Son of Kael'thas

Chapter Seven: Five Meetings and Seven chilling Discoveries, Part II

There's only one of each left!

Do cheaters prosper? Don't hate the playa, hate the game…

And in another part of Tempest Keep there was one more important lunch meeting…

"Guess what time it is, family o'mine?" Pyorin asked.

"Yes, Father Tank." The four Nexites teased after the eight other Bloodknights got off the elevator at the Mess Deck level. Today, yellow phoenixes turned somersaults inside The Core and chirped in innocent magical voices.

The Nexites ascended a few blurred levels while Sunthraze winked at Tempest, who'd lit a cigarette faster than should have been mortally possible during the quick ride. Tempest rolled her eyes then nudged Daphne and whispered something in her ear. With that direction, Daphne carefully peered over her shoulder to see Pyorin—back to the group—ogling her reflection in the glass wall behind them. When she startled and moved, Pyorin looked up and turned around to find everyone else staring at him.

Sunthraze folded his arms and said, "Real smooth Tankalicious—"

"Sunthraze! You fat-mouthed bastard—"

Loud throbbing music came and drowned out what profanities left Tempest's mouth next. Then the rest hit them like a wave: The thick sweet smell of arcane magic—it would take a Blood Elf to confirm for most people that arcane magic has a smell—the characteristic musk of sweat and alcohol combined, and then a scant view of people laughing and dancing, wearing… It couldn't be clothing, not that short with so many holes in strategic places.

That was Daphne's concern.

Tempest gasped and said right after, "Oh, I love her outfit!"

Fennore, Sunthraze, and Pyorin looked mischievous and grateful before Tempest turned back from the spectacle. The elevator was moving so fast, it had gone as quickly as it had come.

"What was that marvelous—"

Daphne spoke over Tempest, "Does Kael'thas know his soldiers are practically having an orgy on that dark abandoned level?"

Before any of the guys could answer, "Oh Virgin, you know you liked it."

"Alright, so maybe I did." Daphne whimpered. "Tempest, will you take me?"

Pyorin said, "Well actually, I was going to offer—"

"It's called The Rave." Sunthraze cut Pyorin off. "Twenty-four hours of unprohibited debauchery, seven days a week. And free."

"No, that's not exactly true." Fennore raised an instructive finger. "Kael'thas came up with the idea, actually since he has experience… recovering from various addictions. You have to earn tokens to be allowed inside The Rave, and then still more to purchase drinks or arcane crystals. It's meant to boost morale so those aren't hard to get, however. But only the most responsible and exceptional soldiers are given enough tokens by Lieutenants Dacian and Falx to fully enjoy their racial addictions in there. While not out in the field, the mana tap and arcane torrent techniques aren't as effective, you see. So a little downtime every once in a while is encouraged. Unfortunately, we three don't ever get to go though, because neither Dacian nor Falx like us very much…"

"Well, since we're all stuck suffering with an addiction to arcane magic, this rave thing actually sounds mandatory to me." Tempest looked sideways at Daphne. "The universe is trying to send you a message, Virgin."

"You earn the right to have an orgy by being good, Miss Slut. That's what I heard."

Pyorin tried once more. "So, Daphne, you were saying that you would you like to go sometime? I could win a few hands and maybe buy us some tokens—"

"Dammit!" Tempest stamped her foot when the elevator finally came to a stop many levels later. The archway opened to a regular looking glass hallway with evenly spaced white doors along the walls. Lady Liadrin's tiny office was supposed to be one of those. "The Lady snatched up General Blaize already, so how am I supposed to get in there?"

"By… behaving yourself, like the rest of us?" Pyorin couldn't resist.

Tempest was lost in her own world now though. She wrapped an arm around Daphne's shoulders, and lovingly rubbed her cheek against the other woman's. Tempest fairly purred like a cat to go with it, she was so happy. "Wait, Blaize has two Lieutenants… Come on Daphs, I'm gonna' need a wing-woman."

The three guys peered down the elevator shaft as both Daphne and Tempest went back down without them.

Fennore boggled, "They aren't about to do… What I think they're going to do when we have a meeting in a few minutes?"

Pyorin and Sunthraze had walked ahead. Clearly Fennore was the only one who didn't know Tempest or Daphne so well by now.

