Founding a Company

((Dedicated to all of my <Blackhearts>))

The hammers pounded out a melody deep within the forges of House Dayfire. The heat of the furnaces made the air shimmer, and sparks flew as smiths pounded away at shapeless lumps of metal, forming them into beautiful works of art; weapons of deadly purpose. The weapons, armor, and other equipment being shaped by the artisans of House Dayfire would be enchanted by the best of Biara's apprentices, magic mixed with skilled craftsmanship to form some of the most deadly implements available.

Biara smiled as she continued her tour of the forgeworks. It had been a long time since she had ordered her craftsman to supply the House Armory, and now their work would be put to even better use. She paused amongst the workers as she passed, murmuring a greeting here, or complimenting a particularly well made piece of equipment there. The workers quickened their pace after her passing, inspired to give their all to the project.

As Biara completed her tour, she stepped out of the forge and into the bright daylight in the courtyard of the Spire. There a number of fighters were training, and the sight brought a smile to her lips. Weeks ago, she would not have considered the course she was on now. She would not have begun the process of assembling the champions that sparred and practiced their warfare in the space beyond. It had taken a series of extraordinary events to cause her to go down this path, and the memories stirred within her again as she watched her fighters train.

The tower in Alterac Valley had been a turning point. Seeing the orcs there betrayed by their own kind, seeing the beleagured defenders attempting to valiantly stand against an unending tide of alliance, despite the treachery of their allies, had moved her heart in ways she'd never considered before. Ever had she fought for the people of Silvermoon, for the Sin'dorei and everything that Quel'Thalas was, but this was different. When she and the few with her had seen the bravery of those orcs, it had suddenly become clear to her that her allies amongst the other Horde races wanted nothing more than she did for their own people. It had been like the sun coming out from behind the clouds. While she would always treasure and protect Quel'Thalas above all else, the homes of her allies deserved her blood and attention as much as her own people did. For any of them to fall to treachery at the hands of the humans would be a disaster not only for their individual people, but for all the Horde and Quel'Thalas as well.

It was there, amongst the soot and blood of the fallen, that she and the few survivors of the onslaught, the few remaining champions of the Horde, had determined that something had to be done. There would be no more last stands. There would be no more treachery. There would only be a bond between her and the Horde, her blood and life for its survival, for the survival of her people and all of the other innocents that Wrynn's armies would stamp out.

She smiled, walking into the courtyard amongst the fighters there. It had been simple really to send a letter to the Lord Regent, gaining a charter for her new company of champions. This went beyond House politics, beyond race or territory. Her company would be comprised of all who had the heart and soul needed to defend the prinicples that the Horde stood for, and the Lord Regent could not deny her request. The pressure from the other Houses against her project would soon rise, as it always did when one amongst their number gathered more power, but that was typical of the politics of the city, and she was confident in her ability to navigate those waters; she'd been doing it since she was an adolescent after all.

Her thoughts were interrupted by her sergeant at arms, who roughly cleared his throat to get her attention. She turned and smiled at him, nodding.

"My Lady," he said, "As you requested, candidates for your standard bearer have been selected. There are three who have passed the tests. You can select from amongst them."

Biara nodded again and the sergeant gestured. Three Sin'dorie stepped forward, all in gleaming, lightweight plate armor, each the perfect image of a blood knight champion. Biara eyed them over and then spoke, "Each of you will tell me why you wish to bear my standard, that I may select the most worthy."

The first stepped forward and bowed, "My Lady, I would fight and die for you. I would stand by your side always, my loyalty to you unwavering."

Biara smiled, but shook her head. "Our company will not be only me, but all of our brothers and sisters of the Horde who seek to join it. Each will be valued as highly as I am, and the lives of each will be worth protecting. Each will be worthy of your loyalty."

The second candidate stepped forward and bowed, "My Lady, if you choose me I will carry your banner for the glory of Quel'Thalas, ensuring that it is known far and wide and that this company gains renown throughout Azeroth."

Again Biara smiled, but shook her head in disagreement, "We carry this banner for the Horde, not only for Quel'Thalas. Our name is as nothing compared to the lives we save amongst the innocent. The purpose of our company will be to uphold the will of the warchief, and defend all of the people of the Horde."

Finally, the last candidate stepped forward, also bowing. "My Lady, if you grant me the honor of carrying the standard, I will give my life and blood for the champions to my right and left. I will stand beside them at all costs, my life for theirs."

Biara bowed her head in respect to the candidtate and said, "And that is the purpose for which we form this company. To stand side by side against the foes of our people and our people's allies. To never shirk this duty, regardless of the price we must pay. It is only through this sacrifice that the alliance can be laid low. You are my chosen banner bearer, and will ride beside me in combat."

The three candidates bowed and withdrew as the sergeant at arms smiled and said, "An excellent choice my Lady. Would you care to see the standard? It has been prepared as per your specifications."

Biara nodded and folded her arms as the sergeant barked orders, sending the newly chosen banner bearer to collect the standard. Within a minute it was brought out into the courtyard and unfurled there for all to see. Biara gazed at it with pride, seeing the crimson fluttering in the wind, a black heart stitched on it, clear for all to see. A black heart representing the suffering that the people of the Horde had already underwent, and the promise that Biara's new company would take up that burden of grief, so that the innocent would carry it with them no longer.

It was a promise of hope for the future, and a grim warning to those who would slay the people of the Horde. The grief they brought would be returned a hundredfold, and the warchief would be served by this new company. The Blackhearts would never lay down this duty until the sun set for the last time on Wrynn's kingdom.

Biara walked from the courtyard with pride, that crimson banner snapping in the breeze behind her.