Betrayal

Kyliska was livid. She stormed about the training yard at Sunfire Estate. Not a soul was brave enough to get within any distance of her. She would switch from screaming obscenities to beating up one of the training dummies, to taking a few gulps from the wine bottles she had brought outside with her. She had not been having a good few weeks, and this just was the icing on the cake. That her supposed allies and friends decided to surprise her with leaving her House, and forming a new one. Embarassing her in front of so many other nobles, it was such a betrayal and just wrong.

Kyliska spit on the ground in disgust. She replayed the scene over and over in her mind. She thought she handled herself graciously enough, there was not more that she could have done in front of so many witnesses. She had to hold her composure, even though she was burning up inside and just wanted to beat the living shit out of Tyavel Spellblaze. Kyli knew that she along with her brother were most likely the masterminds behind the whole plan, but then Selenthiel did not say a word. She might have also had a crucial role to play, Kyli was too mad to even try to speak to her about it. She thought she was her friend, her close friend. True Kyli herself kept secrets from Sel, but she thought she might have at least given her some notice as to what was going to happen. Or tried to stop it even!

Kyliska collapsed on the ground and took a deep drink from another wine bottle and then she felt a presence at her side. She looked lazily to see Braeth'el sitting beside her. "Brae, how could I have been so stupid? I should have seen this coming..." she started.

Braeth'el put a reassuring arm around her shoulders and held her close to him. "Kyli, there was no way that you could have known that the Spellblazes were going to leave like that, how could you?"

Kyliska looked down and her cheeks turned red. "Well I forgot to mention that I told Andithiel about Biara....."

Braeth'el's expression turned into a frown and he pulled away slightly from Kyliska. "You did what?"

"Before you go scolding me like some child, of course I know that was a bad decision. At the time I thought I could trust him. He was apart of our House and also it kinda just spilled out." she said. "It was when we were going to rescue Morgaath. It had just happened and I was not in my right state of mind. I was foolish to think I could trust Andi, I thought there was some part of the Andi that I had fallen in love with, the part I knew I could trust. Apparently he used my moment of weakness against me."

Tears began to fall down Kyliska's face. Her anger turned to sadness. Braeth'el's face softened. "Oh Kyli. I know what Biara did to you, to us, to everyone was a shock. I know you have not been yourself because of it. I don't blame you for trusting Andi with that secret, even though I do not agree with what you did, I understand it. He is a fool, and good riddance to him and his family if they would abandon our pact over this. It was not like we knew what Biara had done, what secrets she was keeping from us. We were not colluding with her for Light's sake!"

Kyliska hugged Braeth'el tightly. "I know my love. The Spellblaze's took my moment of grief and turned it against me. Instead of us all coming together as one united front, they decided to throw it in my face, in front of so many people. I was made to look the fool all the while Tyavel and Andi were laughing at my stupidity. It's not right. And to make it worse, Sel just stood there and said nothing. Not only did I lose Biara, but I also lost Sel."

Braeth'el squeezed Kyliska even tighter and stroked her hair to soothe her. "They should have spoken to you in private instead of humiliating you publicly, I agree about that. But maybe this is a good thing. We can stay in the Estate and try to distance ourselves from Silvermoon for a while, hmm? Let you rest and heal."

Kyliska stood up suddenly. "And let them win? I don't think so! I need to find a way to retaliate! Tyavel thinks I'm not fit to be a leader well I must find a way to prove her wrong! No one humiliates Kyliska Sunblade and gets away with it! Biara already did that and I still have to make her pay for her sins. Don't think I forgot about that, I want her dead for what she did to me. Tyavel, I obviously do not want dead but I want her to feel as I felt this night."

Braeth'el stood slowly and eyed Kyliska cautiously. "Kyli, do you think that is wise? Maybe we should just let the dust settle a bit. Just relax and take some time to think things through..."

"Brae, if I were you I would either help me or stay out of my way. Maybe I will call on Melsana and see if she has any suggestions on how to help. She has been a great friend as of late. She is refreshing to be around. She tells me like it is, she never beats around the bush. I like that brutal honesty. Sometimes that is exactly what I need." she paused. "I know you are just trying to help my love, but I need to do something. I feel like all I have been doing is sitting idly by and letting things just happen to me. I let Biara deceive me for my entire life, I let the Spellblaze's betray me. I cannot just stand by any longer. I will not drink myself into a stupor, I will take action!"

With that Kyliska gave Braeth'el a quick but passionate kiss and ran inside the Estate to find Melsana. Braeth'el was left standing there with his mouth open. He did not think this was a good idea, but if it kept Kyliska's mind busy maybe it was for the best that he did not interfere. He would watch from a distance to make sure she didn't make a terrible mistake of course, but he was curious to see where her plan might take her.

The Fall of Felo'melorn

This was written by Biara

*House Felo’melorn garrison, Frostfire Ridge. Midnight.*

The portal flashed brightly, the magic in it swirling with a fel green light as a form emerged from the glow and materialized within the chamber that sat at the heart of the tower in Felo’melorn garrison. The Sin’dorei who had just appeared shook off the effects of the teleportation spell, looking around cautiously before beginning to walk towards the door leading out of the tower.

“Going somewhere, Denissia?” a voice stated coldly behind the Sin’dorei.

Denissia gasped in surprise, spinning in place on her feet to take in the form of Tyavel emerging from the shadows off to one side of the portal room. The Magistrix had a cold, angry expression on her face, her arms crossed as she stood, awaiting an explanation. Denissia gasped, guilt written plainly across her face even as she scrambled to throw the other off, “I’m sorry, Magistrix Felo’melorn, I’m not sure exactly what you mean…”

“Don’t give me that,” Tyavel snapped, striding stiffly towards the warlock, a cold anger stirring in her eyes. “I am quite aware of your recent activities. Did you think you would come to and from a military installation controlled by our House without my knowledge? Hardly.”

Denissia swallowed a lump in her throat, shaking her head, “I-it’s not like that. I was just…the things I’m working on are not subjects that others in the House ought to be involved in.” 

“Do not patronize me, Denissia,” Tyavel responded, turning to look at the portal in the center of the room. “I am aware that you have modified the destination of this portal, and that you were meeting orcs somewhere within Frostfire. Do you think I’m blind, or a fool?” She turned to stare at the other Sin’dorei, her voice menacing now, “More precisely, I know what kind of orcs you were meeting with and what type of magic they practice with. For how long have you been in league with the Shadow Council?”

Denissia gasped, her eyes wide, “N-no! I’m not in league with them! Please, Magistrix Felo’melorn, you have to believe me! I was simply using them to access more powerful spells. Just think on it for a moment, we have here the opportunity to study the birth of the fel arts, to learn the most powerful of 

their spells. How could we pass up such a chance?”

Tyavel’s response was spat out a moment later, “By controlling ourselves. We are not Wretched to suckle on every bit of magic that comes our way. You will be made to pay for working and aiding enemies of this fortification. Why, as soon as my sister Selenthiel awakens I shall bring the matter to her attention and we will see exactly what will become of you. I suspect she will, at the very least, want to cleanse your-“

Tyavel’s words were cut off as the tower was rocked by a massive blast, the entire structure shaking from the impact. Eyes wide, Tyavel’s hands came out before her, an image hovering over one of her outstretched palms appearing after a whispered word. She gasped, staring at the image in horror,

“You stupid little girl…I was not the only one tracking your movements it seems. You’ve brought down an entire battalion of the Iron Horde upon us. You’ve doomed us all!”

Denissia stared at the image in horror, backing away slowly as another blast rocked the tower, the sound of distant cannon-fire echoing through the night quickly followed by screams and the blowing of war-horns to call House Felo’melorn’s military forces to readiness. High above them, the sound of iron shredding through timbers with a loud crack could be heard, and the structure rumbled again, the cracking intensifying as some of the support beams above them gave way.

Denissia hurled herself to the ground, rocks and wood plummeting down upon her and Tyavel as the tower partially gave way from the force of the blast. Dust filled the air, choking her as she crawled across the rubble strewn ground. After a moment, she was finally able to see clearly again, dragging herself to her feet to find herself mostly uninjured. She turned and gasped again, seeing that the Magistrix had not fared as well.

Tyavel lay beneath a splintered beam, her eyes closed as the force of the impact had temporarily rendered her unconscious. Blood trickled from her mouth, and it was not clear if she was merely pinned or actually crushed by the heavy wood. Above her, the ruined top of the spirit lodge burned, flames roaring from the explosion that had taken the structure.

Denissia dusted herself off, smirking down at the unconscious Magistrix, “Well…it seems this has worked out to my advantage after all, provided of course I make it out of here alive. I am sorry, Magistrix Felo’melorn, but it appears the same cannot be said for you. It was a pleasure to work with you, but I fear our time is done. Farewell!” With that, she turned and stumbled out of the burning structure, heading into the chaos that had suddenly consumed the garrison’s central courtyard beyond.

A few moments after she had gone, a cough escaped Tyavel, her eyes fluttering open and looking around dully. Pain wracked her body, and she knew she had been badly injured. After a moment of studying her surroundings and realizing with rising panic that she could not get free, she saw the flames above her slowly beginning to consume the tower. Terrified now, she looked towards the center of the chamber, a painful gasp escaping her as she realized the blast had destroyed the anchors that had been stabilizing the portals in the room. They were all trapped in the doomed garrison now, at the mercy of the massive Iron Horde assault she had seen in her scrying spell.

A cold fury passed over her face, and Tyavel vowed silently she would not die alone, nor without having her vengeance. In excruciating pain, she managed to slide one of her hands in front of her face, her palm held up in front of her. In a whisper, she spoke words into a meager spell that had formed atop her hand, her voice strained with pain, “Magistrix Dayfire….please hear my words. I beseech you for aid…”

***********************************************

Biara’s head snapped around as the spell appeared beside her, Tyavel’s words whispered into the air. She had been working in her laboratory, and opened tomes sat strewn across the table in front of her alongside alchemy experiments that were in progress. The whisper of Tyavel’s magic echoed through the room a moment longer, the message repeating two times before fading, the spell dying out.

Biara’s hands came up, powerful magic flickering in the air around her as she reached out, attempting to contact Tyavel with her own spells. Try as she might, she could not re-establish the link nor regain magical communication with the other Magistrix. Worry began to gnaw at her, for Tyavel was not one to call for aid lightly, nor would Biara have ordinarily been her first choice unless it was a dire military emergency and they were calling upon House Sunfire to fulfill its part of their alliance. In a hurry, Biara let her magic fade and then began a new spell, tendrils of her power stretching across space and time, bending it all to her will to form an oval of space in front of her that showed her House Felo’melorn’s garrison from the air. She looked down upon it, a ragged gasp escaping her as she realized what was happening.

A moment later Biara had let the spell expire, her high heels pounding on the stones of her laboratory as she dashed out of the room, her experiments utterly forgotten as she shouted for the guards, for Braeth’el, and for her sister.

****************************************************

Selenthiel cried out as one of her men was impaled by a thrown spear, the Sin’dorei falling back amongst the other defenders, her Light having little effect on such a deadly wound. She brought her hands up, straining to keep her magic flowing as more and more of her men were wounded, arrows and spears flying over the wall towards them as the Iron Horde assaulted the exterior of the fortification.

