Admitting Weakness

[Khiskiva]

He'd asked her to visit the inn more often. She obliged gladly, and it hurt. Khiskiva knew that she still cared about Zasien, but the shaman would never care for her. Why should he? They were from two completely different worlds. The only thing they had in common was an unborn child, who was beginning to show through Khiskiva's lower abdomen. It was excruciating to think that Zasien was growing smaller, while she only grew larger. He was starving, and she ate for two. Fate was terribly disgusting..

Walking through Tirisfal, she was in her ghostly wolf form for safety's sake. There was no telling who might attack a Sandfury, if given the chance. However, she was also careful not to run too fast, or be too energetic. She had never been an expectant mother before, and wasn't sure what could harm her child.

Khiskiva was just about to leap over a log when something grabbed her ankle. "Arrph!"

"Hello, wolfie," a deep voice said with a low growl.

Her body was suspended in mid-air, and she hung from one leg that was held tightly by an armored fist. Turning her head to see her assalant, Khiskiva gave a whimper of terror when she realized that not one, but several large ogres were smiling back at her. They were all armored in black leather and chain mail. Two of them held wolves, starved and crazed, on chain leashes.

"You make good present for boss."

She didn't want to find out who their boss was anytime soon. Shifting out of her wolf form, Khis's slender angle was freed from the ogre's brutish hand. Sending out her earth totem, the ground rose to bind the ogres to the ground as Khiskiva cast a spell of lightning at their giant bodies. "Nwo man beh tekkin' meh aweh tanigh!"

The ogres reeled in pain, and she took this as an opportunity to take flight. Unfortunately, a large diseased-ridden wolf with yellow eyes thought otherwise. His huge body tackled Khiskiva from behind, slamming her face into the ground and momentarilly dazing her.

"You're not going anywhere," the wolf said. It was speaking troll. Drakkari, to be exact.

The trolless gasped in surprise. "Ah.. ah kno' dat voice.."

"Savor it, whore. You won't be hearing it for long."

Another blow to her head. Khiskiva gasped and fell unconscious. From her pocket, a swarm of scarab beetles flew out into the night sky. The large talking wolf and his brethren snapped at them, killing most in an instant. One, however, managed to escape. It flew towards the one person it knew would help it's master.

[Sulajin]

It was all wrong! How could she have dissappeared? And her with a child to think of!? No... no... this would not happen. Not while he still drew breath, even beyond then, if he could. He'd challenged Samedi once and gotten away, why not again? But where was she? Nothing could proceed until he found her.

The room was a mess. Ungents and powders, bits and pieces, glasses and pottery lay smashed around him. The walls blackened with arcane fires. Still he raged.

Throughout the landscape Sulajin hunted. Threatening, cajoling, wheedling, bribing and using whatever methods he could to find her. Yet in the quiet of his layer, a single figure sat and concentrated. It's existence a tenuos thread of being, threatened to waft away in the arcane winds. Sulajin had spread himself thinner than ever before...

[Malakim]

Malakim sat on a crudely erected chair, he had borrowed it from the former chieftain of the ogres, he needed a place to set up his plan and the ogres cave looked fitting enough. He tried to be civil about kicking them out and all but apparently the only words they understand are violence. That and seeing their chief's head roll from his shoulders and across the floor.

He just needed the cave, really the populous of it were of no consequence to him, but apparently ogres become leader by killing off the last one, so now he had quite a few big stupid hulking servants. Nothing to be thrilled about but at least now he didn't have to get his own food they were at least capable of doing that much for him.

After waiting for several hours which was no longer a virtue of the demon, Malakim heard the ogres clamoring about the cave, "About time" the troll muttered to himself. "My guest is here," looking at the ogres standing around dumbfounded he yelled at them, "What are you waiting for fools go and help him bring her in." The ogres stammered off and returned with a fiery haired sand troll.

Malakim inspected the girl she looked mostly unharmed, she had a gash on the side of her head, which Malakim pointed out "Now was that really necessary shaman?"

"Necessary?" came the response, "No, it wasn't necessary it was fun."

"Fun eh? Well who am I to stand in the way of your fun? She looks like she will live so that's all the really matters." The troll reached into his pack and pulled out several gold, "I believe you will find the amount we agreed upon there, I do hope to use your services again in the future." He grinned at the shaman who took his gold and left.

Malakim looked at the troll laying on the floor, "Oh yes, I bet this will bring that mage here fast enough." He had planned on searching the mage out, he was actually waiting on the tower for passage to the other continent. When he asked the tower goblin if he knew anything of where to find him, he offered up little information except for the fact that he had seen him travel with a Sandfury shaman.

That knowledge made his day, he could find her much easier then that elusive mage and maybe get a little revenge on an old enemy in the process, it was shaping up well in his mind. He might even be able to use the ogres to his advantage with the mage showed up. After looking at the beauty of the trolless he was positive the mage would fight through the little maze he set up to retrieve his possession.

Malakim walked looked the injured troll over from top to bottom and silently whispered, "Well now firefly, you do have good taste in women I will get you that."

One of the ogres at the entrance turned back, "You sey sumting boss?"

"Stupid oaf keep watch we should have company soon, and stop calling me boss."

Returning to the shaman on the floor he bent down to have a better look, he brushed her hair aside and ran his fingers across her face, "Gah!" the troll yelled, as she felt like fire, he pulled back singed fingertips and his eyes grew wide.

"Oh, this is good." he silently cursed his other half for making such a foolish promise. "You, oaf, get over here and put this one in one of the cages. We can't have her running around free when she wakes up."

"Rite awey boss."

"Stop calling me boss."

[Khiskiva]

She could feel the spirits calling out to her, telling her to wake up. When Khiskiva finally opened her eyes, she was facing the large bulbous feet of an ogre.

"Ackja! Who der?? Whe'e am ah?!"

