Chapter Seven
Tavin rubbed his chin slightly as they stepped out of Stratholme's accursed gates, glad to be finally rid of the burning hell hole, Tavin inhaled a deep breath of the air… for once glad to smell the stench of the wasteland instead of the smell of charred flesh.
He grinned at the thought… he was becoming too accustomed to the place.
Suddenly he heard many of the men in front of him audibly gasp as they spotted something, somewhere.
Tavin grimaced, and instantly his hand hovered towards his blade.. Expecting some hidden force of Scourge to suddenly pop out of thin air… but instead, what greeted him was far better.
Naxxramas, which once hovered over the fields of Plaguewood, visible to all in the Eastern Plaguelands… it had now vanished completely.
Many of the men cheered and whooped and hollered in delight as the sight bolstered their spirits, on top of conquering Stratholme, and defeating the Scourge.
Tavin and Byron broke out in a wide grin as they joined in cheering with the men.
Salvias even cracked a smile, whispering "I never thought I'd see the day…"
They passed through the Plaguewood, the whole force surrounding the six men who now held Dathrohan's body, as they walked at a leisure pace, all with smiles placed on their face.
Still… Tavin couldn't help but wonder.. where had Naxxramas gone to?
He merely pushed the doubtful thoughts aside, choosing to take his victories and be glad, instead of worrying about possibilities' at this point in time.
It only took them about half an hour until they broke through the thickness of Plaguewood, greeted by the open lands of the Plaguelands, the sight of decaying trees and sodden earth never a better sight to the men who had just faced hell.. And had lived to tell the tale.
The company slowed a little as Aydeline and five other men spurred to the front of the group, stopping only momentarily to speak to Tavin and Salvias.
Salvias smiled and said "Safe journey Aydeline, we will see you soon enough in Tyr's Hand."
Aydeline nodded and smiled sweetly at Tavin, before saluting Salvias and trotting off with her convoy, enroute back to Tyr's Hand.
Tavin sighed deeply and began whistling a merry tune as the slowly marched back to Light's Hope Chapel.. Were maybe they finally have some rest.
Down the road, not to long after leaving the company behind…
Aydeline rolled her neck around, trying to rid herself of the stiff pain that had crept up her neck after riding straight back for the past hour.
She sighed as she once again nervously glanced around, still making sure her convoy was with her, a paranoiac habit she had developed, annoyingly, within the past half hour.
Even so.. The five men were still around her, bleary eyed, but hopeful to return to Tyr's Hand with semi-good news and maybe achieving some rest.
Aydeline secretly slipped her hand inside her breastplate, patting the folded set of parchment that would surely aid the Crusade immensely should she turn it into Abbendis.
She yawned wearily as they passed in front of the Eastwall tower, once a great sentinel to the lands of Lordaeron, now a crumbling mass of stone, ripe with decay and rust.
The small convoy began passing over a small wooden bridge, when suddenly Aydeline's steed nickered wildly, his nostrils flaring, his liquid brown eyes widening with fright.
Thinking he had merely caught a strong whiff of the lands natural stench, Aydeline stroked his mane, cooing to the horse in a whisper.
However, she noticed suddenly that the other horses were jumping with fright, which sprung a multitude of worry into her mind.
Without warning, black cloaked figures appeared from apparently out of no where on either sides of the bridge, cornering them partially.
One of the Crusaders yelled wildly "It's an ambush!! Run Milady!!"
Aydeline hesitated slightly, but as the menacing figures all drew glowing blades, inscribed with wicked looking runes, she yanked her charger's reins around, causing him to leap off the wooden bridge, landing on the decrepit ground below the bridge, neighing wildly.
She slammed her armored heels into the mounts side, sending him bursting forward, quickly escaping the battle on the bridge.
She panicked, knowing exactly what the three figures were after… the plans in her armor.
I need to hide them!…she thought desperately.
As she pulled up out of the channel under the bridge, she spotted a rotting farm, once probably a magnificent mill, yet now a termite infested hunk of wood.
Knowing she had only seconds, Aydeline brought her steed to a halt and sprung off her mount, dashing frantically inside.
She wildly looked around for a place to stow the plans, jerking the set of parchment from inside her breastplate, cursing herself for ever taking the accursed things.
Her eye caught a shoddy metal toolbox lying on the ground, and so she seized it, cramming the layouts inside, under a pair of frayed gloves, before slamming the box shut, clamping its lock down and shoving it under a cracking floorboard.
