Chapter 14
How can this be? Solwein's thoughts had been racing ever since the victory in Stormwind. Arkerya is the light bringer. Arkerya is! The prophet said I would find this one and I have. Solwein had tried to plead his and Arkerya's case to the paladin lords and nobles, but their argument and decision was unanimous. Everyone had seen Solwein sprout the wings of an angel and glow with holy light.
The same day of the battle, Solwein had been given command of the Silver Hand. As the light bringer, he was automatically granted his seat of power. His faith in the prophet had been all but broken.
Solwein had also been contemplating what to do with Arkerya now that his plan was foiled. Relinquishing his oaths to the light wasn't an option and stepping down would surely break the spirit of any who sought to fight the scourge.
Solwein was in a bind. Solwein had been wondering a great deal about what he felt around Arkerya. Even when they were far apart, he could feel the holy connection between them. All of his meditation and contemplation had pointed to Arkerya being the light bringer. So where did all that power come from?
He hadn't had a chance to talk about it with any of his old comrades either. Everyone had began to treat Solwein differently. Even Kaonus wasn't acting like himself. I need to talk to somebody besides these pompous politicians. I'm losing my mind here.
As though somebody was reading his mind, a knock came at his door. Solwein excitedly leapt from his bed side chair and flung the door open only to be disappointed. It was Arkerya, the last person he wanted to talk to right now.
"Master Solwein. I finally found you. I've been meaning to speak with you," she said, slightly out of breath. "It's about my training."
Solwein didn't have the heart to turn her away, though he tremendously wished he did. After a long pause and a few eager looks from Arkerya, Solwein reluctantly motioned her inside. "What is it Arkerya?" he asked in the most polite manner he could manage.
"I've been training under Callencia with Arhen. I learned to imbue my rapier with magic and I also learned to mold holy mana into another weapon. Callencia says I'm progressing at great speed," she said rather proudly.
"That's very good Arkerya. I'm sure you'll make a fine paladin one day," Solwein replied. An awkward silence followed. "Is that all you came to say?" Solwein asked anxiously.
Arkerya took a step back and spoke very nervously. "Well... you see... I was talking to Lady Callencia about it and she said it would be ok. That is if it's ok with you. I mean if you are willing..." Arkerya stammered. Solwein was feeling more and more antsy.
"What is it Arkerya? Spit it out," he said patiently. "Callencia said it would be ok if I trained under you instead of her," Arkerya said sheepishly. I'm the new light bringer, there are higher ups breathing down my neck at all hours of the day and now I am supposed to train the one I know to be my superior? This is madness. Of course I'm willing to train you, but the politicians wouldn't know what to do about it.
Solwein was disheartened to learn of his supposed new power in that the prophet he so trusted had been wrong and that Arkerya was now a part of something she should have never had to endure.
He wanted to blurt everything out. He wanted to tell Arkerya about everything that had happened and who he thought she was. He longed to tell her in great detail how drawn to her he was and who she was surely destined to be. But Solwein had changed himself in the days since his transformation.
A fear had taken him. His faith in the light and the prophet had guided him far in his travels, but now that he didn't have the prophet, he felt as though he was picking at loose threads. He didn't know what to tell this girl.
"I'll consider it," he said curtly. Arkerya was visibly disappointed. Solwein felt bad, but he didn't know what else to say. "I promise to be diligent and hard working, Master Solwein. I'll give everything I have in the pursuit of justice," she said desperately. "I can find work and pay you for your services if that's what it takes," she said more desperately still.
Her words hurt Solwein. He wanted so badly to show her the way of the paladin, his way of the paladin. He wanted to believe in the prophet so much. The weight of the light bringer title was crushing him and Arkerya wasn't helping.
"I said I'll consider it!" he shouted. Arkerya's eyes widened and she took another step back, frightened at the imposing man's sudden outburst. Solwein started to shuffle nervously. "That is, I shall give thought to what is best for your training Arkerya," he said regretfully.
Arkerya was on the verge of tears. "Forgive me master. I have been to bold," she said as she turned and ran from his chambers. Solwein sighed and sat heavily onto his chair again.
Idiot. Now you've driven her away.
