Chapter 6
Frigid wind bit at the rogue's cheeks. Wintergarde Keep lay in ruins just as she had left it, the 7th Legion almost completely wiped out in a matter of hours... because of her. All of their efforts and work and blood had been for nothing in the end because she had ruthlessly murdered their leader and left them vulnerable simply because that is what the Lich King had bade her do. Best not to think on that now though...
Naxxaramas was decidedly absent from the landscape as Vaedra gazed out to the east, and that worried her. All of the Lich King's movements since her departure had been rather erratic: leaving Scourgeholme open and defenseless, the Cultists redoubling their efforts to create new and different servants and experiments, and now this.
Landing her drake amidst the ruins of the keep and fallen towers, Vaedra dismounted and let her eyes freely wander across the wreckage. Her hand drifted to the pouch on her belt where she withdrew a purple gem; a sphere with swirling images and a glassy surface, the violet hue matching the color of her darkened eyes.
She ran a leather thumb across the object's shell, almost lovingly, rolling it between her fingers very much in the same manner in which the Lich King had when it had been in his possession.
The soul was supposed to be an intangible concept, something that was believed in or thought of, but never touched or real. But she had been forced to face it, and have it taken from her, and stare at all of her flaws and shortcomings directly. No one should have to go through that... though she likely deserved it.
It was surprising to her that the orb hadn't gone black when the Lich King had chosen to imbue Vaedra with some of his power, further tainting her in the ways of darkness. Perhaps it was more resilient that one might think, or that she had an inner strength that defied how cowardly she nearly always felt. Unlikely.
The object glowed just as brightly as the day it had been created, drawn from her chest by Frostmourne through some means of magic that she would likely never understand. And even now that it was hers again, she was obligated to hold it so that it remain safe and untouched from those that would seek to manipulate her again. It was a weakness. One that needed to be hidden.
Moving carefully, the rogue picked her way through the remnants of the dilapidated barracks, tossing over rocks and planks as she moved deeper inside. Her fist was clenched tightly around the sphere and it made her heart shudder, thinking back at the memories associated with such an action.
Unimaginable pain and incomprehensible pleasure both emanated from the hand of her former Master as he gripped the orb in his armored glove, wracking her body with convulsions as he filled it with anger and hatred then seamlessly switching to euphoric tingles as he filled her with his energy.
Not for the first time did she let her thoughts wander in that direction, remembering their unconventional and twisted encounter the final time she had returned to Icecrown Citadel, secretly wishing that it hadn't been. It had been... refreshing, despite her deception, to let him take control like that so she could pretend for a time that she didn't have all those demons welling within her constantly pressing against her chest. That all of her silly, mortal concerns were meaningless in the large scheme of things and that she was better off allowing them to roll off and let her fate lie in the hands of a greater being.
Was that what it felt like to have faith in something? To have religion? Smiling to herself at the thought of the fervent gleam that would sometimes enter a paladin's eye when someone spoke of the Light and the way they would charge about desperately when they needed to heed it's call... she supposed in a way it was.
Leaning heavily on a fallen ceiling rafter, Vaedra tossed the board aside, bits and pieces of rubble and dust falling to the ground as she did so. The stairs leading down to the Keep's dungeon were still in tact.
The air was still as she descended below, a putrescent smell emanating from some poor soul who had likely been forgotten when all the fighting began. That day had been horrible and eye-opening for Vaedra, allowing her to fully see first hand the consequences of her cowardice... and then the Lich King had offered her unfathomable power, an opportunity that couldn't be passed. And everything changed.
What better place to store the orb of her soul, the key to unlocked memories and secrets of her past then Wintergarde Keep which had elicited the painful truth, her inability to sacrifice herself for a 'noble' cause, preferring to prevail despite all the evils she would be forced to commit. This place had brought out that ugliness and made it unavoidably apparent.
The orb was a beautiful thing, strange that it did not reflect the perversity she felt inside.
