[RG] Resurfacing

[ImagenAshyun]

              "It's been over ten years since Geraldino fled the Glove with Alba and the Seasons Girls."

              "We got back one of the Girls, love."

              "We moved on since then, yes. But even since then, our operations went down the craphole. I suspect Gallo has gone rogue, though he still comes here and gets work done. Where is our daughter?"

              "No longer in Stormwind. We haven't tracked her since then, but she has surely been released."

              "And Rossi?"

              "Hanged himself in his prison cell."

              "Excellent."


              Haydee paced around the room, her lovers Benedetto and Teobaldo seated at the table. The brothers spoke interchangeably but in one thought, their undead echoes blending. They did not bother to keep their icy glowing eyes trained on the still-living woman as she circles around them, her hands curled to her lips. She's still thinking aloud, the men simply going along. "It's possible Aimee has defected as well."

              "Likely. She squealed on Rossi. For all we know, however, she was also probably saving her own skin."

              "If that is the case, she should have come back to us. We need to locate her and bring her back."

              "Why?"

              "She might squeal again. And there is more to her than the pretty face." She grins. "Sometimes I see her tinkering in her own room. For all I know, she still has the blood of Perin flowing in her."

              The brothers cocked their brows. "Perin? We are not descendants of Perin."

              Haydee stopped. She turns to the brothers, remembering how she told that either one of them was Aimee's father. She grins once more, this time to save face. "I thought you were full brothers with Geraldino."

              "No, woman. He's a half-brother, not full. We have no engineering in our blood," they say with suspicion.

              "It's possible Geraldino just was an influence with her. You know how very close he was to her."

              Gears wheeled within the death knights' heads. They turned to each other as they became lost in thought. "Perhaps she is with him in Hearlthglen."

              "Do you suppose?"

              "Absolutely. He knows we know he's there... but he also knows we know the Argent Crusade protects him."

              "The Argent Crusade does not know you two are involved with the Red Glove." She grins. "See to it you greet our little baby hello. Perhaps you can convince her to come home... and your brother as well."

              "Of course."

[ImagenAshyun]

              "No word from the Jackal."

              "Those 'heroes' must have gotten to her first."

              "Shall we kill her?"

              "Do you see a benefit?"

              "She could squeal."

              "It matters not. Aimee has already."

              "As did our 'brother'."





              "We should have ended things as we should have twenty years ago."







              Two happy visits. One that resulted in "Ann'da"'s successful surgery. Another from Xanthe for a leg injury and a wedding invite. Aimee never saw the Doctor looking so cheerful before. She sat on the edge of his bed, a smirk on her face as she watched him fuss about within his closet. He seems to be unable to decide between two suits.

              "Tail coat? Or long coat?" Dr. Dino asks as he held up the two coats. Because both hands were busy, the cane used to support himself is hanging from his elbow. Aimee watched as the cripple's legs shake due to lack of independent strength. She knew she had to make her choice fast.

              "Tail coat."

              "But it won't hide my legs," Dino says anxiously. The doctor could feel his legs close to giving out. He leaned against the wall as a form of temporary support.

              Aimee chuckles sweetly as she stood up. She took the long coat from her uncle's hand and places the cane onto it as she wrapped her arm beneath his ribs to help him up. "I think the occasion is special enough for it. You did wear the tuxedo for Annabelle's wedding."

              "I surely did!"

              "So this occassion shouldn't be any different."

              "But I may be among draenei and elves. Don't they traditionally wear robes? I know nothing of them besides their health..."

              "You're being fussy."

              "I am not!"

              The girl smiles as she takes the second coat to hang it from the rack. "Take it easy, Uncle. We don't even have a date. If anything, you should think about how to sneak out of here. How long has it been since you've left Hearthglen?"

              Dino's unmasked visage turned to face the fair lady. His deformed eyes turned to the floor as his chest heaves. He leans away from the wall and hobbles forward, a hand stretched to his bed as he makes his way to its edge. Turning around, he seats himself, the mattress sinking slightly as he leaned forward. His lips purse as his brows furrow, his mind lost in contemplation.

              "Uncle Dino?"

              "Aimee. I've been thinking. Would you like to leave Hearthglen?"

              "Well, I don't think I received the invite. Miss Xanthe doesn't even know m-"

              "No, no. I mean leave it. For good."

              Aimee's eyes widened. "W-well, I... I don't know where I'd-"

              "Kul Tiras."

              The girl stared forward at her uncle. "Isn't.... that where you're from?"

              "It is where I was born, yes."

              "I thought you hated it there."

              "I hated my father. I hated home. The Galleani mansion is most likely not there anymore. But..."

              "But....what?"

              Dino looked out the window. Despite the deformity of his face, the sorrow in his expression is clear. "I'm tired of running and hiding, Aimee. I'm tired of hiding truths and running from them. Hearthglen and the Argent Crusade have been merciful and kind, and I am eternally in deep gratitude for their protection and amnesty. But I am cooped up in here. I am hiding and have been hiding since I ran away ten years ago. I changed my name six times before I took up my current one in Stormwind. I was miserable within the bowels of the Galleani home, and though my current one cannot measure to how caged I was then..." He paused as he takes a deep breath. "I can't stay here. I feel like I've overstayed my welcome. I hate running, but I hate staying in one place as well."

