Transcendence
Chapter 21: Conspiracy Revealed
"Kul Tiras soldiers have been spotted several miles from here, close to Brackenwall Village; information says they had raided the settlement and made off with several goods."
Pained listened to her spy report, she had finally found the Renegades and narrowed down their hiding place. Reveille was her name, a skilled assassin and spy, one of several that Pained had under her command. She had dozens of them all across the world, relaying important information and events to her, from Horde military movements to the daily goings of certain important individuals within the Horde and Alliance.
But as much as her spied scour the world few remained close at hand, in fact only one resided within Dustwallow Marsh, and Pained was talking with her right now. Reveille was her personal liaison and spymaster for her network, she would be the one who would bring the news of any development to her immediately. It was her who had learned of the movements of Kul Tiras as well as the raid they performed against the Stonemaul Ogres.
"How long ago? And what were the contents that were stolen?" Pained asked, both would be important in telling her where the renegades would be staying.
"Yesterday, three hours past midday sun, they mostly stole food and leather, most were stacked in small moveable crates, easily carried by two men over short distances." Reveille replied.
"How reliable is this information?" Pained asked, since she was the only one here the information likely came from someone else, and she couldn't vouch for their reliability.
"As reliable as a Theramore Guardsman can be, it could be truth or a lie, but it is our only solid lead at the moment." Reveille replied.
Pained looked pensive as she digested this information and tried to figure out the motives of their quarry. Based on what they suspect Reethe's is hiding out with Kul Tiras, meaning that he would more than likely take command. As such he would likely follow the strict military procedure when situated within the swamps; it would be the only way he knows how to survive out there. Meaning that it would narrow down several locations as to where he would be.
But that still left a lot of ground to cover and move through, between spots known and unknown to them. But it actually may be easier now to find them; they more than likely are close to Brackenwall Village, something they did not expect him to actually do. Camping close to a Horde settlement, an ogre settlement none the less, was not a sure way of staying safe, but it would seem Reethe was more afraid of the Alliance than the Horde at the moment.
But it would be a much more valuable area to stay within, after all they do not regularly travel that close to there and they could likely raid the settlement for supplies if needed. That meant their camp was quite close to their settlement, especially if it was launched so late in the afternoon. Stealing and transporting supplies back through the swamps would be difficult on foot and the location needed to be quite close.
But Reethe would need to have an area where there is high ground to make sure it doesn't submerge or sink, the ground is solid so they can stay on it and not risk sinking into it. Also knowing Reethe he would likely have a place where it was mostly protected and would be hard to see into, so either something with natural forming mounds or has a treeline. The latter was more likely, but she knew of a single place less than half a kilometre off the main road that could be somewhere he would situate himself.
"Good work, return to your post and see if you have any information regarding that Warband in the Barren I spoke to you about, we need to know what they're doing." Pained said, and was received with a nod before her spy turned and moved back towards the tower.
Pained had sent her spies out as soon as she returned to Theramore and put them on those Tauren, she needed to know what they were doing and their involvement in this case. Hopefully Ichigo's involvement with them did not stir up more trouble for them, because if they were involved then the Horde would try to send their own investigators and then the problems would arise from that.
Ichigo and Adelina were only a few feet away, both waiting patiently for Pained to finish speaking with her contact. Neither speaking to one another, the young elven lady finding some relief in the silence, but the substitute was not the same. Deep in thought and currently his mind was focusing on the situation that he found himself in.
Ichigo was taken from those thoughts as Pained mounted back onto her horse and quickly turned it and trotted off down the road. Adelina and Ichigo shared a glance and moved after her, quickly catching up to the warrior.
"Did you find anything?" Ichigo asked.
"There was a raid on the ogre settlement to the west, reports have it that it was carried out by Kul Tiras yesterday, although the source is not fully reliable." Pained replied.
"Was it a Guardsman?" Ichigo asked, knowing that at the moment the Guard was not someone to trust, even if they were offering support they could be doing it for someone else rather than them.
"Yes, at the moment we have no other solid leads, and I find it strange that the tower was undermanned, last reports say that there were twenty two men stationed there, only eleven were seen." Pained said. "That makes me wonder where they went, and why."
It also made Ichigo wonder why as well; there was a lot of things off about this, and these little inconsistencies seem to keep popping up as well. For as long as he had been a part of this investigation he always had the feeling more was going on than what was being seen. The attack on him when he first woke up and later the fact the massacre of Shady Rest had been hidden. It all pointed to someone hiding the fact the town was destroyed, not because it was, but why.
Based on information found it was obvious the town was a staging ground for attacks on the Gold Road, orchestrated by a group known as the Quarvel Raiders. They had direct ties to Kul Tiras, who had large quantities of the contents of caravans raided by the Quarvel Raiders. But Kul Tiras had no resources to help the raiders, neither themselves, and keep them hidden from the prying eyes of Theramore.
That means both parties were working for someone else, someone in Theramore, who was pulling the strings. This Lieutenant, as he called himself, was leading this conspiracy but using both parties to his own ends. But the depth of this alliance was something that eluded them all, the motive behind these attacks had to be more than just about random violence against the Horde. After all you don't take the weapons and arms from those you kill unless you need them.
Yet there was something irking Ichigo about this whole thing, not the fact they didn't know who these traitors may be, nor the fact as to the purpose of the conspiracy. It was the fact that they had been revealed so easily. When he got back to Theramore after his investigation at Shady Rest and Lost Point word of the traitors had been completely hidden from the rest of the guard. Even over the three days he had heard nothing about it.
