The Death Knight, Part 3

Returning to Area 52 felt like it took longer than it did. Maybe because when leaving, I had prepared myself for the fight and it kept me from noticing. Now, though, I had nothing but random thoughts to entertain me. They didn't help.

When I first began to approach the town, I saw the two groups standing at its edge. They weren't looking at me, though. Instead, they looked behind me, towards the manaforge. I hadn't looked back once since I left. Doing so now, I noticed it had exploded and was now burning to the ground. As I came up to the draenei and blood elves, I gave them a bit of a smirk.

"Job's done," was my only sentence. They didn't really even look at me, let alone reply; they were too focused on the billowing smoke. Finally, Karja turned to me, seeking some form of an answer.

A shrug of my shoulders was what I gave, "I don't know. I didn't tell the ghouls to make it explode, just to render it unusable then kill themselves. Seems they did both at once."

"Besides, I figured that the energy it drew it was sent somewhere, so I had all the outports dismantled after I disable its systems. That explosion won't follow through the lines."

When finally they were able to stop looking in awe and, to an extent, horror, we headed back to the inn. However, rather than give me another mission, they decided I should rest. The next target would be a two day trip, after all, and it seemed that while I was gone Thalodien had convinced Karja that they should both keep an eye on me, as both were sending one of their soldiers with me when we set out. It took them a while to realize that the first major blow had been struck on the blood elves in Netherstorm, and that it was a time to celebrate. Within moments of this realization, as Orelis sent a messenger off to Shattrath to let them know of the news, the town had exploded in a drunken stupor. All save for Thalodien and Karja let themselves enjoy the good times. I'm sure Thalodien would have too if he hadn't still been giving me horrified looks. Karja, on the other hand, was a devout priestess. Such was not her thing to do. Then again, it made no sense for Orelis to be enjoy the party, but I didn't care. Perhaps even Karja had her wild side, if the situation allowed for it.

The party lasted until nightfall, when the goblins of the town chose to pack it in. I was given a bed in the inn, which was quite comfortable once I had removed my armour. Although the Scryers and Aldor used the inn to discuss stratagem, it seemed they didn't sleep there. I ended up sleeping alone, my ghoul waiting outside the town to hide within the ground.

And then, for the first night since I had awakened in Acherus, I actually slept. In my sleep, I could see myself standing upon a cliff, overlooking the land of Icecrown, home of my former master. I could see, far below me, a great army of undead, maws lashing and bones crackling, moving towards something; a small camp. As I focused upon it, I watched as a group emerged from their tents. They bore sword and shield, staff and daggers, and many more types of weapons. I took count of them: thirteen of them in total, all ready for the onslaught that was to occur. It was then that I took notice to an oddity: Most were of races belonging to the Alliance, yet four of them… four were from the Horde, and one was even a death knight like myself!

As the undead army drew closer, I finally recognized who was below. One of the smallest figures, a sword in one hand and a shield in the other, stood in front of his allies, making a valiant warcry. As his allies joined him in the call, I noticed the grey, bushy hair atop his head and a look of hope within his eyes. It was Akeboshi!

I found myself stumbling, trying to run down the cliff, to yell at them to run away while they could but I could not leave the cliff. A wall, unseen to my eyes, blocked my way. My fist pounded heavily against this invisible shell, my voice yelling in vain. Yet all I could do was watch as Akeboshi and his allies, the members of the Solace of Kalimdor as I now realized, charged into the undead. For some reason, I couldn't watch. I turned away, slumping to the frozen ground as I tried to cover my eyes, to not let myself be tempted to look.

Huddled within myself upon that cold, rocky floor, I could feel another presence standing nearby, watching me. It seemed to draw amusement from my pain; I could feel it in the air. As my eyes finally lifted, they fell onto the gaze of… nothing?

"Such is the fate of all living things on this miserable world," a voice spoke out, chilling me to the bone for I recognized it. Yet, for some reason, I could not place it, "Lest you can change it. Seek out the Far Seer Chieftain, for he will be able to guide you to avoiding this."

