Mordenai tapped lightly on the door, wondering if the Blood Knight were inside. Only a few orcs remained in the fortress; the rest were all still at the Black Temple, catching their breath on the field of victory. He wondered why the man had been in such a hurry to get out of there, had been so rushed that he had left all of his friends, his wife, behind. The dragon, still in his disguise as a fellow blood elf, furrowed his brow while he mulled that over. Gerâalin had thrown himself on Illidanâs corpse, gibbering like one distraught beyond words. Heâd dug through the demonâs pockets frantically, discarding the powerful Skull of Gulâdan and, finding something else, had lit up brighter than the noon-day sun on midsummerâs day. Then heâd run off. âWhat did he find and why does thinking about it make my skin crawl?â Mordenai wondered quietly. He tapped again at the door, shifting the woman he carried into a more manageable position. He was almost ready to give up and kick the door down when it sprang open, a wild-eyed sinâdorei fighter staring at him.
âWhat do you want?â Gerâalin snarled angrily.
âTo get her off my shoulder,â Mordenai said reasonably, reminding himself that the man had no doubt been through torments that he would never be able to imagine.
âWhatâs the matter with her?â Gerâalin asked, only a light coating of concern in his distracted voice. He sounded as if he knew he should be concerned but had something far more pressing on his mind. Mordenai shrugged and, lifting his eyebrows in askance, stepped into the room. Settling the unconscious woman on the bed, he turned and left, closing the door behind him and hoping that, once she awoke, Alayne was able to do something to help Gerâalin cope with whatever horrors he had faced.
Once the door pulled closed, Gerâalin cast a glance at his wife. She lay still, her face pale. Not a whisper so much as passed her lips; a sign that something was very wrong with her. He watched her for several minutes before turning back to the roomâs small table. Opening the drawer, he pulled out the Vial heâd taken from Illidanâs corpse. The warding was still firmly in place around it, preventing him from tapping into the energies within. Heâd been hammering at it frantically, trying to find a weakness, something that would let him get past it to the pure joy within. Sweat rolled down his face, splattering droplets on the desk as he continued to try, continued to fail, and continued to despair of ever knowing what it was he had known for such a brief time.
A soft rustling sound perked his ears and he quickly returned the Vial to its drawer. As much as he wanted to beg Alayne to help him tap into its secrets, he feared she would turn it over to the Scryers or the naaru as she said she had the other one. He turned around to face her, torn between gladness and anger that she had finally woken. Her legs hung off the edge of the bed, her feet pressed to the floor. Her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands, she sat, her back to him, shivering and rubbing her temples. âYouâre awake,â he said, his voice falling flat. Alayne nodded, not lifting her head. âIâm glad,â he grinned, trying to recall how he used to feel and act. The Vial and the ecstasy it promised clouded his thoughts, making it difficult to think of anything else. Something about the way she sat, refusing to look up at him, tugged at him. He huffed in irritation, wishing she would either leave or do something to help him take his mind off the bliss he wasnât feeling. Sitting down next to her, he looked at her. âWhat?â he said flatly.
Alayne hunched further in on herself, cringing and shaking. For a moment, Gerâalin was so moved by her obvious fear that he almost forgot about the Vial. âAlayne?â he whispered softly. Her shuddering increased and gut-wrenching sobs were ripped from her throat. Reaching over, he cupped her chin in his hands and forced her to look up at him. He sucked in a horrified breath at what he saw in her eyes. Not just fear for him; but, for some reason, fear of him. The longer he held her gaze on his face, the more the fear grew. He kept his touch gentle and light. âIâm fine,â he murmured, hoping to reassure her. âHe didnât hurt me so much; I justâŚâ
He hit the ground with a thud, the wind knocked out of him. For a moment, he just lay there, stunned, letting her rain a frantic frenzy of kisses on his face, lips, and neck. Her hands tangled painfully in his hair and, whenever she opened her eyes and met his, he wondered anew at the fear he saw hidden in their emerald depths. The greater her fear, the more frenzied she grew, as if to deny the one with the other. He closed his eyes and groaned when he heard the sound of fabric ripping, not certain if it had been him or her who had lost patience with the buttons. Then came a warmth, a glowing bliss that momentarily lessened his hunger for the power trapped behind Illidanâs ward. Only a lessening, he thought, the truth a pain-filled realization. Only a lessening, he shivered as his eyes gazed back towards the drawer.
~*~*~*~
âWill you go out today?â Alayne asked, bracing herself. Sometimes when she asked him this, his ire swept over her, a tidal tirade of proportions sheâd never dreamed he was capable of. This morning, he merely grunted and turned back on his side, pulling the covers over his head. âGerâalin, itâs been almost a weekâŚâ
âI rather like it in here,â he said sardonically, his voice muffled by the blankets. âGood memories here.â
âGarrosh wants to see you. Heâs worried. Same with Callie and Zerith and Darâja and TauâreâŚeveryoneâs worried. Iâm worried,â she sighed.
âYouâre afraid of me,â he accused.
âIâm afraid for you,â she corrected. âIâm afraid of something I sawâŚbut I know that it wonât happen now. I justâŚwish youâd come outside for a bit. The fresh air would do you good.â
âMaybe tomorrow,â he muttered. âGo on, take a walk or something.â
âMaybe I should stayâŚ,â she offered, cringing when she saw him stiffen beneath the covers. When asking him if heâd go out didnât set off an argument, her offer to remain with him almost always did. Still, she made the offer daily nonetheless. She had to. She had to convince herself that the visions were false; that he would never hurt her, no matter how irritable he became.
âGet out!â he shouted. Alayne quickly ducked out into the hallway. She hated herself for doubting him at all, yet at the same timeâŚ
âHeâs been in there for the past six days. Is he coming out any time soon?â Zerith asked flatly. Alayne gave a start. The hallway was lined with people, their eyes all on her. Zerith folded his arms over his chest and kept his face carefully expressionless. âThis is more than just mere trauma over torment, isnât it?â
âHeâs fine, he says,â she replied uneasily. âHe says weâre all worrying over nothing. He just wants to be left alone, he says.â
âAnd what do you think? Light, Alayne, youâre the only one of us who would have any clue what heâs been through or what heâs going through now.â
âIâŚI think we should leave him alone. Heâll come out when heâs ready to come out.â
âTwo days,â Zerith said after a long pause. âIf he doesnât come out on his own in two days, Iâm dragging him out myself. Now, what does he look like?â
âHe looks fine,â Alayne lied quickly. âHealthy as a horse. A little pale from being cooped up but nothing a few hours in the sun wonât fix.â Zerith narrowed his eyes to slits, examining her. âOkay, heâs a little thin, too,â she admitted. âA little? Heâs lost more weight than I have on my frame! In the space of days, heâs wasted away and he told me if I said another word about it, heâŚheâdâŚbut he didnât mean it!â the words tumbled out of her. Zerithâs expression went from guarded and suspicious to concerned. âAnd his eyes,â she sobbed. âHis eyesâŚâ
âDarâja, take her outside. See if Mordenai will keep her company,â he whispered.
âIâll stay,â Alayne said firmly. âHe listens to meâŚsometimes,â she sighed.
âYouâre going outside.â
âIâm his wife, Zerith!â
âYouâre going outside,â her brother repeated. âDarâja, haul her out of here and tell Mordenai to sit on her to keep her away if he has to. Garrosh, Tauâre, I want you two to be ready to help me. Callie, stay out here and, if I tell you to go fetch something, you go get it right then and there.â The others nodded and Darâja began dragging a struggling, protesting Alayne down the corridor.
âLet me stay, please!â Alayne pleaded, her voice growing fainter as her sister-by-marriage carried her off. âHeâs my husband! My husband!â
âWhich is exactly why you shouldnât see or hear any of this,â Zerith muttered beneath his breath. âIf any of you tell her a word of itâŚ,â he threatened his assistants. Satisfied that they would guard their tongues, he stood in front of the door, hitched his robes up over his knees, and kicked as hard as he could. His foot landed flush against the lock and the door flew open, splinters of wood scattering everywhere. Zerith winced when he took a step into the room, then froze in horror.
Gerâalin stood hunched over the desk. Alayne had not exaggerated; the woolen robe he wore hung on his wasted frame where once it would have burst at the seams had the Blood Knight tried to wear it. His long brown hair was lank and tangled as if he had not brushed it in days. The sour smell of sweat and desperation permeated the chamber, assaulting everyone like a slap to the face. Everything the priest had planned to say and do vanished from his tongue as he took in the sight. He heard Garrosh and Tauâre gasp in shock when they followed.
âWhat do you want?â Gerâalin demanded angrily, his back to the door. âLeave me in peace! Havenât I been through enough lately?â The whining tone sounded completely out of character for the normally stoic fighter. âDid Alayne send you in here after me?â
âNo, she didnât,â Zerith said flatly. âWhat is wrong with you?â
âIâm fine!â
âAnd Iâm the king of Stormwind! Whatâs wrong with you?â
âNothing! Leave me be in peace!â
âGerâalin, let me look at you,â Zerith demanded, striding over and wrestling the man around. A week ago, Gerâalin would have been able to throw the priest across the room had he tried that. Now, Zerith forced him to turn and face the door easily. Letting the Light flow through his hands, he wove healing energies into his friend, stunned when nothing happened.
âI told you, Iâm fine,â Gerâalin snarled. âI just want to be left alone.â
âThere may be no illness or injury,â Zerith said doubtfully, frowning as he tried to puzzle out the problem, âbut you are not fine.â
âThere is nothing wrong with me.â
âGerâalin, have you looked in a mirror lately?â Tauâre asked quietly. âYouâre almost as thin as that rail of a wife of yours!â
âIf I wanted your opinions, cow, Iâd ask for them.â
âGerâalin, what is wrong with you?â Zerith gasped. âYou are not yourself! You shout at Alayne, you snap at Tauâre, you wonât go outsideâŚall you do is sleep, eat, and scare the living daylights out of everyone around you!â
âYou forgot âoccasionally make love to my wifeâ in that list. I may be thin but I still have it where it counts!â
âSee? Thatâs what Iâm talking about; you are not acting like yourself, Gerâalin. What is bothering you? Are you having trouble sleeping restfully? Bad dreams? I know that I have no idea what you went through; none of us do because you wonât talk about it and Alayneâs so terrified of asking you that she gets ill at the mere thoughtâŚWhat is that in your hand?â
âOh this?â the Blood Knight said nonchalantly, setting the Vial down on the desk as if he didnât have a care in the world. âItâs just a little something Iâve mixed up that helps me sleep a little better,â he lied easily. âIâm sorry,â he added, sounding contrite. âI have been having trouble sleeping. Itâs made me short-tempered. I apologize for everything Iâve said this morning. Every time I close my eyes, I seeâŚâ he shivered.