Then rumours start circulating, making everyone suspect each other of treachery, which was something that didn't make any sense. These guys had been hidden for months and they had been keeping everyone fooled, there was no suspicion or doubt that everyone in the guard was loyal until Shady Rest. Yet now everyone in Theramore knows about this, hearing rumours of possible traitors in the ranks, led by a man calling himself the Lieutenant and there were others who are part of his conspiracy.
Only a few people knew about this, and every single one of them was tight-lipped, so how did the information get out?
'This doesn't make sense, everyone had been real quiet about this, and as soon as I go to meet with Vimes everything seems to be going bad,' Ichigo thought, word may spread fast through a small city, but to the level of mistrust like that they would need to know almost everything that was going on. 'I doubt that is the case.'
Something was not right, there was more going on than he or anyone else knew, stuff like that doesn't leak out that quickly. This reminded him to much of the treachery Aizen did when he invaded Soul Society to save Rukia, everyone was unfocused at the time and didn't realize who was responsible. They didn't realize that someone was manipulating them from within their ranks, although this case was different. We knew about the traitors but everyone else didn't, so now rumours change that, and Ichigo doubted someone slipped up.
Aizen had done something similar in Soul Society to what the Lieutenant was doing here, this guy was intelligent and cunning, there was no way he wasn't manipulating this somehow. Ichigo had a sinking feeling that maybe something bad was going to happen in the next few hours that would be in their worst interest. What scared him a little was the possibility that getting him and everyone else out here was part of their plan.
"Follow me, and follow the path I leave, do not stray from it," Pained said, snapping Ichigo from his thoughts, they had travelled for a while it would seem; Ichigo could see that the tower had long since disappeared and they were in a very unfamiliar part of the swamp.
"Where are we?" Ichigo asked, glancing around and seeing several kilometres ahead were barely visible mountain ranges.
"Stonemaul territory, we are close to the ogre compound, but we are also closer to our quarry," Pained said, moving forward and following after the barely visible tracks through the mud. They had been filled in with water and the only reason they could be see was because of the pattern to them and also the quantity.
Without another word said they moved deep into the swamps, making for the open wilderness of the marshes were the renegades would be hidden. Ichigo followed close behind Adelina, who in turn followed Pained, they were close now and likely would be able to get the answers they needed soon enough.
For the next hour they trekked through the marshes, looking for the camp site of the Kul Tiras Renegades and their guest Pavel Reethe. Not a word was said between them, instead they moved in seemingly random directions, weaving through different places and areas and often seemingly going in circles. But they were not lost or trying to follow their target, this was the only way they could navigate the swamps.
There was no straight path through the swamps, no single little walkway they could go. If they tried to move in a single direction they would eventually be caught by something, be it a loose vine, a sinkhole or even a wild animal. Navigating through the swamps was like moving through a maze with no walls, you could go anyway you want, but it wasn't safe. One wrong step and you may fall and sink into the water, held down by mud or whatever things live beneath the murky surface.
Pained was a skilled tracker and could easily navigate the treacherous marshes, it had taken them a long while to move between places but eventually they would get where they need to go.
That time had come; Pained halted their trot through the marshes when she caught sight of her destination. In the distance she saw a large mound with several surrounding trees that also had a deep impression in the centre that was still high enough to not flood. It was the perfect place she knew for the traitors to remain without the risk of discovery or attack from animals or the element.
"Dismount and follow me, hopefully your presence will dissuade them from attacking us," Pained said, glancing at Ichigo, whose eyes widened slightly at the declaration, before he steeled himself and put any dark thoughts or misgivings aside.
All three moved forward with purpose, Pained taking the lead with Ichigo to her right and Adelina to the left. As they approached and walked up the natural incline of the small they could hear the sound of people talking, barely audible over the sound of the many different insects. But their eyes confirmed what their ears heard, walking into the makings of a small camp, although it was a sad state to live it.
Several small patches of silk were used to make tents, held up with sticks from broken branches from trees. While in the centre of the muddy and mostly solid piece of land was a barely smouldering fire, with several people huddled around it to keep warm, despite the humidity in the air. But none the less they had found the camp, twenty Kul Tiras renegades were sitting around minding their own business and none the wiser that they had been found.
"I see that you have found us," Someone called, and immediately the camp came to life, the renegades jumping to their feet as their eyes landed on the three invaders.
All their hands moved to their weapons, trying to arm themselves quickly to fight off the attackers. But many halted when they noticed the substitute among the invaders, the orange haired youth that had massacred many of their brethren four days past at Lost Point. One woman simple stood stock still, staring at the boy fearfully, as he gazed at them all with a deep scowl on his features.
"I didn't expect to be found so quickly, I had planned to escape into the Barrens in two days' time," Pavel Reethe said, standing up from his crate and walking forward, stopping a few feet away from those who had come for him. "What do you want?"
"To take you into custody to answer for your crimes and those of your associates," Pained said, standing before the traitor who stared blankly at her.
"I doubt I will survive the journey back, more than likely he will be waiting for me somewhere and kill us all before this is done." Reethe said, the man lowering his head in despair at the thought, that he was now truly a dead man. "I will never survive if I go back."
"You will be protected, until you notify us of who is the traitor," Pained said.
"Protected? How can you protect any of us, he knows every move you will make, and the only reason he is likely not come for me now is because it would reveal his hand." Reethe retorted. "My only chance along with these men here is to run, if we don't then were all dead."
"He won't come here, you said so yourself, this Lieutenant won't risk leaving Theramore without being revealed." Ichigo said. "How could he get to you?"
"Quite easily, I must say."
