Beckyann Short Number 1

Beckyann walked slowly down the corridor, her boots echoing amongst the stone arches deep within the heart of Acherus. Around her, the tattered banners of the Knights of the Ebon Blade hung from the dusty walls, like funeral shrouds wrapped around the former Scourge base. It was a place of deep shadows and eerie magic, of hushed whispers and far off wails and moans. It was home for a creature such as the death knight.

As she made her way towards the armory to visit a runeforge, Beckyann picked up the sounds of a lively argument. Curious, she altered her path, making her way around a corner and walking right into a group of five people shouting at one another.

Three of the people were living; it was as obvious to the dead woman as night and day. Dressed in white, floor length robes, they were standing in various hostile postures while bickering with two of the Hold's sentries. For their part, the two Knights that were accosting the breathers were speaking rather gruffly, and doing little to calm the situation.

Beckyann rolled her eyes, striding towards the fight, “Initiates. Can they do anything right?”

As she drew nearer, the bickering group took note of her presence, five pairs of eyes turning to gaze at her. She brought herself up to the group, interposing her body between the two factions and placing a calm mask of serenity over her features, “What seems to be the problem here?”

One of the sentries spoke first, his voice gruff and echoing from his helmet, “These...these breathers think they are going to just stroll into the armory like they own the p-”

He was cut off as one of the women, a human priestess by the look of her, shouted him down, “We were INVITED here by members of YOUR order to coordinate operations in the Plaguelands. We are SUPPOSED to be here!”

A surge of annoyance passed through Beckyann as the two spoke. Do the sentries not realize that antagonizing the living will only lead them to believe this place is even more sinister than it appears to be? That they will grow overly curious, and harass us MORE than they already do? And what fools would think that priestesses of the Light could walk around Acherus unescorted?

She shook off the annoying thoughts, plastering a false smile on her face, “Please, there is no need for argument. I will see to escorting our...guests. You two resume your duties. The situation is well under control.”

The two Knights grunted and turned, heading back to their posts. They were likely glad to be rid of the annoying trio of priestesses and if someone else wanted to take the blame, so be it. With the smile still plastered on her face, Beckyann turned to the women, “Come now, let us see you to your destination. The Hold is not a place for the living, and our armory is less so. Our sentries were merely seeing to their assigned duties. I will take you to the Highlord.”

The three women exchanged looks and then reluctantly nodded, seeming to accept Beckyann's diplomatic words. Their hesitation almost made the death knight twitch with irritation. After a moment, they fell in behind the death knight and she lead them towards the magical teleporters that would bring them to the upper levels.

After a short, but increasingly annoying walk, Beckyann had brought the three women to the passageway leading to the Highlord's audience chamber. She paused, gesturing further up the hall, “And here we are. The Highlord can see you right through here.”

The leader of the three women stepped forward, offering the death knight a smile. She raised her hands, Light sparkling on her fingertips, “Thank you Knight. It is good to see that at least some of your kind understand how to properly conduct business and treat with allies. Light's blessing upon you.”

As she finished speaking, she placed a benediction upon Beckyann before turning to her companions. The death knight willed her features into an unflinching mask as the pain of having the Light touch her burned through her veins. In her mind, her thoughts raged against the inside of her skull, wanting nothing more than to gut the three women where they stood.

But she couldn't. She had duties to attend to. The living had to be coddled so that they would leave her kind alone and so that she could continue with her work. She bit back her anger, swallowing it like a bitter poison and resuming her smile, nodding as the three made their way up the hallway.

After they were gone the smile died on her face, her features crumbling into a sneer. She spit on the floor, feeling tainted from the touch of the blessing. “And good riddance to you.”

With that, she stormed off. Surely there were some ghouls she could take her irritation out on.