Warcraft Fan Fiction ❯ Bloodstained Shadows - Chronicles of a Lost Soul ❯ Scarlet Dawn - Chapter 11 ( Chapter 11 )

Chapter 11:

 

 

The last two weeks didn't pass too fast, even though the main part of my days consisted of reading and sleeping.

The day after the field trip late at night was the worst of them all. I slept until the afternoon of that day. But Whitemane insisted on an answer from me. I don't know whether this was the right thing to do, but I told her that I would rather study alone until the High Inquisitor returns. In return she said I would be missing out on things because 'the old man', as she calls him, would not even teach me half of the things she had to offer.

I kept to my point and wanted to study alone. She did try to persuade me, of course, but she couldn't convince me with her methods. I still wonder what that look on her face meant, she looked disappointed and angry. I just don't know, she usually does not show any emotions that could give away her true feelings.

The next day I went to the library returning all the books about the dragon flights, in return I took as many books about the Holy Light and the holy arts with me as I was allowed.

On all those walks I took through the grounds of the monastery, I've never met Isillien again. He used to wander around a lot. I thought maybe Whitemane sent him back to Hearthglen.

I started reading those book the same day. I also put aside the book the High Inquisitor gave me before he left.

I wonder when they will return? They said something about two to three weeks. If they are still in schedule, they should arrive in Brill today or at least tomorrow. I hope there weren't any complications.

Northdale should be cleaned from the undead since midst of last week. Once I settle when I grow old, I want to live in Northdale again...

Now at this present moment, again I sit on my bed reading, yet my thoughts are driven off from time to time. I learned some new things about healing spells and the holy arts, also called divine magic in some regions. But if I am honest to myself..., I already heard almost everything that's in these books from Whitemane in just that one single lesson.

I don't know what I should do. I just don't know...

She was right, I need a teacher..., a guide. But I am still too afraid of her, her methods and what may become of me. I have an obligation to fulfil. On the other hand, do I?

Damn her! The only thing she achieved until now is that I question myself and my beliefs.

But..., somehow...

It felt good being able to cope with the threat. I killed the undead and it was me alone!

I was able to do something alone for the first time in my life!

Yet I am sure the High Inquisitor would not approve of the methods. And since the first time Whitemane told me that I would not be able to control the holy arts the way I was now, I've started to have more doubt in myself than even before.

I need to focus!

But I can't, I don't what to do! I'm more restless than ever.

Is that what she wanted? Making me realize that I'm not able to do the things I want to do?

I mean... I..., I felt a part of the power as I ended the existence of that undead, but I..., I`d rather be an honest cleric.

I feel helpless.

But..., no, no I won't ask Whitemane for help. I will not do the things she wants me to do!

The bell of the cathedral interrupts my thoughts.

Why do they strike the bell now? It is in the middle of the afternoon?!

Something important must have occurred. Maybe the Ashbringer has returned? That would be great, Northdale and all the other towns and cities free from the undead. I stand up and rush to the door of my room. Outside I see how several people are on their way to the cathedral.

I close the door behind me and join the masses on their way. It is a clouded and windy day.

The sound of the bell is menacing.

I enter the cathedral with all the other, I try to get a seat as near to the altar as possible. It looks as if almost all the guards are here too. There are far more people here than usually attend the morning prayers.

What is going on?

There are whispers from everywhere, I wonder what they are all talking about. I guess only rumours but, well... everybody is curious.

The door behind the altar slowly opens.

Is it Whitemane that comes out to tell us that the undead in the kingdom of Lordaeron have been annihilated? Is it the Ashbringer himself claiming his victory over the Scourge?

I'm so excited.

I see somebody. Blonde hair with an orange toning, but... this is not the Ashbringer Alexandros Mograine. Is this... one of his sons? I've never seen them until now.

He walks up to the altar, looking to the ground.

He starts speaking without raising his head. His voice is shaking.

 

Members of the Scarlet Crusade.

Something terrible has happened as we were on our venture to bring relief to the kingdom of Lordaeron.

The Ashbringer has fallen.

