The Problems Solvers stood together, looking over the cliff at the lead scout's broken body on the red rocks far below. Rosa looked at Gimbo as she twisted a black lock of hair around one finger. Pursing her red lips, she looked over the cliff and back to Gimbo. "Gimbo, darling?" she said. "Love, are you angry with me? You've been mum for quite a long while now."

Gimbo rolled his shoulders and sighed deeply. "No, Rosa, I'm not angry with you," he said quietly. "We're just dead, that's all. A massive war party is hunting us down, we have no idea where the dragon has gone, and my brain is going to be floating in a jar before this month is out."

Rosa chuckled nervously. "Oh, it can't be as bad as all that now, can it?"

Without answering her, Gimbo marched away from the cliff's edge. He approached the dire wolf, adjusted his spectacles and circled the corpse, looking it over from all sides. He found two saddle bags, tore them open and began to rummage through their contents. "There's got to be something here!" he said. "A missive detailing orders. Maps, plans...something!" He continued digging until his hand touched something ice-cold. Frowning, he closed his hand around it and lifted a full glass of milk out of the saddle bag. He cocked an eyebrow as he squinted at it. "What in the-how is this even…" He shook his head and tossed it aside.

Finding nothing of relevance in the saddle bags after turning them in inside out, he threw them on the ground and stood up. He walked around behind the corpse where he spotted the scout's bedroll poking out from under the Wolf's left flank. He called behind him. "Mok, help me move this brute."

Mok joined him and together, they lifted the corpse and flipped it over. The bedroll fell free along with a bundle of five black cylinders tied with rope. The cylinders were about two feet long each and four inches in diameter. Gimbo studied them closely. He'd seen something like this before. They were smoke signals, likely potassium perchlorate, anthracene, and sulfur stored in a canister, designed to create thick black smoke when ignited Probably goblin made. He shook his head in disgust. Goblins. They'd sell their own grandmothers to the worst scum of the earth if it meant a tidy profit.

He tossed aside the smoke signals, opened the bedroll and searched through it. Maybe there was some coded message or secret plans hidden there. Again frustrated at finding nothing, he dropped the bedroll and stood scratching his head. Hopeless, he thought.

Looking at the bundle of smoke signals again, he noticed that one was a different color from the others. White. Stooping down, he used his dagger to cut the rope and picked up the white cylinder. It gave off a garlic-like smell that he immediately recognized. White phosphorus. He stroked his mustache thoughtfully for a few moments, then realization dawned on him. This was it. This was the answer to their conundrum!

Gimbo hurried towards the others, calling out to them. "Friends! My dear associates, not all is lost!" They turned and looked at him curiously as he approached with the white cylinder. "This smoke signal is going to save our mission! It uses white phosphorus. White phosphorus is normally used to create thick white smoke as a screen for concealment, or...for signaling aircraft." He looked at them expectantly, smiling.

"Your point, Gnome?" Mok said

"Are ye expectin' to call in help from the air?" Hilda said. "Where, pray tell, do ye think we're goin't' find air support in the middle o' the Redridge Mountains? We're over six hundred miles away from Ironforge. Five hundred miles from any o' my people."

Gimbo put his fists on his hips and narrowed his eyes her.

"I believe I understand what he's implying," Korridan said. He looked at Gimbo. "You plan to signal not an aircraft, but a dragon. Is that correct?"

Gimbo brightened and pointed at Korridan. "Yes! Exactly! So far, the scouts have used only black smoke to signal one another. Since we haven't seen that dragon for hours, I think it's more than safe to assume that he's waiting somewhere for a signal, and that the scouts were reserving the white smoke to call for him once they had captured or killed us. Ladies and gentlemen, we have the means to make the dragon come to us. All we need to do now is find a suitable place to set an ingenious trap for him."

Hilda crossed her arms over her chest. "Sounds a wee bit far-fetched to me. You don't know what ye'd be callin' with that signal. Could be the entire war band."

"I believe that Gimbo is correct," Korridan said. "After all, we didn't find any white signals on the other scout's bodies. Therefore, it's logical to believe that the lead scout reserved this white smoke to signal the dragon. Also, we don't have many other options at this point."

Gimbo put his hand over his stomach, his expression hardening. "I've got a gut feeling about this, Hilda. Say whatever else you want about me, when have my gut feelings ever been wrong?"

Hilda looked up, pondering for a moment. "Well...not often."

"Far be it from us to argue with your intestines," Mok grumbled.

Gimbo walked past him. "Come on. We haven't got any time to lose. I've already got an idea on how to trap him too. First, we need a body...well, two bodies actually. A scout and a wolf, then paint the Orc's face with a white skull. I'll need you to work your mind control magic for that part, Korridan. That body down...there is to damaged. Hilda, you have ice traps, right?"

Hilda moved to follow him. "I lost most of me vials of permafrost when Dadanga went runnin' wild the other day, but I think I've three of four of them left."

Gimbo clapped his hands together. "Stupendous. We'll use them with the three spring traps we managed to salvage after Dadanga came back. Observe once again my great genius, my friends. I'm going to show you how to outsmart a dragon."

"I believe in you, Gimbo," Rosa quipped. "Lead on, love!"

