The Blood Elf huntress sat at the edge of the balcony of Aldor Rise, legs crossed and dangling over the edge. She was staring out over the city, watching the passing of Horde and Alliance alike. She now better understood the sharing of the city and why this sanctuary was so important. She had started her time in the city among the company of other Blood Elves in the Scryers' Tier, however she soon found it to be beneficial to learn of the other races, particularly the Draenei of the Aldor. They took her in, strained as it were, but she proved her loyalty which allowed her to stay among them on the Rise.
Of course, that led to new complications with her fiancé.
"It gets harder and harder to see you nowadays."
The female leaned forward and looked down, noting her lover atop his onyx netherdrake. She grinned at him as he kept himself a distance from the Rise.
"Veldruk, we spend every night together with me sneaking into the Scryers' Inn. It's obviously not that hard." She chided as she stood herself up, standing balanced on the edge of the balcony.
"Well you wouldn't have to sneak in if you had just stayed loyal." Veldruk spat back, but there was no vehemence in his tone.
"You know that knowing about the Draenei may actually be beneficial one day?" She replied before letting loose a sharp whistle. She then took a step off the edge of the balcony and fell. Veldruk watched her fall past his drake and further down until a red nether ray swooped in hard beside her. She pulled herself along its back until it leveled and flew her back up to the level Veldruk was flying at.
"Yphera… you should have got a drake." The warlock said quietly while he stared at the creature she rode.
Yphera patted her nether ray. "There's nothing wrong with Xinthee. She flies just as fast as your drake and is half the size, but carries me just fine."
"But she's ugly."
The nether ray hissed suddenly, all 3 rows of her teeth showing as she reared away from the warlock. Yphera whispered a few soothing words to her to calm her down. "That was just mean, Veldruk."
"Truth hurts."
"Enough!" Yphera sneered at him as she attempted to keep her nether ray at bay. She had only had the nether ray for a few days, but her training as a huntress made it so Xinthee trusted her more quickly, which was lucky for Yphera. Otherwise, she doesn't know if she would have been able to keep the nether ray back. "You know if you insult her enough, she's going to tear your arm off."
"She'd have to get to me first." He grinned, but Yphera glared at him
"Where are we headed today anyway?" She asked quickly, wanting to get the subject off of her chosen flying mount.
"Well I actually have some business in Silvermoon. It seems that's the best way to reach Quel'Danas." Veldruk replied as he commanded his drake forward, gliding towards the center building and landing on the bridge that would lead them inside. Yphera followed and landed beside him as both their mounts flew back to the stables.
"So do you think it's true? That Kael'thas is alive and on Quel'Danas?"
"I wouldn't put it past him. He had an agenda when I left him before, although I didn't know the details."
"You plan to confront him?"
Veldruk closed his eyes and shook his head. "No, not at the moment at least. If he is still alive, then his power has only grown. I… am not strong enough." The warlock could still feel the hunger inside him. He had done what he could to control it, but he was beginning to reach his limit. If he lost control, he didn't know what he would do… or who he would hurt. He opened his eyes at looked at Yphera.
"Veldruk, what's wrong?" She asked him, noting the pain in his green eyes. He shook his head as he drew her in close, lips lightly grazing against hers. He reveled in her taste and how perfectly she seemed to mold against him when he held her in his arms.
Yphera stayed closed, enjoying the embrace. "I thought Kael'thas was your friend. You don't plan to join him, do you?"
The warlock scoffed. "Friend isn't quite the right word. But no, I do not plan to join him. He offers me nothing but treachery now. I just want to confirm the rumors that Kael is still alive."
She looked up at him. "The Aldor have spoken about the island. They've agreed to help reclaim it alongside the Shattered Sun Offensive."
"That's what leads me to Silvermoon. I wish to learn more about this offensive. I'm sure the knights there could give me the details. Besides, don't you miss Silvermoon?"
She smiled at him. "Yes, I do miss my home."
He bowed his head and laid a tender kiss upon her forehead. "Then come, my love, to Silvermoon."
Veldruk approached the Court of the Sun in Silvermoon, finding himself greeted by a few guards and their commander. Yphera had left him to see the rest of the city so he agreed to meet her at nightfall. The commander regarded him with leering eyes.
