Sednaii

I was first to come into full view of Astranaar, we'd made it. There was still time, time enough to warn Commander Wolfrunner and prepare. Tayca, Dasha and James came up beside me and I heard for just a fleeting second movement upon James' presence. I turned to Tayca and whispered quickly.

"Tell him to give me his weapons, he can't be seen as a threat. You and I both know Thenysil will fill him with arrows at the slightest chance."

Tayca nodded hurriedly and turned towards James, he tensed visibly and tightened his grip on his rifle. Tayca spoke quietly and pointed towards the sides of the road upon which we stood. When he looked in either direction Thenysil's sentinels had emerged from their concealed positions. He looked surprised at me, his expression made me feel so helpless. I was galled by the fact I could not speak to him on my own, I could say nothing to him on my own. So I did the only thing I really could do; I held my hands out in earnest for his weapon. At first I was worried he'd do something stubborn, but thankfully he begrudgingly conceded and relinquished the black steel. I gripped it with both hands and held it as he did. The air was filled with tension as the Sentinels leveled their bows in expectation. He began to bend down very slowly and he calmly spoke to Tayca.

"He said he's pulling his dagger out, hold your fire."

When he reached his ankle he un-clipped his blade and drew it out slowly. He straightened his arm and kept the knife as far from his body as he could. As I had hoped, he did the most sensible thing; he decided to just drop it to the ground. After doing so he backed up and kept his arms out with his palms open. I pulled the strap on his weapon and I slung it onto my shoulder like I'd seen him wear it before. I took a few steps before bending over to pick up his blade. After an uncomfortable silence gripped us James looked at Tayca and spoke with a voice tinged with anticipation. Before she could respond however Sentinel Thenysil had appeared behind James and she almost yelled in his language. James' colour disappeared from his reddish grimy face, he became frozen and Thenysil's Sentinels all walked from their cover into the openness of the road. James looked at me without blinking I locked eyes with him and a wordless conversation quickly burned between us. I raised a hand and pointed behind him. He understood and turned to face Thenysil. She starred him down and pointed back forwards. He turned back around and she began to speak in her hate-filled tone.

I knew Thenysil was just doing her duty, I knew that. But that small thought did little to ease the worry I held in my heart. Thenysil was just being cautious in detaining James. However she has always been known for her zealous temper, and her vehement hatred for humans. After Thenysil gave James a shove he began walking forward and I decided to make my way towards her. She looked at me with slight disdain, we have never gotten along. Nor do I expect we ever will. I was anxious over what I would say to her and just before I opened my mouth to talk she began speaking in her typical hostile tone.

"Moon-runner, where did you find such a revolting creature?"

Before I had actually met a human her xenophobic comments about everything other than a Kaldorei or dryad didn't really affect me. But now having met one in the flesh, her words which never before would have affected me did. I tried not changing my expression and I proceeded to answer her calmly.

"Sentinel Thenysil, my party and I encountered him along our route." I paused, thinking about continuing. Before she responded I decided to add, "He is my charge."

She stopped and so did everyone else. James stopped as well, however he didn't dare move his head. Thenysil looked him over with an upturned nose, as if she'd smelt something revolting. Her face looked almost grotesque as it contorted itself to match her thoughts. Eventually she looked at me with a similar expression.

"I would suppose that you'd want me to just let him wander around the town freely?"

I wanted to respond with a cynical sarcastic voice, but I bit my tongue and responded without emotion.

"No…"

My mind raced as I began to think of anything to say. What really could I say? Our brief encounter was little more than a huge cosmic coincidence. He was an alien, a stranger in my homeland. I had no reason to drag him with me or lie to Thenysil to let him into Astranaar. Yet he was so strikingly different I just had to let him through; I had to get him out of Thenysil's clutches. I had to make sure there wouldn't be anything to take this feeling away from me. But by Elune what was I saying? I hadn't even known him for a day, and yet I was infatuated with his very presence. Eventually my lips parted and began to speak for me. At first I didn't even notice what I was saying, but by the time I did I couldn't retract it.

"Thenysil, I owe the human a life-debt. He helped my group and I uncover what we would never have found on our own, and I need his help when I reveal my findings to Commander Wolfrunner."

