Day Five
I do not own Warcaft
Darus awoke to the sound of silent foot steps and hushed voices.
"He's around here somewhere," hissed one soft and cultured voice.
"Are you sure?" asked a second whose was far rougher and deep.
"The crystal doesn't lie. He's here, trust me."
Darus opened his eyes, his hands already instinctively clasped over the pommel of his weapons.
"I can't see anything in this darkness," growled a third voice.
"Why can't we have torches again?" questioned yet another.
"You heard what happened to Nare and Knot," whispered the first voice. "The Swordsworn bitch killed both of them before they even saw it coming. We're dealing with an old Swordsworn master. Surprise must be our friend and darkness our ally."
Darus stood frozen in shock.
"Who are these Swordsworn anyways," asked the deep voiced man.
"A band of mercenaries from the Third Great War. They were supposed to be the best of the best but the broke apart after-" started Growl but was interrupted by a coarse command.
"Silence ye fools," ordered the voice, the thick accent revealing it to be of dwarfish nature.
The shuffling of feet continued. How could they –whoever they were- possibly have known he was there? Darus's eyes flickered over the crystal blue stone set in the center pommel of his sword. It was enchanted to negate all forms of magic including scrying. And as for his history with the Swordsworn…
He had no time to dwell on it. By the sound of those voices they were getting closer by the second. He ordered Daunter to remain where he was. Drawing his twin weapons. One a fine crystal encrusted human sword, the second a beautiful elven short blade that curved ever so slightly at the tip.
With the intent of death clear in his eyes he slipped away into the darkness of the night. Let the games begin.
--
Aron Stilblade cursed for nearly the tenth time that night. It was all well and good for the
hunter and the mage but the rest of them were blind in the darkness of this moonless night. As the only self-respecting assassin among the lot of them he didn't warrant the muffling spell that guarded they're trek through the trees. So not only could he barely see but he had to remain quiet enough to not be detected. And kill one of Stormwind's most famous mercenary. If his employer wasn't paying as much as much as-
He looked down at curved sword sticking out of his chest. He would have screamed but for the gauntleted hand clasped around his mouth.
--
Darus slowly lowered the man into the grass. The elven short blade glowed lightly in reaction to the blood coursing down it. He quickly smothered the glow by re-sheathing it. The fact that he had been able to hear the group but not this man told him that they were using some sort of mute spell that made their noise acceptable. His sword negation magic canceled out the spell but he was forced to rely on the blood thirsty elven blade to seek out the other hidden foes. This was the last one.
All that remained now were those under the protection of the muting spell. A small part of Darus was enjoying this and another small part of him felt relief. The knowledge that all of this could be the end was strangely gratifying.
He stalked through the trees moving from one hulking trunk to the other. Within moments he saw them. There were five of them, as he had suspected. One was dressed in a dark blue robe clutching a staff of oakwood, his eyes glinting a fierce blue. He was most obviously a mage. Three other were dressed in brown leather armor with knives and swords resting easily on their hips. The fifth –the dwarf- wore black leather armor with chain mail. Strange green goggles covered his eyes and a short stocky gun was clasped expertly in his hands.
Comparing the deliberate steps of the sword wielders to the relatively careless steps of the rifle bearer and the mage he surmised that the dwarf's goggles and the mages glowing eyes allowed them to see in the dark.
They would be the first to die he decided. It would be a bit difficult but if he could circle around them he would be able to…was that barrel pointed towards him?
The left side of the tree he hid behind blew to pieces. The dwarf's weapon smoked heavily.
"Damnit!" he roared reloading the weapon, "He's over in the trees!"
