A/N: Once again, thanks for reading! The next story is Liberation if you're interested.
Galmak's wolf streaked into the darkness after Zarguhl's coal-black worg. Speed was paramount even over silence now, but the graceful animals loped along almost soundlessly, leaping smaller water channels and bounding on huge paws over the sodden ground. Hyara clung to Galmak's waist; he sat in front so he would have unhindered control over the wolf.
"Do you remember from the map how far it might be?" she asked over the rush of air and the sloshing pad of paws.
"If we can keep up this pace it'll be a few hours, I guess," Galmak answered.
Mist rose from the water in places between the mushrooms. They avoided it when they could, not knowing what dangerous obstacles it might conceal. Hyara caught glimpses of strange glowing things leering at them through the mushroom trunks, as if the marsh's creatures watched with wary curiosity the scurryings of these odd beings. Will-'o-the-wisps swirled in the eddies stirred up by their passing. The wolves burst through the trunks and suddenly a lake spread before them blending reflected sky into darkness at the far edges. They bounded along at the lake's edge now, following the gentle curve.
Move! Get away from the lake, off to your right. Gink's warning cut in suddenly. Hyara opened her mouth, but Galmak had already turned the wolf and they leapt away into the trunks farther from the shoreline.
"Zarguhl!" Galmak barked sharply. The Mag'har craned to look back at the other orc, then turned his worg abruptly to follow. They stopped among the shading trunks and stood still and silent. For a few moments they heard only the soft lap of the lake. Then there was the sound of heavy feet on soft ground, punctuated by grunts and harsh mutterings in a language that made Hyara's skin crawl. A small troop of felguards shuffled into view, accompanied by several gan'arg. They walked along the lake back the way the travelers had just come. One of the gan'arg paused briefly, its cowled head swiveling side to side. It called something unintelligible to the other demons, then waddled ahead and its lumpy, stunted body vanished into the mushroom forest.
The group breathed again. They continued now among the trunks, away from the lake shore.
"Could you understand anything of what they were saying?" Galmak asked softly.
Hyara shuddered. "Absolutely not. It's my brother who speaks eredun, not me."
"Yeah…" Galmak frowned. "I've always meant to ask you about that."
"It wasn't always the language of demons, Galmak. He studies the ancient eredar texts that survived from Argus. It's not exactly the same dialect that the Legion speaks today. But it is close in some ways."
They traveled on in silence with time pressing urgently around them. The night was waning, the darkness turning gradually to deep blue laced with the grey of a sun not yet risen. Then abruptly a shape loomed among the mushrooms, stark and alien beside the fluid, organic forms of the marsh. Zarguhl pulled to a halt and Galmak stopped next to him.
"Portal Clearing," Zarguhl scowled. He looked as though he'd rather be almost anywhere else.
Many years ago some massive force had jarred the portal off-level and sent its foundation tipping partway into the lake. Its blue-grey stone was scarred with cracks and deep gouges. Carvings decorated the sides in intricate, twining lines inlaid with metals that shone in gold and copper and silver. The lines seemed to twist and shimmer as Hyara looked, but her eyes could never quite catch the movement; it created an impression of writhing life caught only out of the corner of an eye. It was both beautiful and strangely, quietly horrifying. Inside the massive frame the portal was blank and empty; no magical gateway swirled.
Pellien laughed mirthlessly. "So the gnome was an alarmist after all. We've wasted our time."
Galmak was busy scanning the surrounding marsh. "Those demons we saw came from somewhere. There still must be something..."
"Unless you think they strolled down the path from Nagrand," Zarguhl said, raising his eyebrows at Pellien.
Hyara smiled in spite of herself; Pellien sighed exasperatedly and hoisted himself off the back of Zarguhl's wolf. He started to walk closer to the portal.
"Wait," Galmak hissed suddenly. He pointed ahead. There was something moving off to the right of the portal in the shadow of a giant mushroom cap.
