More misery

When I woke up this morning on Fray Island, Ysabelle had already gone – which I was expecting.  I didn’t see her until later in the night, when the entirety of the Guard met to assault Theramore Island.  Ysabelle and I arrived in the marsh together, but kept our distance from each other.  I figured it wouldn’t really be appropriate to be pawing her while listening to Alkaiser give orders on where and how to attack – as much as I might like to have been at the time.  

We were each broken into smaller groups prior to invading the island fortress.  I was placed with Miralan, Achates, and Fandaleen.  At the time I thought maybe Alkaiser intentionally placed me in a different group from Ysabelle, but I convinced myself I was just being paranoid.  After what happened later that evening, though, I’m not so sure.

The assault went well for the most part.  We went through the town without much resistance, it took Jaina Proudmoore herself to turn us back.  Even though we were bested by her, we still considered the assault a success.

Afterwards, we each made our back to Silvermoon.  Jaina had us pretty well scattered, so we all trickled into the city one by one.  I met Fandaleen and a few others at the usual gathering place, but left shortly after to change into some more comfortable clothes.  This plate armor is going to take some getting used to.  As I was out walking around I came upon Chrysalis and Nefarirr sitting by the fountain.  Nefarirr was pleasant enough, but Chrysalis saw me and lunged, grabbing hold of me and pulling my face to hers – at first I thought she was going to kiss me, but no such luck.  She was furious, she told me how Alkaiser found out about what Ysabelle and I had done, and that he had ended things with her.  She told me that now Ysabelle was a wreck, that she was begging and pleading him to take her back. 

Then Chrysalis bit me on the neck.  She was blaming me for Ysabelle being so upset, and I just didn’t want to hear it.  I summoned my horse and got away from her as fast as I could.  She tried contacting me through my brand, but I ignored her. 

Just last night Ysabelle told me that she loved me.  She told me that she wanted to be free to be with me.  Why she would lie about that I don’t know, but lie is what she did.  She wanted to be free from him, and she got her wish.  Now she’s upset over this?  Did she ever even want to be with me?  Did she think she could keep me on the side forever?  She knows what it’s like to have to compete for someone’s affection, I know that she won’t tolerate being someone’s second choice.  But she expects me to endure what she cannot?  I don’t know what the truth is anymore, and I don’t even know if she’s capable of telling me the truth. 

This has just been too much.  I’ve been going back and forth with her for too long.  I’m sick of it, and I’m finished.  She deserves the misery that she feels. 

Changing colors

My break ended up being a short one.  I was staying in Gadgetzan, picking up whatever work I could from the goblins in the desert.  Someone up there has a bizarre sense of humor, though, because just as I was beginning to enjoy the freedom of working on my own I ran into Ysabelle.  We worked together for a time, but it wasn’t long before she was called back to Silvermoon. 

Then, Chrysalis started speaking to me through my brand and I pretty much gave up on having some quiet time.  The company was actually very much appreciated.  Apparently I missed quite a bit by not going to the last meeting of the Silverguard.  Chrysalis told me how Alkaiser and the Bloodguard learned that Prince Kael’thas isn’t looking out for us they way we had all thought.  Seems he’s now allied himself with the Legion. 

Maybe it’s just that the news hasn’t sunk in yet, but I can’t admit to feeling too affected by this.  Maybe it’s because I was never really up on what was going on in the Outlands, or maybe I was just too absorbed in everything going on in my own life to concern myself with the bigger picture.  Maybe I still am. 

Either way, the purpose of the Silverguard has changed.  Chrysalis is excited by this, as she can now openly tell people that she follows the Scryers without fear of people judging her.  Despite the bad news she seemed optimistic, and I let her know that I would follow her in any decision she makes.  I know I can trust her. 

Back to business

Much has happened since I last wrote.  With the Silverguard I took part in a raid on Darkshore, Chrysalis has followed me in joining the guild, and I ventured into the fallen Gnomish city with Ysabelle, Achates, and Fandaleen. 

Chrysalis has gotten much stronger, and I feel like she’ll soon be better with a sword than I am at the rate she’s going. 

