Chapter X

Of Nightmares and Scams

The group returned home in a fantastic mood after such a day. Who wouldn't? The mission was a complete success (even though Bloodhorn didn't seem pleased). What remained was to analyze the book they found. Zhora sat down at the dining table and opened it.

'Ok, here it is. This is definitely our amulet.' – he said.

'I'll go bring it down just in case.' – Haru said running up to her room.

'Rico, check this text out. Anything familiar?' – the mage asked.

'I recognize a few glyphs… But most of it…' – she replied.

'Ah, man… Any ideas?'

'There may be something resembling a dictionary in our library.' – Sluon purposed.

'Someone's been in my room!' – Haru shouted rushing back.

'What?'

'It's completely trashed! Someone was clearly looking for something!' – she said nervously.

'Damn it! Don't tell me they found the amulet!' – Blant said.

'No, it was well hidden. Here it is.' – Haru answered showing the artifact.

'Whew! Then everything's alright!' – the orc smiled.

'No, it's not alright.' – the mage said with a serious look. – 'Did anything else get stolen?' – he asked.

'Nothing. Well, considering there was nothing of value in my room it's no surprise. But stuff like the golden candleholder would have been good loot.'

'So the thieves are idiots, big deal.' – Blant laughed.

'You are mistaken, friend. This proves they have been looking for the amulet, not money.' – the shaman noted.

'Furthermore, the front door was locked up, right?' – the mage continued.

'Right, mon. Me lock it up.' – Aidid nodded.

'And it was still locked when we came back!' – Rico noticed.

'This not be good, mon…'

'Great. So whoever it was knows that we have the amulet, knows where we live and can walk through walls. Just perfect!' – Blant smashed his fist against the table.

'What bothers me the most is that they knew it was in my room…' – Haru said.

'So what do we do? Hide it somewhere else?' – the orc asked.

'No go. If they can pinpoint its location that accurately – it won't matter. I guess we should always keep it with us.' – Zhora suggested.

'That would seem like the best way. I cannot think of any other options.' – Sluon agreed.

'So next time they'll come after us?' – Rico asked.

'If they come – we kill them! Simple.' – the orc laughed.

'Da enemy may be strong. Me say let Haru carry it. Invisibility can help escape with da amulet if we get attacked.' – Aidid proposed.

'Alright.' – the rogue nodded.

'What if they come at night?'

'I'm a light sleeper. I wake up right away if someone stands near me.' – she said.

With the problem "solved", the crew went to bed.

'Alice…' – a voice in the darkness whispered.

'Who's there?' – Haru asked.

'Alice…' – the whisper was getting louder. Haru slowly made a few steps back, scared of the unknown. Suddenly something grabbed her leg. She turns around and looks down. – 'You did this to me, Alice!' – a woman covered in blood shouted.

The rogue shook her off and started running away into the darkness. She ran for a long time with nothing in sight. It was pitch black. The voice whispering "Alice…" was following her, echoing all around. Finally a small light was visible in the distance. Haru was now running even faster to escape this horrible darkness. The light was getting brighter and brighter. As she finally reached it, the emptiness vanished. Haru was now standing in the middle of a small hut, lit only by a lamp on the table. This place seemed familiar, but she couldn't remember. In the corner of the hut were some sheets on the floor. Seems the owners were too poor to afford a bed. Besides the sheets and the table with the lamp on it – the hut was empty. Not that something else would have fit inside anyway.

'Alice…' – the voice behind her said quietly.

The rogue turned around. The bloody woman was standing right behind her, starring.

'You're so beautiful… And talented… I'M TAKING ALL THAT AWAY FROM YOU!' – she screamed and pierced Haru's eyes with her fingernails.

Haru woke up catching her breath. The nightmares were torturing her again. Knowing she would not get any sleep tonight she got out of bed and approached the window. It was raining. Listening to every raindrop fall, Haru began to think. Who was that woman? Why did she call her "Alice"? What did this dream mean? The nightmares had been there since the day she awoke in Deathknell. This was the main reason she called herself a "light sleeper" – she just couldn't sleep because of these dreams. Who was she before she became a Forsaken? Was Alice her name from when she was a human? If only she could remember… But a part of her wished she never would. Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

'Haru, breakfast is ready!' – Rico's sounded voice.

The undead noticed it was already morning. Her thoughts have made the night pass by very quickly. Still troubled she went down.

'Good morning, everyone!' – she said.

'You're lucky the squirt called you! I was about to eat your portion!' – Blant laughed.

'Are you calling me squirt again?' – the half-elf protested.

'Cuz you are a squirt!' – the orc answered.

'Here we go again…' – Zhora sighed.

'At least the mornings are not boring.' – Sluon laughed.

'Me get used to it already, mon.' – Aidid agreed.

'Aaaanyway. I'm guessing the amulet is safe, right?' – the mage asked.

'Huh? Oh, yeah yeah, it's here.'

'Are you alright, Haru?' – Rico asked. – 'You look a little… down.'

'I'm fine. Nothing to worry about.' – she smiled tiredly.

'Well, if you say so.' – Blant said. – 'Rico, check the library after breakfast.'

