Chapter 1 of 3
The air was cool but humid in the Echo Isles. The sun threatened to break over the hills any moment now. Vol'jin got up from his cot slowly and carefully. His red hair stood up effortlessly. He took one wide tip toe from the bed before a three fingered hand seized his wrist just as he was sure he had gotten away.
Vol'jin sighed internally and shifted his weight towards the bed again. He turned on the best sarcastic tone he could muster, "What can ol' Vol'jin do for ya?"
A troll poked his head out of the shadows on top of the bed, "Don' be givin' me dat. Where ya off to?"
Vol'jin tore his wrist out of the other trolls grip and began to fiddle with clothes and weapons around the hut. "Ya know I have ta be gettin' to de Org docks ta meet wit Thrall," he started to get dressed and arm himself with his usual array of weapons.
"Jus' come back ta bed. Thrall be understandin' if ya be late," the troll threw his arms outwards for a satisfying stretch. He overextended his torso and ended up comfortably resting his top half on the floor.
With his back on the wooden floor panels, and his feet still in the bed, the troll folded his arms. He followed Vol'jin's every move with his soft brown eyes.
Vol'jin shook his head and sighed out loud, "Ya be spendin' too much time wit dem night elves, Rennyn."
The shadow hunter quieted down his tone significantly, mumbling something to himself. The elven name was unfavorable for Vol'jin but he knew the priest refused to go by anything else.
Rennyn fully rolled out of the cot and onto the floor rather ungracefully. He sat up into a cross legged position resting his head onto his fist perched on a knee.
Rennyn's face was rather withered and angry looking, displaying kind facial expressions had always been tough. Some of the largest tusks trolls can display sat themselves in a grumpy mouth attached to a bald scalp. His face paint had a big salmon colored splotch on his forehead and a stripe down each side of his large nose. White streaks ran down his cheeks and two more stripes ran along his shapely chin. The thin blue fur he wore was a warm tone on his skin and suited his muscular body well.
"Dey only be needin' my help ta pray," his brown eyes stared into the Warchief's eyes.
Vol'jin's heart melted slightly when Rennyn shot him a mischievous half smile from his sitting position on the floor. Still feeling cross over being slowed down on his way out of the hut his face remained neutral.
The Warchief sighed wistfully, "Jazahn…" The shadow hunter paused for emphasis, "Much betta fit, don' ya tink?" Rennyn sat up fully and answered in a very serious tone, "Jazahn be who I was, not who I be now."
The priest sighed a loud sigh and let a small silence follow before he added, "De rest o' de tribe be callin' me Ja'fon so de elven name be stingin' less."
The sun had just started to show over the hills and onto Rennyn's back. Vol'jin let his eyes wander away from the troll and to his shadow on the floor while he busied himself with donning armor. He watched the shadow move as Rennyn looked around with his head.
There was a hole of light in an ear of the shadow. Vol'jin looked back to the troll, "Ya always had dat?" Vol'jin gestured to Rennyn with his head.
There had been a nagging pain all morning but the priest knew why. Rennyn reached up a hand and explored the jagged hole.
"Ya did dis las' night," he did not break eye contact with the Warchief while he continued to prod at his new slightly jagged hole.
"I did dat?" Vol'jin felt like he would have remembered something like that. "While ya was asleep," Rennyn stood up, "Let me show ya."
The troll walked over to the Warchief and knelt down directly in front of him. Vol'jin looked down at the troll on his knees and felt like this might be going somewhere else. He blushed internally but his expression bore no change. Rennyn grabbed Vol'jin's tusk and bowed his own head.
Pulling the tusk gently to the ear hole, he guided it through, "See?"
Rennyn let go of Vol'jin and the shadow hunter took a step back. Rennyn sat onto his heels, the way all trolls sit comfortably, and eyed Vol'jin.
The Warchief's beautiful red beard seemed to glow in the light. His eyes were brighter than his face paint and his tusks were a glorious shade of ivory.
Trying to discern an emotion from him, Rennyn narrowed his eyes a little.
"Ya musta been cravin' some space. Ya was so aggressive in ya sleep t'rows dat ya tusk wen' right t'rough me ear." Vol'jin was a little shocked by the story but was more shocked by the priests callous reaction. It felt even more odd that regeneration hadn't repaired it yet.
