Chapter Two: The Business Deal

Thransis sat down on the bench facing the small stone grinder. Turning the grinder to its side, he took a piece of soft leather and wrapped the grinding stone with it. He tied it off so that when activated, the grinding stone would still spin. He had converted his grinder into a buffer.

Taking a small container of water, he dropped some rouge into it. He smiled to himself as he remembered the look on the merchants face when he bought it. He activated the grinder and took a small brush and mixed the rouge with the water. He then applied the mixture to the soft leather piece as it spun on the grinder.

Making sure that it was thoroughly wet, he reached for a small purplish stone. He held it up to the light and examined it before pressing it against the soft leather buffer. He pressed it against the leather and re-examined the stone every so often, before he was finally satisfied and set the gem down. He grabbed another gem and began the process again. He did this with several gems, repeating the same steps each time before the knock sounded at his door.

He turned off his grinder and got up to answer the door. He glanced out his window and noted that it was getting close to the dinner hour. His guests were punctual, that was a good sign. He could see the Pandaren envoys getting ready to sit down to eat. His mouth watered as he thought of eating some krasarang fritters with some sliced peaches on the side. He smiled. He would stop by as soon as he concluded this deal.

He opened the door and looked at two cloaked figures. He frowned and motioned them both in. One of them, a troll, was taller than the other. That must be Ginkoba, he thought. The other figure, an orc, went by his street-name, Freebooter. He was an assassin of some renown. Thransis returned to his bench and collected his gems.

"Relax. Take off your cloaks and have a seat," he said.

"I prefer to stand," said the orc gruffly.

Thransis shrugged, "Suit yourself."

The troll did take a seat, but his eyes were on the gems in his hosts hands. Thransis pulled out a small table and placed several gems upon it; each within a row, three rows deep.

"Gentlemen, I thank you for your interest in my wares. As you can see, I have several different gems each with a unique cut guaranteed to enhance your natural abilities. I also have some gems that can grant you a magical enhancement, and I have some that are for decorative weapons and gear. I even have a few that can actually be used in jewelry."

In the middle of second row of gems was a plain gray stone. It looked like just a common, everyday rock. Thransis, as he was pointing out the gems to his guests, ran his hand over the stone and tapped it three times. A sudden blue burst of energy erupted from the stone and quickly spread out in all directions. In a matter of moments, the entire room was bathed in a bright blue light that quickly faded, almost as fast as it had erupted.

The orc narrowed his eyes and stared at the blood elf, both of his hands crossed in front of him, each hand hidden up the other arms sleeve. The troll sputtered and quickly stood and looked around.

"Wha…wha jus happen mon?"

"Relax. I just cast a spell…" before he could finish he turned to the orc. The orc was slowly removing his hands from his sleeves, and Thransis didn't have to guess what he had in each hand. He hissed, "Leave your weapons sheathed or you will ruin the illusion."

The orc didn't relax, nor did he remove his hands from his sleeves.

"Wha illusion?" asked the troll.

"As I was saying, I cast a spell. If anyone were to magically spy on us, they would only be able to see us, not hear us. This way, we can talk without fear of our conversation being overheard. For all visual purposes, you are here to purchase some gems."

The orc turned at looked at the door behind him.

"It works out there as well. Anyone listening at the door won't hear a thing."

He gestured to the chairs in front of him again, "So, have a seat and we can get this over quickly."

The troll quickly got back into his seat, while the orc moved slowly, methodically. His body was tense, and he air around him was dark. Thransis could sense this and winced. This was not going to be a fun meeting.

"First of all, there was no need to hide your identities with cloaks. That would only draw suspicion. I am just a simple lapidary who works outside the realm of the lapidary guilds. The goblin cartels are ruthless in their business dealings, and their fees can be exhorbantly high for an independent like myself. The cost of running my own shop, along with the protection fees and import fees wouldn't make it worth my time. In the future, if we have to deal, I would ask that you act like this was just an everyday transaction."

"But wit da goblin thugs, don you fear reprisals mon?"

"I don't stay long. I do my business and then move on. I offer quality over quantity, and my customers always leave very happy with their purchases. And since I'm avoiding the cartel fees, I can offer my gems at a discount. You'll find that my prices are the best in town."

