Lethendis' Story - Part III: Distortion
"As you are most likely well aware, our forces prepare for war."
A child could have figured that out. Lethendis stood motionless before the Black Dragon, arms folded behind him.
"Yet you do not know whom we test ourselves to fight. I believe you're ready to be informed of our course of action."
The dragon raised its large taloned claw, clicking his claw, a shimmering map appeared before the two beings. It raised a claw-point at an area of Kalimdor.
"Azshara. Our Blue Flight cousins have taken the liberty to reside there and practice their magics. Rebuilding their strength. Unfortunately, they also have found burried within the ground of that ancient land, a large amount of Arcane Crystals."
Lethendis' eyes gave off a green pulse, realizing the dragon's motives.
"You seek to bettwe equip your brother's legions with these.. arcane crystals? You'll want Arcanite forged from them, correct?"
"You are extremely close in your realizations yet not quite there. The goblins my brother have employed have discovered a way to make remarkably indestructable material. Elementium."
Luracifron paused as the floating image of the mape changed shape to show a window looking down on many, many goblins at work.
"Arcanite is needed to craft this elementium, so much that we do not currently have enough to start production. But the Blue Flight does."
For a brief moment, the human almost grinned at the dragon's words. They would decimate an already weak branch of dragons to further themselves. Their actions reminded him of humans.
"And your forces simply aren't strong enough to erradicate your cousins?"
The drake seemed to grin, if a dragon was capable of such an action.
"While their numbers are small, their powers are great, human. My brother does not merely wish to toss his forces to the wolves with even a small chance of failure. We will be well prepared once the assault has begun."
Lethendis nodded, understanding the wisdom of the dragon's words.
"If you find yourself capable, I will have you lead the orcs. It has been my understanding that you have learned the language relatively quick these past months."
The Death Knight scoffed.
"I am no orc warlord. They do not respect a human within their ranks, nor will they ever follow one."
"But you seem to be confused, my dear Knight. These orcs are not some foolish rag-tag clan. They will up hold my brother's wishes no matter what they might be."
Again, the Death Knight nodded.
"When are we to leave for Azshara? And through what means?"
"Aerekath will be kind enough to produce a portal to Azshara, alieviating much travel time. We will spring our attack by the end of this season. I'd suggest you prepare yourself."
The end of this season.. that left only two months for preparation, the dark knight thought to himself. There was still much to be done.
Lethendis bowed to the dragon, stepping back through the streak-like portal the High Elf had left for his departure.
The Death Knight was still unsure if he had adapted to the new life style that threatened to overwhelm him. Especially being cut off from the Lich King like he was.
Indeed, there was still much to do.
She stood motionless with arms ourstretched, numerous little infernal imps clinging to her arms. Her form was devoid of any clothing, only a blood red cloth drapped over her figure. The little demons worked around her body, pinching and sewing the cloth into a magnificant robe.
The glowing rune-thread that the imps used to stitch the robes slightly burned her skin as it brushed along, until it was pulled and sewn into the fabric. Her hulking Demon Mentor watched the work with black eyes filled with interest.
"These robes will serve you well in your Planar journey."
The woman nodded to her instructor, uncomfortable with the demons crawling over her. She gritted her teeth as she spoke to her master.
"When will these filthy creatures be finished?"
The demon grinned a hideous smile at the woman.
"These protections are necessary for traveling. Despite your power that has grown over the years, your frail human body would not survive without protection."
She turned her ice crystal eyes downward away from the demon, still uncomfortable with being touched by the demonic creatures. Sighing, she dully watched the little imps' progress.
Hours later, after standing for long lengths of time with arms out stretched, she finally shook the pesky imps away when the last stitch was made. Flowing blood-red robes scascaded around her in silky waves. The edges of the sleaves were embroidered with black clothing. Glowing yellow runes were sewn along the black cuffs.
