The next morning, she surveyed the scene with a detached sort of interest. Behind the training yard line, their current recruits stood, full armor, at the ready. An impressive site to some. They were waiting on two things to happen. One was the wagon load from a town down the way, and a portal. As the portals in to Draenor were stabilized, they allowed for more troops. Additional training was needed if these troops were to survive this savage new world. Lately, it had gotten out that troops trained by Grogek were tougher and better at survival than the traditionally trained. Several of his top picks had key guard positions.
The crowd shifted as everyone turned to observe the wagon train ride in. Once it came to a full stop, about fifteen troops filed in to the training yard. At the General's command, they formed a couple of lines. Elunara began to furiously sketch as hard and fast as she could manage. The Mages stepped up to the platform and began to channel. This was a little more difficult as the runes changed too rapidly for her to even get a basic sketch. Then the portal was opened and a steady stream of men formed lines behind the first men. Each man was fully armored, with weapons, and backpacks on their backs. A set of crates and barrels and other miscellaneous goods was transported through until one of the mages collapsed. Elunara recognized the signs of magical exhaustion. Thankfully Ina was there with a couple of new healers to help out with the mages.
Elunara counted thirty new soldiers from the portal. The General began to address the crowd, but she only listened with half an ear as she sketched. He explained basic rules and the layout of some of the town and the expectations. Renwa held out a hand.
"You will all take orders directly from Commander Grogek!"
Elunara's head snapped up and she openly stared. The men from town all murmured amongst themselves, but it quickly died out. Grogek was far too disciplined, and the untrained eye could see nothing. She, however, knew that face well, and saw the widening of the eyes, the barely parted lips. He was just as blind-sided as she. The General continued on, ignoring all else, until she stepped aside to let "Commander" Grogek speak.
"Why is it, your precious Alliance continues to send me CHILDREN?" He bellowed.
Elunara inwardly smirked. The difference between the new men and the town's men was drastic. Grogek continued about his usual huffery as she examined the new recruits.
She leaned on her board and cocked an eye at Renwa.
"I was going to tell you yesterday, but I got sidetracked by that damned communiqué"
"He's extremely honored, I assure you."
"You'd know." Renwa shrugged. "Damn them. They told me we were getting fifteen new recruits through the portal, not thirty. They sent some extra supplies but according to the shipping docket, it's not all here. I'll have to see if we can get the mages to try again."
"I have no qualms about using my services to get more supplies."
"We'll keep that in reserve." He sighed. "I'm not sure I have room for all of them."
"Do you need our building back?"
"Hopefully not." He shook his head. "Maybe we can rearrange a bit. Promote a couple of troops, ship them out to destinations. We'll make the space."
She tapped a pencil on her board. "You never used to come to me with this stuff."
"I..." He blinked. "Hmm."
She stood up and tucked her stuff into her board and closed it. She handed it to Renwa. "I think it's time for a demonstration." She grabbed her staff from the weapon rack and sauntered on over to the edge of the ring.
Renwa took a peek in the board and grinned at her drawings. Yeah, he could see the surprise on Grogek's face.
Grogek was going through his list of expectations, when he spotted Elunara. He thrust out his hand.
"This is Elunara. Know her, fear her."
She smirked at that. "Up for the usual?" She called.
He grinned at her as he hefted his axe on to his shoulder. "Which ending are we taking?"
"The one where I embarrass you in front of your new recruits."
"I thought you said we wouldn't repeat the performance in front of Grommash."
She cackled and twirled her staff.
"Get your asses out of the way!" Yelled Gerald.
The new recruits looked confused, but managed to clamber to the sides of the ring. Grogek and Elunara stepped in to the ring on opposite sides.
They began their dance of death.
They warred for quite some time, and Elunara huffed and puffed. Grogek was getting meaner. "Oh, you have been going soft on me, you big jerk."
He laughed. "Heart of my heart, I could never go for blood. Yours runs hot enough as it is, I might burn myself."
She pointed her staff at him. "Was that an insult?"
He held his hand out and did a come here gesture. "Come, little she-wolf."
"You said that last night, but the tone was different." She mimicked.
He roared in laughter. She struck the inside of his thigh with her staff. He yelped. "Watch where you are aiming!"
She darted backwards. "Like I'd injure those... I use those."
He started to laugh again, but she caught him under the chin. He roared and swung but she'd already made her opening, she jumped on top of the axe and ran up the hilt, across his arm. She dodged him as he attempted to grab her. She whacked him in the head and slid down his back, her heel connecting with the back of his knee. He fell over backwards.
"Impressive." He grinned.
One of the new recruits leaned back. "Are they just toying with each other?"
Gerald nodded. "They're lovers. This is foreplay to these lunatics."
"They're killing each other."
"Trust me. He's not even trying, and she just thinks it's funny."
He popped up and took a swing. She jumped on his axe again, but he was better prepared. She took the connect, but had already done her damage. He held her up by the leg.
"Cute trick, but it won't work twi-" He dropped the axe and stared at his hand. "What did you do?"
"Numbed it."
He shook it. "Damn it." He shook her.
She giggled before swinging up and grabbing him by the fangs. "My point." She said, before twisting herself with a yank in such a way, that she toppled him forward. The movement caused him to fling her over his head. With a lithe movement she landed neatly on the edge of the ring.
"See? You can bring down the Iron Horde!" She cried cheerily.
"You cheat." Grogek mumbled. He stood up and cracked his neck.
"Damned skippy." She winked.
"Wait, how did she cheat?" asked one of the new recruits.
"Because I have spent the last thirty years learning everything there is to know about the body. Pressure points and what they do." She grabbed Grogek's outstretched hand and popped it back in place. As he flexed his hand, she continued. "I've also spent the last several months figuring out how those same pressure points work in an orc body, namely his. No, you won't be learning from me. I couldn't teach you if I tried. So yes, I cheated. This was never a fair..."
Grogek went down on one knee and blinked at her in confusion.
"Shoot, I forgot about that one. Hold on." She knelt down, and reaching under him, jammed her fingers in a couple of points. "That better?"
