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Darkest Day (A Tale From Lacora's Past) |
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Night had fallen over the land by the time Lacora made it to the remote location in Stranglethorn. There was no time for her to rest. She had to be gone before her husband found out what she was really up to. As far as he, or the rest of the Serpent Maw, Knew she was off negotiating with other tribes. The red haired toll quickly made her way through the foliage until she reached a darkened house. Here she was suppouse to meet with her “boss”. The house was small, but it was suitable for this meeting.
She set a oddly moist bag on the table, the moisture spreading ominously into the already stained wood. “The job is done then,” Lacora jumped at the sound of the voice as she slowly turned, “Sha, it be done mon. don’ chu be sneaking up on me like dat though.” The troll relaxed, “Dat be a good way ta get poisoned mon.”
From within the shadows of the building stepped a darkly clad figure, his face obscured by the hood he wore. Yellow eyes examined her closely and then moved to the bag on the table. He said nothing as she untied the bag and let it fall from around it’s contents for him. After examining the dismembered body part he tossed a small bag full of golden coins to her, “Very good. Your skill grows everyday.”
She saluted him, “T’ank ya. Joo got any odah work fah me, Athinal.”
The forsaken removed his hood as he chuckled at her eagerness, “Aye, you’ve been away for some time though. Will this. . .extended absence seem strange to your husband?”
Lacora thought for a moment and then shook her head, “No, he don’ be suspectin’ anyt’ing.”
He noddedn and handed her three scrolls, “It is to risky to speak of it out loud even in such remote locations. Read these and when you are finished with this job send me a letter. There will be more to do, you are likely not going to return for a long time. I suggest you visit Egahlaa before you leave.”
She took the scrolls and slipped them into one of her bags, “Ah be shat a do dat.” Lacora slipped from their meeting place. It was time to visit her husband, she had many things to do before departing. Hopefully he would not find anything suspicious, or read the scrolls.
Lacora smiled to herself as she left home again. She was dressed in black leather with twin swords on her hips, and daggers crossed in sheaths at the small of her back. Egahlaa knew she was fairly skilled, so he figured the weapons were for protection in case “negotiations” went wrong. With an ever growing need to have fighters at their village she always refused an escort. He knew how strong she was so he never questioned it.
The night was clear and the air felt full of power. Yes, it was a good night to work, even for such a bloody business as her own. When she was far enough away she slipped into the shadows off the main road and crouched down. Here she removed a red cloth from around her upper arm and tied the mask around her head, which exposed a tribal mark on her arm. This mark designated her to be a part of a little known group of assassins.
At a young age she had been taken from her home and marked by this group. They trained her briefly before she was returned to her family. Now she accepted “blood money” for doing away with those that would undermine the Horde. Though she hadn’t heard much of these “alliance” but felt that she owed Thrall something. She did think it was odd how the new leader of this assassins group was not a troll, but she did not question it.
~It took longer to get to her destination then she expected, but so long as Khanu was with her she didn’t mind. The very loyal silver tabby followed her everywhere and had even tasted of blood with her in the traditional way of her people. As far as small cats went Khanu was tough, and he knew when to be silent.
Lacora moved closer and closer to the building where her target was sure to be resting. It would be to soon to enter, as there was a light on within, however she able to sneak up to an open window. There were voices inside, but she wouldn’t understand the language they spoke in. They were humans having a silly conversation she cared nothing about. She knew it wouldn’t be long before one of the men left, and then she could strike. With her back against the outer wall of the house and she waited silently with her cat at her feet.
About an hour later one of the men stepped out and walked around the building. He didn’t notice the orage eyes that watched and waited until he passed. Quickly she unsheathed her daggers. The man fell without a sound, never knowing what hit him. She turned to the building, there was one more. “Easy,” she muttered to Khanu.
She had the drop on him, he would be expecting his friend to return, not some female troll out to end his life. After this she had two others to kill and then she would contact Athinal again. So far she was enjoying this “mission”.
As she suspected when she entered the building, the blubbering fool was completely off guard. He swung his sword wildly, but to no avail. A kick to his chest caused his weapon to go flying. The sword caught one of her ears and removed the tip in one jagged cut. The humans life was ended swiftly and without hesitation. Already she had been there to long, it was time for her next target.
It was early in the mourning and the fog was thick. Lacora climbed out of the tree she was resting in and grumbled to herself about not being able to see. She sat down at the base of the oddly purple tree. Her job was done and she was awaiting new orders, though she worried that she was getting to far in. Perhaps she would never be able to return home to her husband.
Digging through her bags she grumbled again in trollish, “This isn’t like you Lacora. What’s going on, your getting soft,” She pulled some wrapped meat out of her bags and broke a piece off for Khanu.
