Just wanted to pass along an announcement or two! My chapter updates will be coming a bit slower from here on. Maybe. Depends on how my new job goes and school. I start work on May 11 for the US Census Bureau and will be out of town some days. Just thought I would let you know so you don't think I abandoned the story. I do have a life outside of my anime and fan fiction stuff, which btw, I'm developing an Orihime/Ishida story just cuz I can! Anyway…getting officially married in July and moving at the end of the year to wherever my fiancé/husband/pain in my rear gets stationed. Busy busy!
Further North and a Noticeable Change
After a few hours of waiting for Sachiel to return, which Ruue entertained them with more than a few stories of his past and the troubles she had gotten him out of, they heard the noise of large wings beating outside. Rushing out, Ichigo had to shield himself from the dust that was being blown about as Sachiel landed with her great green dragon.
As everyone else exited the inn, they too had to shield themselves from the wing gusts of the dragon. Sachiel's was different that the other dragons that she had brought with her. Whereas the drakes were smaller and sleek, hers was twice their size with deep purple membranes along the wings and covered in emerald and purple scales which ran from snout to tail. Large amethyst claws also jutted from the first wing joint. It's head was much bigger with oversized teeth that protruded along the jaw line. A faint orange steam emanated from it's mouth.
As it landed, it reared back on its legs, a deep roar coming from it as orange flames also exited its mouth. Sachiel bent forward in the saddle, stroking the beast's neck to calm it. "Whoa, girl," she said in a soothing voice. "They're friends."
Patting its neck again, she undid her leg straps, jumping down from the creatures back. Right behind her landed two more creatures but they weren't drakes.
"That's a wyvern?" Byakuya asked as they landed, coming to Sachiel and nuzzling her hands.
"No. They had no more so you'll have to settle for these. Stroking their ears absently, she bent to them, whispering something in their ears that they couldn't hear. The creatures looked like lions but larger…and they had wings. A scorpion tipped tail finished the look. Black armor ran along the creatures' bodies, a spiked helm covering its head with mesh coverings for the eyes.
"These are chimeras but are known here as windriders since they don't have the same long body as a chimera," she explained. "They're smaller and more agile. They can keep up with the drakes."
Byakuya came up to the one on Sachiel's right, putting his hand out slowly to allow the creature to catch his scent. Sado did the same.
"All saddled and ready to go, Sach," Ruue announced as he came from the herd of drakes.
"Great. Everyone have a partner?"
"I don't," Izuru said quietly, raising his hand.
"Will you be alright riding by yourself," she asked with concern.
"I can switch him and he can ride with Hemah," Hisagi offered. Izuru looked at him gratefully. He didn't want to risk falling off.
"Alright. That's settled, so let's get mounted up. We don't have much daylight and we've wasted too much time here as it is," Sachiel said, moving the group along toward the drakes.
Having spoken to them already, they accepted their unfamiliar riders without trouble. Hemah helped Ruue and her mother strap everyone's leg harnesses on that would keep them in the saddle. Thankfully those who wore robes had thick, insulted leggings on underneath and the robes covered those after they were strapped in.
Getting into her own saddle, Sachiel turned to Ichigo, fixing his leg straps. He winced slightly at the feel of the strap tightening over the top of his thighs and again just above the knee. Ruue and Hemah also strapped themselves in.
"First stop is Camp Winterhoof to the north and east of us," Sachiel told them. "It's inhabited by Tauren but they won't hurt anyone. They also have Taunka there as well which are distant cousins of theirs. They look like cows, stand on two feet and can command nature. Don't stare. And lean forward a bit. The take off can be a bit bumpy."
With those words, she kicked at her dragon's chest gently where it met its wings. Ichigo suddenly grabbed onto his wife as the lurch almost threw him backward. He could hear Sachiel's laughter in his mind to which he responded with a light pinch to her waist. Or would have if she weren't wearing mail under the plated armor.
The drakes and chimera followed suit, wings beating furiously to gain altitude with their passengers. Leaning a bit to the left, Sachiel's drake began to fly in that direction, the rest of the group behind her.