No, stay where you are, he sent to Palla. If it's what I think it is, it'll know… Shit. A wave of terror washed over him suddenly, freezing him to the spot. Hyara's fingers were digging into his sides like daggers. In front of the group Pellien stood still as stone. Zarguhl was panting audibly. The shadow became wider as if unfurling a dark cloak and moved toward the group, out into the weak light of early dawn. Galmak and Pellien knew instantly what approached them; Hyara's and Zarguhl's experience was second-hand and it took them a moment longer to realize. The group stared as if hypnotized, unable to move. The thing was tall, five yards high at least. It wore red plate armor that gleamed like blood over a muscular, pale body. Long, segmented black horns curved upwards from its hairless skull and huge veined wings swayed behind. Its fingers terminated in cruel black talons that clacked together nastily as it strode toward the group on enormous hooves.
"A nathrezim… a dreadlord," Hyara squeaked. Galmak jerked his head in an almost imperceptible nod; it was the most movement he seemed able to manage.
The dreadlord stopped before them and his piercing, pupil-less blue gaze traveled over each of them. He paused briefly at Zarguhl and a faint smile curved his lips, then the demon spoke in a voice that echoed deep in his throat.
"A pity you did not merely happen upon me here. I might have been inclined to let you continue on your way with only a…warning." The thing laughed regretfully, almost pleasantly. "But no… you came with the intent to find me. I cannot let that pass." The demon paced in front of them a moment, then beckoned to the group. "Please, come closer to the portal. It was that you wished to see, was it not? You came to discover what demon has been powering it?"
Somehow Hyara found herself sliding off Galmak's wolf. She glanced in surprise at the rest of the group and saw that everyone else was now moving also, apparently awoken from their trance of fear. But now I'm… obeying this thing? She shook her head and forced herself to stop walking forward. In front of her Galmak had also dismounted and was clutching the wolf's fur as if to root himself to the spot. Pellien was shuffling toward the portal in halting steps.
The dreadlord's head jerked to the side suddenly and his eyes narrowed as if seeking something. There was an agonized whine nearby and Palla appeared from behind a trunk. She walked slowly, stiffly into the clearing, her eyes rolling in terror. Galmak gave a stifled groan and his body lurched as if he were now trying to move forward.
"You have a remarkable bond with your pet," the dreadlord said to Galmak. "As I understand it, though, she is trying to hinder my interactions with you." He smiled. "That is hardly very sociable of her." The demon flicked a gleaming black talon and a bolt of midnight blue magic shot into the wolf's body. She gave a high, short yelp, then toppled sideways and lay still. Wide eyes stared blankly forward and her tongue lolled. Galmak convulsed as if he too had been struck and the force binding him seemed to drop away. He fell to the ground next to Palla and cradled her head in his hands.
Hyara stared in frozen horror at poor Palla's limp body. Her Gift, if somehow she could only move… but she couldn't move, and she knew too that it was hopeless. Palla was beyond her pathetic healing abilities. Galmak was murmuring now in the unique words that every hunter shared with their pet, words that would soothe and heal and give strength. But Palla's eyes stayed wide and blank. The orc cried out in agony. Zarguhl suddenly stepped forward and knelt with his hands on Palla's side. Hyara expected the demon to interfere, but he only stood watching with keen interest as the Mag'har began to chant soft, unintelligible words. Zarguhl's fingers wove green threads of light around the wolf's body as he called to her lifespark, so recently gone from the world, and asked it to return. Galmak's eyes were closed and Hyara saw his lips move in prayer. She raised her own prayer to the Light. As Zarguhl's chanting trailed to a halt Palla's eyes flickered. She took a shuddering breath in Galmak's arms and pushed herself shakily to her feet. Galmak buried his face in her fur.
"A fascinating demonstration, shaman, thank you." The dreadlord gestured to Zarguhl and smiled at the rage in Galmak's eyes. Galmak pushed his fury back and gathered up the still-shaking Palla to set her down carefully in back of the group's mounts. He treasured that fury inside him and wrapped it into a hard, cold ball for future use.
