"That was a lo-ong meeting; now what?" Torque asked when Bellon finally joined them for lunch.
"We get back to beating the crap out of the Burning Legion," Arbeth announced laying several notices on the table. "We can go back to Val'shara or Aszuna or venture off to Stormheim." She paused nervously. "I heard through the grapevine that my brother, Trevor, is in Stormheim."
"The Worgen we freed from Shadowfang Keep?" Torque gaped. "Wasn't he fighting with Lord Crowley?"
"The Gilneas Liberation Front, yes; I guess they also answered the call to fight off the Burning Legion." Arbeth's response was acerbic.
"At least you know he's still alive," Luxraina assured.
"But for how long?" Arbeth buried her face in her hands. "He's my baby brother; the only family I have left."
Cinnabar lay a paw on Arbeth's shoulder. "He's an adult; his fate is in his hands, not yours. But, nothing says we can't go help him. I vote we go to Stormheim."
"Me too," Bellon announced.
"Me three." Torque slammed the table with his hand.
"Me four," Luxraina chuckled. She picked up the notice with the header 'Hero's Call to Stormheim.' "It says we should meet up with Commander Lorna Crowley at Crowley's Overlook."
"Commander?" Torque asked a little nervously.
"She commands the Gilneas Brigade," Arbeth volunteered.
"I'm beginning to…" Torque was cringing.
"Shut it," Bellon snapped. "I've been on the receiving end of a Worgen's attack. It'll be nice to be on the same side. Give me time to figure out the coordinates and we'll be on our way." He took the notice, which had a map showing the location of Crowley's Overlook, and headed up to his room.
While he was calculating the portal, the others hurried about Dalaran stocking up on supplies. When they gathered on the green next to the Violet Citadel, it was about one hour from sunset. They had agreed that Cinnabar and Bellon would go through first, then the other three. That would give Commander Crowley a moment to be prepared for the members of the Horde responding to her call for aid.
Torque opened the portal and Cinnabar and Bellon stepped through. To Arbeth's dismay, Dr. Nope followed Bellon. Arbeth and Luxraina waited several minutes before following; lastly Torque stepped through closing the portal.
Bellon had the opportunity to see the woman smile at the sight of the Pandaren Priestess. She started in confusion at Bellon and eyed Dr. Nope uncertainly.
"I'm not from around here," he quipped and led Cinnabar's yak and Spot aside. Cinnabar was explaining the rest of the group were citizens of the Horde but they were still coming to help.
Once all five were arrayed in front of her, Crowley studied them. "You're the heroes of Bradensbrook, aren't you?"
"Our reputation precedes us," Torque cheered happily. "You are 100% correct, lovely lady."
"Never mind him; he has the couth of a rutting boar," Bellon explained. "But he's a very capable mage." He introduced Luxraina, Arbeth, and Torque. "Also, Commander, Arbeth heard her brother is here possibly fighting with you, his name is Trevor Williams."
Crowley thought a bit then nodded. "He's commanding a company attacking demons dug in around the Halls of Valor. That's about 100 miles east of here. I'm sure if you live long enough, you'll run into him."
Arbeth brightened. "He's commanding a company?" There was obvious pride in her tone.
"I didn't know he had family, much less who were Forsaken," Crowley noted.
Arbeth frowned. "After Arthas returned to Lordaeron with his Deathknights and Scourge, I joined the Scarlet Crusade. If it weren't for our sacrifices, Arthas would have reached Pyrewood and Gilneas. Not even that magnificent wall would have stopped him. You wouldn't have lived long enough for the curse to affect you."
Bellon laid a calming hand on her shoulder. "We're here to fight the Burning Legion, not each other," he reminded both women.
"I'm sorry," Arbeth apologized. "Trevor was just a little boy when I joined the Scarlet Crusade. I missed seeing him grow up. I wasn't there when my parents died. I was a mindless minion of Sylvanas, who claimed she was giving us our free will."
"But you attacked Gilneas," Crowley countered bitterly.
