Chapter Seven
Endless shades of grey encompassed Coria's world as she slowly awoke. She groaned and tried to shift her body but a deep scorching pain seared across her chest. She cried out in dismay and slumped back, her eyes smarting with tears. Coria shifted her gaze down, gasping slightly as she saw the state of her chest. Her robe was destroyed and singed around the edges while deep gashes tore open the area from her chest to her ribs. Blue, black and white residue sprinkled the ghastly wounds. They didn't bleed but she knew that was because of the magic that laced the wound.
She pushed aside the pain and glanced carefully around the cell; Where am I? she wondered wearily. All she rembered was the ritual.. figures.. Rhonin-
Then nothing.
She was in a square room composed of nothing but slate. No windows dotted the room but a single lantern was bolted into the ceiling washing the room with a pale blue light. Coria made an attempted to stand but her legs quivered weakly. Unable to contain her weight she fell back to the cold ground which rushed up to meet her, stinging her palms as the slate met them harshly. More pain exploded across her chest which immobilized her furthermore for some time.
After agonizing moments passed she shifted and slowly crawled her way to the cell door, the only break in the endless square of slate. Five wrought iron bars kept her from the outside, which from Coria could see was only a long hallway of more slate. A cool breeze rippled throughout the hallway which surprised her, it possibly meant that outside wasn't that far along.
Coria's hand grazed the bar and suddenly she was shocked with a crack of white hot magic. Her arm went numb and she was shoved back by a blast. She yelped in both surprise and pain and scooted back away from the bars.
Coria sighed and slumped over, placing her face on the cold hard ground, curling into a ball. Despair crept into her heart as she lay there hopeless for what seemed an eternity. As she began to fall into something between slumber and unconsciousness, a sound aroused her.
Soft footsteps tapped down the hallway, a figure suddenly appearing at the entrance to her cell. The figure knelt down allowing Coria to see them better. Relief filled her as she recognized the familiar features of her mentor: Rhonin. Blood caked the side of his face and his hair was singed in several places, as well as his robes, but at least he was alive.
He reached out with his hand and muttered an incantation a red spark popping from his hand onto the bars. A small hiss occurred before the bars slowly slid back into the slate allowing Coria escape. She sprung up and out of the cell joining Rhonin. "How did you escape?" she blurted out. "Shh!" he hissed, glancing over his shoulder. "I recognized the spell the bars were using to keep us inside and composed a counter spell and escaped.. I was only two cells up from you and I heard your cries." he explained in a hushed tone. "I don't know where we are but I think its underground.. outside can't be far though, I feel a breeze"
Coria nodded and Rhonin turned on point and rushed down the hallway, softly padding along, careful not to make any unnecessary noises. They turned a corner and found themselves looking into a blaring white light. Coria's hands flung up as her eyes tried to accustom to the brightness, while fear lurched in her stomach as she feared they were caught. As she lowered her arms though she only saw snow.
Dragonblight.
She couldn't hide a grin as she realized the luck that had fallen on them. "Do you know where we are Rhonin?" she asked, still whispering. He shook his head but a small amount of something seeped into his eyes.. doubt?
"No." he said, "but I have a feeling.. a bad feeling."
They slowly stepped outside into the snow, which crunched under their feet loudly. They were in an enormous basin; To their right, just over the edge of the basin that encircled them, was the frozen sea with it's white capped waves and icebergs. To their left, however, were floating disks, surge needles and numerous Azure Dragons. They had just escaped from a small containment area, likely for slaves, on the edge of the Azure Dragonshrine. The one's who captured them had to have been simple grunts to place them in such an easily escapable place.
"Theres the Wyrmrest Temple!" Coria exclaimed, pointing at the visible tower in the distance. "We can slip out of here and return to Dalaran from the Temple." she said.
Rhonin shook his head.