Down the corridor, Arkerya slowed her pace to a slow walk. She wasn't sad. On the contrary. She had one goal in mind upon approaching Solwein. That goal was to gain power. After the invasion of Stormwind and her excruciating refuge in the cathedral, her hate and anger for Arthas had intensified exponentially.
She was tired of fearing him and every day that passed made her want his blood more. Callencia had been teaching her some things and she was catching on quickly. But after seeing the streets of Stormwind caked with undead blood and flesh, such training wasn't enough.
Well that didn't go very well. Clearly he's not willing. Arkerya left the keep and walked along the canals to Old Town where she and the "lesser" paladins were quartered. The only high ranking paladin who insisted on staying in the Old Town SI:7 barracks was Callencia, who had mentioned during light conversation that she can't stand to live among the nobles.
"It's the smell. I can't sleep a wink at night because of their infernal pipe tobacco," Callencia had said. Arkerya had grown fond of Callencia quickly. As the last shimmering ray of sunlight faded to a starry night sky, Arkerya reached the barracks.
In the common area downstairs, Dangiel and Natarazono were playing chess at a small table in the corner of the room. Natarazono was a man of meager stature. In heavy armor, he looks just the same as any other paladin, but without it, his bony physique and dull features became apparent. To add to his flimsy appearance, he was an unusually tall man at six feet and eight inches. His deep green eyes and graying hair made him look almost alien. Despite his outlandish appearance, Kaonus and Drogin had assured her that he was as powerful and ferocious in battle as any other Avatar of the Silver Hand.
Dangiel on the other hand had quite the opposite look about him. The draenei's skin was a sapphire blue and his eyes glowed white. There was neither a rugged feature about him nor an imperfection that could be seen. His black hooves shone like freshly shined leather and his teeth were as white as the snow. He was six feet and four inches tall, the average height for a draenei and stood proud and strong, the image of bodily perfection. Arkerya often caught the female draenei in the city peeking around the corner at Dangiel while they trained with Callencia.
In the center of the room, Arkerya spotted Peat, McDonagal, Arhen and Drogin sitting around the coffee table drinking ale and laughing excessively. Peat and McDonagal were two dwarves of almost identical personalities and looks. They were the best of friends and spent most of their time together, both in training and leisure. Their brown beards both touched the floor and their brown eyes and dark skin made it difficult to tell them apart at first. The only discerning factor was their voices. Peat had a very low voice and McDonagal had a very high voice. Both of them were very friendly and congenial in nature.
Arkerya had trained with all of them and more in the recent days. They were all quite powerful fighters, each in their own way. The diversity of the paladins was surprising to Arkerya. She had always figured them all as sword toting preachers in metal clothes, but they all had colorful personalities that she wouldn't have discerned if she hadn't spent time with them.
The only one she didn't see around was Tia, a blue eyed, five feet tall, dusty black haired woman. Tia was very reserved and didn't speak much. When she did speak though, her words were somewhat swallowed and her tone was guttural and low. Arkerya had never had a conversation with her and never saw her relaxing in the common area with the others.
At the window, she saw the one she was looking for. Callencia and Kaonus were conversing quietly about something. Kaonus had not been very happy since the incident five days before. Though he never trained with the lower ranking paladins, he did show himself sometimes at training sessions to participate with Callencia and could almost always be found relaxing in the common area every evening.
As of late, though, he had been quite somber. It was no secret why. Callencia looked back and noticed Arkerya. Callencia had become something of a mentor to Arkerya and had provided some much needed sympathy and understanding. Aside from her incessant mind reading, which only she seemed to be able to do, Arkerya had quickly grown very fond of her.
"Come over and talk with us, Arkerya," Callencia beckoned. Arkerya walked over to the window and leaned against the wall to face the other two. "Well? What did he say?" Callencia asked.
Arkerya bowed her head. "He said he'll consider it," she replied. Callencia blew a short sigh out of pursed lips. "You can't blame him. He's been under a great strain lately. I'm sure you know why," Callencia said consolingly.
Arkerya did know why, but she couldn't help feeling down about his dismissive behavior. "I'm sure he'll warm up to you. Just give him some time Arkerya," Callencia said.
"He was already warmed up to me. When we talked in the abbey and when we traveled back to Stormwind, he was very adamant about me and my travels. For the lights sake, he even went off alone in a major battle to protect me and me alone. He said I was the only hope for humanity or something like that. I don't know what that means, but whatever it means, it seems that he's forgotten all about it now," Arkerya said.