Another little imp bounced over to her, holding a dark spell book in its clutches. It was followed by a similar demon, holding a jagged sword of demoic craftsmanship. The metal of the sword appeared as if it was drenched in blood.
Attaching the tome to a chain that was lached to her waist, she finished by sheathing her jagged blade, then turning to find her Demon master watching her.
"The gate still exists. However, it will close once you travel back. You will never be able to return here ever again."
She stared at the earthen floor, but held her head up, human eyes piercing those of demonic origin.
"You need not fear for me. But I have stayed here much too long.. I am required in my home world."
The demon watched her and nodded, the woman he had taught everything he knew to, and more.
"I will put my talents to good use."
Both of them were silent as they walked towards the gate to another world, her home world that she had so long been absent from. Finally, after so many years, she would return.
"Farewell.. teacher."
Bowing to the demon who most human wizards would have spent years seeking such knowledge, she turned to the bubbling portal. It held her interest for a moment, before she shook out her long, black hair.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped through the portal, once again.
War drums made the earth shake. An Orcish commander at the head of each division of soldiers would cry out a battle shout. The orcs within the ranks would answer their commanding officer's cry with one of their own.
Dragonspawn, clad in both heavy plated armor or crimson robes, depending on what they specialized in, were lined up behind the orcs. The fodder. But that fact did not enter their minds. They were there, they existed for their lord, the Master of the Spire.
Infront of the chanting orc ranks stood Lethendis. A great black spiked maul strapped to his back, and clad in gleaming black armor adorned with skulls, crossed his arms over his chest and listed to the rhythms. He had been in battles before, but something about this coming fight sent fire scorching along his nerves.
Two dark figures worked infront of the gathered force, tracing the right runes on the ground and chanting dark arcane magicks. Morgall and Aerekath began to open the gate that would take their master's army to Azshara.
Within the space of the rune-circle, a black spark was seen. It was followed by many more until the space above the runes was filled with millions of black sparks, creating a nether gate. The armies of Blackrock quieted with the portal being opened. Once it was fully erected, the High Elf caster spoke loudly over the masses.
"My lord! The portal is ready for entry!"
The reaction was an ancient voice echoing from the back of the huge cavern that housed the army. Luracifron spoke the commanding words to fuel his brother's force.
"Most excellent. Now, we march. Flames, death, and destruction shall only remain in our wake. Onward."
The entire army errupted into cheers, even the ever silent dragonspawn hissed in response to their lord's actions. The orcs began their gutteral chanting anew.
Hundreds of booted and clawed feet began the march towards the crackling portal, but Lethendis was confronted by a heavily scarred orc warrior as the march started.
"The battle awaits, little pink skin. Are you afraid?"
Lethendis considered ignoring the rude orc, but thought better of it.
"I have nothing to fear from any battle. Follow my orders and neither will you."
The scarred orc slapped Lethendis on his armored shoulder and chuckled. The orce returned to his place in the ranks and went back to the orcish battle chant.
As Lethendis marched to the portal, his voice joined the chanting of the orcs.
Flames, death, and destruction. In a way, the Death Knight figured he might be doing the Lich King's will after all, in the path he now walked. He only had to see where that road led him.
Trails of forest green hair whipped behind the rider in the breeze. The thundering echo of leathery, beating wings filled the long pointed ears.
"What was it that the Blue Flight needed to speak with you about?"
The night elf tried to shout over the wind and heavy beating of wings. He was about to repeat himself when the creature beneath him rumbled its response. Despite the deep and ancient voice, it held a feminine tone to it.
"We won't know until we get there and find out. Be patient, my little friend."
Valihel sighed. He always hated long trips when not knowing where his scaled companion intended to go. Despite the thrill of wind rushing through his hair, and the freeness of the sky, that didn't prevent the night elf from grumbling.
Jolted from the seat of the dragon's back as the great creature descended from cloud-leve, his golden eyes adjusted to see a faint orange-ish hued tree line in the distance.