For the longest time it was silent while Thenysil contemplated her options. Eventually she signaled her Sentinels to return to their posts. All of them begrudgingly did, however each one had an expression of disappointment. Each, I would assume, expected to see something bigger transpire with the human. Thenysil gave me and James a final disapproving look before turning away, "Fine."

Mentally I breathed the largest sigh of relief I'd ever breathed, I contended to actually physically breathe once she had left. Before she did however, she turned towards me and spat a venom ridden threat.

"He is your burden, if he acts as his forbears did when they invaded the Vale I will put him down."

I nodded and turned towards Astranaar without hesitation. Tayca, Dasha and James followed me across the bridge. From the corner of my eye I could see James had raised an eyebrow. I briefly wondered what he was thinking about. Before I wasted anytime guessing, I turned my eyes back forwards at the lively town. I said nothing until we were safely across and I did not risk looking back towards Thenysil. Tayca hit my shoulder and laughed manically.

"You must have the luck of the Gods on your side Sed!"

I nodded half-heartedly and finally let myself breathe. The tightness in my chest eased, my anxiety easily faded away. We made it in time. And… and J.. James was with me. The town was bustling with activity, Sentinels divisions were assembling here and there and civilians were moving crates and goods to and fro. Almost everyone stared at James, and if not they at least had to look at him twice. He looked around like a scared cat; it was comical but poignant at the same time. His weaponless state obviously didn't help the fact he was surrounded. I tapped his shoulder and he quickly turned to face me. I couldn't help but smile slightly. I looked away as I took his weapon off my shoulder. He looked surprised as I was giving the rifle back. He took hold of the strap and he bowed his head down in thanks. As he threw it over his shoulder I drew his knife and handed it back to him as well. This time he verbally thanked me, or at least I think he did. So despite the fact he couldn't understand me I told him 'you're welcome'. He gave me an affirming nod before bending over to sheath the knife.

As he bent over I let myself actually stare at him for once. I was so close to him I felt like he could feel my breath on his neck. I looked at his uniform and it was striking how perfectly sewn it was. Its elegant fabric must have taken an artisan tailor weeks to make. Each seam was double weaved with a precision I had never seen before, I would imagine that there was someone in Darnassus who could replicate such perfection. On his shoulders were coloured patches and symbols, I wondered what they meant. I knew I could of asked Tayca to ask him, but.. I guess I wanted to learn what they were by asking James myself. I kept looking from his shoulder, down his back and then his face. For a second, I forgot about Tayca and Dasha talking just a few feet away. For a brief millisecond I wondered, 'What does he look like under there?' Not only did my brain freeze and my heart skip a beat. But in that wondering I pictured it… I bloody well tried to picture him! I wanted to punch myself in the face; I tried to throw the thought away, to bury it, to ignore it. I scolded myself at the inconceivable impurity and licentiousness of my thought. I looked away from him as I walked towards Dasha and Tayca, still trying to dye my thoughts blank. The more I tried to repress… the more.. I.. I fantasized… 'His pale white and pink skin, sweat beaded hair, just tantalizingly peeking out from under his helm...' I shook my head with a ferocity bordering on violent. 'NO NO NO! SED! What is wrong with you?!' I paused and took a deep breath before facing Tayca and Dasha. 'Give the map and information to Commander Wolfrunner and the other officers… Then.. uh... well then we can "talk" to.. to a, to James… yeah, that sounds good…"

"Dasha, uh… you and I will head to Commander Wolfrunner and Tayca?" Tayca was now watching James, except she was gazing with fascination. I willed myself to look back at him and I saw that he was still bent over. He was now making a bow out of strings hanging from his boot. Tayca looked perplexed eventually so did Dasha and I too. Dasha broke the silence by speaking.

"Tayca, What is he doing?" Tayca shook her head. "I have no idea…"

Dasha huffed then looked at Tayca, "I meant, you ask him."