She tried to move, but found that she had been bound. There was a moment of panic as she wondered where she was, but that didn't matter so much as why. Why had someone kidnapped her and not simply killed her? Wouldn't that have made things easier?

"..who's der??"

[Malakim]

The ogre poked into the cage as Khiskiva awoke, "He he you little small thig, prizahnar of mahty new boss, he told me to put you thare. You are part of plane that make us strong fiercer than other tribes. Me think boss sey sumthing like that."

The ogre continued to poke his large hands at the troll, "Me rather use you as food or toy, that be much better plane me think." The ogre reached further into the cage grabbing hold of Khiskiva's throat.

[Khiskiva]

Khisk shuddered. She hated ogres.. the huge brutes and their disgusting hands.. their -smell-. She tried to edge away, but her mobility was crippled by the bindings around her wrists and ankles. Frowning daggars at the ogre, she wished that her stare alone could make it's head explode.

"Choo bedda prey ta whateva god choo wo'ship dat Sulajin dwon' findcha. Ah swea's 'e gwonna rip choo brain' out wit' 'is teet'..."

[Malakim]

Malakim walked back through the doors after seeing his "Guest" out. Seeing the ogre attempting to man handle the girl he couldn't help but laugh. Yelling at the ogre Malakim placed his fighting claws on his hands and sliced off the ogre's hand letting it fall in front in Khiskiva's prison. "Oaf, what did I tell you how to behave around our guest? I am pretty sure I said no eating, and definitely no getting off on her, perhaps now you will learn quicker, for next time I will not be as forgiving."

The ogre tried to hold his tongue at the sudden pain of losing his hand, he held tightly to the stump at the end of his arm now, "Right boss I sorry 'bout that, I... it won't hapin agen, me promise."

"See to it that it does not, I will not be so forgiving next time."

He bent down to look at Khiskiva's face, "I am truly sorry about that, ogres aren't always the best at following directions, I do hope your trip wasn't too rough." He flashed a twisted smile at her, then bit at the air in front of her. "Nothing personal, but I just needed to get a hold of your boyfriend..." He began to laugh, suddenly realizing the cruel twist of those words.

[Khiskiva]

She frowned bitterly, the ogre hand still bleeding in her cage. Khiskiva's eyes narrowed at Malakim's smug expression. How she hated that troll.. ever since she'd met him the first time, she knew she hated him. There was something so infuriating about him.

"Choo shoulda asked, mon," she said with contempt. "Nah choo jus' gwonna dah. Notta gwood ahdea choo 'ad, bringin' me 'ere."

Her thoughts lingered to her baby. Would he be alright? Would the stress of the situation hurt him? She couldn't heal herself with her hands bound.. the spirits around her were helpless if she couldn't use her abilities to connect herself to them. And what of Sulajin? Would he actually come? She had doubts.. he enjoyed her company, and he needed her yes, but she was sure he was smart enough to break the bind that held them. Perhaps he wouldn't come.. perhaps he'd just find something else to occupy his time..

[Sulajin]

"Where!?" Sulajin bellowed and cracked the poor young shaman's head with his metalic staff. The orc spit out a mouthful of blood and tooth.

"The... the launch tower... for the zeppelyns. Heading towards Azeroth."

Sulajin cursed and turned to stalk back over to his mount. He turned with a snarl and raised the young shaman up in the air in a torrent of fire, then spoke to the creature. Fat boiled out through cracks in the ruined flesh as it coughed weekly. "If word ever reaches me of you refering to my wife as a "Sandfury bitch" again, I will not be so merciful."

With that he slapped Blue on the flank and the pair went tearing through the streets of Orgrimmar.

On another continent Sulajin was getting similar information from a bat handler. And in his layer, Sulajin sent out a wave of shimmering constructs of mana and will. One purpose granting them existence. Find Khiskiva. Find her. Find Khiskiva and relay her location.

[Malakim]

He knew it wouldn't be long now before his other "Guest" arrived. He sat in his chair across the room from the cage, looking down on Khiskiva he spoke to her in his mocking tone. "So, how are you and your boyfriend getting along these days? He treating you well? Keeping you cozy? What about that fool that you love so much but refuse to admit your feelings for... Aren't you carrying his child?"

He began to laugh harder, "Or what about that priest, he sure seemed to have a soft spot for you always so... Protective of you. Did he treat you as well as your own brother? I bet he isn't as good now, with all the bandages covering him and the rotting flesh thing, or maybe you are into that?"

Malakim leaned back before continuing on, "Oh, I know what you are thinking, your precious Sulajin will come and save you he will burn these ogres to a crisp and me along with them. If those stories I hear about him are true then I can understand why you think that would happen. Granted he will probably destroy most if not all these pathetic brutes, but I do not die so easily. Which I am sure you know." He made another biting motion in her direction.

"The point of the matter is I do not fear fire, I don't not fear pain, nothing will stop me from being free, and I don't care if you have to have a bit of a headache because of it. You are a means to his end, and I know you aren't noble enough to care about that... anymore, but I will be free of him you watch. Who knows you might even learn, ahem... remember something in the process." He let out a little laugh only to be interrupted by an ogre running in.

"We gats truble boss, scouts sez he saw a strange elementil running 'round outside."

"Excellent, the stage is set then it shouldn't be long before he finds his way here."

"How should we's let ya know win he coms, boss?"

The troll laughed, "Don't be silly, just make sure you scream when you die I am sure that will suffice... and quit calling me boss."

[Khiskiva]

Khiskiva looked confusedly at Malakim. Something wasn't right. This wasn't the jovial trash-talking troll she'd met before. He seemed more calculating, more.. cold? But it didn't matter. He knew things. Things he shouldn't have known. How did he know about Zasien? Or even Zum'rah?

