Chapter Seven-Taelus
Stranglethorn Vale: Booty Bay
Present Day
Taelus sighed in contentment as he got up from his bed in the Inn here at Booty Bay. Last night with Mavare was awesome, as it always was with her. He threw the blanket over her breasts gently, so as to not wake her, and donned on his sailors gear for today's excursion. Over all the time he spent with her, Taelus learned to not hurry a Druid; doing so accomplished nothing, save maybe a slap on the face. She'll be ready before work, he knew that.
Now it was time to see the Baron.
Baron Revilgaz was short, even for a Goblin, but that did not stop him from creating probably the most convoluted neutral city in all of Azeroth. And even though he was a pain to deal with, especially when it came to profit, Taelus admired the…person that was the Baron. And since the goblin took him and Mavare in after his fallout with the Mages in Stormwind, Taelus was willing to deal with the pain that was the Baron. Speaking of which…
"Morning Wiz, what's up" the goblin was in as high of spirits as ever.
"Morning Baron" Taelus sighed.
"Heh heh heh, chear up Wiz! I have a special assignment for you today" Revilgaz grinned. Special always meant annoying…
"What is it Baron?" Taelus asked.
"I have located the Stone of the Tides! At last that little treasure shall be mine!" he got really excited when it came to such things, so Taelus was forced to grin and bear it.
"So where is this stone of yours?" Taelus asked, wondering to what place he would be sent to next.
"There is a haunted island off the coast. Water elementals and a raving goblin ghost, they say" the Baron grinned mischievously.
Of course there was a haunted island, of course…
"If there is indeed a goblin mage and water elementals haunting the island, it could mean the Stone of the Tides can be mine!"
"I get it, so where is this Haunted Island?" Taelus went to the point, or the Baron will undoubtedly go on a tangent again.
"I want you to locate this haunted island... find out what's going on."
"But you just told me you knew where this stone was!" Taelus was exasperated.
"And I do, it's on this island. It's the actual island I've been having trouble finding" the baron actually looked sheepish, embarrassed. Taelus face-palmed.
"Awe, it can't be that bad" the baron went on "How many islands can there possibly be off of Stranglethorn Vale?"
There are fifteen islands-such a pain.
"You do realize that there are Fifteen Islands off of Stranglethorn Vale, don't you" Taelus actually had a good morning, until this talk with the Baron. Not many people get to sleep with a beautiful Night Elf. Actually…now that he thought about it, there weren't any ugly Night elves. Mind out of the gutter Taelus…
"Are you even listening, Wiz?" the goblin asked.
"Hanging on to every word" he grumbled.
"Good, now go get me that Stone!"
Taelus walked back to the main area of the Salty Sailor Tavern, where he saw Mavare talking to Catelyn the Blade. Mav, for her part, was laughing jovially at Catelyn's jokes. When she spotted him, she waved him over, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. He put his arm around her, as the evil stares of the men around him were in full force.
"Morning Mav" he said, grinning.
"Morning Tael" she replied.
"Howdy Tael" Catelyn smiled.
"Morning to you too" Taelus replied.
"So, what's on today's roster?" Mav asked.
"We need to search roughly fifteen islands for this stone of his" Taelus pointed behind him, in the direction of the goblin's office.
"The Baron's been looking for that thing for some time now" Catelyn replied "I don't envy you right now"
"Was there ever a time that you did?" Taelus asked.
"With the adventures you and Mav have had? Wish that was me" she giggled.
"Um, Mav…what have you been telling her?" he was a little curious.
Mavare went to her innocent look, and played like she didn't know. Taelus relented.
"Anyway" he said "That stone won't find itself, you know"
"I am ready for another adventure" she bounded outside the tavern, and Taelus saw her leap right in the water where she became an aquatic animal…he wasn't sure what she was.
Taelus could only smile.
But he wasn't just a two bit sailor, he was a mage-and liked to do things more refined. And, since he wasn't an elf, he'd have to do things the old fashioned way.
Activating a mini portal, he talked to the only one he could trust in Stormwind: Elsharin.
"Elder, it's good to hear from you" he said in the language of the elves.
"Tael, it is good to hear from you as well, to what do I owe this pleasure" her voice was happy.