'I will! Keep your pants on! Geez!' – Rico replied angrily. She was frustrated that everyone was still focused on the amulet while Haru seemed to have problems of her own.

'Good! Da sooner ya translate da book – da better.' – the troll nodded.

'Unbelievable…' – the half-elf sighed.

'Ok then. See you all at dinner.' – Zhora said. – 'I'll go check out what's going on outside.'

'I shall come to.' – Sluon said.

'Wait for me, mon.'

'Like hell you're leaving me behind!' – the orc shouted running after them. The four left the house.

'Damn those guys! Seriously!' – Rico shouted.

'Don't mind them.' – the rogue said.

'Well, I'm still here for you.' – Rico smiled. – 'So what's on your mind?'

'It's nothing, really.' – Haru smiled back.

'Alright then, I'd better hit the books.' – Rico sighed understanding that the undead doesn't want to talk about it. – 'Wanna help out?'

'Sure.'

The library had a bigger collection of books than it seemed at first glance. The priest began to search the shelves for anything that had a connection to demonic tongue. Haru was just standing in the middle of the room.

'It would go a lot faster if you'd help me out, you know.' – Rico said.

'I doubt that…' – the undead replied.

'Huh?'

'I… I keep having this dream…'

In the meantime, far away in the Eastern Plaguelands, in the destroyed city of Stratholme, the lich Balzaphon seemed to be waiting for something. He was wandering in a circle around the fountain in the courtyard. Now and then he was taking a glimpse at the streets. Once filled with life, they were now filled with nothing but death. One could actually feel the sorrow and agony of the people that were slaughtered here or the ones turned into mindless servants of the Lich King. No doubt this atmosphere normally brought joy to Balzaphon's frozen heart. But not this time. He had other things on his mind. Suddenly a small portal opened above the fountain.

'Did you find it?' – he asked anxiously.

'Yes, master!' – a voice from within the portal replied.

'Good… Our spy seems to be doing well.' – the lich said. – 'You've retrieved it I suppose?'

'No…'

'Why?'

'I've witnessed their power. They could actually be of great use to us.' – the voice from the portal said.

'Hmmm… You may have a point… Considering they were able to retake the amulet from me… Alright, keep them under surveillance at all times. Cifer shall assist you.'

'Yes, master!'

'Perfect. Once everything will be finished – I will be powerful enough to stand up to the Lich King! And naturally you shall gain some of the power.'

'Yes, master! I patiently await that day.'

'Good. You serve me well.' – Balzaphon said. – 'If something goes wrong – kill them and proceed as originally planned!'

'Yes, master!' – the voice and the portal vanished.

Back in Orgrimmar, the four guys were taking a stroll around the city. They were just trying to kill some time without anything better to do. They checked some of the local stores, listened to some gossip, but didn't find or hear anything of interest.

'This is boring… I wish someone would just…' – Blant was beginning to say.

'Are you strong? Confident? And need money? Look no further!' – a high pitched voice sounded.

'Bingo!' – the orc shouted running in that direction.

'That guy be a magnet for such things, mon.' – Aidid laughed.

They found a small fighting arena built up on one of the main streets. Two goblins were standing on it. One of them was the one talking.

'Step right up! Pay ten gold coins and fight my brother! Hold out for three minutes and win a hundred gold!'

The other goblin was waving to the crowd. He was very skinny and looked unbelievably weak.

'Three minutes against that guy? I can take him!' – a few males standing closest to the arena said.

'That's not all! If you win within the three minutes by knock out – you win one thousand gold coins!'

'ONE THOUSAND!' – the crowd roared. Instantly over twenty orc, troll and tauren men were standing near the steps leading to the arena.

'So many participants! Pay the entry fee and wait in line, please!' – the goblin said.

Everyone of them did just that and lined up.

'This is going to be entertaining.' – a huge tauren standing in front of the crew laughed.

'Nah, watching someone beat up a goblin is boring.' – Blant said.

'Just wait and see.'

'Alright! Let the battles begin! Now that my assistant here is done setting up the stage, my brother can come up!' – the organizer said. The weak looking goblin bowed and went away. Right after that an enormous ogre stepped into the arena. A mindless look on his face showed he was good for but one thing – smashing. The participant's enthusiastic looks suddenly changed.

'I knew there was a catch behind all this.' – Zhora said.

'Indeed.' – the huge tauren nodded. – 'These guys have been here all morning. They made a fortune out of those who haven't seen this fraud before.'

'Wait, I'm confused. So their father was a goblin, and the mother – and ogre? Or was it the other way around?' – Blant asked.

'Are you being serious?' – Sluon covered his face with his palm.

'Fraud! You said we should face your brother!' – the participants roared.

'But we are brothers!' – the goblin replied. – 'My parents adopted him when he was little.'

'Well, they surely cannot argue with that fact. Nor can they prove it if it is a lie.' – Sluon sighed.

The participants began to back up. None of them thought they stood a chance against this huge brute. And they couldn't demand a refund since the organizer never did say they would fight the weak-looking goblin. A perfect scam.