"We can't escape together." he said quietly, glancing down into the Basin. "They'll sense our mana levels and surely hunt us down and destroy both of us..." he glanced towards the top of the basin, then back to her. "I'll draw their attention.. you escape to the Path of Titans and follow it up.. by the time I lose them you'll be safe within the Temple."
"No!" she protested. "What your doing is suicide! You can't possibly lose them!"
He only gave her a small smile and reached up, looking at her necklace. His gaze shifted back up, "I have to." he said. "Now go, I will draw their attention! Run with all your might Coria."
He dashed off into the snow, sending flares and bolts of magic into the air. Instantly the Azure dragons noticed, many of them sprawling up and swooping out towards Rhonin whom was already at the top of the basin descending down into the sea. Left with only one option, Coria waited until the initial group passed before she sprinted off across the edge of the basin. Her legs became numb as she thundered towards the incline that lead out of the Dragonshrine and towards the Path of the Titans.
I have to.. the words repeated themselves over and over in Coria's head.. why?
She pushed the thoughts from her mind as she sloshed up the incline, ignoring the numbness of her body and her burning lungs, focusing on reaching the Temple.. alive. Fretfully she glanced over her shoulder hoping to find Rhonin but all she could see was looming Azure Dragons circling over the sea and swooping downwards.
I can't do anything now, she told herself painfully.
A plain of ice and snow was all that lay between her and the Temple. She raced across it, hoping that the Azure dragons won't pursue her.. but she was wrong.
A numbing screech pierced the skies above and a shadow loomed over her. She glanced back to see one of the Azure dragons diving for her, it's wings locked and it's snout pointed like an arrow. Coria quickly dove just as the hulking beast struck the plain, shattering the ice and spraying sleet everywhere. The dragon resurfaced and swung it's massive tail around, sweeping the snow off of the ground, leaving nothing but slippery ice in the circular arena.
Coria yelled and cast several fireballs at the beast, striking it up it's neck over and over leaving blackened scorch marks. The dragon screeched again and slammed its massive talons into the ground angrily, trying to crush Coria under it's massive paw. My normal spells aren't working.. she thought fearfully, noticing how the impact marks on the dragons neck faded away like soot in the wind. Shit.. she thought, closing her eyes quickly. She broke the barrier of her mind and her blue eyes disappeared behind a flood of sickening green.
"Tichar!" she roared, a halo of green and black flames engulfing the dragon's thick neck melting its thick scales and burning away the sinew underneath. Her costly spell struck home as the beast roared in agony blindly flailing its wings, tail and claws around in dismay. Coria watched with a swell of enjoyment as the dragon writhed in pain.. so she didn't see the cobalt tail that flung around and struck her.
Her smirk disappeared as she was knocked off her feet and sent hurtling into the ice. The spell eased on the dragon's neck allowing it to regain focus on the small elf that caused it so much affliction. Coria wheezed as her ribs ached every time she took a breath, being no doubt broken.. again. She weakly dove sideways as a set of ivory talons struck the ground where she just was, rattling the ground with tremendous force.
Coria gritted her teeth as a wave of nausea and pain rolled over her as she struck the ice again. Her vision dimmed and she had no more strength to make another maneuver like before. She rolled on her back to face the seething dragon the loomed over her, its ivory daggers barred as it prepared to end her.
But a ruby flash burst out of the sky and crashed into the beast above her. A crimson drake gashed open the face of the cobalt dragon, a halo of flames erupting from its molten maw as it bathed it's enemy in flames. The Azure dragon roared violently and swung weakly on the smaller, but stockier, drake. It easily rolled away from the massive paw and closed it's pearl white fangs around the neck of the other dragon, ripping away violently. The snow and ice was painted with blood as the Azure dragon collapsed on the ice, dead.
Coria smiled weakly at it's demise, truly in debt of the ruby drake.
The drake stomped over to her, gently picking her up in its talons and cradling her carefully. The drake then took flight and angled itself back towards the temple, the thundering sweeps of its wings jarring Coria's teeth as it joined the many more in-flight Ruby dragons overhead.