Rennyn continued, "I be keepin' it… Ta rememba ya by." Vol'jin's voice turned upset but he wrangled his emotions well, "How many years we been doing dis? I always come back." Rennyn nodded, "Dis time be different, an' ya know it."
Vol'jin was fully dressed now although the outfit showed a lot of skin. He shook his head at the sitting troll and headed for the exit.
"I be comin' wit' ya," Rennyn said to Vol'jin's back as he got up from the floor. Vol'jin did not bother turning around only stopped his trek, "No. Ya be stayin' 'ere. Or ya be stayin' wit dem night elves. Ya be no fighta, Rennyn."
Rennyn wanted nothing more than to embrace his Warchief and keep him there forever, but he knew their relationship was not so outwardly showy.
At least his words could convey his feeling, "I be a fighta for ya." Red hair swayed back and forth gracefully as Vol'jin shook his head. He started walking out of the hut again.
Rennyn gathered the courage to speak up quickly and tried one last shout, "Ya be needin' heala's." Vol'jin stopped. He shook his head again, "Not ya." Vol'jin restarted his trek.
"Be gettin' dressed now. I be needin' all de prayers ya be spittin'," his voice was fading as he exited the hut and headed towards Orgrimmar.
Rennyn lazily pulled on all his robes, his favorite piece was the hood. It hid his eyes well which is how trolls convey most of their emotions as their faces rest too angry to display anything but.
The almost black blue tone of the robe was highlighted with a lighter blue detail which matched the hood. Gloves and shoes weren't anything he bothered himself with.
A tight cloth belt wrapped around his waist over the robes. His cloth shoulders were non existent unless he was headed somewhere important. Even then they were more for decoration and status than pertinent to his work.
The troll pulled a crystal from a pocket and sat down on the cot. He held the crystal close and mumbled a spell.
A voice emanated from the crystal after a few repeats of the spell, "Rennyn? Is that you? Do you realize how early it is?"
Rennyn opened his hand holding the crystal but continued to stare out into the jungle plant life, "Yeah Aureyn, it be me."
Aureyn sighed, "Ah no, dare I ask why you sound so… sad?" Rennyn sighed, "Vol'jin left me 'ere wit'out 'im…" he hung his head low.
"You realize I'm no expert in troll… rituals? Is that the right word? Because your kind doesn't really have relationships right?"
Rennyn stared into the crystal in his hand resting on his lap, "De las' several years be provin' demselves…. Difficult. He jus'…" Rennyn let himself trail off and shook his head.
"He IS a busy guy…." Aureyn wasn't the most comforting blood elf in the world but their friendship through the years had some warmth to it.
"Jus' feelin' unimportant ta 'im," Rennyn finished the statement with a sigh.
Aureyn replied, "Wait, why are you up so early?" Rennyn smiled a fleeting grin, "Ya mind always be focused on sleep, Aur… Dey be sailin' out taday."
Aureyn blurted some racial curse words as he sounded like he was scrambling to get up, "That's today?! I'll meet you at the south inn in Org in an hour!"
Rennyn inhaled to say something but all sound ceased from the crystal before he could voice anything.
An hour later…
Rennyn had been sitting in a bar stool without saying a word long enough that the innkeeper was starting to worry.
A dark red haired paladin ran through the door, "Renny!" The troll only looked over his shoulder, barely looking at the blood elf from under his hood.
Aureyn ran up to the troll and patted his shoulder, "How long you been here?" Aureyn sat down in a stool near him. Rennyn had his arms folded on the bar top and followed Aureyn with his eyes, "Awhile…"
Aureyn smiled, "I know I'm late but they're still doing troop checks, if we hurry we can get over there before they're finished."
Rennyn unfolded his arms and turned towards the paladin, "We doin' what now?" His surprised tone shocked the blood elf but Aureyn shook it off rather quickly, grabbing the troll by the arm and starting to drag him out of the inn towards the Orgrimmar docks.
Aureyn continued to drag the troll through the encampment set up outside the docks. Rennyn dug his heels into the ground, forcing the blood elf to stop and look at him. "Dey won' be lettin' me aboard," Rennyn sounded sure of himself.
