The Loremaster – Chapter 3 – Loremaster of the Ages

Chen Stormstout was chewing on a stick and smiling at Rhenn as she sat beside him.

They were eating lunch by the central pool of Dawn's Blossom. Rhenn had spent two more days at the Temple of the Jade Serpent in the Lorekeeper's Sanctum, reading as much as she could. She passed two exams and now bore the name Loremaster, but she still had much to learn. However, her mind was like a sponge and Lorewalker Stonestep was impressed. She would soon be a high level Lore Keeper herself at her rate. Cho had not been disappointing in his choice.

Ti-Zu was napping in the shade with her belly full. Nearby Mishi, companion of Lorewalker Cho, was also resting and idly playing with a fly that was buzzing near him.

Rhenn was eating Pho, a favored noodle dish they served in the town, and laughing with Chen about something when a great shadow fell over her.

She looked up. Lord Taran Zhu stood before her, arms crossed, his eyes flashing. Behind him stood his great male black cloud serpent, Hei. Hei remained some ways off, but his massive size was not unnoticed by all around them. He blew clouds of mist from his nostrils as he hovered just above the ground. His tail twitched keeping the flies from him. He looked at the younger cloud serpents to the side and shook his head, his great horns glinting in the light. Mishi was not of his spawn, but the younger Ti-Zu was, born to Li Ying, one of his youngest and latest brood. Only six eggs had made it during the last breeding cycle with the females in heat.

Only six. The cloud serpents were very rare and Rhenn was reminded what a privilege it was to be the companion to one. One did not own the majestic creatures. They were companions, bonded for life to someone who was there when they hatched. It took training to care for a young cloud serpent as Rhenn was learning, but was worth it. They grew up to be as majestic and regal as Hei.

Hei was a rare color among the cloud serpents and he had chosen Taran Zhu to be his companion to the surprise of all. Hei was a fully grown male and as such often wished to breed. Cloud Serpents only bred once every three years and Hei was always willing if he could find a willing female, of which there were normally at least one or two.

The Order of the Cloud Serpent were always thrilled to have the great Serpent there, courting females and making them gravid. Though hardly any of his children turned out black, a few had. Cinder, companion of Qua-Ro Whitebrow was one such rarity. Cinder, Ember, and Char were all children of Hei and the only ones who had been hatched black. The father of dozens, Hei was one of the few large males left and thus was a treasure of everyone. He had much of the old magic and could summon portals at will.

Rhenn swallowed noting her master's disapproval. "Master Zhu?"

"I was expecting you several days ago. Did you forget the way?" Taran asked, not changing his stance.

Chen touched Rhenn's shoulder. "She has been studying."

"I am sure, Master Brewmaster, the woman can speak for herself."

"I have been studying." She protested. "I am now a loremaster. I can keep records at the monastery."

Taran nodded, but did not relax his stance.

"I was on my way home this afternoon, master." Rhenn said. "Chen was going to escort me to the Veiled Stair and then attend to his own matters in the Valley of the Four Winds."

"He was going to leave you with the cutthroats of the Black Market?"

"Hardly. I would see her on a kite to Westwind Rest. From there the Alliance would see her to Winter's Blossom and home." Chen said. "She is a capable warrior. I have seen firsthand, Lord Zhu."

"Of course she is. She is a member of the Shado-Pan. Now my dear. We will leave. Hei will transport us to…"

"But I have work to do before I leave and Ti-Zu wished to see her mother and…"

Taran put his hands on his hips. "What were you doing that delayed you?"

"Seeing the Shrine of Fellowship." Rhenn said. She rose to her feet.

"That is hardly a place for you, my dear." He said. "The Horde would love to see you dead or worse send you to the one they call Hellscream."

"I kept her safe." Chen said pressing Rhenn back behind him a little as he too rose. The move was not lost on the Shado-Pan lord.

Lord Taran Zhu regarded the other Pandaren. "I understand you are traveling to your family brewery. My lady Crane is needed in the monastery. Mistress Sagewhisper requires her to look at reports."

Chen nodded. "Very well." He turned to Rhenn and embraced her. "Be safe, Rhenn of the Shado-Pan."

"You as well Chen."

He smiled and kissed her cheek. "I am like a bad coin. I always come back."

