Waking before dawn Kaz had a small meal consisting of cold stew that he was told was a staple of Stranglehorn though he doubted that very much. In all his travels the only thing it looked like was last night's kitchen left over's. Still that wasn't a complaint it was filling and he wasn't sure what they would be getting aboard the Tyanak. With his back pack and shoulder bag he paid up at the inn and made his way to dock eight. There sleeping in a stack of their other bags was Voj and Rubik with Barros sitting on a trunk. He was carving a piece of drift wood into something.
Barros looked up, "They was here when I got here. I had the goblins deliver our things, but the captain wanted to do some kind of an inventory before we had our things brought aboard."
"How long?" Kaz dropped his things into the pile.
"Not long I heard Norgan telling his men they were running late," explained Barros. He stood up brushing wood shaving from his lap. "For my nephew," he said holding the carving.
"I figured, what's it a crocodile?" Kaz asked.
"No," Barros barked then looked it over in his hands. "It will be a dragon. You know just a Meir Dragon."
"How many is that?" Kaz said taking off his jacket then shirt.
""Too many says my sister. She wants me to make him a dresser," Barros chuckled.
Kaz pulled another shirt from one of their bags and pulled it over his head, "Are you leaving me to build furniture?"
"No, No," Barros replied, "Though I may start sending larger packages home".
"They don't have much with them," Kaz motioned toward Voj and Rubik, "Have you seen Ninza?"
"Not yet, "Barros replied. "I wish she'd get here, Captain Norgan wasn't too thrilled when I said it was three trolls."
"He'll lighten up when he has five thousand gold, "Kaz remarked.
"Perhaps but another human face would help him keep at ease. I want this trip to go smoothly," explained Barros.
"If you have a good trip or not has little to do with the Captain or even his ship. Honestly I think some of our best sailing experiences have been your worst sails.," joked Kaz.
"Shut it, Trolls aren't meant to be on the water. And I'm trying," Barros offered.
"Ahoy, "called Captain Norgan walking across the deck. "Good Morning Gentlemen. Kaz when we chartered this route to Theramore you never said anything about transporting three Trolls to the city."
"Captain I believe your words were "for a thousand a head I don't need to know anything", "replied Kaz.
"Proudmore will have my ship impounded when she learns I brought Trolls to the city." Norgan continued.
"These two trolls are associates of Priestess Pluvious, Daughter of the Light. They are her devotees together they promote spirit and well being."
"A Daughter of the Light !" Norgan exclaimed astonished, "Aboard my ship, why didn't you warn me, she should be traveling about a royal galleon something flying the colors of the Alliance, not my squalor ridden vessel, she's not much more than a collection of lumber barley held together!" Barros looked at him worry lines crossing his face.
"Nonsense Captain, I'm sure that isn't true." He rebutted more for Barros's sake than that of the Tyanak. "As well your candor is appreciated however your humility isn't necessary the Priestess will only be made uncomfortable if you treat her any different than say Barros or myself."
"That simply will not due, the lady will be treated with the greatest of respect and she will have a private cabin at no extra cost to you, "remarked Captain Norgan his whole demeanor changing.
"That is very gracious but again unnecessary, "Kaz continued, "I must be honest though you must have observed that there has been a change to our plans and I do hope that our deal can be expanded to accommodate. I now have four traveling companions in addition to myself."
"Ah Kaz of course we can extend the same deal to one extra. No need for concern, May I presume the Lady added this additional companion unannounced, "asked the Captain.
"Yes that's correct, she made the addition rather suddenly and I wasn't able to notify you having only learned of the change late last night myself. However our deal of a thousand a head still stands.
Hearing all the commotion Voj and Rubik awoke, Kaz only hoped they missed the bit about the ship's condition. Voj had seamed to perk up with the talk of gold but that was all. He looked forward to knowing them better.
"About that other, point of our deal?" Norgan hinted.
"Oh course," Kaz recalled. He took his sword and sleeve from their stack of things handing it to Norgan. Norgan admired the diamond pendant and markings along the handle, removing the blade only a little, then returning it into the sleeve. "It will be safe till I return it to you."