Awakened by surprise in the middle of the night to the sound of screams and explosions from artillery landing on their positions, Selenthiel had dashed from her temporary quarters in the garrison and rushed to the wall. As soon as she had arrived at its top she knew they were in trouble, for an endless sea of Iron Horde orcs lay beyond, their forms disappearing into the horizon and their siege weapons already being put into position, a few firing ragged cannon-fire over the wall to strike structures further within the compound.

Light flowed through her, her presence an inspiration to those around her as they valiantly began to return fire, arrows flying down into the advancing orcs with precision that only elven rangers could muster. Dozens and then hundreds of orcs fell in the first barrage, but still they kept coming, siege towers being pushed forward amongst them so that they could take the wall by storm. That so many of them had approached the garrison in the night was astounding to Selenthiel, but she had little time to consider the reasons why as they continued their attack.

The first wave of attackers began to falter under the barrage of elven archery, and Selenthiel’s heart rose as she began to hope that they might hold the enemy from the walls completely. She reached out to touch one of the soldiers beside her, Light flowing into him and staunching the flow of blood from an arrow wound. He sighed in relief, nodding his thanks and retrieving his bow as the soldiers around them continued to fire down on the enemy.

In the distance, a bright red light flared, drawing Selenthiel’s gaze across the length of the battlefield. There, along a ridge top in the distance, a metallic orb had been pushed into position, the object beginning to spin and spitting out flames as it rotated. In horror Selenthiel watched it, her gaze locked on the object as it was released from its moorings, the siege weapon rolling swiftly across the battlefield and crushing anyone too clumsy to get out of its path.

The Iron Star gained momentum, its metallic exterior deflecting arrows as it hurtled towards the garrison, the weapon impacting the walls just to the east of Selenthiel’s position. Instantly it detonated, the massive blast so huge that it hurled all of the defenders on the wall to their knees, debris raining down upon them and the screams of the dying crying out over the roar of flames.

Smoke filled the air, and Selenthiel found herself coughing as she forced herself back to her feet. 

Once her vision had cleared enough for her to see again, horror grew within her. The Iron Star had not only killed many of the defenders on the part of the wall it had struck, but it had utterly decimated the fortification, leaving a gaping hole in the defenses that even now Iron Horde orcs had begun to pour through. Already the ladders leading up to the walls upon which Selenthiel stood were cut off, and it was clear that they would have to not only defend the wall from the ongoing attack waves beyond, but now hold the interior of the wall from the invaders.

And all of this with only a fraction of the garrison’s remaining defenders. Selenthiel shook her head, tears on her cheeks as she realized how many had already fallen and how many more would fall before it was over. Her voice was a whisper on the wind as she steeled herself to fight on, “Light protect us and save us.”

****************************************

Andithiel had been summoned to the garrison’s command center when the attack began. Already irritated by the fact that he had been summoned to the garrison to speak with his sister Tyavel, his mood was foul as he realized he would be forced to deal with the impending threat against the base since his sister was absent from central command.

“Lord Felo’melorn! Iron Horde orcs are moving siege towers up beyond the wall. They’ve got three cannons in position on a ridge over to the south,” one of Andithiel’s captains stated, pointing to a map.

“Aye Lord, they’ve already begun pelting our positions with artillery,” a second captain joined in.

“Unless we can form a sortie beyond the wall we’ll be slowly ground down beneath their attack. I would recommend we clear the base of the walls first with reinforcements here and here.”

Andithiel studied the map that his captains were pointing towards, nodding at them, his voice grim,

“We will deal with these pests. Prepare the men to deploy as you’ve advised, and someone fetch my bow. Also send a runner to see if you can locate my sister, Tyavel. The Magistrix is nowhere to be found and this is supposed to be her task to handle.”

“Yes, my Lord!” the two captains barked in unison, bowing towards Andithiel. A moment later elves had scattered, heading out towards their duties, orders echoing through the stone building. A Sin’dorei approached Andithiel, his bow in hand and a full quiver alongside it. Andithiel took the weapon and nodded his thanks, arming himself and wishing he had thought to bring his hunting cat with him; he hadn’t planned on engaging in battle or even needing weapons when he’d arrived a few hours earlier via the portal.

He turned, heading towards the entrance to the command center even as a few elves stumbled in through the opening, their clothing covered with soot and a few looking wounded. Andithiel noted one amongst them and approached her, his tone demanding, “Denissia! Where is my sister? Have you seen the Magistrix?”

Denissia blinked, soot staining her face as she shook her head, “No, Lord Felo’melorn. I’ve not seen her at all this evening. I was crossing the courtyard when the attack began. Several of us thought to seek shelter here as this structure is reinforced.”

“Yes, it is. Very well then, stay here and I will go out and rout these creatures from our base,” Andithiel instructed her. Without another word or look in her direction, he strode out into the courtyard.

The scene that met his eyes was utter chaos. Craters littered the open space between the garrison’s buildings, several of the structures on fire from the artillery barrage and the spirit lodge looking partially collapsed. Sin’dorei military forces had begun to gather in the open space, many cheering at him and offering him salutes as he strung his bow, preparing himself for battle. He nodded at the men, his eyes narrowed as he began to decide where to send each unit.

Just as he had begun to open his mouth to speak, the blast from the Iron Star crushed the wall beyond the burning spirit lodge, hurling him and all of his men to the ground form the force of the impact. Stones and bits of wood landed all around them, the cries of the dying echoing out as he coughed and peered through the smoke.

Forms emerged from the flames and ash, orcs pouring through the newly made breach in the wall. In the distance along the wall’s edge, Andithiel saw a flash of Light and knew that at least one of his sisters still lived. He picked himself up off of the ground in a hurry, his voice echoing out to his men, “Hold them back! Retake the breach! For Quel’Thalas! For House Felo’melorn!”

A roar rose up around him as the Sin’dorei with him responded to his commands, elves dashing forward towards the orcs. Andithiel brought his bow up, arrow after arrow leaving his weapon, his skilled eyes sighting down each shaft and taking a foe with each pull. Blades clashed together, and the sounds of warcries rose up over the crackle of flames as Sin’dorei met orc in bloody hand to hand fighting. More orcs lurched out of the smoke, joining in the conflict and creating a mass of writhing combatants, the flow of battle moving first towards the breach and then back away from it as more orcs joined the combat.

No matter how many Andithiel cut down with his arrows, more sprang up to take their place. Sin’dorei bodies began to litter the courtyard as they were forcibly pushed back away from the breach, artillery continuing to rain down on the combat and sending shattered and dead Sin’dorei flying into the air. The surprise attack, the artillery, and the ferocity of the assault had all conspired against Andithiel’s men, and slowly they began to break, individual groups becoming cut off and dying in a hundred little heroic last stands that no one would remember.

Eyes wide with horror, Andithiel knew that unless they fell back to a more defensible position, they were all going to fall in the courtyard. But if he withdrew, it would leave his sister Selenthiel and those with her on the wall cut off from relief and allow more orcs into the compound. It was a difficult decision, only made when another round of artillery landed amongst Andithiel’s men and cut another dozen down.

Heart heavy, his voice rang out over the raging battle, “Fall back to the command center! Hold the doors! We’ll pin them in the narrow opening! Those who can’t get there fall back to the mines!”

As his men started to obey, Andithiel continued to fire his bow, only praying that their defeat would not become a complete rout, his mood black.

***************************************

House Sunfire’s war room was filled with elves, Kyliska having summoned her best captains to attend the emergency meeting. All of them leaned over a magically illuminated table surface, a vision of what was occurring at House Felo’melorn’s garrison dancing across the surface. Beside Kyliska stood Braeth’el, his gaze grim as he watched the images that Biara was conjuring for all to see.

After a moment, Biara’s chanting fell silent, the vision on the table surface stabilized so that she could speak to the others. Her voice was full of worry as she pointed at the image, “As you can all see, after receiving Magistrix Felo’melorn’s distress call, I immediately found that this was occurring at their garrison. Without immediate relief the entire fortification will fall, and even if we intervene we do not have sufficient forces to do anything but get their remaining men out of there. For some reason, the Iron Horde has launched a full scale assault on this position, almost as if they were attempting to remove some dire threat or had more than one purpose for their assault.”

Kyliska grimaced, staring down at the image as her sister spoke. She looked up at Biara, shaking her head, “There are thousands of orcs there. They aren’t going to last very long. We have to get there right now!”

Biara nodded, “I agree, Kyli. While you were gathering your captains I have been studying the image. I think that our best hope is to relieve them long enough to withdraw to portals and get their men to safety. If you see here in the image, it appears their spirit lodge was destroyed during the initial assault. I know that is where Magistrix Felo’melorn had conjured and anchored her portals, as unstable as they are in that land. Without that structure intact, there is nowhere for them to flee and I suspect their remaining magi are extremely busy attempting to repel the assault and don’t realize the danger.”

Biara paused for a minute, a manicured nail pointing at the image, “I propose that we open a portal to the exterior of the Iron Horde’s positions. We can assault the rear of their artillery and then take several of their siege towers and relieve what Sin’dorei remain on the wall. Kyli, if you do that, I can then open a second portal and slip into the middle of the Felo’melorn garrison. I will try to provide them with magical support to get a portal opened. We can evacuate them to our own fortifications and then back to Quel’Thalas.”

Braeth’el leaned forward, his voice concerned, “Your plan is sound, Biara. If we do this as you suggest, we will need to get in and out quickly. If we get bogged down in our assault…they’ll turn on us as well and they vastly outnumber even our forces.”

“Braeth’el’s right,” Kyliska agreed. “Also I don’t know if I like the idea of you going into the middle of…that…alone. You should be beside us, sister!”

Biara nodded, “I know I should, but if there is a chance that any of the Felo’melorns are alive in the midst of this we need to take that chance to get them out. I will have my apprentices create and maintain a stable portal where your forces will launch their assault. Your men can withdraw as soon as you’ve relieved the Sin’dorei on the walls, and with luck I will have withdrawn those within the central compound and saved as many as I can with a secondary portal.”

Kyliska nodded, worry on her face, “Just be careful Biara. Things have been so good, I couldn’t stand the thought of losing you now.”

Biara grinned at Kyliska, shaking her head, “It’s the Iron Horde. They don’t even have any adequate spellcasters. I will burn them alive if they challenge me. You must take care as well. Remember, you are the Lady Sunfire now and cannot risk yourself as you once did.”

Kyliska smirked and leaned forward, wrapping her arms around Biara, “I’ll try to remember! I will have my captains assemble the strike force. We’ll be ready within ten minutes; your plan of creating a rapid assault group was very wise now that we see what can happen on Draenor.”

Biara nodded, hugging her sister back before separating, “Sometimes I regret being right about things, Kyli. I’ll be ready in ten minutes. Let us hope the Felo’melorns can hold out that long.”

With that, Kyliska turned, her voice rising as she began to bark orders. Captains snapped to attention and then jumped to obey, armored and armed Sin’dorei scattering as they headed for the courtyard of Sunfire Estate where Biara would open the portals to begin the assault.

