Tale of the Lords.

[veyl]

The warm winds of the summer air twisted their way through the open streets of Stormwind. The city was bustling over the recent demise of the treacherous dragon and spectators were lining up to see the head displayed proudly at the gate. Drops of crimson blood tapered down from the severed neck, forming a tiny pool underneath the massive object. The people gasped in amazement that such a feat could be accomplished. Onyxia has been slain.

"Mum, I dun like it. Lets g' home. I wanna g' home," cried a little child. He was about the age of 9, brandished auburn hair twisted in knots that bobbed just before the tip of his nose. His youth screamed innocence with every twist and squirm of his body away from the wretched thing that was hanging before him. His tiny hand tugged at the long green dress of his mother standing in front of him.

"Alrigh' hun...I jus had t' see if the rumors were true..." the womans eyes were distant, forever staring at the dead beast. She was of a young age, about 26 from her appearance. Long strands of her sun painted hair were tied in a red bow just off her shoulder. A small tear was running down her cheek. She turned to look at her son with a smile. "That beast...she..." the smile ran off her face and she turned once more. "Your righ... les g'home."

The crowds marveling over the incredible victory caused a bustling in chatter that was quite common in the trade halls of Stormwind. Little stories of the beast scampered through the individuals, telling of her treachery and demise. The mother and child made their way through the crowd towards the entrance to the trade square. The sweet smells of the city trickled into their noses the moment they were in the open avenue. The deliciously newly made cheeses and breads sent the senses into a hunger frenzy. Stormwind at its finest. The sun was gleaming down from above, illuminating all of the finely designed materials of the dresses that were up for sale. Merchants announced their wares, trying to peddle them out to the poor unsuspecting sucker that figured they would get a deal.

"Mum...Can I 'av some copper for bread?' the child looked up hopefully towards his young mother. Baby blue eyes shining with a look that none could really say no to. His mother dug through her satin aqua bag, pushing around the copper to lay in the suspense. She smiled as she handed him the old copper piece.

"Remember t' ask Bothor about 'is son... I'll be waitin' righ here for ya," she said with a loving smile and sat down on an ivory painted bench. She watched as her son turned then stopped dead in his tracks. The crowd of the streets had all turned their attention to a single Elf that made his way along the cobblestone street. Small whispers began to insue, drifting like wildfire amongst anyone that was standing near one another Hands were raised above their mouths, covering gasps and also the sideways speech. The small child stepped back against his mother, unaware of what all the commotion was about. Her delicate hand rested on top of his shoulder with a comforting grab. "It's okay son... He won't harm ya..."

The tall night elf had his eyes focused in front of him, occasionally shooting glances in the directions of the bystanders whose whispers were a bit too loud for his liking. The icy cold aura poured out of every inch of his body and sent shivers down the trade squares occupants. The battletorn leather was tightly bound to his skin, almost as if it were apart of him entirely. The sun cascaded rays of light through the clouds in front of illuminating a single path for him to follow. Other random rays were placed at his side, simultaneously disappearing as he passed them. His strong, large hands swayed within every step he took. He was old, yet solid as a rock...never once casting a smile or anything of a happy nature.

"Mum..who's tha?" the boy looked up with those innocent eyes once more just in time to catch his mother wiping another tear from her cheek.

"Thas Veyl...he's very dear to our family," another tear had rolled off her cheek. The boy had only seen his mother like this once before and it was only moments ago when the head of Onyxia was being hoisted up into the archway. "He and your father fought many battles together...always there...always by his side. They were apart of a proud bunch ya see. They called themselves the Lords of Destiny," she broke off the tale with a small laugh remembering the first time her husband had informed her of their name. The happy moment only lasted a few seconds before droplets began to stream once more. The little boys tiny fingertips grasped at her mothers slender digits. He inched closerto her, cuddling up into her arms.

"Wha 'appened to em?" he asked cautiously not really sure of the past that he had came from. Her free hand was forever brushing up to her flush cheek to catch the tears that escaped her jade eyes.

"Well... There were ten of em. All strong men that came together for a common cause and set out on adventure after adventure. Every night I would worry sick about your father, so young and brash...so eager to earn the respect of the elders in the group. 'Specially Veyl, it was he who formed them after all. I'd pace the house until finally the door swung open with the two men stepping inside chatting about whomever or whatever they had just done. He was always around the house when you were a wee babe, watchin over us until the time came for him and your father to go..." her thoughts drifted again of memories past, choking her up just enough to force out a quicker stream of tears.

"Where are they now mum? I 'aven't heard of em til now, tell me wha happened to em....tell me wha 'apppened to dad." The boy tugged at her dress again with his free hand, the other held tight onto hers. The tears, however, turned into a waterfall of emotion. She began to cry in waves, emotions of her past catching up to her once more, filling her face with mournful warmth. Her arms outstretched over her child and pulled him tight to her body, hugging him and rocking back and forth.