"I was hoping you'd answer a question" he said.
"oh" her voice fell. And he knew why. She wanted him to make amends with the other mages, but he refused…as if they'd want him back anyway. It made him sad to hear her miss him.
"I will try my best" she said.
"Do you know anywhere I could check off the coast of Stranglethorn, which might have any uncontrolled water elementals?"
"Tael- she huffed "Not a peep from you in over a year and this is what you talk to me about"
Taelus knew he hurt her, and it saddened him greatly, as she was like a mother to him since Northdale-
Elsharin sighed.
"If my memory serves, there should be an island in the north, but that was a possible resting place for the Stone of the Tides- Tael, don't go looking for it. That stone is cursed"
"How did you know that was what I was after?" he asked her.
"Because I know you Tael, and I'm telling you that stone is trouble. It should have been destroyed" she sounded really melancholy now.
"Baron Revilgaz wants it" he finally said.
"Revilgaz? He's a fool, and he'll destroy everyone in Booty Bay for it-Tael, Please-
"I'll be careful, and if it becomes a problem, I'll destroy it. Okay?"
"Just stay safe" and she hung up.
Taelus thought about what she said to him. Why is it cursed?
"Are you coming?" Mav was in mid transformation, and so her clothes didn't reappear yet. It actually was quite erotic. At least it cheered him up.
"It's to the north, so we're going to need a boat" he told her, as she pushed herself on the dock, becoming completely elf.
"I've seen the map before-if it's way to the north then…"
"Yeah" Taelus finished "It leaves us only three islands. And since we're looking out for water elementals, finding one on an island is probably indicative of our quarry"
"So the problem would be in getting one, except for a very important friend of ours" Mavare teased.
"Yeah" twice in one day…better tell the Baron the good news.
"So you think you've found it then?" the baron was almost jumping up and down. They were back in his office again, but it was Mavare and Fleet Master Seahorn staring at each other, as if one looked away, then the other would kill them.
"Yes, I have a very good source that said it was in the north" Taelus was uncomfortable with how Seahorn stared at Mavare "That is why I am requesting a ship to get there"
"I have yet to see any elemental in the north" Seahorn rumbled with his deep voice, his gaze never wavering from Mavare's.
The only fool oblivious to the danger in this room was the Baron, but then again his common sense always fell short of his greed.
"Well would it be too much trouble to get a ship to search the area?" the Baron asked the fleet master.
"I could pull it off…is it really that important?" he asked.
"This is the legendary Stone of the Tides! Of course it's important" the Baron replied. The Tauren sighed.
"Be ready in an hour, and the elf better behave" the fleet master left. Taelus looked at Mavare, and saw her white knuckles on her otherwise light-purple skin.
"Well, chop to it!" The baron could barely contain his excitement. Taelus grabbed Mavare gently as she shuddered in his embrace. He walked to their room and shut the door.
"A-as a druid, I'm supposed t-to have a peace-loving disposition" she looked at him, as she tried to calm down.
"It's okay- Taelus tried.
"When I see them, I-I'm reminded of what I-oh Tael" she moaned as the tears fell "I want to forget, I just want to…"
Taelus remembered what he saved her from, as if it was yesterday. He knew what she was going through, just as he knew she struggled with it because the Tauren as a whole were a peace seeking race, and not the bastard that had tortured her for so long-
"I'm here for you" he said.
"I know-oh I know" she tried to calm down, her golden eyes betraying the suffering she wanted to forget.
The most ironic thing about this was that was her first run in since the incident, but that wasn't what she needed to hear. She was usually as tough as any woman he'd known except for… Lilly. He shook himself; this was no time for emotions going wild.
A few minutes was all she needed, and she was back to her old self again.
"You can stay if you want" Taelus said as he packed is knapsack.
"I want to be with you if it's all the same" she said. Given that she hadn't left his side since the incident, Taelus knew that was always going to be her decision.
He chuckled as he put what little she needed in his sack as well. Druids only took what was absolutely necessary, part of their lifestyle as she had explained it. She belted her knife, and grabbed his free hand.
"I'm ready" she said.
"You'll most likely see him again" he told her.
"Never let go" she whispered, and smiled.