In The Hands of the Enemy

[Skafloc]

Concentrate... listen. The sound will guide your arm. There! "

The tell tale clicking told him the beetle was close by. In front and just to the left. His arm hovered out in front of him, poised to strike. Not that he could see it, the blackness of his cell was absolute.

Wait....wait... now!

His hand shot down with lightning speed. There was a satisfying crunch of the beetle shell under his palm, which was scooped up with a flick of the wrist.

Licking his dry lips Skafloc brought the protein up to his mouth and slurped it down, fighting his gag reflex. He scarce noticed the acrid flavor, his taste buds having long since been numbed from lack of moisture. Still, he had to focus to calm his stomach. He needed the sustenance and could ill afford to lose more fluids from vomitting.

How many days had it been? 8? 10? Skafloc couldn't be sure. Certainly more than a week since luck failed him and he was surrounded by the Sunfury acolytes deep within the caverns beneath Manaforge Ara. Sunfury acolytes and more. With them were Burning Legion minions.

How many had he slain before they hemmed him in? Skafloc had lost count. In a desperate ploy to escape he and Wotan leaped off a precipice into a dark void within the caverns. Long they fell, until he landed with a stunning impact.

Then all went black.

The next memory was of pain. Delicious, wracking pain. The pain jarred him from his dreamless slumber into the reality of his situation.

He was a prisoner of the Arcatraz.

Legion minions took turns flaying his body with electrical energies, while his so called 'brethren' feasted upon his mana. For what seemed like days they worked on him, asking no questions, giving no quarter.

Skafloc made no pleas, asked no mercy. The only sounds were the involuntary gasps and cries of pain.

Oh yes, he screamed. All those tales of brave heroes enduring torture in stoic silence be damned! Lies all. Fanciful stories to inspire and amuse the hearts of the simple folk, sitting carefree beside their campfires. Knowing naught of the perils and dangers that are kept at bay around them. Their heroes are larger then life, gods and godesses among them with wills of adamantite.

The truth is far more mundane. Far more bloody and agonizing. Torture will result in screaming. Period. Oh yes some might hold out for considerable time, but eventually, in matters of hours if not minutes, the reserves are taxed and the body reacts of its own accord.

All that is left is the mind. Left to retreat to its dark reaches, so as to not listen to its host body screaming.

A skilled torturer can however draw the mind back.

The acolytes of Kael'thas were indeed skilled.

It was upon what he guessed was the fourth day that Skafloc began to recognize the signs of frustration upon their faces. No food, no water his mana being torn from him leaving him nigh wretched. His body flayed by electricity and by myriad barbed tentacles of the minions.

Yet still Skafloc's vitality remained.

In the end they tossed him into a light less cell. To await what end Skafloc could not say.

How many days? Certainly a week.

He licked his palm clean, taking in all the protein.

Then he quieted his mind.

There. The tickling. Yes.. I sense you my friend. Patience. Stay put. I will call for you soon.

Skafloc chuckled to himself in the dark. " Yes. As soon as I get out of these posh accomodations. "

[Lovely]

((Lovely is gonna be piiiiiiiissssssed!! Great writing. Miss ya Skaf))

[Skafloc]

" Ensure the early harvest is completed in time. The herbs need to be fresh for market. I want you to make arrangements with the Mur'Zunni Export Company for the distribution. Miss Kimiji will be your contact."

Chauncey nodded as he took down his notes. " Will you be gone long Sir? " he asked.

Skafloc shrugged, " that depends on the Sunfurys and their stubborness in protecting their foreman. "

His preparations complete he made his way to Silvermoon to take care of the final arrangements and make some last minute purchases. On the way he checked in on Marthin Sunfire. The man was away on some errands, but Nellani and the girls gathered around him, trying their best to stuff him full of pastries and tea. They asked many question about Nymare; " how is she? is she eating properly? is she a great farstrider yet? "

Young Anaralah was wearing a green and brown leather hunting outfit and carrying a toy bow. With her blonde hair tied back in a ponytail she looked the very image of a young, bright eyed Nymare. " Can you teach me how to shoot Skaffy? " she had asked. He promised to teach her upon his return, but for now he was leaving on an important mission to save our peoples. Nellani raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Doubtless she worried that she risked loosing another daughter to wanderlust and adventure.

Skafloc made his pleansantries, promising to pass on his well wishes to their eldest daughter. As he left he slipped an purse of gold into the drawer of the little reception room desk.

The journey from Silvermoon through the portal and onward to Netherstorm was uneventful. A brief stop over in Shattrath to visit the Aldor leaders and explain his mission. They directed him to an agent of theirs who stood watch over the Manaforge from across a great chasm.

It wasn't until he was deep within the caverns that he began to realize something was amiss.....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Skafloc woke with a start. A sharp pain flashed up his arm from his fingers. Something had bit him in the dark. Lying still he waited and listened. Eventually he heard the telltale squeak of the rodent.

Rats..

He contemplated letting the rat approach again, then to strike. Rat meat would be more filling than beetle.

Then through the fog of his mind a plan started forming. It was a long shot, but he had little to lose.

Quieting his mind as he had been taught, he opened his thoughts. Reaching out with his conciousness he sought the rat.

There. I sense you. Calm little one. Calm. We are one.

Suddenly the darkness of his cell exploded into a field of shimmering infra red images. The sensation brought a wave of vertigo to Skafloc as he readjusted himself to the new perspective.

He was seeing his cell through the eyes of the rat. What he saw looked grim. He was unchained and naked within a small stone cubicle, 10x10x10. There was only enough room to turn about. There in the corner he saw that the pile of feces he tried to keep as far from his resting place as possible was indeed much closer than he had realized. On one side was a small iron door. Big enough only for one man to pass through. At the base of the door was a small porthole for the serving of food.

Not that he ever saw food or water these past days.

Looking at the door through his rat's eyes he saw the opening. The porthole had a gap in it at the left side. Large enough for a rodent to creep through.

Concentrating on that gap, Skafloc sent his little avatar forward.

Onward little friend. Through the hole and beyond..

The rat squeezed past the hole and emerged into a darkened hall. At the far end was the glow of firelight. Creeping forward the rat aproached the light. Through its eyes Skafloc saw the reclining form of a Sin'dorei in slumber.

A ring of keys dangled from his belt...