During this, a teenage boy had listened to every word she spoke completely engulfed in her words and emotion. What was the cause of all this emotion...how could this elf have such an impact on a human...He had to know. He looked at the elf still strolling towards Old town and sprinted in that direction towards a merchant.

"Pop! What do you know of this Elf?" His dirty finger pointed outward towards Veyl. The teenager was filled with energy and a desheveled look. His clothes were old and torn, just like the merchants. Business must've been slow that day because the father looked very angrily up towards the elf.

"The only Lord alive...God save his soul," the raspy old voice said sarcastically. A loud hacking cough came bellowing from his lungs followed with a flying spitball from the mans mouth. "I take it you want to know the truth about him... That woman over there doesn't know much about it..." he nodded over at the young mother who had finally stopped weeping and was now drying off her face with a lavendar hankerchief. "That's Meryl, the wife of Aragold. Foolish kids, if you ask me. That Aragold was so enticed by the Elf that he left her and his son every single day to 'fight the good fight'. End evil where it stood, SAVE humanity and those thare allied with it... Filthy Elf lies. The poor boy followed that elf right to his inevitable death and so did the other members of the guild. He has some nerve showing his face in this town again...There's plenty a people wantin him dead for taking our friends away from us," the old mans words were coming fast and with more anger.

The teenager looked at him as if he were insane. From the womans story on the bench to this was a complete 180. Now completely intrigued the teen scratched at his wooly head.

"So...what happened?"

"Let me close up the shop and I'll meet you at the inn. This story is long...and you're now old enough to hear it," the old man responded while turning to lock up his broken down cart. "Well go lad! I'll be there in a few!" he yelled at his son and gave a swift, stubby leg kick to his ass. The boy ran off towards the inn across the square where he would await to hear the tale...of the Lords of Destiny.

[veyl]

The inn. A place of treachery, lust, broken hearts and broken dreams. If only the wooden walls could speak, the inhabitants would hear a chorus of sorrowful tales that would break even the strongest of hearts. Bartenders hear the stories day in and day out from the craftsman that spintered their favorite smithing hammers, to the warriors blood frenzying battle stories.

Today wasn't any ordinary day within the alcohol stained floors which were constantly mopped down by the serving wenches. The crowd was bustling in their seats and at their tables due to the recent demise of the giant dragon. The menace which tormented all of the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor was now bodyless, hanging from the archway to the great city. Loud laughters and voices erupted over one another to get an edge, but it was all the same conversations.

Onyxia was dead. Long live the heroes.

The giant brown oak door swung open as the young teenager from the streets flew into it without delay. Only a few heads turned to see the newest arrival to the inn, simply snickering to themselves and returning to their respective companies. The young teen slipped through the mass that huddled around the counter, awaiting their drinks with empty mugs and glasses in hand. He managed to find a small enclosed table (that had miraculously not been claimed) and parked himself straight onto the seat. His oval shaped eyes searched endlessly throughout the crowd looking for his father to make his entrance. The thoughts of the story that he was about to hear danced like wild brushfire in his mind. Was Veyl some evil murdering pig that caused the innocents to die? Was Veyl the bane of every Stormwind inhabitants past? He wanted to know, and wanted to know now. The thoughts of Meryl still lingered in the back of his mind as well. The poor woman that he watched weeping on her child as if the poor little one could give her the comfort that she needed.

"Aren't you a little young to be in here lad?" said the plentiful bussomed woman. She was your average, run of the mill serving wench. Her lacey shirt hung just off her creamy white shoulders, long brown hair dancing down the exposed surfaces of her skin. She had a smile that seemed to need a little help, as if it were forced out of habit. The empty glasses cluttered upon the tray that was held in her left hand. Her right hand was dilligently tapping away at her meaty hip. "You're that bastard Reginoldi's son, aren't you?" Her eyes shifted a bit, anger seemingly insued right after the question.

"Hi Gretch. He'll be in soon...He's going to tell me a story about this elf and the Lords of Destiny... Says it's a good one!" The overly emotional teens voice cracked mid-sentence. He appeared as if a child would on his birthday and was impatiently awaiting the big present to come. The woman, on the other hand, didn't seem so pleased to hear this.

"He is? He wouldn't know the story if he lived through it 'imself. Your father has a knack for letting the stories he tells to get out of hand," she winked. She obviously had been fed the tales in the past by this man. Her body language had completely turned upon hearing the news of the Lords. She placed the tray down upon the table and sat with the young teen. "I should probably tell you something of the truth before he gets his claws into you." She nodded then proceeded to speak rather softly. A nearby tables occupants had stood in disgust and moved away from them, muttering under their breaths about the 'bastard lords'.

"What has he told you already?" she asked pleasantly.