"What do you mean?" Aureyn crinkled his brow at the troll. "Dey 'ave a registry of de soldiers goin' aboard…"
Aureyn sighed and dragged the troll behind a tent, "I'm on that registry, you only need to pretend to be me." Rennyn yanked his arm away from the blood elf, his tone expressing how unhappy he was, "What."
Aureyn became annoyed, "You know it's really hard to talk to the cloth hanging over your eyes…"
Rennyn pulled his hood back and looked at the blood elf with an angrier expression than usual, "What be tellin' ya I wan' ta be on dere?"
Aureyn put his hands on his hips, "Vol'jin is going on a dangerous mission with all our racial leaders. I know you want to go more than I do."
Rennyn's shoulders sank towards the ground more than usual in an effort to express his exhaustion with the blood elf's antics. Knowing there was no arguing, the troll gave in, "What need I be doin'?"
Aureyn smiled again, "Trade me armor." Rennyn's mouth gaped and his eyes grew wide, "Trade armor? Ya not be knowin' if ya plate even fit me!"
Aureyn raised an eyebrow, "We're about the same size! Your shoulders are just a little broader than mine… And your feet are… a little bigger than mine. Those things really won't affect the fit, I promise."
Aureyn started to get undressed. Rennyn just stared at the blood elf in shock. Aureyn nudged him with an elbow, "C'mon this'll work! You want to make sure the Light will protect Vol'jin don't you?"
Rennyn hesitated for a moment but then sighed and started to undress too.
Once both of them were fully dressed in each other's clothes, Aureyn eyed Rennyn up and down, "Hmm… well… uhhh.. maybe if…"
Rennyn sighed, "I would tell ya dis plan be ridiculous but…." Aureyn put a hand to his chin for a better idea to form while Rennyn continued, "At least me hood not be a crown of light."
Rennyn reached up to touch the outrageous crown. Aureyn poked at Rennyn, tugging on the plate armor, "It's a halo silly."
Rennyn smiled at the blood elf, "No it be feelin' silly ta touch an' ta wear."
"Just a few more adjustments!" After prodding Rennyn for another handful of seconds Aureyn pushed him hard out onto the path to the docks.
Rennyn wasn't quite expecting such a push so he fell onto his hands and knees trying to catch himself. "Good luck!" Aureyn whispered excitedly. Rennyn glared at him for a moment before picking himself up.
Rennyn walked up to the docks that were loading the ships full of troops. There was a rather large line and the troll couldn't believe that people were lining up for such a thing. Then again every member of the Horde seemed more inclined for fighting than Rennyn was. He had always been a member of the Darkspear tribe but strayed in a wide berth.
A request from Ashenvale early on in his healing career made the troll believe there was more to the spiritual world than head shrinking and cannibalism. He quietly disappeared from the tribe and no one seemed to notice until he came back.
The tribe was always wary of him after he told them his new name so they gave him another new name. Vol'jin respected the priests new views but rather preferred his old ones. After all the Loa abandon those who don't believe in them, which is why Vol'jin was confident in his support.
From time to time the priest would sarcastically utter a night elf phrase just to be cheeky. "Elune-adore," Rennyn's face was stern and serious. The words were much less elegant when they came from a troll.
Vol'jin laughed, "Ya be needin' Lukou afta I be finished wit' ya." The memory was fleeting as the line continued to move towards the boats.
The troll could finally hear the blood elf officer ushering people aboard. Once at the front of the line, Rennyn gave him Aureyn's name. The officer didn't even look up from his parchment, just waved the priest through.
The troll looked ahead to see Aureyn harassing some other blood elf. Rennyn walked up to the pair and stared down his nose at the paladin.
The blonde blood elf eyed the troll up and down. "Since when do trolls wear paladin gear?" Rennyn became nervous but before he had a chance to utter the verbal garbage he was about to let out, he shifted his gaze to Aureyn. "Dre, this is my friend," Aureyn rested a hand on the Drelaeth's elbow.
Drelaeth looked at Aureyn with warm eyes, "I suppose that's your gear he's wearing?" Aureyn winked at him, "Same reason I needed you to get me on board."
