CHAPTER 4

Bad Blood

"Therashk, take me to the ground" Bloodbane instructed. The frost wyrm took a final snap at a passing gargoyle before plunging toward the ground units below. With a breath of ice Therashk froze a group of Forsaken ghouls. Then the beast landed on top of them, shattering their statue-like bodies. The Baron jumped off his mount and in an instant Therashk was flying to join the battle with his brethren. Bloodbane drew his runeblade and charged a group of the Forsaken. With a quick slash he gutted the nearest ghoul, then he followed up with a sweeping kick that tripped a charging abomination. After draining the life from the hulking brute with his sword the Baron jumped back in the fray.

Up ahead Thebis-Ra continued his slaughter of the Forsaken forces, each hulking step tossing ghouls and necromancers aside. As he worked his way through the enemy lines he spotted a pair of banshees firing at the frost wyrms in the sky. The Crypt Lord muttered an incantation and threw his claw forward. At his summon a swarm of locusts attacked the banshees, when they'd drained the life from the undead witches the swarm returned to the Crypt Lord and filled him with the energy. Chinks in his chitin armor suddenly disappeared and cuts on his hard exoskeleton were replaced by new flesh. Then the guardian of the Scourge looked to the skies, checking for the Baron. A nearby battle cry let him know where the Death Knight was and he hurried to help.

Bloodbane ducked under an oncoming attack from a necromancer and beheaded the foul sorcerer. A crazed scream filled the air and the Baron felt a presence approaching him from behind, and fast. When he turned to meet the jumping ghoul he saw the zombie hanging in the air, a bug-like claw pierced right through its chest. Thebis-Ra shook the corpse from his claw. "Good to see you again guardian" the Baron said. The Crypt Lord just smiled and charged toward a pair of stray skeleton warriors a necromancer had raised.

Bloodbane turned to see a line of Forsaken abominations plow through some Scourge ghouls. Suddenly power filled the Death Knight and magic covered his hands. With a quick raise and lower of his arms the fallen ghouls came back to life and returned to their ensuing battle. "Baron!" Thebis-Ra yelled. The Death Knight turned around and was met by a piercing arrow.

Across the battlefield Mira notched another arrow. She pulled back and fired another direct score into the Baron's chest, again and again she fired until she was out of arrows. She turned to see Detheroc clapping in approval. "Good shot mistress" the demon commentated.

Mira turned to a gargoyle behind her and pointed at the fallen Death Knight. "Make sure the job is finished!" she ordered. The fiendish creature nodded and began flapping its bat-like wings. In an instant the flying menace was mere feet from its fallen prey.

Thebis-Ra threw himself between the gargoyle and the Baron. The Crypt Lord held up his claws to defend from the bloodthirsty beast. The gargoyle was relentless in its attacks but the guardian held his ground long enough for some necromancers to grab the Death Knight and drag him away. Now the Crypt Lord wrapped his claws around the gargoyle's wings and began pulling it toward his razor sharp mouth pincers. The gargoyle screamed one last time before its jaw was separated from the rest of its body. Thebis-Ra chucked the fallen beast to the ground and turned to find Bloodbane.

After pushing through groups of fighting undead he found the Death Knight lying on the ground. The necromancers that had dragged him away pulled off his chest armor. "Only one arrow could pierce the armor, but it got him pretty good" one of the necromancers said.

"No . . . worries" the Baron said. The Death Knight raised his hand and placed it over his wound. Muttering words of power Bloodbane began transferring magic into the wound. With a flash the open gash disappeared, in its place was a layer of rotting and decayed flesh, much like that of the ghouls. "Guess I can truly say I'm undead now huh?"

Thebis nodded and helped the Death Knight up as the necromancers began putting the armor back on, careful not to touch where the wound had been. "Now what Baron?" the Crypt Lord asked.

"What else other than revenge?"