"So the Blue Flight has taken up residence in Azshara, then?"
The red dragon nodded, even if it was difficult to tell while in flight.
"That is the way it would seem. They have told us that they discovered a strong magical source here, and thought ot would be the best place to raise their young."
"Ahhh, I see. But what is your visit about?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
"Gah! Meena, you love to torture me, don't you?"
Even though the elf couldn't see it, the dragon grinned at the common name which her rider referred to her as. Meenastrasza had to admit she did enjoy teasing her companion.
Sinking farther down to the earth, the red dragon flew above the auburn colored trees until her keen reptilian eyes saw the glimmering blue lake which the Blue Flight had requested a meeting at.
Flapping her wings rapidly to slow her descent, she landed with a thump, drowing more grumbles from her elven companion.
Valihel looked around at the glimmering lake, a magical layer of ice covering the surface.
"Didn't you say the Blue Flight was supposed to be here?" The elf asked curiously.
However, he was interrupted by a deep voice which sent shivers through his spine. Even Meena shook slightly.
"Do not always trust in your worldly sight, Night Elf."
A blue flicker infront of them appeared, followed by the huge blue dragon, nearly twice the size of Meena. Glowing blue crystals jutted out from points of his scaley hide.
"Ah, Azuregos. I apologize that Vaelestrasz could not come, he has his claws full with other matters."
"Other Matters?"
"The Black Flight has been strangely quiet as of late. Our Queen has requested that he look into it. He has asked me to come in his stead."
Azuregos bowed respectively to the much younger and smaller red dragon before him.
"I am glad you could come, nonetheless. We are still hoping to keep our existance in this place secret. That Night Elf will keep his tongue from wagging?"
Meenastrasza grinned a toothy smile.
"I trust him as I would my own kin, dear Azuregos. He shall keep silent, won't you, Valihel?"
The elf, tiny in comparison to the massive dragons, sitted himself on one of Meena's huge scaled claws.
"Er.. nope. No words from these lips."
The blue dragon's attention rested on the elf for just another moment before returning its gaze back to his red counter-part.
"I requested the Red Flight's attention here, to further discuss why the Blue Flight has chosen this area to inhabit."
Meena nodded her massive head.
"Indeed, it is strange to us as to why the blue dragons have left the frozen grounds of Winterspring for a warmer climate."
"We've.. discovered interesting findings here."
The blue dragon glanced at the night elf before he continued.
"It may be because of the past Night Elven civilization, but we've discovered an extremely large supply of Arcane Crystals forming here."
Meena's eyes widened in realization.
"I believe you can see why we set ourselves here. If some of the lesser races would get their hands on this supply, it could be disasterous. Even the Magi would be dangerous with these."
Azuregos shook his head, deep in thought.
"It is odd that you bring up the Black Flight. What information has your Brother discovered thus far?"
"It would seem that the Elusive Onyxia has evaded all attempts to locate her. We believe that she has hid herself away to build up the might of the Black Flight once again."
Both dragons grimmaced, while the night elf was quite lost. He was not familiar with the dealings of the dragon flights.
"And the.. other?"
The red wyrm sighed.
"He's.. retreated into hiding as well. We believe he's building up his forces.. but we don't know much apart from that."
Grimmly, the blue dragon nodded.
"That is.. unfortunate. We are greatly trying to keep our existance secret from the Blacks. If He is indeed building his ranks, a supply of crystals within his clutches would be extremely dangerous."
Valihel tugged on one of Meena's scales like a little child bothering its mother. Meena looked down at him curiously.
"Who are you talking about?"
"Shush, you."
"Yes, ma'am."
Azuregos, meanwhile, watched the scene with an amused expression, a deep chuckle errupting from within him.
"Come. You must be tired from your journey. Our Flight will be more than happy to tend to your needs."
