Chapter 16

Shel'yin approached first, after Glaive scampered off to get whatever it was she had "found." A pair of faint pink rings circled the tall Orc as he approached, making him very visible in the dark.

"We lost no warlocks, Chieftain," he said. "The battle seldom came near us. Two were wounded by arrows, but they can still walk without help."

"That's excellent news," Veren Redmorning said. "And excellent work that you did tonight. Tell the other warlocks I said so."

Shel'yin bowed. "I will do so."

"And what, exactly, is the pink thing?" Veren asked.

Shel'yin shrugged irritably. "It is faerie fire. It will pass in a few moments."

"You managed to get hit by an enemy spell?"

"It is difficult to elude them when surrounded by other warlocks," Shel'yin said stiffly. Redmorning smiled.

"Sure it is," he said.

Shel'yin's green gaze flickered over him and came to rest on Kev'ran, but he said nothing.

"Kev'ran and Loudwhisper served well," Veren Redmorning said. "It seems your recommendation was a wise one."

"Be no good, without the dead man," Loudwhisper said.

"We owe our lives to the Shadebreaker," Kev'ran said quietly. "Without his help, the Chieftain would certainly have been killed." Her eyes were black as black, giving back no reflection from the newly-lit watch fires.

"It seems I was in error," Shel'yin said grudgingly, still looking at the smaller warlock. "As I often am, when I disagree with Kev'ran."

"You know, pink really doesn't suit you," Redmorning said. Shel'yin snorted and turned to leave. He did not look at Kev'ran again, nor did she watch him go.

Darksun and Bladeleaper came up through the flickering darkness as Shel'yin went. Bladeleaper had managed to escape nearly unscathed once again, though her shoulder armor was dented. The wolf Lightrunner came licking blood from his chops, a red light still in his eyes.

Lev Darksun had not been so fortunate. He walked beside Gedu Pouncefaster's wolf, holding to the raider's trouser leg for balance. His left arm hung limp and useless, and the tunic sleeve was shredded and bloody.

"Demons, Lev," Redmorning said. "What happened to you?"

Lev muttered something inaudible, but almost certainly obscene.

"What happened is he cut a rider out of the saddle and her cat turned around and almost bit his arm off," Gedu said smugly. "Popped his shoulder clean out of the socket."

"Cut its bloody head off and it wouldn't bloody let go," Lev growled. "Pouncefaster had to pry it off."

"Would've served you right if I'd left it there," Gedu informed him.

"Bloody insubordinate," Lev said.

He did not seem to notice Dib Loudwhisper edging around past Redmorning, though this was comparable to not noticing a storm wyrm hiding behind a daisy.

"No, it's not, 'cause you're not my commander," Gedu said. "My commander is the one sitting over there without a stain on her shirt."

"We lost two raiders and five grunts, Chieftain," Kerd Bladeleaper said, ignoring them. "And four more grunts have injuries like Lev's, or worse. Infantry in a cavalry fight."

Lev raised one hairy eyebrow, too focused on Kerd to notice Loudwhisper reaching for his dislocated arm. "Cavalry fight, my RRRRNNNGH WHAT THE BLOODY TWISTING…"

Dib Loudwhisper removed his meaty hands from Lev's shoulder. Veren had heard the pop of the joint coming together again. The swearing trailed off gradually as Lev realized his arm was still attached.

"Where'd you learn to do that?" Lev asked finally. He moved the arm carefully. "Even Bladeleaper doesn't always get it right on the first try."

"Father had bad shoulders," Loudwhisper said, calmly wiping his bloody hand on his trousers. "'Fore the Draenei got him. Mum used to do it."

"She must have been a strong Orc," Veren Redmorning said.

Loudwhisper shrugged his enormous shoulders. "She's a grunt," he said.

"Really?" Redmorning said. "Which one?"

"Bit Felthunder, Chieftain," Dib said.

Lev blinked. "Bit Felthunder is a woman?"

"You're just jealous 'cause she's bigger than you," Gedu Pouncefaster said. "Come on, let's go patch up your arm. If that's all right, Chieftain?"

"Yes, of course," Redmorning said.

"Got present for you, Chieftain!"

Redmorning turned to see Glaive round the corner of the great hall. She held a short sword in her hand, and behind her walked a Night Elf with his hands bound. Rokhyel Shadebreaker paced behind them, tall and silent.

Now what? Veren Redmorning wondered.