Biara lingered by the map for a moment, studying it and finalizing her plans in her mind. A Sin’dorei stirred behind her, clearing his throat to capture her attention. She turned, an eyebrow raised in question as she took in the form of a Blood Knight standing behind her, his long blonde hair neatly held in place by the black and red helm atop his head, “Yes? Sir…I’m sorry, I do not know all of Kyliska’s knights.”

“Evindar Everstrike,” the knight replied, a hand coming to his heart in salute. “You may not recall, Magistrix Dayfire, but it was myself and my companion Myriel who healed your wounds suffered earlier this week. Master at Arms Braeth’el instructed me to see to your well-being and ensure that your wounds properly healed.”

“Ah yes, thank you for that,” Biara replied, tilting her head. “Was there something you needed, Sir Everstrike?”

“Actually yes. I am simply notifying you that I will be coming with you through your portal,” the blood knight replied.

“What? I fear that will not be possible,” Biara replied, somewhat surprised.

“Lady Dayfire, I have been ordered to attend to your well-being. Your wound is not yet healed and you are about to proceed into a dangerous battle which may result in additional harm to your person,” Evindar said, his voice steady. “I have sworn oaths to this House and to my order. I will see those oaths fulfilled. I am coming with you.”

“You understand that this will be extremely dangerous and that we will be heading into the middle of a battle that we may not emerge from, correct?” Biara said, sounding amused now.

“I am, Lady Dayfire. I will fight by your side as I have sworn to do and no further harm will come to you,” Evindar replied stoically.

Biara smiled at him, dipping her head, “Very well then, Sir Everstrike, you may accompany me. Be in the courtyard in five minutes so that we can proceed, and be prepared for battle.”

“I am always prepared for battle, Lady Dayfire. I shall meet you as the assigned time,” Evindar stated calmly. He saluted her again, turning and marching sharply from the room, leaving Biara distracted with amusement for a moment. She shook her head, looking back at the map.

“I only hope we’re in time…” she whispered to no one.

*******************************************

Selenthiel cried out as a mace struck the shield of holy Light around her, the weapon held back by only a hair’s width from her flesh. The orc in front of her growled, bringing his weapon up again and then howling as a Sin’dorei blade slid into his gut, his blood spraying as he fell backwards and off the wall.

Chaos surrounded the priestess, orcs and Sin’dorei locked in deadly hand to hand combat as enemies scrambled up the ladders that lead to the top of the wall. Beyond the wall, siege towers had been pushed into position, more orcs pouring across their boarding ramps and slamming into the lightly armored Sin’dorei that held the top of the structure.

Arrows flew through the air, orcs screaming and falling from the wall as Selenthiel’s rangers attempted to stem the flow of enemies onto the wall’s top. Selenthiel’s hands came up, a protective barrier of Light surrounding her men as shrapnel impacted it from a nearby cannon, the Iron Horde so callous that their shots struck their own attackers in the backs. Only through Selenthiel’s intervention had her men not fallen to the same fate.

She was like a beacon of hope to her allies, and like a target to her foes, the flashing Light on her hands drawing their attacks even as the magic healed those around her and fortified them for further battle. Sin’dorei dove in front of her, sometimes literally using their bodies as shields to keep her from harm, their blood on her hands as if she had spilled it herself.

Never had Selenthiel seen such brutality or bloodshed. The battle raged on, thousands of combatants involved all across the garrison. Selenthiel could see the central courtyard had been completely overrun, additional buildings now on fire as the Iron Horde pressed in, setting more of them alight and attempting to burn everything to the ground. Sin’dorei forces fell back towards the central compound, arrows lashing out from the command center to take any orcs foolish enough to approach it.

Selenthiel tore her gaze away from the scene below, concentration knitting her brow as she healed yet more of the elves with her, keeping them up as dozens of fresh attackers rushed the wall from a nearby siege tower, throwing victory into question for a tense few moments as her rangers responded, cutting many of them down but also losing many of their own numbers, their bodies tumbling from the wall to fall into the chaos below. Flames crackled up the side of the wall as a flame-throwing weapon detonated in the courtyard below, an arrow protruding from the tanks that held its propellant.

Selenthiel took a deep breath, calming herself and attempting to bring her emotions in check as she called out to the Light, molding the energies as she willed it, using it to aid her men and to dazzle and blind her foes. It came to her, a powerful tool in the hands of a Sin’dorei that wielded it as a magi might hurl fire. Orcs howled, falling back from her holy form even as her rangers surged forward, renewed hope filling them.

Selenthiel looked out into the distance as the immediate threat faded, her heart sinking and hope fading as she saw another of the Iron Stars being prepared for use, this time the object aimed right at her. She swallowed a lump in her throat, fear rising within her.

And then, curiously, a flash of bright blue light blinked into existence on the distant horizon behind the siege engines.

*************************************

Kyliska surged out of the portal, her blade already cutting into an orc seconds after she had blinked the teleportation spell out of her eyes, his blood splattering her armor and hair. She grinned, her sword coming down on a second stunned siege engineer, blood knights pouring from the portal behind her, roaring battle cries on their lips.

Kyliska howled in delight, her blade dancing in front of her, her fury and rage allowed free reign for a moment. Orcs scattered before her, crushed under her greaves or pierced by her weapon, the entire flank of the Iron Horde assault beginning to fold as more and more of her men charged through the portal. Triumphant, indestructible, Kyliska’s shout echoed above the battle in pure joy, “For Quel’Thalas! For the Horde! KILL THEM ALL!”

Kyliska didn’t pause, her momentum unchecked as she dashed forward, cutting down more and more of the engineers at the rear of the line. An orc surged up before her, a lit explosive in his hand. With a grin she swung her sword, the weapon shearing off the orc’s arm and sending it flying up into the air. The gore-spewing limb tumbled end over end as the orc fell before her, and Kyliska casually turned her sword and swatted the limb with the flat of the blade, as if playing a game with a ball. It tumbled end over end, flying towards a group of cannons sitting nearby, falling between them, the explosive still clutched in its severed fingers detonating a moment later.

An earth-shattering explosion rocked the battlefield as three cannons detonated all at once, chunks of red hot metal and bits of dead orcs peppering the enemy forces, black smoke rising up and the crackle of flames drowning out the screams of those who were dying from their wounds.

For a moment Kyliska paused, sword gripped in two hands as she looked down from a rise on the orc forces below her. Many looked up at her, seeing a gore-covered Sin’dorei, her cape fluttering in the raging winds of the howling flames the illuminated her back, her blonde hair waving in the breezes around her face, a smile of delight on her face as she stared down at them, her feet set to charge again.

On the ridge behind her, dozens and then hundreds of blood knights took up position, Braeth’el slipping beside Kyliska as they looked down on the orcs below and took in the sight of the burning Felo’melorn garrison in the distance. Kyliska brought her sword up high, blood dripping from it as she howled, “For House Felo’melorn! For House Sunfire! DEATH TO THE IRON HORDE!”

With that she dashed down the rise, sword raised high, hundreds of war cries rising up behind her as her knights followed suit, the orcs before her breaking in terror as they were taken from the rear, the blood-raging knight already cutting some of them down before the rest of her men even reach the enemy’s lines.

They surged forward, Kyliska veering off her original course and slamming into a half-dozen orcs that attempted to block her path, her eyes affixed on a new objective. Orcs circled her even as she cut three down, attempting to stab her in the back only to find themselves facing the lithe and deadly form of Braeth’el fighting beside her. He dashed through their midst, daggers flashing as he slit one’s throat and gutted a second, both weapons plunging into the heart of a third. Kyliska laughed, the concept of having someone fighting at her side like this one she had not dreamed of, bloodlust, delight, and rage all making her heart pound in her chest as she cut another orc down.

Those before the charging Sin’dorei fell back, crushed beneath the advance of House Sunfire, Kyliska dashing ahead and reaching the object she’d sought; the prepped Iron Star. With a grin she dashed around the side if it, her sword coming out and slamming into a mooring on the left of the mounting that held it in place. The deadly, spinning siege weapon tipped sideways as its frame was damaged, the rolling ball of the weapon making contact with the ground and mis-aligning itself, hurtling off of its carriage and right into the middle of the Iron Horde advance, away from its intended target of Felo’melorn garrison.

Orcs were crushed by the massive metal weight as it rolled over them, flames spewing from it and burning enemies alive. It made it halfway down the slope of the hill before it collided with a siege tower that was being pushed forward, the weapon slamming into the tower and detonating.

In the center of the battlefield, a light so bright that it could not be looked upon flared up, metal, wood and dead Iron Horde orcs flying through the air, a massive crater torn out of the ground from the deadly blast. Kyliska waved her sword in the air, laughing merrily as the orange glow of the flames illuminated her features, her howling taken up by the men with her. She dashed around the wrecked siege engine’s carriage and plunged further down the slope, heading towards Felo’melorn garrison and a piece of the wall where she saw flashes of Light atop the barricade. She knew just who that might be, and that it was time to relieve her friend and ally.

Behind her, hundreds of knights charged, carving through the entire right flank of the Iron Horde’s assault.

**********************************************

“We can’t hold them back much longer, Lord Felo’melorn!” a guard shouted through the packed command center. Beyond, the structure was rocked as more blasts echoed across the courtyard, the sounds of screaming and clash of blades coming through the opening of the structure.

“Hold the line dammit! We can’t let them get through the door!” Andithiel shouted. He was leaning over a map table, his fist coming down to slam into the wooden surface as he glared at the men around him, “Are you feeble humans or Sin’dorei? We need to hold this compound at all costs! There is nowhere left to fall back to!”

The men around him saluted, grim looks on their faces as they scurried about to issue orders. Other Sin’dorei in the room, mostly civilians, huddled together in fear, many staring at him as if in accusation, at least that is how he perceived it. As if it were his fault that the Iron Horde had launched a surprise assault. He slammed his fist into the table again, taking a ragged breath and running his hands through his hair, trying to think.

A bright blue light suddenly flared to life in the room, causing Andithiel to turn and blink in surprise. As the light faded, a portal stabilized and held, two figures pushing through it. To Andithiel’s surprise, Biara Dayfire appeared, accompanied by a blonde blood knight he’d never seen before.

“Lord Felo’melorn! What is the status of your defenses?” Biara snapped, eyes instantly focusing on him.

“Biara Dayfire…? What are you doing here-“ Andithiel began.

Biara cut him off, striding towards him, “Lord Felo’melorn, we need to get your people out of here. I need to know the status of security around this structure so I can determine where it is best to keep the portal open.”

“Oh, how very thoughtful of you,” Andithiel snapped, shaking his head, his voice sarcastic and sounding tired, “Did your lovely sister come with you too? Should I have wine and tarts put out? I don’t have time for this; I’ve got to see to my men. Two of you aren’t going to make a difference here.”

Biara’s eyes widened in fury and she lurched towards Andithiel, her hands coming out and pushing him backwards by his chest. He looked at her in shock as she raged towards him, the fact that he was much taller than her having not an iota of impact as she shouted up into his face, “Get ahold of yourself right this minute! Your people are dying out there! This is no time for your pouting or childish moods! I want a status report right now. I’m going to save your people even if you don’t like it, so deal with it.”

