Speech = ``…...´´
Thoughts = …
Inner voices = "….."
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Easter Kingdoms: South east of The kingdom of Lordaeron
Jaina Proudmoore point of view:
It was already a week and half since she had embarked on this adventure turned into a mission for the salvation of the people of Lordaeron by the imminent arrival of the end and yet, it seemed like yesterday when she had observed how the silhouettes of the buildings of the harbour became smaller and smaller with the passage of time….
She closed her eyes, she would not admit it out loud, especially under the watchful eyes of the crew standing around her who had put their fates and trust in her of how she missed her home, thoughts plagued her mind of what might have taken place at home when her father realized she was no longer home. The shock, the anger...and the anxiety that may have and still continue to fill her father as the days went by...
It was not fair for him, and yet...she did not know other way to do what needed to be done, even at the cost that it may take from her. It was that restlessness in her heart about the possibility of never seeing them again gnawed at her.
Though not enough to make her resolve to crumble and go back at the last second…..
She shook her head, taking a deep breath as she pushed those thoughts away just as she had trained when she was a mere trainee under Antonidas. Focusing on something else that would not tug the cords of her heart with such painful grasp.
It was easier back then than now though…..
The crossing had been smooth although a little slower than she would have wanted with the wind against them, slowing them down although not at least not at a snail's pace.
It was not to be long before the humble ports of Southshore appeared before them, too small to keep the fleet within its boundaries yet large enough to be able to slip at least four of the galleons and disembark safely before the remaining crew lead the ships out to give way for the remaining ships inside.
Four at a time…., slow but steady.
Southshore was a noticeable hub at the very edge between kingdoms, but lacked any of the infrastructure that other cities or even towns of its kind had far to the north. Its only important asset was the port, and even that pale in comparison with the likes of her homeland. Though for a land nation she could guess why...
And as brief as her stay had been its state had also not gone unnoticed by her. With the definite end of commerce since the start of the plague had remained untouched, vacant of any life until their unexpected arrival.
How things could change so quickly….
She had been there once or twice in her youth. The first time had been during a storm, nothing but a memory of a child who was in her way to become one of the Kirintor. The second time when a certain pair of two royals tried to sneak from Dalaran somewhere where they knew no one would look for them as they had some time for themselves.
Tried to be something that they were not for as long as they could….
Her heart ached at the thought.
The people of the town had been kind to them..., more than she would have thought in these grim times or the fact that the threats looming around them were not only embodied by the decrepit forms of the undead roaming the wilderness, but also the scheming and cowardly actions of those souls who had thrown their lot with such ghoulish beings in the first place under the machination of their demon masters.
Such the likes of the so called Malganis…
She had been ready for the looks of distrusts and the low whispers of people in distress as they set foot in their lands. She could not have been more wrong.
Welcoming them with open arms and allowing them entry as well as free stay for her men after their travel for as long as they had to the people of Southshore dispelled whatever worries had been brewing in her mind with the same ease the wind would brush away the morning fog.
A well earned reprieve, though one she did not for how long they would be able to experience again as they set foot inland…
Southshore was safe for now, but the same could not be said for the remaining villages and cities deep within the continent. Time was of essence, and though the idea of teleporting everyone had crossed her mind she had quickly diminished as nothing but madness…, a sentiment shared by her countrymen for different reasons.
She would have laughed had the situation been any different, you could convince a sailor to tread upon the land with some difficulty, but tell him to go through a rift in reality to Tides knows where? And so her duty to carry the prophets message would have to be do so by foot through the most rudimentary way known to man.
By foot...
A tired sigh left her lips as she pushed aside their lack of horses to make their travel faster, though it was not something that could have been done. Horses hated been trapped in the rocking forms of the ships, more so during the threat of a sea storm. The people of Southshore did have some, but it left a bitter taste to take away what little they had, and so she decided not to.
Much to the disappointment of her men...
It also did not help that they had refused her offering of free passage to the new world that awaited them away from the carnage that was feasting with the cold bones of their kingdom.
Still, she would not forget the kindness and generosity those people offered both her and her troops as they made Southshore their base of operations, allowing them to redirected towards their town all the people they could save from this tormenting times even if that meant increasing the chances of attracting the dark tide over their homes and families.
Even if that would mean their doom….
Their steadfast resolution only made her focus even harder in her goal. She would not lay their courage go to waste…., not even if the whole Scourge throw the weight of their perfidious armies against them.
She would not shy from her duty, not again... for as young as she was and fear still reared around the edges of her mind with every passing second she stepped forward in this no longer harmless forest, she was no longer alone in this now turned mad world….
But for now she allowed herself to take a deep breath, her eyes darting with both relief and fascination at the green lush flora around her, the cool air that brushed against her face under the shade of the trees who had yet to died out by the malignant energies of necromancy digging in. She could even heard the soft chirp of birds and the flapping of their wings…
It almost felt like nothing wrong had happened.
That it was all just a bad dream...
She stopped a moment, moving her hand forward as she grabbed a fallen leaf, holding its thin yet rough surface with her fingers before she allowed to slide slowly off her hand onto the ground below.
She was at the front of the column, acting as both guide and combatant while behind her stood at least six hundred men and women, the remaining eight hundred had been divided in other two groups. One would travel to the east while the other to the west. Seventy five had been left in Southshore as garrison, to not only guard the ships but keep the citizens safe for as long as they could.
``For a fallen kingdom things are rather calm…´´ The voice of her first captain, Grayus Seathorn broke her out of her thoughts. It was rough and harsh, like ice scratching against the surface of his teeth yet it did not diminish in the slightest the warmth that laid below. He was as prideful of his chores as he was childish, his voice dwarfing those of his colleagues when he dared speak most of the time as well as boastful wherever the chance appeared.
