CHAPTER 5

Round One Goes to . . .

The aura around Mira began growing out in all directions as its power became more defined, more structured. Bloodbane knew if he didn't act quickly things would go very badly for him and possibly everyone else. The Death Knight drew his runeblade and charged blindly toward the Dark Ranger. Luckily for him, the Baron reached Mira before she could finish her spell, cutting at her with great precision. The attack forced the Dark Ranger to cease drawing magic and step back. Bloodbane's runeblade sliced the air millimeters in front of her.

In an effort not to waste her stored energy Mira unleashed a torrent of life draining magic at her opponent. Expecting a counterattack, the Baron let himself fall to the side and rolled out of the way. The magical attack screamed through the air and slammed into a Skeletal Warrior, immediately sapping it of any life and giving it to Mira. The Dark Ranger cursed the Death Knight's sudden reflexes and drew her bow.

Meanwhile Thebis-Ra and Detheroc grappled back and forth, neither willing to give any ground. Finally, Thebis managed to maneuver a leg just behind the demon and shoved him backward. Detheroc roared as a massive claw came toward his face. The Dreadlord moved his head just in time, watching as the claw forced its way into the ground next to him. Thebis tried desperately to pull the appendage out but it was stuck in the rocky terrain. Detheroc grabbed the Crypt Lord, got his leg under the beetle-like warrior's stomach and flipped him backwards.

Thebis howled in pain as his claw nearly snapped in two before the ground finally gave way. But the seasoned warrior was on his feet just as quickly as the demon. The warriors traded blows momentarily until Detheroc saw an opening and struck the Crypt Lord across his eyes. Thebis stumbled blindly for a moment, protecting his face with his claws. Detheroc smiled arrogantly and circled his prey, poking and tormenting Thebis as he went.

Mira encased her arrows in small amounts of black magic and let them fly. Bloodbane lunged from side to side, knocking what arrows he could off course with his sword. The arrows that missed all together found new prey, piercing the hides of ghouls that had taken it upon themselves to try and join the fray. As the arrows entered the undead flesh the magic sucked the bodies in like a vacuum and summoned Skeletal Minions from the netherworld by sacrificing the victims.

The Dark Ranger cackled like a witch as the minions surrounded the Baron, swords drawn. But her laughter was cut short when the Death Knight's hands began to cover themselves in necromantic magic. From behind her Mira saw several dead bodies begin to stir and soon she too was surrounded. The Baron spun around, holding his blade out toward his attackers and managed to batter away a few of the first assaults. The Skeletal Minions still broke through the Death Knight's guard, using their attacks to slow his spin and charge into his reach.

Mira drew her short sword and parried a few oncoming attacks from a pair of ghouls. Behind the smaller opponents an abomination barreled at her, forcing the others out of its way and steam rolling over the Dark Ranger. Mira fell under the undead brute and watched helplessly as it pulled back an arm as if to swing the deadly meat cleaver it held. Mira heard a demonic roar and shuddered as the abomination fell to the ground. She glanced over and saw Detheroc as the Dreadlord muttered a sleep spell on the mindless fighter.

Thebis shook his head, clearing up his vision a little and charged the demon from behind. The attack forced both off the platform they'd been standing on and down into the melee below. The Dreadlord quickly recovered and ran to Mira's aid just as Thebis ran to Bloodbane. Together the pairs of fighters fended off the attacking minions. Thebis sliced a summoned skeleton in half with one swipe of his deadly claw as the Baron shoved his blade into another's head.

Detheroc effortlessly tore through a ghoul with his brute strength as Mira literally disarmed the sleeping abomination. As both sides finished off the last of their attackers, they found themselves squaring off once again. Mira began to take a step forward but was cut off by the sound of the advancing Scourge which had finally defeated the last of the nearby Forsaken rebels. Soon Bloodbane and Thebis disappeared as the waves of warriors charged the demon and ranger.

Just then a loud explosion was heard in the sky, halting the oncoming onslaught just in time to see an enormous boulder surrounded by green fire fall from the sky. Mira looked over at Detheroc as the Dreadlord continued muttering his incantation. The boulder fell into the Scourge ranks, causing massive destruction. The boulder then uncurled, revealing arms, legs and an unholy head, all the pieces connected by the ever burning fire. Detheroc had managed to open a small portal for just one of his Burning brethren and the Infernal intended to use its time wisely. The demon swept its arms through the ranks of warriors, tossing ghouls in necromancers aside like dolls.

The confusion in the ranks allowed Mira just enough time to call for a retreat. The small remnants of the Forsaken immediately stopped fighting and began fleeing behind the Dark Ranger and Dreadlord. Meanwhile the Infernal continued decimating Bloodbane's soldiers.

"Therashk!" he yelled. The frost wyrm dove down at the call of his master and struck at the Infernal with a quick swipe of his skeletal claw. The attack caught the massive demon off guard and left it dazed. Therashk took the opportunity to blow a breath of icy air at the Infernal. But the fire that connected the demon easily melted it away and the Infernal swung blindly at its opponent. Therashk roared defiantly, catching the demon's attack and throwing a swipe of his own claw. The frost wyrms gambit paid off, tearing a chunk out of the demon's face and forcing it on its back where a sea of ghouls jumped on it and began cutting away.

Within a few minutes the Infernal was reduced to a small pile of pebbles which withered away in green fire. The Scourge cheered at their victory over both the demon and the Forsaken. "Get the Meat Wagons in here and start retrieving the dead!" Bloodbane yelled, only giving his warriors a short reprieve. A few hours later the Scourge had collected all the dead bodies their siege weapons could carry and began heading back toward the Frozen Throne and their master. "The Lich King will be very pleased with our victory here today!" the Baron said, mostly to himself.

Mira and her forces fled with much haste, covering miles in hours. Days later they reached the relative safety of the Plaguelands and split up to enjoy being home. Mira entered the queen's chambers with Detheroc right at her toes. Sylvanas stood up and approached them as they entered. "What news?" she asked.

"My queen, we were defeated" Mira said, bowing respectfully.

"How many did we lose?" Sylvanas asked, stress clearly in her voice.

"3/4 of our forces, if not more," Mira explained, "certainly a crippling blow to the morale of those who survived." Sylvanas nodded in acknowledgement of the news.

"I was afraid of that, I was such a fool to think that I could bully my way straight to Arthas," Sylvanas said, "but I have a back up plan." At that note a hunched green figure entered the room and hobbled over to the queen and her generals. "Let me introduce you to Ezzil Darkbrewer, lead shaman of the goblins of Northrend."

Ezzil was certainly a figure of much importance. His old but still fit and imposing body was decorated by small skulls and bones and he carried a staff that fashioned a shrunken head and decorative beads. Ezzil wore a pair of odd goggles which he casually removed in the presence of the others, revealing his scarred eyes.

"The goblins have secretly been attacking smaller Scourge encampments for a while, using their numbers and brilliant inventions to easily overtake the Lich King's forces," Sylvanas said, "they are a welcome ally to the Forsaken." Ezzil stepped forward.

"We've concocted a plan for overthrowing the Lich," Ezzil explained, "using a system of tunnels we've been building to lead a massive force of Forsaken and goblins straight to the Frozen Throne. From here we can catch the Scourge by surprise and attack the heart of Icecrown itself."

When the shaman had finished his explanation Mira found herself admiring the brilliance of his plan. Surely with the help of the goblins they could easily defeat the Lich King and his toy soldier Bloodbane. So excited was she that she didn't even notice the misty figure floating in the corner of the room. The black colored ghost cackled to itself and disappeared into the palace wall.