Rage of the Blade Song - 17
Writer’s Note: Please be sure to check out the full series at fanfiction.net.
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8639206/17/Rage-of-the-Blade-Song
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When their gryphons finally touched down in Booty Bay the sky was lit up a bright orange with the receding sun, and the clouds that hung off-coast seemed purple. As the gryphons settled onto the landing perch the goblin in attendance immediately ran forward from near the door down below to take the reins. However, before either could get free from their mount, he raised a hand palm up and gave them each a toothy smile. Selina started for her coin purse, but Ouroboros beat her to the mark and handed several silver coins to the little green man while earning him a sharp stare from his companion.
The goblin stood still for a moment as he counted out the coins before finally snatching his hand closed and pocketing the fare and nodding his bulbous head, which caused his large ears to flap. "Looks like all things are in proper order. Now, if you'd be so kind as to step off, I'll take your beasts away and let them rest with the others below. Will you be departing from Booty Bay any time soon?"
"Yes," Selina said in response, "but it won't be by gryphon. Once they've recuperated from their travels please let them loose back to Stormwind."
"Well enjoy your stay while it lasts, and don't go making any trouble while you're here. Your war with the Horde stays outside this city's walls, and, if it doesn't, our lads will rightly get involved right away."
The elf and human did as they were bid, lithely swinging in the saddle and slipping off the side of the gryphons to their own feet. The goblin gave them one last bow before walking away to lead the gryphons into the coop inside by their reins. However, rather than follow the diminutive caretaker, Ouroboros and Selina walked to the edge of the perch and looked out at the various platforms that made up Booty bay.
Leave it to the goblins to construct a city kept alive entirely by the vices of its people, the elf thought. Even as he stood there he could see an assortment of drunken sailors swaying to-and-fro as they worked their way around the city, and Ouroboros marveled that none had fallen in the ocean yet since there was no wall along the platforms to prevent the unwary from taking a dive into the waters below. Booty Bay was alive with the buzz of conversation, though none of it was intelligible from where they stood. There were many groups gathered around the port city; some were clearly denizens who lived among the docks, while others were more obviously travelers merely passing through. Occasionally it would seem that a squabble was about to break out somewhere in the city, usually between the sailors from both sides of the war while others egged the combatants on, but, just as the goblin warned them of, the city bruisers quickly waded in and defused the situations.
Overall though, despite the constant noise of drunken rambling and gamblers protesting their losses, there was a certain exuberant air that pervaded Booty Bay, and Ouroboros felt quite as though he were in his own element. Curious to what Selina thought of the city, the elf turned to look at her, and discovered that she was already staring at him. Her brows were knitted together at a sharp angle, which gave her a piercing glance.
"Is something on your mind?"
"Why did you pay our fare?" She asked crossly.
Ouroboros was taken aback. "I'd already prepared my coin purse while we were descending, so I figured it would be easier if I went ahead and covered us both." He looked at her with some amusement. "Is that a problem?"
"I'm not fond of people paying things for me. I've was never given anything growing up unless I earned it, and I don't wish to start now that I'm a grown woman."
The night elf laughed at her response. "Well then, consider it a favor for helping me get across the seas more quickly so that I may avenge my friend. You were right earlier about the various travel routes to Kalimdor, and without your assistance in this matter it would have taken me some time to even set foot on the continent by then. I want to kill this Kotakk while he still remembers for what reason he's being put down." Though he was calm while speaking, Ouroboros seemed to lose some of his spirit until he spoke as though he were an automaton. "Covering our fare during this travel is the least I can do to repay you. Besides, I've just come into a recent inheritance…"
Selina looked to be considering the facts and then sighed crestfallenly as she.
However, as she opened her mouth to speak they were interrupted by someone coming out onto the perch. It was an orc, and, judging by the spiked, red leather armor he wore, he was a scout for the Horde army. His bald head was scratched all over with scars, the tip of his left ear was missing, as well as a part of his upper lip, which allowed his fangs to show themselves more prominently and made it seem as though he were sneering maliciously.
