Apologize for the late update but once again my Internet broke down, this time due to a cable failure somewhere along the way to our house. Only took them about 2 years to figure that one out. Anyway, so I've been without Internet for a week but now I'm back and with a new chapter for you guys! Hope you like it!
Wargana cursed herself for her weakness. Allowing herself to be caught out like that... She should've sensed it! She didn't have her energies soaring around her for nothing! But it hadn't, she forced herself to realize; it had been holding on to the "amber", as the smith called it. Even if she had what good would it have done? Would she have turned and killed them in the middle of the mantids sanctuary? No. She was smarter than that. Even with her energy swirling around her it would've made little change; the mantids would've beaten her anyway. Perhaps she would've been able to prevent some of the damages with a shield but after all she had gone through the past... hours? Days? Weeks? How long had she been there? There was no sun in the Dread Wastes, only a thick cloud of darkness with the tainted ting of sha all over it that made her shiver every time she looked up.
The sun... She missed it at that moment. Although she had never bothered whether it shined brightly down on her or not, in this dark, hopeless land its soothing light would've strengthen her heart and mind. At least it would've helped her keep track of time.
Groaning she tried to make a move but it only resulted in her beaten body protesting. Why did they go and do this, she wondered. If this Klaxxi needed her to do things why by the Naaru did those mantids beat her half unconscious?
Raising her tired gaze she looked upon the tall tower the council had earlier used. Now it stood there, silent save from a soft humming. It was faint to her, but she knew it was there. The council wasn't there now, they weren't around at all, she noticed. Perhaps it was night and they had gone to sleep. Or was it day? Her already pounding head ached even more as the questions just kept coming.
As she closed her eyes images from the last time she had been beaten like this flashed in her mind. Orcs. Hundreds, maybe thousands of them, all with red burning eyes and green skin so unlike the brown skinned friendly creatures she once called friends. She remembered it so well; how the door burst open, all the shrieks from dying people outside, how the orcs came into the house with the intention to kill everyone inside.
They fought back, she and her family. They died. Her parents, her sister, they were all killed during the raids. But not her. No, she had been beaten to the brink of death, but for some unexplainable reason the orcs never finished it. She still didn't know why or what even happened but what she did remember was the warm, soothing light of the Naaru coursing through her body, healing and mending her wounds.
Something hard poked her side, making her groan in pain. "Get up," the familiar sound of Malik's voice spoke as he poked her again with the hiltend of his halberd.
Her entire body protested as she propped herself up. She wanted to remain on the ground, lying down doing nothing. But to disobey would probably give her another round of beating. Was that it? Were they trying to teach her respect? Fear? She cursed herself for falling to it so easily, yet she knew fighting back would – at the very best – result in death. She had to be patient and cautious if she wanted to get out alive.
As she stood her legs wobbled which made her half expect Malik to scold her or hit her but he did nothing but watch her. Not before she was steady on her hooves did he speak, "Your body is weak." Before she managed to answer or even give him an annoyed gaze he had reached out and started feeling her muscles, squeezing them as he circled her. "How do your people even survive battles?"
He lifted her cloak, probably to look at her tail, making her whirl and slap his hand away as she pulled her cloak back. The action earned her a harsh gaze and a click from the paragon's mouthparts. "Your weaknesses are obvious," he stated before he struck out with the hilt of his weapon.
Instinct wanted her to shield herself, but sense forced her not to and instead she groaned as the hit connected with her arm, making her stumble to the side.
"Your body is frail, your defense breakable, your mind," Wargana gritted her teeth as she waited for him to finish – he wouldn't dare insult her intellect! "Small," he finished.
With a glare at him she dared hiss, "I'm not about to give you reasons to beat me."
His antennas twitched and he tilted his head slightly almost looking... curious. If he had had a brow he would've frowned. "Do you believe we need reason to harm you lesser creatures?" The question made the draenei's heart sink. "You are aware the only reason you live is because the Klaxxi has use for you, yes?" When he remained silent to await an answer she nodded. "Then you should also know that if the Klaxxi wishes it you will be treated as the lesser being you are."