Everyone turned quickly to the entrance to the camp, and too many a surprise, and shock to a certain three, standing near the entrance to the camp were a small army of soldiers. Twenty of which were nearly armed Kul Tiras renegades, specifically the ones that had been captured at Lost Point. The other thirty were Theramore Guardsman, led by three men, two in Theramore Officer Plates and a Kul Tiras Captain.
One was Bolos Jackens, the renegade leader of Kul Tiras at Lost Point, who was among the prisoners taken four days ago. Beside him was another man, but instead of green and white he wore silver and grey, Theramore guardsman colours. Pained had recognised Lieutenant Jerald from afar, as well as the man who was leading him and Bolos.
"Lieutenant Caldwell, I suspect you are here to kill us all," Reethe said, stepping back and reaching for his sword, while everyone else looked on in slight concern.
Pained slowly backed up further into the camp, Ichigo and Adelina following closely beside her, they were not being focused on at the moment. They needed to be somewhere they could escape before everything went to hell.
"No old friend, I am here to only kill four people, you, Pained, and these troublesome children." Caldwell said, glancing at the retreating form of the latter three, before he gestured to the other Kul Tiras renegades. "The rest of you may join me, and continue the work we have been doing for so long, you need not fear me, I will see that you are all brought back into the fold."
Many of the renegades were surprised, glancing between one another, murmuring about the offer.
"He lies!" Reethe yelled, pointing an accusatory finger at Caldwell. "He will kill us all, he attempted to do so at Lost Point, he wanted you all gone, and he will do it again!"
"Your actions, Reethe, are what nearly led to the deaths of our allies, and I would not allow them to live in this squaller any longer, I offer safe passage away from here," Caldwell promised, a disarming smile on his lips and compassion flowing from his tongue.
"No, they will see you all dead before long, you now know who he is and he won't allow you to live!" Reethe said, frantically trying to stop this from getting worse, Caldwell had a silver tongue and could easily manipulate the foolish into doing what he wanted.
"Get together boys, I ain't letting my men rot in the marshes anymore, if Caldwell here says were safe, then we're safe." Bolos said, crossing his arms and staring sternly at Reethe. "You nearly got my boys executed because of your actions and he saved us from that, putting his own neck on the line."
"No… listen, he will kill you, if he kills his own officers what will he do…" Reethe tried to explain, but a loud gunshot stopped him, off to the side a woman held a blunderbuss, that had just been just fired. "Y-you… damn fools…"
Reethe fell backwards and collided with the muddy ground, clutching at his chest despite being dead before hitting the earth. With him gone the attention of everyone now turned to the only three people that knew about them, and were not on their side. Ichigo tensed when he saw close to seventy people were now out for their blood, and a lot of them had guns.
Ichigo wasn't one to test if those things could hurt him; he had a human body and if a sword could cut him then a gun could easily do a lot of damage. Also a blunderbuss was possibly the worst thing he could have to contend with; those things could take a person's arm of head off in one hit.
"Now, it is you three I am left to deal with," Caldwell said, smiling as he raised his hand to signal the men to shoot.
Pained reached for her sword and Adelina raised her hands to try and cast a quick spell, but they were both beaten by the quick reflexes Ichigo. Grasping Zangetsu he let the cloth blow apart as he channelled his reiatsu into the blade, bathing it in a powerful blue glow. The momentary surprise that went through the entire army was enough for Ichigo to get off one attack before they could try.
"Getsuga Tenshou!" Ichigo roared, swinging it as he drew the blade, aiming for the clustered soldiers ahead of him.
The arc moved forward and towards the group, colliding with the ground just in front of them and exploding with a powerful concussive boom. Ichigo didn't want to kill them, they needed to be alive and those officers were likely the only ones he could say for certain knew all that was to know about this. So keeping them alive was important right now, at least it felt that way.
As that thought passed his mind and the spiritual empowered wave exploded Ichigo grabbed Adelina and Pained. Slinging one under his arm and the other over his shoulder, he quickly took off towards the closest cover he could find. A quick use of Shunpo and he covered the distance in the blink of an eye, leaping over the crates and dropping to the ground. As moment later the crates were being blown to bits but a barrage of gunfire.
Ichigo let go of Pained and Adelina, the former who had a look of surprise on her face at the sudden display of power and speed. But she cast off the boy's powers and moved close to the crate and waited out the barrage. Finally drawing her sword and watching the sides to make sure nothing decided to try and flank them.
"Were outnumbered here!" Ichigo shouted, ducking as a piece of the crate above exploded, those bullets were big and he was thankful whatever was in the crates was stopping them.
"I know, we can't escape though, they would gun us down if we ran," Pained replied, the swamps would be the death of them all if they tried to run. They would be gunned down, and since running in a straight line was impossible, they would more than likely trap themselves rather than get away.
"What do we do then?" Ichigo asked, trying to keep his voice as calm as Pained, although the sound of the bullets tearing their cover apart was hard to ignore and remain composed over.
"We need to get close and neutralize those gun, they won't use them up close, if we can fight them that way we may win," Pained replied, although she doubted that they would escape this without dying.
"Can you take that many on?" Ichigo asked, and Pained looked at him plainly.
"I can, and I hope you still have it in you to do the same," Pained replied, drawing her sword and preparing to charge.
Ichigo was silent for a moment as he tried to calm his rattled emotions over charging in there, mainly thinking back to when he fought against these guys last time and lost control. At Lost Point he was angry, he didn't care if he killed anyone, reasoning that it was the right thing to do. But this was different now, Ichigo wasn't going to murder anyone, he was protecting himself along with Adelina.
He would protect them like he would anyone else, and he wouldn't allow his emotions to get the better of him and lose himself to his anger.
