Joan smiled as she handed the newborn baby girl to her mother. A blue blanket wrapped around the baby's form.
"Congratulations, Mrs. Huntington. It's a girl. A beautiful baby girl."
The young brunette smiled tiredly as she held her daughter in her arms.
"My baby. What should I call you?" Mrs. Huntington thought out loud.
Joan smiled and bid the mother and daughter farewell. As she stood up and walked towards a rather plump woman with seven children around her, Joan idly wondered how she went from Paladin to Nursemaid. This was the third time this week she had to deliver a baby. Shaking those thoughts away, she greeted the plump woman with a smile.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Hemingway. Is there anything I can do for you?"
The woman smiled jovially at her "Yes, dear. Have you seen my daurghter, Mira? She's Mira Huntington now, dearie._
"The bed at the end of the hall, Mrs. Hemingway." Joan replied before looking at the children around the woman "Are all these children yours?"
"Why yes they are."
"Good gracious. You have been productive." The Half-Elf muttered before clearing her throat as Mrs. Hemingway and her children made their way to Mira and her daughter. The Paladin shook her head in mild amusement before heading for the exit. She passed by Elrothar and Valmir, the Priests she was tasked to escort around Lordaeron, and bid them farewell before pushing open the building's door.
The sun greeted Joan as she stepped out. She used her forearm to shield her eyes from it's glare before walking around Lightbringer District. The Half-Elf greeted the passersby before stopping by a fruit stand.
"Good afternoon, Paladin. What would you like?"
Joan looked at the different varieties of fruits the stall had before taking two apples. She paid the man two copper pieces before making her way out of the district. Her current destination was 'Bhog and Shorty's. Blacksmith, Armory, Workshop and Fine Dwarven-made Wares.' in the Hammerforge District. The area was where most of the dwarven populace reside and where every soldier in Feoh receive their weapons and armors.
Speaking of Feoh, the city had grown in size. In fact, it had grown so much that it was considered the largest city on Eostia. The city held five districts and more were yet to come if the city's expansion had anything to say about it. The city itself was surrounded by farmlands. Numerous farms filled these fields as Feoh's population began to grow triple the original amount. It also helped their military as citizens began volunteering to fight the Black Dogs, giving Feoh's military more manpower than it formerly had before Lordaeron came to the picture. All volunteers undergo Militia Training. Those who were deemed worthy enough are trained to be Footmen or Riflemen. The Magi Academy had yet to release Mages from their walls. Everyone that was attending the magical school had yet to finish their studies and prove to Archmage Jaina that they were ready.
Joan hummed to herself before stopping when she realized that she was at Hammerforge District already. She finished the first apple she bought before moving on to her second while making her way to Bhog and Shorty's. Her ear twitched as she heard a commotion coming from the Mortar Team's shop when she drew near and quickened her pace. She turned the corner to see the Mortar Team arguing and pointing at a scantily clad redhead. She walked closer and heard a bit of their argument.
"We keep tellin' ya, lassy. We don't care whether yer the bloody Queen of Ironforge. We're not handin' ya that sword until ya get some descent clothes on! We don't wanna look like we're servin' the likes of some cheap whore!" Bhog, the taller of the two dwarves, yelled as he pointed at the redhead. This was followed by a "Yeah!" from the shorter dwarf.
The redhead grit her teeth and glared down at the two "For the last time, these clothes are descent! Who do you think you are? Calling a Princess Knight a cheap whore!?"
"We said ya look like a cheap whore, lass. We never said you were one! Why do ya wear somethin' like that anyway? You wanna get stabbed in the heart or skewered like a boar? Well? Do ya!?"
"Please, Master Bhog. Your blood pressure!" A blue haired Knight warned as she tried to calm down the dwarf. The redhead's snickering wasn't helping either.
"Bah, fine! I got more important things to do than this. Shorty, sell the damn sword. I don't care."
"Okay."