"As I said, she CLAIMED she was giving us back our free will. Trust me, that was not the case." Arbeth subconsciously rubbed her temple as if she could hear Sylvanas in her head.
It was apparent that Crowley was battling with her prejudice before she nodded. "The Burning Legion has the Vrykul stirred up and their old gods seem to be waking up in a bad mood. King Greymane is in Greywatch, that's where your brother is, and I'm sure he could use your help. However, before you run off, I ask that you help me secure this area." She explained how precarious her position was and that she was cut off from the rest of the Gilneas Brigade.
Bellon glanced at the darkening sky. "I've got pretty good night vision. If you don't mind, I'll reconnoiter tonight."
Crowley blinked in surprise then smiled. "Please feel free to ask my scouts what they've observed." She indicated a small group of her soldiers in camouflage camped away from her fighters.
As the others set up the camp, Bellon went to talk to the scouts. "Oh, for crissakes, Dr. Nope; go back to Arbeth!" he growled when the scouts gave him wide-eyed looks and he realized he had been followed. The spider chittered before hurrying back to his mistress.
That night, using the locations given to him by the scouts, Bellon made his way down a narrow path from the camp site and crept up on several Legion camps. He was pleased to find they were fairly small though still able to isolate Crowley by virtue of the single path off the heights. They had also managed to hide their camps from her view by use of magic. He marked their locations on a map and returned to the camp announcing himself to the Gilnean guard.
"You sure that spider isn't yours?" the guard asked.
Bellon regarded Dr. Nope standing at his side. "He's the Ranger's but he does seem to like me. Besides he was hungry and had himself a sloppy Legion picket for dinner." He patted the spider. "He's a VERY silent killer."
The guard shuddered at the thought and let them pass.
The next morning, Bellon devised a plan where Torque and Crowley's two mages would dispel the magic hiding the legion camps. That would allow her to fire on them with her cannon and long bowmen. Then the infantry could attack. He explained the need to decapitate the dead and burn their corpses.
Crowley shook her head at the simplicity of the plan. She might have come up with it herself if she had been able to target the camps.
By that evening, the assault was over; She moved her camp to the base of the path. Now she could send a courier to Greymane asking for support to hold the position.
The next morning, she showed the party the best route to Greywatch and sent them on their way. They had debated making a portal but decided to take the long route in order the clear out any Burning Legion they came upon.
If they hadn't run into any resistance, the trip might have taken no more than five days. As it was, it took seven days for them to reach the village of Valdisdall; it sat on high ground looking across a ravine between it and the Halls of Valor. A path led off to the east sloping down to the ravine. The Halls sat on a promontory accessible only by a bridge over the ravine. They could hear the clash of fighting.
Arbeth saw smoke rising in the distance to the east. When she was told that was Greywatch, she resisted every urge to hurry there on her own.
The person in charge of the encampment was one of the Vrykul, named Thorignur. He suggested they wait a bit, that Greymane himself would probably be back very soon. Sure enough, about an hour later, the fighting seemed to ease and a group of soldiers wearing Gilnean tabards made their way back carrying their dead and wounded. Bringing up the rear was a stocky-built older man in well-worn but rich array. Thorignur called him over.
"Genn, these are the Heroes of Bradensbrook," Thurignur prefaced indicating the party of five.
Arbeth kept to the back of the group letting Bellon do all the talking.
Bellon nodded his head in response and introduced himself and his fellow campaigners. "We heard you could use some help," he said.
Greymane studied them suspiciously but admitted, "Lorna told me what you did for her. I'm grateful; she is like a daughter to me."
"I have to admit our arrival is a little duplicitous. You see, one of us has a brother who, as we understand, is a company commander in this brigade," Bellon explained further. "Trevor Williams?"
Greymane nodded and his eyes fell immediately upon Arbeth. He looked at a man in armor moving among the wounded they had brought back. "Commander Williams," he shouted.
The man straightened and turned. "Yes, my lord?"
