Chapter 6
"Excuse me for asking, but is that a ghoul?" the stranger asked as Dumb Zig and Jorn approached.
"Yeah," Jorn said. "Long story. I'm Raveloe. Something I can do for you?"
"Yes. My name is Vilbert Standwright, and I'm with the Alliance's Military Police." The man wore a soft hat which threw a shadow over his eyes, but it did not really hide his face.
"Didn't know the Alliance had MP's," Jorn said, looking the man over. He was nondescript, pleasant-looking in a bland way. Not like any Alliance anything I ever saw.
"Someone's got to keep the farm boys in line," Standwright said with a shrug. "We don't wear the uniform, since we spend so much time out here where bright colors can kill you."
"Sure," Jorn said. "So what you want with us bandits, Mister Standwright?"
"I understand you may have come across one of our deserters," Standwright said. Jorn watched Zig and the ghoul from the corner of his eye. The ghoul seemed to have edged behind Zig, peering around his leg with its milk-white eyes.
"Deserters?" Jorn said.
"What's the matter, boy?" Zig said, in what he probably thought was a whisper.
"Yes. Two of our Elvish priests decided they'd had enough and legged it last night. The remaining High Elves have been increasingly restless since the Prince fled to Draenor. We don't trust them far, but these managed to club one of our sentries and - "
"Baaaaaa," the ghoul said.
"What?" said Standwright, blinking.
"Oh, sorry," Zig said. "I been trying to teach him some animal noises 'cause Bunny thinks it's cute. He does a pretty good duck. Do a duck, Izzy!"
"Baaaaaaan," the ghoul said.
"Naw, that ain't it. C'mon, say quack."
"Baaaans…"
"Go back to work, Zig," Jorn said. "Send Norry and Sid over here, will you?"
"Yeah, sure, Chief." Zig moved off toward his post, followed closely by the ghoul. It kept looking over its shoulder.
"Zig ain't exactly all there," Jorn explained. "So you think our Elf is one of your deserters? He got scratched up pretty bad by some Undeads."
"Really? Have you kept a close eye on him?" Standwright asked with concern. "He could have been possessed. I've heard there's almost no way to tell."
"Yeah, it's pretty convincing," Jorn said.
"Oh, so you've seen a possession?"
"Un huh." Jorn glanced around unobtrusively. The priest seemed to be out of sight. There was no sign of Blitzen, who was undoubtedly still inspecting guard posts. Sid and the assassin Norry were on their way over, moving casually.
"Look, you wanna come into the camp, you gotta leave your weapons up here," Jorn said. "Those are the rules. Or you can stay here, and I can send somebody to go get the Elf."
The other man's hand moved unconsciously to the short sword strapped to his thigh. The movement pulled at his belt. Jorn, looking closely, saw what he was looking for.
"I'll be glad to wait," Standwright said. "He's not going to be sneaking out the back here."
"Nope," Jorn said. "We pretty well blocked up the gaps in the walls, and he's got a bum leg. Something wrong?"
Standwright seemed to be staring over Jorn's shoulder. Or rather, he stared past it, since he was much shorter than the bandit chief. Jorn heard the staff tapping the flagstones behind him. Priest's halting footsteps were quieter now, since he had traded his ridiculous shoes for a pair of soft leather ones.
"Major Standwright? I had thought you were dead," Priest said.
"Not for lack of trying," Standwright said. His smile was open, friendly, and genuine, and Jorn was rather surprised when he drew his sword and lunged for the Elf.