              The girl moves to sit by her uncle. Her hands move to his as she squeezes gently, not at all minding the rough ulcers that plagued his skin. Her hands wrap around his fingers as a smile lights up on Aimee's face. "I understand, Uncle. I understand entirely."

              "I can show you around. I'm not familiar with the place anymore like I was when my sister showed me, though..."

              "We can explore Kul Tiras together!"

              "Yes... that sounds like a plan."

              "When can we leave?"

              Dino released Aimee's hand to place a finger onto his crooked chin. "Perhaps after Miss Xanthe and Mr. Kapre's wedding? I will ask when the wedding will be, then we can make a trip. We'll travel together. I'm sure they won't mind you attending if I ask to bring you as a guest."

              "That would be splendid, Uncle! But..."

              "But what?"

              "Oh, nothing. I.... I should contact Varjot." Aimee's voice stammered as she mentioned the orc's name, her shoulders raised. Her face turned a little pink.

              Dino frowned. "All right. Explain to me why I sometimes see that orc scrambling about outside my house on occasion."

              "He wants to visit!"

              "He could knock on my door."

              Aimee raises her hands as to change the subject. "Scrambling! You reminded me! I was working on the project I've been on since I got here."

              "Hm? What do you mean"

              "Come downstairs and I'll show you, Uncle!"



              A soft light glowed brighter within the lamp as Aimee assists her uncle down to the laboratory basement. Dino could barely keep himself upright as he almost crawls his way downstairs. "Tell me, Aimee, come on. I wish to know what this is."

              "Close your eyes and you'll see, Uncle!"

              "But it's dark down here!"

              "Turn to the side."

              "But I-"

              Aimee pushes forth a chair for Dino to sit on. She assists him down. "Just sit here and turn to the side. Let me get it." She places the lamp down.

              The man chortles as he turns his head. He even adds to this by actually closing his eyes. "Fine, fine. Surprise me, my dear."

              Aimee quickly scuttles to a table. A cloth was laid over what can be assumed to be tinkered contraptions underneath. She grips the edges and carefully pulls it forward, a scraping sound produced by the dragging feet. She is careful, however, to not make any scratches. "Okay, turn your head!" she says as she places the feet down. As Dino would turn his head, the cloth was yanked out. Dino couldn't believe his eyes.

              "Braces...."

              "Robotic braces, Uncle. Take a look!"

              Dino leaned forward to hold onto one delicately. It was composed of many different parts--sturdy rods for support, springs for shock absorption, nuts and bolts for articulation, and so forth. The doctor examined the straps intended to secure the braces. "Gnomish?"

              "Most definitely. I mostly took inspiration from schematics used to articulate battle suits."

              "Aimee, I love this..."

              "Do you really?"

              "All this attention to detail. These springs, the wires, the coils.... but..."

              Aimee's tone drops as she anticipates disappointment. "But...?"

              "I want to walk with my own legs. My own two legs, my dear."

              "Uncle, your muscles have atrophied. You can barely stand without a cane."

              "I can rebuild muscle mass!"

              "Then use these to enhance it. Come on, Uncle, at least give them a try!"

              Dino looks upon the braces once more. He hesitates, as though his mind is brimming with words to say, yet none are reaching his mouth for release. He looks towards the girl. Hazel eyes, ashen blond hair. A heart-shaped head with a small button nose and delicate lips. The much older man scanned over the young girl's face, seeing not just the young tinker, but especially the face of his mother. Aimee's grandmother. "You're just like her."

              "Like who?"

              "Marta Perin."

              "Your mother."

              "And your grandmother."

              Aimee stares a little. "No... she isn't. She's not my fathers' mother."

              "You're right, she isn't." Dino smiles as his heart swelled. At last, the courage to confess is finally his. "Neither Teobaldo nor Benedetto Galleani are your biological father."

              The girl becomes deathly quiet. "W-what do you mean? Who is really my father?"



              Before Dino would say another word, the front door outside the basement bore hurried, harried banging. "Doctor Galleani! Doctor Galleani!"

              The doctor grumbles as he exhales sharply. "What is it?!"

              "I'm Lieutenant Sawyer! We have an emergency at Darrowmere Lake and we need you immediately!"

              Dino looked up with great alarm. He turns to Aimee, his face contorting with urgent concern. She, thankfully, understood the urgency of the situation. "I'll get the door. You get ready, Uncle."

              "Yes, yes. I will." Dino gets up from his chair as Aimee scrambles upstairs. He reaches for one of his masks hanging from the wall before preparing his medical kit.

              As soon as she reached the front door, Aimee swung it open. Right outside the door are four armored men bearing the Argent Crusade tabard. Two of them wore helms that covered their faces. "The Doctor is getting his medical supplies right now," Aimee reports. "What's the emergency?"

