The True Stories of the Sentinel and The Scourge

Chapter 5:Magina and Terrorblade : The Decisions

"Eargh....what happened?" murmured Magina softly as he opened his eyes only to close them again as the sunlight shone into them. "Ouch! Hey, who took off my blinds.."

Magina's head felt as heavy as a block of lead and his thoughts spun around in a dizzy blur as he tried to recall the last events that happened to him..

He was rescued by somebody...somebody with a gruff and husky voice....

Magina attempted to get up and propped his head on his arm. He surveyed his surroundings. He was in a small, shabby room made of planks of hard iron wood as far as Magina could tell. Remarkably, the room was tidy and furnished with a small closet, a table and a crude wooden rocking chair. Sunlight was streaming in the only window in the room.

He looked at his body and saw his wounds had been neatly bandaged and wrapped in some yellow cloth. He removed some of the bandages from his chest where he had been slashed by his brother and was surprised to see the wounds almost healed.

How long had he been lying there? Who was his mysterious savior? He had to find out.

Leaping off the tiny bed that he was lying in, he instinctively put a hand on his back, trying to reach for his moonblades. They were not there.

He found his blindfold lying on the table. Immediately, he grabbed and wore it. He had worn it since he started training his control over mana and had long forgotten how beautiful the world could be.

Just as Magina was about to open the door, it opened. A short and well built dwarf stood at the doorway, dressed in a hunting cloak. Magina and the dwarf stared at each other for a very awkward period of time.

Suddenly, the dwarf grinned and passed Magina the tray of food he was carrying. "Ah, looks like me ol' sleepin beauty is awake, yer? Eat! Eat up, ye will need yer energy for t'day's trainin," he said merrily.

Magina could only accept the offer and start eating in silence. He was too touched by the dwarf's kindness. His breakfast wasn't exactly the best tasting but it was filling and soon Magina felt much better than he had before.

"I don't know how to thank you...you saved me," Magina said, looking at the dwarf.

"Ar it was nothin, nothin at all," the dwarf waved his hand dismissively while smiling. "Aye, I was just huntin in the woods when I herd all that commotion..no wonder I couldn't find any deer," laughed the dwarf heartily.

"Oh how rude of me, my name is Magina."

"Oh and I am Kardel Sharpeye, at yer service," he took a long bow.

"By the way, what happened and how long have I been out," asked Magina while pacing around the room. He didn't complete his mission, a feeling of dread started to dawn on him when he realised he would have to go out and hunt for his brother again, this time, without the element of surprise.

"A couple days..I shot that foul death knight that was about te kill yer.." Kardel scratched his beard, trying to remember.

"Shot? With what?" Magina stopped his pacing and focused his attention on Kardel."You use a bow?"

"Na, more like a rifle..I'll show yer if ye wants.." Kardel locked his gaze on the interested Magina.

"Ok"

"Well, what ye waiting for then? Enuff chit chat! Lets go! Follow me," Kardel suddenly jumped to his feet and ran out on his short legs out of the room.

Kardel led Magina into a barn outside his little cottage. There he showed him a huge variety of dwarven weapons that he had bought and made himself.

"An tis here is my baby!" exclaimed Kardel, brandishing a long, shiny rifle that had been polished. It gleamed in the sunlight. The rifle had numerous dials and knobs and was certainly dwarven engineering.

The rest of the day, Kardel and Magina shared stories and trained out in Kardel's 'shooting range'. He had just set up a target bud in his garden a few hundred feet away and started shooting away at it. Kardel's skill at using the rifle had impressed Magina. Every bullet hit the bulls eye with the occasional slight miss.

"Watch this," Kardel said slyly, reloading his weapon with a huge slug(bullet). He turned some knobs and took aim. After ten seconds, he released a shot that made an incredibly loud cracking sound. The target bud immediately exploded in the middle, leaving a huge, gaping hole. "And KABOOM!" roared Kardel with delight.

Magina could only stare. He then continued to practice his moves with his moonblades. Kardel silently watched as Magina twirled, kicking up dust as he executed complicated moves. This young night elf is destined for greatness, I can feel it.. the dwarf thought.

That night, Kardel and Magina spoke of the matters of the war over a hearty meal of venison and roast ox that they had hunted earlier that day. Kardel turned out to be a chef of remarkable talent. He had prepared the venison and roast ox almost perfectly. The smells and tastes of the roast ox with black pepper and the venison meat that was carefully tendered was a new and fantastic experience for Magina.

Magina learnt from Kardel that the Sentinal was in dire need of help as the Scourge continued to grow in numbers as they continued their march to the world tree like a plague.

Kardel explained that he had received a letter of plea from the Furion, Magina's father(although Kardel didn't know it yet) for Kardel to join the ranks of the Sentinel.

"I am planning ter leave for the Sentinel camp situated at the area surrounding Mount Hyjal an I would be more than happy ter have ye come along wit me." Kardel hinted.

"I can't ..I have a task to complete," muttered Magina, making his decision.

"Aye, I respect that its yer own decision..it's just fer a good cause you know, saving the world.."

Magina smiled, this old dwarf certainly had a great spirit and he respected him as a friend.

"An just ter inform ye, the death knight that was about ter kill ye and that demon ye were bout ter kill..they are with the Scourge," Kardel knew his words had striked true.

Magina spun around, frowning. "If what you say is true, Kardel my friend, then I will come with you..I have some unfinished business to take care of..."

***

Bradwarden was shouting orders aboard his ship while steering his swaying ship. The wind was roaring and the sea was churning up waves three times the size of their ship. The entire fleet was suffering from broken masts, rudders, torn sails and injured centaurs. The rain was pouring in torrents as lightning streaked across the sky.

Thunderclaps sounded so often it was hard for the crew to hear commands issued by their warcheif.

"WE HAVE COMPANY!" Shouted Stronghoof over the howling wind.

Two unknown ships were gaining advantage from behind the fleet.

"HOLD THIS FOR A SECOND!" Shouted Bradwarden to one of his officers, passing the wheel to him.

Taking out a telescope from his waterproof bag, Bradwarden observed the ships. Definitely the Scourge. They knew...they knew...

"MEN!! PREPARE FOR BATTLE! SIGNAL THE REST OF THE FLEET! CANNONS AT THE READY!" Bradwarden ordered.

The two tiny Scourge battleships were no match for an entire fleet of warships.

What Bradwarden didn't know was a more dangerous and deadly threat was waiting below. The creature was waiting in the calm depths of the ocean as it watched the battle unfold above. It's orders were direct and simple, watch the battle from below and follow the ship. Destroy all the moment the ships reached Cape Danger..

The creature smiled a sinister and evil smile..it would be a massacre.