The wagon's wheels creaked as they struck a hole in the road, the entire conveyance bouncing lightly before it settled back on the dusty path that wound its way through the Northern Barrens and hugged the hills until finally making its way into Durotar and the capital of the Horde. The wagon's driver, a Sin'dorei, flicked the reins, keeping the horses moving over the rough patch as the three Blood Knights escorting the wagon on horseback trotted along beside it.
The wagon had gone on quite a journey, landing at Ratchet after the ship it was on took damage in a storm and making its way through the conflict that had erupted throughout the barrens. Unrelated to the uprising or the loyalist orcs that were moving their forces throughout the region, the wagon was part of a special mission to move highly sensitive artifacts to safety; part of the Reliquary's findings in Pandaria.
As the wagon rounded a bend in the road that passed through some brush screening the path, the driver pulled back on the reins, slowing to a stop as he noted a cowled figure standing in the middle of the path. Behind the figure and off to the side a warhorse belonging to the Argent Crusade grazed on the tall grasses of the barrens.
The figure remained motionless, the cowl concealing the person from view as the driver exchanged wary glances with the Blood Knights escorting the wagon. The three drew swords and spurred their horses in front of the wagon, their leader peering at the cowled figure before them before raising his voice in challenge, "You are blocking the road and preventing us from conducting official business for the Warchief. Identify yourself at once and then step aside so that we may proceed."
The figure stirred slightly, the dark red robes giving no indication of who or what they were. After a long, tense pause a female voice drifted from the cowl's opening, the words soft but containing a hint of authority behind them, "And what business does the Reliquary have that involves bringing artifacts to the Warchief rather than to Quel'Thalas for examination and safekeeping? You are transporting artifacts taken from a dig site, are you not?"
The Blood Knight leader's scowl deepened and he gestured with his sword, "That is no concern of yours. You will surrender yourself to our custody at once or be branded a traitor to the Horde."
Light laughter escaped the cowl as the figure responded, "Do your eyes not see the pillars of smoke rising all over this region? There is an uprising now, and many concerned parties have descended on these lands to determine the right of the Warchief's ways. At the end of all of this, those who are the victors will write the history that determines who is and is not a traitor. The primary concern should be that the artifacts that you are transporting are not allowed to be used by the orcs who have shown themselves to be incapable of using magic properly and who have put us all at great risk with their continued blundering. We must ensure that the Sin'dorei do not have their reputation further tarnished by such actions, especially since the leadership of the Horde is now in question."
The Blood Knight looked to his companions and nodded, all three beginning to advance on the cowled figure. His words came out in a growl as he again gestured with his sword, "That is unfortunate, for we cannot permit traitors to prevent us from completing our mission. You have had your chance to surrender and forfeited it."
As they approached, the figure remained perfectly still in the road, the thick robes fluttering in the light breeze that swept across the open plains. When she made no response, the Blood Knight leading the group smirked, bringing his sword up as he prepared to strike her down, "No witty retort before you die traitor? Tell us your name at least so that we can inform your next of kin and expel them from Quel'Thalas. This will not end without a death now after all."
Just before his sword could descend the light breeze around the group picked up significantly, turning into a howling, cold gale. The robes shrouding the figure whipped around her body, the cowl blowing back and exposing the Sin'dorei that challenged the Blood Knights.
Red hair blew wildly in the wind as arcane power blazed in the eyes of the Sin'dorei. Bright blue ward marks flared into life on her face as her magic rose up around them, a shimmering field of magical energy surrounding her. Bringing her hands up, her fingertips already glowing with deadly magic, the Sin'dorei grinned at them as if remembering an old, familiar activity.
"I am the Magistrix Biara Sunfire," Biara said, malice dripping from her words now. "And if you will not surrender the contents of that cart to me, then I shall take them. Traitors to Quel'Thalas will never be allowed to stand in the way of our golden future. This is your last chance to stand aside."
The Blood Knight glared at Biara, spitting on the road before her, "We will never surrender wench, not even to a Magistrix. You brand us traitors but it is you who betray the Warchief."
Biara's grin merely widened and she stepped towards them, her magic making the air around them stink of burnt ozone as she prepared to do battle for the first time in many years. There was almost a sense of release in her voice as she spoke to them for the last time.
"So be it."
*****************************************
Across the barrens many pillars of smoke rose into the air as the rebel trolls began a full scale war against Garrosh's loyalists. There was so much conflict that another one breaking out randomly across the vast distances meant little to the combatants already engaged.
Even so, several fights faltered when a massive magical explosion caused a distant flash of light near the border to Durotar, the *crump* of the detonation reaching ears many miles from the source of the explosion.
Of the Reliquary's stolen artifacts or the wagon and its mission, nothing was ever heard again.
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