The Loremaster – Chapter 1 – They Called her Rhenn
Rhenn, former Dowager Queen of the human Kingdom of Stormwind, had learned much from Taran Zhu, Lord of the Shado-Pan and his clan.
She recovered her strength in the high mountains of Kun-Lai. The sweetness of the water, the harsh winds, and the heartiness of the food all helped her become stronger. The monastery sat high on a mountain top with Mount Neverest, the Goddess Mountain, high in the distance. The monastery was only reached from the Shado-Li Basin which ended in the Ox Gate, the gateway to the Townlong Steppes through the Serpent Spine. High above the gate was Winter's Blossom, an outpost patrolled and guarded by the Shado-Pan clan warriors. The small mountain path led from there to the monastery high above.
Rhenn stood on a balcony looking out over the high valleys where new snow glistened in the sun. Even now, as summer approached, the nights were still chilled and snow could fall any month out of the year. Rhenn did not have the thick fur of her Pandaren brothers and sisters. Only months ago, Taran Zhu had watched proudly as she had taken her vows to the clan.
For now she was out of the library gaining some air. Lord Zhu had tasked her with learning the histories of the world. She had an aptitude for it and he often had to carry her to bed since she would read the ancient manuscripts until she literally fell asleep on them.
Today it did him well to see her out and about. "The Goddess sleeps." She said softly as she heard his heavy paws on the snow.
He smiled a little. Her face cover was down and the light from the noon sun was on her pale face. He looked past her and nodded. "For now." He said.
She sighed. "You know this place makes me miss home. We had winter like this, but we also had the sea." Her Pandaren was nearly flawless now.
He cocked his head. She so rarely spoke of her past. He smiled wanting her to continue. She shook her head a little and then turned and walked away. He followed her to her rooms. They were small, but she seemed to like them and they were near his own. He stood at the door as she crossed the room to a chest that she had had made by the jinyu artisans in Pearlfin Village.
Rhenn sighed and lifted the lid to the trunk. Inside there were many things she had brought with her and Taran had found for her in the wreckage. She smiled and lifted a pair of small leather beaded shoes.
Taran Zhu silently watched her as he unfolded his arms and came to her. "They are so small." He whispered. One was as large as his claw.
"I made them for my sister's cubs." She sighed. She moved her hand in the Tuskarr sign, surprised that she remembered it, "Blue."
Taran touched her cheek, feeling the softness of her skin. "You greatly treasure these, yet I sense that none ever wore them." His piercing gold eyes met her own. "Why?"
Rhenn took a shaky breath. It had been so many years. Why did it hurt so much still? "She and her cubs died in an attack. Most of my village and clan was killed. I was sent to warn anyone I could about the sea people." She looked down. "She bore triplets, only two survived, but not long."
Taran was confused. "You call them 'cubs'. Isn't the human term for ones of that age, 'baby'?"
She looked up tears in her eyes. She smiled. "Yes. But I was raised by the Tuskarr."
"Who?" He asked. She smiled and went to her desk and lifted a drawing. "How did you become one of their family?"
"When I was cast into the sea once more...well, that is what brought me here, My Lord."
Taran's eyebrows furrowed with concern beneath the helmet. "Perhaps you did...but it nearly cost you your life. Again..." Worry was on his breath, yet the Lord of the Shado-Pan nodded tightly and shrugged in acceptance. "You must have earned the favor of the gods, and that keeps you on your path."
Rhenn bowed her head. "I can only hope that I do them justice."
"Don't we all?" Taran smiled beneath the veil as much as his scarred visage could allow
ZzZ
Taran was amused as Rhenn stood on a fountain balancing as she practiced her inner peace exercises. She looked like she belonged on the top like a statue until she moved. She had the grace of Chi'ji, the red crane.
Taoshi stood near watching the slender half-elf standing on one foot as she ached backwards. Taoshi bowed to the lord of the Shado-Pan. Rhenn took no notice, her eyes closed as she then whispered and the water lifted her up into the air, cradling her like a child as she kept the pose.
Where had she learned to channel water so? Taran watched in fascination as she landed gently back on the top of the fountain, dripping wet, but the water swirled about her protectively. He had only seen the jinyu waterspeakers achieve such a feat.
He moved, his curiosity greatly piqued by what Rhenn was able to do. "Sister Rhenn, I would duel you." He bowed his head decisively.
She was quite startled by such a prospect, and her voice indicated that shock. "Pardon?"
He met her eyes boldly. "Come! Or are you still such a novice that you cannot face me?" The Lord of the Shado-Pan had issued his taunt.
Rhenn's stance shifted, indicating some measure of acceptance. "I am allowed to use all of my skills, yes?"
"Of course you are, my little crane." Taran answered her. His voice was lightly scolding as he he would a small child.
She nodded. Taran sprang up to meet her and duel her hand-to-hand in the tradition of the Shado-Pan, but the crafty Rhenn lifted a hand and a massive wall of water arched up. As Taran's flight ended and the Pandaren descended, he launched a powerful punch with the force of a driving gale behind it...only for the wall of water to sweep him up and dump the heavy Pandaren down to the ground. Taran recovered hastily and rolled upright, taking a ready stance as he met Rhenn's eyes. 'Good. She can fend for herself,' he thought. The woman took up her stance at the fountain and nodded to him.
