(20) - The Stolen Sacrifice/Second Payment

Griffonclaw snuck into Selvaggia's room, carrying a gunny-bag full of his armor; he had arranged for a hot bath before joining her, washing away the stink of his labor that night. He had been asked by members of the Argent Exodus to help infiltrate the undead-controlled side of Stratholme, and had done his utmost. He had said good night to his lover through their empathic link, and had spent some time cleaning his weapons and armor. The laundress had his gambison and tabard, and he had brought a fresh change of clothes from his house in Stormwind.

Morning would find a large breakfast brought up; rashers of bacon, toast, eggs, and a large pot of tea, with cream and honey for Selvaggia.

Last night had been difficult... she had been summoned to a meeting with Keruptis while he strove in Strathholme, and when he had returned to Stormwind he had been told of a slave trapped in the Crypt... no food to eat, and no water to drink but the corpses suspended under the water of its chamber. Griffonclaw had thought it a story to decoy him away... but it was not.

He had breached the vaults of the Crypt, calling out for her... but no answer. She was probably too weak from thirst and hunger... or worse, that she had succumbed and eaten or drunk tainted sustainence. The Crypt was where Keruptis pursued foul necromancy, and the air was rife with unholy power.

Near the gates he had found one of the Scions, standing guard. She was - as were most of Keruptis' minions - full of beauty and dark power, but was also a perfect opportunuty for Griffonclaw to add to the payment owed Keruptis.

He confronted her, walking towards her.

"Scion" he had called, "I have come for the slave you hold here. Where is she?"

"I have no idea of what you rant" she had answered. "And you trespass here at your own peril"

Griffonclaw grinned, pulling his glaive from over his shoulder. "I will ask one more time only. Where. Is. She."

"Ask someone who knows your answer, sirrah!" she responded, defiant. "Who are you?"

"I am Griffonclaw" he answered, and immediately she began to incant.

She was yet young to her power, and the battle did not last long. He dropped his glaive and drew Doombringer, ready to use its keen edge to take her head, sending her soul to the nothingness that was the Twisting Nether...

...but could not.

This one hadn't been at the sacrifice, and Griffonclaw found that he could not sentance her. He doubted not that she was guilty of some crime, but if he could love Selvaggia, how could he kill her thus, in cold blood.

The answer was, he could not.

When Catrionae had been sacrificed, Griffonclaw had lost his grip through a conflagration of fire and rage. He sent Gaaron to eternal nothingmess without a qualm; he had been the person who had originally wounded Catrionae in the first kidnap attempt. But this one... had never, to his knowledge, done anything to deserve damnation.

And so, he walked away, leaving her alive.

He had found the slave - a Kaldorei named Dathala - and taken her from the Crypt... and sent mail to Keruptis, telling him that he would have to find a new sacrifice, and that he had spared Aellyn, showing mercy to torment Keruptis further; how must in rankle that he could not protect his own people, especially one of his lovers?

When you can't find it within you to kill the lemon, make lemonade. Or something like that.

He took her back to Stormwind, where it was explained to him by Reyvan that she now considered herself Girffonclaw's property, and that if he tried to free her, she would just seek another Master. Griffonclaw had put her to bed in his house, bought her food and drink. Later, he would find a tutor so she might learn Common, and ask Velisana, his Kaldorei warrior friend, to train her.

And in the morning, he would tell Selvaggia, and ask her advice.