What Arkerya didn't know was that Callencia had spoken with Solwein about Arkerya and her significance. Callencia, unlike Solwein, dismissed it as some kind of misunderstanding and had accepted Solwein as her leader and the light bringer.
"He's forgotten about a lot of things," Kaonus said glumly. Callencia shot him a dirty look to which he responded by getting up and leaving for bed. "Poor Kaonus. He has to be feeling pretty sad about all of this, being his brother and all," Arkerya said, somewhat humbled by his plight.
"That he is. But he's a big boy and won't let it interfere with his business. He may be kind of an oaf, but he sure is proud to be a paladin," Callencia said. "You'll be like him one day you know," she said, smiling lightly.
Arkerya looked away, frustrated with Solwein. Callencia paused for a while and Arkerya picked up on her mental invasion. She had gotten quite good at detecting it as of late. "You're a sharp one. You caught me in the act. But if you won't talk to me and you won't let me read your mind, how are we to sort out what's bothering you?" Callencia said softly.
In truth, very few of Arkerya's thoughts were about Solwein. Her mind dwelled on her family, Arthas and her quest for the power to exact her revenge. "I know you come from strife. I can see it in your face day in and day out. If you're willing to talk, I'm willing to listen," Callencia said.
Arkerya was taken aback by her willingness to listen. She even felt comfort coming from this woman. With a nod, Arkerya took a seat and began her story. She spoke of Tirisfal at length and her fleeing of Lordaeron. She described the battle at the monastery, the death of her family and then an account of her transformation. By the end of her tale, most of the other paladins had gone to bed, leaving only the two of them, a bear rug and a dying fire in the fire place.
Callencia was staring into Arkerya's eyes, but not trying to invade her thoughts again. Her disposition had clearly changed from a little condescending to sympathetic in every way.
When Arkerya finished talking, Callencia didn't say anything for a long time. She sat, contemplating what she should say to this poor girl. "Arkerya... you have suffered an ordeal that a person like me could never imagine. If the scourge got to me, I would destroy my body with magic before they took me. But at the time, you knew no such thing. I simply can't fathom what it must have been like to be utterly helpless against such a gruesome situation," Callencia said, almost teary eyed.
"Vengeance is such an enticing option. It is said that and eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind, but when faced with the hate inspired by betrayal and murder, that tenet becomes more like idealism than wisdom. I ask this of you, if you would indulge me," Callencia leaned her head toward Arkerya.
"The light sympathizes with you, though for different reasons. Learn to use the light. Get to him and take your revenge in the name of the light. Follow Solwein the Light Bringer and aid him. Together, in righteous fury and in unison with the light we can bring him down. Abandon your chains of anger and replace them with a desire to do good. In this, you will not only get to Arthas; you will also find solace," Callencia said.
Arkerya didn't appreciate the impromptu lecture, but Callencia meant well and Arkerya could appreciate that. "Now get some sleep. You'll need to stay awake for your classes on mystic theory tomorrow," Callencia said.
"I'll go up in a minute," Arkerya replied. Callencia left the barracks and walked out into the night. Arkerya remained at the window, contemplating what Callencia had said and the best way to get to Arthas. Callencia's rhetoric was tiring and Arthas was upsetting.
Thoroughly unsatisfied, she left the window and ascended the stairs to the second floor and to her room. She shut and latched the door behind her and got undressed. She hastily brushed her hair a few times before falling into bed, her thoughts still dwelling on Arthas.
Her cheeks went red and she curled up into a ball under her covers. Damn you Arthas. I hate you. The hate burned in her stomach like a roaring bonfire. The loathing was so intense that it hurt. Tears started streaming slowly down her cheek and then to her pillow as she finally drifted off to sleep.
The night air was unusually cool for summer. Callencia had never cared for the heat that blew up from Stranglethorn's tropical paradise. In truth, she would have preferred to live in the mountains with the dwarves, though she'd rather not actually live 'in' the mountain.
The humidity reminded her of a mission she had led in Stranglethorn against a warlord with Solwein when he was first initiated into the order. Kurzen? Yes that was his name. Kurzen...