The captain called out, at his direction a few of the crew began loading up their few items. It was that moment that Ninza appeared on the dock with two goblins carrying her bags. She bore little resemblance to herself from the previous night. She wore a thin white robe trimmed with silver and symbols of the Light along the cuff with a hood up keeping her hair from blowing in the wind. Around her neck were several long chains of gold and silver with pendants on each. She wore a simple white dress low cut and to the ground. At her side was a short sword appearing more decorative than functional.
"Men, take the Priestess's things down to the guest cabin!" yelled the captain to his men.
Ninza walked towards the ship and nodded at Kaz, he smiled back, "Good morning my lady." Maybe with too much sarcasm he thought to himself.
"Ah, Good Morning," she hesitated a second, then with a distain, "Mr. Adoni, I take it this is the ship you have secured for our crossing to Theramore."
"Indeed it is, Lady Pluvious," he said with a smirk.
"Permission to come aboard captain?" she called over. The goblins passed her things to the crew who carried them off below decks.
The captain came over the to gang plank, made a quick bow of his head, "It is an honor to have a daughter of the Light aboard my vessel, permission granted and if there is anything myself or a member of my crew can do to made your trip more comfortable, please don't hesitate to ask."
"The only thing I require is to be left alone," she remarked.
"Then so it shall be," the captain turned to the nearest crewman, "show the Lady to her room and notify all to give her, her space."
Ninza followed below decks and then when she was gone the captain stepped over to Kaz.
"She's not one for conversation is she?" he asked.
"No she hardly is, "Kaz agreed. "Don't take it as an insult she simply has a hard time relating to soldiers or men of labor."
"Of course, "replied the captain. "She must have a very different life from either of us." Norgan hesitated for a moment then continued, "How is it that you have come to escort a Daughter of the Light?"
"That I can't explain however let's just say that the sword your holding is part of the same puzzle," Kaz said dodging the question.
"Say no more, I understand," The captain looked over at Barros and the two other trolls boarding his ship. "I unfortunately have no other cabins for the rest of you. You will be staying in crew accommodations below decks."
"Sounds perfect," Kaz replied, "The Trolls are weary enough about ocean travel without being below decks, they will sleep on deck as long as their presence won't disrupt your crew?" Kaz questioned suggestively.
"That will be fine the Tyanak has had a great variety of passengers over the years and your companions will not cause any uneasiness among the men." replied the captain with a certainty that Kaz found comforting.
"Then indeed we have chosen the right ship," Kaz said.
"For certain, however I would like clarify something before we cast off? The captain said.
"How you will receive actual payment?" Kaz questioned.
"Indeed" he replied.
"Once we arrive at Theramore, Lady Pluvious we go into the city to meet with our financer. We will stay aboard until they return with your payment. Work for you?" he asked.
"That works. Is not only agreeable, but casts aside any hesitation I may have had."
"Good," stated Kaz with confidence.
"I would have no issues should subsequent dealings be necessary.
"That's good. You're a cautious man Norgan, but I can respect that, and I will bring no trouble to you or your crew, trust in that," with that he extended his hand and they shook.
"Prepare to set sail!" hollered the Captain. With that the crew came alive to serve one purpose. The sails unrolled and anchor was raised, as the ship slowly ran the length of the dock a crew member ran along and jumped aboard. It would be an uneventful sail to Kalimdor.
The second day at sea was clear and sunny with a strong wind ensuring they'd make good time. The crew was dispersed throughout the ship attending to their responsibilities while most of the group was on deck. Barros was enjoying the afternoon quiet, making progress on his carving. Crossing the deck Rubik felt the sun's heat on his bare feet. He sat next to Barros waiting for him to look up.
Speaking in Zandali Rubik said to Barros, "If I ask you how you met Kaz will you tell me?"
Barros looked up for a moment squinting from the sun then back down, "Of course I will. It's no secret"
"But unusual," Rubik felt.
"Not how we met," Barros disagreed.
"No, for a Troll and a Human to be friends" he questioned.
"Well maybe it is. Or was, or still is, ugh" Barros looked out at the horizon. "We met when we were kids."
"Kids" Rubik repeated curiously. "Was your family captured or something?"