The dark night of was cloudy, giving the sky an inky appearance. Lethendis' gaze was drawnin to it. Even in this far away place, it still reminded the Death Knight of the lands of decaying Lordaeron in the clutches of the Lich King.
The orcs were silent now. They had arrived in the strange land of Azshara when dusk was being sprinkled over the land. Even Lord Luracifron took an effort to quiet his massive and thundering footsteps as the army slowly slithered through the forest terrain like a serpent.
It was so dark out that even the stars were veiled.
The Death Knight looked at the great black dragon, seeing the High Elf and Orc Warlock marching with the great reptile. Falling back from his position at the from of the army, he walked in stride with the High Elf, who, remarkably, was grumbling about getting mud on his robes.
"How long until we reach the blue dragons?" Lethendis whispered to the elf, which shook him from his cursing. He cleared his throat.
"Our sources have told us that they will be located by a frozen lake to the west of the shoreline. We should be approaching there soon."
Luracifron, having picked up on their conversation, let a hissing answer escape his maw.
"We will have to move quickly into an attack as soon as we find the wyrms. They will surely detect us with their strong magics. Aerekath, Morgall, you must be quick with your portal once the attack is initiated.
Both High Elf and Orc nodded.
Lethendis watched the exchange curiously. The Arcane Crystals must indeed be important for sending of such a force in order to fetch them.
It was impossible to tell how long they marched, with the moon being safely hidden away, as if it sensed the coming battle. Yet, the moon held little effect in what would come to pass.
Lethendis had returned to the front ranks after his short conversation with Luracifron. He motioned to two scouts in the front ranks. They came over to him, and he gave out the instructions as quietly as he could.
"You two move on ahead, quickly and quietly. We're nearing a magical lake and need to be aware of any hidden sentries. Be wary of the Blue Dragon spell casters. Go now."
"Yes-lord. We hear and obey."
A moment later, the two bulky orcish figures vanished into the night. They had to be getting closer. It wouldn't be long now.
The Knight's thoughts couldn't've held more truth as a magical shard of ice felw out of the trees and hit the ranks of orcs. The bolt was followed by a dragon roar, a warning cry. The cry, however, ended in a gurgle, the scouts must've found the unfortunate dragonspawn.
But it was too late.
More dragonkin, both spawn and true dragons poured our from the forest. The Orcish ranks reacted with its keen battle training, striking torches, they lit trees afire to serve as their light. The war drums were already in beat.
As with training with the orcs, Lethendis fel the familiar sensation creeping within him. The Bloodlust threatened to overtake him. He spotted a female dragonspawn tossing out frost bolts at his force. Yanking the spiked mace from its holder on his back, he rushed at the spell caster.
The female's eyes were closed as it casted its spell, the scaled arms weaving in the cast. It didn't see the Death Knight's spiked mace as the heaf of it bit into scaley flesh. The cry it managed to screech out was silenced with its skull being crushed.
Behind Lethendis waas another cry, yet as the Death Knight turned, he saw an armored dragonspawn being dragged down and cut up by three orcs. All around him echoed of flames, death, and destruction.
Lethendis grinned wickedly in the fire-tinged forest, seeking more dragonkin to fell.
Draconic cries filled the night air as Valihel was jolted out of sleep.He heared the thundering footsteps coming towards him, which thankfully turned out to be Meena.
"The Black Flight! They're attacking the Blues! We must assist them!"
The night elf was lost for words, but he grabbed his glowing red gem and weapons as he quickly leaped onto Meena's back. Once in the air, he tossed the magical red gem above his head which bursted into flames. A crown of fire hovered above the night elf's head. His golden hued eyes changed to the color of flames, that matched the crown.
The two of them flew only a short while until they saw the outskirts of the lake bathed in flames. Screams echoing from below.
"Valihel, see if you can strike any from here!"
Meena's voice was hoarse since she had to shout over the roar of the battle below, but Valihel didn't need anymore encouragement. He was already notching an arrow into his bow.
