Ripples of Shadow
Chapter 5 - The Lines Are Drawn

Malygos… Tasilyna shook her head. The leader of the Blue flight was also the aspect of magic itself. Tas had heard Eleirysa mention him often enough. Apparently he had gone quite mad, and declared war on all the mortal magic-users of Azeroth. If he succeeded in his war, the planet would be torn asunder.

“Sister?” Tasilyna jerked her head up to Eleirysa’s voice. They had reached the Wyvern perch. Two magnificent specimens greeted them, each well-muscled and covered in blue armor.

“Sorry Ele, was a little preoccupied I suppose. Are we ready?” Tas glanced at the Wyvern that was chosen for her and spoke to it briefly. You would honor me by allowing me passage to Dalaran my new friend. The wyvern tilted its head and chirped at her but did not respond. Tas took that for acquiescence enough, and leapt into the saddle on the Wyvern’s back. Ele followed suite, and motioned her to follow to the ledge of the perch which jutted out from the main structure of the Hold. The Wyverns knew their destination, and catapulted themselves from Warsong Hold and flew to the north and east, towards Dalaran. Towards hope.

.....

Rash’s eyes narrowed as he parried another attack from the death knight in front of him. He was pressing hard, flowing from form to form as smoothly as he ever had, but this death knight was good. This fight had to end soon, and he would not be the one to lose. He mentally calculated his next several moves, and all options that Malothys would be forced to take. With a grim twist to his lips, Rash lurched forward, blade pointed straight at his opponent’s chest. Malothys saw the blade driving towards his chest and he pivoted on his left foot, and brought his left shoulder back. Rash smiled. As the tip of his claymore cut through air, Malothys twisted further and started to bring his sword down towards Rash’s back. Rash halted his momentum, his right hand leaving his blade, and reached up towards the death knight’s blade. With a series of blows with just his fingertips to Malothys’ forearm, Rash dislodged the death knight’s blade from his grasp.

Malothys howled at losing his weapon, his cobalt eyes burning with cold flame. His black rune blade spun through the air, and landed some twenty paces behind him. Cold wind swirled around Rash, and he looked up. A massive skeletal wyrm was screaming as it descended out of the sky. He jerked his gaze back down to find Malothys’ head tilted to one side, considering. The death knight raised a hand and Rash froze…literally. He couldn’t move a muscle. Malothys’ lips pressed into a grim line.

“It seems I must leave. My Master needs me elsewhere, and I am not one to keep him waiting.” Malothys glanced over his shoulder at the wyrm that had just landed on the ground, its boney talons clutching the earth. Rash heard Mitsume mutter something incomprehensible behind him, but couldn’t even move his head to look at her. “I regret that our dance is over for now, but perhaps we shall meet again.” The death knight picked up his blade and casually climbed into the saddle atop his massive beast. “Yes, I believe our paths will cross again.” With that, the wyrm launched itself into the air, and the ice around Rash dissipated, leaving not even a trace of water on his clothing.

“The army…it’s…leaving.” Rash looked to where Mitsume was directing her gaze. It was true. The undead army was lurching after their master. Some dwarves pursued, but most seemed content with leaning on their weapons.

“What could posses them to leave when victory was so close to their grasp…” Rash mused aloud. The mage, Mitsume was just getting to her feet.

“I thank you for your help Rash Vandren. Without you I would most likely be dead this moment.” Mitsume paused, brushing some dirt from her silken robes. “As for the undead, I can only assume more pressing matters came about. But I do know one thing; the lines have been drawn… Arthas knows his might, and he is finally awakened, and flexing his new-found muscle. May the Light shine on all of us, or the ripples of Shadow will consume all…”