My eyes flew open and my body jerked up, hand propping behind me as my breathing was heavy. Sweat dripped from my head, the entirety of my body suddenly feeling both warm and cold at once. I gave a look around, though nobody was within the inn with me. It was a dream… at least, that's what I told myself at the time. I laid back down, though I wouldn't sleep. Luckily, most of the night had gone by, and within a few short hours I was already making my trek to the next target; the manaforge Coruu. A Scryer and an Aldor walked along either side of me, while my elven ghoul followed behind me, his body having decayed rapidly to the state I was most comfortable with. Another day and none would know whom he once was, a state he would remain in until I ended his life or my own was ended.

The trip to the manaforge was much longer than the first. It took me four days to run there, upon the back of Terror, while the other two kept pace with their own mounts. I would've preferred to take longer, to build up to the event, but these two wouldn't have it. They didn't want to be near me, it seemed, and wanted to returnm as soon as they coukd. When at last I arrived to Coruu, I knew I'd not be able to use the same brute tactic as before. No, this one would take some more subtlety; at least initially.

I sent Terror back to his little dimension while my companions, Elaria of the Scryers and Kavan of the Aldor, tethered their rides nearby. We were about two archer's arrows away, more than enough to remain hidden with little protection. Corpsemuncher nearby to ensure nothing snuck up on me as I laid down upon the ground to observe; the manaforge was under attack, it seemed. Mana wyrms, drawn to the manaforge, were attacking the nearby elves. For the most part, the elves had them under control. I wondered, though, how long they could hold out. It turned out to not matter, for they rotated their defenders often. A day passed, and I had only seen the first group fighting about three times. They had a pretty good rotation down, it seemed. They must've been doing this a while.

As I watched, a plan formed within my head; if I were to infect the soldiers, drain them of their stamina, this so-called "rotation" would fall, and the wyrms would do a lot of the work for me. I could then move in, raise the dead, and exterminate the wyrms and the remaining elves together. However, this first required an infection to spread. Luckily, I had noticed they had a patrol come down the road a fair ways on an hourly basis.

"Are we going to do anything?" Elaria blurted out as she and Kavan sat nearby, hidden behind rocks, "Or do you intend to waste our time?"

"This strike cannot be rushed, rogue. This place has its defenses better designed. We could be here for weeks before we bring about its end."

The female elf let out a sigh as she turned her attention back to Kavan. Although of opposite factions, their combined dislike of me was enough to make them friends of a soft. I shrugged my shoulders, turning back to my watch.

My eyes looked to see nothing coming, and no attention being put onto the road. I lept from my hiding spot, hurrying to the road, to a point I knew the patrol would walk over. I knew the two were watching me as I worked. As quick as I could, my hands dug holes into the ground, large enough that it would be impossible to avoid them all yet remain walking on the road. Within each hole, I left a gas of plagued disease, covering it with a small mine given to me by a goblin in Area 52 – he wanted to see the blood elves dead so they could work on their project in peace. It was not enough to kill, but it would to blow the dirt up and cause some minor injury, before covering the holes over. All they had to do was step on the mine, which would explode everything and cause the cloud to rush out, to which the fools would instantly breathe. From there, spreading my plague would be easy.

With nothing to do but to wait, I turned and moved back to my hiding spot. They gave me a look to ask what I did, which was replied for them to wait. As I moved back into position to watch, I noticed my luck had already turned; the patrol was already coming down. I watched with a cruel grin as they marched right over my trap; the mines exploded, throwing the group back a bit. The ground was torn up, and the gas spread quickly into the air, disappearing before any had realized they were breathing it in. At least one of the patrol guards had an injured leg, and together they all took him back.

When finally they were away, Kavan spoke, "What did you just do?"

"Plagued mines. The mines themselves won't hurt them too much, but the infectious plague will obliterate them."

Now, more waiting came. The disease would take several days before it showed any noticeable signs. It was also highly contagious, so within half that time it would've infected several hundred of the elves. By the first signs, I wagered at least half of them be infected, including those not even helping defend; workers and magisters.

