If we can't restrain the beast which dwells inside
it will find it's way somehow, somewhere in time
Will we remember all of the suffering
Cause if we fail it will be in vain
~Our Solemn Hour-Temptation Within~
"So we are going to battle?" asked Cordana.
Jaaral nodded solemnly, and Vindicator Maraad beside him repeated the gesture.
"We cannot allow the Iron Horde to remain another day in the city!" he said vehemently.
Khadgar looked over at Cordana, covered by her encounter suit, standing a short distance away from him. She had insisted, as it was an official meeting in the war room of the garrison, to be 100% on duty. He knew she was not, and might never be completely comfortable being viewed as his companion. She did not like being stared at, and although she quite honestly did turn many heads, it was not for the reasons Cordana held in her own mind. She was tall and strong and stunning, and it saddened Khadgar to think that in her own eyes she was anything but. However, he respected her decision to wear the encounter suit and stand on alert.
Vindicator Maraad was fire and vengeance. His heart burned with hatred for the Iron Horde and he had come to rally the alliance forces into taking back Shattrath City with the Draenei army. He described such chaos and bloodshed, that it brought fire into Cordana's blood too and she gripped the umbral crescent tightly. The Iron Horde had terrorized and murdered Shattrath's peaceful citizens, destroyed the resources those monsters did not have use for, and in their malicious hatefulness they had begun to raze the city. The remaining citizens had scattered or been evacuated to smaller towns, or just made their way into the wilderness to hide. They were a shattered people who had lost everything and the Vindicator had had enough. The smaller skirmishes the army had engaged in were not affecting the Iron Horde nor slowing it down. It was time to take them down in one fell swoop.
"Archmage," said Maraad, standing. "Will you lead us into battle?"
Khadgar raised his eyebrows. "Me? While I am honored at your faith in me, I am hardly a military commander. Would not Jaaral be a better choice? He leads the Alliance garrison here."
"The people have seen your power at work, they believe in you," said Maraad. "Right now that belief is more valuable than the best military mind. These people have seen their loved ones fall to the Iron Horde, they want a champion they can rally behind, and that champion is you, Archmage. There is little to be employed in the way of strategy here. It is utter chaos, our force will lay waste to whatever they see, they just need you to give the word, and see you wield your powerful magic. We are outnumbered, we are down to our last good soldiers. A victory here could turn the tide." The big Draenei gazed at Khadgar, waiting patiently for his answer.
While he had complete confidence in his destructive capabilities, Khadgar was not so sure about his ability to lead an actual army.
"Khadgar," said Cordana. "We can do this."
The quiet strength in her voice gave him that last little push. She believed in him. The Draenei people believed in him. That would have to be enough.
"I will do it," he said, rising from his seat.
Maraad banged his hands down hard on the table. "Excellent!" he exclaimed. "I have spies waiting at the Arch of Shattar, to fill us in on the intel they gathered. I do not know anything more than what I have told you, so be ready for anything. Our plans may need to change quickly. I will go ahead and ready the others. We shall meet there."
Maraad quickly made his exit, leaving Jaaral, Toriona, Cordana and Khadgar to reflect in silence for a few moments.
"I am ready whenever you are, Khadgar," said Cordana. "My blade hungers for Iron Horde blood. Let us do this!"
Jaaral faced his wife, laying his hands on her shoulders. "My beloved, you will be alright here?"
She smiled and nodded. "Of course! The worst I shall receive is a paper cut from the mounds of ledgers I need to go through. You, on the other hand...be safe, and come back to me."
Her faith in his skill never wavered. He bent down and kissed her gently, and she stroked his face a moment.
"Do not fear, Lady Toriona," said Cordana. "I shall look after the Commander as I do the Archmage."
Toriona turned to her with a grateful smile. "Thank you, Cordana. That means a lot to me. Now go, all of you. Kick those monsters out of the city and free Jaaral's people!"
Khadgar teleported them to a location just outside the Arch of Shattar. He wanted to make sure that Maraad and his army were there, and that it was not a trap or an ambush. There was no doubt once he saw the assembly that it would be a hard won battle indeed. Maraad had not lied when he said they were outnumbered.
"Light," whispered Khadgar.
Cordana lay a hand on his arm for a moment. "We will prevail, Khadgar."
He nodded and took a deep breath.
The army cheered and banged their shields when they saw him. They stood tall, massive Draenei that towered over Khadgar and Cordana. They greeted Jaaral warmly.