"No, no," Barros replied with surprise. "Lordaeron had a small camp far east of Stratholme, not much more than ten soldiers and their families. They were there to find a route through the mountains and eventually establish a port on the east coast. Truth be told they never had enough men to venture that far. They barley had enough supplies to keep going. None of the people minded though. They farmed and enjoyed a simpler life. Trouble was they were barley within Lordaeron's territory. It actuality was an area long contested by the Highborne and Trolls. At first the Trolls thought the humans were coming to help the Highborne but they soon found that the camp had no contact with the Highborne and hardly even any contact with Lordaeron. The small Troll village not much bigger than the human camp tried to take advantage of this situation,"
"We attacked them?" Rubik asked solemnly
"Yea we did, tried to steal a wagon load of food," Barros answered regrettably.
"What happened?" Rubik asked.
"Well Kaz's father and his men were better trained than some hot headed Trolls. The Troll village's chief led the attack and there were some casualties and they captured him." Barros shook his head thinking about it.
"Whoa so much for that chief," Rubik chuckled.
"Well no," Barros corrected. "Kaz's father offered to give the Troll village some food, or rather trade them some food for medical supplies."
"What!" Rubik asked shocked. "His people would have ousted him as village chief for such a thing."
"No, not so," Barros smiled. "His people loved him and they needed food. It was an unusual arrangement to say the least but it continued. The following year at harvest time the Trolls helped the humans in the fields with their harvest. Soon what was each leader negotiating every trade became everyone trading openly. To top off their disregard for racial conventions they extended their trade to include weapons. Eventually they helped defend each other's homes from bandits and demons."
"You're kidding," remarked Rubik.
"Nope," he smiled. "One of my first memories is when we were invited to the camp during the Lordaeron King's birthday and seeing fireworks."
"So you really have known him since you were kids," Rubik remarked astonished.
"By the time Kaz and I were old enough to understand that we shouldn't be friends, we'd been friends for years. We weren't the only cross racial friendships forged there thought I think were the only ones who've lasted so long."
"How come I've never heard about this before," Rubik questioned. "This should be big news or at least it would have been a story that traveled fast."
"Well you have to understand this wasn't a village of thousands or even hundreds. We're talking about four hundred at most, that's between the humans and trolls."
"When was the last time you were back to visit," Rubik wanted to know.
"Nine years ago," Barros replied.
"Nine why so long," Rubik was shocked.
"You don't know your geography," Barros realized. "Strathholme was among the first to fall to the Burring Legion. Our small town fought the undead troll and human standing together.
"They died," Rubik looked saddened. "I'm sorry to have brought it up."
"No no, it's all right. Barros explained, "They didn't die, Kaz and I were there we helped everyone escape. Now however we don't know where everyone is."
"I'm very sorry for you loss Barros, Rubik said sadly.
"Well I at least know where my sister and nephew are. That's who I'm making this for," Barros help up the dragon figure that looked considerably better than it had the morning before when Kaz saw it.
"That's good. Family is important," Rubik added.
"Yes it is," Barros replied. "Otherwise we're all alone."
"About Kaz,," Rubik began. "I can't say I've known a human before nor have I wanted to. But I like him I trust him, he doesn't look down on Voj and I."
"And he never will," Barros knew. "What about you and Voj, have you know each other long?"
"Yes, well not that long, a few years. I haven't travelled as much as him; he used to live among the Orcs before the Burning Legion returned."
"Where are you to going after this?" Barros said. "I don't mean the ship I mean in general."
"Do you want to know when we'll leave you?" Rubik asked looked at Barros.
"Perhaps, but I just mean it in general," Barros said quickly.
"We're just surviving, we don't have any plans," Rubik said. "I liked the sound of your home I would have wanted to go there. Where people look out for each other and help, no matter what people's ideas are."
"Yea it was a good place to grow up." Barros wished that someday he could return. He always hoped that someday he and Kaz could find somewhere where no one cared what they were. There they could each have a family and leave all this traveling behind them. He'd spent too much time with Kaz, Trolls were normally much more nomadic than he desired.
"What about this Ninza?" Rubik asked. "Is she staying in our group, or is she just crossing with us?"
"No she's in the group." Barros replied. He put down his carving and took a drink from a cider the ship's crew seamed to love. It wasn't his favorite but it was growing on him. Maybe that's how it starts he chuckled to himself.