All of this would have made him be the typical captain who would never allow someone without experience to lead either him or his crew, after all….every captain worth their salt considered themselves the kings of their own ships. And yet, much to her surprise he was in fact the first one to vouch for her once she had explained their plan to the captains of the ships, the most vocal too.
An action that had aided her self-esteem more than she thought possible….
Now that she took a better look at it, he appeared far more older than he should, a long life over the sea had left its mark in his body, his skin tanned to the point it looked more akin to leather than flesh, pale scars scattered all where his vest and open shirt could not hide.
He had also been one of the first men she had met once her father had allowed her to board his ship when she was four years old.
She offered him a polite nod, though without looking at him as she stepped carefully over an overgrown tree branch. He was not wrong, they had found little to no threats in their travel.
``Down here perhaps, but I assure you that with each step we take up north things will change rather quickly, though I hope not..´´
The man had tried to spark out a conversation from time to time as they made through the wilderness. Though he certainly held none of the solemn kindness of Uther nor the wisdom of Antonidas he could easily fill the roll of the wayward uncle that ones parents wished their children to avoid. He had been a rather nice person to approach and share her doubts, when she managed to stop his rants about old glories of course…
With the memory of things still fresh in her mind having someone to talk from time to time allowed her to keep some sort of peace of mind.
She would need it…., that did not mean that sometimes things did get out of hand in some strange directions.
`` Aye, I don't say this often but the sooner we get this over with the better. It would be a rather boring adventure though…, but one I will not cry about it if I am honest´´
``And why would that be if you don't mind telling…, unless is the weather, its getting a bit chilling in these woods now that I think about it...´´ She said with curiosity as her eyes caught the brief glimpse of a drop of water slide down a leaf into the ground.
Winder should be nearing its ugly head right about now if she was not mistaken…, they were rather cold in Lordaeron.
Her barked a laugh, smiling brightly at her, one that did not hide the yellowish shade of his teeth. ``Ha! This breeze does not hold a candle to the cold of the sea my lady, especially when the wind is howling over your head and the sky is crashing down your head, now that is something to shiver about, when this is all over I we should sail up to the north so that I can show you what I mean´´
``Thanks, though I think I would rather seek refuge rather than take that all by myself...´´ She said softly, no matter how beautiful the sea was, she would rather not trade her health for it. Though if he affected by her refusal he did not give sign of it.
``Don't worry my lady, time to time…..no matter how much those paper skin mages may have tried to rub their ways into you, you are still Kultiran at heart´´ He said with pride, bumping his chest with his fist in the process.
She sighed in frustration, this was not the first time he said something like that.
``So…, about what you were you saying before...?´´
`` Saying?´´ The look of perplexity soon gave way to one of realization ``Ah! That! Well…., anyone could tell you a fight is a fight but I would trade my good arm to have those mongrel at the end of my axe on my ship rather than in this muddy grounds...´´ he replied as he gave a dejected look at the mud tarnishing his boots.
She supposed that it held some merit, for someone who always fought under the stability of a ships deck.
``Wouldn't that be an inconvenience though? I mean…, the part where you basically lead your ships into the coast for the undead to board you…, it doesn't sound very practical´´ Let alone safe.
``It doesn't have to sound practical, it have to play to our advantages..and there is no place like home for a Kultiran like the decks of their own ships. A battleship, a galleon, even a ferry you name it I have been there´´
``Still, I would rather have the undead come in their thousands on my ships in case their combine weight sinks us, let alone giving them the opportunity to leave the land….´´ The horrors that could be unleashed on the world if those things could managed to sail through the ocean could not be overstated.
It would be like a virulent decease that spread further and further, with no one capable to put a stop to it, nor capable to cure. One that would dig its claw far and deep in this world and its inhabitants and left it dry.
Not what the mysterious man had proclaim that word for word but it felt like the most sensible outcome once the seeds of ruinations were spilled far and wide from the source of the cataclysms. It wasn't a matter of if, but when...
The ghost of a smile tried to appear around the edges of her lips for a moment as her eyes behind her shoulder, taking a brief look of the situation of those that followed them in relatively silence. Though if such terrible fate was to beheld the Easter kingdoms then she still had time if the fresh, vibrant scents of the still heathy forest had anything to go by...
She took another step forward, cocking her head back to the left as she spied the goofy grin warping around her aged companions lips, yet before she could hear the man's response she halted on the spot, her eyes darting towards a distant spot in woods though much to her chagrin her line of sight was impeded by the abundant lush of flora.
Yet though her eyes were blind to it, her ears received such not impediment as they grasped the creaking yet unmistakable sound of leafs been crushed under someone else's foot at rapid speed, growing in magnitude by the second….
She took a back as she leaned into position. Eyes narrowed almost into two thin slits as she grabbed her trusted staff with both her hands. Arcane energy started to swirl around the soft surface before it reached the large gem at the very end.
Glowing with the light of a diminutive blue star…, and act that did not go unnoticed by her fellow Kultirans.
``You heard it too, didn't you lass?´´ Said Grayus, though his words were nothing but a whisper as he pull out his twin axes from his back, an action that was quickly mirrored by everyone around her as they too heard it. The sound of blades been drawn out could be heard far behind the column, and those that had already them out were taking stances for what could be a battle in the making.
Her grasp over her staff grew tighter as she could hear it almost upon them, how it had double as more things came in their direction. Her breath halting to a pause...
But just as a the words of an incantation started to come out from her lips they died out on the spot, her grasp loosening its hold as no undead had come sprinting through the wilderness but rather the green shaded uniforms if not drenched a bit forms of her captain of the scouts and some of his men...