âWhatâs in it?â Zerith asked gently. âPerhaps I could mix something better.â
âOh, just a weak mix of dreamfoil and sungrass.â
âHmph. Iâve heard that the oil from the olemba roots in Terokkar could beâŚweâll leave you to rest,â the priest sighed, seeing irritation sparkle in Gerâalinâs eyes again. âBut, please stop shouting at and scaring your wife so much.â Gerâalin made a rueful gesture and ducked his head. Zerith turned and led the others out of the room, glad that he had not needed them to help him hold the other man down for an examination. âWhat do you think of that?â he asked once they had walked a short distance down the hallway.
âI think that if he were any other man, I would have his head,â Tauâre muttered, shaking his shaggy shoulders. âHeâs lying, thatâs clear enough.â
âBut why would he lie?â Garrosh wondered.
âHeâs not himself,â Zerith answered simply. âHeâs not going insane, the way Alayne didâŚnow what is that look for?â he demanded, his patience worn thin. Every time he mentioned his sister around Garrosh or Callie, they grimaced in distaste. Worse, they no longer seemed to notice it. Alayne had taken to sneaking around the fortress like a thief; whenever one of the orcs or Forsaken saw her, they glared daggers at her. âCallie, you promised me after the battle that you would tell me what was going on. Now, I want to know why everyone keeps looking at her like she fed a newborn to a demon.â
Callie opened her mouth to answer, not really wanting to. Garrosh saved her by stepping in. âYour sister did something that only one among our people has ever done and that oneâŚhe is held to be the most vile, evil, twisted of our kind. Your sister abused our dead, she twisted them, compelled them to obey her commands and fight her fight. The dead should not be treated so.â
âGarrosh, she canât control herself when she gets enraged,â Zerith explained patiently. âI hate what she did, too. It makes me sick to even think she knows how to do that butâŚshe would never do it voluntarily. She only uses that power, she onlyâŚâ
ââŚabuses the dead, enslaving them to her willâŚâ
âHer husband had been tortured! She wanted to avenge his pain on his tormentor! Had you been in her shoes, would you have done differently?â the priest demanded angrily. âWhat she did was wrong; I will never say otherwise. She knows it and she is stricken with guilt that she did it and that, if she were in that situation again, sheâd do it again. Until you know that you wouldnât do the same, donât you dare judge her!â
âThing is, Zerith, he has a point,â Callie said softly. âWhen she didâŚwhat she did, we felt it. All of the Forsaken. For a moment, we felt the compulsion to return to slavery. Alayne knows that the goal of the Lich Kingâs power is to enslave all life and unlife to his will; why would she use that power around us? I know she was enraged, Zerith, but it hurt. It hurt me deeply and Iâm not certain Iâll ever be able to look at her and not see the chains of necromancy. Iâm sorry, but all of the Forsaken feel the same. We know in our headsâŚbut in our dead hearts, we canât know.â
âI know that your sister did what she did out of love,â Garrosh grunted, unaccustomed to such displays of emotion. âBut, no command I issue, no explanation I give will make my people see her as anything other than a perversion of nature. She stays in this fortress by sufferance only. Morâghor and the rest of the Dragonmaw want her out of here. I have prevailed upon them to allow her to remain until her husband is well. Still, what she did angered the spirits and, if I do not keep my distance, if my people do not keep their distance, the spirits may flee us again and who knows when weâd convince them to return?â
âSo, youâre saying that, essentially, all of the good sheâs done, all of the struggles sheâs put herself through to help you and your people has been erased by a moment of insanity?â Zerith fumed. âScarcely more than five years ago, Callie, your kind would have been hunted to the ends of the world, would have been eradicated by the Horde and the Alliance. But then, the tauren took pity on you, saw that you were not evil, only conflicted. They argued for you and because of that, the Forsaken have enjoyed the protection of the Horde. But back when you were slaves, back when you had no control over yourselves, you sacked my homeland, you destroyed my peopleâs source of magic, you murdered and raised to a mockery of life those of my kind that you slaughtered. Yet, I hold nothing against you,â he explained. âI know that you werenât in control of yourselves and, that had you been, you would not have done as you did. I can find it in my heart to forgive you even though, Callie, even though the Scourge and Arthas were responsible for the destruction of just about everything I held dear! And you, Garrosh,â he said, rounding on the chieftain, âyour kind killed many of my people in various wars. You invaded our world. You destroyed your own through reckless sorcery. But, you were not in control, then. Your leaders had been duped and then turned around and duped you into following the Legion. Yet, I can rise above that. I can forgive you for that insanity. Are you honestly going to stand here and tell me that neither of you nor your people can return the favor? For a woman who will give her life to help you?â Garrosh turned the thought over in his mind. Callie stared at the floor glumly; sheâd never considered it from this angle before. âIâd better leave,â Zerith muttered, âbefore I really lose my temper.â Storming out of the keep, he blinked against the bright sunlight.
âIs he coming out?â Alayne asked, rushing up to her brother. He winced when he glanced over to see his wife holding the remnants of Alayneâs sleeve in her hand. Bleeding furrows marred his sisterâs arm where his wife had been restraining her. âHeâs not, is he?â Alayne sighed, her lips quivering. âIâŚhoped that you would be able toâŚhe hasnâtâŚI donât know whatâs wrong with him!â
âWhat is that vial of liquid heâs been drinking from?â Zerith asked. Alayneâs head jerked up and she stared at him. âWhen we burst in there, he was holding some kind of vial. I couldnât make heads or tails of the etchings on it. He says heâs been using whatever is in it to help him sleep. I think he was lying. No, belay that,â Zerith growled, âI know he was lying.â
âA vial?â Alayne muttered uncertainly. Fear began worming its way through her stomach, a constricting snake that threatened to squeeze her heart until it burst. âIâŚI donât know. If he says it helps him sleepâŚâ
âIt doesnât. He was lying plain as day about that. How has he been sleeping?â
âPoorly,â she admitted. âHe only sleeps when exhausted and, even then, he tosses and turns most of the night. Iâve taken to sleeping on the floor just to get any rest at all. HeâŚhe doesnât like that. He says Iâm afraid of him.â
âYou are,â Zerith gasped. Alayne was shivering. âYouâre scared spitless of him.â
âI am not!â she protested. âIâm afraid for him.â
âI believe that,â he replied, âbut, heâs right. You are scared of him. I can see it written all over your face. Youâre terrified of whatâs happening to him, of the person heâs turning into.â
âI am not!â
âDeny whatâs plain as the nose on your face again and, warlock or no, I will pull you over my knee and do to you what my father used to do to me when I lied.â
âI am not afraid of Gerâalin,â she said, a slight emphasis on her husbandâs name. âGerâalin would never hurt me unless it was to save me from a greater danger. Gerâalin loves me. I love him. ButâŚâ
âBut the person in your room right now is not the man you married,â Zerith finished for her. âHas he told you at all what he went through?â
âNo,â she sighed, shaking her head. âHe says he doesnât want to talk about it. He wants to be left alone. The first two days, I refused to do that. I stayed in there with him untilâŚâ
âUntil what, Alayne?â
âUntil heâŚ,â she shuddered, making a wrenching gesture. Zerith nodded; he remembered well the signal they used to use to discuss what they did to stave off the worst effects of their arcane addiction. âI had to leave him, then. Light, Zerith, it hurt! Jezâral did that once by accident but heâŚhe didnât care. He saidâŚIâŚI wanted to slap him for it! I did, almost. Then he started crying, Zerith. Weeping. He said he was sorry; he hadnât meant it. He begged me not to leave him then and I wanted to stay, more than anything. But, before I could tell him I forgave him, he turned on me, snarling, yelling at me to get out, to leave him alone.â
âI want to you go back in there and see if you can get him to talk. Carry up some food; has he been eating?â
âYes,â she nodded. âHe eats enough to put a tauren to shame but I donât know where it goes. Heâs so thin and paleâŚâ
âThatâs not the important thing. See if you can get him to talk. About anything. Work in a way to ask him whatâs really in that vial. Maybe whatever heâs been drinking has been contributing to the problem. You know he almost turned into a drunk when you wereâŚwell, maybe thatâs all thatâs happening here. Severe trauma, some kind of strong alcohol; that could be all there is to it. If so, well,â Zerith sighed, shaking his head in frustration. âThere are ways to help him cope with it.â Alayne nodded again and walked back into the fortress. She brushed past Callie and Garrosh, careful not to look at or touch either of them. Callie winced when Alayne walked by, guilt panging her for how sheâd been acting, especially with Alayne needing all the help she could get to deal with Gerâalin. The Forsaken opened her mouth to call out after the woman but Alayne quickly vanished down the corridor. Garrosh shrugged and stumped the opposite direction, putting the thoughts the priest had given him out of his mind for the moment and praying that the ancestors would help his brother Gerâalin.
Gerâalin glanced over when he heard the door creak open. âI thought I told you to take a walk,â he growled at his wife. âIâm fine. Tell that brother of yours to lay off me from now on. And would you look at me occasionally, woman? Or am I so scary now you canât stand the sight of me?â Alayne threw herself down on the bed, facing him, staring out of blank eyes. She held herself rigid, stiff, simply staring off in his direction like one who could no longer see. âHave it your way,â he muttered, turning his back to her. If he ignored her long enough, sheâd probably leave again and he could return to what heâd been working on.
âWhatâs in the vial?â she asked suddenly.
âWhat vial?â
âThe one you told Zerith youâve been using to help you sleep.â
âOh, just an herbal concoction.â
âGerâaâŚdonât lie to me,â she said flatly, her voice as dull as her eyes. âItâs a vial you found on Illidanâs body or in his belongings, isnât it? Another Vial of water from the Well of Eternity.â
âSo what if it is?â he spat, whirling around and flinging the vial at her. âWhat do you want to do? Take it and give it to the naaru?â he snorted elaborately, making his thoughts on that issue clear.
âWhy didnât you tell me?â
âBecause you gave up the other one! If I had known what it could do, Iâd have never let you turn it over!â
âWhat can it do?â she asked slowly, the fear threatening to close her throat. As he began to describe the torment and the ecstasy, slow tears trickled down her face, dampening the pillow. She watched as he was transformed, his face glowing, his eyes brightening that damnable blue she had come to loathe. He was lost in the rapture of memory, his every thought centered on the magic the Vial contained. After a while, Alayne closed her ears to his words, listening only to the rise and fall of his voice, trying to remember when he spoke gently, tenderly, the passion in his voice warming instead of frightening. As he continued to ramble on and on, she fought to keep from weeping wildly. Visions of the Wretched filled her eyes. She knew now what it was she had seen before Gerâalin had ever set foot in the Black Temple. Her heart writhed as he continued. Finally, she sat up, wiped her cheeks, and, feeling oddly calm, looked at him without seeing him. âAnd you canât tap into it because of the warding?â she said flatly, surprised at how cool and distant her voice sounded. She felt as if part of her had just died.