"Human females confuse me," Rubik confessed. He looked at Barros to see what his facial expressions made of that remark but he saw little change.
"I find they're more layered than the men," he began on his theory. Kaz doesn't wear his emotions on his sleeve. But at the same time he's easy to figure out."
"Are you trying to tell me that's limited to human women," Rubik chuckled.
"Alright I guess not," Barros felt embarrassed. He wasn't sure where he was going with his comment but he lost the point entirely.
"She only talks to Kaz, she has a thing for Trolls," Rubik hypothesized.
"What," Barros corrected. "No no, she has a thing for everyone. Don't think she can't understand you, not ever. I've never seen anything stump her. Kaz says she speaks seven languages' no way I think it's more, she always understands."
"Well then how did you met her," Rubik wondered.
"Kaz introduced us when we met up to find Faroon. I hadn't seen him in almost a year and he'd been traveling with her for a few months." Divulged Barros.
"Then how did he meet her?" Rubik wanted to know.
"Sorry, but that's not my tale to tell," Barros answered.
"What, really, "Rubik persisted.
"No really, you'll have to get Kaz to tell you." Barros finished.
"Alright then," Rubik stood back up. "I'm going to find Voj. If you don't mind I'm going to tell him how you and Kaz met." He walked away feeling better about the five of them. At least he'd be able to get to know Kaz. Every other human he'd met couldn't speak Zendali.
It was the dungeon of some long forgotten castle, rather the ruins of a long forgotten castle. Flaming torches lined the old uneven walls, adding to the soot marked ceiling. There chained to the top of an old marked up table by her ankles, wrists and neck was some sort of red and black marble skinned demon. Her black soulless eyes darted around the room, matched by her frantic breathing, looking for anything to help her.
Remnants of her black clothing was scattered on the tabled and on the floor. Once she covered her demonic eyes and telling red skin, beneath a mesh cloth mask and full clothing, now she lay only covered in shreds.
The demon's once smooth skin was covered with deep blistering cuts; and large dark bruises that stood out as discoloring on the red portions of her skin. Her dominantly red face showed a black eye and her black lips were dry and cut up with traces of her deep purple blood around them. A strange sight was made by her black hair that had been savagely hacked to bits by her captors, leaving one side of her head bald and the other a shredded mess. Black horns rose from her forehead then twisted to the sides and back around her head, one had be severed off while she was unconscious and the pain now pulsed through her head. Piercings from both her long pointed ears that rose from her head looking like those of elves had had jewelry ripped from them adding to the scars of the attack that lead to her capture. Half her claws were missing from fighting or trying to free herself from the wooden box they moved her in and the other half from her tormentors ripping them from her fingers.
A part of her wanted to cry, but she couldn't even if she tried to let it out. In the demonic tongue Eredun she cursed her captors damming them with a thousand plagues she wished them to die by all the fires of hell, she wished that a succubus would peel the skin from their repulsive bodies. Except for the leader, the human they called Gregory, she wanted to kill him herself feeding on his blood. Dizzy from her vengeful fantasies she slipped out of consciousness again, sleeping through her own constant pain that brought her no pleasure.
Ninza awoke from the nightmare in a sweat; she sat upright and looked around the small guest cabin she occupied. The bed was away from the door and ran parallel to the ship with windows over it looking out over the side of the ship. They'd been sailing for three days and while Barros was managing he never looked what she would have called happy. They were due to arrive in Theramore late tonight which would work well to keep their motley crew as inconspicuous as possible. After a drink of water she packed up her things and dressed to go up on deck.
Stepping up on deck the lights of Theramore could be seen on the horizon. She approached Kaz, "How long?."
"The winds are against us, three hours maybe more," Kaz replied turning to her.
"You should get some sleep; you can take the bed in the guest quarters. You'll need it more than I will," she suggested.
"I can't sleep, Barros is the one who's going to need it, I think he's only been sleeping for an hour a night. The rest of the time he spends restlessly rolling around. I've watched him make up his bed every 10 minutes for the last three days." Kaz told her.
"What about you?" she asked.
"I woke up less than an hour ago, I'm worried about Theramore. We need to get clear of the city before sun up. Which won't be a problem as long as there's no issues with Aleksei. Aleksei hasn't ever met Barros without me and."