"Dwonchoo der talk about 'tings dat dwon' conce'n choo," she spat. "An ah dwon' ca'e if choo dwon ca'e about pain. Di poin' is choo gwonna die soon, so cho betta be prepa'ed ta face Samedi inni di nex' lahf!"

[Sulajin]

And on Khiskiva's shoulder a Scarab shining in a light that allowed the eye to slide off of it as soon as view it. It chattered a moment and then was no more.

Sulajin's ears twitched. He had her now... time would show what became of those who would dare to betray his love.

[Malakim]

Malakim chuckled as she tried to put on a brave face, "Oh no, however will I stave off death from your fire mage, and your so called lord of death. However, will I stand up against the torment they can offer me?"

He got up from his place in his chair and began to pace around the room, "You honestly think that your firefly can even put a scratch on me after all I have endured I have been trapped here for a lifetime forced to watch this fool carry out a mundane useless existence. No fireball can cause that kind of damage, so I am not too worried about your little boyfriend. He will be here soon enough you can swoon over him, and if he does what I need you will be free to go off to finish your pathetic life, clueless and unaware, being led around on a leash by your firefly. Letting him make your decisions, all the while listening and following his every beck and whim... Isn't that how you hurt his father?" pointing at Khiskiva's stomach.

"But who am I to judge, you always talked the big game. You always pretended you wanted to be in control, when all along you just wanted someone to dominate you. To take from you what they wanted and discard you when they were done."

He wandered past the cage staring closely into her eyes, "At this rate you will never change you will always be the shadow behind greatness, managing to get by as you pick at the droppings of power. It's a joke you are nothing without someone to string you along, what he saw in you I will never know, which is probably a good thing."

[Khiskiva]

Khiskiva's mouth quivvered with outrage. Where did he learn these things? He was speaking to her as if he'd read her mind, as if the things she could never admit were written out all over her face for anyone to read.

"Ah.. how..."

Dominance. It was true. She didlike being dominated by someone stronger. She enjoyed feeling like someone else was in the position of power, even as she fought them tooth and nail to get her way. Maybe that was what attracted her to Sulajin in the first place. His destructive nature, combined with his need to be in charge. She fought him often, and there wasn't a single time that she ever "let" him win. Rather, it simply happened. It was the way of things, and she loved it.

"--what he saw in you I will never know, which is probably a good thing."

"..Sulajin sees mo'e in meh dan choo kno'. 'e knows what ah am, an 'e respec' mah weys! Choo got no adeah what da's lahk. Ya'll neva undastand.. choo just a pathetic an lonely 'ting, an' choo mehk me sick. Ah hope Sula rips out choo eyes an eats dem choo filt'y 'ting."

[Sulajin]

There are those who say that time is an illusion. We all know that time is a component of space. Should the idea of time being an illusion be construed to that of space as well? Could not a sufficiently enlightened mind twist the idea of space enough that it bent before him?

No. Probably not.

Space is quite real, and Sulajin knew how to skip across the folds. The poor bat he rode, on the other hand, had no such knowledge. It was scared beyond all reasoning. But if there is one thing it new, it was that it must see the rider to his destination.

There were ogres, below. They were milling about, as was their wont. Sulajin flung himself from the mount and dropped to the earth. His body a bullet of righteous indignation, that would hit with the force of a cannon.

[Malakim]

He bit at the air in front of the trapped girl, "Oh baby your words hurt so good. Don't stop there you might be able to delude yourself further if you hurl more insults at me."

He continued his pace around the room, "I am sure he respects you, I bet he would never ask you to do something that was wrong and would harm other people because he didn't like them. I am sure he is more clever about it, he would allow you to think they were your own choices that you were in control of whether you said yes or no to any of his suggestions. I am sure you believe that to be his way of affection right? To never really force you into anything wrong, to hold your hand when you have doubt."

He turned away from her trying to hide his twisted grin, "I am sure you would love for him to just pick you up and carry you across the danger to save you and be there for you when you needed him most, to call you something cute, like angel or flower or something stupid. To reassure you that everything would be alright with him there, but that's not the way things are... are they? You should be happy then I am setting up your perfect idea of affection for you, your knight can come running in here slaying impossible odds, and defeating my wicked plans, carry you off into the setting sun on his white raptor, and prove his love for you right?"

Malakim turned back to his prisoner with a wide smile, "If that's what you truly believe of your mage then you have nothing to worry about and will be home soon with a new heroic image of your mate, or I am right and you will be leaving to a different cage where the bars are much harder to see. You really are one lucky girl aren't you?"

Down the cave could be heard the sounds of an ogre screaming.

"I knew that oaf would make a good alarm... and the plot thickens little Kiva, what do you think walks towards us now? Your knight or your captor?"

[Sulajin]

((Sulajin wouldn't lie about how safe she'd be with him... lives a dangerous life, and likes to brag about it.))

Sulajin hit hard. Encased in a shimmering barrier of magic he landed before a large ogre sending up a chunk of stone with a quick burst of arcane fury. Unfortunately the spray of dirt and smoke didn't give him time to notice the massive club sweeping towards him until it was too late.

Sulajin landed heavily against a nearby stone wall. Beautiful lights flashing before his eyes momentarily. He struggled against his weak flesh, rallying it to move out of the way of the angry brute before him. Then he remembered her. Remembered her face as she was taken away, a vision granted by fire. A vision of a dark assailent laughing at her form crawling away.

His body didn't ache anymore. The lights were clearing from his vision, only to be overlayed by scenes of Khiskiva K'Thul wrenched from his grasp. Tortured and raped. He would not stand by it. He would not watch. She was his! He had fought for her! He had suffered for her! He had made her his own, and she would not be taken from him!

