Himni simply stared at his friend, or at least the creature that had once been his friend. He was unsure what to make of what he now saw. The skull was definitely that of an orc, closer inspection showing it to be not quite a skull. Rather it was the flesh drawn tighter than natural, a ghastly and unwholesome cast to it. Where the deep orbs has once said blazed motes of blue fire. Each detail hit Himni like a blow from a mace. What had happened? Why had... finally, unable to bear it, the sin'dorei cast his gaze to the ground.
"I saw you die..." he murmured softly, "no one could have survived that."
"I didn't elf, that I promise you. I died that day, drowned beneath the massive waves that flooded Thousand Needles."
"Then... how... I..."
A voice cut him off, a voice that didn't belong to the imposing figure in plate armor, but a softer voice. One that came from behind them.
"You didn't think I'd leave my brother's body at the bottom of those canyon's did you paladin? It took you weeks to even start looking, if there was any hope of reviving him, we had to act fast."
Himni spun to face where the source of that voice, and watched as a lean orc melted out of the shadows. The young orc was of a deep green skin, and spun two daggers, one in each hand, with practiced ease.
"Dorchacht." The plated figure said sternly.
"Revive him? What in the Nether are you talking about? He was dead! He just said so himself, what are you talking about? By the time I could have gotten to Thousand Needles I wouldn't even have been able to ressurect him!"
"You paladins, you think in such black or white terms. You think of death... or of life. You don't consider a middle ground."
The young paladin sucked in his breath between his teeth, staring at the figure of what had once been his friend, "Forsaken?"
The massive form shook his head, turning to once again stare out over the Molten Front. In the distance a band of intrepid adventurer's had brought down a hulking behemoth. The former orc watched the group celebrate, and those orbs were suddenly shielded by eyelids as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"No elf, not Forsaken. My brother has no affiliation with Sylvannas, but there are others..."
Himni eyed the rogue for a moment, and then turned back to the hulking figure, "Mograine."
"Yes elf, Mograine. I'm a Death Knight, sworn to the Knights of the Ebon Blade."
"Zuul, I..."
Those fiery orbs darkened and the imposing Death Knight glared at the blood elf.
"That name... holds no meaning for me any longer. When I died..." his voice grew soft and distant, almost husky, "I was with the Ancestors. I spoke with them, I walked with them. I saw my mother,"
"Your mother? You saw her?"
The big orc nodded gravely, once more turning away from his friend, "For just a moment, and in that moment she told me my true name. The one she gave me when I was born, before I was taken from her."
Himni's mouth hung agape. He was completely unsure how to respond, how to even behave. Was this his friend? How much had his... transformation altered who he was. It took him a moment to grasp what the orc was saying, and then, with a deep breath, he queried.
"What was it? The name?"
The burly death knight turned back to face the friend who'd been by his side for so long. The fire in his eyes was muted, almost soft, and as he spoke it was with a quiet calm.
"Reknar."
Friday, September 27, 2013
Chapter 6 - Consequences
Himni simply stared at his friend, or at least the creature that had once been his friend. He was unsure what to make of what he now saw. The skull was definitely that of an orc, closer inspection showing it to be not quite a skull. Rather it was the flesh drawn tighter than natural, a ghastly and unwholesome cast to it. Where the deep orbs has once said blazed motes of blue fire. Each detail hit Himni like a blow from a mace. What had happened? Why had... finally, unable to bear it, the sin'dorei cast his gaze to the ground.
"I saw you die..." he murmured softly, "no one could have survived that."
"I didn't elf, that I promise you. I died that day, drowned beneath the massive waves that flooded Thousand Needles."
"Then... how... I..."
A voice cut him off, a voice that didn't belong to the imposing figure in plate armor, but a softer voice. One that came from behind them.
"You didn't think I'd leave my brother's body at the bottom of those canyon's did you paladin? It took you weeks to even start looking, if there was any hope of reviving him, we had to act fast."
Himni spun to face where the source of that voice, and watched as a lean orc melted out of the shadows. The young orc was of a deep green skin, and spun two daggers, one in each hand, with practiced ease.
"Dorchacht." The plated figure said sternly.
"Revive him? What in the Nether are you talking about? He was dead! He just said so himself, what are you talking about? By the time I could have gotten to Thousand Needles I wouldn't even have been able to ressurect him!"
"You paladins, you think in such black or white terms. You think of death... or of life. You don't consider a middle ground."
The young paladin sucked in his breath between his teeth, staring at the figure of what had once been his friend, "Forsaken?"
The massive form shook his head, turning to once again stare out over the Molten Front. In the distance a band of intrepid adventurer's had brought down a hulking behemoth. The former orc watched the group celebrate, and those orbs were suddenly shielded by eyelids as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"No elf, not Forsaken. My brother has no affiliation with Sylvannas, but there are others..."
Himni eyed the rogue for a moment, and then turned back to the hulking figure, "Mograine."
"Yes elf, Mograine. I'm a Death Knight, sworn to the Knights of the Ebon Blade."
"Zuul, I..."
Those fiery orbs darkened and the imposing Death Knight glared at the blood elf.
"That name... holds no meaning for me any longer. When I died..." his voice grew soft and distant, almost husky, "I was with the Ancestors. I spoke with them, I walked with them. I saw my mother,"
"Your mother? You saw her?"
The big orc nodded gravely, once more turning away from his friend, "For just a moment, and in that moment she told me my true name. The one she gave me when I was born, before I was taken from her."
Himni's mouth hung agape. He was completely unsure how to respond, how to even behave. Was this his friend? How much had his... transformation altered who he was. It took him a moment to grasp what the orc was saying, and then, with a deep breath, he queried.
"What was it? The name?"
The burly death knight turned back to face the friend who'd been by his side for so long. The fire in his eyes was muted, almost soft, and as he spoke it was with a quiet calm.
"Reknar."
"I saw you die..." he murmured softly, "no one could have survived that."
"I didn't elf, that I promise you. I died that day, drowned beneath the massive waves that flooded Thousand Needles."
"Then... how... I..."
A voice cut him off, a voice that didn't belong to the imposing figure in plate armor, but a softer voice. One that came from behind them.
"You didn't think I'd leave my brother's body at the bottom of those canyon's did you paladin? It took you weeks to even start looking, if there was any hope of reviving him, we had to act fast."
Himni spun to face where the source of that voice, and watched as a lean orc melted out of the shadows. The young orc was of a deep green skin, and spun two daggers, one in each hand, with practiced ease.
"Dorchacht." The plated figure said sternly.
"Revive him? What in the Nether are you talking about? He was dead! He just said so himself, what are you talking about? By the time I could have gotten to Thousand Needles I wouldn't even have been able to ressurect him!"
"You paladins, you think in such black or white terms. You think of death... or of life. You don't consider a middle ground."
The young paladin sucked in his breath between his teeth, staring at the figure of what had once been his friend, "Forsaken?"
The massive form shook his head, turning to once again stare out over the Molten Front. In the distance a band of intrepid adventurer's had brought down a hulking behemoth. The former orc watched the group celebrate, and those orbs were suddenly shielded by eyelids as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"No elf, not Forsaken. My brother has no affiliation with Sylvannas, but there are others..."
Himni eyed the rogue for a moment, and then turned back to the hulking figure, "Mograine."
"Yes elf, Mograine. I'm a Death Knight, sworn to the Knights of the Ebon Blade."