"Let's go," Ichigo said, leaping over the crate and sending off another wave of spiritual energy at the renegades and traitors, temporarily blinding them so they could get in close. A thick cloud of dirt and mud blocked the traitor's vision, they tried to find them but they didn't stand a chance.
Pained shot out of the cloud and quickly stabbed the closest man through the chest, her sword easily cutting through the solid steel breastplate. Pained then reached for the skewered man's blunderbuss, quickly aiming and fired the weapon at the second closest traitor. The massive bullet left the barrel of the gun and struck the man in the head, and leaving nothing but a shower of gore and empty space where his head once occupied.
With a quick twisted she pulled the sword free from the man's chest, as soon as it was free she flicked it around and towards the next traitor. Her blade opened up the woman's throat, before kicking the choking woman away. Pained cast a glance to her surroundings and found two more close by, as soon as her eyes landed on them she charged in for the kill.
Ichigo and Adelina appeared a moment after Pained, the former of the two leaping out and slashing the chestplate and torso open of the closest renegade before spinning around the deliver a devastating kick to the next man. As the substitute landed he twisted around and dragged his blade in an upward swing, cutting in half a blunderbuss and also the shoulder of the man holding it.
Ichigo heard a click behind him, turning on his heels the substitute narrowly cut the barrel and shaft of the gun in half before he stepped forward to deliver a debilitating blow to the woman's midriff. As she fell to the ground clutching at her stomach Ichigo turned and charged into the melee, joining Pained in an open brawl.
Adelina followed closely behind, picking off anyone who came near and putting down anyone that was not completely dead. Although she knew Ichigo was not one to kill an enemy, she was not going to allow for the enemy to remain at full strength. With a single wave of her hands she captured three soldiers in thorn covered roots, making sure they were tight and kept them from escaping.
"You were right Bolos, that boy is quite powerful, maybe I should have had him shot first," Caldwell replied calmly, watching the fighting escalate, and keeping his eye on the boy that had been called a Demon. "Jerald, would you set up a firing line, we need to remove them quickly."
"Sir," Jerald replied, motioning his men forward, twenty in total, all carrying blunderbuss.
"You intend to shoot while your men are still fighting, my men as well!" Bolos seethed, turning on Caldwell with barely contained fury. "You would murder my men!"
"Of course not, just get them out of harm's way so we may shoot," Caldwell replied, not even dignifying the renegade commander with a glance. "But make sure some of your men remain to keep those three occupied."
Bolos growled, but still motioned with his hands to the soldiers, giving several signs before he quickly turned back to the fight. He didn't like it but he would need to sacrifice some of his men to beat that thing, he was a monster and needed to be put down. But for a moment he was wondering how right Reethe was about the Lieutenants motives, and his promise to see them all to safety.
"Adelina duck!" Ichigo shouted, grasping the sword from a defeated opponent and tossing it like a spear over the crouched form of Adelina.
The sword buried itself into the shoulder of a renegade with a pike, saving Adelina from being skewered. Turning back the substitute caught a flash of silver; leaning back and out of the swords range he countered, a quick flick of his arm and the blade was parried. Following up from the first swing Ichigo slashed at the man's chest, carving through the man's chest as if the chestplate was made paper. As Ichigo recovered from the successful swing he saw something out of the corner of his eye, a man with an axe coming right for him, the weapon raised his and ready to drop.
Not enough time to swing Zangetsu around Ichigo quickly raised his leg and blocked it, using his foot to hold the shaft of the weapon back as the man attacked. But Ichigo was caught in a very awkward position and wouldn't be able to hold on like this, since he was basically unable to really move. But his salvation came by the form of a friend, who took care of his current opponent. A powerful burst of green energy connected with the man's side and he was violently thrown away, alive but likely in a lot of pain. Ichigo turned and nodded to Adelina, who returned it, and both went back to fighting for their lives.
Pained beheaded the man in front of her, before she continued her blade rotation above her head, turning with the blade and slashing another that tried to sneak up behind her. But she cursed when she felt a spear dig into her leg, looking down she noticed that the tip had only just pierced her leg plate. She was lucky it didn't go all the way through; otherwise she would have likely been cripples.
Pained grasped the spear and slashed the man's head off, before she pulled the spear tip from her leg and quickly took it in one hand. Using it as a second weapon she stabbed a man who charged at her with his sword, he was dead before he could even get close to use his weapon. Pained had to admit the spear was definitely sharp, and she was thankful it was strong enough to get through the plated armour.
As she turned she swung her newly acquired spear and cut open a woman's leg, forcing her to the ground and then finishing her with another thrust of her pike through her back. As Pained glanced up she saw a rifleman loading his blunderbuss, and without a moment's hesitation Pained threw away her new weapon, aiming for the gunman.
The spear remained true and struck him right in the chest, but Pained could not revel in the victory as she noticed something odd. There was no one nearby, she along with Ichigo and Adelina were in the middle of the camp surrounded by fifteen dead renegades and traitors and there was no one else nearby. Immediately her eyes found the majority of them still with Caldwell and Bolos Jackens.
But it was the sight of twenty rifleman lining up ahead of the main group, their rifles loaded and already aimed, ready to be fired.
"Ichigo! Adelina! Take cover!" Pained yelled over to Ichigo and Adelina, as she planned on sprinting towards some cover.
Ichigo whirled and saw the gunners, all twenty of them, he had just knocked the last guy out and it was then he realized that there was no one else nearby to stop those guys from opening up on them. With a quick curse the substitute did the only thing he could do, raised Zangetsu and threw it towards Pained. The blade embedded itself into the ground in front of the elven warrior. While he ran to Adelina and tackled her to the ground, covering her body with his own.