Sulajin lept to his feet and flung himself towards the startled brute. A massive ball of flames catching it in the face before expanding to coat the muscular creature. It hovered in the air, it's flesh cooking around it. Screaming as blood poured down his face the ogre clawed at his eyes that were rapidly boiling away in their sockets. Still the flames danced. Smoke pouring into the brute's lungs and choking it even as it cooked. The skin split and bubbled as marrowbone began to dry out and crack. Sulajin did not release the creature. Did not grant it the release of death until finally the shock to it's system proved too much. The charred remnants of the creature fell with a slap to the floor uncerimoniously.

Sulajin ran on. There would be no feast on this fallen enemy. No respite for his soul. He would be left for carrion crows.

No one would take his Khis. Another figure. A raised arm and a flung staff, hurled like a javalin. Sulajin ran on, grabbing the soulkeeper as the ogre's body collapsed in around the pale green flames.

She was his mate! Another Ogre. A bolt of Arcane lightning to leave a sizzling corpse.

He had snatched her from the winds of chance, he would not let go! Yet another ogre, his head burst from within by massive crystaline growths.

He would fight on.

[Khiskiva]

...flower?

Khiskiva stopped speaking in orcish. She grew tired of the simple words of the orcs and her limited vocabulary. There was something not right about this troll. He was treating her differently from a regular captor, speaking to her about things that just didn't fit. Sulajin? Call her pet names? It was laughable. She never expected him to do that, or to do something silly like carry her off to safety. He wasn't that type of person. He would rescue her only so that nobody else would control her. He was the one in control. That was the way things worked.

Why did this troll seem to think that she thought things could be otherwise? Why was he painting a picture of Sulajin in a strange light, of someone heroic and sweet who would protect her.

"Why is it you care so much, anyway?" She asked, turning away from him. She didn't want to see his face. "Why do you keep talking about him? If you really wanted to see him, why are you still here with me? Why not simply meet him now? What is it you want from me??"

She was angry, and she knew it. If she had the ability to reach her totems, they might explode before she had a chance to set them out.

"You keep talking about things that never happened! Nobody has ever protected me, or been heroic, or called me things other than 'Sandfury bitch' or 'murdering whore'! You don't know anything about me, and yet you continue to badger me like you've known me my whole life! Who are you to judgeme? You're nothing. You're a bastard who brought me here to lure in someone greater than you'll ever be, and you're jealous because of what he is."

Khiskiva kicked the ogre hand at Malakim.

"And who are you to call me 'Kiva'?"

[Nojinbu]

Sulajin was a mere speck amongst the larger figures; the mountain top gave a perfect view of the battle. Frozentooth watched with a grin as the fight went on. “Heh, one less tribe to deal with.” He looked at the two ogres standing at his sides “If I see you fight like that, I’ll have you gutted myself, got that?”

The two ogres stood rigid and stared forward. Light footsteps could be heard behind him, a tall figure covered in furs came to the wolfs side, the only parts not covered are two long green ears, and a long, pointed nose that poked past his tusks. His yellow eyes peered out to the fight. “It be cold as da undead wenches ‘eart ere, mon. when we gon ta get ta work?”

Frozentooth spoke softly and calmly. “I told you, well get to work as soon as soon as I secure my payment. Don’t you worry; you will have your part of the bargain in time.”
The four watched the battle for a short while, and then Frozen stood. “Well, looks like its time, Sulajin looks like he is getting tired.” He walked down the mountain, the rest soon followed.

[Malakim]

The troll's smile grew bigger, she didn't remember anything of those days, it was perfect. He could have so much more fun with all of this, it would have to end soon as he could feel Sulajin getting closer.

Catching the ogre hand he took a bite out of it before tossing it aside, "It is so sweet that you think I care, but then you always were sweet for him. The truth of the matter is, I bore easily and I needed someone to amuse me, and these ogres fail at that task miserably. I figured another troll could keep me amused, especially one with your... colorful history."

Malakim laughed at her words, seeing the twisted truth behind everything she said while she remembered none of it. "If I am nothing what does that make him?" His laugh grew louder, "Don't worry I don't think to highly of him as well."

He walked back over to his chair sitting down on it and leaning towards Khiskiva, "It's amusing how stupid you really are girl, I am afraid our words will end soon as I can feel your knight reaching closer, but I am a fair person... On occasion. You should know you are wrong about very many things, perhaps you should ask your sweet priest to remind you of the day before your training."

He sauntered over to her prison looking down on her, "Or perhaps you wouldn't like what you have become, either way it doesn't matter to me because the party is about to start."

[Sulajin]

Sulajin would not stop. Behind him, an ogre roled on the ground clutching at the remnants of a ruined face. An obsidian claw slick with fresh blood dripped a macabre trail behind the furious mage.

Someone new was here.

[Khiskiva]

"Zum'rah turned my brother into a zombie and desecrated my mother's corpse!" Khiskiva replied in anguish. "I want nothing to do with him, and I have no idea what you're talking about! If you're so hell-bent on getting me to remember something, why don't you just end this farce and tell me what it is!"

She could hear Sulajin getting closer. Soon he would be here to burn this idiotic troll and leave nothing behind but a pile of ash. Or worse yet, he'd burn him beyond recognition and eat his charring flesh. Either way, Malakim wouldn't live. Khiskiva knew enough about Sulajin to realize that he wasn't one to allow his property to be taken from him, and if she was anything to the mage, she was his property.

"Sulajin!" She yelled, hoping beyond hope that he could hear her. "I'm in here!"

[Nojinbu]

Frozen calmly walked in Sulajins direction. “Hello Sul, working hard I see, hehehe.” The four walked past the battle worn troll, and with a soft voice Frozentooth ordered “take his legs.”
From the cliff that the four stood at, a new set of ogres stood. Five with large axe and shield, and five with bows holding arrows the size of lances, the warrior-like ogres ran down the hills, while the archers drew their enormous bows.
“That should keep you busy while I handle business.” Frozen laughed and then bellowed “I expect them delivered to me by the time I come back!”