"Cut the crap elf. I was told that I was to meet a mage who had information for us."

Thransis nodded to the orc.

"I've been known to dabble in magic. It's what makes my gems better than the average gem cutter in this city."

The orc stood and grabbed the troll by the collar.

"C'mon. This worthless peon is just a shyster. We're out of here."

Damn, stubborn orc. Thransis grabbed a blue gem and lifted it up so that the evening sun's rays could be caught by one of the many facets upon its surface. A beam struck the troll in the forehead and he froze in place out of fear.

"Wha…be happenin…"

"I bring a message from my contacts in Pandaria. You are to mobilize your resources. The time to strike is coming soon. With Garrosh out of the city…"

Before he could finish his sentence, the orc had whirled around to face him. His daggers keen edge pressed against the elf's throat, a black ichor running down the blade. The orc growled slowly into the elf's face.

"Are you a spy for Garrosh? Are you here to kill me?" the orc shook his head, "No, you are a foolish merchant trying to play hero. I'll kill you now and save the Kor'kron the hassle of tracking you down!"

Thransis stared into the eyes of the orc. He could see the lust for murder hidden there. Things were going sour fast. He would have to bluff his way out of this one. Damn these stubborn orc types, he thought. He noticed the troll slowly moving his hand in a circle and chanting; a look of fear still plastered on his face.

"If your friend casts his spell, the sound bubble will burst and it will alert others to trouble. How do you plan to escape without being seen?"

"I've gotten out of worst scrapes," promised the orc.

The orc glanced over his shoulder and saw the tell-tale yellowish glow surround the troll. He had cast his shield, but his eyes were wide in shock. The orc chuckled. This may have been the priest's first fight, but he was a veteran. He turned his face back towards the elf. His eyes went wide as well. His dagger's blade was still pressed to the throat of the blood elf, but now there was three more, which looked just like him, standing in the room, and they were in the motions of casting spells.

The orc screamed as three arcane bolts slammed into his chest and flung him backwards, knocking the table over that the gems rested upon. The troll flinched, and this gave Thransis time to quickly cast a spell and encase the priest in a block of ice. He quickly dismissed the mirror images of himself.

He walked over and examined the orc. He wasn't dead, just unconscious. He shook his head. He needed Freebooter alive, but if he kept this up, he'd end up killing him out of sheer spite. He stood and turned to face the troll. He snapped his fingers and the ice that encased him shattered and disappeared. The troll fell to his knees, shivered and wrapped his arms around himself.

"Get up," Thransis ordered the troll.

He turned and began to collect the scattered gems. He placed them all within small, velvet lined case that was on a nearby shelf. He closed the lid and turned to face the troll, who was staring at the body of the orc.

"He's alive, for now. Do you see that bottle of grog over next to the bed?"

The troll nodded.

"Take a swig and then pour some on the orc's body. "

The troll looked puzzled.

"You need to calm yourself. We are going to be leaving with our drunken friend, who's had a little too much to drink. Make sure to put his dagger back where he drew it from and be careful not to cut yourself when you do. That poison will kill you faster than a hungry raptor."

"Why you do dis mon?"

"He forced my hand. Besides, what I have to say was for your ears only. I don't know why you insisted on bringing him," Thransis said while motioning to the prone orc.

The troll shrugged, "Protectin me. Now it's jus you an me. What information you have?"

"Vol'Jin is alive"

"Dat be impossible mon. He be dead. De Warchief said so."

"Don't believe everything that the Warchief says."

"How do I know you be tellin me de truth?"

Thransis showed him his right hand. A long jagged scar ran across the palm.

"I swore a blood oath. Garrosh's days are numbered."

The troll gasped then smiled. He then began to laugh.

"You be a tricky blood elf, Shan Dort Wiseborn. You be a very tricky one, mon!"

Nexx rubbed a bony finger across his jaw as he watched the events unfold within the orb that he'd been given by Thransis. He watched as the blue silence spell was removed and his friend and the troll picked up the orc and half carried, half dragged him out of the door.

Why did you give me this orb? What was I supposed to see? Who were those two visitors? You are not the same elf who left us months ago to explore Pandaria. Who are you now? What are you up to Thransis, he thought to himself. What are you up to?