"Only that a bunch of people died from the Elfs guild...and Aragold was one of them," he shrugged and looked at her hoping for more information. "He didn't seem to happy about any of it...I didn't understand really..." the teen shifted once more, parched from the stale air of smoke that engulfed the inn. A dwarven hunter had just take up residence at the table that was abandoned moments before. He was smoking a long hickory pipe which was tucked somewhere in his blood red beard. A bellowing voice from within the Dwarf sent a song outward towards the table.

~Foolish men fell one by one
Fathers mourned their fallen son
and all because of one elfs pride
they all were slain right by his side

They signed up for a noble cause
Fighting evil without a pause
Each caught death in a terrible way
Four of them murdered in the same day

Two were struck down in their peaceful sleep
Three dropped dead in the netherwind keep
Lives thrown away into deaths embrace
Only a scar would remain on Veyls face.

Aragold the brave was murdered last
a foolish wish that his death came fast
Thrown on a rack, torn limb from limb
Worst nightmares wished not to be him

[veyl]

The song was ended with an abrupt hault as a mug of ale was launched at the dwarf. He laughed as it bounced off him, spilling its contents into his beard and lap. A few of the other inhabitants had already lifted up their mugs as if to sing along to the dwarvish tune, but after seeing the flying mug from Gretch they thought otherwise. The red bearded male huffed in his loud baritoned voice and slinked off towards the bar to find a towel.

"Anyway...Don't mind them. Stories get told ya see...Rumors start...and Lies are spread. It's the way of this city we reside in, horrible way at that too. Poor Veyl. His group consisted of very noble, honorable, and strong willed men. He came to Stormwind on an afternoon just like todays. The sun rays were beating down on all of the merchants, your father included ya see, and the streets were bustling with news of a war brewing. It wasn't anything new...There are always wars and always chatter about them," Gretch spoke as if she were reliving the moment right there and then. If it were up to her she could tell the young lad exactly what everyone was wearing, what they smelled like, and of course what they ordered to drink. She was an intelligent woman, despite her bimbo like appearance that is, and spoke very clearly and out right. The teen was twitching in his seat waiting for all of the boring jibber jabber to be done with and the point to be shown straight away.

"What happened to Aragold?!" he bursted out. His hand quickly clenched over his open his mouth in shock of what he just said. In his mind, he thought that the rude outburst might cause him to not hear the rest of the story, luckily Gretch enjoyed to tell stories of the past.

"Patience!...Where was I? Ah yes! The recruitment. Veyl walked straight into this bar ya see and slammed his bloodied swords straight into the floor. You can still see the holes, as a matter of fact. I remember the look on his chiseled face. He was defiant and dominant all in one facial expression. His hair was tightly tied and trailed down his chest in a very unique fashion. Ah, I remember that day so clearly. He didn't speak, he simply walked to the corner here and sat. He wasn't like he is now though...He was at least approachable then. One of the regulars in here, who despised his kind mind you, went over to him and said something. I couldn't quite hear him because of the loud jeering of the other bar scumbags. Erm, I mean... Well yes, it was the last thing that man said for awhile. Veyl had lifted him off his feet and pinned him by his throat to the wall in a blink of an eye. I remember the mans face...His veins were shooting out of every inch of it while he turned a pretty dark rouge. Blood had trickled down his neck where Veyls nails had dug in...and then down he went. The man ran so fast out of here I didn't even get a chance to get the silver he owed me. The bastard.

"Gretch...You're babbling again," spoke a light voiced woman from the side. She was a youthfull human for her age, perhaps a mere thirty. Flowing rosey colored hair twisted in a long pony tail down the front of her body and was being played with by her right hand. A sprial gold and silver band shined magnificently upon her ring finger. Her eyes were as blue as the ocean on a clear day, and yet so sullen looking. She made her way amongst the two and sat pleasantly besides the teen. "I'm Araeyl, wife of Semitos. Gretch would've eventually gotten to this...but you might've passed out by the time she did." She winked and gave a small smile that quickly faded away just as fast as it was shown. Gretch nodded towards the woman and patted the teen on the shoulder.

"This is one of the real stories lad, listen to her well," she nodded once more. "I've got rounds to do anyway, but I'll be back to tell you what I know of when Veyl came in here!" As bubbly as she spoke, she bounced off towards the patrons of the establishment, already maliciously ridiculing them.

"Hi...so...Who is Semi...semicose?" the teen looked away embarassed at not remembering the name.

"Semitos, and it's alright...there's nothing to be embarassed about," she spoke very kindly, lifting a small piece of candy out of her pocket and handing it to him. "I met Semi when he was apart of the Lords. He was so noble...every farm girls dream. He had strode down the main path out of Stormwind on a slightly chilling day when I ran into him...Literally. I had embarassed myself, much like you are now."

