Born this Way, Part LXXIII

McSars Household, Surwich, Blasted Lands – seven months ago…

 
“Of course she’s not the same, Elicoor. You of all people should understand what she’s going through right now, or did you forget Shattrath?”

Lycannon stopped her dish washing and stared at the wizard from over her glasses, paying no mind to the soapy water running down her arm to drip off her elbow.

He stared right back at her from the great chair he was sitting in, placed near the hearth.  It was usually McSars’ seat. “Will you just listen to me, Lycannon? Can you not tell when she is up to something? I would have figured you might have picked up on such a thing with as close as you two have gotten.” he rumbled, sticking his pipe back in his teeth after he finished. His eyes went to the cold fireplace, and then the empty wall space above it.

She snorted and went back to her work, scrubbing plates, cups, and utensils, rinsing them clean and then setting them aside to dry later. The window above the wash basin was open, and it allowed for the light summer breeze to dance inside, bringing the scent of the ocean with it.

“Are you planning on putting something here, Lyc?” Elicoor asked after a long moment of quiet dish clanking.

Her chin tilted in his direction. “Jacob and I thought we might put our weapons up there one day. Have something for Daelin when he gets older, should he choose to use them.”

He nodded. “A good idea. Are you planning on retiring from your urge to fight?”

Lyc chuckled at that as she stacked the last plate, then went about draining the basin and rinsing it out. “Some day. I could probably do it easier than Jacob can, but we’re both pretty tired of crazy shit uprooting us every time we get a chance to breathe.” She paused to wipe down the counter and  put her wedding band back on. “I guess we’re getting old. Daelin changed it for us, I think.”

Elicoor nodded yet again, giving his pipe a good puff. “He has great potential, what with all of the people he has around him. McSars has grown quite well as a father. I will be honest, I did not expect him to pick it up so well.”

“Unfortunately Eli, not everyone can be as amazing as you are.” She said with a grin as she removed her apron and turned to him, words laced with sarcasm. “Anyway, he’s a good father. I think if anyone can help him find himself, it’ll be his son. They’ve taught each other a lot about life already.”

“What do you think Daelin’s calling will be?”

Lycannon raised her brow and crossed the floor to her chair, throwing the apron across the back of it and having a seat next to the man. She crossed her legs and leaned back with a sigh, contemplating. “I do not know, Elicoor. I will be happy with whatever he wants to be. If that’s a farmer, then he’ll raise the best damn crops this side of Azeroth.”

“And what if he chooses to be an Argent Crusader, or any other neutral faction?” He looked at her.

“If that is what he is happy with, then I will be happy too. Jacob as well. I know neither of us want our bias rubbing off on him. He should be free to make his own decisions.”

Elicoor looked a bit surprised at that. “Really now? That is somewhat unexpected.”

She smiled. “What? You thought we would have Daelin swear blind loyalty to the Alliance simply because of what happened to us? He is our future, Elicoor. The point is raising him so he does not make the same mistakes we did. You know that.”

“Indeed. That is why I’m worried about Kaludra.”

“Eli, what happened with Aselleus had nothing to do with how we raised her, if that’s what you’re getting at.”

The wizard looked grim. “What I’m getting at is that I believe… I think there is something wrong with her, and because she is so meek she will not tell us what it is. It is almost as if she has a dark cloud following her, like she is being haunted.”

“And I told you already, think about what she has been through. Kaludra is trying to get over what happened just like we all are. She’ll pull through alright, and this time she has both of us, Jacob and Derleth. She’s fine, Elicoor.”

He sighed and gave his pipe one more good puff before snuffing it and putting it away. “Has Daelin told you about his friend? The girl?”

Lycannon wrinkled her nose. “Yes, but what does an imaginary friend have to do with Kaludra? Children have them, that’s not anything out of the ordinary.”

“His friend has been following her around, Xana’ri.”

Born this Way, Part XIX-II

Khoura and Derleth walk away from the commander and his advisor, and stop just short of the ramp leading through the Dark Portal. They speak out loud yet again, and Derleth appears to get out his radio.

 
“So then, Derleth, you were right.”

“The more I think of this, the more I think they’re using Daelin to coerce Lycannon into aiding them. But I don’t like the Argent Crusade. I may be biased. If they are behind this, then it means Kaludra might be in a pit of vipers, poised to strike. I need to make a report.”
.
“They are not Argents. They are not anything. They are posing as these groups to get through areas unfettered, but I have a feeling you may also be correct about Kaludra. It sounds like the Stockades all over again.”