The tiny once storage room was set with a table, a black chalkboard and a few rickety chairs. Several dusty bookbins had been stacked in a corner. Lady Liadrin wasn't there yet but she'd not gone far. A warm teapot and some light sandwiches cut into triangles with the crusts scraped off were freshly set on the table, so maternal. Sunthraze was smiling the whole time they eased into their seats and started eating.

"What in the hell is wrong with you? You've been grinning all morning…"

"There's no clever way to put this Pyorin, so I'm just going to come out and say it. Tempest and I…"

"Oh brother, here we go again…" Pyorin grumbled.

Fennore said, "That fast? Those ladies have been here less than two weeks!"

"It's not 'oh brother' anything. And yes, thank you, I am pretty smooth… She couldn't keep her hands off me, she pleaded with me, begged me, practically begged me." Then he lowered his voice, "I had to put a chain on the door to calm her down…"

Pyorin threw his head back and started laughing. "You liar. That's not Tempest all."

Fennore frowned, confused. "But Pyorin, it's been years since you've dated her. Maybe she's changed?"

"Tempest doesn't change. She'll break you so that she can get more room for her ego… but she doesn't change. As for her taking a shine to you, I don't believe that for a hot minute. That chain on the door is an omen, Sunthraze. I wouldn't take too kindly to it."

"So… she put the chain on the door? Why?"

Sunthraze tried to answer Fennore but Pyorin leaned across the table and spoke first. His chair creaked. "Sunthraze, for your own good, you'd better accept this now: you aren't now, nor will you ever be the man in the relationship, or during the sex or whatever it is you've gotten yourself into. Tempest is crazy. She likes her men to be on the bottom, to be scared out of their minds. The chain was meant to intimidate you. I bet you hopped when you saw that, wondered if she was still there in the room with you, with the door to be locked all strange like that? Well, she's a weaponsmith. She knew how to pull it off and she did it for a reason."

"She's starting to sound like a succubus." Fennore raised an eyebrow.

"Oh shut it." Sunthraze looked bored. "Every woman that you find attractive is not automatically like a succubus."

"No, I think you're just afraid to think of her that way, afraid to accept that a Demon woman can be just as attractive as a mortal one."

"Oh, shut up, Fennore!"

"I'm telling you Sunthraze…" Pyorin went on, "Get out now before it's too late. But you know what, I've already said too much, as their superior officer. I'm supposed to be neutral, right? You're gonna' have to learn the horrible truth on your own."

Sunthraze leaned in. "What horrible truth? Come on, you can't just leave it like that, Tankalicious."

Pyorin sat up.

"What did you just call him?" Fennore asked.

Sunthraze smiled. "I'll tell you how I know your dirty little secret Pyorin if you tell me how you know what's coming to me. Deal?"

"If she called you that, then it's already too late for you Sunthraze. The secret is thus: You're pussy-whipped."

Fennore raised his eyebrows. "She's got him wrapped around her little finger, has she?"

"Alright then," Sunthraze grimaced, "I'll keep up my end of the bargain. She was asking for you last night, not me. That's how she came into my room, on the other right." Pyorin blinked. "That's right, I know all your little secrets, the pet names, your favorite positions… but I'm a gentleman, I promised not to tell."

"You have a chance to completely ruin me with your old smart mouth but you're not taking it, because of her." Pyorin leaned over the table again, rapped his knuckle loudly on the wood surface. "Pussy-whipped!"

"No… but that can't be. She didn't call me Tankalicious. And I'll admit, I like brazen women, older women, but none of them ever walked all over me. I won't let Tempest do that."

Pyorin grinned wickedly. "Oh, in that case, she'll find a nickname for you yet. Then you'll know who you belong to."

Daphne strode in the room then with a very innocent look on her face. She kept looking backward to silently indicate that someone was coming, then tapped a finger to her lips. She sat down next to Pyorin, which Sunthraze did not miss getting his teasing look in for.

Tempest was next. The tall woman was nearly bent over in half. Lady Liadrin had her by the long ear.

Fennore and Pyorin started laughing.

"Is it funny?" The Bloodknight Matriarch said to them, angry. "Is it really?"

In unison, "No, Matriarch."