"Zuul, I..."
Those fiery orbs darkened and the imposing Death Knight glared at the blood elf.
"That name... holds no meaning for me any longer. When I died..." his voice grew soft and distant, almost husky, "I was with the Ancestors. I spoke with them, I walked with them. I saw my mother,"
"Your mother? You saw her?"
The big orc nodded gravely, once more turning away from his friend, "For just a moment, and in that moment she told me my true name. The one she gave me when I was born, before I was taken from her."
Himni's mouth hung agape. He was completely unsure how to respond, how to even behave. Was this his friend? How much had his... transformation altered who he was. It took him a moment to grasp what the orc was saying, and then, with a deep breath, he queried.
"What was it? The name?"
The burly death knight turned back to face the friend who'd been by his side for so long. The fire in his eyes was muted, almost soft, and as he spoke it was with a quiet calm.
"Reknar."
Chapter 5- Memories Like Embers
The paladin had aged, though it was not time that had caused this aging. The age that showed on the face of the proud blood elf was that of a man who was holding to something that others deemed lost. In the time since the world was shattered he'd not given up his search for his friend. In spite of the odds, and indeed in spite of the evidence... Himni still held to hope.
That isn't to say that things had not changed with him. Things were different for the sindorei'. He was no longer that bastion of brightness, and his connection with the Light had changed as well. No longer did the Paladin act as a conduit for the healing power of Light's grace. Rather he had harnessed the power of the light as an offensive weapon, sharp and dangerous as any sword. Since the day that Deathwing had cracked the world, and begun to leave swathes of death and destruction behind his massive wings Himni had vowed vengeance, had sworn to seek retribution. For in the sindorei's mind it was the Aspect of Death who'd stolen his friend from him. It was Deathwing who held the key to returning Zuljynn to the world, and so as the combined forces of Azeroth has plunged into the Firelands... Himni had answered the call. That is where the dusk found him. In the smoke filled light of morning he stood atop the hill near Malorne's Sanctuary. Even through the portal the heat was oppressive. The blazing landscape that was the Molten Front would cause even the most sure of heroes to take a deep breath and steel their nerves. Through the portal a blazing elemental collosus was felled by the combined efforts of several heroes, and the hulking behemoth hit the dry dirt with a massive crash. A fresh wave of heat and sulfurous ash flew through the tunnel, and the massive ravasaur on which Himni sat reared slightly.
"Easy Ven," the blood elf murmured softly, "this is the next step. We take the fight to Ragnaros, and Deathwing will be forced to reveal himself. Vengeance will be ours."
The ravasaur raked his claws against the ground, and as the massive bear druid to the left roared, so too did the defenders of Azeroth. As one they charged, into the fiery bowels of Hell itself...
The massive sword was slippery in his hands. Sweat poured down his face. With a mighty swing he kept the snapping and snarling face of the charhound at bay. He let out a curse as he watched the massive foot of one of the molten behemoths crush the totems of the Tauren shaman who'd been aiding him. Himni lunged, praying that the primal energy summoned up by the totems would not fade instantly, and with a grunt he drove the blade forward, imbuing it with the power of the Light. He felt a surge of exultation as the blade pierced the thick hide of the beast and with a whimper it collapsed. With a howl he wrenched the blade free and spun to cast a blast of holy energy at the massive being of molten lava that bore down on the shaman. Himni watched in amazement as the shaman raised his hand an launched a glove of fire at the being.
"You fool! Fighting fire with fire is an expression!"
But before the sindorei' could even move, chunks of snow and heavy ice balls began to rain down out of the air. The behemoth howled in pain and spun, looking for the offender. Standing atop a outcropping of rock was a small goblin woman, and she grinned with glee as steam erupted from the ground surrounding the behemoth, and slowly, thick lines of ice began to run up the legs of the massive creature. Himni capitalized, running forward and landing a massive blow across the back of the behemoth. Together he and the shaman battered down the elemental. With a chuckle the goblin leapt from the outcropping and with a burst of fire streaming from the boots she was wearing headed back to the budding tree that was the base camp of the strike force. Himni was about to turn and further berate the shaman, but his attention was diverted by the a very strange sight. The massive ravasaur, Veneficus, the mount he'd been responsible for since his friend disappeared beneath the crushing waves of a massive flood, was running down the hill. There was no rider on it's back. Himni raised an eyebrow and began to run, doing everything he could to cut off the beast. The front was swarming with enemies and despite the vicious horn, teeth and spikes... the venomhide ravasaur was incredibly over matched. A Druid of the Flame, wearing a vicious grin stepped forward, hands blazing. Himni pumped his legs harder, sword gripped tightly in his sweaty hands. His concern was unnecesary however. The Druid of the Flame's grin disappeared as the enraged ravasaur stepped right through the blaze and drove its thick horn through the exposed throat of the man staring him down. The druid let out a gurgle and collapsed in a heap. Smiling at the cunning of his mount, Himni rushed up a rock and jumped, landing squarely in the saddle on the back of the beast. Placing a hand on the beasts neck Himni took the reins.
"You shouldn't be down here Ven. It's not safe. That's why we're fighting on foot. Come on, let's get back to the pens."
Himni jerked on the reins, but the ravasaur would not be moved. The reptillian eyes were fixed on the path that led up toward what had been dubbed Forlon Spire. A few days earlier an advance party had been sent up that way to establish a foot hold, and as far as Himni knew no one had come back from that mission.
"There's nothing up there Ven. Come on, let's go bac-"
Veneficus lunged forward, moving purposefully towards the path that led up to Forlorn Spire. Himni with some irritation jerked hard at the reins.
"Ven! Stop it, we're going back to camp. Right now. I... woah!"
The ravasaur craned it's head back and snapped it's jaws. The paladin raised his hands to ward off the bites and then the ravasaur bucked hard. The sindorei' crashed heavily to the ground and watched as the reptillian mount began to hurry up the path.
"Inferal Darkness!" Himni swore, as he hauled himself painfully to his feet and began to trudge up the hill.
At first his pace was slow, his irritation holding him back. But a high pitched reptillian shriek ripped him from his clolud of anger. The ravasaur was in trouble. A sense of duty... duty to an old friend surged within the sindorei's soul, and with a shout he ran forward, wrenching his massive blade from it's scabbard across his back.
"Veneficus!"
The paladin ran, harder than he'd ever run. He rounded a bend and watched as a massive spider, wreathed in flame shot a fiery thread toward the ravasaur, hauling the reptile into the air.
"Ven! No!"
Himni knew there was nothing he could do. No way he could get to the reptile before the spider scurried back up it's pillar and disappeared. Himni began to swear, tears rolling down his face. He'd failed... for the second time. He'd failed that day in Thousand Needles, and now again he failed... Hope was waning, and he stopped watching where he was going. His ankle rolled as it hit a loose rock, and a vicious crack made it clear that the leg was broken. He tried to haul himself to his feet, but the pain kept him low. He blinked away his tears and looked up towards the massive arachnid and the ascending ravasaur.
"Ven... damn it! Zul... I tried... I'm... I'm so sorry. I..."