The days went by slowly. I traveled through the rocky terrain, placing traps in other spots, yet the elves didn't pay enough attention to it. They thought it to be work from the Scryers, which would not deter them. My two companions would not join me on these excursions, as they wished to keep a distance from me. However, by the time I noticed the elves showing weakness from my plague, at least 20 infected of my own efforts, I think they began to warm up to me. They were a little less distant, taking a greater interest in my plan.

It all happened quickly; elves falling sick, barely able to raise their own arms, let alone fight. The rotations started breaking, many having to fight longer and longer. Within a few more days, fatigue was simply too much, and more were growing sick with something they could not cure. I watched with a grin as, one day, the wyrms became too much, striking down against a sole elf to drain whatever life he had. It all went downhill for them as more and more wyrms came, yet there was not enough firepower to repel. Soon, even the magisters and the workers were fighting them back, though not faring well.

Now was the time to finish it. I rose from my spot, stretching a bit as I took the runeblade from my back. A quick word to my comrades told them to wait until the fighting end while I saw to my work. Still grinning, I began my march, the elf ghoul, now unrecognizable, following. The elves were too busy with their fighting to notice as I simply walked in and began cutting them down. Each corpse I passed rose back up and began fighting, yet between the spreading plague and the wyrms, they had no way to defend themselves.

An hour later, the manaforge was mine, as was the nearby elf encampment known as Sunfury Hold, and the ghouls were now seeing to keeping the wyrms away as I did my work. I quickly shut the forge down, almost instantly the wyrms withdrawing; there was no gain anymore for them. The ghouls instantly set about dismantling the pipe works, so that anything that happened to the forge wouldn't affect anywhere else in the storm, as my comrades joined me with shock and glee.

"This is amazing! You managed to take out the entire forge AND Sunfury Hold?!" Kavan watched me with interest, while Elaria was busy scouting around for any possible survivors. She wouldn't find any, of course, but such is the nature of a rogue.

"You'd be surprised how easy it is when each person you cut down builds to your own army. Of course, this army won't be left alive. I'll have this place destroyed, too, once they're done dismantling it."

I headed outside, my companions behind me. Patiently I watched, smirking to myself as the ghouls toiled away. It was then that my eye caught notice: a sole elf had managed to escape everything as it ran across the bridge to the next island. I rose up to my feet, thinking to chase after it when my eyes caught notice to something bigger. Far in the distance, where the elf was heading, was the peak of another manaforge. I was told about it, about Duro, prior to leaving Area 52. Several months ago, it had been shut down by a group of adventurers, much like the Solace, and it had remained inactive since then. It was suppose to be impossible to start, but even from here I could see the machinations running. I knew I was going to be sent there next anyway, as Karja made a point of noting it was the location of most of the blood elf forces in the area. Whether the forge was a danger or not would not matter, but I was to leave it for now.

Yet I knew, as I watched that elf run, that if I did not mount my assault on the manaforge immediately, then by the time I returned they would be ready for me. If I went now, they would not be prepared in full and I could deal with it easily.

A swift command went out to my ghouls, and immediately they began their gnawing and thrashing as they charged for the bridge. Fingers came to my lips as I let out a sharp whistle, a dark portal opening beside me. My deathcharger, Terror, came walking proudly from the portal, standing before me with an expectant look. I climbed onto its back, rearing myself as I took a look at my marching armies. They ran tirelessly, never slowing, not knowing anything of pain. Would they catch the runner, I cannot say. I wasn't about to risk it, though.

"Stay here and keep yourselves safe!" I barked to the other two. They looked at me with surprise, but when they noticed the elf running off, they understood.

"Fly!" Terror reared up, the sound of its neighing echoing through the air. As its feet came crashing down, the undead horse charged forward, my hands gripping to the reins and my body lowering itself closer. The ghouls all moved out of my way as the horse pummeled past them all. I didn't bother to speak, nor did I really even have to look. Terror knew what it was to chase. Within several minutes, I was running along the bridge I had watched the runner take. It would be 30 minutes, I thought, before I caught the fool.