Two black clad Draenei approached them, followed by Maraad and Yrel, the new spiritual leader of the Draenei people. They bowed to Khadgar.
"Archmage, there is something we must share with you," said one of the spies. "The Iron Horde employs a weapon of great power and destructive capability. They are hiding it aboard a battleship just off the coast. It is pointless to fight them until that weapon has been deactivated or destroyed. There are too many of them and too few of us, and that weapon gives them even more of an edge over us."
Khadgar nodded and thought hard for a moment. "How many Iron Horde lay between us and the harbor at present time?"
"Most of their force is occupied in the city confines," answered Maraad. "The area around the harbor is largely undefended, I would guess a few small skirmish groups according to our intel from several days ago. It is always possible that things have changed."
"Alright, I am sure that we can fight our way there fairly easily with the men we have. I will formulate a plan to attack the weapon once we have cleared the way."
Maraad signalled to the men. "Follow the Archmage!" he cried.
Khadgar broke into a sprint with Cordana and Jaaral behind him. She remained in stealth, to easier employ her deadly celerity against anything that stood in their way. The pounding of the heavy Draenei hooves on the ground was intimidating, but she knew such a thing would not phase the Iron Horde.
"I will go on ahead and scout our path," she said to Khadgar.
Running quickly ahead of him, she saw small groups of Iron Horde milling about, no doubt the weaker of the fighters, left to guard locations that would see little to no fighting. With narrowed eyes and a smile of derision that no one could see, she sliced through them before they knew what had happened.
Khadgar and the others saw the bodies as they moved past, the army trampling them into the dirt.
Suddenly Cordana reappeared in front of them. "Archmage, stop!" she cried.
The entire force stopped in its tracks behind him when he did.
"What is it, Cordana?"
"The Iron Horde!" she exclaimed. "Hundreds of them at the harbor!"
Khadgar's eyes widened. "Hundreds? Than their force is larger than we are aware of. Let me think a moment."
The others stood quietly as he knelt in the dirt, and began to draw arcane symbols with his finger.
When he stood up, he faced Cordana directly. "I know a spell that can clear the way, but it will take all my focus to channel it. During my incantation, I will be vulnerable. It will be up to you to protect me."
She knelt down in front of him and touched his cheek for a moment. "You know I will let nothing harm you, Khadgar," she said softly.
He stood and faced the army. "Wait for Maraad's command before attacking," he told them. "I will be using my magic to remove as many of our enemy as possible, but you all must support Cordana in her task to protect me!"
They gave a rallying cry, and Khadgar sprinted forward, this time following Cordana.
She stopped them just before another archway came into view. It sat at the top of a set of high stairs, hiding them from the enemy below. He bade the army to stop and wait, and they all knelt down in silence, while he and Cordana went to observe the enemy. She went into stealth and he transformed into his raven form, flying high above the harbor. He was shocked by the numbers he saw. The Iron Horde was most definitely concerned about an attack on their prime weapon, which he believed to be housed on a black, menacing ship moored off the coast almost to the open water. It was the largest of the Iron Horde fleet, which thankfully had not completed its rendezvous. The one with the weapon was most certainly the flagship, and the few others were support vessels. They would be easy enough to dispatch once the flagship had been destroyed. He did not fly further and returned.
Cordana stood in the archway, visible only to him by means of the ward he had cast on her earlier. He now had to ward the entire army to protect them from the arcane blast he would detonate. He landed on Cordana's shoulder. She turned and headed back to the army.
Khadgar transmogrified and addressed Maraad and Yrel. "I have seen the flagship carrying the weapon. I also have seen the mass numbers of Iron Horde. I must ask your army to engage as few as possible, simply distract them while I prepare my spell. I will do so from up here, to avoid drawing any unnecessary attention."
He then cast his protective ward over each and every soldier. They glowed a faint purple for a moment.
Khadgar began his incantation, and Maraad and the army moved forward through the archway. Cordana remained at the ready. She watched the Archmage levitate himself several feet off the ground. He was high enough that she could not reach him even by jumping. His magical ability was astonishing to her. The stories that he was the most powerful living mage were not an exaggeration. She believed it completely. His eyes were closed, he had placed all of his trust in her to keep him safe. From below, she heard the shouts of battle and the clash of weapons. She yearned to join them, but her task was of paramount importance. Cordana's eyes scanned the area for movement. It would not be long before a few of the Iron Horde would make it past the army and scout up to her and Khadgar. It would be the last thing they ever did.
