Chapter 24 Caught

Courage is perhaps our most admirable trait. The man, or woman, who possesses it is able to plunge ahead, despite dangers, despite warnings, despite hazards of all kinds, to attack the task at hand. Often it is indistinguishable from stupidity. Jack McDevitt, Odyssey

'Owww, owwww', Dudley roared. 'Stop yer pulling those arrows out and quit yer applying salves. Git away from ma back.' And he struggled to stand. 'I prefer my lasses under me and NOT at ma back.'

Bel leaned forward, her hand pressing him back down flat on the ground. Narrowing her eyes she replied in a low warning tone. 'Keep squirming around and this lass will stick you to the ground with her dagger.'

Dudley went completely still, his eyes rolling back to look into her face. 'Ya wouldn't harm an unarmed dwarf, now would ye lassie?'

Bel snorted and yanked the final two arrows out of his leather jerkin. 'We are fortunate, they used smooth arrow tips and your mail managed to deflect a few. Drink this, Dudley.' Bel pulled a flask of pale blue liquid from her bag. 'It will help you recover.'

Bel now stood and faced Andrew, a scowl on her face. 'You can't fight.'

Andrew, face reddened from the recent attack and effort to pull the tunnel down, angrily replied through clenched teeth. 'You're a girl. What do you know about fighting? Did I not kill one and I certainly didn't come out with arrows stuck to my backside!' He added glaring at Dudley.

Dudley growled. 'Hey laddy, ya only finished off the one I struck wid me axe and I got these arrows pushing yer sorry hide through the portal.' Gremmels gave Dudley a low throaty cough and went back to cleaning his whiskers, as Dudley paled.

Bel repeated quietly. 'You can't fight and I can't defend you both.' She cut her eyes to Dudley.

Andrew opened his month in protest; however, Bel slammed the palm of her hand into his shoulder, grabbed the cloth of his shirt, pivoted, and pulled Andrew up and over her hip to drop him to the ground. His breathe exploded in a loud whoosh.

'That was lesson one. At such time you are able to pull me off my feet, we will move on to fighting with a battle axe.' Bel now grabbed his hand and forcing his wrist back toward his elbow, added. 'This girl can kill you before you draw a single breath. I hope you learn quickly. Nod if you understand.'

Andrew nodded, tears squeezing out of his eyes.

Bel released him. 'Good. As we didn't discover this lockbox, it seems your good King Bronzebeard will not be receiving any great treasures.' She cut her eyes to Dudley, narrowing them. 'For the future, I recommend you, Dudley, stay away from these Sayges and their predictions of fortunes.' She softened as she watched Andrew shake out his hand. 'You are strong Andrew, but you are no match for trained fighters or even this VanCleef. At best, avoiding as many of these Defias as possible, we might get out alive. Reporting back to the commander at Sentinel Tower and showing him the location of the mine will make this a successful venture.'

'Dudley, is this tunnel the way out?' Dudley nodded weakly. The torches lighting the tunnel following the tracks of the ore carts had flickered out with the destruction of the portal, plunging them into darkness until Bel had found one she could light with her fire starter. Bel lifted her torch. No chance of surprising anyone else, she thought ruefully.

As they traveled deeper, they encountered only mechanical constructs protecting the tracks and ore carts. Bel and Gremmels took most out easily, but Bel gave Andrew opportunities to practice defensive and offensive battle axe moves with the constructs.

'Give no mercy, Andrew. Once you attack, it's to the death.'

Dudley was massaging his feet watching the sparring. 'You Kaldorei are surprisingly, umm, vicious.'

Bel laughed. 'We have reason to be. We paid a heavy price and you see what evil has been released on Azeroth.'

Andrew split the construct in half with a grunt. 'What price?' he gasped in exhaustion.

Dudley answered. 'They aren't immortal, they don't do magic. En they lost thar tree-thing. En thar are all those other races that found us through thar early unquenchable appetite fer arcane magics, Orcs, Draenei, the Burning Legion and the such.'

Andrew pulled his battle axe free from the metallic rubble. 'The elves have no magic?'

Bel scowled at Dudley. 'The Kaldorei have no magic. The High elves and the blood elves continue to use it. Kaldorei are tied to the powers of nature, as the sons of the stones should be.'