"Oh, oh yeah.. right, sorry." Tayca proceeded to call his name and he looked up as he finished looping the other foot. As he did I felt the same wave of thoughts and anxious feelings as I did earlier. His face almost looked surprised when Tayca began talking. He responded and Tayca's face became rather inquisitive. She then looked down at her feet and her expression changed to an almost amazed one. Dasha was expecting Tayca to translate but she continued to talk to James inquisitively. Eventually Dasha hit Tayca's shoulder and said "What'd he say?"

Tayca looked at the both of us as if she had just discovered the meaning of life. "His boots can be tightened so the inside molds to the shape of his foot! By pulling those strings tight the boot cannot come off!"

Dasha and I had similar reactions, "Uh… that's interesting… Tayca." Dasha was about to say something exceedingly cynical while I just shook my head. "Tayca you.. Oh just stay with him, okay?" Tayca gave a curt nod as Dasha and I began heading towards the town inn. I almost laughed; James was now going to be subject to Tayca's deplorable inquisitive nature. I was finally able to push him out of my head long enough to focus on what Dasha and I were about to do.

In the recent months, as we progressively lost ground to the Orcish hoard, our forward HQ kept moving deeper into the forest. We had never thought Astranaar would ever become a frontline HQ, so the best we had in terms of a command quarters was the town's inn. Upon our entry we were met with gazes of expectance and curiosity from all of the officers, Shan'dos and most importantly Commander Wolfrunner. We proceeded to announce what we had found during our mission, Dasha pulled out the map we had found and laid it across the large table in the center of the entrance hall. I didn't mention James once, however by my lack of doing so he crept right back in!

"Commander, my squad and I encountered what we perceived to have been a scout patrol."

"We engaged. Afterwards we discovered that they were in fact one of the Intel runners we had set out to locate in the first place, what threw us off was how heavily armed they were and how they looked unlike all other reports of Orcish Intel agents. What we uncovered from the corpses was this map."

Everyone leaned in to gaze at the fraying parchment.

"This map rather accurately displays that the Orcs have extensive knowledge of our military installations, strongholds and outposts. Essentially they know where almost everyone and everything is on our first and second line."

Everyone at the table began talking. Dasha began speaking now.

"Commander, we believe beyond all reasonable doubt that they have spies in our high ranks. In addition to that fact we have discerned that Astranaar has been selected as their main point of attack."

Everyone was either silent or whispering. The Commander looked pensive over our findings, gazing at the map with her storm-grey eyes. Dasha elbowed me, and proceeded to whisper in my ear. "Now is the time… tell them of James." As soon as she spoke his name, my throat became dry as I prepared to speak again.

"Officers… uh… Whilst out on our mission, in addition to our findings I… *uh* we… encountered a human."

A few whispers echoed around the room before I continued.

"He is an incredibly proficient soldier, and he possesses weaponry not of our world. I'd… well. I would suggest he be incorporated into our defense strategy."

A sentinel Captain from Darnassus decided to voice her rather slated opinion, "The last thing we could possibly need right now is a bloody human! Moon-runner you just told us we have a damn mole in our high-command, and now you're suggesting that we can't defend our own lands, so we should enist the aid of a human!"

Without thinking I snapped back; "This human could just be a deciding factor in our operation to push back the Orcs, and defend Astranaar! I am not at all suggesting we can't defend our lands, but so far, Captain, our methods have cost us much more than we could ever gain back! So much so we've gotten careless and now we have a turncoat mole!"

Before she could retort, one of the officers from Feralas piped up. "If I may say; perhaps it is possible we could utilize this human's military experience?" She looked around for nodding heads before continuing. "A fresh mind could help us come up with a more beneficial strategy. And in my experience with human battalions in Feralas, their unique tenacity in warfare helped us win more than a few crucial battles there."

Several nods erupted from the other officers.

"Dasha and I have seen this human fight, as I said before his weaponry is nothing like I've ever seen. He was able to kill three Orc raiders without even touching them, he just used his weapon and they died instantly."

The officers were all silent. After a few seconds Commander Wolfrunner spoke for the first time the entire event. She cleared her throat and used a cadence of speech that always made everyone hang on each word. "We cannot keep fighting the way we have been." She paused and gazed at the larger map embossed onto the table. "So far almost all of Ashenvale has been taken by horde agents. We need every advantage against these beasts." The map was of Ashenvale. Astranaar and some of the surrounding area was blue while the majority of the map had been shaded a dark ugly scarlet.