The light of her staff died out as she released a breath that she did not know she had being holding. She had almost forgotten she had sent them ahead of their column as an early warning alarm.
The newcomers put a halt to the raging march they had put their mounts through with the skills of a lifetime embedded in their memory's, avoiding their fellow countrymen in the process. Their leader soon caught sight of her, a brief look of relief washing over him before he shook his head and dismounted.
``Lad, you surely gave us quite a fright. We almost make fresh ham out of you´´ Bristle Grayus as he put his axes back behind his back.
``My apologies, but I thought wise to come as fast as we could my lord captain. Lady Proudmoore, our findings were not as substantial as we could have hope, though not less worrisome...´´
``What is it captain? Are we under attack!?´´ She asked, taking a brief glance to the sides almost by reflex as she did. The thought of this innocent apparent forest been riddle with undead creatures lurking around was growing by the minute, the fact that they were on uneven terrain did not help much.
Luckily it would not come to that if the shaking head of the captain were anything to go by, at least she hoped so.
``No my lady, something else. We have detected the presence of a not small group of men and women in a clearing close to our position. Barely a few minutes give or take…..´´
``Do we know if they are hostile?´´
He shook his head, a look of disappointment behind his helm ``No, though we tried to look if they were members of this Scourge by the details of their appearance as you told us…, or if they were worse than that. We found nothing that could give that away…., not on the spot anyway´´
She bite her lip. Though she did not say it, the man's report had not been as good as she would have hoped. It made her feel unease, the grip in her staff growing tighter. Though, she would have hoped that by now with all these chaos and apparent destruction of what little order remained they would have grown lazy and sloppy.
It wasn't much, But at least it meant that there were no undead among their ranks, their hellish, decrepit rotting body's would have been hard to disguise. Werther by the animalistic, almost inhuman way they behaved or the smell alone would have been a rather clear give away.
That only let her with either the possibility of having a rather not small bunch of undead cultist in disguise, or some of the remnants of some town who had made its way towards the south. She prayed it was the latter.
``They appeared to be..´´ His voice trailed of for a moment, licking his lips as he looked behind his shoulder before looking back at her. How strange, it was rare to see him hesitate by a single question.
``Yes captain?´´ She asked calmly, not pressing for the answer, allowing him to put whatever thought was thinking before he finally answered.
`` Gilnean...?´´ He muttered, as if not sure he had answered correctly.
She blinked once, then twice before she cocked her head to the side. ``Come on again?´´ She said, not very sure if she had heard right as she stood to his side.
``I mean, the colours of their armour and their accent speaks of their heritage makes it easy to distinguish in a rather simplistic way, unless they are very patriotic brigands with mildly good taste in clothing and armour I think that we may not be the only tourists unannounced in this lands….´´
She ignored the weak snort of the man as she immediately started pondering on what had been said.
Brigands? So close to Southsore? It was true that the kingdom of Gilneas was somehow close to Lordaeron. In fact, their borders collided with theirs with Silverpine, which was merely three to four days by foot from Southshore with some luck, but all the way out here? Right in the road to Dalaran?
Something was amiss….
Her worry seemed to have reflected on her face as the man placed a comforting man over her shoulder. His gloved fingers brushing the purple silk of her cape as he gave her a few pads.
``Don't worry my lady, whoever they are they will not be a threat to us or to you, that I swore..´´ His fingers then tapped the hilt of the sword hanging from his waist as if it could reassure her. `` Still I wish I knew why or what they are doing there, we could not get as close as we could and I have the feeling that we would not have gotten that close had they not been busy with something else...´´
She shook her head, there was no point on worrying about it. ``Its ok…, you did as much as you could with the time you had at your disposal. Now tell the men to prepare themselves, we will move towards the position of these people you spoke of right now ´´
Though the man nodded and then approached his faithful steed he did grant her one last look before parting. ``Mam? What are you planing to do?´´ The man asked, the mild look of consternation that had briefly took his features quickly replaced back to his professional demeanour.
``Something reckless no doubt about that, but if I am right about this then we may have found allies in the nick of time...´´ She had always heard her father said how their neighbours enjoyed to gloat about their strength. Perhaps she could put that to good use?
``And if they are not….´´ The words of the man were calm and collected, he was not stating that it would not happen, he just wanted to know if she had a plan to deal with such eventuality.
``Then we go through then anyway…., the enemies we fell down today will not come back to track us down when we are at our lowest, still if there is a chance that they are not…. I would rather not end it in bloodshed´´
``Though that sounds like wishful thinking, how would we know which from which?´´
She beamed a smile at him. ``When the time comes you will know it...´´
``I see…, I will get the men ready´´ And with that he pass through them, his voice slowly lost as the distance grew between them and the sound of footsteps and words of agreement reached her like tide waves.
``Well, it seems that we are going to see fight after all…., brigands or not, Gilneans are hotheaded fools...the first thing I expect from them is a lot of barking and empty threats´´
You are speaking as if you did not do that in a daily basis… She thought though she decided not to bring that up. ``I hope not, though I must admit that I was not expecting this...´´ She muttered before she walked in the same direction the scouts had come through, Grayus and company quickly following behind.
Resolve and expectancy pushing away whatever doubt could linger in their minds so that they would not fester as they slowly grew closer, careful not to step over the myriad of branches and leafs that covered the very ground they tread in case it would alert of their presence.
Living or not, they could not just expect the best of them…, sometimes despair could make monsters out of people.
The memory of a blond hammer wielder crossed her mind…..