"What is you want, warlock?" He asked haughtily.
"To learn of our great Prince, of course." Veldruk replied with a wicked grin. "Where is Kael'thas nowadays?"
The commander sneered at the warlock. "You were always such a smart ass, weren't you Veldruk?"
Veldruk couldn't help but grin. He had asked his previous question in a sarcastic tone, but what the commander didn't realize is that he spoke the truth. "It's been a long time, Arrenth. A great paladin like you, reduced to guard duty, hm?"
Arrenth shook his head. "Not so, merely gathering troops for the Shattered Sun Offensive.
"Then it seems I've come to the right person. For that's the precise reason I've come to Silvermoon. I need to get to the Isle, preferably as soon as possible."
Arrenth arched an eyebrow. "What for?"
"My reasons are my own." Veldruk replied darkly. "If you cannot help me, I'll find my own way there."
"One of my paladins can take you there. The flight path hasn't been established but there is a boat transporting troops. Wait here a moment."
Arrenth walked away entering a nearby building where a number of troops stood by, awaiting orders. He pulled one particular Blood Elf aside.
"Sir?"
"Orthae, I'm giving you an important assignment. I want you to escort this warlock to the docks and to Quel'Danas. Now I know you've not to strength yet to handle the challenges of the Isle so do not cross this Blood Elf. He's very powerful and can easily kill you.
"My assignment to you is this: You will have a few hours before the boat arrives to take you two over to the Isle. Question him. Learn his motives. He worked closely with Kael'thas in the past and I want to be sure that he isn't still doing so."
Orthae nodded, but he couldn't ignore the fear that came with this assignment. He disregarded his hesitancy though and hid his emotions, saluting his commander. "Yes, sir."
Arrenth turned and led Orthae outside to where Veldruk awaited. The moment Orthae saw him, he sensed his darkness… and his power. Still he kept any of his fears in check as he approached him.
"Veldruk, this is Orthae, one of our most promising paladins. I've trained him myself. He prides himself in protecting this city." Arrenth said proudly, placing a firm hand on Orthae's shoulder. Orthae gave him a sideways glance before turning to Veldruk.
"Shall we go?" Orthae asked as he started his way towards the north end of the city.
Veldruk give Arrenth a look before turning to follow Orthae. The young male before him was wearing plate mail, similar to the many other paladins throughout Silvermoon. However his plate mail didn't appear to have ever taken a beating. It still shined as if they were new. Unmarred by battle, Veldruk guessed. Orthae marched rather stiffly in front of him, leading the way. They traveled down past Sunfury Spire, taking a right into a hallway that led down to the docks. Orthae saluted other guards as they passed. Veldruk noted the young paladin's actions and shook his head, sighing.
"Don't you ever get bored being a guard?" Veldruk asked.
Silence.
"You know I'm speaking to you?"
"There's honor in what I do." Orthae replied shortly.
Veldruk laughed at his reply. "I didn't ask if you had honor. I asked if you were bored."
Orthae's glowing eyes stared at Veldruk through his helm as he paused. After a few moments of silence, he replied, "Well… it does tend to be quiet around the city."
"So why not do something else?" Veldruk asked as if it were as simple as child's play.
"Because I have a loyalty to the city. I find myself duty-bound to guard the citizens of the city." Orthae said quietly as they walked through the hallway and out to the docks.
"Loyalty to a city? Is the city giving you anything in return that's worthwhile? Are the citizens giving you half a glance? I hardly think so. So why do it?"
Orthae didn't reply as he approached the dock master. After exchanging words with him, the paladin turned back to Veldruk. "It'll be a couple hours until the ship docks back in Silvermoon. We can wait at the Inn they have at the dock."
"Like I have much of a choice. I suppose you'll be joining me?" Veldruk asked and he got a stiff nod in return. They both entered the Inn and took seat at a table. Veldruk ordered for wine then turned to Orthae. "You want something?"
"I don't drink." He replied curtly, keeping his eyes looking to the side instead of at Veldruk.
"Pity. So you never did answer my earlier question. Why be a guard?"
"I don't need to receive anything to feel satisfaction with what I do." Orthae replied, his tone low as he answered.
