23 - In The Darkest Places, There Be Light
Although it had seemed they would have ample time to dismantle the majority of the war machines, dawn was fast approaching. Apart from guards needing to be dealt with, swiftly and above all else, quietly, the added difficulty of one or two of the devices being cocked, hindered progress. Disarmament, therefore, required more than just the three boys. Others had to provide balance so the counterweights didn't cause the machines to fire; albeit minus ammunition, they would still have made enough noise to rouse the orcs.
As it was, the number of successfully decommissioned weapons would at least give the Alliance a respectable stay from the amount of heavy artillery.
The indigo sky was starting to wane and a sliver of fuchsia and gold cut across the horizon. The thick cloud cover above, however, heralded a downpour heading inland. The rogues had to leave and quickly. Sa'themar grouped his team. "We need to get to the tree line. Move!" Melding with the remaining shadows the troupe made their way to the woods.
Sauren kept looking over his shoulder in hope of seeing the other groups making their way to safety. It was impossible to tell – distance and daybreak affecting his ability to detect them amid the enemy camp. Worse still, the slumbering giants were starting to stir. Shouts from within the camp erupted as the rogues' work was already being discovered.
As soon as the troupe reached their destination, they started to vanish, two at a time. The most subtle of signifiers resulted from the teleports and did not attract unwanted attention. Sa'themar and Sauren were the last to be transported.
Back behind the city walls, the defenders were preparing for another day of battle. The projectiles for the ballistae and more barrels of oil were hoisted on the lifts to a chorus of grunts from those operating pulleys and heaving the items aboard the platforms.
Archers resumed their posts on the battlements, concealed by the merlons, loaded quivers on their backs and extra arrows lined up in bundles against the wall.
The clank and rattle of mail and plate armour sounded as the king's soldiers moved into position, more being deployed in the plaza and near the city entrance.
Springalds were shifted and primed again in front of the gates, their iron-tipped javelins placed in large containers at the side of each weapon. Four men were assigned to each machine and lines of soldiers stood behind them, swords and pikes at the ready.
The rogues' work during the night would certainly save the city from as vicious a battering as it had suffered on the first day of the siege - at least for a while. The Horde's remaining weapons would need to be re-positioned in order to do sizeable damage; a time-consuming task in itself considering the terrain but no doubt quicker than trying to repair the damage the rogues' had caused.
In order to compensate for the loss of some of their most effective weaponry, it was, therefore, the consensus of opinion that the Horde would have no alternative but to utilise their infantry. They would no doubt work harder at mining under the gate tower and use battering rams to forge forward in a desperate attempt to breach the city gates and walls.
Even the plate helms of soldiers could not disguise the fear on their faces. These fierce, enormous brutes from another world were on the verge of breaking through one of the last Alliance strongholds. The dawn air was heavy with trepidation and dread. It would take a highly motivational speech from their monarch this morning to allay the creeping sense of doom. It did not help that inclement weather was now upon them, adding to the bleakness of the day ahead. Drops of rain dully tinging off armour and splatting on the ground gradually built like a steady, forlorn timpani.
The rogues who had returned so far were bloodied and weary. Their short fitful rests during the previous day and early evening had only imbued them with enough spark to carry out the night's work. Now they were starting to flag. Those who had suffered injury were ordered to return to the guild headquarters and were not to come back until their leader deemed it practical. The others would have to endure the coming onslaught for a while longer.
Sa'themar ordered Brett to wait and ensure the remaining rogues adhered to his orders. He needed a moment with his son. He turned severe eyes to the boy and gestured to the small courtyard where the magi had teleported them out the night before.
Sauren huffed, glancing at his two friends. They stared back, silent, affording only the smallest of nods. With fists clenching, the half-elf followed his father.
Sa'themar turned once they were out of earshot from the others. He glared down at his son who stood defiantly. Rigid. Seething still. "What is it you expect of me?" he asked Sauren.
The half-elf's lips tightened, his eyes flitting to the side as he mustered a reply. "Recognition!"
Sa'themar guffawed. "For what? Foolishness? Stupidity? Then you have it - tenfold."