They would not have to wait much though, just as the scout captain had said there was a large clearing not far away from them. And so they halted, observing the ample acres of empty space at the sides, with the forest continuing on right behind them. The silhouettes of living, breathing men were also hard to miss as they approached, but perhaps not as much as the rudimentary tents and halfway bonfires that covered much of the free terrain.
By the looks of it there had to be at least two to four hundred of them.…, perhaps more hiding under the cover of their tents.
She also spied their clothings, just as the captain had warn her previously there was something wrong with it, though not as pristine nor well equipped as what could have been expected of actual soldiers clad in the colours of their nation neither they appeared to be a bunch of vagabonds. Leather and light armour was the rule in the strange group, though she could also spot the heavy armoured forms of a few men that she considered knights.
There was a distinct lack of royal banners...
Strange, they were just too well equipped to be brigands...and too damn different to be considered trained soldiers of one nation. Militias perhaps?
``Happy little merry band, aren't they?´´ Muttered the old sailor as he kneeled right next to her, she did not need to turn around to know that he was wearing a shit eating grin.
She sighed one more time, a feeling of resignation spilling out from it before she switched her attention towards him, sending an unamused look at the aged sailor. ``Those are not brigands...´´ It was a statement rather than a question, one that he readily replied.
``No, they do not look the part, though I doubt that they are here for a picnic either...´´
``What makes you think that?´´ She asked as her eyes once again switched towards the encampment, following the movements of those armed.
``That big bastard over there, those eyes…, those mannerisms...yes, that big bastard does seem to be the one leading them. A veteran of the war of course…, it had to be one of those´´ Mumbled her companion under his teeth as he eyed the only man who seemed to be barking orders to those around him.
A man almost a head taller than the rest though it could have been her imagination, his armour was dented and covered with dirt, clearly having seeing better days yet it did not rob it of any of its strength and though most of his face was covered by a large, unkept beard she could picture the way his teeth grinded against one another as if something foul had been stuck in their throat.
Grayus was right, his stance was too rigid, nor he shared the same worrisome looks of his fellows. Like a wolf among hounds, his bite would surely be worse than the howling of his men...
In that moment she knew that if there was one who could be a problem in that group it would be him. But perhaps there would be no need, still… before anything was done she needed to know one last thing.
``Do you think you could take him´´
He rose an eyebrow at her. ``Come on again?´´
She had assumed that he would get the gist of it, but it seemed that she would have to explain it after all. ``In case of a fight were to break out we would need to eliminate their commander to avoid it to lead to needles casualties, he is the leader so do you think if worse can to pass that you could take him?´´
She could of course, giving or take a spike of ice penetrating someone else´s skull was a quick way to kill anyone, she was merely curious of the assessment of the more seasoned warrior standing next to her.
``Of course, each time I fight I allow my foe to get a first hit before I end them so you only have to look at the scars to know how many I have felled..,´´ He replied with pride, tapping the marred skin of his arms.
To say that the explanation was not what she had been expecting could not have been overstated, she shook her head before she rose from the ground, wishing to step out of their temporary hideout into the clearing before them.
``I see…, that's good to know though a bit worrisome´´ She said softly, a bit more pained as she now realized the tales behind the large scarring of the man's body, flashes of the man standing over the bloodied bodies of his adversaries while also bleeding from a myriad of wounds that should not have happened in the first place.
How each one of those cuts that marred his tanned skin could have taken his life before time in the blink of an eye. If only he were to realize that...
``Ah don't worry, it may have sounded dumb but I hard like a rock. I am not going anywhere just yet my lady. Still, why the question´´
Was she so easy to read? Her cheeks would have flared up with embarrassment had she not been able to concentrate on his enquiry on the spot. The last thing she needed was to give the strange, though well intentioned man more ammunition to laugh to his hearts content on their mission.
``Though they are not undead we don't know whether they are friendly or not, the last thing I want is to give them a reason to feel threaten. I want to present a harmless front, avoid scare them all of a sudden with our forces´´
He rubbed the back of his head, tipping his hat to one side before he pulled it to the other. ``That makes some sense, though if anything were to happen I don't think your magic tricks will pull us out in time if the fuckers decide to swarm us´´
``And why is that?´´
``Pardon my language my lady, yes they are flashy and useful yes…, but I would rather have a good axe under my grasp if I were to tempt my luck´´
``I have already heard the same tale from my mother´´
``Then perhaps you should take it into more consideration´´
She did not know how, but Grayus always managed to hit a sore spot within her, even though it wasn't in his intention. Her frowns narrowed though only ever slightly as she debated internally whether to ignore it or continued. It did not dwell well with her that he was not wrong...
``I will, but the time that it would require for me to learn to wield a blade is too
``I dislike the idea of throwing you into a battlefield without a proper weapon but you speak the truth, though that doesn't make the taste any less bitter. There is not much time….´´
``Then I guess its time we put to the test my little theory, you coming with me?´´ She asked softly at the still kneeling form of the old man.
``You really are dead set on it, aren't you? I hope is not walk right over there and say hello´´
She grinned at him though it did not fully reach her eyes. ``Why not? Is not that strange for adventurers to be on their own in the wilderness..´´ That did not seem to appease him as he frowned at her.
A second passed, then another before he merely shook his head. ``For mindless cultist perhaps…, but I have the feeling that old fox is gonna smell the shit a mile away´´
``You will not know until we try it...´´
For a moment he stood silent, an indescribable look on his face before it broke out with laugher. Rising to his full height with a leap he closed the distance between the two and gave her a few pats in her back, though with his strength he almost made her stumble.
``Ha! It seems that I was right, only a girl of the grand admiral would come with such a bold strategy. Lead the way, we all have to die some day..´´
A sigh left her lips as the man started walking down the slop towards the clearing. She should have known that the man was thrilled for more action rather than deterred by what clearly was a dangerous situation.