Already she had been out on this “mission” for a couple of months, and her stomach had grown. It was odd, usually she thinned while she was away. As she ate she poked her belly, the back of her mind knew what it was, but she couldn’t let herself believe that. Not where she was, where she and what grew within could die. She continued to eat slowly, this could very well be the only chance she had to eat.
Suddenly her leader appeared from within the fog, “Lacora, you have done very well. Still there is more work to be done before you can go home. Things are, however, going faster then expected.
Lacora looked up at him but did not stand up, instead she pulled more food from her bag, “Why don’ joo have a seat mon. Eat wit’ me while we talk.”
Athinal hesitated for a moment, he hated to be so casual around people. With a shrug he took the meat and sat down across from her, “Thank you.” He eyed her belly, but said nothing.
“Who be mah next target? Ah be ready ta continue.”
His eyes lingered on her stomach before he looked to her, “It will be multiple targets. All need to be delt with within the frame of two hours. If you are caught, you will be left to your doom. Do you understand?”
She nodded and hid her worry from him. If she could lie to her husband then she knew that she could hide anything. “Good. Your main target is the Lord of this nearby village. He is holding a party,” Athinal handed her a scroll, “The names of your other targets are on that list.”
She unrolled the parchment and then looked up at him, “Dey be da only ones goin’?”
“Yes, that is what I have been lead to believe. You will have to be careful on this run.”
Lacora placed the parchment in her bag and then finished her food. She stood up, “Den Ah be off ta do some fishin’ until dis evenin’. This be some needed time fah me. Ah will start checkin’ out tha place tonight.”
“Are you certain that you want to do this,” he looked at her stomach again, “You seem-“ she cut him off.
“Ah know whatcha gonna say mon. Ah’ll be fine mon.”
With that she walked away, disappearing into the fog with her cat. She could smell nearby water, and a swim would be nice. There would be no guards near the water, she felt certain, so she would be safe to enjoy herself for a short time. Lacora ran a nervous hand over her stomach and growled.
The time for the party was coming closer, night had fallen on the small village. For the past few days she had been watching the humans closely. Lacora’s orange eyes peered out over the soft cloth of the red mask, as she crouched down on one of the rafters. The Lords servants were busy with the preparations for the gathering. The troll assassin watched closely, and took note of the men and women below. If they were smarth they wouldn’t be harmed. She hoped they did something stupid.
Lacora wished she could have brought Khanu with her, but he was better off left at the house she had found. There was really no way she could have gotten him onto the rafters wit her. Finally the guests began to arrive, talking somewhat excitedly with one another. It was an angry excitement that seemed out of place for a party. She may not speak their odd language, but she did know that this behavior was odd.
After a time the Lord entered with someone, and extra that wasn’t on the list, that looked just as confused as her. It didn’t matter, it was probably a brother that was brought as a surprise, he would die with the rest. Everyone quieted and bowed before the two. No one spoke for a time, all attention was turned to the extra. Lacora decided that this would be the perfect time for her attack.
Carefully, she jumped down so that her presence remained unknown. The humans were so wrapped up that the didn’t even notice when she took the first one. She snuck behind a second human, a female, after applying more poison to her daggers. When she attacked the woman let out a scream of terror, just as Lacora had expected she would.
The assassin sprinted towards the Lord and took him down swiftly, and with a swift flick of the wrist she left one of her daggers in his companion neck. When she cut down the extra she was stopped short by a familiar voice. A voice that was out of place on the human lips, along with a language that they could not have learned. She felt hands grip and pull, trying to restrain her, dragging her from the fading image of a human.
With a roar Lacora threw them to the side, enraged at the site of her brother laying before her. The brother that she had just killed with very potent poison. Everything became a blur as she recklessly finished her job. She didn’t notice when a blade came down on her face, slashing from her lip and down her neck with a vain attempt to stop her. None of them stood a chance against the troll woman once she saw her brother.
She would take many souveniers from here, bits of bone that would become her jewelery. After she was finished she walked to her brother, and kneeled by his side. Growling to herself, Lacora took one of the bones from his ear, and placed it on her own. Then something in his hand caught her eye. She leaned over the unmoving body of her brother and took the small parchment from his slightly opened hand. Carefully she unfolded and red the all to familiar hand writing.
Your sister has been captured while trying to negotiate with a village of trolls. She was the only survivor, you have to save her. I have given you a potion that will make you look and talk like a human for a short time, as well as a map that will lead you to the village she is being held at. Get there as soon as you can, or they will kill her.