[Malakim]

"Oh come now, if I told you everything it would ruin the surprise. Though the look on your face when you finally figure it out will be priceless. I just hope I am there to see it, either way though I bet you will be thinking of me."

He let out a few more chuckles, "You know, your knight sure is taking his sweet time in arriving here, perhaps those stories were greatly exaggerated and he isn't strong enough to do what I need. Oh well, I suppose worst case scenario I get to play with you for a few more days."

Malakim looked down the tunnel to where his lair led, with an almost disappointed look on his face he started back in, "So instead of me just telling you what I know about you, perhaps we can get a little dialogue going I get to ask you some questions, you answer. Then you can even ask me some questions, and I will answer them. What do you say angel you in for it?"

"My first question will be, when did you first learn you had a talent for the elements, little shaman?"

[Sulajin]

Sulajin would not be distracted. Not while Khis was helpless. He turned to follow after what appeared to be Nojinbu when a massive bolt of wood and stone crushed his thigh.

Sulajin dropped instantly, clutching at the ruined flesh. He would not be stopped. Using his staff as a crutch he drew himself up, watching the archers notch a second volley of arrows. He began a low chanting, the ground beneath the archers steaming for a moment. They looked worridly amongst each other before deciding the best bet would be to flee.

One remained, and before the mountaintop he stood on was relocated a good half mile away by the pyrokinetic force of Sulajin's spell he released his bolt. It shot, held straight by mighty force of sinew and a bow the size of a small tree. Sulajin gasped as his viscera was pierced. Intestines beginning to spool around his feet.

He lowered himself, shaking limbs pulling at the mass of flesh, stuffing it around the bolt back into his torso. Sharp crystals of Obsidian began to flow over the wounds, sealing the flesh in for the time being.

No time to waste. Khis needed him, he would continue on. He pulled himself back up, lurching forward on his good leg. It didn't matter that the surviving ogres of his assault were massing behind him. All that mattered was Khis.

One more step. One more step. One more step. One more step...

[Khiskiva]

Khiskiva spat at Malakim.

"I'm not going to give you the pleasure," she said furiously. "I don't need you or your questions. You'd just better pray that Sulajin kills you quick, because if he doesn't then I will."

She couldn't help but think about his question, however. It really was an interesting one.. when -did- she discover her abilities as a shaman? Khis didn't remember. All she remembered was the strange feeling around Zum'rah, the spirits who hadvery suddenly become prominant figures in her life.. but where did that start? When was the first time?

Wait.. "angel"?

[Malakim]

Malakim let out a heavy sigh, "And here I thought you would be fun, oh I know maybe if I used my tongue first that would liven you up a bit." He stuck his tongue out and made slow licking motions at the air in front of her, then he started to laugh at her. "Or maybe that only works for him."

Malakim's attention turned back towards the tunnel entrance, "Hmmmm... It seems your knight is injured, that was unexpected. Ugh.... It figures someone else is here to play as well."

"I swear you go through all this trouble to set up a meeting with some people, and what happens everyone else thinks it's an invitation for a party... No civility amongst people anymore."

[Khiskiva]

"You're disgusting.." she hissed.

Khis didn't hide her disgust at the mention of a tongue, but she didn't hide her confusion either. Tongue? Sulajin wasn't much for tongue play. He used his teeth and his tusks, or his oversized hands to move her into positions he desired. Zasien.. well, he hadn't done anything, really. She blamed the drinking they had done that night, but still.. who was he talking about?

"Who's out there? Injured!?" She asked, tring to sit up in her cage. The bindings around her ankles made this difficult, and she only managed to sit on her side. "What's happening?? Sulajin!! Be careful!"

[Malakim]

Malakim turned back towards Khiskiva, "Who are you to call me disgusting? Does the fact that I am making things happen to get my life in the order it should have been all along disgust you? Perhaps it's that I can do things on my own without being dragged around through the will of others. Maybe I frighten you because I know more about you then you do. You have no right to call anyone anything other than master, you foolish girl you can't even make up your own mind without your firebug here."

Malakim growled at her, "That's why it hurts you so much without him here doesn't it? Not because you really care about him or that he really cares about you... Instead it is because you need to him to hold your hand through life, if whatever else is out there kills him today, I know I can always just find another mage. What will you do little girl? Who will you latch onto next? The father of your child, most likely not because you fear that he doesn't understand you. Which is mostly true he doesn't even know himself well enough to take on telling you what to do. So who then will you rely upon, because it is obvious that you have never been capable of keeping yourself safe, why else would you be here now? So what do you do now little Kiva? The only being that ever really cared about you is gone now, and I will see to it that he doesn't come back from where he is now. So where do you go now, what will you do when you are all alone in this world, how cute I think his little flower is about to wither up."

[Nojinbu]

Knowing their boss-king would surely torture him for such a botched effort, the warrior ogres rushed the Troll with shields up and axes ready. One hurled his giant shield toward Sulajins back as he ran.

Frozen and his three followers arrived at the cave, with a loud bark, Frozentooth’s voice could be heard everywhere. “Malakim! I have come to finish business.”

[Khiskiva]

She spoke through gritted teeth. His words were painful, and she had to admit, there was some truth to them. She'd never been without dominance, without someone to tell her what needed to be done. What she -didn't- have was someone who cared for her the way he described.

"What.. are.. you.. talking about??" Khiskiva finally asked. "Nobody has ever cared for me the way Sulajin does! I was alone without him, my life was nothing without him, and you can't possibly tell me otherwise! I had to survive through my exile by myself, I had to drag myself through the desert and find my way to the Horde, and prove myself as a shaman, so don't you -dare- say that I need someone to take care of me!"

Her chest heaved in anger.

"And stop calling me 'flower' and 'angel' and -especially- Kiva!! That is not a name for you to say! Nobody has called me that since Xiarti, and you are not equal to his worth!"