âIâll figure it out soon enough,â he grinned, sounding painfully like his old self. Her heart spasmed in her chest, each beat gushing anguish anew. âAnd then, Alayne, then weâllâŚâ
âIllidan must have left information about his enchantments,â she interrupted, not wanting to hear about the joy theyâd share when he attained the power he hungered for. âI will go back to the Temple and research anything and everything he wrote.â
âYouâre afraid of me,â he said accusingly.
âNo, Iâm not,â she said firmly. She was not afraid of him; she was terrified of him. She prayed he could return to himself one day. âDonât tell the others. Theyâll try to take it from you.â A plan began to form in her mind; a plan to save him. There had to be a way to reverse the transformation she feared he was undergoing. âIâll be back tomorrow or the day after.â
âMaybe I should come with youâŚâ he offered, a nagging suspicion lurking in his mind. Vaguely, he recalled that Alayne could be tricky. He felt the anger and irritation rising within him, burning through him. By the Light, she was his wife; he should be able to recall more about her without the Vial twisting his every thought! But thenâŚshe was going to help him. Once he could draw from it, heâd be able to think clearly again. Heâd be able to be the man she loved again. âOr maybe Iâll stay here,â he sighed.
Alayne stood up from the bed and walked over to him. The closer she drew to him, the further away she felt herself going. Embracing him warmly, even giving him a fond smile and a light kiss on the forehead, she murmured useless words of encouragement and turned, leaving the room. Once outside, she froze the mask on her face, shoving away every emotion. If this were going to work, she couldnât afford distractions. Recalling the techniques her father had taught her to distance her mind and spirit from reality, to keep the pain of battle from reaching the core of who she was, Alayne strode out of the fortress, ignoring the icy stares that she left in her wake. Cold as they were, nothing could be more chill than the desperate fear she ignored as it clawed at her thundering heart.
~*~*~*~
Mordenai saw the woman leave the fortress and, excusing himself to his companions, crept after her. The set of her shoulders and the way she refused to acknowledge anyone spoke of trouble coming soon. Heâd listened carefully to her comrades talking about her. She was a force to be reckoned with, even at barely twenty years of age. Something about the way she walked told him that she was struggling against a mortal blow. He sniffed the wind; his kind were sensitive to more than just the subtle flows of magic. Dragons had ever been able to detect strong emotions; indeed, he had often wondered if emotions themselves were their own form of magic. Following after her, careful not to be seen by the others, he caught up to her just as she cleared the corner leading towards the Black Temple. âSo, was your brother able to determine what ails your husband?â he asked casually.
âNo, but I think I know,â she muttered. âThereâs an affliction that has wracked my people. TheyâŚsuccumb to the arcane addiction, sometimes. Those so afflicted devolve.â
âAnd what makes you think that is what ails him? You may be advanced beyond your youth, Alayne, but you are hardly a healer.â
âHe found a Vial,â she said, the capital plain in her tone. âIllidan used it on him; used its power to torment him and then toâŚbathe him in the glow of pure arcane energy. Gerâalin was never much of a mage. He drew only enough to keep from weakening but felt no real pangs when he had to do without,â she explained. âSome meditation techniques heâd picked up among the humans helped him becomeâŚless addicted, I suppose, than some of the rest of us. However, now thatâs reversed. Heâs had a taste of raw power and he is starving for it. Itâs killing him,â she said simply, trying not to hear the words. âItâs killed many of our kind.â
âAnd so youâre just going to leave him?â Mordenai asked, glancing back towards the fortress.
âNo. Iâm going to return to Illidanâs chambers and dig through anything he may have written about the Vial, the Well, or wardings. The demon laid an enchantment on the Vial Gerâalin has; none can sense it, none can tap into it, until the ward is lowered.â
âSo, youâll break the enchantment and thenâŚ?â
âThatâs none of your concern.â
âIt is,â he sighed, more in exasperation than irritation. âEver have my kind guarded such powerful magics. Mad Malygos himself would have my scaly hide if I didnât do my duty here. If you manage to break the ward, what will you do?â
âItâs too powerful,â she said absently. âBreaking the warding, especially if I left it in Gerâalinâs hands afterwards, would touch off a war. There were riots in Shattrath when it became known that we had found a single Vial after defeating Lady Vashj. The night elves demanded we hand it over to them for âdisposal.â The sinâdorei wanted to keep it. The same thing will happen again here once word gets out. The night elves and their allies will want the Vial turned over to them or to the naaru. Gerâalin would kill anyone who tried to take it from him. The sinâdorei will want it â we have a right to it! â because it contains the very seeds of hope for our people.â
âYou speak fine words but you have not answered my question.â
âIâm getting to it. As I said, it contains the seeds of hope for our people and a way to end the threat of the Legion once and for all. Therefore, I willâŚâ she outlined the rough plan she had in mind, wincing and praying that Mordenai would not turn her over. He stood impassively as she explained what she planned, described what she hoped would happen and what she would do if a particular part of her plan backfired. âAll I ask is that you hold your peace until after Iâve gone.â
âYou realize you could die, donât you?â
âItâs a risk Iâm willing to take. Youâre not going to give me away, are you? Zerith will tie me up and chain me to the floor.â
âItâs too dangerous for you to attempt this alone.â
âIâm not going to take anyone else with me. Iâll take the risks; I will not ask another to take them for me.â
âWell, too bad,â he grinned. âBecause the one way to make certain that the first part of your plan works is to impress the Magisters with your power. The child who enslaved a dragon,â he laughed. âIâm coming along with you. Now, letâs go see what we can find in the Black Temple. If thereâs nothing, I can always try shattering the warding. After all,â he said ruefully, âI am a nether dragon.â
Alayne shook her head in refusal. âI will do this alone,â she said firmly. âYou need not risk yourself in my mad plans. Iâm not even certain Iâll be able to sneak away with either of them.â
âIâm coming with you whether you want me to or not,â he said reasonably. âPray tell me how youâd actually reach his inner sanctum? Sprout wings and fly? Shout and wave your arms and hope one of his followers takes you in? No. Iâm coming with you. Besides, from what little I saw of that husband of yours, I rather like him. I just hope that your plan will work and will help him,â he said, cutting off suddenly. No need to frighten the woman more than she already was. âCome along, Alayne. Letâs see what we can find.â
~*~*~*~
âNothing,â Mordenai sighed as he rubbed his eyes. He wished he had actually seen the Vial and held it. Perhaps then he would have a better idea of what he should be looking for. âNothing but the ramblings of a megalomaniac. Any luck on your end, Alayne?â he asked. The two of them had not left the Temple in days. Between them both, he thought they may have read every book related to magic and history housed within the massive structure. âAlayne?â he asked again, more loudly, when the woman did not respond.
âPurple horses dancing,â he heard her mutter softly. âGerâalin, look at the snowmen.â Mordenai shook his head. Walking over to where the warlock had fallen asleep, her legs tucked up beneath her, her head resting against one of the wings of the massive chair, he tucked her cloak around her and slipped the book out of her hands.
âSleep well,â he whispered, squatting down in front of the chair and studying the tome sheâd been holding. âHmph. A primer on kaldorei sorcery. I wonder if there is anything in here I wouldnât already know. Flipping through the book, he noticed that some of the pages seemed to have come loose. Holding the tome so that its spine faced the ceiling, he shook it, letting them fall into his lap. âThese arenât pages of the book at all,â he muttered. âSome kind of notes, instead.â Glancing over them, his eyes widened. It wasnât the exact information on the warding Illidan had laid over the Vial, but it gave Mordenai enough insight into how the man constructed his magical shields to begin to puzzle out what he might have done. Flipping back through the book, he scanned the pages that Illidanâs notes referred to, wishing he could wake the sleeping warlock and ask her thoughts on the matter. Without the Vial in front of him, he could not be certain what he surmised was correct. Alayne had actually seen it; touched it. She would know better than he whether his suppositions were accurate. Glancing up again at her sleeping face, her lips moving soundlessly, he decided to let her sleep on. He had already woken her several times when she nodded off. It had been at her insistence, true, but he knew that mortals required more sleep than the sinâdorei had been allowing herself. âI could do with some sleep myself,â he grinned, stretching out on the carpets. This frame did have some similar weaknesses to those shared by the sleeping woman. He leaned his cheek against the rough, grainy carpet and closed his eyes, intending to catch a few hoursâ rest before he woke Alayne and sent her back to Dragonmaw Hold in search of something to fill her belly and, perhaps, to try to convince Gerâalin to âloanâ the Vial to her so he could test his theories. The door creaking open made him open his eyes and glare up, albeit his gaze a bit watery as he yawned, at Akama.
âForgive me, Mordenai,â Akama said. âI was just showing some of the AldoritesâŚwhat is she doing here?â
âResting,â the dragon yawned. âWhy? Is she not supposed to be here?â
âShe profaned the holy ground of the Temple with her necromancy!â Akama hissed. The Aldorite priests behind him gasped.
âA sin I intend to make up for,â Alayne muttered sleepily. Akama muttered angrily. âI know what I did was wrong. I could say I was out of my mind with rage. I could point out that my husband had been tortured. I could offer any number of excuses or explanations but I wonât. I was wrong to abuse the dead so. I was wrong to profane a holy place with a blasphemous and un-natural power. However, I will redeem my evil. Or do you believe I am beyond repentance? You, a one-time priest of the Light?â
âWhat do you intend to do to âredeem your evil?ââ Akama asked.
âSend the others away and I will take you as my confessor,â she said bluntly. âPerhaps it is not your customâŚâ
âIndeed it is not,â he muttered dryly. âI will do as you ask this once,â he said, gesturing for the others to continue on. The Aldorites were as familiar with the Temple as he was; many had lived within its walls before the wars that wracked their world and tore it apart. Stepping into the room Illidan had made his own, glancing around and wishing he could have continued to explain his plans to refurbish this room and dedicate it to the souls of those killed in battle, Akama folded his hands and waited for the woman to begin. Once Alayne was satisfied that, save for Mordenai, they were alone, she told Akama exactly what she had worked out with the nether dragon days ago. The fact that they had not yet found the key was all that kept her from acting. As she explained her plan, Akamaâs jaw dropped and his brows nearly lifted off his face. Heâd heard of such undertakings in the past to attempt to right a grave wrong, but heâd never dreamed of setting such a task to anyone; not even a death knight who had abused the helpless dead. âIâŚam at a loss,â he sighed when she finished. âIt is a bold plan. However, you may neverâŚâ
âIf you hear that I have fallen,â she said quietly, âwhether to the grave or corruption, shed no tear. Instead, watch after my husband. He has sacrificed everything that made him the man I loved in order to help your people and the orcs.â
âWhen first war came to Draenor,â Akama began, his voice a soft whisper, âwe would pray that the Light would follow those who walked into darkness. Such do I pray again for you, young sinâdorei. I will say nothing of this to anyone. You are right; best to let them steel themselves with anger at what theyâll perceive than to risk giving you away. Please, consider the Temple your home until you find the key you seek.â Bowing deeply, he left them to their study.