There was a dull look in his eye as he rode out on the back of a wyvern, one that quickly disappeared as he laid eyes on the two Alliance figures before him. First he looked upon Selina, his baleful eyes taking stock of her figure and lingering on the daggers at her sides. Then he looked at Ouroboros and a hideous, cruel smile broke out over his features. Looking at the night elf, he said something in Orcish before letting out barking laughter. Figuring it to have been in relation to the Horde's attack in Ashenvale, Ouroboros reached for his weapon as he started for the orc, but the scout kicked his heels into the wyvern's side, causing it to run for the ledge and spring into the air.
"Bastard! I know he said something about the attack!"
"Ouroboros…" Selina reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. "Come on, let's get down from here."
The night elf clenched his fist while he stared at orc's swiftly shrinking form, but relaxed it as he let out a deep breath. He nodded his head at his companion's suggestion, and together they left the landing perch. There was only one way down to the city from where they were, and that was through the aviary tower, fortunately, however, since the night was beginning to fall there were few others inside to tie them up.
Once outside the building they looked around. Ahead of them lay the rest of Booty Bay, an assortment of lodgings so difficult to tell apart that Ouroboros found that he was unable to point out the homes from the shops. Meanwhile the path to their left lead straight toward the tavern, which appeared to be little more than a great ship sticking out from the side of the mountain and overlooked the ocean.
"Well, as things stand, we still won't be set to leave until morning. Since that's the case, why don't you go check on getting us a couple of rooms to stay in for the night and I'll meet you in the bar." Finished speaking, Selina started to walk away.
"Wait!" Ouroboros called out after her. "Where are you off to?"
"I'm going to let my friend know that we've arrived!"
(-****-)
As Selina walked away, and got lost among the wandering crowds, her heart pounded in her chest.
All around her was an assortment of people talking amongst themselves, while the tradesmen packed up their stalls to call it a night. Though there were still some, primarily goblins, who continued to persist into the evening and called out for those passing to check their wares. Yet she ignored them all as her thoughts remained focused on other matters.
For the life of her, Selina couldn't fathom why the night elf seemed such a strong figure in her mind. Her attention on the matter had even nearly gotten them both killed by Horde, and she berated herself for the thousandth time allowing the enemy to sneak up on them as they did.
It wasn't as if he had acted in any romantic manner toward her that would have given her cause to sway. In fact, the girl mused to herself, she was pretty sure that Ouroboros had promised to kill her after she threatened to get the guards on him after their first meeting. True he was handsome – as were most of the elves she noticed – and him in a rugged sort of way, but she'd met many such figures, none of which ever gave her pause. Yet, even after reminding herself of such, Selina found it difficult to take her thoughts off the wandering night elf.
She couldn't explain it, not even to herself. Growing up with a veteran of the SI:7, she'd grown up around men who were just as capable as Ouroboros was quickly proving himself to be, so it wasn't as if she were unused to fighting alongside a man. But, she quickly realized, perhaps that was why the swordsman was so interesting. Many of those she once held as companions, some who even confessed feelings for her, had all been agents of the same organization; bound together by the same duty as one another there was a natural air of comradeship that was almost expected. With Ouroboros though it was different, for it had been entirely up to him whether he chose to help her.
She wouldn't have truly bothered getting the guards on the elf since she knew he did nothing wrong, but she'd been worried he would leave and made the bluff anyway. Perhaps, Selina wondered, she merely felt guilty for having threatened him in such a manner and forcing his help, especially after he turned out to be such a stalwart partner. After seeing for herself the elf's strong character she wished to make things even with Ouroboros, and, after learning of his friend's murder, Selina knew she had the perfect opportunity to help him in return.
That was it, guilt for having tricked him, and now she wished to make amends.
Selina told this to herself several times as she walked, and for a while it seemed to work, but Ouroboros remained ever on her mind.
(-****-)
Deeply lost in her thoughts, it took Selina nearly a half hour to reach her destination.
It was a quaint little hut set on the third tier of platforms, with a single window that faced out toward the sea beside the door, which was closed shut. Just barely within her sight the human spotted a small chimney from which black smoke now escaped. It was the home of Creedle Copperspin, brother to Greedle Copperspin, two of Selina's oldest acquaintances among the goblins. If she had a problem, and magic was involved, they were the first one's she could count on to help get it solved; fine work at a modest cause, and, not wishing to lose a source of revenue, it wasn't likely they would double cross her.
She walked over to the door and gave it three sharp taps.