              "Undead from the Andorhal Ruins attacked a caravan carrying supplies. Four are not responding to Light magic. One of those four has a severed hand."

              "Uncle, you'll need a pickling jar!" Aimee calls out to the back. She wasn't sure if that's the right term for it.

              "My lady," the man who identified himself as Lieutenant Sawyer steps forward. "We could use your help as well."

              "Really?"

              "You are the Doctor's assistant, are you not?"

              "I'm not exactly, but..." Aimee stuttered anxiously. "If you feel the Doctor needs an assistant, then... would he?"

              "Four are dying, and one is bleeding from the stump of his hand. We know basic first aid, but our own efforts in saving these men, even with Light magic, are..."

              "I understand. I only know basic first aid too, but.... if my Uncle needs me, I'll help him. Where exactly are the victims?"

              "They were on their way to the fork when the plagued dead got to them first. They're dangerously close to the Andorhal Ruins, but we've secured them safely as far as we could along the lake. We just need a doctor."

              "Then I will get ready too."

              "Thank you, Miss."







              Six horses. Two of the riders being that of Doctor Geraldino "Dino" Galleani. The other being his 'niece', Aimee Herzog. Both of them carried enough medical supplies to care for four emergency victims. They had no idea, however, of what is to happen.

              Six horses. Six minus two equals four. Four riders, all armored and bearing counterfeit tabards of the Argent Crusade. Underneath the gauntlets are leather red gloves, stained from red before.

              Beneath two helms were the icy blue eyes of the dead. Their eyes latched onto the doctor like those of a mongoose upon a serpent.

"We should have ended things as we should have twenty years ago."

[ImagenAshyun]

((Spoilered for graphic violence.))

Spoiler:

              Fog began to settle as the horses' hooves sank onto the soggy mud. The sun could barely shine through the cursed clouds as a heavy blanket of moisture gathered across the haunted lake. The Argent horses' reins were pulled as the soldiers slowed as they neared Darrowmere, loud whinnies breaking the eerie silence that hung across the bank. Dr. Dino and Aimee followed suit, with Serenissima almost lowering her rump as she stopped. The helmed soldiers trotted behind as they circled the group. They were far enough away from Hearthglen for anyone to hear.

              "Where is the caravan?" Dino asked as he looks around. Water was gathering on his goggles, and he had to wipe them with his gloves to see better. Such an attempt to improve his vision came too late--"Lieutenant" Sawyer was aiming a rifle straight at the doctor's head.

              "Hands where I can see them," he says firmly. "No sudden moves or you'll be missing a face."

              "What is this?!" Dino barks as he raises his hands to the level of his head, alarmed. Aimee didn't even have enough time to respond when the Lieutenant's partner also raised a rifle to her head as well. "What is going on?! I was granted amnesty! Aimee was too, from Stormwind!"

              "We're fully aware of that, Doctor."

              Sawyer turns to the helmed soldiers as they lead their horses up front. It was their turns to speak. "Hello, Giraldo," both say in an echoed unison as they both removed their helmets.

              "Teobaldo... Benedetto."

              "Papas!" Aimee squeaked. She almost burst into tears. "You're not of the Crusade!"

              "Counterfeit tabards, girl."

              "What do you want with us?!" Dino bellowed. "We're of no use to you! The Perin schematics are destroyed. We are no threat to the Glove!"

              "We all know the last part is a lie, brother," Teobaldo started as he moved his horse a bit. "It's not hard to figure out."

              Benedetto did the same. "We did not even have to monitor you very closely. All it took are unfamiliar faces and a couple coins. And a little bird."

              "I mean nothing to you two. You have Haydee. You claimed Aimee's parentage. You have the Glove. I was not even fully responsible for the compromise of the Glove's secrets."

              "You still destroyed the schematics."

              "Curse the schematics! Find your own engineers to build you another blasted machine!" Dino swung left hand to his right for his weaponized gauntlet when Sawyer and his partner aimed their rifles straight for not the doctor's head, but Aimee's.

              "Nice glove. Take it off, Doctor," the partner says.

              "You can't do this..."

              "Off with the glove, Doctor. We're not stupid. Off."

              With hesitation, Dr. Dino finally, but slowly, moved his left hand to his right. He presses onto the straps of the gauntlet and removed them entirely before lifting the glove off.

              "Over to me," Teobaldo asks as he lifts a hand. Dino obeys quietly as he tosses it to his brother. Immediately, the Death Knight examined it. "Hidden blade... smoke vials... Ah, here. The hidden gun. Surely an improvement from the acidic spray in the last model we've seen."

              "I am a better engineer today than I was last year."

              "No doubt about it. Now the mask."

              "What of it?"

              "Remove that too."

              "....Why?"

              "Spider said so--we're not stupid. Remove it."

              After a quick glance to his left and right, Dino barely exhaled as he unstrapped the mask, revealing his ulcer-ridden deformed face. As Sawyer and Spider were not familiar with the doctor's visage, both turned away in utter disgust; Spider himself almost seemed to have vomited. Aimee and Dino, however, still had the Death Knights to worry about.

