An Hour of Impasse

It was just as Pax'lish had feared: the night elves seemed to know the qirajis' every movement wherever they were. A few groups of gladiators had done some experiments around the night elf camp and each time they were attacked by the enemy before the groups could even have be seen from the camp. The losses weren't too big a price for the confirmation: had the qiraji tried to engage the enemy in an actual battle without knowing about the night elves' new-found powers, it would have ended in a disaster. Nevertheless, this development was a reason for grave concern.

There was simply one point that made no sense to Pax'lish. If the night elves could sense his army's presence, why didn't they attack? The only answer he could come up with, was that the elves were able to sense only nearby areas but that made no sense. If the druids had found a way to dismantle the prophets' magic, why wouldn't they be able to cover the entire Tanaris with their spell? Pax'lish was no prophet and the only one who could answer his question was probably Skeram himself as he was the only one who possessed all the knowledge regarding the qiraji magic. Not that the reason for night elves' spell's short range really mattered but the Brigadier general was concerned that the elves might get another breakthrough.

Pax'lis's army was following the night elves, keeping about an hour's distance between the two armies. The sun was burning down on the desert but General was happy about it as it was for his advantage. But it was only a little consolation compared to the fact that his campaign had just become much more difficult. From now on, the qiraji attacks would have to be serious as any decoy attacks would simply fail. Then there was the Unseen problem: an assassin who wasn't able to move unnoticed was completely useless. But Pax'lish couldn't simply keep them idle. Every qiraji had to work for the common goal and an idle caste would lower the whole army's morale.

They're damn useless now! The battle itself is getting hard and then I should come up with missions that aren't vital for the victory! How am I… That's it! That just might suit them well enough…

"High Ambusher Danoxx, you're being accused of homicide of a fellow Unseen. I trust you know that the act is one of the most heinous crimes a qiraji can commit?" A greenish prophet called Xruril asked in a serious tone. He was standing in the back of a small tent as qiraji court-martials were always held in small and ascetic places. This was because, as was told, a little room and few attendees would make the Creator's presence more profound, his penetrating presence filling the culprit with horror and revealing his crime or innocence.

"I do, Xruril. Should the charges be found true, my soul wouldn't even be fit to burn in your dark fire. You would have to manually rip my soul to pieces. However, I swear in the Creator's name that I will tell only the truth." Danoxx was dead serious and each of his words carried a big amount of weight to them.

"I deny that he speaks only the truth. I know my subordinates: Ka'arh would never have attacked a fellow Unseen. I don't know what he was doing in danoxx's tunnel but certainly nothing worth being killed for! Danoxx leaves something untold and because of that, I cannot help but accuse him of murder!" Va'rel was the third qiraji in the room. Qiraji courts were seldom occupied by more than five people and the prophet in charge of the court-martial held the absolute power in the court.

"That's what we're going to investigate today. Both of you, know that any possible lie will be detected eventually and then you will not answer only to me. That lie will also be a treason against Ahn'Qiraj and even more importantly, the Creator Himself. Danoxx, you've always been known as a capable Unseen and a courageous leader. What is your take on the chain of events?" Xruril took a quick look to his right where Danoxx was standing. Both of the High Ambushers had changed their usual officer's garbs and now wore extremely simple and one-colored cloaks, in order to promote their humbleness.

"As you know, it happened last night, on the mission to the night elf camp. I had just entered my last tent when I felt a crushing grip in my leg. Of course, I killed the attacker right away without second thoughts. If he had been an enemy and I hadn't done anything, it would be me who would lie dead in the camp right now!"

"What Danoxx tells might be true but Ka'arh wasn't stupid enough to enter a wrong tunnel and attack a comrade! By the way Danoxx… What did you think attacked you? A night elf with huge wire clatters?" Va'rel's tone was mocking but a murdering gaze from Xruril silenced him immediately.

"This isn't a place for jokes or blackmailing, Va'rel. But you had some points there. What I'd like to ask is that were you not actually able to see the attacker before you killed him?"

