In the first thirty-five years of his life, VanCleef had never encountered anything like this. Demons invaded through the gate, yet the three prisoners had been brought to the front lines, surrounded by resting veterans. The knights escorting them had already joined the battle. A paladin in golden armor strode up to them and swung his longsword down without so much as looking at VanCleef.
Scorching light blossomed before the bandit leader's eyes. VanCleef instinctively shut them, but the pain and death he imagined never came. Instead, a sharp clang made him open his eyes, and he saw that his handcuffs and leg irons had been cut apart. A soldier following the paladin casually handed him a black war glaive. Then VanCleef heard the paladin issue his orders.
"I am Korman, commander of the Stormwind Brotherhood of the Horse. Listen up, newcomers! I don't care whether you used to be villains or scum. Now you have only one identity: soldiers of Stormwind City! Remember, your first assignment is to hold this position and keep the artillery safe!"
Knight Korman swung his sword twice more, cutting apart the restraints on Iva and Modok beside VanCleef. They too received weapons. After delivering his orders, the grand knight impatiently punched Modok, whose eyes were darting about, knocking the noble bastard to the ground.
"Listen, bastard! I've seen plenty of people thinking what you're thinking. But spare a thought for your miserable lives. The finest outriders of every race in Azeroth are stationed throughout the ten kilometers around the Dark Portal, along with fleeing demons, of course. If you're confident you can get out, we certainly won't stop you. But if you want to start your lives over..."
"Then your five years of service begin now!"
With that, Korman led his guards charging toward