Below, in the burning forests an orc raised its axe to cleave a blue dragonspawn was stopped in mid-swing as it noticed the arrow protruding from its chest. But from the orc that fell, another three seemed to rise up in its place.
"There's.. too many..!"
Meenastrasza wasn't paying attention, she had already breathed in a magical intake of air. The Night Elf knew what was coming.
The sky was lit up for an instant as the Red exhaled a fiery breath. The flames seemed to swim over the sea of orcs, engulfing many of their numbers. For a moment, burning flesh overwhelmed all sense of smell, but it was dismissed as more orcs recovered from the attack.
Within the ranks of blacks and orcs, Valihel saw a human Knight, shouting in orcish and pointing towards Meena and himself. The Night Elf was swifter than the orcish archers, however, as he sent an arrow flying towards the Knight in dark armor.
Meena jerked upward after the shot was fired, spiriling into the air. Even in their retreat, a ball of shadow exploded against the red dragon's left wing.
They were falling. Both of them might not survive.
The elven hunter notched more arrows into his bow as he fell to the earth with his mount. Determined to take as many orcs with him as they fell.
Lethendis pulled the jagged tipped arrow from his shoulder with a snarl and a gush of blood. Snapping the wooden shaft in half, he tossed it to the ground.
"Grutan, get your forces and come with me! How is the Elf's portal coming?"
The orc, who was bleeding in many places growled at the human before regaining its senses.
"Elf have portal up soon. Goblins come take crystals. Orcs crush all that stand in way!" Grutan let a battle cry escape his lips as Lethendis shook his head at the orc.
"Yes. I know what you orcs do. Shut your tusks adn gather your forces. We move. Now."
Lethendis didn't bother to look behind him for the orcs as he marched off to where the red dragon has fallen. But he heard the heavy feet marching behind him, war chants rising into the night.
The Death Knight would make that foolish night elf pay for wounding him. That was, if he wasn't already dead. Lethendis grinned.
The company marched for only a short time before they saw the broken trees, and the prone for of the dragon. Before the Death Knight could focus on the scene any longer, an arrow whistled out next to his head. Striking a surprised orc behind him in the chest.
Lethendis narrowed his eyes at the figure with a bow blutched tightly in its hands.
The dragon still lived, but barely. Its chest was rising and falling heavily, as if each breath it took was painful.
Indeed, her Night Elven rider was looking no better. Mud and leaves dirtied his mail armor, and much of the chain links had been torn and broken. The fiery crown still hovered above his head, but his eyes no longer held the flame-like glow. They were, however, an eerie glowing blood red, filled with a maddness that sent a chill down the Dark Knight's spine.
"Don't.. don't you.. touch her..."
He spat out the words between each breath in broken orcish. Lethendis took note of the orange furr lining the elf's face. This creature was most definately unusual. The Death Knight switched his dialect to Common, which most elves knew.
"Give up now and she will earn an easy death."
Apparently, these were the wrong words to give a feral night elf on the brink of maddness. The long bow in his clutches was dropped as the Night Elf snarled a beast-like roar, his limbs beginning to shake.
"I'll... crush you, you filth..."
The words were almost indistinguishable from growls and snarls, even as the chain armor began to break and pop off the Elf's rapidly expanding body.
Lethendis was locked in place as the transformation took place, as was his orcish companions. Orange fur began to sprout from all along the elf's body as his form got bigger and bigger. At last, when it was finished, the creature glared at the Death Knight with feline eyes, drenched in rage. The muscular limbs supporting massive claws twitched eagerly, as if they were hungry for the blood that was going to be shed.
The humanoid tiger-creature breathed quickly, reading itself for an attack. Thankfully, to whatever Dark God held an interest in the Death Knight, he reacted quickly. But that just barely saved him.
"Attack positions! Take that beast down!"