"You like to control the flow of information," she interrupted, making only the slightest indication of a smile.
"It's not that," Kaz disputed, "whatever either of you want to know I'll tell you. But I should be dealing with Aleksei. He has a bad habit of leaving out details from Yevgeni. I don't believe he means to sabotage our operation, I do trust him he won't betray us. I just need to talk to him to find the details he's missing. There is a reason Yevgeni sent me and not Aleksei and it has nothing to with trust, its more about proficiency."
"I know you tell us everything, I trust you," she said to calm him down, "because you have no reason to lie to me. Do you trust me?"
"I know you have nothing to lie about," he answered.
"But do you trust me?" she asked again.
"Don't make me answer that." He said looking out at the ocean.
"Do you?" she persisted.
"I do right now, but the last thing I would ever call you is consistent," he finally answered.
"Tynuik gitvem rehemik," she turned away.
Kaz knew enough to know it wasn't good what she said, but he still trusted her.
Once they arrived at Theramore Barros and Ninza went into town to meet Aleksei. It took some convincing with the city's guards to let Barros travel with Ninza but he still carried a wooden pass from the King of Loderon granting him free passage throughout his lands. It was old and in rough shape but it was authentic. Instead of doubting its relevance the guards were only confused by it's authenticity, however it passed all four forgery checks and they were satisfied. Kaz on the other hand stayed at the ship with Voj and Rubik, while the Alliance inspector's thoroughly went over every page of the cargo manifest. Captain Norgan's worries about fines and paperwork were unfounded. Or at least half unfounded. It took nearly the whole time that Barros and Ninza were gone to get through the paper work. Apparently Jaina Proudmore has a bigger problem with unannounced neutral ships arriving after dark than she does with trolls in her city.
"I'll talk," suggested Ninza stepping to the peep hole. It was after midnight when they approached the cathedral. The city's square was dark and deserted; dim light could be seen through its high stained glass windows though it looked far from expecting visitors. The city had a curfew imposed on it after midnight, and though they passed several guards through the city, none approached a Priestess regardless of her companion being a troll.
Barros pounded on the door, though it returned only muffled thuds indicating that it was thicker than the hull of the Tyanak. Yet someone heard somewhere for after a moment of waiting the window panel in the door slid open. A pair of eyes looked Ninza up and down and quickly responded.
"Priestess you must come inside the street is not to be traveled at night!" the male voice insisted. A series of locks was heard and then dim light came out into the street as the door opened. A short man emerged who wasn't a priest but still a man of faith. He opened the door wide and saw Barros to the side, his eyes widened, "what is this!"
"It's alright he can be trusted," Ninza said in a hushed tone putting her hand on his shoulder as she walked in making room for Barros to follow her. Barros closed the door behind them and the man set the locks in place. Barros looked down at the short man who looked to be mixed with all emotions from scared and nervous to shocked. Clearly his evening plans hadn't included a troll.
"She's right mon," Barros said hunching down on one knee to look him in the eye, "I won't bring you any trouble". Barros smiled at the man, who made a half hearted smile back, then Barros extended his hand but the man did not reciprocate. Barros put his hands up in the dim light showing the lighter blue skin of his palms, then stepped back and stood up.
"We are meeting a man here named Aleksei," explained Ninza.
The nervous door man responded without taking his eyes off Barros, "Aleksei is waiting for a man."
"Kaz couldn't make it himself," said a voice out of the darkness of the central hall, "or are you all that remains?" Ninza was trying to read the intent from his voice while she and Barros took opposite steps around a tall column blocking their view of the central interior. It didn't do much good she could hardly see into the large expanse of the cathedral. Through a high window faint moon light lit little more than the ceiling. Out of the corner of her eye she could make out Barros's hand resting on the hilt of his sword, though she didn't think they needed to worry.
"Kaz is with the ship," she responded quietly, in an effort to force the voice to come closer, "he needed to stay behind as insurance that we would come through."
About twenty feet away a flint sparked and a candle lit, a human male stood up from the rows of pews and moved forward. "Duncan, light some more candles I have not met my guests and we need to see each other."
Duncan, the small man took a long brass rod with a wick on the end and walked around lighting candles. Slowly the room grew brighter and Barros stepped beside Ninza between the rows of pews. Duncan still looked at Barros, clearly uneasy by his presence but no longer scared for his life.