[Sulajin]

One more step. One more step. One more step. One more step.

There was an impact, and the next thing he knew, Sulajin's face was in the dirt. His staff lay beyond his reach, and surviving Ogres were walking up behind him. His leg was ruined, his staff was gone, he was running fast out of options. Keep moving. Find Khis. Protect her.

"Malakim! I have come to finish business!"

Keep moving. Ignore the voice. Don't stop. She needs you. A rolling wall of flame burst off of the mage, charring the flesh of the approaching Ogres. Still Sulajin dragged himself on, up against a wall for support. His robes were a twisted mess of tattered cloth and dirts, his balance was completely thrown by his injured limb and the bolt of wood that stuck through his chest.

Keep moving.

An indignant bellow behind him, a swing of an axe and Sulajin didn't have a leg to stand on. No time. No time to deal with ogres. A muttered curse, more will than words, and Sulajin dragged himself forward. Keep moving. Keep moving.

Behind him, a very confused roach scuttled into a crack in the wall.

[Nojinbu]

Two of ogres dropped their weapons and fell to their knees; they took the brunt of the blast. The others quickly dropped their molten metal and burning wood shields. Axes in hand, they slowly approached the troll; one picked up his legs and laughed “Boss-king finally have what need. Now have fun!” The one holding the legs followed after Frozen, while the other two walked over to Sulajin to give him a beating he would never forget. One bellowed and laughed. “I want break tiny troll mans arms, make nice back scratch from weird hand!”

Frozentooth heard the footsteps of the ogre behind him. “Did you get them?”
“Yes boss-king! We got them!” the ogre laughed and grinned as he showed the legs.
“Excellent.” The wolf laughed as he spoke. “Take our guest back to camp, he can begin work whenever he is ready.” The ogre nodded and look to the fur-covered troll, both leaving the wolf and his guards.
Frozen walked into the cave to get what was his.

[Sulajin]

((Am I to be captured?)

Once more the massive hands descended. Once more they lifted Sulajin's weary body high. Sulajin groaned and coughed. His body was broken. His spirit was crushed. His wife was lost. It would soon be over.

But while I still burn you will not fall. May the flames of your rage consume that wich would oppose you. The Loa will not stand for you, your friends are nowhere to be found. Your wife cannot aid you now. Even your own body has broken, turned against you. And now you will die.

No. No this was not his end. Loa be damned. Faith be damned. Niethan, Vilmah, and all hte others be damned. Khiskiva be damned. Sulajin be damned! He would not be taken! He would not allow himself respite! He was a Troll! And their tasks were simple. Live. Fight. There would be no rest.

Sulajin's eyes stared ahead a moment longer. His face twisted into a snarl of hatred. Long cracks radiated outward from his eyes. Behind them was hell. And from these cracks rose T'Ihn. The molten fury of the magi. A whirling vortex of flames, magma, and shards of obsidian glass burst into the room. Sucking in sand and small stones as it stole the air to fuel it's fires.

Sulajin should fall before a brute like this?

It struck out with obsidian claws, and viscera poured over the mage.

He had confronted death itself and pulled himself through to victory!

Another ogre attacked, seeing it's comrad fall. It lunged into the beast of fire and fury, and was ripped to bloody tatters by the swirling shards.

He would not be stopped!

Sulajin reached out with one arm to grab at a stone, pulling himself another few feet. Behind him, carnage and chaos as T'Ihn did battle with the ogres. Around him, the walls were bubbling from the heat. Ahead of him his foe, his assailent, and his wife.

Sulajin pulled himself forward.

[Khiskiva]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/OtakuQueen/weakness.jpg

[Sulajin]

((Yee!))

[Malakim]

Malakim's rage continued on, "I am not of worth of your foolish mage of a brother? If I remember correctly didn't he die to a pathetic invasion, getting his throat ripped out by a badger or some beast? Oh yes however, could I stand to compete with a brother that fails to kill a beast with his beautiful sparklers. You think me to be of unequal worth to these fools yet, somehow convince yourself that you are so high above everyone? You think that by walking across the desert for a few nights puts you on a self sufficient path? There are rats that can pull that off at worst you are on par to the life of a critter, at best you are on level with a mount... Fitting though seems to fit your personality just right, to be ridden until your use is gone then thrown away."

He smiled as he began to regain his composure, "What you don't like those words he called you all of those words before, and you begged for more you loved it, you couldn't get enough. It's only fair that I get to keep the right to continue it."

That's when he heard it, "Malakim! I have come to finish business!"

That name... nobody had called him that name since he had won his freedom from his "Brother" it almost felt like a mockery to what he was now, but a smile still found it's way to the corner of his mouth.

"Buisness!? Well then come and we shall talk!"

[Khiskiva]

"I've never begged anyone for anything in my life. I don't know who you're talking about, but no man has ever called me anything of the sort. Maybe you've got the wrong person, or maybe you're just a deluded ass if you think you could ever use -me- as a mount," Khiskiva growled. "And even as a zombie, my brother is twice the troll you are--"

She paused at the sound of the voice. She'd heard that voice before.. hadn't there been a Drakkari she'd met with that voice? And then even before that, some strange wolf had spoken with that same voice.. what was going on? WHere was Sulajin?? Panic crept into her face. He couldn't be dead.. no, it wasn't possible! He couldn't have been bested by those idiotic ogres, there was no way!!

She heard screams. Cries of pain. The smell of charred flesh crept into her nose, and it never smelled so sweet. Sulajin was alive.. she knew he was..

"Spirits above," she whispered. "Help him, please, help Sulajin. Don't let this bastard kill him."

[Nojinbu]

((not yet))

One Ogre doubled back from the fight, grabing Sulajin. "Don't come close or he die NOW!" The ogre grasped hard to the arms of the troll and began to pull slowly.