Though she was not particularly close to Solwein, the two of them shared unspoken respect for one another, if for very different reasons. Solwein always acknowledged her superiority in the ranks of their order, and Callencia valued, as most others did, Solwein's unusual knack for keeping a level head and making wise decisions.
As such, the two had good talks every now and then, when the need arose. After hearing the details of Arkerya's torment, she felt one of their deep conversations was required.
As she came to the end of the canals and into the face of the king's statue and the keep's grand staircase, she conveniently spotted Solwein sitting by his window, high in the castle.
Why'd they have to put him up so damned high? They could have just as well set his quarters on the ground floor with the servants. I'll bet he would have preferred it. The climb up the stone spiral staircase was indeed long and tiresome, even for the physically elite like Callencia. After a long climb full of anticipation, she made it to the top of the tower, but before she knocked, she tried to pick out Solwein's thoughts.
"I know you're out there Avatar," Solwein said from inside his chamber. Damn. "May I come in?" Callencia asked. "Enter," Solwein replied.
"How is it that you can always tell it's me?" Callencia asked playfully as she walked inside. "When you have a sixth sense like me, granted through vast wisdom and unequivocal prowess in all things mental, it's difficult to tune the presence of others out," Solwein said conceitedly.
"Is that so?" Callencia said coolly. "Not really, no. But I did see you walk in below," Solwein said. Callencia shook her head and tried to stifle a crooked smile. "So to what do I owe the pleasure?" Solwein asked, still staring out the window.
"It's about Arkerya," Callencia said bluntly. Solwein grumbled ever so quietly and turned to face Callencia. "I had a feeling it was," Solwein said lowly. "Why in the world would you send her to me of all people for training?"
"Because she and you have a bond, not that I have to tell you that," Callencia said. "Avatar..." Solwein started and then sighed. "Callencia, she's not the light bringer. I brought her here thinking she was the answer to the scourge. I asked everyone to go with me on faith to Northshire to see this simple village girl and they obliged me. All of this only to find out that she isn't anything that I said she was," Solwein said slightly frustrated.
"Not only do I not have the time to devote to training her properly, how am I supposed to face her? I haven't told her anything. Am I to just blurt out everything that has happened and hope she doesn't curse me where I stand? I started her down this path and now I find out that it's a dead end. I called her the light bringer! How dare I ask forgiveness for such a thing?" Solwein said, now pacing back and forth.
"What would Arkhel want you to do?" Callencia asked. "Arkhel... bah. He was a paladin lord. Don't get me wrong. He was powerful and wise and I have the utmost respect for him. But he didn't foresee this. He didn't tell me I would carry the title that Uther made legendary. I'm sure, like any good politician, he would tell me that the people are counting on me and I should forget all about some silly child who happens to get redeemed one day," Solwein said, his voice steadily getting louder.
"But the bond is there. However full of shame and indecisiveness you may be, you and Arkerya are linked together by holy chains. You can't deny it and you shouldn't ignore it," Callencia said.
A long silence gave both of them time to think. "I can't make the sword work," Solwein said, finally looking into Callencia's eyes. "I try and try, but nothing happens. The light bringer's blade doesn't appear. On top of that, I can't summon wings or harness the kind of power that manifested that day. I can't do anything that the light bringer is supposed to do."
"I don't have all the answers, Solwein. I wish I did, but I don't. Nobody does. But the way I see it, this is a test of your faith," Callencia said. "I would never tell you to press on without knowing for sure what weapons you have at your disposal, but I would also never tell you to do nothing instead," she said.
"But to tell you the truth, it scarcely matters what I would tell you anymore. You are the light bringer and therefore the man in charge. Regardless of what you may think, we all saw what happened outside the cathedral. We all saw you transform, right before our eyes, into..." Callencia hesitated. "...an angel!"
Ask anyone in tune with the light who was there. It wasn't normal and the feeling that it inspired brought King Varian Wrynn to his knee. The light chose you as its champion and as such, you have to decide what comes next,"
Callencia's words suddenly reminded Solwein of what the prophet had said about the choices he would have to make. I can't make the right decision. Arkerya was supposed to be the light bringer, not me. How did this get so out of control?
The compounding of Solwein's guilt for dragging Arkerya into his current catastrophe and his fear and frustration of being a false holy deity tested him every second of every day. With all the living people counting on him, putting their faith in him, there was no way he could back down and renounce his status. Aside from the people, the politicians would certainly have him excommunicated and banished from the kingdom of Stormwind.