Then there was a flurry of movement to his right. A figure, dressed in plate armor came leaping through the air, a vicious blade of the finest elementium flashing in the light of the numerous fires that burned throughout the Front. That blade sliced through the fiery fillament, and the ravasaur landed on its feet, skittering away as fast as it could. Himni watched as the arachnid... angered at the loss of it's meal rapidly descended to the ground. The figure in plate mail dipped and darted, and then rolled. The diving roll took the figure underneath the bulbous body of the flame spider, and with a roar the stranger thrust it's blade upwards, rending the spider's abdomen open. Without a second of hesitation the stranger lept clear. The fiery arachnid stumbled around on it's large legs for a moment before collapsing in a heap. Himni, finally able to clear his mind was able to summon a small burst of light's energy to heal his wounded leg. Suddenly a gauntleted hand wrapped around his arm and dragged him to his feet.
"What in the name of Alexstraza are you doing here, elf?" a rasping voice asked from beneath the closed visor of the helmet.
The paladin shook his head to clear the remainder of the tears from his eyes.
"I was chasing that brute. I... he, well... he belonged to a friend, and I--" The blood elf suddenly stopped, and he looked more closely at the armored figure, "what did you call me?"
The stranger didn't respond, but turned to stare out over the Molten Front.
"Damn it! I asked you a question! What is it you just called me! Only one person has ever called me that!"
Still no response from the stranger, and then Himni turned to stare at the ravasaur. The reptiled eyes had not left the back of the stranger. Veneficus knew something. Tears once again filled Himni's eyes and he lunged at the stranger."
"You... bastard!"
The paladin crashed heavily into the other figure, and the pair tumbled off the cliff towards the fiery pools below, landing mere feet from one of the bubbling lava pits. Himni, still weak from his breaking his leg let out an explosive breath, and as he rolled he rolled to stare right at the tip of a sword.
"That, was foolish," was all the rasping voice said.
"To the nether with you, all this time... I saw the flood crush you! I refused to give up hope, for months now I've clung to the idea that you were alive! You bastard! Damn it, you let me believe you were dead!"
"I am dead elf. More than you could ever have imagined."
A hiss as the imposing figure sheathed his blade, and gauntleted hands reached up to remove the helmet. Beneath that helmet was not the face of the proud orc warrior Himni had known. Beneath was a bleached white skull, where eyes should be a gleaming blue flame.
"By the light...."
That isn't to say that things had not changed with him. Things were different for the sindorei'. He was no longer that bastion of brightness, and his connection with the Light had changed as well. No longer did the Paladin act as a conduit for the healing power of Light's grace. Rather he had harnessed the power of the light as an offensive weapon, sharp and dangerous as any sword. Since the day that Deathwing had cracked the world, and begun to leave swathes of death and destruction behind his massive wings Himni had vowed vengeance, had sworn to seek retribution. For in the sindorei's mind it was the Aspect of Death who'd stolen his friend from him. It was Deathwing who held the key to returning Zuljynn to the world, and so as the combined forces of Azeroth has plunged into the Firelands... Himni had answered the call. That is where the dusk found him. In the smoke filled light of morning he stood atop the hill near Malorne's Sanctuary. Even through the portal the heat was oppressive. The blazing landscape that was the Molten Front would cause even the most sure of heroes to take a deep breath and steel their nerves. Through the portal a blazing elemental collosus was felled by the combined efforts of several heroes, and the hulking behemoth hit the dry dirt with a massive crash. A fresh wave of heat and sulfurous ash flew through the tunnel, and the massive ravasaur on which Himni sat reared slightly.
"Easy Ven," the blood elf murmured softly, "this is the next step. We take the fight to Ragnaros, and Deathwing will be forced to reveal himself. Vengeance will be ours."
The ravasaur raked his claws against the ground, and as the massive bear druid to the left roared, so too did the defenders of Azeroth. As one they charged, into the fiery bowels of Hell itself...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The massive sword was slippery in his hands. Sweat poured down his face. With a mighty swing he kept the snapping and snarling face of the charhound at bay. He let out a curse as he watched the massive foot of one of the molten behemoths crush the totems of the Tauren shaman who'd been aiding him. Himni lunged, praying that the primal energy summoned up by the totems would not fade instantly, and with a grunt he drove the blade forward, imbuing it with the power of the Light. He felt a surge of exultation as the blade pierced the thick hide of the beast and with a whimper it collapsed. With a howl he wrenched the blade free and spun to cast a blast of holy energy at the massive being of molten lava that bore down on the shaman. Himni watched in amazement as the shaman raised his hand an launched a glove of fire at the being.
"You fool! Fighting fire with fire is an expression!"
But before the sindorei' could even move, chunks of snow and heavy ice balls began to rain down out of the air. The behemoth howled in pain and spun, looking for the offender. Standing atop a outcropping of rock was a small goblin woman, and she grinned with glee as steam erupted from the ground surrounding the behemoth, and slowly, thick lines of ice began to run up the legs of the massive creature. Himni capitalized, running forward and landing a massive blow across the back of the behemoth. Together he and the shaman battered down the elemental. With a chuckle the goblin leapt from the outcropping and with a burst of fire streaming from the boots she was wearing headed back to the budding tree that was the base camp of the strike force. Himni was about to turn and further berate the shaman, but his attention was diverted by the a very strange sight. The massive ravasaur, Veneficus, the mount he'd been responsible for since his friend disappeared beneath the crushing waves of a massive flood, was running down the hill. There was no rider on it's back. Himni raised an eyebrow and began to run, doing everything he could to cut off the beast. The front was swarming with enemies and despite the vicious horn, teeth and spikes... the venomhide ravasaur was incredibly over matched. A Druid of the Flame, wearing a vicious grin stepped forward, hands blazing. Himni pumped his legs harder, sword gripped tightly in his sweaty hands. His concern was unnecesary however. The Druid of the Flame's grin disappeared as the enraged ravasaur stepped right through the blaze and drove its thick horn through the exposed throat of the man staring him down. The druid let out a gurgle and collapsed in a heap. Smiling at the cunning of his mount, Himni rushed up a rock and jumped, landing squarely in the saddle on the back of the beast. Placing a hand on the beasts neck Himni took the reins.
"You shouldn't be down here Ven. It's not safe. That's why we're fighting on foot. Come on, let's get back to the pens."
Himni jerked on the reins, but the ravasaur would not be moved. The reptillian eyes were fixed on the path that led up toward what had been dubbed Forlon Spire. A few days earlier an advance party had been sent up that way to establish a foot hold, and as far as Himni knew no one had come back from that mission.
"There's nothing up there Ven. Come on, let's go bac-"
Veneficus lunged forward, moving purposefully towards the path that led up to Forlorn Spire. Himni with some irritation jerked hard at the reins.
"Ven! Stop it, we're going back to camp. Right now. I... woah!"
The ravasaur craned it's head back and snapped it's jaws. The paladin raised his hands to ward off the bites and then the ravasaur bucked hard. The sindorei' crashed heavily to the ground and watched as the reptillian mount began to hurry up the path.
"Inferal Darkness!" Himni swore, as he hauled himself painfully to his feet and began to trudge up the hill.
At first his pace was slow, his irritation holding him back. But a high pitched reptillian shriek ripped him from his clolud of anger. The ravasaur was in trouble. A sense of duty... duty to an old friend surged within the sindorei's soul, and with a shout he ran forward, wrenching his massive blade from it's scabbard across his back.
"Veneficus!"
The paladin ran, harder than he'd ever run. He rounded a bend and watched as a massive spider, wreathed in flame shot a fiery thread toward the ravasaur, hauling the reptile into the air.
"Ven! No!"