At least she would not be going on her own…., though perhaps she would regret her choice soon enough.
Soon they left the protection of the edge of the forest, the sun shining brightly over their heads as they walked towards the centre of the clearing. Taking deep breaths with each step she took as she tried to relax her mind. Flexing her fingers over her hold over her staff as she realized that they had been spotted and that already a group of armed men was approaching them, weapons held aloof. And though menacing they were, they could not hold a candle to the horrors she had witnessed during the investigation.
The fact that those that wore crude rifles had not fire yet was at least reassuring.
Still, she was not surprised when by the time the two were barely a few meters away they were force to halt their approach as a large group of men welcome them, slowly surrounding them, cutting their way of escape. Weapons pointed at them, but still far enough away to not poke them.
Some were young, almost as much as her….
``Who goes there?´´
``Drop your weapons!´´
``Halt right there or be cut down on the spot!´´ Voiced out a young man over the rest as he pointed a pole-axe at them, clad in what seemed a mash-up of steel armour with some leather though she could denote a series of red stripes painted in one of his pauldrons.
That rose an eyebrow. Some sort of decoration? A designation of sorts? It wasn't unheard of soldiers who acted more independently of the main army to add details to their equipment to recognise one another in the field. If that were to be the case it would explain some questions, but not all.
She shook her head internally, no…. In the end that did not matter, nor who or why they come from, she would find out in time. What mattered was that they were not dealing with Scourge and their pawns nor with maddened trigger happy individuals.
Well…., that was yet to be seem though.
Looking at them, their presence filled her with relief, a brief yet gentle warmth that diminished the ache in her heart. If there was a military force in the region then it meant that the region was yet to be swarmed like the northern landscapes. In fact, they could be of great aid to her cause…
She stood silent as a myriad of thoughts went through her head, a mask of politeness that shielded her from prying eyes as she tried to come with a good enough plan to convince them at any cost, even if that meant to make her tag along her in this mad mission.
Share with them the prophets warning? Having more people know of the incoming cataclysm would be good, but it also could create mass hysteria nor a lot of people had listened to the man's warnings in the first place until the world had come outside down. Honour? The men were brave yes to come out to fight these monsters, but the lack of a common uniforms told her that they may not share the same views of the SilverHand. Gold? She could always promise it….., but as long as the end of times was not stopped it would not come any time soon.
Decisions, decisions...
As this went on she had been oblivious to the snarky comments that Grayus had shared with the leading soldier, earning them an annoyed look from them. And so as she was about to speak to explain things, he took a step forward cutting her in before she could even utter a word.
``Easy there boy, you would not want to poke out your eyes with that stick...´´
``Shut up old man before I show you what I can do with this stick´´
``Ah, lads these days…., no respect for their elders´´ He shook his head. ``Back where I come from we would strung up the likes of you by the thumbs for that, believe me...you would not believe how the bones crack under the bodies own weight´´
``Grayus! What are you doing!?´´ She half whispered half screamed at him, why was he antagonism them? Did he not understand the part of not getting on their bad side?
He merely winked at her. ``Don't worry my lady, I got this...´´
His words did not alleviate her, in fact they only increased the dread hovering over her He what? No, he would not-...
``So who of your merry band of slugs is in command, I hope is not you lad for I have never seem a greener piece of shitty grass in my life´´
``You little sh-´´ Face shaded in a bitter hue of crimson his words were cut out as he lunged forward, the sharp edge flying through the air in its craving for Grayus throat. A grimace formed around her lips as she viewed everything move in slow motion, the silvery smell of burnt out mana as energy rapidly cracked through her fingers even so she knew that it would not be fast enough to stop it and spare his companions life….
He was right, had the man been a few meters away from them she could have put him on a block of ice, but with barely two meters of distance between them? By the time she did the blade would have already puncture vital organs, sealing his fate.
Even if he had been the one to start it, she could not avoid that bitter feeling of defencelessness to wash over her like a black tide.
She hate it, she hate it that there was nothing she could do….as the blade was about to turn to shreds Grayus throat.
Perhaps that was the reason why she did not expect him to survive, even less to duck just in time to the left, allowing the weapon to pass harmlessly over his shoulder. The cold steel merely scratching the skin of his neck rather than torn through it, leaving a thin scarlet line in its wake but nothing more serious than that.
Quickly grabbing the handle of the pole-axe and pulling him towards him, catching the young boy unaware as he was drag towards the waiting axe of the aged sailor, soaring through the air in utter silence, shocking everyone around her as they had been too focused on the pole-axe wielding warrior rather than the seemed unarmed man.
She could barely heard the cries and yells of alarm of the men around them, not even those directed at her as her eyes flashed with arcane power until she shut them down. As if she had pull of an invisible switch a pulse of air surged from her, not only diverting the killing strike far away from its intended target but also throwing everyone around her onto the ground in loud thuds. She could hear their grunts as they landed unceremoniously.
It was painful, but she knew that they would brush it off rather quickly as some already were starting to get up, a bit dazzle though.…
How things had turned sour so fast from what once appeared to be a rather promising dialogue.
``Bloody hell, what in the seven tides was that!?´´ She did not to turn around to know who was the one nagging about it.
She wanted to grasp her hair in frustration but quelled the urge soon enough, redirecting her misgivings in giving the source of her growing headache the best frown she could hope for since she feared smashing her staff over the old man would give the wrong impression to those around her.
She would still have a word or two about his chosen form of "diplomacy" once they got out of this mess, if they gout of this mess...
``Grayus..., could you stop antagonising them..for five minutes!?´´ She growled, just in time as the men around them instead of jumping at their throats started to disperse, no…, repositioning in two long lines to the sides. Weapons still raised but with a lighter hold as a man came through the now vacant space.