She nodded and he leapt at her and she lifted her arm and a massive wall of water arched up. Surprised he dropped and then found himself flat on his back as she tripped him from behind. Moving away he bounced up and looked at her as she bounced to the fountain.
Taoshi looked at her. "Be careful Rhenn Azeroth." She warned. Rhenn Azeroth had come from them not understanding that it was where she was from not her name. She also was called Rhenn of the Mists since she came from beyond what had been the mists. She did not let Taran's right hand distract her as she called upon the water elementals to aide her.
Taran was quite quick despite his age, but the water elementals were faster, and both plunged into him from either side. The Lord of the Shado-Pan spun about like a top from the twin impacts. Soaked to the bone and distracted to boot, Taran made out just the slightest flash of movement. The wind was driven from his lungs as the speedy Rhenn darted in, and landed a powerful blow to his upper chest...a blow that he could not counter. The elemental assault ended and water dripping from his vestments, Taran was fully bent on paying Rhenn back for that effort. Instead, he found her standing on the buttress of a building, her eyes fixed on him.
There was laughter in her eyes. Taran let loose a long breath and released the irritation he felt at having been outmaneuvered in such a fashion. He clasped his right fist to his left palm and bowed tightly. "It would seem that you have learned much, my Crane." Water continued to drip down from his tunic and pants to form a puddle underneath him. It was not a dignified sight given his position...yet he had issued the challenge and lost. There was no shame in that.
"Crane?" She asked, the wind blowing her hair.
"You have the grace of the crane of the south." He smiled. "And his wisdom." He smiled and held out a paw.
She dropped down and waved the elementals away.
"How is it you can speak to Shu?"
"I can speak with all the elements, but Uma's element was fire and mine was water. It was useful when we were cubs. We learned much. Though she is dead, those who speak to the elements had learned much and still learn even as we use the power."
He bowed to her. "One day you must teach me speak to the elements and I will teach you the healing arts."
She bowed back. "I deal I will hold you to master."
Taoshi smiled.
Again the woman named Rhenn whom Taran had rescued had won the man over.
ZzZ
Rhenn walked to the small part of the monastery where foundlings were kept. She listened a moment and realized some of them were crying. The Shado-Pan were a hard clan and youngsters often wished to be good enough to come, however, there were small children the monks found as well who would be trained up.
Rhenn walked in and began to sing softly.
Her soft song caused the children to look up. The babes stopped crying and she lifted one and sang softly to them.
Taran Zhu entered and heard her singing. The children all went to sleep and he watched as she joined him. He looked at her and smiled. "Once a mother always a mother, crane."
She smiled. "They want someone to reassure them. Is that so hard to ask?"
"The reality of life is your mother may die and you must learn to move on or you die."
She looked at him. "That is harsh even for you my lord."
He lifted his head. "I do not remember my mother."
She stepped to him as they walked into the courtyard. The cold wind nearly stole her breath. He moved behind her and adjusted her cloak. She touched his paw. "You lost her when you were young?"
"I was a foundling as they are now. I remember my mother had blue eyes." He looked passed her a moment. He then sighed. "They told me the Yaungol killed my mother." He took a breath. "I served with my father when he rules. There were two lords between us. Both died within a few years. I was elected after." He took a breath. "I am not sure I do his legacy justice. He was a good ruler."
"You told me that Shado-Pan Lords cannot father children."
"I was born to my mother while he was still a Veteran of the Blackguard."
"And your mother was not of the Shado-Pan?"
"No." Taran Zhu said. "She lived in a peaceful village. It was attacked in the dead of winter, or so they tell me. I was brought to my father when the Shado-Pan patrol came smelling smoke from miles away." He sighed. "Then of course I had to join the ranks with my father as a Lord."
She turned to him. "They made you as you are, Taran. Never forget that."
"Indeed."
"Were you not scared at that time?"
"Of course." He looked at her. "I was a child."
"Then let them have what little joy they can. They are children."
He shook his head and cupped her cheek with his paw. "You always speak your mind."
"If it offends you…"
He shook her chin with his two fingers holding it gently. "No. Never change. I value honesty."
A great boom was heard. He sighed. "That would be our call to dinner, my crane."
"The children?"
"Ate hours ago. Come."
She nodded and followed him to the main mess hall. The Lord of the Shado-Pan was taller than any other Pandaren there and even the smallest of the recruits still was more than a head taller than Rhenn.
After they had eaten they relaxed, listening to the wind howl as they attended to matters. Taran read scrolls that required his attention and Rhenn worked on reading the manuscripts she had to learn, memorize, and understand.
Though skilled with the orphans, the Shado-Pan lord had noted she had skills for memory and reading old texts. Since his Loremaster had been killed by the Mogu, Rhenn filled the spot nicely. Taran was yet to give her the official title and was waiting until she passed her trials.
She seemed to wish to pass the tests as any other member of the monastery. He was going to allow her to learn at her own pace, but she refused and though her body ached, was bruised and battered and she had even broken a bone in her foot, she had stubbornly met all the challenges.
Her resilience made him appreciate her and he was realizing he was falling in love with her. He would never admit it, at least not yet to her, but her smile was what he needed to feel happy in a day.
He sighed. Soon. Too soon. She would travel and so would he.
War was coming. It was in the air and he feared for her and his clan.
For now they had to live in the present as he quashed the feelings that would allow the sha to come and feed.