A partially-decomposed body lie in a corner of one of the locked cell doors, though the smell of death no longer bothered Vaedra like it used to. Biology saw to it that if one was around an offensive odor for too long that you would eventually adjust, like it wasn't even there.
The rogue searched the dungeon for a loose rock, or a crevice in the stone. There was a large crack in the mortar on the far wall, and as she crossed the room to reach it, she couldn't help but glance over her shoulder, irrationally paranoid that she was still being watched. Tucking the sphere deep inside the wall where no one would hopefully ever think to look for such a thing, she departed.
As she emerged from the wreckage, Vaedra heard the lonely squawking of a single carrion bird, and the air seemed to carry just a bit more of a chill. She ran her hands across her leather-clad arms for warmth, though it didn't seem to help any and she feared there was little that would be able to fight it off soon enough.
Remounting her drake, Vaedra looked to the north. Regardless, there was much still to do.
-
"How is it that I always find my way back to Icecrown..." she quietly asked herself, looking over the fortress atop Aldur'thar.
Alumeth the Ascended continued to grow in power daily; Cultists worked fervently to imbue his soul with energy so that he could grow into a vastly superior being than his once mortal self, but it couldn't be permitted to continue. Destroying his corporeal self was enough to stave the Cultist off for a time, but Vaedra knew it was no permanent solution.
She didn't know much about the process that had been used to elevate a normal man to such a level of power, only that he had sacrificed himself in some sort of dark ritual that bound his soul to a large crystal in the rear of the fortress. The rogue had tried already destroying the crystal outright but hadn't been able to get the thing to budge, let alone put a crack in it with her blades.
No, there had to be something, that was tying him to the crystal, for it was his robes, scepter, heart and skull that drew him forth for his body to be destroyed. She needed to venture deeper into the Cultist hold than she'd ever dared to find out more.
In the main chamber, researchers worked over tables filled with books and potions, and the nearly invisible rogue was able to sneak past them without detection. But going deeper within Aldur'thar revealed the narrower corridors, the personal quarters and things of unspeakable horror that she'd rather not think on.
Vaedra held her breath as she moved, flattening herself against the wall as two guards came strolling down the hallway with mirthless faces. She felt her hair flutter as the air was disturbed around her with their passing, still not quite used to the ability to go unseen from such a small distance. Did she not exist on the same level that they did anymore? Or was it just a mere trick of shadow...
Pulling the leather of her glove snugly around her fingers, she moved on; noiseless feet that barely seemed to touch the ground.
The corridor she followed began to spiral down in a long, sweeping hallway, gradually sinking deeper within the frozen earth. Air grew colder, and torches became more prevalent along the walls, increasing Vaedra's nervousness.
Screams could be heard, echoing up and around the coiled stone, becoming distorted in their travel to sound unearthly. Who were they? People being tortured for information? Experiments? Her skin crawled at the sound of screeching metal and the smell of seared flesh behind one metal threshold, knowing there was nothing she could do to help them either way.
As the rogue continued, she pressed her ear to the next door. She heard the sounds of masculine grunting mixed with low murmuring, and had a fairly good idea of what was transpiring. She knew that she should just continue on, but felt the inexplicable desire to open the door all the same.
What drove the Cult of the Damned to serve the Lich King willingly? Surely there were plenty of reasons that could explain their behavior: fear of death was a common unifying force amongst many mortals, or maybe it was what they believed to be the acceptance of an unavoidable fate, or truly religious fervor? She didn't know. Maybe by understanding them, that were like her in the respect that they had made that life-altering choice of yielding to the Lich King's will, she could better understand herself.
Without a sound, she opened the door but a crack and looked inside.
A High Priest, dressed in the finer robes to signify his position, stood at the far end of the room of a small library. His clothing was parted in the front and a female acolyte was on her knees before him, pleasuring him with her mouth. One of his gnarled, deformed hands steadied himself on a close table where his wicked-looking skull mask rest, the other threaded through her brown tresses as he spoke to her.