              "Give it to me," Benedetto commands.

              "There is nothing to the mask, Bene."

              "Give it now."

              Dino complied. Benedetto checks it by twisting the goggles until they are completely removed, then doing the same for the beak. Checking the filter within it, he fingers along the skin for anything hidden. He pulls out a lockpick. "You will not need this."

              "I don't see myself and Aimee cuffed."

              "Off your horse."

              "But I-"

              "Off."

              The doctor patted his mare's belly while clicking his tongue loudly. Serenissima obeyed by lowering herself to her stomach, allowing the doctor to slide off the saddle. Dino's feet touched the ground, and he was about to reach for his cane when Teobaldo extended an icy runic spear towards him. "You can stand on your own two feet. You're lame, not paraplegic."

              "Curse you."

              The younger Half of the Mongoose made his way to Seremissima. He reaches into the saddle bag to pull out a rifle and three different canes. He examines them by pulling their crooks, pressing any buttons, and twisting the shafts. One is a sword-cane; another a gun-cane; and the third an all-purpose weapon with a hidden dagger and compartment with poison needles inside. "No fast ones from you. Now your coat."

              "I don't have anythin-"

              "Remove the coat."

              "Please, Uncle!" Aimee sobbed. The crater-faced man turned to see the girl broken completely in terrified tears. Dino had no choice but to obey once more, the coat falling onto the sopping ground. Underneath the heavy coat and worn by the serpent-like man is a bandolier and a brace with two pistols holstered to his chest. His belt is armed with grenades, a noise machine, a second contraption, and a tool kit.

              "Spider. The coat, braces, and belt. All of it."

              The man identified as Spider slides off his horse. He immediately picks up the coat and slings it over his horse's saddle before promptly moving towards the doctor to remove his previously concealed weapons. "Armed to the teeth, aren't you, Snakey?"

              "Bite your tongue and bleed to death, cretin."

              "I'm so scared. What next, boss?"

              "Strip him entirely."

              Spider looks towards them with horror as he glanced onto Dino's skin. "You have to be joking."

              "Underneath the serpent's skin is his toxic venom. Strip him."

              "I'm going to be sick," Spider muttered as he turned Dino around to unbutton his waistcoat to remove it. Surely enough, a small kit of poisoned needles was hidden in the inner pocket. "The fel..."

              "And his shirt."

              Spider continued. "Nothing here."

              "His trousers."

              Aimee averted her gaze, trying to fight back sobs as Spider pulled down Dino's trousers. Smoke vials were hidden in the pockets. The henchman speaks up, "And his boots and such too?"

              "Especially the boots."

              "Hope you don't mind the cold, Doc. Remove them."

              Dino had no other choice, as by this point, he's in his undergarments. Sawyer approaches the cripple for support as the doctor kicks off his boots. "I wonder what Haydee is paying you two for."

              "Animal ranks."

              "How predictable."

              "Daggers in the boots, Boss!"

              "Classic. Undergarments. Off."

              "Now you're just being contumelious!"

              "You certainly are a genius to have figured that out after twenty years. Strip."

              This time, there was no hesitation. Dino was fully buck naked before his brothers, showing he was completely unarmed. "There! Are you happy?!"

              Benedetto notices that Dino's shoulder-length hair is kept up in a ponytail. "The hair tie. Take it off."

              "Boss, is this really necessary?!" Sawyer shouted as he brazenly stepped out of line. "The guy's in his birthday suit and you're still searching through him?! You're Death Knights! There is no way he could be any semblence of a threat!"

              "Trust us in this. This is the man who created voice-activated machinery with very little arcane magic. Check the hair tie."

              Sawyer sighed as he obeyed. Yanking off the ribbon, he takes notice of a small pen with a button attached. "...What is this?"

              Teobaldo points to the unidentified contraption. "The detonator. Hand it over."

              Sawyer looked towards Dino. "I am impressed..."

              Dino smirked. "For about a few years, I was the Tamer's favorite. This is why."

              "Then you lost your legs," Benedetto says as Sawyer delivered the pen.

              "Because of you!" Now entirely defenseless, with his hidden weapons removed and even his cane denied, Dino hissed madly at the death knights. "What do you want with me?! Humilation?! A slow death?! I was in the Argent Crusade for almost a year now! Why wait for this moment?! Why not just kill me right now?!"

              The brothers gathered Dino's personal effects onto their saddles before transferring it to Sawyer's as they remained calm in their hollow voices. "Nobody leaves the Glove."

              "I've heard that a million times."

              "It is true. You don't leave the Glove. And neither should she." The brothers turn to Aimee, whose hands were still up. The girl's cries stopped as she held in her breath, frozen in fear.

              Dino finally figured it out.... the trap wasn't entirely focused on just him. "No.... please, no. Don't take Aimee back... please."

              "She is born of the Glove. She belongs there.... as you do."

              "She belongs to herself!"

              "She belongs to her mother and fathers."

              "You are not her father! Neither of you are!"


