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Brothers	By : Koori Category: +S through Z > World of Warcraft Views: 1830 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own World of Warcraft, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Chapter Forty-Three – Thomas Conway, Age 46
"You don't have to do this," Thomas said.
"Sir, I've known your boys since they were babes, they are like brothers. If Foster has gotten into a fix he cannot get out of on his own, my sword and board are at your service." Carlin Redpath said. "I'm on leave from my duties at Stratholme if you gave me more time I could have a small force ready to go in a week."
"It could be dangerous," Thomas said as he attached a saddle bag to Granite. "I am hoping the man Percy speaks of can be reasoned with."
Percy chortled from the back of Knight. "Mr. Gilbert has an army, and besides it's the naga you would have to deal with."
"Shut up," Thomas snapped, "if I didn't need you to show me where my son was I would be done with you." He walked over to the porch where his family had gathered; even Janice had ridden in from town. "Grant, York, Sara I'm expecting you to watch over the fields while I'm away. Wendy, take good care of my grandbabies … and Lucy you be good for your momma."
"I will Grandpa!" Lucy said as he picked her up one handed and gave her a hug. Afterwards he went down the line hugging the females and shaking hands with the men. When he reached his beloved, he wiped a tear from her cheek.
"Please come back soon and with our son," she said. "I can't bear to lose you too."
"I will be back, with Foster," he said, "like you said all those years ago, I will protect our family." He kissed her then pouring all his passion into the touch. Afterwards he brushed another tear from her cheek and swung up onto his saddle. With a slight tip of his hat he followed Carlin and Percy down to the road.
They rode the horses hard, taking only minor breaks throughout the day. Carlin led them through the pass to the Hinterlands as night was falling. In the distances they could see the fire from the dwarven stronghold Aerie Peak. "Let us see if they will give us shelter for the night," Thomas said. "Riding our horses to the ground will do no good if we need to escape quickly."
As they rode up the gravel road Thomas could see a giant stone griffon carved into the mountain. They were stopped well shy of the statue by a couple of dwarves. "Well met, travelers," one said. "What brings you to the Wildhammer Clan?"
"We seek a place to rest … we are just passing through," Thomas replied.
"Your horses look as if they have been rode hard, are you fleeing something, lad?"
"No, sir, we're running to someone who is in dire need of our help," Thomas replied. "I won't trouble you with our problems, is there an inn here? We have gold …"
"Your gold isn't any good here, lad" a new voice said.
Thomas looked over at the dwarf that had spoken. His brilliant red beard was longer than when he had last seen it and there was an additional blue striped tattoo down one cheek.
"Thane Maz Drachrip!" the guards said bowing. Thomas and Carlin knelt down on one knee as well, reaching out he grabbed the leg of Percy forcing the man to genuflect.
"It's been awhile," Maz said with a smile. "Come to take me up on my offer, tell me how that star-kissed son of yours is doing?"
"He was taken from us a year ago by force to rejoin the people of his birth," Thomas said, unable to withhold the emotion from his voice.
"Ah, I'm sorry to hear that, lad, but perhaps it was for the best in the end … how many generations of your family would you had made him bury?" Maz said thoughtfully.
"Perhaps, but I still hope one day I will see him again if only to ensure he is happy." Thomas replied.
Maz nodded and rubbed his hand down Knight's slick coat. "Seasons ago my men pursued a black stallion in tack through these mountains for over a week before losing him. He too had a white sock like this one."
"My son's horse," Thomas replied.
"The elfin child?" Maz asked.
"No, my eldest … he disappeared over a year ago the same time we lost his brother." Thomas said. "Perhaps this is a tale best told over a mug of ale and a meal?"
"Those are the best kind," the king of the Wildhammer Clan said, "but I don't be thinking this story is going to have a happy ending."
"I pray it still might," Thomas replied.
That evening over rabbit stew and ale Thomas repeated the story he had heard from Percy. And as dawn arrived they returned to their trek to the Highlands on the back of griffons, leaving the horses behind. Thomas kept his hands lightly on the waist of the woman dwarf he rode behind. "I once again owe you a debt I'll never be able to repay, Claira Kindfeather," he said.
"Lad," she replied as they flew. "Your family has had its share of bad luck but your spirit still shines bright. The Light has plans for you folks; it's an honor to help out as we can."
Glancing around at the other griffons flying close at hand, Thane Maz had given him five dwarves to aid in retrieving his son. He was not only reunited with Claire but the other dwarves that had saved Nathaniel years ago. Carlin rode behind Agnar the griffon master. Percy was hanging onto Drakk for dear life and the dwarf was having a bit too much fun with the loops and dives he was making his mount do. And as before Truk and Harggan finished out the dwarven unit, Thomas had to wonder if there was a special connection between the five of them.
They made good time, able to fly over mountains instead of around them. It wasn't even noon before they landed on Thoradin's Wall. It had been deserted for centuries so they were in no risk of being seen. "How much further until we reach this Gilbert's homestead?" he asked Percy who was trembling and tossing up his breakfast over the edge of the wall.