"You must..." he gasped, tightening his fingers in her hair. "You must not let your mortal needs control you." His sickly yellow eyes slid shut, rotted teeth revealed by curled lips in a look of rapturous pain.
"If you... wish to be Scourge truly, you must..." His free hand gripped the table's edge forcefully. "... free yourself from that which... sets us apart!"
The woman stopped a moment and looked up at him, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "But how do I do that! I just can't seem-"
He silenced her with a resounding slap. "Have you heard nothing I've said?!" The High Priest roared at her, grabbing her head roughly, forcing her to take him back between her lips.
She whimpered at his harsh treatment, but he didn't seem to notice or care. "I serve the Master!" The man panted, guiding her to increase the pace. "That means... you must serve me."
"Learn the difference between... lust... and love." He stopped his preaching to emit a long groan. "The Master needs new armies, yes?" Cackling in between heavy gasps as though he'd said something extremely amusing.
Pressing a hand to her mouth as to still the growing nausea in her stomach, Vaedra closed the door and leaned against it heavily. She was nothing like them. No, she never was.
She had to believe that.
"Ohhh, fuck..." she whispered before vomiting against the wall, trying to suppress the noise of her heaving. Collecting herself quickly, and having nothing to use to clean up the mess, she fled down the hall to continue her search.
Moments later, the female acolyte departed the library, pulling the hood of her cloak up over her head she brushed past two Blackguards patrolling down the hallway. The High Priest emerged soon after; adjusting his mask he turned to see the guards examining the vomit dripping down the stone.
The High Priest frowned. "It seems my pupil does not have the necessary 'stamina' to serve the Cult of the Damned." With a curt nod, they all turned to head back up the ramp after her.
Vaedra let out a shuddering breath as she crept lower, the sound of voices growing louder as she neared a large archway.
"Now I would like you all to direct your attention to page 36, the third paragraph. It reads, 'Knowing the most direct path of corruption is the pinnacle of wisdom. A simple weakening of the heart, dismemberment of vital organs, or direct disease will work for most. However, the conquer of most is not the decree of the Master, but the conquer of all. It is foolish to spend excessive resources in warping the mind of a simple peasant where common plague will suffice, but it is equally unwise to try the same common plague against the seasoned and hearty. Regimented study of any formidability will reveal usable weaknesses.' All right, now what does that mean to you? What was Kel'thuzad trying to convey?"
The rogue peeked around the corner at the rows of acolytes sitting on benches, pouring over their twisted texts. The room was large, ornate with tapestries, weapons, shelves filled with jars and materials. Carved sconces in the shape of skulls flanked two more archways on either side that led into adjoining chambers. At the head of all the students was the man she'd heard speaking, orating from a podium in front of a long, red curtain that draped from floor to ceiling. Behind him were rows of books and items secured in wooden and glass cases.
The Cultist cast a disapproving stare around the room when no one offered up an answer to his question. "Well? Did none of you think it worthwhile to read The Decree of the Scourge before coming in today? I specifically told you that we would be studying the different effects of the plague in varying degrees of severity-"
One timid student in the front raised his hand halfway. Everyone turned to look at him, and Vaedra used the opportunity to begin edging around the perimeter of the room, examining the spines of books and the contents of the shelved components.
"Yes! You there. Please enlighten the rest of us who are so obviously deficient when it comes to higher brain functions."
The man nodded. "Well, I take it to mean that the Scourge's priority while carrying out the Master's will to the best of our ability is efficiency. Our resources should never be wasted because we take them as we conquer, therefore tests should be performed beforehand to determine the amount of plague needed for different subjects so that neither too much nor too little is used..."
