Part 7 – Blown away
It was six weeks into the siege of Ironforge, and both the attackers and defenders were at a standstill. But not for the reasons that one would expect, the dragon flights intervention forced both to a mind numbing stale mate. The massed army of the Sin'dorei held the entrance to the city and despite the dragon's intervention refused to move until the order was given by their own commanders. Everyone not in the city would have to travel to Stormwind and take the train system into the city; that's if the local guards would allow them. The dragons had turned the throne room, at the time used by the council in the Kings absence as a meeting room between the two forces. The throne room was decked out in the spirit of the midsummer holiday. The fiery banners draped in every doorway and arch. The leader of the red dragon flight unit send had commanded the two leading force commanders of the attackers to stay in the throne room until a conclusion had been finalised.
"I don't like this; the meeting room is in their part of the city and you've only been allowed two guards." said Mystyeyes as the two neared the command tent of the attacking forces.
"You worry too much, anyway I'll have two of the best body guards we have." replied Kreirravia as they entered the tent.
"Who? Bloodtower and Gonnadie are deployed in Darkshore." asked Mystyeyes "and Heloese and Evilstikes are somewhere south of Stormwind?"
"You doubt your own abilities? And you forget Astarrael or Crimsonmoon." replied Kreirravia.
"Wait, no! I'm going through another negotiation! You don't want me, remember last time? I still can't get the smell out of my robes!" pleaded Mystyeyes.
"A repeat of last time is exactly what I'm counting on. I need someone in there that was no tolerance at all for negotiation." said Kreirravia "Anyway, someone needs to intimate the council and most of my armour is practical."
"What's that meant to mean? You think my clothes are over the top? Do you?" accused Mystyeyes as they placed themselves at the front of the rounded war table.
"A little vain today are we? You're a mage; I'd be worried if you didn't go over the top in your choice of robes. "Now, if you done with having a go at me could we continue?"
"My Lord, our forces hold 97% of Ironforge included the archives, the banks, and most of their residential areas. The dragons haven't tried to force us back from our positions but no hostile actions can be taken against each other. We believe most of the city's population was evacuated before we reached the main gate. Sir, I believe there's a traitor in high command. They knew some of our attack plans and they had their defences up before we reached the hill. We took heavy damage, wasn't for the extra men sent we may have lost the north of the city." reported the commander pointing to the areas of the he last talking about. He was getting old by elvan standards but in his jet black robe with a high collar with a deep red trim and the markings of his rank on his angling shoulders. "I'd like to go with you when you meet with the dragons and the council. I served in the Dragonblight unit we sent to Northrand. I may be of use to you."
"No Commander, you're use is here. Keeping our soldiers in line, they can smell victory and will act rashly. If they're allowed to act on impulse and break the truce before we can rid ourselves of these dragons. We'll lose a large section of our forces within the city." replied Kreirravia placing his hand on the commander's shoulder. "If anything goes wrong; we'll need good commanders keeping these youngsters in line."
"As you wish, my lord." came the only reply.
Waving Myst and a Spellbreaker to his sides he moved out of the command tent and through the city's wide gates. At the entrance to the great forge, two dragons stood guard. Though in their elvan forms they would be dangerous foes and open combat with them unwise. "Lord Kreirravia, you are expected. You are permitted two guards of your choosing." said one of the dragons allowing the group to pass.
"Lord Kreirravia, Guild Master of Leviathan, High Commander of the Horde, Hero of Sin'dorei, newly appointed Regent Lord of Silvermoon." announced the herald seeing Kreirravia enter the door. "Lady Alanassori Mystyeyes, Senior Officer of Leviathan Senior General of Leviathan, Lady of Eversong Pass." added the herald seeing her enter behind Kreirravia.
On the raised platform at the back of the room stood the council of Ironforge, below them ten members of the dragon flight and two dragon kin. "Welcome Lord Kreirravia, Lady Alanassori." welcomed the dragon at the head of the guard. "Do not worry; we're here in number to protect the council from you. You have a reputation Lord Kreirravia, for a paladin you possess great abilities as a magi. Many of our kin remember you from before the loss of the Earth-Warder."