Hilda rolled her eyes.

Returning along with the bodies Gimbo had prescribed to the spot where they had hidden Dadanga, Gimbo, with the help of Mok's sword-carpentry, fashioned a travois to pull behind Dadanga and strapped the bodies to it.

Having left the northern reaches of Redridge, the group traveled along a mostly dirt road forty miles southwest of Stonewatch Keep as it descended into an area of sparsely wooded foothills just north of Lake Everstill. Gimbo planned to find a place suitably open to set up his trap, preferably somewhere along the shores of the lake. The sun was waning and it would be dusk in a few hours.

Through the foothills, they traveled until they reached the crest of a small ridge, overlooking an open tract of farmland. Gimbo pulled Dadanga to halt at the terrible and unexpected sight he found there.

Before the Problem Solvers lay destruction, the charred remains of farmer's fields and ruined cottages. A handful of people moved about the fields, picking through what remained of their livelihood. A sawmill seemed to be the only building left standing, though it was also burned.

"Gimbo, we have to stop here," Korridan said. "These people require our aid."

"Korridan, we can't," Gimbo said. "The war band might be right behind us. We need to reach the lake." But Korridan was already hurrying down the ridge towards the fields.

Gimbo stared after him in consternation. He shook the reins, urging Dadanga forward. "Korridan wait!"

A man working in an unburned patch of wheat with a small hand scythe, looked up at Korridan's approach. His face paled as his eyes flew wide. "Hor-Horde. Horde! Horde attacking!" He stood up and stumbled backwards in his haste to retreat. A woman screamed and two other men nearby drew swords, rushing forward to block Korridan's path.

The woman ran towards the cottages. "The Horde are attacking!" she cried. "To arms, to arms! It's a Horde attack!"

Gimbo's mind was frantic. "Wait!" he cried. "WAIT!" He tried to scramble off Dadanga but his feet couldn't reach the ground. He lost his grip, falling off Dadanga and tumbling into the dust at the kodo's feet. The men stopped and stared at him in confusion.

Gimbo scrambled to his feet, breathless, reaching out towards the men. "Wait, we're not Horde! We-we're not Horde, we're neutral!"

Korridan held his staff out with his arms spread wide. "I mean you no harm! I am Korridan Lore, a priest of the Light. We come to render aid."

The men remained steady with their swords held out before them. They looked quickly between Korridan and Gimbo, to Mok, then to Hilda, and Rosa. The sight of a Dwarf and another human seemed to calm them somewhat as their swords slowly began to lower.

Six more armed men approached, carrying swords, spears, and farm implements. "Beasts! You'll not take what's left of us without a fight!" a man shouted.

"We mean you no harm," Korridan repeated. "We come to render aid."

Another man stepped in front of the others. "Wait! Halt, men!" he said. He was a tall man, with red hair and thin sideburns. Gimbo had joined Korridan and the man cautiously approached, stopping a few feet away from them. He studied them for a few seconds, then spoke again, "Who are you? What do you want with us? Speak quickly."

Gimbo straightened his spectacles, which had become lopsided across his face. "Yes. Yes, of course. Gentlemen, allow me to introduce myself and my associates. My name is Gimbo Tinkertorque. You've met Korridan." He motioned behind him. "That is Mok, formerly of the Bleeding Hollow Clan, Hilda Ironfeather, of Thundermar, and Lady Rosa Carter of Gilneas, fifth Baroness of Eastmoor. We're the Problem Solvers. Perhaps you've heard of us?"

The man shook his head. "No. Um...my name is William Alther the Third. This is the...well, this was the hamlet of Alther's Mill." He motioned to a large building with a collapsed roof. "That's the mill behind me. It's been in my family for generations." He looked out over the broken cottages and blackened fields, sadness in his eyes. He turned back to Gimbo. "What brings Problem Solvers to a dragon-torched hamlet in the middle of the mountains?"

"Ah, you don't know how lucky you are, Mr. Alther," Gimbo said, beaming. "Saving villages like yours are exactly why we're here. We've been hired by Magistrate Solomon in Lakeshire to hunt down the black dragon that's been terrorizing Redridge."

Alther's eyes widened. "Truly?" He looked back over the hamlet again. "Not lucky enough, apparently. If only you had come sooner. There's nothing left here save."

Gimbo's smile faded, realizing the mistake of his words. "Oh...I'm sorry. That was insensitive of me, Mr Alther. Of course we are very sorry for the loss of your homes."

Alther nodded.

Korridan stepped forward and spoke up. "Mr. Alther, do you have sick or wounded?"

Alther scratched his head for a moment as he studied Korridan. He looked at his nervous men behind him and back at Korridan. "Well...Stevens fell and broke his arm during the attack. Some of the men have severe burns. And I believe little Anna has come down with a fever. Yes...yes, forgive our hesitation. We are not accustomed to outsiders here in the mountain villages. Of course we appreciate your help, priest. Anything you can do."

"Take me to them," Korridan said.

"Korridan, we don't have time," Gimbo cut in. "We need to get moving. If we stay here, we could end up leading the war band right to them."

Alther stared at him. "War band? What war band?"