The orcs screamed out war cries, but it was drowned out by the furious roar of the Tigron as it pounced into the ranks of orcs in a spinning swirl of muscle, teeth, and claws.
The beast managed to grab an orc in front of Lethendis and toss it as easily as one would throw a doll, into its companions. Even after the throw, it exploded into motion, tearing to shreds anything it could reach.
Another orc clutched its stomach to prevent the entrails from leaving it, as another dropped to forest floor, the muscles of the neck having been slashed. Sprays of orc blood showered the air as the Tigron wove through the ranks. If it had sustained any damage at all, it showed no signs of tiring. Inside the depths of his mind, Lethendis knew he was going to die to this beast.
The part of twenty orcs which accompanied Lethendis on the search for the dragon lay dead, or dying. Pieces of orc was seen everywhere, had the Death Knight not seen similar carnage at the hands of the undead, he probably would've vomitted. But he had more pressing matters than thinking of the dead.
Valihel stood across from him, breathing heavily. Every inch of his fur-covered body was coated in blood. The rage drenched eyes narrowed onto the human.
Lethendis raised his psiked mace, which resembled a twig to the huge monster. In a heartbeat, the beast sprinted up to the Knight, and batted away the feeble weapon with a massive claw. It clutched the Death Knight then, in its claws. Constricting the armor he wore.
"You... you pay for all... evil deeds..."
Anything else Valihel said came out as a snarl which threatened to shatter the human's eardrums. Raising a massive claw, it slashed Lethendis across the chest, dark claws shearing through the armor as if it was a thin metal foil. The young Death Knight felt the claws slice through the flesh of his chest.
The Tigron threw the Death Knight to the forest floor with another growl.
Blood spilling from the slashes in his armor, Lethendis could only look at the monster standing over him, as his life began leaking from him. The glowing red eyes burned angrily in the darkness of the night.
"Kill..."
The tiger-beast readied itself for another pounce, the last pounce. Except a crackling green-yellow blast threw the monster from its feet. Eyes burning from the sudden blast of light, it took Lethendis more than a moment until he could see again. There was smoke clearing from the source of the explosion as his eyes finally adjusted.
Shimmering black hair rippled in the night air as it weaved down past the woman's waist, ending in golden tips. Her blood-red silk robes with glowing runes flowed along with her hair, outlining her figure. When she spoke, it was like a dark melody, almost familiar somehow. But where?
"You won't touch him."
The transformed night elf, recovering from the blast jumped back on its feet and growled at the woman.
"He'll... pay..." It growled in its gutteral voice.
"No, he will not."
Without another word, glowing yellow rings shot out of the palm of the woman, shooting at the tigron and latching onto its limbs. Whatever magic that was held within the rings was powerful enough to latch the beast and pin it to the ground. Turning her back on the furred beast, she rested her piercing blue eyes on the fallen Knight. Waving her hand above the Death Knight's wounds, caused the bleeding to stop, yet she knelt down next to him.
"I do not specialize in healing.. mending will take some time, but we must leave this place. I am.. taking you away from here. Can you walk?"
Despite her cold voice, it held a slightly compassionate tone to it. Lethendis gritted his teeth as he struggled to rise, his sickly glowing eyes still on the familiar piercing blue ones of the woman. She, however, stood and began chanting.
Thrusting her hands out she created a shock wave into the air, splitting it as a dark rift appeared. Lethendis was shakily on his feet by that time, wobbling towards the portal. He casted one last look at the Tigron shackled to the ground.
One of the golden loops binding Valihel had shattered, and he was already appearing to claw off the others. The woman must've noticed as well, for she quickly urged the Knight through the portal.
"Quickly. We haven't much time."
She took his arm and helped his battered form as they both walked through the portal, which sealed itself once both were gone. Once they vanished, the golden rings binding Valihel disappeared.
The fury that possessed him faded from his body as it shifted back to its natural state. His eyes, losing their blood-red color. Curling up against Meenastrasza's still, thankfully, breathing form, he collapsed in an exhausted heep.
