Chapter 8
The rain came down in sheets as they trudged through the forest west of Tranquillien. The thick canopy was saturated and the water was pouring down, but the rangers were not getting wet. The water appeared to fall around them, not on them, such was the potency of the natural magic they practised. The mud was a different matter, and most were caked in it up to their knees. Alyna was fortunate in that she was marching near the front of the army where the ground had been barely churned by booted feet. She felt for the poor rangers near the back, and was very grateful she was not wearing a robe. She smiled as she imagined the complaints from the magisters who were thankfully not near her.
They were not as numerous as they would have liked. With the trolls in Zul'Aman massing, Sylvanas had been forced to leave a company behind with their nearly one hundred volunteers to harass the trolls until they could get back for a full assault. It was a gamble, but despite the threat the trolls presented, the Horde was the greater one, and had to be dealt with quickly. The humans had finally arrived, though they had not made direct contact yet. They were somewhere to the south closing in on the Horde, as Sylvanas swung the elves around to come at them from the north. The plan was to trap the orcs between the two forces. It was simple, but all leaders knew that most plans died the moment they took to the battlefield, so the simpler the better.
A shorter and broader woman swore beside Alyna, and she smiled at her. Liadrin was a priestess of the Light, the prime religion of the humans that had gradually become practised by the elves over the last few millennia. Alyna was a believer, and Liadrin had become a firm friend since they had met in Quel'Danas thirty years ago. Alyna's faith had not been particularly strong then, but she had found some measure of solace in the Light after her forced exile from the forests. Liadrin had been a voice of reason and quiet, sensible wisdom. She had arrived in Tranquillien with the rangers from her old company, and she had been overjoyed to see her friend; a friend who was wearing a robe that had started the day relatively white.
"I did warn you," Alyna chided.
Liadrin puffed slightly as she trudged through the mud, unused to this level of exercise. Alyna was feeling the burn in her muscles as well, but her recent activities had helped prepare her for what they were going through. "You did. Several times, if I recall."
"You could have worn leggings."
"And distract all these strong warriors with temptation? That would be cruel of me." A few of the nearby 'warriors' chuckled.
"You're a priestess, not a celibate."
"Say that a little louder, I don't think they heard you back in Tranquillien." More chuckles could be heard as they walked around trees and bushes. Liadrin brushed her bright orange hair back from her face and used a piece of cloth on her wrist to tie it back. With a quick flick of her hand, her body glowed briefly with her Light-given power, and she was refreshed, the mud sticking to her robe flaking away to leave it pristine again.
Alyna shook her head in disbelief. "You'll have to teach me that trick." Several of the rangers around them mumbled their envious agreement.
"A ranger, a mage, and now you wish to wield the Light? Hm! Leave something for the rest of us."
Alyna chuckled. Her friend's tone was light and teasing, and she appreciated the levity. While she had become a devout believer in the Light, it took great dedication to be blessed by the ability to wield it. It then took incredible focus to channel it into the healing spells that priests and priestesses used to support their people, both at home and on the battlefield. She had nothing but admiration for her friend. Whether they believed in the Light or not, all elves had a high regard for the priesthood because of the difficulty of their discipline. Unlike the magi, they also kept their achievements to themselves and did not use them to manipulate their social standing.
Liadrin had been partnered with Alyna for the battle ahead, which meant they were to look out for each other. It was a simple system, but effective, and they had both been attached to Sylvanas' personal unit. Alyna wasn't sure what to make of that particular detail. As a ranger cadet she had competed fiercely to be chosen by Sylvanas, then a captain, to join her company, and unit. She had succeeded, becoming the older woman's protégé in the process. Part of her duty had been to be Sylvanas' buddy in combat; a task she had relished. As both she and Sylvanas were promoted, she had retained that duty whenever the general was travelling with Alyna's unit.
This would be the first time Alyna had marched into combat with Sylvanas without being immediately at her general's side. Had she found a new protégé? She hadn't mentioned one, nor had she heard any gossip of one either.
Did it matter? She just didn't trust anyone to protect Sylvanas like she would.