Joan sighed before walking towards the Shop's entrance. She passed by the redheaded Princess Knight and couldn't help but see why Bhog said she looked like a cheap whore. The redhead wore a fur-collared, red leotard with a zipper that reached down to her nether regions. A brown headband and choker. Black fingerless gloves. Dark blue tights that was missing the parts covering her backside and crotch. A brown belt around her waist that held two short swords.
'A rogue, perhaps?' Joan thought as said redhead looked up at her with a raised eyebrow.
"See something you like?"
The Paladin blinked before bowing her head "My apologies, my Lady. It's just that... I can see why Bhog would compare you to a whore."
Before the redhead could retort, Joan held up a finger "Let me finish. Bhog has a point about your choice of clothing. Someday, you'll get skewered by someone with that much exposed skin. Not to mention how the Black Dogs act around women."
The redhead scoffed and crossed her arms, looking away from the Half-Elf "You think I don't know that? I served Volt before I became a Princess Knight. You think I don't notice the other mercenaries look at me with lust every time?"
"You served Volt?"
"What of it?"
Joan shrugged before leaning on a lamp post "It's just... why would someone, a woman for that matter, willingly work with the likes of Volt?"
"He wasn't always like that. Besides, he saved my life. I owe him."
"What about now? Are you still loyal to that man, knowing what he plans to do to the whole of Eostia? Or the suffering he had brought upon the innocents?"
Silence met her question and the Paladin sighed. She walked over to the mercenary and placed a hand on her shoulder, causing the redhead to look at Joan. The Half-Elf gave her a sad smile and squeezed her shoulder gently.
"You don't have to answer that. But remember this. When the time comes, and it will, for you to face him... Never hesitate to raise your blade against him. He wouldn't. And did he really see you as any thing more than a tool? Something he could discard at will. Think about that."
The Paladin turned and walked towards Bhog and Shorty's shop when she stooped and looked over her shoulder "Oh, and don't forget about your state of dress. There are many types of armor one with your fighting style can use without hindering their efficiency. Just ask Bhog and Shorty. They'll set you up with a deal you won't regret."
She waved goodbye and reached for the door handle when the red head called after her.
"Wait! I didn't catch your name."
"Joan the Lightgazer, my Lady. Paladin of the Order of the Silver Hand. And who might you be?"
The redhead smiled and brought her hands to her hips. She gave the Paladin a wink before grinning.
"Princess Knight Maia. Queen of the Mercenaries."
"Self proclaimed?" Joan asked with a raised brow and an amused look. Maia shrugged and the Paladin shook her head in slight amusement before giving an overdramatic bow "Well met, Queen of the Mercenaries."
Maia laughed as she regarded the Half-Elf "I like you, Joan. What do you say to a couple of drinks in the Gnawed Noble?"
"I'll pass." The Paladin replied with a shake of her head "But the offer is appreciated. Oh, I believe you have a sword to buy."
"Right." Maia nodded and walked towards the Half-Elf "Maybe I'll see what kind of armor those midgets have."
"Try not to let them hear you say that. You do know those two are experts in explosives, right?"
"E-Explosives!?"
Joan smirked mischievously at wide mouthed Princess Knight before entering the shop, ignoring the gaping redhead outside.
"What do you mean explosives!?"
~Line Break~
Valerius watched in amusement as the Dwarven Riflemen tried to teach some of the new recruits on how to use and shoot a Blunderbuss Long Rifle. The Captain was leaning on the fence of the Shooting Range and nursing a mug of ale in his hand. People keep telling him it was too early for drinking... So he went to the dwarves. Besides, he was only on his first mug.
"Somehow I knew I'd find you here."
The Captain looked over his shoulder to see Falric walking towards him, he himself was holding a chalice of... water? Well, one of them had to at least be sober.
"Ah! Falric, my good man. Care to join me in watching recruits make a fool of themselves?"
The Captain nodded wordlessly before joining the other Captain in leaning on the fence. Falric made a sound of amusement as he saw the dwarf yelling at the recruits as he frustratingly taught them which part of the gun is pointed at the enemy.