I was wrong. It was less than half.

I could hear his frantic breathing and shouts as he scrambled along. He looked back when the thundering sound of hooves closing in, his face staring at me in terror. He attempted to quicken his pace, but to no avail as the horse came up beside him. A grin on my face and my sword in one hand, I leapt clear off the horse, tackling my way into the elf as he came crashing to the ground. We rolled about a moment, and one might've thought he was giving me trouble if not for the fact that I knew he had wasted his stamina. With ease I was pinning him to the ground with my body, my sword pushing hard at his throat. The slightest increase in strength would cut him deeply.

"Mercy, my lady! Mercy!" His eyes were wide with fear, his pale skin having gone nearly white. I could feel his body quivering below me, it only widening my grin.

"Tell me why I should show you mercy, why I should spare you? What do you offer in exchange, hmm?"

"I-information! A great d-deal of information! More than the Scryers and Aldor c-c-could ever d-dream possible!"

My eyes watched him closely, any sign of glee slipping from my lips. This was certainly no situation to lie. What possible information could a mere runner offer?

"Who are you to make such a claim?"

"C-commander Swiftforce!"

"A commander? And rather than die with your men, you ran like a coward?"

"N-n-no! I was t-the only person not in-f-fected!"

I gave him a sadistic grin, knowing he had figured it out. No doubt he kept his distance from everyone once there were noticeable signs, and when my attack began he fled, hoping to reach the next manaforge in time.

"Very well then, I'll let you live for now. However, you will get to bear witness to what your fate almost was before I give you to the Scryers to do as they see fit."

"Oh t-thank you, my lady! Thank y-you!"

As I slowly lifted up off him, I could see in his eyes what he hoped to do. A frown on my face was enough to worry him.

"Now now, that's not a good idea. After all, I am already dead. I won't feel a thing, and in the end I'll end up just killing you anyway for it."

The dagger he had pulled from his boot, silent as he had tried to be with it, dropped to the ground. I grinned as I stood up right, pulling him up with me. A quick glance found my horse trotting over to me, while my horde of ghouls were only now crossing the bridge.

"Normally I enjoy fighting myself, but I think instead I'll stay in the rear with you."

An hour later and the whole of my army was with me. It was now just a small trip to the nearby forge to unleash them. As I let my new prisoner, his hands now bound tightly behind him, take in the numbers, realizing that nearly every single elf he had known was a part of it, I set them off ahead.

We followed behind them, where fear overtook the elf. He was shaking all over, his eyes wide as he looked at the army that moved in front of him. However, it was not the army itself that frightened him, but the fact that I alone commanded them all. He could only imagine the rampage they would cause if he had had succeeded in killing me, as impossible as it is. They would be uncontrolled, destroying all that remained of Netherstorm and him with it.

A few hours later, we came to a halt. The ghouls had been ordered to hide underground, while Swiftforce and I stood far out of sight of the patrols and guards. I shot him a look, grinning wickedly to him.

"At nightfall, this manaforge will fall. When it is done, shut down, and dismantled, it will be destroyed. We will then finish dismantling and destroying the one I had to leave behind because of you."

"I… I don't understand. How can you do this? Why are you doing this?"

He looked at me, frightened as ever, but I could see something within him. Indeed, the idea of a death knight helping anyone but the Scourge seemed ludicrous. He could tell there was something more, perhaps something that could save him. I let my smile slip away, my eyes turning to look to the manaforge.

"Redemption, Swiftforce. I do this to earn redemption."

"But… b-by killing my people?!"

I looked at him, a much kinder smile, one I didn't know I was capable of anymore, taking my face. Of course, I wouldn't realize I had done it until he told me later on.

"Close. Not your people, per say, as it is those who do not value life properly. You elves work for the Legion, do you not? The Legion, much like the Scourge, seeks to eradicate life. This makes you as much of an enemy to me as it does Arthas."

For a moment, the fear left him. I could see it. His body stopped shaking, his eyes were no longer wide. Instead, he just looked curiously at me.