Himni knew there was nothing he could do. No way he could get to the reptile before the spider scurried back up it's pillar and disappeared. Himni began to swear, tears rolling down his face. He'd failed... for the second time. He'd failed that day in Thousand Needles, and now again he failed... Hope was waning, and he stopped watching where he was going. His ankle rolled as it hit a loose rock, and a vicious crack made it clear that the leg was broken. He tried to haul himself to his feet, but the pain kept him low. He blinked away his tears and looked up towards the massive arachnid and the ascending ravasaur.
"Ven... damn it! Zul... I tried... I'm... I'm so sorry. I..."
Then there was a flurry of movement to his right. A figure, dressed in plate armor came leaping through the air, a vicious blade of the finest elementium flashing in the light of the numerous fires that burned throughout the Front. That blade sliced through the fiery fillament, and the ravasaur landed on its feet, skittering away as fast as it could. Himni watched as the arachnid... angered at the loss of it's meal rapidly descended to the ground. The figure in plate mail dipped and darted, and then rolled. The diving roll took the figure underneath the bulbous body of the flame spider, and with a roar the stranger thrust it's blade upwards, rending the spider's abdomen open. Without a second of hesitation the stranger lept clear. The fiery arachnid stumbled around on it's large legs for a moment before collapsing in a heap. Himni, finally able to clear his mind was able to summon a small burst of light's energy to heal his wounded leg. Suddenly a gauntleted hand wrapped around his arm and dragged him to his feet.
"What in the name of Alexstraza are you doing here, elf?" a rasping voice asked from beneath the closed visor of the helmet.
The paladin shook his head to clear the remainder of the tears from his eyes.
"I was chasing that brute. I... he, well... he belonged to a friend, and I--" The blood elf suddenly stopped, and he looked more closely at the armored figure, "what did you call me?"
The stranger didn't respond, but turned to stare out over the Molten Front.
"Damn it! I asked you a question! What is it you just called me! Only one person has ever called me that!"
Still no response from the stranger, and then Himni turned to stare at the ravasaur. The reptiled eyes had not left the back of the stranger. Veneficus knew something. Tears once again filled Himni's eyes and he lunged at the stranger."
"You... bastard!"
The paladin crashed heavily into the other figure, and the pair tumbled off the cliff towards the fiery pools below, landing mere feet from one of the bubbling lava pits. Himni, still weak from his breaking his leg let out an explosive breath, and as he rolled he rolled to stare right at the tip of a sword.
"That, was foolish," was all the rasping voice said.
"To the nether with you, all this time... I saw the flood crush you! I refused to give up hope, for months now I've clung to the idea that you were alive! You bastard! Damn it, you let me believe you were dead!"
"I am dead elf. More than you could ever have imagined."
A hiss as the imposing figure sheathed his blade, and gauntleted hands reached up to remove the helmet. Beneath that helmet was not the face of the proud orc warrior Himni had known. Beneath was a bleached white skull, where eyes should be a gleaming blue flame.
"By the light...."
Chapter 4 - Mourning
When the eyes of the paladin finally opened light was already pouring in through the windows of the ramshackle hut. His vision was bleary, the results of many sleepless nights. Already not one who slept often, the limited number of hours of sleeping he had been able to obtain in the past, had sharply decreased since that night in the not so distant past. As Himni raised his head from the crude pillow he looked about the hut, taking his bearings as one does, even in the most familiar environments, whenever they are awakened without truly being rested. Reaching up he slapped his own face with one hand fiercely, seeking to shake the remaining sleep form his brain.
"You do that much longer mon, and ye're gunna knock yer brain from yer head."
Himni turned to face the back of the hut, where the troll woman, E'jaza, was watching him. She was stirring a pot of thick looking stew, and she smiled at him softly. Himni didn't smile, and his tone didn't bear any hint of amusement when he replied.
"Perhaps I'd be knocking some things back into place. I don't for an isntant believe anyone is thinking clearly right now. We've got a whole new world around us. Things have been turned upside down, and we can't even take the time to get used to it, because we have one of the most ancient and deadly evils ever to exist doing high speed flybys like he was a rookie goblin zeppelin pilot, belching fire and meting out death wherever he goes. So you'll forgive me if I'm just a little confused."
E'jaza glared at him, and after a moment rolled her eyes.
"Look mon, I ain't saying things be easy right now. I ain't even saying they be right. No one be knowing what's gunna be happening in da world about now. But that ain't much in the way of unusual. This be the time for legends ta be made. Seems that Azeroth be needing more legends than eva."
Her tone had softened through her speech, clearly she'd hoped to buoy the spirits of the young sindorei' paladin. The expression on his bleak face, however, told her she'd failed. However, when he spoke, his voice wasn't harsh, in fact quite the opposite. As irregular as it may be, in the past several weeks since the event many now had termed "The Shattering," the two had grown quite close. Himni reached out and clasped the woman's hand, giving it a soft squeeze.
"E'jaza, I want to thank you. I doubt I've been the easiest of company, let's face it, I know I haven't. But you've been the very soul of hospitality. But - "
The mage reached out and placed a hand over his mouth.
"I be knowing what ye are gonna be saying mon, and I understand. I'd hoped it wouldn't be so. I'm hopin' ye remember that Thousand Needles be filled with water these days. Mighty deep water I be hearin'."
Himni slowly pulled her hand away from his mouth, now holding both of them in his own.
"I have to find him E'jaza. Something inside me... I can't explain it, but I have to find him."
The troll lowered her head, and nodded. The pair stood, and moved outside into the sun that beat down upon the Northern Barrens. Himni hauled himself into the saddle of his charger. The paladin turned to the woman he'd grown to care for in the past few days, and in deference to her, he yanked on the reins of his charger, which reared and pawed the air with its hooves dramatically. And then dramatically he spurred the horse, and headed south, bound to the last place he'd seen his friend alive.
I'll find him the young sindorei' promised himself inside his mind, no matter how long it takes. I'll find him
"You do that much longer mon, and ye're gunna knock yer brain from yer head."
Himni turned to face the back of the hut, where the troll woman, E'jaza, was watching him. She was stirring a pot of thick looking stew, and she smiled at him softly. Himni didn't smile, and his tone didn't bear any hint of amusement when he replied.
"Perhaps I'd be knocking some things back into place. I don't for an isntant believe anyone is thinking clearly right now. We've got a whole new world around us. Things have been turned upside down, and we can't even take the time to get used to it, because we have one of the most ancient and deadly evils ever to exist doing high speed flybys like he was a rookie goblin zeppelin pilot, belching fire and meting out death wherever he goes. So you'll forgive me if I'm just a little confused."
E'jaza glared at him, and after a moment rolled her eyes.
"Look mon, I ain't saying things be easy right now. I ain't even saying they be right. No one be knowing what's gunna be happening in da world about now. But that ain't much in the way of unusual. This be the time for legends ta be made. Seems that Azeroth be needing more legends than eva."
Her tone had softened through her speech, clearly she'd hoped to buoy the spirits of the young sindorei' paladin. The expression on his bleak face, however, told her she'd failed. However, when he spoke, his voice wasn't harsh, in fact quite the opposite. As irregular as it may be, in the past several weeks since the event many now had termed "The Shattering," the two had grown quite close. Himni reached out and clasped the woman's hand, giving it a soft squeeze.
"E'jaza, I want to thank you. I doubt I've been the easiest of company, let's face it, I know I haven't. But you've been the very soul of hospitality. But - "
The mage reached out and placed a hand over his mouth.
