Straydog Saga
Flea 5: Salty Dog
"It can't be…" Christoffel could feel himself flush as the forsaken gave a sickened smile.
"You've seen so many horrors in Northrend, are you honestly so surprised?" She spoke with a scathing tone. She walked towards him eying the little burial mound with a sneer. "One of yours?"
"My brother. He loved Lordaeron." Christoffel whispered. Highraven knelt down reached out to touch the spot where the artifact lay buried. It emanated waves of anguish and regret. She smiled all the more.
"I am not here to reminisce." She flatly spoke. Christoffel turned, eyes asking her to continue. "You're being watched. I am the one tasked to do so."
"Well let me be the first to say you're not doing a very good job."
"Funny. You will not be laughing when you are assassinated for consorting with the alliance. I've seen you with the night elf and a few others. The evidence of your guilt is quite damning." Her words made Christoffel laugh.
"Who, Shandori? She's about as much of a member of the alliance as I am the Silver Covenant." He softly laughed. The thought made the laughter seem sour, like an over ripe fruit.
"It does not matter. The Warchief will see it as betrayal and you will suffer far more at his hands than you ever did at mine, especially when you are so overtly burying a Silver Covenant pendant in hallowed forsaken soil." Christoffel remembered the searing pain, the lashings, the beatings, and the fel addiction he received from the Sunreavers after his capture. But Highraven was the one to deliver the news that his mother was not only alive, but a leader among the Sin'dorei ranks and smiled as he succumbed to moments of utter rage and despair. She watched with fatal delight as he was forced to fight yeti with little more than a walking stick for her commanders' amusement. But as the weeks passed, his once blue eyes became poisoned and green. His brilliant blond hair became coal black and it was evident that bigger plans were meant for him. At her commander's insistence she would be the one to train him and once under her dark wing, Christoffel began his bold career as a rogue. In his ignorance of her secret delights at his expense, the student began longing for the teacher's lessons. But extra-curricular studies were never offered and before he could act on his lusts, Highraven was slain in the fight against Christoffel's former comrades in his stead. But the eerie spirit before him held no inkling of compassion or care. He could only feel coldness and hatred coming from her glowing red orbs.
"Still…it's damn good to see you again." Christoffel's words suddenly left him. She turned to look him in the eye and found herself sighing.
"I suppose it was impolite of me not to say "hello" first. But I haven't felt very sentimental since my death." She emphasized the last word. Christoffel looked away.
"That didn't need to happen. You should have let them kill me."
"Yes, I should have. But the living have a nasty heroic streak. I paid the price for mine. The dark lady has charged me with your death as a betrayer to the horde, as if you were ever a part of it. Do not rely on my good nature again, you'll be sorely disappointed." She stood and turned to face her former student. She walked past him, black cloak billowing silently behind her. Christoffel caught the faint smell of lilac, a scent Highraven was always fond of wearing, even into battle.
"Consider this meeting a last courtesy to an old student. The next time you see me, I will not capture you nor will I bring you before the Warchief…I will simply kill you." She warned, finally slinking back into the shadows. Christoffel sighed and muttered.
"I'll be waiting."
Shandori wasn't quite sure how it all started. The pub had been filling up since she got there that afternoon. Lots of people were peacefully playing rummy at tables; a few conversed or drank at the bar, and a few smoked pipes near the windows. And somewhere between her third stout and second helping of Sheppard's pie, someone threw a chair, a single chair-a chair which, once it hit the ground, seemed to turn reasonably rational patrons into a bunch of wild dogs. Tables upturned, knives and pistols were drawn, normal humand turned into giant furry beasts, and crime of crims: fresh beers were spilled all over the pub floor. All at once a maelstrom that rivaled the one in the center of the world formed in the small pub, causing the owner and bar tender to duck and cover.