She was nothing else but a slave in their eyes; no worth, no will, only someone to do their chores. And what was this talk about "lesser being"? Did the mantid think themselves better than the rest of the world? If he believed she would play by their rules forever he was terribly wrong.
Straightening his neck he looked straight at her. "Now, we have matters to attend to. We are heading north."
"I need to rest," she stated. After the abuse her body felt sore and exhausted, it was an effort just standing.
A click came from his mouthparts before he answered, "You have been asleep the entire night." So, she had been gone for at least a day, maybe two. "You have had your rest." His unconcerned gaze got a hint of understanding as he added, "However I will give you time to feast. I will be at the quartermaster, come to me when you are ready." With that he turned and strode away.
Feast? Oh yes, she hadn't eaten since... since before she came to Dread Wastes. Not before Malik had mentioned it did she realize how hungry she really was. But what could she eat in a land like this? Pondering about it, she came up with several options but only one that did not include hunting; conjuring. Though she wasn't up for eating or even drinking of the things she could conjure she had no other choice at the moment.
She sighed before she brought her hands together, forming her magic between her palms, bending it and the air around her. It didn't take long before the sphere of energies materialized into a bottle of water.
This certain skill of mages had always fascinated her; how they could make food out of thin air. Well, almost thin air. Truth be told, in some environments it was impossible to conjure anything. In between the dimensions was one such place. Another was the parallel rift that she and her fellow mages took advantage of while hiding, or as others would call it; turn invisible.
Few knew that a certain set of minerals had to be present either in the air or the ground in order to conjure. The minerals for water was in the air of Azeroth, she had learned. Even in this place.
Removing her glove she picked up a handful dust from her a small pounch in her bag and weaved the spell again. It was milled wheat and some silverleaf. She always bought some from vendors in cities to keep with her. Even if it was possible to use what the earth offered it didn't taste as good.
Bread was the second thing she conjured before she sat down and quickly finished her... breakfast? Just as she finished and rose came the towermaintainer towards her.
"So, you survived the imperial clutches," he said disparaging and with what she thought was a hint of disappointment. "You are... resilient." Disapproval, that was what she heard now, though he seemed to not want it to be heard. "You are heading north with the Unscathed, I've been told." He continued before the mage managed to reply, "The Klaxxi hear another paragon there, among the sha-scorched roots of Krypari Vor. This one cries out in terror and agony. It cannot be saved." That fact did not seem to bother the little mantid one bit, Wargana noticed. "The Klaxxi want him put down. Go and defeat him," he waved his hand as if shooing away a... smaller bug, "or do not return here."
Wargana could do nothing but glare at the back of the mantid as he turned and walked away without waiting for a reply from her. Though frustrated she forced herself to let the matter go and simply comply. Without further thought on the matter she went to where the Unscathed stood by the smith, talking. As she came into earshot she caught some of the conversation:
"Even so the scouts have spotted them with -" the smith silenced when he noticed the approaching draenei.
"Continue," Malik urged.
The smith's gaze moved between the paragon and his Wakener. "This does not concern the Wakener."
"It is the will of the Klaxxi that she and I accompany each other for the travel to Kypari Vor," Malik retorted, his antennas twitching in what Wargana thought was annoyance. "Either you do things easier for me and share with her what you just told me, or I will have to spend time telling her myself."
The smith's mouthparts clicked silently once then a hesitant second time before he complied. "As you wish, paragon." Looking up at Wargana he said, "This... dread amber you brought me has been twisted. It is concentrated fear." Wargana already knew that. She had known it since she stumbled upon the cursed thing. "The Vor'thik know this well," the smith continued a hint of disgust flashed across his narrowing eyes. "Their krypari has been completely engulfed by sha, and they use the dread amber to quicken their own swarmborn." A strange, furious sound came from his mouth parts as he shook them, even Malik showed a hint of anger towards the discussed. "Bring the crystals they use to me. The Klaxxi will study them and decide on a protocol for disposal."