Andithiel reeled back in surprise, not expecting the Magistrix to lay her hands on him, her words sinking in rather quickly. Sheepishly, he replied, his tone low, “We’re trapped in this building. They’ve breached the walls. The last I saw Selenthiel she was fighting on the outer wall. Whether she still lives I do not know.”

Biara nodded, her voice low, “Relief is coming to your sister. What of Tyavel? I received a distress call from her. Where is she?”

Andithiel shook his head, gesturing towards Denissia in the crowd of onlookers, “I’ve seen no sign of her, nor has Denissia. She may have been by the spirit lodge when the assault began but I do not know.”

Biara’s eyes darted into the crowd, locking with Denissia’s and taking the other by surprise. In that moment, something passed across Denissia’s face and she averted her gaze. Biara’s hands clenched into fists and she pushed her way through the crowd, leaving a perplexed Andithiel behind as she approached the warlock, "Where is she?”

Denissia blinked in surprise, her gaze returning to Biara, “I-I don’t know. I mean…I’m sure she was in the lodge. That is where she does all of her work…”

Biara snarled, darting forward and grabbing the warlock by the arm. Her hand lashed out, backhanding the other Sin’dorei across the face. Denissia’s head rocked to the side as Biara struck her a second time, and then a third, “Where. Is. She. I can taste the taint of fel magic on you from here. You’ve been using demonic gateways this day. You stink of it. What befell the Magistrix?! If you were involved, so help me you will wish you had never been born.”

“N-no, I d-don’t…” Denissia began.

Biara actually hissed, a hand coming up and grabbing Denissia by the throat, pinning her to the wall of the command center, her razor sharp nails digging into Denissia’s neck and her faces inches from the warlock. In her free hand, flames began to dance along her fingertips, “If you don’t tell me where she is right this instant, I will burn you to cinders, you traitorous little bitch.”

Denissia swallowed hard, her voice coming out in s squeak, “S-she was in the spirit lodge. Part of it collapsed o-on her. She was trapped there. C-can’t get to her now.”

Biara shoved Denissia away, pushing the warlock to the floor, “The fel I can’t. I will deal with you later.”

She turned, striding back to a shocked Andithiel, “Your sister is in the spirit lodge. I’m going to get her. The rest of these people here can be evacuated through this portal to House Sunfire’s garrison. We’ll get them back to Quel’Thalas from there. You will accompany me with your men.”

Andithiel’s lip curled into a sneer and he opened his mouth to speak, before he could reply Biara turned from him, pointing to his men, “You and you. Get me ten or fifteen soldiers right now. We’re getting Magistrix Felo’melorn. We’ll leave the Lord here to have his fit in private.”

With that she turned, striding towards the entrance to the command center, elves hopping to obey her, Evindar a silent armored figure behind her. As she neared the entrance, she could see fighters engaged in melee in the opening. Her hands came up, flames arcing outwards and cutting down the orcs that were assaulting the structure. She pushed forward, Sin’dorei trailing behind her as she emerged from the command center.

The courtyard beyond was a nightmare, flames and debris everywhere. The corpses of many orcs and fallen defenders littered the ground, and the battle raged on. Blessedly, for some reason the artillery had suddenly fallen silent and the Sin’dorei emerging behind Biara realized they would be able to push forward again.

Biara ran into the thick of the combat, flames already lashing out and spells on her lips as she cut down orcs left and right. Beside her, Evindar charged into battle, his shield deflecting orcish swords as his sword cut down one foe after another. Additional Sin’dorei charged into the melee, Andithiel following with a sullen look on his face.

“I’m glad you decided to join us, Lord Felo’melorn,” Biara said merrily, spells slashing into the orcs in front of them. Andithiel merely grunted at her, his bow coming up as he cut down more orcs. In the distance, a horn sounded and more Iron Horde pushed towards them, the surge suddenly engulfing them and sweeping Andithiel’s men backwards from the force of the combat. Lord Felo’melorn fell back with his men, fighting in a compact group that was slowly pushed back towards the command center.

Biara cleared a space around herself, her raging flames cutting down so many orcs that they diverted around her to avoid her. To Biara’s surprise, Evindar stayed with her the entire time, his presence always a comfort at her back as she advanced. Halfway to the burning spirit lodge she paused, four orcs coming from amongst the foes and circling her. She watched them warily, for each of them was unarmored and carried ceremonial daggers; she had finally found the Iron Horde’s spellcasters.

The orcs moved around her in a clockwise direction, their hands held in front of them. Biara felt Evindar place his back against hers, the two spinning in time as they were circled. Biara studied them, realizing that she was about to face a deadly spellduel. Deep within her, she let her control of her magic go, power surging up through her and almost sighing with relief as the pent up energies were finally given outlet.

In front of her an orc began to chant, a second one to her right gesturing while one behind her began his own spell. Biara pointed, counterspelling the orc in front of her while her right hand flicked out, a ball of flames slamming into the orc that had begun to gesture. Behind her she felt Evindar stir, his shield lashing out and cracking the orc behind her across the face, utterly ruining his spell. The fourth orc lifted a wand, pointing it at her and firing the weapon. Bolts of ice flew between them, powerful runes of warding flickering around Biara’s body as they absorbed the magic.

She grinned at the surprised orc, speaking in his own language as she brought her hands up, “For all your power, your magics are as nothing to me. I am a Magistrix. I am a Sin’dorei. I am magic.”

Biara’s hands came up above her head, power flaring to life above her. The very sky above their little cut off corner of the battle glowed red as flames descended from the heavens. The two orcs in front of Biara had time only to cry out as a ball of flames fell from the sky, blasting the ground in a furious explosion that snuffed them out of existence in a heartbeat. Biara whirled, her hands coming up to her lips as she breathed across the palm of her hand, a deadly dragon’s breath spell spewing from her lips and engulfing a third spellcaster just as he was about to let fly with his own spell. Beside her, Evindar ran the fourth of the orcs through with his blade, his greaves coming up to kick the dead orc from the weapon.

For a moment, Evindar turned to see Biara staring at him, a raging inferno of flames serving as a backdrop for her fiery red hair as she met his gaze, the hem of her dress fluttering in the wind of the flames. She locked gazes with him, her voice steady, “The way to the spirit lodge is beyond these flames and fraught with danger. I can ward myself, and possibly you, but you need not come further. I can retrieve the Magistrix.”

Evindar stepped forward, shaking his head, “I swore an oath. I am coming.”

Biara nodded, looking somewhat grateful at this before reaching out and placing a hand on his chest. Instantly he felt cool magic flowing over him, bathing him in her power. Her voice was low as she spoke, barely heard in the crackle of flames, “These wards will protect you only for a short time. We must hurry through the fires. Move swiftly, knight, lest we fall like the others.”

With that, she turned and plunged into the fires, which seemed to bend around her. Evindar plunged into the wall of the inferno behind her, his eyes locked on her flame red hair as they moved through a world of crackling fire, the heat not touching him as the wards she’d placed on him kept him protected. Ahead, he could make out the form of the spirit lodge, most of the top of the structure blackened by fires, but the opening still standing. “There! Lady Dayfire, there it is!”

She moved towards the opening, when suddenly an orc lunged through the fire towards her. She saw the threat at the last possible moment, her hands coming up to cast a spell a second too late. The orc’s shield slammed into her, sending her reeling. Instantly Evindar was there, Biara falling against his chest and steadying herself on his breastplate, her eyes closed as she awaited the orc’s blade to fall.

Instead, the weapon clashed against the shield that Evindar had placed over Biara, his arm encircling her in steel. She looked up at him in awe, watching his golden hair waving in the wind of the fires all around him, his black blood knight armor shining in the glow of the flames, his muscular arm bringing his sword down atop the orc’s skull and shattering it.

As his foe fell away from them, Biara stared up into his eyes from within the protective circle of his grasp, her arms wrapped around his chest and her mouth half opened. He looked down, meeting her gaze, “Are you well, Lady Dayfire?”

She blinked once, shaking off the dazed feeling she had from the concussion with the shield, or perhaps from her sudden enjoyable encounter with his broad chest? She blinked once, biting her lip and nodding, “Yes, I’m uh…fine, thank you, Sir Everstrike.”

“Good. Let us get out of the flames then, yes? I can feel warmth again and think the wards are failing,” he said calmly. He released her, ensuring she was steady on her feet and offering her a hand over the fallen orc before the two headed into the spirit lodge.

Biara managed to tear her gaze away from the image of Sin’dorei perfection that had just saved her life and peered into the smoke filled interior of the spirit lodge. In the dimness, she saw a shape on the ground and gasped, “There! Magistrix Felo’melorn!”

She hurried inside, Evindar following after her, the two kneeling beside Tyavel. Evindar reached down, whispering a prayer to the Light, healing energies flowing into the wounded Magistrix. Tyavel sighed, not regaining consciousness but clearly breathing. Evindar nodded at Biara, “She’s hurt badly, but she will live. We need to get her out of here at once.”

Biara nodded, rising beside him, her hands coming up and tearing a hole in space, forming a portal back to the command lodge. She turned, watching in admiration as Evindar grasped the likely extremely heavy support beam that had fallen on Tyavel and heaved upwards, his shoulders straining as he lifted the object up and hurled it away from her. Almost tenderly he turned, gently scooping Tyavel up in his arms, lifting her up and carrying her to the portal before passing through it.

Biara sighed, nodding to herself and followed suit, the two returning to the interior of the command center even as Andithiel’s forces fell back to that point a second time, the orcs in the courtyard beyond beginning to overwhelm them again. Within the reinforced structure, Biara began getting the remaining desperate defenders out of the garrison, the Sin’dorei passing through her stabilized portal and to the safety of their ally’s holdings.

**********************************************

Kyliska’s sword came down, cutting down an orc. She pushed past her fallen foe, her hand reaching up to grab the ankle of another orc and pulling him from the ladder above her. Behind and below her, her men pushed forward, climbing the steps within the siege tower as they captured it level by level. Above her, Iron Horde orcs shouted as they clashed with Selenthiel’s rangers on the floor above.

Kyliska shouted, her warcry echoing in the enclosed space as Light flared within her. Golden wings sprouted from her back, made of pure Light, the energy filling her and empowering her blows. Orcs fell all around her, their weapons deflected by her sword, her Light slashing into them as she rushed the last set of steps. An orc above her turned, his weapon coming up and catching hers, his arm reaching out to grab her wrist in an attempt to twist the limb.

Kyliska grunted, the pain of her arm being twisted only fueling her bloodlust. She lurched forward, her forehead colliding with the orc’s nose, his blood spattering her face and his grip loosening as she jerked her arm back. Her blade came up and then down again, this time with no resistance until it struck the orc’s skull. As he fell away, a smoke-filled starry sky shown through the opening above her, and Kyliska dashed up the last set of steps, taking the top of the siege engine where it met the wall against House Felo’melorn’s garrison.

Atop the wall, elven rangers spotted Kyliska and let out a ragged cheer, less than a dozen of them remaining from the initial force that had been present when the battle started. Amongst them, a soot-stained and haggard looking Selenthiel stepped forward.