Selina prepared herself to wait patiently. Like most mages, Creedle and his brother felt that their time was incredibly invaluable, and would often keep guests waiting at the door for minutes at a time. Fortunately, that wasn't the case tonight, and it was only a few seconds before she could hear the goblin scratching at his door from the other side. A moment later it flung open and Selina found herself face-to-face with Creedle Copperspin.
As they looked upon each other, the human thought she saw a hint of surprise in his beady blue eyes. Like the goblin from earlier, Creedle's ears were large, but they pointed back sharply and his left had three golden rings dangling from it which matched the ring set in his long, hooked nose. The top of his head was bald, but he had himself bristling muttonchops, and a ringlet of gray hair circled along the sides while a ponytail sprang up in the back from which there dangled a metal nut. Still this surprised her, for the last time she'd laid eyes on the goblin his hair was dark green.
He was barely in his forties, which, for a goblin, was still remarkably young.
"Selina," Creedle exclaimed in shock.
"Creedle, it looks like you've aged years! What happened?"
"Bah, that Greedle has been trying more patience more than usual of late!" He snapped in an irate tone, his voice high and a bit nasally. "He refuses to send over my half of the profits that we agreed upon be split between our business; says that all the fighting south of him is drawing heavy on his supplies and that he needs the extra coin."
"But weren't you doing the same thing to him back when the pirates kept picking fights with Booty Bay several years ago?"
"That was in the past. He should learn to let go of misgivings." Selina started to chuckle at the goblin's train of reasoning, but then it seemed to register with Creedle that she was likely here another reason aside from a social visit. "My girl, this is certainly a far ways for you to be. Are you on another assignment?"
She nodded her head. "I am indeed, and I'm being accompanied by another. It's urgent that we reach Kalimdor as quickly as possible, and with little notice as well. I was hoping you and your brother would help me and my companion come the morning."
"Is your companion a convict of sorts?"
"No, nothing of the sort, Creedle."
"Then wouldn't it have been easier to get in contact with a mage from the city?"
"It's important that we be sent somewhere a bit more south of the capitals."
"Ah…" Creedle said, the light bulb finally going off in his head. "You're going into Ashenvale from behind enemy lines."
Selina smiled slyly in response to the statement.
"Well then, you've chosen your route to Kalimdor wisely, Miss Torwell. Let me inform my brother of your needs."
Creedle walked over to his desk in the corner opposite of the door, and delicately plucked up a large golden coin that'd been sitting atop it. The goblin hunched over while he held the coin, and Selina could tell that he was focusing intensely. He finally let out a greatly exasperated sigh, stood still for another moment, and finally put the coin back, though with a bit more force than was probably warranted.
"Everything go well?"
"What? Oh, yes, he was simply complaining about the risk of teleporting two of you over this time, because it seems that Garrosh is cracking down on this lately, but there's no way he'd dare instigate the cartels. That's all he seems to do these days is complain, I swear. I must account for at least three quarters of the business that gets taken care of between the two of us." Creedle held up a hand as if to silence himself and took a deep breath. "Anyway, you probably have better things to do than listen to me ramble. We wouldn't want to keep you from your friend, eh?"
The goblin winked at her, and Selina started to blush. "That's incredibly unprofessional! He's a partner in the field, nothing else."
"Oh my dear, I could tell you've been distracted with something else the entire time we've been talking, so let's not waste much more of your time. Be here in the morning, just as the sun is rising preferably; oh, and uh… There's the matter of payment. Sorry Selina, but you know how it is out here. Business comes first."
"Of course Creedle, I wouldn't have assumed otherwise! Will it be your standard fee for teleportation?"
"Normally it would double for two, but, as I've come to know you, I think I'll cut the charge for you."
"Thank you Creedle, my friend and I are very much in your debt. I'll even give you part of your brother's cut before we're off."
To his credit, the goblin gave a wide grin and cheered. "Hah, it's about time justice was served!"
They bid each other farewell, with Selina promising to come early in the morning at their allotted time. Creedle closed the door and returned to whatever devices he'd been previously occupied with. She started back the way from whence she came, and her thoughts followed suit.
She hadn't realized it while talking with the goblin, but the sun had now fully set. By now, she figured, Ouroboros must have already secured rooms for the evening and would be expecting her within the tavern any time now. Not wishing to keep him waiting much longer, she eagerly looked forward to sharing the news with her companion that they would be ready to leave first thing in the morning.