Favors are a valuable commodity
Sir Lightpath read over the note. I was told that you were acquainted with a paladin by the name of Auralis Zurenhoff. I would consider it a personal favor if you were to let her know that I will be at the Blue Recluse waiting to see her.
Stenholm crumpled the paper and threw it on the floor. The nerve of that woman! Asking him for favors…. He paced across the floor. Still… he was a shrewd man; this “favor” may come in handy someday. But why in the world would that… that… assassin want to see the young Auralis? What business could she possibly have with her? Read the rest of this entry »
Sleep is Pain’s easiest salve….
Bjorke woke to find Edrick pulling on the last of his armor. He grinned at her, that slightly lopsided grin, and she realized something was different. She sat up and looked around, trying to figure it out, like trying to remember a dream…. That was it! The nightmares! Bjorke looked up at Edrick, her face full of surprise.
“What is it, woman? Surprised to find me not in your bed?” His laugh echoed around the barracks walls.
“Ed! I slept!” A look of puzzlement crossed his face. “I mean… no nightmares… I slept the whole night.”
He nodded. “Perhaps you are starting to make peace with your past, then.”
Bjorke stretched, then winced at the pain in her rib. She laced up her chest armor tightly, to protect the injury, and gathered up her gear. “I need to head to Stormwind, my friend. I have a message to deliver.”
They parted ways, and as Bjorke headed back to the city, she composed a note in her head. Outside the Cathedral, she pulled parchment and pen from her bag, and wrote the message, folded it, and then sealed it with wax and and her ring bearing the Ravenholdt crest. Slipping towards the entry, she caught the eye of the altar boy, and signaled him over to her.
“Here. Give this to Sir Stenholm Lightpath.” She slipped him a silver coin, and a candy bar the innkeeper had given her. The boy stuffed the candy in his mouth, chewing greedily. He took the note and the coin, nodding and smiling, chocolate all over his mouth.
Bjorke headed to the Auction House, and to the work at hand. Her mind felt clear, her thoughts unclouded. The night of restful sleep had done wonders for her disposition, and she actually smiled at the people in the street as she passed them.
Lessons Learned
“Let us see how well you have learned your lessons, Bjorke.” Edrick’s voice was commanding, as usual. A murmur of a stunned laughter spread through the guild comm. Did he not know her rank? Will she let him get away with addressing her so informally?
“Would you like to rephrase that, Recruit?” Bjorke’s voice revealed her own amusement at the situation.
“We are all students and teachers at various time, Bjorke… er… Field Marshal,” he replied, chuckling.
“Ha ha! Wisely said, my friend. Very well, let’s head out and see just how much I have learned then.” Read the rest of this entry »
A Glimpse of the Past
Bjorke cleared the dirt and leaves from the small gravestone in Southshore. There was simply a name carved in the granite, “Issa Aurelius,” no dates. Nothing to remind her of just how short a time they had together.
“She had a giggle like tinkling glass.” Daetura Snapdragon had accompanied Bjorke here, in an effort to comfort her friend. “And her eyes were just like her father’s.”
The tall, stately nightelf sat quietly, not wishing to intrude upon Bjorke’s thoughts, but listening carefully to what was not being said. She had a knack for drawing Bjorke out, letting her reveal her deeper feelings. Their friendship had grown as they had hammered out an alliance between their guilds, growing from the respect for each other’s leadership. Read the rest of this entry »
Sunlight on Snow
Bjorke met Edrick by the pond in the Park. Dark circles under her eyes had him frowning at her. “Have you been drinking again?” His voice was stern, tinged with disappointment.
“No! Not a drop, Ed. I swear it. It’s just… these nightmares…” She shook her head, as if trying to clear out the images.
“You are still affected by the joining. The images will pass in time.” He patted her on the shoulder, nearly knocking her over.
Bjorke sank down on the cold stones surrounding the pond, pulling her knees up to her chest. There were few people she would trust to see her so vulnerable and unsure. “Why? Why these faces? What brings them from my past? Shouldn’t the visions all been from your mind?” She lay her cheek on one knee, looking at him, imploring him for answers. Read the rest of this entry »
Visions of the Past
Bjorke attended the Mondo held by the Kai Zen, led by Daetura Snapdragon. The evening went well, giving Bjorke much to think about as usual. After the meeting, Daetura offered food to everyone, but Bjorke’s training program had her fasting after sundown. She had felt odd all day – a strange buzzing sensation in the back of her head, and nauseous. Daetura looked at her, asking if she was alright.
“Fine. Just had a big day yesterday. I suppose it drained me.”