"I couldn't, Xruril. My hand acted before my head did. The knife was in his skull by the time I saw who the attacker was."

"Interesting. Yet if you hadn't been so eager to kill, there would have been one more Unseen who had lived to see this day. The most important question I have for you, Danoxx, is that were you at the moment completely sure the kill couldn't be avoided. And to you ,Va'rel, is there any reason Ka'arh would have entered Danoxx's tunnel in the first place? Let's begin with the latter question." Va'rel looked a bit agitated by the question. Of course he should be questioned as well but did Xruril know anything about the mission?

"The poisoning was a solitary mission. My duties as his squad leader are reserved only to the missions where we work together so this time I wasn't responsible for Ka'arh's actions. The last time I saw him was after our last squad meeting where we wished each other good luck. After that, each of us went our separate ways to the tunnels we'd been assigned to."

"I see. You wouldn't know what Ka'arsh's real tunnel was. The only one who could answer the question is the deceased one himself. There is no sense in speculating his thoughts as they would be only guesses. And what about you Danoxx? Va'rel had a point in questioning your motives, killing someone using our tunnels. It couldn't possibly have been an enemy, don't you agree?" Xruril didn't sound menacing or accusing but his voice resonated with real interest in the issue.

"Even if what you say is true, an Unseen should act to save his own life whatever happens. I don't think anything when I'm attacked, I simply act." Danoxx saw no point in repeating himself so he pleaded to the common Unseen code of battle.

"Indeed. Now let's see whether your claims bear any truth to them!" Xruril's eyes widened and he formed a ball of dark power in his hands. Nearly instantly he cast it toward Danoxx.

The High Ambusher had never felt such a huge pain in his head. Danoxx had never before felt this agony but he had heard of it from others. Qiraji prophets used this as a method of testing the defendant's claim. The spell felt exactly the same as was its actual effect: someone invades your mind and pushes you out of your own head. Additionally, the unnatural digging of his memory caused a massive additional pain to Danoxx's head.

Xruril's eyes were closed and his body trembled with the spell's effect. It continued for about a minute after which he lowered his arms and panted slightly. Danoxx felt a huge relief after he regained the control of his own mind. The prophet soon returned his eyes on Danoxx and his gaze was ominous. He seemed happy and agitated at the same time.

"Danoxx, you've done well in my interrogation. You've spoken your part of the truth as well as you could. However, you never truly opened your heart to the issue. You truly believed you were right all along but in my investigation I could feel that you had really no problem with what you'd done. As if you were indifferent about your comrades' fates…"

Danoxx tried to interrupt Xruril but he dismissed the protest immediately.

"I'm not saying that you're a murderer or even uncaring. What I'm saying is that you're too absorbed into your own activities occasionally that you forget to care about your comrades. I could feel that you really didn't care whether the attacker was an enemy or a mistaken ally. Ka'arsh's death could have been avoided. However, the original mistake was his, not yours."

Va'rel didn't mind hearing Xruril's words. It would seem that Danoxx wouldn't be getting completely freed from guilt. Also, hearing about Danoxx's shortcoming's as a High Ambusher brought a slight smile to his face. Danoxx himself was stunned by Xruril's claims. The spells the prophets used were completely reliable and it was no use trying to object the prophet's words.

Seems like I'll never know myself well enough…

"Am I unfit to lead my squad, then? If I occasionally care only about myself, am I not a terrible leader?" Danoxx's voice was silent and apologetic.

"You aren't, Danoxx. You've always been known as one of our stronger High Ambushers. You're an important part of the Unseen caste in Tanaris, even more so after the last night's tragedy. But be warned: this must not happen again. I'll let you go this time due to your reputation and position. Should you kill another qiraji, your fate will be sealed. Ka'rash's mistake was his own but so was yours."

"Th-thank you, Xruril. This won't happen again. Thank you for giving me this chance." Danoxx was relieved but also worried about Xruril's words. Va'rel was content about the verdict and glad to hear his subordinate wasn't the only culprit in his own demise.

"I really hope so, Danoxx. For now, serve the Creator well."