Darus tossed himself unto the ground as the tree nearby burst into flames revealing him to the three sword wielding assassins. With speed born on years of practice he leaped to his feet and did the exact opposite of what they expected him to do. He ran right towards them. The first attacker barely had time to be surprised as the he barreled from the fiery tree line right towards him. Barely had a moment to register the red blade that tore out his throat as Darus catapulted past him. The other two swordsmen refused to halt they're charge and the three combatants collided together. Slashing with his blade furiously Darus blocked his assailants blow. With a quick upper cut he sliced up and through the armor covering the second's chest making him howl in pain. The screaming man backed away his hands over his wound. Darus refused to let him get away and drew closer. As long as they were locked together the gunmen and mage wouldn't fire for risk of killing their own. The elven blade was glowing maliciously now as it basked in the blood of others. The third swordsmen pressed forward and thrusted his blade at Darus's abdomen. It was a risky move the close quarters leaving him open to retaliation but if the blow landed it would gut Darus. Unable to dodge the blow he deflected it with his blade, making no noise as the weapon bit into his hip. The man face lit in horror and Darus's sword plunged into his chest. With a vicious kick launched the man forward –Darus sword still deep in his chest- into the arcane bolt speeding toward him. The man's back broke with a snapped as he collided with the magical blast.
Realizing his enemy's willingness to sacrifice their own he lashed out furiously at the wounded man. He's usefulness had run out. The man, bleeding profusely, barely managed to lift his blade and he was felled in one swipe. Darus allowed the force of the swipe to carry the blade far to the right and then sent it spinning straight toward the rifleman. The wicked blade bit deep and sliced cleanly through his mail and into his chest killing him instantly. Now using the force of the throw he spun around to face the mage. The man had abandoned his staff and his hands were cupped around a burning fireball.
Darus cracked a cold smile.
What is he smiling about, wondered the mage, just before his body burst into flames.
From the blackness behind the burning mage stepped a figure wreathed is red robes. Stepping indifferently past the man's form, which was now flailing wildly on the ground, the figure drew back his hood revealing silver crystalline eyes, long pointed ears and a mat of wild golden hair.
"I see the Reaver has not lost his touch," murmured the elven sorcerer coolly.
"You know I hate that name Kantoris," growled Darus as he limped forward and withdrew his sword from the assassin's corpse.
"We cannot choose our titles Reaver."
"But we can choose whether or not to suffer the company of those who would call us by them."
"Very well Darus," conceded the elf.
"What are you doing here Sunbane?" asked Darus referring to the elves surname.
"Looking for you."
"Why?"
"You're not the first," the elves indifference faltered and guilt tinged with sadness crept through his voice.
"What do you mean" asked Darus though he had a good idea of the answer.
"Leeya, Rhiana, Tyson, Bayren, Ash and Dana."
"Were attacked?"
"Are left."
Darus was silent for a moment and turned away from the elf, "Are you telling me that over two thirds of the Swordsworn are dead Kantoris?"
"That's exactly what I'm telling you."
"All of them killed by assassins?"
"Every one of them."
"Who hired them?" asked Darus his voice subdued.
The elf shook his head, "I don't know."
Darus turned to face the elf his face masked and unreadable, "What do you want Kantoris?"
He asked knowing the answer. Yet he asked anyways because the fear of that answer was greater then anything he had felt during the battle with the assassins.
The elf walked forward and placed his hand bracingly on Darus shoulder, "Come back," he said simply.
Darus pushed the hand harshly off his shoulder.
"No."
"What!?" exclaimed the elf shock.
"You heard me," said Darus.
"They will kill you!"
Darus shrugged as if it was little concern. In fact it wasn't.
"You want them to kill you?"
Darus's lack of response was all the answer the elf needed.
"You can't possibly think this is what she would want? That Amra-"
Darus whirled around and shoved his face into the elves face.
"You will never mention her name again," he ordered through clenched teeth.
Kanotris refused to be cowed, "You made me swear Darus. You told me, you said, take care of them Kantoris. You made me swear an oath."
"Seems to me like you've already failed Kanotris," sneered Darus.
The elf flinched as if punched.
"It's what she would want," the elf murmured, "It's what she would want."
Darus stood stone still.
"I will come."
The elf stared at him, "Just like that?"
"It's what she would want."
He limped forward to retrieve his war blade.
"And Kanotris," he called back, "I mean it. Mention her name again and I will kill you myself."
The elf nodded accepting the threat. He knew the human meant it.
Darus found the patch where the dwarf's body had fallen. The blade was there glowing a dull red. But the dwarf was gone.
A/N: I will need to edit this chapter heavily but it is very late here and I am tired. I would have this chapter up earlier yesterday but I got real sick and couldn't finish it until tonight. Reviews in the form of appreciation or criticism are more then appreciated especially for this chapter. Beyond some editing tomorrow the reworking is now complete.