I have edited this chapter, changing the dialect to follow the real conversation better, and fixed a paragraph. Hopefully the line break will work for me now.
P.S. I don't own blizzard. /wish
The citadel loomed overhead like a heavy presence in her mind. The wind swept the scent of rotting flesh across her face, and unlike the others around her she actually sneered. They did not retain the sense, apparent by their like of cleanliness. They shuffled next to each other, snarling and snapping, mindless hungry dogs. The two others with actual consciousness near her ignored them, standing at the cliffs edge and glaring out over the small, ruined town.
"Damned be them if they actually put up any sort of resistance." One hissed, his s's drawn out with careful precision. He had been a human before answering the Lich's call, though he killed the last initiate that mentioned it. Greasy black hair hung around his marked face, a face that might have been handsome at some point.
The much smaller form beside him sighed, the whispers of her breath echoing wails and the last exhales of the dying. "They didn't believe they were in any danger, tucked away as they were in this once… peaceful valley." She shifted, the large armor she wore seeming impossibly heavy to her decomposing body, though she bore it with ease. "Their fear is their downfall, their souls their hoarded treasure."
The man grinned, his sharp teeth glinting in the low light. "May we harvest with ease. The Lich King's will be done."
The small undead repeated the line of allegiance, "His will be done," Ariki copying her a breath behind.
The man turned, saluted Ariki, and marched stiffly away. His minions slowly turned from Ariki to scamper after their master.
"Harthgan seems to be in a better mood." Ariki commented when the man was out of earshot. She walked up to stand beside the undead woman, crossing her arms and studying the slaughter that raged on before them.
"More fear, more souls, more death…" The woman shook her head and released another sigh. "Anything to please my lord. You know this as well as I."
Ariki nodded slowly, one long, elegant hand coming up to rub her chin. "His loyalty is undying… very inspiring. He may be rewarded soon."
Unlike many other Knights of Death, the woman did not clamor at Ariki, proclaiming that she too had undying resolve and loyalty. Instead she nodded. "It would be well deserved, no doubt."
Ariki allowed herself a small smile. Any other Knight would be punished for her casualty. "Your time will come, Malatria. For the Scourge, sister."
Malatria nodded. "Slaughter many for me, Ariki."
She bowed, almost mockingly. "I will bring you their skulls, if Noth does not request them of me."
Turning, she quitted the bluff, walking across the newly assembled camp and summoning her death charger to her side. The mount cantered, pawing the ground restlessly until she laid a hand on the saddle to mount. From his back, she surveyed the bluff once more, before hauling off and storming down the hill- and countryside. Around trees, over fences and humans alike, she thundered to the small city of New Avalon, which was currently under heavy siege from the Scourge.
But she rode on further, into an orchard. She slowed, ducking around branches laden with fruit. A small building appeared before her, and she dismounted, leading her mount to it.
Inside was a mess. Chairs and tables were knocked aside carelessly. Food was still splattered across the floor, and a few logs from the fireplace were scorching the floor before the hearth. Initiates were still cleaning the place of its humans, Ariki noted, as a scream echoed from the upper floors.
Sure enough, a woman fell into sight. Arik raised a brow, impressed that she did not break something in her landing. The initiates froze as the woman launched herself at Ariki, holding their breath for her reaction.
"Please, kind lady! Oh please have mercy on me soul!" The woman sobbed. Blood, though not hers, was splattered across the front of her apron.
"They killed my boy." She stuttered, seeing where Ariki looked. "They… they killed 'im in me own arms! Oh please m'lady…"
Ariki smiled slowly, placing a hand on the woman's shoulder. "Shh… calm down." The woman flinched at the hand, but looked up at Ariki with doleful eyes.
"Everything will be taken care of…" Arkik whispered, and stepped back from the woman.
"Oh… oh thank ye kind lady!" The woman managed, bursting into fresh tears. Ariki's grin turned menacing, and before the woman could take another breath, she had released her terrible blade and cut the woman open from neck to groin. Fresh blood splattered across the floor and Ariki, and the woman let out a final gurgle before collapsing, her insides strewn across the ground.