"Look alive there rabbit ears!" A woman, who was sitting beside Shandori, threw up one of her massive axes to block an incoming stein to the back of Shandori's head. Shandori quickly swallowed the last bit of her lunch and stood amidst the chaos.
"Shit, thanks!" She yelled over the mayhem as the pair of warriors attempted to fight their way through the fray of teeth and swords. Shandori was lucky enough to have a shield, while the woman, appearing to be a human of about 50 years of age, only had her two massive axes. Despite her grey hairs and wrinkles, the woman wielded the massive axes as if they were made of paper, cutting through chairs and foes alike. Her fierce ability to cut down anything in her path gave Shandori an idea.
"Hey Granny, ever hear of the tease and cleave?"
"Call me that again and I'll cut you too. And yeah why?" The older-seeming woman asked while ducking as a knife flew past her head into the opposite wall.
"I'll tease, you cleave. Ready?"
"Go for it. Just do me a favor."
"What's that?"
"When its time you may need to hit me over the head, you'll know when." The older woman replied while slamming the butt of her axe into a man's stomach. Shandori gave her a puzzled look before bashing one of the worgen in the face with her well-worn shield.
"If you say so, get behind me." Shandori shouted as the older woman did as she was told. Shandori concentrated for a moment before she leaped up and stomped on the ground as hard as she could. The action caused some of the wooden panels to bend as a few of the drunker patrons fell over. Nearly all of the angry patrons turned to see the cause of the thunderous action and they were greeted with a mocking look.
"Hey assholes! I'd call you all sons of bitches but that wouldn't really be an insult to you would it? Wanna know what its like to get your dog-lovin asses kicked by a girl?" She shouted. She laughed inwardly at how stupid it sounded, but several growling worgen began converging on her. Shandori's shield held as claws and teeth threatened to pierce her defenses. "Any day now granny!" She grunted and stole a glance behind her. The old woman was gone. Shandori cursed as she felt her cheeks flush. She didn't see the old woman go but the chill feeling that she'd been left to deal with the mess started settling into the pit of her gut. It wasn't until she saw a blur of grey and brown fur leap over head did she realize that the old woman didn't leave her to her fate after all. The creature's green eyes shifted to a raging red. Aged but still deadly fangs shown in the window-light as she growled menacingly at the crowd. Unable to speak through the unleashed rage, the old worgen beast tossed the patrons around like chew toys. Each limb severed by her wicked axes was one more reason for the wild patrons to turn tail and flee the scene. At the end of the fray only Shandori and the beast were left standing.
"Well aren't you full of surprises, great job!" Shandori paused, color draining from her violet skin. When the creature turned to glare at her with glowing red eyes the expression of rage did not subside. At once the beast lunged for the night elf, dreadful teeth aimed at her throat. "Oh Shi—" Shandori barely had time to throw up her shield which actually dented under the immense assault. Her arm began to burn under the intense pressure. Finally she used her sentinel academy training and used the worgen's momentum against her. While Shandori failed basic training, she did seem to take some useful abilities with her, rolling out of harm's way like she did during class. But just as she righted herself an axe came crashing down over her head. Once again her shield was nearly destroyed and the searing pain in her arm nearly made her scream. Eyes tearing, Shandori scrambled for any opportunity to do as she was told, though getting anywhere near that face full of teeth would be a challenge. She looked to the floor and noticed something about her assailant that made her grin through her grimace. With a growl, Shandori brought her sword as hard as she could to the side of the worgen's unprotected kneecap causing the beast to howl and pull back for a moment. Shandori seized the opportunity and brought the butt end of her sword down upon the beast's skull. In her younger days, it would have taken several fierce blows to bring her down but the worgen's golden years were upon her and Shandori's strike was enough to send her to the floor in a heap. Shandori stood there, bleeding and clutching her aching arm.