"Let this be a lesson to any of you who think of putting sex before Blood Nexus business. And what is wrong with you, doing it on a glass elevator for everyone to see? And you left your roommate to be the lookout, but I surprised you all and came from the other direction, didn't I? The meeting is starting late because of you two terrible girls!"

Sunthraze opened his mouth in jealous shock.

"It wasn't sex! Just because you're an old fogy and today's kissing looks like your version of sex a gajillion years ago… Ow! Dammit, Daphne, you were supposed to keep Falx from getting ahead into the club, and she walked right past you. Look, Lady, I was just thanking Lieutenant Dacian for taking me and Daphs to The Rave for free. I didn't expect you to come right at us from inside. Ouch! Will you stop that, I'm a grown woman, by the Sun!"

"Nate was merely treating me to a drink after his lunch meeting with Kael'thas but that isn't the point. I was on my way to this meeting of the Blood Nexus, so that I could be on time. You two horrible girls were selfishly trying to hinder progress."

"Because feeding Bloodknights tea and crumpets is progress." Daphne mumbled under her breath.

Lady Liadrin heard it and let go of Tempest with a shove.

"I am not your mother!" she yelled at all of them.

Tempest fell into a chair and the guys blinked. "Especially not to any of you, the most powerful Bloodknights in existence. I recruited you five into this Nexus of Bloodknights for a reason, so that Quel'thalas might have a future away from the manipulative designs of Magisters and the fantastic whims of Rangers. I will not have you making a mockery of our order, secret or no, because you haven't any sense to mind your baser urges." She looked over the group. "It seems that Brother Immortal is the only one here with some sense. It is a shame that no one in their early adulthood has learned that lesson yet."

Sunthraze raised a finger. "Actually, we don't call him a Demon lover for nothing. His woman is called Mavia the Maneater by Illidan's most frightening subjects."

Lady Liadrin looked at Fennore, a fellow ex-priest, in shock and dismay.

He attempted to explain. "You see, we met a few years ago at the Black Temple when she kidnapped me and…"

"No! No more explanations. I, Bloodknight Matriarch Lady Liadrin hereby convene this meeting of Knights of the Blood Nexus. We have some important things to discuss today."

Their faces were a swath of intrigued or bored or disturbed as Liadrin explained what Kael'thas was up to in Outland. Little by little, the Cabinet meeting they'd inadvertently eavesdropped on started to make sense. There were certain things teams of scientists in the Mechanar, the Botanica, and even the Arcatraz were working hard to accomplish for their country. The bad news about it all was maniacal Pathaleon the Calculator was leading the collective effort. The good news of course, was that Kael'thas kept a close eye on him. In a lot of ways the Prince was like an undisputed captain of this dimensional ship called Tempest Keep.

"On the military side of things, Kael'thas oversees General Blaize. Blaize delegates responsibility to his two lieutenants Dacian and Falx." On mentioning them it was hard for Liadrin not to glare at Tempest. "I have my own strategy for maneuvering Kael'thas on that end so I don't want any of you interfering with Blaize, got it? The man is more dangerous than he seems."

To the guys' confused look, Daphne whispered, "It's a fancy way to say that she's cockblocking Tempest and me. Don't mind it."

Tempest eased into a sultry laugh and Liadrin shouted at her for the interruption instead of stealthier Daphne.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I am about to ask you to do the most important work of your lives. I won't ask you to take the following tasks seriously because then it would mean I was talking to feckless children and not the responsible soldiers I know you are… deep down somewhere. I trained you all with the help of Saturna Whiteblade, the very first of our sect. As Bloodknights, we are all called to strive towards a mastery over the Light, but what many of our colleagues do is a mere manipulation, akin to magic tricks. Nexites like yourselves are far more capable. In a lot of ways, what the Silver Hand once told Tirion Fordring and Prince Arthas was true: Paladins are servants of the Light. It is an immensely powerful and unforgiving magic that should only be wielded by those who are worthy." She raised her hand to silence objections. "But that is a very limited view. Where did that leave the Silver Hand? The first man I mentioned indulged in his servitude, became ostracized by the very people he sought to protect and is now a bum living in the Eastern Plaguelands." She smirked. "The second reveled too far in the Light's hallowed ferocity and ended up rationalizing his zealotry so far afield that he murdered his father, then our own King, nearly destroyed the land of his allies… and at last sold his soul to the Lich King himself."