âAlayne,â Mordenai said when the woman began casting about for the book sheâd fallen asleep reading.
âNo,â she muttered. âI could have swornâŚthere was something in his notes stuffed in this primer I had. I wanted to show it to you. Maybe you couldâŚâ
âI read it already,â he grinned tiredly. âI was hoping youâd wake up and be able to tell me more about the enchantment on the Vial. From what I could glean of Illidanâs notes, he would haveâŚâ the nether dragon droned on, explaining his theories to Alayne. Several times, the womanâs leaden eyelids threatened to cut short the conversation but she was able to fight off sleep and offer suggestions or comments that cemented his belief. âI could do it easily, then, if thatâs how he set the warding.â
âThe problem is that Gerâalin might not let you near it,â she muttered. âI read Illidanâs journalâŚwhere did I put the thing?â
âOh, I took it from the pile. This one?â he asked, holding up the book heâd termed âramblings of a megalomaniac.â Alayne nodded. The journal was large and heavy. Illidan had kept it only sporadically over the course of his imprisonment. She wished she had access to his earlier journals; he made references to several entries not in that particular book.
âIf you read back, the earlier entries,â she yawned, stuffing a fist in her mouth. âThe ones right after he was imprisoned, he rants about the kaldoreiâs short-sightedness concerning his second Well. He seems fairly lucid there, recounting that theyâd exiled the others who refused to give up arcane magic out of fear of bringing the Legion back down on everyoneâs heads. But then, skip forward to the middleâŚhe grows more and more obsessed with the Vials. He wanted them back very badly. He went from being convinced that the kaldorei held them apart out of fear of the Legion to being convinced that they were doing it to spite and torment him personally.â
âI see. Paranoia? Some of my own have been afflicted with it as well,â he muttered quietly.
âYou know as well as I do how addictive arcane power is. Itâs also corrupting. Normally, the corruption is slow to take place because magi do not weave massive spells every day. You start out with small magics, small feedings, small bits of pure energetic joy,â she recalled, thinking back to the first days sheâd begun to learn how to weave arcane spells from her mother. âOver time, your endurance and ability increase. However, you always have to be cautious. Itâs addicting, I know. If you begin to draw too much, too frequently, it can have adverse affects on your mind. Thatâs why our teachers are so methodical, so rigid, so slow in their teaching. They donât want us to become so completely addicted that we lose control of the spellcraft. With fel magic,â she sighed, âitâs even worse. But, Iâm rambling. Gerâalin seems to have been exposed to more arcane energy in one hour than I ever had access to in my entire life. He may have been fed more â force fed more â than some of the Magisters have handled. Heâs grown so paranoid, soâŚterrifying and different from what he was just a week ago! Iâm no longer certain heâll even let me handle the Vial.â
âGiving up on your plan already?â Mordenai asked softly, sadly.
âNo. I may just have to steal the blasted thing from him. Come on,â she sighed, standing up and swaying unsteadily on her feet. âLetâs see if theyâll still let me back in the fortress. Iâll need one dayâs rest before we begin. Letâs meet this evening for a late supper. Iâll let you know what adaptations we need to make to the plan then.â
âAs you command, Mistress,â he teased, bowing formally and falling in behind her.
âDonât start that yet,â she grimaced. âNot until I give the order. Letâs go.â
As the pair walked slowly, tiredly out of the Temple, Akama watched them go. He had mistrusted the sinâdorei woman, had forgotten what he had learned of her, after seeing her enslave the spirits of his friends and family. Now, as he watched her shuffle down the road, her tired steps taking her into almost certain death to atone for her insanity and to bring a peace heâd never dared dream possible to his shattered world, he prayed that she â and he â would be forgiven before it was all done. âNow,â he said, turning back to the Aldorites, âwe will need to request shipments of Khorium and Adamantite from the Magâhar orc clan. We can salvage some by melting down these great statues but weâll need more to restoreâŚâ he continued, his feet firmly on the path to atone for his own misjudgments as the warlockâs were upon hers.
~*~*~*~
âGerâalin, be reasonable,â Callie groaned. âShe doesnât hate you. I donât know why sheâs been gone four days but itâs not because she hates you. She loves you and you know it!â
âShe said she would help me but sheâs run off with that Mordenai! I just know it!â
âShe has not. I spoke with Tauâre yesterday. Sheâs locked up in Illidanâs chambers in the Black Temple reading like a madwoman. I guess sheâs trying to figure out what he did to you that has made you so ill so she can help cure you. That proves she loves you,â the Forsaken muttered irritably. âIf you donât want to listen to reason, Iâm going to stop breaking in here to talk to you. Also, Gerry, you stink pretty badly. Maybe sheâs staying away because she can smell that youâve not bathed in almost two weeks!â she teased, hoping to pull him out of his wallowing.
âBring me something to drink, would you? Something with a good kick so I can forget that faithless whore!â
âGerâalin Sunrage,â Callie said, jumping up onto the bed and standing over him, âif you call her that againâŚâ
âOh please,â he spat, âyou damned Forsaken have called her worse!â
âAnd we were wrong!â
âNo, you werenât!â
âYes, we were!â
âNo, you werenât!â
âYes, weâŚgood morning, milady Sunrage,â Callie grinned, seeing Alayne step through the door. âWe were just talking about you.â Alayne quirked an eyebrow at them; sheâd heard them shouting, calling her a whore, calling her faithless, among other things, since sheâd turned down the corridor. Then the stench of the room hit her, making her nose wrinkle in disgust and her stomach turn.
âBring soap and water,â she muttered to Callie, keeping her eyes down. âHe does need a bath. Gerâalin,â she said, forcing herself to call the strange man by her husbandâs name, âlet me take a look at you.â The rogue loped off quickly, springing lightly from the bed, glad to leave the couple alone. Gerâalin had been inconsolable the past two days since heâd convinced himself that Alayne had run off again.
Gerâalin pushed the covers down and glared at his wife, overjoyed and outraged that sheâd returned. Alayne blinked and had to fight to stay calm as she stared at him. In four days, heâd lost almost as much weight as he had in the first week. His cheeks were hollow, his eyes sunken back in his head and a milky, translucent blue. She could see where heâd torn plugs of his hair out of his scalp. Her heart turned over in her chest; he was suffering so much already. How dare she consider making him suffer more? âBut it will help him,â she reminded herself firmly. âIt will cure him and all of the others like him. The pain will be only temporary and then he will bless your name forever. So will everyone who had turned cold to you; it is the only option you have left, Alayne.â
âI look like hell, I know,â he said flatly. âI wouldnât be surprised if you did decide to run off with that hunter.â
âMordenai?â she choked. âLight of heaven, Gerâalin, heâs not my type. Heâs far too old for me, for one thing,â she muttered, tugging the sheets back to the foot of the bed, trying not to notice his wasted and emaciated frame. She fought back tears, remembering how strong heâd been, how safe and secure sheâd felt in his arms. âFor another, Iâve got you.â
âWere you able to figure out how to break the seal?â he asked, desperation in his voice. âIâm no fool, Alayne. I know whatâs happening to me! If I donât get that power soon, IâllâŚâ
âIâm not certain,â she sighed. âThere are a few things I can try but first,â she muttered, âletâs get you cleaned up and then I need some rest. Iâve scarcely slept since I left you. Iâve lost track of the days.â
âFour days,â he groaned. âI can remember when the mere thought of being away from you for four days would have been agony enough to fell me. Now, though, now all I can think about is whether or not youâve figured out a way to let me tap that Vial in these four days! Light of heaven, what has happened to me?â he asked, his tone despairingly rhetorical. Alayne said nothing but continued tugging the sheets into a semblance of neatness. âAlayne?â
âGerâalin, if I tried it now, Iâd fumble it for certain,â she muttered.
âPlease,â he pleaded, âplease try it. Iâll do anything! Just try it so I can be the man I used to be!â Alayne sighed and nodded. âIn the desk drawer. Itâs shoved to the back. Thank you, dearest, thank you!â he sobbed gratefully as she took out the Vial. She glanced back at the door, wondering how long Callie would be getting the water, soap, and towels, and, deciding on caution, slipped the Vial into her belt pouch. Sitting down on the foot of the bed, she began concentrating, letting her mind slip around the seemingly solid warding surrounding the Vial. She could sense the miniscule threads of magic, woven together so tightly they seemed one continuous strand extending infinitely in all directions yet finite in their boundaries. For long moments she sat, going through various methods to try to force the strands of magic apart just a hairsbreadth, just wide enough for her to slip around them and crack the warding from the inside, using the Vialâs own power to aid her. Sweat began gushing down her face. She let herself fall more than lay back, collapsing with the effort of trying to penetrate the demonâs magic and the long, sleepless nights and days catching up to her. Just when she thought she felt a shiver in the warding, a sign that her efforts were paying off, the door banged open. She leapt to her feet, startled to see Callie, Zerith, and Darâja all carrying buckets of water, soap for washing and for cleaning the room, and fresh linen.
âWelcome back to the land of the living,â Zerith said evenly. âThe next time you decide to slip off for four days, leave a note. If someone hadnât mentioned seeing Mordenai go off with you, I would have been tearing Outland apart hunting you.â
âI didnât intend to be gone so long. I just happened across some interesting books andâŚâ she shrugged, grinning ruefully. Zerith stared at her flatly, wiping the grin off her face.
âNow that youâre back, you and I need to talk,â he said in the same even tone. âI will be waiting for you in my room once youâve finished cleaning up in here.â Setting the bucket down, he motioned for the others to follow him out, leaving her alone with her husband.
âGerâalin, do you want to tell me what Zerith is going to yell at me about before I go and get my head taken off?â she asked quietly. Putting her hands on her hips, she began planning how to go about making the room habitable again without requiring too much effort from the gaunt figure of her husband. Nodding, she walked over to the side of the bed, reached down and helped him to his feet, and half-carried, half-dragged him to a chair. Letting him drop in it, she began tugging the sheets off the bed, wondering if the stench could ever be washed out of them.