'Cowards! Well I'm not backing up! I'm not leaving this place without the thousand gold!' – one of the participants said climbing on stage. He was a very tough looking orc.

'That's the spirit! Ladies and gentlemen, let the battle begin!' – the goblin announced.

'You're going down, big guy! I'm taking that cash with me!' – the orc grinned.

The ogre smirked and bent down a little.

'Now easy to reach face!' – the orge taunted. This gesture enraged the orc and he rushed his opponent and landed a mighty punch straight in the cheek.

'Not so tough now, huh?' – he shouted.

'You – dead!' – the ogre replied.

Before losing consciousness the orc saw the ogre's huge fist descending upon his head. But the brute didn't stop there. He lifted the orc up and smashed him back into the ground. A cracking sound could be heard. Then he lifted him again and began jabbing the body like a punching bag.

'Let him go! He's already in knock out!' – some people from the crowd yelled.

'Alright alright! The winner – my big brother!' – the goblin cheered. The ogre finally stopped attacking and threw the orc's almost lifeless body outside the ring. – 'Ouch! That has got to hurt!' – the goblin laughed. – 'Someone take this poor guy to a healer or something.'

A few troll witchdoctors ran over to the looser and began some healing rituals.

'What the hell? That ogre would have killed him!' – Zhora said.

'This be no fair fight, mon!' – Aidid agreed.

'Have you noticed my broken horn?' – the huge tauren asked. – 'Can only blame my own stupidity. But I was lucky. Most of the challengers got beat up as bad as that orc.'

'This does not seem right. You lost, you know what is going on, yet you do not warn the rest about this.' – Sluon said.

'I'm not stupid. A troll here tried to warn the next wave of participants. Let's just say he'll probably not be able to walk for a long time.' – the tauren explained.

'Bastards…' – Zhora grinded his teeth.

'Making a mess in Orgrimmar? How dare they?' – Blant was furious.

'Is there anyone else here who'd like to try out his strength?' – the goblin asked.

'You bet! Here're ten gold!' – Blant said climbing onto the stage.

'Well well well! It's nice to see such enthusiasm from the young ones these days! Alright, you're up, kid!' – the goblin said.

The crowd stared at this in disbelief.

'Are you insane? You'll kill yourself!' – the women shouted.

'You don't stand a chance!' – the men agreed.

'Is he out of his mind?' – the huge tauren asked.

'Probably gone crazy the day he was born.' – Zhora laughed.

'Now's gonna be entertaining.' – Aidid grinned.

'Me smash!' – the ogre said.

'No! Me smash!' – Blant crackled with his knuckles.

'Those two have something in common.' – Sluon noted.

'Both have same brain type.' – Aidid said with a smile.

'Yeah. No brain at all!' – Zhora laughed.

'Ladies and gentlemen, let the battle begin!' – the goblin shouted.

The ogre was enraged for being taken lightly by this young skinny orc. Instantly he rushed him swinging his gigantic fists. Blant easily dodged one punch after another. He was smiling. Another evasion and the orc jumped back a few steps.

'Cockroach! Only run away you can! Skinny weakling! Coward!' – the ogre shouted.

Blant's facial expression changed, his smile faded. The brute quickly charged in with another massive punch. Blant caught the attack with his left hand and was pushed back by less than a meter. The ogres eyes widened. An orc stopping his attack so easily? Blant pulled the ogre's caught hand. The brute lost his balance and was going to fall on his stomach, but before he fell too low, Blant took a step forward with his left foot and threw a brutal punch right in his jaw. The ogre flew across the ring and landed in the opposite corner. He was knocked out in just one hit.

The crowd stared in amazement for a few seconds and then began to cheer.

'A thousand gold you said?' – Blant smiled.

'You go, man!' – Zhora cheered.

'What… how…' – the goblin was speechless.

'Fraud! He refuses to pay!' – the orc that lost the battle a few minutes ago shouted. He was slightly better.

'Fraud! Fraud!' – the crowd raged.

'Hmmm… even with the amount of people they scammed, they couldn't have earned one thousand gold coins.' – the huge tauren said.

'Well, that's not our problem, now is it?' – Zhora grinned.

'Fraud! Fraud!' – the crowd continued. – 'Call the guards!'

'Alright! I'll pay up!' – the goblin shouted.

Like the huge tauren had said, the frauds didn't have that much money on their hands. Still they managed to pay up. They gave everything they had earned by scamming, the stage and a whole set of blacksmithing and engineering equipment including a forge, an anvil and even a worktop for engineers. The crew had no idea where the frauds got this, but since it was in pretty good condition, they decided to take it. Since there was a lot of stuff, and most of it was heavy, they made the ogre help transport it home.

The girls didn't even come out of the library. The guys decided they were busy with translating, so they simply began to install all those things themselves. The empty room they noticed while exploring the house has now turned into Blant's private workshop.

'So? What do you think?' – the orc asked proudly when all of it was in place.

'Looks awesome!' – Zhora said.

'Indeed it does.' – Sluon agreed.

'Hey, mon! Why me worktop be in da corner?' – Aidid asked.

'What? Like you need more space!' – Blant asked.

'Oh boy…' – the mage sighed.