Blade Dance

Chapter 34

Vincent laughed.He sat down across from Harlan and raised his hand to stop the bartender.

"Why did you choose this place?"

Harlan didn't answer, but just raised his glass.Vincent looked at him, and the person opposite was leaning on the back of the chair, his brows and eyes were a little tired, and his eyes fell lazily on the wine glass, or his own hand holding the glass.The sleeves of the long coat were rolled up to the arm joints, exposing the tough forearms.Vincent realized he wasn't the only one staring at the Commander.Curious or awe-inspiring, doubtful or speculative gazes from all around linger in the gap between them and the world around them.

"Long time no see." Vincent looked into Harlan's eyes and said seriously.

Harlan raised an eyebrow.

"Really? Is there any?"

"You look a little different."

"where?"

"Everywhere is different."

Harlan showed a puzzled expression, but Vincent just looked at him with relish.It was like watching a tiger cub dazed in its cage looking for an exit, and he, as the keeper, was the only one who knew where the door was.

"Then, I hope you can accept the new me now."

"Of course." Vincent said firmly, "I can accept whatever you become."

Harlan laughed.

"Have you ever gone back?"

"Go back?" Vincent took a sip of his wine, "Did you mean Eclipse Village?"

"Ah."

"No."

"Why? Don't you go back to see your sister? There are others."

"One, the war is not over, no one will go back." Vincent held up a finger, and said as a matter of course, "Besides, Shattrath City is so prosperous and has everything, no one wants to go back. The barracks are not too bad comfortable."

Then he put the glass on the table, crossed his arms, and lifted his jaw.

"Second, who told you that I have a younger sister?"

Harlan's eyes widened.He leaned forward, staring into Vincent's face.

"You told me yourself."

Vincent looked back at him with more surprise than him.

"When?"

"Not long after we met, when you talked about 'caring', you said that your sister is your caring, you miss her very much, and the fluorescent garland she wove. My memory is really good."

Vincent tried hard to remember.Harlan's face was cloudy for a while, and then he showed an expression of disbelief.

"You're lying to—"

"I remembered!" Vincent said excitedly, patting the table quickly, and then laughed narrowly, "I did mention that, but it was just to trick you. I'm the only one in my family. "

Harlan was momentarily speechless.Vincent smiled even more complacently, as if he was standing on the city wall and raised one foot to step on the edge, looking down at the enemy army's defeat in the city.

"I thought that after you got to know me well, you would naturally realize that it's not true. I didn't expect you to believe it for so long."

"I do know you well, at least I have the confidence to think so now." Harlan said stiffly, "But I didn't expect you to start deceiving me so early?"

"How can you say that?"

Vincent curled his lips, making a sad look.

"I don't know you well, so I dare to lie to you—anyway, I probably don't like you and stay away from you, so I don't have to be responsible for the lies I told in the future. But after I decide to have a deep friendship with you, I will never dare to lie again. "

Harlan looked at him speechlessly, then laughed out loud at the same time as him.The hearty laughter merged into the surrounding world and became one with the noisy human voice.At this moment, a shadow fell on the table.A refreshing aroma blows to the face, through the taste of food and wine, it is extraordinarily fresh.

Harlan looked up with a smile that hadn't recovered, and saw a graceful young girl staring at him.The moment their eyes met, the girl bent over to salute him.He hurriedly put away his wanton smile and nodded in return.The person in front of him is wearing a gorgeous robe. The soft fabric accentuates his delicate figure. The light pink background is embroidered with large flowers that bloom freely. The owner of the robe seems to be in a thousand flowers at all times.She didn't look 20 years old, and her chocolate-colored curly hair fell to her chest, and a few strands of fine hair were braided into delicate braids and wrapped around her forehead.Full red lips, a small nose tip, the unique femininity of blood elves, emerald green eyes shone with joy.

Vincent on the opposite side stared blankly.Harlan glanced at him and almost laughed again.

The girl looked at him, blushes of shame crawled up her cheeks, and there was a look of anxiety in her beautiful eyes.

"My lord, I finally see you."

Her voice was a little trembling, but it was extremely sweet, and the fragrance seemed to be soaked in honey.She handed Harlan an elaborately decorated letter.

"Please accept my heart."

Harlan couldn't help staring at the letter—it was so beautiful—but he didn't reach out to take it, as if overwhelmed by the scene in front of him, forcing the picture to freeze at this moment.Vincent's eyes lingered between him and the girl, with an indescribably wonderful expression on his face.

