A-N: My power is back! I noticed some major errors in chapter nine so I will be revising that chapter.
~8~8~
The sun, shimmering off the pools of rain water mixed with blood on the battlefield in between Crushblow and the Red-fist encampment, told the tale of yet another failed attempt to breach the sturdy Red-fist base. It had rained that entire day making the field treacherous, only in the dusk had the sun thought to peek through the clouds to reveal the full extent of the battle. The bodies of many ogres and eetins lay spread out across the landscape, far more than there were Horde soldiers, but there had been a good chunk of soldiers who'd lost their lives today as well.
While the Alliance mourned the losses of their soldiers by giving grand speeches, and preaching on how terrible war was, the Horde cheered for their fallen comrades, there was no greater glory than to be slain battling a worthy foe. To commemorate their losses, the Horde did not put their names of slabs of stone, something cold and would crumble with the rain and wind, but told their tales by the midnight fires, until they became as legend . And there would be many new tales this night.
Zaela cursed under her breath, her eyes roving over the carnage. The Warchief scoured the battlefield for salvable weapons and injured who could be saved by what few healers they had. The stoic orcess had to turn away at some of the horrid mess' awaiting her. Orc bodies squished, literally under two and three ogres, brain matter coating the muddy ground transforming the dirt into a disgusting brownish pink tint. To her left Captain Bor'lock was turning over bodies, having the hard task of identifying the dead. He solemnly closed every eye, marking down a name on the scroll he held then moving on.
"We lost 40." Zaela stated to Cozwyn, coming to know instinctively when the forsaken was near.
For the months they had laid siege to Red-fist, Zaela had come to trust, if not totally depend on the Forsaken priest. It had been a bit disconcerting to the other Dragonmaw who wanted to know why the Warchief had officially named Cozwyn her second in command. Some had wondered had the often taciturn, clever Forsaken had placed an enchantment on their leader. The simple truth to it was, she was a faithful friend, trustworthy and reliable in the heat of battle, and in the tough decisions.
"Compared to their 200 slain, not a bad price to pay." Cozwyn countered, walking to stand beside the warrior.
They were only words of encouragement, both knowing more would be sent down from the Bastion in a week's time.
"200 they can replace." Zaela growled in frustration just speaking aloud what they were both thinking. If one could take down 8 of Cho'gall's ilk, then 16 more would arrive in their place, and when that one Dragonmaw warrior fell there was no replacing him. Hell, with all the rain even her siege engines were stuck, bringing the assault to a temporary halt.
Zaela spat out a black curse. "We can't win this siege, Cozwyn, not like this anyhow, we have to be cleverer than frontal attacks."
Suddenly a cry of agony sounded out from the Red-fist camp and both leaders smiled. A few minutes later, a lone figure came running out of the base and quickly made its way towards the pair. Garona stopped in front of the pair, bended over her hands on her knees trying to catch her breath from her sprint. "I have good news and bad new, the good news first, that's a couple more ogres who won't be killing your forces anymore."
"I'd be happier if you said a couple hundred," Zaela chuckled before turning serious once more. "And the bad?"
Garona nodded absently as she sheathed her daggers. "I am leaving. I have information on Cho'gall's whereabouts in the Bastion."
It was a surprise to say the least to the Dragonmaw leader who tried hard to show that the words hadn't bothered her as much as they really did.
"You're going to leave us just like that? Garona we need you, you're one of our saving graces here." Zaela said her frustration replaced by disbelief and disparity.
"I came here to seek my revenge, I am sorry I can't help you more, but Cho'gall is my main priority. I wish you the best."
With that the rogue was gone leaving a stunned Zaela behind. Shaking her head Zaela forced herself not to be caught in hopelessness, even though her best assassin had seemingly abandoned them.
"I wish her the best." Cozwyn sighed quietly.
Zaela turned sharply to meet the forsaken in the eye, glaring murder down upon her. "You wish her the best? We're stuck in a war with out anyway of winning and you're wishing her the best?"
"A soul is difficult to heal, Zaela." The priest countered evenly.
The warrior orcess knew that all to well, but caught in her rage it hardly mattered what her common sense told her. Zaela snorted rudely, stomping off to search for more wounded. "Let that deserter never find peace, I wish her death and destruction, and pla-" The Dragonmaw Warchief stopped suddenly, as if struck the last word of her rant stuck in her throat and mind.
She stood there staring into nothing for a long time before, a smile slowly came to her lips. Nodding to herself Zaela broke out into laughter, turning back to Cozwyn. "Come Cozwyn, I think I have the plan that will win us this battle."