Hyara kept her thoughts vague and unfocused, relying on her sense to convey her urgent message to Gink: Stay far away; do not come anywhere near me. Oh Light, please, let him stay away. If only Galmak could be far from this thing too.
The demon was staring at Zarguhl intently now, and Hyara could see sweat rolling freely down the orc's face. To her horror, a thought sidled unbidden into her mind; this awful control felt all too much like that time two years before when…he…had invaded her mind and forced her to… She beat that memory frantically away. The dreadlord's eyes slid away from Zarguhl and lighted on her. She swallowed and struggled to keep her breathing from escalating into a pant. The demon smiled.
"You seem to have quite a history with the Legion," he said. "Regrettably, an unpleasant one. Ah… this one also." He glanced at Galmak. Hyara's struggles to keep her mind blank were apparently failing. The demon paused as if in thought, then looked again at Hyara with gleaming eyes. "Perhaps not entirely unpleasant, though?" Now he spoke conspiratorially to Galmak. "I can see that this is a painful subject for you. I think, my friend, you can be comforted in the knowledge that her past experience with the Legion was not without its occasional pleasures. Her host did please her from time to time."
Hyara would have fallen if that unseen force hadn't still held her immobile. Her cheeks burned in anger and deep shame. She'd never told Galmak; she'd always tried to deny it even to herself. There had been a few times… no more than twice. She'd been tired, depressed, confused, and weak… and all she'd wanted was to let go and forget what was happening to her. Unconsciously, she'd wanted only to steal something for herself from the horror her life had become in those months. And those few times she had briefly found pleasure in Sarzuun's bed.
Galmak stood rigidly in front of her. She couldn't see his face, but she didn't want to. She felt she'd rather die than have to see the hurt of her betrayal in his eyes.
The dreadlord turned back to Zarguhl. "You are of the Mag'har, are you not? I have never met your kind before."
"Of course not," the brown orc ground out through gritted teeth. "We've avoided your filth. We've already said it before, but I'll say it again on behalf of myself and my people: You and your Legion can fucking go to hell."
Pellien gave a strained laugh from where he stood frozen in front of Zarguhl. "Well said, friend. Not all of my own people have said the same thing, but on behalf of myself, at least, I second that motion."
Something shifted abruptly in the dreadlord's face, a sudden look of patience lost and full malice set lose. He lashed out with one huge, clawed hand, backhanding Pellien and sending him thudding to the ground. The mage lay stunned, his eyes staring unfocused at the sky. The dreadlord glanced disdainfully at the mage on the ground, then refocused his attention on Zarguhl. The demon chuckled cruelly.
"I don't believe you or your people know what you are missing. How could you? You have never experienced the euphoria of our demonic magics before. You have no basis for comparison, my friend."
He moved closer to the Mag'har. Morning was breaking slowly across the marsh now, the sun sliding upward. Watery light squinted through the mist and cast the creature's huge black shadow over Zarguhl. The orc stood glaring defiantly. The dreadlord raised his hands and idly, casually, he twitched his fingers until a pulsing ball of black shadow appeared hovering in the air. Green flashes of lightning crackled at the center of the ball. Everyone stared in mesmerized fascination at the thing. With a sudden flick of one hand the demon sent the ball of shadow shooting at Zarguhl. It seemed to absorb into the orc's body. His limbs twitched, he howled in pain and fell writhing at the demon's feet. Pellien, forgotten and unfrozen for the moment, crawled to Zarguhl's side and reached out a hand; he jerked it back as if from hot iron. The Mag'har clawed at the ground and to Hyara's horror she saw that a change was taking place. The orc's skin seemed to be peeling, flaking away as if his body were shedding scales. Slowly but perceptibly a green tinge began to bleed outward from under his shirt across his skin. It crawled down his arms and legs, flushed upward through his neck and finally reached his face. The shadowy orb burst out of the orc's chest and the demon snuffed it between his hands. Zarguhl lay still except for the heaving of his chest. His skin was now a deep emerald green.
"There," the demon said. "Now you understand. Though I suppose that makes you not truly Mag'har anymore. Pity."
