Strike back with the power in hand
Break free from a past life, dying
Onwards we strive till
The answers we'll find...
~Holding On-Dragonforce~
In the morning, Cordana asked Khadgar to tell her what a warning from the wards would have sounded like.
"It is not a sound, Cordana," he explained. "It is more of a ripple in the energy around you. Let me demonstrate."
He removed Jaaral's attunement wards and asked him to walk into the camp from outside it. He asked Cordana to close her eyes.
Suddenly that same disturbance from the night before came over her and her eyes flew open. "That was it, Khadgar!" she cried. "Someone breached the wards last night! I was awoken by that exact feeling, and stepped outside. I saw or heard nothing, but the feeling that something was not as it should be, gave me good reason to remain on guard while you slept. I don't like this place."
"What do you think it was?" asked Jaaral. "Could it have been a common thief, travelling through looking for random bounty? This location is off the map, and of no interest to anyone but Kaldorei."
Cordana was ill at ease. "That causes me even more concern. Whomever was creeping around last night might have been doing so with an aim to harm the Archmage."
"Were you stealthed?" asked Khadgar.
"Yes"
"Then your theory makes no sense. If they did not see you, they had no reason to believe someone would try and stop them and they would have gone ahead and attacked me."
Cordana was unsure what to think, and was glad that she would not be away from his side. "It could have been a scout. We must remain more alert than usual while we are here, and get these tasks done so we may leave."
Khadgar put an arm around her shoulder. "Are you rested enough for today's tasks my dear? Or should we postpone them for a few hours?"
"I am fine, Archmage," she said. "Jaaral is ready to begin his collection of the soul shards you requested. You and I will be inside the tent, safely hidden from any prying eyes!"
He winked at her. "You just wish to be alone with me, Cordana!"
The Warden didn't find his sentiment comical. "All of this makes me nervous and I cannot find any humor in it, Khadgar!"
He nodded. "You are correct, I apologize."
He turned to the Draenei and spoke to him for several minutes, then Jaaral turned and jogged out of the camp.
Khadgar stood silent for a moment watching the Commander leave. Then he turned and scooped Cordana off her feet and carried her into their tent.
"Khadgar! Why must you insist on being playful at a time like this? Your timing is atrocious!"
He set her down gently, then kissed her. "Always so serious, Cordana. Can you not enjoy the moment? This time we have together?"
She sighed heavily and leaned against him. He sensed she had something on her mind. Cupping her face in both his hands, Khadgar looked into her eyes, his expression kind.
"Something is bothering you. Will you please speak with me about it? I am sure that you would relax here with me if your mind were not so burdened."
He turned to a small table and poured some mead for them, then sat down. He looked expectantly up at her.
Cordana sipped the mead thoughtfully, her eyes on him.
"I am bothered by what the demon said to me yesterday," she said.
"Demons are terrible creatures. They are full of hatred and deceit. I would not pay any mind to its lies."
"I know this, Khadgar. But even lies often have a basis in truth, and demons are tied to the twisting nether which gives them visions of the future."
He nodded. "That is all correct, but the future as we know it is mutable. What a visionary sees is but one possible outcome. I have seen many visions in my time, and only one came to pass, and it was a very minor one at that."
She looked down into her cup. "I would rather die than betray you, Khadgar," she said in a near whisper.
He stood up and took the cup away from her, then took her into his arms, holding her gently and stroking her hair. "My love, you must not let a demon's vile words into your heart. Regardless of what it thinks it saw, you are free to make your own future, and even the smallest of alterations can make the most drastic changes. Rest easy, sweet Cordana...I know you would not betray me."
She looked up at him, her eyes anguished, her mind unconvinced. "I could not sleep for thinking of what horrifying scenarios would force me to make it's words true. What terrible calamity shall befall us and cause me to make a decision that could indeed betray you to your death?"
Cordana put her arms around him and pressed as close as she could. "Please Khadgar, if I ever become compromised...promise me you will end my suffering!"
He took her by the shoulders and held her in front of him, his eyes focused intensely on her. "I will promise no such thing! What I will promise is that I shall cross the twisting nether itself to save you. There is no challenge too great when it comes to my feelings for you. Can you accept that?"
There was a fierce intensity in his eyes that she had never seen before, and it made her feel protected and safe.