Somewhat satisfied with her hiding place, she dashed back to her charger and swung onto it, glancing back hesitantly, knowing she couldn't return back the way she came, without risking running into the Death Knights, as she knew that's what they were.
She had heard of a small cave that lead under the mountains, straight into New Avalon, used only for tactical purposes.. But she could hardly care right now.
She dug her heels back into the horses sides, and took off in a dash up a winding trail, her only alternative route at this moment.
Upon reaching the top of the trail, she burst forth into a wide open area, full of brambles, rotting trees and even some twisted fungi, like that of Plaguewood, puffing their usual thick smog into their air.
Aydeline glanced around frantically, trying to spot anything that looked like a cave… but just as she saw a small rocky entrance, the sound of clanging plate reached her ears as figures approached her from behind.
Her heart skipped a beat as the same three dark figures burst into the area also, unscathed with bright red blood dripping from their weapons.
Had they bested the other men that easily?!she fearfully thought, knowing if they could best five other men on thier own.. her frail self would prove no more challenging than a cockroach would to her own heel.
She cried out and took off towards the cave, hearing the warning shouts from the Death Knights behind her, obviously displeased that she was escaping.
Aydeline sped through the small narrow cave, ducking her head low to avoid hitting the craggy ceiling of the cave, her mount neighing wildly as he was pushed to his limits, his powerful legs thrumming swiftly as his metal-shod hooves clanked loudly against the rocky ground, sending echos bouncing off all the walls.
She broke free from the narrow cave, expecting to finally see the green hidden pastures of New Avalon, her final means of safety…
Except, her eyes were greeted with the painful sight of battle tents, burning skies, charred land.. And worst of all, the tattered banners of the Scourge, waving victoriously in the hazy air, seemingly taunting her.
Her breath caught in her throat as she saw her once home of New Avalon, now smoldering with Scourge infestation. Tears sprung to her eyes, but she had little time to mourn as she could hear more plates clanging behind her.
Knowing it was the three knights trying to capture her, she sped off again, flying past wandering Scourge patrols, who quickly realized she was an enemy, and began chasing her.
A mob of angry undead on her heels, Aydeline heard one of the death knights yell icily "Stop her!!"
Tavin sighed wearily as the company rounded a bend in the road, the somewhat wonderful sight of the Eastwall tower entering their view..
Sure, it wasn't the most beautiful structures in all of Azeroth.. However it told them Lights Hope Chapel was only a few minutes away.
However, as his eyes looked down to the bridge that crossed over one of the scars of the Plaguelands, he grimaced as he saw what lay on the bridge.
A group of bodies, all wearing the now bloodstained tabard of the Scarlet Crusade.
Salvias gasped audibly and began dashing towards the bodies.
Tavin yelled out "Salvias! Wait!" fearing that it might be a trap.
He sprinted after Salvias, who was frantic at reaching his fallen brothers, he dropped his hammer and skidded over to the group of fallen Crusaders.
Tavin reached Salvias and glanced around cautiously, fearing a trap.. But nothing came.
Tavin dropped to his knees next to Salvias, who was now covering his mouth with his hand, his eyes glistening with tears.
"How much more death do we have to face today…" he said, examining the jagged wounds in all of the men's chests.
"Was it the convoy..?" Tavin asked.
Salvias nodded sorrowfully, "Aye.." he looked around the bodies.. And a look of bewilderment crossed his face.
"What is it?" Tavin asked curiously.
"There's only five bodies here.. All of men.." he said.
Tavin then suddenly remembering that Aydeline, the one girl, had traveled with the convoy as well.
"Where could she be…" Tavin said, glancing around uselessly, as if to expect Aydeline to appear suddenly from behind a bush. ".. The Scourge normally don't take prisoners.." he mentioned.
Salvias shook his head, "Aye.. But this certainly isn't normal.." he rubbed his temples slowly, "What could they want her for, she was only a small recruit.."
Tavin remembered her wandering into the ziggurat in Slaughter Square.
"What if it had something to do with her wandering into that ziggurat, back in Stratholme?" he suggested.
Salvias shrugged helplessly, "She said she didn't find anything.."
Tavin nodded, but still was doubtful of her words, "I think she did find something in there… But how would they know she had them, the place was empty, save for us three" Tavin said, rather stumped on the situation.