"The dragon has sent a Blackrock war band to hunt us down. We don't know exactly where they are at this point, but we've already been ambushed by their scouts. I have a plan to lure the dragon into a trap before they find us, but we're searching for a suitable place to spring it."

"We are not in immediate danger and these people have immediate need of our help," Korridan said. He started off towards the cottages.

"Korridan, stop," Gimbo said. "Listen to me. I'm your boss and I order you to come back." Korridan joined Mr. Alther and strode ahead without looking back. Gimbo pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. "Oh...come on." With Rosa's help, he climbed back up on Dadanga, settled himself and shook the reins. "Ho, Dadanga."

Korridan walked into an area of small tents set up in the middle of the former town square. Among the surrounding cottages, several had canvas stretched across the broken eaves of the caved-in roofs. A woman emerging from one of the cottages stopped and stared at Korridan as he passed, alongside Alther.

A man sitting in front of a tent with his forearm bound up in a splint and resting in a sling, looked up at Korridan's approach. He drew back. "Blood Elf!" he gasped.

"Stevens, don't worry," Alther said quickly. "This man and his companions are here to help."

Following behind Korridan, Gimbo reigned Dadanga to a halt at the edge of the square. He and the others dismounted. The surrounding townsfolk were murmuring amongst themselves, casting fearful glances at Mok as he stood next to Dadanga, surveying the cottages with his arms crossed over his chest. Many of the armed men looked ready to draw their swords on him at the slightest possible provocation.

Feeling the weight of the tension, Gimbo pondered how to ease the situation. "Come with me, Mok," he said. "I need to take a look around this area. I may...need your help."

The northern elves had at least once been friends to humans for centuries, but to the average human, any Orc would always be considered a mortal enemy. Perhaps it would be beneficial to make Mok scarce for the time being.

As Gimbo and Mok left the square, Korridan laid his staff aside and knelt down next to Stevens. Stevens winced as Korridan removed the sling and cradled the man's forearm in his hand. He placed his other hand on top of it. A glow formed around Korridan's hand, followed by a flash of light across Stevens's arm. He unwrapped the splint and let Stevens's arm fall to his side.

Stevens flexed his arm at the elbow and moved it back and forth. He looked up at Korridan in wonder. "Thank you," he said.

"May the blessings of the Light be upon you." Korridan said.

Alther spoke to the woman standing in the doorway of the cottage, tall and ruddy-faced with a bonnet covering her red hair pulled into a bun. "Mrs. Brand, please take us to Anna." The woman blinked at Korridan for a moment, then nodded to Alther.

Korridan and Alther entered the cottage and followed Mrs. Brand to a bed where a blonde-haired girl of about seven years lay on her back, coughing and shivering. Her delicate skin was unnaturally pale, obscuring the freckles that dotted her thin arms.

Mrs. Brand picked up the girl's hand and spoke to her. "Anna, sweetheart, there is a priest here to see you. He has come to help you, Anna. Do you understand?"

Anna nodded and Korridan knelt next to her bed. He smiled at her. "Peace to you, child," he said. "My name is Korridan." He placed a hand gently on her forehead to check her body temperature. Anna looked up at him in wonderment, eyes fixated on his long, pointed ears and glowing eyes. A smile spread across her face. "You're...you're a High Elf! Oh...daddy always told me stories about the great and noble Elfs far in the north. I always wanted to see one! Am I...am I dreaming?" She tried to rise on her elbows, but her face scrunched up in pain and a fit of coughing overtook her, forcing her back to the sheets.

"Please, Anna, try to lie still." Mrs Brand pleaded. "Save your strength."

Her coughing subsided but her breathing remained shallow and labored. "Yes...mother." she said.

"I was once a High Elf, child," Korridan said. "I am a Blood Elf now. I have taken this title in honor of all my brethren lost during the last great war."

Anna looked confused. "A Blood Elf? But...you don't l-look like...a bad guy. Are you really a Horde?"

"I hold no allegiance to the Horde of Garrosh Hellscream, child. I serve only the Holy Light." He paused and then spoke again. "Anna, listen to me carefully. You must never judge the nobility of any man or woman by his or her race, title, or creed alone. You must remember that there is nobility among all races and men and women of every allegiance. The Light searches the hearts of all and favors those whose hearts are true and good. Always look for the good in all those whose ways seem alien to you and let the Light judge the heart."

"Mrs. Brand," he said, "please bring me warm water. Your daughter needs fluids."

Mrs Brand went to a pot handing over a fire in the fireplace, dipped a tin cup inside and brought the steaming water over to Korridan. He lifted Anna's head gently and put the cups to her lips. "Drink."

Anna sipped down the water until the cup was empty. "The...the stories my daddy told me," she said. "He told me about King Anasterian Sunstrider and the great Troll Wars. The Elf's gift of magic to the people of the old empire. About the great silvery-moon city, the magical Sunwell, and-and Lady Sylvanas Windrunner, the proud ranger-general! Oh I always love to hear the stories about her! Have you ever got to meet her in the silvery-moon city? What was she like?"

Korridan's countenance grew pensive and his eyes hardened. Dark memories of the tragic downfall of his homeland fourteen years ago filled his mind, the wounds opened afresh as if it had all happened just yesterday. He recalled the once proud ranger-general laid low, possessed, dominated and turned to darkness. He recalled the scattering of his brethren and their heartbreaking descent into faithlessness, abusing the Naaru, M'uru in their corrupt quest for renewed power.