Not a moment later a hail of bullets sailed towards the three of them.
Pained was surprised by Ichigo's actions, she did not expect him to act so impulsively and actually sacrifice his sword. But in the manner she did not expect, he threw it at her and created a pseudo shield she could hide behind. It was a good thing the blade was wide and long, otherwise she would never have been able to squeeze in behind it enough.
Although Ichigo was left completely defenceless, Adelina would be covered, but since he was the shield it was unlikely he would come out alive. She turned to see that Ichigo was still lying on the ground, and that was a bad sign in on itself. But Pained groaned as she held her shoulder, she had been hit, although not life threatening, she couldn't feel her arm. The bullet must have dislocated her shoulder when it passed through, she was lucky it didn't deform when it entered; otherwise she wouldn't have an arm.
"Ichigo?" Adelina asked, pushing Ichigo up and gently laying him face down on the ground.
Ichigo shallowly groaned as he tried to get back up, but he felt his entire back flare in pain. Adelina looked to see seven bullet wounds along his back, all of them along his right side. She didn't know how he was still alive, him being a Death God or not, his body was still human. She pressed her hands along the wounds and tried to see what she could do to help, when she noticed something. As she pressed down she felt something harm within the wounds.
The bullets had only just pierced his skin.
Shocked passed over her features before Adelina attempted to remove the bullets before Ichigo bled out, if they were still inside the wounds it would be impossible to heal him. She had to work fast, with those soldiers still here they would more than likely reload and shoot again.
"Incredible, he's actually still alive," Caldwell said, moving forward with the rest of his men. "You truly are a monster boy."
"Bastard… why did you… do this?" Ichigo breathed out, pushing himself up slightly, the bullets hurt like hell, but he wasn't dead and he was glad for that.
Adelina tried to keep him down, but Ichigo refused to be held to the ground.
"And able to push himself up, even more remarkable," Caldwell said. "As for the question, I have my reasons, as do we all."
"You betrayed Theramore, you betrayed the Guard." Pained said, leaving on Zangetsu as her other arm hanged by her side limply, a trail of fresh blood trailing down the limb.
"I am no traitor, I do this for Theramore and the people in it, I do this so they would not have to suffer another massacre like four years ago," Caldwell replied, glaring at the elf. "The massacre, that took the lives of so many good men and woman, as well as someone who had the right idea on how to deal with the Horde."
"Daelin Proudmoore, you follow that poor dead man," Pained replied, knowing that Caldwell was likely as delusional as the rest of Kul Tiras.
"That man was a hero, he fought against the evil of the Horde during the Second War, he would have driven them to extinction as they should have been decades ago, had his stupid daughter not interfered," Caldwell hissed at Pained. "Because of her, my brothers and fellow warriors lay dead in the wet earth because she allows the Horde to remain unopposed, she should have tried to destroy them with her father, rid us of their kind once and for all."
"What right do you have to decide who lives and who dies!" Ichigo said, actually standing on his feet despite having seven bullets wounds in his right side and back.
"What right? What right! Did they have the right to slaughter their way across Lordaeron and Stormwind! Did they have a right to murder men, woman and children simple because they could?!" Caldwell roared. "I have more right to kill them then they have to murder us! I will see that Kul Tiras is raised anew, that the Horde is destroyed and every single orc is put to the sword."
"And what about Shady Rest! Did they deserve to die because of you wanted revenge?!" Ichigo roared, his pain being overtaken by anger.
"Sacrifices, their deaths were not our intent, but it only proved that the Horde needs to be destroyed," Caldwell replied. "They would attack an innocent village and murder everyone there for no reason what so ever."
"Because you used it to stage raids on their caravans! This is your fault; they are dead because of you!" Ichigo yelled at the Lieutenant, his eyes flashing gold for a moment as his anger began to take a greater hold over his mind, begging him to reclaim Zangetsu and make the bastard pay.
"Maybe, but their deaths will eventually lead to the Horde and Alliance renewing their conflict, one that I pray occurs, the sooner we fight the sooner we can finally eradicate them." Caldwell growled. "I don't expect two children and a servant to that delusional Proudmoore to understand what we are doing here."
"You must realize that you will be caught out, your presence here has likely been notices, do you expect to escape now that Theramore knows you are the traitor." Pained stated.
"I have accounted for that, do not worry, I have planned for everything, all I need now is to get rid of you all and I am set for the future." Caldwell replied, motioning with his hand to the rifleman. "Kill them all."
The rifleman raised their blunderbuss and planned on finishing them off in a hail of bullets. Pained scowled, this was going to end with their deaths and likely a war breaking out because they did not reveal the culprit. Ichigo pushed Adelina behind him, ready to take the hail of bullets and if he survived to get Zangetsu and simply blow these bastards to oblivion.
The hammers were drawn back, the rifleman took their time to aim and pick their target, and their fingers tightened around the trigger. All waiting for the single command for them all the fire as one. Pained, Adelina and Ichigo waited for the strike, knowing they wouldn't be able to dodge it in time, and that Ichigo wouldn't be fast enough to get Zangetsu to make a difference.
But to the shock of the three they were saved, a hail of ice sailed forward and speared several of the gunmen, killing them instantly and forcing the rest to stumble away in surprise. Caldwell took a step back in astonishment, and many looked up to the hill on the other side of the camp to see a single woman standing there.
"You have been very bad hosts, shedding blood instead of offering hospitality." Tabitha said, smiling down at everyone as she looked on at the forty five remaining soldiers.
"Tabitha, I see that you have graced us with your presence, is there anything you want before you die as well?" Caldwell asked, having his offsider Hallen raised her musket and take aim at the magi.