The man made a pathetic gesture to the south. "Built near mountains to the south and before Stromgarde to the east, can't miss it … please can I go now?"
Thomas jingled a heavy laden purse. "Not if you want any more of these coins," he said coolly. Percy's greedy eyes lit up.
"Can we see it from the wall with a spyglass?" Drakk asked, "Get a feel of what we're up against?"
"Aye," Percy said, "then you will see the seven of you ain't nearly enough."
"We will see," Thomas replied, "get back on the griffon, worm."
They flew close, low behind the far side of the wall, reaching the other end in what felt like moments. They landed again hiding the griffons behind the ramparts. Truk offered Thomas his spyglass and with Percy's help he was able to find the farm in question. There were six fields and they were being worked by dozens of emerald green orcs. Thomas frowned. "I'm not one to be concerned about other people's business but I thought King Trollbane despised the orcs. Why would he let one of his nobles use them in the fields?"
"The internment camps overflow with them damn green skins," Percy said, "noblemen were allowed to buy a few of them. Or they do like my old boss did; he acquired his from bandits that picked up escapees."
"Lad," Claira said looking through her own telescope. "Do humans always have so many armed guards?"
"How many are we looking at?" Thomas asked bringing his spyglass back up.
"There is at least one guard for every five orcs and another two standing outside what looks to be a cellar of sorts." She reported.
"That would be where your boy is," Percy said, "at least that would be my guess. The naga is enormous so I'm also guessing they have more than just two guards keeping him pinned up."
Thomas watched as a female orc approached the building and spoke to the guards. One of the men reached out and fondled the woman's breast roughly before stepping back and opening the door. She adjusted her dress and stepped inside, they locked the entrance behind her. "You say they take the naga out to fight?" Thomas asked, "How often?"
"It really depends if Mr. Gilbert gets notice of someone having a combatant ready and then they will send riders out to make contact with those that they know will want to come to wager." Percy said, "It could be tonight or next week or next month."
"Riders … I just saw two men on horseback riding off like their asses were on fire," Claire said. "Maybe we got lucky."
"Is the barn door open?" Percy asked stepping up to the wall. "If so, see if you can look inside, if they are building a steel cage then you can bet there is a bout planned tonight. They won't leave it up otherwise, if Stromgarde catches them there will be heads rolling."
Bringing his spyglass up Thomas looked toward the barn; he adjusted, walking further down the wall until he could see inside. Within he saw orcs and it did look like they were putting together a cage of sorts. "You really think this naga is the bigger threat?" he asked Percy.
"Sir, that thing is a beast, I've seen it kill countless times … it's ruthless, unlike your boy. When Foster was in the cage he never once killed an opponent. Sometimes the owners would finish them off after their loss but your boy never did."
"So what is the plan, lad?" Claira said. "If my counting is right, it is twenty to seven and there may be others we cannot see."
"Lad," Truk said, "I may be able to get help. Dun Garok is a dwarven fortress nestled in Hillsbrad Foothills, and they are just a stone throw away. I can fly there and be back before nightfall with reinforcement."
"I want to use stealth," Thomas said. "We don't want to cause an incident that escalates to war. If my plan works out the dwarven involvement will be unseen."
"So you have a plan, lad?" Agnar asked.
"Almost," Thomas replied. "Tell me more about these arena matches, Percy."
"Usually one on one, hand-to-hand combat, fight to the death" he replied. "Though at times the owners will agree to other terms, pitting more fighters … letting them use weapons. When your son fought the naga they allowed him to have a knife, might as well have been a spoon for all the good it did him."
"A knife would be no good against them," Carlin said, "we studied them a bit in Stratholme being a port town; there have been clashes a time or two. They have scales which are almost as strong as plate and certainly as tough as any mail armor."
"Their weak points," Thomas pressed.
"Getting to it," Carlin replied, "their sides under their arms, their neck and the tip of their tail …"
"Tail?"
"Um if I understood it right," Carlin said, "it would be like getting kicked in the balls, sir."
'An image I didn't need," Truk replied with a smirk.
Carlin continued, "A long weapon would be the best bet to fight them with … spear, halberd … something to keep you out of range of their tails. Once you're trapped in the coils it's over."
"Where will we find one of those?" Thomas asked, they had traveled light and quick.
Truk coughed. "Dun Garok will have forges I could whip you something up before this evening."
"All right," Thomas said, "go quickly." As Truk mounted and flew off, Thomas turned back to Percy. "I assume since they are in fear of getting caught, strangers are not welcomed to these matches?"
Percy nodded, "there is no way you would get within a hundred yards of the homestead."
"What about you?" Thomas asked.
"Well," Percy looked really nervous. "I have been gone a few months; they might have wandered where I had gone off to."
"You can just tell them you have a new combatant you want to try out on the naga." Thomas said.
"And which one of you is crazy enough to do that?" Percy all but shouted.
Thomas smiled coldly at him before he went on to explain the rest of his plan.
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Brothers