Salvias looked at Tavin and suggested "Maybe some form of magical tracking.. Or alarm.." he groaned, saying "I've got nothing.."
One of the Crusaders stepped forward saying "We should move sir, the Scourge could be anywhere, and we need to return back to Tyr's Hand.."Salvias grimy nodded and stood up, beckoning a handful of more Crusaders forward.
"Wrap the bodies and carry them back…" he said heavily, shaking his head sadly, muttering "How many more will die.."
Tavin sighed and stood up himself, motioning for the men to continue moving forward… but he let his gaze wander up the winding trench that scared the land.. And his eyes widened as it feel upon what loomed in the sky..
Possibly the size of Naxxramas, but differently shaped.. A new horror hovered over the land behind Lights Hope Chapel.. The only thing separating the two contrast areas was the range of mountains that partly obscured the view of the Citadel.. But even then, Tavin knew this Scourge fortress was new.. And obviously, the Scourge were up to something dastardly.
Many of the other men noticed what Tavin had spotted, and audibly showed their shock, gaping wildly at the horrifying Scourge city, which now hovered near their home-away-from-home.
"We need to move" Tavin said, nearly choking on his own words as a lump of fear crept up in his throat. "Quickly" he added.
The men hastily wrapped the bodies of the fallen Crusaders and the company began moving again, noticeably quicker, everyman trying to resist the urge of glancing fearfully at the new Scourge citadel.
As they neared Lights Hope Chapel, Tavin saw several Argent paladins run out to them, including Eligor Dawnbringer.
"Time is against us…" he said lowly, almost a whisper, his eyes full of discern.
Aydeline dug her heels harder into her steeds sides, trying to make it go faster… when suddenly black chains of wicked energy shackled her steeds legs, stopping him in his tracks, which jerked her forward, causing her to fly from her saddle and slam into the ground painfully.
Redness exploded across her vision as agonizing pain ripped up her ribcage and back.
She snapped her head around, seeing the same three death knights advancing on her menacingly.
They all removed their cowls, revealing the faces of two gaunt humans and a pale elf.
The elf closed in on her, his blade drawn wickedly as anger leapt into his eyes.
"Wait!" one of the humans yelled out suddenly, causing the elf to stop a few feet from her, but his blade was still poised.. Ready to strike.
"Search her.." the same man ordered again.
The elf grimaced and re-sheathed his blade in a hidden scabbard within his cloak, and he began advancing on her again.
Aydeline scrabbled backwards, her vision rapidly growing dim as she hysterically sobbed, trying to escape the malicious knight.
He chuckled deeply, his deep tone sending a shiver up Aydeline spine.
He seized her ankle, ending her futile attempts, and he pulled her closer in.
"She likes to struggle.. This one does…" he said disdainfully, licking his lips.
She shuddered violently, her vision blurry, whether from tears or her concussion, she couldn't quite figure out right now, considering her mind was about as hazy as the air around her, she could hardly think straight.
"Koltira…" the gaunt man said lowly.
The elf, Koltira, laughed sinisterly and said "I wont hurt her Thassarian.. Much" he smiled deeply at her "I just like playing with my food"
The gaunt man, Thassarian, growled deeply at the elf, obviously threatening him.
The elf sighed and said "Fine…"Aydeline shuddered uncontrollably as cold hands searched her mercilessly, however the elf's face frowned, as he whispered "Nothing.." a hint of worry creeping up in his voice.
Thassarian roared violently and his hand shot forward, seizing the front of her breastplate, ripping her up and away from the elf, her legs dangling uselessly as she kicked uselessly, trying to work her way out of the hunk of metal which was now digging into her torso.
He shook her brutally, his face coming within an inch of hers.
"Where. Are. They…" he asked, his glowing eyes betraying nothing, but his tone of voice threatening unknown horrors as it grew unnaturally cold.
Aydeline shook her head frantically, more darkness continuing to seep into her vision, "I-I-I don't kn-know!" she stammered, thick tears of terror rolling down her grime covered cheeks, dread gripped at her heartstrings.
Thassarian snarled at her and threw her to the ground uncaringly, sending another explosion of pain ripping up her back and ribcage, obviously leaving more cracked bones and bruises to come.
Thassarian whipped his blade out, turning it over so the jeweled pommel of it was sticking up.
Aydeline instinctfully threw her hands up, trying to shield her face..
But she felt a sharp pain at the side of her head.
Then nothing…