“Damnation. I will make my report, then enter the portal and continue the investigation… McSars. Report…”

“…I’ll send someone up to hang around Hearthglen. Seilach Stonechest – she was an Argent Champion before joining us. She’ll keep her ears open.”

“Very well, Armsmaster.”

“I think we are close, Jacob.”

“Good. Bring her and Daelin home. “McSars out.”

“Jacob. Hm.”

“What?”

“Nothing. Just interesting.”

“No, Derleth, why is it interesting?”

“He doesn’t let just anyone call him that. I think he may like you. Shall we continue?”

“How can you tell through that gorilla-speak? He treats me so terribly sometimes… Ah… Y-yes.”

 On the other side of the portal, the two stop and look at their maps.
 

“The… Outlands. They do not need to ask for lodging out here.This world is different… What do you think of the name ‘Daisy’, Derleth?”

“I… Daisy?”

“Yes.”

“For what?”

“Just a question.”

“Well, what are you naming ‘Daisy’?”

“I… heard it mentioned before.”

“It’s a nice name.”

“Do you like it?”

“I do.”

“Oh. Good… I suppose we should move to Honor Hold. There is not much else we have at the moment.”

“I think we should check the Temple of Telhamut, actually.”

“Oh? Why do you say that?”

“Argents or not, they won’t let Horde into Honor Hold, Khoura.”

“Ah, right.”

“They’re veterans from the Second War.”

“Of course. Onward, then.”

  They take to the sky, but land only briefly at the temple.
 

“Derleth, these are all Draenei. I believe they are Alliance aligned.”

“They’re more likely to allow a peaceable group in here, however.”

“So are the Cenarions.”

“Zangarmarsh… To the Refuge, then.”

 They land at the Cenarion Refuge, and Khoura stops briefly to mumble something to Derleth, before walking in and speaking to the innkeeper.
 

“Elune-Adore, Stoktron. I have a few questions to ask you.”

“Hello, sister. It has been a while. What do you need?”

“My colleague and I are looking for a group of people that may have passed through here. Have you seen any as of late?”

“No, unfortunately. Not that I can recall. We do not see as much traffic as we did when Vashj was on our doorstep.”

What about a draenei woman? With a terrible scar on her face? Maybe someone with… a halfling? A little boy?”

“Ah, I do remember a little boy. He was strange like a half-breed, yes. He looked draenei. Maybe… two or three. He was with an older draenei man, but there was no one with him.”

“How long did they stay? Did you see where they went?”

“They weren’t here but maybe a few hours at the most. I could not tell you which direction they left in.”

“I see. Did you get any names?”

“The little one was named… something… David? Darion? I do not know for sure.”

“And the older man?”

“Not a clue, sister.”

“Alright. Thank you. Ande’thoras-ethil.”

 The two step out of the inn and seem to look up and around at their surroundings before speaking their parting words.
 

“Unless we ask around, We may have hit a wall… But, perhaps…  I could see Shattrath as being a place where they may have stayed for longer than a few hours…. But… nothing solid.”

“Ask around here. I’ll start for Shattrath. We’ll meet there. I’ll scout a few areas, ask some of the outposts if they’ve seen any groups passing.”

“Your flask should be wearing off shortly. I will give you another when I see you in the city.”

“Good luck, Khoura.”

“You too.”

Born this Way, Part XIX

Faldir’s Cove, Arathi Highlands, three days before the second meeting at Mardenholde…

The small cove the Blackwater Raiders and other, smaller companies used to smuggle goods and people across continents was rather empty when Khoura and Derleth came upon it. Their investigation from Redridge continued here, under the cover of darkness. With only a few petty guards around, the two managed to silently gain access to the closest ship at dock, and they made their way to the hold of the vessel unheard and unseen. As was the majority of the area, the ship was mostly empty, and Khoura and Derleth began to look about for clues.

They spoke openly, but quietly here. Khoura is the first to speak.

 
“This ship is empty, save for a worker or two up top.”

“There must be something here.”

“Fishing nets, supplies… a folder hanging on the post with several slips of parchment tucked inside…”

“Perhaps it contains another clue.”

“Of course it does, that is why I said it, Derleth. These are logs of members and others who have passed through here.”

“Let us see if there are any familiar or outstanding names…”

“K… L… L… M? Hm. Lycannon is not here.”

“The X area, perhaps, Khoura.”

“Ah, There!”

“So she is travelling under her given name.”

“Look. Xana’ri Adastra… Meraan? Hm. Apparently so.”

“Her married title.”

