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| - The horseman rode into the great white walled city of Stormwind. He showed the seal of his allegiance to the plated guards who ran to him as they drew their swords from their lion emblazoned shields. ‘I am Kar’tal of the Ebon Hold.’ The horseman said as he kept his face hidden by his hood. The footman withdrew his sword after he saw the seal and nodded. ‘Watch your step, if it weren’t for the king you would have been slain by now, Death Knight.’ He said. The Horseman inclined his head and moved on. He could see why the Alliance called this city their capitol. The large statues of their heroes were erected alongside the bridge. Kar’tal, recognised some of them. Then again all humans looked the same. He glanced down as several adventurers, for that could be the only profession they could be according to their armour, passed by. He pulled one aside, a night elf, similar to an elf only taller, purple and blue hair. ‘Where are the Stockades?’ The night elf female in the green robe blinked. ‘I have not all day night elf, talk.’ She glared. ‘It’s up ahead, north east, I hope you get stabbed when you get there.’ She shrugged him off and ran off with her friends. Kar’tal pondered what she meant as he rode off. Sure enough her directions were true, but the stockades were in peril. He saw the prison guards running in and out of the building, most wounded. The horseman of death just arrived in the middle of a prison riot, perfect. He stepped inside the building where he was immediately halted by two guards. ‘Halt, you cannot-‘ The horseman stared in the man’ soul with his dead blue eyes. ‘Unhand me.’ Was all Kar’tal needed to say to let the guard let go off him. ‘Take me to your leader.’ The guards took him to a man with a bushy moustache and a eye patch, no doubt gained from the recent crisis here. The horseman walked up to him. ‘Are you the one in charge?’ The one eyed man nodded. ‘I am, who are you, Death Knight?’ ‘They call me Kar’tal, the horseman of death, I have come to claim the one you call Targorr.’ ‘I’m sorry to break it to you Death Knight, but that will not happen until the prison riot has been quelled.’ ‘I can arrange that....’ Kar’tal said and moved below the stairs, passed the battered wardens of the prison, into the prison. ‘Warden Thelwater?’ one of the other wardens asked. ‘is it wise to let him in?’ The Warden snorted. ‘Wise, it would be suicidal if we didn’t, those Death Knights are killing machines, he’ll take care of our little problem.’ The air immediately chilled the moment the horseman entered the prison. He could see crates burning, bodies from both sides laying on the ground and the cheers of prisoners in the distance. He took his scythe in his right hand and moved deeper into the prison. He passed a corner, the sight around the corner almost made him blink. A group of men surrounded one of the female wardens, having their way with her. He didn’t know how long this was happening, but it would end, right now. ‘Let her go.’ The horseman growled as his voice sounded through the corridor. The red scarfed hoodlums drew their knives as they turned around, one did up his trousers. All gasped as they saw the vision of death looming in front of them. Not only did he wear the robes and weapon of the incarnation of death, he was an orc, the same race of savages that sacked the city nearly 30 years ago. ‘By the light...’ one of them gasped. ‘Get him!’ their leader shouted and charged in first. Kar’tal merely raised his hand and grabbed the hoodlum by the throat, snapping his neck like a twig. ‘who’s next?’ he asked as he dropped the body. The remaining hoodlums charged at him like a pack of murlocs, enraged by the death of their friend. Kar’tal sliced them all in half in one sweep, killing them instantly. He wiped the blood of his weapon with one of the red scarfs and walked towards the half naked warden, who was shivering. ‘Do not fear, I have not come to claim you.’ Kar’tal knelt in front of her. ‘I seek the Orc, where is he?’ The warden pointed to the right as she grabbed her discarded cloak to cover her bare chest. ‘Thank you.’ The horseman inclined at her and stood up. ‘The way is free, go now.’ As she ran off, Kar’tal continued his murderous spree through the prison, slaying all those who were dumb enough to stand in his way. He came across a big room where most of the inmates gathered. Among them were dwarves, one normal, another dark skinned. He noticed a Ogre in the back to. ‘Who are you?!’ the red scarfed leader said as he leaped down from his seat. ‘Are you another of Thelwater’s pawns?’ ‘Tell me where Targorr is and I will let you life.’ He pulled his head back and laughed out loud, followed by the laughter of his inmates. ‘You and what army, my friend?’ he asked. Kar’tal pondered if he should use the same spell he used a few days earlier in Deatholme, but decided against it. He held his scythe at the ready and walked slowly towards them. ‘You had your chance.’ Was all he said when battle was joined. Limbs and heads flew, scarlet fluid rained on him like the heaviest storm erupted in the room. Their leader, Bazil he heard the gore cry out when he fell, was one of the first to fall. Pathetic, he had more of an challenge back in Quel’thalas fighting the undead there then these. They were supposed to be bandits, at least somewhat experienced in battle. He ducked as the ogre swooped his club overhead. The horseman sliced the ogre in half vertically from below, sprayed in red blood as he walked past both halves as they fell. The remaining bandits grouped together to make a run for it, but the Death Knight felt like he lost enough time and stretched out his free hand. As he clenched his fist the corpses around the bandits exploded, the last survivors disappeared in a sea of blood and organs. The horseman stepped over the bodies into the next room where he could hear the agonising screams of pain. Kar’tal pushed the door open as he saw a orc bend over a human’s body, a sentry, cutting away. The orc, a blue skinned one, glanced back. ‘I told you Bazil, I’m almost-‘ The orc stopped cold as he saw the blood drenched Death Knight. ‘Hello brother....’ Kar’tal grinned and threw Targorr into the larger room. The Orc growled as he grabbed two swords from the ground and attacked again, faster then the Death Knight expected. This fight was very challenging, he fought a male possessed, the orc surrendered completely to his bloodlust. ‘You’ve grown soft, brother!’ Targorr shouted and kicked Kar’tal against the wall. Kar’tal growled, how did Targorr get so good so fast? Kar’tal descended his scythe down, trying to disarm him, literally. But the Orc was fast and dodged, kicking the weapon out of Kar’tal’s hands. The horseman punched the orc across the cheek, sending him flying across the room. ‘That’s a cheap trick!’ he recalled a Blood Knight say once during a duel back North. Bloodvalor, he recalled. ‘You lost your weapon, the duel was mine!’ Kar’tal had grinned. ‘A warrior’s entire body is a weapon, the rest being merely tools, I never lost my weapon, and this duel is still in progress, Blood Knight.’ He had proceeded to battle the Blood Knight until they had been pulled apart, he believed it had been by one of his students. Soraya perhaps...? He was pulled back in the present as his brother got back up. ‘Why are you here brother, your supposed to be DEAD!’ Targott spat out blood. ‘My soul couldn’t find rest little Torgarr, I had to find you and avenge my death.’ He took an axe from the ground, his dead fingers holding the hilt of it tightly. He seemed to know how to handle the ax perfectly, interesting. Torgarr charged once more, almost slipping over the slippery blood drenched floor, but this time Kar’tal was prepared. He shattered both swords with a series of hard strikes and held Torgarr’s throat as he raised him in the air. ‘Do it...’ Torgarr choked. ‘Snap my throat...’ Kar’thal threw his brother against the wall. ‘Who is the pregnant female?’ Torgarr sat up, groaning. ‘W-what?’ ‘The female, who is she?’ ‘Agra, you cant remember Agra?!’ he laughed. ‘That human must’ve done something wrong to you my dear brother...’ Her name unlocked another part of his memory. As he closed his eyes he recalled everything now. Her smile, her tusks, her scent.... He remembered mating with her, the sounds she made, how his blood was shed each time as she clawed his back open. She cried out in silence as she finished, resting on Kar’thal’s chest as she panted. He strayed her hair and her arm, smiling at her. ‘I love you Agra..’ he whispered. ‘I love you to....’ she smiled back and kissed him deeply. They both rested a bit more before she coverd her bare chest with the pelt as she gatherd her robe. ‘Are you leaving already?’ Kar’tal asked. ‘Zug zug...’ she nodded sadly. ‘Your brother will be home soon...’ ‘Bah.’ Kar’tal spat away from her. ‘Your mateship with him should’ve enver been, he treats you more as a slave, a poen, then a mate, a warrior of your own.’ She smiled sadly. ‘I know my love, but that was the agreement my father had with yours....and I cannot undo what the shamans blessed.’ ‘No offense my she-wolf, but this mateship is hardly blessed, he does not respect you.’ He placed his hand on hers. ‘You fear him...’ She held him. ‘I do....but he is my mate....’ ‘Yet you are here...’ Agra smiled a little. ‘Yes...i am.’ She kissed him. ‘You always was my rock my love, even before Torgarr mated with me....your kind, understanding, honourable.’ Kar’tal snorted. ‘I am a monster, a savage...i have slain the innocent here as well as back on Dreanor...’ ‘You regret your actions, do you not?’ Kar’tal closed his eyes. ‘I can hear their screams every night, see their faces every time I close my eyes and remember their final words.’ Agra held him for a bit longer before she finished dressing. ‘I promise you though, I will bring honour back into the clan, and to you.’ ‘How?’ Kar’tal gathered his courage. ‘I will challenge my brother to a duel for your hand by the next moon.’ Agra blinked. ‘Are you a fool, you could get killed!’ ‘I know, but I have to try, if I defeat him I become Gath'Ilzogg’ second, I can be your mate and who knows...one day if Gath'Ilzogg is slain, lead the clan back to the good old days.’ He placed his hand on her stomach. ‘I want our child to life in a world without fear my love...’ She slapped him. ‘You’re a dreamer and a peon Thork foe-ender!’ she growled. Before he could react she kissed him deeply. ‘And that’s why I love you...’ Kar’tal opened his eyes back to the present. ‘What happened to her?’ he asked. Torgarr shrugged. ‘I don’t know, probably still in the camp taking care of my pup.’ He spat. ‘A pup?’ The villain nodded. ‘A female, Grima. Makes you wonder what I did to deserve a female as a offspring.’ Kar’thal, nay Thork, had a goal now. He had a female now, and a pup. ‘How were they went you left?’ ‘Why do you care Thork?!’ Targorr finally asked. ‘Did you-‘ Targorr’s eyes widened. ‘You mated with her behind my back didn’t you?!’ Kar’thal grinned. ‘Yes...I did.’ The villain shouted and charged towards the horseman, knocking him off his feet. Kar’tal suffered heavy blows by the enraged orc. ‘She was mine, my property, my mate!’ Kar’thal kicked him off as grabbed a spear. Before Targorr could charge once more he threw the spear, hitting the orc in the torso. The spear went straight through, imbedding the Orc on the wall behind him. Targorr’s gurgled as he held the spear. ‘You...you are no better than me.’ His dark blue skin became lighter. ‘Your still a monster....and I will wait for you...Thork...’ Targorr let go of the spear as he exhaled his final breath. Kar’thal stood for a moment, regaining his focus. As he reclaimed his scythe he fixated his blue eyes on his dead brother. ‘It is true, I am a monster, a butcher of children. When my body decides to give in, I am certain my soul will join yours in the special hell the ancestors chose for us, but until then I am Thork foe-ender once more.’ The horsemen left the prison. As he ascended the stairs he was greeted by the silent gasps of the guards and the Warden. Thelwater came over. ‘Is it done?’ he asked. ‘Is everyone...?’ ‘Dead?’ Kar’tal finished that thought. ‘Yes, I claimed them all.’ Thelwater nodded and offered a small purse of golden coins. ‘Your reward.’ ‘I had my reward.’ He pushed the purse aside and left the city of Stormwind. ‘Come Deathwalker, it’s time we go home...’ With that the black steed whined and rode off as the sun set.
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