"There are many people in this world who have nothing. No hope, no drive, no chance. I myself have very little and even less that truly holds a piece of my heart. What I do have can be taken away by a simple thief. But there is one thing, perhaps a paladins most impressive and resolute attribute, that cannot be taken from you, by force or otherwise," Callencia said sagely.
"Faith," Callencia said finally. "I will always have my faith in the light. No one, not the lich king himself, may take it from me. Only I have the power to lose faith," she said. "Only you have the power to lose faith."
"Hold on to it Solwein, for soon enough, it may be all you have," Callencia said. "Good night, High Lord," Callencia said as she turned and left. Her words and formal farewell impacted Solwein heavily. He knew she was right. The holy light had proven its worth time and again in the past for Solwein and countless times before him since the age of the titans.
The moon began to peek over his window sill and his eyes became heavy. The day, like the past few before it, had been filled with newspaper functions, ceremonies, politics and a general frustration with Solwein's inactivity. He was weary.
He fell backwards onto his elegant bed of silk sheets and a feather mattress, a far cry from the hay that he was so used to sleeping on in old town. The familiar itch on his back that a small piece of straw poking out of its sack was absent from the plush and comfortable feather mattress and pillow.
His simple life was no more. He was now bound to a name, a gift and a curse. By name, he was recognized as the most powerful living being in Azeroth. But with nearly absolute power comes the weight of the world, a weight that was crushing Solwein.
Weary eyes slowly twitched and then closed giving way for sweet blissful sleep. At last, a break from this mayhem.
Arkerya was not at all in ship shape. The previous night, like many, had been filled with nightmares and then restless sleep, so she was barely awake as she donned her medium armor.
Upon fixing her hair into a rushed bun, she donned her breast plate and slung her rapier over her left shoulder. In a sheath that she and Master McDonagal had fashioned together, she tucked her elven short sword away.
She never really used it, however. When she had tried wielding it and the rapier at the same time, Callencia had harshly corrected her, stating that a Paladin requires only one weapon and a shield to overpower equal or greater foes.
She then tried using her tiny sword with her shield to find out that the short blade and a light buckler do not pair well with heavily armored opponents. Again, Callencia corrected her.
Eventually she was reduced to bringing it along for moral support, a sort of reminder of who she really fought for. Though she was unable to practice with the weapon she truly desires, her skill with a rapier had improved drastically. She was quick and precise in her thrusts and graceful with her movements.
Callencia, when she wasn't yelling, would sometimes work one on one with a recruit. During this time, Callencia would help the young paladin to be creative. Her rhetoric was all about how two paladins can never be the same and how through meditation and practice, one can develop a technique all their own.
It was in this category that Arkerya had excelled the most. Arkerya was of slim and slender body and through her many ventures with her brother and just playing in the woods, she had remained strong and durable.
Arkerya was the spitting image of an acrobat. Kaonus had once said that "it was a shame to burden her with heavy armor. Oh well. Such is the holy life." Arkerya was not amused.
For this reason, Arkerya, Callencia, Zhor, and Kaonus all put their heads together to figure out the best way to lighten Arkerya's armor.
Through intensive metal work, the size of her shoulder plates were drastically reduced. She had traded in her heavy steel boots for a pair of studded leather striders with knee shields. Her torso was protected by a heavy raiment. The raiment was made smaller than Arkerya's size, giving it a tight fit for maximum flexibility.
In her new medium armor, she could move quickly without fear of armor bearing down on her, she could see better and turn more quickly. She had even managed to learn to spring backward over one hand to evade an enemy's flurry of attacks, an ability she was quite proud of.
Ignas was the first to recognize this as a golden opportunity. After the training period was finished for the day, he asked Arkerya to remain behind. For hours that day, the two of them worked on a way to return from a back handspring to counter attack the opponent and in the end, they were successful.
Arkerya had been perfecting it for weeks now and all of the instructors had taken notice to her impressive learning ability. Upon landing from an evasive back handspring, Arkerya would leap forward and thrust rapidly in mid air, taking the opponent completely by surprise and throwing them off balance. She thought of it like a mocking bird attacking a nest robbing intruder.
