Bab 586: Chapter 586: The Mysterious Quartet
In the vast realm of Azeroth, the ever-determined Anduin knew he could never out-argue Boralus. In truth, the noble Duke Boralus, with his unwavering loyalty, was their top choice to hold the fort when the three chiefs were absent. However, Boralus's only flaw was his rigidity, which sometimes made him inadaptable.
Shrugging, Anduin remarked, "If it were up to me, I'd bring the entire Stormwind Knights with me. But that miser Terenas only granted us a parade quota for a thousand men. Any more, and we'd have to supply our own provisions."
Duke, glancing at the hundreds of knights around him, noticed the envious expressions they had towards the few lucky ones who would soon pass through the portal.
It was a dilemma. While portals offered time-saving advantages, their capacity was limited.
Hadn't Dalaran, with all its mighty mages, managed to send only about a thousand to Grim Batol?
One either had to set sail twenty days in advance like King Llane or reduce the number of attendees.
Anduin then realized Duke had brought along a seemingly larger entourage than expected. It looked like they were all attending the Triumph Ceremony.
"Hold on, Duke. How many can you teleport to Lordaeron at once?"
"Twenty," Duke replied nonchalantly.
As he spoke, the knights behind Lothar, already dressed in their parade uniforms, looked visibly crestfallen.
They quickly did the math. Between Duke's entourage of ladies, maids, and elite guards like Gavinrad and Windsor, they were almost at twenty. That left space for just one more.
Duke swiftly raised his hand to halt Anduin's question, "Worry not. I've recently acquired some exceptional followers."
With a snap of his fingers, an icy snort echoed from the void.
The sound startled even the battle-hardened knights, prompting several to instinctively reach for their swords - even the ornamental ones.
Suddenly, a portal radiating a blue-white glow opened near Duke. Four figures stepped out in single file.
Duke introduced the first, a red-haired female knight whose ample assets almost burst out of her Stormwind formal attire. "This is Lady Legolas."
"Hey there!" Her greeting, coupled with her imposing figure, caused quite a stir among the knights.
Next was a petite elf, dressed as a ranger in green, exposing a tantalizing navel. Surprisingly, she bore no bow or weapon, and her eyes remained closed.
"This is Lady Thera, well, she's actually a druid."
"Hello, I am Thera," her gentle voice invoked a protective instinct in the knights, causing another wave of murmurs.
The third was a male elf with bronze skin, showcasing a warrior's attire and a single ponytail. He seemed lost in thought.
The fourth, clad in a mage's robe, resembled the legendary Night Elves. The cold hum seemed to emanate from him.
Bypassing the third, Duke introduced the fourth, "This is Archmage... uh... Goofball. I mean, Ghos. He can be a bit... moody. My apologies in advance."
Ghos simply nodded in acknowledgment, paying no heed to Duke's playful jab or the surrounding crowd.
Their unique presence was undeniable. Everyone present were seasoned warriors, yet when faced with these four, especially the two male elves, there was a palpable tension in the air.
Lothar swore he hadn't felt this alarmed even when facing the Grons, monstrous beings taller than Ogres of the Horde.
Whether it was the fiery Lady Legolas, the gentle Thera, or the seemingly formidable male elves, they all exuded an aura of grave danger.
"Duke, a moment!" Anduin pulled Duke aside.
"I know what you're about to ask," Duke interjected, "I can't answer now. But I swear on my life and honor, they pose no threat to Stormwind or the Alliance."
Lothar, hands on his hips, remarked with an exasperated tone, "I may despise this aura of mystery you and Medivh always carry, but I've grown used to it."
Seeing Lothar's almost comically indignant face, Duke couldn't help but chuckle.
"Why complain? I could simply let your knights make a brief appearance in Lordaeron?"
Suddenly, every ear perked up.
For the humans of Azeroth, honor and valor are paramount. After enduring immense sacrifices and hardships to defeat the Horde, every knight hoped to proudly participate in the Triumph Ceremony.
So, in a way, boasting is an innate trait of humans.
Lothar's face twitched, "Duke, you're complicating things. You know how much effort it took to select these representatives. Now, with one word, you've ignited their hopes. Can you even teleport all five hundred of them?"
Lothar's "whisper" was almost as loud as a shout. The knights' hopes faded as they realized the improbability.
Duke smirked, turning to Ghos, "Hey, Ghos, can you help teleport these knights to Lordaeron?"
Ghos acted as if he hadn't heard.
"Can't even open a portal?" Duke provoked.
Without uttering a spell, Ghos conjured a portal towering two stories high. Through the hazy veil, the unmistakable snow-white walls of Lordaeron were visible.
A collective gasp echoed.
But just as swiftly, Ghos closed the portal, leaving only the lingering arcane energies as proof of its existence.
Ghos stood aloof, as if the entire world owed him.
At this point, Lady Legolas seemed agitated, "Hey, what's the issue with Duke keeping what he promised you? Behave, and maybe I'll consider giving you a treat later."
Ghos immediately conceded.
Duke turned to Lothar and the knights, smiling, "Gentlemen, prepare. We'll regroup in half an hour."
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
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