As they flew, everyone could feel the cold sting of the wind as it passed them, reddening their cheeks. Ruue had given everyone thick scarves to wrap around their heads, face and neck. With the cold temperatures, he knew they would need them.
The journey north was swift yet pleasant. Everyone marveled at the scenery as it passed them. The open fields between trees showed them different herds of animals, mists clinging between the trees. They also saw small villages along the way, the inhabitants milling about. These would not have been so unusual if it weren't for one trait. The people were blue skinned.
"What are they, Sachi," Ichigo asked.
Looking down, she saw what had caught his attention. "Vrykul," she answered. "Remember those warriors that fought against the combined armies when my sister was killed?"
"That's them?"
"Yes but these are currently not in service to Arthas or under his influence. They fight to keep unfamiliar people away from their villages is all."
She could feel him nod behind her. Ichigo took in the information that she had given him, tightening his arms around her. Unlike hollows, the people in the village looked armed to the teeth and very capable of using the huge weapons they wielded.
Before too much longer, they came to a mountain range. At the foot of the mountains, nestled under a few trees, between two peaks, there was a small village on the edge of a cliff. The drakes began to descend toward it. As they got closer, they could see various buildings, circular in shape that resembled small lodges made from what looked liked to them like leather. Several hot springs were sitting off to the side where they could see a cyclone that looked to be made of water, imprisoned by a man channeling energies toward it.
Coming in closer, the drakes alighted on the edge of the cliff, their riders stiff from the cold flight north. Sachiel, Ruue and Hemah quickly popped their leg straps before turning to the person behind them, undoing their straps as well. Helping each person down, they moved slowly toward the large open fire that burned in the middle of the village.
"Greetings, travelers," a kindly voice greeted.
Turning as one, their eyes went wide as a cow, yes a cow, walking on two legs and dressed in a long leather dress with beadwork designs came walking toward them.
**A/N: When I first saw the Tauren that are a playable race in WoW, I think I sat there and stared for probably a good five minutes. This was during the original beta before it was ever released to the public for sale. So yes, imagine Bessie standing on two legs, in a dress and a wig on. That's a tauren, long nose and all.**
As she came closer, they could all feel their jaws dropping as they took in her inverted legs, cloven hooves and…hands. Her hair was braided away from her face, falling in two long braids down the sides of her head.
"Mahana," they heard Sachiel call out in greeting, taken the creature's hand and shaking it firmly before giving her a hug. Sachiel, Hemah and Ruue were used to seeing creatures such as these but everyone else was not.
"Sachiel," the woman greeted before turning and greeting Ruue and Hemah. "The winds are cold today. Was your journey uninterrupted?"
"It went smoothly. Thank you for asking," Sachiel replied.
"That is good news," Mahana said. "We've had reports of travelers having arrows shot at them from the villages below. These are the ones you said you would bring with you?"
Turning to the group, Sachiel nodded. "I hope we won't strain the lodge too greatly," she said.
"It will be fine. We have more than enough beds and if we do not, we can always lay out sleeping mats," she answered.
Turning away from them, she began to walk toward the largest building there. Sachiel, Ruue and Hemah followed. The latter turned, gesturing for the group to follow.
Wisely, no one said anything or stared at any of the people. They were all of the same species apparently. Entering the building, they saw a man there, slicing fresh fish on a table. The warmth of the building enveloped them, further thawing them where the fire outside did not.
A long table was prepared with food, the smells inviting enough to make everyone's mouths water. Remembering their manners though, no one made a move toward the table. Instead, they stood behind the three natives in the group, waiting patiently.
"Go finish thawing by the fire," Sachiel told them, gesturing to the oversized fireplace from which the warmth of the room came from. The man set down his knife, rinsing his hands in a bowl of water before drying them on a towel hooked to his waist. He shook hands with Sachiel, Ruue and Hemah before talking to her. Sachiel smiled at the man. No one could hear what they were saying but it seemed that the table had indeed been laid out for them as he gestured to it a few times.
