Redlight King - Bullet In My Hand
I stepped forward, swiftly… It was only for the most important matters that we would be called to the Isle of Quel’danas to meet with a triumvirate, and this matter was incredibly important.
I saw the blue light flicker from the burning pyres, and the room was silent. Up above I could see all of those that had watched me seated in their same spots, with the Magistrate’s representative, a presiding Knight-Lord, and the Matriarch’s appointed honor-guard. I had not truly left the Blood Knight Order, but my sudden withdraw from the rank of Knight-Champion was enough to add question to where I stood now.
I stood and waited for the words of the grand council, who had been speaking swiftly and silently with one another. They had everything there was to have on me… writs of nobility, my honor-record, my affiliations, and every last misconduct ever reported to the magistry. They were to decide my fate, not on combat this time, but on past history.
They knew I was well-versed in combat, and there was all the evidence in the world to support it. All of Azeroth could attest to my strengths… but from circumstance, they all questioned my loyalty and stoicism.
The Knight-Lord stood and walked to the edge of his terrace, speaking in a booming voice that was no doubt even louder amongst the silence.
“Ileyan’adash Dragonbane, you are standing before me a second time now, to become a Knight-Champion. You have proven you have all the prowess, but what I must question is your fickle tastes in serving our people. It is not so easy to merely forgive you after conceding your rank upon deployment to Pandaria so that you might fight amongst the Sunreavers.”
The Knight-Lord paused before continuing on.
“You have been with us since the first year of our order’s creation, just a few months shy of the founding. You are formerly of the Quel’thalas legions, of Sunstrider’s honor guard, and of the Sunreavers. Your affiliations are not wrong, but they have proven to conflict with your duties. There is every reason in the world to grant you your medal of commendation and the insignia of your former rank, but by the sun, there are also a lot of reasons not to. Speak to me… Tell the Sin’dorei people why you deserve to climb back into such a seat of glory.”
I looked about as the people became loud in a rabble, speaking in a mixed sentiment over what would be my fate in the Order of the Blood Knights. I reached and grasped for whatever I could… The passion in my heart. Finally, I was able to speak out, silencing everyone as I did so.
“Enough! I am a patriot… I am a hero… I am a soldier… I -am- the Champion that our people needs. The advocate of Sin’dorei, the strength of our blood, and the pride of our nation— I will serve no matter how I am called. Give me my insignia back and I swear to you… I will topple our enemies and stand as a bastion of resolve.”
And with that, I straightened my tabard, banging my fist to the carapace beneath. The assembly erupted loudly, and while the Knight-Lord hadn’t said anything, I knew from the reaction that my words had been enough to inspire faith in me.
I, the Blood-Wyrm, have sought out my former greatness… Lo and behold, it turns out that I had never lost it.
