During the struggle, they will pull us down
But please, please, let's use this chance to turn things around
And tonight we can truly say
Together we're invincible
~Invincible-Muse~
When morning came, they arose and dressed, ate what Daesha offered them, and planned their day.
"Khadgar, I do not want you going out there. If there are shadow council lurking about, you do not want them to know you are here! You said so yourself, you wish to escape notice!"
Cordana did not believe him for a moment that he would stay well hidden, and she was beside herself with worry. He had said he would not go beyond the camp, but she knew well enough the way his mind worked. Always a bit closer to something interesting, a bit further...and then trouble found him. Every time.
"I will not go much beyond the border of the Outpost," he said in his most soothing voice.
"You will not go beyond the border of your tent flap!" Cordana retorted almost angrily.
The Archmage laughed, and raised his hands in a gesture of submission. "The lady doth protest! I give you my word I will not leave the confines of the Outpost."
It wasn't what she wanted, and she gave him a long, hard look, than led the way down the pathway into the forest.
Khadgar spent his time scrying and conjuring, prodding magically at the barriers around the village. He could sense what Daesha had spoken of, a powerful and dark energy permeating the place. He was careful not to stay too long. He tried to locate Cordana and Jaaral, but to use too much magical energy would be to alert the very ones he was trying to remain hidden from, and it could put his companions in danger.
He noticed that there were three monoliths that surrounded the village. Without scrying too closely, he was sure he saw sentries posted around them. There was a Fel energy emanating from the stones, and he wondered if they had something to do with the magical shrouding of the village. He went to speak with Daesha.
Cordana and Jaaral returned to the Outpost in late afternoon. Cordana was limping slightly; her leg injury, while healed, was still a source of pain for the Warden. Jaaral carried several wolf hides, the beasts had thought to attack them while they scouted, and they had slain and skinned them, leaving the carcasses as food for the other forest creatures.
"We think we found your demon Khadgar," said Cordana as she sat down in a chair the Archmage conjured for her. She had reluctantly removed her encounter suit and was rubbing her leg gingerly.
"You did?" he was happily surprised. Seeing her discomfort he lay a warm hand gently on her leg.
"Yes, there is a grotto towards the west, it is a shallow place," she said. "We managed to get near and heard scraps of the demonic language. I suppose the insane thing speaks to itself. We also smelled sulfur."
"This is most fortunate, and quick!" exclaimed Khadgar. "I have also learned a few things from Daesha. Long ago, the shamans of the Shadowmoon clan erected three stones in the woods. There, they performed their sacred rituals, blessing the beasts and the trees. Now, the Shadow Council has placed Fel magic upon those stones. This corruption is what shrouds the village of Gul'Var. Before we can use the captured demon to safely peer into the Shadow Council's village, we must bring down those stones."
Jaaral nodded slowly. "I have seen such stones before. How will we capture and hold this demon? It will be angry, and no small feat to contain!"
"It will need to be weakened," said Cordana. "I will speak to Priestess Delas and ask for some of the sacred water from the Moonwell. That will diminish it enough to allow it to be captured. However, I will need something to bind the demon with to return it here."
Jaaral was concerned. "We will bring it back here, to this tiny Outpost? I worry that it may cause a dangerous situation to the people here."
Khadgar shook his head. "I have already asked Daesha and her people to evacuate until we have completed our task. As for the binding..."
He gestured, and a fine, glowing, wire-like coil appeared in his hand. "This will do," he said and handed it to Cordana. She gave him a dubious look.
"Archmage...this is akin to sewing thread. Perhaps you think the Observer is 4 inches tall? This would not even hold the blades to my cloak!"
Khadgar laughed. "My dear one, this is a strand of magical energy, purified by the Light. Once the demon is weakened and bound, you can drag it back here as easily as though it were a child's balloon. It will not be able to break free, you have my assurance on that. Simply throw it at the creature once it is weakened sufficiently and the magic will do the rest."
"You are asking me to trust you on this."
He put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes, smiling. "Cordana," was all he said. Turning to Jaaral he said, "As for containing the thing when it arrives, I will have a magical containment system in place."