They swooped into the safety of the temple and Coria was briefly dropped on a balcony before the drake swiftly flew away. Two elves rushed to her, both garbed in crimson robes, concern evident in their eyes. Coria was lifted up and carried inside to a circular room off the main wing. Inside were several marble tables and cupboards filled with different salves, wraps and other medicinal devices. Why they were needed was beyond Coria but she settled back on the marble table as one of the elves stepped over to examine her.
"I have conversed with the guard whom saved you, he merely said you had fallen under attack by an enemy." the elf said in a diplomatic voice. He began to continue his mild speech but he stopped abruptly and snapped his head towards the doorway. No sooner did he that another elf entered the room. This one, however, Coria recognized:
Krasus.
The consort leered at her with both interest and frustration. He motioned for the two servants to leave before he walked up to her. "Coria.. what is this?" he asked quietly. "The Six se- "I was there" he cut her off. She racked her mind, suddenly feeling foolish as he was the Elf she didn't recognize at the council meeting. "We were captured then." she said, realizing Krasus didn't want details, only facts. "Rhonin?" he asked. "Ran towards the sea to distract the Azure dragon's... I ran towards here and got attacked." she splayed her hands in a flourish, "and now here we are."
He looked directly into her eyes now, "You broke your oath." he said simply after a few moments. She swallowed past a lump in her throat, "I had too.. it has not been the first time." His eyes softened slightly at this as he perhaps found some reason in her statement. "Night approaches and no doubt the Six will want you back but you'll remain under my custody overnight, I'll place a spell on you so the effects of the withdraws are less painful and gone by morning." he stated, surprising her with his decision.
"And Rhonin?" she said.
"I will send him to you once he arrives." Krasus said, squeezing her hand reassuringly. She took a breath to ask another question but he silenced her with a quick finger. He murmured a few words and she felt her fractured ribs heal with a soothing warmth as well as the lacerations in her chest. Another incantation was spoken and a red seal appeared on her wrist. "You'll be set till morning then, your room is across the hall."
With this, the Queen's consort left.
No nonsense elf.. Coria quietly thought to herself, hopping off the marble table. She tugged her torn sleeve over the glowing seal on her wrist as she crossed the hall silently, entering one of the several hospice's strewn along the level. Familiar with the temple's architecture, Coria reached inside a nook in the wall and pulled a sliding door across and locked it shut on the opposite wall. Although the membrane that made up the door was thin it raised the temperature within the room noticeably.
Coria crossed to a roomy bed with a set of robes laid neatly ontop. She gladly stripped off her torn, bloodied ones and threw them into the corner. Another membrane covered doorway lay on the western wall. Coria slid it open to reveal a spacious closet with a tiny, but deep, bath pool. She reached and grabbed a chain that hung from the ceiling, tugging on it gently. Instantly steaming water spurted forth from several holes in the pool, slowly filling it up with soothing liquids. Lastly she lit a red lantern overhead and shut the membrane before climbing into the personal spring.
The warm water washed away the pain in her aching muscles and calmed her racked nerves and steam built up around her. Time wasted away as Coria remained in the hot water, slowly drifting in and out of consciousness. Finally, better need for sleep forced her out of the tub. It slowly drained as she clambered out and back into her hospice, picking up the fresh set of robes gladly and pulling them on.
No sooner had she slid under the sheets did she finally pass into much needed sleep.
Coria awoke with a start as something in her room moved. Some glass rattled and liquids were sloshed in the corner while the door was open to her hospice. A shadow flitted near the door. Coria lit a candle with a burst of magic, instantly flooding the room with soft orange light. The soothing colors revealed Rhonin quietly closing the door as he arrived.
