2 Chapter 2: Proof of Loyalty
(Alterac City, Alterac Duchy, Kingdom of Alterac, Eastern Kingdoms, Azeroth)
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(Jaina Proudmoore POV)
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Jaina wasn't one to go peeping or snooping, but she knew the best way to learn about King Gunthar was to peek at his private letters.
She didn't like it, but she doubted he would answer honestly if she asked him directly.
What she was learning from these letters surprised her. Many senior members of Silver Hand were supportive of his goals to rebuild Alterac.
Additionally he was penning a letter to King Greymane to discuss the matter of a potential marriage to Princess Tess. She hadn't found other letters mentioning such a possibility, which meant Gunthar Perenolde was attempting to broker an alliance with Gilneas.
She would pass that on to King Varian if she got the chance.
''You have any idea what I can do to you for this?''
Turning around, Jaina finds King Gunthar. His face is... Unamused to sum it up.
''I needed to know if I could trust you.'' She defends.
''A fair question, but an unfair means of getting it. Because now, I can't trust you. Which brings me to what I should do with you. Were you not Admiral Sparklepants daughter, I'd have you flogged to say the least.'' Says Gunthar, and Jaina can't help but react to the word.
''Sparklepants?!'' She asks, wrinkling her nose at the word.
''He's your father, your a mage, do the math.'' Gunther responds gruffly, before turning his attention towards the large oak table with a map of the surrounding lands and various journals and a papers with words in a language she doesn't know.
He removes a scroll from his bag and begins writing.
''What Language is that?'' Asks Jaina.
''Languages, plural. You won't know them, I created them myself. I needed a way myself and my men could communicate through letters without the languages being translated by enemies.'' Says Gunthar.
''How many do you know?'' Asks Jaina.
''That I Created? Around twelve or so. That I didn't create? Not counting regional dialects, around four or five.'' Says Gunthar, who sighs and beckons her over.
''Looking at this map, do you see my predicament? What I must do to survive? For my people to live? If Danath is ever found alive, then find him, and tell him I'm sorry.'' Gunthar tells Jaina.
''But your mother-'' Jaina begins.
''Was a bitch. I'm aware of who she was Little Mage, but she wasn't a good mother. And if she ever comes calling she'll find herself in the dungeons." Gunthar cuts in.
''You don't fear retribution from her family?'' Asks Jaina.
''She's a half-sibling, the fact she has the blood at all is just a lucky thing for me. Makes this shit easier. Besides, she gave up her rights the day she supported my father's decision to create a criminal enterprise.'' Says Gunthar.
''She's still your mother.'' Says Jaina.
''Which is the only reason she won't be executed. I'll make her comfortable, but my mother will be confined to a cell.'' Says Gunthar.
''My spies recovered this when they investigated Stromgarde Castle immediately after Thoras Trollbane's death. I'll handle it, but let Fordragon, the other leaders, and Varian know.'' Says Gunthar.
''This is King Galen's personal diary!'' Jaina remarks hotly.
''Stow that indignation and read the last few pages that have been marked, we already have copies made so take it with you. Meantime, see yourself out when your done, I've a War Council to attend.'' Says Gunthar.
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(POV Shift: Gunthar Perenolde)
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He had suspected at some point someone would try and sneak a peak at his letters, so he chose to leave letters he knew wouldn't effect him too much in his personal quarters. He just didn't expect to catch Jaina doing it though.
Nonetheless he decided to indulge her a little bit. Now that might bit him in the ass down the line but he liked Jaina, she reminded him in many ways of his lost love in his last life.
But that was a story for another time, another place...another life. Right now, Gunthar was in the War Council.
''The undead don't stretch very far, but we decided to seal off our borders nonetheless as we didn't know exactly just how fast they can replenish their numbers or even how they replenish for that matter. My best guess is that they targeted cemetaries or ancient crypts at first, before moving on to recent battlefields and eventually just fightign battles and raising the enemies fallen. My only problem in that theory is that you'd think the leaders of the enemy who get raised would still be loyal to their side. From what we've been told...it's not true. Moreover, as I previously stated, we don't know if they can spread via stuff like grain. Hence why we sealed and fortified our border.'' Says Gunthar as he indicates at the various points on the map.
''You mentioned your territories weren't completely secure?'' Arthas asks.
''We've got Ogres, and we've got Gnolls. We've also got a clan of Orc's a stones throw from here.'' Says Gunthar, and there's a sharp silence that falls at that news.
''A clan? Your sure?'' Jaina asks.
''More to the point the most important one on Azeroth.'' Says Gunthar.
''What makes you say that?'' Asks Arthas.
''Because their former chieftain? His son is the Horde's new Warchief. The Old Warchief and the former cheiftain were supposedly good friends, and were trying to end the original Horde's tyranny, but the first Warchief had the chieftain and his wife killed, and as I've come to learn the baby was enslaved by Adelas Blackmoore, and you and I saw him fight at Durnholde.'' Says Gunthar as Arthas widens his eyes.
''THAT Orc is the new Warchief?'' Arthas sputters in suprise.