The teen looked away once more, even more red then before. He quickly shoved the entire piece of candy into his mouth to keep himself occupied while she spoke. Her eyes seemed to have glassed over during the brief seconds it took for him to devour the candy.

"A lot of people talk about love at first sight, but this was more. I had walked straight into his brilliantly glowing gold steed because I wasn't paying attention in front of me. I was looking along the road for stones to polish and sell in the trade square...and whap...on my arse I went. He dismounted his steed and put his hand down to me, I looked up and it hit me. It hit us, I should say. My heart raced in my chest, my face was flush from the sheer stupidity of my moment and also...well...I was just mesmerized. We fell in love right there on the path," the smile was permanently etched on her face as the memories flooded through her mind. The glassyness of her eyes became more full as more words drifted from her lips.

"Semi and I were wed on the shores of Teldrassil on a beautiful winters night. It was as if Elune herself had painted the stars for us. Veyl had brought us to a place that not many knew of. I belive it was something sacred to him...he seemed distant during most of the celebration...constantly looking out to the sea," she laughed. "One of the priestesses had even poked him with her staff during our vows. It was so amusing to me I giggled during mine!" tears were now flowing with her quiet laughter. "But yes...We were wed and so absurdly happy with one another," the smile had ran off of her face quickly as her eyes came to a close. The young teen was staring, completely enthralled with her tale so far, but still demanded subconciously to hear this bloody tale already. She spoke once again.

"You're still too young to understand what a love like we had was. There were moments at night where I would drift awake and find him smiling, looking into my eyes with such a warming sensation. I'd ask him if he had slept yet and he would always respond that I woke him up," she smiled even though her eyes remained closed, tears pinching out of the corners. "I'd fall asleep in his arms and hear his heart pounding fast and I realized it was all because of that one moment. A moment where we'd both look in each others eyes and have our lives jumpstarted into that blissful heaven..." her words trailed off. Her bottom lip quivered while the memories streamed before her. "He'd whisper in my ear that he loved me...and nothing would ever stop that...nothing." She shook her head, pushing the tears off of her flushed cheeks

[veyl]

The teen stretched and ruffled his hair at all of the sappy storytelling. He was quickly growing impatient and the emotions were now making themselves noticed. He had shifted more times on the wooden bench then anyone cared to count.

"So what happened to him..." the boy asked. It wasn't out of line, at least he didn't think so, but she was taken back by the sheer bluntness of the question. A look came over her face that had quickly flushed away the saddened emotional one.

"You're rather rude. I shouldn't bother with the rest of the tale if you're not going to listen to it. Do you always need to know the end of something before you know the beginning?" her eyebrow had perked up, pushing one tear down her cheek along the same trail that the others created. "If I wanted to make it quick, I would've just said he died, but that I'm sure you already assumed. You have no idea how much heart ache that miserable wretch of a being caused amongst the proud citizens of this city. And for what? It was all for his pride, all for his glory, all for his..." she was cut off abruptly. It wasn't because of someones actions or someones words, but more because of the complete opposite. The surrounding tables had all became motionless, listening intensly to the womans story and her now angered speech.

She had composed herself, eyes shifting back to her present company with a distant look. The patrons once again continued their meaningless conversations after realizing that the woman had caught them listening in.

"I'm sorry... You must understand that this is a terrible subject for me. That blasted Elf caused me to lose the love of my life. I would never again be able to wake up and see his beautiful green eyes sparkling in the dark from the candle light. I'd never again be able to hear his sweet voice, feel his loving embrace, hear him laugh at the most ridiculous things...All because of Veyl."

"But, why Veyl? What did he do?" the boy quickly responded with the question. His elbows planted down onto the table and his hands perched up his head against them.

"Veyl and the Lords had made such a name for themselves that others became very jealous...angry...vengeful, you name it they became it. Evil from all over these lands had taken notice of how they were losing their kin because of the group. Veyl thought it was funny," her face flushed red as her voice quickened. "He decided to take the fight straight to them..."

"To who?"

"Everyone that was evil. Whoever Veyl deemed to be a threat to the Alliance...It was all him. He told my dear Semi that an Undead warlock was passing through the lands, causing havoc and death in his wake. Semi thought that he could kill the bastard, claiming that 'anyone of the light' could not lose against an undead," her voice broke off the speed as she wiped away another tear with her hankerchief. "I remember the argument we had that morning that he was leaving. He told me that Veyl trusted him to do this on his own and that was that. There was no convincing him otherwise...I begged him to stay home, knowing full well that he wasn't going to return," she was cut off once more from the young teen. His eyes questionably looking at her. "What?"

"How did you know...I mean... How did you know he wasn't going to return?" His fingertips had clawed through his disheveled hair during the question. The womans eyes drifted to the table, then to the crowd, then up to the air as if searching for the proper way to respond. Her bottomlip quivered with another release of a tear from her eyes.