"Rhonin!" Coria exclaimed, sitting up fully now, relief flooding through her. Rhonin smiled warmly to her. "How did you escape?" she blurted out in excitement. "Dove into the sea and used magic to keep myself warm and breathing.. I swam out and wast to escape them. When I surfaced I was off the coast of New Hearthglen so I had to slip around them extensivley to arrive her." he explained in a long winded breath. She peered closer to find him wet with a small puddle of water formed around his feet. She smiled slightly and set back with a quiet sigh. "I'm only glad your alive" she whispered.
Coria lithely got up and crossed over to the dresser to find a small tray on it ladden with several items. A open pitcher of water, a bound of thawed snowplums and tundra berries and a few chunks of venison. She ate a quick breakfast and readied herself for the day ahead. All the while Rhonin stood in the corner of the room quietly, observing in silence until she was prepared.
"Ready?" he asked softly. Coria glanced down at her wrist, glad to see the red seal gone from her skin. She nodded eagerly and slipped out the door and into the main floor of the temple. Coria whispered the incantation that would carry her back away to Dalaran. As the flash warped up around her she caught one last fleeting glance of her surroundings.. and she found Krasus looking at her with a concerned look in his eye. She couldn't question it however for the ivory walls and violet windows of the Citadel appeared around her and Rhonin.
An eerie feeling crept over Coria for some odd reason.. a change of power had shifted inside and she could feel influences pulling on the Citadel's inhabitants and walls.. "I feel it too" Rhonin said, glancing around. "I'll find you later" he quickly said, disappearing into the deeper confides of the tower. Coria sighed and turned her eyes towards the balcony into the library. Pulled, Coria ascended up the stairs and slipped into the library, instantly confronted by Modera and Aethas.
"Coria!" Modera breathed, shock and relief seeping into her features. "You've returned! Wha-" "Was the ritual complete?" Aethas cut across Modera, a stern look setting in. "She just returned Aethas!" Modera exclaimed. "It's important we know!" he said, raising his voice slightly, turning his gaze to Modera. She shyed away and bit her bottom lip, perhaps holding back a retort.
"It was" Coria said calmly not allowing Aethas the pleasure of shying away like Modera. She wondered why Aethas was so eager to learn if the ritual had been compelted or not. Granted she was going to be his new apprentice but she highly dobuted he was enthusiastic about it.. far from it actually. Leerous Bastard she thought grimly.
"Good." Aethas said in a clipped tone, bringing Coria back to the present. "Now we can establish your apprenticeship under me." he said, turning on heel and beckoning for her to follow. Coria cast Modera a glance as she began to follow. Modera only looked away and headed the opposite direction. Coria snorted and fell in step behind Aethas through the winding halls of the Citadel, back all the way to his isolted office, if it could be called that. He stalked up to the crimson stained glass door into it and whispered a brief incantation. A hiss occured and a plume of azure magic flashed before the door swung inward. The two entered into a rather small room, Coria glancing abotu curiously as she had not been in Aethas' private office before.
An oval crystal table rested in the center with four identical chairs on either side of it. Worn bookcases lined the walls, filling the air with a musty smell. An open doorway lead to another private room and Coria shed a glance in its direction, preciveing a desk with several closed scrolls on top. Blue ribbons bound them closed and she could only guess that perhaps they were from the Silver Covenant according to the colors.
Suddenly an ivory door swung shut and sealed the sanctom away.
"We will commence with the ritual right away." Aethas said, bringing Coria's focus away from the seperate room. "But, we will be using a.. quicker method." His words caught her off guard slightly, "I wasn't aware you could hasten this spell." she said, raising a silver eyebrow at him. He only returned with a small smile, "You can." he said. "It's just not.. "recommeneded." Coria shrugged and nodded. He took this as a notion to proceed.
A white circle suddenly appeared around her and another around him, the air thrumming alive with magic that crackled with abundant energy. Coria's hair stood on end as the spell waxed stronger and memories of Rhonin's ritual ran through her mind. Pain entered her fingertips, suddenly surprising her. She tried to jerk her hand away;
But found her body immobile.