She smiled as she stepped to Taran Zhu. Taran let his hands wrap about her arms as she lifted her backpack. He turned her to face him as Chen walked away to make ready for his own departure. "He is closer to you than before."

"Yes. It happens when two people travel together. You become friends." She smiled. "You really should travel more, Lord."

He tightened his grip on her arms. "I know what you have done."

"What I have done?"

"Oh, so now you play coy?" He growled and pressed her onto Hei's riding saddle and then joined her. "We are going home. Now."

Hei looked back at his companion. "She is trying to explain what…."

"I do not recall asking for your thoughts, Hei." Taran snapped.

The cloud serpent fell silent and lifted into the air as Taran held Rhenn about the middle as they sat together. Hei opened a portal as Chen covered his eyes to watch them. They burst into the cold of the Summit region of Kun-Lai. Below was the monastery and Rhenn felt Taran Zhu holding her still before him.

They landed and Taran jumped off turning and taking Rhenn by the waist and lifting her down. He however, did not allow her feet to touch the ground. He looked at her from under his hat. "You disobeyed me." He said finally.

"How? I delivered your message, learned what I could. How was that defying you, Lord Zhu."

He looked at her. She was the only member of the Shado-Pan who had done the Trial of the Red Blossoms with failure in one area. Something of a feat given her age, but her skill was undeniable. Still, the Lord of the Shado-Pan clan was angry.

"You did not return when expected." He said finally, setting her on her feet.

They walked together toward his offices.

"I was on my way. Chen was showing me some sights before he put me on the path home. Was that so bad?"

"Did he bed you?" He asked.

She froze and looked at him.

He paused to look at her. He could see the truth in her eyes and noted she did not even try to deny it. He blinked. "He did?!"

Her eyes then flash in defiance. "Why does it matter to you? You would not bed me."

"I cannot risk a cub." He hissed.

"I cannot risk a husband." She countered.

"You bedded him for…recreation?"

She scoffed and walked away, but he caught her arm in an iron grip. "Let me go." She hissed.

"I am not done with you."

"I am done with you. I will return when your temper has cooled, my lord."

He turned her to face him. "No. You will stay."

She reached up a hand to slap him, but he caught it looking at her more startled than angry. He then held her arms at her sides. They panted a moment before he reached up and roughly pulled down his face cover and kissed her. The kiss was deep and bruising and he made her feel his emotions.

She fought him a moment and then relaxed into the kiss. She pulled back and looked at him. It was the second time she had seen him so. The mantid's acid had burned and scarred his face badly, but she did not care. She looked at him. "Why did you just…?"

He searched her eyes and then kissed her again this time pulling her to him. His paws held her hair and around her back. When he pulled back she was breathless. She looked up at him and he watched her. "Why?" He asked. "Because…I need you Rhenn From Beyond the Mists." He said using her old title he said before.

She stared at him.

He kissed her again and then took a breath before stepping back. "I will see you at dinner." He said and turned from her afraid if he did not leave, he never would.

She walked to her rooms and was stopped by Ban Beartheart. "Crane." He greeted. Most of the Shado-Pan referred to her so after Taran had proclaimed her name as Crane after her gracefulness had moved him. Far from the first who had been remained by the Lord of the Shado-Pan she would not be the last either.

"What is it?"

"I am heading to Winter's Blossom to aide in the defense of the Ox Gate. We have so few Shado-Pan warriors, but we have been asked for aid at the Fall-Back position on the Serpent's Spine. They need medicines and supplies. Can you bring them?"

She looked at the letter and read the urgency. "Of course. I will leave tomorrow. Would you be so kind as to speak to Lord Zhu while I gather my things?"

"I am on my way there now."

"Thank you."

Rhenn met the Shado-Pan lord for dinner. He watched her coolly as they ate together. He then spoke. "Ban tells me that he has requested you go to Shado-Pan Fall Back."

"They are in need of supplies and medicines. What better use of my time than aiding our outposts. You cannot spare those who fight in the defenses. I am still in training."

He considered that. "Very well." He said. "However, you travel alone by kite to the fall back." He said.

She looked at him. "Why?"

"I will not have another dishonoring you."

"What dishonor, Lord Zhu? I am an adult not a child and I am older than you."

"Careful." He said lifting a paw.

She took a breath. "I am not your lover and I have none save for Chen, whom you were angry at for no reason. We are both adults."