Mira had lost sight of her fallen opponent when the sorcerers had taken him away but it seemed unlikely that anyone could survive so many attacks. The Dark Ranger snickered and turned an oncoming Scourge abomination to her side with a simple magic gesture, watching as the brute tore apart his own people. "Report Detheroc, how are our forces faring?" she asked.

"Not well mistress, we've suffered heavy casualties" the demon said.

"How many have we slaughtered?" Mira asked.

"Only a fourth of the dead were from the Scourge mistress, perhaps it's time for a retreat?" the Dreadlord suggested.

"You're not going anywhere!" a voice from behind them yelled. Mira glanced behind her casually.

"Good of you to join us Death Knight, I see you survived," she said, "of course that won't last long." At that Mira drew a short sword from its hilt and challenged the Baron. Behind him Thebis-Ra eyed Detheroc. In a blur of blue the Dark Ranger threw an attack at Bloodbane. He parried and pushed her back with a quick movement. Then, in an instant the two began trading lightning fast attacks.

"Don't try anything funny demon or I'll behead you where you stand" Thebis said. Detheroc just smiled.

"I could say the same to you" the Dreadlord said, casually sharpening his claws on a nearby rock. With an unearthly roar the demon and guardian met, tearing viciously at each other in bestial rage. Thebis ducked under a swipe from Detheroc and brought the blunt top part of his mantis claw into the demon's chin. The impact threw the winged demon onto his back and the Crypt Lord was instantly on top of him, slicing down with his claws.

Meanwhile Mira had turned the tables on the Baron, putting the Death Knight on the defensive as the two clashed. A quick kick to the gut knocked Bloodbane off the large rock they'd been standing on. Seconds later the Baron was covered in hungry ghouls. A flash of magic threw the fiends from him and forced Mira to close her eyes or be blinded. When she opened them she was met by the hilt of the Baron's runeblade. The attack caught her off guard and left her dazed for a moment. Before he could finish her an abomination was pushed into him. Thrown off balance, Bloodbane caught himself before he fell to the ground. He angrily drove his runeblade through the hulking mound of body parts before he realized it was one of his own.

Mira seized the opportunity and began chanting a powerful incantation. As the Death Knight pulled out his runeblade from the fallen abomination he was met by a green beam of magic. Instantly he felt the power of the spell. His very essence began draining away and flowed into the Dark Ranger. The Baron fell to his knees in emptiness. Then the spell broke off as Thebis tackled the girl, Detheroc bearing down on him from behind. The Crypt Lord bucked back and brought his back legs into the demon's face, once again throwing the Dreadlord aside. Bloodbane nodded in thanks to his guardian and sprang to help him.

"Stinking brute, get off!" Mira screamed, struggling to push the Crypt Lord off of her. She heard Detheroc mutter something and the guardian fell limp on her body. She pushed her now snoring opponent off her and rose to her feet, ready to slay the sleeping giant.

"No!" Bloodbane yelled and grabbed onto her feet, pulling her to the ground with him.

"Why do you men always prefer me on my back?" Mira asked as she kicked threateningly at the Baron.

"It's how you look best" Bloodbane mused and slashed at her with his sword.

The sleep spell the Dreadlord had cast didn't last long. In a few seconds Thebis was to his feet. Detheroc bared his fangs and lunged at the Crypt Lord with murderous eyes. Thebis thrust a claw at the demon's exposed stomach but the Dreadlord was ready this time, jumping to the side. "Just die you damn dirty demon!" the guardian bellowed and full barrel tackled the demon, smothering him under his immense weight.

With a quick movement the Dark Ranger nimbly caught the blade between her feet and threw it to the side. Then she sprang up and began slicing at the Death Knight. The Baron expertly dodged the attacks, occasionally just batting the weapon away with his hand. Then he grabbed the blade, pulled its wielder forward and struck the Ranger across her Forsaken face. Mira's grip on the sword weakened as she reeled from the attack and the Baron quickly seized it.

"You shouldn't hit a lady!" Mira yelled and began covering herself in a powerful magic aura.