The seasoned warrior she had spotted before she realized.
``In the name of all that is holy What is going on there?!´´
``Sir? This two miscreants dared approach the camp from the forest and have yet to surrender their weapons´´
Her left eye twitched. Wait a minute, he was adding her to her companions folly? How in the seven tides was that fair? She had just saved him!
``That I have seem so far, but apart from bad language and an unreasonable desire to get gutted I have yet to see them been a threat. Just a senile old man and a mage. So who the hell are you?´´
``Senile!? Let me tell you a thing or-´´ Before he could continue she stepped forward, cutting him in.
``Pardon my companions rash attitude, but we mean you no harm. We are merely travellers sir….´´
``Right, and I am the king of the world. Do you expect me to believe that a pair as different as you would tread through this forest like trying to pick up the milk?
``Told you so...´´ Whispered Grayus in her ear.
``Right now is not the time….´´ She grumble under her teeth.
``You two, quiet your mumbling…, I can hear it from here´´
``Alright, we are not travellers, though we do not lied when we said we meant you no harm´´
``I believe you. ´´
``You..do?´´ She had been preparing a rather long list of arguments in order to convince him, yet such an easy admission had put those plans into disarray, though it was appreciated nonetheless..
He gave her a weak nod. ``It was a bit too fast for my liking but I saw you safe the little pipsqueak over there with that trick of yours, in fact you did not hurt a fly with it. That's more than enough to know your intentions, I can not say the same for your...friend however´´
``I will keep a close eye on him...´´
That seemed to appease him, the frown remained over his features but she had sensed the way his glare had soften. ``See that you do…, so who are y-´´ Before he could continue a voice rang through the field, a loud yet feminine voice.
``Marcus, what are you doing!?´´ Making its way through the ranks of men around them came a rather plain looking woman with the exemption of the deep scar running through her left cheek over one of her eyes though not deep enough to blind it, her bushy red hair fell over her shoulders in a rather simplistic way. She too was wearing a series of red stripes in her shoulder pad.
It only took one look at the snarling expression she bore carved into her face to know that things were not gonna get better for them.
This is not gonna be good…
``What is it? I am busy, cant you see that?´´ Growled the now identified Marcus, not switching his attention from theirs.
``Since when playing with your toys was part of been busy?´´
This time he did look at her, an unreadable expression on his face before he barked another order.
``Get on with it, woman...´´
``How gracious of you, as you know we have a lot of things to worry about to have you waste your time with this two´´
``Your point?´´
She sighed in exasperation before pointing both her hands at her head. `` Think, Marcus. Think! There is nothing around us but miles of rotten bastards and they came rather unscathed through it all. How could it be if they were not in cahoots with them´´
``The biters don't work with the living´´ Retorted Marcus unabated.
``The hooded bastards don't seem to share your point, give the order and be done with it….´´ Some nods and grunts of agreement could be heard from the men. It was not long before they glared at them with a chilling coldness.
Was this how things were gonna end before they could even began? By sheer paranoia? She started drawing on some energy into her staff, if only for precaution.
``There is enough blood spilled in these grounds, I will not have it with no grounds of reasoning ´´
``You cant be serious, reasoning!? You want reasoning!? That ended when the dead started clawing their way up their coffins. You saw what those bastards at Silverpine did, you can not trust every face that comes on the way´´
``That is enough, Sarah!´´ Marcus yelled at the top of his lungs, slamming his boots over the muddy ground. That seemed to shut everyone around for the time been.
Though it should have pained her that their very presence had gave place for this quarrel between Marcus and the men under his command, in it could only bring her joy. Now the only thing left to do was convince them not to kill them.
Which was far easier said than done…, but what was life without challenges?
``My apologies, it wasn't our intention to cause any distress within your group my good sir´´
``It wasn't your fault, things have not been good around here, and I doubt they will anytime soon. But Sarah was right about one thing though...´´
``Which is?´´
``Your appearance, is far better than anyone that have been running for their life since the plague struck down the kingdom...´´
``Well, that's because-...´´
``You are not alone…´´ He finished for her, softly though with a tinge of authority in his voice.
She merely nodded at him. It seemed that her previous preconception of him was correct, he was rather sharp for a muscle head. In fact, he was the only one in this field that had yet to draw out his blade, still on his sheath. As far as she was concerned, he did not view them as a threat, merely a peculiar distraction...
Well, at least that way it meant that they were not gonna get killed any time soon, unless she had missed something and the man had an incredible poker face.
``That is correct...´´ He seemed pleased that she had just decided to be honest, the fact that the words of her mother rang in her head did not have anything to do with her choice…., well... perhaps a little.
``Tell them to show themselves….´´
She fought down the urge to rub the back of her head before them all. Though she had seem it coming that did not change how difficult it would be to answer such request. The mood around her was still too volatile for her to get a good grasp of how things would go.
No matter how noble Marcus efforts would be, his fellow men may not share the same calmness their leader held once they realized that they were outnumbered by armed strangers. She really was not wishing to be there to see it.
``If that is what you wish...´´
``It is...´´ He reassured her, earning the glare of Sarah though if she was not thrilled by his idea then she did not say anything about it. With one final sigh she rose her staff, a bright light emanating from the twirling gem on the edge before she brought the it down on the ground twice.
Well, there goes nothing She thought with a bit of apprehension. It was by far the most simple and less alarming thing she came off on the spot to not draw unnecessary animosity with rash actions
If things went well her men would soon be coming all around them right about-...
``Wait, what is t-fuck! You have to be kidding me...´´ Exclaimed the scarred woman, eyes open wide with shock as they darted from left to right at something that laid behind her.