"Earth-Warder? But that was…" said Mystyeyes but was cut off by Kreirravia as he said. "Such things matter little in this era, but we both know your presence means little. By the end of this day I will have their heads. The honour of the Sin'dorei demands it!"
"Honour? You and I know better don't we? You have lived far too long to be blinded by honour, Altum-natus." replied the dragon.
"You break your ladies vow, those times are behind us! Eranu, or I will help you!" yelled Kreirravia on the verge of pure anger. "Those days are gone! The days of the Quel'dorei are gone, only the Sin'dorei stands!"
"I have stepped out of line; I fear my presence will be this cities end. Lord, I was asked to end this attack with as little bloodshed as possible. What is the true reason for this siege?" asked the dragon, bowing low as a sign of apology.
"I have told you, a blood price must be paid!" was the only reply.
"Lord, stop the act; we both know you seek something else. Something greater then this petty honour." repeated the dragon.
"My Lord, I have a message for you." yelled a page as he raced past the guards.
"It seems I may have to answer you after all." turning to the page he said "return and tell them to hold until I give the order."
As the page ran off to carry out his new task one of the guards that he'd just ran past raised his hands forming a spell of dragon fire. Seeing the signs of the spells action Mystyeyes raced in between the dragon and his intended target and hastily created what barrier she could. A wave of blue fire washed over the mage and sparks of pure white exploded from her shields. As the smoke cleared the arch could be seen, the once marvels doorway had been blackened beyond recognition and the flooring mimicking its sad state. All that could be seen of Mystyeyes was a dome of white energy, flickering with blue flares of light. As the Spellbreaker and Kreirravia moved towards her shield, it disintegrated revealing a worn mage. Her cloths burned by the dragons flame and her hair highlighted with white, a testament of the power she needed to hold the shield from the barrage it had taken.
"You attack my own guards?" yelled Kreirravia helping Mystyeyes up. "To hell with deals, burn the city with the dragon in it or not."
"Lord Kreirravia, we ask you to think this through. Would you destroy a whole city over a mistake?" pleaded the dragon.
"A mistake, you tried to kill an unarmed page; one that acted within your own laws!" replied Kreirravia handing Mystyeyes over to the Spellbreaker; he raised his hands above his head and started a chant, the words being forgotten as soon as they had been heard. "You have your choice: I will destroy this city around me as well as the mountain that it stands within; or you will open the deep vault and you will bring me the heads of this council, they all signed the order so they all must die!"
A halo of raw energy formed around him circling him, each at a different angle.
"Don't do this! Get the council out of the city!" yelled the dragon, his voice on the border to panic.
"There is no use dragon; I've gotten my Spellbreakers within the city! Can you beat the most powerful magicians on this world? Not even the dragons surpass us now! We have breached the mortal plane and taken back our immortality! For too long we have been held back by the Horde! Now, you will give us what we want or, you will die." he said as the rings of light around him picked up speed.
"Open this vault he speaks of, now!" ordered the dragon "I said now, the power he is drawing from won't just destroy this city! He's going to blow the whole continent!"
Moira Thaurissan placed her hands on a panel and a deep rumpling could be heard as the wall slid down revealing great shelves of ancient tomes. Turning to the blur of raw power surrounding the Elf Lord she warned "The power in these books has been passed down to us from the makers, you may kill us and you may take these tomes but know this. Any peace the Dwarfs and Blood Elves once shared is over."
"The Dwarfs a betrayed us long ago; your kind are as bad as the humans." replied the voice coming from deep within the arcane energy as three bolts of power shot into the council crawling over their bodies into all that could be seen was a shell of light that faded away leaving their still clear shadows the only reminder of their existence. "The deed is done; we will leave Ironforge to the dwarfs. We have no reason to harm them anymore." said Kreirravia the power he'd drawn still dripping from his body like water. Turning to the Spellbreaker still holding the barely awake Mystyeyes he said "Order every unit to the gate; we're leaving."
"Nice show you put on there." Mystyeyes managed to reply
*Meanwhile in Darkshore*
"I bet you 250 gold, he won't do it." said the soldier.
"I bet you he will!" replied the other.
"Hey, sir!" yelled the soldier "he says you'd eat a whole Gnome!"
"Does he now?" answered Vedris Evilstikes.