              The brothers quirk their brows. They take a glance at Aimee... then Dino. Then Aimee. Then Dino. Hazel eyes. Blond hair. An affinity for tinkering. The likeness to Marta Perin. It took a side-by-side look of a grown woman and her 'uncle' for the truth to be seen.

              "So it certainly seems."

              "You will let Aimee go. You will let me go. The Argent Crusade--the real one--will come out looking for us. They'll notice a doctor whom their commander ordered protection for will be missing. And they won't be afraid to take down two death knights."

              "For a buck naked man, you sure are confident. What makes you think you can escape two death knights without weapons, a cane, and a horse?"

              Dino smirks. "I just think of my favorite things."

              The brothers look onto the doctor quizzically. "Which are?"

              Dr. Dino took in a deep breath as he spoke loud and clear. "Oh... lemons.... sunshine....Aimee.... and my dear mother: Marta Perin."

Beep. Beep. Beep. Click.

              An explosion. The coat that housed the bomb burst into flaming shreds as Sawyer turned the same, the horse collapsing in a bloody mess alongside its gibbed owner. Smoke rose and blended with the fog, and Spider's own horse whinnied as it reared in panic, throwing its rider off. Both Teobaldo and Benedetto were knocked off their skeletal horses, time bought through the chaos of the vocally-activated bomb.

              Aimee struggled for control of her own horse. Dino, with little time to react, grabbed onto Serenissima's saddle. "Run, Aimee!"

              The girl didn't think--she bolted, just as her 'uncle' commanded. Dino's weak legs struggled to push the doctor onto Serenissima's saddle when a dark aura wrapped around his cratered neck. Before either Aimee or Dino would know it, the hapless doctor was yanked back through shadow runic magic, lost in death's grip.

              The brothers were enfuriated. Dino could barely breath as he was held in the much larger Benedetto's grasp. "You are a waste," the knights muttered in unison as the doctor was thrown onto the ground. Before he could move, Teobaldo moved in to thrust his spear through the doctor's abdomen. The blade pierced through, goring completly and pinning the man onto the ground. Blood rose from Dino's mouth, but no screams were released.

              "Stay there."

              The Death Knight brothers mounted up. Aimee was not far--her horse's gallops can still be heard, and soon, the knights' own followed. Dino trembled as his hands barely gripped onto the spear's shaft, his crooked teeth clenched as he coughed up blood. He couldn't move. Nor does he have long.

Run, my daughter. Run.

[ImagenAshyun]

              No matter where she turned, Aimee was surrounded by undead. East was the ruins of Andorhal and the Writhing Haunt. West is Gahrron's Withering. Even if she stopped to catch her breath, the Death Knight brothers were hot on her trails. There is no stopping.

              Then an idea. Along Darrowmere Lake, eastward, is a range of hills. Though the way back to Hearthglen is too far and risky, she can attempt to head for the bridge meters away where Argent sentries stood guard. She has to try.

              The stallion on which she rode whinnied as Aimee directed it towards its steep sides. His hooves dug deep, but it wasn't a very fast climber. Still, Aimee managed her way up, and the brothers were coming close. She could hear the skeletal horses' death-like echoes in their whinnies as her own horse struggled to maintain balance. She snapped her reins, crying commands to her mount, as the horse leapt from hilltop to hilltop. On occasion, it would slip, but it kept right on going as it climbed. The brothers were not far behind, and they were becoming frightingly close to their range of magic.

              "Waste not your beast's breath, girl!" one of them called out. "You must return home at once!"

              "I'm not going back!" Aimee shouted as her horse continued to leap between hilltops. "I don't want to go back to the Glove!"

              "You belong there!"

              "I do not!" Aimee reaches into her saddle bag to pull out a pair of grenades and a smoke bomb her "uncle" prepared for her. As she did, the earth beneath the living horse becomes icy cold. Aimee shrieks as her horse loses his balance and slides down the hill before rolling on his side. Aimee falls with him, and she is quickly slammed onto the ground as the horse slid. She falls off, her back scraping against the ice as her horse crumples at the base of the hills.

              The Death Knights, unaffected by the ice path they created, came closer. Teobaldo raises a hand a black tendrils begin to wrap the petite woman. Aimee, however, recognizes this magic right away and scrambles to her feet. Though she skids along the ice, she managed to break away in time to head for the woods. Just before she would make her way, she throws down the smoke bomb. Neither Teobaldo nor Benedetto's breathing were affected, but nevertheless, their vision was obscured. By the time the smoke cleared, Aimee was gone.

              "You cannot run from us forever, Aimee."




              Closer. She is closer to the Argent sentries. Aimee panted as her legs carried her as far as she could. She could barely feel the sweat in her palms despite the goosebumps forming on her skin. She's running out of breath, her legs, feet, and sides in searing pain from the fall. She tried calling for help, but all the air in her lungs would be spent in her running. She's crying now, her heart racing. Though she has encountered terrifying moments before, she has never been so afraid in her entire life as she is now.

"Uncle Dino?"

