Chapter 17

20 hours later …

Sylvanas scowled as she looked down into the fjord. Before them stood a massive castle-like structure with vicious harpoons placed at every crenel in the battlements. Despite the fearsome nature of Utgarde Keep, that was not the reason for her scowl. She was looking at a half-built settlement not far from it. The sun was too low to have cleared the cliffs yet and it looked cold, steam rising from various buildings.

"I'm going to assume that is not the reason you warned me against sailing us up the fjord," she said quietly.

Alyna shook her head. "No, my Lady. I had no idea the Alliance were here." She looked along the cliff they were on. Further down from their position were large structures hanging over the cliffs with more harpoons aimed down into the fjord. She gestured at them. "I was concerned about the vrykul. The Alliance must have taken heavy causalities to establish that fort."

Sylvanas looked towards the entrance to the bay below. She could see the wreckage of several Alliance ships. One was somehow halfway up the narrow cliffs and stuck between them, burning. She looked back at the fort. It was under continuous attack by the vrykul from the keep. "Fools." Her ranger-lieutenant gave her a strange look. "If you have something to say, just say it."

Despite looking a little nervous, Alyna eventually replied, "That could have been us." The queen responded with a short laugh, but she felt her humour dissipate as Alyna continued, "After fighting your way through all that, would you really have called for a retreat?"

Sylvanas felt her anger rise. She was about to scold Alyna for daring to call her reckless, but she stopped. As she looked at Alyna's face and posture, and as she processed the words, she realised there was no challenge or malice to them. The simple answer was no, she would not have called for a retreat. Her ego and her sheer determination to make Arthas pay for what he had done would have overrode any higher thinking. She pinched the bridge of her nose as she mulled it all over.

"I understand," she started. "He knows how much I want revenge. He will use that against us any way he can." She dropped her hand to look at Alyna. "I need to be smart about this."

Alyna nodded slowly. "He knows you, my Lady." She shrugged slightly. "He knows me too. And he'll use that knowledge to punish us for rallying against him. If we are to ever get close to him, we need to stop being what he created, what he expects us to be, and be … more."

Sylvanas regarded Alyna with appreciation. Would she have accepted such advice from anyone else? She doubted it. She did wonder if Alyna truly appreciated what her own words meant though with regards to herself.

"For me, that is not letting my nature get the better of me. But do you realise what that means for you, Alyna?"

The woman winced and looked away. When she spoke, even Sylvanas' elven ears had trouble hearing her. "He expects me to keep rejecting his 'gift'; to keep myself weaker than my kin because of my disgust for it. He probably doesn't see me as the threat I should be as a result."

She knew Alyna was torn, and she thought she understood. Alyna had spent her entire existence trying to rebel against what she was, whether it was being a noble, a mage, or a darkfallen. Accepting what she had become would require a fundamental shift in her psyche.

As Alyna looked at her with her black eyes, Sylvanas felt something inside her shift, again. Her ranger was increasingly having that affect on her it would seem. She had adored Alyna's dark blue eyes in life and had frequently got lost in them. Now, she felt her black eyes almost sucked her in, and she found she didn't mind at all.

The banshee queen edged closer and placed a hand on the torn woman's shoulder. "You'd still be you."

"Will I be?" came the fearful response as she looked away again.

Sylvanas smiled slightly. "If there's one thing I know about you, Alyna, it's that you always find a way." She tilted her head and squeezed Alyna's shoulder slightly. "Not so long ago, this conversation wouldn't have been possible. I … would not have listened. Will I ever be who I was before we died? No. But I can still become someone I can live with. Someone you'll be proud of." She chuckled lightly. "And if I can start such a journey, so can you. When you're ready."

She felt Alyna almost lean into her hand. "I'm not sure I can control it. The hunger … it fuels itself. The more I take, the more I want. The more powerful I feel, the more elation I get. It's intoxicating, and addictive."

"The best people to have power, are those who do not want it," came her steady response. That got Alyna's attention and she gave Sylvanas a curious look. "But you need to stop fearing it. Give it a very healthy respect, absolutely, and that will keep you from abusing it as …" Sylvanas felt something akin to shame fill her. She lowered her voice as she continued, "… as I did."