"How long do you think we'll be sent out again?" He asked as he sipped his drink.
"Hard to say." Valerius replied with a shrug "It's been three weeks now and since something happened here. All the fights are happening in the East and South. All is quiet in the Western Front, apparently."
"Too quiet." Falric replied "No sightings of Black Dogs. No towns or villages in the West have been attacked by them for a while now. I have a bad feeling about all this lack of... action."
Valerius stared at his friend with raised eyebrows "Lack of action? It's been three weeks since Sturmburg. I thought you would be glad that our borders got more secured after that cock-up."
"I am, Valerius. I truly am. It means none of the people have to suffer from the Dogs. Our people anyway. But it could also mean that something big is coming."
"You think the Black Dogs are planning something? Like a large scale siege."
"Yes... or something worse. But I fear that something else, something unexpected, might appear and throw everything into chaos. Light, I just hope that I'm wrong." Falric looked down on his empty chalice. He didn't even know he had drank it all.
Valerius did the same but still had quite a bit of ale. He grunted and poured a bit of it into Falric's chalice. The other Captain looked at him in surprise and Valerius shrugged "Let's not think about that for a bit and enjoy the here and now, yes?"
Falric looked at his chalice then to Valerius before sighing. He raised his cup and so did Valerius "Agreed."
The two let their respective drinking cups hit before downing their liquor in one go, ending with a satisfied 'Ahh'.
~Line Break~
Sylvanas watched in slight amusement as Anya tried to teach the other Elves and Humans how to be a decent Ranger. Besides swordplay, the Footmen were taught the basics of Archery and other forms of combat but that was it. The ones the Quel'dorei were training are taught more than the basics. Though, they didn't show them everything they know.
"How do the recruits fare, my Lady?"
Sylvanas looked over her shoulder as Falric joined her in the balcony. The Ranger-General decided to be a bit more nice to the Captain ever since Sturmburg. Honestly, he was one of the only humans she actually tolerated enough to speak to them.
"They are... acceptable."
"If that's how you wanna put it, then the Militia trainees are 'acceptable' as well. If they could stop charging and swinging their sword around like a madman, that is."
Sylvanas let out a chuckle disguised as a cough. It was true. The Militia were good but the Militia Trainees on the other hand... well... She didn't need to know what a sword in a bumhole looks like. Luckily, Priest Elrothar was there though the man would forever remember the day his bumhole died.
"At least your recruits can hit the target dead-center, even if it was by accident. Mine, on the other hand... "
The two looked down on the training ground to see one of the Elven recruits loose an arrow and managed to go 'over' the target and grazed a mule's behind, causing it to kick back it's legs on an unsuspecting trainee's back and caused said trainee to fall face first on a puddle of mud.
"...you get the point." Sylvanas grumbled under her breath.
Falric chuckled and leaned on the balcony's railing. He knows that with time, these recruits can be great warriors someday. The Captain moved his head to the side to avoid an arrow to the eye. The two of them looked down at the shooter, a black-haired Dark Elf, who was rubbing the back of her head sheepishly.
'Someday but not today.' The Captain thought as he let out a small chuckle. Though, Sylvanas' thoughts were a bit different.
'Patience, Sylvanas. You're a Windrunner. Patience.'
At the last second, she and Falric ducked just as a volley of arrows flew past their heads and lodged themselves on the door behind them. Sporting a sneer, she looked over the balcony to see the other recruits looking anywhere but her.
"Are you people trying to kill me!?"
Her frustration leaked through every word and she cod feel a headache coming on. Falric's laughing wasn't helping either.
~Line Break~
"Captain Valerius."
Valerius stood in attention and sheathed his sword when he heard the Prince's voice. Arthas entered the Barracks with Alicia and made their way to the Captain. Valerius bowed his head before looking at Arthas.
"How may I serve you, my Lord?"
"News have reached my ears about a small Black Dogs fort in the forest east of Feoh. I need you and a company of Footmen to find this place and if you can, destroy it. Princess Alicia will be accompanying you with eleven Knights."