"I be knowing what ye are gonna be saying mon, and I understand. I'd hoped it wouldn't be so. I'm hopin' ye remember that Thousand Needles be filled with water these days. Mighty deep water I be hearin'."
Himni slowly pulled her hand away from his mouth, now holding both of them in his own.
"I have to find him E'jaza. Something inside me... I can't explain it, but I have to find him."
The troll lowered her head, and nodded. The pair stood, and moved outside into the sun that beat down upon the Northern Barrens. Himni hauled himself into the saddle of his charger. The paladin turned to the woman he'd grown to care for in the past few days, and in deference to her, he yanked on the reins of his charger, which reared and pawed the air with its hooves dramatically. And then dramatically he spurred the horse, and headed south, bound to the last place he'd seen his friend alive.
I'll find him the young sindorei' promised himself inside his mind, no matter how long it takes. I'll find him
Chapter 3: A World Broken
The past several days had been long, to say the least. Zuljynn didn't mind blood elves, in fact on occasion he kind of liked them. However, in light of the recent events, the amount of laughter insisted on by the sin'dorei grated on his nerves a little bit. However, the past few days had been important to Himni. The scholarly paladin had proven himself worthy, and now was an accepted member of the Shattered Sun Offensive. As he had so many times that day as they rode Zuljynn caught his friend smoothing his intricately woven new tabard with pride. Zuljynn smiled, his helmet shielding the expression from his old friend. Letting Himni have his moment in the sun, he winced at his own pun, was no skin from his back, however, the sin'dorei didn't need to know that.
A few more miles fell behind them as the pair rode, but it wasn't long before the warrior heard the voice of his friend behind him.
"Remind me why we rode this direction, and indeed why we are riding on land. Wouldn't a wind-rider have been faster?"
Zuljynn replied without slowing, and without looking back, keeping his alert eyes on the road for any hint of danger. They had already nearly ridden through one of the elemental rifts as it was opening, and it was only Veneficus quick tail lash across the rump of Himni's charger that had made the horse leap ahead, barely avoiding the chaotic magicks that signaled the arrival of the rage filled denizens of the elemental planes.
"Simple," was the orc's reply, "I wanted some of these candied sweet potatoes, and the only place you can get them - is Mulgore," and as if to emphasize his point he pulled one of the morsels from a pouch at his belt and popped it in his mouth, savoring the taste."
"That answers half of my question," Himni replied dryly.
"I like riding, its quiet, its calm and it clears my head. The reported trouble in Gadgetzan wasn't that serious, the runner himself said the defenders were holding there own. Besides, more than a score of others had leapt aboard wind riders at the first chance to get out of Thunder Bluff before another attack. We spent a great deal of time where you were most comfortable," the indication of Quel'danas was impossible to miss, "so I decided it was only fair if we spent some time where I was comfortable."
Himni simply laughed, clapping his friend on the shoulder. The paladin didn't really mind the ride, but during the time the pair had been at Quel'danas, the elemental attacks on Azeroth had grown even more intense, and Zuljynn always got restless when he missed any chance for a fight. This was the most comfortable Himni had seen his friend in nearly a week, and if a ride was what it took to bring him back into good spirits, then by the Light, he'd take a ride.
However, the peaceful ride was cut short about midway through Thousand Needles, when the earth began to buck and roll beneath them. Their mounts, disciplined as any could be, did their best to move with the earth, dodging boulders that began to tumble from the great spires above them.
"Elf, watch out!" Zuljynn cried to his friend, as a boulder crashed down where only seconds before the paladin had stood. The warrior cast his eyes about for a second and then shouted, "Ride!"
The two spurred their mounts hard, seeking a more open area, trusting their mounts to carry themselves across the rebellious terrain without question. The two pulled into a wide stretch of open rock, just as the earth seemed to settle. The pair glanced at one another, noting the other was safe, but it was then that they heard the weak voice.
"Help- please, help!"
Zuljynn and Himni wheeled their mounts around, hands on their weapons, but it was then they saw the small figure of a troll woman, caught beneath a heavy boulder. Her body was contorted, and it was clear that she was in dire straits, a closer look revealing that she'd passed out, expending the last of her conscious energy to call to the duo. Himni rushed to her side, and pushed against the boulder.
"Zuljynn, help me."
Zuljynn moved slowly, placing his hands on the side of boulder, but before pushing he asked his friend.
"You're sure you can heal her?" his voice sounded dubious.
Himni raised an eyebrow, "I've kept you alive often enough."
Zuljynn nodded, raising a hand to ward off his friend's prideful outbust, "That isn't what I meant elf. Half her body is crushed, are you sure you can heal her?"
Himni considered that for a moment, and then nodded. The orc warrior shrugged, rolling his shoulders and setting himself against the stone. Together the pair gave a mighty shove, and after what felt like an eternity the boulder rolled, and the troll woman was freed. However, she was hardly better off. Her lithe body was crushed almost to the hips, her long robes lying nearly flat against the ground. Himni quickly knelt, and softly began to intone a prayer. Zuljynn watched as his friend's hands began to glow with the brilliant healing light. Himni began to sweat, his hands trembling. Zuljynn had never seen him like this. The glow grew in intensity, and Zuljynn raised his hand to shield his eyes, and then all at once the glow was gone. As his vision cleared, and as he lowered his hand Zuljynn could see his friend, laid back on the stones, panting for breath. But to Zuljynn's utter amazement, the Troll woman's legs looked significantly better, and the massive cut on her head had closed, and, she was breathing.
"Than- thank you mon," she breathed softly, her voice still weak.
Himni nodded, turning to his friend with a soft smile, "And you were doubtf--"
He was cut off by a loud cracking noise, unlike anything any of them had heard, and then once more the earth began to shake, almost as though it was a child in pain. And then the noise intensified, the cracking growing louder. With a look to the east Zuljynn gasped, and Himni weakly raised himself slowly to his feet, following the gaze of his friend.
"By the light," was all the sin'dorei could say.
Rising up over the mountains to the east, higher than was, at least as far as any of them knew, possible was a tidal wave. A literal wall of water, and it was moving towards them, swallowing up entire peaks in its watery maw.
"Move Elf!" Zuljynn shouted, reaching down to scoop up the injured troll woman, slinging her over his shoulder and hauling himself into Veneficus' saddle. To his right Himni had clambered aboard his charger and the two urged their mounts into a dead run, making for where they knew the Great Lift lie.
"We'll never make it!" Himni shouted, barely audible over the roar of the approaching wave.
With a glance over his shoulder Zuljynn realized his friend was right, there was no way they could make the lift before that deluge turned the canyon into the largest resevoir in Azeroth. It was then that he felt a gentle tug at his beard. Glancing down he saw the troll woman, and she motioned him close. Trusting in his ravasaur he leaned down, and she spoke into his ear, though over the roar of the approaching wave, he could barely hear her.
"--- mon, if ye--- portal."
That last word was all he needed, and he raised a hand, signaling a halt. Himni reined in hard, his horses rump nearly sliding along the rock floor. Venificus ground it's claws into the stone, bringing itself to a stop as well.
"Why are we stopping?" Himni shouted.