The priest arched a rotting brow quizzically, but nodded, following the now nearly cheerful Zaela. Had the orcess finally snapped at something so trivial as Garona leaving? With her falling out with Garrosh, she had been more disparaged of late. After a moment Cozwyn shook the thought away, Zaela was in sound mind but what plan she had to defeat the Red-Fist eluded her.
As they entered the command tent at Crushblow Zaela grabbed a nearby pitcher and mug pouring some ogre mead from a raid taken days before, eagerly digging into her newly hatched plan. "What's the one thing every person on Azeroth fears?"
The priest took a seat on a nearby chair, giving a quizzical shrug of her bony shoulders.
"Plague." Zaela answered with a smile.
Cozwyn could only, shake her head. "A good idea, but Garrosh banned the use of it after the Wrath-gate."
The Forsaken lost her grin, shuddering at the thought of the terrible disaster that had happened at the wrath-gate. She nor any Forsaken ever, wanted something like that ever again. Any progress they had made in the world to except them had been shattered on that one day, maybe never to be mended. No, Cozwyn had silently promised herself that day, she would never let something like that happen again, even if it meant killing her own queen.
"Not real plague." Zaela explained hurriedly, seeing the intense pain in Cozwyn's yellow eyes. For a moment she regretted bringing it up, she could sympathize with the forsaken about seeing her people and allies slain all about from something that could have and should have been prevented. "Fake stuff to convince those dim wits at Red-fist. Look, here's the plan…"
~8~8~
Cozwyn had been to the warrior city of Orgrimmar on many an occasion. She had even called it home for a number of months, when the Forsaken first joined the ranks of the Horde. But so much had changed since those days when the Far seer, Thrall had ruled. Nothing looked the same from how she recalled. The priest chuckled as she witnessed visitors and citizens of the city milling about, the auction house and bank, coming and going from their destinations of simple trade to legendary battles. At least some things never changed.
The dry Durotar dust dirtied the bottom of her robes as she approached Grommash hold. She could feel the blazing sun slowly bleaching her bones from a dull yellow to a snow white tint as she waited for the guards to inform the Warchief she had arrived. After a few moments, Kor'kron guards allowed her to pass with out hindrance knowing she usually came a couple time a months to personally deliver updates of the battle on the base of the mountain and announcing her to Garrosh was only proper procedure.
The Warchief, sat languidly in the towering throne seemingly bored, however the alertness in his eyes and jerky movements gave away the eagerness he felt. He waited for word of Zaela's plans mostly now because he was still angry about their last encounter a few months ago. To pick out her flaws, would show her she had no idea what she was doing, and hopefully admit she'd been wrong and he knew best.
"Report, lady Cozwyn" Garrosh ordered gruffly.
The priest took a deep, yet un-needed breath before she dove in. "So far we have not been able to breach the Red-fist base. But, in the past 24 hours, Zaela has concocted a well thought out plan to change that."
A superior smile came to Garrosh's lips, he had known as much. Her plan probably concluded to her getting back in his good graces so that he could send a couple war parties into the Highlands, but he would only except her plan with an admittance she was wrong about her plans with the Alliance treaty. Garrosh made a beckoning gesture for her to continue.
Cozwyn faltered some what but forced herself onward. "In a week, she plans to use plague to kill the Red-Fist or draw them out into the open so that we may battle properly. She then plans to sneak the Kor'kron assassins, you placed under her command months ago, up the mountain as the main forces are distracted. We will then create a portal, upon the ridge, which should be able to teleport our remaining forces right atop the mountain."
Before Cozwyn could utter another word, before she could even blink, she suddenly found herself looking up at the ceiling with a huge brown orc standing over her shaking in rage. Garrosh had no doubt this was the spy, Garona's opinion be dammed! Kneeling down to her, the Warchief grasped the Forsaken by her chin clutching tightly so that she could only look him in the eye. "What lies have you been poisoning Zaela with, huh? That the plague is harmless, that it will gain her victory? Did you mention the part where you turn upon her at the last moment as your kind did at the Wrath-gate. Guards, arrest this Forsaken traitor."
"No! You don't understand…" Cozwyn tried explaining only to have Garrosh land a jaw shattering blow to the priest knocking her senseless.
"Enough lies out of you, save it until I can have you 'questioned'." He growled, walking back to his throne.
Watching as the guards dragged the forsaken out, Garrosh couldn't help but feel the tiniest speck of satisfaction, he had saved Zaela from a horrid fate, and more importantly he had been right! Turning all her forces from the Alliance, had only succeeded in letting them garner a stronger foot hold in the Highlands and blind her to traitors in her midst. Maybe even the traitor forsaken had mentioned the idea to Zaela. Perhaps she would see what a fool hardy thing it was to attack the Red-Fist with her people alone and do as he requested by trading the prisoners with the Alliance.