Roughly a mile from the carnage of orcs near the red dragon's fall, the Black Flight continued their push against their blue cousins.
The orcs and spawn managed to plow their way through the magic wielding blue dragons to the ice filled lake. They formed a path, orcs and spawn fighting in two seperate lines, facing away from each other and in the proccess, forming a little path between the two fronts.
In between the fighting, in the semi-safeness of the path, little green skinned goblins moved to and from the lake, hauling sacks of precious crystals as they went.
Overseeing the entire process of transportation and battle since his general went off to find the fallen red, Luracifron grinned at the proccess they were making. In no time, they would have exported so many crystals to their sanctuary in Blackrock. Then, the goblin smiths and engineers could finally start designing the elementium. Soon, the lake would be drained of its acanium supply.
Luracifron indulged in the thoughts, even as a frost blast struck him.
"You cur! It was foolish to come here for your wretched brother, you will pay for your foolish actions!"
The voice rumbled in the ancient hissings of the Draconic language. Luracifron whipped his massive body around to face the attacker.
Azuregos, the crystals growing along his hide pulsed with energy, almost knocking the black dragon down, stared at the younger wyrm, the icy eyes brimming with hatred.
Before the black dragon could even respond to the other, it was struck as razore sharp talons sliced his maw, drawing a shriek from Luracifron. But the black dragon was no stranger to pain. As with most of the black flight, he too was afflicted with the maddness that once drove the powerful Deathwing when he had enslaved Alexestrasza during the second war. The drake recovered quickly from the blue's attack.
"Your flight is no match for ours, fool! You will fall, along with your brethren. Only the ashes will remain to speak of your past existance."
The words hissed from the sliced maw when the dragon spoke. Despite the brave words, Azuregos was much older than Nefarion's brother, and both physically and magically powerful.
Luracifron then did what he had done in any other dangerous situation, he inhaled a deep breath, intending to bring forth the molten breath to burn his foe.
Yet, at the point where he was about to exhale, Azuregos reacted quicker. Bolting forward, the blue dragon clamped its two talons onto the other dragon's maw, as the black's molten-lava breath was forced back down the throat of the wyrm, burning and melting away at the beast from the inside. Luracifron thrashed viciously as the substance was forced back down, setting his insides aflame.
It didn't last long until the evil dragon stopped moving, vile smelling black smoke seeping from its nostrils and cracks of the mouth. Azuregos let the dead husk of the dragon drop to the forest floor with a crash. He whispered to the dragon's body, so quietly that only he and the dead could hear.
"Such is the price of curiosity."
A short while away, the little goblins were scampering over the corpses of both orcs and blue or black dragonkin. They hauled their load on their backs, the precius arcane crystal, back to the portal which would lead them home to the Spire.
In the silence of the early morning, Azuregos sensed the loss of magic within the lak, and the loss of life from his dead kin, scattered throughout the forest.
Raising his head, Azuregos unleashed a shriek of despair that shook the roots of Kalimdor.
A chill was what woke him, even in the afternoon sun. Beams of light finding its way through the leaves of the trees overhead. The breeze drifted over the bare skin of his torso, as he noticed his armor was off. Sending his hand over his chest, he felt the four thin, ropey scars along his chest where the tigron had shredded through his armor.
Lethendis sat up with some difficulty, taking in the sight around him.
White trees dotted the green landscape, golden orange leaves clinging to the branches. Lethendis wandered over the area, the beauty and life was breathtaking, even for a Death Knight.
"We're in the norther area above Quel'thalas. The area untouched by the corrupting talons of the Lich King."
Sickly green eyes focused on the speaker, as the woman stepped out from nothingness, black hair rippling in waves behind her as she walked. His eyes followed her every step, somewhat suspiciously.
"How long have I been asleep?"
"Roughly two days once we arrived here."
