CHAPTER 7
The morning sky was covered by the ominous grey of thunderclouds as the Scourge traipsed quickly away from Dalaran as Sylvanas took control of the city. Kel'Thuzad was worried; he was losing more territory with each passing day, and currently, the banshee has more land in her control than him. Anub'Arak silently led the force, his feet crunching the ground, leaving holes in them, while he was still brooding over the Mountain King, the fight, and the retreat.
"How far are we to the next base? It is getting tiresome marching through the roads." Anub'Arak asked in a low voice.
"Not very far, but we must be cautious. Sylvanas will probably try to ambush us before we get to the next city." Kel'Thuzad whispered; his instincts were nagging him of trouble in the air. He was wrong however; the small band managed to get to the next Scourge base with no trouble. Kel'Thuzad breathed a sigh of relief as he passed through the entrance. The forces marched through the blight. This base was once a marvelous village, the best at farming with the huge, open, fertile plains and sending off crops to other places. Now all the land was ruined; the place devoid of life, and the food gone. It was truly saddening to see a beautiful place gone and replaced with the mark of death.
"We should try and finish this war as soon as possible; with each losing battle, the ranger gains more forces while we lose ours," suggested Anub'Arak.
"Yes, I quite agree. I will send a shade to scout their location and forces, while we prepare our final strike force" replied Kel'Thuzad. He traveled towards the sacrificial pit, a building with three skull towers surrounding a swirling abyss with unknown powers. He summoned a cloaked acolyte to be sacrificed in the pit. When the worker jumped in, the abyss spouted out blinding lights, accompanied by horrifying screams. When the pit stopped, an invisible shade appeared, visible to his comrades and master.
"Now, little shade, travel over to the capital of Lordaeron. Spy upon the forces of Sylvanas, capturing every single detail. Report to me by noon immediately. Do not get caught at all costs." He gave the order, and sent the spirit off with a wave of his hand.
"Milady, I wish to have a conference with you," Varimathras stated as he approached her dark throne. It was situated in the center of the capital, built as the start of her future kingdom. Sylvanas beamed at him, wondering what he could want. He never asked for a meeting with her, and oddly enough, he had numerous abominations and necromancers with him.
"Speak and get on with it then. You should be organizing a base to be finished constructing in Dalaran, as well as an army." She replied lazily.
"Well, you see, that is the problem. My share of the forces and I have decided that we no longer need you. We have decided on mutiny and rebellion." Varimathras said with a wicked grin on his white, vampiric face.
Sylvanas had been struck with shock, surprised, although she had once expected this. However, as time went on and he carried orders more and more faithfully, she unconsciously began to lose that doubt. Now she realized her foolishness.
Varimathras darted forward, his large hand outstretched, prepared to assassinate her. She immediately took out her bow, which was handcrafted by the best Quel'Thalan elven craftsman, and blocked the deadly, sharp claw. She immediately brought out an arrow and hocked it to her longbow. The Dreadlord started another swipe, only to be parried once again by the arrow. He then jumped up into the air, and with his powerful black wings, glided down ever so slowly, only to accelerate quickly. Soon he had the momentum of a boulder weighing three tons, and crashed down to where Sylvanas stood. She narrowly dodged that, but her leg was too slow to escape the impact, and she gave a very small cry of pain as it was injured. She loaded another arrow, and with the swiftest hand an archer could ever have, shot it with precise accuracy. Varimathras gave a shriek of pain as his left wing was pierced cleanly through by the projectile. Now a large hole remained there as his scar. He clutched at his wing with his right hand and looked up, only to see Sylvanas up again with an arrow already on the bow.
"One wrong move and this arrow will be the death of you. I can't believe you would be so foolish as to make an act of treason, mutiny, and betrayal. I banish you from my lands, and I will be sure to order my forces to slaughter you if they even catch a mere whiff of your scent." She said coldly, fury in her every word.
Varimathras could see no way out of this now, as Sylvanas' loyal army arrived and stood behind his, ready to strike if they attacked. He silently walked toward the gates leading out of the capital alone, never looking back or making the slightest of sound.
Sylvanas sat back in her throne, relieved. But yet, a new worry began to grow now.