As if unable to bear the awkward silence, the girl put the letter on the table.Seeing Harlan's gaze return to her face, she mustered up the courage to look into his eyes, blushing and said, "Please don't feel any burden, I just want to convey my heart to you."

She withdrew her gaze, looked at the ground, hesitated for a moment, and when she spoke again, her voice was full of cautious expectation:

"I sincerely hope to hear from you."

She turned hastily and squeezed into the crowd.

Vincent watched her go away.Until the graceful figure disappeared outside the door, he finally couldn't help laughing.Tears welled up in the corners of his eyes, but he covered his mouth with his hands, trying to hide his expression.

"why are you laughing?"

Harlan picked up the letter on the table, turned it over, but didn't open it.

"Is this the first time you have experienced this kind of thing?" Vincent's voice was full of ridicule, "Like a fool who has drunk his head."

"……no."

Harlan glanced at him helplessly.

"It's just that I have never seen such a beautiful one." He said thoughtfully, "I don't know what it is. Have you noticed her magic robe? The flowers embroidered on it contain magical energy."

Vincent raised one corner of his mouth flirtatiously.

"What, are you tempted?"

"You? I can introduce you to her, 'My friends are better than me.'"

Vincent glared at him.

"I'm different from you." He shook his head and said pointedly, "No, thank you for your kindness. I believe my true love will appear by itself."

He thought for a while, and then said coherently: "When she met me, she must be in dire straits, waiting for me to save her as a hero. And I will rescue her from the most dangerous and desperate situation, so that she can't help but help me Bewitched, and—"

"To shut up."

Vincent smirked unabashedly.

Outside the window, the night had completely fallen, and the dim street lamps shone through the dense night, illuminating the people on the street.The night became denser, but the lively atmosphere in the gold-encrusted rose did not diminish at all.The hustle and bustle of the tavern was reflected on the smooth glass, mingling with the pedestrians outside.Harlan stared out the window, and couldn't help but think back to those times when he was drinking at the Dragon Eagle Hotel.That seemed like a long time ago.In the dark afternoon or evening, sitting alone in a corner of the hotel, enjoying Joanna's homemade honey fire wine, watching the crowds in the noisy conversation, until a rainy afternoon...

"Will you go to the fighting competition?"

His thoughts were pulled back from the distant past to the present, and Harlan looked at Vincent with a bewildered expression.Vincent cast a helpless look at him, and shook his head pretending to be sad.

"Kickboxing. Seems to be...uh...four days later?."

Harlan finally came to his senses: "So fast? I'd have forgotten if you didn't tell me."

"Yeah, what kind of life, I forget the days." Vincent muttered.

"Will. I have to go. I have to officiate the whole game with the archbishop. You're going?"

Vincent smiled smugly.

"Yes. In the three-on-three melee contest, Eric and I promised to win."

"If it were you, it would be easy."

Vincent laughed.

"What about the bonfire after that?"

Harlan seemed to be taken aback for a moment, then fell into silence, his gaze lowered, as if entering a deserted place.Vincent narrowed his eyes.He is thinking?He is distressed.All kinds of entangled emotions are revealed in the blue eyes, which are entwined like countless colorful silk threads for a moment, making people dazzled.And this kind of chaos has a dazzling beauty, like several clusters of fireworks blooming in the night sky at the same time, comparing the stars and the moon.

Thinking of the first time he met him, Vincent felt that his analogy couldn't be more appropriate.

Harlan pondered for a long time, then suddenly leaned back, turned his head and looked out the window.

Then he smiled, his eyes were gentle and beautiful.

"go."

He turned around and said with a smile.

Vincent raised his eyebrows, raised the cup high, and pointed his index finger at him.

"Cheer for me, congratulate me."

Harlan raised his glass too.Vincent had never seen such a happy smile on his face.

"of course."

----------

"□□Major General."

On one side of the hall of Stormwind Fortress, compared to the spacious and empty meeting room before, this time it is just a small library.There is a round table in the center of the room, and the spotless marble top reflects the skylight from the window.A row of low bookshelves are placed along the surrounding walls, and each floor above is filled with ancient scrolls, maps, and various books, which are dizzying.People who are not familiar with military affairs must have a headache when they see this, but Herman grew up in the fortress since he was a child, and he has already known every room and every book here.On the walls above the bookshelves hung the banner of the Confederacy—a majestic lion's head embroidered in gold on azure brocade.Next to it is the human race flag, the emblem of the "Warrior's Mark" consisting of a shield, two long swords crossed behind it, and a war hammer piercing through the two.The hammer head was exposed above the shield, and a roaring golden lion was also carved.