âMe, probably,â Gerâalin gasped, out of breath from just that short exertion. âHeâs been in here every day, whether I wanted him here or not. He knows whatâs wrong with me and I think heâs hoping to be the one to break the news to you if you havenât already figured it out. Alayne, youâve got to find a way to break that warding!â he moaned. âI donât want to leave you a widow or the next thing to it!â
âIâll try again in a bit,â she muttered, wrestling the clean sheets onto the padding. Letting the task of cleaning fill her mind, she felt calmed and soothed by doing something so mundane, so ordinary. Pausing before she picked up the broom lying propped in the corner, she prayed that one day â a day she hoped would come soon â her greatest worry would be whether or not she felt like mopping. Attacking the floor with a vengeance, she quickly swept the dirt and dust under the window and, using a slip of paper, tossed it out of the room. By the time she finished mopping the floor, glad that the smell of strong lye soap had replaced the stink of sweat and sickness, her arms shook with weariness and she could barely lift Gerâalin out of the chair to help him back to the bed. Knuckling her back, she picked up the basin of cooling water and began washing him off, careful not to get the sheets wet. âYou will not be leaving me,â she whispered as she gently lifted his shoulders and let his hair fall into the water. âI can promise you that. You will not turn into one of the Wretched. I will do whatever it takes to prevent that.â He smiled at her, a smile so filled with hope and gratitude that her heart skipped a beat and she wanted to throw herself out of the window. Did he have no idea what she was thinking? What she planned and how much it would hurt him? Staring down at his impossibly hopeful face, she saw that he had become so focused on the Vial and its arcane energies, he had forgotten â or lost â the connection they shared. She could still feel his thoughts, could still track the path his mind wandered down. But, no longer could he do the same to her. Part of her was grateful. The other part of her wanted to wail in frustration like a lost child that he would never guess or try to stop her from doing what must be done.
âYou should go speak with Zerith,â Gerâalin said as she toweled his hair dry and began brushing it. âI havenât told him about the Vial. Maybe you should, now that you seem to be close to finding a way to help me. ButâŚmaybeâŚno, heâd try to take it, wouldnât he? Itâs so powerful, soâŚheâd want to take it. Youâre the only one I can trust with it, sweetheart, because I know that you understand.â Alayne nodded dumbly and, feeling the blissful numbness of exhaustion, staggered down the hallway to speak with her brother. Gerâalin watched her go, something about the way sheâd been acting tugging at his mind, telling him that something was extremely wrong. âIâll be able to recall it later,â he thought, licking his lips in anticipation. âOnce she breaks that wardingâŚIâll be able to recall what it is that has me worried now.â
Alayne knocked softly on the door to Zerith and Darâjaâs room, hoping it was too soft for them to hear so she could honestly say sheâd come down to see what they wanted, assumed they were out, and had decided to take a nap. Her eyelids felt as if the weight of the world hung on them and her whole body craved sleep the way Gerâalin craved the Vial. She tried to put the thought of just how nice it would be to curl up against him and nap out of her mind. Sighing fretfully when she heard her brotherâs imperative âCome in!â in response to her knocking, she pushed open the door. She grunted, the wind knocked out of her, when Zerith flung his arms around her and squeezed her tightly. Her knees buckled and only his embrace kept her from falling. It took all of her willpower not to bury her face in his long reddish hair and sob. Taking firm hold of his arms, she forced her legs to support her and stepped back from his embrace, eyeing him coldly, distantly. âI am so, so sorry,â he whispered, tears trickling down his cheeks.
âI cannot speak about this,â she said, wishing she could confess to Zerith as she had to Akama. âIs that what you wanted to speak to me about? GerâalinâsâŚillness?â Zerith nodded. âI canât talk about it,â she repeated, her voice catching. âNot now.â
âI canât say I understand,â he said softly, the love and concern in his voice nearly melting her resolve. âI can barely begin to imagine what you mustâŚall I can say, little sister, is that I am here. If you need me for anything, at any time, please know that Iâm here for you.â
âIâll remember that,â she said faintly, her heart racing as she fought against breaking down and telling him everything. She knew he would stop her; he would talk her out of it. She couldnât let him. It was the only way, the only hope left for Gerâalin and for all of their people. Turning on her heel, she walked slowly, wearily, back to her own room. Zerithâs eyes followed her, wondering why his old instincts were shouting at him that Alayne was about to do something foolish. Shaking his head, he opened the window and, sitting in the streaming sunlight, began to pray, hoping that some miracle would heal the Blood Knight or, at the very least, give Alayne the strength and peace she would need once Gerâalinâs transformation was complete.
Back in her room, Alayne sat down on the bed, wishing she had the energy to change clothes. Pulling her feet up, she sighed when she felt more than heard Gerâalin shift and stare at her expectantly. She nodded wearily and, forcing her exhausted mind to slip around the warding, began hammering away at the weak point sheâd created earlier. Just as she felt it beginning to give, darkness closed in on her, dragging her eyelids shut with leaden fatigue.
~*~*~*~
Alayne woke hours later, feeling exhausted and lethargic. She wanted to close her eyes again and return to sleep but forced herself to sit up, wincing when the room spun before her eyes and her head began throbbing. Gerâalin sighed, huffing with relief, when she looked at him. âYouâre awake,â he grinned, his teeth seeming too large for his mouth. âIâve been waiting forever for you to wake up.â
Alayne nodded and immediately regretted it. Her vision swam and a wave of nausea gripped her in its sickly fist. Sheâd been hoping he would have fallen asleep, making it easier for her to simply slip out without having to face him. Without having to figure out a way to trick him. The moment sheâd seen the Vial in his hand, sheâd known what sheâd have to do. The final details of her plan had unfolded before her like a well-crafted map. The days spent in the Black Temple had confirmed her decision. Still, her heart hurt at the thought of having to deceive him. Firmly, she reminded herself that he was no longer truly Gerâalin. âGive me a few minutes,â she said breathlessly. âA few minutes and Iâll try it again.â Gerâalin smacked his lips in anticipation, crowding close to her and letting his bony chin dig into her shoulder. Alayne wished he would move back a little; she did not know if she would be able to lie to him with him hovering over her so closely. She was glad sheâd fallen asleep before sheâd broken the ward completely earlier. There was no telling what kind of reaction Gerâalin was going to have if she lowered the warding while he was nearby. She did need to test to see if she could do it or all would be for naught. Closing her eyes, she focused her concentration once more and felt the warding begin to shiver. Gerâalinâs breathing grew shallow and fast as he felt the thrill of anticipation; he could sense the shield growing thinner. He whispered incoherent praise into his wifeâs ear, kissing her neck and shoulder and shivering with a hunger that would soon be satiated. Just as he sensed the thinness growing to insubstantiality, Alayne withdrew her efforts and sighed.
âCome on, dearest,â he said, his lips brushing against her ear. âYou almost had it. Just a little more andâŚâ
âItâs not going to work,â she sighed leadenly. âIâŚthereâs a second enchantment hidden beneath the warding. Iâd need to study it more thoroughly but I think, unless the warding is lowered in just the right manner, the second spell will cause the Vial to teleport away.â
âYouâre not serious?â he whispered incredulously. âWell, youâll just have to figure out a way to stop that from happening,â he muttered flatly. âI need that power!â
âGerâalin, it could take me months toâŚâ
âYou donât have months! I donât have months! I donât care what you have to do; find a way to break that enchantment now!â he howled.
âGerâalin, I canât,â she sighed, feeling the acid churn in her stomach as she lied to him. There was no second enchantment. She could break through the warding easily now that she knew what it was. She just did not trust him to let the Vial out of his sight once he was able to tap into it. âIâm sorry,â she said, tears falling from her lashes. Truly, she was.
âYouâre sorry?â he snarled. âYouâre sorry? I donât believe you! You just want it for yourself!â he yelled, grabbing her by the shoulders and shaking her violently. His fingers closed around her throat, choking the breath out of her. She gasped, black flecks floating in her vision as her lungs screamed out for the air he was holding from her. âYouâre a warlock, after all. No doubt you want it all to yourself! I would have shared it with you, you stupid woman!â he screamed, pulling a hand away from his stranglehold to backhand her. She crashed to the floor, his blow wrenching her from his iron grip. She drank in breaths gratefully, shivering, feeling her first true fear of him. As he raged at her, she wept, considering giving in, letting him have the energies of the Vial even though it would, at best, a temporary solution. âWhy did I ever give up someone like Taâsia to chase after you, you faithless whore! She could have broken the enchantment, Iâm sure. She would have shared it with me instead of trying to keep it all for herself!â he shouted. Alayne shuddered, trying to remind herself that this person was not really Gerâalin; this was some hideous, dark reflection of the man she loved. Staring at his face helplessly, she looked past the anger, past the gauntness, seeking and finding the remnants of the man sheâd married. Her fingers closed around the Vial and she prayed to the Light that he would be so enraged he would forget she had it. âI could be back in Silvermoon now, enjoying life as it came to me instead of out here in this Light-forsaken hell with a worthless warlock who canât even break a simple warding! Damn you, woman! Damn you!â he roared, his anger giving him strength. Standing, he walked over and pulled back his foot, preparing to kick her in the ribs, to make her feel just a smidgen of the torment he was going through.
Gerâalin crashed backwards, a sudden force of fury pinning him to the ground. Zerith glared at him, anger contorting the priestâs normally calm features and sheer discipline keeping him from throttling the other man. âI am trying to remember that you are very ill,â Zerith growled between gritted teeth, âbut if you ever say anything like that to my sister, if you ever so much as even think about raising a hand to her, illness or no, husband or no, I. Will. Kill. You. Now, what is going on here?â he demanded, shoving himself off of Gerâalin and glancing back to see Darâja gathering Alayne into her arms. âWhat are you screaming about? Someone answer me!â he hissed in frustration. Alayne had buried her bruised face on Darâjaâs shoulder and was weeping with remorse and sorrow. She held the Vial clutched in her fingers, hidden by the sleeve of her robe. Zerith turned back to glare at the Blood Knight, grabbing the manâs chin fingers that pinched like a vice and tugging him upright. âWhat were you screaming at her about?â he snarled, his jaws clamped together. âWhat is it you were going to share with her?â
âNothing,â Gerâalin said flatly, trying to ignore the way the priestâs fingers dug into his jaw. âIâm not sharing a damned thing with her!â
âDarâja, take her back to our room. See if you can take care of thoseâŚ,â he shuddered, waves of pure anger washing over him, the desire to throttle the paladin whose jaw he held painting his vision red as he saw the finger marks marring the skin of his sisterâs neck. Had he been another minute slower⌠Darâja quickly pulled Alayne out of the room, working her healing magic on the woman. âNow, youâd better not ever even think about doing anything like that again, Gerâalin. When I married you two, you swore that you would die before you let any harm come to her. You swore to shield her with your own body, to lay down your life to save hers if need be. The only reason, Gerâalin, that I have not killed you already is because I know you are not yourself. I know that a fate far worse than death awaits you and, at this moment, Iâm glad! Do you hear me?â he shouted, shaking the other man as Gerâalin had shaken Alayne, âIâm glad!â Zerith forced his hands away, shaking with rage. He blinked, his vision growing dark, nearly blinding him. âI have heard everything youâve said since she went off with Mordenai to do Light-alone-knows-what to try to help you! If you think Callie hasnât been reporting to me, youâre dumber than I ever thought you were. I closed my ears to it, telling myself that you were only upset because Alayne had been gone so long. I told myself that your anger was a mask for your fear of losing her again. I was wrong,â Zerith said, tears of hatred stinging his eyes. âI was wrong and I will never, never let you close to her again! I am going to tell Garrosh and Morâghor to haul you out of here so I never have to look at you again! Go and wander with the rest of the Wretched, Gerâalin! You will hurt my sister no more!â
Gerâalin gaped at Zerith, his face turning white. Zerith whirled around, his robes flying out behind him as he stormed down the hallway. Pausing to clutch the wall, his knees buckling and his muscles turning to water from the release of rage, Zerith buried his face against an arm and wept, hammering the wall with his other fist. âLight, why?â he demanded. âWhy let him fall ill? Why let him suffer? Why let him hurt Alayne and why do you let her suffer? Have we not been hurt enough? Why?!â he sobbed, hating the entire situation and hating that there seemed to be nothing he could do to heal it.