"Your wound seemed very bad, Ra'jol. Are you sure it's already getting better?" Ke'nir asked casually and not actually worried as he already knew the wound wouldn't be lethal.

"It is. The Creator will mend it in a week and I won't let bother me. Sirexx's injury is much worse as it will never heal." Sirexx was marching in front of the two. He was still pretty silent but he still heard his comrades' words.

"It's alright. We'll see if it's of any hindrance but for now, I don't really want to think about that. Your wound is more painful so don't worry about me." Sirexx's voice was normal, if a bit sorrowful.

Ke'nir stepped a few steps forward to Sirexx's side and spoke to him with a grim yet soft voice.

"Sirexx, I know that even a disability which doesn't seem dangerous at first, may actually be your end before long. I know it as it because has happened to a friend of mine, many years ago. He lost both of his antennae in a battle against the taurens. He thought he was going to be fine but you can never value your health enough until it's taken from you. My friend tried to dismiss the disability but he couldn't continue to do so for long. He could no longer use the crystals, command the silithid and his ability to sense enemies and many other things in general was gone too. First he managed somehow but his squad's missions were not made easier just for my disabled friend. On a harsh mission, he couldn't be warned about the enemy's movements and he got surrounded. A silithid horde might have saved him but as it was, he met his end on that day."

Sirexx looked at Ke'nir with worried eyes. He knew the near-black Unseen meant well but his story didn't really lighten his mood.

"Why would you tell this to him, Ke'nir? Antennae and half a chela aren't the same thing and Sirexx most likely doesn't want to hear that he's going to die like your friend did!" Ra'jol wasn't allowed to attend Danoxx's trial and was sent along with his comrades to follow the night elf army. Even though the Unseen missions were suspended, they still moved with the main army in case they were needed.

"I'm just saying that only a fool would dismiss a disability as an unimportant detail! This is a serious issue and I wanted to point out an example what can happen if Sirexx is not careful."

"Thanks for your advice, Ke'nir but I think I can handle my own business. I know my chela-to-chela fights are limited to my right hand but that's fine. That's a last resort to an Unseen anyway. I wonder when Danoxx is going to join us. His trial should have begun a while ago and there's no way he'll get punished." Sirexx changed the subject as he was also troubled by Danoxx's court-martial and didn't really want to continue the conversation about his own situation.

"Most likely not for a few days. His leg still hasn't healed completely and it's likely going to take time to heal. The trial is just a bad joke from Va'rel." Even if the other High Ambusher was their leader's enemy, Ra'jol still respected him because of his skills.

"Well that's not our concern right now. What's bothering me is that we're marching behind the army knowing that we won't have any missions. It just feels like a waste of time." Ke'nir expressed his frustration of the present situation of his squad and Unseen as a whole.

"We must always be ready for a task even if it comes as a surprise. Anyway, we're approaching Un'goro. Perhaps we'll receive some orders when we get there. If not, at least the enemy's march gets more difficult." Sirexx said dryly as he wasn't too thrilled to enter the jungle again as it was more dangerous and unknown terrain for the qirajithan Tanaris.

Valstann was very aware of Un'goro's dangers. Last time he had the qiraji to guide him but he couldn't bring the safe path to his mind.

This will be difficult… We might have to wander here for weeks before we find the ramp up to Silithus. Until then, any of us might get eaten by beasts or parasites or simply succumb to heat! A shame my father can only sense a tiny area around him…

The elder Staghelm was riding alongside Valstann. Fandral had regained some of his confidence after finding a small channel through which he could communicate with nature, even if it was very limited. It had help tremendously in tracking down the assassins after their attack. Sadly they had managed to poison a big portion of their supplies before they got caught but they still had enough water to avert a real water shortage.

If he sensed at least a kilometer-wide area, we wouldn't even need to go to their cursed home! We could just crush them in Tanaris, but no. I can only hope that Un'goro won't be the end for too many of us...