Andrew looked thoughtful. 'But I thought the elves taught men magic?'

'High elves. We should be going.' Bel answered curtly.

'Ask her about the trolls sometime, laddy. If the night elves had their way, there'd be only dragons and themselves on Azeroth!' he laughed as Bel glared at him.

'Well there will be one less dwarf if we don't find a way out of here.' She shot back.

On the second day, they encountered a huge stone door. The railway tracks continued through, but the door was firmly shut. Bel placed her ear on it. 'There is water. And many more humans.' She sighed. 'Do you have more mines that might blow this open? Or even any other ideas?'

'I do!' and Andrew strode forward. 'VanCleef. You are a coward. Face me in combat!' He shouted.

Bel's eyes widened in surprise before she quickly stepped back and to the side of the tunnel with Gremmels. As the door swung open, Andrew raised his battle axe and Dudley reached for his sword but Bel and Gremmels faded from sight.

A blast from a stunning spell hit both Andrew and Dudley. The two fell to the ground senseless, a loud laugh following the spell. Half a dozen armed Defias poured from the open gate. A short man in long robes strode after them, a wand held in one hand. 'Pick them up. VanCleef will want to question them before they lose their heads.' He looked around. 'Just two? A boy and a dwarf caused all this trouble and collapsed the mine, twice?' He glared at the defias around him. 'There might be more heads on poles when this is over.' He waved to the soldiers. 'Search back down the tunnel and kill any others you find. When you reach the portal, help get it open! Take some of the goblin engineers.' He raised his wand pointing down the tunnel and the torches flared brightly.

When all died down, Bel and Gremmels crept forward slowly and through the opening. Dudley had been right. A huge warship was under construction in a cavern that opened into the ocean. Bel felt some relief with a fresh sea breeze filling the cavern. Here there would also be daylight and the darkness of night. She was tracking both Andrew and Dudley hoping that whatever fate awaited them would be after dark when she might have a better chance of sneaking after them.

She and Gremmels carefully searched around the cavern, fading from view whenever she sensed Defias might spot them. She could see there would not an easy escape through the mouth of the cavern as the sea water filled the opening. Towards the back, she found another tunnel. It was short, narrow, and angled up opening onto a ledge on the side of rocky hill. There were no guards posted and judging by the fallen rock, it must only have recently opened through to the cavern. She watched the sun dip lower in the sky before retracing her steps back into the cavern.

Creeping closer to the ship, she cast about tracking the movements of the humanoids on the vessel. Sniffing the air she and Gremmels caught the odor of cooking and she could see in her tracker's mind a group of humans gathered together in what she assumed was a messdeck. The two sat in the shadows and chewed on dried boar jerky as she turned her tracking to the rest of the warship. It took her some panicked minutes before she located Andrew and Dudley. Dudley was the easier to find, being much shorter and thicker than many of the other forms she searched. Still alive, praise Elune.

She watched pairs of guards patrol around the ship. The cavern darkened and torches lit by arcane magic flickered to life. Bel and Gremmels dashed to scaffolding and noiselessly clambered up to decks yet to be completed.

There must have been some sort of entertainment in the messdeck, as the room was becoming noisy with singing and loud voices.

She motioned for Gremmels to stay, as she dashed across the deck to the hold. Quickly lifting the hatch, she stepped onto the wooden ladder. One guard was at the base, but Bel landed on him breaking his neck without a sound. A second guard sat facing Andrew and Dudley who were in separate cages. He was hefting Andrew's battle axe and discussing how the two would be beheaded on the morrow. Slipping behind him, she sliced across his exposed neck with her dagger. Bel caught him as he slumped sideways, his hands raised and mouth open gasping for breath.

'Bel.' Dudley stood.

She smiled. 'Did you miss me?'

'Aye lass, you are a vision.'

Bel quickly unlatched both cages. Looking at Andrew's bruised face and torn clothes she whispered. 'Can you walk?' He hefted himself to his feet with a grunt. 'A few sore spots. I've suffered worse during harvest.' He snatched up his battle axe from the guard's lifeless hands.

'The deck is still clear. Go up the ladder and head right towards Gremmels. There is some scaffolding we can climb down and then a tunnel that will get us out of here.' Andrew marched purposefully towards the ladder.

'And you Dudley? Nothing broken?'

