Duality Risen

Eleven

Nolay and Peritali arrived in Silvermoon through Undercity’s Orb of Translocation. After greeting Lor’themar, the two young women hurried out of the Sunspire and into the main part of the city. Peritali tapped her lips as she studied the contents of her teacup, while Nolay simply closed her eyes and listened. The voices of the other patrons of the shop disappeared, then the sounds of the outside, until everything but the sounds of the earth were left. It whimpered in pain from the Dead Scar, but it was an old pain, one Nolay could ignore. She focused on the other sounds, and then she heard the same howling she heard a few weeks before. It was louder as if she were right beside it. But this one had a different sound, one that made Nolay feel as though she were standing on a clear, gentle pond amidst roaring waves. It was the same roar, still violent and holding the desire for revenge, but at the same time there was a flavour of gentleness to it.

Nolay opened her eyes and focused on a young orc warrior desperately trying to plead some case to the host of sin’dorei guards surrounding him and his group.

“Are dose Alliance?” Peritali asked, leaning up a little so she could see better.

“I think so. A human, a kal’dorei, and a draenei.” Nolay answered. “But why would an orc and a Forsaken travel with them?” She paused, as though she had the answer to her own question. She turned to Peritali, the Tauren’s eyes wide. “It’s him.”

“What?”

“The orc. He’s the one with the roar I can hear. Whatever caused those warlocks to go insane, he’s the catalyst.”

Peritali frowned as she looked from her friend to the group that was desperately trying not to get arrested or killed. Then she looked back to the druid. “You’re sure? Absolutely sure?”

Nolay nodded. “I feel it, Peri. The very stones of Silvermoon are telling me that orc boy is the cause. Maybe the cure.”

Peritali licked her fingers free of the honeycake crumbs and rose, smoothing out her skirts. “Don’t do anything dangerous,” Nolay begged.

Peritali smirked. “Who? Me?”

Nolay could only sit and watch as Peritali sauntered over to the group and flung her arms around the kal’dorei as though he were an old friend. Judging by his startled look, he had no idea what was going on, but he seemed amicable to playing along at least, and gingerly returned the hug. Peritali tugged on the orc’s arm, bringing the entire group over to where Nolay sat. The received odd glances, but no one seemed discontent enough to cause a fuss. After all, the three Alliance were now outnumbered by the four Horde, and they were in a Horde city. Nolay rose to greet the new guests, giving her apologies for the shaman.

Introductions given, Nolay sat on Cassie’s right, and folded her hands in her lap. “It isn’t coincidence we’ve all been brought here.”

“Of course not,” Raichlos said airily. “There just isn’t anything better to do than run off on a grand adventure. Oh! Let’s go to Northrend next! I hear the weather there is nice and cold with a high chance of death.”

“Shut up, Rai.” Tyrrandal said. Raichlos shot the hunter a venomous glower.

Mardruk rubbed his chin. “Look, I’m the one who made the mistake of unleashing him. There’s no reason why you all have to come with me.”

“Of course we have to go with you.” Cassie said sharply. “You can’t hope to succeed on your own. Besides, we’re already involved whether you want us to be or not. I’ve felt what Aljei’s resurrection caused; we’ve heard about it.”

“I can hear the land crying out,” Nolay added. “It seeks to right want went wrong. If this Aljei is truly as powerful as you say he is, you’ll need all our skills, not just your own.”

Mardruk opened his mouth as though to say something, then thought better of it and simply folded his arms over his chest. “There’s a good boy,” Serasin said, reaching to squeeze Mardruk’s cheek.

Cassie casually slapped the paladin’s hand away. “The seven of us should be able to take Aljei down without a problem. However,” she trailed off, her green eyes falling down to the table’s surface, “however, we don’t know where he is or what he’s going after.”

“I may be able to help you there.”

A young sin’dorei slipped up to their table, blonde hair pulled over one shoulder, his green eyes bright. Tyr felt his body tense in response to the smaller elf, knowing him as one predator knew another. The rogue acknowledged Tyr’s motion with a short-lived but dangerous smile, then refocused on Mardruk. “I couldn’t help but overhear you were looking for a warlock called Aljei.”

Mardruk frowned. “You mean you were spying on us.”

The blood elf somehow managed to look properly offended. “It’s not like it was for a lack of trying. Anyway, if you don’t want my help, I guess I’ll just be on my way.”

“Wait.” Cassie called. “You know where Aljei is heading?”

“I was hired to find him, so, yeah, I have a pretty good idea.”

Peritali nudged Nolay in the ribs with her elbow. “What do you think?”

Nolay frowned. “Well, he isn’t lying. But then, he’s a rogue. They’re trained to tell a lie as though it’s truth. Still…” She shook her great head. “I don’t see a reason why we shouldn’t let him guide us. After all, what we’re after, he’s after.”

The little rogue just waited patiently, hands on his hips, eyes flicking over the faces of those gathered. Slowly, everyone turned to look at Mardruk, as if expecting him to make the final decision. The orc was at a loss. He hadn’t expected to undertake this journey and end up with seven extra people in tow. He thought of Goran, of how the old veteran would’ve reacted if he were in this position. Mardruk’s allies were powerful, he knew that much, and it was a well-rounded group for taking on an adversary such as Aljei. Mardruk would be a fool to dismiss the strength that had, by choice or design, gathered around him. Even the rogue who had yet to name himself.

“Fine.” Mardruk said at last. “Fine. You can come, show us the way. But I don’t like how I’m the leader.”

Cassie smiled warmly, but it only sent shivers down Mardruk’s spine. “Your quest. Your lead. Unless you want to admit you’re a scared little puppy.”

Mardruk stared at the smug human wench. Thrall’s balls, he wished he could hit her! “We go after Aljei as soon as everyone’s read. Rogue–”

“Chairon.” The blood elf supplied happily.

Mardruk ground his teeth. “Chairon, you know where he’s going, so we’ll follow your lead.”

“Very well.” Chairon smiled. “May I suggest haste? He could get ahead of us.”

Mardruk nodded. Chairon kept his smile easy and friendly, but he just couldn’t believe how easy it had been to get close. Either Mardruk was just horribly naïve, or Chairon was just that good. Whatever it was, it suited the rogue just fine.