"You can find out all about the death knights that broke free of Arthas later on. When you do, perhaps as one who was, in a way, forced into this, you will understand."

Another statement to bring curiosity to him. I was well informed of the discretion of the blood elves, those who stayed loyal to Kael'thas. Had it not been for that stupid loyalty, I would not be here in Netherstorm, and I believe he was realizing what it cost him.

Eventually, nightfall came. The manaforge was quiet when my army of ghouls rose up and began their march. I kept Corpsemuncher with me, just as an extra safety precaution and because I didn't want to lose what was becoming my favorite ghoul. The ghouls went as silently as they could, but when I knew they could not keep up the charade, simply due to their own stupidity to moan, I sent them charging. We three remained back, and I could see as Swiftforce watched, he could both not stand and yet was glad to see his brethren die. Perhaps there was an ounce of hope for him.

A few hours later, we walked into the forge itself, everything now fallen. The dead elves, all of them, now walked as new ghouls for my army. This would make everything easier. I set them all to work to begin dismantling the place as I saw to deactivating the forge. It was not a difficult task anymore, not like the first time. I had a better understanding of what I was doing.

When finally I was done, I immediately set out, keeping Swiftforce on Terror's back as a means of preventing him from running. Not that he could, anyway. I mean, where would he go? There was nobody near that could help him, and he wouldn't outrun me anyway.

Following me came the ghouls from manaforge Coruu, while those from Duro remained behind to ensure a proper end to the forge. I told Swiftforce what would happen, and he showed concern over what would happen if the explosion reached Tempest Keep. That is, until he remembered I dismantled EVERYTHING. There was no longer a connection between the forges and Tempest Keep, no energy going to it, and certainly nothing for an explosion to follow. There was no danger of it.

It was dawn when we emerged back at Coruu, the ghouls setting to finish the job they had started. Elaria and Kavan were there to greet us, a bit concerned over how long I took and a bit surprised to see I brought a live prisoner with me. They seemed to be ignoring the destruction of Duro, though they had seen it no doubt; Swiftforce look back towards it, the smoke from it still within the air. It appeared I was right in striking at the manaforge. While I might have been able to deal with Coruu all together, the smoke left by its destruction, regardless of the commander elf's possible warning, would have set them off. By the time I returned to Area 52, they would be investigating the ruins; they would've found the remains of their breathren, noticing the plague infecting their bodies. Perhaps this would've been enough to let a keener mind know who attacked. Perhaps this would've been enough to make an attack on Duro impossible.

Whatever might have happened, it wouldn't now. I continued my march past Coruu, knowing very well the ghouls would manage without me, as Elaria and Kavan joined me. I would be the only one to walk, but I didn't mind. By dusk, I stood at the bridge crossing over, Coruu now smoking rubble behind me. I knew the elf was watching closely, carefully. Was he planning to get free? To warn any elves that remained? Or perhaps he was noting how doomed they all were, and that his fleeing saved his life?

The trip took another week to return as I took my time with the walk. It was rather enjoyable. When I had first arrived, the air of the Netherstorm was twisted and somewhat vile. With the end of three of the forges, however, some sense of normality was returning. The sky, which was always a dark purple, bubbling with chaotic energies as lightning arced the air, was beginning to lighten. Perhaps this place could be saved? My prisoner and comrades noticed, too, as he watched the sky.

"Was the sky always that colour when you got here?" I asked the captured elf almost sympathetically. I had already guessed he was sent here only after the destruction of this place, perhaps while Kael'thas was taking orders from both Illidan and Kil'Jaeden, something the elf had told me about as we made our trek.

"Yes… it was… I had thought this land was always this way."

"Not really. This place was much like Nagrand before Kael'thas built the manaforges. The energy they drained from… everything around them ruined this land," Kavan offered the reply, his eyes keeping to the horizon.

Swiftforce kept silent for the remainder of our trip. I have a feeling he didn't sleep at all as he was forced to ride along Terror's back, for once we finally did reach our destination and I turned him over to the Aldor, he collapsed almost instantly from exhaustion.