We - my father the Ashbringer, High Inquisitor Fairbanks and myself - were separated from our party in the ruins of Stratholme.

We wanted to retreat, yet outside of the fallen city an army of undead was awaiting us.

My father fought bravely.

But there were just far too many to stand against.

High Inquisitor Fairbanks was the first to fall, ambushed by undead from behind. I was not able to save him.

My father slew many ghouls and other foul creatures on that day. But they were too numerous and he was overwhelmed.

I saw how my father fell to the undead hordes and heard his voice how he told me to escape.

It is a wonder I made it here alive.

I was pursued by them for a long time. I never stopped for three days, daytime or night. After that I took shelter for a few hours in an abandoned farm house in the fields north of Andorhal.

My fellow members of the Scarlet Crusade.

Here I stand in front of you full of grief due to the loss. The loss of my father. The loss of a great warrior of the Scarlet Crusade.

I beg you all to share the grief with me and my little brother Darion, for a legend has died only few days ago.

 

He talks slowly and rather quietly. He makes several pauses during his speech.

I can't believe it... the Ashbringer has fallen. But he was so strong? No undead could come near the blade without being burned to ashes.

The High Inquisitor dead too, what should I do now? Be taught by Whitemane?

Again the thoughts in my head turn to complete chaos. My dreams of a undead-free Northdale shattered. I just sit there staring at the altar and Mograines son standing next to it.

Void is filling up my head.

Nobody noticed how the door had opened slightly.

“Share grief? With YOU?”, a cloaked figure has entered, “MURDERER!” He has the voice of an old man, but it sounds familiar to me. The young Mograine standing in front looks shocked.

“I saw everything Renault. The undead didn't attack you, boy...”, the man slowly walks towards the altar. “You were the one who plunged the blade of the Ashbringer through your fathers chest.”

Whispers arise everywhere.

“Why Renault? Why did you do that?”, the man asks, his voice shaking.

Renault takes a step back as the man approaches slowly. “It..., it cannot be. I saw how you fell to the undead, Fairbanks!”

Fairbanks removes the hood of his cloak. His skin is pale, the blood veins are clearly visible in his face.

His eyes somehow darker than before.

“Heresy!”, Renault Mograine cries out, “Guards! This is not the High Inquisitor Fairbanks! This is a mere puppet of the Scourge! He tries to spread the plague amongst us! Remove it immediately!”

Armed warriors rush towards Fairbanks from both sides the moment the young Mograine finishes the sentence.

The guards grab the man that seems to be Fairbanks by his arms and drag him out of the cathedral.

“Renault, you TRAITOR!”, he yells as he is forcefully removed. “Pray that your brother never finds out!”

The young Mograine still stands next to the altar, the expression on his face showing how shocked he is.

Most people are looking back at him after the front door is closed again.

As Renault notices, he stands up straight again, looking around a bit hectically.

“My..., my fellow members of the Crusade. That..., that there was not F...Fairbanks, just..., just a mere puppet of the Scourge!” he stutters but slowly gets his mind together.

“Do not be tricked by the appearance! The Holy Light will guide us!”

He ends his sentence abruptly and turns around walking away fast paced.

What did just happen? I can't believe what I just saw..., or furthermore, I don't understand what I did see.

People here talk rather seldom, but this time, everybody is whispering. I don't understand what they are saying, I don't want to understand it.

I choose to go back to my room trying to think about what this was all about, trying hard to understand.

I'm the middle of the crowd as it moves out of the cathedral. It feels as if I'm shoved onwards by a steady flowing stream.

I try to get out of this mass of people in the hallway where my room is. I try to stop, but I get literally dragged on by the stream. In moments like this I wonder how many people are here in this monastery.

I manage to get out of the crowd and hurry into my room, closing the door behind me fast.

I sit down on my bed and fall to my thoughts.

Was that really the High Inquisitor or just an undead puppet controlled by the Scourge to lure us into a trap spreading its disease. Or did he, or it, maybe speak the truth? I guess many people are thinking the same things as I do just now.

Father, mother ... what would you do?