"Not entirely true," the voice stepped forward and extended a hand towards Barros, "Barros we meet again, good to see you." Before letting go of Barros's hand he turn to Ninza quickly looking up and down then smiled again like he told a joke only he heard. "But we have not met," he looked back at Barros, "Why didn't Kaz tell me she was so beautiful". He made eye contact with Ninza again extending his hand toward her.
"Ah Aleksei," hesitated Barros, "I wouldn't"
Ninza made no move to take his hand only took a deep breath. "Perhaps because I'd cut out his tongue if I knew he spoke about me," she made the slightest grin that only Kaz would have caught.
Aleksei shifted his weight moving only the slightest bit back his face got serious for a quick moment and then he smiled again, "well then that would be why he didn't mention. Come lets go down to the alter when we can sit and face each other."
"Hmm Aleksei, I don't believe in your light but I don't think we should be at the alter," protested Barros.
"Don't worry about it, Father Daniel is sleeping and I wouldn't take you downstairs that's my deal with him," Aleksei stipulated.
They walked to the front where Barros looked around at the alter and the stained glass images at the front then sat down on the red carpet covered few steps up to the alter. Ninza sat in the front pew and Aleksei stood between them.
"Duncan, if you please fetch my back pack." said Aleksei. He looked Ninza in the eyes for a moment too long for comfort then looked to Barros. "We have located a map which shows Azeroth before the Maelstrom. The owner has agreed with Yevgeni to have it brought as far as Thunder Bluff where you will pick it up. As long as you show the contact Yevgeni's house of Zija's crest you won't have any issues payment has already been made."
"But we already have a map showing Faroon's location in relation to Azshara," Barros asked confused, "Why would Yevgeni buy another?"
"Because it hasn't helped us find anything." Replied Aleksei getting excited. "Last year we went all the way to the Ruins of Eldarath and it didn't help us find roads that have been gone for thousands of years. This map shows more than a series of landmarks it is an actual scale map showing nearly the entire Kaldorei Empire. No more vague diagrams or painting of Zin-Azshari. No more deciphering meanings from songs. This is an actual map!"
"And it shows the lost city of Faroon!" Interrupted Barros in disbelief.
"Well no," admitted Aleksei.
"I didn't think so," said Barros shaking his head a little.
"But this shows the former cities of the Zandalar Tribe." Aleksei began. "Yevgeni believes it will show the location of what becomes Farron City under the Amani Empire before Azshara stole it. Then we will find it."
Barros listened hunched over with his elbows on his knees while rubbing his face then leaned back on the steps again. "Perhaps but we Trolls don't believe that Faroon is meant to be found."
"Come on Barros if we find Faroon you'll be richer than you can imagine and can waste away your years on a beach or in a palace whatever you choose" Aleksei enticed.
"They don't build palaces for grave robbers," Barros chuckled.
"Grave robbers?" Aleksei responded with a snort. "The city holds a fortune"
"Aye and a demon curse to all who enter the city never to leave again," reminded Barros.
"If you believe that then why are you here?" asked Aleksei.
"Because wasting my years away on a beach might be worth chancing some old curse," he smiled at Ninza who only looked away.
Aleksei laughed at this, "Show me an ambitious troll and I'll show you liar."
"I'm not sure what that's supposed to mean, but I don't like it," Barros assumed.
"He's calling you lazy," Ninza explained with a belittling tone.
"Ask the Goblins," Aleksei joked, "they know there is no such thing as a get rich quick scheme.
"Alright then," Barros questioned, "why are you here then?"
"Because I'm already getting paid. If Yevgeni Zija wants to send me to the ends of Azeroth on his dime, I've fine with that. If next week he decides he wants to hunt for sunken ships that's fine, but right now its lost cities."
"You're an errand boy," Ninza coldly judged. "A following free loader."
"Ehh," Aleksei glared at her. His stance changed and he made up fists where he stood.
Barros hated when he got like this, because he wasn't a dog without bite.
"Free loader!" Aleksei stepped towards her, pointing at himself, "I work for a living I've traveled to every corner of this world, working. What of you woman, you tag along for a few months contributing little."
"Hey now," Barros stood motioning down with his hands, "we're all friends here."
