Pure of Heart

Chapter 2:

Meleager was trying to keep focused on the task at hand. He was on the road headed north, keeping his horse at a good pace, not wanting to push it too hard and tire it out. There was an outpost up ahead, which he hoped to get to by noon, send a message back to the fort and drop Calyn off before continuing his pursuit.

When he got to that detail though, he would become aware of her arms around his waist, her chest against his back and her breath on his neck. His mind would start to wander a little, thinking about the touch of her skin, the sound of her voice, and even to wonder what her lips tasted like, or even-

He shook his head, he had to focus on the task at hand. The trolls had to be stopped and the surviving settlers rescued. Once he reached the outpost, he could make sure Calyn was going to be safe and secure, and he wouldn't have to worry about her anymore, or think about her voice whispering in his ear, her hands running up his chest, the feel of her breasts-


The smell of smoke and the sound of panic up ahead snapped him out of it. He rounded a corner and saw flames down the road, and could make out people running around. Calyn gasped, “What's happening?”


“The outpost,” he said urging his horse to go faster, “the outpost is on fire.”


Within minutes they had arrived to a chaotic scene. The few buildings here were all on fire, people were running around, desperately trying to put out the fire, find loved ones, shouting orders or trying to get away from it all. Meleager quickly lowered Calyn off his horse and jumped off himself, heading for the largest building, where the fire seemed most intense. The building was close to collapse and it seemed unlikely that they could stop it.

A commander stood there shouting orders to her men to clear the area. She nodded briefly at him as he came up and went back to her business.

“We can't save the building! Clear out of here!”

Another man came stumbling towards her, having trouble breathing from inhaling too much smoke.

“My niece is still in there!” he cried, “We have to get her out!”

“I'm sorry Melak, but you already tried, we can't get in there.”

She turned to issue an order to Meleager, only to find he wasn't there anymore. Looking up she saw him disappear into the building.


Smoke and heat threatened to kill his resolve. No one would blame him if he gave up, but he would. If there was something he could do, he would do it. He kept his head low and moved quickly through the building, calling out for the girl. He made quick work of the ground level and made for the stairs, which were about to collapse. He didn't hesitate to run up them, even as they began collapsing beneath him.

They crashed down just as he jumped onto the second floor. He sank to the floor, his eyes watering and his lungs screaming at him, but he shook it off quickly. The sounds of wailing reached his ears and he was back on his feet instantly running towards it. The door closed, and locked, but he could clearly here a girl crying for help and coughing. He rammed it with his shoulder and it gave way easily.

She was about 14, blonde and petite, tied to a chair and blindfolded. Meleager quickly cut away at her bounds and took off the blindfold. The hallway outside the door was collapsing, he realized, and the stairs were gone. Thinking quickly, he picked up the chair she had been sitting on and threw it out the window. Then he grabbed the girl and jumped out feet first.

He hit the ground with a sickening crack and pain shot up through his body. He grunted in pain and dropped onto his butt as people ran over to help him and the girl. Everyone cleared out of the way as the building collapsed completely with a great crash, sending sparks and burning embers every which way.

While Meleager channeled healing energy to his leg, he looked up and saw the girl back with her family, causing him to grin. As soon as he could he got back up to help put out the fires on the smaller buildings, heal wounds or anything anyone needed. He noticed Calyn was tending to a group of children, who had been panicked and crying when they had gotten there, but now were smiling and reassured. He took a moment to admire her skill with them, before going back to helping the others.

“We were lucky you were happening by,” said the Commander. The fires had been put out, and most of the severe wounds were healed. Meleager felt exhausted but was glad that he was able to help as much as he did. They were now sitting by a small fire that the soldiers had built in the center to stave off the coming cold of evening. There was still some time of daylight, and some messengers had been sent back to the fort for help.

Meleager had told her what he had happened upon and his mission. He had presumed the same group of trolls had caused this fire, but when he speculated this she shook her head.

“We have not seen them,” she said, “we've only seen Darkspears around here, and they haven't been causing trouble. No, this started late this morning, just suddenly all the buildings went up in flames. Definitely set, but whoever they were, they were good. No one saw anything.”

“Not exactly,” Calyn said as she sat down next to Meleager, “Rose, the girl you rescued, said she saw the one who grabbed her and tied her up, he made no attempt to hide himself. It was a troll.”

“Darkspear?” the commander asked.

Calyn shrugged, “she didn't know, all trolls look the same to her.”

Meleager watched as the commander chewed the thumb of her glove in contemplation, “most likely he was with the ones from Zul'Drak, at least I hope so. If it turned out a Darkspear did this, it would be the excuse some would need to strike at the Horde.”



An hour later, he was getting ready to move on. There was still a good two hours of daylight and he had lost time in catching the trolls. The soldiers and civilians here were taken care of, his messages were unsent, he just had one more thing to take care of...

Calyn had washed up and had found some extra clothes, and was now standing behind him expectantly. He busied himself with his horse, the thought nagging at his brain that if he turned around and looked at her, he wouldn't be able to make her stay. This worried him, he had been attracted to women before, but it never before clouded his judgment before. He shouldn't have her near him during this time, because he knew he desired her, and perhaps she wanted him too, but she was vulnerable right now, and it would be wrong to take advantage of that. Besides, this was a dangerous mission he was going on and he may not be able to protect her.

With his resolve firmly set, he turned, and immediately knew he had been right.

Her auburn hair had been cleaned and braided neatly, framing her lovely face perfectly. She had traded in his oversized clothes for ones that fitted her better, hugging all of her curves lovingly. He could make out the shape of her breasts, the curve of her waist and hips-

He shook his head, he had to remain resolved here.

She stepped forward and handed him the clothes he lent her.

“Thank you,” she said with a slight, sad smile. He returned the smile and stuffed them into his saddlebags.

“What are we going to do now?”
He looked down, trying to remain focused, “I am going to follow the trolls, there are still innocents, as long as they are alive and I am able, I must work to save them.”

She nodded, and looked at the ground, shifting uncomfortably.

He sighed, “and you....you can come with me.”

She looked up and smiled wider than he had seen her before. It made her even lovelier to him, and his mind blanked briefly just as she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. It wasn't a full kiss, probably meant to be a quick peck, but she lingered with her lips against his. He rested his hands on her waist, resisting the urge to let them wander all over her body.

After a few moments, she opened her mouth slightly and let the tip of her tongue stick out to lick his lips, trying to entice them to open. He resisted for a second, thinking that he should gently let her go and leave her here. Instead, he opened his mouth and let her in, meeting her tongue with his and giving her hips a little squeeze. He was acutely aware of her body against his, the taste of her lips which were even tastier than he had hoped, the quiet whimpers from her throat.

Eventually the need to breathe took over and they parted. Calyn looked up at him and seemed slightly embarrassed.

“We should get moving,” he whispered, loathe to release her, but knowing they had to get moving. He got up on the horse and swept her up after him, taking off down the road.

Earlier in the day, two trolls stood on a nearby hill, watching the chaos they had set off.

“Look mon, what did I tell ya,” one said to the other, handing him the telescope he had been looking through, “right dere at da main building.”

The second troll grinned toothily as he watched, “You be right mon, dat be one brave man dere,” he handed the scope back to his companion. “But this be an easy test for da Paladin, dey good at being stupidly brave, not so much with de hard choices.”

They stalked back to their raptors, getting ready to leave and he added, “Dis test only be the beginning mon.”


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No sex yet, but action? Intrigue? That's good too right?

The sex is coming (doh!)