Back in his room, Gerâalin stared down at his hands in horror, realizing what he had just done. For a moment, the Vial was the most distant thing from his thoughts as the priestâs words sunk in. The Blood Knight lifted his shaking hands to his face, his fingers becoming talons that tried to claw the sight, the memory, of what had just happened away. Sobs tore his throat, pulling him to the ground as he wept. âDid I hurt her?â he repeated again and again to the empty air where Zerith had stood. âOh, Light, what has happened to me? How could I?! I deserve this! Light forgive me,â he begged, praying for what he did not believe he could receive. âAlayne, IâŚ,â he gasped breathlessly, recalling the first time heâd realized he was falling for her, the first time heâd sworn to protect her, the memory flaying his soul when he realized that now he was the one she needed protection fromâŚ
~*~*~*~
âHow are you feeling today?â Gerâalin asked cautiously, standing in the doorway leading to Alayneâs room. The woman was lying on her bed, rolled on her side, staring sightlessly at him. âBetter, I hope,â he continued awkwardly, uncertain of whether or not he should enter the room. Zerith and Darâja had left the day before, the priest muttering something about gleaning before fall truly set in â whatever that meant. âYouâre not going to talk today, are you?â he sighed. âYouâre not going to tell me anything. I guessâŚIâll have to see for myself,â he whispered, striding across her small room. He stood in front of her bed, completely ignorant of how to proceed. Zerith might push her over and sit down next to her as naturally as he would his true sisters but Gerâalin had never had any experience on how to deal with a woman lying abed. Alayne could be very understanding; she could also be very prudish. He still felt uncertain as to which she would be should she rouse while he checked her. Gritting his teeth and glancing over his shoulder, feeling the ghost of his mother glaring at him for being alone, un-chaperoned, in a womanâs bedroom, he reminded himself that he was only there to see if he could help her. âGet your mind out of the gutter, Gerâalin,â he growled to himself. âSheâd flay you if you even thought about it.â He gingerly gripped her shoulder, his touch feather-light, and gently shoved her back so he could sit at the edge of the bed. Taking her head in his hands, he let the healing energies of the Light, the blissful power he drew from the strange creature held captive beneath the city flowing through him, bringing tranquility and hope to his bleak heart. âNo change,â he whispered softly, sensing the cracks that had been widening for weeks now. âYouâre notâŚgoing to get better again, are you?â
He sat there, staring down at her blank face, wishing she would blink, move, or sigh. He stared for so long that his eyes began to water. âYou know what?â he asked suddenly, not expecting an answer. âThose fools can wait on me to teach them how to hold a sword another day. You shouldnât be left here alone. We are going to sit here and talk, joke, and make fun of each other just like we used to back in Desolace. You remember those times, donât you? Running your brother and me up a tree. Chasing me while waving a spear Iâm still surprised you were able to heft at all. Reminding me a million times to pick something up off the ground because you were my friend, not my woman,â he grinned, settling down on his side to face her, his eyes even with hers. âWe had some great times, didnât we? Even before that, we had good times. Remember when we attacked Arugal? You didnât even wait for Zerith to wake up for that one. I remember thinking you were the bravest woman alive as I followed you through that labyrinth of a keep. You never once flinched at those worgen-things. And they certainly couldnât stand your fire and shadow. Hey, Alayne,â he whispered, reaching over to stroke her cheek. âDo you remember when you and Zerith first started getting people together to go attack Deatholme? I remember it. I was sitting around in Silvermoon, wondering when someone would put me to work doing something other than polishing my armor. I was wandering through the Bazaar, patrolling with Darâja, and I heard you crying out âWeâre looking for brave souls to lead a strike against Deatholme! It is time we reclaimed the Ghostlands for the glory of QuelâThalas!â I thought you were an angel made flesh when I turned to see you and heard what you were planning. Do you remember any of this?â his fingers gently brushed through her hair. He moved in closer, so close to her that their noses almost touched. âWhy wonât you speak to me now? What are you staring at? Are you going toâŚforget everything? Iâve never known anyone who went mad,â he sighed, âbut, I want you to know that I will do whatever I can to protect you from that. I know you have Zerith to help you but I want you to know that Iâll always be here to protect you from anything. No matter what it is. SoâŚyou donât have to be afraid, you know,â he babbled, closing his eyes to block out the sight of her staring, âIâll always look after you and keep you safe. SoâŚyou can tell me about whatever it is that is wrong with youâŚjustâŚdonât go away. Iâve lost my parents, I lost everyone I knew growing up. I donât want to lose youâŚâ
~*~*~*~
âWhat have I done?â Gerâalin wailed, the rest of the memory searing him. How far had he fallen that he would cause even the slightest harm to her? âLight, what has happened to me? Zerithâs right. I deserve this fate. Do you hear me, Light? I deserve this!â Pounding his fists on the floor, he cried himself to sleep. As he drifted off, he thought he heard faint chimes singing across his mind.
~*~*~*~
Gerâalin woke hours later, feeling drained. He opened his eyes, wondering if he were still where he had been or if Zerith had made good on his promise to have the man hauled off. The carpet beneath his eyes was the same; lifting his head, he saw his wife hunched over the desk, her quill scratching across parchment. âAlayne?â he whispered softly. She stiffened and continued writing. âI canât ask you to forgive me; all I can say is that I am so horrified at⌠you should leave now. Find a man who will never hurt you.â The warlock continued to ignore him but, from the way her shoulders shook, he knew sheâd heard him. âIâll leave as soon as I regain enough strength to make it back to QuelâThalas. Though, from what I know of this maladyâŚâ
âDrink this,â she said coldly, shoving a flask at him, her back still to him.
âWhat is it?â
âDrink it. Zerith said to. He said it would be wise for you to drink it.â
Gerâalin tipped it back and drained the flask. After a few moments, he could feel an overpowering drowsiness threatening to drag him back to sleep. âA sleeping potion?â he yawned. âI just slept the day away. Zerith will no doubt be expecting me to be gone by now. Iâm surprised Garrosh hasnât dragged me out of here.â Alayne continued to ignore him, her quill moving fluidly across the parchment. When he began snoring, she wiped the stub, dusted the letter, and folded it. Dipping the quill once more, she scribbled Gerâalin and Zerithâs names on the outside and set it, standing so the names were prominent, on the desk. Lifting shaking hands to her eyes, she wiped away the tears she had dared not let Gerâalin see. She thanked the Light that the man had simply drunk down the dram; sheâd been afraid she would have to find some way to trick him into it as she had the others. Gerâalin had been fast asleep, lost in dreams, when she finally convinced her brother to let her return to her room. It was only because Gerâalin had been out cold that Zerith had let her leave his and Darâjaâs room at all.
âShall we be on our way?â Mordenai asked quietly. âI think even the Forsaken are asleep. What did you slip in the soup?â
âA strong mix of dreamfoil and lotus,â she muttered. âZerith says that the healers use that mix when they have to cut someone open to remove an arrowhead or the like. It makes the person fall into a profoundly deep sleep for the better part of a day. That gives us time to do what we have to do.â
âYou can always turn back, Alayne. Enjoy what little time you have left with your husband. IâŚIâve never seen anyone return from a case this advanced. Thereâs simply no cure once the withering goes so far.â
âI will not give him up as lost. He never gave up on me until he thought I was dead.â
âThen let us be on our way. We can be in Shattrath before the moon rises. Such dark deeds are best done in darkness.â
âYou can always turn back, Mordenai,â she muttered as they walked out of the fortress, the sonorous snores of the sleepers growing quiet as they crept through the shadows and into the night. âI can do this on my own. Why risk yourself for something that you say is a long shot anyway?â
âMy kind feel a kindred for your people. We share much â including an all-consuming passion for magic. It comes to us as naturally as breathing. To hear of your suffering, to see the way it is destroying some of your strongest⌠I like to think that, were the roles reversed, youâd do the same for me. Besides,â he sighed, âyou seem to have a gift for inspiring people, for calling them to you, even when it seems hopeless. Perhaps youâll pull this off. If not, it is a worthy cause to die for â giving oneâs life for love.â
Alayne sighed and nodded. The dragon had said as much before when she asked him why he wanted to get involved. âDo you thinkâŚif by some miracle I surviveâŚtheyâll ever forgive me?â
âThey will. They love you just as much as you love them. I donât think anything you do will ever change that. Now, would you mind turning around?â he asked sheepishly. âI prefer to do this without an audience.â Alayne turned her back on the man and stared at the rocks of the hill in front of her. She forced herself to keep her back turned even when she felt the rush of magic accompanying the incantation that shifted Mordenai to his true form. âAnother five minutes,â his voice whispered across her mind, âIâve been in elven shape far too long.â
While she waited, she let herself think about the absolute disaster the day had been. After Gerâalin had⌠her hand crept to her throat, remembering the iron grasp of his fingers. After that, she had been dragged down the hallway by Darâja, the woman desperate to keep her from further harm. Alayne had flinched as if struck when she heard what Zerith was yelling at Gerâalin. The whole thing had been her fault anyway; if sheâd been able to think up a better lie, he might not have grown so angry. If she had been able to convince them to stay away from Illidan, he would never have been exposed to such power and begun this terrible transformation. When Zerith had finally stormed back into his own room, shaking and sobbing with a mix of fear, anger, and relief, she had considered just lifting the warding entirely; maybe if Gerâalin could tap into such pure energy, he would learn to control it better, learn to live without having to gorge himself on it to the extent that it damaged his mind, possessing and obsessing him as it had. Once Zerith calmed down, she opened her mouth to pour out the truth, the words freezing on her tongue when her brother signaled for silence and told her that he was going to send Gerâalin back to QuelâThalas that night. âI couldnât let that happen. If you send him backâŚthereâs no telling what will happen to him,â she whispered to the darkness, praying her brother would understand. Sheâd explained as much as she dared in the note sheâd left.