It had been three weeks since I had left, and a lot seemed to have change in the area. The sky above was much clearer here, the goblins had managed to get a lot more work done as well. Their strange ship was nearing completion.

When I related the news of the destruction of Duro, Karja was more than upset as I thought she would be. She quickly shut herself up, though, when both Elaria and Kavan spoke up for me to agree with my plan; the two were close, destroying either one would alert the other. It was better to take them out together, bringing their destruction at the same time.

"Only one manaforge remains," Thalodien told me several days later – they decided to give me a break since I was gone for three weeks - as we all sat at the table in the inn to discuss strategy, "And while it is not as well defended as Duro, it will certainly be more difficult. You don't have your… undead horde to help you, nor will you be able to build as large of one there. Most of its defensives are of demons of the Legion."

It seemed he was aware of some of my limitations. I could raise any beast or humanoid up as a corpse, but demons were something different. When we killed them, their bodies would be banished to the Twisting Nether, unable to be used.

"We've sent word to Shattrath on your success here shortly after you arrived and requested they send us additional help for the last forge. For the most part, though, your job is done."

"Would me and my men do?" a familiar voice spoke from the inn door. We all turned to look at Toshley standing there, a grin on his face, "I brought half of the Roughriders with me, about two dozen. I would've brought more, but we aren't putting all of our trust into the auto-defenses at the station."

I probably would've exclaimed his name in surprise and happiness if I had known him more. Instead, I kept silent, giving a nod of approval instead.

"Why are you here, though?"

"My brother came through the station about a week ago, with the other two... Furis and Windstrom. Said he was heading to Ogri'la to help the others there," I saw a big grin on Toshley's face, "Asked me to get an open eye and ear out towards this direction, and if you needed help to send some."

"The message we sent to Shattrath went through your station," I wasn't sure who said it, nor did I care. It was true, nonetheless. Since the Scyers and the Aldor didn't have any form of allegiance to the Horde or the Alliance, they used the flight routes of both. Toshley's station was the closest route, so no doubt it went through there.

"Yep. Came at a good time, too, as we had just finished testing the auto defenses. I mobilized the forces I brought with me immediately. You ever see a small army of mechanostriders come charging through everything in their way?"

We all went outside to the northern outskirts of the town. Sure enough, at least twenty-five mechanostriders all stood there, gnome riders sitting proudly on their backs. Each carried armaments for combat, and a quick look over told me they had seen their fair share of fighting.

"And in the spirit of my brother, we sent a message to the nearby Thunderlord Stronghold," Toshley spoke up from behind, yet another grin on his face, "We got a reply just before we set out. They'll be sending two dozen or so troops themselves. They should be here in a few days."

"If they sent the same number as you, that'll put us over eighty… certainly a lot better," Thalodien was stroking his chin now, a smile on his face. I could tell he was certainly liking this improvement in numbers, "But we still might be a bit undermanned for it if we don't get help from Shattrath."

There was a small scramble when the gnomes came marching in, partially from the hatred goblins had of them and partially from trying to figure out where to get the extra room. It turned out to not be a problem, however, when the gnomes managed to set their own tents up in a rather open and left-alone corner of the town.

Two days later, the Horde's own forces arrived. A band of some 15 orcs and 10 trolls, their leader being a troll himself. He was a priest of some renown within the Horde and the Alliance as a great fighter, or so I would be told later; he had often shown himself in what were known as the "battlegrounds", places where the Horde and Alliance staged the majority of their fighting. As he barked orders to his troops, though, I could see why. He was certainly the type to lead, much like Akeboshi, and I could see the same eyes in him that I saw in the gnome when he looked at me; while his soldiers were disdainful about a death knight, he looked more open.

Had I been alive, I think my heart might've jumped a bit when he leapt off the back of his raptor and walked up to me with a smile.

"You mus' be da deat' knight we done hear be tearin' up dem blood elves," he spoke as he held his hand out to me. The troll had a kindness similar to that of Akeboshi within him. It was a bit surprising. I ended up reacting the same as I did for the gnome, being hesitant to shake hands but eventually doing so.