Braeth’el emerged from the siege tower behind Kyliska and he bent to wipe his blades clean on the body of a fallen orc before sheathing them. Kyliska smiled, holding a hand to her heart and saluting Selenthiel, “Sel! I’m so glad you’re okay! We’re going to get you out of here!”

Selenthiel smiled, relief on her face as she leaned forward to hug Kyliska, “Light bless you Kyli. Your House has saved us. I just saw your sister in the courtyard below. She and others were destroying our foes. I cannot thank you enough.”

“There is no need for that, it is what allies do!” Kyliska said happily, flicking orc blood from the tip of her sword. “Now let’s get you down from here and through the portal before the entire Iron Horde descends on us!”

Selenthiel smiled and nodded, “You do not have to ask me twice.”

Kyliska sheathed her sword and offered her hand to Selenthiel as if to help her across the gap to the top of the siege tower. In that moment, Braeth’el lurched forward, his eyes taking in the sight of something that sent a spear of terror through him. His arms wrapped around Kyliska just as a cannon on the top of a nearby siege tower was fired in their direction, the Iron Horde having realized that their siege engine had been captured. The cannonball flew through the air, slamming into the tower just below the top floor, the weapon exploding beneath them.

Kyliska’s last sight of Selenthiel was as she became ever more distant; Kyliska, Braeth’el, and the wreckage of the siege tower fell away from the side of the wall, Selenthiel’s mouth opened in horror as she watched her would-be rescuers fall to the snowy ground far below.

The air rushed out of Kyliska’s mouth in a burst as she collided with something, her vision black as a lance of pain shot through her leg, the bone having snapped in the fall. She coughed, blood trickling from her mouth as she rolled over onto her back, her vision spinning crazily for a moment from the sudden pain.

A sound beside her made her stir, and she turned her head to see Braeth’el lying beside her in a snowy field of flaming debris. He had kept his body around her the entire time, and she had fallen atop him with her plate armored body. Blood covered him, trickling from his mouth and from a cut above his head. The spikes on her armor had pierced his shoulder, and he looked a mess. He turned towards her, coughing up blood, his hand coming out to grasp hers tightly. In the distance, they could see Iron Horde orcs cheering and beginning to advance on their position.

“K-kyli…” Braeth’el coughed, blood coming from his mouth again. “S-sorry, but I don’t think it’s good.”

Kyliska gasped, ignoring her own pain and rolling, grimacing from the shrieking agony in her broken leg, “Braeth’el! No, it’ll be okay! Just hold tight, we’ll get a healer! You’ll be alright!”

He squeezed her hand, his head shaking slightly, “Ribs are broken… pierced things. I-I’m sorry, Kyli. S-sorry I never g-got…”

His voice trailed off and Kyliska forced herself to her knees, crying out in pain, “Braeth’el! Stay with me! I love you! You can’t leave me here alone!”

His eyes blinked and he locked on her face, “Sorry I never got to tell you….that I love you. W-wish I had said it sooner…”

A strangled cry escaped Kyliska and she grasped his hand in both of hers, “Oh don’t say that baby, there’s so much time for you to say it again. You’re going to be okay, I swear it. Just stay with me Braeth’el. Please! I need you!”

He smiled at her, his mouth opening and closing, no words escaping him now, a tremble going through him as he began to fade from consciousness. In a panic, Kyliska dragged herself closer to him, her voice desperate, “Braeth’el! No! Oh Light no! Please no!”

Kyliska began to pray, her eyes closing, reaching out to the Light with all of her being. Unlike all of the times before when she had done it, she did so now out of urgency, out of love, and she could feel the power respond to her. A warm glow filled her, flowing outwards through her fingertips. She pressed her hands against Braeth’el’s chest, Light pouring from her, from her soul and into him.

On the battlefield a brilliant luminescence formed around the fallen blood knight, golden wings fluttering behind her as she used all of her love to power her healing spells. Iron Horde orcs that had been advancing paused, squinting as the Light cut through the darkness of the night. Even as they did so, an even greater shaft of pure Light slanted down upon the two fallen Sin’dorei as Selenthiel raised her hands above her on the shattered wall, her power flowing down and into Kyliska.

Light flared brightly, and Braeth’el sighed, his breathing becoming steady and easy as the worst of his wounds began to knit back together. Atop the wall, Selenthiel stepped forward into mid-air, her own spells allowing her to gently glide down, descending next to the two wounded elves, her own Light forming glowing wings at her back for a moment. Above, her rangers set ropes and repelled down the side of the ruined fortification, surrounding Kyliska and Braeth’el and protecting them as the two Light users continued the healing.

Eyes clenched tightly closed in desperate prayer, Kyliska was startled when a hand came up and caressed her face. Her eyes opened and she saw Braeth’el looking up at her, a smile on his face. A gasp of joy escaped her, and she leaned down, kissing him, her own pain thrust into the back of her mind.

“Looks like it was you looking after me this time, Kyli,” Braeth’el said, his voice weary. Kyliska merely laughed, kissing him one more time before she fell beside him, laying in the snow.

Selenthiel looked down on her, a tired look on her face, “That was well done, Kyliska. I knew you had the power of the Light within you. We will speak more of this once we’re somewhere safe. Can you walk?”

“No, my leg is broken, Sel,” Kyliska said. “You’re going to have to have your men drag me off the field I fear.”

Selenthiel smiled, shaking her head, “Nonsense…” She reached out, her power bathing Kyliska and easing the wound she’d suffered. As the pain fled, Selenthiel nodded, “You’ll need to rest it for a time, but you and Braeth’el should be able to hobble off the field. Come, let’s get moving before the Iron Horde has time to regroup.”

Kyliska nodded, taking the hand of one of Selenthiel’s rangers, watching as they gently helped Braeth’el up, supporting him between two of them. “Thanks, Sel. My sister has left a portal in place. We can fall back there and regroup. I only wish we could have saved more of your men.”

Selenthiel nodded sadly, tears in her eyes as she glanced back at the burning garrison, “It was not your fault, and I’m grateful that you have managed to save any. I will never forget what you’ve done for us here, Kyliska. You and your sister…you have my gratitude.”

Kyliska nodded, “It is what friends do for one another. Let’s get you to safety.”

With that, the group slowly began to move, more of Kyliska’s blood knights joining them as they withdrew. The Iron Horde kept a wary distance from them as it began to regroup, wanting no part of any additional battle with the force that had just shattered their flank. In a short time, the inviting glow of Biara’s portals was there to greet them, and then they were whisked away to safety at last.

********************************************

In House Sunfire’s courtyard, portals flared to life as tired and weary Sin’dorei were returned to Azeroth from their perilous fight on Draenor. Although the battle had been won, there was no joyous celebration amongst the victors as they slowly dispersed into the estate or were taken to the infirmary.

Too many Sin’dorei had fallen, too many of House Felo’melorn had paid the ultimate sacrifice for their kingdom. The heirs of both House Sunfire and House Felo’melorn were wounded, tired, and their hearts were heavy as they left the field, for each of them knew that the future was uncertain now, and that everything had changed in the heart of the vicious battle. Only hope remained, hope for the future, and for friendships forged anew in war.

The Final Act part 2

Written by Biara

*Dawnsea Manor, Silvermoon City Outskirts, Midnight*

They had put him in a cage of black iron, the kind that one might temporarily keep a prisoner in before moving them to a more permanent cell or to the gallows. What was unusual about Andithiel's location was that he was not in a dungeon somewhere, but instead in an open, circular room with a small square foyer near the double doors that made up the entrance. The bars of his cell were actually seated deep in the marble floor, and not a single one of them was loose in its mooring; he'd already tried each one separately.

The rest of the room was almost completely empty with the exception of a stone dais in the center of the circular part of what he knew must be Seluna's conjury room. Atop the dais was a column of purple light, within it floating not a tattered, torn book but instead a completely restored necromantic tome, complete with a sparkling red jewel set in its cover. The book, the phylactery, had been restored by Seluna some time ago. She had had Andithiel unceremoniously deposited in the cell and then mostly ignored him for an hour while she had plied her spells on the two torn halves of the tome. Once she was done, the restored book rested in the field of magic as it did even now.

The silence in the room was broken as the double doors opened and a line of robed figures entered. Inter-spaced between them here and there were half-naked, bound figures who stumbled along as best they could in the procession, their hands and feet fettered to prevent their escape. Although they were gagged, Andithiel frowned as he recognized the faces of several of his men that he presumed must have been captured during the raid on Felo'melorn Spire.

As more and more of the robed figures filed into the room, Andithiel realized that some major event was about to unfold; each of those entering the room had similar clothing and ceremonial daggers strapped to their belts, and they formed neat, organized circles around the central dais, those who were not prisoners forcing the captives into alignment with the pattern they were creating. Andithiel's frown deepened as he watched several of the robed figures begin to chant, the foul words of their magic echoing in the stone chamber.

As the last of them filed in and took up their position, Seluna Dawnsea entered the room, her flowing black gown trailing after her as she paused, nodding to the guards behind her who closed the doors with a final sounding boom. With a smirk on her face, Seluna walked towards the cage where Andithiel stood, looking him over in a predatory fashion, “Ah, there you are, Heir of Felo'melorn. Do you like your new accommodations? Fear not, you shall not remain in them for long.”

“What is the purpose of all of...this?” Andithiel said, keeping his emotions in check.

“Why, this is the moment of my triumph,” Seluna said, gesturing behind her with a flourish. “You are witnessing my rebirth and my freedom from the shackles of magic that bind my spirit. Soon enough I will complete my ritual, and then I will be free and I will grant the same gift to you.”

“I want nothing from you, witch,” Andithiel said. “This is all temporary; my sisters will not long allow you to live after what you've done to our spire. Your threats and promises are empty.”

Seluna laughed, shaking her head, “Empty? I think not. By the time your sisters organize themselves this will all be complete, and then any actions they take will be futile. There is no one who will stop me.”

“My sisters will not come alone!” Andithiel said in a stern tone. “Our allies will rise to aid us! You will not be allowed to just assault and destroy Houses in Quel'Thalas without consequences.”

Seluna smirked, leaning close enough to the bars that Andithiel involuntarily pulled his head back. Her voice was a low whisper and almost sensual when she responded, “You speak of your precious Kyliska and her 'house'. You think she loves you truly? She doesn't even understand what it means to love. I have shouldered the burdens of true love. I have given of myself, made sacrifices for love that you and she cannot even fathom. If you believe her feelings for you will allow her to somehow aid your sisters in undoing my work, your thoughts are laughable at best.”

Andithiel spat on the floor of his cell, openly glaring now, “You are a thing of darkness, and you do not know what love is. I do not know what it is that passes between Kyliska and I, but I know the difference between foul evil like you, and something with light in it like the heart she offers.”