"Yes?"

"How come both Teo and Bene are my papas? Don't people normally have one?"

              No time to catch her breath. Beneath her breasts felt like razors stabbing and slashing at her lungs, but she would rather endure the pain than to return to the Glove.

"Uncle Dino?"

"Yes?"

"Why does Mama stick me with you often? Why doesn't my Mama and either Papa be with me besides school?"

              Past the trees and along the river was the view of the bridge. Sure enough, Argent sentries stationed themselves there. Aimee smiled and cried as she dashed as fast as her little feet could, her arms raised in the air as she called to them.

"To be honest, Aimee... I don't know. But... I don't care."

"Why?

              "Help! Help me!"

"Because I'm with you. Right here. Away from your mother and your fathers.

              "Light help me!"

"You'd be less lonely with me... as I am less lonely with you."

              The Argent sentries heard her cries. As Aimee rushes for them, they turn their heads.

"Uncle Dino?"

"Yes?"

              They are about to make their ways to her as she is but meters away to safety. She can see their halberds, their swords, their banners, and their flags.

"I wish you're my real papa."

              A sudden jerk. In a flash, the distance between the girl and the Argent sentries widened with a jolt. Her heart felt like it exploded as her throat tightened while her body hurled in the air. She watched as the bleak skies of the Plaguelands zipped past her vision before she falls sharply onto the ground in a dull thud. Above her own face were those of the brothers, their deathly grips successfully connecting.

"Is that so? Well, then....

              Before Aimee had anything else to say or do--even if to grab her grenades--her vision blurred and eventually failed. She felt hot. Feverish.

"So do I."

              The skin on her cheeks flushed to a bright red as sweat dripped from her brow. It did not take long before she passed out.

              The Argent sentries were taken aback by the sudden action that took place right before their very eyes. They marched forward, weapons drawn and ready to face the Death Knights. Upon meeting them, however, their eyes fell upon the counterfeit tabards of the Argent Crusade. Not realizing their falsehood, the soldiers saluted the knights. "Our apologies. What's going on here with this woman?"

              Benedetto dismounted in order to pick the girl up. Teobaldo nodded his head to the grenades that have fallen off the girl's belt. "This here girl is ... a rogue from Alterac who hitchhiked a caravan here. She is surely up to no good."

              "Then we must imprison her in the Hearthglen jail and have her investigated."

              Benedetto managed a smile and a salute. His brother did the same. "We are ahead of you. Good day to you, gentlemen."

              "And to you as well."

              The two brothers trotted off. As Aimee came to, she watched as the bridge was becoming further and further away. She is too nauseous and ill to react. She does, however, possess full enough awareness to know where she's going. It's not Hearthglen.

"Papa...."

              A soft whinny, then waving lips from a blown raspberry. Dino recognized the tender sounds of his gentle mare. Looking up, he sees Serenissima making her way back to her rider after all the chaos has ended. She is dirty and scratched from the struggle earlier, but all right. The impaled doctor smiled as he held up a weak hand, though it does not go any further than a couple inches off the ground.

              "Sere...." he mutters. "I'm glad you're all right."

              The horse lowers her head. Her snout meets Dino's bloody hand. The doctor gently traced his finger along her upper lip, grateful for the companionship his beast is providing despite his state. He smiled as he whispered to her, tears strolling down his face. He knew he wouldn't be able to ride her again. "It's okay, girl... Everything will be okay."

              Dino looked down onto his abdomen. The spear gored him cleanly--there is barely any blood pouring out. The doctor knew his state--though the blade was killing him, it was saving his life as well. "Possible... internal... hemorrhaging..." Dino mutters his own prognosis aloud as to break the haunting silence that plagued him. "An infection... or profuse external bleeding... possibly shock... or even death.. if removed incorrectly." He breathes sharply and painfully as he lies his head back as the tasted the blood in his mouth. His hand travels to his lips as he coughs some up. "If not by the bleeding... then by exposure... it's so cold." The man was still naked from his earlier strip. He knows he doesn't have long.

              Serenissima, as though a horse may or may not feel sympathy for her dying rider, made her way to his side and knelt by him. Dino smiles, once more so very happy to have a loyal companion. He reaches for her now bare belly, the saddle having been torn off from the search his brothers made moments ago.

              .....An then, an idea.

              Placed onto the bare belly is a bloody handprint. Uniquely Dino's--his fingers were bony and crooked, but his palms were wide as his digits were long. As soon as the mark was made, the doctor reached to sharply swat the horse's rump as hard as he could. The horse whinnied and scuttled off, as the strike was a trained signal to search for other people. Dino did this to her during when the Stormwind Guard first imprisoned him, and again when Solidarity occurred. He knew she wouldn't fail him.

              "Hurry, Serenissima," Dino mutters as he lays his head back. His voice is barely audible, reduced to voiceless whispers. "I don't have long... and then... we have to find... my little... Aimee..."

              His eyes closed. His other hand released the spear's pole as it fell upon the cursed earth.

[ImagenAshyun]

Ratchet in the Rocks...