Her vigilance was rewarded soon enough when a small skirmish group appeared. A lone Draenei soldier had engaged them, and he was quickly tiring. With a snarl, Cordana hacked into them and they fell before the astonished soldier, who had not even seen her attack but knew he had most certainly not caused all that death. Exhausted he fell to his knees to catch his breath before joining the others once more.
"Cordana!" called Khadgar. "Just a few minutes more and I will unleash my spell!"
She watched him draw power, massive amounts of power. It circled him from all directions and he seemed to catch it and weave it. Strands of all colors that pulsated and ebbed and flowed in a torrent around him. It was magnificent to see and she was awestruck. He had not displayed such skill since their time in the Tanaan Jungle when they had first arrived on Draenor.
Khadgar manifested a large glowing orb. It floated above his head for a moment, then with a cry he released it. It shot forward through the archway. A concussive blast hit Cordana and knocked her back. Khadgar floated back down to the ground.
"It is finished. Let me rest a moment," he said going down on one knee. Cordana unstealthed and draped the bladed cloak around him, standing at his side. She removed one of her gloves and stroked his hair soothingly.
Jaaral and Maraad came up the stairs, panting and out of breath.
"We have a few injured, Yrel is attending to them," said Jaaral. "But we lost no men!"
"Khadgar is regaining his energy," said Cordana. "He will be able to join us shortly."
Maraad came forward and knelt down in front of Khadgar. "Archmage, they have General Blackhand with them. He did not fight us, but I believe he escaped to the ship. He said something about not letting us near the cannon. That must be the prime weapon they will use to destroy the city. We don't have much time!"
Khadgar nodded, but did not stand up. "Take your men and go on ahead. Do what you can to take down the smaller ships of the fleet using the cannons on the harbor's edge. I am hoping they are fully functional. Cordana and I will join you as soon as we can."
As soon as they left, Cordana knelt down in front of Khadgar. "Archmage, that was an incredible show of power. Are you alright?"
He smiled at her. "I have impressed the great Cordana Felsong. I must remember to do such a thing more often!"
She grunted. "Not if it weakens you this much. I worry for you."
She removed her helmet and leaned in, kissing him tenderly.
Khadgar sighed with pleasure and lingered a moment with his lips upon hers, than got to his feet and stretched. "I would embrace you," he said with a wink. "But I am not too keen on being sliced and diced by that prickly outfit of yours!"
She laughed, a sound that was wonderful to him.
When they reached the edge of the harbor, the smaller ships were burning, and the large black flagship seemed to have run itself aground on the shoal nearby.
"What is going on with that ship? Did you fire at it?" asked Khadgar.
"No," answered Maraad. "Infighting. Blackhand and one of his men I suppose. I saw them fight, but he escaped, though I know not where. Can you send me over there, Archmage? I will see about the weapon!"
Khadgar nodded. Maraad and some of his men were teleported over.
"We must kill Blackhand," said Cordana. "I will gladly see to that task if you ask me to, Archmage."
Maraad returned. "Archmage, the prime weapon is not aboard that ship! There are a few corpses but nothing else! Perhaps we already destroyed it, or took it out of comission."
Khadgar narrowed his eyes and looked out over the water. "No. Something is wrong. Please wait here."
He transmogrified into his raven form and took to the sky.
"I do not like it when he goes off alone," said Cordana.
"You care for him a great deal," stated Maraad. "I see from the way he looks at you that the feeling is mutual. Perhaps when this war is over you will find a way to merge your two worlds."
Cordana smiled although the Draenei could not see it. "We already have."
Maraad smiled warmly.
Khadgar was not gone long. When he returned to his natural form, he looked troubled. "As I thought, there are another two ships further out. Neither is as large as this one, but neither are they as small as the others. The weapon must be on one of those two ships."
He looked around. "Yrel will stay behind with the army and tend to the injured. Maraad, Jaaral, Cordana and I will travel to one of the ships."
The ship they landed on was strangely silent. There was no crew, no captain, and all but one of the cannons was dismantled. Someone had already tried to take the ship down. The remaining cannon was fitted with iron stars, devastating exploding metal balls filled with liquid fire.
"This does not feel right, Archmage," said Cordana. "Be on your guard."
As soon the words had left her lips, Khadgar suddenly spun around. "Cordana!"
She immediately went into stealth and stepped in front of him. On the other side of the ship were two groups of three Grom'kar Vanguard, massive orcs dressed in metal battle suits. Behind them were Grom'kar Grenadiers, orcs wielding deadly ordinance. Behind those stood the largest of the orcs.