Yes, it seemed that her half baked plan had worked, now she was crossing her fingers that nothing else would happen.
``Shit, we are surrounded..´´
``Where all those faggots came from?´´
``Remember me who had the brilliant idea of not having scouts outside of the perimeter´´
``See? I told you that she was dirty, this was obviously a trap in the making...´´
Soon enough the shocked, loud voices of the men around her turned into a full blown panic as more and more joined the maelstrom. All but Marcus, a deep frown had formed over his features but he had remained mostly in utter silence. Gauging the men and women that were approaching from the not so long ago empty forest.
It was then that he cocked his head to the side as he regarded her, a dangerous glint on his eyes ``You did not said you were carrying an army behind you….´´
``That's why I warned you before about it...´´
He left a gruff, shaking his head though not annoyed in the slightest. ``Fair enough…, I will have that into consideration for the next time ´´
``If we even have the chance to have a next time Marcus!´´ Yelled the red headed woman in dismay, pinching the bridge of her nose before a starling look flashed before her eyes. Jaina felt a cold shiver as those eyes met hers. Her grasp over her staff tightened as the woman made her way towards her before she pointed a broad sword at her.
It wasn't as impressive as other weapons she had witnessed in the past, but the scratches all over the blade spoke about a lengthy story of conflict and more so about the experience of its wielder. If she was the original wielder though…..
`` Who do you serve!?´´
She blinked once, then twice before her lips warped downwards in a grimace. ``What?´´
``Are you deaf!? I said who do you serve!?´´
``Sara!? What are you doing!?
``What you should have done in the first place! Now answer the goddammit question´´
She shook her head. ``Is ok to be afraid, but know that there is nothing to fear...´´
``What the-ught…., just what I needed….someone speaking in riddles. You will have to call them closer if you want them to save you´´
She could heard the way Grayus knuckles started to creak as his grasp over his axes tightened to the point they turned a deadly shade of white, how her men started to pull out their weapons from their sheaths as they saw the threat that Sarah posed to their liege, yet before they could do something that they would regret later she placed her hand over his arm, pushing it down slowly. Earning a baffled look from the older man.
``My lady?´´
She merely nods at him, looking then back to the souls that had put their trust in her in these trying times with a silent plead.
``Please, lower your weapons, there is no need to fight the very same people we have come to aid´´ She spoke out, she did not wait to see whether they would comply or not as she then switched her attention back at scarred woman.
Words alone many not work, she had to act….
Everyone gasped in surprise, even her as she found herself taking one step forward, her free hand lunging forward and instead of pushing the sword away she held tight the blade. A faint trail of blood started to slip through her fingers as as she felt the cold, burning bite of the steel in her flesh. She did not let go, not even as her fingers were smeared by the sticky liquid nor as the grey sides of the blade became tarnished with red.
She took a step closer, this time pulling the weapon higher... allowing for the edge of the broadsword to poke her throat. The muscles of her neck tensed at the cool touch gracing her skin, it was uncomfortable but not enough to pierce it.
All of this while never wavering her gaze from hers...
``If you truly think that cleaving my head from my shoulders can stop any further sign of bloodshed between our people then so be it, but I would want you to listen to me one last time….´´
``W-what?´´
``My lady you can not be serious ´´
She paid his companion little heed as her eyes remained locked with Sarah's. Her resolve faltering with each passing second that she continued to hold her sword, she would not allow her chance to go to waste.
`` I mean you no harm, We mean you no harm. I and those that have come with me are not members of the Scourge or the cult of the damn that have brought this kingdom low, sir. We came from Kultiras...´´
``Kultiras? Why the hell would they come here?
``Because we don't forget our promises´´ She slowly let go of the blade, her bloodied hand grasping the pendant that her father had gifted her and showing it to her. That seemed to spark something in the woman's eyes, lowering his weapon though not fully pulling it away in its sheath.
``What is your name girl...?´´
``Jaina Proudmoore, mam….´´
One of the red heads eyebrows rose. ``Proudmoore? Like Admiral Proudmoore? That one?´´
``That is my father, yes...´´ She said slowly, stopping mid way her sentence for something told her that such news were not what neither she or Marcus of all people expected. Which could either mean that they will panic even further or come to a peaceful resolution.
She only needed to wait. They did not disappoint her..
The man as well as all the warriors standing behind him sheathed their weapons, a look of regret washing over his features as he approached her. Only stopping two meters from her right next to Sarah who remained still dumbfounded by the revelation.
``And here I thought the day could not get any weirder...´´ He mumble before he knelt before them, others following on his example while others remained stuck in place. ``My sincerest apologies my lady, we were not expecting the living to roam the woods at this time of night, least royalty with all that has been going on´´
She knelt to his side and much to his surprise she pull him up. ``It's all right, I understand...more than you think´´ She said softly, though she could still feel the heaviness, brief images flashing across her eyes.
The fires, the freshly scent of spilled blood over the dry ground, the smell of putridity drowning any of her senses as she delved deeper and deeper….
"This city must be purged…."
Her breathing grew ragged and heavy as the taste of ashes became one with her, refusing any of her attempts to remove it from her senses. She felt dirty, the foul stickily feeling of her bloodied hands, flashes of her vain attempts to safe the poor souls left in his wake of their agony as they took their last breaths only adding to it.
The man gave her a nodding look, one that held a pain of their own that did not need words to describe what lay beyond them.
`` I understand, so that makes it easier for me not to explain what's going on. So ... where are they coming from? I don't think there's a settlement for miles around, at least not destroyed….´´
``We come from Southshore... ´´ Was the only thing she managed to say without sounding weak.
