Chapter 3

Quin'Thalan tapped the table with a finger. He frowned and balled his fist. Another habit he was trying to train out of himself. He had a huge mug of ale in the other hand but he had yet to take a drink. His stomach was doing somersaults and he was sure even one sip would send it over the edge. Despite his inner nervousness his face and body projected the image of complete calm.

He sat at the small table with two mages on either side, both of them also capable members of the Scryers. Quin'Thalan had made sure to ask only those with more humble personalities to keep any potential for confrontation to a minimum. The group representing the Aldor should arrive any moment.

Tamuura stood in front of the Terrace lift with Illis and a priestess named Haali. They rode the lift down to the Terrace of Lights, then made the short walk down to Lower City, where the small tent set up by the Consortium could be seen.

"The Scryers must certainly be there already." Said Haali. Tamuura shot her a withering glance. She hadn't overslept but she had nearly forgotten she agreed to this. She had only gotten to the lift a few moments before Illis had given up waiting. Illis nodded to one of the Consortium guards and entered the tent, with Haali and Tamuura right behind.

Quin'Thalan stood when the Aldor paladin entered the tent; he nodded respectfully and shook the man's huge hand. It was so big that even armored Quin'Thalan's hand was completely engulfed by it. Quin'Thalan ignored that fact and politely introduced himself.

"I am Quin'Thalan Sunfire, honored member of the Blood Knights."

The draenei nodded,

"And I am Illis, servant of the Aldor." He released the elf's hand and gestured to his companions, "this is Haali, she is a Priestess of the Light; and she is Tamuura. She is one of our more promising mages."

Quin'Thalan's eyes only lingered on Haali a moment. She had very dark blue skin but nearly white hair, with large down curving horns. Tamuura had a very stern expression but something about her looked familiar. Quin'Thalan wondered for a second if he'd seen her some where in the city before. He shrugged off the feeling of deja'vu and turned to introduce his own escort. Illis had set that standard.

"These two mages are Magister Dawnstar," the dark haired man nodded, "and his apprentice Traele Bloodfeather." She made a small curt bow.

With intros settled Quin'Thalan and Illis sat down at the table together, with their companions behind them. Though there might have only been a few inches of space between them Quin'Thalan felt as if the draenei might as well have been on the other side of the Dark Portal.

There was a long, tense silence, which the elven man finally broke.

"I admit that while I was selected to hold negotiations with you, I'm not entirely sure where to begin. Our two groups don't have much in the way of outright hostility," he made sure to keep his gestures non-threatening, " it's seems to me as more of a race for A'dal's favor."

Haali wrinkled her nose, but said nothing.

"I understand, Paladin Sunfire," said Illis, "but I have a clearer idea of what to do."

"And that would be?"

"We can't do anything drastic now, but perhaps we could report to our superiors that we would like to begin discussing how to stop this…competition. I too see this as being petty and pointless. I know that we are only as weak against the Legion as we are divided amongst ourselves."

"I am glad to see we share that view."

Quin'Thalan opened his mouth to speak again but a hand being slammed down on the table stopped him. Tamuura eyed him, sneering.

"Have I…offended…you?"

"I thought I recognized you!"

Quin'Thalan's face was not the only one to have a look of complete confusion.

"Tamuura?" Illis looked not only confused but worried.

"The blood elf who was spying on me!"

"When?" asked Quin'Thalan.

"Yes, when?" said Illis, "You barely ever leave the Terrace and no one can watch it from the Scryers Terrace."

"Six months ago I was bathing in Zangamarsh and a blood elf man was peering through the bushes at me. I saw him as he rode away, and its this man here." She jabbed a finger at Quin'Thalan.

He fought not to show it, but he now realized why she looked familiar. Yes, this was that same alluring draenei woman he'd been watching as a novice paladin. Oh, of all the female draenei aracanists it had to be her in this group. Thankfully Illis didn't believe her.

"Tamuura, how could you possibly recognize him? You could only have seen him for a few seconds from a great distance…" she cut him off.

"You know how good my eyes and memory are."

"Yes but still…"

Tamuura stormed out, Haali used it as an excuse to leave as well. Illis chased after them but assured them that he'd try to convince his superiors that it went well. But with one of their female members screaming about being ogled he was sure this would turn into a disaster.