Fandaleen is a lot of fun, I’d like to get to know her a bit better. 

It’d be easy to think Achates to be in over his head in just about any situation, the way he carries himself, but I know we would not have made it out of Gnomeregan without his help. 

Ysabelle has opened up quite a bit since we first met.  I haven’t spent as much time with her as I might have liked, she’s been seeing someone – which I didn’t know until know until recently.  Which is fine, by the way, I just don’t know why she didn’t mention to him to me at all, I sort of figured this out for myself.  Still, I wonder if he knows where Ysabelle’s been spending her nights. 

It doesn’t matter, though, I’ve just focused all my attention on getting my work done.  I can’t really say that I’m happy, but at least I’ll be doing some good.  I’ve been having trouble sleeping, too.  Seems the only way I can sleep through the night is if I stay up half of it chopping centaur (or anything really) to bits until I’m too exhausted to do anything but pass out.

The Silverlord has commented on the rapid progress of my training – the result of all these late nights - but I know I’ve snapped at people I probably shouldn’t have in my exhaustion.  The last time we saw each other, Ysabelle also said something about me being more reckless than normal.  Maybe she’s right, I don’t know.  Either way, I’m not hers to look after.  That much is clear. 

Branding

I got a letter from Ysabelle.  She wrote that she had spoken with her lord, and that he would like to meet with me regarding my joining the Silverguard.  So, arrangements were made.  I was to meet with Alkaiser, the Silverlord, outside of Orgrimmar’s Talon Gate that very night. 

There were a few other people there, the Silverlord’s Bloodguards Arathael and Karlei, and a younger girl who’s name I didn’t catch.  There was also a priest there looking to join up, a guy named Nefarirr.  The whole process went by in a bit of a blur, we had to vow our loyalty or somesuch – I don’t even remember what I said, I think I was more concerned about not tripping and falling into the river that we were all standing next to.

Well, after I said whatever I said, I had this mark burned into the top of my hand.  The brand apparently allows me to speak with other members of the Silverguard over great distances, on top of serving to remind me not to blurt out anything stupid in front of one of my would-be superiors.  That’s mainly why I wanted it placed on a highly visible part of my body – so I won’t forget that it’s there.

I wonder if my room in the Keep will be near Ysabelle’s? 

One story ends, another begins

After I left Ysabelle I used my hearthstone to take me back to Silvermoon where I immediately made my way to Bloodvalor in Farstriders’ Square.  I think he was actually a little bit surprised that I had managed to complete the trial, but maybe I was just imagining that.  I feel like people generally have low expectations of me - which usually works in my favor.  But not always.   

Anyway, with the crest I retrieved from the fallen knight in Deatholme, Bloodvalor granted me the title of Bloodknight Adept.  He then had me take the blood of the wrathful, the corrupted kor gem, and the blood-forged ingots to the smith on the other side of the square.  I did so, and the smith got right to work crafting the weapon for me.  One thing that took me by surprise, though, was the reaction from someone else working at the forge nearby.  He saw what we were doing and what materials we were working with and left the area, as if disgusted.  I suppose this is something I should get used to.  Some people simply do not approve of the way the Bloodknights take their power, or maybe they’re just afraid.    That’s okay.  The occasional dirty look is a small price to pay for a weapon like this. 

I have to admit that completing the trial did give me a bit of a confidence boost, even though I did have lots of help along the way.  So, riding high, I marched right into Silverguard Keep and applied to join the guild.  I still had some doubts about whether I truly belong with a bunch like that, but at least this trial taught me that I can hold my own. 

Besides, I already know one of their members, and I think this one will make it all worthwhile.      

A familiar face in an unlikely place

The last thing I needed for my ranseur was a crate of blood-forged ingots, and this required a trip back across the sea to Shadowfang Keep in Silverpine.  Not a big deal since I would have to head back in that direction anyway once this was all over and done with. 

Silverpine is creepy, but Shadowfang Keep is creepier.  The minute I stepped in I had a filthy, drooling, black wolf lunge at me, seemingly intent on having my face for dinner.  I saw another wolf run in from around the corner, no doubt lured by sound of the struggle, and out of the corner of my eye I saw a worgen approach in all his loinclothed glory. 