Seluna snarled, one of her hands snaking through the bars and clenching the front of Andithiel's tunic, “I have given all of myself for love. I have loved so deeply that I have died for it. I have sacrificed time and again for my beloved Tel'athar, and all without reward. I carried a child for him. I raised her as he wished. I allowed him to lead our House without complaint all because I adored him and cherished him above all else. Do not think to tell me that your precious Kyliska would do the same for you. She could not even keep her wayward eyes in check for a short score of years. She did not even bother to protect or care for herself enough to birth your own child. Do not ever speak to me of love, for you know nothing of true love, true passion. It is only once I have brought Tel'athar back and he is within you that you will know love, for you shall see my love for him that is stronger than death itself, than the Light itself!”

With that she shoved him away, retracting her hand and tilting her head once. Andithiel's heart pounded with rage, but he kept it in check, noting the way she watched him as a dangerous animal might, her eyes wild and unfocused. After a moment the emotion passed and her blue eyes faded to a greenish color. She reached up and put a few wayward strands of hair in place before offering him a smile and gesturing behind her, “Behold now the power of devotion, the power of my magic. BEGIN!”

To Andithiel's horror, the figures surrounding the dais in the circular part of the room rose, each holding up a knife. Those standing closest to the prisoners began to systematically stab their sacrificial victims in the heart, while those who were standing alone impaled their own beating hearts on the daggers, their chanting turning to gurgling as their blood rushed across the floor. And all the while, the gem on the cover of the spellbook began to glow with foul blue light as it absorbed soul after soul.

“No! NO!” Andithiel shouted, backing away from the bars as Seluna began to laugh, the sounds of corpses hitting the floor offering an eerie counterpoint to the musical tone.

************************************************

*Sunfire Estate, Eversong Woods, Half-past Midnight*

Kyliska sat solemnly upon her warhorse, her armor cinched tightly in place on her body, her best ax strapped to her back. In her hand she held a weapon that she did not ordinarily use, but that Tyavel had insisted she equip. Behind her, the rest of her Blood Knights were similarly armed, the lances each of them carried tipped with the blunt ends that would be used in practice jousting. Kyliska understood what their purpose would be, but she still questioned the sanity of the daring plan.

“Kyliska, are your men prepared?” Tyavel's voice carried up to Kyliska.

Kyliska looked down, seeing the stern looking Magistrix standing beside her, bedecked in battle robes and nearly glowing with fatal magics, enchantments, and wards. Kyliska took a moment to stare into Tyavel's eyes, as if to gauge her dedication to their cause. What she saw made her almost flinch; where the Magistrix was outwardly calm, her green glowing eyes swirled like a storm of magic, the rage within her held under a tightly controlled mask of serenity that hid the potential for massacre beyond words.

It fit Kyliska's own mood perfectly.

She wiped at her face, removing the tears she'd cried for the past hour at hearing of Andithiel's capture. The time for sorrow had passed. The time for mourning was gone. Now was the time for revenge, the time to put to the sword the enemies that had for so long tormented her family and loved ones. She would live with the consequences of tonight's battles, for she knew in her heart that her enemies would not live to see the dawn. Her voice firm, she responded finally to the Magistrix, “We are ready. You may begin.”

Tyavel nodded once, standing back a bit in front of Kyliska's horse, her voice raised and commanding now, “Seluna Dawnsea has taken that which belongs to my House and has harmed my family. She has harmed your family as well. She is well aware of what she has done and what our response will be, and so has prepared her defenses for a counter-attack. She thinks to trap us when we portal into her domain, to lead us into ambush and magical terrors that will put an end to us.”

Tyavel paused, looking over the assembled Blood Knights, her own apprentices standing silently behind her, “Tonight she will learn that she lives in the past, and that we Sin'dorei live because we have learned to survive, to think beyond the boundaries of our limitations. Tonight she will pay for her arrogance.”

Tyavel's hand came up, her fingers snapping and sending her apprentices scurrying behind her. They began to chant, their spells combining to form a huge portal that glowed in Sunfire Estate's courtyard. Tyavel did not bother to look back, her eyes meeting Kyliska's once more. She brought up her other hand, spouting a word of magic and creating a small, illusionary hourglass that floated in the air before her. The magical sand within it began to pour from the top, emptying into the bottom.

“When the sands are empty, you begin. No sooner, no later,” Tyavel said, her voice lowered once more.

With that she turned, walking towards the swirling portal behind her, her apprentices falling into line with her, each of them disappearing into the glowing magic and leaving the courtyard. Kyliska watched the sands as they emptied out, knowing she had to trust in the magic and wishing desperately that her sister were there to guide her.

A hand fell on Kyliska's shoulder and she turned to see Selenthiel there, smiling from the back of a white hawkstrider, her blessing settling in on Kyliska's shoulders like a soft blanket, “We will win this night, Kyliska. Have faith. We will not let her continued wrongs go unpunished.”

Kyliska nodded, her face grim as she remembered all of the horrors that the Dawnsea family had unleashed upon her. As she recalled all of the death and destruction. As she remembered her sister's face in her mind. She turned her horse, holding her lance high before her men, her knights saluting her as she began to speak.

“Tonight we ride not just for vengeance. We ride not just to free the heir of House Felo'melorn. Tonight we ride together as one, House allied to House, to put an end to a threat to all of Quel'Thalas. We ride to bring justice to the unjust, to put wickedness to rest so that our lands never again are scarred by the evils of necromancy and those who would practice it. Tonight we honor the name of Sunfire, we honor the memory of my fallen sister, Biara. Tonight, we will put an end to this plague upon us and a sword to the heart of darkness! FOR HOUSE FELO'MELORN, FOR HOUSE SUNFIRE, FOR QUEL'THALAS!”

The Blood Knights roared, their lances held high as Kyliska turned towards the portal, her eyes watching the sands as the very last grain fell into the bottom of the timepiece and the magical construct disappeared. With firm motions she kicked her warhorse into motion, her lance coming down in front of her and the sounds of hundreds of Blood Knights spurring their mounts into a charge behind her rising up.

Kyliska rode onward, the tip of her lance plunging into the portal and quickly followed by the rest of her, magic rising up around her and whisking her away.

**************************************************

*Dawnsea Manor, Outer Gates, An hour past Midnight*

The magic flared and spat Kyliska out, her warhorse moving at full speed even as she blinked to clear her eyes of the remaining flashes of power. In front of her rose the forbidding gates of Dawnsea Manor, the thick wooden structure set into a wall of stone twenty feet high. She was about two hundred yards away from it, her speed picking up quickly as her horse found its traction on the smooth manicured lawn outside of the gates.

Ahead of her and all around the gate were Tyavel's apprentices, all of them busily hurling magic at the structure not to destroy it, but instead to freeze it solid. Blistering cold magic slashed into the wood over and over, the guards within unable to open the huge gates due to the ice on the hinges and the apprentices keeping their men from the walls with vicious spells. Seluna had expected Tyavel to launch a counter-attack, but she had never expected Tyavel to attempt to breach the gates in a traditional fashion, and her men were badly out of position, her wards completely useless against such an assault.

Kyliska brought her lance up, the only sound in her ears the pounding of her horse's hooves beneath her and the roaring warcries of a hundred Knights echoing from behind her. Plunging towards the gate at full speed, there was no way she could turn or stop herself, and she didn't even try, trusting completely in Tyavel's word that her plan would work.

The gate rose up quickly before her, the towering structure dominating her sight. Kyliska brought her lance into perfect alignment, the blunt tip aimed directly at the center of the gates. She closed her eyes, feeling the momentum as she crossed the last few feet and the tip of her lance slammed into the center of the gate with all of the force of a battering ram, the blunt tip striking the wood like a thousand hammers.

The wooden barricade had been struck with frozen ice that was well beyond natural temperatures for over ten minutes. As the lance struck it, it shattered like into a million pieces of crystallized icy and bits of splinter, the weight of Kyliska's warhorse slamming the rest of the barricade out of the way and her lance tearing out of her hands from the force of the impact. The pain in her shoulder was almost unbearable, her vision turning white for a moment from the shock of it even as the shattered barricade fell to ruin around her and her horse stumbled into the courtyard beyond, her Knights hot on her trail, their own lances pummeling any resistance out of the way.

Ahead of Kyliska she could see the main structure of Dawnsea Manor rising up across a small lawn, dozens of House Dawnsea elves scrambling to get into defensive positions as their magically weakened gate collapsed and allowed attackers to pour in. Ignoring the screaming pain in her arm, Kyliska reach back and drew her great-ax, her heels digging into her warhorse's flanks and driving the wounded beast onward, her voice belting out over the sounds of battle, “FOR ANDI!!!!!!!!”

A House Dawnsea guard rose up before her and Kyliska decapitated him, not even slowing the momentum of her charge. She could see the doors to the manor house being pulled closed ahead, and knew she had to hurry. She spurred her mount faster, trampling those hapless enemies that had been milling about in her path beneath its iron-shod hooves. Her ax whirled, elves ducking or dying if they were not fast enough, the estate house looming up over her.

Without pausing, Kyliska spurred her charging mount onward, the beast clearing the front steps and riding all the way through the double doors and into the foyer beyond. Elves scattered before it even as the beast's horseshoes slid on the marble and the creature slammed into the far wall of the foyer. Kyliska winced as her leg was pinched between horse and wall and then she kicked her leg free and leaped from its back, landing amongst the guards that had been trying to close the door, her ax swinging wildly and her blood-curdling cries making them flinch.

Elves fell around her. A guard tried to impale her with a pike and had his legs cut out from beneath him. Another guard slammed a sword into Kyliska's shoulder pauldron and she turned and body checked him, her armored boot crushing his windpipe as he fell to the ground. She was in a killing frenzy, those around her falling to her deadly blade, her rage calling forth the Light and blinding her enemies even as golden wings sprouted from her back.

Down one of the hallways connecting to the foyer Kyliska saw reinforcements running, several of them spellcasters who paused at the end of the hallway, pointing wands in her direction. She knew she had to buy time for the rest of her men to take and hold the foyer, and so she stood firm, her teeth grit at the inevitable death that would come to her this night.

At least Andi will be free.

Even as Kyliska thought this, the air beside her began to shimmer and Tyavel appeared, her invisibility spell falling away. She stepped in front of Kyliska just as the enemy spellcasters hurled bolts of fire down the hallway, holding her hand palm outward. The fireballs slammed into an icy barrier that surrounded the Magistrix, the flames washing harmlessly past the two elves. Without saying a word Tyavel brought her hand down and then back up, as if trying to lift something, her face a mask of cold calculation.

The end of the hallway detonated, a fiery explosion consuming the three spellcasters that had tried to slay Kyliska, their screams echoing down the hallway as they were immolated. Tyavel pointed, shards of razor sharp ice flying from her finger and ricocheting down the narrow corridor, shredding the armored elves that had tried to run up towards the two and spilling their blood all over the marble.

Behind the two, Kyliska's Knights finally caught up, dozens of them dismounting and pouring into the now-forced manor doors, some turning to hold the corridors behind them and others bunching up behind Kyliska. She wasted no time, offering Tyavel the briefest of nods before bringing her ax up and charging down the hallway, her warcry echoing through the narrow stone corridor.