Sauren fought the sting of tears. He had not expected such an unfair retort. A moment or two passed and he composed himself. He swallowed and looked straight into his father's eyes. His inner fire noticeably took Sa'themar by surprise. "I was foolish once, father and I paid the price," he indicated where the troll's spear had wounded him. "And I have had enough of this city looking down on me without you doing it too."
The guild leader flinched but he waited for Sauren to voice his piece.
"I am well aware of who and what you are, father; a renowned defender of the realm, an esteemed leader of a guild which I truly believe will go from strength to strength. You are respected and loved by many. You are also a loyal subject to your king – Anasterian."
The guild leader made to speak but his son forged on. "Your service to the human king is only out of devotion to your late wife, my mother; a woman who I never knew but felt her love for me through a painting hung on your study wall." Sauren's acidic tone hit a nerve, the effect of which made Sa'themar lower his eyes. The boy continued. "Yes, a portrait of my pregnant mother somehow reaches out to me. Strange considering she had only lived long enough to name me."
"Sauren..." his father began.
The boy cut him off by turning away. "I know you have done well by me, father. You saw to my being cared for - by some anyway, others were - well, debatable..." A fleeting memory of Mrs Dalton crossed his mind's eye. "Nevertheless, I put up with a lot of hostility from the humans in this city. The hatred for the likes of me, a half-breed, was ripe when I was a child and there are still traces of it today."
At that moment, Brett came to the edge of the courtyard and shouted to the guild leader that all the rogues were back. Sa'themar acknowledged him with a wave and stepped forward. "Sauren, this is not the time..."
The half-elf spun round, his face contorted. "Not the time?" he said incredulously. "You took me aside. That said, however, this is probably one of the few times I will have a chance to say what needs to be said because normally you are away and when you are here you seem determined to keep me wrapped up in swaddling."
The high elf halted and faced his son again; a look of wounded discomfiture written on his weathered features. "Very well, say what you need to."
Sauren moved directly in front of his father. "Many hate me for who I am, what I am, but I can now brush that off. Why? Because I am your son. I am strong, learned, focused and yes, I will lead this guild one day. I will maintain and increase its prosperity with pride and notability."
His father's jaw tightened and an indecipherable flash crossed his eyes. He knew his son had not finished and so once more waited for him to continue.
"What I did out there..." the boy's asseveration was embellished with a hand gesture indicating the battlefield. "...was notable, father, and it was in keeping with your own instructions. But, furthermore, I saw something which you missed. Something, which had I let it slide, would have cost you greatly. At least acknowledge it for what it was." Sauren's eyes burned, his indignation being forcefully kept in check.
Sa'themar's tongue slid across his upper lip and he swallowed for all his mouth was dry. With a deep breath, he answered his son. "I am and always have been proud of you, Sauren. I am also guilty of wanting to protect you; that is something you will experience one day when you have a family of your own, so I make no apologies for that." His eyes narrowed as he noted no give in his son's disposition. "I concede, you did indeed thwart a very unpleasant outcome and so yes, I commend you for that." He deliberately waited until Sauren's eyes softened before continuing. "Nonetheless, should you ever operate in a nocuous manner, or a judgement call of yours proves detrimental to the troupe, then I will discharge you with immediate effect."
Sauren drew himself up, slightly stiffened by the warning, but accepting of the penalty which befell all who put the troupe at risk. He bowed to his father then made to join the rest of the rogues.
"By the way," Sa'themar called after him. Sauren stopped and slowly turned to face his father again. "You forgot to mention the most important quality of being leader one day."
The half-elf raised his chin, his demeanour somewhat challenging and waited for his father to finish.
"Above all Sauren, you must lead with integrity."
The mahogany eyes crinkled as a smile smoothed across his lips. "Of course, father. That goes without saying."
Although he could not rationalize his misgivings, Sa'themar's smile hid a tinge of uncertainty.
Sauren left the courtyard, his face stony as he passed Brett who waited for the guild leader.
The right-hand man grunted, used to the boy's dismissive behaviour towards him. Whatever had been said between father and son, he had no doubt somehow, the half-elf had come away a little more triumphant than when he had gone in. A weary Sa'themar approached him, his eyes following his son as the boy rejoined his friends.