Ichigo watched as his wife talked to the bull, noticing that she kept her face emotionless as she conducted what business was needed. Hemah looked over, smiling at him before coming over to join the crowd. She smiled as she watched Orihime rubbing her behind with it turned toward the fire. Rukia was doing the same as well as Yumichika. None of the three said anything about the cold outside or complained, they merely did what they had to in order to thaw out.
"Cold out there, ann'da," Hemah said as she stood next to Ichigo.
"Yeah. I don't think it gets this cold back home."
"Minn'da said we would be staying here overnight since we got off to such a late start," she said loud enough for everyone to hear. "We'll be stopping at Conquest Hold at midday in the next territory over." She shivered as she said those last words.
"You look like you're not happy to hear about stopping there," Hisagi said behind her.
"I'm not. The orc in charge there is rather prone to mood swings," Hemah explained. "She can be nice one moment and the next, throw you in the pit to see if you can survive long enough to be deemed worthy."
"Oh she's not that bad," Sachiel teased from behind them. Taking off her gauntlets, she held her fingers out to the fire, a look of pleasure on her face as she felt the warmth seep into her fingers.
"The table has been laid out for us, which I'm sure you all probably guessed," she said to no one but loud enough for all to hear. "There's lots of food, so eat up. We'll be staying the night here and going to Conquest Hold in the morning."
Renji and Ikkaku needed no further prompting before both were sitting at the table digging into the various fish dishes there.
Sachiel and Ichigo sat at one end together, Sachiel gathering several different fish samples on his plate before adding steamed vegetables and potatoes before adding a fruit chutney to the side. She also put various breads on another plate for them. She set that one in front of him before filling her own plate, pouring him two glasses to choose from for drink. One looked like milk and the other a fragrant tea.
Ichigo eyed the milk before leaning toward her, whispering, "Where did the milk come from," he asked.
Sachiel laughed, realizing the question was inevitable. "From the goats," she answered, taking a long drink of her own sweetened milk. Ichigo took a drink from the tea, the strong taste tempered with the flavors of mint and honey. He sighed to himself as he felt the warmth of it seep through his body.
Looking around, he saw numerous hammocks slung against the walls and against one, what looked like sleep rolls. "We're sleeping in the hammocks?" he asked.
Sachiel swallowed, almost choking on the spiced sweet potato bread at his question. "Does that bother you," she asked back.
"No, it's just going to be a little crowded is all," he answered.
"You can sleep in your own hammock if you'd like," she said.
Ichigo looked at her before shaking his head, smiling. "No, I like crowded."
Sachiel looked at him a moment longer before going back to her meal.
As everyone finished up, there were compliments all around to the innkeeper and his cook for the meal. For everyone there except the three, the meal was different than what they were used to. Because of all the meals at Sachiel and Ichigo's house, they were used to using the utensils as well as tolerating different foods that they didn't normally get in Seireitei.
Afterward, everyone went about their own business, some going outside to explore while Sachiel sat herself in front of the fireplace, digging through the pack that Ileda had given her before their left Silvermoon. Ruue was sitting beside her, trying to dig into the pack himself. Sachiel kept slapping his hands away as he did this. Ruue laughed at her before she finally took a gauntlet and hit him over the head with it. He held his head, whimpering about her being so mean to him as she turned back to the pack, taking out various armor pieces.
Ichigo laughed at his wife's playfulness with her friend. In the short time that he knew him, he could tell that Ruue thought of Sachiel as a sister and best friend instead of having any romantic interest in her. That suited Ichigo just fine. He had commented at the other inn that Sachiel often would discipline him as well as stating that she had bested him on more than a few occasions when it came to sparring.
Sitting beside her, he sighed. She stopped what she was doing and looked to him curiously.
"Everything ok?"
"Yeah. Just not used to all this armor."
"You can take it off you know, wear something more comfortable if you'd like."
"What would I wear?"
"I packed you some regular clothes in case you wanted out of the armor until you're fully used to it."
"You're an angel."
With that, he kissed her cheek before he got up, asking the innkeeper where he could change. Bori directed him to a small room near the back. Entering it, Ichigo noticed that it was a washroom with several tubs and wash basins in it. Changing out of his armor, he packed what he could into the bag, bringing the handle through the shoulder plates that he had worn.
