Chapter Twelve

The armored arm around Obito tightened; the hunter could do nothing but brace for the incoming painful end to their fall. There was a jarring landing but it came sooner than expected and there wasn't the sound of broken bones. The troll set Obito down and he looked around, they were on a floating island. Standing, the hunter hobbled over to the edge of the isle and looked over only to be roughly pulled back as a fireball barely missed him.

"Pup!" The troll warned. "It seems dey lack the ability to fly … so we safe for da moment. I'm sure dey will tire of us soon and go on der way."

Obito limped over to the lone tree on the island and sat underneath it. He wondered where they were, the glimpse of lush lands beneath them was unfamiliar territory.

"You sure are a quiet one," the troll said sitting down. From his backpack he took out some sort of dried meat and offered it to Obito, who held his stomach and shook his head. The other shrugged and stuffed it into his mouth.

Looking away Obito could see other floating islands in the distance; one seemed to have a waterfall cascading down from it. Glancing over at the troll he gestured around and shrugged his shoulders.

"Ah … we're in Nagrand … it's south of da marsh and east of Shattrath." The troll said. He closed his eyes for a moment. "Da others will be here soon, dey told us to sit still."

All of a sudden there was a large blast of arcane energy, as the isle lit up. Obito sighed as the light faded to reveal the Grand Magus. Before Nity could react he found himself polymorphed into a grunting pig. Ignoring the now incapacitated troll the mage strolled over to Obito and pulled him to his feet by his injured arm.

"These little escapades of yours grow exhausting," Rommath said.

Obito hit the mage as fiercely as he could with his free fist, striking him in the jaw. The attack caught Rommath by surprise and before he could recover, Obito hit him again, with a swift jab to the stomach. As the Magus bent over his breath stolen from him, the hunter brought his elbow down hard on his head knocking him to the ground and took a quick step back.

The grass beneath Obito became ice and his bare feet slid causing him to fall. He had never seen anything like the rage reflected in the gaze of the other as their eyes met. He struggled to stand and moved into a defensive stance raising his hands in front of him as Rommath slowly stood.

The Magus let out dark laugh. "I forgot for a moment who your sire was. But this ends now!"

Obito could see the arcane magic radiating from the other; the most powerful Magus of Silvermoon was on the verge of losing it. There was no place to run, so the hunter held his ground.

"I'll honor my oath to your father, I won't kill you child," Rommath said as his hands started to glow blue. "I'll just make sure you NEVER defy me again."

The casting of the Magus was interrupted from behind as Nity slammed his shield down on his back. "You forget somethin' mon?" The troll snarled.

Obito ran past the stunned mage and behind the troll who took out a giant sword. "Killin' ya would start war, mon ..."

The shield of the troll absorbed the fireball cast their way. "But killing you won't even be noticed," Rommath snarled.

"Ya won't find dat an easy task, mage … Zalon Clawtwister isn't a warrior that will fall to da likes of you!" The troll said charging.

Obito frowned. "Zalon … who in the hell is that?" he thought silently. He watched the battle of magic and steel from the edge of the island. Glancing below he noticed a lake, which would work if the wrong side lost. He pondered for a moment which side that would be.

His musing were interrupted when a cold blade was pressed against his throat, the Magus had blinked behind him and now held a small dagger to Obito's neck. The troll snarled and spat. "Coward," he hissed.

"I refer resourceful, now drop your weapon!" Rommath commanded.

Obito reached up and grabbed the arm around his neck; twisting his body he flipped the Magus over his head and onto the ground. Without slowing his momentum he charged the troll and wrapping an arm around him pushing the both of them over the edge of the island.

The troll falling beside him swore. "I hope he can swim," Obito thought to himself as they plunged into the lake. The cold water pulled at him as he kicked his way to the surface. He saw the troll drag himself out of the lake, shaking his long spiky hair

Obito swam the opposite way, at least in the water his exhausted legs didn't have to labor too hard. He reached the far shore and heard the troll shouting in the distance.

"You really didn't think you'd escape?" Rommath said from above as he floated down.

Obito shook his head.

"Ah so a feeble attempt to save your troll friend?" Rommath said with a sinister grin. "Too bad, he actually cut me with that butter knife of his, which forfeits his life."

Obito struggled to his feet and faced the Magus. He held his hands out his sides; he knew he must look quite the sight with the cuts on his face, neck and the bloody bandages on his arm and leg. He met the gaze of the other and shook his head, silently pleading.

Rommath's eyes wavered and then he shrugged. "Fine, I'll settle that score another day, now let us return to Silvermoon."

Obito nodded and took a step toward the mage only to have ice explode from the ground trapping them both.

"You may return to Silvermoon, Teacher. But my son stays at my side," Amaya Ravenwind said.

Obito looked over at his mother, behind her stood a small group of Sin'dorei. Rommath cursed as the ice around his feet shattered and he grabbed for Obito. At the same moment a slender arm wrapped around the hunter's waist and he found himself quickly pulled out of reach by the rogue that had appeared. The agile elf pushed him in the direction of another who caught him and moved the both of them behind Amaya.

"Traitors!" Rommath shouted.

"We are loyal to Silvermoon," Amaya said as her hands started to glow blue. "Where do your loyalties stand, Teacher?"

"Don't question my allegiance!" Rommath yelled as his own palms started to glow.

The troll from earlier appeared and stood in front of his mother, taking out his weapon and lowering his shield for the attack.

"Thank you for watching over my son, Zalon." His mother said.

"He's been nothin' but trouble, mon," the troll said charging Rommath.