Her accent to the Common language was like nothin he had ever heard before. Still, her voice sounded familiar, but he couldn't quite place how. Except his curiosity overwhelmed all other thoughts.
"Who are you? Why did you save me?"
The strange woman who was rumaging through her own belongings looked up at the Death Knight with her unusual piercing blue eyes. Her long black hair was cascading around her kneeling form over one of her bags. The tips of her black hair were almost a glowing gold color. She wore an expression of surprise, almost hurt, as she looked at him. It quickly reverted back to a cold, glowing expression.
"Is that how you show your thanks? By questioning those who save you?"
Lethendis matched her cold expression with one of his own. He spoke through clenched teeth.
"I have reason to suspect anyone who involves themself with me. What is your business with me? Why did you bring me here?"
She ignored him and continued to search through one of her bags. Finally finding whatever she was looking for, she pulled from within the pouch a long and curved dagger. Rising to her feet, she glared at Lethendis.
Realizing what her intent must be, the unarmored Death Knight looked for his weapon which was no where to be found. In his current weakened state, he would make easy prey, even to a magic user with a knife.
Still looking at Lethendis with her eerie blue eyes, she began to chant in a language which he had never before heard. Even though he was not trained thoroughly in the use of magic, he knew the typical and common words of power used in most spells. What the woman chanted, he couldn't begin to understand. It sent a chilld down his spine as he watched her.
Dark purple light radiated out from the woman as she chanted. When it got to a point as to where the dark glowing power was too much to watch, she raised her dagger.
Bringing it down, she sliced open her arm, causing a spray of red blood to shower the green grass.
Where the blood landed, it began to hiss and steam, as if it possessed some acidic property. Out of the smoke rising from the bubbling blood, walked a sleek hound-like creature. The tenticles which it used to absorb magic pulsed eagerly, looking for a meal to devour.
A felhound.
The woman knelt down beside the demon and whispered to it in the same magical language she used during the summoning. Whatever it was she told the hound, it acknowledged her before sprinting off into the forest. She sheathed her dagger in a small loop along her crimson robes.
Lethendis watched her, even once the summoning ritual was complete. He didn't know whether to fear for his life, or be thankful. The woman who had rescued him was clearly someone of great power. But who?
"That.. thing.. is under your control?"
She responded without looking at him.
"It is."
The words lacked emotion, even as she tied a piece of cloth around her still bleeding arm, rolling the silky blood-red cloth down over the bandage. Yet, as she leaned over her wounded arm, a small chain fell out from beneath the silky folds of her robes. Lethendis recognized the pendant around her neck instantly.
His mother's necklace, the necklace he had given to the little girl. This woman now had it.
Whatever her reason for aquiring it, didn't matter. Anger ignited within the Death Knight as he crunched his fists together.
The strange woman looked up when she heard the discharges of small, black bols of lightning errupting from the air surrounding the dark knight. In each little electrical bold, the blackness within matched the depths of Lethendis' glowing eyes.
She said nothing.
Without a weapon, the Death Knight surged the anger he felt into a dark glowing ball of shadow. A moment after forming it, Lethendis threw the dark mass at the woman, watching with satisfaction as it split through the air.
Except that satisfied expression was absorbed along with the bolt of shadow energy as the felhound leaped out from the trees, sucking in the magic with its pulsing tenticles. Lethendis gritted his teeth at the troublesome demon. The woman, however, gave Lethendis a bored expression as she stood on her feet.
"You'd be wise not to do that again."
Sweeping her arms in a graceful arc, a great wind stole the Knight from his feet, as his back slammed into a tree. On contact, he heard the distinct sound of ribs cracking. A moment longer, conciousness flown from him like a frightened bird.
Dismissing her felhound, the woman walked gently over to the crumpled for of the Knight. She knewlt down before him, placing her hand on his cheek, running her finger tips along the side of his face.
A glistening silver tear slid down the woman's face.