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| - She pressed the blades tighter around his neck and then turned back to the Night Elf. He had resumed an offensive stance and looked to be ready to cast again. "I'm warning you Night Elf," Lucia spoke in low tones, trying hard to not let her anger show. She was failing. The air crackled and began to heat around her. "Do not take action against this rogue!" She could not keep the heat out of her voice and the air around her sizzled with the heat of escaped magic. "I do not want to kill you, she continued. But nothing will stop me from learning what I need to know. You threaten the Undead. I threaten you. Stand down." "I am sorry m'lady. I can not allow you to stay here with this evil being alone." His voice was calm but he was beginning to wonder what under blue skies she was trying to accomplish here. "I can cause you great pain, if not kill you," she said brokenly. Tears filled her eyes, "This business is my own, why do you linger? Just leave us! She tried to pull herself together. Her moods were swinging back and forth wildly. It was strange for her to be so out of control. Strength was a part of her but now she was so emotionally distraught that her strength did not know how or where to manifest itself. She steeled her nerve and looked directly into the eyes of the Druid. "The rogue is not going anywhere right now." She pointed at the swords pinning him down. "I am safe enough." She stepped closer to the Elf, leaving the blades untended. Please," she implored, mood switching back to sadness, "just leave us." It was then that the smell of burning, rotted flesh struck her. Her eyes fell upon the rogues glowing yellow eyes. She watched him trace his finger across the fire-sheathed sword. The smile that lit his eyes was unmistakable. And then his neck was laid bare and began to slide up the blades, pushing his flesh against their razors. The stink was nearly as bad as the sight of his glowing eyes fixed so firmly to hers mocking hers. He had called her bluff and she had no idea how to get out of it. She could not let him die. She could not let the druid kill him. She could not kill the druid. She could not free the Forsaken because he was the key to her husband, family and hope. By the time spring came and he was needed back home, his body was a mess. He had been abused and used several more times during that harsh winter as a night-watchman. The silvers he earned had saved the lives of his family and for that, every scratch and bruise was worth it. When he walked into his house for the first time in months, he was greeted with the rewards of his effort. Colorful paper chains were strung everywhere, his children grabbed onto his legs and his bride smothered him in kisses. The smell of meat stew hung thick in the air but was overpowered by the love that filled every nook in that small, simple little home. Her eyes continued to widen as the pale neck slid up the blades. The twin blades began to sink into the rotted, tender flesh of his neck. Glowing eyes challenged and mocked as the blades bit deeper. Finally she sprinted back to the pommels and tore the blades apart, freeing him. Her indecision ended at the thought of losing the information she needed. The wicked grin under the singed mask was blatant. The Druid took a single step backwards and readied himself, but made no other move. Kopfjagger stood and leisurely cracked the bones in his neck. This was beginning to resemble fun, but everything comes to an end. He stretched his back and let his gaze lazily roll over the trembling human and his two swords that had been flung onto the ground. The bloody note was hanging loosely in Lucias grip, squished deep into her hand from grabbing the blades in such a hurry. Once his eyes landed on the paper, she pushed in front of him again. She gestured and gesticulated that she wanted him to show her where he had found them. He understood this fairly quickly, but was honestly having fun. He was enjoying watching her try to make that point clear over and over again, in more and more inventive and creative ways. She really was quite something, this little kibble of a human. Eventually he realized that she would not tolerate him playing stupid for much longer. He nodded his head and pointed to the distance. Perhaps proper nouns could transcend the language barrier. "Loreadon," he said. She paled at the mention of the name. Clearly, she understood. That is where he had found her paper kisses and where he had encountered her husband. Everything in her being rebelled against her. It was too far. Her children would need her. That place is over run with these Forsaken. She would surely die. She could not leave her children without a single parent. She glared at the undead, stretching before her. Slowly her thoughts settled. She had to know. Her children had to know. Kopfjagger motioned for her to follow and took a few steps in that direction before stopping and turning back to her. He pointed to his swords and then to himself. He held out his hands, a smile spreading across his face. She took a step to follow but stopped dead again when he motioned for the swords. It was bad enough that she had just agreed oh Light, what did she just agree to! But to hand over both swords? He's mad, she thought, if he thinks I'll disarm myself while I'm with him. But as a small gesture of faith, she would hand him one sword and keep the other. She raised her eyebrow and smirked back at him as she offered one of the twins. There, the boundaries were set, she would follow him to where she needed to go, but she wouldn't completely give in to everything he wanted. She nodded sharply as he took the one sword. Why was he laughing like that? A small foot stomped the ground as the Forsaken turned his back on her and began walking away, still laughing. ((This part of the story was written in partnership by Kopfjagger and Lucia. I have the honor of retelling it but at least half, if not more, of the creative power comes directly from Lucia even though her name does not appear to the left of the post. *bows deeply to Lucia* Thank you, Lucia, for letting me retell our story, I hope to do it justice.))
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