She dropped her hand from Alyna's shoulder. "I never asked for power, and perhaps that's why the Forsaken kept giving it to me. Their trust, their fears, their certainty that I would solve all of their problems and guide them to stability ... it was all dropped into my lap." She sat back as the memories of the early days of the Forsaken came back to her. "I used to worry about it, and it kept me from stepping over the line. And then I stopped. I took it for granted as what I needed to defeat Arthas. So, when you came, I didn't even think before I imprisoned you."

Alyna shook her head slowly. "I think that's what scares me. You always knew where that line was before, and you always kept from crossing it. I don't want the same thing to happen to me."

"Did I, Alyna? Did I always know? Or was it you who always made sure I kept on the right side of it?"

They looked at each other for long moments as Sylvanas let the words sink in. The long sea voyages had given her a lot of time to think. She knew her words were true. She also knew it was her turn to be the support, for once. It was time she gave back to Alyna instead of just take, and now was the time Alyna needed the most help.

Slowly, she raised her gloved fingers to Alyna's cheek. "You're not alone. I can't keep you at my side all the time, but you are not alone in this. Whatever you need, I will grant you." She gave Alyna a hopefully comforting smile. "And if you try to cross the line, or even do so, I'll be here to pull you back."

Alyna just stared at her. She would have killed to know what the woman was thinking, but instead she just dropped her hand and gave her a brief nod to confirm her own words.

She felt the loss of the fingers on her cheek. Sylvanas' familiar touch brought a sense of calm to the otherwise constant turmoil inside her, and had done so for weeks now. She had missed it lately as she had been able to start suppressing her urges, and not go to Sylvanas for help. She had not wanted to press the queen for such things and push her luck with the woman's patience. It had surprised her when she realised she missed their intimacy now she wasn't driven to seek it.

As for the queen's words, she wanted to believe she could rely on Sylvanas to be there for her for her sake, and not for the queen's own reasons. She had certainly listened to Alyna's warning recently without snapping at her. She had also trusted Alyna enough to not question her advice in battle. Was she really trying to change, or was it all a ruse to get what she wanted?

It didn't sound like one.

"I'm not sure what to say, my Lady. Thank you." She looked up at the sun, desperately wanting something else to focus on. "The sun is getting higher. Our shadows will be visible soon as it clears the cliffs if we don't move."

"Then, we must move." Sylvanas didn't even look at the sun to make the judgement for herself. Alyna felt she would have if it had been anyone else giving her the information. It was as if they were a team again.

Together, they silently moved back from the edge and into the bushes with Alyna leading the way. She guided them back the way they had come towards their horses. Still some way out, she felt Sylvanas tap her arm. "I want to get a better look at the vrykul town." Alyna wasn't sure it was a good idea, but she obeyed, and adjusted their path.

The town overlooked the fjord on one side, but the rest was surrounded by thick forest. With great care, Alyna moved nearer, careful not to leave any sign of their passage. Wherever she trod, she knew Sylvanas was placing her own feet. If they did leave a mark, the vrykul may only expect there to be one of them. When they were near the edge of the forest, she looked around for a suitable tree to climb. Most were pine trees of some type, and she eventually found one with low enough branches to scale without being seen. Sylvanas followed, and they knelt side by side together on a thick bough.

The vrykul homes were mostly long and low, with the long ridge at the top of the roof extending away from the building and carved into a stylised dragonhead. The land was raised in the east with a large, grand home on top. Two large towers were in the northeast and southeast corners, with guards on watch on platforms near the top. Red banners with a dark dragon skull emblazoned on them hung throughout the town.

Alyna spoke quietly. "The town is called Nifflevar, though it was the size of a village the last I saw of it. It belongs to the Dragonflayer clan."

"Why such an increase in size?"

Alyna had fully briefed the queen on the vrykul, but she realised the amount of information she had told Sylvanas lately would have made it difficult for details to be memorable. She decided to give her a brief overview. "For unknown reasons, the vrykul placed their entire race into a deep sleep around fifteen thousand years ago. They started waking up a few years ago, probably due to the influence of the Lich King. When Arthas realised he had an entire warrior race available, he wanted them recruited."

Sylvanas nodded, "And you were sent to secure their loyalty."