"Damn, not cool at all." She hissed, noticing lines of bruises along her forearm. She moved to leave then she felt something crunchy at her feet. She moved her boot to see a severed worgen fang, covered in blood and laying on the floor. She knelt down and inspected it, with a triumphant smile. She placed the small reagent in her pocket as the sound of guards approaching made her shoulders tense. As she moved towards the exit the sound of a pathetic moan caught her sensitive hearing. She turned to find the worgen, not human again, laying on the ground and unable to move. The footsteps outside were getting closer as the sounds of whistles in the distance made Shandori want to sprint to the forests and hide. But the sound of the ailing old woman was louder and caused her to turn from her clean escape.
"Shit." She groaned and limped to the old woman's side. She was a thick woman and required a little balanced lifting in order to get her standing again. The pair of battered warriors made it out the rear exit just in time for the guards to arrive.
The roaring fire warmed their weary bones as a light rain began to fall in Silverpine forest. The old woman, bandaged to the best of Shandori's ability, gratefully accepted the haunch of boar meat the night elf prepared.
"Thanks for getting me out of there. I didn't feel like spending another week in the stockade." She sighed and took a healthy bite of boar meat. Shandori pulled a bit of meat from the bone and cut it into small pieces.
"Well it would have been pretty screwed up if I'd left you there after you saved my skin. How's your head."
"It's fine. Hard as a rock, always has been. Though I think I'm missing a tooth…" The old woman reached into her mouth to find a new space in her already fight-busted mouth. Shandori popped a bit of boar meat in her mouth, shrugging and not taking the tooth she'd found from its place in her bag.
"It happens sometimes uh, sorry I didn't get your name." Shandori asked. The old woman finished chewing on a piece of her dinner before answering.
"Most people call me Digger. I spent a good number of years as an archeologist before I had to retire. And you?"
"Shandori. But most people call me "that bitch!" no pun intended." Her words made Digger burst out laughing. The sound made an awkward smile come to Shandori's face.
"You're a bit of alright, kid." Digger coughed and crabbed her aching head. "Damn you hit hard." She chuckled. The pair talked well into the night, pausing only to investigate a howl or other dangerous sounds in the night. The next morning brought them to a decision of diverging paths but not before the worgen warrior offered to obtain passage to Kalimdor at a greatly discounted faire through a good friend in the Explorer's league. She wrote down a set of instructions and people to talk to, in case her friend was not available. But Shandori couldn't keep herself from asking to hear more tales of Digger's exploits in the league and the pair found themselves walking together towards Silverpine's northern boarder.
The winds around the Pinnacle Bow were placid. As the sun set over the horizon the bright energies could be seen as far away as Tanaris. The blinding white trees made the many colored leaves look all the more vivid as they danced about in the night. The branches formed a thick canopy, only small patches indicated the change in time. Within the Pinnacle bow there was a small village, surrounding the center of the massive treetop. There dwelled the skilled mages, few priests, and hand full of druids who studied the tree and its properties. The only ones who could transport their fellow students were the mages and many druids found the arcane energies found there to be abhorrent. The brave priests who weathered the nearly constant storm managed to do so with fervent prayers.
In the deepest part of the treetop was a closed off room made of woven branches. Within stood a single figure who concentrated on what seemed to be a massive diamond encased in a flow of swirling energies. The night elf outstretched a deep violet hand into the swirling energy. A small smile came beneath a great, antlered mask. The energy felt like many cool marbles on her fingertips. But it was not the tickling energy or the stable status of the forming gem that made Lady Whitedeer smile. A shadow at her back and a pair of strong arms around her waste coaxed her away from her work.
"Will you ever let me get any work done?" She softly spoke with a smile.
"You come here too often, dearest. The energies are stable, no need to check them every hour." The highborne mage, who was never far from his lover's side, replied. He leaned forward and moved some of the fur on the collar of her mantle to kiss her exposed neck. Though the action was slight, Lady Whitedeer tilted her head.
"Not interested in my report I take it?" She spoke with a smile. Another voice came from just beyond the woven wall that gave the mage pause.