"Yes, I have some friends here that wish to speak with Ichigo; one desperately needs to speak with him." Tabitha said, motioning off to the side and allowing someone to step forward.
To everyone's surprise a Tauren stepped forward, covered in solid armored plate and black chainmail. It was someone that Ichigo and Adelina knew personally, having met him in the Barrens many days ago.
"Drekhve?" Ichigo asked.
"Ichigo, it is good I have found you, I have the proof regarding who attacked Shady Rest, and it seems I have proof as to who is responsible for the attacks on the caravans, Kul Tiras." Drekhve stated. "The Warchief will be most pleased with this news."
"You think any of you will leave here alive, we outnumber you nine to one, how do you expect to escape here alive?" Caldwell sneered, his contempt rising as he looked at the foul creature ahead of him.
"Even the odds." Drekhve replied, and on cue many shadows walked over the hill, dozens of warriors appeared and stood at the precipice of the camp glaring down at the Kul Tiras renegades and Theramore Guardsman. Armed and ready to fight, the odds had been changed, now the traitors were at a disadvantage.
Caldwell looked up at the assembled warband and grimaced, there was at least thirty of them. Those Tauren alone would more than likely kill all his men, and that was not counting that boy joining the fray. How could this have happened? He planned this perfectly; there was no one here who could have known exactly where Reethe was stationed not that he would be here.
"Do you wish to surrender Caldwell? I am sure we can accommodate that." Tabitha said, smiling pleasantly and waiting for a response.
"You damn witch… you knew this would happen!" Caldwell roared, remembering that hermit was not a simple swamp dweller, she was a damn scry! "Kill them all!"
Without another word the two forced charged, moving to fight one another in brutal melee. Ichigo was not going to be left out of this; he had to get to Caldwell. Flash stepping over to Zangetsu, Ichigo ripped it from the ground and made a beeline for the traitors, specifically for Caldwell.
Six soldiers barred the substitute's path, all of them raising their shields and waiting for the charge to meet them. With a single wide swing from the right Ichigo struck the first man in the line, his blade picking him up and carrying him into the next soldier, and moving on to the rest. All six were thrown aside, and leaving none to defend the treacherous leader who now stood only with his two second in commands.
With a snarl the substitute moved right for the bastard, Zangetsu drawn back and ready to swing. He would get Caldwell and make him pay, and make sure him along with everyone else for this, for all those people that died.
"Caldwell!" Ichigo roared, smashing aside an unfortunate warrior with the back of his fist and nearly bisecting another in half as they tried in futility to bar his path.
Caldwell, Bolos and Jerald raised their swords and shields and defended themselves. With a hard slash Ichigo cut through the shield and arm of Jerald, who screamed in agony as his limb was severed. Turning he found Caldwell and Bolos hiding themselves behind another group of traitors, something that infuriated Ichigo further. He was a coward that hid behind his own men, letting them die for his own gain, he didn't deserve to be a leader, didn't deserve to live! Ichigo charged in, planning on removing those idiots that defend him from his path, but as luck would have it two others beat him to it.
Two Tauren Braves charged in from the side and engaged the four traitors, bludgeoning and hacking the poor bastards apart. Ichigo moved past them, leaping over the fighting traitors and tauren, and descending toward Caldwell, who had only enough time to leap away. Ichigo slammed Zangetsu into the ground and quickly pulled it free to hack off the limb of an attacking traitor.
Before he turned and tried to hack Caldwell apart, his swing easily knocked the sword from the Lieutenant's hand. Ichigo advanced on him, but at every turn he was blocked by another, these people willingly put their lives on the line to save their leader. Ichigo couldn't understand the mentality of these people, a town had been destroyed for the cause they had taken up, and innocent people were dead because of it. The man who caused that town to be destroyed because of his hatred and calling their deaths a sacrifice that will lead to war.
He wanted war so he could have his revenge, letting even more innocents die because he hated the Horde. Caldwell didn't deserve to live; he lost that right as soon as he personally took it upon his soldiers to murder any survivors to cover it up. If these people followed those same ideals, then they deserve to die as well, they all deserved to die!
Ichigo slashed high, severing the man's head, before he stabbed Zangetsu through another's chest. As the substitute looked up he saw Caldwell try and level a blunderbuss with his head, but Ichigo quickly ducked and evaded the harmful projectile. Pulling Zangetsu free and turning on his heels he slashed at the Lieutenant, slicing through his midriff. Caldwell stumbled back in surprise, dropping his gun and grasping at his stomach, unable to reach it through his armor.
Ichigo stood over the downed traitor, ignoring the battle around him as it escalated, as his eyes were focused only on the monster grovelling at his feet. So many innocent lives were lost because of him; Jim Hyal and everyone in that town, and he even tried to have Lynn and James killed to protect him. He wanted a war that would have likely consumed the entire world, ending with the deaths of thousands and possibly the eradication of entire races.
"You don't deserve to live, not after what do did, what you intended to do!" Ichigo growled at Caldwell, who could only scowl in pain as he tried to grasp at the wound beneath his chestplate.
"I did it… for the sake of mankind…" Caldwell said, for a moment Ichigo thought he was trying to justify himself, he likely knew his death was coming and wanted to make it known why he did it what he did.
"You did it because you hated them, and you didn't care who you hurt along the way, allowing thousands, hundreds of thousands to die because you wanted to kill orcs!" Ichigo yelled out, his glare only matched by his subtly rising spiritual pressure, raising Zangetsu up and readying to deliver the finishing blow.
"Ichigo stop!" Pained yelled out, halting the substitute mid-swing, who looked over to the wounded Elven warrior.