              It's been a few days since those heroes have rescued Allegra from the Red Glove... and the capture of "The Falcon". The woman, plain and unremarkable in face, was holed up and under the watchful guard of a trusted sentry the Knights have arranged to keep. Downstairs, Arnaldo sat in deep contemplation of what just happened upon arrival. The trap was set, and the heroes took the bait... but it was not only to be anticipated, it was expected. Arnaldo knew it--the Glove has figured out his defection. Now he sat there, terrified and afraid, but not for his own skin--but for Velio's.

              The lights of the tavern flickered as the former S1:7 agent stared blankly across the floor. He made no attempts to socialize--the taste of gin would leave his undead lips. The bright lights of undeath gaze upon the dripping mug as the finger bones clasp around the handle. He drinks from the mug, but its savory waters pour from the holes of his throat, chest, and stomach, much of it spilling onto his shirt. The sight is not one for living eyes, and predictably, he received a scolding from the tender. Not long after, he is kicked out.

              The Forsaken tread along the rails as his lapel is stuck into his lips in a pathetic attempt to suck out whatever gin is left. As he faces the inn in which the Knights has last left the Falcon in, the cloth drops from his rotting lips. He stares for a bit, lost in contemplation. He looks left, right, then left again, before making his way inside. He is cautious in garnering any attention from any of the Knights that may be leftover, hopeful that he can slip by unnoticed.

              At the door of the room, staring at the hallway, a young man is lamenting his low station in his Knightly organization. While others are enjoying drink, entertainment, or new bouts of heroism, he is stuck guarding a dead-woman-walking. Though heartily bored, the young man paid only enough attention to not let anyone pass without a round of questioning.

              "Pardon me," Arnaldo says as he tips his hat, scraggly thinning hair sticking out from underneath. He does not recognize this sentry, though he does recall the location of the Falcon's room--right here, behind him. His movement implicates his destination, but he hopes not to make any notice of this through verbal indication or request.

              Nevertheless, the young fellow caught on. "Are you lost?"

              "Oh! Absolutely not!" Arnaldo turns to the door, then back to the fellow. Granted that he was hired by the Knights, the Forsaken allowed some divulgence in an attempt to ease his way to his intended place. "I, um... I hope to see the lady on the other side."

              "I-.." The frank response seems to momentarily throw the young man. He does, of course, recover before he stammers, "I don't think you have the proper clearance. She is not to be disturbed; they were firm on that."

              From inside, gray eyes flicker from a dull point on the wall to the back of the door. A small grin tugs at the Falcon's lips as she waits, expectant.

              "I -was- among those who helped capture her," Arnaldo admits, his back straightening. "I'm fairly certain they wouldn't mind me."

              "... I don't know..." The young man rubs the back of his neck as he looks down the hall towards the stairs. He sucks in the side of his cheek a little and chews at it.

              Arnaldo glances aside and crosses his arms, the fingers tucked under his arm picking at a maggot he just so happened to find. He loses himself in thought once again when a thought arrives in his not-quite-dead brain. "Hm... What's your name, pal?"

              "Oh! Uh, Francis." He stands up straighter as he introduces himself before he adds an uncertain, "I mean, Francis, sir." He inwardly cringes as the man before him peels off the maggot;the discomfort is clear on his face, despite Francis' best efforts to appear casual.

              Arnaldo smirks a bit as his finger bone trails for another maggot eating through the seam of his sleeve. "You look rather tired there. How long have you been here?" He plucks it out before nonchalantly flicking it to the floorboards.

              "Six hours." And it certainly shoes. The poor boy looked tired, hungry, and quite certainly and very visibly bored.

              Arnaldo crosses his hands behind his back and tilts his head, his brows furrowed as he inhaled through his nose. "You poor fella. Why don't you take a break?"

              "...You'll watch the door for me? I could use some dinner..."

              "You look like you could use a dinner, a nap, and perhaps a bathroom break."

              "Yeah....Yeah! Yeah, I could do that." Francis stoops to pick up his bag and, not needing to be told twice, quickly skeddadles down the hallway, down the stairs, and out of Arnaldo's maggoty hair.

              The Forsaken grins as he shifts the chair aside and leans his back against the door, eyes to the hall. He knocks from his side. "Are you okay in there?" he calls to the Falcon nested on the other side.

              From behind is an eerily relaxed woman. The whole time, she was situated in a room that was completely silent and sealed, with a window bolted shut and scratched from sandstorms and poor care. "Perfectly comfortable. It's quite the perch they've provided for me." Catalina curled her hand lightly and rubbed it against the window in a vain attempt to clean up the view. "Will you be coming in, Toad?"

              "I am," he says as he turns the doorknob and slips inside.

---

Hearthglen...