“Have some food then. I prepared it myself.” The strong, elegant Night Elf smiled at her kindly. Bjorke felt they were kindred spirits, and enjoyed speaking to her about their guilds’ alliance. Read the rest of this entry »
Vision Quest
As she headed down to the basement of the tavern, looking for the trunk she had stored down there, Bjorke thought over what Edrick wanted her to do. He was going to attempt a ritual that would allow him to communicate with his gods. A ghostwalk, he called it. He needed Bjorke to “anchor” him to the real world. She was a bit skeptical over the whole thing, but that didn’t matter. If he need her help, she would give it. She was ready, too, for this, as if it was her Destiny. Her rigorous training program had her in better condition than ever. Her mind felt clear, too. She told this to Edrick and he seemed pleased, saying perhaps the Prophets had willed it.
Prophets, Destiny, gods… none of this made much sense to Bjorke. But her friendship with Edrick did make sense to her. Even though she was not sure why they were friends, they seemed to have some deep connection. Read the rest of this entry »
Actions speak louder than words
Bjorke poured over the book, looking at the ranks and troops. A few promotions were in order, it seemed. She would have to conduct reviews. She nodded to herself and reached for her tankard, wondering if she would ever get used to the taste of water. Bjorke sighed, and sat back in her chair. “I wonder what Garnil is up to now… I bet he’s having a grand time cracking skulls,” she thought to herself.
Her hand went back to the plain envelope she had found in the mail. I have been watching you, and am intrigued by your beauty…. It seemed she had a secret admirer, one who enjoyed love poetry, at that. She chuckled, then read the poem again. He certainly did have a way with words. Read the rest of this entry »
Tub Thinking
“The Self says, ‘I am;’ the Heart says, ‘I am less;’ the Spirit says, ‘You are nothing.’” This was the Koan that Daetura had offered at the meeting Bjorke had attended. She had puzzled over this for weeks. The night of the meeting, Bjorke had offered her interpretation of the Koan.
“The Self is what you are. Everyone feels they are important, just simply by being. Then when you love someone, your Heart tells you that the other person is more important.” But the last part eluded her. Bjorke had never been a spiritual person. Neither the devotion to Elune nor the meditations of the Light made sense to her. Why spend time thinking of something that could not be touched? Read the rest of this entry »
Command Change
“You wanted to see me, Sir?” Bjorke stood before Commander Thunderman’s desk in his private office inside Stormwind Keep, making notes in a large book. When he finished, and closed the book, Bjorke saluted. He gave a crisp salute back, and Bjorke stood at ease.
“Marshal, I have orders from the King. There is a mission headed for Netherstorm. It will be a long and dangerous campaign.” He paused.
“Yes, Sir. I’ll start gearing up.” Bjorke tried to hide her excitement at the prospect of such a mission.
“No, Marshal. You are not going.” His accent thickened, telling Bjorke the seriousness of his words.
“Sir?”
“I am to go. I have been called to duty by my King. However, I do need something from you.” He paused again, knowing the burden he was about to ask.
“I need you to command Sterling in my absence. I cannot give the guild the attention it needs and perform my duties for the King as well. I will be back, from time to time, to check on things. But you need to step up, and lead the Guild of Sterling.” He stood, picked up the book he had been writing in, and handed it to Bjorke. The heavy, leather-bound tome had the crest of Sterling on it.
Bjorke held the book in her hands, running her fingers over the raised crest. She looked up at Commander Thunderman, puzzled. “Me, sir?”
“I have come to depend on you a great deal, Marshal. You know what needs to be done.” He moved around the desk to stand next to Bjorke; she turned to face him, noticing the gleam in his eyes. He enjoyed the battle as much as she did. Perhaps more.
“Bjorke Aurelius, I hereby promote you to Field Marshal, in Command of the Guild of Sterling.” Garnil salutes, his face serious.
“Er… thank you, Sir.” Bjorke returns the salute.
Chuckling, he claps her on the shoulder. “It’s you who outranks me now, Field Marshal.”
A Change is in the Air
Hero whimpered. He could smell the cooking meat, and was eager for his meal. He looked from the fire, to Bjorke, and back again.
“Hungry, boy?” Bjorke chuckled at her faithful companion. She looked around, enjoying the quiet of the beach. It had been a long run down here, with a full pack, and the cool breeze from the South Seas felt good on her skin. When Hero and Bjorke had arrived at the secluded spot, she cached her bags and gear, stripping down to swim in the water. Afterwards, she slipped on her shirt, but didn’t feel like tugging the leather pants on over her damp skin.
She squatted next to the fire, waiting for the meat to cook. When it was done, she divided it up for her and her dog. They ate in silence, enjoying the companionship. Bjorke thought about the recent happenings. The Commander had been asking her to perform more and more tasks. Tasks that needed a delicate touch; tasks that needed a senior officer. Read the rest of this entry »
Tricks of the Training
Bjorke woke before the sun came in her window. The nightmare had long since faded, and she pulled herself out of bed, ready to face the new day. As she drew her bath, she thought about Auralis. Aska had seen her, and told her that Bjorke was alive. Ever since then, Bjorke had been to the Cathedral several times, looking for her. Certainly not her favorite place in Stormwind, especially after that incident when they discovered her conducting business in the crypt.