“To her first husband, at that. And…”

“She is not quite incognito, but she will be harder to find if one does not know those names.”

“Oh. Good fel. Look where the log says she was heading, Derleth. Surwich.”

“The Dark Portal could be the destination, but she – or the people she may still be travelling with – want it to be not a simple journey. I have a feeling that when we arrive in Surwich, her nether drake will be gone.”

“That is possible. If she is going through such trouble to hide herself, even using a name she swore she never would again… well… it stands to reason.”

“And that may be a clue in of itself – she may well be going to Outland.”

“I wonder if this is all her doing?”

“Perhaps, Khoura. There are the people she was travelling with to consider.”

“True. I saw several orcish names on the list to the same place, as well as a few others.”

“Hm. Perhaps she is travelling with the Earthen Ring, then?”

“To find her baby? That makes so sense. Why would Shadoren not be the first to know?”

“Who says he doesn’t know?”

“Do you think he is protecting her?”

“Maybe. All I know is that I do not believe Shadoren can be trusted, based on the information I have collected on him so far. But then, no neutralist can truly be trusted.”

“Derleth, no one can truly be trusted. For all you know, I could be behind this entire operation.”

“Good point. I had better travel alone from here on, then.”

“I could say the same about you.”

“Forgive me. I did not mean to start a squabble. Come, we should continue onwards.”

“It is Kaludra, isn’t it?”

“Again, I apologize for any offense. Let us continue onwards without any sniping.”
 

Hidden by the shadows and the night, the two appeared in Surwich to continue their search. To anyone observing, they would have watched the pair poke about a small wooden boat before heading over to Kaludra and Derleth’s residence, the state of which surprising both of them. They chose not to use the potion again, speaking freely once more.

 
“Ransacked. You know, I had almost forgotten you could do that. The… shapeshifting.”

“Oh? Well, I can. I find it a bit awkward sometimes, however.”

“Is that so? I would have thought you may be used to it by now.”

“As much as anyone can be used to a curse… Hm.. Wobbles?”

“Ah! I… I did not know she kept him… there… Did he eat them, perhaps?”

“Did you find anything, Wobbles?”

“It… understands you? How interesting.”

“Well, after I’ve been constantly telling him not to make webs over the door, yes. I suppose so.”

“I do not see any… er… people up there… Derleth. I just had a thought.”

“What is it?”

“What if… Lady Lycannon did this?”

“Perhaps she caught sight of Mr. Wobbles. If that is so, then why? What would she be looking for, here? I never kept any intelligence here.”

“That is a thought. I am unsure if she knew of him living… above you and Kaludra. As to that, I am also unsure. She was with a group of people.”

“We must find out where they went.”

“It is possible that if one of them has Daelin, she may do their bidding so ensure his safety.”

“I’ve been considering that.”
 

They exit the house and cross the village to the inn, where Derleth approaches one of the townsfolk and asks them casually if any large groups passed through lately.
 

“Evening, Derleth. Aye… didn’t ye know? They came te see you. All of ’em, actually. Mrs. McSars said it were a few people you knew from yer younger years. Didn’t think nothin’ of it. They went on over te her house too. Guess she entertained of. Sounds like ye weren’t home, then.”

“I see. Do you know where they ended up going, do you remember what people there were?”

“Ah, lemme see. Was a few days ago, tha’s fer sure. I dunno exactly. Saw ’em headin’ east along the road there. Sorry ye missed ’em.”

“Maybe I’ll catch up to them. Have a fine day.”
 

Khoura and Derleth set off along the road, him on his horse and her flying above as a bird. They follow it all the way to the entrance of the Dark Portal, and carefully approach Watch Commander Relthorn Netherwane and his advisor, Sevel.
 

 “Excuse me sir, but did a group of people come through here in the last few days?”

“Good man, people come through this portal on a daily basis. Some in groups, others on their own. I’m busy making sure the demons and dragons don’t take us out while we aren’t looking. We check them all, but I don’t recall anything out of the ordinary, if that’s what you mean… Though…”

“Though?”

“A group of Argents came through last week, I think. I did think that was a bit off, considering where the Argents have been keeping themselves lately, but I don’t question their actions. They aren’t Alliance.”

“Was a draenei woman with them – with a very distinctive scar upon one side of her face?”

“Ahh, hard to say. Sevel?”

“Yes, Commander. There was. I remember distinctly. The entire right side of her face was muchly marred. She had a strange eye that looked in all directions.”

“There you have it.”

“Thank you, both of you. King’s honor.”

“Light be with you.”