Chapter 10
War Machines
"You know, there are some days I wish the war between the Horde and Alliance wouldn't have spilled out into Ashenvale. I mean it makes it almost impossible to get in and out of my hideout. Almost", George said, stuffing some bread into his mouth.
Laiken, Krug and George had been walking for four days now. Their journey had taken them south through the least war-torn parts of the once peaceful forest of Ashenvale. Sitting around a humble campfire on an unusually cold morning for the northern parts of Kalimdor, the trio ate their rations slowly, tired from the arduous journey.
"You know, Laiken, I've never asked you this, but do you remember anything about your parents?" George's tone of voice was slightly less sarcastic and more concerned than usual.
Laiken silently mused in his head. Nobody had ever asked him that – not even his adopted parents. It was a curious question, nonetheless, something he'd thought about over the years of being raised by his godparents.
"Only very little - I strangely remember my father more than my mother. There's a hazy image of a man in silver plate armor I've remembered my entire life. He was tall, I think. I also know he cared very much for me" Laiken did the best to describe this vague memory of his.
"How are you so certain he cared as much as he did for you?" George retorted.
"My godparents had told me that as far as I can remember back. They told me that he went through a lot of obstacles to get me to them safely, and that he risked a lot to do so. I believe we discussed this before, George. We both know that it cost him his life… having me that is."
"Do you know when he, your father that is, became Lucien Hartshire's mentor?" George quipped.
"No, I don't. I never really talked about my father's glory days as a paladin with Lucien. I never really understood the gravity of my father's death until I was older. At that point in time, I hadn't really thought it was relevant to ask Lucien when he became acquainted with him. Never really crossed my mind, to tell you the truth. Why do you ask?" Laiken kicked at a rock that was in front of him.
"Curiosity, I suppose. As I said back in my hidey-hole, I've known Lucien for a number of years. Varkaan was a good man" George quipped.
"I've heard as much" Laiken shrugged.
As the trio walked on, the dense thicket of trees covering the sun's light loosened its grip on the open sky somewhat, revealing infrequent beams of sunlight scattered about. The air became warmer, humidifying as though signifying that they'd reached the edge of Ashenvale. Before long, Laiken sighted the open fields of what he could only assume were the Barrens – their destination was becoming closer with each bated breath and fatigued step they took.
"Krug, where exactly is it that you think my mother is?" Laiken asked as he shielded his eyes from the sunlight.
"Orgrimmar, capital city of the Horde" Krug's voice sounded almost proud to say that.
"I see no city, Krug."
"Ah, of course you don't! Perhaps I should have mentioned this a few days ago when we were departing on this journey, but from what I can recall" – Krug scratched his head as he spoke – "she lived out in the Barrens. Now from what I understand the Barrens were ripped apart by the cataclysm and thankfully she would reside in what we stand in, now called the 'Northern Barrens'."
"You boys should probably exercise a wee bit more caution, remember you were taken by goblins not too far from here!" George interjected, waving his hand around as though he was casting a spell.
"He is right, Laiken. Admittedly I did not know who you were when you stumbled into my offices, or that you were Hargu's son. If that were the case, I gladly would have led you to her… err, as soon as the goblins were dealt with!" Krug chuckled.
"Is it a risk that we're this close to Ratchet?" Laiken worriedly asked.
"Not when I'm around. And before you ask, no! No, that is not cockiness on my part, but instead mere honesty" George now walked in front of the two.
"If you're so fearsome, George, then why are you helping a clueless half-breed and an orcish, possibly Horde-aligned engineer on their quest? " Krug asked.
"A fair point, Mr. Firebane! It would have been fairer still if there wasn't a 'possibly' attached to the 'Horde-aligned' part. You haven't actively served for the Horde, or actively against the Alliance in a few years, yes?" George shot back.
"I asked you a question."
"Ah yes. You're indeed right, sport. To answer your question – which might I add was completely legitimate – I would say being as old as I you get dreadfully bored when you sit around practicing spells or doing whatever it is old warlocks do nowadays" George laughed.
"Boredom? Boredom is the reason you decided to help us?" Laiken asked, raising his voice.
"Don't act like it's a surprise. Krug didn't know you, and I'd wager all the gold in my pocket (if, of course, I had a sizeable amount to wager!) that he didn't care very much, either. I didn't know you, either, lad. I could have left you to the wolves back at the test zone for those goblins, but I didn't, simply because I was bored and needed a little more reason to add spring to my step" George remained calm as he said this.