"Glad ta hear somebody finally decided ta take dem fools out. Hitohira, mah name."

"Milleuda."

He gave me a grin before turning to return to his men to yell at them some more. It took me a few moments to realize he actually spoke common. When I turned to Toshley for some answers, he too had a grin.

"Contrary to popular belief, quite a few members of the Horde know common. Thrall knew it, after all, and he used it often. He had wished for others to learn it, which some did, but the most chose to remain speaking orcish."

I had thought this was all the good news these people could get, yet an hour later when a mage teleported into the town, sent from Shattrath, we found it was could get a lot better. In light of the alliance created between Shattrath and the ethereals of the Consortium some months back, the Consortium was willing to provide some of their own to help fight. The Protectorate, the Consortium's form of an army, had not had much to do as of late with the disposal of Nexus-King Salhadaar and Dimensius the All-Devouring. Dimensius' forces had already been all but wiped out, the waste around Manaforge Ultris cleared away, while Salhadaar's remaining forces were dieing out. They could easily afford to send some assistance; some fifty troops, commanded by Captain Saeed, the ethereal who led the final assault against Dimenius, would be coming to our aid. They would be setting up a point between the final manaforge, Ara, and the Consortium's base at Stormspire, where we would meet with them.

For a moment, I figured Thalodien would swoon over this. We were now over a hundred and thirty, which was a fair amount to storm Ara with.

The next morning, we all readied set out. There were some initial hostilities between the gnomes and the orcs and trolls, but it was quickly ended by Hitohira and Toshley. I wasn't sure why, but I felt like they might have known one another.

Just as we were to take off, though, a call came from one of the guards for the prisoner. Swiftforce wanted to speak with Karja, Thalodien, and myself. When we went to see him, he was standing there as proudly as he could, determination in his face.

"Let me join you," his request was immediate and quick. There was no need to try and understand what he meant beyond that, for it was more than obvious. He wished to join our attack against Ara.

"Why?" Thalodien was quick to ask. I had only a few days experience with this Scryer, but already I could tell the type of person he was. He was already suspecting that Swiftforce would be trying to warn Ara and rejoin his breathren.

"When my life was spared by the Lady Milleuda, I was forced to watch the destruction of my people. I came to realize the hopeless situation we were in, with the loss of our prince," he probably would've been knocked to the ground for the way he stood, but he was left alone as he talked, "The blood elves of Netherstorm are not able to defend themselves, not even with the assistance of the Legion. Whether I help you or not, Manaforge Ara will fall."

"You're right. It will fall. So then why should we help you?"

His eyes fell onto me, and for the first time I noticed them; they were a deep scarlet, able to pierce through the minds of many with his gaze. No doubt this was why he was a commander; he would have the uncanny ability to force people to his will by making it seem as if he was invading their mind.

"I seek redemption for my actions," he said, finally turning back to Tahlodien, "Whether or not I am going to be executed, I would like to first be able to redeem myself for what I have done. In addition, I can provide tactical information regarding the manaforge. I was stationed there for about a month. I know many of its weaknesses."

The two group leaders looked to one another. Indeed, they were both wondering what to do. There was a possibility he led us to a trap. Ever wary, these two were.

"You two can go ahead and debate if you want to use his information…" I was quick to interrupting their thinking, "But I say let him fight. I will take him with me, to ensure no form of a double-cross. Afterall, he can't kill me. To keep an eye on him should be a simple task."

Another look between the leaders and they were agreed. Swiftforce would join us. He would remain shackled and unarmed until it was time to fight, where he would then follow me into the fight.

After that, the group quickly set out. Toshley and the gnomes led the march, followed by the Horde. The Scryers and Aldor took to their nether rays and flew out, ever watching for scouts, while I was in the rear of it all with Swiftforce on a hawkstrider, given by Thalodien, and Hitohira on his raptor.

It was time to put an end to Kael'thas' blood elves.