"Portal," Zuljynn replied gruffly, doing his best to prop up the troll, who had just revealed herself as a mage. She began to chant, and weave her fingers intricately. It was then, that the earth once again gave a great heave, nearly taking the trio from their feet with its first surge. It's subsequent surge caused a great crack to form, and Zuljynn watched in horror as it separated himself from his sin'dorei friend. To his further dismay Himni was swept from his feet by the roll of the earth, and the wave was drawing ever close.
"You have less than two minutes!" Zuljynn shouted, "Veneficus! Keep her standing!"
The ravasuar hissed, and moved into position, giving the mage somewhere to lean as she finished her spell. Zulynn meanwhile grunted, for once cursing the heavy plate armor he wore, as he took a running leap, feeling the air rush out of him as he didn't quite clear the widening chasm. With one hand gripping the cracked stones atop the cliff he now dangled over, his other hand sought his brilliantly glowing sword, and with a heave and a battle cry he hauled himself as high as he could, driving the fine saronite blade into the earth, using it as a second grip to bring himself up on top of the cliff. Himni still lay there, dazed, and at this point no sound could be heard over the rushing waves, and the water had begun to fill the canyon, and was rushing towards them, a wave of strangely lukewarm air rushing past them. Zuljynn ran to his friend, hauling him to his feet, and with dismay finding him unconscious from the blow to the head when he'd struck the ground. With a grunt Zuljynn hauled the paladin to his feet and moved toward the still widening chasm.
"Hurry mon! I can't be holding this portal foreva!"
Zuljynn simply grunted, though he knew she couldn't hear it. With a look behind him, he knew that he was doomed. There was no way he could make the distance now that the chasm had grown even larger, especially not with Himni in his arms. It was then that he made the decision. With a cry that echoed throughout the canyone, despite the crashing sound of the waves, he ran at the chasm. As he neared the edge he stopped, and flexed his bulging muscles, and with every ounce of his strength hurled Himni through the air.
"VENEFICUS!" the orc shouted, and the ravasaur moved, positioning itself directly underneath the paladin. It moved rapidly to the portal, stepping through unquestiongly, the mage and the great charger that belonged to the paladin right behind it. The slight wrench of the portal roused the Blood Elf, who looked up through the shrinking window into the forever changing Thousand Needles. The cry that escaped the paladin's voice was stricken, one of indescribable pain.
"Zul!"
The portal had shrunk to barely the size of a window, and the now sobbing paladin, and the troll mage, her eyes filled with tears, watched as the proud orc, turned to face down the approaching wave. The warrior ripped his sword from the earth and swung his shield in front of him, looking as though he intended to do battle with the approaching deluge. As the portals window closed, the survivors watched as the warrior charged, a guttural shout issuing forth from his lips, only to be crushed beneath the impossibly gigantic wave.
Himni collapsed, a gout of spray covering himself, the two mounts and the troll, as well as a few of the traveler's moving through Dalaran's streets who had stopped to stare at the scene unfolding beyond the portal. The paladin couldn't stand, and the word he could speak was the name of his friend, repeated time and time again. The troll mage, hobbled to his side, and without fear of the racial implication, wrapped her arms around the sobbing man, holding him close.
"He was a hero mon, and he died as such. He saved meh life, and yurs as well mon. Don't cry, he was a warrior, and he went out saving his friend. I think that be how he wanted to go."
There was nothing that Himni could say, and in despair he buried his face in the shoulder of the mage, and cried.
A few more miles fell behind them as the pair rode, but it wasn't long before the warrior heard the voice of his friend behind him.
"Remind me why we rode this direction, and indeed why we are riding on land. Wouldn't a wind-rider have been faster?"
Zuljynn replied without slowing, and without looking back, keeping his alert eyes on the road for any hint of danger. They had already nearly ridden through one of the elemental rifts as it was opening, and it was only Veneficus quick tail lash across the rump of Himni's charger that had made the horse leap ahead, barely avoiding the chaotic magicks that signaled the arrival of the rage filled denizens of the elemental planes.
"Simple," was the orc's reply, "I wanted some of these candied sweet potatoes, and the only place you can get them - is Mulgore," and as if to emphasize his point he pulled one of the morsels from a pouch at his belt and popped it in his mouth, savoring the taste."
"That answers half of my question," Himni replied dryly.
"I like riding, its quiet, its calm and it clears my head. The reported trouble in Gadgetzan wasn't that serious, the runner himself said the defenders were holding there own. Besides, more than a score of others had leapt aboard wind riders at the first chance to get out of Thunder Bluff before another attack. We spent a great deal of time where you were most comfortable," the indication of Quel'danas was impossible to miss, "so I decided it was only fair if we spent some time where I was comfortable."
Himni simply laughed, clapping his friend on the shoulder. The paladin didn't really mind the ride, but during the time the pair had been at Quel'danas, the elemental attacks on Azeroth had grown even more intense, and Zuljynn always got restless when he missed any chance for a fight. This was the most comfortable Himni had seen his friend in nearly a week, and if a ride was what it took to bring him back into good spirits, then by the Light, he'd take a ride.
However, the peaceful ride was cut short about midway through Thousand Needles, when the earth began to buck and roll beneath them. Their mounts, disciplined as any could be, did their best to move with the earth, dodging boulders that began to tumble from the great spires above them.
"Elf, watch out!" Zuljynn cried to his friend, as a boulder crashed down where only seconds before the paladin had stood. The warrior cast his eyes about for a second and then shouted, "Ride!"
The two spurred their mounts hard, seeking a more open area, trusting their mounts to carry themselves across the rebellious terrain without question. The two pulled into a wide stretch of open rock, just as the earth seemed to settle. The pair glanced at one another, noting the other was safe, but it was then that they heard the weak voice.
"Help- please, help!"
Zuljynn and Himni wheeled their mounts around, hands on their weapons, but it was then they saw the small figure of a troll woman, caught beneath a heavy boulder. Her body was contorted, and it was clear that she was in dire straits, a closer look revealing that she'd passed out, expending the last of her conscious energy to call to the duo. Himni rushed to her side, and pushed against the boulder.
"Zuljynn, help me."
Zuljynn moved slowly, placing his hands on the side of boulder, but before pushing he asked his friend.
"You're sure you can heal her?" his voice sounded dubious.
Himni raised an eyebrow, "I've kept you alive often enough."
Zuljynn nodded, raising a hand to ward off his friend's prideful outbust, "That isn't what I meant elf. Half her body is crushed, are you sure you can heal her?"
Himni considered that for a moment, and then nodded. The orc warrior shrugged, rolling his shoulders and setting himself against the stone. Together the pair gave a mighty shove, and after what felt like an eternity the boulder rolled, and the troll woman was freed. However, she was hardly better off. Her lithe body was crushed almost to the hips, her long robes lying nearly flat against the ground. Himni quickly knelt, and softly began to intone a prayer. Zuljynn watched as his friend's hands began to glow with the brilliant healing light. Himni began to sweat, his hands trembling. Zuljynn had never seen him like this. The glow grew in intensity, and Zuljynn raised his hand to shield his eyes, and then all at once the glow was gone. As his vision cleared, and as he lowered his hand Zuljynn could see his friend, laid back on the stones, panting for breath. But to Zuljynn's utter amazement, the Troll woman's legs looked significantly better, and the massive cut on her head had closed, and, she was breathing.
"Than- thank you mon," she breathed softly, her voice still weak.