It was thus that her rapier ceased to be called rapier and instead went by the name of Mocking Blade. She wondered often if she would ever be able to name her father's sword. It seemed that the last gift her dear family had given her bore enough importance to be given a name.
But at the end of the day, despite her ample attention and accelerated progress, the higher members of the order would go off elsewhere with their apprentices, leaving her to retire or practice on her own.
Her new lifestyle was harsh at times, particularly when Solwein was around. He seemed distant and unapproachable, as if something about her deeply troubled him. Arkerya hadn't given up on becoming his apprentice though. At the end of every day when the apprentices went away with their masters, she would think of him.
Arkerya shook the thoughts out of her head and strapped her armor down before hurrying down the stairs and out into the city streets toward the training grounds in Old Town. Upon reaching the grounds outside of SI:7, she was greeted by Drogin, one of her current least favorite paladins.
Arkerya's raiment was smaller than her size which made for a tight fit and also a shorter bottom skirt. Drogin had been making tons of tactless advances that usually ended up infuriating Callencia, though they more amused than angered Arkerya.
Drogin would then say something like "just kidding. Let's spar!" before trying to get the jump on Arkerya. He had only managed to get her once that way on his first try, but only once.
"Ahoy my lightly armored maiden! Your presence makes a dull and dreary day at least twice as bearable," he shouted loudly enough to attract attention and a few snickers.
"It's sunny outside Drogin. And besides, you're not going to fool me with that same old trick. I'm sure your nimble mind can come up with something more clever so stop pestering me every morning," she said coldly.
Drogin donned a mock frown and hunched down as if to appear pouty. "You'll come around. None can resist my dazzling charm for long," replied Drogin.
Arkerya rolled her eyes and strode over to an empty bench to wait for Callencia. The time before training commenced was the only time during the day that she ever really got to relax.
With her days full of exercise and combat training and her busy nights of study in the library, this scant and fleeting down time gave her a little time to think. The hate that burned in her every day wore away at her like a river erodes rock. Her morning relaxation was often spent wondering how exactly she was going to get to Arthas.
His whereabouts were unknown and his armies came from many places. The task of finding him alone was one she wasn't sure how to accomplish. And once I do find him, what then? It isn't as if I can just sneak into his lair and cut his throat. He will be protected by legions of the dead.
Arkerya's brooding was sharply interrupted by the arrival of Callencia. "Fall in at wide interval," she shouted. The apprentices formed ranks and then spread themselves widely throughout the lawn.
The morning routine consisted of lots of stretching and light calisthenics, although the only one who called them such was Callencia. This morning routine almost left the recruits tired before they began their lessons for the day.
When the morning warm-up's were finished, Callencia ordered them all to pair up. "Today's training is fencing. You know the drill. Two handed weapons pair with other two handed weapons and vice versa. And no Drogin, you may not pair with Arkerya," she said loudly. Drogin hung his head.
The last time they practiced their fencing, Arkerya had paired with McDonagal, a dwarf who wielded a broad sword that was particularly broad. Aside from his huge, one handed weapon, McDonagal was known for his unusually hard hitting dwarven style. Arkerya had not been able to contend.
Still groggy from her lack of sleep, Arkerya scanned the area for a more suitable sparring partner. Most of the paladins used two handed claymores and more still had heavy maces and battle axes. The only other one handed fighters she had to choose from were Tia, McDonagal and Drogin.
Quickly ruling out Drogin, she started for Tia. "Pair up?" she asked. "Sure," Tia replied simply. Arkerya drew out her rapier and walked with Tia to a safe distance. The two squared off and tapped their blades together.
Tia's weapon was a scimitar and her shield a light buckler like Arkerya's, a decent match for Arkerya's rapier. Although the scimitar was a light weapon, it was considerably heavier than her lightning fast Mocking Blade.
If I can get around her shield, I will most likely be able to outmaneuver her and then strike more quickly than she can react. It occurred to Arkerya that she had never gone against an opponent who's fighting style was so similar to hers. Until Tia, she had been sparring with opponents of heavy armor and shield.
She always leaned toward outmaneuvering her opponent rather than attacking from the front. Tia also wore light armor, though not as light as Arkerya's, and would surely be a good match to hone her speed and precision.