"Everything alright?" Brett asked.
The high elf nodded. "Yes..." He sighed deeply before turning his full attention back to the human rogue. "How is everyone else faring?"
Brett glanced behind at the troupe. "I have sent some back to headquarters as you ordered. Once they have rested I suggest we swap out those still here." His eyes rested on Sauren and his two sidekicks.
"Yes, I will go with that," the guild leader responded.
"You yourself should rest," Brett suggested.
Sa'themar shook his head, the silver mane swishing as he did so. "No, not yet."
Brett knew the guild leader would not leave his son so he did not argue the point.
The sound of rising voices suddenly drew their attention; a warning. Next, a loud boom near the gates indicated the start of the day's assault. The defenders sprang into action.
"Seems they managed to get some of the other catapults in place then," Brett shrugged.
The guild leader grimaced. "So it seems. Still, it should not be quite as fierce as yesterday."
They gathered the rogues about them. "We may have a repeat of some of the tasks we performed yesterday," Sa'themar announced to the attentive faces. "There is also a high chance, the orcs will manage to break through as they will focus on destroying the gate tower. So I want some to remain here and work with the soldiers."
He cast his eyes to the top of the wall. King Terenas had taken his place on the battlements once again. After a moment's reflection, he recalled a comment made by Sauren the day before, one which although not denied by the king, neither had he confirmed he had acted upon it. As the Horde would now focus on pushing through and namely under the gate tower, it would be prudent to investigate his son's suggestion. His eyes then locked with Sauren's. "Yesterday, you mentioned a possible labyrinth beneath the city," he said matter-of-factly.
Sauren grinned. "Yes, I did."
The guild leader chose his words carefully. "From your studies, do you think you could locate a way in?"
The half-elf nodded. "I believe it should be relatively easy. There are common denominators in such designs."
"Very well. Take Reed and Don with you and once you find it, let me know. A group of us shall then go underground and be ready to meet the enemy."
Sauren smirked and nodded in acquiescence. He turned and headed towards the Keep with Reed and Don in close pursuit.
Two more loud booms were heard and felt as the gigantic boulders hit the defending wall.
"Was that a ruse to keep him out of harm's way?" Brett asked Sa'themar.
The high elf managed a tight grin. "Not quite. Firstly, I think he had a valid point. The Horde will push to gain entry into the city and if we do not cover all bases, we could be overrun. Hopefully, they will not succeed in their attempts at mining under us. Secondly, since he was a boy, he always excelled at finding secret entrances, doorways, passages and the likes, to hide. He thinks I do not know." A soft, reflective smile curved his lips. "If there is a way in, I suspect Sauren will find it."
"Are you mad?" Don asked Sauren as they weaved their way through the back streets of Capital City.
"I'm as crazy as a murloc!" Sauren threw back over his shoulder with a grin before leaping and yanking a sheet from an overhead washing line. Not understanding his actions but deducing it was relevant, the two boys did the same when approaching another array of sheets between buildings.
"Who in their right mind hangs out a washing during a war?" Don commented, laughing.
"And in the rain," Reed piped in.
Sauren joined in the mirth. "Women are strange creatures but sometimes their fickle ways are to our advantage."
"No kidding!" Reed added, tripping on the end of his sheet. He righted his stride and scurried after his two friends.
Sauren slowed and finally drew to a halt as they neared the Keep. His eyes darted around taking note of the guards still present. "There are likely only enough to protect the royal family within," he muttered to his friends. "The majority are with the king."
"So this time we go in through the front door?" Don asked.
Sauren smiled. "In a manner of speaking. Keep your eyes peeled for anyone going about." He indicated the sheets.
"A bit of a giveaway, are they not?" Don smirked handing his over.
"Hardly what you would call crisp-white and with all this rain they will soon blend in with the colour of the stone."
Quickly, Sauren tied the ends together before moving to the edge of the wall which bordered the Keep. "If my estimations are correct, then on the other side of this wall are the gardens we passed through with Leola."