A silithid wasp was flying over a big qiraji army clearly looking for something, navigating purely by instinct. The image of the qirajis it was supposed to find was painted in its tiny brain and it would search the entire army until it found its targets. The insect's eyes were scanning the landscape intensively, as were the eyes of all the wasps that were looking for their targets. After a long while, a qiraji who resembled the picture the wasp had been given in the insect's sight. It dashed quickly toward him and right away begun to convey its message. Silithid's voice wasn't intelligible to a qiraji but the resonating of its antennae was.

"Look, Ke'nir, we haven't been forgotten." Sirexx grinned without humor as his melancholy hadn't left him just yet.

"What? It wishes us to meet the Brigadier General in person?" Ra'jol asked in surprise.

"Apparently but why? What could he possibly want of us?" Ke'nir said, wondering about the turn of events.

Sirexx took a look at the army in front of him and his comrades.

"Well, let's find him! He should be leading the army so we shouldn't have a hard time finding him."

Indeed, the main challenge was to find the path through the many gladiator regiments. It took a good while but Pax'lish was where he was supposed to be. The Brigadier General was accompanied by five of his deputies. The general was easy to recognize due to his greater size and deep blue armor and many trinkets which were spread across it. His deputies were also bigger than a normal qiraji but none of them came close to the general's height.

"Ilt'har axil'tesh, Neres'htar. What is your bidding?" Ke'nir started with a greeting which implicated clear inferiority. It could be best dubbed as "We're but your servants".

Pax'lish turned to the three Unseen and he seemed content at their arrival.

"I have a special task for you and Danoxx because I hear that you're one the best Unseen squads under my command. What really stands apart from you, is your service to the Prophet himself. That is an extremely rare honor and if your service is good enough for Skeram, who am I to turn it down?"

The three Unseen exchanged glances and they could all see each other's relief of being able to do something.

"We thank you for this chance. Whatever you ask, it will be our honor to do it." Ra'jol asked with a proud yet thankful voice.

"As you should. I very seldom command even gladiators myself and given your caste's recent disaster, thank your fortune for this chance. Especially since my request for you is much different and difficult than my tasks for the others. If Skeram deemed your performance acceptable, you should be able to complete this special task. The other Unseen are being told to head for Un'goro to lay some obstacles for the elves and make the terrain and wildlife even more dangerous. Even if those are very useful tasks, but your mission is much more important."

Sirexx felt his interest rise by the minute. A special task? Perhaps a messenger or sabotage one?

"I want you to infiltrate the city of Eldre'thalas, learn about the source of the Highborne's power and destroy it!"

Sirexx felt like an anvil had been removed from his shoulders. At first he had trouble processing the magnitude of such an endeavor but after that he felt only exhilaration about the mission. He had always preferred scouting missions and ones where the objective was unclear. Moreover, the ruins of the great elven city made him feel curious about the place itself. Ke'nir seemed highly surprised but still quite indifferent whereas Ra'jol's eyes gleamed with anticipation of getting to serve the Creator.

"They must have some kind of source of power. There is a reason why users of arcane magic have mostly disappeared from the world. The Well of Eternity provided the powers of ancient magi and its destruction meant the end of the magic as they knew it. The fact that the Shen'dralar still are able to wield arcane powers means that they have to have a special source from which they draw their strength."

"Do you have any idea what kind of source it might be?" Ke'nir asked with some uncertainty in his voice.

"Well, given that Dath'Remar and his colleagues used the power of the well beneath Nordrassil, it's possible they also have something like that in their ruins. Or, like us, they might draw their powers from a highly powerful being like a demigod. Whatever it is, it must be destroyed. If the Shen'dralar lose their arcane power, they're as good as finished. I know your leader is injured so you'll have a few days to rest before you head for Feralas. Any questions?"

None of the three qiraji answered and Pax'lish simply nodded to signal the end of his orders.

"I know I can put my faith in you. Make the Creator proud."

Sirexx knew this mission would take a long time and the fighting in the south would go on without him or his comrades. He wasn't sad about it however as he preferred to act in the shadows. But who knew, there was a possibility of his home being a smoking ruin by the time of his return. Whatever would come to pass, Sirexx and his comrades would have a role to play in the war, even if none of them expected it.