Icecrown Citadel (9)

I should still be in mid-air; the sound of the propellers is reassuring. The presence of Dwarf, humans, and Draenei means this airship belongs to the Alliance.

"Saurfang?" Nathanos looked at the Death Knight with some surprise. He had many questions and was clearly puzzled by the sudden appearance of the Skybreaker.

"That was close, I thought you were dead. What are you doing here? Where is the others?"

"If your mage had been any slower in casting teleport on me, I would have had to try Frostmourne's wrath again," Nathanos replied. What did Saurfang mean by "others"?

Furthermore, he looked around at the people with a strange expression, just as they looked at him. "How did the Skybreaker get here? Did Mograine send you?"

"I'm not the captain of this ship," Saurfang said, his gaze still fixed on where the Lich King had been. "And the Highlord didn't mention why you were in Icecrown Citadel, let alone fighting the Lich King."

Suspicion gradually crept onto Nathanos's face. After glancing at him, Saurfang explained, "It was said by the Ranger-General of the Silver Covenant!"

Sylvanas!

Nathanos was startled, wondering how she knew. But recalling Lansber and the Alliance warriors, the Witherer almost immediately confirmed it was Veronalara. Had the Dark Ranger met with trouble in Dalaran? Or had she already contacted Sylvanas? Were those people sent by the Female Elf? Nathanos, belatedly realizing the situation, suddenly understood many things. But one thing unsettled him: Sylvanas had sent the Skybreaker to rescue him; Varian would definitely find out, and he might even investigate thoroughly.

I remember Sylvanas as very intelligent, and she doesn't get along well with Varian. How can she escape the wrath of the Ghost Wolf?

"The Silver Covenant? I've heard of it..." The Witherer feigned ignorance. "What did she say?"

The Skybreaker was rapidly leaving Icecrown Citadel, and strangely, apart from Saurfang, no one else came to speak with Nathanos. It seemed that it was this Death Knight who offered to save him, and only he dared to talk to him.

Instead of answering, Saurfang grabbed the Witherer's arm and demanded, "Why are you here? What are you and Mograine plotting?"

"What does this have to do with you?" Nathanos said coldly, realizing that he had made a mistake by inadvertently revealing Darion's name in his eagerness to know the reason for the appearance of the Skybreaker.

Saurfang responded with a cold laugh, "The timing is too coincidental, the Witherer. You must have caused quite a stir in Icecrown Citadel, and during that time, the Highlord also disappeared."

"Are you spying on Mograine?"

"Not really, it's just that I'm now affiliated with the Alliance, so... it's my duty."

The two men stared at each other for a long time until a soldier with a gun approached and said somewhat awkwardly, "The commander wants to see him." The soldier pointed at Nathanos. The two men, who had been locked in a stalemate, turned to him at the same time, and the sight of one red and one blue eye made the soldier's heart tremble.

"Do you want to see him?" Saurfang asked with a smile.

Nathanos retorted, "I can kill everyone on this ship."

"They are all your saviors."

After another silence, the Death Knight recalled the scene when Sylvanas arrived. In fact, the Female Elf only said that her soldiers had gone on a dangerous mission and needed the Skybreaker to come and meet them, without mentioning that the Witherer were also here.

Nathanos was also pondering Sylvanas's actions. There was no doubt that Veronalara had revealed his whereabouts, those who followed him, and their constant protective presence around the Witherer...

Was Sylvanas helping him? Nathanos's thoughts gradually became clearer. He was certain that the ship's original purpose was not to save him. The Forsaken were not allies of the Alliance, and the Alliance would never send out an entire airship to save a single Undead.

Perhaps the Female Elf used some kind of lie or trickery. Yes, that must be it! She didn't tell the leader of the Alliance Forsaken and the Silver Covenant that they were together, otherwise she would have faced suspicion and distrust. Saurfang was the only one who knew the Witherer, and seeing Nathanos fighting the Lich King, he chose to lend a hand and send the Skybreaker to provide emergency support.

It is certain that Saurfang had no prior knowledge that he was in the Hall of Reflection.

Nathanos strained to break free of Saurfang's grasp. The Death Knight, however, had no intention of letting him go. "If you don't tell me, you won't leave the Skybreaker."

"If you don't let go, I can assure you that your sister won't live to see her reunite with her brother."

Lylessa! Upon hearing the word "sister," Saurfang instantly released the Witherer.

Nathanos nodded in satisfaction. "A wise man knows when to yield; you've made the right choice."

"The Alliance won't let you get away with this."

"Your loyalty is misplaced, Death Knight," Nathanos sneered. "I've heard you have a friend on Horde zeppelin. One day, when war breaks out between the Alliance and the Horde again, will you kill him on the battlefield?"

"I will!" Saurfang said without hesitation. He thought to himself that Nathanos knew about Koltira, which showed that the Forsaken exceptionally good at gathering intelligence. "I will take him down on behalf of the Alliance."

A mocking laugh escaped Nathanos's lips. He hadn't even mentioned the Knights of the Ebon Blade' attack on New Avalon, or how Saurfang had single-handedly infiltrated the Crimson Crusade's castle to rescue his captured comrade. This clearly showed that the two men's relationship was far from ordinary, possibly even surpassing brotherhood.

"Stop being foolish, Saurfang." Nathanos ruthlessly exposed the Death Knight's lies. "The dark power within you will forever be the reason the living fear you. You may gain your sister's approval, but can you gain the trust of your own race?"

Saurfang stared at the Witherer in astonishment, unable to utter a word.

As his laughter faded, Nathanos leaped backward, landing firmly on the railing at the edge of the spaceship. He glared at the soldier waiting to take him to see the commander, and said with his head held high, "Tell your commander I won't go to see him, but the Forsaken will remember this favor."

Nathanos unleashed dark power, transforming into black mist. During his struggle with Saurfang, he regained some of his strength, enough for him to reach Dalaran.