Chapter 4

The commander then mounted and they were off to Eastvale to meet up with the rest of the company. After a couple of meters they had to halt, for one of the scouts had returned again.

"What is the matter, soldier?"

"There's a dead horse not far from here, struck down by a troll arrow, I think it belonged to the young girl. What should we do with it?"

"Is there anything of value on the horse?"

"I do not know sir, I didn't check the content."

The commander got angry. If the soldier had, then maybe they would have found something to identify this girl. He ordered the young man to show them where the horse was. The horse seemed to be of old age but still sturdy built. It had obviously served as a steed for one of the regal guards in the days of its glory. The harness was taken from the poor creature and the vile arrow removed from its flank. Upon further inspection of the bridle they discovered that this horse had indeed been an army horse.

"When the corpse wagon arrives, have this horse lain on it too. It served the alliance well; it should deserve a proper burial."

And then they continued to Eastvale. When they came to the village horror struck into their hearts. The villagers were attacked mercilessly and without warning. Every man, woman and child had been slain. Houses were burned and strange, unreadable messages could be read on the walls that were left standing. The destruction was great, but most of the fires had already been put out by the mages in the Guard. It seemed like there was not a single chance of survival. Until one of the soldiers cried out: 'There is one still breathing here!'. The commander rushed forward and found a night elf barely alive. When they turned him on his back so that they might heal him better, or at least give him a potion that would keep him alive, they had found his chest pierced by many arrows and several wounds bleeding. It was a miracle that he was still breathing. When the commander was about to uncork a vial, the elf he cried out save my wife, inside, and passed away.

Seeing as nothing could be done for the elf anymore they moved inside the house, though their hearts were even heavier. The night elf had fought to defend his house until the end. It was completely destroyed by the horde, but after a bit of searching they found a female lying underneath a bookcase. Just like her husband, she had fought hard, and by the smouldering things all around her they figured she was a mage with some heavy firepower behind her hands. They moved it away from her, but they were already too late. In her hand she held a small letter appointed to someone named Merrilynn. She had it clutched in her hands and the corners were burnt what told them that she had held it the entire fight.. Benjamin took the letter, read it, and then gave it to Creton and told him to hide it safely and not lose it.

Then he went to the only bookcase that was still standing and pulled back a book. Immediately the bookcase swung backwards and it revealed a room with a lot of treasures. He ordered his men to take all of the stuff from the room and put it in a safe in Stormwind. He would not give any explanation why.

When dusk came the company rode back heavy hearted. They had always thought their borders to be safe and well protected from horde. But now realisation dawned on them that their numbers were just too few in Elwynn to stop the horde if they intended to attack a village. Numerous town leaders had warned them that the protection was too little, but they had never heeded it. Now they paid the price for their insolence. Benjamin and Creton were to report to their superior as soon as they were back, but both of them were weary and they still had to take care of the young woman, who was now shivering in the young paladins arms A cloak was not much protection against the nights cold, and she was also in need of healing, the wounds on her wrists had stopped bleeding, but the way they looked was reason enough to be concerned. They rested in Goldshire for the night