Dre sighed and looked back at the troll then back to Aureyn, "If he's going to be somewhat useful to us, he'll need his own gear back…" Drelaeth looked at Aureyn expectantly. The red haired blood elf nodded, "Fine but wait until we're aboard."
Aureyn waved Rennyn away. The troll walked passed confused but at a fast pace, having had some idea what Aureyn was capable of, but never having witnessed it so closely before.
Rennyn climbed aboard one of the ships and found a corner to wait for Aureyn. A few minutes went by and the paladin slunk into the corner with the troll.
A few angry whispers and elbow bumps later they were both back in their own gear. The priest was relieved to be back in his own clothes, Aureyn made some snide comments about robes and dresses.
The pair then returned to the gathering spot on the ship where it looked like everyone was separated into ranged, melee and healers.
Rennyn stood on the healers side unaware of who anyone else around him was. Aureyn moved to the melee section which was the first to be counted.
By the time the ship had actually left harbor, Rennyn was already tired from listening to the Orcs prattle on about who was going to get more kills, the first kill or which Forsaken's arm would fall off first.
The whole thing felt barbaric but if they were going to deal with the Legion and all its monstrosities, a light sense of Orc humor was probably necessary.
Rennyn shrugged off their hardened attitude for war, and slunk away from the crowds. Aureyn was off flirting with some other blood elves so the priest opted not to interfere.
Rennyn sat on his heels in a dark corner of the ship. There were a few stragglers hanging around but he ignored them for the most part.
The troll started to cast mind vision on various people around the ship. Meaningless bets and empty laughter filled his mind but he was looking for something specific. Finally he came across one of Thrall's stewards watching Thrall and Vol'jin talk.
Rennyn looked around to figure out which ship this was on. He could see a faint shadow of himself on a corner of a ship in the distance.
Rennyn stayed in the mind of the female orc for a while longer until something stirred his own body back. The priest looked up startled to see a male troll hovering over him. "How ya be, mon?"
The generic greeting Rennyn gave most everyone felt stale and flat. From the armor and the lack of glowing eyes, he assumed it was a warrior.
"Ain't mind vision be an invasion of certain privacies?"
A frequent question the priest had to answer more often than he'd like, "It be… If ya got somet'ing ta hide."
The warrior leaned in real close to Rennyn's face and inhaled through his nose in a few short bursts.
After having a few more awkward seconds of silence with their faces nearly touching the warrior finally broke it, "What'cha be spyin' on de Warchief for?"
Rennyn stood up fully knowing exactly how to approach the troll but unwilling to threaten such a burly opponent.
The priest needed this warriors help but asking for it was out of the question so he tried a different approach. He flashed his pretty brown eyes a little and turned on his deepest voice, "Wan' some o' ma... jungle love?"
The warrior smiled a wicked grin and unsheathed his axe, "Oh I'm gonna enjoy hurtin' you."
Rennyn turned to face his back the direction he thought the ship containing Vol'jin was.
The warrior swung a few times but Rennyn blocked with forearms coated in light. Having had training with his best pally friend, the troll learned to shield and block some basic attacks using discipline.
Special attacks were not anything he knew how to handle but that was alright since that's all he was waiting for.
He saw the makings of Colossus Smash being formed and he shielded himself with his quickest, best prayer.
The priest went flying up and over the edge of the boat. As he winced from the pain of the hit, he managed to cast levitate on himself. Rennyn looked upwards as endless sky and clouds flew over him. His back landed on a pocket of air above another boat.
Rennyn sat up rather clumsily in mid air. He looked around to see exactly the boat he sought. His heart fluttered with excitement when his eyes met Vol'jin's.
Wood splitting sounds made his heart skip a beat. Jumpy fright made Rennyn's levitate wear off as he experienced the earthquake that followed the crashing.
The priest was on his backside but turned quickly to see the warrior he just antagonized recovering from a heroic leap.
Rennyn felt like he was as tall as a kobold as this warrior towered over him seemingly larger than a building. The warrior raised the weapon above his head ready to bring it down through the priests skull.