"Your sister has arrived to lend us her aid." Greymane announced.
Trevor hesitated and stared as Arbeth stepped forward, uncertainly. He crossed the ground with amazing speed and embraced her.
"Well, that's happy," Torque noted with a grin. "Let's help Greymane figure out how to win this fight while those two get reacquainted."
Dr. Nope didn't liked Worgen, even in human form, so kept close to Bellon as his mistress was led off to meet the soldiers of her brother's company. Bellon absently stroked the spider's back as he listened to the general explain the situation.
"They kind-a have you by the short-curlies, don't they," Bellon noted when Greymane finished. "Sitting on that hill with just the one access."
Greymane stifled a chuckle and nodded. "And at least two portals to bring reinforcements through."
"Bastards are getting crafty," Torque snorted.
"No one ever said they were stupid," Luxraina pointed out.
"This will surely challenge your gift, Billy," Cinnabar told him. She smiled at his frown. "You do have a gift as Ofain and Daiva said; deny it all you wish, it is there."
The smile that crept across Bellon's face as he looked to the heavens was very unnerving. "Excuse me a moment." He hurried from the meeting and pulled out his personal holocommunicator. "Twovee, is the Chiss Ascendency vessel still in orbit?"
"No, good kind master," the mechanical voice responded.
"Are Lord Hypocritus' or Darth Phallus's ships still in orbit."
"Lord Hypocritus' ship left orbit weeks ago. Darth Phallus ship is still here, sir."
"Patch me through to the commander." Bellon ordered and waited.
"Commander Araham, who is this?"
"This is Major Bellon, Imperial Intelligence; I'm the agent Darth Phallus met planet side."
"Where is he, what have you done to him?" the ship's commander demanded.
"Well, it seems he is in terrible danger," Bellon put as much concern into the words as he could without laughing. "I can only surmise that he has been captured and his communicator has been confiscated. I suggest an airstrike on the enemy camp."
"An airstrike could kill him," the commander pointed out.
"I can see the position; his attackers would have taken him to their underground prison. He should be safe, if he still lives," Bellon added with a worried tone.
There was a pause as Bellon was certain the commander battled with his conscious. "Very well, what are the coordinates," the commander demanded.
Bellon smiled and waved at Torque who was watching from where the group sat with the Gilnean king. He gave the coordinates and waited.
"Everyone duck," he shouted and hit the dirt as streaks of what seemed to be meteors shot toward the planet surface and precisely struck the terrace around the Halls of Valor.
"Cease fire," he shouted over the holo; and the attack stopped. "Let's go." He jumped to his feet and leapt onto Spot.
The others followed. The Worgen shape-shifted, dropped to all fours, and raced across the bridge. The attack had been precise and the Halls themselves were intact.
As the five, followed by the Gilnean Brigade, arrived, they were met by the smoldering remains of the Legion forces. In the entry to the Halls stood a Vrykul and a blue dragon looking confused and dazed.
"Well, let's see them recover from THAT!" Torque hopped off his trike and ran for what looked like portal. He half ducked through and tossed several leftover seaforium charges; at the same time, Luxraina lobbed a couple into another portal.
Bellon detonated the charges and the portals winked out.
Greymane looked around at the cleared terrace. "What the HELL was that?"
"Since Darth Phallas ran off with Daiva, it was the least he could do to accomplish the end game of my mission here," Bellon put his hands on his hips and studied the situation with satisfaction.
His communicator beeped. "Have you found Darth Phallas?" the commander demanded.
"I'm looking, I'm looking," Bellon responded dutifully frantic. "It's… shkkkkkkkkk many… crklcrklcrkl lose… KHHHHHHHHHHH!" He turned off the communicator and ignored further attempts to contact him.
Torque was rolling on the ground laughing. Luxraina shook her head not sure she supported such a blatant lie.
Cinnabar sighed. "You are going to be in so-o-o much trouble, Billy."
Arbeth smiled and patted Bellon's shoulder. "Well done, Billy."
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