"Indeed." He lifted a paw to her chin.

"You are jealous." She said looking at him.

"No. I am concerned for your welfare. Chen Stormstout is a wanderer and he…"

"You lie, my lord." She hissed. "You are jealous."

He growled and looked away before staring at her. "Yes. I am jealous. You bedded another man while you were in my…"

"I was not yours, Lord Zhu. You made it clear you did not want a wife or lover."

He was startled by her audacity. He then gripped her chin. "You are mine, Crane. Remember that." He bent his head down to look her in the eyes, his face inches from hers. "Do not cross me, human. I will break you." He hissed.

"Why do you say I am yours? What makes me so?"

He sighed. "I care for you. Is that not enough?"

"Women have needs as I am sure you do as well."

His eyes widened. "You are not a whore. Stop pretending to be one."

"I am nor a whore. I am a woman and I am free."

"No. You are part of my clan and you are the woman I love more than the world." There he said it.

She looked up startled and in wonder. "You…You love me?"

"Yes." He said looking at her with narrow eyes. "Having another man with you and as your lover is more than I can bear. I cannot risk a child, but know this Rhenn, I would bed you in a heartbeat if I thought it would make you see how I feel for you, but you are far too smart and beautiful to be used so." He said. "Please." His voice dropped to a whisper. "I need you."

She looked at him and then smiled. "All right, my lord." She said softly. She remembered his reaction when she had come into his rooms naked and he had nearly taken her then. However, she did not want a husband and he did not want a wife and cub. To be in a relationship of a deep wholesome friendship oddly appealed to her.

He looked at her and she cupped his cheek through his face cover. "What?"

"I am yours." She promised and then turned away. "I must pack for my trip."

He watched her leave. A cough made him turn to see Yalia Sagewhisper and Taoshi standing near him. He drew himself up. "What?" He asked.

Yalia smiled a little. "It is good to see you happy Taran."

"Pardon?" He asked, playing dumb.

Taoshi shook her head. "We know better, Lord Zhu." She said. "You are happy with Crane. We approve."

He sighed. "I cannot marry her or even risk bedding her. A child would cause my abdication."

"She does not need to be warming your bed to be happy." Yalia said. "She only wants to feel your love and tenderness."

"I have little to give." Taran said looking out.

"But it is all hers." Taoshi said. "It is good for you both."

He nodded. "You are right." He said. He looked at the two women. The pair made up two of the three people he trusted most in the world. The first, Yalia, was the Master of the Shado-Pan's Omnia discipline. They were charged with maintaining the wisdom, knowledge, and sacred traditions of the order. She was also the current gatekeeper and she decided who can join the order. She had convinced Taran when Rhenn was whole to allow her to do the trials. Taoshi, the other, was the best he had and his right hand. The third was Rhenn. He could admit that now.

He sighed. "She leaves in the morning."

"As do we. The Ox Gate is in peril."

He nodded. "Take who you can, but we must protect the monastery at all costs."

"We are taking Ban with us and that is all. The others are already there at Winter's Blossom." Taoshi said.

"Make sure Rhenn is unharmed." Lord Zhu said.

"We will." Yalia promised.

ZzZ

The walk to Winter's Blossom was nice and with good company for Rhenn. She had a full backpack of supplies and this time her cloud serpent had to fly beside her. Ti-Zu muttered about it for the first couple miles and then realized she could play in the snow near where they were walking.

The Pandaren and human just shook their heads at her.

Winter's Blossom was reached before noon. They looked down at the battle below them and Rhenn looked at the three. "When I return from the Fall-back I will help you here."

"There is no need for…" Yalia started, but Taoshi nodded.

"Very good."

Rhenn took a kite and made a running start to gain the wind she needed to have it stay aloft. The canyon moved along the serpent spine to the Kota Basecamp. The grummles welcomes her back and offered her a very good tent and pallet. She ate dinner with them and listened to their tales about Kota Peak that rose behind them.

It was early morning when she woke.

There was a large yeti in camp and she gasped. The red furred great beast was female and eating Kafa'kota Berries. The grummles smiled and told her that the beast was their new pet who helped with the hozen on the Burlap Trail.

She then fed the great beast some Kafa'kota Berries and the yeti cooed at her. She tried on and was amazed how active suddenly she felt. She took a kite and climbed a low hill. She promised to come back soon to the small group and then got on her kite and flew toward the Fall Back.