Laiken shot a sideways glance toward Krug who shrugged, giving a glazed expression. He sighed, looking back at George.
"So, if what I'm hearing is correct, you're both going to just up and leave once I find my mother?"
"I'm certainly not saying that, Laiken. Perhaps that question should be directed to Mr. Firebane over there" George pointed at Krug.
"Well?"
"If I'm honest, you're upset with what you hear - if I lie and you discover the truth, you're upset that I lied. I'm kind of between a rock and a hard place, if you will" Krug coughed out.
"So are you going to just leave once I find my mother?" Laiken demanded, standing closer to Krug.
"I wasn't planning on sticking around for very long, kid. I have a shop, customers, and clientele. I'm not the adventuring kind of orc. I didn't want to leave you in the dust without pointing you in the right direction first" Krug looked at his feet, almost mumbling.
Laiken stood silently, looking at both of his companions. He couldn't muster up words to describe how he was feeling.
"What about Lucien? The entire reason I sought out help from others?" Laiken stood in the sunlight's path.
"I know the Eastern Kingdoms, Laiken. If Krug wishes to depart our company he is free to do so, so long as he holds up his end of the agreement first. Moreover, in his position, he is putting himself in danger accompanying us. The Alliance is seizing the opportunity to not only secure their lands during this chaotic time, but they're also pushing hard to secure other lands – ones that the Horde has primary control over, and it wouldn't surprise me if they're succeeding – homeland advantage and all that nonsense" George pointed out in what seemed like a single breathe.
Krug shrugged, giving a sheepish look of approval to George. He stretched, cracking a few knuckles as he did so.
"It's nothing personal, Laiken. I wouldn't be much use anyways – I barely know the Eastern Kingdoms. Except the Forsaken controlled territory, obviously", Krug sighed.
"Obviously" George gave a smug smile.
"Krug, I don't know where anything is, how do you figure you of the three of us will be useless?" Laiken raised an eyebrow.
"I've made my choice, Laiken, and I would res-" Krug was interrupted as the trio took cover behind a series of rocks.
In the distance, two iron and wood catapults violently fired at each other. After one of them destroyed the other, a legion of heavily armed soldiers rushed over to the opposing catapult and began to dismantle it in any way they could. In response, another legion of soldiers rushed over and a battle spilled out.
"Oh! It's just the Horde and Alliance fighting. Again." George sarcastically quipped.
"This is a common sight for you, George?" Laiken asked, keeping his head low.
"You know, I oftentimes forget that you were raised on a faraway island, thankfully spared of any external or internal conflict – or that ruinous cataclysm. It is this reason entirely that I don't smack you for being so naïve. The Horde and Alliance are like a huge cat with fangs that are as long as a sword, dipped in fresh blood fighting with an equally vicious dog. If you're a bystander, it's best just to stay on the sidelines" he said.
"Why stay on the sidelines?"
"If the Alliance wins that little skirmish over yonder, they'll imprison Krug and you, behead the both of you and declare the day a holiday. If the Horde wins, they'll imprison myself and you, behead the both of us, and force Krug to work on some terrible thing for their war effort because he aided us – a half breed and a human sorcerer. Although… he could claim that I had him under a spell… which of course would end in a slower, but not necessarily any less painful death, but it would certainly be cruel and I'd say unusual. But I don't think he'd do that to ol' George, would you, Krug?"
"I'm staying out of this. If I ever have kids, boy oh boy, will I have some stories to tell them about how people can come together" Krug murmured.
"Party pooper!" George jokingly charged a shadow spell with his right index finger.
"So why not just pick a side?" Laiken asked the battle raging on.
At that, Krug let out a genuine laugh.
"I think everyone displaced by the conflict would love to be given that choice" he mused.
"Old wounds come to light, huh, Krug?" George smiled.
"Keep your 'witty' comments to yourself. If I was younger, you'd be reeling from something not too friendly right now" Krug gritted his teeth.
"And if I was younger, you'd be convinced you were Norgannon!" George boisterously claimed.
"How in the hell can you keep such a cool head in the middle of all this? I'm really actually curious, George", Krug grunted.
"A cool head? That's definitely not what I'd call that. See, dear Krug, something I've learned from years of combat is to make sure you always have the last laugh. That way you get to keep your sanity, sense of humor and, if you die, you laugh while doing so! Imagine the look on your killer's face as you die laughing or spewing some stupid joke" George replied.