Why had the Light so abandoned his people those years ago in their greatest hour of need? He had asked this question during the darkest hours of many a long night, wrestled with it and cried out to the Light in anguish for an answer. It had almost destroyed his faith, but he had refused to follow in the footsteps of his brethren. He had left Qhel'Thalas and found solace at Light's Hope Chapel, in quiet contemplation as a disciple of the Argent Dawn. He took strength in the one thing he knew to be true—the Light gives and the Light takes. The Light is wise in all things.

"No, child." he said. "I never had the honor of meeting such a noble and courageous woman. She was a never-faltering champion of her people, even to the last."

Korridan looked at Anna's mother. "Mrs. Brand, what other symptoms has your daughter been experiencing and when did these start?"

The woman thought for a moment. "She has complained of pain in her chest, especially when she coughs. Her spit-up has been very dark-colored. Her chills have been quite severe. This all started two days ago. A day after the dragon attacked."

"This is worse than a mere fever," Korridan said. "This is pneumonia. I will attempt to purify the infection from her lungs." He placed both hands on her chest and closed his eyes. His hands glowed and the light penetrated her body, causing her skin to luminesce under his hands. "The infection is deep. This will take a few moments."

Korridan concentrated as the light brightened. Anna's chills began to subside and her breathing became more normal. There was a final, swirling dance of light that rose from Anna's body and dissipated in the air. Korridan removed his hands and stood up. "The infection is gone but it will take a few days for her to fully recover. Make sure she rests and drinks plenty of water."

"Thank you, priest," Mrs. Brand said, her face radiant. "I am in your debt."

Anna rose to a sitting position with no sign of pain troubled breathing. She took Korridan by the hand. "Thank you. I won't forget you, Mr. Korridan."

He smiled at her. "Peace be with you, Anna. And may the Holy Light ever illuminate your path."

On Korridan's way out the door, Gimbo met him on the stoop. He looked agitated. "Korridan," he said, "we need to get all these people evacuated as soon as possible! Mok and I have found a place just beyond the edge of the village to set up our trap. We've waited around here for way too long and I'm afraid the war band or more scouts could be right on our doorstep by now."

"I must tend to the burn victims," Korridan said firmly.

Gimbo spread his arms in entreaty. "Well, can you do it on the fly? We need to get everyone moving right this minute!"

Korridan looked out over the tents in the square and was silent for a moment. He looked at Gimbo. "I believe I can manage that."

Gimbo motioned for him to follow as he hurried ahead of him. "Then come on!"

The two-dozen townsfolk of Alther's Mill stood gathered in the square with their children, packs of supplies and any personal belongings that they managed to salvage from the ruined cottages. Gimbo watched Korridan as the Elf stood before them.

He held his arms out wide, closed his eyes and bowed his head. "Light, I lift up a prayer of mending for these people gathered here. I ask for your power upon them, to restore their recent disfigurations, ease their pains, and fortify their bodies against sickness."

A glowing aura surrounded the townsfolk. The damaged skin of several of the burn victims scattered among them began to be gradually restored, the reddened and blackened swaths fading along with some of the worst of the scarring. The healing effect seemed to jump from one person to the next, continuing after Korridan hand lowered his hands and working its way among the people.

Gimbo watched Korridan's work with amazement. He'd rarely met anyone this gifted in the Light. He always knew recruiting this man back in Ratchet those four years ago had been a smart move on his part. The Problem Solvers growing fame and reputation was certainly secure with him on their side.

Korridan spoke to the people. "I also place upon you a ward of the Light. It will strengthen your bodies during your flight and steel your hearts against any danger you may face. Now you must all hurry away from here. Travel the road west and take refuge in Lakeshire."

Alther stepped forward and came to shake Korridan's hand. "Thank you, priest," he said. "I can't begin to express our debt of gratitude for all you've done for us here."

Korridan nodded. "Go with the Light, William Alther. Lead your people to safety."

As the townsfolk streamed out of Alther's Mill, Gimbo turned to his companions and clapped his hands together. "Alright, Problem Solvers, to the plan!"

"Ye haven't told us what it is yet," Hilda said. "Except that it involves dead bodies, white smoke, and freezing traps."

"Oh, you'll love it. Trust me."

Umbrion soared high on the winds above the mountain peaks. He scanned the peaks and valleys below with a practiced eye, watching impatiently for the signal that the lead scout Ugzot had promised him. Once the errant heroes were hunted down, he expected to see the white smoke. Afterwards, he would lead the war band to wipe them out.

That was the original plan it didn't sit right with him now. He recalled his mother's words: "You must be ruthless and decisive. Ambitious yet cunning at all times."

Ahead, he saw something about half a mile in the distance, rising from a tract of farmland he had attacked before. Yes, it was the white smoke at last! He watched the war band traveling along the road below him. They had surely seen the signal as well, as their pace had increased to a fast march.