A few hours later they were there. Smoke rose around them, the smell of blood and ash on the air. The Horde had set fire to the trees for reasons of their own, and while they had done considerable damage the rain had put the remaining fires out. They had been arranged in rows just inside the treeline, and though they were just metres from the action, the orcs had not noticed them.
All who could were trying to get a look at the orcs. On average, humans were slightly shorter and much stockier than elves. The orcs were a similar height to humans, but were massive physically, most of their mass being hard muscle. Alyna could make out females amongst their number. While not as big as their males, they were still muscle-bound. Tusks could be seen from the lower jaws of both genders. They were brutally efficient fighters, relying on strength and varying amounts of skill to swing their large, heavy weapons. They showed no fear as they slammed into the shield-walls the humans were struggling to maintain. It would appear they had arrived just in time.
A roar could be heard from the fray and heads turned towards it. A massive figure easily twice the size of an orc appeared from beyond the farther treeline and was lumbering towards the human frontline. The hammer it held in one hand was large enough to make Alyna wonder if she could even pick it up. While the orcs were green-skinned, this creature was more pale grey, and it had two heads. When it swung its hammer it took out numerous soldiers with each blow. Just when she thought she had seen it all, the creature raised a hand and set fire to a number of Alliance soldiers.
"It's a mage!" Alyna heard herself whisper to no one in particular.
"Great," replied Liadrin sarcastically, "as if it isn't already the biggest meanest thing out there."
Sylvanas had also thought this was too much of a threat to remain hidden any longer. She issued orders, and the front rank of rangers, led by Lor'themar, took a couple of steps and hurled their spears at the creature, felling it at the first attempt. They drew their swords, braced themselves behind their shields, and marched into battle with the rest of the rangers behind them, a loud cheer going up from the humans.
Alyna stuck close to Sylvanas and her unit. They were all archers and had begun to rain arrows down into the Horde. Alyna did likewise with her bow until she felt Sylvanas at her side.
"How about we try one of your ideas?" Despite the phrasing, Alyna knew it was not a request.
She nodded and moved behind the row of archers that comprised of Sylvanas' unit. They all loaded their bows and drew them back. As they took aim, Alyna focused on the magic around her, pulling it into her. In rapid succession, each ranger released their arrow one by one, and Alyna focused her attention on each as it flew through the air, setting them on fire. She could hear the screams of the orcs as they landed and ignited their targets, but tried to ignore them. By the time the last was released, the first ranger was ready again. Taking a deep breath, she knew she could continue this for a short while without pause and gave Sylvanas a small nod. She felt the emptiness beside her as the general moved to join the line of archers, and the cycle repeated until Alyna felt she needed to rest. She then picked her bow back up and took her place in line with the rest of the unit.
Not long after, elven cries of alarm could be heard and a sudden movement out of the corner of her eye caught Alyna's attention. She turned just in time to see one of the huge two-headed creatures charging towards them, throwing elves out of its path with brutal ease. It stopped just as suddenly and began casting a spell. Alyna grabbed the arm of the oblivious ranger next to her and tried to run off to the side, but realised it was too late. She braced for the impact.
A bright shield snapped up around the unit barely before a massive bolt of arcane energy slammed into it. The force disintegrated the shield and sent a shock wave crashing over the occupants, sending them flying. Alyna felt the wind get knocked out of her as she landed on her side, quickly followed by blinding pain as several ribs snapped. The ground shook as the beast moved amongst them, screams of pain splitting the air as it found vulnerable targets.
Sylvanas!
Painfully, Alyna managed to sit up and look around. Sylvanas was struggling to sit up as the creature approached her, still stunned from her impact with the ground. She tried to focus on her magic to get the creature's attention but the pain in her chest was preventing her from focusing. She grit her teeth and felt adrenaline flood her system as she realised Sylvanas could not get out of the way in time. Shouting her defiance, she pulled herself to her feet and charged at the back of the creature, drawing her runeblade as she ran. She leapt, and stabbed the blade with all her fury deep into its back, though not as high as she would have liked. The creature howled and spun around, catching Alyna with a fierce backhand to send her skidding backwards across the rough ground.
