Outside, the commoners were buzzing about a commotion in the canals near the Stockades, the city prison. She summoned Caliburn with a flash of Light and rode as fast as she dared in the narrow streets to the canal district. Sure enough, a great many Alliance troops were stationed all around the prison. Had another riot started? Were the Defias finally pushing their way out?
She found another member of the Kingship, a fellow lady dwarf Paladin, Gildaroy, standing battle-ready near the prison's entrance, patiently waiting with other troops for any orders. Dismounting and pushing her warhorse out of harm's way, Seona joined her, a bit nervous, though she did her best to hide her feelings.
"Welcome to the party, lass." Gildaroy said, her lilting voice quiet so as not to interrupt the chatter of the officers positioning troops. "Ready to dance?"
"I suppose. I just hope I know the steps." Seona replied, taking her place in line and pulling her large mace from it's holster on her back.
Seeing other troops arriving, Seona gathered holy Light and whispered blessings over the newcomers, giving them extra energy and strength. As more and more fighters arrived, she began feeling far more self-concious, realizing she was vastly less-prepared for battle than these hardy warriors. All of them had seen far more fighting in their lives, and were much more experienced.
She turned back to Gildaroy, whose eyes remained locked on the entrance to the Stockades. "Why were we called? The Defias giving the city trouble?" The paladin just shook her head. "No, lass. Far as I c'n tell, there're some Horde holed up in there. Don't know any more'n that."
Horde! In the city? Seona gulped and turned back to the entrance. She heard sounds of a skirmish in the distance, near the other entrance to the prison, but she didn't move from her spot in the line. She had more discipline than that, at least. She didn't notice the people shifting around her until he stood at her side, silent. She jumped a bit when Cendall, called out, "All members of the Kingship of the East, to me! Find me at the edge of the Canal!" Turning to him, Seona noticed he looked a bit tired and worn out. She wondered how long he had been here, and what on Azeroth was going on, but wasn't about to ask him directly, seeing as he was too busy gathering his troops.
The two warriors in front of her were whispering, both bearing the colors of Al'shar lo Dor'ano, and Seona turned to concentrate on their conversation instead.
"Yes, far as we can tell, Horde made it into the prison and have fought their way through to him."
"You think they'll make it out of the city with him in tow?"
"We have a good group here, but they are crafty. They made it in, didn't they? We'll have to be on our toes, at any rate."
"If they escape? What then?"
"We no doubt will go after them, try to take him back."
Seona's eavesdropping was interrupted then, by a very strong-looking Night Elf warrior riding his large cat, also bearing the Al'shar colors. Seona recognized him immediately as Commander Leikos, as he had been at the picnic the day she had been inducted as a recruit of the Kingship. He seemed a bit out of breath, and yelled out, "Move back! Back from the entrance!" All of the fighters complied quickly, catching Seona by surprise. She followed their lead, wondering why, if they're trying to keep the Horde from leaving, they would move further away from the entrance. She didn't have long to wait for an answer.
The entrance of the keep exploded in a flash of arcane energy, blinding her and most of the warriors around her. The Horde had set some kind of magical explosion, either as a distraction, or to blow a hole for them to escape from, or at least, so it seemed to her. Unfortunately, it worked. On the other side of the keep, she could hear the sounds of fighting and the roar of something big and angry, and most probably green. Orcs.
Confusion from the explosion had everyone off guard, and chaos ensued as the various fighters tried to push them back or bar their way. Leaders barked orders and Cendall moved through the mass of fighting with precision, his athleticism and stealth a huge asset, but the fighting stopped suddenly, leaving many of the forces surprised and unsure.
Mages quickly determined that the energy surge had been a portal, not a bomb as Seona had guessed. The Horde could be anywhere, now. "Mount up! Mount up and meet at the city gates!" Commander Leikos rode past, and Seona called Caliburn to her. Swinging quickly up into the saddle, she rode hard through the streets with the other members of the Kingship nearby, Gildaroy to her right on her charger and Cendall on his huge motorcycle in front, following the Kaldorei. Poor Cal could hardly keep up with their pace, though Gildaroy pulled up a bit to keep pace. Seona smiled in silent thanks and other dwarf returned the gesture.
The city gates were soon in sight as they regrouped and awaited orders. Leaders were given assignments and many groups broke away and rode off into the night. First a group of Night Elves, to scout out the roads leading from the city; then, a gruop of gnomes, all bristling with bombs and gadgets, led by a very excitable gnome mage, rode their mechanical striders off into the west; a small, mixed group of humans, dwarves, and draenei rode off towards the east. Cendall went ahead and soon returned with orders to head for Darkshire in Duskwood and scout the area, making sure to call out any enemy sightings along the way and engage to slow them down.
The Horde was on the run and needed to be caught, along with whoever this "him" was from the prison, and Seona was going to do her damnedest to ensure they didn't get far. Riding off into the Elwynn forest, though, she began to wonder just what it was she had gotten herself into.
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