Leaving the room, he rejoined his wife and Ruue who were looking over the armor she had acquired. It was beautifully made and plated in layers of an amber and black metal. The shoulder plates surprised him in that they looked as if they had fire coming from them. Picking them up, he felt heat like fire but it didn't burn him. Rather, it filled him with warmth.
After an hour, Sachiel stretched, her armor clinking slightly as she reached overhead, yawning.
"It's getting late," she said. "We should probably get to bed since we have to get an early start in the morning."
Like Ichigo, she changed out of her armor into a comfortable sleep set, picking out a hammock near the fire. Ichigo laughed at how she jumped into it, almost tipping it over before righting herself. She gave him a playful glare before holding a hand out to him. He carefully climbed in beside her, holding her close after she pulled a blanket over them.
Everyone else found their own hammocks in their own time. Soon, the inn became quiet, the only light was the soft glow from the fireplace where the fire had been banked for a quick refueling in the morning.
|(|)|
Morning found breakfast already laid out for them as everyone rubbed the sleep from their eyes. The women went into the washroom first, scrubbing their faces and dressing for the day. They allowed Yumichika to go in with them since they didn't really see him as a threat to their welfare. Afterward, the men went in in two groups.
After their ablutions and a quick breakfast of warm bread and hot stew washed down with the fragrant tea, Sachiel and Ruue rounded everyone up, the early morning light just coming over the mountains as they repeated the saddling of the mounts and their riders.
They flew north, coming around the mountain peak before banking to the west. The sun's rays began to melt off the mists coming through the trees; the weather warmed considerably as they flew to a lower elevation.
As before, they took in the scenery that could be seen through the mists. They flew for several hours before the rushing of water could be heard below. A large river with an equally large waterfall flowed beneath them, the falls being used to power a large water wheel attached to a building.
Flying over it, Ichigo and the others spotted two large, red roofed towers made of gray stone which also made up the tall walls around them. The roofs were fortified with large spikes that stuck out from them. The drakes began their descent, circling this time as each circuit brought them lower. Taking in the people there, they noticed that they were various colors in shades of red, brown…and green.
"Is everyone here a different race," Ichigo asked his wife from behind her.
"Yes. These are Orcs," she answered. "The commander here is an orc named Gorgonna. She's a bit over zealous in her duties and in her devotion to the Horde."
A small crowd of three came from the largest tower to greet them as they landed.
Sachiel groaned only loud enough for Ichigo to hear. She had hoped that Gorgonna's sister Krenna would be the one to greet them. Gorgonna was a bit rude to newcomers.
Landing with a slight jar, Sachiel popped her leg straps, walking over to the large, heavily muscled woman, stopping in front of her before saluting.
"Well if it isn't Thrall's little champion," she said in a mocking tone.
Sachiel held the woman's eyes, their look hard. "Watch it, Gorgonna..." she said, a warning tone in her voice.
"Small rats like you shouldn't even be here," she shot back.
"Are you saying we aren't welcome here?" Sachiel asked.
"I don't care for you being here," Gorgonna answered. "The Tauren were the ones who said to let you in. So conduct your business and get gone."
Sachiel watched as the orc turned away from her to walk back into the tower, glaring at her rudeness as she felt her blood pressure rise. Turning back toward the group, she signaled Ruue and Hemah to dismount, making her way to the inn. Ichigo had to remove his own straps before following his wife.
The stable master and a few of his helpers came to take care of the drakes while the group moved to the inn after Sachiel.
As before, they found their midday meal already set out for them. Sachiel stood by the fireplace, her hand fingering her hilt as she looked deep in thought.
Coming up beside her, Ichigo placed a hand on her elbow to get her attention. She turned toward him, worry in her eyes.
"What's wrong," he asked softly.
"Gorgonna has had her sister exiled from here," she answered. "It would seem Krenna was trying to peacefully help resolve some of the conflicts and help a young human."
"That's bad?"
"Humans are constantly at odds with the orc and Gorgonna sees them as nothing more than monsters for the way they treated the orcs in the interment camps during the first war. She had her sister beaten and then put out from the hold. She died in the forest from a wolf attack, too weak to defend herself."
