D101 Chapter 198

Transformed into a common bat no larger than a man's fist, Varimathras had taken to the skies, and flown overnight towards the Elven city floating in the sky as Balnazzar had commanded. 

Whilst he flew closer to his target, Varimathras ruminated on the events that had recently transpired. 

Detheroc, Varimathras concluded, was such a simpleton. To so eagerly throw himself at the Ashbringer, and speak out of turn at their father, he was asking for death. 

Balnazzar, meanwhile, may pretend to be a fair moderator, but he enjoyed the strife, it kept him feeling as if he were in charge. That's why Varimathras kept antagonizing Detheroc, to keep the suspicion at bay. But Balnazzar was clever, and with father's latest blessing, it was only a matter of if, not when he would find himself falling into Balnazzar's plot. Oh, not by his own claw, Balnazzar would still want his cooperation millenia later whenever Varimathras escaped his punishment, but he could smell the stench of his brother's plot from a mile off. 

In fact, this ‘assassination’ mission was likely part of Balnazzar's scheme. Varimathras was not so stupid as to think that his eldest brother did not already have spies amongst the Elves. 

This was a gamble, an opportunity. 

Balnazzar was wagering on Varimathras's greed. That he would not be able to control himself, and attempt to destroy the Dragonborn by himself, claiming all the credit and glory along the way. 

That based upon the information Balnazzar was privy to, he expected Varimathras to perish. 

However, if Varimathras did not act upon the Dragonborn, then Balnazzar would be in a prime position of command, and should victory fall upon their heads, he would reap the lion's rewards. 

His eldest brother truly was as cunning as they came, Varimathras begrudgingly admitted to himself. 

Flapping his wings in a hurry to speed his journey up, Varimathras felt the pressure of this gamble on his shoulders. 

Making good time, Varimathras arrived at the Elven fortress city, only to notice that a barrier was active, and Arcane Towers swept through the area searching out foes with searchlights. 

It was a rather clever system, Varimathras had to admit. To penetrate a shield such as this, one could only do so whilst moving slowly. By doing so, they would open themselves up to the automatic defenses of these towers. 

Upon further examination, Varimathras noticed some sigils upon the walls that ringed the floating city. If he was not mistaken, these runes signified detection. 

Should he somehow bypass this first level of security, then a second one would lie in wait. 

“Ingenious.” Varimathras couldn't help but compliment. 

If only their own defenses were so sophisticated. 

His brethren, for all their wit and vaunted magical abilities, were not so keen on crafting, or the construction of fortresses. 

Their allies, the Eredar (Fel Draenei) possessed such inclinations, but were loath to work with any other possessing a lick of intelligence. 

Thus, Varimathras determined that the talents of these Elves, these Sin'dorei, were wasted on a backwater such as Azeroth. 

They had pushed back the Legion time and time again, perhaps he could find an angle through which they could be subsumed. 

Glancing one more time at this ‘impregnable’ wall, Varimathras scanned the area around him, and noticed an army on the ground, down below. 

The army was bright and shiny under the full moon. Their armor had been well polished, and their formation was close and rigid. 

“Ah, a parade, how lovely.” Varimathras purred as he saw his ticket in. 

Swooping downward, the polymorphed Dreadlord flew into the very top right corner of the portal. 

Emerging on the other end, he banked hard, and to the side. Finding a shadowed perch, Varimathras took roost, and observed the proceedings. 

Marching down the central path, the army had flowers thrown in front of them, and banners flapping proudly in the wind. Countless people lined both sides of the road and cheered. 

‘Unimaginative.’ Varimathras thought to himself, and was about to move on, but almost fell over as an incredibly loud noise boomed from his position. 

Pre-recorded music like no other began to blare from scrying orbs. The orbs were also used to project images of battlefield heroics on the buildings that the soldiers marched by. 

‘Creative. It makes one wonder if Maphela's claims to father were lies or not. I can see why he was so uncomfortable.’ Varimathras nodded to himself as he took the parade in. 

At the front of the column was the Demigod he was aware of. The recording of her torture sent even a chill down his spine. This was the wife his master had commanded they defile. 

That woman had a mastery over the Light and Void, creating the most terrifying combatant he had ever laid eyes upon. As a Fel practitioner, the Light already canceled out his strongest attacks, but the Void on top guaranteed that he would never emerge the victor in a head on collision.  

Deciding to steer clear of her, he began to fly between the crowds, and other showed perches in an attempt to listen for gossip, and other juicy tidbits. 

“Karwl says pray to Big Candle daily, and Big Candle give blessing!” A Kobold enthusiastically spoke to a group of Humans. 

“I do say, ever since that Archmage has been cleaning your pipes, you haven't come out of the bowels of Quel'Vanar for a week. You haven't fallen in love with a Human, have you Telonicus?!” A pretty Elf gasped in faux astonishment. 

“Lady Liadran, I have been in love with you for so long, but you never cared about my feelings. This is it, we're done, over! I have a new girlfriend, goodbye!” A blonde pretty boy Elf cried at a red headed lady, then ran away. 

After hearing many inane, and sometimes nonsensical conversations, Varimathras finally overheard something that had weight to it. 

“So…how is Kael? I heard he was in a coma. Is there really nothing we can do?” A Human woman began. 

“Pfah! He is King, he's the strongest, he'll pull through. But what's this I hear about you and a new boytoy, eh? Do tell, mouse.” A boisterous tall Forest Troll bragged, then began to tease her companion mercilessly. 

Varimathras picked up on this line of dialogue, and tracked it with great interest. 

The King, Kael’Thas Sunstrider had been a character of great interest to Varimathras. To learn that he was in a coma sounded like an opportunity. 