"I had a vision of it," her eyes closed after the soft whisper. "I dreamed it the night before as clear as day. It was the most vividly, disturbing thing I've ever dreamnt of. The undead tortured my dear Semi...his screams in the vision still echo in my head to this very day. The agony...just...the horror," her eyes opened once more looking at the young one. "This wouldn't be the first of the Lords that this warlock murdered."

"What do you mean?"

"She means that the bastard killed a few others," Gretch spoke as she planted herself down at the table again. Her rounds were over and all of the inhabitants of the bar seemed to be nice and satisifed with their beverages. They were too busy sulking, cheering, and doing whatever else it was that gave them a reason to be in the bar. "Veyls own wife was murdered by him...and his daughter!"

"Enough of that Gretch, those are rumors and you know it. What woman would ever put up with Veyl, never the less have a child with him," Araeyl responded with a quick spurt of anger. "But she is right. The warlock did murder a few others before he killed my dear Semi." She quickly took up a drink that Gretch had pushed in front of her and drank. Gretch sighed and looked to the young teen again.

"Did you want something?" she asked.

"I'm fine Gretch, really. I just don't understand how Veyl was blamed for this, I mean, he didn't kill Semi or the others. The undead did," he was quickly cut off with a small slap to his face from Araeyl. Her eyes were infuriated with a despising look from his words. The teens face began to turn pink, shaped in the form of the womans hand.

"There's more to it, if you would listen," she snapped. The mug had been smashed onto the table before the slap and Gretch was already soaking up the spilled contents with her rag. "Have you heard of Jonso? or...Heathe? More stories that you need to hear of before you go making a decision about Veyl. I won't have you mocking my dear Semis death with any kind of questioning of Veyls integrity. How dare you boy, how dare you."

With that, Araeyl stood.

"I'm going to the washroom to cool off. I will come back in a little while and if you're still here, I will tell you the rest, but only if you're going to listen and not ask foolish questions!" she exclaimed as she turned away from the table, marching towards the washroom. The boy was still rubbing his face, shocked that she had slapped him and also confused more then ever.

[veyl]

"I don't understand it Gretch, really...And she didn't have to hit me," he softly spoke while his eyes glassed up. "Am I that wrong? I don't get it."

"Ah Stephen Reginoldi! It's about time you came in," Gretch had quickly interrupted the boy as her eyes caught hold of his father. He wasn't much to look at, but he could talk a deal (or more) out of anyone. The boys father was smiling as he passed through the bustling crowd, sending nods towards the ones he knew and glares at those he despised. When he arrived at the table he smiled at Gretch, giving a small wink.

"Evening Gretch. The boy been behaving himself?" he asked with his eyes turning to the teen. The teen turned his face to the side, attempting to mask the handprint that was still stinging on his face. "I told him I would tell him a tale...but I'm sure you already got your claws in to him," he leaned over for a kiss only to be backhanded swiftly in his chest.

"He's fine Stephen, I honestly don't know where he gets it from though. Specially with you the way you are," she winked mockingly and patted the boy on his shoulder. "He did meet the unfortunate side of Ayrael's hand though." She nodded and pointed at the childs turned cheek. His father leaned over the table, twisting the imprinted cheek towards him with a finger under his chin.

"Said something about Veyl being innocent did ya? Silly boy, always running your mouth," the father huffed then slapped the teen on the back of his head. "Didn't I teach you any manners? Anyway...Where are we on the story?" He looked towards Gretch and then to the boy. "And where is miss Ayrael? I dun see her anywhere..." his eyes continued to peer around the room, searching for the woman.

"Pop...Who is, or um, was this warlock? He seemed to be known by all of the Lords and Veyl...was he a threat? Was he something to be afraid of if you weren't a Lord?" The teen looked up at him eager for answers, shifting in his chair once more. The imprint of the hand had drifted away, but his face was still flush from the emotion that was contained.

"Ah...Mordaek. He was a terror indeed. When he was human he was well respected amongst the...less...honorable. He was a bounty hunter that worked only for the extremely wealthy, knocking off political leaders and various other problem individuals. He was doing a deed for someone that he shouldn't have, failed at his task, and was murdered for it. To make his suffering worse, he was resurrected into the foul undead beast that he was. The problem with him was...he also became even more powerful with the, extended, knowledge that he recieved. He tore flesh from his new victims, seeking out those that wished him dead and toyed with their families lives as well. Sick bastard. I once heard that a business man had came home to find Mordaek running around with his daughters head pinned to his shoulder," Stephen grimaced a little thinking of the thought.

"Stephen! Lets not get into specifics about Mordaek...specially with her coming back towards us," Gretch pointed a dainty little finger towards Ayrael. She was slowly walking towards the table with drinks in her hands, eyes watching the overflowing mugs drip to the floor. Her mouth was moving, probably muttering small obscenities about the drink, and she was shooting evil looks towards those that nearly bumped into her. She made it to the table within a moment and placed the drinks down onto it.