"Not all," Aleksei argued, "she comes here doubting me, she doesn't know what I do for this group. Did you really think you lost that Warlock in Southshore!" By now he was standing over her.
Ninza stood up locking eyes barley a foot apart. "Funny I don't remember you there with us in Zul'Gurub," she spat the words at him. Their growing voices echoing throughout the cathedral. "Where was it that time, oh that's right in the mountains near the Zulmamwe Ruins, we would find the lost city of Faroon. Instead we nearly died in Zul'Gurub and there wasn't even any sign of ruins in the mountains."
"Are you saying I planned that!" Aleksei yelled in her face. Barros now standing beside the two of them ready to pull one of them off the other.
"Maybe, all I know is you weren't there!" her eyes glaring into his.
There was a sound of metal and Barros caught a reflection of light from the candles, in an instant Aleksei pressed a small blade no more than eight inches to Ninza's throat. Its handle decorated in the art of some lost civilization no doubt from a previous expedition. "Barros tell Kaz she didn't make it, I'll be getting,"
He stopped mid sentence as a bright light as hot as a blacksmiths furnace was suddenly beside his face. He lunged backwards tripping and dropping the blade making an echoing sounds as it rattled to the stone ground. Looking up at Ninza the sleeve of her robe had fallen to her bare elbow as she help up her hand in it a blue flame burned brghtly, then closed her fist extinguishing it. "You don't need to doubt what my contributions to the group are," she said as he rubbed his face.
"You're fine," Barros said to Aleksei extending his arm to help him up.
Feeling belittled Aleksei went through the motions of brushing himself off and picked up his weapon. Rubbing the side of his face again he looked at her, "No Priestess can perform that spell."
"She's not a Priestess Aleksei," Barros started to say.
"Well of course she's not, she's not human," Aleksei explaind.
Ninza reached up and pulled back the hood of her cloak revealing her long golden hair and long pointed ears.
Aleksei went for his sword again, "What the hell is Kaz thinking bringing a Blood Elf here."
"She's not a blood elf!" Barros yelled out stepping between them.
"Well her eyes aren't green," Aleksei admitted back, "but no high-born can cast that spell. I can still feel it!"
"She's not a Highborne or high elf what ever it's called now." Barros continued.
"Well of course not they're all but extinct!" replied Aleksei.
"You are correct," Ninza responded, "It is arcane magic, but I'm not a Blood Elf, though I do hate every race." She made an obvious smile with that, and Barros smiled back, though it was lost on Aleksei he had no idea how little she smiled real or otherwise.
"For the light's sake, she can't be trusted. No user of arcane magic can be trusted. She will betray the whole expedition," decided Aleksei.
"Aleksei she won't betray us," Barros moved to sit back on the steps. "I can't tell you what she is, though I trust her."
"You trust her, that's just great," Aleksei gasped. "When Jaina's city guards lock us up for bringing an arcane magic user into the city you just them that."
I won't betray anyone, and as far as anyone knows I'm a Priestess," interjected Ninza hoping to calm him down.
"Right a Priestess," scoffed Aleksei.
"Listen I've been around her for months since Kaz brought me in on this," Barros said sincerely. "She's not the friendliest or even the nicest, no offense."
"None taken Troll," Ninza scoffed.
"But I trust her. After all none of us are what you would call loyal to a cause but I know she's loyal to us," Barros convinced.
"Fine, I'll trust you, but I'm not trusting her," Aleksei looked around seeing Duncan returning with a large leather back pack, tied with numerous pouches and clasps. "Thank you Duncan, can you also bring us some wine before my guest must be on their way."
"But sir," Duncan protested. "It is late no one can be on the street even this..." He hesitated now looking Ninza over seeing her large pointed ears and suddenly taking in her height not a lot less than the Troll.
"Duncan the wine, if you please," Aleksei repeated. He motioned to them to follow him over to a table to the side of the alter. There hidden from the pews by giant columns supporting the roof was a small table and chairs. He put the back pack on the table sitting at the head and they each sat on opposite sides of him. While clearly apprehensive regarding Ninza's race he made a effort to make eye contact with both Barros and Ninza. "Tell Kaz that here is twenty thousand gold as well as instructions from Yevgeni. He details the contact in Thunder Bluff. There's also a schedule of Orc patrols in the barrens that should be accurate for at least another week."