"What are you going to do?"
"Avenge her," Sachiel answered, the look in her eyes scaring even Ichigo.
With those words, she walked out of the inn, everyone in the group watching as she left. They could feel her spirit pressure building, the anger rolling off her in waves.
Ichigo looked at them all before following Sachiel.
Sachiel stood in front of the tower where the orc that had greeted them had gone into. Ichigo saw a strange blue light glow under his wife before it absorbed itself into her body.
"Gorgonna! Come out and face the justice that is required for your actions!" Sachiel shouted. "The crime you committed against your sister will not stand! I come to avenge Krenna!"
The large orc strolled casually out of the tower, a smirk on her face as she looked at Sachiel. "You challenge me, little rat?"
Four streams of orange yellow energy flared up from the ground under Sachiel before bending back toward her. Ichigo could feel the power rolling off Sachiel as she stood in front of the orc.
"I do," she answered calmly, drawing her sword and shield.
Gorgonna grinned, drawing her own large, double bladed axe. "Then you shall be given a proper beating for opposing me," she said, rushing toward Sachiel.
A golden shield flew out from Sachiel's hand, hitting Gorgonna square in the chest, stunning her as a golden hammer flew in, striking the woman. Regaining her senses, the woman rushed toward Sachiel. As the orc female reached her, a fiery shield surrounded Sachiel as she brought her shield up to block the swing. She brought her own sword in from the right, moving back as she struck. Gorgonna leapt back but not fast enough as the sword sliced through her tabard and the mail under her plated armor, just missing the skin.
Sachiel rushed at the woman, slamming her shield against the woman's face before she had time to block. Ichigo cringed as he saw the blood splatter from her face, a deep bruise already appearing. Dropping her sword, Sachiel brought her gauntlet armored fist around, the blow following immediately behind the shield blow.
Gorgonna stood there dazed for a moment before bringing her axe high overhead. Sachiel ducked and moved to the left, avoiding the blade but not before bringing her leg up, kicking into the orc's swing, knocking her back.
The orc used the momentum to bring her axe around, putting her weight behind the blow. Sachiel took a step back, again avoiding the blow by leaning back, the blade swinging just inches from her face.
The group that had arrived with Sachiel had come out of the inn when they heard her shout. They stood beside Ichigo, watching the fight.
They could see a red black glow begin to surround the orc female with each strike that Sachiel made against her, the woman visibly starting to weaken.
A long clang rang out as a silver hammer hit Gorgonna full in the face, knocking her head back. Her axe came down as Sachiel's sword came up to parry. Hooking the axe, Sachiel swung her sword around, disarming the orc.
With her opponent now having no weapon, Sachiel threw down her own as well, her fists coming up quickly as Gorgonna threw the first punch. Again, her skill was no match for Sachiel's as she brought her hands up, grabbing Gorgonna's arm and using her weight to swing it downward, the momentum carrying one of her legs up, the heel of her boot smashing into Gorgonna's nose.
The orc cried out as the unexpected pain burst through her. Moving quickly, Sachiel brought her leg down, stepping beside Gorgonna as she twisted her arm out behind her, Sachiel's elbow smashing into hers, effectively snapping the woman's arm. Another cry of pain rang out through the courtyard.
Sachiel let go, the orc female falling to her knees as she cradled her broken arm to her.
Looking up at the paladin, the orc female sneered, her face splattered with blood. "You don't deserve your position, rat! Your kind has betrayed the Horde as well! Your race is known for its treachery!"
Sachiel came around in front of the woman, smiling. "That is where you are wrong, Gorgonna," she answered, her sword swinging absently in her hand. "I well remember the oath I took. And I upheld my oath for over a hundred years."
The orc looked at her with cold fury burning in her eyes. "My sister was spineless, weak! She deserved to die! She didn't live by her words!"
"No. Krenna was like the blue eyed leader of the Horde. She sought a peaceful resolution instead of bloodshed. You're no better than Garrosh! Do you remember your oath, Gorgonna? Do you?!" she shouted.