"Hello Stephen, it has been a long time," pushing a forced smile she leaned in and kissed the side of his cheek. "I'm sorry...I slapped your boy. He just...I don't know...it's not my place...he said something about Veyl and I snapped. I'm really sorry." her eyes drifted towards the floor while sneaking onto the chair. She quickly crossed her legs underneath the table, firmly placing both hands between her knees. "The drinks are for you all...I didn't know you'd be coming so soon. You can have mine...really."

Stephen had smiled and shook his head, taking the glass into his hand and drank. Gretch's eyes couldn't believe the audacity of the man. It was only out of courtesy that she offered him the drink, fully not expecting him to take it. Gretch glared at the man, scooting out from behind Ayrael and slapped Stephen in the back of the head.

"I'll be back...don't worry about the drink Ayrael I'll fix ya up something special," Gretch smiled and walked off towards the bar.

"Anyway...I'm sorry Taik. I didn't mean to hit you...I'll continue with the story," she smiled again facing the boy. He nodded slowly in response and took up a drink that was there for him, sipping it slowly. "Jonso and Heathe were brothers. The two that I mentioned before I so rudely stormed off that is. Twins no less," a stifled laughter was covered up with her hand. "They were two of the funniest people I had ever met. Always laughing at one another, speaking at the same time, fighting in this very bar over some barmaid that they didn't stand a chance with. God forbid you ever called one the wrong name, their tempers would flare right up and they'd go after one another again!"

"Ah, those Mclusky brothers. They were amusing, that's for sure," Stephen nodded in agreement. He sipped again at the drink while Ayrael stared him down for his rudeness. "At least they died in their sleep."

Taiks eyes looked puzzled. He remembered part of the song that the Dwarf was singing earlier, it couldn't be a coincedence. Ayrael was handed a drink from behind her as Gretch made her way back to her original seat.

"Those twins...those rowdy, bastard men. They caused so much trouble in here that the other maids were askin for em to be barred from here, but they were funny. Oh my were they funny! I think that's the only thing that saved em from being ostracized by the owner." Gretch confirmed. Ayrael had already began drinking from the cup she was handed, thanking Gretch after placing it back onto the table.

"Yes, anyway," Ayrael spoke softly shifting her attention back towards Taik. "As your father so abruptly put it, they were murdered in their sleep. Their poor mum came home to find them lying arm in arm, completely blue from suffication. We only know they died in their sleep because..." her words drifted off. She wasn't entirely sure how they ever knew that they died in their sleep. "Anyway, they were dead and it was Veyls fault once again."

"Oh c'mon. How is this blamed on him too!?" Taik exclaimed, slamming the mug down with a small force that shook the other mugs on the table. His father shot him an aggitated look, one that seemed would've gotten him beaten if they were in any other place that was more secluded. Taik didn't care though, he was tired of all the bashing with no proof or reason. Both Ayrael and Gretch looked at one another expecting Stephen to stand up and smash the child. Ayrael quickly spoke to break the unnerving brief silence.

"There was a letter found on top of their bodies lad. The twins mother had read it to everyone in the town square, in front of the Cathedral, in Old Town...It was quite a spectacle."

"What did it say?" Taik asked, still sitting on edge awaiting his fathers anger to be released at any moment.

"It said that Veyl is the reason for their death. It said that the treacherous night elf wouldn't learn his lessons and that the twins would be the martyrs for it. They were killed because Veyl was stubburn, refused to step down, and just could not step back when he was over his head." Ayrael nodded with the last sentence.

"But...Isn't that what a leader is supposed to do? Stand up for everyone? Fight even without hope? I don't see how these two were killed because of something that is considered heroic. It doesn't make sense," the boys arm was clutched by a massively intense grip from his father, cutting off the rest of what he would say.

"Listen Taik. Veyl was into more then he ever let anyone see. His little crusades were nothing more then a mask to get what he truly desired. He wanted Mordaek dead and wouldn't stop at anything...and this was before Mordaek was ever cursed! That disgusting elf caused the death of the twins, plain and simple. Mordaek had found out about Veyl seeking to end his life and instead took the fight to him. He wanted Veyl to see how simple it was to kill and so he poisoned the twins, forcing them to choke on their own vomit or whatever it was!"

"You don't even know pop! You said before they died in their sleep...Ayrael said suffocated, and now you're saying that they choked on their own vomit! I don't believe this at all, I just don't. I think Veyl is the martyr here, not the twins!" with that the father slugged the boy with a closed fist. Taik hit the floor fast, nose bloodied from the partial blow from his father, and tears began to roll down his face. Stephen stood above him, inhaling deeply and completely infuriated.