The flight point was onto of the Serpent Spine and she landed tilting her kite up as Chen had taught her to land on the stones. The Flight Master watched her as she came to her and handed her the kite. She bowed.

"I am Rhenn of the Shado-Pan. I have been sent to bring medicines and supplies." Rhenn said dispensing with her new name for now. She was still getting used to it and it was easier to say her true name.

Flight Master Ni regarded her. "There is only you?" She asked.

"Yes."

Ni sighed. "We have been asking for help for more than a month. Go through the door and through the stairs. Shado-Master Chong will be waiting for you."

"Things do not go well for the monastery or world." Rhenn told her.

"Nor here. We have been overrun by the sha." Ni told her. "Be on your guard Rhenn."

Rhenn nodded. She walked down the stairs found herself in a great room.

"Who are you? Can you fight? If so, we can use your help." Shado-Master Chong said. He was dressed much like Taran Zhu without the shoulder guards. He was smaller, but not by much.

Rhenn bowed. "Rhenn, newly of the Shado-Pan."

"You are human."

"Mostly. Yes."

He nodded. "I have heard humans are well versed in the art of war. I am Shado-Master Chong."

"I sent for reinforcements from the Shado-Pan Monastery, but have heard nothing back. We have already lost the town. A few lucky villagers may have survived, but we are pinned down here. We do not have time to entertain strangers. If you can fight, help my men defend this tower. If not, leave, for you will not survive long here." He looked at her.

"You have lost Firebough Nook?" She gasped.

"Aye." He said.

"What can I do?

"Our true enemies are the sha, not the yungol. The sha are emotion manifest. Destructive, yes. But undisciplined. Undisciplined force cannot last. The flood, in dispersion, loses its force. The wildfire burns its fuel. And, discipline and wisdom can turn their destructive energy against themselves. Bring me the essences of the sha in the village, and I will explain further."

She nodded and went to the great doors.

She went out and instantly felt a wave of anger. The grey haze she knew all too well was that of the sha. She looked down and gripped her weapon.

She looked to the side and saw a yaungol, a great horned humanoid who looked much like a Tauren. Rhenn held her staff and noticed his face was distorted. "What has happened?"

The yaungol froze and then ran toward her a great ax lifted. She dodged the blow and used her staff to knock the great man down. She stood back and he turned and charged again. She parried the blow and then called upon a fireball. "I am not your enemy." She told him in Taur-ahe.

It grunted and struck again. "Washte Pawne." He rasped.

"Spirit Walker?" She asked in Common. She looked at him.

The man struck at her. She dodged, but the ax cut her arm. Hissing, she had had enough and fired fireballs at the man. He was pushed backwards and his distorted face growled in anger. Then the yaungol dropped dead and a blind hated, a mass similar to a slime lifted from the body and charged her. "Feed! We must feed!" It rasped.

Rhenn fired and ball of ice and then froze it in place, not allowing it to touch her. She felt her own rage rising and then it shrieked and became a pool of gelatinous mass. Carefully she squatted down and collected some in a vial.

She stood up and saw a Pandaren looking at her. It was a woman. "Who are you?" Rhenn asked.

"Sya Zhong." She said.

"I am called Rhenn."

"I can't believe you made it here! I don't know how much longer I could have stayed hidden in here. I'm sure that there are others. Rhenn, we have to rescue them! Then we can go to Shado-Pan Fallback. The master there will know what to do!"

"I will find them."

"When these monsters came, the Shado-Pan got so serious... they kept saying, "Sha". What's that?"

"Evil. Can you make it to those doors there?"

"Yes."

"Go!" Rhenn said.

The woman nodded and moved.

Another house reveal no one alive. A woman died protecting her children. One child, a young girl, was reaching for her small bear and had been murdered, her throat cut away. Rhenn stifled a cry and she placed the bear in the dead girl's hand.

"I'm so sorry…" Rhenn whispered.

Another house had an elderly man. Yaungol were normally not aggressive or so she had learned, but had become so it seemed. She had heard they were being pressed from the Townlonge Steppes by the Mantid, the insect race that had been woken early from their hundred year cycle. They ate everything and built their own structures. She knew well Taran Zhu was investigating why they had woken and were acting erratic. Some woke midcentury and they too had been aggressive, so much so they had attacked him without provocation and scarred his face terribly. Now the yaungol were acting just as strangely.