Zarguhl sat up and looked down at himself in horror. He seemed to be having trouble remaining upright. The dreadlord stepped back from Zarguhl and faced them all.
We have to do something… he's playing with us, he's going to brutalize us one by one. Hyara fought to keep her fear in check and her thoughts fleeting and vague as she considered their options. Everyone was frozen in place again except Zarguhl, who still sat on the ground swaying slightly as if drunk. They might have a chance if only they could make some sort of diversion, something to distract him long enough to make him relinquish his grip on their minds and bodies…
Her eyes caught a slight movement behind the demon. She started momentarily; How did he…? But she had no time to wonder about that, and instead she let other thoughts flood in, hoping to bury her moment of realization from the demon's probing mind. Just a few more seconds and they would have their distraction. Hyara couldn't tell if Galmak had noticed too, but she risked a warning.
"Get ready," she breathed to him in front of her, barely moving her lips.
The demon was about to speak again when Gink sprang. With a snarl he landed on the dreadlord's back and sunk his claws deep. The demon's focus on the group shattered and they were free. Hyara and Galmak whipped their bows around and aimed in perfect synchronicity at the thing's lightly-armored spots. A ball of flame flickered around Pellien's hands, then surged forward with a roar. Zarguhl had staggered to his feet and was flinging blow after blow with his maces. His eyes were full of fury and pain. Gink still clung to the creature's back, shredding at the vulnerable leathery wings.
The dreadlord roared as their attacks hit him. His armor deflected much of the damage, but damage wasn't all that troubled him: his prey, so neatly manipulated and controlled only a moment before, had suddenly reared up and bit hard. He found all this combat business highly unpleasant. But no matter; they were only four…
A sound at their backs made Hyara risk a glance over her shoulder. A huge elekk charged out of the forest into the clearing, followed closely by another, then another… the Alliance had arrived; Split had made it. She cheered in relief as soldiers in the colors of Orebor Harborage and Telredor swept in around the demon. Pellien's spellcasts were joined by a barrage of others. The demon roared again in a final desperate fury and scythed his talons into the mob of attackers. Hyara felt one last brush against her mind, one final moment of paralysis and fear, then the thing thudded to the ground and its ice-blue gaze went dark.
She dropped her bow and shoved her way into the crowd surrounding the dead demon. Gink, where are you… She couldn't feel him; their bond was silent. She broke through to the center, her eyes searching in dread, and then she spotted him. Gink sat calmly beside the body, huge pink tongue licking a wound on his haunch. He looked up, met her eyes, and suddenly his sense flooded back into her. He bounded over and she put her arms around him.
How did you…?
He nuzzled her fondly. Every one of us remembers what it was like before, Hyara. We're all free to stay or leave our hunters. I shut you out for a time and returned to the wild where my presence meant as little to the demon as one of the spore bats. You thought after what happened to Palla I would simply leave you?
I wanted to keep you safe.
He seemed both amused and exasperated. You upright-walkers are slow learners. If you wouldn't listen to Galmak when he told you to stay away, why do you think I would stay away when you're in danger?
She scratched his ears and murmured words of healing to close his wounds. She looked up to see Galmak shouldering his way bravely through the crowd of draenei and Broken soldiers. Hyara leapt up and threw her arms around him, not caring who saw.
"We did it," she whispered. "That's another demon the Legion will never use again."
He laughed and squeezed her in a long, hard hug.
She felt a sudden poke on her leg and looked down. Split was craning his neck up at them, his green eyebrows waggling like caterpillars.
"Uh… They're going to want to know what happened here. Just so ya know," said the gnome.
Hyara glanced at Galmak, then shrugged down at Split. "I just happened by and volunteered to go with this group to help out. Tell them your story, Split. You can be the hero. As for me… I will disappear as quickly as possible."
Split crossed his arms. "What are you going to do? Run forever? Make no connections and vanish at the first opportunity?"
Hyara smiled. "I think I have made connections."
He grinned back. "Alright. Well, go then, before anyone decides to ask why you're hanging all over an orc."