"That is too many, my Lord." Valerius shook his head "We can manage with five. Besides, the forest is too dense for the horses to maneuver through. Perhaps if the Knights forego the horses then we could make it work. If we can find this fort that is."
Arthas turned to Alicia who nodded before looking back at the Captain "Then so be it. The Knights have already gathered outside, Captain. Before you destroy that fort, see if you can find any information about the ongoings in the East."
"As you wish, my Lord."
~Line Break~
An hour later, the company left the borders of Feoh and traveled East. They marched through the forest, navigating through the trees and shrubbery in hopes of finding the Black Dogs fort. Another hour had passed and the company still had no luck of finding the place. Two more hours passed before the company found a clearing with a stream nearby. The Captain suggested on building a camp and a perimeter around it, saying everyone could use the little break and a base camp.
Alicia sighed as she took off her helmet and set it down on the tree stump. Watching the stream, she noticed a glove float by and narrowed her eyes at the sight. She stood up from the stump and followed the stream to it's source, gripping the handle of her sword tightly but did not unsheathe it. She followed the stream further before hearing muffled noises and the sounds of water crashing ahead. She ducked behind some shrubbery and pushed asides some leaves to see better.
She saw a waterfall further down and two men, Black Dogs by the looks of it. The two were holding skewered fishes over a firepit. She narrowed her eyes, unaware of the shadow looming over her until it was too late. Suddenly, one arm wrapped around her waist while another covered her mouth.
"Looky here, boys. We got ourselves an uninvited guest."
A third Black Dog pulled her out of cover and dragged her to the other two. Knowing what will happen if she didn't do something. She raised her foot and stomped hard on the mercenary's foot. He let her go in favor of nursing his foot and glared at the Princess Knight only to be knocked out as Alicia punched him in the temple with a surprising amount of strength combined with her steel gauntlet. The mercenary fell back, unconscious, and Alicia turned to the remaining mercenaries who hastily grabbed their weapons.
The Princess Knight drew her sword and dropped into a stance. She glared at the mercenaries and they glared back but had yet to make the first move. They stood there, glaring at each other for a long time until the mercenary with the longsword charged first. Alicia raised her blade and blocked the mercenary's strike and the two locked blades. The other one let out a battlecry as he ran towards them. Alicia grit her teeth before stomping on the mercenary's foot then quickly followed it up by a punch to the gut. She raised her sword and swiftly brought it down, severing the mercenary's head before raising her blade, her other hand grasping the section near the end of her blade, and parried the second mercenary's blow. She quickly smashed the pommel of her blade into his nose, making the mercenary scream in pain and stagger back.
Alicia swung her blade right, pushing the mercenary's weapon to the side before slashing up diagonally, cutting him on the chest before bringing down her sword on his shoulder. He screamed in pain and Alicia pulled her blade free before spinning and decapitating the mercenary. She watched the body fall to the ground in a bloody heap before turning to the unconscious mercenary. She heard the sound of boots running and Captain Valerius, along with three Footmen, burst out of the shrubbery with their swords drawn.
"My Lady, we're here to- "
Valerius stopped as he saw the bloody Princess and the headless corpses of the mercenaries. The Princess Knight smirked and brought a hand on her hip.
"Took you long enough, Captain. All taken care of and I got a prisoner for you too."
The unconscious mercenary groaned and was slowly waking up. Before he could, the Footmen moved and apprehended him. One kicked him on the side to turn him over to his front while the other two grabbed him by the arms and dragged him none too gently back to the company's camp. Valerius looked at Alicia as she wiped the blood off her blade.
"Impressive, my Lady. But I do wonder. Why the heads?"
"Reasons."
~Line Break~
Night had fallen on the forest and the Black Dogs inside the fort were dying of boredom. Two mercenaries, Lawrence and Roy, by the gate were idly chatting about their 'fantasy' while a third one, Robert, was standing guard at the gate's watchtower. Most of the mercenaries in the fort had wondered if they should've left like Norris and his boys. Maybe then they wouldn't have to deal with this boredom. At least they'll be raiding tomorrow morning. They could a girl or two and share it the whole night.
