Commander Braghaman Larethian

Voices In The Dark

(Originally posted Nov 11, 2010)

Nalya was new to the Cathedral. She had completed her priestly training in Northshire Abbey and had only recently arrived in Stormwind. As a young priestess, she was still amazed at the grandeur and size of the Cathedral. The city was much larger than her home in Darkshire. But at least she didn't have to worry about something coming in to town to eat her, she thought as she walked through the halls of the Cathedral.

She was new, so she had been given mostly menial tasks to do. But Nalya didn't mind. She was happy to be helping in any way she could. This evening, she'd been given the task of lighting the candles in the rooms in the keep. With a calm smile, she walked down the halls of the lower levels with a burning taper in her hands. Quietly, she would enter the rooms, light the candles, and then leave. If any were in the rooms, they hardly paid any attention.

After a while, Priestess Nalya found herself turned around. She wasn't sure where she was, standing in the cold, stone hallway. Trying to recall her steps, Nalya realized she had gone further into the catacombs than she had intended. Turning to leave, she heard something that made her stop.

Was that a moan, she thought to herself?

Listening quietly in the hallway, she looked back and forth. For a moment, she thought she had imagined it. Then it happened again. Definitely a moan, she thought to herself. Concerned that someone might be hurt, she began putting her ear to the doors, trying to find the source of the sound. Then it happened again.

Cautiously, the young priestess opened the door. At first she could not see anything in the low light of the room. Then as her eyes adjusted to the dark, she sucked in her breath.

At the far end of the room chained to the wall by his wrists, was a man. His head lolled forward against his chest. Hurrying in, Nalya knelt down next to the man. He was dressed in simple robes, like any priest novitiate would. Except that there was blood stained on these robes.

As Nalya inspected the man, she saw his hand had turned purple. Looking closer, it was apparent that at least two of his fingers were broken. This man looked hurt. As she knelt to inspect him, the man's head rolled to the side as another moan came out.

"Commander Larethian?" Nalya cried out in shock. She looked at the man chained to the wall. "By the Light, what are you doing here?"

"Help," Braghaman whispered through caked lips. 

"You're chained," she said, looking at his hand again. 

"Table," he whispered.

Turning around, the young priestess saw a table at the far end of the room. Going over to it, she found a keyring sitting on the table, well out of the paladin's reach. Grabbing the key, she hurried back to Braghaman's side and fumbled to get the locks on his wrists open. After a few moments of trying, finally the shackles opened and the paladin's arms dropped to his sides.

"What now?' Nalya whispered franticly, looking around the room. 

"Help me get out of here," Braghaman whispered hoarsely.

"Where to?" Nalya asked, obviously upset. Reaching under Braghaman's arm, she helped him to his feet. Slowly, the paladin stood, obviously struggling to stay up.

"Darkshire," Bragh said quietly. "Get me back to Darkshire."

Nalya looked at Braghaman for a moment, and then quietly nodded. Slowly, the young priest and the hurt paladin made their way out of the Cathedral.