"Yes," she whispered, wrapping her arms around him once more and pressing her lips to his. As he squeezed her tightly against him she felt his desire. She backed up to their sleeping place and pulled him down with her.
"Make love to me, Khadgar," she whispered between kisses. Cordana's sensual nature had awakened, and her eyes were glowing brightly. She ran her hands through his hair. He was breathing fast, pressed against her almost painfully. More than anything, Khadgar wanted to take her, to make her his completely, to abandon all sense and reason and just drown in pleasure with her.
"Cordana, my love," he panted, raising himself from her and flopping over onto his back, one arm across his eyes. She sat up and pulled off her shirt, then leaned over and moved his arm, kissing him deeply. With her other hand she reached down for him, squeezing and stroking him passionately.
"Cordana..." he groaned. "Stop...please..."
She sat up and gazed at him, puzzled. "What did I do wrong? I will learn, Khadgar, just give me a chance."
He sat up as well, and faced her, his hair disheveled and his face flushed. "You did nothing wrong, my dear. In fact, you did everything right!" He gave a long, heavy sigh and tried his best to ignore the discomfort of his body. He reached over and pulled a blanket over her nakedness. Although he meant only to ward her from the morning chill, the Warden thought that he meant to cover her from his view. She felt embarrassed, confused and hurt, and had wanted to show her love for him, to allow him into her body as she had into her heart. Now she suddenly felt foolish.
Cordana blinked and slowly reached for her shirt, putting it back on and standing to tuck it in. She smoothed her hair back and looked around for her encounter cloak and helmet.
"Cordana," said Khadgar softly.
She said nothing to him and twirled the cloak onto her shoulders, the blades swinging dangerously close to his face, and placed the helmet on her head. "I will scout the perimeter," she said in a firm, hard edged voice.
Khadgar stood and moved towards her. "My love, let us speak..."
She vanished into stealth. He saw the tent flap open and drop closed again.
Cordana prowled the area around the camp. She was hurting, and couldn't understand why he did not wish to make love with her. Was I too forceful? she wondered. She thought about it, and the more she did so, the more embarrassed she became. I just undressed myself like a common lady of the night, and threw myself at him. No wonder he didn't want me. Gleaning information from such a one was a mistake. What else was I told to do that might offend the Archmage? How can I know? He is human. There must be great differences between his people and mine. A Kaldorei sire likes an aggressive female, perhaps a human male requires a submissive one.
Cordana couldn't face him again. She decided she would remain stealthed and at her post until Jaaral returned. At night she planned to guard Khadgar, from outside, as she always had before. I will spare him the embarrassment of having to lie beside me, she thought with sadness. He is too good a man to tell me he is displeased.
Khadgar sat on the bed for a long while. Cordana had reacted strangely to his request that she stop. Jaaral would not be gone that long, and on his return they must take the next steps in forging the trap for Gul'Dan. He felt that they did not have enough time to truly enjoy one another in the way that she wanted. Khadgar did not want to rush and hurt her, that was the last thing he wished to happen. He was aware that she would need some time to adjust to the situation as well, their last attempt had not been successful. Had Cordana forgotten about that? Her body had not been ready yet to accept him.
He got up and walked out of the tent. It seemed that he was alone, but he knew that Cordana would not be far away.
"Cordana," he called out. "Please come and speak with me! Where are you?"
"I am here, as always," she responded coolly from somewhere nearby.
"Unstealth and remove your helmet so I might see you," he said.
"I am sorry but that would not be wise, Archmage. You never know who may be watching us."
Khadgar gave an annoyed snort. "You are being evasive, Cordana! I did not wish you to leave! I simply felt that Jaaral would be returning before we had time to properly ...do...anything!"
"That is fine, Archmage," she answered in the same low tones. There was no emotion in her voice, and it bothered him immensely.
He scanned the area. She was close by, he could feel it. Narrowing his eyes, Khadgar raised his hand and created a small snowy blizzard around the area. Little by little, Cordana's stealthed, crouched shape began to take form.
"Ahh, there you are!" he exclaimed happily. "Now I have something to look at while I speak!"
She gave a low growl of displeasure and stood up, shaking the snow from her cloak. "Sometimes, I truly loathe you!"