"For Prince Arthas, it all began with that terrible sword Frostmourne, but in truth that blade is only a symbol of death and destruction. His own soul was certainly corrupted to have been tempted that far by the Scourge in the first place. Arthas was… another fallen Prince. But fellow Nexites, I raise that terrible example so that you will not be discouraged. Look not at what Prince Arthas and Frostmourne and the Scourge have done to our country and fear that the task of restoring it is too great. We have not lost the war. Our chance to fight the forces working against Quel'thalas is not lost either. Instead, I beg you to look at that dark Prince and that vile sword and see that the battle is still raging on. It is a moral war we fight these days, a battle against apathy and cruelty. Against those people who would spit in the face of our thick and valuable traditions that have kept the Blood Elves—and we truly are no longer Highbourne—thriving at the brink of enlightenment for millennia. The world has gone lax in the shadow of the Legion, and those like us who know firsthand what can be lost through moral ineptitude and incompetent leadership are the only watchdogs, the only ones capable of keeping destruction at bay."

She had brought the Whiteblade. No one realized how significant that was until now. "This is our sword!" She raised the beautiful claymore up overhead. Next, she pointed to the doors, out and beyond to the heart of the Tempest Keep itself. "Kael'thas is our Prince! The Burning Legion is our new threat. Will we allow Kael'thas to indulge in the temptation of this weapon: the tragedy of its past, of the beloved woman borne out of that specific fate—like we are all descended from the destruction in Silvermoon—only to come to Kael'thas' aid and be lost. Will we allow this sword to be a symbol of the Demon Lord who stole Saturna away, or the son that lived and now barely lives at the edge of this very blade? Can we let this sword mean such desperate things to us, and reap a black future with it the way Arthas gave into his Frostmourne?"

She had their full and rapt attention now. "No, Nexites, no. There are rumors that our Prince is being tempted by the Burning Legion, as Arthas was tempted by the Scourge. We aren't Paladins. We aren't sycophants at the mercy of the Light. We are Bloodknights who are willing to take a risk and manipulate that magic, like any school of magic that our people have mastered over millennia. And then we are more. We are Nexites who have fully and completely taken the Light for our own. Recite, Sister Weaver!"

Reflexively, Daphne began what had for so long been a prompt of her Nexite training, not really understanding Liadrin's point at first. She looked at Sunthraze, Pyorin, Fennore, and Tempest in turn. "Hand of Light, Taunt of Light, Divine Inversion, Tempest of Light… Lightweave."

"Yes, Sister Weaver knows our unique Light spells very well. She can use her powers to put them together in any order she wishes and then cast the whole golden conflagration on friend or foe, at a whim. That is the power of the Blood Nexus, the epitome of what it means to be who we are. We have taken the strength of life itself and now wield it responsibly, shrewdly, like a weapon. That is why there can only be consensus or death among us. Acting selfishly with the Light as Prince Arthas did is not an option for us. The Silver Hand coddled and indulged him, knowing what he was. The Blood Nexus will not tolerate you should you fancy self-destruction or world domination." Liadrin laughed spitefully. "Love you as I do, as we all love each other, we value life and the future of our country more. Any of you who tries an Arthas-style approach to being a Bloodknight will be dead before it's done, I can promise you that."

She paused to let that sink in. Liadrin felt they needed to be reminded after the display of foolishness two weeks ago.

"That said, do any of you here doubt that Kael'thas is the key? What he decides to do with his amazing Sunstrider agency will either damn all of our kin, or save the country from oblivion. Well! What is your answer?"

"My Life for my Prince." Pyorin was first. One by one, and Liadrin eyed each of them, the Nexites saluted their loyalty. Everyone was standing now.

"That is… your Prince is your life. Should he fall all of us will fall as well. Therefore, body, and soul, and spirit, Kael'thas must be saved and the time is right now. Have a seat."

Lady Liadrin seated herself as well and got down to business quickly. The tone of the meeting was transformed, and the Bloodknights made an effort to recover from what the ex-priestess had caused to feel like a religious revival.

"Sister Weaver and Father Tank. You have been assigned to help Kael'thas with his heart."

Daphne was alarmed. "You mean… his love life? I don't know about that—"

"Oh that is unfair! I've actually had sex before, it should be me—"

"Tempest the Raven. It is your insistent self-destructive morals that have disqualified you for the position already. And please do not beg me to let you have sex with the Prince of Quel'thalas. You have most certainly been prohibited from it since day zero."

