Warcraft Fan Fiction ❯ Bloodstained Shadows - Chronicles of a Lost Soul ❯ The Kiss of Nightfall - Chapter 8 ( Chapter 38 )

Chapter 8:

 

 

"Interesting, indeed.", the elf says quietly. "Although the things you can tell me are almost worthless.”

He takes a sip from his beloved golden goblet. I wonder how often that thing is refilled every day.

“Well then, I already sent Bloodbane and the other two out to investigate this subject on their own after giving you your last order. The master told me that they took the tavern behind the apple plant as a base." He turns to the entrance of the crypt. "Head over there and tell them what you have found out. Then help them with their research."

The elf smirks as I bow and accept his task.

I'm not comfortable with being under Bloodbane's command, but well..., it won't be for long, at least I hope so.

Back on the surface I hear them again, the screams of dying humans, a serenade of the crimson demise.

Our ghouls are able to push the defence line of the Scarlet Crusade back further and further as it grows thinner. Some of our troops have already attacked civilians inside their homes.

We are making good progress today, as nightfall draws closer so does the end of the Scarlet Crusade.

By now it's not too difficult to get through New Avalon anymore. The military forces are either in the fortress upon the hill or at the walls fighting the ghouls. A few crusaders are still trying to recapture the inn where the small outpost was set up by Bloodbane, Deathweaver and Thassarian.

Such fools, running blindfolded into their own death.

I cut down another two that come charging at me as I make my way to the others. If every human was like this, they wouldn't have survived a century before becoming extinct.

Their will to fight is admirable, yet in a way they act now their main attribute is foolishness.

`Leave none alive!'

Four deathknights are guarding the lower floor. As I approach one of them, he just points to the stairs. As I turn to the upper floor the cold eyes of Orbaz Bloodbane are already staring at me.

“You took your time...”, he sounds a bit angry. Thassarian lifts his hand to greet me as I reach the end of the stairs. Only Deathweaver is completely missing, where is he?

I open my mouth to speak to Bloodbane, but he interrupts me before I could say even a single word.

“We have no idea when or where this courier will arrive. None of the humans here knew anything.”, Bloodbane turns his head to Thassarian. “The last one told us at least something useful. Inside the fortress there is a schedule of all the patrol routes. Tear the building apart! We need this document!”

His voice was calm at first but now he is in some sort of rage.

Orbaz might be a bit stronger than myself, but I would not hesitate to draw my blade if he ever should attack me and he would never leave that fight unscarred. I hate it to be under his command. After all...,we are almost equal...

Thassarian puts his hand on my shoulder. I turn to him, he looks worried. I wonder what had happened.

“Getting here was not that easy as you might think. A larger number of Crusaders were gathering in this tavern to launch a counter attack at us... We lost Koltira... I have no idea whether he is dead or not. After they had brought him down, they dragged him into their hold. I'll be damned if we don't search for him!”

That elf is just as useless as Thassarian is a fool for losing his weapon on the battlefield.

Orbaz turns to us.

“Why do you care Thassarian? His weakness led to his capture. Only the strong should survive. Not to mention...”, Thassarian interrupts him.

“What, Orbaz? That he's a blood elf?”, Thassarian looks out of the window for a moment. “In life we were hated enemies - this is true... But in death...We are the children of the damned. The bastard sons and daughters of the Scourge.” He swallows. “In death we are brothers.”

Orbaz only shakes his head.

“To hell with you, Thassarian.”

It's hard to admit but I agree with Bloodbane for once. I leave the two of them before they could start arguing again.

I have no intention of saving Koltira at all costs, but I make up my mind to have at least a look whether he is dead or still alive.

I don't see a single guard as I make my way to the Scarlet Hold on the hill. It seems there are fewer soldiers left than I had expected, or they are already moving. But on the other hand, I can't really imagine them to have enough troops left to start a counter attack.

The building seems to be rather empty on the inside too. Have we already won this war?

`Victory is near!', the voice in my head whispers to me.

I take a closer look into each room on the lower floor without finding anything. I even tear out every book from the shelves.

I then take the staircase to the upper area..., still nobody here. I start to have a bad feeling about this too. By now I expect an attack. No..., rather I actually want them to launch a sneak attack.

I follow the hallway and enter the large room where I would expect the military head of the Scarlet Crusade. What the hell is going on here? Why is nobody here? They left everything unguarded. The schedule of their patrols is lying on the large wooden table in the back of the room. I just take it and want to head out again.