"Oh dear...well that is rather unfortunate because I deeply love you, Cordana."
She didn't move, and he ended the spell.
"Did you feel I stopped you because I did not desire you? Because if you did than you are not as intuitive as I believe you to be!"
There was no response for awhile, then she unstealthed and removed her helmet, as he had asked, and stood in front of him.
"You felt my desire for you, Cordana," Khadgar said softly. "That is not a lie. I want you more than I have words for...but I love you deeply as I said, and if we rush this here and now, I will hurt you...and that would torture me. As I promised you, I will not do anything willingly that could cause you pain, especially not an act meant to show love. I am sorry if you misunderstood my request as anything other than your best interest."
She stared at him with those bright eyes. He smiled softly and caressed her cheek, then gave her a tender kiss. He was dismayed to feel her hold back as that was not what he ever wanted her to do. Cordana's naturally passionate nature was beautiful and he wished her to express it freely.
But she wouldn't.
Cordana retreated back into the safety of her duty, and as much as she loved Khadgar, she was too afraid to let go. She wanted him desperately, but would not chance approaching him as boldly as she had again. If he truly desired her, he would have to make the first move.
"Oh, Cordana," he breathed, a bit sadly, and stroked her hair and held her, unconcerned about the blades on her cloak that lay between them.
Jaaral came trotting back to the Outpost a few hours later. Khadgar and Cordana had been resting in the tent; he with a tome and she in stealth near the entrance. She had insisted he remain out of sight, and this time he did not argue.
"What is the next move, Khadgar?" she asked him. "When Jaaral returns with the soul shards, what is to be done?"
"We must combine them to create a shard powerful enough to work as a trap. There is a forge in Gul'Var that is used for such a purpose. When he returns, we will go and make use of it."
Cordana unstealthed. "We? You are not thinking of going in there yourself are you?"
He looked surprised. "Of course I am, with you and Jaaral. Together we shall prevail!"
The warden gave a short, barking laugh. "There is no way I am letting you leave this camp OR this tent!"
"Don't be ridiculous, Cordana. I am the only one capable of doing this task."
"Ridiculous?" she cried. "Gul'Dan frequents that camp, you saw for yourself, and the Kaldorei here told you they have sensed something powerful numerous times! You are not ready to take him on, for as powerful as you say you are, it will take more than you to complete the task of destroying him! Khadgar, your arrogance annoys me, and makes my task all the harder! I know I sensed someone in the camp last night. If you leave here you will be opening yourself to attack and I cannot have that!"
Before Khadgar could respond, the tent flap opened up and Jaaral stepped in, a huge smile on his face.
"It was great to battle once more! They provided me with a bit of training this morning, and I am glad of it!"
He opened the pouch at his side, and drew out three green, glowing rocks.
Cordana removed her helmet and wrinkled up her nose. "Fel energy," she said distastefully.
"Indeed," said Khadgar taking the stones from Jaaral.
The big Draenei stretched and reached for a glass and poured himself a drink. "So, Archmage, what is next for us? Combining these stones yes? We will go to the camp and seek out the forge!"
Khadgar nodded but smiled apologetically. "She does not want me going with you. But, I can help by magically projecting myself."
"You're right, you're not going out there!" exclaimed Cordana.
Khadgar sighed at her, then turned to Jaaral. "The forge is in the larger tent on the north side. You may need to fight your way to it, but my image will be there, waiting for you. If I had known things would be this difficult..." he looked at Cordana. "I would not have asked you to come all this way back! As it is I will instruct you on what to do."
Jaaral nodded and took another large gulp of the mead, than took back the stones and headed out.
"Cordana, " said Khadgar. "You will need to allow me to participate in the mission. I cannot always send another to do the tasks I must do myself." His voice was slightly harder than he had intended it to be and he looked at her as one would an errant child.
So much for your promises, she bristled, but said nothing. They had work to do.
Khadgar closed his eyes and chanted softly. A glow appeared around him, and he seemed to phase between dimensions. Cordana watched him. She had never understood the mysticism of arcane magic, but it fascinated her nonetheless. It was interesting to watch him draw power and cast. And as long as he was safe near her, she was happy.