Polymorphing into an Elf, Varimathras joined the back of the crowd, and tapped another Elf on the shoulder. 

Eyes flashing pale yellow, he placed the hapless fool under a hypnotic geas. 

“Where is the King being kept?” Varimathras demanded. 

“Does no one follow the basic courtesy of sharing rumors anymore?” 

“Tell me.” Varimathras ignored the useless dialogue, and pressed. 

“Hmph.” The random Elf he asked snorted in disdain, and then walked away, sipping at a wine filled goblet. 

Varimathras stood still, stunned by what he had just experienced. 

Did he not sup on a droplet of Godsblood naught but three hours ago? 

Moving on to the next Elf, he received a similar response. 

“How uncultured, you lack all dignity.” 

And another. 

“Is this the state of decay the Elder Council warned against? Begone. Leave. Depart!” 

And another and another, until Varimathras had questioned several dozen Elves, and realized that for whatever Gods Damned reason, none would answer his question! 

For the first time in a long time, Varimathras was beginning to lose his cool. Then he met the Elf that peeved him the most, one who hurt him with a weapon Varimathras had thought he was the master of. 

Silence! 

The last one, a tall redheaded, aloof, contemptuous specimen of Elven kind turned away without so much as saying a word! 

‘Forget recruiting them to join the Legion, I should have them all genocided, and have their history stricken from the record! I thought it impossible for any race to be more smug than the Dreadlords. Almost makes dealing with the Eredar pleasant by comparison.’ 

“Uhm. Mister, Karwl knows!” The same stupid Kobold from earlier tugged on his clothes, and looked up at him with a good natured, pleasant smile. 

“Oh you do? Please my friend, I would be most grateful!” Varimathras said, acting like a bashful lad. 

“Haha, Karwl always happy to make new friends! Just go in the tower, everyone knows King Kael is in there!” Karwl pointed at the tower, then patted Varimathras on the side.

“Thank you, Karwl.” Varimathras barely got out. 

‘In the tower, it's so obvious. But to keep their coma bound King on the frontlines…these Elves are less wise than I had first given them credit for.’ 

“You go now, Karwl has to cheer for his housemates. Bye, Karwl see you around.” The Kobold enthusiastically waved, and then turned around to run off, only to trip and faceplant. 

Varimathras silently watched on as the Kobold scratched the back of his head in embarrassment, and then ran to the front of the line to clap enthusiastically. 

“House Vandercross! Syra! Woohoo! Karwl says hi!” 

Varimathras found the entire encounter to be queer, but he wouldn't allow pettiness to consume him. Yet. 

Once he located this King, he would possess him, then Varimathras would enact his revenge. 

‘Balnazzar, oh Balnazzar, in all of your calculations, you never did account for this possibility, did you?’ Varimathras chuckled to himself. 

Backing into an alley, the Dreadlord polymorphed himself into a bird, and took to the sky. 

The crowd by now was absolutely going into a frenzy. An Elf-one Varimathras recognized as Varrus Vandercross-was on a floating dias above the crowd, and was delivering a speech. 

“...which is why our kingdoms are being reorganized into the first intraspecies empire, to form a safe, and secure society!” Varrus's voice boomed over the crowd. 

Varimathras found the contents to be mildly amusing at best, but was more focused on finding a window or balcony through which he could enter the central tower. 

During his search, he discovered the perfect spot, a balcony on the upper floor, but two guards were standing nearby. What he needed was a distraction. 

“Now the words you've all been waiting for. Free food!” Varrus finished his speech, and fireworks poured into the sky. The explosive display created a stunning amount of light and noise. 

‘Perfect.’ 

Swooping down just as the glare from the fireworks was brightest, Varimathras infiltrated the tower without being spotted. 

Searching room by room, he eventually found a floor that was very heavily guarded. 

‘This is it!’ 

For this next part, he would disguise himself in a form that reduced his defenses to zero, yet would almost guarantee his infiltration. 

He polymorphed himself into a common fly. 

Buzzing his way forward, he saw a frail Elf male resting on a bed, and knew that to be his target. 

‘You are mine, Kael’Thas Sunstrider.’ 

Just as he was going to fly into the bedroom, the door was slammed shut, and a large gauntleted hand came from behind with the intent of crushing him. 

Varimathras dodged to the side, but caught a glancing blow to the wing. Instantaneously transforming back into his Dreadlord form, his wing reflected some of the damage done to him, and it hung crookedly. 

Without waiting for any opportunity at dialogue or a further attempt at subterfuge, Varimathras took action! 

“Silence!” Varimathras roared, and expanded his domain with the power of a one word spell. 

The domain was the color of fog, and was visible at the edges of the room. It took up an area up to the walls, and cut off the windows as well as the teleportation pad from being accessed. 

To any outside viewer, the events taking place within the tower wouldn't appear out of the ordinary, and if Varrus were to have an opinion on the scene, it would be as if someone had set a security camera on loop, only displaying the scene where nothing was happening. Meanwhile, the robbers were actively robbing the store. 

Furthermore, this domain prevented all communications with the outside world, and any noise produced by the combatants went unheard. 

Only Varimathras could hear within this zone, any attempt to sneak attack him, or catch him off guard would be noticed in an instant, and should he chose to speak, only his voice would be heard. 

Lastly, the domain acted as a shield of sorts, as anyone weaker than him would instantly fall asleep should they run into its edges. 

It was the perfect assassins tool, and his trump card. 

With this field up, Varimathras intended to kill his opponents quickly, and assume Kael’Thas's identity. 

It was a fool proof plan. 

As a bonus, it seemed that the one who had tried to foil his plans was the tall redhead. 

An uppity Hero, Varimathras would enjoy killing him.