Stepping over the woman, Ariki grabbed a curtain from a table and wiped down her blade. The initiates trembled, eyes flicking from the fresh body to Ariki and back again. She sniffed the blood, crinkling her nose. "Harlot." She muttered, and turned to the initiates. "Where is your commanding officer?"
They didn't reply immediately, and Ariki glanced again at the still oozing corpse some feet behind her. Muttering something about "unnourished noobies" she indicated the body. "Feed, then tell me where he is."
The undead Knights reached the body first, siphoning the soul out of it for a moment before biting into her flesh. The others followed shortly. When Ariki felt they had wasted enough of her time, she grabbed one's leg and tossed him back into the wall. The others paused.
"Where is your officer?"
For a moment they looked like they would ignore her, but then a haggard orc pointed upstairs. "On the landing."
Ariki turned without responding, crossing the building to the stairs. She took them two at a time, and upon reaching the top, nearly tripped across another Knight.
"Hello, Ariki." He said, and narrowed his eyes at the man beside him. "How… convenient that you have come. I was just needing a powerful Knight for a special job…"
"Stealing a ledger is slightly unfit for one of the Lich King's favorites, though, don't you think Orbaz? Or has your brain finally rotted out of your thick skull?"
Ariki nodded at the man beside Orbaz. "Indeed, Bloodbane. Though, tell me; is the reason you have yet to feed your initiates because you thought I would pity them and recover it myself?" Orbaz narrowed his eyes, mouth tightening. "If so, I am afraid you have not tricked me into your schemes yet."
"I know the reason you have come out here." He hissed. "And it is not on the Lich King's mind. Why sneak around behind our masters back, Ariki? Hiding something from our dear Father?"
Ariki snarled, but before she could move his voice pierced her mind. "What is this, Ariki? I let you alone for a time, give you a moments rest, and you spend it in an orchard?"
"My liege," Ariki muttered, glaring daggers at Orbaz, "I heard word that the human scum had one of our own. I came to investigate, and to see if he was worth retrieving from their clutches."
The Lich mulled this over for a moment. From the look on Orbaz's face, the Lich had heard everything. "Continue, then, Ariki. Report to me within the day."
"Sire."
Orbaz looked back down the stairs, jaw tight. Ariki turned away from him, addressing the other knight. "What is this I hear about Koltira? They captured him in battle?"
"Yes. I would not worry, but…he had been weakened by their priest. I would go myself, but Orbaz cannot handle his command."
"Oh, why do you care, Thassarian? His weakness led to his capture. Only the strong should survive, not to mention-"
"What, Orbaz? That he is a blood elf? In life we were hated enemies- this is true." Thassarian hissed, eyes flaring. "But in death... We are the children of the damned. The orphaned sons and daughters of the Scourge. In death we are brothers." Orbaz opened his mouth to say something, but he continued, "Do not forget that he was ambushed on your watch."
"To hell with you, Thassarian. I hate you."
"And I you, Bloodbane. Go whimper at more compassionate feet."
Orbaz did not move, but he turned his attention to the window. Ariki touched her temple. "I could-"
"No," Thassarian held up a hand, "I am above ratting him out, as are you."
"Then, Koltira… it is true?"
"They use the Light on him. It may be too long now to get him, but I thought that you…"
Orbaz turned his head slightly, his ear now poised to hear her response. Ariki nodded. "I understand. The humans need to be shaken again, in any case. Should I find him…"
Dead or alive…
"I would be grateful." His eyes lingered on her face, as if he was mulling something more over.
Ariki left the building with a bitter taste in her mouth, and it wasn't the sight of the weak initiates that had her curling her hands into tight fists.
The humans had a fire in their eyes as they attacked Ariki. She batted them away with a horizontal slice, chilling them before easily striding into their stronghold. Her cloak settled around her ankles as she reached the first turn, her boots muffled in the stone corridor. Torchlight flickered along the masonry, leaving her in shadows. The echoes of the garrison marching towards her were falling faint in her ears. Humans… she sneered. Always hiding away their prisoners like precious treasures. She turned left, making for the center of the large building. Perhaps a kind passerby would give her what knowledge she needed…
"You'll never find him! Hahahah-urgk!"
