---
The sun kept dipping in and out of the clouds as the infantry column marched briskly along the road leading through eastern Elwynn. The guardsmen normally patrolling it were all stepping aside with wide, wondering eyes; not so much because it had been nearly two years since a prospect like this was at all commonplace in the kingdom of Stormwind, but the fact that the frontmost third of the column was made up entirely by the curious new additions to the grand Alliance – a head taller than a man, digitigrade cloven hooves and luminous blue skin, the precise rows of the Draenei warriors marching in near-perfect lockstep were certainly a sight to behold.
She tapped the tall, armoured palomino into a small trot, catching up to her friend. The elderly Kaldorei sat comfortably astride his own steed; a massive, sabre-toothed tiger with dark, mottled fur, wearing the ornate, jewelled plating of its master’s native culture. The muscled beast padded silently alongside the Draenic cohorts, the tip of its tongue lolling as it panted slowly in the bright early-summer sun. The stallion snorted matter-of-factly at the tamed predator’s presence, and his rider clicked her tongue in a low note to bring the horse back to a controlled walk.
“Nice weather,” she remarked off-hand, leaning back in the saddle and letting the reins hang.
He looked up at her. “You two seem to be getting along fine now.”
“Eh.” She rolled her ankles in the stirrups. “He’s not a complete idiot.” The stallion let out a huff, and she chuckled and leaned forward to rub its flaxen mane.
The aged Night Elf merely smiled. “We are making good headway. At this rate, we may cross into Duskwood before afternoon.” True to his words, the forest was thinning out rapidly, the scenery beginning to shift into the naked, reddish earth and cliffsides of the Redridge mountain range.
“… mhm.” She squinted ahead, her lips pursing in momentary thought. “Hold on.” She kicked the stallion into a gallop, swiftly reaching the front of the formation. “Be right back,” she quipped as she thundered past the mounted captain spearheading the march. He opened his mouth to shout indignantly after her, but thought better of it.
Ahead of her, the road forked distinctly into three passageways: one leading onward into the undulating landscape, the next taking a sharp turn to the south-west, and the third leading back the way she had just arrived. Right at the intersection, a lone guardsman had just taken a brief stop to survey the surroundings. He unhooked a small watersack from his belt, taking a metered swig.
“Parker!” she called out, throwing a friendly wave. “Still patrolling the dusty old warpath, I see.”
He looked up, his eyes widening first with surprise and then recognition. He sputtered slightly, quickly putting the watersack away. “T-Tuan? Fel, you’ve been getting around.” He raised his hand to let the imposing steed greet him as she pulled up alongside. He looked up at her with an eyebrow raised. “Haven’t seen you in some time.”
She shrugged dismissively, dropping the reins and leaning forward in the saddle, crossing her arms over the pommel. “Been there, done that.” She shot him a wry little grin. “How’s Darcy?”
He cleared his throat loudly, quickly bowing his head to adjust the helm, but he couldn’t hide his embarrassed but nevertheless genuinely happy smile. “Ah, hrm! We’ve … kind of hit things off, you could say.”
She leaned her chin in one hand, still grinning slyly.
He rubbed his neck awkwardly. “Do you remember how she used to make me lunch? I think you delivered one, even.”
“Mhm.”
“Well, she kept doing that. There’s never a real shortage of adventurers wanting to run humble errands, I guess.” He shrugged lightly. “I got a two week permission after finishing scouting out the gnoll camps – much obliged for your help—” He bowed quickly to her. “—and, um, we kind of talked, and started seeing each other, and … it just developed from there.” His smile had widened noticeably.
“Mhm.” Her grin had widened as well.
“Aaaand … we married the following season and I’m now a father.” The words came tumbling out, but his eyes shone.
She chortled warmly, extending her hand. “Double congratulations, then.” He shook it vigorously.
“So …” He glanced past her, his eyes widening once more at the sight of the infantry column approaching.
She quickly glanced back and drew a deep breath. “Yeah. … they’re not bound for Lakeshire.”
His face fell noticeably. She gave him a lopsided, sympathetic smile. “Sorry.”
He shook his head, already back in his profession as patrol guard. “Don’t be. If they’re needed elsewhere, so be it. We’ve held out this long, and we can hold out a while longer.” His weary expression belied his words. “I take it you’re going with them?”
She shifted her weight in the saddle with a minute grimace. “Uh-huh. Dark Portal.”
He looked up at her again, concern etched in his features. “Is it … is it true, what the messengers have been saying? That the Portal has … reopened?”
She stared ahead as the column began to file past, veering onto the south-western branch of the crossroads. “It has.”
He propped his helm up to scratch his sweat-dampened forehead, and then pushed the helm back down again. “Then they’re needed elsewhere. I’ll inform the next runner that you passed through here without incident.”
She nodded. “Gotta go now. Can’t let the captain get cranky with me.”
He smiled back ironically. “As if that would ever stop you.” She replied with one of her signature grins, and he waved as she turned her steed around and galloped back to the column.
Theluin glanced up at her as she pulled level with him once more. “Renewing old acquaintances?”
She leaned back in her saddle with a sigh, bringing her steed back to a walk. “That, and making sure the townsfolk don’t start expecting things. No hope is better than a crushed hope.”
He smiled softly. “You do have your considerate moments.”
She rolled her eyes meaningfully. “Please, not so loud. Can’t have you ruin my reputation here.”
He merely continued to smile.
---
Originally written by Tuan Taureo
No comments:
Post a Comment