"Do not let this filth anywhere near the cannon!" he screamed.
The Vanguard attacked.
Khadgar quickly warded his group and drew power. Maraad and Jaaral charged with a fierce cry, and all he saw of Cordana was the flash of the umbral crescent as it soared through the air towards the largely unarmored Grenadiers. Little was known about the Wardens abilities, but Khadgar knew that Cordana possessed some form of magic. He had sensed it in her the first day they had met, and now he saw her manifest earthen blades that shot from her hands as she ran forward to reclaim her crescent. She then vanished and he watched the Grenadiers fall to the ground in their death throes, mortally wounded by their unseen attacker. She was focused and deadly and if Cordana had been impressed by his show of magic, than he was equally impressed with her show of force.
The Vanguard was a difficult foe. They had an anti-magic barrier upon them, and Khadgar was unable to do much damage with his usual contingent of spells, the best he could do was weaken their wards. Jaaral's sword and Maraad's axe could not penetrate the thick plate armor. But all armor had a weakness somewhere, and from her invisible vantage point, Cordana could watch carefully. There was an opening where the plates came together at the neck. The Vanguard had to move in a specific way for that opening to show itself but if one were to place an attack at just the right moment...
"Khadgar!" she said, appearing at his side. She told him what she had learned and suggested she draw their attention so that the Archmage could prepare a surgical strike.
It worked. It took a few attempts, but the behemoths fell. It did not take long for the rest of them to come down also with a well placed slice and stab from the Draenei warriors.
With a cry of rage, the largest of the orcs, presumably the commander ran forward. "I shall finish you myself!"
He was not an easy foe to defeat. Despite his scant armor, he was fast, and used tricks such as smoke bombs and caltrops. With her celerity, Cordana was able to cut free his belt which housed several of the devices he was using. Without them he had only his speed to assist him. He was fast, but she was faster. Enraging him and keeping his focus on her, Khadgar and the others were able to slow him down. But the beast would not go down without a fight. Running away from them and disappearing into the hold, he unleashed a volley of small cluster bombs. The bombs dazed the warriors and knocked all of them down, except Khadgar who had levitated to avoid the caltrops. Smoke filled the deck and made it hard to see. Cordana wanted to pursue the Orc, but would not leave Khadgar vulnerable. They had precious little time to react when they saw a bomb hit the deck near them, but knew that the Orc would run out of them sooner or later. They moved together as a unit towards the hold. Cornered and unable to escape, the Orc succumbed to a volley of magical arcane missiles.
Battle weary, they rested for a few minutes. The searched the ship for the cannon the Orc had mentioned but strangely found nothing.
"Blackhand must be on the other ship with the weapon," said Cordana. "Let me take him out, Khadgar."
"Do we even know what this prime weapon is supposed to look like...or what it even is?" questioned Jaaral.
"Good question," said Maraad. "The Orc we just killed said to not let us near the cannon. The only cannon I see is that one over there with the iron stars. Could that be it?"
"I do not know," responded Khadgar. "But before we can destroy any weapon, we must rid ourselves of Blackhand. It will bring down the Iron Horde morale to lose one of their generals."
He turned to Cordana. "I cannot send you by yourself, Cordana. Will you allow me to go with you?"
She shook her head. "What do you think, Archmage? No, you are not going over there with me."
He laughed softly. "My brave guardian. These two can go with you then. I will wait here."
"No," said Maraad firmly. "I will go with the Warden. Jaaral, you remain here with the Archmage."
There was something in his voice that told them there would be no negotiation.
"Very well," said Khadgar. He had confidence in Cordana's skill and her ability to claim victory in battle, but still...there was always uncertainty when it came to war.
He turned to her and lifted her helm free. Jaaral and Maraad wandered off a short distance to speak and give them some privacy.
"Beautiful Cordana," he said, stroking her face. "You are the light of my life. All I ask is that you come back to me." He conjured something out of the air and pressed it into her hand. "If Blackhand proves to be too much, do not wax heroic. This will teleport you back, just throw it down and a portal will appear. It will vanish once you are through so do not fear of anything following you. Make me this promise."
She smiled. No one had ever cared for her this way. "I promise, Khadgar. But I will not need it. We will be victorious."
He leaned close and kissed her, mindful of her bladed cloak. She stroked his hair and looked into his wonderful eyes, than replaced her helmet.
"I am ready, send us over," she said.