The darkfallen ranger gave her a confirming nod. "Yes. Along with Keleseth. If they wouldn't serve in life, we were to kill them and have them serve in death."

"It appears they chose life," mused the queen.

"For the most part, yes. The vrykul see the Lich King as a death god, especially after he discovered the val'kyr and bound them to his service. They saw that as the ultimate confirmation of his power."

Sylvanas looked at Alyna. "The val'kyr being their best female warriors who have ascended into undeath?"

Alyna sighed. "Sort of. I don't really understand what happens to them, even though I oversaw the process for a nearly a year." She gestured to the northwest. "In Icecrown, the home of the Lich King, the vrykul women fight in a regular tournament, and the victor is transformed by Arthas into a val'kyr. They exist between life and death, and are able to move between both at will. The val'kyr then watch the other vrykul fight throughout Northrend. Once done, the combatants are judged by them. Those considered worthy are given their blessing, and become Ymirjar, the elite warriors of the Lich King's new army. The losers are cursed, and become disgraced vargul. They're undead labourers, but they still retain part of who they are. Enough for them to know of their fate, and to resent it."

The queen shook her head sadly. "It amazes me that any intelligent race would aspire to be honoured by Arthas."

"Their warrior nature drives them. They see him as able to give them glorious victories."

"Who rules them?"

Alyna looked into the town through the branches and pine needles. "Right now, I'm not sure. The Dragonflayer clan are the dominant clan. They had a king before they went to sleep, though he had not been found by the time I left for the Eastern Kingdoms. The deal I struck was with their recently awoken queen, Angerboda. She had slept near here, while her husband was secured in the mountains north of here in a fortress they call Gjalerbron. Unfortunately, even mountains can move in fifteen thousand years, and they couldn't find his chamber. With so many vrykul now awake, I think they have at least found other chambers if not his."

Sylvanas was scowling as she followed Alyna's gaze. "Arthas has his army."

"One of several," Alyna reminded her queen. "He has the vrykul, the undead nerubian spider people, the dragons he has been raising, and the higher Scourge such as the darkfallen. Then there's the countless mindless undead."

The queen shook her head. "We can't come near those numbers. Not even with the Alliance."

"No, but the majority of undead can't think for themselves," Alyna pointed out. "They need direction and control. If we remove their generals in battles spread across Northrend, to prevent any formation of a mass army, then we have a chance to get to Arthas."

Sylvanas gave her a grateful look. "I am glad you came with me to Orgrimmar. They would never have agreed to split our forces had you not explained that possibility." She then looked at the town, her ears flicking. Alyna heard the sounds too, and followed her eyes. The vrykul were starting to gather below the raised land that held their leader's home. "I really want to see what that's about."

Alyna's eyes widened. "Your Majesty, I strongly advise against that. They have mystics who would detect our use of stealth, if not see us outright."

She received an almost flirtatious grin in response. "You forget, I'm a banshee. I could easily possess one of these vrykul."

"And if you said the wrong thing at the wrong time, they would kill your vessel and you with it." It was Alyna's turn to scowl. "I cannot let you do that."

"Then what do you suggest, Ranger-Lieutenant?" She was still smiling. Alyna had no idea why.

They both then heard the sounds of laughter approaching from behind them. By the look of it, older children were arriving home from gathering fruits and berries from deeper in the forest. Alyna looked up to Sylvanas to find the queen already looking at her with a raised eyebrow.

Very quietly, Sylvanas whispered, "I'm not the only one who can take over another."

Realisation flashed through Alyna's mind. Sylvanas was right, and Alyna could also do it from a distance. She closed her eyes. All it would cost … was a child's life. She had no moral objection to the physical price, her soulstate being what it was. But was she ready to take the next step towards becoming all she could be?

She didn't want to disappoint her queen.

She dropped down from the tree and was able to land silently despite the distance. The children were going to pass nearby, so she crouched down and used the bushes that grew on the forest floor for cover. As they were about to pass by, she drew on the shadows and fully stealthed herself so she could stand up without being seen. They were children, but they were vrykul children, and the shortest of them was already taller than her. They ran past her carrying sacks and baskets full of what they had found. The fastest and strongest led the way, as she knew they inevitably would. Her eyes fixed on the girl trying to keep up at the rear. She hadn't fallen behind her peers by much, but it was enough. Almost casually, the darkfallen removed her gauntlets and tucked them into her belt.