âThat feels so much better,â Mordenai growled, his voice as low as he could make it in his current form. âIâd forgotten how cramped that shape could be.â Giving himself a shake, he grinned toothily when Alayne turned around and blanched. âDonât worry,â he joked, âIâm not going to eat you.â
âItâs not that,â she whispered breathlessly, staring at his wings in horror. âDonât let me fall off,â she said, her voice strained. He nodded and, lowering himself to his belly, did his best to help her clamber onto his back. Once she was settled, her hands holding onto the loose skin and scales at the base of his neck, Mordenai gave himself a mighty push with his hind legs and leapt into the night.
Alayne glanced behind her once, tears stinging her eyes as the fortress grew distant. âI do what I must,â she whispered to those she was leaving behind, âremember that, always.â
~*~*~*~
Sarâla watched the night sky, looking for the first star to appear so she could make her nightly wish. The matrons of the orphanage had told everyone to get in bed and go to sleep but Sarâla could never fall asleep unless she got to make her wish. âWhat will I wish for tonight?â she wondered. âI think Iâll wish that Iâll get to see Miss Alayne again soon and she and I will go off and have adventures. I havenât wished for that in a whole week, after all.â Spying the first star, Sarâla closed her eyes tightly and made her wish. Giggling, she started to return to her bed, the stone floor cool against her bare feet, when she saw a shadow cross the sky. It seemed very far away and very strange; not like any bird or bat the little girl had seen in her life. Watching it, she saw it circle the city a few times before flying back off towards the east. âWhoa, I wonder what that was?â she whispered. Glancing around the room, she satisfied herself that all of the other children were asleep before pulling herself up on the table in front of the window and dropping out. Her mind wove all kinds of possible stories and adventures to explain the strange shape and keep her from seeing the seedy characters who gave Lower City its true name and nature. Keeping to the shadows, she snuck past most of them without notice. The few who did notice her paid a child no mind; a little girl would not carry much gold on her person, after all. Sarâla held her breath as she climbed the ramp leading to the forest. She hoped that the Vindicators wouldnât find her and take her back to the orphanage. Sheâd been in a lot of trouble the last time sheâd sneaked out after dark. Still, it was fun to sneak out into the night and see what the grown-ups did while kids slept. As she reached the end of the ramp, she stopped, seeing a familiar shape emerge from the shadows of the forest.
Alayne took firm hold of her stomach, reminding herself that she was back on the ground and there was no need to be sick. She reviewed her plan silently to calm herself. Sneak in through Lower City, take the elevator to the Aldoriteâs tier. If questioned, she would say she was seeking a cure for her husbandâs sudden illness. âThatâs not a complete lie,â she reminded herself. If she could make it to the elevator that lowered to the Scryerâs tier from the Aldorâs, she thought she could probably sneak in the Library through the back. Vorenâthal would have put the Vial in the room where all of the other objects of extreme arcane power were stored. Normally â unless her memory failed her or times had changed â it would be guarded only by a pair of Magisters at this hour. They would be relying on the warding to keep intruders out. âMordenai should fly over and scare the wits out of everyone about the time I make it into the Library. That will pull everyone out onto the tier, giving me a chance to blast through the wall. Why they never think to ward the entire room instead of just the windows and doors is something theyâll reconsider after this,â she grinned. The sewage passage into the Black Temple had given her the idea. âThis will work. I can do it,â she said to herself. âCome on, Alayne. Timeâs ticking away while you stand here like a rock.â Straightening, she strode down the ramp, her heart nearly stopping when she heard footsteps running after her.
âMiss Alayne! Miss Alayne!â Sarâla shouted, overjoyed. âI wished you would come and my lucky star brought you!â
âSarâla, what are you doing out at this hour?â Alayne said, nearly swallowing her tongue. âShouldnât you be in bed?â
âI snuck out because I saw a big monster in the sky,â the little girl gibbered excitedly. Adrenaline surged in Alayne, sweat beading on her forehead and heating her underarms. Her palms grew clammy. âThen, I saw you,â the girl continued. âHave you come back to take me with you?â
âTake you with me?â Alayne gasped, her mind racing. âActually, no,â she said, not wanting the little girl or any of her friends to be hurt. âIâve come to warn you that an evil dragon is going to attack the city. I have to go up and warn everyone else now. Get back to the orphanage. I will come for you when itâs all over. Oh, do me a big favor?â she asked, forcing her voice to sound light and her eyes to grow wide and bright. âSoon â maybe even tomorrow â some people might come back from a place called Shadowmoon Valley.â Sarâla nodded impatiently, eager to be off and warn her friends so they could find some place safe to hide and watch Alayne battle the evil dragon. âThere are two of them I want you to make friends with. Theyâre both boys. Their names are Zerith and Gerâalin. Gerâalin has been very sick lately so heâll need lots of attention and lots of you guys to make him laugh. Can you do that for me, Sarâla?â
âYeah, sure!â the girl nodded as she ran off to warn her friends. Once Sarâla had vanished, Alayne hiked her skirts and ran up towards the Terrace of Light, praying that she would be able to work her way to the Library before Sarâla roused the whole of Lower City.
âAdapting the plan?â she felt Mordenaiâs mental link with her.
âIf you had listened to me and landed by the ruined thicket instead of insisting on overflying the city âlooking for a better landing spot,â this wouldnât be happening,â she growled through the link. âAnd, stop eavesdropping on me.â
âAs long as you have that scale, Iâm going to hear everything you hear. Iâll try to be as menacing as I can,â he sighed. âLet me know when youâre on the Aldoriteâs tier.â
Alayne nodded before she could stop herself and sent her thoughts along the link. She could have sworn she felt Mordenai grin ruefully. She kept close to the wall, doing her best to ignore the Vindicators who stood guard on the elevator. The draenei eyed her suspiciously; few sinâdorei allied themselves with the Aldor, but let her pass without incident. âIâm on the tier. Give me two minutes to get to where I need toâŚI said to give me two minutes, Mordenai! Not two seconds!â she thought angrily as she heard the first screams and saw the other Vindicators begin rushing out of their temple. Hoping she looked like any other terrified civilian, Alayne ran for the rear elevator, heaving a sigh of relief at finding it unguarded. The Scryer guards at the bottom where gone as well. âNo doubt theyâre looking for a way to have your hide,â she said smarmily. âGood going there, Mordenai.â
âQuit complaining like a she-dragon in season and get about your business,â the dragon snapped, his irritation hitting her mind like a slap. âWomen, I swearâŚâ she heard him finish. âIncoming!â he warned just before she heard a fierce roar that nearly deafened her.
âDo all dragons have such a poor sense of timing?â she grumped. âDoes this come with living as long as you do, or are you just careless?â
âIâm considered young and hot-headed. Oh no. Try to stay out of that big structure with the golems in front.â
âWhy?â she asked. âThatâs where I need toâŚâ
A blast of magic hit the top of the Library, blowing the crystalline pylons on the roof off and flinging them away into Nagrand. Another deafening roar followed, this one strangely muted compared to the last. Alayne could sense the currents of magic being woven by the Scryers as they tried to fend off the maddened dragon attacking them. âDonât get yourself hurt, you big blue lummox,â she sent fondly. âIâm going in. Looks like everyone is out trying to keep you away.â
âAll according to plan,â Mordenai gloated. âIâll circle around a few times, keep their attention. Get in, get it, get out and let me know when youâre back down to Lower City. Iâll meet you at the cave leading to Bladeâs Edge Mountains.â Alayne sent her agreement and hurried on through the Library. Books, shelves, and tools of magic lay scattered on the floor where they had fallen when Magisters dropped them or when Mordenaiâs attack had toppled them from their places. Alayne heaved a sigh of relief at finding the Library empty. Working her way to the room where the most powerful arcane artifacts were stored, she nodded to herself in delight when she sensed that the warding ended at the doorâs edge. Glancing up and down the corridors, ascertaining that no one would see her until it was too late, she lifted her hands and hurled a bolt of shadow at the wall next to the door. Feeling the wall shake, she hurled a second, and a third. The fourth one punched a hole in the wall large enough for her to scramble through. Now if she could just find the Vial she could be on her way.
âWhat are you doing here?â Jezâral demanded, a flame springing into existence over his upheld palm. âAlayne?â
âWhat are you doing here?â she hissed, glancing around the room.
âIâm on guard duty tonight,â he muttered. âWhy did you blast in here? What is going on?â
âA dragon is attacking the city,â she said quickly. âI was just looking for a safe place to hide.â
âSafe place to hide? Safe place to hide,â he murmured, finding the words strange coming from her. The more he recalled about her, the less he thought she knew what âsafeâ meant or would put herself in a âsafe placeâ if she could throw herself in the thick of battle. âYouâre lying.â
âJezâral, is the Vial still here?â she asked, her frustration boiling over. She did not have time for this!
âWhy do you need to know that?â
âBecause Gerâalin has fallen deathly ill and we need the Vial to cure him,â she said quickly and truthfully.
âThen he can return to Shattrath. Aâdal has given orders that the Vial is not to leave the tier.â
âHe canât come,â she lied, desperation making her sweat. âIt must be brought to him.â
âThen youâll have to go plead your case to the naaru,â Jezâral said firmly. His eyes were gentle, though, in stark contrast to his tone. âIâm sure that theyâll agree to help you. They seem to like your husband. Now, come here,â he said, turning his back on her and glancing around for the book heâd been reading. âI found this fascinating text onâŚwhat are you doing?â he demanded, feeling her arms slip around his neck. Alayne threw her weight back, pulling the man down and locking her arms in the sleeper hold her husband had taught her.
âForgive me, Jesthal,â she whispered as her former teacher lost consciousness. âI have no choice.â Reaching in her pocket, she pulled out one of the parchments sheâd prepared earlier and stuffed it in the manâs hand, positioning it where it would not be overlooked. Then, she tore through the room, blasting apart wardings, breaking open drawers, blowing apart lockboxes until she came across the Vial. Stuffing it in her belt pouch with its twin, she quickly wove the shadow magic that kept their presences hidden and climbed out of the hole in the wall. She ran out of the rear of the Library just as the Magisters began returning to it to investigate. They would have felt her frantic search and known that the dragonâs attack was a feint. Creeping quickly through the shadows, she prayed that, one day, they would all understand just why this had to happen. âI donât like it any more than any of you will,â she muttered to the distant shades of her friends, âbut it must be. This is the only way I can see; the only way! Forgive me,â she whispered to the darkness. Firming her resolve, she hurried on to the place where she was to meet with Mordenai to begin the next phase of her desperate, reckless plan.