Jaaral did not have to do much fighting. The camp was in disarray after his earlier attack and had not yet recovered. Anyone who engaged him was put down swiftly and he moved quickly to his target. As promised, the Archmage had projected himself.
"Place the shards in the cauldron, Jaaral," his image instructed. He watched as the Draenei did exactly that and green Fel energy began to emanate from it.
"Nothing is happening, Archmage," said Jaaral. The stones lay in the bottom, seething energy but not combining.
Khadgar said a few words in the language of magic and while sparks flew from the stones, they simply continued to lay there.
"I was afraid this might happen," said Khadgar. "The fires are just not hot enough. However, there is a demon nearby that burns hot as the sun. Gul'Dan, or perhaps his Lieutenant Razuun has managed to summon an infernal. The thing calls itself Krosnis. That demon's heart burns hotly enough, all you need to do is collect it!"
Jaaral laughed. "Today I am truly alive! Where will I find this demon?"
Khadgar pointed to the south. "I last saw it wandering about in that direction, you won't miss it, the thing is 15 feet tall and radiates Fel energy. Be careful not to let it touch you, lest it drain your life force. I do apologize once more, Commander. I should be assisting you!"
"It is of no consequence, Archmage. I am a warrior, this is mere training for me!"
He set off towards the south.
Back at the camp, Cordana was uneasy. While nothing was obviously amiss, her senses were telling her something wasn't quite right. She crept from the tent and stood, stealthed, scanning around her. There were no untoward sounds, no strange movements in the trees or bushes. The camp was behaving exactly as it should. The Warden did not even have the feeling of the wards being breached. Why am I feeling this way? Is there a threat here, or is it my own apprehension causing this reaction in me? She slid back into the tent and stood, watching Khadgar intently.
He ended his channel, and sensed the intensity of the warden's stare.
"What is it, Cordana?" he asked gently. He felt guilty for being rather edgy with her earlier. She was doing her job, and she was doing it well. Plus, she loved him, he knew that, and that love made her even more protective than she ordinarily might have been. You have much to learn, old man, especially when it comes to keeping your word.
Cordana felt her chest tighten up. Was he going to be upset with her again? She felt slightly insecure. She did not like it when Khadgar showed displeasure with her. He could be reckless and impulsive, and as his protector it was her task to see that he came to no harm, and she felt she was doing just that. But it would not work out if he became increasingly unhappy with her over it. Please don't mess this up, Cordana. He is the best thing to have ever happened to you.
"I am not sure exactly," she said softly, trying to keep her voice even. "I just sense that something isn't quite right here." She wanted to tell him to stay inside the tent but thought better of it. "I will remain very close to you, as a precaution."
He smiled. "I cannot object to that, sweet Cordana!"
The endearment made her heart give a little skip and she wanted to unstealth and fall into his arms. Instead, she moved a bit closer and remained silent and watchful.
"You know," he said in a near whisper. "I have always felt safe with you beside me. Thank you for all that you do, Cordana."
"It is my pleasure, Archmage," she answered, rather formally, but he did not seem to mind.
Khadgar resumed his chant, projecting his image back at the forge to wait for Jaaral. It took a bit longer than he had thought it would, and when the warrior showed up with a large burnt swath across his chest, the Archmage realized that Krosnis had given him a good fight.
Jaaral carried the burning heart in a small metal cauldron.
"Quickly, place the heart in the forge. We'll use its infernal heat to forge the trap!" said Khadgar.
Jaaral complied and placed the horrid thing. The heat became almost unbearable. Taking the shards, he placed them in the cauldron that had held the heart and lay it on the forge. In very little time, the shards had mutated into one, a bright green, filled with Fel energy. It seemed to pulsate as Jaaral carefully removed it from the cauldron once it had cooled. He held it out for Khadgar's image to see.
"You've forged the soul trap!" he exclaimed. "There's no time to waste, Jaaral. We must capture Gul'Dan."
Jaaral equipped his shield once the shard was safely in his pouch. "Where is that demon? I will make quick work of him!"
"Be careful, my friend," said Khadgar's image. "Gul'Dan is not to be underestimated no matter how prepared you might be. He can hopefully be found on the rise just up the hill to the west. But, you must hurry, Jaaral. We know that he's about to leave for the next part of his plan. The use of the soul trap is straightforward. Simply point and squeeze to ensnare Gul'Dan. The crystal will take care of the rest. I'll see you back at the camp when you have him. Good luck!"