Vaedra snaked her way around the chamber, wondering how far she really dare go with the use of her powers; would they be oblivious if she stood mere inches from their face? Scanning the jars on the next shelf she saw an array of strange objects, some innocuous, others disturbing. A single disembodied eye floating in a vat of liquid seemed to stare back at her.
"Correct! Yes, very good. Did everyone hear that now? Many subjects will react differently to the effects of undeath, the simple-minded masses are usually more predictable than a battle-hardened paladin or a grizzled mercenary for example. Which is why we must make careful notes and experiments to determine the level of corruption necessary. Now you also brought up another good point on the usage of resources! This is not on the schedule for today but I do believe it ties in with our study and would like to take a moment to read a passage from Chapter 3..."
Heavy footfalls reverberated down the hall followed by frenzied squealing. "No! No! I'm worthy! Stop please!"
Vaedra's breath caught as she slipped into the adjoining room's doorway, shrouded in the shadow as the High Priest from earlier swept into the room with both his hands raised.
The class orator crossed his arms in front of his chest. "What is the meaning of this interruption? We are already behind and I have a schedule to keep-"
"Hold a moment. I do not mean to alarm you, but we have a non-believer among us!" The High Priest said with a flourish.
Quiet whispers began flitting around the room and Vaedra's heart started to pound.
"Indeed!" He continued. "I had heard, instructor, that you were studying the severity of the plague and thought we might use this opportunity for a dual lesson. Show our young acolytes here the consequences for not accepting the will of the Master, bringing together both the spiritual doctrines of the Cult of the Damned and the necessary science to make it all possible!" Waving behind him, two Blackguards came into the room each holding one arm of the young woman Vaedra had seen earlier.
Her eyes were wide with fright, hair tousled, blood dripping down her face from a split lip. She flailed in their grasp desperately once she saw where she was. "No!! I am worthy! Let me show you! I'll do whatever you want!" Her gaze was fixed on the High Priest as she screamed.
The instructor's normally sour expression brightened considerably at the sight of a new test subject. "Oh yes, this is most fantastic!" He clapped his hands together once. "Come class! We have a special treat for you today."
The students stood and allowed themselves to be ushered through the archway opposite of where Vaedra was hiding. Half-dragging, half-carrying the frantic woman, her panicked cries continued for a long while.
Vaedra let out the breath she'd been holding, returning to the class' chamber to examine the seemingly more valuable items in the front of the room. Trinkets and weapons of all types were on display like it was some kind of morbid museum, positioned lovingly on beautiful cloth and pillows.
Scanning the objects, the rogue's gaze came to rest on a dagger with a stain of glistening red remaining on the blade, still wet, never drying. The edge itself was asymmetrical and curved, appearing to have been a decorative item only, but embedded in the hilt with carved precision was the distinctive letter 'A'.
Cracking a knuckle, she brought a single gloved hand up close to the lock, but quickly withdrew when she felt the tingle of magic emanating from the glass box. Either the weapon was an extremely powerful item or the case was trapped. Or both.
She glanced over her shoulder, listening to the sounds of the High Priest beginning a sermon on the lessons of individualism, and how it cannot exist amongst the Scourge, his exuberant words mingling with the woman's dying screams.
Wiping a molecule of sweat from her brow, Vaedra concentrated, extending but a portion of shadow energy into her hands, an essence of anti-magic that drew in all light and magic around it as she swiftly unlocked the case.
Whatever spell had been guarding the dagger was diffused, absorbed into the rogue's hand in a quick burst of blackened mist. Reaching inside, her fingers tentatively came to grip the blade's hilt, and her entire arm felt a brief surge of energy. She brought a finger up to the dagger's edge, blood coming away to stain the leather of her glove.
Closing the lid, and scanning the chamber once more, she flew back up the ramp. Winding around the long, curved hallway, weightless feet drifted past the Cultist guards oblivious to her presence until after forever she arrived back at the fortress entrance.
Researchers continued to toil, either unaware or indifferent of all that was transpiring in the floors below. Perhaps none of it was all that unusual to them.