The feeling of dread I was experiencing at that moment brought me back to my predicament upon entering Blackfathom Deeps.  I think it was right at that moment where I was ready to accept the fact that I would soon be separated from my juggular when a ball of flame smacked the wolf in the shoulder, knocking it off of me with a whimper. 

I heard some muttering in a foul language and turned to see a demon imp hopping towards me, hurling flames at the wolves and the worgen.  I got to my feet as quickly as I could and buried my sword in the neck of the worgen – this just as I saw the wolves writhing in pain on the floor, as if overcome by something, before the imp turned them to ash.

As the room quieted, I shouldered my sword and leaned against the wall to catch my breath.  I kept an eye on the imp, fully expecting me to aim his fire at me next.  The look he was giving me told me that he would like nothing better, I think the approach of a hooded woman from the shadows was the only thing that stayed his hand.  The imp was clearly not the one in control here.

The woman, she didn’t even look at me, just walked right past me and said, “And what are you supposed to be, some kind of hero?”

Near-death experiences don’t exactly put me in the best moods.  Some people might get a thrill out of the excitement, but I’m rather content to remain alive and in one piece.  That’s not to say I’m afraid of a little tussle – I just don’t like to walk into any situation that I don’t know I’ll walk out of.  Needless to say, the whole thing with the wolves left me a bit shaken. 

She might not have realized that, though – or maybe she did, what do I know? - because without thinking I just blurted out, “As a matter of fact, yes.”

I swear I saw her lips form the briefest, faintest smile just then - but I could be wrong.

So anyway, this woman just walks past me into the next room, which just happened to fill up with more wolves who undoubtedly heard our approach.  With a wave of her hand, though, an enormous voidwalker took the place of the imp at her side and began beating the wolves to a bloody pulp.  The woman, meanwhile, was weaving her own hexes and tossing what looked like bolts of shadow at the beasts.  In truth I don’t know what she was doing, but it looked painful.  For the wolves, that is.

I followed her as she made her way through the castle, leaving a trail of dead dog behind her.  I got a few swings with my sword in when I could, but for the most part she was putting the beasts down faster than I could reach them.  So while she did all the work, I made awkward smalltalk in some bizarre attempt at contributing something.  She apparently found me amusing, though, as she let her guard down enough to laugh a few times. 

After a time she began to join the conversation that had up until that point been rather one-sided.  I learned that she was there “treasure-hunting,” and she agreed to lead me to the stables where I could find my ingots.  She really knew her way around, I guess she was a frequent guest of the worgen.

With her as a guide I found the ingots in no time at all, and at that point we both agreed that we’d had enough of the place.  We left the castle without incident and began to walk north along the road towards the Undercity. 

At one point we paused, the woman pulled back her hood and shook out her black hair.  She looked up and met my eyes for the first time, and I thought I was going to pass out.  It was the Silverguard girl from the other night!  Only… she didn’t seem to recognize me, at all.  Which pretty much figured. 

For whatever reason I didn’t say anything about that night in Eversong, she didn’t remember, so I figured she probably didn’t want to remember.  Besides, what difference did it really make?  Then she told me she had a meeting to attend with her guild.

For some reason I’ll never be able to explain, I just blurted out (I do this a lot, I’m beginning to realize – blurting things out, that is), “So do I have to join this Silverguard if I’m to be able to see you again?” 

At this point I expected her to raise an eyebrow or shake her head at my ridiculousness. Then she surprised me and actually invited me along, saying something about it being nice to have someone like me there.  I wasn’t quite sure if “someone like me” was a good thing or not. 

I don’t know what it was about her, but I didn’t want to say goodbye to the girl.  But then I surprised myself and actually turned down her offer.  We parted ways, but she said she wouldn’t mind seeing me again sometime and thanked me for making her laugh (something I’m not sure I was doing intentionally). 

Ysabelle was her name, she told me. 

So - me?  In the Silverguard?  I don’t know, I got a funny vibe being in the Keep the other night - I don’t know that I’m up for that kind of life, following orders and whatnot, being told when to eat, sleep, and when to bend my knee to some guy I don’t know. 