Alyna was close enough all she had to do was reach out, and she did. She grasped the girl's mouth and shoulder, spinning her around to get her off balance. The other children ran on, oblivious to the girl's muffled cries. Alyna pushed the girl to the ground and lay on her, using her body to control her. She was vrykul, but Alyna had her undead strength. She pressed herself into the girl's chest, restricting her breathing as she pulled down the protective fur clothing that covered the child's neck. Carefully, she sank her fangs into the girl. She didn't want any bruises or marks on her to show once she was done.

Unlike her normal victims, Alyna didn't drain much blood from the girl. She needed just enough for the girl's life essence to start coursing through Alyna and be corrupted. She held the girl close for the few minutes that would take. The next step was always the trickiest, but she had come to understand the nature of a frightened animal and would use that to her advantage. She slowly loosened her tight grip on the girl's mouth, just enough to allow her to move her jaw.

Predictably, the first thing the vrykul did was bite Alyna as hard as she could. Which was exactly what she had wanted. She forced her wounded fingers between the girl's lips so she had no choice but to consume some of the black blood she had drawn from her captor. Black blood that would seal her fate. Alyna closed her eyes as the girl jerked and spasmed in her arms. Quickly, the girl went still, and Alyna could feel her presence at the back of her mind. She was her vassal now and she would obey her completely.

She stood, and willed the girl to do the same. Alyna regarded her slowly, and adjusted the girl's clothing to show no sign of the struggle or the bite.

Take what you have gathered, and join your people. They are coming together for something. You will be amongst them.

Wordlessly, the girl obeyed. As she jogged away, Alyna went back to the tree Sylvanas had watched the whole process from, and climbed it to kneel next to her queen again. She noted Sylvanas had her bow ready, in case any of the other children had decided to investigate their missing friend.

"Well done," she said quietly.

Alyna gave her a nod. She was trying not to really think about what she had just done, but it felt good to have her queen's appreciation. She looked at her bitten hand and willed the wound to heal. The skin closed within seconds, and she pulled her gauntlets back on.

"Are you in direct control of her?" asked Sylvanas.

Alyna shook her head. "Not at this moment. She is still … intact, but her will is my will. If she tries to do or say anything I do not approve of, my will subverts her own. Though, she shouldn't do that. Part of my curse instils a desire to please me, and even rewards her with a feeling of pleasure should she earn it. I can see and hear everything she does." She knew exactly who that made her sound like. She ignored it and her own hypocrisy.

"And you can still see and talk to me?" Sylvanas seemed surprised. It would appear the queen had assumed Alyna would be in a trance.

Alyna nodded. Images were flashing through the back of her mind along with voices. She had learnt a few years ago how to separate it from her own sense of self to prevent from being overwhelmed by it. She had become skilled enough to have up to four vassals at any one time, though she had normally kept it at three.

"Yes. It took some time to get used to it, but it's second nature to me now."

They sat in silence for a few minutes and watched as the crowd gathered. Her vassal had moved forward to stand with the other youths near the front. The vrykul language was an ancient form of Common, and she could hear the banter and boasts of those around. She realised the assembly was a regular one.

Sylvanas gave her a concerned look. "Are you okay?"

Alyna blinked and turned to look at her queen. "Me? Yes. I'm just listening. It seems they have these gatherings every few days."

The queen reached out and brushed two fingers along Alyna's cheek, before she gently took hold of Alyna's chin. She was looking at her lips as she spoke. "You haven't come to me for a while."

"Now?" She heard herself say. "Now you want to have this talk?"

Sylvanas shrugged slightly and looked away. "I feel it is one that'll be had sometime soon."

Alyna watched Sylvanas carefully. "I am not overwhelmed anymore by carnal urges. I can now supress them. The sleep sticks you've given me also help, as has the privacy you have afforded me on the Windrunner." She tilted her head slightly. "I thought … you'd be relieved."