One Cultist scientist sat at a table with several others, scribbling furiously on some parchment when a nearby flask filled with a filthy-looking ichor suddenly splashed over him and his notes.
"Damn it!" He yelled, standing up and trying fruitlessly to fling the liquid off his hands and clothes.
Another man snickered at him, receiving a glare. The researcher grumbled, reaching for a rag to dab daintily at his papers. He suddenly lurched, back twitching violently as a splattering of blood began to drip from an invisible wound to the floor.
As the Cultist fell semi-lifeless to the ground, a woman materialized on the table with two swords drawn, one of which shining with red.
Chairs scraped violently in the researcher's hurry to rise and fight... or flee, but in the time it took them to perform that simple action another was decapitated where he sat.
The first that managed to rise began casting a spell immediately, until he received a face full of blue potion. He screeched, desperately trying to wipe it from his ruined eyes. A quarterstaff came swinging in to swipe at Vaedra's legs which she deftly jumped away from, glasses and books flying from the table in a whirlwind.
A dagger went flipping out from the rogue's hand to strike a woman in her shoulder, making the Cultist cry out but not stop her spellcasting. Shadow magic ripped through Vaedra's core; she winced, shaking it off to leap off the table towards another that was reaching for his own blade.
The man managed to parry the rogue's first strike, much to his credit, a wide swing meant to finish him quickly, but was helpless as he was kicked in the face and a deep gouge from her offhand sword was left in his abdomen.
Casting again, the female scientist unleashed a burst of magic into Vaedra's side, sending her careening into a saronite pillar. Her skull cracked against the metal, vision darkening slightly as she crumpled. From the corner of her eye she could see that another of the Cultist's was fleeing, making for the front of Aldur'thar.
Rising shakily to her feet, she knew she couldn't catch him, and instead closed her eyes and stepped through the shadows, appearing directly in front of the running man. His mouth opened wide, and a hand came up in front of him which was neatly sliced off at the wrist.
"Gahh! No!" He pleaded, falling to his knees and holding onto the bleeding flesh. She plunged her sword into his heart.
The female Cultist had ceased her casting and was furiously trying to salvage what she could of their research, glancing up in fear to see the rogue stalking towards her.
Something cracked sharply into Vaedra's back and she let out an involuntary cry, turning to see the man with a staff winding up for another blow after he had darted out from behind a pillar. Her sword came up to block but she was off balance and lost her footing, twisting awkwardly on her ankle she fell and lost her right weapon. The man brought his staff up over his shoulder for a powerful strike when he suddenly whimpered, grabbing hold of his groin where he had been kicked. Vaedra tackled him around his waist and ran him into the floor. Grabbing a hold of his hair she rammed his skull into the hard stone repeatedly until he stopped moving.
The woman had grabbed what she could and was running towards the deeper tunnels when the rogue looked up after her. Taking hold of the closest available missile, a wooden chair went flying through the air and into the female Cultist's back. The bundle of scrolls and books in her arms scattered as she scrambled to gain her footing, but Vaedra was already there waiting for her.
As the last of the papers from the scuffle floated gently to the floor, the rogue circled the room and swiftly finished off the researchers that were still squirming and ended the suffering of the man who had been blinded by the blue concoction and was crawling around blindly looking for escape.
Breathing hard, Vaedra brought a hand to her hair where she had struck the pillar to see that she was bleeding. Already sore and tired, she looked around the chamber disgustedly.
Well, that was certainly messy. She reprimanded herself, frowning.
Gathering the rest of the Alumeth's components from the various chests around the room, Vaedra steeled herself, knowing she had to do this now before more Cultists came or the dagger was discovered missing.
Placing the items before the large crystal, the magic of the objects began to work, and the weapon that Alumeth had used to sacrifice himself initially coaxed forth his soul fully, drawing it from the crystal completely.