Raising her sword, she looked up at the sky shouting, "Lok'tar ogar! Victory or death! It is these words that bind me to the Horde! For they are the most sacred and fundamental of truths to any warrior of the Horde. I give my flesh and blood freely to the Warchief! I am the instrument of my Warchief's desire! I am a weapon of my Warchief's command! From this moment until the end of days I live and die - For the Horde!"
With those final words, Sachiel swung her blade down, slicing it through Gorgonna's neck, her head rolling off to the side.
Silence rang out through the encampment. Sachiel stood there panting, her anger welling up inside her. She reached up to the sky, a inhuman scream pouring forth from her lips as bright golden light burst from her, flaring out behind her to form golden wings. The energy shot toward the heavens, along with her scream. It faded as quickly as it had appeared, Gorgonna's form made whole again by the holy energies that had come from the woman.
Gorgonna sat there, kneeling before Sachiel, her head bowed.
The angel looked down at the woman who didn't dare raise her eyes to her. "I could have left you dead, Gorgonna. I could have been merciless as you were toward your sister," she said quietly. "I choose to humble you, to teach you a lesson. Do not question my loyalties for I know where they lay. I came to keep your world alive. From here on, I had better never heard that you've wronged someone just because they didn't fit into your ideals."
With that, she walked away, flicking her sword outward as fire ran along it, burning away what blood remained on it. Her golden wings faded as she walked toward Ichigo and her friends, her eyes still filled with cold anger. They parted as she made her way into the inn, sitting and making a plate for herself after removing her gauntlets.
Everyone filed in quietly, taking up their meal again. Hemah could understand her mother's feelings as could Ruue.
"She really got your goat, huh," Ruue teased.
Sachiel smiled at him. "She just needed to be put in her place. Something no one here has dared to do since the last person that did was killed," she answered.
"Not exactly what I meant," Ruue mumbled to himself, jerking as he felt himself get hit on the forehead. On his plate in front of him, the assaulting bread lay there.
"You didn't…" he said to Sachiel, his eyes filling with mischief. He saw his friend looking down at her plate, acting as if nothing had happened. She jerked as she felt the same piece of bread bounce off her head.
Ichigo looked incredulously as his wife and friend. He saw a smile beginning on her face, the earlier anger that she had displayed, gone.
"Oh dear," the innkeeper said, moving himself to the kitchen. He knew what was coming. It inevitably happened from time to time and he knew that they would need to clean up afterward.
Sachiel looked over at Ruue, a laugh bubbling from her lips. "Normally, I would follow through in the food fight but I think that this time, we'll save our guests the horror of that fun."
The innkeep heard this just as he came back with a stack of linens, breathing a sigh of relief. Only to have it shortlived as a spoonful of vegetables went flying through the air. The group got caught in the crossfire of Sachiel, Ruue and Hemah using their spoons as miniature catapults to launch whatever food they could fit on them.
Before long, Renji, Hisagi and Ikkaku joined in the fight. Mainly because of a misguided spoonful of chutney. Byakuya also soon joined in, small ammunition made by rolling bread into small balls flying through the air. It was Rukia's turn to stare at her brother in amazement as he actually laughed and looked as if he were having fun.
Sachiel fell backward off the bench, laughing as a spoonful of cherry pie filling hit her head. Ichigo looked at his wife with a smile on his face at her antics. She was being very childish but looked as if she were enjoying herself. He wasn't going to deny her that.
Ichigo had also not been safe from the flying food projectiles. Sitting next to his wife, he had received more than a little of the stray missiles. It wasn't long before everyone at the table had thrown or were wearing part of their lunch.
Laying on the floor, laughing still, Sachiel was holding her side with one hand while trying to wipe food away with the other. Ichigo bent over her, smiling. "Had enough fun?" he asked.
She tried to keep a straight face, chuckling at the food she saw stuck in his hair. She saw the innkeeper also lean over her, clearly not happy but still smiling.
"That was a good way to break the tension," he commented to her, both he and Ichigo helping her up.
She smiled, reaching into her pouch and pressing several coins into his hand. "Sorry for the mess," she giggled, going over to the pile of linens and using one to clean off before moving to the washroom near the back. Everyone followed her example, cleaning off their robes and armor as best they could before moving to the washroom as well.
