Chapter Two

First Blood

"We can't wait any longer!" A horse voice said through the darkness. The firelight and lamps had not been lit in the trade quarter, or had been extinguished some time ago as two figures crouched in a doorframe completely masked in shadow, except for a slightly glowing set of blue eyes..

"Sereg and Hymdel have already led two large groups out of the city, the longer we wait, the closer they get and if they find out..."

"I trust the girl, I wont leave yet."

"Damn it Vic, we run risk to everything if we don't move!"

"We barley got a hundred people out if that, the girl is smart, give me two minutes." The snarl was just as strong as his own as the glowing eyes turned to look at him.

"Saving them wont.." he began to say before a large mass moved into the trade quarter. You could see the glint of steel in his hand as he looked them over. In the lead was a small blonde as she looked around.

"Why here Rozial how.." a elder woman's voice managed to wheeze out.

"Told you so." The figure hissed as she slid out of the shadows and into the street.

"Follow us, hurry! Mei'thos, bring up the rear."

"Yes Mistress." He nodded as the group started at a jog again. Rozial quickly caught up to the woman.

"How did you..."

"Know, I'll explain it to you later." she said before stopping in front of what appeared to be a large drain. Her hands cupped as she crouched. "Step up, and in, bear right at the fork, don't stop." she snapped loudly now as rozial listened, gripping the edge and nearly sliding off.

"It's wet."

"It's a sewage drain, it will be wet, but it goes up and out, now go!" she snapped as the girls foot found a place in her hands and she was hefted up and in as if she weighed little to nothing. Once inside and on her feet she started to move quickly again, eyes trying to adjust to the darkness. She heard the footsteps behind her that signaled she needed to move faster, and she did just that, as fast as her feet could carry her, she followed the smell of fresh air and ran from the distant screams.

"You said you'd tell me." the girls voice was quiet now as she hugged her blanket close around herself. She sat in a old wagon that moved at a brisk pace down through Silvervine. It had been night when they finally surfaced, the screams still echoed the air as the young and old were crammed into the carts and those who could, walked as fast as possible to keep up.

"I lied."

"Why? How do we know your bringing us to safety if you wont.." Rozial's hand instantly flew to her mouth. "I'm sorry that was out of line after what you just..."

"But it was the right question to ask. Never hesitate to ask the right question, one day it could save your life." The woman's voice held a slight chuckle as she responded now. "However were not far enough away from the scourge for my liking yet."

"Will we ever be." Another chuckle came from the forest's edge. The man emerged riding a black warhorse much like the others's mounts. Only something was odd about him, his eyes shown brighter then the woman's, but his skin seemed dark as night in his cloak.

"Sereg, anything?"

"Not following. But ahead, not sure."

"Great.. So hit them as they hit us." another man chuckled as he pushed his cloak aside. His armor was the color of molten gold, and screamed honor as people looked over him now.

"Hymdel.."

"I hate cloaks, besides, we are not being followed." He nodded as he pushed his golden hair back."

"Of course not, and all most view the handsome Hymdel else his ego will not be sated." the woman chuckled as she reined up next to him.

"Come now, are you so scared of your beauty bewitching those here you wont remove your cloak." He smirked as he looked over the carriages. "Besides, were the only swords and that's a hazard." He pointed out as the woman sighed now. Rozial couldn't help but giggle before she got looks shot at her from her parents. Hymdel just winked at her as the troops continued along in silence until the sun had almost risen.

The first of the fires were lit once the sun was visible. Meat and coffee was set in skillets or pots over the fire as many of the women worked rapidly beside the men to start cooking. Rozial helped the best she could, hauling wood to the fire, or asking the elders how they felt before wandering up to where Hymdel and the unnamed woman sat looking over there weaponry.

"Will the scourge not attack in the day?"

"No, they will, but we can see them clearly." Hymdel's voice was gentle now as he looked her over. "So you're the priest."

"I'm not a pri.."

"It is very strong with you, the light I mean. Why is that?" he looked from her to the cloaked figure now.

"I.. I don't know." She muttered before hearing the elder women call out of for breakfast. "Would you like something to eat?"

"I'd love it." He flashed a smile that would make any women melt, that perfect toothy smile and sparkling emerald eyes that everyone loved. The young priestess blushed as she rushed off to fetch it.

"That was dirty Hymdel." The woman said gently from under the hood of her cloak.