"You're one sick, twisted old man. Has anyone told you that?" Krug spat.
"Many, actually" George laughed.
"Can someone answer my question, please? You two seem to forget I even exist sometimes" Laiken spoke up.
"Laiken, if you want to pick a side, or at least try to, please, go ahead. If you go Alliance, theoretically speaking of course, you'll live the rest of your life as a half-orc, half-human, being forced to identify as human. Vice versa for the Horde, of course. See, remaining neutral keeps things interesting. As annoying as they are, and trust me when I say 'annoying', goblins have the right idea. All they do is profit from the endless wars the Alliance and Horde wage. They could literally profit from a piece of dirt if the Alliance or Horde had claimed it as theirs, so long as they fought over it and the goblins offered both sides a cheap source of weapons or some such to fuel the war effort of both sides" George explained.
"So what you're saying is that if I remain neutral I'll profit from it?" Laiken scratched his head.
"Pah! Profits are only the beginning of being neutral in a land ruled by war and bloodshed. Who would be giving you orders? Your king? Your warchief? No, neither. You may go anywhere as you please and do so in relative safety" George continued.
"I'm so confused" Laiken sighed.
"Join the club, buddy" Krug said, lighting up a cigarette.
"Well… regardless of the discussions we have about the situation of the Horde and Alliance, there is a pressing matter" George said, looking over the rock cover.
The sounds of the fighting had stopped, what replaced them were armored boots feverishly scanning the area in the hundreds. Rapidly plate, mail, leather and cloth boots tapped along the open grounds of the Northern Barrens searching for survivors.
"The Alliance seems to have been victorious in this battle" George observed.
"What do we do now, then?" Laiken asked, joining George in sneakily watching the remnants of the fighters.
"Flee, obviously. Although which direction remains to be seen. Krug!" George grasped Krug by the shoulder.
Krug quickly looked with the other two at the Alliance soldiers searching the grounds. His eyes darted left and right rapidly, as though searching for an alternate route.
"The problem we have is that the most direct path to where Hargu resides is being… blocked by the Alliance army. See that forest tunnel that leads to the back of the valley behind it? That's where I last heard she makes her home. Unfortunately for us, to get there that would mean bypassing all of those dead and alive Alliance guys and somehow sneaking past the numerous wild beasts that have probably made that valley their home" Krug explained.
"So what do we do? We can't just stay here!" Laiken said.
"We could… and this is a huge could but, we might be able to go behind where the valley actually is and try to enter it from behind. I had some crew buy some demolition gear from me for an area close by to a cave that runs into the back of said valley, I think. The only issue is more walking, which I think we might be unprepared for seeing as how we're low on food" Krug pointed out, looking dejectedly down at the bag that carried their rations.
"Where is the back of this valley?" George asked the obvious.
"The Stonetalon Mountains and not the good part, either. I haven't been there in years, and I loathe imagining the amount of fighting going on there because of the cataclysm" Krug added.
"So we either tough it out against the Alliance army and try to sneak past them or take another few days and walk to the Stonetalon Mountains. An interesting situation we find ourselves in, no?" George chuckled.
"I'd say it's up to Laiken. It's his mother we're trying to find, so it's up to him. We've explained to him the risks of both situations, or if we haven't clearly enough I hope he's deft enough to understand them. What do you say, Laiken, do we voyage to the Stonetalon Mountains, or do we tough it out against the Alliance war machines?" Krug asked.
George and Krug both looked at the young man. He was confused, worried and above all tired. His head was swimming; weighing the consequences and advantages of both choices he had been given. He examined the battlefield, where a few more Alliance soldiers had showed up to secure the area, no doubt a protocol. He looked to the northwest, to the valley and the Stonetalon Mountains. His thoughts were interrupted by George speaking up.
"Either way, Laiken, I'll be with you. Krug will be until we find her, I'll make sure of it" George gave a heartwarming, seemingly genuine smile as he said this.
"I think I know what we should do" Laiken said.
"Spit it out, lad!" George shot back.
"We go against the war machines. We'll waste no more time" Laiken stated, his voice commanding and domineering.
George smiled slightly, while Krug rolled his eyes.
"One thing before we go, Laiken" Krug said, dusting himself off.
"What's that?"
"If the Alliance captures us, I'll kill you myself!" Krug laughed bitterly.