Behind her Tyavel followed, Selenthiel close behind with the bulk of Kyliska's Knights and a handful of Tyavel's apprentices, magic glittering on their staves as they backed up the armed fighters that had breached the gates. Like an unstoppable tide they poured down the hallways Kyliska always in the lead and always covered in gore, Tyavel right behind her, a silent and deadly force of nature that laid low any who dared challenge her magic.

Several more hallways lead off from the main entrance, and these were cleared with little resistance, the Dawnsea defenders wisely attempting to fall back towards better defensive positions. Kyliska eagerly pursued her foes, knowing that they would have to turn and fight her when she neared Seluna's inner sanctums. As she rounded a bend, the last of the retreating Dawnsea soldiers slammed a door in her path, and she ran towards it, burying half her ax in the wood.

Tyavel walked up beside Kyliska as the enraged Blood Knight pulled her ax from the wood, a smirk on her face, “Allow me, Kyliska dear. Save your ax for what lies beyond.”

Tyavel pressed her palm to the wooden door, chanting something under her breath. There was a pulse of magic from her body and the barricade blew inward, the arcane spells hurling the door into ruin in the center of what was obviously a dining hall. Kyliska charged through the opening, Tyavel on her heels and Knights pouring in behind the two, only belatedly realizing they had run into a last-ditch ambush.

On the far side of the dining hall a row of archers brought their bows up, their aim true as they let their shafts fly. Kyliska gasped as arrows struck her armor, denting it in places and getting caught in her left pauldron. Tyavel's face had a mildly irritated look as the arrows bounced off of her magical wards, weakening them slightly before she wisely took cover behind a small round table that had been set near the doors. Kyliska noted the Magistrix's actions and took cover herself, both of them flipping the tables upright as more arrows slammed into their targets.

“What now?!” Kyliska yelled as her Knights attempted to seek cover in vain. Several were struck with arrows while others found similar shelter behind overturned tables.

“We need some way to close the distance without being struck!” Tyavel shouted back. “I can hit them with my spells but not while I need to focus on keeping their arrows from my flesh!”

Kyliska grinned, an idea coming to her as the Magistrix spoke. “Arrows from our flesh! Right!” She sheathed her ax on her back, reaching down to grasp the legs of the table in front of her. With a heave that sent stars dancing through her vision from the pain in her shoulder, she lifted the table up, holding it steady as she began to advance towards the archers. The wooden barricade shuddered as it was struck by shaft after shaft, the table a pincushion before Kyliska had crossed half the distance.

“Primitive, but effective,” Tyavel conceded, rising from her place of cover and pointing. As the archers focused on Kyliska's advance, they had little warning before shards of ice crossed the distance, slamming into them and slaughtering several of them outright. One of the archers actually had his bow snap as the heavy, cold projectiles slammed into the fragile wood, the bowstring whipping him across the face and rendering him unconscious.

Kyliska reached the far side of the room, hurling the arrow-filled table at her enemies even as her Knights jumped over their own barricades and rushed the remaining defenders. A few Knights fell, but by then it was too late, Kyliska's ax was back in her hand and more corpses fell to the elegant hardwood floor.

With a roar Kyliska moved past the bodies, kicking open the door on the far end of the dining hall and plunging into the hallway beyond, noting how the décor became more expensive and decorative in the space beyond; it was exactly what she was looking for. With a grin that foretold nothing but absolute slaughter, Kyliska dashed ahead, her Knights struggling to keep up with her and forced to often break off to cover openings and doorways that Kyliska ignored in favor of following her own inner voice. Behind her Tyavel and Selenthiel followed, the Magistrix on guard for magical traps and the High Priestess frowning as she sensed something in the estate ahead.

After a moment Selenthiel came to a halt, her voice carrying to Kyliska ahead and causing the three of them to pause, “There is something amiss in the hallway to the right. The first door. I can sense...evil. Some sort of dark power there.”

Tyavel closed her eyes, concentrating and murmuring. After a moment her eyes snapped open and she nodded, her voice grim, “Andithiel is in that direction as well. He still wears a ring I gifted him and I can detect its presence at such a close proximity.”

Kyliska's eyes widened, her voice strained, “Is he..?”

“He lives. The magic would not function if he did not,” Tyavel replied, her voice firm. “We must hurry.”

Kyliska needed no goading, her boots already pounding on the lushly carpeted floor as she dashed down the hallway Selenthiel had indicated. She shoulder slammed the first door she came to, bursting into the room beyond and stumbling into it in horror.

It was a charnel-house. The circular conjury room beyond was filled with corpses that lay around a central dais in the center of the room. The stone dais was empty, blood from a hundred elves covering it and defiling it. Before it knelt Seluna, her back to the doorway as she completed some spell she was working on.

Kyliska stumbled forward a few steps, almost retching from the stench of the place. Her head whipped around as she heard Andithiel's voice cry out from his place in the cage, “Kyliska! She's completed some dark ritual! Watch out!”

Tyavel and Selenthiel rushed into the room behind Kyliska, the three preparing themselves for whatever defenses Seluna had in place in her most private sanctum. Seluna herself rose slowly, turning to face the intruders with a grin. She brought hand up, her magic reaching out across the room and slamming the door shut behind the trio.

“Welcome to the dawn of a new day for Quel'Thalas,” Seluna said happily. “I am so glad that you decided to come to me, and have saved me the effort of hunting you down in your own estates.”

“YOU WILL DIE FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ANDITHIEL! FOR WHAT YOU DID TO MY SISTER!” Kyliska's rage-fueled cry echoed through the room and she immediately charged forward, her boots nearly slipping on the blood-soaked floor.

Seluna merely smirked, bringing a hand up and then whipping it downwards. Tendrils of shadow magic crossed the distance between Kyliska and Seluna in an instant, slashing into Kyliska's thigh and punching through the armor there. With a cry the Blood Knight fell, her form clattering to the bloody marble.

“I think not. Your time has come and gone, and I will usher in a new era for the people of these lands. Those that defy me, like you, will pay the ultimate price for your arrogance. You will not be allowed to ruin this nation any longer!” Seluna replied, her voice scolding.

Tyavel stepped around the fallen Kyliska, her voice firm as she replied, “Seluna Dawnsea, as a representative of the Magistrate of Quel'Thalas, I hereby charge you with the crime of practicing necromancy within our domain. I charge you with the crime of assaulting the citizens of Quel'Thalas. Finally, I charge you with the crime of abducting a member of one of the noble houses of Quel'Thalas. Surrender now, or be thrown down in death.”

Seluna laughed, pointing at Tyavel and lashing out with her magic again. This time the shadowy tendril struck a magical barrier, and Seluna frowned as she lashed out a second time. Tyavel immediately reacted, hurling bolts of razor sharp ice at the empowered High Priestess, even as Selenthiel began to chant, her healing magics soothing Kyliska's wounds and shielding her sister.

Kyliska groaned, rising from her place on the floor and gathering up her ax, advancing towards the dark priestess even as Tyavel continued to hurl bolts of ice at her. The spells seemed to slam into an invisible barrier in the air before the priestess, and Kyliska quickly found her own advance halted as more shadowy tendrils began to lash at her. It was all she could to do shield herself, even with the Light surrounding her in a protective bubble.

Seluna snarled, a dark word of power lashing out and dispelling Kyliska's holy shield, her magics again slashing into Kyliska's flesh and drawing blood from her arm. On the far side of the room, Tyavel continued to chant, even as her wards began to fail from the constant assault of dark magic, her ice bolts doing little noticeable damage to the vile priestess. It was only through Selenthiel's prayers that the trio even remained standing, and it was clear that they soon would be overwhelmed by Seluna's newly enhanced power.

Kyliska screamed a warcry, rising to her feet again even as she was lashed again and again. She felt the magic tear into her stomach, rip a pauldron from her armor, and rip open her knuckles and still she pressed on, her head bowed as if walking into a vile wind. Seluna merely laughed, increasing her assault further, lashing Kyliska over and over as it to punish the insolent child that thought to challenge her.

As blow after blow rained down on her, Kyliska fell to her knees, her blood adding to the gory mess on the floor of the room. Barely retaining consciousness, she held her ax before her, the cold hard steel offering only a little protection from the relentless assaults from Seluna's magic. The dark priestess was barely visible now, her power so immense that it blotted out the dim lights that illuminated the chambers.

I've failed. After all of this...all of our efforts, she is too strong now. She's going to kill all of us in here. House Sunfire and House Felo'melorn will fall. All because I am too weak, because I did not act soon enough, because I failed. I see now what Biara suffered, the burden she felt every waking moment of her life of knowing that a single mistake would end it all for us. I wish...I wish I could tell her. I wish I could have fought beside her one last time. She deserved to have been here with us, even if we all fell together.

Tears streamed down Kyliska's cheeks, her emotions raging even as blood poured from her wounds. Her hoarse voice cried out across the chamber, a death-dirge that made Seluna smirk. “BIARAAAAAAAAAAA!”

A flash of light and a sudden uncomfortable feeling made Kyliska snap back to full consciousness, her eyes darting down to take in the sight of the bracelet on her wrist that Biara had given her glowing hotly. It became uncomfortably warm in an instant, so painful that Kyliska forgot everything around her and dropped her ax, snatching the jewelry from her arm and hurling it away.

For a moment it went unnoticed, tumbling end over end across the room, its light growing brighter and brighter. Soon it became so bright that even Seluna noticed it, her eyes wide as her spells faltered, Tyavel too holding back her magic as all watched the strange glowing bracelet tumble towards the floor.

Only it never hit the floor.

It hovered in the air, magic pulsing from it in waves, the light growing ever brighter. Sounds began to emanate from it, muted at first and then clearly audible to all in the room.

“Father, when I grow up, I wish to be a fighter like you,” a young female elven voice said.

“Mother, I will finish my spell studies after I go to Kyliska's party!” a slightly older elven child said.

“Kyli, no matter what happens, we're best friends for life. Blood oath and all. You can always count on me. Why, you're like my sister,” a teenaged elven voice seemed to say.

“Kyli...I don't know how anyone could ever replace your mother, your family, but you will always have a place with me, with my House,” Biara Dayfire's voice echoed through the room.

“FOR QUEL'THALAS, FOR THE HORDE!” Biara Dayfire's voice shouted in a warcry.

A thousand other moments echoed, shouted, whispered, confided, and cried from the pulsing magic, as if the life of Kyliska's best friend and sister were being replayed in that moment. Tears streamed down Kyliska's face as emotions ran through her, as each moment of the life shared with her sister was replayed by the magic. She wept openly, even as the sounds rose to a crescendo that was almost deafening.

The magical orb pulsed one more time, the weird bubble of time-space becoming unstable as magic tore it to shreds, the spell falling in on itself and imploding before bursting outward with a blinding flash of light. When the light had gone and everyone's vision had cleared, a figure stood where the light had been.

Biara Sunfire stood in the room, her dress soaked with seawater, her lank red hair hanging limply around her face. Her eyes were closed, as if she were concentrating, and in one hand she held the bloody remains of a heart large enough to fit in a dragon's chest. Her other hand held a dagger that shimmered strangely and was hard to look at, as if it were there but not there at the same time. For a moment Kyliska blinked, unable to understand why the ghost of her sister would appear in the room with them in that moment, her heart pounding in her chest.