The queen looked up into the tree canopy, avoiding Alyna's black gaze. "My initial reluctance aside, I have … enjoyed … our liaisons." Her ears drooped slightly and Alyna realised she was feeling sad. "I wanted to forget you. So, I did, though not completely. Being alone didn't bother me because no one could ever replace you. Now you're here, and I find I am not so comfortable being alone anymore."

Alyna was stunned into silence. So much so that she completely missed the emergence of the clan's thane. The first thing she knew about it was when his voice boomed through her mind, which caused her to jump.

"Dragonflayers! Today, we have an honoured guest at our meet! He comes with a message from the God of Death himself." The large white-haired vrykul turned to his home as a familiar form exited and strode gracefully towards him. "Be welcome, Prince Keleseth. We await the words of our god!"

As he spoke, Alyna repeated his words quietly for Sylvanas. The crowd grew closer together, pressing forward to make sure they could hear the proclamation.

Keleseth surveyed the crowd before stretching out his arms to encompass them. "Loyal subjects of the Lich King! I bring you good news! He has found your beloved leader, King Ymiron, as a gift for your loyalty. Even now, your queen is at his side working to wake him to lead you to glory!"

The crowd cheered with great enthusiasm at the news. Alyna made sure her vassal joined in. After allowing a minute of celebration, Keleseth gestured for silence. The crowd obediently obeyed.

"To celebrate the glorious rise of the Vrykul people, the Lich King has decreed that more of your warriors will be given the right to fight for his blessing and ascension, so that the Dragonflayer clan can take their rightful place as the vanguard of his army."

Behind the san'layn, a winged figure faded into view. Her body was an ethereal grey-white, and clad in dark leather-like armour and straps. She wore a dark helm with stylised wings angled up to create two horned spikes. It covered her face down to her mouth, though her eyes were not required for sight. Her black wings flapped to keep her hovering, though at a closer look they turned to white towards the edges. The crowd reacted to her with awe and reverence.

Alyna heard Sylvanas gasp at the sight. She had been very curious about the val'kyr, and was seeing one for the first time. Alyna had the opposite reaction. "My Lady, we need to go," she said urgently.

The val'kyr's voice was deep and otherworldly as she spoke. "Those who wish to face the challenges of ascension, step forward."

Sylvanas was about to object having seen something of interest, but one look at Alyna's face convinced her to start climbing down the tree. Alyna followed. She started to guide Sylvanas away from the town as quickly as she dared.

Near two-dozen males and females began moving through the crowd to make themselves known to the val'kyr. As they did, the val'kyr surveyed them and the crowd. Her masked gaze finally rested on Alyna's vassal. Being so near the front, the girl was within hearing range of the conversation that followed.

"What is going on?" hissed Sylvanas as they started to jog.

"My curse … the val'kyr will see it. It protects my vassals from undeath and she will see she cannot alter her soul."

Sylvanas grunted. "And then they'll look for us."

Me, not us, thought Alyna. But she kept her reply to herself as she heard and saw through her vassal.

"Blood Prince, why have you a vassal here?"

The san'layn turned to look up at the val'kyr, confusion in his voice. "I have no vassal here."

The val'kyr raised an arm and pointed right at the girl. "Her blood is cursed."

Keleseth looked at the girl, and then sneered. "How nice of you to join us, dear sister. I did wonder if you were hiding in that pathetic camp the rebels have built. Not to worry. We'll be reunited, soon enough."

Alyna snarled as she projected her words through the girl. "I look forward to killing you, brother."

His dark eyes narrowed as he raised his arm. "You were never worthy of his gift." Red tendrils began to tear away from her vassal, flying through the air to be absorbed by Keleseth. She felt the agony of his feeding through the girl as she screamed.

Alyna stumbled as the pain made her body convulse. Sylvanas wrapped an arm around her waist to catch her. Alyna closed her eyes and tried to breathe through the pain. She focused on her vassal, pushing deeper into the girl to focus on her heart. She stopped it beating. She felt the girl start to fall before she died, her presence then gone from her mind. The tension from her body left, and she looked up to see the concern in Sylvanas' face.

"I'm okay."

"He attacked the girl?" guessed Sylvanas.

Alyna nodded. "We need to go." She stood, and the queen retrieved her arm from around her waist. As before, her waist felt like something was missing once the arm was gone. She ignored it for now, as both women started to sprint back to their horses.