Frozentooth walked inside. He looked around the cave for a moment then spoke. "It is time to speak of real payment, you will find your DOWNPAYMENT outside, gold does nothing for me. I am not of this material world except for the land I will soon clame for my own." The ogres walked further into the cave.

"Now, what I want in return is your loyalty. Later in time I will ask of something. When I do, you will come to me and do as I say. Is that clear?"

[Sulajin]

Die? Who would die? It didn't matter. Khis was the only thing left. Khis had to be saved. No matter the cost. There would be no failure.

The elemental pounded onto the walls of the cavern with a flash of heat. All that could be heard was a dull thud and the quiet clatter of stones falling from the ceiling.

Once more Sulajin skipped through the fabric of space, closer and closer to his beloved. One more hand. Drag. One more hand. Drag.

T'Ihn blazed over the crazed magi's form, bellowing his defiance.

[Malakim]

Malakim laughed at the response from the cave, "You expect more of a payment than gold? For what you brought me a girl, and you were paid for it. You didn't bring me what I really wanted, just the means to get it. You get nothing but gold for that, you expect my loyalty and devotion to whatever cause you have. Well now, if you want that you will have to do more for me than grab a little girl. As far as I am concerned you have received your payment in full. Besides didn't you know? I don't play well with others."

Malakim knew things might start to get a little out of hand soon, he looked around the cave to make sure everything was in place. Satisfied that things were to his liking he sat back in his chair looking at Khiskiva, "It won't be long now beautiful."

[Khiskiva]

There was something not right about this whole situation. Sulajin was still nowhere to be seen, even if she could smell burning flesh and embers. Malakim had never before come accross as the type of person to kidnap her, he even spoke differently. She had to admit though, that there was something vaguely familliar about him, and the way he addressed her. Who else had ever called her beautiful? Why did his face seem so out of place? Why was she imagining him differently, imagining him to be kind and sweet, saying the words he taunted her with and even going so far as to care for her?

She heard a crash. Like stones falling to the ground. Turning towards the sound, she saw the glow of fire and the familliar smell of embers. An obsidian hand on the ground, slowly followed by a normal troll's, dragging behind... no..

"Sulajin!!" Khiskiva screamed, recognizing his state.

His legs amputated, his chest and stomach smattered with blood from who-knows-what other injuries, his eyes burning with rage as T'Ihn followed him like a loyal sentinel. Khis had never seen him injured like this, before. Nor had she ever seen him so determined. Was his property worth so much that he would have himself killed for it? Couldn't he sinply find something else to occupy his time?

Unless he didn't just consider her his property..

"Oh, Sulajin.." She said under her breath, tears forming in her eyes. Since when did the Sandfury cry?

[Sulajin]

Finally the pathway widened out. Finally he could see her. In a cage? His wife? Beaten and locked away like some common scum!? He would not be stopped. Not now. Not when he had come so far.

The cracks spreading out from his eyes pulsed with a dull grey light as an arcane wind whipped through the room. Everything it touched began to charge with mystic potential, trailing out sparks in a light that appeared to be purple fighting with pink. Distinct, seperate, but at the same time one shade.

And the voice of T'Ihn bellowed out like water boiling from a log, "Release her!"

[Malakim]

Her tears... Malakim staggered for a moment, feeling the light rebel against him, forcing itself against the darkness pushing again against what it felt was wrong. It took all he had to keep his "Brother" from from taking control again and stopping the plans that he had so carefully put together. "Not this time brother, you will not stop me this time."

Who said anything about stopping you? I just want to make this interesting. If you want to be rid of me I am going to make you work for it

With that he pushed all he could through the demon's body using what power he could control, into his arm, making him reach into Khiskiva's cage. With his hand shaking he forced the back of his had against her face as he had done so long ago...

The demon screamed in pain as the promise he made burned into his hand. Ripping his hand from the cage the demon cursed at his "Brother" not noticing what else he managed to do during that time. He had forced the hand to claw the rope holding the cage together as it was removed. The cage still held, but just barely. "Cute brother, very cute."

He spotted the broken mage crawling his way through the entrance, "Well now it is about time you got here"

[Sulajin]

He turned just in time to see, pity. Still the attack went unawares to catch the figure dead on. A mass of flames forcing Malakim back and crashing into a wall.

"You will not touch her!"

[Khiskiva]

Sulajin's fury was being projected through T'Ihn. Khiskiva knew that the elemental would burn all in his way, and her heart gave a lurge of guilt when she realized why. She hadn't been strong enough, and this filth in front of her was.. reaching for her..?

A simple caress. The touch of a gentle hand on her face, something nobody did. Something she never thought she'd ever want. After all, she was a steadfast Sandfury. Just fuck and have fun, that was how things worked, that was how to live. With blood and teeth and claws, ripping flesh and giggling madly, wasn't that how it was supposed to be? Then why did his touch bring her back, back to a place where she had hope of being touched gently forever, like some weak little girl in the arms of a tenderhearted male that would protect her from the ills of the world..

"...Mala?"

He screamed in pain, and damaged her cage. She wouldn't be able to free herself of the bindings, but at the very least she could remove herself from these bars. Khis kicked at the cage as hard as she could, her ankles still bound together to make it slightly difficult, but she managed to break the cage from it's bindings and force one of the walls to collapse. Rolling her body to one side, she fell through the hole in the cage and struggled to stand.

[Malakim]

The fire hurling him into the wall was just what he needed to snap the control away from his brother once more. The armor Malakim wore began to glow then subsided, "Mmmmm nice and warm thank you firefly, it was starting to get a little cool in here. Though I do believe you will have to try harder than that, did you honestly think I wouldn't be prepared for your little fires? The scales of the black dragons do wonders against your kind don't they."