He reached into his boot and pulled out his anelace. Securing it to the end of the sheet, he then took a step back. Circling the makeshift rope above his head he threw it up towards the iron railings. He failed. He tried again and on the third attempt, it caught – the anelace wedged nicely between railings. After testing it was anchored securely and would support his weight, he started to climb.
Once he reached the top he signalled for the other two to follow, then jumped down into the grounds of the Keep and waited for them in amongst some shrubbery.
He had correctly guessed their location and spied the doorway the concubine had led them through. The three of them melded with their surroundings and moved swiftly and quietly to the doorway. As suspected, guards were sparse but the rogues were under no delusion that they would be lax in their duties.
They slipped into the chamber. On reaching the tapestry which secreted the way into the catacombs, they pulled it aside searching for a locking mechanism. One slightly protruding stone was the key. Sauren pushed it and the door groaned as it gave way. "We have to risk leaving it slightly open, the tapestry should provide cover."
The eerie stone stairwell was no more comforting for Don than it had been the first time he descended. The catacombs were still one of the most unsettling places to be ensconced. He shivered slightly as they stole their way down.
The rogues moved quietly and swiftly, keeping themselves blended in shadow. They made their way along the passage towards the pool of pleasure and through the opening on the other side. Sauren duly noted torches lit along the passageways. It would suggest someone had been there recently – perhaps King Terenas took on board his suggestion and had the way scouted after all. He grinned to himself - the queen would not be happy.
Their descent was not yet complete and they continued into the bowels of Capital City. Occasionally, Sauren stopped to listen, trying to detect any tell-tale sounds. Other than dripping water and the whispering echoes of their footfalls there was nothing to suggest the enemy had broken through. Nonetheless, he knew it was still a fair way before they reached the defence wall and pressed on in the direction his senses advised him to go.
Further down the acoustics changed and so did the smell. As the boys emerged from a dank passageway, the sight which met their eyes halted them in their tracks.
"By the gods! What is this place?" Reed gasped.
The catacombs opened into a vast maze of chambers, walkways and small bridges interlocking over a stagnant river. Movement in the water drew the boys' eyes, their hands reaching for their daggers. Gaseous bubbles from the sewage and rats which swam across it were all that moved the dark water. High above them, the craggy stone ceilings afforded soft shards of light from the city's drainage inlets. It was enough though to make out the general layout in front of them.
"In the darkest places, there be light," Sauren uttered, astounded by the sheer amplitude of the place. "It's an under city beneath our very home. Surely, the king is aware of this at least!"
"How could he not be?" Don said in awe, peering over at the water then scrunching up his face as a gaseous bubble popped emitting a foul stink.
"It was something Leola said to me..."
"She has to have been mistaken then," Reed injected, his eyes also scanning the enormous underground metropolis. "Perhaps it is she who is unaware of anything other than the queen's pleasure pool."
Sauren cocked his eyebrows and shrugged. "You could be right."
A new sound caught the boys' attention.
Don crouched. "Did you..?"
"Shh!" Sauren put up his hand.
They held their breaths, waiting to hear the noise again and hear it they did. This time there was no denying it; the sound of armour and steel clunking in the distance.
Sauren signalled they move ahead towards the sound, he needed to find out exactly what was going on before he sent word back to his father. They moved up over a nearby bridge and once on the other side stole into the shadows again.
Progressing, they saw rows of weaponry and armour set out in one of the wide recesses. There was no mistaking now the King certainly had taken Sauren's suggestion seriously. On one hand, this was good; it proved his sagacious mind was considered worthy in the eyes of the monarchy. On the other, however, it also pointed towards the very real threat of the enemy breaking through.
There was no denying the relief all the boys felt when voices drifting towards them were none other than that of soldiers of Lordaeron. It was short-lived when they overheard the soldiers discussing the orcs were now making rapid ground - they could literally be heard chipping and digging their way closer.
Sauren moved into another darkened embrasure, signalling his two friends join him post-haste. "Go back and tell my father the enemy is nearly through," he whispered to Reed.
His friend nodded. "What about you two?"
"We will wait here for the time being, but if they breach the walls before you return, we will have to fight." Sauren wished him good luck and then watched as he made quick progress back the way they had come.