The battle had ended a few moments ago, most of the guards had surrendered to the Tauren after seeing their leader cast down. All had fallen to the ground and were basically at the mercy of the larger and stronger Tauren warriors. Only twenty remained, and most of them were not in perfect shape either, wounded or missing limbs.
Ichigo glare returned to Caldwell for a moment, he weighed the consequences of finishing what he planned on doing. His mind tried to rationalize it, think of the consequences of not only to him but to Theramore. A part of him truly wanted this man dead, after all he had done he deserved it, and likely would be hanged in the following days. But another reminded him of Lost Point, and the pain and grief he felt after he committed that massacre of his own.
With that thought he let Zangetsu drop harmlessly down to his side, not willing to murder a man out of anger again. Ichigo wasn't going to become a killer; he would not stoop to Caldwell's level simply out of anger, murdering anyone in his way to get revenge.
"We will question him and he will be imprisoned, he will face justice not retribution." Pained stated calmly, walking forward and looking down at the man. "He has a lot to answer for."
"I'll do… it all again… to kill these mongrels…" Caldwell seethed, glaring past them to the Tauren, who gave barely a glance to the man. "You are all traitors; allying with them… you deserve to hang…"
"Their better than you, at least they have some fucking honor about them…" Ichigo growled out, barely keeping himself from killing the man, even now his mind drifted back to those dark thoughts and the desire to carry them out.
"Honor, they are savages, they murdered everyone in that town you accuse me of… just as Orcs did all those years ago in Lordaeron… they are animals fit only to be slaughtered." Caldwell retorted.
"Untrue… the Horde was not responsible for Shady Rest, it was the Grimtotem Clan." Drekhve responded, walking forward and standing a few paces behind Pained.
"Are you certain?" Pained asked.
Personally she was surprised by this, she may not hold the word of this tauren to be true but the fact they were mentioned did make some sense. After all the Grimtotem was a clan she was very familiar with, after all she had reports on clan activity in Feralas and Thousand Needles. But she did not suspect them as the Barrens had no signs of Grimtotem activity, something she would need to look into in order to clarify this Tauren's claim.
"Yes, I was nearly assassinated by several in my search and it would seem that the name Ichigo gave me is associated with that clan, further proof you need to investigate who was responsible." Drekhve stated.
"You think that changes anything! It changes nothing, your kind are still animals, it doesn't matter about the few, deep down you all are monsters that need to be destroyed and I will see it done!" Caldwell roared, trying to rise but only to fall back down as his wound prevented him from even standing.
"No you won't, you ain't going to be alive long after everyone figures out what you did, what you are willing to do." Ichigo said, glaring at the man even harder.
"I won't die, I will live and you all know it." Caldwell replied, smirking towards Pained. "They won't kill me because they need me, I will be kept alive because I know things."
"I doubt that," Ichigo retorted. "You can't give them anything that will make them keep you alive."
"Oh but I do… I will not die here, or in that cell or at the gallows. I will live and I will continue my work, be it behind bars I will see to it that the Horde is made to pay for their crimes." Caldwell said, confidence working its way into his pained voice.
Ichigo glared at the man, he couldn't be serious, did he actually think he could get away with all that he had done and admitted like it was nothing. For information that would keep him from being hanged, did he actually believe he could evade execution?
"How many people need to die before you give up," Ichigo asked, almost out of the blue. "How many more towns need to be destroyed like Shady Rest before you realize that all you are doing is causing more deaths?"
"As many as it takes, to show the world just how savage the Horde is." Caldwell replied.
Ichigo remained motionless for a moment; staring into the calculating gaze of the traitor lieutenant, those eyes bore an intelligence and cunning that clearly said he had already planned his escape. That this eventuality was prepared for and already part of his scheme to stay alive and keep doing what he needs to do.
Even if he doesn't have information to keep himself alive, his death would make him a martyr and many would flock to see the valiant man who died trying to defeat the savage Horde. Or that is the tale he would have rung to make himself a symbol and cause further harm to the world.
He wouldn't allow it.
Ichigo turned and kicked the man, pushing him down the slope of the small island and into the water near the bottom. Caldwell struggled to get back up, his wound hindering him from even standing let alone lifting himself up.
"Ichigo! Dammit that is enough." Pained yelled at him, she was not happy about this either, but if he did have information they would need it.
If there were other traitors, if he knew other operations and if he had dealings with other groups Caldwell would be invaluable.
"I know, I'm done with him." Ichigo replied, turning away and walking off. "He died a traitor and not a martyr."
Pained looked at him with narrowed eyes, she didn't like what he just said, and her gaze fell back onto Caldwell and they widened.
Caldwell waited for them to collect him, they would cart him and his men back to Theramore for imprisonment. From there he can easily stage an escape for his warriors, while the man still loyal to him inside the city can easily act as a medium between him and his soldiers in the field. Maybe he could see about getting rid of that boy as well, he was scum that would cause problems if he remained alive.
A low animalistic growl took the lieutenant out of his musing, and made his eyes widen before he turned to the source of the guttural growl.
Caldwell eyes widened further at the massive reptile that moved towards him, slinking through the water, just above the surface was a large Crocolisk. It was slowly moving towards the injured lieutenant, who struggled to move and call for help.
"Help me… help you damn fool!" Caldwell yelled, trying to get some form of aid, but it was all for naught.
The massive and powerful maw wrapped around his waist and was already pulling him further into the water. None made a move to help, his warriors unable to help from their position, Pained being physically unable to help and the Tauren would never lift a finger to save him after his words.
With a scream of pain and terror Caldwell was dragged under the water, thrashed about and taken by the massive beast.