"If this human soldier is as deadly as you suggest Sednaii, then I propose we enlist his aid. As well as find out; just what was he doing in the Vale when you and your party found him."

She stood and so did everyone else who was sitting. She formulated her words carefully before speaking again. "Sisters, we cannot allow our pride to get in the way of our duty. We swore to fight and defend our lands… till the death. We must do this. We will do this…"

She looked directly at me. "…By any means necessary." Everyone, including the Captain from Darnassus nodded.

Commander Wolfrunner walked towards me while talking, "Sednaii, where is this human of yours?"

I opened my mouth to speak and I was raising a finger to point out the doorway, when one of Thenysil's rangers burst into the inn interrupting me. "THE ORCS..." She began panting uncontrollably. Outside screams and yells became commonplace. My heart sunk in horror. No… no way, this is not happening. Don't you dare say what I think you're going to say… We uncovered their plans; we were to have the edge NOT THEM DAMN IT!

"…THEY'RE ATTACKING!"

The Sentinel finished her sentence and I wanted to smash my fists in anger. I wanted to tear my teeth out I was so angry. Everyone in the inn drew sword, glaive, spear and bow then sprinted outside. Above us wyvern riders threw down firebombs, around us arrows and spears embedded themselves into the ground and everywhere else civilians ran for cover while our garrison began returning fire. At the east bridge Thenysil's Sentinels were holding back the Orc grunts in melee. I froze in sheer amazement. We weren't prepared! I did everything right! I got foresight into their plans! THIS WASN'T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN! While I stood motionless Commander Wolfrunner smacked my arm, "Sednaii! Let's see that human of yours in action, huh?"

I immediately snapped to and nodded. Turning around I located Dasha amongst the stupefied officers.

"Dasha!" She looked at me instantly. "Yes?!"

"Go! Quickly, find Tayca and James!"

She nodded and set off sprinting across the town. I began looking for a bow, I sprinted manically back into the inn to find a weapons rack. Right beside the door was a near empty wooden cache. Reaching into the box I thankfully found a bow. Of course it had yet to be braced. Damn it! Now I searched for a string, the box was empty other than a few other un-braced bows. Running outside I knew the forge would have some. When I left the inn the air was thick with screams, the clanging of metal and the flying of arrows. But the sound that reverberated loudest, the one that stood out the most. Was that of James' rifle, I looked down the main road towards Thenysil's Sentinels and the bridge to see James behind some overturned crates, Tayca beside him, fighting.

He turned around every so often to wave soldiers to skirmish up the road towards him. Each time he stood and fired an Orc archer or charging swordsman crumpled from the bang. He fought with skill and poise, without hesitation and with perfect aim. I was impressed by his unyielding ferocity, the speed of his actions, his stamina, drive and his personal finesse. Not only was I impressed but so was almost everyone else. Soon enemy arrows stopped falling, and our sentinels stopped returning fire. There was no more fighting hand to hand. Nearly everyone stood motionless, almost enthralled, staring at James. He began to aim his rifle in the air at one of the Wyverns, no way could he make that shot; it takes almost a hundred arrows from skilled archers to fell a Wyvern. There was no way he could do it. Yet after taking aim he fired a single shot. The Wyvern's rider fell off and the reigns snagged on the corpse's foot, causing the wyvern to quickly and unceremoniously crash into the ground, dead.

The other Wyverns then started retreating; broken, demoralized and so quickly beaten back the Orc attack broke and fell apart into retreat. On the other side of the bridge all of the Orcs left began running away. It was unbelievable.

One, Single, Solitary, human made that much of a difference. James then stood on top of the cover he was just using, rifle aimed. He took his time with this shot before firing. One of the Orcs just climbing the crest of the hill across the bridge fell down screaming.

Without even realizing it I had joined everyone else in walking towards him. When he slung his rifle and got down from the cover everyone began to cheer. Commander Wolfrunner came up beside me, her face covered in grime and speckles of blood. "Sednaii Moon-runner, I never thought I'd be so glad to see a human in my life."

I nodded, hidden by the cheering I whispered to myself; "Neither did I…"