Unbeknownst to the Black Dogs, Lordaeron's Footmen where hidden behind the trees and waiting for their signal. Alicia peeked over the shrubbery and saw the mercenary at the watchtower. She turned to look at a Footman with a bow and arrow and nodded. The Footman nodded back before rising out of cover and aiming at the watchtower. He nocked the arrow and took a deep breath.
Back at the fort, Robert saw something move in the forest and narrowed his eyes to adjust to darkness only to widen as an arrow sailed through the darkness and lodged itself between his eyes. The force of the hit pushed his body back and fall between Lawrence and Roy. The two mercenaries shouted in surprise, causing the rest of the fort to gather over the body.
"What the fuck!?"
"The hell happened to Robert?"
"He got hit by an arrow, genius. Use your fucking eyes!"
Outside, forty Footmen ran out of cover. They gathered outside the gate and formed a shieldwall. They parted to allow the battering ram, carried by ten Footmen, to charge for the gate. The ten Footmen roared as they slammed the battering ram at the wooden gate, causing the mercenaries inside to brace it with their own bodies. The first line of Footmen, including Alicia, held spears instead of the usual swords and held a steady wall of shields and spear. The second to third line, however, used swords instead.
"The gate has been breached!" A Footman yelled as the battering ram crew hefted the heavy log to the side and allowed the shield wall to advance.
"Fire!"
The second to third line of Alicia's Footmen raised their shields over their heads to cover the formation from the rain of arrows. This tortoise formation reduced their advancing speed but protected them from the Black Dogs' missile attacks. Alicia grit her teeth as she felt the arrows lodge themselves in her shield. They were almost there. The gate was broken and open. The Black Dogs were in a sloppy pike formation, still reeling from the surprise attack. Unfortunately for the mercenaries, they left the back gate defenseless for Valerius and his group.
Valerius heard the sounds of battle in the distance and nodded to his troops. He joined nine others in hefting the heavy log and charged at the rear entrance. The battering ram slammed through the gate and they could already see the structure weaken. They did this three more times and the gate gave out. They dropped the log and quickly ran inside the fort. He left ten Footmen to guard the rear entrance while the rest of them flank the enemy from the back. The Captain looked around and noticed most of the tents were abandoned and saw the mercenaries running to the other side of the fort.
"Hand Cannons up, boys."
Back at the front gate, Alicia and her men held a steady line of shields and spears to keep back the mercenaries. Distracting them from Valerius' group as they charged from the back, Hand Cannons drawn and ready to fire. One arrow managed to slip through the shield and graze her neck. The Princess Knight growled before taking her frustration out on the mercenary in front of her by thrusting her spear to his heart and pushing his corpse back with her shield. The first line of Footmen did the same and pushed back the mercenaries. Alicia heard the sound of gunfire and the Black Dogs were surprised as their comrades in the back were shot down by another group of Footmen.
The Captain and his group switched to their swords and formed a wedge. The Footmen pierced the flank of the enemy lines and met the Black Dogs in melee combat. Valerius headbutted a mercenary he was locked blades with and kicked him down. He didn't give him the chance to recover as he switched to a reverse grip and buried his sword in the man's heart. He pulled the blade free and slammed his shield on the back of a Black Dog. The Footman he was fighting seized his opportunity and stabbed the downed mercenary's back.
Alicia's group began advancing slowly on the Black Dogs, pushing them further into Valerius' group. The mercenaries were slowly being encircled as their numbers grew thin. One tried to surrender only for his head to be cut clean off his body. The company continued to slaughter the mercenaries. Some met their end by sword or by spear. Severed limbs and heads or pierced hearts. This continued until only one was left. The Black Dog was cowering on the ground in a fetal position, bathing in the pool of blood on the ground. Sobbing as two Footmen stood over him, waiting for his doom and praying for repentance to the Goddess.