Cordana approached the Priestess. "Sister, will you allow us the use of this sacred water, to aid us in capturing a demon?"
Delas Moonfang bowed. "Yes, of course, but it needs to be purified first!"
"I do not understand. I thought that all sacred moonwells were pure to begin with," said Cordana.
Delas nodded. "They normally are. But this one has been abandoned for a long time, and negative energy has permeated it, most likely due to the Fel activity in the area. It will need to be dedicated to Elune, using a positively charged artefact of some sort."
"Where can we find such an artefact then?" asked Cordana.
"A piece of one of Draenor's moons has fallen into a nearby pool on the far side of the woods. Such a thing is perfect for use in the dedication of the moonwell to Elune. But be careful, Warden. Other creatures of the woods may be attracted to it also."
Cordana called out to Khadgar. "I must assist Priestess Delas before we can capture the demon!"
He looked up from where he was performing an incantation in an enclosed area. "Be careful, Cordana, please," he said.
Odd how our roles seem to have reversed, she thought as she went into stealth.
There were a few creatures milling around near the stone, but mostly to partake of the cooling water. Cordana did not wish to remove the entire chunk; not only was it too heavy to move without help, but it seemed to have a calming effect on the wildlife. Using her umbral crescent, the Warden chipped away at the stone until a piece broke off.
Returning to the Outpost, she handed the fragment to the Priestess. Speaking the sacred words, she placed the stone in the water. It began to glow brightly, then slowly dimmed as the ritual was completed, leaving the water of the moonwell softly shimmering. Taking up a glass container, the Priestess scooped up some of the water and handed it to Cordana.
"You have the blessings of Elune, Warden," she said.
Cordana bowed before her.
Khadgar had drawn out a symbol in the sand of a small enclosure, which once may have held a few small animals. Floating a few inches above the symbol was a glowing imitation of it. Occasionally the entire thing would circle clockwise, flare, then settle. The entire area was awash with power. Cordana could feel it, a slight vibration almost like a light electrical field.
"This is where the demon will be held," he said to her and Jaaral as they stood watching him. "These arcane runes will bind it to our will."
"Your will, Khadgar," Cordana corrected him. "I want nothing to do with that thing once I drag it back up here."
"I will agree with Cordana," said Jaaral. "I am not fond of demons, and I do not trust their ilk."
The Archmage faced them. "I consider us a team," he said. "For it is together that we will defeat the Shadow Council. This is what I allude to when I say we!"
The three of them stood silently watching the runes turn and flare. Khadgar stepped over the fence and took Cordana in his arms while Jaaral went to don his armor.
"Sweet Cordana," he said softly, his lips inches from hers. "My world has not been the same since you entered it, I am a fortunate man indeed to have your love."
He kissed her softly. "Please proceed with caution. I do not know how much magical strength that thing in the grotto may have."
Cordana squeezed him. "Just promise me that you will remain in your tent until we return. The Priestess and the others are leaving as you asked them to, and the thought that you will be here alone concerns me greatly."
"I will be fine my love. I survived all those years before we met did I not?"
She sighed, noticing that he did not make her the promise that she asked for. He would never change. Khadgar did as Khadgar pleased.
As she prepared to head out, Jaaral had a thought. "Perhaps I should take care of the standing stones," he said. "And Cordana, you can head over to the Observer. My path around the village should take me straight to the grotto, and when the demon is subdued and returned, the Archmage can begin the scrying immediately rather than wait for us to deal with the stones first."
Cordana considered his plan. "We could also handle the stones together, Commander, " she said. "It makes no sense for me to hang around the grotto waiting for you, as I will not engage that thing on my own, when I could be at your side in battle."
She saw the Draenei give a glance at the Archmage. Cordana rolled her eyes beneath her helmet.
"Khadgar," she said, slightly annoyed. "I am not made of glass. You are being ridiculous. I am going with Jaaral!"
He blew her a kiss. "You cannot fault me for trying to protect the one I love!" he said.
"Remember those words, Archmage!" she called out. "You will be eating them soon enough!"