Umbrion began to soar ahead of the war band. He must be ruthless and decisive. He would reach his enemy far ahead of the Orcs and face them himself. They had defeated him once, yes, but only because he was not prepared. This time he would be cunning like a snake. It was time to prove to everyone that he was more than just his mother's favored son. His mother's plan to use the Orcs was a denial of his true potential, a ploy to save face and coddle him to the throne of Blackrock Spire. He should never have agreed to it. What kind of lord would he be then? A puppet of his mother? A coward hiding behind advisers, war generals, and peons who claim to carry out his will far from his sight while seeking only their own glory? A lord like that is quickly usurped himself.

No. His father was right. He would fight his own battles and return victorious. It was his destiny to carry on his father's dark experiments to a level the aging dragon never dreamed possible, to lead the Black Dragonflight to domination over the other, lesser Dragonflights. His destiny, to rise above and become greater than Deathwing's own son! It is what his mother really wanted anyway. Not a puppet, but a true successor to the throne of Blackrock Spire. Above all, he wanted to exceed his mother's expectations, to be the lord she wanted him to be.

Umbrion approached the white smoke where it billowed up above the trees at the edge of a burned out village. He circled the area, searching Ugzot and his scouts. Strangely, there didn't seem to be anyone down there. He saw no movement at all except for the smoke. "Damn you, Ugzot, where are you," he growled. "Did you and your men decide to take a nap in the trees on the very hour of the enemy's destruction? Fools!" Orcs, ever lazy and stupid. The heroes may have knifed them in their sleep by now!

He circled again, lower this time, peering through the trees and searching the ground. Under the shadow of the trees a few feet to the left of the smoke signal, he saw a mounted Orc standing there, face painted white. Ugzot. Umbrion descended, angled his wings to break, and landed on all fours in front of the Orc. "Report, Ugzot," he demanded. "You have located my quarry, have you not?"

Ugzot and his wolf stood strangely motionless, his face obscured by the shade. The wolf wasn't even panting in this hot afternoon hour. "I'm sorry, my lord," Ugzot said. "I didn't quite understand your question. Will you step closer so I can hear you better?"

"Do you have cotton stuffed in your ears, Orc," Umbrion said, his voice rising in anger. "I asked if you have found the interlopers. Those accursed heroes who defy the will of Blackrock Spire."

"I'm sorry," Ugzot repeated. "There was...a bomb. The Gnome had bombs. One went off very close to my head and my ears are still ringing."

Umbrion took two steps closer to him. "Bombs? You did battle with them? Where are they now?"

Ugzot nodded his head stiffly, almost mechanically. "Yes, pitched battle. They fought valiantly but their puny gnomish bombs were no match for superior orcish strength and courage. The Gnome looked very funny when he tried to flee in terror. His legs were so short that we caught him easily. He flailed the little stumps at me when I picked him up by the scruff of his neck, but they barely even reached my chin. His squealed loudly. It was very shrill and nasally—ouch! Do you have a death wish, Gnome?"

Umbrion narrowed his eyes at him. "What did you say?"

Ugzot shrugged cleared his throat. "I was...simply saying that the Gnome must have had a death wish...he and his companions, daring to defy you so boldly. Rest assured they have suffered the consequences of their arrogance."

Umbrion's eyes flared. "What did you do with them, Ugzot? I told you that I wanted them alive! I promise you, if you have killed even one of them I will make you suffer dearly!"

"I'm sorry, my lord, but could you step just a bit closer? The Gnome's...flash bombs blinded me and I can barely see you over there."

Umbrion raised an eyebrow. "Flash bombs?"

Ugzot nodded. "Yes, they used flash bombs to blind us and deafen our ears. Coward's weapons, highly typical of the gnomes who lack the courage or sufficient...stature to face a true warrior in close combat. In the end, the effort availed them nothing." He raised a fist, giving a triumphant gesture. "As I said before, we defeated and captured them easily."

Something about Ugzot was very strange. His movements were stiff and completely unnatural. His voice didn't seem to quite match his body language and coming from somewhere...behind him. His wolf hadn't moved at all, never even blinking. Ubrion wasn't sure the animal was even breathing. "Ugzot," he said slowly, "where are the rest of your men? Where are you holding the interlopers?"

"Just come a little closer and I will tell you everything."

He jabbed a claw at him and then pointed it at the ground in front of him. "You step out of those shadows and come to me. I want to get a better look at you. You seem...unwell."

"I can't. I must insist that you come over here."

"I will come over there only to shatter every bone in your miserable body if you do not obey me and come here immediately!"

"I'd like to see you come over here and try it, you feckless snake."

Umbrion's voice sunk low and dangerous. "What. Did you say?"

"I said why don't you come over here and try to crush me, you motherless lizard?"

Umbrion's mouth flapped silently in shock at first, then he clenched his fangs and rose to his full height as his throat glowed white hot. "Impudent Orc, you have just sentenced yourself to death!"

He drew in a great breath and unleashed a roaring torrent of fire upon the Orc. Ugzot and his mount fell to the ground, consumed in flames. Neither Ugzot nor the wolf made any sound, or even struggled in agony. They simply burned in silence. Umbrion stared at the burning bodies. What in Deathwing's name?" Before he could think better of it, he took two steps forward to examine the bodies.