Himni nodded, turning to his friend with a soft smile, "And you were doubtf--"
He was cut off by a loud cracking noise, unlike anything any of them had heard, and then once more the earth began to shake, almost as though it was a child in pain. And then the noise intensified, the cracking growing louder. With a look to the east Zuljynn gasped, and Himni weakly raised himself slowly to his feet, following the gaze of his friend.
"By the light," was all the sin'dorei could say.
Rising up over the mountains to the east, higher than was, at least as far as any of them knew, possible was a tidal wave. A literal wall of water, and it was moving towards them, swallowing up entire peaks in its watery maw.
"Move Elf!" Zuljynn shouted, reaching down to scoop up the injured troll woman, slinging her over his shoulder and hauling himself into Veneficus' saddle. To his right Himni had clambered aboard his charger and the two urged their mounts into a dead run, making for where they knew the Great Lift lie.
"We'll never make it!" Himni shouted, barely audible over the roar of the approaching wave.
With a glance over his shoulder Zuljynn realized his friend was right, there was no way they could make the lift before that deluge turned the canyon into the largest resevoir in Azeroth. It was then that he felt a gentle tug at his beard. Glancing down he saw the troll woman, and she motioned him close. Trusting in his ravasaur he leaned down, and she spoke into his ear, though over the roar of the approaching wave, he could barely hear her.
"--- mon, if ye--- portal."
That last word was all he needed, and he raised a hand, signaling a halt. Himni reined in hard, his horses rump nearly sliding along the rock floor. Venificus ground it's claws into the stone, bringing itself to a stop as well.
"Why are we stopping?" Himni shouted.
"Portal," Zuljynn replied gruffly, doing his best to prop up the troll, who had just revealed herself as a mage. She began to chant, and weave her fingers intricately. It was then, that the earth once again gave a great heave, nearly taking the trio from their feet with its first surge. It's subsequent surge caused a great crack to form, and Zuljynn watched in horror as it separated himself from his sin'dorei friend. To his further dismay Himni was swept from his feet by the roll of the earth, and the wave was drawing ever close.
"You have less than two minutes!" Zuljynn shouted, "Veneficus! Keep her standing!"
The ravasuar hissed, and moved into position, giving the mage somewhere to lean as she finished her spell. Zulynn meanwhile grunted, for once cursing the heavy plate armor he wore, as he took a running leap, feeling the air rush out of him as he didn't quite clear the widening chasm. With one hand gripping the cracked stones atop the cliff he now dangled over, his other hand sought his brilliantly glowing sword, and with a heave and a battle cry he hauled himself as high as he could, driving the fine saronite blade into the earth, using it as a second grip to bring himself up on top of the cliff. Himni still lay there, dazed, and at this point no sound could be heard over the rushing waves, and the water had begun to fill the canyon, and was rushing towards them, a wave of strangely lukewarm air rushing past them. Zuljynn ran to his friend, hauling him to his feet, and with dismay finding him unconscious from the blow to the head when he'd struck the ground. With a grunt Zuljynn hauled the paladin to his feet and moved toward the still widening chasm.
"Hurry mon! I can't be holding this portal foreva!"
Zuljynn simply grunted, though he knew she couldn't hear it. With a look behind him, he knew that he was doomed. There was no way he could make the distance now that the chasm had grown even larger, especially not with Himni in his arms. It was then that he made the decision. With a cry that echoed throughout the canyone, despite the crashing sound of the waves, he ran at the chasm. As he neared the edge he stopped, and flexed his bulging muscles, and with every ounce of his strength hurled Himni through the air.
"VENEFICUS!" the orc shouted, and the ravasaur moved, positioning itself directly underneath the paladin. It moved rapidly to the portal, stepping through unquestiongly, the mage and the great charger that belonged to the paladin right behind it. The slight wrench of the portal roused the Blood Elf, who looked up through the shrinking window into the forever changing Thousand Needles. The cry that escaped the paladin's voice was stricken, one of indescribable pain.
"Zul!"
The portal had shrunk to barely the size of a window, and the now sobbing paladin, and the troll mage, her eyes filled with tears, watched as the proud orc, turned to face down the approaching wave. The warrior ripped his sword from the earth and swung his shield in front of him, looking as though he intended to do battle with the approaching deluge. As the portals window closed, the survivors watched as the warrior charged, a guttural shout issuing forth from his lips, only to be crushed beneath the impossibly gigantic wave.
Himni collapsed, a gout of spray covering himself, the two mounts and the troll, as well as a few of the traveler's moving through Dalaran's streets who had stopped to stare at the scene unfolding beyond the portal. The paladin couldn't stand, and the word he could speak was the name of his friend, repeated time and time again. The troll mage, hobbled to his side, and without fear of the racial implication, wrapped her arms around the sobbing man, holding him close.
"He was a hero mon, and he died as such. He saved meh life, and yurs as well mon. Don't cry, he was a warrior, and he went out saving his friend. I think that be how he wanted to go."
There was nothing that Himni could say, and in despair he buried his face in the shoulder of the mage, and cried.
Chapter 2: A Journey of Friends
The wind whipped past them as they rode, their mounts surging beneath them. The road from Orgimmar had been long, but the great ravasaur and the strong willed stallion had carried their masters without complaint. The sun was rising as the pair of companions came over the hill. Himni grinned broadly as the sun sparkled across the walls of the city at the base of the hill.
"There it is," he said exultantly, sweeping his arms grandly and turning to face his friend, "Silvermoon."
The big orc to his side cast a glance at him from the corner of his eye and grunted.
Himni grinned at his friend and loosed a peal of his infectious laughter. His companion shook his head and clapped his heels to the flanks of his ravasaur, the beast charging down the hill. Himni rolled his eyes at his stoic friend and followed after him. The pair reined in just before the walls of the city and a pretty young sin'dorei smiles impishly as Himni, and Himni gave her a wink. It would seem, Zuljynn noted, that the pair knew one another, and knowing Himni, the relationship was probably more than just professional.
The young woman snapped her fingers and a pair of retainer hurried forward to take the reins of the mounts, as the two companions dismounted.
Zuljynn turned to the sin'dorei that reached for the reins of the big ravasaur and held up a cautionary hand, "Be careful, he bites, and you'd better find a priest quickly if he does."
The retainer took a slow swallow, and cautiously took the reins. Zuljynn stepped around in front of the beast and took its head firmly in its gauntleted hands. The tone of his voice as he spoke to his mount was one that would force even the most drunken dwarf to pay him heed.
"Go with this man Venificus," he said firmly, "don't bite him, don't gore him, and do not try and trip him with your tail. Do we understand each other?"
The ravasaur clacked its teeth together and hissed at him, and underneath his helmet Zuljynn grinned, patting the scaly face and releasing him to the retainer's care. Himni chuckled under his breath as the pair followed the skymistress towards her stable of dragonhawks.
"Why do you put up with that brute Zul?" The blonde paladin asked, "I'm sure we can speak with Gloaming here and she could get you a nice hawkstrider to ride."
Zuljynn stopped walking, staring hard at his friend. The look on Himni's face was innocent, and after a moment Zuljynn just shook his head in disgust.
"If you think for a moment that I'm going to prance around on one of those overgrown chickens, elf, you've got another thing coming. Besides, do you really think I spent those weeks in Un'goro for the pleasure of it all? Venificus and I are perfectly matched," the burly orc growled.
"That's the Light's own truth," Himni replied piously.