The world spun around her. She was aware of the creature bearing down on her but could not regain enough of her senses to move out of the way. It roared angrily, before stopping, and falling to its knees. She didn't know which pair of eyes looked more stunned as it then fell face down, and stopped moving, two dozen arrows protruding from its back along with her runeblade.
Liadrin appeared by her side, a pale-yellow glow emanating from her hands as she chanted her spells. Alyna felt the warmth of the Light infusing her body as her ribs healed along with her other injuries. The haze surrounding her thoughts lifted, and she nodded her gratitude to her friend, not just for the healing but for the shield she had erected moments before the spell had impacted. Without it, they would all be dead. Liadrin gave her a brief smile before turning to focus on another ranger with a savagely broken leg.
A hand appeared in front of her face and Alyna looked up to see Sylvanas looking back at her. She took it, and was pulled to her feet.
"That was a stupid thing you did," scolded Sylvanas, though her voice held no anger. She gave Alyna a small nod and smile, "Thank you."
Alyna returned the smile, "Any time."
Sylvanas held out the bloodied runeblade she had retrieved while Alyna was being healed, making sure to use her cloak to hold it with so it did not hurt her by rejecting her.
Alyna took the grip and gasped as she felt a bolt of energy flash through her hand, up her arm and through her body. While not painful, it was briefly overwhelming and she felt hands grab her shoulders to steady her.
"Alyna?" asked a concerned Sylvanas.
"I'm okay," she managed, not sounding convinced. She looked down to her hand and felt her mouth open in shock – the runes on Felo'alann were blazing brightly.
Sylvanas had let go of her shoulders to stare at the blade as well before finally asking, "I hope you know what that means?"
"I think it means it's bonded to me," she said with surprise.
"Oh." Sylvanas appeared to accept the development in her stride, which was more than could be said for the maelstrom that was going through Alyna's mind. More shouts of alarm could be heard and they both looked around, Sylvanas muttering, "What now?"
Many faces, orc, human and elf alike, were looking up at the sky. A dozen dark shapes were falling towards them, growing larger as they neared.
Alyna squinted, "Are those …?"
"…gryphons!" finished Sylvanas, relief evident in her voice. The half-lion, half-eagle creatures were large, vicious, and being ridden by Wildhammer Dwarves. The dwarves inhabited the Hinterlands, where the other half of the Alliance army were currently clearing the rest of the Horde. For the dwarves to be here meant things were going well, and they had come to assist. They dive bombed the Horde, throwing large storm hammers into the fray which then magically returned to their hands each time. It caused chaos amongst the orcs.
Sylvanas was issuing orders to take advantage of the new development. Unsure what to do about her runeblade, Alyna sheathed it for now, immediately feeling weaker once it was out of her hand as the additional energy was no longer available to her. She still felt renewed though, so began to weave her magic around the archery of the other rangers again.
Another of the creatures that the humans called ogres lumbered into view. It swung a large club at a group of elves. Most managed to scramble out of the way, but one unlucky male was hit in his lower back, the club picking him up and tossing him several metres. Liadrin was already casting a spell before he hit the ground. He didn't move, and Alyna heard a soft gasp from the kind-hearted woman beside her. She knew her friend had felt him die. Liadrin's shoulders sagged slightly as she closed her eyes and took a breath. She then opened them and refocused her attention on someone else requiring her skills, a tear streaking down the dirt on her cheek.
Alyna's awe at the priestess' ability to push past what must have been deep emotional pain was quickly replaced by a deep, untamed rage at the deaths of her people. She drew Felo'alann, half-thinking it would not be bonded to her anymore. She smiled slowly as she saw the runes flare to life, and this time she was prepared for the surge that flowed through her. She revelled in it as she turned to face the ogre. A careless orc had got too close to its ally and had his face crushed by the ogre's backswing as Alyna drew power into her body. She could sense far more of it than before and realised the runeblade heightened her own abilities as well as giving her raw power.