Then again, maybe I’ll think about it.  People have done crazier things for a girl, I’m sure. 

  

Leaving Home

My first stop was to be the orcish city of Orgrimmar, a place I was eager to see.  I would not be returning to Silvermoon until my job was complete, so I decided to pack the few things I could say were mine and check out of Wayfarer’s Rest.  I had been able to sell some simple pieces of armor that I crafted from ore I had come across in my travels, but it still left me with barely enough to settle the bill at the inn.  Perhaps I should have paid more attention to dad when he tried to teach me about his work, maybe then I could have made something worth more than a few coppers. 

As I left the inn I saw a crier running through the Walk of Elders, yelling something about an Alliance attack on Fairbreeze Village and other points in the wood.  A company of soldiers ran past me and through the gate, followed by all manner of person willing and able to defend what little lands we had left.  I tighted the strap on my pack so it wouldn’t bounce around and joined the crowd rushing into the battle. 

When I reached Fairbreeze, where the bulk of the fighting was happening, I thought I had made a huge mistake.  This was not the kind of skirmish that has become so ordinary in the wood since we declared our allegiance to the Horde.  This was a well-coordinated attack being made by well-seasoned fighters with swords bigger than I was.  Blood Knight or no, I was out of my league here and stood no chance at combat with this army.  Rather than throw my life away, I looked for others I could help. 

I saw a man whose legs had been trapped underneath some tumbled rocks – the effect of a small gnomish bomb, it seemed.  I was able to move the rocks and saw him to the relative safety of Falconwing Square.  As I ran back towards Fairbreeze I spotted a dark-haired girl dressed in a fine gown, tattered though it was, walking straight into the fighting.  She was unarmed and appeared to be in a bit of daze, judging by the slow, drifting steps she was taking.  There was even a baby dragon – the likes of which I had never seen before - tugging at her dress with it’s teeth, apparently in a futile attempt to direct the woman away from the melee.

I rushed over to her and asked what she was doing.  She didn’t respond, but her face was flush as if she had been crying.   A bullet sent from a dwarven rifleman rang past my ear and I knew we had to get out of there.  I placed my hands on the woman’s shoulders, intending to turn her in the direction of the city and lead her back, but she tensed at my touch and met my eyes with a look of fear I couldn’t place.  Another bullet buried itself in the dirt in front of my feet as I told her that I’m not the one she should be afraid of right now. 

I heard a growl and looked up to see a kal’dorei druid barrelling towards us in direbear form, but a volley of Farstriders’ arrows slowed him down enough for me to grab the girl’s hand - a bit more roughly than she probably cared for - and get out of there.  I practically dragged her through the wood and across the Dead Scar, pausing only once to throw a little blast of exorcism at the face of a mindless Scourge minion in our path.

We eventually made it to the gate of the city - no thanks to the girl’s lead feet.  I had planned on taking her to the Wayfarer’s Rest to get her to sit down, relax, and come to her senses.  When I started moving in that direction, though, the dragon sceeched and dove down, grabbing my cloak in its teeth and pulling me a different direction.  Don’t ask me why, but I followed the little guy’s lead and, after a time, was brought right to the door of Silverguard Keep! 

There was a person sitting behind a large desk at the end of the entry hall who, unphased by the state of the girl, informed me that she did indeed live there and directed me to her quarters.  Once we reached her room I didn’t linger, I didn’t really have any idea what I was still doing there in the first place – I probably should have just left the girl with the person at the desk.  She walked straight over to her bed and nearly collapsed – whatever ordeal she had been put through must have taken a lot out of her.  She seemed okay, though, or at least unharmed from what I could tell.  I placed my last healing potion on a shelf where I thought she would see it - I figured she might want something when she wakes up – and left her.

The dragon gave me a happy chirp on my way out, and I asked the guy at the desk to look in on the girl in a bit.  He gave me a look that said, “Unlikely.”

As I exited Silverguard Keep I saw some soldiers walking back into the city, their wounded in tow.  The battle was over, it seemed.

With nothing left for me to do there, I adjusted my pack and set off for the Undercity.