She bathed and dressed, pulling the tabard over her armor. She’d had to take on more responsibility since Kelandros resigned his commission. But it felt right. As if this was her Path, her Destiny. She longer felt lost. She wanted to live, but more than that, she wanted to experience that life fully, not just merely exist. Bjorke slipped the leather cord necklace over her head, tucking the feather and bone into her shirt. She turned to leave, then stopped. She crossed the room, back to the simple dresser, and opened a small wooden box, sliding the hidden catch. She took out a large gold signet ring, and put it in her pocket. “Just in case I find her today,” Bjorke said to Hero. Read the rest of this entry »
Hidden Scars
Smoke! She smelled smoke! Then a scream rang out. Bjorke signaled the second team to head in, then headed the other way around the buildings, motioning the Dwarf to follow her. The back door was engulfed in flames, and the pair looked quickly for another way in. Sven pointed to a root cellar door, and they headed down. The dank, dark cellar was cramped, even for the short man. Sounds of running and yelling came from above as they made their way to the opposite end of the cellar, and up the steps, through the door into the kitchen of the house. Bjorke led the way back towards the smoke and flames, then another scream from above. Upstairs! She turned and ran, heading towards the staircase, not even trying to be silent or unseen.
At the top of the stairs, two bodies lay. Rhin and Isse, back to back, in a pool of blood. A man crashed backwards out of the doorway, landing with a sick thud at her feet. Flynn. Bjorke looked from him, up to the doorway. Scarlet uniforms filled the room, like the flames were filling the downstairs. She saw Auralis slumped against the wall, and plunged into the fray, blades slashing. Three fewer Scarlets stood in the room. Read the rest of this entry »
From the Darkness
Bjorke walked into the Terrace of Light, her mind preoccupied with Guild business, and slammed into a wall. She cursed, then looked up to see Edrick’s form looming over her. She grinned up at him, remembering the first time she ran into him, just like this. His eyes glowed green, as if some arcane energy fueled them. He snarled at her. “Puny human, you think you know me?”
“Ed, what is wrong with you?”
“He is not here. And soon, none of you will be either.”
The last time she had spoken with Edrick, he had told her of an old god, the Vile One, the Usurper, and how he was plotting something, possessing others to do his bidding. A chill ran down her spine to think this had happened to her friend.
“Where is he? I want to speak with Edrick, Warmaster of Clan Malcore.” Bjorke pulled herself up to full height, squaring her shoulders, looking this abomination in the eye. He was still a good two feet taller than Bjorke, but she showed no fear. She owed her life to Edrick, and would give it freely to save him.
“You dare speak to me, puny human! I could kill you where you stand.”
“Better to die, than to live with your tyranny. I am ready.”
He drew his sword, and swung it back. His eyes faded just a moment, and the sword dropped to the ground, clanging against the stone. “NO! I will… not… allow… this!” He fell to his knees, panting.
“Ed?” Bjorke looked at him, trying to see if her friend had indeed returned.
“There is not much time, Bjorke. Take me someplace. Restain me. Don’t let me free.”
Bjorke’s mind worked quickly. “I have an idea. Can you walk?” He nodded, and struggled to his feet. Bjorke opened her kit, and coated a knife with a sleeping draught. She hoped it would not work too quickly, as she would never be able to move him on her own. “I am sorry, my friend,” she said as she slipped the blade in the space between his armor plates. His eyes flashed for a moment, then faded again. “Come on. I have a place in Ironforge.”
She struggled under his weight as she helped him to the portal. As they approached the steps to her room, he fell. “Edrick! To your feet, man! Are you going to let a human carry you?” She saw his eyes open, and a look of anger cross his face. Good, she thought. Pride is powerful. He stood, pulling his arm from her, and walked down the stairs. Bjorke motioned to a chair, and he sat down heavily.
She bound his legs and arms tightly, then moved back to watch him.
“You think you can keep me here, puny human?” a voice roared at her. Edrick’s head was slumped to the side, his eyes closed.
As she stood and wondered what to do, she remembered what Edrick had said about the Five Laws, how powerful they were. His teachings had saved her life; they would do the same for him. “Edrick! Edrick of Malcore! Listen to me!” she yelled at him. “What are the Five Laws! Tell me!”
The voice cackled at her. “They are nothing!”
“The Five Laws: Death, Strength, Wisdom, Honor and Love. Tell me, Edrick. Say it with me.”
His head shifted, his lips moved silently… “death.. strength…wisdom… honor.. love”
“Say it! You can do this.”
“Death. Strength. Wisdom. Honor. Love.” His voice grew stronger as he repeated the words. Lifting his head, he began to recite the lessons with each Law. As he finished, his head wrenched backwards, and an unearthly wail filled the room, then he slumped forward, his weight straining at the bonds, and did not move.
“…Bjorke… leave me…. I must do this alone.”
“Are you sure, Ed? You may need me.”
“No. Leave.” His voice was stronger, so Bjorke did as he asked, and headed out into the smoky halls of Ironforge.