              There was no rain that day. An elven woman, impaired in sight but sharp in her hearing, sat upon a bench as her fingers plucked along a harp to tune it. Her brows furrowed her head turned to the sound--they were off-key and in need of replacement. Not far from her was a paladin, his plate-covered boots trampling along the notably dry pavement. "Huh... odd," he said with a shrug as his hands moved to push back a cowl and show his face. The sharp twang of a harp caught his attention, prompting him to turn for the origin of the sound. "<Hello again, Taldriira,>" he began in Thalassian, a language he had the privelege of learning despite his race. "<Keeping well, I hope?>"

              The frown that was on the elf's face turns to a smile as soon as she heard the man she identified as a friend of another day. "<Ah! Hello again! I am well enough. And yourself?>"

              The human nodded. "<I've seen better days." He said with a sad smile, "<Mind if I sit? It's.. been a long ride over.>" He said with a chuckle, running a hand through his dark brown hair. His eyes seemed to still show that tiny bit of innocence once in a while.

              Taldriira pats down on the spot to her left. "<I would love the company, Sir Balverine. What's been troubling you?>"

              Balverine gave her a soft smile, followed by a nod of thanks--though he realized after she probably couldn't see it. "<Thank you.>" He said placing himself next to her, "<I'd.. rather not talk about it. But it's just some personal issues. How have you been? It's been quite sometime since I've seen you around.>"

              Taldriira shifts her attention to her friend, giving him a concerned look. "<Well, as you wish...as for myself, I have been doing all right. Nothing eventful except for my poor harp. Its strings are old, so it's been harder to keep them tight enough to play.>"

              " <Is it hard to find new strings? I don't know the first thing about playing anything musical..>" Balverine said with a slight chuckle. "<Perhaps I could find new ones for you, I'm sure they'd have them in Stormwind.>"

              The elven woman chuckled in return. "<It's only hard when you haven't any money. Ah, but you don't need to get any for me, I'm sure I'll manage.>" She plucks one, and what should sound like a soft note sounds forced and flat. She flinches a little. "<Well, that's not right...>" She frowns at her harp again, slowly turning one of the tuning pegs.

              "<No no.. I can easily pick some up next time I head into the city. I... I have more money then I need, really. It's.. just me and Jaece now. And we really don't need a lot. I find most of my extra income getting things for him. It'd make me happy to get those for you,>" he said nodding his head with a smile.

Clop, clop, clop...

              Taldriira opens her mouth to protest, but she gets a surprised look on her face when the string she was tightening splinters and snaps. There is a pause before she says, "<Well, it would just be embarassing to say I'll be fine now.>" Her face shows the mentioned embarassment. "<Thank you, Sir Balverine.>"

              His cheeks flushed a bit as she said 'sir' "<Uh.. you can just call me Bal.. or Balverine. The title makes me feel.. old,>" he said rubbing the back of his neck shyly, his eyelids fluttering shut for a moment. "<I should be heading back soon, so you'll have some new strings!>"

Clop, clop, clop...

              She gets to slowly removing the string from the harp. "<Oh, are you tired? I won't keep you, then. I tend to have strange sleeping hours, myself. I never could get a full night's sleep all that well.>"

Clop, clop, clop...

              Balverine opened his mouth to speak, but he was caught off by the view before him. Wandering about was the mare Serenissima, without her rider or saddle. On her belly and rump are bloody handprints, and her own creme mane has been stained with red. Though she wandered into the city, she made no effort in approaching any strangers. "<Huh... that's really odd. Come with me for a second, please?>" Balverine requested as he stood up from the bench. He offers an arm for the broken-sighted elf in hopes to guide her as his hand reaches for a small pouch. Taldriira would take up the offer for his arm, and both human and elf would approach the riderless horse. Balverine managed to remove a small sugar cube for the mare to eat. "Hey, there. Want a treat?" he says as he held up the cube.

              Taldriira tilts her head in slight confusion. "<Ah, what is there? Who are you talking to, Bal?>"

              It didn't take much for Serenissima's trust to be granted. She nibbles onto the cube... before proceeding to nibble on the human's hair.

              "<There's a horse wi- Gah!!" Balverine yelped as he moved away from the nibbling horse. "Don't chew on my hair! Here... we'll get you something to eat," he says gently as he curled his fingers onto her mane to drag her along. He completes his answer to Taldriira's question. "<A horse with no rider. It looks hungry.>"

              Taldriira reaches out to touch the horse on the nose. "It's okay. Shh..." She pets the nose as she shifts to the side of the horse's head, patting its neck. She then frowns when she gets closer to the neck. <"Is it injured? I think I smell blood on it...It's not a very strong smell from where I'm standing.">

              Bal looked it over, feeling the dried blood on the mane. "<The blood is dried on it's mane.. I don't think it is.>" He said petting it's side softly, "<Where's a druid when you need one?...>"

              "<Oh dear, its rider must be hurt badly, then. Perhaps along the road toward here?>"

              The mare clops her front hoof as the human and elf discuss. Bal looked as it clopped it's front hoof, "What're you trying to tell us, hmm?" He said stroking here mane softly. "<And that could be possible..>" As both he and Taldriira think, the mare turned her large eyes for the city gates.

              Balverine took the hint. "<C'mon, Taldriira.>" He offers his arm again, and she followed.