It wasn't much long thereafter that Skymistress Gloaming lead two large dragonhawks out of the pen. Zuljynn clambered aboard, and turned to watch Himni and the young Skymistress. Their voices were quiet and the warrior couldn't hear what they were saying, but he was sure that Himni was making promises again. He made promises to half a dozen women on a weekly basis, and sometimes he even kept them. Despite the his friend's devotion to the Light, there were some tenants of the faith that he didn't hold to as firmly. Zuljynn didn't mind however, in spite of the guff he gave the lanky paladin on a consistent basis, the orc couldn't have asked for a better traveling companion. Like Zuljynn, Himni had been raised outside of his homeland, however, the sin'dorei had returned home and had made a great effort to learn the history and traditions of his fathers, the culmination of that scholarly pursuit leading them to their present journey to the Isle of Quel'danas. Zuljynn didn't begrudge his friend his desire to learn more, and gladly accompanied him, though he longed to return to the roaming life. With Arthas defeated there had been quiet for a while, and the pair had explored much of the three continents, and even Zuljynn's distantly displaced home of Outland. Duty and adventure had called, however, when the Elemental Invasion began. Zuljynn hoped their trip to Quel'danas would be a quick one, but he would give his friend all the time he needed.
Zuljynn waited for a few moments more, then cleared his throat loudly, rousing the two sin'dorei from their interactions. Zuljynn noted that Gloaming was blushing slightly, and Himni gave his orcan friend a sly wink as he vaulted into the saddle of the dragonhawk. Zuljynn couldn't help but laugh, one of the few times that sound escaped his lips, as the two jerked on the reins and the pair of dragonhawks carried their riders into the air. The flight was leisurely and as the bird's banked to the north Himni shouted to his friend.
"Be sure and remind me that we should hearth back to Dalaran following my meetings. I don't think we should come back this way."
"I take it the Skymistress has some ideas that you're not quite fond of right now?"
"She's looking for committment," Himni shouted back to him, "and I'm just not there yet. I told her that my mind was so enraptured with my studies right now that I couldn't make a sure decision, but that I'd answer her as soon as I returned. So the key is, we don't return until she's forgotten about it."
"Don't you sin'dorei have very long memories Himni?" Zuljynn asked.
"Very. So I don't think I'll be seeing Silvermoon for quite a while," the paladin replied with a perfectly straight face.
Zuljynn rolled his eyes, and took a firmer grip on the reins, it wasn't much longer before the Isle of Quel'danas came into view, the recognizable Dead Scar marring the otherwise beautiful landscape. The dragonhawks circled for approach, and Zuljynn mentally began to prepare himself for a few days of dealing with the Shattered Sun Offensive, and by extension hundreds of laughing sin'dorei.
"There it is," he said exultantly, sweeping his arms grandly and turning to face his friend, "Silvermoon."
The big orc to his side cast a glance at him from the corner of his eye and grunted.
Himni grinned at his friend and loosed a peal of his infectious laughter. His companion shook his head and clapped his heels to the flanks of his ravasaur, the beast charging down the hill. Himni rolled his eyes at his stoic friend and followed after him. The pair reined in just before the walls of the city and a pretty young sin'dorei smiles impishly as Himni, and Himni gave her a wink. It would seem, Zuljynn noted, that the pair knew one another, and knowing Himni, the relationship was probably more than just professional.
The young woman snapped her fingers and a pair of retainer hurried forward to take the reins of the mounts, as the two companions dismounted.
Zuljynn turned to the sin'dorei that reached for the reins of the big ravasaur and held up a cautionary hand, "Be careful, he bites, and you'd better find a priest quickly if he does."
The retainer took a slow swallow, and cautiously took the reins. Zuljynn stepped around in front of the beast and took its head firmly in its gauntleted hands. The tone of his voice as he spoke to his mount was one that would force even the most drunken dwarf to pay him heed.
"Go with this man Venificus," he said firmly, "don't bite him, don't gore him, and do not try and trip him with your tail. Do we understand each other?"
The ravasaur clacked its teeth together and hissed at him, and underneath his helmet Zuljynn grinned, patting the scaly face and releasing him to the retainer's care. Himni chuckled under his breath as the pair followed the skymistress towards her stable of dragonhawks.
"Why do you put up with that brute Zul?" The blonde paladin asked, "I'm sure we can speak with Gloaming here and she could get you a nice hawkstrider to ride."
Zuljynn stopped walking, staring hard at his friend. The look on Himni's face was innocent, and after a moment Zuljynn just shook his head in disgust.
"If you think for a moment that I'm going to prance around on one of those overgrown chickens, elf, you've got another thing coming. Besides, do you really think I spent those weeks in Un'goro for the pleasure of it all? Venificus and I are perfectly matched," the burly orc growled.
"That's the Light's own truth," Himni replied piously.
It wasn't much long thereafter that Skymistress Gloaming lead two large dragonhawks out of the pen. Zuljynn clambered aboard, and turned to watch Himni and the young Skymistress. Their voices were quiet and the warrior couldn't hear what they were saying, but he was sure that Himni was making promises again. He made promises to half a dozen women on a weekly basis, and sometimes he even kept them. Despite the his friend's devotion to the Light, there were some tenants of the faith that he didn't hold to as firmly. Zuljynn didn't mind however, in spite of the guff he gave the lanky paladin on a consistent basis, the orc couldn't have asked for a better traveling companion. Like Zuljynn, Himni had been raised outside of his homeland, however, the sin'dorei had returned home and had made a great effort to learn the history and traditions of his fathers, the culmination of that scholarly pursuit leading them to their present journey to the Isle of Quel'danas. Zuljynn didn't begrudge his friend his desire to learn more, and gladly accompanied him, though he longed to return to the roaming life. With Arthas defeated there had been quiet for a while, and the pair had explored much of the three continents, and even Zuljynn's distantly displaced home of Outland. Duty and adventure had called, however, when the Elemental Invasion began. Zuljynn hoped their trip to Quel'danas would be a quick one, but he would give his friend all the time he needed.
Zuljynn waited for a few moments more, then cleared his throat loudly, rousing the two sin'dorei from their interactions. Zuljynn noted that Gloaming was blushing slightly, and Himni gave his orcan friend a sly wink as he vaulted into the saddle of the dragonhawk. Zuljynn couldn't help but laugh, one of the few times that sound escaped his lips, as the two jerked on the reins and the pair of dragonhawks carried their riders into the air. The flight was leisurely and as the bird's banked to the north Himni shouted to his friend.
"Be sure and remind me that we should hearth back to Dalaran following my meetings. I don't think we should come back this way."
"I take it the Skymistress has some ideas that you're not quite fond of right now?"
"She's looking for committment," Himni shouted back to him, "and I'm just not there yet. I told her that my mind was so enraptured with my studies right now that I couldn't make a sure decision, but that I'd answer her as soon as I returned. So the key is, we don't return until she's forgotten about it."
"Don't you sin'dorei have very long memories Himni?" Zuljynn asked.
"Very. So I don't think I'll be seeing Silvermoon for quite a while," the paladin replied with a perfectly straight face.
Zuljynn rolled his eyes, and took a firmer grip on the reins, it wasn't much longer before the Isle of Quel'danas came into view, the recognizable Dead Scar marring the otherwise beautiful landscape. The dragonhawks circled for approach, and Zuljynn mentally began to prepare himself for a few days of dealing with the Shattered Sun Offensive, and by extension hundreds of laughing sin'dorei.
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