Rennyn watched in horror with eyes wide from under his hood. An arrow pierced one of the warriors thumbs and before he had a chance to rebalance the weapon in his other hand, another arrow went through that thumb ball joint as well.
The warrior dropped the axe promptly and Rennyn slunk to the side to avoid the falling weapon.
The warrior didn't cry out in pain just looked over to see where the arrows had come from.
Vol'jin was already walking up to the warrior, "Have one 'a Baine's shamans look at dat would ya? Don' wan' ta be t'umbless, waitin' for dem ta grow back before de real fightin' begins, do ya?"
The warrior walked away after nodding and Vol'jin turned his attention towards the priest. He reached a hand down to help Rennyn to his feet.
The priest obliged then Vol'jin waved for the priest to follow.
Rennyn followed his Warchief to a small empty barracks room. Through his embarrassment, Rennyn hoped Vol'jin would never stop walking so that he could just follow him forever instead of explaining what just happened.
"I be tinkin' I told ya ta stay home." The shadow hunter sounded more annoyed than disappointed.
Rennyn was staring at the ground, hiding his whole face with his hood, "Ya did."
Vol'jin sighed, "Den why ya be 'ere?" Rennyn started to feel angry as he searched his thoughts for an answer.
He didn't understand why he wasn't welcome to come along. He was a useful and experienced healer, why couldn't he help the Horde against the Legion?
Rennyn's head barely lifted and his burning eyes remained focused on the floor, "I can help da Horde… an' o' course... You." Vol'jin's response was calm, "Don' lie ta me or yaself. Ya not be here for da Horde, ya be here ta watch me."
Rennyn pleaded, "Ya don' understand, I been granted a vision 'bout chya an' dis… excursion."
Vol'jin lifted Rennyn's head with a hand under the chin. His hand grazed the priests cheek as it moved to the hood. With the help of a careful hand, the hood gently slid off Rennyn's head and he tried as long as he could to avert his eyes away from Vol'jin.
Another handful of seconds flew by as the priest relished every moment he could spend with the shadow hunter albeit in strange silence. Rennyn couldn't wait any longer to look in those beautiful eyes and explain himself.
The Warchief smiled a sarcastic smile and looked expectantly at the priest. Rennyn lowered his voice to a whisper, "Please, ya not comin' back from dis one. I be beggin' ya to come back home wit' me. Don' be leavin' me in dis Horde mess wit'out chya…"
Vol'jin put his hand on the priests shoulder in a caring manner. It felt like a conversation they had dozens of times and it was starting to get old but before it was paranoia and now it was certainty driving the priest.
"Ya not be disobeyin' orders from ya Warchief eh?"
Rennyn didn't quite understand the words at first but he looked deep into Vol'jin's eyes as his whole face locked up into a neutral position.
The Warchief's grip tightened on Rennyn's shoulder and he started to drag him out to the Port side of the ship, "I'll be hearin' no more of ya overprotective nonsense."
Rennyn was still voicing his concerns but refused to fight back against the Warchief. Vol'jin threw the priests dead weight over the side of the boat.
The Warchief was always in control of his emotions and never had the priest seen outbursts like this one. The shadow hunter was awfully calm, his words bore no anger but his actions did.
Rennyn resurfaced immediately but wished he hadn't when he saw Vol'jin's back walking away from the side of the ship.
The priest watched the shadow hunters back for a moment longer in disbelief. The wake of the ship pushed Rennyn into the path of another.
The ship made a horrendous thump sound when it struck the troll. His body resurfaced on the side of the ship that hit him and an Orc plunged a hand into the waters.
After pulling up the trolls limp body the Orc started to cheer and the rest of the group did as well. Once Rennyn started coughing up water the cheers subsided into disappointment.
The priest remained on that ship for the rest of the trip, with ever increasing anxiety.
The sky turning into a swirling purple, black and green mess of clouds made his stomach sink but not any more than knowing Vol'jin would be upset with him in his dying hour did.
Once the ship hit the land hard, everyone started to disembark the vessel any which way they pleased.
Rennyn was caught in the middle of a crowd and got carried off the ship against his will. Racial leader shouting and demons emerging from swirling green portals of light was all that filled the priests senses. He wasn't sure which way was up or down, the sounds of fighting continued no matter what he did.