On my way out I remember that Koltira is supposed to be here somewhere. I had actually already forgotten about him for the first time.

I pass by a staircase into the basement of the fortress on the lower floor. I guess I could take a look down there.

The room is barely lit, but I can clearly see what this room is supposed to be, a torture chamber. An iron maiden stands directly in front of me as I enter the room. Three racks are next to each other, an alchemical laboratory in their middle. I wonder what they brew in here.

I see somebody lying on one of the racks. As I come closer, I recognize Koltira. He seems to be alive but unconscious.

There is not even one single person down here keeping guard over him. Something about this empty building is disturbing.

It's not too difficult to wake him up after I cut his bonds.

His ice-blue eyes look at me. “Why... why are you here?”, he sits up straight. “Don't tell me that Thassarian...?” I nod before he could finish his sentence. “That idiot! Now you are here too, damn him... It was my own fault I got caught.”

While the elf talks to himself, I just wonder what could be so bad about the present situation, after all the building is completely empty.

“If we survive and get out of here, tell Thassarian that they keep prisoners near their chapel. Maybe he'll send you there too so you can play hero again.”

Koltira gets up with a moan, “Damn the Crusade. I think I got some broken ribs.” He touches his chest and the pain makes him grimace.

He gets off the rack and staggers to a footlocker that is close by. “They put my armour and runeblade in here.” Koltira puts it on and takes the axe into his hand.

“What is this all about? Acolytes! Tie them up and make them ready for questioning!”

Two hooded figures come running down the stairs.

“Damn it! That was the voice of High Inquisitor Valroth.”

Koltira seems terribly worried, but the only thing I can think off is that finally something is happening here. I can have some fun after all.

I jump at the first of the acolytes. My sword cuts through his body with ease, scattering his blood in the room. Now it really looks like a torture chamber down here.

“I'm not of much use now...”, Koltira complains behind me. “But I'll hold up an anti-magical barrier. Stand inside it and their spells will be as good as useless.”

Only a second later a large purple cupola appears over Koltira. Impressive.

I step into it and suddenly every sound from the outside seems damped. Also everything outside the barrier seems blurry. I'm curious if it will really be as effective as Koltira has announced.

I have to admit, he was right, the spells they use hit the outer part of the barrier and vanish almost completely. I felt a sting now and then, but there is nothing left except for that.

“The Crusade will purge your kind from this world!”, the High Inquisitor yells from upstairs. More and more acolytes and monks come running down the stairs. Those foolish enough to come close to the barrier are cut down by my sword instantly. The other, smarter ones become victims of my shadow bolts.

Bodies cover the floor almost completely after a few minutes. What a waste of time. This is not even half as fun as I had hoped for.

`Kill! Kill for me! Offer their souls to Frostmourne...'

The blood of the fallen Crusaders is running into a drain in the middle of the room.

“I will deal with you personally! The Light will purge you!”

An old man comes down the staircase. His robe is white with red and golden ornaments on it.

“Perish from this world!”, he yells at us.

I look at the old man from the inside of the anti-magic barrier and have to laugh. What a pitiful foo...

A spell called smite hits me in this moment, sending me flying through the room and out of the barrier. I hit the wall between two of the racks and fall to the floor. I hurts quite a bit. For a moment the world around me is spinning, but I'm able to focus again fast.

What the hell? That spell was that strong even while under the barrier?

As I get to my feet I'm still staggering.

The High Inquisitor leaves me no time to recover at all. A similar spell hits me again. I'm pushed against the wall behind me hard. I don't know if the strange sound I hear is my armour being deformed from the impact or my bones shattering.

`Only the strong ones will be my champions. Only the strong ones will survive!', the voice in my head whispers.

I will be strong, strong enough to become your champion, master. I will survive!

Rage is flooding my mind.

I get to my feet and dash at the old geezer. I'm hit by another smite on the way sending me again flying towards the wall. With all the strength I have I throw my sword at the High Inquisitor like a harpoon.

I crash directly into the alchemical lab the moment I hear the agonized scream of the old man.

Koltira looks at me a bit frightened the moment I get up again as if nothing had happened.

I slowly walk to Valroth. Still not completely dead I snuff out his life once and for all by pulling my sword out and cutting off his head.

I want to hand the head to Koltira, but he doesn't want it. “Take it to Thassarian. Vengeance will sooth his savage soul.”

I will do as he wishes, at least this one time.