Alicia and Valerius walked over to the cowering Black Dog as the two Footmen kept him from fleeing. Around them, Footmen were taking everything they could find in the tents and piling them up before burning the tents. Valerius nodded for the two to get the mercenary on his feet and the two obeyed, grabbing him roughly by the arm and pulling him up to his feet. As soon as they pulled him up, the Captain noticed the dark spot forming on the man's pants and the smell of piss in the air.
"Alright, you've already embarrassed yourself so try and keep whatever dignity you have left, yes?" Valerius began. His voice flat as he glared at the cowering fool "We need information. Anything about Ansur and Thorn. About the Shrine Maiden and whatever Volt is planning. In exchange, we'll make your end quick and painless. That is if you cooperate but if you don't... "
He grabbed his hand cannon and aimed at the fool's crotch "I'm going to make sure you scream all night from pain until you give us what we want or until your lungs give out... Then I will kill you. Do you understand?"
Alicia's eyes widened in shock at the Captain's methods while the mercenary screamed for forgiveness "Captain, surely there must be another way other than... this?"
"No." Was his answer before grabbing the mercenary by the back of his head and pulled until the sobbing fool was looking at him "Tell me everything I need to know. Now!"
"P-Please... spare me... "
This got the Black Dog a punch in the gut and Valerius pulled his head back again "I will if you tell me what I want to know. Give me every information you know. So tell me!"
Valerius pulled the man's hair back harder, causing pain as the man felt some of his hair pulled out from his scalp. Alicia couldn't stomach it anymore and grabbed the Captain by the arm.
"That's enough!"
Silence fell as everyone in the fort stared at them. She didn't care. She just can't stand and let this go further. When he interrogated the mercenary she apprehended, he only asked questions and left the man tied to a tree. Why is this one different? More brutal.
"I can't let you do this, Captain. This... this isn't right. Prince Arthas told me that Footmen were stoic and honorable. Where is the Honor in this?"
"Honor?" Valerius asked. His voice laced with disbelief "You want to show scum like him Honor? They have no Honor! After everything they've done, what I'm doing to him is nothing compared to what they deserve. Every man, woman and child they hurt. Every innocent people they've killed. Families torn apart. Homes burnt. Have you seen what they've done to women? Do you know what they with do to you? They will break you. Physically and mentally. Trust me when I say that you will break. These scum will show you no mercy. When you think it's over, there will be another and another and another. You are a Knight. You fight the Black Dogs so your people won't have to live in fear because of the atrocities these monsters do. These scum are nothing more than dirt. A stain in Eostia that grows stronger with the suffering of her people and a danger to every Light damned being in this world. Light, these bastards are lower than dirt and I would give everything to see Volt's head on a pike and his body eaten by the crows!"
The two were glaring at each other. The Captain, who was much taller than Alicia, glared down at the Princess Knight who glared in return.
"But even so. No matter how vile they are, we should show Honor above all else even when they are defeated."
Valerius scoffed "Those headless mercenaries say otherwise. I saw it in your eyes. That hidden amount of satisfaction when you looked at your handiwork. Deep down, you enjoyed it. You hate the Black Dogs with every fiber of your being. Your words of Honor is nothing more than excuses to ease the guilt you felt every time you enjoy seeing them suffer and die."
"You lie!"
She pushed him back and drew her sword before striking. The Captain parried the blow with his own blade and the Princess Knight down.
"Your anger is making you sloppy." His voice flat and left no trace of his own anger from before "I've seen you fight better than this."
"SHUT UP!"
Alicia swung her sword upwards and managed to hit the Captain's helmet off and cut him vertically over his right eye. Valerius staggered back and raised his sword just in time lock blades with the Princess. Her eyes burned with anger as she glared at the Captain. Valerius kept a neutral expression despite the bleeding cut on his face. Without warning, he slammed his forehead against hers and pushed her back. He then kneed her in the gut before grabbing her by the shoulder and slamming her on the ground. He placed his foot on her chest and stopped her from getting up. He kicked away her sword as she tried to reach for it before leaning down.