Now was not the time to ponder.

Rhenn killed three more yaungol and three more blind rages. In another home was another woman who looked up at her. "This is no place for a bright, young lady such as yourself. Perhaps you would like for me to escort you to safety, hmm?"

Rhenn chuckled. "What is your name honored one?"

"Old Lady Fung they call me." She said.

"Come then. Shado-Master Chong will help. Go to the doors. The way is clear."

"You're... working for the Shado-Pan? I can't believe it!" She said before scurrying off.

Rhenn killed more of the yaungol. She then found a male Pandaren in a house. "Allow me to introduce myself - I am Ya Firebough, illustrious leader of this formerly magnificent hamlet. Clearly, you are an upstanding citizen of the world. I wonder if I could trouble you to help me out of this rather sticky situation? I'm certain that the Shado-Pan at the nearby retreat will be more than happy to recompense you for any inconvenience."

"The way is clear. I am Rhenn."

"Rhenn, was it? There'll be a few extra gold for you if you can personally guarantee my safety."

"If you go now, you will be safe."

He nodded and left her.

She heard a moan after dispatching the last yaungol in sight and lifted some boards from another male Pandaren. He was injured, but once freed he was able to stand.

"Thank the heavens... I thought the secrets of Firebough Stout would die with me. Help me out there, friend!" He picked up two barrels of ale. "I'm not leaving these behind. This is my family's legacy!"

Rhenn nodded. "Come then. I will guard you."

She walked with him toward the doors. A Shado-Pan guard stepped to her and saluted. "Thank you, Rhenn. You fight well for one not of our order. I can handle the rest from here." He said

She nodded and moved the other man into the doors.

Shado-Master Chong looked at those she rescued. "You have bought us some time to breathe. We must not despair - instead, we must act." He looked at those there, nursing hurts and looked to Rhenn. "There are survivors out there? Surely there are more, Rhenn?"

She shook her head. "No. I'm sorry."

"We didn't know that there were any survivors out there. Thank you for bringing them to safety." He looked at them and nodded to the medics to help them.

Shado-Master Chong then drew her aside. "Did you find what I needed?"

"Yes." She said lifting a vial.

"Good. Now you will see how to defeat unbridled rage. I will craft these into a trap for Kobai, the leader of the yaungol. Though he will be snared, and we will defeat him, he is not our ultimate target..."

She nodded. "The Sha of Anger."

"Correct, my dear."

"Now, simply killing Kobai will accomplish nothing, as he is possessed by a particularly powerful and destructive Sha - Malevolent Fury. You will use the trap I have fashioned from the Blinding Rage Essences you brought. Lure him into the trap, and then steal his mask. Once you put it on, Malevolent Fury will appear and attempt to take control of you. Defeat him, and we will have made a victory of this tragic situation. You can find him to the north of the retreat, where he taunts us in insane rage." She listened and took a breath.

"Lord Zhu would not like me doing this."

"You are new enough the rage will not drive you insane."

She nodded. "I know. Hence I will do as you ask."

She walked out again and took a breath. She narrowed her eyes and headed northeast. There she saw the larger than most yaungol with a mask and distorted face. She nodded and took a breath to calm her thoughts.

"Kobai." She called.

She laid the trap on the earth that Chong had given her. She watched him walk forward toward her. He swung and then was in the trap immobile. Rhenn reached up and removed his mask.

"No! What is... happening..." He shrieked.

Rhenn smiled and put on the mask. A howl caught her attention and she turned, her vision becoming red as she watched a sha, and a large one at that, come toward her.

Rhenn lifted her arm and blocked a blow as she spun and used her staff. The Malevolent Rage looked to the yaungol who was standing shocked. "You…Are no longer of use…" It growled and lifted a clawed hand and killed Kobai as he screamed in torment. The haunting eyes turned back to Rhenn. "As for you. Your mind will be mine!"

"Go to hell." She hissed and used all the power she could to fight the Rage away. She was injured and panting, but the sha was unrelenting. Finally she called on her last power and hit the sha in the chest. It shrieked and then fell backwards disappearing into the earth.

She panted and pulled off the mask and dropped to the earth.