Something clamped down on his forelegs with crushing weight. His eyes went wide as shooting pain gripped his legs at the contact point. Immediately afterwards, he felt a blast of freezing cold. A thick layer of ice traveled rapidly up his legs, encasing them completely all the way up to his shoulders. Umbrion drew in a great, ragged breath from the cold shock that rocked his body.

When he had caught his breath again, he struggled and pulled against the ice's hold. When his efforts failed to make even a crack in it, he drew in another breath and bathed the ice in fire. His fire burned much weaker than normal, dulled by the chill that seemed to run through his very bones. He heaved and tried again. The ice barely melted, leaving a glassy sheen on the surface.

Five shapes rose from under piles of fallen leaves before him. One whom he immediately recognized as the Elf priest, held out his hand, which lit up brilliantly. A blast of light smote him in the chest and he roared. Multiple blasts smote his body in more places than he could count, tearing away scales and searing his flesh as the Elf's hand lit up again and again. Finally, a pillar of light fell from the sky, striking him with such force that he was knocked to the ground.

As Umbrion lay there panting, he could smell his own flesh burning. "Aw, I almost feel sorry for you," came a wry, Gilnean voice. "That is, if you weren't a savage murderer of innocents." The Worgen woman chuckled mirthlessly. "Looks like I'll be having my dragon steak after all."

"Superb reanimation, Korridan," he heard the gnome say. "If I didn't know you were manipulating nerve impulses with your mind control, I'd mistake you for a necromancer of the Scourge. And of course an excellent voice performance from you, Mok. But come on...was all the Gnome-bashing really necessary?"

"Yes," answered the voice he had thought was Ugzot's, only now recognizing the blademaster who the voice belonged to.

"Just hurry up and get his head," the Gnome said. "We have to get out of here on the double."

Umbrion raised his head to see the wooden-sandaled blademaster step in front of him. "Dragon, I offer you once again a clean, quick death if you don't struggle," he said. He raised a sword high above his head with both hands. There was a whistling through the air and the blademaster suddenly turned his sword to deflect an arrow. He drew both swords and used them to deflect more arrows as a rain of them thudded into the ground around his feet.

His companions fled towards the trees. The Worgen and the Gnome took cover behind boulders while the Elf priest threw himself to the ground behind the tree trunks. The blademaster soon joined the priest and threw himself to the ground next to him. Umbrion searched for the Wildhammer archer but found her nowhere in sight. Arrows continued raining down on his enemies, striking against the boulders and thudding into the tree trunks and the ground all around them.

The volleys stopped and Umbrion looked up to see twenty or more Blackrock warriors armed with swords and shields, approaching in ranks. They were flanked by several mounted scouts and a rank of archers. Umbrion pulled himself to his feet despite the pain of his wounds and resumed wrenching against the ice entrapping his forelegs. He felt the heat of his fire rekindled within him as the shock of the sudden freezing waned. He blasted the ice anew with his fiery breath and began to melt it away.

Gimbo huddled next to Rosa with his back against the boulders, panting, his eyes wide. "Rosa, where did they come from? They caught us totally by surprise!"

"I don't know," she said, "but I'm quite sure they followed that bloody smoke signal to find us here. I wouldn't go blaming yourself, love. We know Mok and Hilda will be very happy to do that later."

The two leading rank of Blackrocks broke into a charge towards the tree line. Korridan rose to his feet behind a tree to Gimbo's right. Shadows swirled around his outstretched hand and a dark, twisting beam struck several orcs at once. Some dropped their weapons and fell to their knees, roaring and grabbing their heads as tendrils of shadow seared their minds. The stronger among them kept coming despite the shadows lashing about their skulls.

Korridan shouted "PAIN!" then "PAIN!" again and two orcs fell screaming. The twisting beam faded from his hand and he raised both together. "One day every knee will bow to the Light," he shouted. "Suffer its lashes for your lack of penance! Multiple bolts of light issued from his hands in quick succession, striking orcs across the entire leading rank.

The archers knelt in their tracks and released a concentrated volley, forcing Korridan to duck back into cover as the arrows rained.

Mok burst from his position and launched into the air on a whirlwind. He landed in the middle of the Blackrock ranks, releasing a resounding shock wave upon impact that felled every Orc in a ten foot radius around him. He slew many on the ground and others advancing upon him with his storming blades.

Thanks to Korridan and Mok's combined efforts, the entire leading rank lay decimated—its numbers dead, wounded, or dying—but the second rank came rushing forward immediately behind them.

Rosa charged, howling into battle next to Mok. "Come bring your faces to my axe," she snarled. She swung her axe, cleaving it into a Blackrock warrior's chest before he could raise his shield, wrenching it out and beheading another almost immediately afterwards.

The archers released another volley. "BARRIER," Korridan boomed. A wall of light materialized in front of Mok and Rosa and the arrows either glanced off or shattered upon it.

Setting his jaw, Gimbo decided that he couldn't sit back here simply watching. He vanished under his cloak and run up behind Rosa with his dagger drawn. She saw the glint of the sun upon his blade and glanced down at him. He looked up, smiling back at her. "Don't worry. I got your back, I think." In truth, he had no idea what he was going to do here. A dagger was no match for seasoned warriors with swords and shields.

