Commander Braghaman Larethian

Unwritten Invitations

(Originally posted Oct 23, 2010)

A mist rose lazily from the ground, still damp from the rain that had torn through the realm earlier. In the woods, the occasional howl would echo among the trees as beasts began emerging from their lairs as the weather cleared. And in the town, the citizens also began to come out of their homes, wondering out into the twilight. As the watchers shook off their cloaks, water spraying into the air again, the clopping of hooves sounded as a lone rider came into the town's center.

Braghaman pushed the hood of his cloak back, water dripping down his back, as he rode into Darkshire. His patrol had been long and wet, at least one would guess that from his appearance. The paladin reined his horse in, and sat looking around. Reaching up, Bragh pulled his helm off and ran his gloved hand through his damp hair.

"Commander!" a voice called out, causing Braghaman to turn in his saddle to see where it was coming from. Coming up the road from behind, Bragh watched a man running towards him at a steady clip.

"Catch your breath, watcher," Braghaman said as the young man ran up to him. His was dripping with sweat from running, his pale skin seemed to glow in the moonlight that filtered into the town square.

"Sir," the watcher said between huffs. "We found another body."

"Another priest?" Bragh asked, looking with concern.

"I think so," the watcher said. "Found it in the woods. They said I should talk to you."

"Right, where is it?" the paladin said.

"Just up the road," the watcher said. "Very close."

"Okay," Bragh said. "Show me."

The paladin climbed down from his charger and followed the watcher out of town. The two walked quietly down the road, neither saying anything. After a few minutes, the watcher stopped and turned towards a dirt path that led into the woods.

"Down that path," the watcher pointed. Braghaman nodded and watched the young man pale further at the sight of the path.

"Scared?" Braghaman asked casually. The watcher simply nodded, obviously distressed. "Okay, follow me." And the paladin started pushing through the brush, the watcher following behind.

"You're new here," Bragh offered, trying to start up conversation.

"Yes, sir," the watcher said.

"Where are you from?"

"Moved here from Menethil Harbor," the watcher added nervously. Bragh paused for a moment, glancing back at the young man behind him before continuing on the path.

"Didn't like the salt air?" Bragh asked.

"If I never see another boat, it'll be too soon," he replied with a chuckle.

After a few minutes of walking, Braghaman stopped and looked around at the trees surrounding them.

"There's no priest, is there?" the paladin asked. Suddenly, there was a loud crack and Braghaman fell to the ground. Groaning quietly, Bragh pulled himself up to his hands and knees.

"What gave me away?" the watcher said with a sneer, kicking Braghaman in the head and knocking him to the ground again. Bragh shook his head and pulled himself up to all fours again.

"Too pale to have been working on ships," the paladin groaned.

"They said you were a smart one," the watcher chuckled darkly. Then he reared back and kicked Bragh again in the head, sending him sliding across the ground.

"Who's they?" Bragh asked through gritted teeth, laying on his side on the ground.

"You'll find out soon enough," the watcher said. "But I'd rather you not be awake for the trip.

The watcher pulled his right foot in the air, preparing the stomp on the prone paladin's face. With a grunt, he brought his foot down violently. And, suddenly, he felt a jarring pain shoot up his leg as his foot stopped inches from the paladin's head. A pale energy shimmered beneath the watchers foot.

"I guess there's not much else to say then," Braghaman grunted. Rolling to his back, Bragh reaching up and grabbed ahold of the watcher's hovering foot with both hands. Pulling his right foot up, he kicked out against the watcher's left knee.

There was a cracking sound as the paladin's boot shattered the watcher's knee. His leg went flying back while his right leg stayed in the air where the paladin held it. The watcher first cried in pain from his injured knee, then immediately cried again from the pulled groin muscles caused by his unexpected split.

The watcher dropped to the ground and tried to simultaneously hold his injured knee and other regions. As he rolled on the ground, Braghaman rolled away and came up to his hands and knees. Drawing a deep breath, the paladin coughed twice and then spit out some blood from the split lip caused by his attacker.

Slowly, Bragh pulled himself up to standing and shook his head. Then, turning to face the watcher, he slowly unhooked the mace from his belt.

"Still don't want to tell me anything?" Braghaman asked as he paced closer to his attacker.

Without warning, the watcher pulled a dagger with his right hand and slashed at the paladin's thigh. Bragh's armor deflected the attack and, before the watcher could recover, Bragh stabbed his mace down over the watcher's wrist, pinning it to the ground.

"I didn't think so," Braghaman said darkly. "That's okay. We both know what's going to happen now, don't we?" The paladin looked down at the hapless watcher, his one hand pinned to the ground and the other holding his injured knee.

****

Outside the Cathedral, a crowd began to form at the bottom of the steps.

Pushing people aside, Brother Faris forced his way through the crowd to find two other paladins kneeling next to a man on the ground. The man was bound and gagged and had a piece of paper pinned to his shirt.

"What's going on here?" Faris demanded.

"Someone road up to the Cathedral, sir," one of the paladins reported. "He had this man draped over the back of his horse. He stopped, pushed this man off, and then rode away."

"Did anyone see the rider?" Faris called out, obviously upset.

"He was wearing a mask," one of the priests offered from the crowd. "He rode a white horse, though."

"A lot of good that does us," Faris muttered loudly. The priest lowered his head at the rebuke.

"There's a note here, sir," the paladin said, bringing Faris' attention to the paper pinned to the man's shirt.

"What's it say?" Faris asked. Then he immediately regretted the order. "Nevermind, just give it to me," he said, changing his mind.

"Read it aloud," a voice called out from the crowd.

"Who dares.." Faris began to sputter. Turning, he saw another armored man pushing through the crowd. "Lord Shadowbreaker," he said, acknowledging the senior paladin trainer with a respectful nod.

"Go ahead," Shadowbreaker said as he came to stand next to Faris. "Read the note."

"It says," the paladin began, clearing his throat, "Next time, don't send an assassin to do a man's job."

Shadowbreaker frowned and turned to look squarely at Faris.

"I have no idea what that means," Faris said, his face darkening.

"I don't believe you," Shadowbreaker said, his voice carrying throughout the plaza. The crowd took a step back, as if not wanting to get too close to the confrontation but not wanting to be too distant from it.

"Be careful, old man," Faris responded darkly.

"I may be old," Shadowbreaker started, taking a step closer to Faris. "But I'm still in charge of the paladins in Stormwind. I've lived through two wars where you've barely stepped out of the shires. I doubt you've even seen Northrend yet, have you?"

Faris briefly looked chagrined. But quickly, his face darkened again. He took a breath, as if to speak, but the elder paladin cut him off.

"I may be old, but I'm still in charge here. And more importantly, I'm more than match enough for you, paladin. Are we clear on that?" Shadowbreaker stared at Faris with his one good eye until the younger paladin finally relented and looked down.

"Yes, sir," Faris relented.

"Good," Shadowbreaker said. "Now, take this man into custody and question him," he said, turning to the paladins who were kneeling over the prone, tied figure. "If he is guilty of nothing, let him go after treating his wounds. But I expect a full report by day's end."

The paladins looked at Faris briefly before turning back to their commander.

"Yes, sir," they said. Satisfied, Lord Shadowbreaker turned and started walking through the crowd, back into the Cathedral. 

Faris stood over the other paladins and looked at the unconscious man.

"Take him to the stockades and have him questioned."

As the paladins brought a horse around to carry the unconscious man away, Faris pulled one of them aside.

"Make sure he doesn't come out of there."