Athinal
She crushed the paper in her hand, “You will pay,” she roared. Then all went dark with a sharp pain. Standing over her was a human guard. He grinned to himself as he ordered the others to take her away. “Looks like you waited to long rogue.”
The troll awoke to find herself tied to a chair in a small, damp room. Her orange eyes scanned the room annoyed. The only sound was of her own breathing, and the bones that already decorated her red hair. Her mind felt foggy, and she could feel the knot forming where she had been hit. Lacora growled to herself, swearing that she would kill the first creature to step foot into the room. The sound alerted the guards that were standing right behind her. She could hear the door open and the steps of someone walking in.
They spoke in the dirty language of the humans, she spit at the sound of it. One of the humans behind her grabbed her by the hair and yanked her head back hard, forcing her to look at the one that just entered. Her was tall for a human, but still dwarfed by her hight, with black hair that was pulled back and a clean face. She suppoused that human females swooned over him often, but all she saw was a meal waiting to happen. Finally the human spoke to her in broken Orc, a language that she had some trouble understanding, and his laughable attempts made it all the worse.
She played on this, acting like she couldn't understand them. Each time he asked her something, and she didn't respond she was hit. This went on for hours, and the human didn't seem to tire. Lacora sat and stared at him, waiting for her chance to strike, and exact revenge on the fool in front of her. Then something dawned him the humans eyes when he looked down at her stomach. Her belly was slightly swollen, but it streatched the leather she wore oddly. The look in the humans eyes bothered her, but she showed him nothing, and still refused to speak.
After a while the human pulled his sword slowly out of its sheath and held it to her stomach. His words sent a chill down her spine, "If you don't speak barbarian then I will see to it that you live, but with the knowledge that your actions killed your child!" A smile of satisfaction lit up his face and he rested the point of the sword on the ground, "There, now that we understand each other maybe I can get some answers out of you."
Lacora's eyes burned with hatred for the human. She muttered in troll, swearing that his death would take the longest. Again she felt the point of the sword pressed against her stomach, "Speak Orc troll. I know you can! You will say nothing else that I cannot understand, is that clear?" Spitefully she nodded, "Ah undahstand joo. Ah won' tell joo anyt'ing though. Revenge gonna be mine."
"Who was that troll? Why was he here?" Lacora shook her head until the point pressed harder, "Dat was mah brodah. Ah was tricked," she paused for a moment, glaring at the man and licking her sharpened teeth, "an' so was he."
The human lowered the sword again and draped on of his arms over it as he leaned agains a table, half sitting on it. She could see the laughter in his eyes, "So the rogue was tricked into killing her own brother. Who sent you then? Surely you want revenge on them, as do we." She shook her head, "Ah don' be tellin' joo dat now. Ah don' be stupid enough ta truste joo human! Joo will kill me soon as joo get wha' joo wan' out of me."
He growled and then shrugged, "We will continue this another time. I'm tiring of this conversation." He walks around her and then leaned down to whisper into her ear, "I will find out what I want to know troll. You can count on that. I could care less about that monster growing in your belly, but I'm sure you care. Think about that tonight. Perhaps if you cooperate I will let you out." Savagely he pinched the ear that was cut in the fight as he stood up. Lacora felt fresh blood leak from it and roll slowly down, but showed no sign of pain.
The night was long, and she was getting hungry. The humans refused to feed her, because she bit at them like a trapped animal everytime they neared her. At least her guards feared her, she though, but that wouldn't help her escape. Her orange eyes were outlined with blood from the beating she had recieved, the human hit harder then she had anticipated. Still he'd get no more information out of her. Lacora would tell him only what she wanted to tell him.
Her hair hung in tangled notes around the mixture of black engraved beads, and small bones that decorated it. The cut on her lip was bleeding again, but the pain was welcomed by her. So long as she could feel that she had something to focus on, something to help keep her awake. She turns her head, and cut her eyes towards the guards, they were asleep, as she had expected. With a growl she tested the ropes again, and felt them beginning to give. No, she didn't think she was breaking them. The knot was just poorly done.
She continues to try breaking free of her constrants, the fools wouldn't have time to react if she escaped. The troll was sure they hadn't checked her for any weapons, the idiots hadn't even bothered taking her clothing off. Obviously they were not use to dealing with rogues, only common street rats. Finally, with one last pull the ropes fell to the floor. Hidden in her boots, as she had expected, was a small dagger she kept in a pouch she sewed into the leather.
Lacora removed the knife quietly and then cut the ropes that held her feet off. She stood and carefully walked to the guards, they had nice swords, one handers. She would be making use of both of those. The assassin put a rough hand over the guards mouth and put the tiny dagger to his throat, she wanted to see his eyes as she took his life from him. The look of shock and fear in his eyes as the red haired beast stood over him was perhaps more satisfying then it should have been, but she was out for revenge.