"Don't you ever...EVER raise your voice to me again...or question me...Got that?" the man yelled. The two women sat at the table completely mortified. Their mouths were gaping wide opened in shock of the events that just transpired. Ayrael went to speak but couldn't find the words to say anything. Gretch, on the other hand, had already bent down to the child with a cloth in her hand to wipe the blood from his nose.

"I just don't get it dad...that's all..."

[veyl]

"Boy, you've got another thing coming to you when we get home," the father spoke angrily.

He was standing a few feet away, face still flush with anger, fist still clenched into a tight knit ball. His eyes were bloodshot as if he had one too many to drink that day and blended in with the rest of his skin tone. He began to pace slowly back and forth, either composing himself or readying himself to attack the child again. The inhale and exhales came more frequently as well as he thought about what the child had just said. The rest of the bar inhabitants had all turned their backs away from the squabble. Out of sight, out of mind...That's the old saying anyway. They continued on with their own stories, completely disconnecting themselves with what just transpired behind them. Gretch, who was now at the point of tears, slowly pushed away the teens tears while applying the cloth firmly to the bloodied nose. Aryael was still mortified. She couldn't bare to look at the teen, nor his pacing father, let alone make any comment or conversation.

"Still the same temper....still the same Stephen," a light, yet angry, voice floated into the middle of the dead silent space between them all. It was Meryl. Her arms were crossed while storming towards the keeled over teen. When she arrived at him she kneeled down before him, lifting her hand up above his face and gave a small comforting smile. "It'll be alright hun, don't ya worry y' pretty lil face. Lets see what we can do about this, okay?" A small shining light illuminated her hand and his face, the blood flow slowly coming to an end. Her free hand drifted up to his hair and trailed her frail fingertips through it lovingly. Her eyes were wide with sadness and yet, happy at the same time. Taik had looked up to her with a smile, his nose mended but still bruised.

"Thank ya..." he said softly to her not daring to raise his voice any louder then that in fear of his fathers striking him again. Gretch had shifted away from the two, picking up the empty mugs of their table and wandered off towards the bar. This conversation wasn't her place and she knew it well enough. Ayrael put her hand on Meryls shoulder while leaning down to apply a soft kiss to her cheek.

"I'll let you handle this...I'm glad to see ya again," Ayrael spoke and then slowly turned away. She made her way towards the door and slipped through a couple of soldiers that meandered their way through the door. She looked back for only a moment to say, "This is going to get ugly."

The three that remained were all quiet for a moment. Taik was still motionless on the floor, resting heavily on one arm. Stephen still paced, even more angry then ever, but his mouth would sealed shut for the moment staring at Meryl. She stood, turning to face him with an emotion filled twist. She stood with one arm pointing directly at the father scoldingly.

"You broke the boys nose, you angry bastard! If Lucy were alive to see this she'd have your head exploded with a blink of an eye. How dare you strike this child Stephen, How dare you! And of all places...in the Bar? A BAR?! You would discipline your child, close fisted, in a God damn bar?! If he were my child you'd have your gentitals strung out with violin strings and they'd be replacing those beady bloodshot things in your eyesockets!" she turned to look at Taik with a comforting smile then back angrily towards Stephen. "Does he even know who I am? Or who Aragold was? Or have you still decided that we're outcasts to your family."

Taik was even more confused now. He looked at her then his eyes trailed to him. Stephen stood there red as the lava in the great forge, fingertips digging into his palms of that closed fist. He didn't dare move his eyes off Meryls to look at Taik merely because of the shear animosity that was flowing through his veins. His fist was then plunged straight through the table next to him, splintering the end of it into a million shards of wood. Blood began to trickle from his knuckles where shards of wood were now visibly exposed in his skin.

"You aren't supposed to be here. You aren't supposed to be anywhere near us and you know that," the father said angrily. He flopped himself down into the chair near him with a heavy thump, fist once again hitting the table where it now remained. The blood still continued to drip from the exposed wounds, but he paid them no mind. "Why the hell did you come in here anyway...Don't you have your own kin to look after?"

"Not that it is any concern of yours Stephen, but my child is with our cousin," she replied. "I saw you send the boy to the bar and figured you were going to tell him more lies about Veyl...From the angry expression I've walked into...I figure I'm right. I dropped my boy off and came straight here."

Taik continued to sit there dumbfounded. Cousin? Their cousin? What was going on? He got to his feet and walked over to the table, picking up the spilled over chair and sat quietly into it.

"What's going on...What do you mean our cousin?...we're related?" he questioned cautiously. His eyes teetering back and forth between the two. Meryl also made her way to an open seat at the table, positioning herself between the two in front of the broken off edge.

"We're not bloody related!" Stephen exclaimed.

"He's right Taik, we're not related. Bless the heavens for that, but Stephen and Aragold used to be best of friends," she shot him another dirty glance then looked back towards the teen.