``There are still folks down there!?´´ He exclaimed, a baffled look on his as he started walking back and forth. She could only nod at it.
``Those poor sobs, they have more guts than senses, I suspect that they will refuse going away from their homes no matter what at this point´´
A bit rough, though he was not wrong.
``It was their choice, though no matter how much it appals me we can not force their hands..´´
He nods. ``True, that does not change how annoying they are. Sarah, put down your weapon before you get us in even more trouble´´
That managed to break the red head from her stupor as she dropped her weapon as if was burning her hands. ``R-right…, my apologies...´´
It was at this point that Jaina took the moment to breathe a sigh of relief as she watched the flames of conflict die down around her. What had once been looks of nervousness and trepidation were now ones of quiet though faint serenity.
It was not as great as the cordial atmosphere that she had previously wanted but she would take what she could reach.
``So…, no hard feelings?´´
Marcus shook his head. ``None here…., the only thing hurt here may be our pride but we will recover. We always do...´´
``I see, that is good to know´´
``So what now?´´
``Well…, the two of us could go on our merry way though I was hoping we could unite our efforts against this dark tide. Present one unilateral wall against those who wishes us harm...´´
``You came here to kill the undead?´´ He inquired, eyes narrowing slighly.
``No, I came to rescue people from the scourge´´
A frown appeared on Marcus face as the words reached him, he then took a step forward, crossing his arms those cold blue eyes stared down at her. She would have thought that he was against her statement had it not been for the faint movements of his cheeks.
``But why? They are neither your people or know them...´´
``Because is the right thing to do...´´
For a moment the two remained still, eyes locked in place as either refused to back away from the others glance, not even as the cold winds brushed against them... bringing forth the cool humid taste of a still clear skyline aswell as a faint taint of rot.
No one dared to interrupt them, fallen in line as they behold the quiet battle taking place before their very eyes, each side though still wary of the other share the same sentiment of expectancy of what would come next.
Trepidation building up in the air….
Marcus snorted as he brushed aside some of the sweat falling down his forehead, offering her a shy smile with mild amusement. ``Its good to see that there are people out there who care for those less favoured…, those that have neither the strength of arms nor the safety of walls to stand between them and their untimely ends. It seemed that the rumours were true after all….´´
She could not avoid to perk up at that. ``Rumours?´´ Had their presence been known for quite a while? That could not be, as far as she knew the only ones aware of them were the people of Southshore, there was no way that gossip had managed to spread so far and wide in such little spam of time.
Unless he was speaking before they had set foot in the continent...
``Aye, though as much as I would love to explain about it that will be a story for another time, perhaps we could speak about our mutual goals elsewhere rather than right here before the troops. We have already given them far too much expectable for my taste...´´
That sounded rational given the circumstances, she too was getting worn down under the myriad of glances they were receiving from both ends.
She nodded, the ghost of a smile threatening to warp around the edges of her lips as things finally took a turn for the better. She was looking forward to the details of their imminent conversation.
``I concord…., when do you think we could we get started about the situation over Lordaer-...´´ She tripped on her words as she sensed a sudden spike of mana surge through the air, growing closer…a faint trace of smoke tagging along the scent of burnt of silver in an intoxicating mix, before she realized she was already turning around ready to meet this sudden this disturbance.
A spark that did not go unnoticed by neither Marcus or Grayus, but by the time they realized what was going on it would be too late.
An electric surge started traversing through her body as her eyes widened in shock as they managed to catch a glimpse of a ridiculously large fireball flying towards them through the air. A thick torrent of orange flames followed this second born star leaving a rather large trail of death in its wake as it cut down the distance between them the same way one would throw a rock over the shores.…
Panic took hold of her heart as she could already feel the heat brushing against her skin, leaving her lips dry and hurt aswell as the imperative need to shield her eyes from its hungering brightness. It would not last though.
Her arms rose, energy no longer cracking at her finger tips but in the entirety of her limbs as, her lips moved, spelling out a wordless chant that echo frantically in her mind as her eyes remained fixated on the burning star falling down their heads. Ignoring the cries of surprise of those around her as a thin, translucent barrier erupted right before her.
The look of relief slowly surfacing in her eyes took a back seat as she observed the soft purple shade glowing brightly by the arcane energy fuelling every ounce of its structure bulged dangerously towards her as the fire ball crashed against it. Sparks of energy flying in all directions as the fireball still continued to spin towards her in its mindless sole endeavour, tainting the barrier in a sick shade of red like a sun at dawn.
She grinded her teeth, sweat falling down copiously to the ground as the scorching heat of the spell threatened to clog her throat from the much needed air while blue teary ocean eyes spotted the thin yet visible cracks making their way through the shield like the webs of a spider...
But it would not crack, against all odds the shield slowly regained its natural form and shade, pushing back the hell tide in the process. She allowed herself to smirk for a moment as she saw the fireball slow down, diminishing substantially the amount of sparks surging through the air and coating her surrounding in that thick silvery scent, foreshadowing that soon enough the large mass of fire would come to an end...
But instead of dissipating in the air like any other spell would once it had accomplished its task it started to grow unstable, the fiery sphere deforming like a droplet of water slamming down against the cold ground. She saw it imploded on itself long before the firsts embers started to crack like used coal.
Her sight, robbed from her as a massive explosion wrapped the world in vibrant hungering shadow. The barrier remained in place for a second before shattering in the following one in a million shards. And though the flames enveloped her she did not felt their voracious bite over her soft flesh, but rather the strange coldness of the unknown slowly take hold at the corners of her mind as her body was lunged backwards like a rag-doll.
The sweet embrace of it all calling her back, dragging her almost limp form that remained floating in the air before everything turn black...