"No, but I am." The voice grunted as some of the branches pealed away to allow the other mage passage. He was a human mage with pleasant looks, long red hair and garb to match. The high borne mage cast the intruder a venomous sneer before moving away.
"Why Lord Romulus you're early! We hadn't any time to prepare for your arrival." The mage spoke with a mocking sweetness in his voice. Lady Whitedeer placed a hand on his and gave a loose squeeze.
"Keep your robes on, Seth. You two can have your moment later. I come baring news; it can not wait." Romulus looked to Lady Whitedeer who nodded and summoned a small scrying orb. Romulus took the orb and concentrated for a moment before a scene began to form within. Harnessing his arcane magic, he enlarged the orb and made it float in the center of there they stood, a healthy distance from the fragile swirling cocoon around the massive diamond. Through the murky water they saw a ship carrying three people of interest. The first was a night elf warrior with several scars on her face excitedly telling tales of her new mentor. Another listened intently, eyes excited and marveling at the tales. Her blue skin, tusks, and wild orange mane distinguished her as a troll. The third, a brooding elf stood in the corner, his mind adrift at sea.
"Why do you waste our time with those three? Bodyl's dealings with them are over." Seth Nightgaze hissed; thumb ever stoking his lady's hand. Romulus shook his head.
"The items those three retrieved are the bones of green dragons. If he figures out what to do with them he may make his move against us, and soon. We need to heighten security both in the Pinnacle and in the Tangled Canals. And those mercenaries may not seem like much, but I have seen ones like them cause amazing amounts of damage countless times before. They've proven money is their chief god and I know Bodyl has hoards the size of mountains. It will not take much to bring them and more like them to our roots." Romulus affirmed. Lady Whitedeer nodded.
"I enlisted the help of some powerful associates several weeks ago when the energies began to shift into the final phase. If Bodyl dare send these…stray dogs he calls mercenaries they will meet a formidable force at the very least." Lady Whitedeer spoke with a calm confidence.
"Let those pathetic fools come if they may. It has been a long time since I enjoyed a good massacre." Seth hissed, banishing the image of the crude crew. Lady Whitedeer cast him a warning look, causing him to look away and clasp her hand a little more gently.
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that." Romulus bowed his head and excused himself, insisting that he get back to Dalaran in time to teach his night class. When the tangling branches sealed his exit the pair left in the strange space embraced.
"You should not say things like that. People will think ill things of you." Lady Whitedeer sighed as she removed her helm, revealing a soft looking and exotic face. His amber vision met her blinding white orbs before they leaned in for a brief but loving kiss.
"I apologize if I spoke too rashly. But something about that arrogant bastard always manages to make my skin crawl."
"You know he means well. Now come, its evening now and I'd like to go for a walk in the lower trunk. Will you join me?" She asked with soft, pleading eyes. He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before waving his hand to create a doorway in the tangled wall.
The merriment at the Menethil Harbor Inn could barely be measured through the booming laughter and revelry. Steins were clinking, patrons peacefully drinking, and any scores that needed settling were taken outside. At the largest table sat a gaggle of old dwarves with a few of their former human co-workers. The mostly gray and retired members of the Explorer's League gathered there to celebrate a new member among their distinguished ranks. At one point, one of the more hydrated old dwarves stood, or at the very least attempted to stand, with one thick leg on the table. He raised his stein and slurred.
"Ta' Digger! May 'er nose be sharp and her pick axe sharper!" His words added to the howling and clapping in the already busy inn. When the noise at the table died down a little the same dwarf began clapping his hands to a steady beat, encouraging others to do so. Digger blushed with a nervous laugh and covered her face with the palm of her hand. The dwarves began to sing the very song she herself helped inspire.
"As I walked down to Booty Bay one evening in July
I met a maid who asked my trade – A sailor John - says I!
And away you Johnnie' – My dear lassie!