Tempest looked angry but kept her mouth shut.

"Brother Sly, you and Sister Tempest will—"

"Oh hell no! I am not working with her on anything regarding Kael'thas—"

"When it comes to your obvious inclination towards Sister Tempest I believe what you wanted to say was that you have no desire to do anything regarding the salvation of Kael'thas. It is only obvious in your every retort, Brother Sly, and gesticulation that you secretly despise our Prince. But I am going to help you to fulfill the oath you just gave for our country. You see, I was King Anasterian's confessor. I know firsthand that you can be loyal to a monarch without really being his friend, since I had to work with a degree of… professional detachment." Liadrin supposed that the words 'should have' needed to be in that statement somewhere but when she'd already learned her painful lesson regarding Sunstrider men there was no need to feel like a hypocrite, when all this was for their benefit anyway. "However, hating a Sunstrider is not an option. Feel what you want regarding the late Mother Whiteblade, even if that is jealousy that Kael'thas was the last to have her before she left the realm of the living…whatever. But you will respect him. That is why you and Sister Tempest will be Belorim's official babysitters."

She met explosive objection from the two redheads.

"No, I don't want to hear it. Sister Tempest needs to learn firsthand what comes out of the other end of rabid sexual encounters, and so gain a more profound respect for her life and those lives and feelings of others. Brother Sly needs to honor both of his Princes in a kinder, gentler way. I spoke with Kael'thas about it last night and he is relieved to have the help. It is already done."

Fennore was last. He looked more than a little concerned.

"Brother Immortal you are the only one who has already been working to redeem our lost Prince. I congratulate you, and invite you to continue serving as his royal confessor."

"Oh, thank you. I didn't think I could really take on something else in addition to—"

"How is Kael'thas spiritually? Of course, I will be checking in with you on it from time to time."

"I… well he's mostly alright. There was some concern a while back but I talked Kael'thas down from the ledge so to speak… Alright, I'm sorry but I really don't feel comfortable sharing his secrets with you or anyone else to be honest."

Liadrin thought about this. "Well, you are already bound as a full Nexite. I suppose I can trust you completely with that, if it makes you more comfortable. But… you will let us know if there is any cause for worry?"

"Yes, Matriarch."

"Especially where the Burning Legion is concerned. All rumors have a foundation, however slim, in truth of course. Nate and I were just talking about that in fact. During his meeting with Kael'thas he observed something on that tack that I personally find largely subjective. However, he is used to the Court experience, as I was once also a Lady of the Court a lifetime ago... So both of us know not to completely disregard rumors. Is Blaize right? Is there something going on with Kael'thas and the Burning Legion?"

Fennore hesitated. The others were unhappy to see it.

Liadrin closed her eyes. "Well, that confirms it. Kael'thas is involved with the Burning Legion. Fennore, how could you know something like this and not tell any of us!"

"I wasn't exactly… keeping it a secret for him. No, it's not like that, really. He is just… thinking, tempted. It's because of Illidan and the way he treats him. Kael'thas is terrified that he has no other way out, especially because of that collar. Illidan can hear a lot of his thoughts, even his feelings… And then of course, Kael'thas wants revenge for what Illidan did to Saturna. And now, nearly his son."

"How close is he to giving up? Be honest now."

Fennore spoke calmly, and that put everyone else at ease. Clearly he felt sure there was no immediate problem. "When Kael'thas was at the Black Temple he was incredibly spiteful. You all remember that." Pyorin and Sunthraze cautiously nodded. "He's more centered now. Putting revenge first in his life is what made him so dependent on Illidan in the first place and I made sure Kael'thas realized that. He doesn't want that sort of life anymore. As a result, Kael'thas has been trying to let a lot of things go. And despite what you ladies first encountered, his temper has been improved a great deal. Belorim coming into his life has greatly improved that. The transformation that's come over Kael'thas is near-miraculous. The responsibilities of being a father distract him enough from the darker thoughts, and then that child is just so… loving. Kael'thas is a very devoted parent. He surprised me."