Arkerya's mind had wandered and Tia spoke up. "Ready?" she asked. Arkerya assumed a good stance and squared off with Tia. "Ready," she said.
Tia opened aggressively with an overhead swing. The strike was much quicker than Arkerya had anticipated, but still easily blocked. Arkerya answered by heaving Tia back and throwing her off balance.
With Tia stunned for a moment, Arkerya side stepped to the right and swung for Tia's exposed left side. Instead of turning toward the incoming slash, Tia turned the opposite direction and arced her scimitar over head and behind her, blocking Arkerya's blow.
In one swift motion, Tia issued out another overhead slice, throwing Arkerya's weapon back and leaving her exposed. Arkerya barely got her shield in blocking position in time. Winded and surprised, she retreated to a safe distance.
"You are an excellent fencer, Tia. I'll have to remember that behind the back thing," Arkerya said, genuinely impressed.
"Thank you. It took me an extremely long time and many close calls to get the motion down. Practice hard before trying to perform it in combat," Tia replied.
Tia immediately thrust with great speed. Arkerya parried with her rapier. Tia thrust again in quick succession, forcing Arkerya to use her shield this time. Yet again Tia thrust, but this time Arkerya had nothing to block with.
Arkerya leapt backwards and upside down, grasping the grass with her left hand. Her feet swung over top and landed at the same time in perfect position. Tia was completely open. It was clear that the third thrust was supposed to connect when the first two failed.
In her zeal, she had put all of her body weight into that final thrust, sending her falling forward when she missed.
Arkerya pushed off with her nimble legs and flew toward an unprepared Tia. As quickly as she pushed off, she swung her sword around to where the pummel was in front and then she felt victory. The pummel, at personal combat range, clanked hard against Tia's breastplate.
Tia staggered backwards and then stopped, stunned at what had happened to her. "That is some serious footwork, Arkerya," Tia exclaimed. A soft applause rose in the training grounds. Arkerya and Tia had attracted an audience. Drogin was chanting Arkerya's name. Callencia punched him in the stomach.
"Most impressive, Arkerya!" Ignas chimed in from the courtyard entrance. He strode over and patted Arkerya hard on the back. "I dare say you have perfected a new technique," he said proudly.
"Thank you, Master Ignas. I thank you for your guidance," said Arkerya. Ignas smiled for a moment, but he stopped when he looked up at Callencia. "Callencia, my lady. I must speak with you. Please talk with me in private," Ignas said.
Callencia nodded and strode over to Ignas. "Physical training is canceled for the rest of the day. You are at liberty until 6:00 when evening study begins in the library," Ignas bellowed to everyone's surprise.
What in the world is going on? "Does this happen often?" Arkerya asked Tia. "Only when a big move is coming. If I had to guess, I would say it has something to do with the battle in the north. I've heard that the Argent Dawn has endeavored to contain the plaguelands with some success. If they are calling for aide, Stormwind will almost surely answer," Tia answered.
"The Argent Dawn?" Arkerya asked, confused. "You've never heard of the Argent Dawn? Do you pay no attention to the history of the world? They are scarlet defectors turned righteous paladin order who's movement has offset the scourge in the north. They're heroes! I can't believe you don't know about them," Tia said.
"Scarlet defectors?" Arkerya said, still dumbfounded. "The Scarlet Crusade! They're fortress monastery was the last living bastion to fall in Tirisfal Glade. Since the loss of their lands, they've nearly tripled in size and have become hostile to anyone who is unwilling to join them," Tia continued.
"When Scarlet Highlord Alexandros Mograine died, the corruption of the crusade became apparent to some of its members and atrocities against living villages came to light. High Inquisitor Fairbanks was the one to make all of this public and he was later murdered for it. That's when the founders of the Argent Dawn defected," Tia said.
"Do you think we'll be called to arms against the crusade?" Arkerya asked. "Unlikely, at least for now. The Argent Dawn maintain some relations with them in order to prevent civil war," Tia replied.
"Civil war? That's crazy! Why would anyone want a civil war at a time like this?" Arkerya said. "The crusade has become a radical organization. Their fanatical followers try to destroy anything they deem even remotely evil. This applies to most non members. After the fall of Tirisfal, they declared total war on the scourge and any non Scarlet collaborators. In a nutshell, they said join or die," said Tia.