~*~*~*~
Mordenai shook his head, glad that he had finally lost the Vindicators trailing him. He could feel Alayneâs impatience as she sat, shivering, in the damp swampy marshes waiting for him to get there. âThis may take a while. Iâm going to have to run instead of fly,â he warned her.
âWhy did you go south instead of just coming up here to begin with?â she asked, her irritation grating on the dragon. She was right; he could have easily eluded his pursuers and taken her to their final destination. He didnât want to admit that now that it was upon him, he was no longer certain this was such a good idea. âWell, why did you?â she demanded insistently.
âTo throw them completely off. Had I just headed north, theyâd have figured out where we were going quickly enough. By going south until they lost sight of me, I was able to loop back around through Nagrand. Iâll keep to the forests in case any Vindicators or Magisters from Shattrath are out patrolling, looking for a young nether dragon. You mortals can be so persistent.â He snorted at the thought that hit him from the link and began loping through the forests, pausing every so often to get his bearings from the night sky before dashing back off again. Once or twice he froze, hearing the pounding hooves of elekks and the high-pitched caws of hawkstriders. The entire city of Shattrath must have turned out for the dragon hunt.
âI just hope someone finds Jezâral and my note by morning,â Alayne thought quietly. âAnything to keep them from guessing where we might really be heading.â
âI have to admit, itâs a good plan. Youâre going to have everyoneâs head twisted around backwards trying to figure out who did what and why. That will be sufficient to keep them off our trails long enough. Not to mention that the way youâre going to âproveâ yourself is, frankly, either insanely courageous or just plain insane.â
âZerith and Gerâalin would say âinsane.ââ
âTheyâre more than likely right. Theyâre quite wise for fellows as young as they are.â
Alayne nodded absently, standing up carefully to glance up and down the road. The few draenei and troll patrols she had seen pass by had not been agitated. âI guess word hasnât gotten here fromâŚoh no. Mordenai, where are you?â
âHiding beneath a rickety bridge. A patrol just passed over. Thereâs a village housing some Broken just south of me.â
âHead north and see if you can swim across the lake. I can meet you in the shadow of the mountains. No way weâre getting through that cavern,â she sighed fretfully. âI can see the mouth from here and thereâs a sizeable number of guards grouping up. My guess is that they figured weâre either in Nagrand, Terokkar, Shadowmoon, or Zangarmarsh.â
âAny suggestions?â
âWhen did I become the leader here?â she huffed. âI suppose we wait them out. If we can just stay calm and hidden, we should be able to elude them until daybreak when, if all goes well, theyâll have found that note I left and will be heading to the Black Temple.â
Several moments of silence passed. Finally, âThis water is cold.â
âNo kidding,â Alayne muttered, her face heating as she recalled the first night sheâd spent in Gerâalinâs arms. True, nothing had come of it, but the memory made her ache to be with him again.
âYouâll see him again. Youâll survive this,â Mordenai thought reassuringly. âHeâll survive, too. Heâs a strong one.â
âI wish I could believe that as easily as you do,â Alayne sent.
âItâs simple. Just believe it. If you doubt yourself now, Alayne, you may as well plunge a dagger into your heart and be done with it. Itâs a bold plan; itâs a long shot. But it will work. Bah! Water is for naga,â he grumped, bringing a smile to his companionâs face. âDragons were meant to soar, not swim.â
âHurry up and get over here. I can hear you splashing around. Wait, be quiet!â she warned, straining her ears. Slipping into the underbrush near the road, she strained her ears to hear what the guards at the cavern mouth were saying. A sinâdorei Magister, his long cloak emblazoned with Vorenâthalâs crest, and a draenei priestess had just ridden up to the guards. She listened in to their hushed conference, forcing herself not to squeal for joy at what she heard. âItâs working!â she sent triumphantly. âTheyâre going to pull back to Shattrath and regroup to march on Shadowmoon!â
âSo, they found your note?â
âIt seems so. From what I could hear, Jezâral must be fine. He may be a little upset with me, though.â
âA little? You knocked him out!â
âI didnât have a choice!â
âI know. Iâm teasing you a bit. Clear your mind and let me hear them as well.â
ââŚknew we never should have trusted them. Such a band of vagabonds, low-lives, and undead,â the sinâdorei was saying. âWe should have known they would try to take it back.â
âWhat does Aâdal say of this? If the Disorder of Azeroth has decided to go its own way, that is yet another threat we must contain while trying to juggle your prince and Illidan Stormrage. And, what if they decide to taint the Magâhar and the Dragonmaw to control them?â one of the Vindicators asked. âWould you stand against your own younglings, even at that?â
âAs soon as we can capture them, rest assured that what weâre going to do to our âyounglingsâ would make anything you had in mind look like a day in the park! Such betrayal will not be tolerated! Now, call what you can spare of your forces out to Shattrath. We leave at first light to confront this Disorder of Azeroth and ground these overambitious children. Thus has Aâdal ordered.â
âThat is not exactly what the naaru said,â the priestess murmured. âHe said that it is our destiny to confront those children. Not that we would be successful. It is ill-luck to boast of a battle yet unfought.â
Alayne shook her head, hoping that they would leave quickly on their way. First light would be in a few hours; it would probably take that long just to finish assembling their forces. By the time they reached Dragonmaw Hold, Zerith and the others should be awake. If not, then the forces from Shattrath would be most surprised to find a fortress filled to the brim with snoring sleepers. She stifled a giggle and watched intently, waiting for them to move on.
When they finally did, pulling all but two of the draenei guards away from the mouth of the cavern, she heaved a small sigh of relief. âThink we can take them?â
âEasily,â Mordenai whispered, making Alayne shiver in fright. She had not heard him creep up behind her. âAs a matter of fact, this will involve no fighting. Just give me a moment,â he winked, staring in the direction of the guards and concentrating. Alayne felt the rush of arcane power surge through him as he muttered in his native tongue, the words sounding flat and lifeless on his elven lips. He grinned in satisfaction when the guards toppled over, snoring brokenly. âAlmost as effective as your herbs,â he joked. Holding a hand down for her, he pulled the warlock to her feet. âBy the time they are found or wake on their own, the cards should all be out on the table.â
âI know,â Alayne said, taking his hand. âCome on. Weâve still got a ways to go before this is over.â Glancing back south, praying that all would be well, Alayne and Mordenai jogged into the tunnel, leaving Zangarmarsh behind.
~*~*~*~
âThis is it,â Mordenai sighed as they reached the border into Netherstorm. âOnce we start, there is no turning back. Are you ready?â
âAs ready as Iâll ever be. You might as well shift now,â Alayne said tiredly. âLight, Iâll be so glad if this goes off without a hitch.â
âBefore we take off,â he grimaced, âhave you considered what might happen to you? Iâm well aware of the dangers I run but, Alayne, they are not going to kill or harm me too greatly. An arcane-wielding dragon is too valuable. A young warlock, howeverâŚâ
âWeâre not exactly a dime a dozen ourselves, you know,â she muttered defensively. âThe worst I fear, besides outright execution, is torment. Still, the story Iâve concocted has enough truth in it to convince any but the most paranoid. I just hope Iâm able to speak with Kael soon. Even in the best of times, royalty can drag things out for years with their blasted âprerogatives.ââ
âRemember that itâs King Sunstrider, not âKael.â One slip of the tongue like that and your head will go on a pike.â
âIâll keep that in mind,â she muttered dryly, turning her back on the dragon. Mordenai uttered a quick prayer that the Light would keep them safe in this desperate course of action and then sloughed off his elven form, spreading his wings and sighing luxuriously in his true shape. Letting his belly lower to the ground again, he helped Alayne climb aboard his back once more. âFly low,â she requested, feeling her stomach begin to churn.
âCalm down. Iâm not going to drop you,â he promised, hearing her heart race. Shoving off the ground with his hind legs, Mordenai turned, dipping his wing, and began to fly towards their final destination: the floating fortress called Tempest Keep.
As they drew near, Alayne assumed her frostiest demeanor and forced the panic she felt at being so high off the ground down into the soles of her feet. Wrapping herself in arrogance, she sent mental commands to the dragon. Mordenai obeyed them immediately, aware of the change in demeanor and knowing that, from this point forward, he must play the role of a trapped minion perfectly or heâd give them both away. He hovered for a moment on the verge of landing on the crystalline dock, the sinâdorei guards standing stock-still and hiding their shock and awe quite well. âLand, beast,â Alayne said peremptorily, her voice carrying down to the guards below. Mordenai forced the area clear, his wings flapping, stirring up mighty gusts of air before he landed, surprised that the delicate crystal did not shiver under his weight.
âWho goes there?â one of the guards demanded when Alayne leapt lightly off her mountâs back.
âOne who brings the keys of victory,â Alayne said airily. âI have come from Shattrath. I bring information about those who oppose our king as well as a gift of great power. I beg an audience with King Sunstrider at his earliest convenience.â
âNo one just shows up and gets an audience with our king,â the guard said coldly. âIf you are what you claim, you will not object to ourâŚrequirements before you are permitted within our kingâs presence. First, your name?â
âAlayne Dawnrunner, daughter of the late Sergeant Talâar Dawnrunner and his late wife Miris of Fairbreeze Village.â
âMiris and Talâarâs daughter?â the other guard said wryly. âIâve heard about your mother. Quite a scandal she caused before you were born.â Striding over to eye Alayne, giving her a weighing look, he nodded. âYou are your mother reborn. You will come with us. Tedâroni, Narla! See that this beast does no harm.â
âThis creature is under my complete control,â Alayne said smoothly. âI found him in Shadowmoon in the guise of one of our kindred. I believe our king will find his services quiteâŚuseful. Dragon,â she said contemptuously, âassume your elven form.â Mordenai shifted, the magic flowing around him as he transformed into the hunter guise he favored among mortals. As he changed shape, Alayne muttered an incantation that made the guards stare at her in awe. The words of draconic magic tumbled from her lips. By the time the transformation was complete, Mordenai stared blankly, sightlessly ahead, his will overpowered by the warlockâs magic.
âDo whatever they ask of you. Fight only if they try to kill you,â Alayne sent, worry gnawing along the link. âRemember, you are supposed to be my slave.â
âBlindfold them both,â the guard said, unable to suppress the shock he felt. âWe will take you to where you will stay until our king is satisfied of your loyalty to his cause.â
Alayne tried not to panic when the scrap of cloth blinded her. Keeping her head held high, she tried to maintain an unworried, even glide as the guards led her into the shining crystalline vessel. A faint tingling sound from her belt pouch reassured her; KaelâThas would not doubt her loyalty at all once she handed him the remaining two Vials. âI do only what I must,â she thought silently, hoping and praying that one day Zerith and Gerâalin would understand.