Liadrin smiled regretfully. "That Kael'thas is a very kind person deep down but for his recent behavior you didn't see it… could be either good or bad. Though it does mean there is hope. That is the most important thing. Thank you Brother Immortal, and I shall be more than happy to leave you to it. Alright then, your missions have been doled out. Kael'thas will be put at ease as far as mourning the mother of his son is concerned, thanks to Sister Weaver and Father Tank. Sister Tempest and Brother Immortal will see to it that the stress of being a father is relieved somewhat to further along the effort of spiritually unburdening him. Brother Immortal will continue to monitor the Legion situation. Unfortunately, after today's meeting, I just don't see how Knights of the Blood Nexus could have anything to do with Time-Space continuums or colonizing a class E planet, whatever that means… Well, I suppose Kael'thas is on his own in that vein, and I hope he can finish his work for our country on a reasonable timeline. Finally, on the military end of things I am doing everything in my power to make sure that Blaize does not allow the Sunfury to mutiny—as they probably have a right to do, after being in Outland overly long—while we set to work on Kael'thas. And Tempest Keep is beginning to feel to me like a pressure cooker. We're going to have to convince him to come home to Silvermoon very soon, maybe within a month or two… That's as much time as I can foresee buying away from my duties in back home." She lowered her eyes. "Currently, no one is watching my Bloodknights to make sure Rommath's Magisters don't completely corrupt Silvermoon's only police force."

"Oh, and before I forget, we should all welcome Brother Immortal into the Blood Nexus. He is our newest full member." She led them in a round of light clapping. Sunthraze was proud of his protégé and erupted in a loud inappropriate wolf-whistle and a 'go Demon-lover, that's what I'm talkin' about' before Liadrin got irritated and made him stop.

"Yes, however crudely Brother Sly went about it, I do agree we should end this meeting on a light note. Brother Immortal, won't you be so kind as to tell us about your Rite of Initiation? I know the ladies and I have been dying to hear what Saturna came up with for you."

Often Nexite rites were incredibly challenging and dangerous. But when Fennore looked around the room then, he realized that there was camaraderie in sharing the life-changing event, however dark it might have been. His Nexites sisters seemed to welcome him then, encourage him. As always, Sunthraze and Pyorin were mostly nonplused when it came to his adventures. And all his life, Fennore had just been a healer, stuck in the back. It was going to feel so very good, at last, to be taken seriously.

"Well," he did not smile because it wasn't a happy story, though it had saved many lives. "Saturna… she knew that Illidan was plotting against Kael'thas. She knew that she was going to die, that is." He had to pause. "And you could see it all over her face that morning. She looked… so sad. She was maybe out of her mind I think. At first I didn't want to hear what Saturna had to say. It was clear that Illidan had some powerful influence over her. She called him 'perfect' said he was a god… Right after was when she asked me to do it. She told me that she was going to give up her life to save Kael'thas, and not to resurrect her if things went wrong. Because Illidan was going to expect that. Saturna wanted Kael'thas to live and she wanted us to live too. She loved all of us, you see. And it was the only way to get out of it, to let Illidan win."

Fennore looked up to see horror and disgust on the ladies' faces.

Daphne said, "You… Saturna was dead, you even knew it was coming but you didn't resurrect her?"

"Sister Weaver, no." Liadrin intervened. "I don't think that is what Brother Immortal is trying to say. I mean, for it to be a valid rite of initiation into the Blood Nexus, Saturna could not have told you all of that, spelled it out for you. The point is the choice to serve, to sacrifice for country. If you couldn't show us whether or not you're capable of doing that, putting Quel'thalas before your own mastery of the Light, then what would be the point?" Fennore got quiet. Liadrin broke tradition then, called him outside of his earned name. "Fennore. Mother Whiteblade didn't coerce you into passing your rite did she? Did she help you… cheat on your test to join us?"

"She wasn't so obvious about it, at first. But then I asked her if it was cheating and she told me it was. She had to, though. If she left it up to me then I and everyone else would be dead, Matriarch. Saturna wanted Pyorin, Sunthraze, and I to live and she couldn't take a chance with that if I chose wrong. She told me that our lives and our cause to save Prince Kael'thas was more important than some test, and I believed her."

Daphne insisted, "But she wasn't in her right mind. You just told us that Illidan was manipulating her. How do you know that it wasn't Illidan asking you to effectively… kill our Mother Whiteblade?"