A Shado-Pan warrior came to her side. "You did it." He said softly. "Come. Let me tend your hurts."

She limped back to the Fall-Back with his help. Once inside Chong looked at her. "You are injured." He commented.

"I saw its mind…the driving rage…" She whispered as the healers attended her.

"I should feel some shame at the loss of the village. I should feel great pride in your success. I should feel many things, but must not allow myself to. Until our struggle with the sha is complete, we must maintain total control of our emotions."

She looked down at her bound hurts and burns from the sha. She stood up. "I will speak to Lord Zhu on your behalf. Clearly there is a need here."

"The battle against the Sha is eternal - we cannot leave this place. But I am troubled by the absence of reinforcements from the Monastery given that we sent for them days ago. We will need more men and supplies if you can convince them to be sent. You have performed admirably, perhaps you could travel to Winter's Blossom, our base camp on the way to the Shado-Pan Monastery. Speak with Lin Silentstrike once you arrive - he should know what is happening. To get there, travel north of the village and follow the road through Shado-Li Basin as you came to Winter's Blossom."

She nodded. "I will do so. My thanks Shado-Master."

"Our thanks to you as well, Rhenn."

She took a kite, bypassing Kota for not and reached Winter's Blossom at sundown. It was already cold and she wrapped her arms about herself.

She walked to Lin Silentstrike. "Shado-Master Chong sent you, hmm? Yes, we received his request for reinforcements. We are in no position to grant it, however. We've just concluded a battle of our own, and the monastery's been locked up tight. We can't even get reinforcements here, and we're just down the hill!"

"I have been gone less than a week. What has happened?"

"Lord Zhu has captured the Sha of Violence and does not wish any to free it." He explained.

Rhenn nodded. "I will go and see what I can do. He will not refuse me."

"So sure are you?" He asked.

"She, is the one who could gain us the help we need." Ban Bearheart said. "He listens to her."

"A human?" Lin asked.

"A wise woman." Ban corrected. "Go, hurry. There is a storm coming, Rhenn."

Rhenn moved quickly along the path and reached the walls of the monastery just as the first winds of the blizzard hit. She gasped as it stole the air from her lungs. She beat on the door and the door keeper opened and looked at her.

"Rhenn. What are you doing here?"

"I need to come. I have messages for Lord Zhu…and it is a blizzard."

The door keeper nodded and let her pass. She hurried using the terraces and the bridges. The blizzard made it so she could hardly see. She came to the Lord's chambers and knocked. He opened the door and the wind pushed her into him.

"What the…?"

"Rhenn…my Crane…what has happened?

"The Ox Gate needs help as does the Fall-Back."

"We have no one to spare." He said shutting the door. "Between trying to understand why the mantid had driven the yaungol from their homes on the Steppe and their aggressive nature and seeing to the sha, our greatest enemy, we are stretched thin."

"You are sworn to aid those who call." She said looking at him as she shivered in the room.

"I know well my duties. You do not need to remind me."

"They slaughtered children." Rhenn said. "Innocents Taran." Rhenn said calling him by name since they were alone."

He whirled to face her. "What would you have me do? We are too few to combat this threat. Many have died. Many for a cause they did not even know they were signing into."

"The sha reach far." She said. She looked out the window at the storm. "I will leave you."

"No!" He said. He then sighed. "My Crane. Stay."

She looked at him. She shivered a little and he pulled her into his embrace. "All right."

"You were born without fur and you are so cold much of the time."

She nodded. "Not always." She smiled and lifted her hand. It was red and cold. He blew on her finger tips and sucked them into his mouth to warm them.

"Come. Be easy here until the storm lets up."

She wrapped her arms about herself as she walked to the fireplace and sat down. He joined her with a bowl of nuts, berries, and cheeses. She ate and sighed watching the flames dance.

"Taran, I fear for this world, but you are so strong. Like a Lion."

He chuckled. "I do not know what a lion is, but your grace is like a crane. I am happy to know you Rhenn of the Mists."

"No." She shook her head.

He cocked his head at her. "No?"

"I am Rhenn of the Shado-Pan." She said.

"Yes, yes you are." He said and kissed her mouth before pulling her into his lap. "And you are mine." He said his hands caressing her back.

She broke their kiss and then snuggled against him. He sighed and caressed her thick hair as the storm raged about them.