"I'll…never… betray…"
"Have mercy! Please! I don't know-"
"Hah! Your soul will drop like a rock into hell, foul creature- ah!"
"I… I… I…"
Ariki tossed another archer into the blood spattered wall. Without regard for the other warriors charging down the stairs, she pressed a hand to her temple.
Frustration was no good, and neither was anger. Patience was a limited resource however… didn't these fools know when they have lost?
As she stepped back into the hallway, a warrior tackled her, frenzied. Cooley, she flipped him over her hip, grabbing his neck in on hand and hoisting him, armor and all, above her head.
"Tell me… where is your prisoner?"
"Thought…thought you monsters were heartless bastards, the lot of you…" His eyes flicked around as he scrambled at her vice like grip. "We never... never thought you would come back for one of your own…"
"Intriguing… you mistake this retrieval as an act of kindness to my fellow Knight. No matter. You will all die soon enough." Her hand tightened. "The prisoner?"
He spluttered, blood spraying like a mist over her features. His eyes flicked to the tapestry next to them. "You'll… you'll never be… able to…"
His head connected solidly with the wall, though he retained consciousness. "Why do you think that?"
"Can't feel… can't… can't sense…" His eyes rolled back into his head.
Her eyes widened. Of course… his body was speared onto his allies' swords as she turned and threw him into the oncoming wave of fighters. Dropping to her knee, she inhaled deeply. Breathing was no longer necessary in death, though it made movement and the like easier if a Death Knight inhaled once every half an hour or so. Air was needed to speak, but Ariki hadn't been using her nose to smell.
She did now, sorting through the scents of blood and gore. Beyond the crisp rock and metal tang there was something…
The tapestry?
She rose, grabbing a shield from the wall and knocking several of her assailants off of their feet. After rubbing her fingers together for a minute, she inspected the hallways. Curious, she thought, that there was one large tapestry in the building. One. Only one.
Sure enough, behind it was a heavy wooden door, painted grey to more match the surrounding rocks. Gleeful, for the folly of humans aided her once more, she yanked the door from its hinges. Dust fluttered down around her as she descended into the dungeon.
A picturesque scene met her. A small room, dimly lit by a single torch, housed three or four torture boards. The torturer roared and leapt from behind her, presumably from a dark corner. Ariki fell with his weight, pulling a small knife from her wrist to stab at the huge man.
A muffled cry of outrage startled her; she missed her mark, scraping bone instead of flesh on the behemoths side. He bellowed, slamming an elbow at her face. She jerked out of the way, backhanding him in the process. He took that too, growling deeply as he pinned her with his legs. They fought over possession of the knife, until she slammed her heel into the ground, producing a blade at her toe, and stabbed the man through the back of the neck. At the same time, however, he managed to slide the knife out of her hands and drove it home into her left shoulder.
Everything went still for a moment. She froze, realization that she had been hurt freezing her mind. The big man slumped on top of her, but she found she couldn't lift her left arm to push him off, and her right was stuck under something.
Ariki cursed herself thoroughly, a string of expletives accenting every once in a while. The sound of marching feet above her made her cringe. Slowly inching her way out from underneath the now very dead man, she stumbled into a nearby wall and clung to her useless arm. The blade was stuck in the middle of her muscle, effectively cutting off all movement. Grimacing, she glanced around the dungeon, peering through the gloom for…
There he was. His bright eyes were dull as they stared across the expanse of his mottled chest at her. The ice colored markings on his naked body were nearly completely covered with blood. She made her way to him, and ripped off his bindings with her good arm.
The moment his gag came out he cursed her as well, using every foul term she had forgotten. "What the hell were you thinking?" He weakly scathed, rubbing a leg. "You were supposed to let me die. Thassarian was supposed to leave me- what in the hell does our Master think of this anyway?"