'Naw.' He walked over to the guard and pulled out a short dagger. 'They got me sword, but this will do fer now.'

'Quickly. We need to stay together.' Bel looked anxiously at the open hatch. Dudley reached the ladder and with effort pulled himself up, Bel close on his heals.

Bel froze when she reached the deck. She saw Gremmels glowing eyes, but no Andrew. Casting about she quickly located him scrambling up more scaffolding to the captain's deck. 'Elune take him.' She cursed. Pushing Dudley towards Gremmels, 'Dudley, follow Gremmels. He will get you off the ship and to the tunnel. I will go retrieve our crazy boy.'

Dudley shook his head. 'Ya should have seen em, threatening holy Light down on ther souls. I swear the boy kinda glowed as he spoke.'

Bel gave her saber a quick command to get them both away, as she swung up the scaffolding after Andrew.

Bel reached the deck to find Andrew standing before an open door. 'Andrew!', she whispered loudly, 'there are several Defias in there!'

'VanCleef's a coward!' Andrew spat onto the deck. 'The Light will guide my hand and restore our farm.'

It was VanCleef who came out onto the deck at the challenge. He stopped and with a smirk looked Andrew from toe to head. Instantly six Defias sailors came from the room behind him.

Bel sighed and whispered. 'I told you he wasn't alone.'

Andrew did not seem to hear her as he held up his battle axe and again challenged VanCleef. 'You monster' he stammered. 'You killed my father. You will answer for that. Prepare to die.'

VanCleef shook his head and with a dismissive flip of his hand, he ordered his men. 'Kill him. And kill the guards who let him escape. And the dwarf. That one,' and he pointed at Bel, 'I want alive. I need to know what she is.'

Andrew's eyes flew open. 'You coward! Face me!' but VanCleef had stepped back into the cabin.

Bel was about to grab his arm and pull him back to the railing, where they could jump and run for safety, when she caught the look on his face. His chin was set and his mouth grim. His eyes bored into the approaching men, darting to each man.

Andrew shot Bel a glance. 'Get out of here. This is my fight.'

Bel snorted. 'You fight like a girl.' And she pulled her sword from the scabbard with a soft hiss.

The Defias rushed them. Bel caught the first swordsman in the armpit, her reach longer than his and her reflexes quicker. He screamed as a jet of blood sprayed the air and he staggered back into one of his crewmates. Bel turned her attention to the next closest Defias, however Andrew's battle axe swung about and shattered the blade. As he swung, his right side was unprotected and Bel could see one of the men running at them. 'Down' she yelled. He did just as she pulled a dagger and threw it into their assailant's face. Bel continued to turn and was facing the man who had finally pushed his mortally wounded companion to the ground. He barely got his blade up when she was on him. They parried briefly. Bel danced around him until he had his back to Andrew and his two approaching enemies. With a leap and flip over the surprised man, Bel landed behind him, running her blade into his unprotected back. She whirled leaving her blade in the body, another dagger pulled from her belt and she leapt towards one of Andrews's attackers. She ran her blade into his side several times until he dropped. The last attacker had pulled a mace when his blade shattered. The two now swung, the mace and ballet axe ringing as they hit, with sparks flying from the contact. Bel stepped back to retrieve her sword. She couldn't see an opening as the two danced and swung at each other on the deck now slippery with blood. The Defias was a seasoned fighter, but Andrew fought with the ferocity of the righteous.

Bel caught the face of a goblin peaking out from the cabin. He vanished and soon reappeared with VanCleef. The goblin hefted a huge cleaver and VanCleef a two handed sword. Bel moved between them and the two combatants. VanCleef jerked his chin towards Bel and the goblin advanced with a big grin. 'Yum. It will be Kaldorei stew tomorrow.' Bel smiled, dipping her head as though to acknowledge the boast. Before the goblin had raised his cleaver, she had two handed swung her blade at his head. The head flew past a startled VanCleef. With a sickly thud it bounced to the deck below and then a second crunching thud caught Bel's attention. She turned to see the last Defias fall to the deck, the side of his face crushed. Andrew stood defiant, facing VanCleef. 'You killed my father. For this you will die.' he said in a low voice.