''So my spies tell me, at any rate that's a minor detail. I'll join you in your mission old freind, the bulk of my forces will maintain and fortify our borders. With the exception of a force of Two Hundred Men, they'll keep the lands safe. However the two hundred strong force will join us.'' Says Gunthar. ''We'll head to Brill and from there hopefully we'll have enough information to go on. Andorhal is a big place and my spy network in the city is not too well placed.'' Gunthar informs them, though in truth his spy network in Andorhal is pretty ragtag and underfunded and that was by design, so as to keep the level of how badly the forsaken can compromise him to a minimum.
''We need to travel light and swiftly, that will be kind of hard with a force of two hundred men following behind us.'' Uther interrupts, having been silent up until that point throughout the entire time they'd been at his camp.
''Don't underestimate our men! They ride the best Mounts in this part of the Region, sure of foot, strongwilled, and tough as fucking dwarven steel. They are at home in our mountains or rough terrain, and possess a fiery spirit unlucky anything else short of an Orc's Wolf-mount. They are trained from the moment they can walk to the best of their ability to serve as mounts for our elite Calvary Regiment.'' Say Wilichar hotly.
''Trained by sellswords, murderers, and theives.'' Uther dismisses.
''And yet, I can attest teacher, that they are the best you'll either find Outside of Stormwind or Lordaeron. More importantly the two hundred men accompanying us are my elite forces, they are kept small for the sole purpose of getting in and out of enemy territory rapidly and raising hell. They trained by the best to beat the best, and are equipped and supplied accordingly.'' Gunthar cuts in, soothing Wilichar's temper, and letting Uther know in no uncertain terms that though they might be allies at his decision, he has yet to forgive the Silver Hand.
''As you say.'' Uther - thankfully - takes the way out Gunthar has provided him, and thankfully a stern look but soft hand on Wilichar's shoulder with a nod is all that the Count and Alteraci Marshal needs in order to calm himself.
''Either way, we will ride at first light tomorrow for Brill, Arthas, please send a message to your father, informing him that myself and a two hundred strong force will be accompanying else for the express purpose of investigating and stopping this plague of undeath. We want no war with Lordaeron despite our past indescretions.'' Gunthar asks of his old partner.
''I will have a message prepared.'' Arthas says nodding to one of his men.
''Before we end this War Council, let me be clear to you my commanders. You will not attack or expand, and any plans or discussions for those goals will be tabled until my return. So for now, leave the Ogres, Gnolls, and Orc's alone. Especially the Ogres and Orcs, you can send scouts into the Gnolls territory, but now battles. That is all.'' Says Gunthar as he turns to the guests. ''I'll have rooms prepared for each of you, we depart at first light.'' Gunthar tells them, before he departs.
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(POV Shift: Uther the Lightbringer)
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Uther was conflicted.
Seeing his former student again stirred old feelings and emotions in Uther. Every single day, Gunthar would fight tooth and nail, because he hard to. He had to work and fight five times as hard as anybody else because of his heritage. One day, when he and Arthas went out on a mission and when they came back?
Gunthar was carrying a wounded Arthas on his shoulders both of them still in full plate. Gunthar was half-dead from exhaustion alone. The Young Paladin had carried his brother-in-arms for several days going on a week. But the treatment he received from the rest of the Order after everything he'd done up until that point coupled with the fact he'd personally brought Arthas back alive despite nearly dying in the process shattered whatever hope or faith he had in finally proving himself. He was met yet again with suspicion and thinly veiled scorn, and finally he snapped.
Gunthar left them in a fury, fed up with his treatment and the lack of overall response from him and the other leaders regarding the treatment he recieved that bordered on outright bullying...no, actually it didn't just border on bullying, it wasn't even bullying, it was outright abuse. At least he hadn't fully forsaken the traditions and values of the Order, there was some comfort in that.
Comfort, but no justice.
When this mission was done, Uther would try and begin a process of reconcilliation. He doubted Gunthar would ever willing join them again, but the effort should still be made. It'd be a long road, but it would honor the Order's code and traditions. And in the end, they'd all be better for it.
The question - the only real question - was whether or not Gunthar would tell them to go to hell at the end, and if did...Uther would not blame him at all for that....they derseved that at the very least....
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(Author's Note:)
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I was going to continue this chapter a bit more, but on the plus side it gives me greater time to plan out the next few chapters when I get around to it. I am a bit suprised I only did three POV's this chapter, but that's not too big of an issue right now, and it gives me a reason to do more POV's next few chapters. On a side note I finished this in less than an hour. That's a little reassuring, but it's just the question of whether or not I should go further. I mean I do want to get back to my other stories since the next chapter of Aethan was also finished today, but I also have to try and get more done before Christmas. My end goal for this year is to be able to release two or three opening chapters on Christmas Day, since it's around that time I ended my P-atreon last year. This hour and a half a day thing seems to really work for me. So hopefully thats what I need to keep it up and running for the forseeable future.
And even if I don't an Hour and a Half a Day will keep my writing alive.
Ah at any rate I've talked enough, hope to have more shit for you on Christmas day for me, which will actually be the day of Christmas eve for most of the lot of you since the bulk of my readers are north of the equator unlike me, who lives way down under in the Southernmost part of the North of New Zealand I do actually mean the southernmost part since it goes capital city and then my town. Anyways, see you lot by christmas hopefully.
Well then until Christmas Eve,
Sincerely yours,
TheRagFromTheCrag
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February 14th 2024 Update:
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So for some reason this has been in my trash instead of published, sorry about that, but this was actually supposed to be published before Christmas and it's aggravating that I didn't notice this earlier. Sorry
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