My lungs were still trying to get accustomed to the heavy hot air of Hellfire Peninsula when the gryphon I was riding landed in Honor Hold, the main base of operations for the Alliance within the zone. Activity bustled all around me and I knew this fort was on alert at all times. This was a base in the frontlines of a war.
There was a call in Darnassus requesting that all able bodies elves of a certain level of combat experience to offer their services beyond the Dark Portal. With the Scourge, at least for now, being held in check in the Plaguelands, the Alliance decided to take the fight directly to the Burning Legion. I wondered how long it would be before the fight took us to Northrend.
Hellfire reminded me of a mixture of the Burning Steppes and the Blasted Lands. The soil of this cursed land was like clay, ill suited for any kind of cultivation. The atmosphere was oppressive with the stench of brimstone like the Steppes. It was corrupted and broken like the Blasted Lands where fell creatures roamed freely and unchecked.
At least it was not Desolace…
I walked to the center keep within the fortress with Maya to report to Danath Trollbane, the commander of this base. Although I brought both Maya and Hermestra to the Outlands, I decided to keep Hermestra at the stable, at least until we moved away from Hellfire. She was not accustomed to the heat of this zone.
The Honor Hold guards at the entrance of the keep stood silently and did not move as I passed between them with a light salute.
Saluting now are we? Are we part of the Alliance military now?
“Quiet you,” I said to Maya.
I did not know why I saluted. Maybe it was the environment. The fort seemed very disciplined and organized. Saluting just felt…right.
I made my way to the top floor of the keep where I was told Danath usually presided. Before I entered the main chamber, I could hear a man’s voice, clearly upset about something. Again, with a light salute, I walked past the guards in front of the chamber entrance. Maya trotted in behind me with a big yawn.
“When did this happen?” the man behind the table yelled in frustration. I assumed he was Danath Trollbane by his uniform and his air of authority.
“They were supposed to report in to our forward location yesterday, Commander,” a young soldier in front of the table replied.
“Then they are probably dead,” Danath said with a sigh.
“We have reason to believe that some may have been taken prisoner,” the soldier added.
“The Shattered Hand does not take prisoners.”
“Drillmaster Zurok tried for weeks to ferret out our reconnaissance scouts,” the soldier said. “He plans to enact his revenge upon them and to gather information through torture. His boasting of his plans have filtered to the other grunts which is why we suspect our scouts are still alive.”
“And who are you?” Danath said as he noticed me in the back of the chamber.
“Belion Wintermoon at your service,” I said as I stepped forward.
“New recruit?” he asked.
“No,” I replied. “I’m a freelancer.”
“Another adventurer…” he mumbled under his breath. Standing up, Danath walked to me, measuring me up. “I gather you are a hunter by your appearance and your moonstalker by your side.”
He pets me and I maul him.
I almost shushed Maya.
“I would rather you join our ranks but I think you’ve come at a most opportune time,” Danath explained. “How are your tracking and infiltration skills?”
“I am proficient with those skills,” I replied.
“Humble I see,” he added. “Right now I don’t need humility. Right now I need a scout who can sneak past Shattered Hand orcs to free some of my soldiers who have been captured. Can you do this?”
“Depends on the resistance I will face.”
The young soldier chimed in, “You will not have to infiltrate the Citadel itself. Our intelligence suggests two of our scouts are being held in a cage near Zurok’s tent. Unfortunately, his tent is practically right next to the Citadel which is heavily guarded.”
“If you cannot help with this matter,” Danath said, “I will have to send more units to free them. My soldiers are brave and capable but they do not have the natural tracking and stealth skills you possess.”
“All this for two scouts?” I asked, surprised at Danath’s concern for his soldiers.
“Nobody gets left behind,” he simply added.
I was most impressed by his words.
“Give me the details,” I said without hesitation. “I’m in.”