Soon both guards eyes were dull and lifeless, and blood spilled from their necks. Lacora strapped the swords around her wait, and pressed her ear against the thick wooden door. She knew what she would have to do to escape this place. Now all she could do was wait for the human that had beaten her to return. It would be soon, very soon, and Lacora would have the revenge she so desired, and then perhaps she could return to her husband.
How long she stood there with her back pressed to the thick, wooden door she didn't know. All she could assume was that the guard. . .or captian, or whatever rank the filthing human was, had other business to attend to. It didn't matter either way, he would see his end soon while staring into the red rimmed eyes of a savage troll. She was out for blood, and she didn't care whos it was at this point.
Soon she could hear the human playing with the keys. It didn't take her long to get back to her seat and pretend she was still tied up. The idiot would lock the door before he realized, even with the swords strapped to her waist. The door creaked loudly as though it were in pain as the captain opened it. Quickly he entered and shut the door behind him, locking it before he bothered to look at the guards. Something had caught his eyes and he turned his blue eyes down to the floor, and he dropped the keys as he jumped back from the blood that acted as a sticky rug.
Lacora stood up and laughed uncontrollably at how predictable he was. She grabbed the human and pulled him roughly over the chair, her arm tight around his throat. A smile spread across her lips as he gasped desperately for air and she whispered to him, "Joo gonna help me outta here human." Her snarled and struggled for air his voice came harsh, and low, "Why. . .would I. . .do that. . . .savage?"
She laughed again, "Because Ah be in da wit' da powah now," her hands wrapped around the blad he was wearing, and she tossed it aside. The human screamed in rage and pain as she drug her filed teeth along the tender flesh of his neck, "Joo help me, an' maybe Ah don' kill joo." The human nodded, realizing that his only chance will be to contact one of the guards as he was lead out. His life ment nothing, but if he died, he was taking the troll with him.
Carefully she pulled a dagger from his sheath and held it to the small of his back, "Ah can make sha dat joo live fah a while human, Ah can make sha dat joo be wishin' fah death from da pain Ah be puttin' joo in. An' no priest gonna be abal ta help joo. Don' try anyt'ing. Jus' make sha ah get outta here. Den if Ah do kill joo, maybe Ah make it quick, an' maybe Ah don' eat ya heart when Ah do." Her words had the desired effect on the human. She felt his muscles tense before he could stop himself. The captain didn't want to admit it, but he was afraid of this troll.
She losens her grip on the humans neck slightly so that he can breath easier. His voice comes in gasping breaths, "I'll help you troll, but my soldiers will likely see you dead before you escape." Lacora turns her eyes towards the bodies on the floor, "Ah don' really t'ink dey gonna be a pro'lem mon. Ah be knowin' how ta deal wit' joo humans," With a smiles she opened the door and walked out, using the captian as a shield. She unseathed the dagger in her boot carefulled and held it against his back.
As she suspected the other guards were to stunned to react as she moved with their captain through the keep. Her eyes were burning with hatred and a lust for blood that she fought the entire time. If she'd had her way she would die killing as many of these humans as she could, but that wouldn't get the revenge she wanted on Athinal. She growled in the captains ear and felt him cring at the primal sound. With her brother dead now, and so far away from home it was hard for her to keep her restraint.
Finally, when they exited the manor and were well away from it she let him go, "Ah be holdin' ta mah word now human. Joo be t'ankin' whoevah joo look ta." She turned to walk away but was stopped by the feel of his hand on her shoulder. Lacora turned her orange eyes towards him, "Wha' joo wan'?" He looked down for a moment, clenching and unclenching his teeth. The captain seemed disgusted with himself for what he was about to say, but he looked back up at the female troll that towered over him, "Why don't you let us help you find the person that sent you? We have as much reason to find them as you do."
She roared at him savagely, gripping his hand in her own and crushing it. He cried out in pain and lowered to his knees, "Ah don' be needin' da help of joo humans," she spit the word like it was an insult, "Dere be no honah in humans. Joo showed dat yaself. Now get back ta ya peopal befah Ah have joo fa dinnah." Something rubbed against her feet and meowed up at her, happy and hungry. She let go of the captains hand and picked Khanu up, ignoring the human that curled into a ball screaming about his broken bones.
With a last, scornful look at the blubbering fool that lay in the grass, Lacora turned and walked into the mist that hung over the land. In a nearby tree she found her pack and pulled it down. She slung it over her back and spoke to Khanu as though he could understand her. The assassin had a plan, but it could be the end of her. Things had to be planned carefully, and quickly. Soon, a great organization would fall at her feet, but no one could know she had caused it.
