Duality Risen

 

Twenty-three

 

Aljei hummed a merry tune as he set the tower aflame, smiling as the hungry glow consumed everything – bodies, parchment, it didn’t matter. He’d finished Kamarth two weeks ago, had a lovely jaunt across Westfall hunting for Maris and killed her and at least two dozen Murloc in the process (but who cares about Murlocs?) and now Apressa lay burning alive in her precious tower. He supposed he should’ve sown her SOME mercy, since she had only been there to lend her power rather than been a part of the plot from the start. Oh, but how that sin’dorei bitch had grated on his nerves! She’d tried to seduce him, and when she realized Aljei was there for her life, she’d sent her half-trained students at him.

Poor children. Their deaths, at least, had been quick and painless. Apressa, however, was just beginning to scream. Oh, she’d die from smoke inhalation long before the flames got her, but she knew the price of Aljei’s wrath. Her final sight would be the bodies of her students, peaceful in their eternal rest while she suffered.

Aljei dropped his torch and dusted off his hands. One more act. Just one more and then he could finally rest.

 

Nolay sent the warning quickly, falling into her position to set up her trap. Peritali continued the warning, ready to set up her wards. Each finished their task and hurried back to where Mardruk waited, his violet eyes focused on the treeline where Aljei would emerge. Half a year. Half a year they had chased this man and now had finally gotten ahead. This time, they would win. They would come out on top today.

Nolay’s trap went off first, then Peritali’s ward shattered. Tyr’s immolation trap barely singed a hair on his head. They watched in growing apprehension as Aljei approached, the warlock proudly clapping his hands as he stopped only twenty paces away from Mardruk and the others.

“I’ll give you points for the idea,” Aljei called, “but I’ll have to fail you for ingenuity. Traps? Really? Nigrade, you old fool, what have you been teaching these children?”

The old warlock snorted. “At least I HAVE taught them, unlike you, who allows their only apprentice to be mauled by a demon.”

Aljei’s lips split into a smile. “How is my ex-apprentice doing? I hear he’s making quite the name for himself.”

“Azhael has far exceeded you, Aljei.”

Aljei smiled wider. “Really? Good for him. Now, Mardruk, be a dear and stand aside. Nigrade and I have to chat.”

“Yeah, just like you chatted with the others.” Mardruk spat. “Think again. If you want Nigrade’s life, you’ll have to take mine first.”

“Brave words for a young boy.” Aljei sneered. “Very well, if death is what you seek, I’ll gladly grant your wish, since it seems dear little Chairon has a conscience after all.”

Mardruk rushed forward before Aljei could begin his spell, sword leveled at the high elf’s chest. His armour shimmered with ward upon protection spell, and Aljei could only identify a few of them before he was forced to dodge. Mardruk pivoted and lunged again, this time backed up by Serasin. Aljei laughed. He really couldn’t help it. All eight would soon become involved one way or another, and Aljei might actually find a challenge.

He knew Nigrade would be fun!

But Aljei was done playing. He launched off a spell that slammed into Serasin’s chest plate, sending the draenei female flying. Stubborn goat, she got back up, shivering as Raichlos’ healing magic spread through her body. She would be back in the fight soon enough. Aljei focused on the healers then. Take out the support and the fighters would fall. He barely dodged a fireball, then the vicious teeth and claws of the kal’dorei’s lion. Nigrade stood watching it all, an odd smile playing on his face.

Aljei grinned. The old fool meant to kill them all. He spun and caught Mardruk’s blade with his own, his eyes narrowing. “He means to kill us. Don’t you see? The love you have for that human woman drives him to eliminate us all.”

“Liar!” Mardruk growled as he disengaged from Aljei, then pressed for a series of powerful cuts. Suddenly Chairon was at Aljei’s back, and the warlock spun out of the path of collision, forcing Mardruk to check his speed and Chairon to fall backwards or be impaled by the orc’s weapon.

“Am I?” Aljei asked. “Oh, yes, let’s distrust the warlock that was wrongfully imprisoned and is busy getting revenge.” His eyes turned to Nigrade. “Yes, you’re the last. The very last. Once you’re gone, who will stop me? These children?”

Nigrade shrugged. “Who says I’ll be the one to die here, you bastard? Look around you. Your fate is sealed.”

Aljei dodged Mardruk and Tyr, sending spell after spell at his opponents. Aljei just kept smiling, though spinning the direction of the battle around and around, forcing the spell-casters to use up their mana healing the fighters and the fighters to waste their energy protecting the spell-casters. From the beginning, the nine of them thought he had fallen into their trap. Admittedly, he’d walked unknowingly into Nigrade’s, and while he had no intention of dying, he certainly didn’t want Mardruk’s group dying by the old warlock’s underhanded trick. This meant that Aljei had to defeat Nigrade quickly, or the energies all of them were stirring up would reach a crescendo, and allow Nigrade to eliminate them all.

Aljei came to a sudden halt before Nigrade and attacked first with immolation, then let loose one of his most powerful spells, drawing upon the arcane like one drew upon water from a fountain. Too late did the high elf realize his mistake; it was too late to redirect his power, and the shimmering force slammed into Nigrade’s barrier with enough force to drive the old orc back a few steps. But then Aljei’s power backlashed, sweeping across the field and knocking them all down, Aljei’s own magic his undoing.

Nigrade ignored Mardruk and his group as he stalked forward, his own sword naked in his hand and thirsty for blood. Aljei managed to scramble back, putting fear in his eyes. The closest to him was the human woman Cassie, the love of Mardruk’s life. How fortunate Aljei was, he thought dryly.

Aljei locked eyes with Cassie. He watched her jerk as his arcane powers battled with her elemental, but ultimately, Aljei won. He heard cries of the girl’s name as she stumbled to her feet, saw Nigrade’s eyes widen then fill with a perverse sort of glee.

Cassie fell to her knees before Aljei, between him and Nigrade. She was a living shield, something Nigrade would have to go through to get to Aljei. With the others incapacitated by the backlash of arcane power, Nigrade could take his time in murdering both Cassie and Aljei, never caring the human girl was an unwilling player in this stage of the game. Aljei was hoping that Nigrade’s hate for humans would override his judgment and drive away whatever pretty words he’d told the violet-eyed Mardruk.

“It’s a pity, Aljei,” Nigrade said, “that you had to involve children. Especially so you could enjoy your freedom a little longer.”

“Are you really going to kill her?” Aljei taunted.

Nigrade shrugged. “She’s a stupid human whore.” The old orc raised his blade and brought it swiftly down.

An inhuman roar shook the clearing, and Cassie felt warm blood on her face.