And then Biara opened her eyes, and Kyliska knew that she was looking at no ghost.

“Hello Mother,” Biara said, her eyes locking with Seluna's. “I see you're causing trouble yet again. And to think you must have been so elated to know I was dead. Yet here I am to ruin your plans once again. I see that you've brought the others here as well, which is perfect as I believe it is time to put an end to this once and for all, don't you...”

Biara's eyes began to glow, fel magic seeping from them and turning to vapor in the air around her face, her power growing.

“....you traitorous...”

The wards on Biara's face flared to life, similar wards on her body glowing with such a bright blue that they were visible through her robes.

“...little...”

The air above her hand began to shimmer, the dragon's heart turning to ash as a ball of fire grew, hovering in the air above Biara's upraised palm.

“...bitch!”

If Biara had walked up and begun to slap Seluna in the face, her appearance would still not have had a greater impact on the vile creature. Seluna began to rage, her anger flaring to life in the form of shadows that seeped from her body. She screamed incoherently at the ceiling, her fists clenched and shaking, shadowy magic slashing into the walls and ceiling and gouging great chunks out of the stone. Marble fell around her as she stomped her feet like a petulant child, unable to articulate her anger.

After a few moments of this, Biara had had enough and casually flicked her wrist at her mother, a massive ball of fire flying through the air and detonating on Seluna's wards. The dark priestess shrieked as her protective barrier shuddered and nearly collapsed, her mouth opening to spit out angry words and slamming shut as she was forced to concentrate when Biara hurled a second ball of fire, never relenting in her attack.

Across the room, Tyavel saw an opportunity and shouted a word of power, blinking across the space between herself and Seluna, her hands outstretched as she hurled magic at the dark priestess's back. Shards of jagged ice slammed into Seluna's wards, several of the spells severing shadowy tendrils that had been meant for Biara. Even so, Seluna retaliated, lashing out at Biara and shattering her protective barriers after several hits, a shadowy tendril slapping Biara's wrist and causing her to yelp and drop the dagger she'd been holding. Shadowy apparitions arose from the ground around Seluna, their shape matching the priestess's and their inky forms slithering towards Tyavel, forcing the Felo'melorn Magistrix on the defensive as she slashed into the attacking magic with her own spells.

From her place on the floor, Kyliska watched the magical battle as it escalated, the two powerful Magistrixes doing battle with Seluna and holding their own, flames and fire dancing around Seluna's wards and weakening them. Both Biara and Tyavel moved quickly, expertly avoiding attacks or counterspelling Seluna a the most opportune moments, keeping her spells at bay for as long as possible.

Kyliska coughed, her blood running down her chin from a punctured lung. With her last dregs of energy she grabbed her ax, using it as a crutch to rise to her feet. Selenthiel rushed over to her, pressing her hands to Kyliska's badly wounded body but the Blood Knight waved her away, pushing onwards towards Andithiel.

She barely made it to his cage, the last of her strength expended in using her ax to break the lock. It clattered onto the marble floor and was followed by Kyliska herself, her vision turning gray at the edges as she struggled to maintain consciousness. In a flash both Selenthiel and Andithiel were kneeling beside her, Kyliska's head supported in Andithiel's lap.

“A-andi...” Kyliska said, coughing up more blood. “No m-matter what h-happens....K-know that I will a-always love you. Always. I-I'm sorry...I-I couldn't... b-be better for you. B-be what you deserved. B-but I will g-give my life for you. M-my heart is always yours.”

Andithiel rocked Kyliska gently, shushing her and brushing her blood-matted hair from her face even as Selenthiel desperately prayed over her to stem the bleeding from her many wounds, “Hush, Kyli. Save your strength now. I want you to promise me something.”

Kyliska looked up at Andithiel with glazed eyes, her breath coming in short gasps from the pain, “A-anything...”

“I want you to wait for me. Just for a little while. If we are to put the past behind us, to start a new slate, then there is something I must do. Will you do that for me?” he said softly.

“I-I'll wait....forever...” Kyliska sighed. She frowned as Andithiel gently lowered her to the floor, her hand reaching out to him, “A-andi...?”

He reached out, caressing her fingers with his before rising all the way, looking down on her, “Wait for me, beloved. Only for a little while.”

With that he turned and walked way, Kyliska's weak pleas unheeded, “A-andi....n-no...please...”

In the center of the room the battle raged on, Biara and Tyavel darting in and out of danger, hurling spells at Seluna one after the other. The sky rained ice, the ground burned in flames. Arcane explosions ripped through the corpses laying all over the floor, and darts of bright magic fought back against the darkness that threatened to destroy both spellcasters. Although they were powerful, Seluna's completion of her ritual had made her stronger, and both Biara and Tyavel found their strength waning, their wards failing as spell after spell struck them. In the end, Seluna lashed out one final time, ripping through Biara's wards and hurling her to the ground.

Seluna laughed, standing over her daughter even as Tyavel fought in vain against her apparitions, her voice hollow and cold, “And so I now put an end to the one mistake in my life. That I ever thought to raise you properly is laughable to me now. Go, dear Biara'thiel, go now to your death. Go and be-”

Seluna's voice faltered, her eyes wide as she looked down in horror at her chest. There, lodged neatly through her heart was the dagger Biara had been carrying, the spellblade shimmering in and out of existence. Not of this time and place, her wards had done nothing to stop it, and it had cut through her flesh with ease.

Andithiel stood behind her, his grip on the blade firm, his voice echoing in Seluna's ear, “That was for Kyliska. For my men. For Biara. For all of the people that you have wronged in your years walking this world.”

Seluna's mouth opened and closed, blood gushing from it. She slipped to her knees as Andithiel pulled the knife free, his free hand coming to grasp her hair. Biara watched in morbid fascination, her eyes locked with her mother's as Andithiel brought the dagger up again, setting it to her throat.

“And this is for my unborn child, you murderous wench,” Andithiel said coldly, dragging the blade across Seluna's throat and executing her. He released her hair, pushing her forward to fall face first in the gore of her many victims, her body convulsing and pale scourge-fire beginning to glow around her.

For a moment the room was silent, Seluna's magic falling still as she passed, her transformation into a true lich beginning as her soul sought its new phylactery. In that moment there was a blinding flash of light, and all who looked were forced to close their eyes for a moment.

When Andithiel opened his eyes again, they widened in surprise as he took in three figures before him. One was kneeling on the floor, her flame red hair and features so similar to Biara's that he knew without even questioning that this was the true face of Biara's mother. Before her stood the ghostly apparition of a male Quel'dorei, a female Quel'dorei with glowing wings of light standing slightly behind him.

“And so your reign of terror comes to an end at last,” the Quel'dorei said, looking down sadly at the kneeling ghost before him. “Seluna Dawnsea, born Selun'athiel Dawnslight and living as Selun'athiel Dayfire....my wife. Time after time you were given mercy. Time after time you were given the opportunity to mend your ways, to heal your tattered soul and join me in true rest, and yet you were unable to see your mistakes for what they were, unable to see that your passions destroyed you.”

The ghost turned to look Andithiel in the eyes, and he had no doubt that he was speaking to the noble Tel'athar Dayfire. The ghost nodded at him once, his tone softening, “Thank you, champion, for freeing us of the burden of watching over her. The body you destroyed was freely given as a vessel to contain her, and we tried to help her find salvation through the Light. As you can see, her own thirst for power and her inability to grasp the consequences of her actions lead her to this end, to the pitiful state in which you see her. Let this be a lesson to you, and to others...power without wisdom, passion without love, these things are like bitter poison to the soul.”

The ghost turned looking down at Selun'athiel, pity in his eyes, “I am sorry my beloved, but you have gone too far, done too much. Your soul is bound now to the phylactery, but we have been granted one last gift, one last boon of the Light. You shall not rise again, but shall be sealed within it, never to interfere with this world again. Farewell, light of my heart. May your darkness never wax again.”

Selun'athiel's eyes widened in horror and she wailed, even as a column of Light intensified around the trio. In a blinding flash the three disappeared, the ghosts departed back to their afterlife, or punishment.

Andithiel nodded once, throwing the dagger on the floor with a clatter before turning and walking back towards where Selenthiel tended to Kyliska, his heart lighter as if a heavy burden had been lifted from him.

Behind him, Biara slowly got to her feet, walking to the place where her mother had been defeated and bending down to pick up the dagger, studying it thoughtfully, and staring for a time at the empty space where her father's ghost had stood. Tyavel moved to stand beside her, also studying the spot silently for a time.

“And so ends a threat to both our Houses, and perhaps begins a new dawning for them as well,” Tyavel said softly, looking at Biara and beyond to where Andithiel knelt beside Kyliska, his hand firmly holding hers as he leaned down to kiss her.

“So it does,” Biara said solemnly. “Let us never let it come to this point again. Let us stand together against this, so that our families can live in peace.”

“Agreed,” Tyavel said simply. She tilted her head, looking at Biara, “There is a matter of...this place, and House Dawnsea. They cannot be allowed to rebuild.”

Biara smirked, nodding at the other Magistrix, “You are correct.”

“After you then, Magistrix Sunfire,” Tyavel said.

“No, no, you have earned this honor. After you, Magistrix Felo'melorn,” Biara replied.

Tyavel offered a rare smile and nodded, turning away from the group and chanting. Flames shot from her hands, bathing the far walls and ceiling and igniting various flammable objects that had been in the room, catching the supports that held the marble in place in flames. Biara followed suit, her own fires joining that of Tyavel's, until the far side of the conjury was a roaring inferno. With a nod to one another, the two elves turned and walked towards their companions, each of them preparing portal spells.

Minutes later, a magical signal was sent out to Tyavel's apprentices, and all of the attack force began to withdraw towards portals, even as flames began to claim Dawnsea Estate.

Hours later, there would be nothing but charred ruins where the seat of House Dawnsea's power once stood.

*************************************************

As the portals flared and died, the surviving attackers returned to Sunfire Estate's courtyard, their jubilant cheers rising up. Tyavel stood apart from the group, watching silently as Sunfire and Felo'melorn alike rejoiced in their victory. She watched as Andithiel carefully held Kyliska in his arms, as if he worried that when he let her go she would be gone from him forever. She watched Kyliska's Blood Knights and her own apprentices congratulate each other, smiles on their faces as they shook hands and recounted tales of their bravery.

And she watched Biara Sunfire as she emerged from the crowd, her eyes looking around wildly as if searching for something, until a small child ran from the estate's main doors and into her arms. She watched the Magistrix pick up the small red-haired girl and hold her close, tears streaming down her face and a thousand “I love yous” passing from Biara's lips.

In that moment, Tyavel allowed herself to feel content again. She forgave herself for allowing her defenses to be breached, and congratulated herself for her cunning victory. A smile even passed over her face briefly as she watched the others, knowing that happiness would become the rule rather than the exception.

As she watched Andithiel kiss Kyliska again, and Biara holding her daughter, Tyavel's smile faded and was replaced by a frown.

She would be damned if she was babysitting any time soon.

With that she turned, slipping from the group and murmuring a spell to whisk her back to her own sanctum and a well deserved glass of the finest wine.