O you Stormwind girls, can't you dance the polka
To Gilneas I took her, I did not mind the cold
An' I bought her two jeweled ear-rings, and they cost me fifty gold
And away you Johnnie!' – My dear lassie!
O you Stormwind girls, can't you dance the polka?
Says she – 'You lime-juice sailor, now see me home you may'
But when we reached her cottage door, she unto me did say
And away you Johnnie' – My dear lassie!
O you Stormwind girls, can't you dance the polka?
She says her man's a Pally, with his hair cut short behind
And he wears a pair of plated boots and he sails in the Northrend Line
And away you Johnnie' – My dear lassie!
O you Stormwind girls, can't you dance the polka?"
With a stomp of his foot the song was over and everyone at the table clapped. Digger could only sit there, clutching her red laughing face as the dwarf took his seat.
"Never got over all that did, you Johnny?"
"Yah broke me heart, Digs. But that's alright, no hard feelings." He chuckled before downing the rest of his porter. As the night went on, those who could have stayed awake til dawn when their hair was thicker found sleep biting at their eyelids. At around one in the morning the last patrons made their way to their rooms, leaving Johnny to pay the tab. Digger found she was one of the few who had the energy after the night of rabble rousing and the pair of old friends decided to take a walk. The sound of waves and the salty sea are did nothing to lull their spirits as they talked.
"…so what'll you do now that you're not in the league anymore?" Johnny asked, wiping his large nose with his dirty sleeve.
"I'm not really sure yet. I suppose I can do some odd jobs while I still have my wits. Thanks again for everything Johnny. This was a great night." She smiled at the grey-haired dwarf who blushed a little under his beard.
"Not a problem, Digs. You know we dwarves don't need a reason to party but they always seem more fun when you do. I'm surprised your friends didn't stay and celebrate."
"Oh I only just met them. They needed to get to Kalimdor to find some sort of plant."
"Sort of an odd bunch if you ask me. Even with the peace efforts, something about hanging around blood elves n' trolls just ain't right." He snorted. In his youth he and his brothers took up axes, shovels, and any other tools they could find against the invading horde. Long before that, their assessors fought the trolls that infested their home kingdom of Dun Morogh.
"Well you've got to give them credit for trying. Maybe we're too old and decrepit to understand." Digger laughed. She looked to the stars, only slightly covered by the deep blue clouds. "I remember a time when we were so careless and stupid. Remember Draenor?"
"I've spend 20 years tryin to FORGET Draenor." Johnny shuttered. Images of strange creatures, ravenous demons, and nether-bathed dragons flashed in his weary blue eyes.
"Seems like an eternity ago. I can still see those damn green eyes. It was lucky the warden got there when she did. I didn't think we'd make it out of that damn temple alive." Digger sighed. As the pair walked to towards the dwarf they bid the night watchmen a hearty hello. They continued reminiscing until a drawing posted on one of the tag boards caught Digger's attention. A very stylized drawing of a night elf woman with long dark hair appeared in the lamp lights.
"What's that?"
"It's the wanted board. I didn't know you dabbled in bounty hunting." As the pair approached Digger felt her fingers begin to sweat. She shuffled the salty pages away, completely uncovering the freshly posted page. Two pairs of eyes went wide. The fresh paper had two drawings: one facing the viewer and the other facing to the side. The drawings depicted a night elf woman with an angry expression and 4 distinct scars on her left cheek. The poster read:
"WANTED: Shandori Sagesmoke
Alive to face justice
For Assault, attempted murder, animal cruelty, theft, and destruction of property.
By the Silverwing Sentinels Darnassian Precinct
1000 gold reward"
Digger took a step back.
"1000 gold? You think she killed the high priestess or something!" Digger hissed, a cold chill running through her veins.
"That's a lot of scratch. Every bounty hunter in Azeroth and beyond will be looking for her—hey where you going?" Johnny shifted in the direction Digger took off running.
"To the griffin pens. I've got to get to Kalimdor."