Chapter 23
"Have you any idea who is leading the demonic armies?" Eck asked, casually seated in the wide interior of one of the settlements main tents.
"Yes, a centaur called Magnus," Nessus responded.
"Anything about him?" the undead questioned.
Nessus sighed. "Magnus was once a visionary, not unlike Thrall of the orcs, Windrunner of the Forsaken, or Bloodhoof of the tauren. Where is the good commander, anyway? Will he not like to hear this?"
"Taff would prefer to be alone, for a time," Eck explained.
"Unhappy with the current arrangement no doubt, our cousins of Kalmidor haven't had a peaceful relationship with the tauren."
The undead nodded solemnly. "Please, continue about Magnus."
"Magnus was once a poetic visionary, a born leader. He dreamed of uniting the centaurs under one flag. Alone we are scattered, warring tribes. Together we would be a people. His thirst was not for power though. He wanted a better life for all his cousins. Now we are nothing but savages, but if we had a strong leader, we could follow in the footsteps of so many other scarred races.
"Magnus worked for many years to try to unite the warring tribes. And for many years, he tried with out success. Soon, he came to believe that with power, he may have the might to bring us all together. He made a pact with the Burning Legion, and so his corruption began.
"Its ironic, really. He's succeeded in what he longed to do. Dozens of tribes now follow him blindly, suckled on the demonic forces and grow more corrupt each day. If they continue to grow in power, they may grow too large to stop."
"How have you not succumb to the demons?" Eck asked.
"I cannot say for sure," Nessus explained. "The elders credit our blood. When the Burning Legion corrupts, the victims is tainted by an unspeakable darkness, a demon's blood. But we do not have blood like our cousins. The crimson in our veins carries with it a very potent poison. Legend says that our blood was given this toxin by the gods, when we were still young as a race. It was a defense against those that would see us as prey. Why other centaurs are not plagued, I cannot say, but it explains why the Burning Legion finds difficulty corrupting us."
"Interesting," Eck mussed.
"And that is the story. Magnus has claimed every tribe but ours, his army is vast. Our defenses cannot hold."
"Do you know where this Magnus resides?"
"Yes."
"Then why not kill him. Cut off the head, so to speak?"
"The thought has, of course, passed the elder's lips. But he resides many miles from here, a three day travel at least, deep in the mountains. Further, the mountains are occupied by hundreds, if not thousands, of centaurs that will blindly throw their life away for him. It would take at least twice our current forces to make it to Magnus. If we were to do that, who would guard this city against his daily raids. We would slay the beast, at the cost of our lands, our families."
"Not necessarily," Eck said. Undead eyes fixated on the blood elf, Shaak'tilander, who sat a few steps away. "Are you familiar with powers of mages, Nessus?"
"I cannot say I am," the centaur confessed.
"Shaak has a very interesting power. He may open portals that will instantly transport a subject from one place to another. The Alliance and the Horde take certain precautions to prevent a rival mage from teleporting deep into their capital cities, but I doubt that Magnus would have the same defenses."
Nessus gasped. "How many can be transported."
Shaak spoke up. "I can sustain the portal for four, I'm not as strong as some others. I would also have to go with you, lest you be stranded in the middle of Magnus's stronghold."
"I would go with you as well," Eck said.
"Then I and my best warrior…"
"No," said a sharp, deep voice. Taff stepped into the tent. "As is my duty to the Horde, I shall aid you in any way I can."