Duncan put down three wine glasses filling them each a little too full then walked away.
Aleksei held his glass between them. Looking to them both, "A toast to finding the lost city of Faroon.
"To new friends," Barros encouraged, as the three of them clinked their glasses. Barros took several giant swallows noticeable passing down his throat and then his glass was empty. Aleksei took a sip of the wine and watched him astonished. Ninza took a quick taste and licked her lips.
"What do you think Priestess?" Aleksei asked sarcastically.
"Honestly," she looked at him and took a larger drink licking her lips again. "It's very good the best I've had since Kaz and I were in Stormwind."
"You were in Stormwind," Aleksei was shocked.
"You'd be amazed at who betrays their allegiances seeing a few well chosen glimpses of flesh," and Ninza made a larger smile than Barros had ever since and he couldn't be certain but he thought it was real. Finally having held the smile till it was becoming ridicules Aleksei smiled back at her and rose his glass again to meet hers.
"So how much wine," Aleksei took a drink, "must we go through for you to tell me the story of how you and Kaz met?"
"Like Barros said," Now she took another drink, "I'm loyal."
"Ha, " Aleksei burst out laughing and when he finally stopped he took another drink.
Barros was glad that they were getting along. He really couldn't be certain just how much was Aleksei trying to be friendly and how much he really was willing to put the sediment of a few minutes earlier behind him. Then again he thought how strong was this wine?
They talked for almost an hour and went through another bottle of wine before leaving. The conversation was never too personal; Barros never learnt anything more about Ninza than he knew before. Except she had been to Kalimdor before and even spent time in Silvermoon. How long he didn't ask but her wording suggested awhile. Aleksei never asked when she was in Silvermoon, though he must have assumed before the forming of the Blood Elves. For her talk of it never worried him. All in all by the time they left Barros was certain Aleksei was relatively drunk and he'd never seen Ninza even slightly drunk but she certainly was something.
Out in the street a clock tower they walked past showed nearly two o'clock in the morning. A light fog had come off the ocean and into the city streets. It was nothing to make it difficult to see but enough to feel the moisture in the air as they walked. At one point Ninza tripped on the cobble stoned streets and Barros caught her arm she said something in a language he didn't know.
"Sorry I should be more careful," Ninza whispered, "the last thing we need is to be caught by city guards. A drunk Priestess and a Troll."
Barros looked at her and they made eye contact for a second then looked forward again, "Are you drunk?"
"A little, what about you? You drank more than me," she asked.
"It takes a lot more than a few glasses of Orc Lushwater wine to make a troll drunk," he said exaggerating his Troll accent as a joke.
"Oh yea," she made a whisper to him, "and what would that be?"
"Oh same stuff just a lot more of it," he laughed.
Arriving at the Tyanak Barros stood behind Ninza, the hood up on her Priestess outfit as the cities inspector's disembarked from the Tyanak. Voj and Rub were standing by all of their things on the dock getting everything sorted out.
"How did it go with Aleksei," Kaz asked disembarking as well.
"In the end it went fine but there was bit of an issue when he called Ninza a Blood Elf," Barros confessed.
Kaz sharply tuned his head to look at Ninza then back at Barros, "Is Aleksei alright?"
"He is unharmed," Ninza replied. "Though I was unable to push him for further information."
Kaz having not taken his eyes from Barros waited for him to respond. "Yea Aleksei is fine it got a little heated but in the end we got what we came for," he tossed the back pack to Kaz, "and even stayed to finish off two bottles of wine.
"Two bottles," Kaz looked to them both. "You're drinking while Norgan and I are going through an inquisition."
"Let's just get going, we really need to be clear of here before sun up," remarked Barros.
"Agreed," Kaz turned back onto the ship.
In the end Norgan was happy to receive the five thousand gold for their fare, while Kaz was pleased to have back the Lordaeron sword. Rubik was in awe that he wasn't expected to carry the brunt of their supplies and even believed Kaz carried more than him. Everything went fine at the city gates and they received horses from the night watch officer just as Yevgeni's instructions said they would. Even after years Kaz was still amazed at what Yevgeni was able to pull off.