The image faded and Jaaral found himself alone. While he was not fond of fighting mages of any kind, he had worn his most powerful armor, and knew that the Archmage had placed protective spells on him to counteract some of the more dangerous magic. As he trotted up the hill, he wondered if he would prevail against so powerful an enemy. However, he knew all he had to do was trap the demon, not necessarily fight him. It would be a battle of a different nature.
As Jaaral approached Gul'Dan at the demonic altar, the warlock turned. "I remember you!"
Jaaral nodded. "Good. Then you will know I come to take you down, vile wizard!"
The warlock laughed. "I am not that easy!"
Jaaral circled him, but Gul'Dan seemed unconcerned. "I have better things to do than play with you, little warrior," he said. A shadow materialized out of the gloom, and tried to slide off out of sight.
"Your time has come, Razuun!" cried Gul'Dan, cackling.
Razuun, suddenly realizing what his master had planned, attempted to flee but was sucked back to the altar. "What...no!"
With an agonized scream, Razuun was transformed into a Man'ari Eredar. Jaaral watched in horror. Man'ari were the demon-corrupted Eredar who now lead the Burning Legion. Once they had been goodly Draenei like himself but after their transformation they became depraved and filled with darkness and had nothing left of their former selves.
"Have fun dealing with this!" yelled Gul'Dan as he faded from view.
Razuun laughed, then turned his attention to Jaaral. "Destroy!" he cried out, and attacked.
Jaaral came walking back to the camp several hours later. He looked dejected as Cordana and Khadgar came out to meet him. The warrior detailed what had happened, how he had fought the Man'ari and defeated it, then activated the trap at Gul'Dan, who completely ignored it.
"He asked me to give you a message, Archmage," said Jaaral miserably.
"Oh? And what might that foul creature have to say?"
Jaaral looked disturbed. "He said do give my regards to Khadgar, I have a present coming for him!"
Cordana gasped. "Khadgar! He called you by name, this means he knows you are seeking him!"
He placed an arm comfortingly around her shoulders. "I am surprised by this, but it matters little. Unfortunate, but not surprising. At least we were able to defeat one of the inner council members. All is not lost. We know what the Shadow Council is up to and where they're heading. "
He suddenly stopped. "Did you hear that?"
No one moved, listening. Cordana instantly went into stealth, all her senses on high alert. With a grunt, Jaaral suddenly fell to his knees, immobilized.
"Commander!" exclaimed Khadgar. "What is wrong?"
"Khadgar!" said Cordana in a harsh whisper. "Someone's here!"
Suddenly there was a flurry of activity and something or someone appeared behind Khadgar, daggers raised. Before Cordana could react, the Archmage encased himself in a block of ice.
"Sorcerous coward!" snarled the figure, a strange looking female.
"Assassin!" cried Cordana, and leapt on her. She swung with her umbral crescent but her quarry leapt out of the way. She kicked Cordana in the back of the leg, driving her down to one knee. Angered, the Warden spun with her cloak, its blades slicing into the assassin's arm. With a cry of pain, the woman jumped backwards up onto a small boulder. She blew a kiss into the air.
"Gul'Dan sends his best!" she cried, and vanished.
Cordana wasted no more time on the assassin and ran to Khadgar and placed her hands on the front of the cold ice. He winked at her, dissolved the spell and smiled. However, she was not amused.
"I knew it! You should have stayed back at the garrison, Archmage!"
"Nonsense. I had that handled. Cool as a cucumber!"
Before Cordana could lace into him, he took her in his arms with a flourish and kissed her. She languished there for a shocked moment, wanting to hold onto her anger, but he had the uncanny ability to dissipate it with just a look or a touch. He had nearly been killed, or at least severely injured, and again, he laughed it off as though it were nothing more than an encounter with a lesser forest creature.
"We are going home, Khadgar!" she said, trying to sound stern.
Jaaral, who had recovered and was standing nearby, agreed. "I believe we are done with this place. We have much to discuss back at the garrison."
Cordana did not ride her Moonsabre. The massive cat walked at her side as she walked with Khadgar, their hands linked.
No one said a word on the entire trip back.