Elves around her paused to look, some stepping away as she prepared a spell one of the magisters had taught her. Felo'alann responded, glowing brightly as she drew on its innate element, fire. What had felt like minutes had been mere seconds until Alyna released a large ball of fire that hurtled towards the ogre. It passed over orcish heads, setting hair alight and burning scalps before slamming into the ogre's chest. It exploded viciously, setting the still-alive ogre on fire. It screamed in agony and lashed out, killing more orcs before it collapsed, dead.
Alyna blinked. The battle immediately around her had almost come to a standstill as everyone looked at her, more than a few with their jaws hanging open. She looked at a line of orcs that had turned to face her, shock on their faces at how easily their powerful ally had been slain. Doubt crept into her mind. Could she do it again? The anger had subsided and so had some of her power along with it. The orcs raised their weapons and she realised she had no choice but to try again. She felt the spell grow in her free hand, a spark of fire churning over itself and growing into a small ball of flame.
The orcs turned and fled, barging their way back through the lines of their people. She threw the fireball after them, igniting more orcs and sending them fleeing in panic. The stench of charred flesh sickened her to her stomach, but she realised she was going to have to become accustomed to it if she wanted to keep using her runeblade.
Rangers grouped around her as she cast balls of fire into the orcs, and their section began to gain ground as the orcs pulled away from them. She knew without looking that Sylvanas was just behind her shoulder, controlling their slow advance. The humans pushed back from the opposite side, and the dwarves continued to dive bomb green heads. Ogres were taken down as quickly as they appeared, and the Horde was slowly being crushed between the two armies.
After a while, a scout ran to Sylvanas and told her the humans were becoming agitated. Alyna risked a glance over to them. They were pointing up at the sky again, and some were even backing away as if to flee the battlefield.
She looked up just in time to watch a gryphon and its dwarven rider be swallowed whole by a huge red dragon.
She stared, unable to comprehend what she was seeing. She had never seen a dragon before, but they were meant to be noble creatures who left the mortal races to their own devices. What could possess them to join a mortal war on the side of the Horde? Alyna had no idea. The red dragon was still quite a way up and had paused in its descent to swallow its attacker. Other dark shapes were also growing larger, and it became clear they were also red dragons of varying sizes.
The orcs roared as one, the sound snapping her back into reality. The back lines of the human ranks were fleeing, and the elves were turning to their leaders for guidance, including Alyna. To anyone else, Sylvanas was gazing at the dragons impassively, but Alyna knew her former lover better than anyone. She could see Sylvanas was just as terrified as the rest of them as to what this would mean for them. Her fear did not stop her from loading her bow and firing it at the approaching monster.
The arrow bounced off its chest harmlessly.
Others followed their general's example, and Alyna focused on creating a new fireball. When she thought it large enough, she looked at the dragon and threw her hand towards it to release it.
Nothing happened. The fireball remained in her hand.
She tried again but it would not leave her. In confusion she tried to throw it at the orcs and it obediently blazed a path of destruction through half a dozen hapless warriors. She looked at her hand, uncertain of what to make of what just happened.
"Get away from the trees!" came a panicked cry.
Alyna turned. The dragons were flying strafing runs over the forest, torrents of fire spouting from their open mouths. Everything was burning. Elves who had been held back as reserves came flying from the trees. Some were not so lucky and they could hear their shrieks as the fires engulfed them. She felt a hand grab her upper arm and she allowed herself to be pulled away by Sylvanas. They were running for the hills to try and disappear into them and out of the reach of the dragons.
A dark shadow fell over them as they ran and Alyna knew what was following them. The instant the dragon opened its mouth she could feel the hot fire behind her, chasing them as they ran, getting closer. She gripped her runeblade fiercely and began to prepare a spell. She refused to die under these circumstances and she wasn't about to let Sylvanas and her people be incinerated either. Just the thought of it fuelled her anger. She pulled in as much power as she could hold, but to finish her spell she had to focus.
To focus, she had to stop running.
Keeping her back to the rapidly approaching fire, she stopped. Sylvanas glanced over her shoulder, sensing her absence, and then stopped with a look of horror on her face. She began to run back towards her. Alyna held out her runeblade towards the fleeing elves and cast her spell.
A moment later, fire engulfed where Alyna had stood.
