Part IV: The Plan

The young mage grinned in excitement as the rest of the group gathered at the table around him. "I have with me a full map of what we believe to be the inside of Icecrown Citadel. The best point of entry would be right here…" He pointed to the side of the main tower. "…while the rest of the Crusade holds his attention here." He moved his finger down the page to the main gates. "With the Scourge held at the main gate, it'll give us the perfect opportunity to slip in virtually undetected."

Wuten raised his eyebrow at him. "What about the initial entry?"

Thordrity pulled another item out of his bag, this time it was a large explosive. "We'll use these sapper charges to blow an entryway into the Citadel from the side."

Kassaris' eyes widened, and then she glared at Thordrity. "That's suicide; the Scourge will come our way faster than we can react."

He sighed. "It's our best bet if we're going to sneak into the citadel; we have to hope that the Crusade can hold their attention long enough for us to break in." He closed the map and placed the charge and map into his bag. "If we're going to survive this, we'll need to have absolute coordination, from all of us." He placed his hand into the middle of them. "We'll have to work together, put our differences aside, and get in and out of there before we all get killed."

Kaigen nodded, and placed his hand on Thordrity's, followed by Kassaris and Sargerre. He looked at Wuten. "Our leader must be with us one-hundred percent every step of the way. Are you up to the challenge, Wuten?" He nodded, and placed his hand on the pile. "Then let the Light guide us on our path, and let nothing stand in our path to victory in this battle." He looked up to the wall, where a large painting of Uther Lightbringer, a paladin who fought thousands of Scourge before falling to his own Prince Arthas, and Kaigen's face became fierce. "The stories that are told… they pale in comparison to fighting alongside him in person. His strength and heart live on in all of us." He pulled his hammer out and raised it in the air. "Whenever I raise my weapon for battle, I remember Uther!" He smiled, taking his hand off the pile and walking to the center of the room. "We may have our differences, but we are united under one driving force!" He pointed the tip of his hammer to the group. "The complete annihilation of the Scourge that has plagued these lands for decades, and the purging of the evil from this land!"

Wuten grinned and pumped his fist into the air. "For Uther! For Lordaeron! For the Alliance!" The others soon followed suit, and Kaigen smiled.

"Then let us face this foe, and vanquish the evil forces in our way!" He slammed his hammer into the ground, cracking the stone flooring and reinvigorating the group with strength and adrenaline.

With new vigor in their hearts, the group quickly prepared for their travels in the morning. They left to their separate beds, and Wuten, being quite a tall human, his feet nearly hung completely off the edge of the bed frame. He sighed, turning over onto his side, only to find Kassaris standing above him, staring down at him with obvious anger look in her eyes. "Yes, Kassaris?"

She pulled down her mask, her expression still fierce as ever. "What happened to you, Master? You were so less lax when you were in Ravenholdt. You've gotten soft."

Wuten sighed, and smiled. "I met a few good folk in Stormwind, they showed me that you don't always have to take everything seriously, it takes away from the enjoyment of it all." He placed his hands behind his head, crossing his leg over his knee. "The Keepers of Stromgarde, a military unit dedicated to the lost city of Stromgarde. I joined them voluntarily, since they seemed to have just as much hate for the Undead and Scourge as I do."

She slammed a foot on his chest, knocking the wind out of him, and then leaned down to where she was just merely inches from his face. "You've lost your focus, Master, these 'Keepers' are simply a rag-tag group dedicated to a lost cause, you have no place with them."

He managed to catch his breath, and then stared back at her with equal fierceness showing in his red eyes. "You may think that, Kassaris, but there are things in this world you have to stop and enjoy, I've realized this in the years that I've been away."

She lifted her foot off him, silently gliding it back to the floor. "I've thrown that all away; we are all merely pawns to our higher-ups, nothing more." She turned and began to walk away, but Wuten placed a hand on her shoulder before she took her first step. Startled, she froze for a moment, and then turned her head back to look at him, the surprise showing in her eyes. And for a split second, Wuten saw that he had pierced through the fierce outside she let others see, and reached a side of her that he believed had not been seen for a long time.

"There is nothing worth living for if you cannot receive enjoyment from what you do." He smiled at her, standing up off the bed. "I learned this shortly after joining the Keepers. Don't let life pass you by, be in the moment and enjoy everything you can out of everything you do."

She turned her head back straight, smacked his hand off her shoulder, and started walking away once again. "Don't touch me."