing.
The right side of the lake was already littered with corpses, and the blood had caked the ground and stained Zaladin's armoured body. The troll fought with an elegance she had never seen before in her life. His every assault seemed an individual graceful dance, and had it not been for her sharp eyes the entire fight would have been a blur to her. To a human, the whole scene would simply have been flashes of pitch black, snow white and crimson red. She watched in amazement as the troll seemed to be defying gravity with his movements. He had not even warned her about having to break the Path of Frost yet, and the many cultists suddenly looked ridiculously unorganised and terrified. At that moment Dorissa could not think of a place in the world she would rather be.
Something drew her attention by the edge of the lake. She turned her head, and what she saw made her heart accelerate, and yet from there on everything seemed to happen in slow motion.
The last remaining archer had snuck away from her cover behind the few melee attackers who had not been butchered by Zaladin's blade yet. She was kneeling behind a small bush and had her last arrow in her hand. She readied it on the bowstring and took aim, pointing the sharp arrow directly at Zaladin's back as the troll landed on his feet after another deadly strike.
Dorissa glanced up. One final, shining star was on its way down, and it was headed directly for the archer. The woman looked up briefly and saw her fate falling from the sky. Her eyes flashed to Dorissa's, and just before the star eliminated her, she released the bowstring.
Shit! There was no time to warn him. There was nothing she could do. Zaladin would be injured. Severely.
Unless...She flung herself in front of the arrow, shielding Zaladin in the only way she could.
It hit her body with a powerful thud and lodged itself between two of her ribs. The pain shot through her upper body, and she did not feel it when she hit the shallow water at the edge of the lake, she only heard the hard thump and the small splashes as her lower body broke through the surface of the water. She then felt the back of her head hit something harder than muddy ground.
She managed to turn her head slightly to the left and look up. The death knight was still fighting two cultists, but she knew they would be dead within seconds. Dorissa tasted metal, and she felt a thin, warm stripe of blood running out the corner of her mouth.
"Zaladin..." was all the managed to choke out. She saw him turn his head towards her. Her consciousness was giving up on her, but she was almost certain she saw a look of horror flash across his handsome features. He took down the two remaining opponents in one strike and reached towards her. His lips moved, but she could not hear the words he spoke.
Just before she closed her eyes and drifted off, Dorissa saw a brilliant pink light envelop her, and cascades of tainted light rained down above her, but she did not feel the spells harm her.
Then all went black.