Ariki sent him a scowl, shoving the gag back into his mouth. He glowered at her, but spat it out. "I have this time for my own leisure. Terrorizing the pitiful humans never bothered Father, and may it only be for the better that one of his Knights are returned to him."
Koltira winced as he stood, and hobbled to a chest nearby, clutching his ribs. When he proved too weak to open it, Ariki shoved past him and kicked it open. Inside lay some of his armor.
"You'd think they would at least put it in another room." Ariki grumbled, before spinning around as a spell shattered the table next to them. A young priest was hastily casting another one, fumbling with his motions.
Ariki moved in front of the next spell that was aimed for Koltira, letting the burning Light slide across her frosty armor. Stepping across the distance, she pulled her boot dagger and stabbed the priest in the throat, letting the weapon fall away with the body.
"Hurry, I doubt that is all they will send against us."
The once Blood Elf sneered at her, his platinum blonde hair caked with blood and other fluids. "You seemed to have an easy enough time getting in here. I myself was dragged by chains of pure Light, a new trick they learned. The scratches along the walls are probably still up there."
She ignored him, using some cloth from the priest's robes to tie her arm down. Without glancing at her companion, she ascended the stairs, beating aside the tapestry at the top. More Light users were charging them, along with warriors. Ariki pulled her sword, holding off both physical attacks and Light ones as Koltira grabbed a torch and chucked it at them.
After a minute of struggling against the tides, Koltira slid his hand over Ariki's on the blade, tugging at it. He was uncomfortably close, and Ariki stepped away, releasing the weapon as he said, "That sword was made for two hands."
He wielded it well, though it fought him once or twice. Ariki took all the spells she could, gritting her teeth against the mental flames. They backed their way out, and were on the last ten yards when the High Priest came charging at them. He dove for Koltira, Light imbued into his very touch. The elf stumbled back, and Ariki, with no other option, yanked the wrist dagger from her arm, spraying hissing fluid on those around her, and jerked the edge across the High Priests throat.
Her vision left her, her body beginning to crumple as the counter attack spell on the priest took its toll. A hand grabbed her arm, lifting her closer as teeth clamped down on her neck. She screeched, the wail piercing the humans' minds like a knife and leaving them shaking.
Koltira struggled under her weight, growling under his breath, "This was some rescue, damn woman. Where the hell is all of your elite skill?"
She growled in response, blearily getting to her feet and taking on some of her own weight. Her death charger raced up, and the two somehow managed to get on its back. Ariki faded again, pressed between her saddle horn and the cool expanse of Koltira's chest.
She imagined that he had stopped at a nearby house, but didn't wake until still warm blood dribbled down her throat. Hissing, she took it, licking her lips when he removed the exposed neck.
They were on a hill, close to Thassarian and Orbaz's hideout. Snatching her blade back, she sheathed it and climbed back into the saddle, looking down as Koltira watched her with guarded eyes.
"After I get you back to Thassarian, I must report to Father." She snarled. He narrowed his eyes.
"All for the better. The less I see of you, the happier I will be." He climbed stiffly behind her, setting his arms loosely around her waist to grip the saddle before her. "Why did you come to my aid-"
"For Thassarian." She spat, and rode into the orchard. "I owe him more than a rescue of his friend."
"Some rescue. I could have done better by my self."
"So why didn't you?"
He fell silent, and Ariki struggled to not sneer. "Admit it, you are grateful that I came for you."
"No."
He slid from the back of her horse, trudging into the tavern. Ariki followed a minute later, giving him a moment with Thassarian.
When she reached the landing, before Orbaz could dirty the air with his words, she tossed the patrol log he had wanted at his feet. When Thassarian raised his eyebrows, she glared. "Nicked it while looking for Mr. Tall, White, and Weak."
Koltira didn't even look at her, grabbing up spare armor and covering his chest. Thassarian sighed, though whether it was from relief or exasperation Ariki didn't know.
Right... so... was the one bit of gore too much? Probably not...
Toodle-oos!