For a few seconds he toyed with the thought of her admitting she was wrong, and throwing herself in his arms begging for his forgiveness. It was an amusing little thought that actually made the usually grumpy Garrosh chuckle.
"Hail, Warchief." A voice cried out from the entrance to the throne room.
The guards let a Dragonmaw orc pass, clad in his finest warrior regalia. Garrosh recognized him immediately as one of Zaela's captains, Bor'lock by name. He saluted to Garrosh who saluted back, smiling now in good humor from Zaela having been saved from disaster.
"Greetings warrior, what brings you to my kingdom?"
"I was with lady Cozwyn and couldn't help but notice her being dragged out and led to the dungeons." The captains tone was one of whom was unsure and worried. Cozwyn had been of course, Zaela's second in command.m
Garrosh lost his smile a spat a curse at the name. "You've come on bad terms then, that forsaken you were with was a traitor."
The orc shook his head sadly, though it seemed his shoulders slumped in relief. "We all thought as such, but Zaela would have none of it. She was being mind controlled if you ask me. But Zaela still needs to be informed of your orders on the matters at hand."
Garrosh laughed placing a heavy hand on the captain's shoulder. "Good man, always putting duty first. Tell Zaela she is to not use the plague but have it destroyed, but I approve of the plan to sneak the assassins up on the ridge."
"At once, Warchief." Bor'lock saluted, and briskly walked out.
A few hours later one of the guards who had dragged Cozwyn to the cells came back. He saluted sharply, standing by for orders.
"Is the Forsaken awake yet?" Garrosh asked, still feeling self satisfied.
"Yes Warchief." The guard nodded.
Garrosh rose with a heavy grunt, smiling as he made way for the door. "Good, it's time I see what the traitor has to say for herself."
Garrosh hadn't had a good torture session in months, mainly due to the fact those who had been found innocent and released often left with horrendous scars and disfigured limbs, retelling their frightening tales so that others wouldn't go down that path.
The walk to the dungeons was a short one, it was a rounded building like many in the city, with a low red tiled room. The only difference was the bars, and guards patrolling the grounds. Inside was dark and mostly cool, with few items in each cell, a piss pot and a slit window were all the luxury the prisoners were afforded. At the back wall, rested a dozen or so small torture devices that the guards would use on the minor criminals for crimes such as stealing some of the more high end items on the auction houses and those sorts of things. Behind that wall, however was a secret room carved in the rock that held the 'big boys' as the guards called them, reserved for spies and traitors. That, Garrosh had readily determined, was where Cozwyn was headed.
Cozwyn rested on the dirt floor, bony knees tucked up to her chest, eyes shut as if praying. Garrosh knew, she probably was, thinking of the fate that awaited her. She had no doubt heard of the 'big boys' as well.
He all but swaggered up to the cell bars leaning on them, "Not so conniving and sneaky now are you, undead?"
"I was being neither, Warchief." Cozwyn countered simply. "By keeping me here you prevent me from helping Zaela."
"Helping?" Garrosh spat. "Is trying to create another Wrath-gate helping? Answer me you pathetic bag of bones."
Cozwyn jumped up suddenly, causing Garrosh to step away from the bars as the priest ranted. "You think your people are the only ones who experienced tragedy that day? Those who betrayed you were supposed to be your allies, but they were are brothers and sisters. Let's also not forget, their were other Forsaken who died down at the Wrath-gate as well, those who still had their loyalties to the Horde! Even though those who conspired with the demon Varimatheras are dead, we remaining forsaken must still hang our heads in shame for what occurred. Do you think we would want that again? The plague we are going to use on the Red-fist isn't real, you moron!"
Garrosh blinked a few times in surprise at the normally calm Forsaken's rant. Inwardly however he was berating himself, how foolish was he not to think Zaela would not have had things in order. Was he so over protective and thinking his ideas superior, didn't register she was a capable warrior in her own right? He recovered quickly though, feeling rather foolish, yelling right back. "Why didn't you say so then?"
"Did Garona not warn you, there are spies about!" The forsaken hissed urgently. "The plan was kept between me, Zaela, and Garona, no one in our forces or yours were to know of the plan to sneak up the mountain until I delivered the news to you and by then the attack would already have begun to start."
Garrosh tactfully kept back a sigh of relief, he had not blundered to greatly then, only his most trusted handpicked guardsmen knew, and they would keep the secret as they had many, to their graves.
"All is well then." He informed Cozwyn as he jingled about for the cell key, he pulled open the rusted door with a small grunt and let her walk out. "I have already sent your traveling companion back with a message to Zaela. Knowing her, she will still go forward with the attack so no harm no foul."
"Companion?" Zaela's brows knitted together in confusion. "Warchief, I came alone…"