Vaedra hid herself, becoming transparent and silent, watching as his form began to manifest. A great yell escaped him as Alumeth's corporeal body came into existence yet again, a large ethereal man dressed in fine robes.
"No! Who has awakened me again! Too early!" His fists curled around his great staff, scanning the room.
A rumbling laugh escaped him.
"So it is you again, little human. Why am I not surprised? But what is this?!" He knelt before the remains next to the crystal.
"Ahahah, so you have the dagger? You have only hastened your own demise, fool! Now witness me at my full strength!"
Throwing his head back in a soundless scream, Vaedra's heart was suddenly filled with unimaginable dread. The urge to flee was overwhelming, and her feet were carrying her away before she knew what she was doing. Her cloak fell away during the few seconds of confusion, and Alumeth cackled wickedly.
"Ahhh, there you are!"
He swung his gigantic staff at the rogue, who was just regaining her bearings. She flung herself to the side just a moment too late and caught the edge of the weapon in her shoulder. Rolling to absorb the shock, she darted behind a pillar and pressed her back to it, breathing hard as she weighed her options.
"So you wish to play, little thief? Haha! You have no idea who you are toying with. Perhaps I shall play with you instead..."
Vaedra's chest grew very tight, and she felt something slip into her head, some magic, that was eerily familiar but not quite the same. Her eyes grew dark and as she looked around franticly she had the feeling that she was only making things worse.
"I've found you." Alumeth whispered in her ear.
The pillar she was leaning against shook violently as it was struck; the entire fortress seemed to shudder. Going around behind the column she leapt closer to Alumeth, digging her swords into his side.
He howled in agony, drawing his staff around to swat the rogue away who went crashing into the stone wall. His hands glowed black and he whispered lowly an incantation of pain.
The magic stung, her very flesh seemed to burn, and she was barely able to roll to the side as the head of Alumeth's weapon bashed the very place she had been laying, chunks of stone and rubble falling away.
This isn't going very well... Vaedra thought hurriedly as she ran, hearing the beginnings of another spell directed her way. Thinking fast, Alumeth's spell suddenly fizzled when he lost his target who had seemingly just disappeared.
Behind him, the rogue kicked off the wall to gain enough momentum to climb onto the phantasmal Cultist's back, dropping one weapon and putting all of her weight into shoving one sword between his shoulder blades.
Alumeth roared, flailing as she stabbed at him. Reaching over his shoulder he grasped the woman by the neck and tore her off, flinging her away to go skittering across the floor. And now she was missing both her swords.
Outside near the ramparts of Aldur'thar, the Blackguards were having their own problems defending against a nearly unstoppable force. Lacking any kind of real military organization, they all scattered as the wave of destruction drew nearer.
Two Cultists took off at a dead run towards the fortress entrance.
"We have to protect the High Priest! We need to summon Alumeth!"
The giant, ethereal Cultist let out a tortured groan as he dug the sword from his own back; wielding it in one hand and his staff in the other as he advanced on the unarmed rogue.
Vaedra rose and drew the dagger from her boot in one smooth motion, feeling ridiculous as she dove to the side to avoid the enormous weapon she would have no chance of blocking with her tiny one.
Alumeth growled, no longer amused with their game of chase. "Argh! You fight well enough for a human, but you will eventually grow tired, where I will remain just as powerful! I am above your pitiful mortal necessities!"
Hiding behind another runed pillar, Vaedra stuck her head out to toss some of her throwing daggers towards the Cultist which he promptly brushed aside, retaliating instantly with another spell of dark energy.
The rogue's hand sizzled beneath her glove, and she cried out as she clutched it to her body and rested her head against the column, quickly running out of ideas.
Two Blackguards came running into the crystal's chamber, wide-eyed when they saw Alumeth the Ascended already standing there with his robes in tatters. and a woman in black leather crouched off to the side.
"What's going on-" one of them began to snarl before he grunted and blood began to bubble past his lips and he and his partner both fell dead from simultaneous stab wounds.