"Enough."
She continued to struggle and began hitting his leg. Tears started to flow out of the corner of her eyes and her movements began to slow until she stopped altogether. Valerius looked up and saw the rest of the company staring at them. Some had reached for their swords but did not draw them. Unsure if they should intervene and stop the Captain from going too far.
"Leave us."
The Footmen were hesitant at first before obeying the order. They grabbed their haul and moved to sort it outside the fort. The Captain waited until they were alone before removing his foot.
"Get up."
Alicia didn't move and Valerius was forced to pull her up to her feet. Even then, she had to lean on him as she sobbed. The Captain wrapped an arm around her tried to soothe her.
"I'm sorry. I went too far. My words. My actions. I'm sorry."
Alicia's sobs quieted down but she refused to look at him "Y-You were right. I did feel satisfaction when I killed them. You were right about my excuses to hide that behind lies about Honor. I just... after the siege... what they almost did to me... what they've done to my people... I couldn't let go. I wanted every single one of them to suffer. But everything I've been thought. Honor, Nobility, Chivalry. It goes against what I feel about the Black Dogs. I didn't want anyone to see this side of me. Full of hate and rage. I-I didn't want Prim to see me like this or Arthas and Jaina. My Knights. My people. What kind of Knight am I to turn away from the very teachings I swore to never break? I horrible one."
"Child." Valerius sighed "You are still young. You have a whole life ahead of you. But remember this, you are Human. You can't always be the perfect Knight. Everyone has their flaws. Yours is the conflicting feelings you have about your rage. It's alright to feel such a thing. You have the choice to control your rage or let it go completely. But if you surrender to it, you will begin to lose yourself in an endless sea of hate. Clouding your choices. It will change you and only when it's too late will you realize the horror of what you've become. 'One's path will always be riddled with despair but surrender to it then you will be nothing more than a pathetic dog. Never cast away hope and live on with pride. Only then will you truly live.' Words passed down to me since I was a boy. Now I pass it to you, child."
Alicia looked to Valerius and saw the Captain was staring at the stars "How do you know this? Have you gone through this pain as well?"
"No... Dark have been my dreams of late. People I care about. Friends, comrades, all became tortured souls in their own way. Losing themselves to desperation, revenge, fear. It felt so real, no, it was real. I fear of what could've been, where all paths lead to pain and death. So much death. I hope and I pray to the Light that it would never come true."
Valerius kept his gaze into the heavens and Alicia joined him. They were silent and peaceful. Alicia would've fallen asleep had it not been for a Footman who ran towards them like Death himself was after him.
"My Lady! Captain!"
Valerius let his arm drop from Alicia and addressed the Footman "What's wrong?"
"The mercenary. He coughed up the information we need. Ansur is Black Dog's territory now and they'll use it to build an army in the East to siege Ken in two fronts. That was the general plan but Volt seemed confident he can conquer Geofu without entering Feoh and Ur's borders and Rad easily. If he does, he'll attack Ken from three sides. With the amount of monsters and mercenaries he has in his army, he hopes to take the city quickly before Lordaeron can intervene. But that's not the most disturbing part, sir."
"What is it?"
"The mercenary said that the Black Dogs never heard from the army they sent to Thorn. When they sent two companies of mercenaries to investigate, only one man made it out alive and retreated to Ansur. All he kept saying was Lok' Tar over and over again."
'Lok' Tar? Wait... Oh no... By the Light. Please, not them.' Valerius thought as he felt something like a cold grip in his heart.
"Did they get anything else from him?"
'Please say no. Please say no.'
The Footman looked down in defeat "Yes... They say he only said it once but they heard it loud and clear."
Valerius dreaded to hear it. Hoped and prayed not to hear it. Alicia, on the other hand, was confused. Why had the Captain froze? And why does the Footman look like he wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible?
"What did he say?"
"The Horde is coming."