For the first time since her arrival she openly showed her disapproval of the task, an act that made the smith's eyes narrow.
"Is there a problem?" he hissed.
Glancing at Malik's interested face, she answered as she looked back at the smith. "I can't touch them."
"That's your concern, not mine," the smith immediately answered. "Now... leave me to my work."
Malik's hand landed on her shoulder and he led her away from the smith and towards the exit of the sanctuary. "You are yet to learn your place," he stated as they passed the guards and stepped outside the structures.
It took a lot of effort to choke the frustration she felt and not snap anything at him. It wasn't like her to get angry like this but being treated like some kind of slave really got under her skin.
"The Vor'thik to the north embrace the sha, as you already should've understood," Malik said as they walked down the road. All around them the wildlife of Dread Wastes watched them. They looked untouched from the sha yet their gazes were dark and wary and Wargana assumed they sensed the nearby danger. "They use that power to fuel their march in this false swarm," the Unscathed continued, a tone of disgust and anger clear in his voice. "Their warriors consume tainted amber and call themselves dreadsworn."
"How do you know?" she asked, taking the opportunity of the short silence, guessing he would be more forgiving than Kil'ruk for her interruption.
A curious gaze came from the greenish globes behind the bared helmet. "The Klaxxi see far and hear much," he explained. "They have shared their insight with me."
"And they want me to take care of those "dreadsworn"," she guessed as she sighed.
His mouthparts clicked slowly. "Not entirely correct." Upon her confused gaze he explained, "It is correct that the Klaxxi gave the order, however it is I who suggested you'd begin the process."
Frowning she watched him as she wondered why he had suggested such a thing. And just what was he doing there if this was her task? Was he just to escort her? Surely he would have other matters to attend to, or were they worried she'd flee? "Did the Klaxxi also tell you to keep an eye on me?" she asked when he remained silent.
Again his mouthparts clicked but this time his antennas twitched slightly as well. "Will the reason of my participation affect your results?"
"I guess that would depend on whether you're sent to just watch me or help me."
"Do you require help?" His gaze set on her. With the edge of his mask hiding half of his eye she couldn't tell what he was thinking.
Lowering her own she answered in a murmur, "Maybe." She could feel his gaze on her but she decided not to speak unless asked. But instead of asking he simply said, "Then perhaps I might assist you, perhaps not."
Annoyed she muttered under her breath. He surely maintained his superior standing in the matter. Sighing in dejection she decided to share what else she had been asked to do. "There is another paragon," she said. "One that is corrupted by fear."
Malik's fist tied hard. "The Empress will pay for her crimes," he spat.
For several seconds she remained silent, waiting to see if he had anything else to say. When he didn't she continued, "Apparently the Klaxxi want him... put down." She could feel Malik's gaze darting to her.
"Who told you this?" the paragon demanded and Wargana did not hesitate in sharing, "The tower maintainer. The little mantid by the sonar tower."
"Kor'ik," said the paragon. "Is this the first time he gives you a task in the Klaxxi's stead?"
"No. The second." At Malik's silence she decided to tell him – there was no use in keeping quiet, "He was the one telling me to awaken you."
"Curious," the Unscathed murmured but said no more to her about the topic. "It seems you may require my aid then. A lesser being like yourself would fall to the hands of a paragon."
"I've dealt with stronger foes before," she answered defensively. Although she knew Malik was right, especially considering what was driving the paragon mad.
"Perhaps. However it is I who will be the judge of your capacity for war."
"You – What?" Wargana stared at the paragon but he didn't say anything more, just gave a satisfied click with his mouthparts before his heart visibly sank deep in his chest as the cries of the corrupted paragon shot through the air.