Thassarian extracted his blades and gave one of them a good kick in the ribs for good measure as he stalked into the room and took a quick survey.
"No!" Vaedra whispered to herself incredulously, trying to will herself to become a mere shadow to escape the vengeful wrath of the death knight once again. She scrambled away, right into the waiting arms of Alumeth who was glaring at her angrily.
Things were going bad enough without having Thassarian show up and as it was right then it appeared a better option to just escape and live to fight another day, but the Cultist seemed to have other ideas.
The head of his staff came whirling around to crack the rogue in the jaw, snapping her head to the side. Reaching out blindly, she grabbed hold of the weapon as it swung. He shook it violently to dislodge the woman, but while she was hanging there loosely with one hand she brought her dagger down into Alumeth's wrist.
He wailed in outrage, dropping both the weapon and the rogue. Curling his hand into a fist, he began chanting, the air around him stirring at the severity of the spell.
Vaedra held up her palm to hopefully shield her with anti-magic as the spell was unleashed, but never got the chance.
Before the cast was completed, Alumeth was blasted in the face with cold, his mind numbing instantly as the magic was lost.
"NO!" He cried, maddeningly trying to heal himself.
"Oh no you don't..." Thassarian responded with another spell of his own as invisible hands choked the words from Alumeth's throat.
The Cultist's face twitched, and he brought his fist smashing into the death knight's stomach.
If Thassarian felt anything other than mild discomfort at the blow, he didn't show it. With a minor grimace and small grunt, the death knight began to unload. Both blades whirling, waves of frost and disease emanating from his hands to strike Alumeth who was trying to parry with Vaedra's solitary weapon.
Seeing this, the rogue wasn't sure what to do. Use the opportunity to flee while they were both distracted? Thassarian did seem to be winning, but she really didn't want to leave without her swords...
Sighing, and rising from the floor, she crept to where she had dropped her other blade previously. Scooping it up, she began to sprint towards the occupied Cultist, jumping onto his back again except this time he was too busy to be able to throw her off.
Desperate stabs connected into Alumeth's neck and chest again and again, slowing his movements as Thassarian's frost and Vaedra's attacks began to take their toll.
"Not yet..." he whispered unceremoniously, all strength suddenly sapped. Collapsing in a heap, the unnatural body began to dissipate, airy vapors hissing off the corporeal self as his essence was lifted away to wherever it is that souls might go.
The blood on the dagger that rested on Alumeth's robes, previously staining them with its un-drying crimson, became crusty and brown.
Trying to avoid eye contact but knowing Thassarian was already staring at her, Vaedra bent to collect her other sword.
A hand touched her shoulder and her eyes slid shut. "I'd really prefer to not have to kill you." Brushing the large palm away she turned to leave.
"Wait." He said simply, almost emotionless sounding when it was spoken in the two-tone voice of a death knight. But something in it made her stop, and look behind her where he was standing easily.
"I never gave you the chance to speak before... I was acting foolishly, I let my anger control me. But now I know, I know everything."
Vaedra bit her lip and blinked away tears. He couldn't really know everything... but instead of saying that she asked stoically, "If you already know everything then what point is there in listening to me now?"
Thassarian shook his head though she did not see it. "There isn't. Instead I would like you to make a leap of faith... and listen to what I have to say now."
She looked back; his marked face and dark eyes appeared genuine, though every learned behavior within her was shouting that she should run, that she was better off alone and dismissing the help of any who would offer it. She took a tiny step away.
"I can't..." she said weakly.
He strode forward, looking at her bruised face intently. Holding out his armored glove to her in a warm gesture, Thassarian swallowed his manly pride for a moment. "Please?"
Wetting her lips, and after a long moment of quiet, Vaedra nodded almost imperceptibly.
Though she didn't take his offered hand.
Author's Note: Woohoo, long chapter. Hope you all liked it =)