"No… Elune dammit no." Pained growled out, before she rounded on Ichigo. "Do you have idea what you just did?!"
"I let a man die, can't say I care much." Ichigo replied, not bothering to look at her.
"We needed him alive, he was our best lead on knowing who the other traitors are!" Pained yelled at him, had her arm not been hanging barely on her shoulder she would have been beating these words into him. "We may never know how deep the corruption goes!"
"Do you actually think he would have talked?!" Ichigo yelled. "He didn't give two shits about being caught, just another thing he could eventually work his way out of, I did not fight tooth and nail to see that bastard continue doing what he did in Shady Rest behind bars."
"We would never have allowed it," Pained stated, glaring at Ichigo with an equally fierce glare.
"Yet somehow he got these guys out of prison and also got here with no one on their asses, what does that say!" Ichigo yelled back. "He knew what he was doing because he knows how to beat you, that is the reason he was able to do what he did, because you people couldn't outthink him."
"He may be smart, but he would never escape our grasps or continue this mad bid for revenge." Pained replied, calm yet still carrying the clear disapproval and irritation in her eyes.
"Really, would have you let him live with the information he could have given?" Ichigo asked, and was met with silence in response; it was all he needed to hear. "Thought so, he knows how to play you, so I took it out of your hands."
"And how does that feel?" Pained sneered.
"I don't feel any better, or any worse." Ichigo replied, walking off, while Pained moved to get him but was halted by Tabitha and Adelina.
"Rest easy, he needs to see this ended, this is how it was to be, and I assure you his actions while drastic are better than some other alternatives." Tabitha said, before motioning Adelina to heal the shoulder.
Pained let her work, but Ichigo was unstable and this was not the first time he had caused this kind of chaos. She would need to speak with Jaina after this, figure out what he is and also where he stands with the Alliance. Maybe see if her contacts have any idea who this Ichigo Kurosaki is.
"So these Grimtotem, who are they?" Ichigo asked, he remembered Adelina telling him about them a while ago, but he was a bit sketchy on whom they were.
"They are a separate clan to the Horde, not directly affiliated, and they are highly aggressive, especially to outsiders." Drekhve stated, that was very true considering his past dealing with them. "They are responsible for the attack on Shady Rest, the assassins wore and used armor and weapons made by the same smith that made that shield you presented me."
"So the Grimtotem were the owners of the Cargo?" Ichigo asked.
"Yes, it would seem they lost many as they attempted to transport them to Thousand Needles, but their caravans were overrun each time." Drekhve said.
Then it clicked at to the reason the Grimtotem may have targeted this place, considering that Drekhve said the clan had no settlements precent in the Barrens.
"The Quarvel Raiders, they were the ones who were attacking the caravans, they were stationed in Shady Rest, these bastards let them stay there for a share in the supplies taken." Ichigo said, glaring at the traitors and renegades, those that were alive anyway.
"Then the Grimtotem would have suspected the town, or possible just retaliated onto the closest target they could reach, that being Shady Rest and hid as to not arouse suspicion." Drekhve said, remembering that the Grimtotem were known for their shady tactics, they may attack a settlement but made sure no one knew it was them.
There had been many a tale where villages had disappeared without warning, many were seemingly without warning, but most had ties to the Grimtotem. Ties that were often negative ones that had earned the shady clans ire.
"So that's how it went down, but if the Grimtotem are those responsible then how do we prove it was them?" Ichigo asked, they had circumstantial evidence, nothing concrete but enough to warrant looking into it and the Grimtotem as suspects, but prosecution was going to be a bitch.
"My chieftain shall look into this matter, while your own leaders will do the same, I also think that a parley between our forces would be in order, Tabitha has a friend in the Ragetotem clan who she can speak with and relay information." Drekhve said. "Hopefully we can get this event behind us quickly and peacefully."
"I hope so, looks like I got a lot to report," Ichigo said, rubbing the back of his head with one hand and offering another to Drekhve. "Thank for doing this, you put your life on the line for us."
"I did not do it for you; I did it for the Horde." Drekhve said, not returning the shake, and an awkward silence descended between the both of them, before Drekhve took the offered hand into his own. "But I do see that we have accomplished our goals, we have the proof we need to end this before our two factions could start a needless conflict."
"The Grimtotem were the ones who assaulted an Alliance settlement, murdering everyone there," Ichigo stated, receiving a nod from Drekhve.
"While the raids on the Gold Road were carried out by Raiders directly aided by Kul Tiras, the exact details can be hashed out as our people exchange information." Drekhve replied. "I will see that the Grimtotem are made to answer for the atrocity that nearly cost the Horde dearly."
"Yeah, I think these bastards will get what's coming to them soon enough." Ichigo replied, looking to see that the remaining survivors were being bound and tied together. "Looks like we will be heading out soon."
"Yes, but before you go, I would ask for a shipment to be given to us, proof linking the Grimtotem to the attack and giving them a motive would be important for our investigation." Drekhve requested, and received a nod in return.
"I will talk with Vimes later, I'm sure we can work something out and we can send a message to Tabitha to get her to take you to it." Ichigo replied, with final answer he saw that the traitors and renegades were ready to be taken out of the camp. "Cyah later Drekhve, thanks again."
"May the Earth Mother watch over you," Drekhve replied, bidding Ichigo farewell.
Ichigo walked forward, moving alongside the traitors as they were dragged from the camp. It was a long walk back to the road, and an even longer one back to Theramore. In that time he more than likely would be dwelling on what happened here, and with that Ichigo let out a sigh. He may have wanted to commit the deed, but his heart was still human, and killing was something he didn't do without regret.
'At least I know I'm not becoming someone else…'