It was beginning to make sense now to Taik. All of the hostility that his father had towards Veyl, the unkind words about Aragold and Meryl, but some things were still in the air. Meryl turned her body to completely face Taik and took his hand with hers stroking it very lightly with a single fingertip. She gave a lovingly warm smile once more trying to put the boy at ease from this days events so far. Taiks face was flush both from her hand on his and his father striking him earlier. He sat uncomfortably not sure where to look or what to do.

"When aragold was murdered, Stephen blamed both Veyl and I. When Aragold disappeared he blamed Veyl for sending him off on a mission that he was sure not to come back from and..." she paused briefly looking at Stephen. "He blamed me for not stopping him. Aragold was a brave man...a brave beautiful soul, but there was no stopping him from trying to do what was right." she shook her head. "Did you tell him about Mordaek?"

Stephen sat there angry as ever but nodded. He looked as if he were ready to explode in an inferno of rage but for some reason remained seated clenching his own fists.

"Well...Mordaek was a bounty hunter. He was to be paid 400 gold per head in his bounty for the lords and accepted the offer. Veyl had gotten wind of this through some of his less...shady...contacts. He went after Mordaek to prevent any of the lords being murdered but that warlock was tough to track down. Veyl continuously had the men in pairs searching for him, but it was to no avail. He had gotten so frustrated that he, himself, went after him," she took a small breath to continue was interrupted with another slam of Stephens fist into the table.

"God damn you Meryl, don't you know when to keep your mouth shut?" he had yelled so loud that the soldiers that wandered in before both turned their heads toward the table. They were now watching the table just in case something were to come out of the screams into something more then that.

"You be quiet. I know why you're angry Stephen, but I don't hold it against you... As I was saying....Veyl had gone in search of Mordaek only to find out that one of his old companions had gotten to him first. He figured that the evil twit wouldn't be a threat against anyone left in the Lords and resumed sending people out by themselves once again. Veyl knew that all of the men could handle their battles by themselves and completely trusted their every actions. Aragold, however, still took your father out with him," she shook her head and looked away from Stephen. Her fingertips still softly caressing the back of Taiks hand. "Your father was with my husband the day he disappeared."

Taik looked at his dad, whose anger had now shifted into a different form of overwhelming emotion. The bloodshot eyes were now tearing.

"Enough Meryl," Stephen said. "Just drop it now before you say something you regret."

Meryl turned to look once more at the man. She shook her head again, brushing her own solitude tear off her cheek. The finger that was so sweetly comforting Taik had stopped.

"Fine...You tell him," she said softly. "Tell him the God damn truth for once..." with that she leaned back in the chair, arms crossed delicately over her stomache. The golden locks of hers had fallen behind the back of the chair with the small slouching motion.

Stephen looked down for a moment then looked at his son. His emotions were getting the best of him as he tried to speak. His hands had loosened up from the clenched fist and now his fingers were spread slightly on the table. Words began to seep out of his lips, half choked up from the emotion in him.

"Aragold...was my best friend. Him and I grew up together since we were children. We both dreamed that we would....one day save the world from everything evil. We would be brothers in arms... Brothers in arms," he looked away for a moment trying to hide something that had a slow course on his cheekbone. "Veyl didn't want me to be in the Lords however. He said that I should be at home, teaching you everything I knew, but when Aragold had a child? It was alright. The day Aragold disappeared I was supposed to go with him, but in a jealous fit of anger I told him that if he was such a champion that Veyl made him out to be that he didn't need a lowly peon like me. That was the last thing I said to him..." he shook his head and stood up.

"I got his head mailed to me in a box from Mordaek and a long letter that expressed every single detail of the torture that he put him through. The last lines stated in the letter were that it was all Veyls fault for keeping him from his bounty and that Aragolds death, and all the others, would be just for fun now. I blamed him as well...but I should've been there. Is that what you wanted to hear Meryl? is it?" he looked at her with saddened eyes then turned. "You look after my son. I need to go open shop again." He stormed off not acknowledging the pleas for him to stop from behind from both Meryl and Taik. The soldiers at the bar had left their positions and followed him about ten yards behind.

"I'm sorry Taik..." Meryl said quietly, her eyes drifting back at the teen. "Your father has a lot of anger from that day...You have to understand that."

Taik nodded. The boy was shocked and had nothing to say for once. His hands had folded up onto his lap and he slowly leaned his head down against the table. He closed his eyes while feeling the slow caressing touch of Meryls through his hair once more.

A scream shot out from the street and a young woman about the age of 20 ran through the doors of the bar and headed straight for Gretch. She had stopped and said something to Gretch that made her drop her tray of glasses, shattering them all over the floor. She looked over at Meryl and Taik crying uncontrolably, then ran quickly towards the door and outside....