Getting dragged around with the crowd was effortless, he didn't seem to be in control of his own body, instincts just took over and he obeyed mindlessly.
A hand grabbed the priests collar and spit landed on his face as someone shouted at him. He couldn't hear the words, only looked at the blood elf's face. He whimpered out loud softly, "Aureyn?"
The paladin nodded, "Shindu fallah nah! (They're breaking through!)" Aureyn practically threw Rennyn's weight back into the crowds.
Vol'jin's voice stirred the priest back in control. Rennyn started to look through the crowds. He tried desperately to find the Warchief, whispering prayers as he pushed through struggling bodies.
Suddenly he heard Sylvanas' voice, "Warchief!"
Visions weren't always exactly what the priest thought they would be when he actually witnessed them come to life but this one was accurate in his feelings.
Helplessness was the first emotion to set in as Rennyn watched Vol'jin's torso be pierced by a fel blade. Things started to move in slow motion as he gazed at the shadow hunter.
Vol'jin looked like he was made of stone as his arms moved slowly to off the demon that just stabbed him. His body fell to the ground for what felt like ages.
Rennyn was sure an eternity had passed as horror was the next emotion to set in.
As the shadow hunters body hit ground, a tusk broke and he was still. Despair and sorrow quickly set in, followed by loneliness.
Emotions that he felt so strongly in his vision before were now crippling as he tried to make sense of the events unfolding.
He can't be dead… The troll remained still, his body unresponsive under the surge of feeling everything.
The Warchief's body lay on the ground for eons but the priest couldn't tear his eyes away, still motionless. Rennyn was in utter disbelief as the Dark Lady whisked Vol'jin's body away.
The troll still didn't want to believe it. He argued with himself, trying to bargain some truth for his sanity.
Everyone started to fall back. The trek back to the ships was the most painful sprint of the priests life.
Forcing his body to move when his heart was so heavy with grief was almost impossible. A familiar hand helped drag the priest along.
No one seemed to be lost in terror but none of them seemed motivated to get back either. The taste of the Legions strength became a reality no one wanted to believe.
Morality was crushed and replaced by complacency. The rest of the journey home Rennyn's mind was stuck between replaying the moment over and over and praying to the Loa and the Light. His body was limp and only a vessel for grieving. Time did not feel real.
Later outside Grommash Hold in Org…
Rennyn was arguing with some guards outside the Org throne room rather loudly. A familiar blood elf voice called to him, "Rennyn? What's happening?"
Rennyn backed off of the guards and huffed, "Vol'jin be dyin' an' dese mindless Orc soldiers won' let me in." Aureyn was just as clueless as ever, "Dying? You said he died in your vision on the Broken Shore."
Rennyn stared at the blood elf with a crinkled brow and angry eyes, completely silent. "Okay okay so he's dying and they won't let you see him? Understandable."
The troll snarled, "Undastandable?!" Aureyn was still cold, "Yeah! I mean you're just a priest. I'm sure they've got royal healers or something in there taking care of him."
Rennyn folded his arms to stare at the paladin with an even angrier face but something caught his eye.
Dark red-purple clothes and a set of red eyes were staring at the troll as they walked closer and closer. Aureyn turned to see what had diverted the trolls attention, "Sylvanas…"
Aureyn whispered under his breath, "She's more beautiful than the last time I saw her…" Rennyn did a double take to give Aureyn the appropriate amount of 'what in the hell are you thinking' face.
Sylvanas walked right into the throne room as the guards turned from Rennyn and waved her in after they bowed.
"Ah! Don' be lettin' Darkspear blood in ta see me chief, but ya'll let de Foul Harlot in?" The guards turned back towards the troll and one of them whacked Rennyn over the head with a shield.
Rennyn staggered a bit but managed to spit some cursory troll words. The troll reeled with a smite spell forming in his fist but Aureyn got a hold of him and started to push him away.
The priest was still figuratively beating his chest and shouting insults at the guards. "Please Rennyn… Let it go," Aureyn rarely begged the troll for anything but he sounded desperate to save himself more embarrassment.