Panic flashed through her as the pain ebbed up her arm and across her chest all while the ritual intensified. Aethas incantations grew louder and louder until he was shouting in a language she didn't recognize nor understand. One final word was shouted and in an instant the magic in the air and around them disappeared seamlessly into a blue mist. The pain withdrew and Coria fell to the ground gasping.
"Get up." Aethas said, seeming unphased by the whole process. Coria gave him an absurd look, "Why did that happen?" she asked hotly. "What do you mean?" he asked incredulously, as if he was unaware. Several choice words ran through Coria mind as she glared at him but she finally got up and brushed the ordeal off, deciding not to pursue it further.
"Are you well enough?" Aethas said, the mocking tone evident in his voice. Coria scoffed under her breath but nodded to him. "Good" he said, clapping his hands together. "We can begin."
Coria sighed loudly as she dropped into the cast iron chair on her balcony, a series of tomes across from her. Aethas' training was borderline insane and her body ached from strenuous, constant activity. He had plunged right into learning the school of Fire, pulling her completely away from mastery of Arcane, which is what Rhonin's last lesson would have been.. had she not been given to Aethas. Since Rhonin's departure earlier, Coria had not seen him which was quite odd considering he checked in on her at least once a day.
Must be new assignments.. she thought with a tinge of anger, realizing the new assignments were in the place of her. As she reached for a tome to study though, a sharp rap at her door startled her. A few curse words slipped under her breath and she hurried to the door, flinging it open to reveal a high elf in black robes with crimson fringes. "Lord Aethas requests your presence, there is an urgent matter at hand." the elf said in a clipped tone. Coria groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose. "He's bur- "Now" the courier cut across her rudely. Coria glared at the snide elf for a moment before nodding, "Fine."
She fell in step behind him rolling thoughts around in her head. What the hell could it be now? she thought to herself. The two bustled out into the empty streets and over to the Citadel. As they passed through Dalaran Coria couldn't help but be a bit unnerved by the odd silence that had settled over the city; she knew it was late.. but still.
The courier never broke stride and lead her all the way back to Aethas' distant office. Upon reaching the stained glass door, the elf merely opened it and beckoned Coria inside. She sighed and slipped in, glancing around quickly at her new surroundings.
Aethas stood at the head of the ornate table she had seen earlier. On one side was a lithe blood elf female in crimson, gold and navy armor with a large broadsword slung across her back. Across from her stood a blood elf male in crimson and silver robes. In his hand he clutched a balled up Kirin Tor tabard. Coria didn't comment on it but instead took a place at the remaining end of the table.
"Coria." Aethas said as she entered, "I have called you here because we have several traitors in our midst."
His bluntness caught her offguard and the matter of which he spoke deepened her shock. She raised a golden eyebrow, hiding her surprise. "What do you mean?" she asked, glancing between the trio. "Members of our order who have been swayed and swooned by the Azure Dragonflight and now relay information to resistance commanders on several fronts.. if we are to further our advances in Dragonblight and keep our city safe, these moles must be exterminated." he said powerfully, his hands a flurry of excited emotion.
"Where?" Coria asked, not making a decision in the matter yet.
"There is a tunnel that burrows into the lower terrace of the Azure Dragonflight's shrine, at the end of this tunnel, near the shore, are three known traitors.. Scout Captain Elisa and several of her knights will escort you into Agmar's Hammer and out to the edge of the bluffs.. from there you will locate these traitors and eradicate them."
No escaping it now.. Coria thought blatantly. "And my studies?" she asked. Aethas paused a moment, glancing at her. "They will hold until you return." he said.
She sighed and resolved.. "When do we leave?" she asked, already anticipating the answer.
"Now." he pointed a finger to the summoning circle drawn behind him. "Armaments will be supplied there." Aethas quickly mentioned, eliminating Coria's option to run back to her room for her underskin. She submitted and drifted over to the circle, deciding the faster the better. Aethas whispered the words and the room disappeared in flash as Coria was jerked away.