Malakim reached for his bow notching an arrow, and aiming it at the wounded mage, "You know you can't beat me in your condition. It would be much better if you just gave me what I wanted, that way you can live and your little slave girl can go free with you, otherwise... Well, I have no problem seeing you die. It's your call firefly."

[Malakim]

Malakim screamed at the little trolless, "Don't ever call me that, that is his name not mine."

[Sulajin]

T' Ihn blazed in front of the hunter, his fires causing the floor around him to bubble and ooze. "If you do not release Khiskiva this cave will be brought down on us all." To emphasize the point the elemental shot another blast of fire against the far wall, another wave of dust drifting down from the ceiling.

Sulajin dragged his worn body to the Khis and pulled himself in next to her, beneath the roar of the elemental quietly sobbing, "I thought I lost you."

[Khiskiva]

Sulajin.. crying? His body was covered in blood, his eyes glowed unnaturally, his face was contorted in pain, and still his thoughts were for her. Khiskiva wanted nothing more than to hold him, to be gentle and to love him. Not in the barbaric and violent way they'd shown eachother before, but in the sweet and gentle way she'd forgotten. Would he still care for her, if he knew that she could be soft? She had to try.

"Spirits bless you, Sulajin," she whispered, lowering her bound body close to his, so that his blood soaked her clothes. "You won't lose me."

Khiskiva's lips brushed gently against the mage's forehead, and for once she did not pierce his skin with her tusks. There would be no more bloodletting, today. She'd had enough.

The spirits around them became more visible, with her kiss. They smiled and whispered to the shaman. A fire spirit, glistening in the light of T'Ihn, brushed past Khis' bindings and lit them on fire. She was free, finally. Nodding in thanks to the spirits, she gathered her energy and reached into her pocket. Her little sandstone centaur gave her a connection to the earth, and through it rose tremors to bind Malakim to the ground.

"There will be no more fighting from you today, Mala," she said in her oddly accented Troll language. "You have done enough."

[Malakim]

"I have destroyed fireballs much bigger than your pet, and yours will be no different."

Malakim reached back for a different arrow, replacing his normal arrows with those imbued with ice, "Let me remind you, that you cannot beat me and if you die, I will kill your little whore too."

"...Mala"

That name, it was infuriating it pressed against everything he was. He hated that name she called him, it was like a memory of the past that ached everytime she said it. He wanted to kill her to shut her up for good to erase that word from her lips... but if instead she got her mage to relent to his demands, then that word would have no more meaning behind it.

He smiled, "So then you are ready to give me what I want, excellent."

[Sulajin]

"Give you what you want!? We are single of purpose, you are split. You wield arrows of frost, to pierce my flames, yet should we fall I will bring down the cavern upon us! Be burried with those you sought to control. You have no room for demands, it is an impasse."

The elemental burned hotly, the obsidian shards within him swirling angrily.

Sulajin just gave a shuddering sigh and allowed himself to sink into Khis' arms. He was drained, his energy spent, his emotions beyond control, his body would not be of use until he had a chance to heal. For now, he just wanted to hold onto Khis.

[Khiskiva]

She held him, as if he were fragile. Khiskiva's arms were rough, her skin dry and warm from years in the desert and the fire of T'Ihn. However her state, she held Sulajin gently, lovingly. Calling upon the elements to heal him, they could feel a warm breeze of summer surround them as she willed his body to restore itself. Her fingers buried in his sweat soaked hair, she drew him close and allowed her totems and spirits to busy themselves with Malakim and T'Ihn.

"..heal, Sula. You'll be alright, soon," she whispered into his long ear, her tears evaporating. "Thank you, my love. You have saved me."

[Nojinbu]

Frozen watched the chaos around him, he will not submit, fine, one less to bother with. The wolf and ogres walked outside. "Lock them in together; let this cave be their tomb.”

The ogres climbed to a high point of the cave and pushed rocks over the entrance, the crashes of stone forced outer stones from the caves entrance to collapse.
“When you’re finished, meet me back at the fortress. I expect good news.” The wolf laughed as he vanished into the distance.

[Malakim]

"You plan to be able to bring this haven down around us? With what power, your little fireball is a joke, and you are spent a few ogres drew out all of your power... I see now that you cannot help me you are not strong enough for the purpose I sought. A pity, I did have high hopes for this relationship. I may be split, but even in this shared existence it would seem I am more than than a match for the two of you."

Malakim sighs at the pathetic sight before him, "Leave, remove your uselessness from my sight, I am bored now and you both offer no fun."

[Sulajin]

T'Ihn laughs, bitterly. "A match? You have done nothing but slow us. We can fight on, we can still crush you. But you, what have you done? We accomplished our goals, you have done nothing. If you wish to confront us through intimidation of ogres, then perhaps you are a match. Yet overall we have achieved our goals. YOu have failed, you say you wish to speak with the mage, yet you only converse with me. You have not even taken into account that the cavern has been blocked. You are trapped, little hunter. We can still leave. I'm sure you will feed for a while on the corpses of those ogres, those that are still useable. We, on the other hand, shall take our leave."

With that the three vanished. A shimmering gateway holding in the air a moment, before slamming shut.

[Malakim]

Malakim looked around, "Yes this was a complete waste of my time, that mage is not of the caliber I need unfortunately. Though I do wonder how that little sand witch will take things now, that alone was worth the price of her kidnapping. Even a little bit of doubt in a persons mind can lead to their destruction after all."

Malakim walked to the entrance of the cave, "So it really is blocked off well that's fun." The troll rummaged through his pack for an item he was looking for, "There we go that's what I needed." He fiddled with the device for a moment then activated it...

Stepping out into the sandy air Malakim nodded to the gnome next to the transporter, "Good nothing went wrong this time..." He stretched out to make sure he didn't have a tail or anything else random. "Well brother, looks like I am stuck with you for awhile longer."