Inside, she helped Ichigo wash the food from his hair before doing the same to her own. With their armor, it was relatively easy to clean off. Renji and Ikkaku were trying to remove it from their chain mail while the rest had to take off their robes, washing out what they could.
They spent another hour before the fire so that the robes could dry and to rest a bit more before moving on to the next camp. Sachiel leaned against Ichigo as they warmed themselves by the fire. The innkeeper came over to talk to them, telling Sachiel that someone waited outside to speak with her. Looking at him curiously, she got up from her spot, following him out the door. Ichigo following after her. He wasn't about to let her walk into a trap.
Walking outside, they went around the side to where the mounts were being groomed. There stood a woman in black armor, her hair red like Sachiel's. Sachiel stopped, a gasp escaping her lips as the woman turned around. Peering at her with bright blue eyes, was Jaxxine.
Sachiel cried out in joy, rushing to her sister and hugging her as tightly as their armor would allow, tears streaming down her face.
"How," she asked her sister. "How is this possible?"
Jaxxine smiled, stroking her sister's cheek. As she spoke, her voice was gravelly. "A band of us broke away from Arthas. He used us in an attack on the Argent Dawn. However, we soon learned it was a trick to lure out Tirion out so that Arthas could destroy him. Highlord Darion Mograine freed us along with his father The Ashbringer. Thrall accepted us back into the fold of the Horde," she answered.
Sachiel looked at her sister, noticing the change in her voice, sadness within her as she realized she would never hear her sister's lilting voice again. She hugged her again, Ichigo also wrapping his arms around the two women as best he could.
Pulling away, Sachiel took her hand, taking in the plated armor and the very nasty looking weapons strapped to each side of her. She whistled low, taking in the spiked mace and wickedly carved axe that also had spikes coming from the blade's edge.
"Those don't look like caster staves," Sachiel commented.
"I am not a magus any more," Jaxxine said sadly. "I am a fighter now, like you. I can still cast spells but they are different than what I had before. I infect and disease my targets. I can command the dead as well."
Sachiel looked at her sister without saying a word. With everything she had just revealed, Jaxxine was the anti-thesis of Sachiel.
"You are evil," she asked softly.
"No. But my abilities are," Jaxxine answered.
"You will fight along side me?"
"Until we both can no longer stand or fight against our enemies, sister."
Sachiel hugged her sister again, turning to Ichigo with tears in her eyes. "My sister has been returned to me," she said to him.
"To us," he corrected her, smiling.
"Let's go inside. We have to leave soon," Sachiel said.
"Where are you going," Jaxxine asked, following them both back into the inn.
"I have to go talk to Thorim," she said.
Jaxxine whistled through her teeth. "Easier said than done, sister."
"Why do you say that?"
"Reports say that he's lost his mind, retreated back away from his people, The Hyldnir. They are also at war with the Frost Giants."
Sachiel turned to her at the door of the inn. "Really?"
"Really. How true the reports are, I do not know," Jaxxine said.
"Well we'll have to find out when we get there."
Both women entered behind Ichigo, the group already cleaned, robes donned. The inn staff was still cleaning up the mess from the food fight.
Jaxxine took in the mess and laughed. "Looks like I got here at the right time."
"But you missed the fun," Sachiel said.
Everyone turned at the sound of the woman they knew and the voice of a woman who sounded familiar. They froze. Silence filled the inn except for the sound of the cleaning.
"Auntie Jaxx!" Hemah called out, rushing forward to greet her aunt.
Jaxxine caught her as she attempted to tackle the woman, murmurs of surprise sprang forth before everyone was surrounding her, greeting the woman as if she had just been gone for a little while, not killed in battle.
Rukia had hung back with her brother, not as familiar with the woman as the others had been. Byakuya had been stunned to see the woman, not sure how to react to seeing the woman he felt strongly for, the one whom he had accepted as dead, standing in the same room with him in plated armor, changed yet the same. His heart was confused as to how to approach the woman.