"You shouldn't be up here, Gimbo, love," Rosa said. "Knifing scouts is one thing—this is a bloody army!" She struck through the barrier and cut down a roaring Orc.

Gimbo felt a pang of embarrassment at her words and he was surprised at how they cut him. "Hey...I can fight," he said.

Swords struck the barrier in front of Rosa and Mok and it flickered, weakening. Gimbo knew even a barrier of Holy Light could only take a limited amount of force against it before collapsing. Suddenly, he began to wonder about the wisdom of being where he was...then he thought of Hilda. He looked around. Where was Hilda?

The next moment, two arrows flew past his peripheral vision. Looking quickly, he saw them strike a mounted Orc and his wolf simultaneously. There was a burst of magical energy at the impact sights as the wolf and rider fell together. Gimbo recognized it immediately as the work of a chimera arrow, a double shaft designed to split in two in flight, the twin arrowheads tipped with a magical poison. That had to be Hilda, but where had it come from? Gimbo looked for the source and spotted the leading edge of a bow with an arrow nocked in the string sticking out from underneath the dragon! What by Magni's great beard was she doing there?

She loosed more chimera shots, peppering the orcs on their flank. The warriors at first seemed confused, but then six or seven took notice of her, breaking ranks to charge her position. The dragon didn't seem to have noticed of her yet as he repeatedly breathed fire upon the ice entrapping his legs. He had almost completely thawed it by now. Where she was, at least Hilda was safe from enemy arrows. The Blackrock archers wouldn't dare risk hitting their master.

Mok charged through Korridan's barrier to intercept the orcs going after Hilda. Korridan shouted a shield onto Rosa moments before the barrier fell and she clashed with the Blackrocks once again.

Korridan smote the orcs engaged with Rosa with blasts of light and called down two pillars of fire upon their lines, before turning to his attention to the archers. He cast the twisting beam upon them, his eyes glowing with an intensity of shadow magic Gimbo had rarely seen. Mind-searing tendrils lashed at over half their rank, throwing the archers in to panic and disarray.

An Orc charged at Rosa on her left flank. Gimbo dashed into his path, waited for the Orc to come and thrust his dagger into his belly. The impact with the Orc threw him off his feet and he fell and rolled to the side. The Orc stopped in his tracks and collapsed onto his knees, dropping his sword and shield on the ground as he clutched both hands against his gut. Gimbo scrambled to his feet and stabbed him again in the chest. Pulling the dagger out, he stepped back and watched the Orc fall the ground on his face.

He grinned and chuckled. "Gimbo Tinkertorque! Sly as a fox!" The heavy beating of wings pounded in his ears and his smile vanished stared at Umbrion rising off the ground. The ice was completely melted but his forefeet were still clamped inside the spring traps. Landing again, he reached down with his jaws and tried to pry the traps open.

Gimbo breathed a sigh of relief. "You're not getting them open that way, dragon. They're shut with perma-locks. My own design." The traps were staked far into the ground by four long ropes each. He highly doubted that the dragon could pull them out.

The dragon heaved mightily with his wings, and roared out in pain as the teeth gouged into his legs. Gimbo shook his head. "I'll bet that hurts."

One of the stakes securing the spring trap clamped to the dragon's left leg began to rattle. Heaving ever more, the dragon pulled, then yanked and the stake came flying out of the ground in a spray of sandy soil. The dragon heaved again and a second stake came out.

Gimbo stared in horror. "Oh no!"

All at once the trap clamped to his left leg came loose completely from the ground. With his foreleg, the dragon began digging at the stakes securing the trap on his right leg. He quickly dug three out, but when his efforts failed on the fourth, he simply began yanking again. The final stake came flying out wildly from the ground, whipping around towards Hilda.

"Hilda, look out!" The words were barely out of Gimbo's mouth, when the wooden stake slammed her across the chest, throwing her off her feet. She fell and tumbled into the ropes from the other trap. She lay there clutching her chest with her mouth wide open, then she began pulling in great, ragged gasps of air. Her legs tangled amidst the coiled ropes, she rose to her hands and knees and was struggling to stand when the dragon lurched into the air. A coil jerked tight around her left leg and she flipped upside down as she was rapidly pulled airborne.

"Hilda!" Gimbo shouted. "Korridan, do something! Stop that dragon!"

Korridan shouted, "PAIN!", and darkness swirled around Umbrion's head.

Umbrion roared in agony but the pain didn't stop him. Rising higher, he turned north and began to flee, dragging Hilda along behind him.

Hilda screamed curses at the dragon in Dwarvish, craned her neck to look down at Gimbo and gnashed her teeth at him. "Gimbo, this was the worst plan in ever-lovin' history! Yer damn smoke brought 'em down on our heads! It was yer damn white smoke! I'm going to kill ye when I get down from here, do ye hear me, Gimbo? Yer a dead Gnome!"

Rosa glanced up, her face etched with horror as she watched her dear friend dragged away, but she had no time to ponder her fate as she and Mok engaged in close, chaotic combat against advancing ranks of orcs. Korridan continued casting his twisting beam into the midst of them, but it did little to stop their onslaught. Mok was bleeding in several places, including from a gash across his chest and he and Rosa were both losing ground to the orcs.