Bel had an opening to run at VanCleef. She raised her sword, but stopped. The two men's eyes were locked on each other. 'A boy. The Argent Dawn sends a boy after me.' He spat. 'Prepare to meet your dear father, son.' He sneered.

Bel stepped back, but kept her sword up and scanned the area for additional Defias. As much as she wanted to help, she knew Andrew needed to face VanCleef. He was an older man but hardened from the labor of stone construction. He swung his large two handed sword effortlessly. As the sword and battle axe met, neither gave. Bel could see Andrew was tiring. He had a slight advantage being quicker on his feet, but the fighting had drained him.

'After I finish you and your strange girl friend, I'll track down your sisters. I seem to recall they were rather pretty little things.' VanCleef taunted him. 'The men could use more female companionship.'

Bel could see the fire of anger rise in Andrews face. 'Your sisters are safe, Andrew. Stay focused.'

The two continued swinging, neither gaining an advantage. 'Ha, where could they hide? Stormwind? I know it like the back of my hand!' At this Andrew slipped on the blood covered deck and slammed into the side of the cabin, his battle axe sailing from his hand. He kept his feet but VanCleef seized the advantage and moved to run his sword through him. Bel caught her breath and as Andrew jerked away at the last moment, the sword buried deep into the wall pinning Andrew by a fold of his mail shirt. He quickly slipped out of it, lunging for his battle axe. With a roar VanCleef leaped on him. 'I will kill you with my bare hands!'

Bel was crouching preparing to enter the fight. In less time for her to draw a full breath Andrew grabbed VanCleef's right wrist, then pivoted left pulling the man forward, as his other hand grabbed his right upper arm, and threw him over his shoulder to the ground. VanCleef landed hard, the air expelled from his lungs in a loud explosion. Andrew came down hard with the point of his elbow to VanCleef's temple. Bel's eyes widened in surprise as she realized the only sound she heard was Andrew's panting breaths. He had pulled it off! She watched as he rocked back on his heels and sat heavily on the ground, staring at the dead man stretched before him. For a moment Bel thought he glowed, but shook her head seeing light shining behind him from the open door.

Quickly Bel scanned the area. She could hear voices rising from the main deck. They must have finally discovered the bodies of the guards and heard the fighting.

She quickly moved from body to body gathering her weapons and any others of good quality. It took some effort to dislodge the great two handed sword from the side of the cabin. Andrew had finally reached his feet, although he was unsteady. Bel watched as he carefully cut off the finger with the ring from Stormwind's stonemasons. He pocketed his bloody prize and then looked at her scowling. 'You could have helped at any time.'

Bel looked at him with surprise. 'This wasn't my fight.' She answered mildly. As she walked over to hand him the sword and his battle axe, she added. 'I would have avenged your death of course.' Looking him in the eyes. 'He was a superb fighter. Your father is truly avenged. I hope this brings you peace.'

Noting the increasing calls of alarm, she added. 'We need to go.' And she pulled him to the rail.

They both jumped. Landing lightly on the deck below, Bel pulled her bow and scanned the deck. Two Defias came running around a corner and she loosed an arrow. It struck the front man in his chest. He staggered and looked at the arrow incredulously as he fell forward. His mate dashed back for safety.

Andrew had landed harder and was limping. 'Ankle' he grunted. Bel nodded and pointed to the gang plank. Bel moved behind him, swinging her bow from side to side and scanning upwards for more Defias. She bumped into Andrew when he stopped. Twisting around she saw two guards trotting up to the plank. They stopped when they noticed Bel and Andrew. Bel swung around to face them, bow pulled taut. She let the arrow fly but both men suddenly dodged and the arrow lodged in the ground. They advanced quickly now, so she pulled her sword, as Andrew hefted up his battle axe. Hesitation slowed them. It was a low reverberating roar that made their decision and they broke and ran. Bel smiled and relaxed as she saw Gremmels leaping towards them. Sheathing her sword, she caught Andrew's arm and draped it across her shoulders. 'Let's move.'

Gremmels ran back and forth, first in front of them to show the path and then back sniffing for pursuers. They finally came to the small hidden tunnel through the hills surrounding the Defias shipyard.

Andrew looked in. 'I can't see anything and it seems very narrow.' Bel grabbed his wrist. 'The ground is uneven. Use your other hand to feel the wall. I will lead.' Elune adore, Bel whispered.