"I understand you're grieving but this…" The blood elf trailed off when Rennyn stopped fighting him and they exchanged very different looks.
Aureyn was worried and sympathetic but the priest retorted while throwing his arms into the air in a careless manner, "I be done grievin'. I be infuriated now."
Rennyn walked passed the blood elf hitting Auryen's shoulder with his own as he passed. The paladin followed the troll.
A little later…
"C'mon Renny, we gotta get to the memorial." The blood elf nudged the troll who had his head on the bar top fully unresponsive.
Aureyn pushed him lightly and Rennyn jolted up with a snort. The blood elf grabbed the priests arm and heaved it across his shoulders to bear some of the weight as he lead the incoherent troll out of the inn.
Rennyn shrugged the paladin away once he was fully awake and walked himself the rest of the way with a significant lack of grace.
Night had fallen but the air was still warm, not a cloud in the sky. Sylvanas stood on a platform with Nathanos facing the crowd that gathered.
Aureyn ushered the upset troll to the back of the crowd, having a feeling it would be the best spot to control the outbursts of anger that were soon to follow.
"Vol'jin is dead. Who among you will help me avenge him?" Sylvanas sounded almost happy at the events.
Nathanos definitely looked giddy for such an ordinarily grim face. The crowd started cheering including the blood elf pally sitting next to a quiet troll.
"Short and sweet I like it," Aureyn patted Rennyn on the back gently. His head was hung low but his eyes looked up at the pally, "Dat wretch… She too much like Garrosh…" His bloodshot eyes were barely visible to the blood elf.
Aureyn sighed, "But didn't the Loa tell Vol'jin to pass his responsibilities to her?"
Rennyn replied sourly, "I don' know deir plan, but I know… a Forsaken Horde, be a Horde I wan' no part of."
They remained seated for awhile longer, Aureyn not wanting to upset the priest further sat in silence.
The crowd started to dissipate and Aureyn nudged Rennyn forward, "Pay your respects. It's what he would want."
The priest was as sour as ever, "What he would wan' be a ritual so his spirit be makin' it to Bwonsamdi unhindered, but 'ere we be, watchin' his spirit becomin' adrift."
Aureyn nudged the troll again without another word and walked him to the edge of the platform with the stairs leading up to the burning corpse.
The pally tried to push him up the platform but was growled at, "Jus' leave me 'ere." Aureyn sighed and shook his head, "Well alright…"
Aureyn hesitated but eventually walked away, glancing back at the priest until he was out of sight.
Rennyn stood there for another while just waiting for the courage to build up to go see his dead Warchief.
He couldn't be dead. It wasn't possible. Ages felt like they passed with all the memories of the shadow hunter filling his mind but suddenly he felt an unwelcome gaze on him.
"You were… special to him?" Sylvanas' heartless voice stung and ached as if she had stabbed the priest.
The troll refused to grant the Banshee Queen any pleasure from his reaction so he stayed completely motionless and neutral.
"I wasn't aware he bent that way…" her sarcastic tone continued to grate on Rennyn's nerves but she continued, "Will you help me avenge him in this fight against the Legion?"
The priest remained silent but felt the Dark Lady still staring at him awaiting an answer.
The light of the funeral fire playing on his thin layer of fur and dancing with the shadows illuminated only parts of his face. He spoke into the nothingness he was staring into, "He was patient an' fierce 'cause his heart still beat. He welcomed diversity where ya reign depends on one t'ing; death. Ya heart be as black as Garrosh's an' ya be no Warchief of mine."
Sylvanas smiled.
Rennyn lifted his head and their eyes met for a short moment.
"You must have thought you were more special to him than you actually were. Missing his last moments? Quite sad," her smile grew as she waited for the gratification she sought from the pain of her words on the trolls face.
Rennyn's face remained the angry neutral it usually was, "Den ya not be needin' me to fight de Legion. Deir numbas won' madda. Dey'll be crushed unda de tremendous weight an' size of ya gigantic ego."
Rennyn turned away and started to walk towards Orgrimmar. "You dare desert the Horde?"
The priest thought she sounded angry for the first time he'd ever heard. Rennyn stopped his trek for a moment only turning his head to look at the Dark Lady with one eye.