"I see. You sure do know your history. Are you a historian?" Arkerya asked. "Sort of," Tia said with just a slight hint of discomfort. Arkerya failed to notice. I wonder what's going on.
Solwein sat anxiously at the top of a stage in the main council hall in the dwarven district. His morning had been a living hell from the very beginning. He woke that morning to his servants bringing a message that the king had summoned him.
The king had informed him that the scourge outbreak in the south had been dwindled to a token force. But that same small force had entrenched themselves in Duskwood and taken up guerilla tactics.
Furthermore, the Argent Dawn had gained a few small footholds throughout the plaguelands. They had called for reinforcements and now that the scourge in the south were no longer a true threat, the king had decided to send troops north.
The rest of the morning was spent listening to the report of two very haggard and worn out Argent messengers. When all of the masters arrived, Solwein, the king and top military leaders were going to brief them on the situation and then issue orders to mobilize.
When the messenger's report was finished, Solwein, the king and his top military leaders conferred to formulate a long term battle plan. When tactics had been agreed on, the call to council was sounded.
The impending meeting of military leaders and the paladin lords was to discuss tactics and troop deployment. All of the order's masters were in attendance except for Callencia and Ignas, whom Solwein had sent to retrieve her.
When the final two walked in, Wrynn called the council to order. Once all had taken their seats, the king made his opening statements.
"I am pleased to inform you who were remained in the city and surrounding settlements that the battle in the south had been most successful. The remaining scourge have been isolated in Duskwood. While it would take a great deal of time and manpower to eradicate them all, they pose no real threat to our now well fortified towns," Wrynn said.
"My lord, what of Darkshire? Has there been any word to their survival?" asked a paladin in the middle of the room.
"We believe the town of Darkshire to have been consumed by the scourge. The scourge entered our domain by way of the coast in Westfall. They snuck through the foothills and dug in at a cemetery in western Duskwood. The last patrol out of Duskwood never returned and none of our search parties have returned," Wrynn replied somberly.
"With the defense of Stormwind and the villages and garrison of Elwynn forest secure, it is time to turn our attention north. Master Solwein, will you please bring everyone up to speed?" Wrynn said.
Solwein laid out a large map of the Eastern Plaguelands on the wall behind him, securing it with two tacks.
"Along the road you will be able to see five towers. Heading East, you will encounter the towers Crown Guard, Light's Shield, Eastwall, Northpass and Plaguewood in that order. In the western portion of the plaguelands, a number of farming communities, including Andorhal, stand between the Crown Guard tower and the Argent Dawn's most southern garrison, Chillwind camp, just north of Tarren Mill," Solwein said.
"The most harrowing news from the north comes from Light's Hope Chapel in the far east. The necropolis of Naxxramas has retreated from sight to the north and has been replaced by an ebon necropolis. From this new fortress, the scourge is launching a heavy assault on the Scarlet Enclave at the eastern shores of the plaguelands. The ebon ranks are littered with death knights."
Solwein had caused a look of worry and restlessness. The crowd murmured to one another. King Wrynn banged his gavel.
"They have advanced all the way to Tyr's Hand and are projected to overrun the enclave. With the crusade out of the way, Light's hope will be a sitting duck. Since the ground on which it sits is holy, it is an indispensable asset so deep in enemy territory. Light's hope must not fall if we are to maintain our presence in the east," Solwein said.
Solwein's nerves were strained. He was addressing all of the paladin lords as the light bringer and they were all listening to him. A bead of sweat trickled down his forehead.
"We shall divide our forces. Our main force will take the Deeprun tram to Ironforge where they will coagulate with our dwarven allies. Once the troops are ready to move out, they shall march north by way of Loch Modan all the way to Chillwind camp in northern Hilsbrad. From there, they shall assault Andorhal and attempt to retake the town," Solwein continued.
"A detachment consisting of Stormwind Navy and Marine forces will sail north and dock off shore at Light's Hope. Should the battle at Light's Hope be won, the forces there will reinforce the towers along the road and endeavor to retake various key locations and eventually Stratholme. Are there any questions?" Solwein finished.
The following questions were mostly answered by King Wrynn. In the end, the plan remained intact. With all questions answered, Wrynn gave the order to mobilize.
"By the end of the day, all individual orders shall be issued to small unit leaders. In ten days time, we march north to war.