Gimbo's felt his mouth going dry as he watched Hilda being carried off to fate unknown with no escape in sight. "Mok, Rosa, Korridan, we have to retreat," he shouted. "We have to follow that dragon!"

Korridan shouted, "BARRIER" and the wall of light reformed. "Run, everyone run!" Gimbo frantically cried. "Back to Dadanga! Now!"

Mok and Rosa didn't need any extra incentive. They broke from combat immediately and followed Gimbo and Korridan back through the trees. Gimbo glanced back to see orcs flanking around Korridan's barrier and racing after them. Arrows whistled frighteningly close passed Gimbo's head. He heard Mok cry out and looked his way. An arrow had hit him in the shoulder! Moments later, he felt someone grabbing him and lifting him up.

Having stowed her axe, Rosa lifted Gimbo onto her shoulders and the whole group made double time. "Short legs, love," Rosa said, looking up at him.

Gimbo sighed. "I know, I know. Enough with the snarky commentary. And...thanks."

"Don't mention it, love."

In a few yards, Gimbo and his companions burst from the trees and raced for the Dadanga, munching happily on grass at the base of a ridge. Gimbo looked back again and could see orcs close behind them. An archer stopped and lined up a carefully aimed shot. Gimbo yelped and ducked as the Orc released the arrow. He heard it whistle over his head and felt his hair tousled by its passing. "Faster, Rosa! Faster!" he yelled.

Dadanga lifted his knobby head in alarm to stare at them coming.

Gimbo searched the sky northward to try to spot the dragon. In the distance, Umbrion flew towards the blackened ridges of the Burning Steppes visible above Redridge's, ocher slopes in the distance. He could barely make out the shape of the ropes trailing out behind him and Hilda still hanging from one of them. He couldn't tell much about her condition accept that she had righted herself and was hanging onto her rope with both arms. She seemed to be struggling with her bow in one hand. He could only imagine what was going through her head, the terror of her situation. One thing was certain in his mind—the dragon was headed for Blackrock Spire. The very heart of darkness.

Rosa and Gimbo reached Dadanga first. She practically tossed him into the saddle, then leaped up behind him. Korridan and Mok followed closely behind. Mok used his wind to launch himself onto Dadanga. Korridan stowed his staff and reached towards Mok.

Mok grabbed his hands and pulled him up onto Dadanga as if he weighed nothing. Korridan settled himself. "Sorry. I'm sure you wanted to continue working on your elfish figure," Mok grunted.

"I believe I have put in enough beauty exercise for one day," Korridan said. "Let me mend your wounds." He put his hands over the gash across Mok's chest and his arrow wound. A flash of light issued from them.

"Ho, Dadanga!" Gimbo cried. He pulled the reins to direct Dadanga up the ridge behind him. Dadanga galloped up the rocks, his massive muscles rippling as he found footholds and climbed like a Dun Morogh mountain ram. His sure-footedness belying his size never ceased to amaze Gimbo.

Dadanga ran across the crest of the ridge as orcs clambered up in pursuit. Being mountain orcs, they moved quickly in their element, racing up the rocks with great dexterity and speed.

Gimbo pushed Dadanga onward, but ahead he noticed the rocks had fallen away in a massive landslide, leaving a gaping chasm stretching across the length of the ridge. "Oh, cogs!" Gimbo cried.

"Keep steady ahead," Korridan said. "Do not slow."

Gimbo looked back at him. "Are you crazy? Dadanga can't jump that!"

"The Light will carry us."

"Korridan, I'm all for faith and belief, but it's going to take a heaping load of divine intervention to make the jump over that chasm."

"Trust me, Gimbo."

Gimbo shook the reins hard. "Ho, Dadanga! Ho!" Sure, the Light had gotten the Problem Solvers out of a scrape more than once, but for this leap he was keen to give divine intervention as much corporeal help as possible. The edge of the chasm came up fast and as it got wider in his view, Gimbo got an increasingly better idea of how crazy this was. There was no turning back now as Dadanga neared the edge. "Jump, Dadanga! Please jump, for the love of the Light!" he cried. He closed his eyes tight just as Dadanga's front feet left the ground.

"You only live once!" Rosa whooped, laughing aloud.

AND THEN YOU DIE! Gimbo's mind screamed.

Gimbo waited for the sudden plummet. When it didn't come, he opened his eyes. Dadanga floated across the chasm on a sheen of light, his feet glistening. Korridan had his arms spread out, power swirling in his hands. They were levitating. Of course! Korridan, you dog, he thought. Dadanga landed on the other side and Korridan dropped his arms.

Rosa let out a loud whoop.

Gimbo shook his head and began chuckling in elation. Behind them, the orcs stopped at the edge of the chasm and watched the Problem Solvers, menace and hatred in their eyes.

As Gimbo's smile faded, he turned his eyes north towards the blackened steppes and higher, to the massive, haze-shrouded peak of Blackrock Mountain. They may be safe for the time being, but the relief of their escape was tinged with dark dread for Gimbo. He hoped the Light was with Hilda because she was going to need more divine intervention than a Goblin riding a rocket through the halls of The Exodar. Otherwise, his life—all their lives would be significantly emptier without her.