Someone was following her. She could smell their scent on the very slight currents of air. The afternoon was almost completely still, making the world seem somehow hallow. Every sound she made seemed to linger in the air like fog. Lacora's breath came heavier, as her mind trying to panic from the seeming lack of air.
Still, there were eyes on her. That was the issue that needed to be delt with at the moment. She doubted the captain would be so stupid as to follow her, but she's been wrong before. Quickly she turned on her heels, facing the direction the scent was coming from, but she saw nothing. Whoever it was, they weren't idiots. They new better then to let her see them, but she could find them.
Quickly she slipped her pack off and began to make camp. Her mind working out a plan as she moved, there was no time to stand there. She couldn't be followed. No one could see her attack unfold against such a secretive organization. Grabbing nearby branches she began to build a small fire, all the while speaking to Khanu in orcish. "Joo need ta stay here, Ah'm gonna get us somet'ing fresh ta eat Khanu. Joo undahstan'?" The cat watched her, seeming to pick up on what she ment, but she knew he couldn't understand anything she was telling him.
Finally, when her trap was set she went off into the woods, leaving Khanu curled up near the fire. Lacora ducked beneath some shrubs, and squated down, peering through the unmoving leaves at the camp. She'd left everything there, sure that the person that followed her would investigate it. The troll was right about something, they were curious, but not about the false camp she left behind.
In moment a hand was over her mouth, and a dagger to her own throat. She growled viciously, and tried to bite at the hand. The voice was harsh, "Don't move troll. I want to know why you are here now." She sighed and shook her head her voice muffled, "Joo won' get anyt'ing outta me human!" Again, her assumption was wrong. He laughed in her ear, it was an odd sound deeper then and humans.
"I'll let you think that," He pushed her out of the shurbs and towards the small camp she had made, "Do not turn around or I will end you. Gather your camp and your cat, you are coming with me." Lacora did as she was told. He put a blindfold over her eyes when she was finished, and took her weapons from her before leading her along roughly.
It was a few hours later and still she was trapped in a cart, covered by a large blanket of some sort. She couldn't make a sound, they had found a way to silence her. Her eyes were still blindfolded, she wasn't sure why, but she had a feeling where she was being lead. Whoever it was, was most likely working for Athinal. By now he would know that she had discovered his treachery. He would be a fool if he thought that she wasn't going to seek revenge on him.
He cut her ankles just deep enough so that she wouldn't be able to run. Really she didn't understand why, but she was sure that the reason would be made clear once she was let off the cart. She cursed herself for not being more observent. She's been through alot the past few days, likely Athinal had been expecting on it. He made calculated decisions. What would he do to her though? He'd acted like he cared about the unborn child that she could no longer deny was growing within her.
She struggled against her bindings, but it was no use. She was along for the ride. She might as well just lay there waiting for an opening. Her pans were put aside now. Lacora would have to make on the spot decisions without being obvious. It would be difficult, Athinal would know what to look for. He would know when she was about to try something. Still, she was determined.
Finally, the cart slowed to a stop. A Night Elf made his way around to the back of the cart and drug the troll out. He finally took the blind fold off the troll, but left her tied up. Lacora's eyes blinked while they adjusted to the sudden light, when the focused on her captor she glared, her orange eyes saying everything she couldn't vocalize. Whatever he'd done to her was good enough to keep her from even snarling at him. Her face was contorted with rage and she struggled in his grasp.
He answered the questions she couldn't ask, "No, I don't work for Athinal. I do have a vested intrest in his. . .sect though," he smirked, "I know you are curious why your Forsaken master," her face contorted further and she snapped at him, "would ally with us did you? It seems there is much you need to learn," he drug her along, leading her towards a line of cages. Most of them had an animal of some sort, a few were empty. She was thrown into one of the empty ones with her cat. Suddenly she was able to talk and he released her from the ropes, but the cage was locked, and she was left without tools to pick it. "Stay there for now. Think about what I've told you already. I've other business that needs attending to."
With that he turned and walked away, ignoring the crude troll language, sure that she was cursing him. Khanu rubbed again Lacora, thinking as all pets do that petting him would make her feel better. When he left the room she growled and set down, the silver tabby jumped into her lap and she absentmindedly began to pet him. Her mide seethed and she started talking to the cat, it was the only way she could think clearly.
©2005 Pamela "Athilea" Johnson All Rights Reserved
 Athilea Majiri · Mon Jul 23, 2007 @ 11:27pm · 1 Comments |
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