"Coming from the Mistress, calling one of her guard dirty for using there charm. It breaks my heart to here you speak of me so." He faked a gasp grasping at his heart before letting out a deep laugh and headed toward rozial and the others.

For wagon food, the meet was very juicy, the cheese sharp and melted in your mouth. The elder silver haired man demanded all grain to be burned at a separate fire. Why ruin perfect flour and wheat and corn, most didn't understand, but trusted him. He sat now with the woman, his coat still wrapped tight around himself hiding most of his lower face. Rozial just stared at them before a elder woman shoved two plates in her hands.

"For them." Rozial nodded and set off at a swift walk not wanting the meat and coffee to go cold. They took them without saying so much as a word before she bowed.

"Thank you." Was all she said and turned to leave. Once again, the camp was quiet as people ate, slept, or wept over what they had lost. Rozial herself fell into sleep nestled into the furs and blankets on the wagon.

The roar of battle stirred rozial from her sleep as she peered around the camp, praying it was a dream. Two men lay bleeding from what seemed deep wounds to the chest and throat as others ran around to escape what looked like half wolves that ran partially upright.

"Rozial!" She heard her mother cry out as she rushed toward her, one of the beasts not far behind. It was a woman who jumped between them, a angled one handed sword caught the light, dripping crimson and slick with blood. She wore little armor, the plate barely covering her chest and waist, only one pauldron her right side, as if a dragon were trying to rip free of the molten metal upon it's creation. Her blond hair fell down her back in a tight braid showing off slightly pointed ears. She stood there like some sort of goddess, before the blade came up and cut through the beast. As it did, white light ripped along the blade and burst free of him, sliding over her own body before she moved rapidly again.

"Priestess, heal them else they die!" Hymdel roared toward rozial as his huge broadsword cut through the air and bodies like butter. Rozial slid from the wagon slowly, her legs trembling with each step before she knelt next to the closest man. Her fingers fumbled as she began letting the light fill her hands, bursting across his body, healing his wounds slowly. She gasped a bit, having never seen how it actually worked on human flesh. The man sat up coughing and grabbing for her as if startled.

"Behind.." he managed to say before something hit her enough to knock the wind from her, black dots sliding in and out of her vision.

"Rozial!" hymdel's voice roared now as she looked up, the beast was closing in, licking its lips before something skittered across the dirt, the cold feeling of it pressing against her leg as she nearly pulled away. The short sword was curved unlike any weapon she had ever seen, its grip was warm and to big for her hand as she griped it. She didn't want to kill, the though of it shook her to the core, but it was her life, or its. She was meant to protect, how could a priest do so. All these thoughts raced across her mind before she remembered her uncles smile, he had such faith in her. They all did. She stood slowly now the sword in her right hand as she looked over the beast. It lunged first as she brought the blade up, ripping through it's chest, the blood spraying her dirtied white robes before he fell twitching. Her legs moved away from him slowly as her eyes scanned the area. Another wolfman was ripping at a woman, her screams echoed as heavy as the humidity and heat that lingered around them now. Her pace quickened as she came at the thing from the side, screaming as she raised the sword, he turned to see it hitting him hard across the collar bone. Pulling away hissing as she lunged again, running the creature through as the woman pushed away. Her own hearth and breath heavy in her ears she let go of the sword as the thing fell. The screams stopped as two forms strode toward her.

"Pick up the sword Rozial." The voice was not one she recognized. The man watching her now almost made her gasp. He stood taller then any she had met, with white blue marbled skin, and white glowing eyes. His hair was the color of midnight blue skies. His ears were long and pointed much like the quel'dorei, however sloped back instead of up. He wore plate and many scars, the sign of a warrior.

"I..."

"You made the kill, pick up and clean your sword Rozial." Hymdel said gently now putting a hand on her shoulder. "There is still much to do." She reached forward and pulled the sword away from the body. The blood still bubbled out of the wound as she pulled it free, the sound much like a gelatin sliding free of it's mold. Her stomach heaved then as she rushed the few feet to the tree, before everything she managed to eat came rushing back up. Cold hands slid over her back as she cried and heaved till her body just shook.

"You protected your people very well Rozial. But now, they need a healer." the other man spoke gently. His words were like the wind, caressing and strong. She took strength in this.

"But..."

"You have the strength and gift, come."