Eye of the Beholder

Eighteen.

Within minutes of the order being given, the entire company set off in the direction of the refugees. Lord Ravencrest commanded that they ride without rest until they intercepted the demons. Though it would force them to go into battle during the daylight hours, none in the formation had complaints about that if it meant they could save lives. Rarely did they arrive in time to do so.

According to the scouts, the refugees were fleeing towards Halumar, a small settlement a few miles outside of Zin-Azshari. Cytheas had mentioned that Lord Ravencrest was pleased that they could ride to the aid of the refugees without veering off-course too much.

Eliana wondered if that was the only reason he'd agreed to rescue them at all.

It wasn't that she believed the commander was a heartless, cruel man, but he had always made it clear that his priorities applied to his force as well. If the refugees were too far off their intended path, she wouldn't have been surprised if he'd chalked them up to be collateral damage.

They approached Halumar with all of them riding at the forefront of the group. Tyrande and Eliana led their small squad of priestesses that Tyrande had been put in charge of, while the High Priestess rode beside Lord Ravencrest. Where the commander was, Cytheas and Illidan could usually be found as well. In this case, for whatever reason, the commander had instructed them to flank him, putting Cytheas closer to the females, and Illidan closer to the High Priestess. When they were a few miles outside of the settlement, Cytheas faced them and signaled for Tyrande and Eliana's attention. When they met his gaze across the way, he formed a quick hand signal that indicated it was time for their discussed plan of action.

Tyrande nodded in acknowledgement, and over her shoulder, commanded, "Spread out, sisters! We are to provide as much support to whomever needs it as possible!"

The Priestesses of Elune drifted apart, dispersing themselves periodically throughout the soldiers. On the other side of Lord Ravencrest, High Priestess Dehjana instructed the other half of their sisters to do the same. After the priestesses were woven into formation with the soldiers, Illidan and his Moon Guard stretched out along the forefront of the battalion, offering offensive strength to the front lines. Malfurion, as well as the outsiders, rode in a small group close to Lord Ravencrest, flanked on all sides by Jarod's small force of soldiers from Suramar Hold.

No more than a few seconds after they'd all settled into their new formation, they rode up and over the hill towards the settlement. Down below, the small group of refugees could be seen sprinting towards Halumar with the demons on their heels.

The second the company reached the base of the hill, Lord Ravencrest waved his sword in the air and the battle horns were sounded. As they rode closer to the settlement, the verdant grass beneath their feet gave way to dead, decaying underbrush. The lush trees that had surrounded them slowly faded away, leaving burnt and broken shells of their former beauty. The Burning Legion had left nothing alive in their wake.

When Lord Ravencrest sounded his personal horn—two short, high-pitched notes—the Priestesses of Elune drew their bows and launched a volley of arrows at the demons. Distracted, the Eredar was not prepared for when the Moon Guard stepped forth and threw bolts of lightning their way. Illidan took the opportunity to unleash a devastating golden bolt into the center of their ranks. Chunks of flesh and ichorous blood rained down on the demons' comrades, and Illidan's only reaction was to laugh—laughter that was infused with a crazed amount of adrenaline and pride.

It was this display of pure power and reckless abandonment that led Eliana to finally understand why Lord Krasus and Lord Rhonin had been so concerned about the young sorcerer. Illidan was filled with potential and an amount of magical strength that few could ever hope to achieve. Left unchecked, he would succumb to the temptation that gaining more power offered.