Sunlight pours into every corner of the room through the huge glass windows.Maiev Shadowsong, the warden, sat behind the round table, his whole body bathed in light.Like a city wall made of holy light, no breakthrough can be found.

Herman sent out the request last night, and was brought here this morning, before the night elf warden.Compared with the last meeting, his current identity has not changed in any way.Old and dirty prison clothes, iron chains that imprisoned hands and feet, messy hair that hasn't been trimmed for a long time, sunken eyes, thin and pale cheeks, even more unbearable than the last time we met.

He walked towards the round table, and the iron chains collided and made a crisp sound.He was sitting down opposite the Warden, looking closely enough into the night elf's eyes as if to draw them out of the shadow of his armor.Two faint green lights in the dark wilderness.

"I'm going back to Darnassus one day later. Major General, what made you suddenly change your mind?"

The corner of Maiev Shadowsong's mouth moved slightly, and there was a hint of ridicule in his voice.

"The questions you asked me last time, I did answer to the best of my ability." Herman said calmly, "It's just that I remembered some things after I went back. I think they may be helpful to your plan. "

"It seems that your memory was shattered by that battle," the warden laughed, and said sharply, "I lost everything, and I don't know where to get them back. Is it?"

Hermann made no reply to this, but went on:

"I know the terrain of the Hellfire Peninsula and the internal structure of the fortress. I know the deployment of the legion's troops, the location of the arsenal, and how to avoid their eyes and ears. This can save your troops unnecessary trouble and danger. I also know Know what classes the demons have. If you want, I think I can count the Illidari and map out their weapons and fighting styles."

"You think I know nothing?"

The warden laughed contemptuously.

The smile disappeared in the next instant.She said viciously, "Don't think I don't know what you want!"

Herman frowned.

He could feel the rage burning in that armor.He knew that he had said unnecessary words, and his tone was even a little provocative, just like last time.But he was also sure he had the information the night elves needed, or the Warden wouldn't have come to him himself.He put all his eggs in one basket, praying that the information he revealed would be enough to extinguish the scorching flame.

There was a long silence, and the air seemed to freeze.They stared at each other, and Herman responded to the unbearable oppression brought by the warden with firm and quiet eyes, and at the same time restrained his expression to ensure that he showed enough sincerity and respect.

Maiev Shadowsong suddenly sat back and folded her arms to look at him.

"Tell me about your conditions."

Herman was stunned.

Unable to see the expression or gaze of the other person, the speaker can only judge the emotion of the speaker by the voice and tone.This is undoubtedly an irreparable weakness in the negotiation.

He said in a tentative tone: "I hope you can persuade the □ admiral to go to Outland."

He paused for a moment, and then said: "If it was you, the general will definitely think about it."

"You mean," asked the warden with great interest, "that he didn't think it through when you made your request to him?"

Herman fell silent.

The woman on the opposite side raised the corners of her lips: "It's really interesting between father and son."

She stepped forward and put her hands on the marble table.

"I can give it a try, at least I can let you lead troops into battle."

Herman's eyes widened.

Maiev continued: "Illidan Stormrage has awakened, and I have no idea of ​​his next move. In fact, I am about to rush back to the Moon God Temple in Darnassus to let the priests see the situation of the Dark Temple through the moonlight dream. "

Her tone suddenly became icy cold: "Whatever he does next, I will go to Outland myself and bring him to justice. And his Illidari. I know he is fighting the Legion. But this is not the same as He destroys and kills at any cost, violates taboos, and surrenders to the power of fel energy. I used to think that justice is blind until I met Illidan Stormrage. As long as he still has night elf blood flowing in his body, he is Disgrace to my family.

"After dealing with Stormrage, someone must take over the fight against the Legion. The night elves will send troops to Outland, and we need help from the rest of the Alliance. In other words, humans will not fight alone. I have enough reasons to convince your father, and the Alliance other generals."

Herman stared closely at those green eyes, feeling a surging tide in his heart.

"You helped me eradicate Illidan Stormrage and all his demon hunters, and I took the lead in going to Outland to fight against the Burning Legion." The warden said proudly, "It seems like a very fair deal."

She looked straight into the eyes of the young general, and pressed him for an answer.

But Herman fell silent.

His eyes fell on the marble tabletop.The grayish-white rocks, with light and winding lines, seemed to be intertwined suddenly, just like his thoughts were torn apart in his buzzing mind.

Either ending was not what he wanted to see.

However, in his not long career as a general, everything must ultimately be prioritized.

He picked up his gaze and met the gaze of the warden on the other side of the round table.

"make a deal."