They slipped quietly away in the confusion and celebration that still surrounded the dreadlord's body. A short distance away, a small Horde force was arriving on the scene. Hyara smiled to herself to see the Alliance and Horde officers discussing recent events together. A battle was still being waged at Daggerfen Village, but the two armies had gone in prepared with the knowledge that they would have to fight demons, and now there would be no further Legion reinforcements arriving.
Chetvek, Pellien, and Zarguhl stood a short distance away, apart from all the activity that now swarmed in Portal Clearing. Hyara and Galmak joined them with Gink and Palla trotting along nearby. Palla moved a little more slowly than usual, but she was doing alright, Galmak judged. She ought to get some time to recover, though, he thought. They'd have to find someplace nice and quiet to go.
Hyara smiled when she saw that Split had left her horse here with the others' mounts, but as she started to climb into the saddle a thought struck her. She secured her horse's reins to Galmak's wolf and instead climbed up to sit in front of him.
"Let's go," Zarguhl said as the two hunters reached the group. He kept his eyes down and his face was set like stone. Chetvek looked as though he wanted to ask a hundred questions, but the tauren kept silent and they struck out back for the road.
Galmak rested his chin on Hyara's shoulder and his breath brushed warm against her cheek. His arms enclosed her and she leaned back into his embrace.
"This is the only way to travel," he said. "Why did we ever stop?"
She laughed softly. They went on in silence for a few moments. Finally Hyara gathered herself to speak, to say what weighed so heavily on her. She felt she had to explain, to somehow try to make things right. She had to believe Galmak would understand that she hadn't wanted anything Sarzuun had done to her.
But as if he sensed what she was about to say, Galmak held a finger to her lips. He spoke softly so the others wouldn't overhear. "Shh. Let me say this first. Do you want to know what I thought when the demon said that? 'Good for her.' You took what that bastard eredar was doing to you and you threw it back in his face. You stayed alive and you fought him every step. And you won in the end."
"I never meant you to know… Now I wish I hadn't kept it from you," she sighed.
"No. I told you I didn't need to know everything. Years ago I told you I would help you bear whatever I could, whatever you wanted me to, but nothing more than what you wanted to tell. He was a monster, Hyara. I know that as well as you do. Please, love… we need to let go of that time."
"I'm trying." She squeezed her eyes shut.
He continued. "There were things… I never told you either. Raizha, uh, took more of an interest in me than I wanted. She didn't like taking no for an answer. There were times I almost gave in."
Hyara let this new revelation settle on her. A flash of understanding hit her suddenly. "She loved you," Hyara murmured.
Galmak sighed. "I don't think that was it, exactly. I think she loved the part of me that loved you so much I would gladly have died if it could have gotten you out of there. She saw that in you too. It was something she'd never encountered before, and… Well, she's a succubus. It must have been the strongest force of attraction she'd ever seen and it would've run contrary to her nature to deny it. So she helped us."
Hyara pulled his arms more tightly around her and he squeezed her close. She turned her head and he kissed her long and tenderly. Ahead of them Chetvek glanced back at his friend but quickly turned away. The tauren grinned.
Pellien made a retching noise. "If you two are done yet…"
Galmak chuckled. "Nope, never done. Mind your own business." He kissed her again.
Zarguhl spoke suddenly. "I don't know where the rest of you are headed, but I'm going to Garadar. Back to the home of… the Mag'har."
"Your people," Chetvek's voice rumbled.
Zarguhl's eyes fell away from his friend to look down at his green hands, but he continued. "I would count it an honor to have any of you come with me to Nagrand."
Hyara smiled at her husband. "I think that sounds like a good idea," she said.
It did sound like a good idea. Nagrand was supposed to be a beautiful place. Maybe some peace for them, peace for Palla and Gink… perhaps a place that could feel a little more like home for a time, like Azeroth. The ancestral lands of the orcs. The place Galmak's people, all of them, could call home in some way. A place the draenei had deep roots in too.
Galmak took his wife's hands and smiled back at her. "Nagrand it is, then."