"That's a load of kodo shit." Veldruk grinned at the female Blood Elf waitress that left him the wine. He poured himself a glass and took a sip, then another as he reveled the taste. "Nothing quite like Silvermoon's stock of wine. Nothing in Outland can really compare."
"You've been to Outland?" Orthae asked curiously, now looking directly at the warlock.
Veldruk gave him a look. "So that piqued your interest, hm? Yes, I've been to Outland and I've essentially lived there for a few years now. But before I continue, take off your helm. I feel like I'm talking to a can with eyes."
Orthae stared at him a moment, then pulled his helm off. He sucked in a breath as the coolness of the air around him hit his face. It felt good to have that restricted helm removed. He ran a hand through his silver hair, the spikes a bit tousled from being compressed inside the helmet. He had no facial hair, just a young looking face, handsome by typical standards, and the Blood Elf's trademark glowing green eyes.
"You are young. You don't look to be over 20 years." Veldruk noted, not really expecting such a young Blood Elf to be his escort. He remembered what praise Arrenth had given to him, realizing the potential in this young Elf. "So young and yet already wasting your life away."
"You're full of insults." Orthae retorted. "What's wrong with my lifestyle? I like it."
"Do you really? I don't believe that at all. Have you even seen a battle?"
Orthae fell silent, looking to the table that separated them.
"I didn't think so. You waste your life here. Arrenth calls you a promising paladin, yet there's nothing here to prove your worth. Why don't you go to Outland? Make something of yourself instead of wasting away here?"
"And why do you care so much?" Orthae spat back. "What's it matter to you if I prove my worth?"
Veldruk took another sip of his wine. "You're sense of duty disgusts me, to be perfectly honest. You are too young to realize this yet but there is much more to life that guarding a city already deemed safe. There is much beyond Azeroth. You were obviously interested when I said I had been to Outland. Why listen to story from me when you can experience it yourself?"
"There's no reason to."
"No reason? Do it for yourself."
Once again, Orthae fell silent. The warlock was right; he was wasting away here and now that he reflects back on his time training here, he realized there was nothing left here to learn. But why bother? His desire was to protect. Except for him, there was nothing to protect.
His family had long ago left him so that all he really remembered was being raised among the soldiers of Silvermoon. He didn't grow particularly close to anyone, so he poured himself into his training, causing himself to excel much faster than any of the other trainees. That's why he became such a "promising paladin" as Arrenth had said at such a young age for a Blood Elf.
He suddenly remembered his assignment and looked back to Veldruk. "By the way, why are you going to Quel'Danas?"
Veldruk took a long drink of his wine, finishing the glass before refilling it. "Did Arrenth send you just to keep tabs on me? He knows of my past with Kael'thas, right? So he wants to know if I go to join him? I'm not stupid, Orthae."
The young Blood Elf swallowed hard when Veldruk pinpointed the reason for his questioning. He remained silent as Veldruk continued.
"I'm not going there to join Kael'thas. I'm going there to confirm he is truly there. I have no desire to join his ranks for if the rumors are true, I suspect his sanity is less than intact. You can report that to your precious commander."
Orthae nodded as Veldruk continued to sip at the wine. Having that out of the way, Orthae continued to question Veldruk about Outland, growing increasingly more interested in the area. The wine only assisted in getting the warlock more talkative as the paladin listened attentively. By the time the ship pulled into the dock, the bottle was empty and Orthae was nearly convinced to go to Outland from Veldruk's tales.
Only nearly. Again, he did not know if there was even a reason to increase his training. Doing it for himself just didn't seem enough.
Veldruk approached the boat with Orthae next to him, but stopped before boarding. "Go back to your commander and report to him. I don't need an escort while on a boat. Besides, it doesn't look like you're quite up to the challenges that may wait on the Isle."
"I was told to escort you to the Isle, I should not disobey the ord-" Orthae began to reply but Veldruk interrupted him with a raised hand.
"Wasting your life and wasting your time escorting a warlock who obviously doesn't need one. And if going against orders bothers you that much, tell him I threatened you to stay here. Regardless, you ARE staying here. So good luck, young paladin." Veldruk waved him off as he entered the boat. Orthae was torn between stepping onto the boat or staying behind. Finally he just turned away, making his way back to the Court of the Sun, Veldruk's stories of Outland echoing in his mind.