As everyone else milled around her, exclaiming on her blue eyes and armor, she again told the story of how Morgraine had rebelled against the Lich King, taking with him roughly ten thousand knights that Arthas had had trained and rejoining their previous factions, taking up arms against him. There were murmurs of awe and disbelief.
Jaxxine settled the situation with Byakuya. She approached him first, smiling. He took in her blue eyes, staring deeply into them as she removed a gauntlet, placing her hand against his cheek before putting her arms around him, hugging him. He hesitated a fraction of a second, his arms going around her and hugging her tightly to him. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling her familiar scent which was now tinged with an earthy smell.
He felt the small woman tremble against him, her whisper in his ear. "I thought for a moment that you would not accept me," she said.
"It only took a moment to recover from my surprise," he responded.
Rukia looked to her brother and the woman in his arms, taking in the relief mixed with joy clearly written in his eyes. Her brother…was happy.
After a few moments, everyone went out, regaining their saddles and pressing onward. They were well received at their new location, Sachiel and Jaxxine both known with the group known as the Argent Crusade.
Everyone with the exclusion of Jaxxine, Sachiel, Ruue and Hemah, were surprised to see more of the different races that inhabited this world.
Humans as well as dwarves were here. Smaller creatures than them, gnomes; they also encountered the Dranei. They resembled demons with their blue black skin, horns that protruded from their heads and the thick tail that swung behind them, the men had tentacles coming from their chins. Like the Tauren, they too, walked on cloven hooves and inverted knees. Ruue explained how they had come through the dark portal to seek refuge from Illidan and Kil'Jaeden, further having to explain the third war after that.
The night there passed uneventfully even though they were surrounded by countless undead and hostile trolls native to that land. The crusade had kept their camp very secure, patrols watching in rotations.
Morning brought them a light breakfast of gruel and cold bread from the night before, grain bread as Sachiel called it, one of the staples of the crusaders.
Strapping themselves in again, they turned toward the snow covered peaks, taking in the maze work below them of walls and paths. Sachiel had told them that the commander here called this place, Zul'Drak. They moved around the pyramids that floated in the sky, evil energies radiating from them as the undead massed underneath on the ground.
As they had to climb higher into the sky to clear the mountains, the air became noticeably thinner, colder.
It only took them a few hours to clear the region they had spent the night in. Another hour before the campsite known as K-3 came into view. Everyone could see smoldering from what looked like an explosion that had taken place a bit to the west of it as well as items that they were familiar with. Airplanes.
Alighting near them, Sachiel had dismounted, making her way toward the small village made of igloos that were made of ice and snow, a high wall surrounding it even though the village was below the snow levels.
Ducking into the small building in the center, she was greeted by green skinned men. Goblins as Ruue explained. They were just like the small people who had flown them to this forsaken land. They were all welcomed and given warm drinks to help thaw them. Before long, a female goblin came in, red orange hair pulled back into a pony tail. She had a smattering of freckles across her cheeks and nose.
Coming over to the groups, she smiled. "Welcome, friends! Name's Ricket."
As everyone greeted the small woman, Sachiel explained their purpose for being there. Ricket took up a thoughtful pose. "I think I know how we can help each other," she said.
She explained how the Hyldnir women had raided their camp, taking with them several of the men in the camp as well as her brother, Zeev. She also explained that the women seemed to be preparing for something huge as they could hear the sounds of their training even this far below the mountain where their village was.
She had also confirmed what Sachiel had dreaded hearing. Thorim was seeing no one and had been lashing out violently to any and all who dared approach him. She confirmed the rift between the frost giants and Hyldnir.
Sachiel sat down, her thoughts racing a mile a second. She was going to have to help mend the rift between the clans to get where she needed to go.
ok! I had to finish this chapter quickly before I had to go to work. I hope DarkJason is happy now that Jaxxine is back after killing her off a few chapters back. The story of the knights that rebelled against Arthas is in the Warcraft Lore so I used that to bring her back. She's not a warlock any more, though. sadness I know!
Anyway! Review, tell me what you think. The next chapter is going to have Sachiel trying to heal the wounds of the Hyldnir and the Frost giants. That's a fun quest line, let me tell you! Anyway! ttyl!