"She did it because she loved us. You weren't there, you don't what it was like. I loved that woman like my own sister!"

"Then why did you let her die!" Tempest stood. Sunthraze and Pyorin were unhappy to hear it too, but were less affected. They looked like they'd heard this story before.

"I honored Saturna's final wish, to give her life for her Prince. Then when Illidan asked me to resurrect Saturna or heal the mortal wound she'd given him—which was a trap to test my loyalty by the way, when he already marked her corpse with Naga magic so that the spirit and the flesh could never be reunited—and I chose the Demon Lord of Outland over my Commander, I ensured that our people would not fall prey to someone so powerful..."

Tempest spoke loudly over him, "Then you singlehandedly helped along Saturna's murder—"

Fennore yelled too. It was something he never did and it surprised everyone. "I saved the Nexus! I chose our lives over her life. One for the many, one to save us all. Did I say I was proud of it, that I liked doing it? If Saturna had not told me to, I might have never done it at all. And then who would have helped Kael'thas to retrieve the Whiteblade from the Scryer's Tier? Who would have brought the sword back to Silvermoon where you all could see it and Lady Liadrin could study it? Where would Belorim be if Pyorin or Sunthraze or myself had not survived? Do you even want to think about that, about a life without Belorim Sunstrider? Well I can't imagine Kael'thas without him. I am certain that without that sweet little boy, our Prince would be lost. And I know him better than any of you do."

Fennore was right, but he was also wrong. Everyone sensed it then. The pain of the healer's decision to leave his Commander and friend to die. And at that time, none of them had known Belorim. Fennore took an amazing risk, trusting in Saturna's judgment that great good would come of it. But he was also the most powerful Bloodknight healer in existence. What if he'd tried it? What if by some miracle his power could have surpassed Naga magic and Saturna had lived?

Lady Liadrin came to her own conclusion about that, and decided that she was not going to share it with the others: in the end Saturna Whiteblade had not wanted to live. To wish to die for Kael'thas but not want to live with him—for how could Saturna have predicted that Illidan would put curse her body and make it impossible to revive… Something had been very wrong in that romance, to be sure. It was a terrifying thought.

"Alright, that's enough Fennore. Whether it was official or no… you've joined our ranks. But it won't seem fair to the others. They sacrificed a great a deal to become full Nexites with access to each other's powers. And this was without the comfort of knowing absolutely that it was the right or wrong decision to make. Therefore, I am going to offer you a compromise."

She stood. "Show your commitment to this organization by recruiting another member. That is something everyone else has also been called to do. I begat Mother Whiteblade. Mother Whiteblade begat Father Tank. Father Tank begat Sister Tempest. Sister Tempest begat Sister Weaver. Father Tank also begat Brother Sly and Brother Sly begat you. Mother Whiteblade also begat Brother Unmaker but he is something else altogether…" she sighed. "But do you see the pattern here? When a new Nexite is recruited, there can be no question as to the sire's loyalty. If you wish to be accepted in name and in spirit, you will do the greatest service ever asked of a Nexite: devote another talented soul to the cause of Prince and country. Will you do this?"

"Of course I will." Fennore saluted.

"Bring that individual before me for the initiation rite. And I can happily recommend several of the eight Bloodknights I brought here with me to Outland if you wish. Until then, I do not want anyone being cruel to Brother Immortal for the terrible choice he had to make. We cannot know if it was right or wrong, but at least in name is he our brother. And I will not stand for any of my Nexites to hate his or her brother because he loved our late Mother Whiteblade so much as to follow her will unflinchingly."

Awkwardly, they each thanked Fennore and gave their condolences. The show of love and recognition was three years late, but Fennore looked relieved to have it at last.

When Lady Liadrin left the room and the meeting finished, Sunthraze got Tempest's attention and nodded at the door.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She rolled her eyes.

"I'm inviting you back to my room, so we can fool around again before the lunch hour is over. Though, I was trying to be discreet."

Pyorin pulled on Fennore's arm, encouraging the departing man to wait, and to watch.

"Listen here, Shortstuff…"

"Ah! There goes the pet name…" Fennore eagerly pointed out. Sunthraze looked ready to hit him.

"What we did the other night was… interesting, but—"

"Interesting! You were all over me!"

"Besides the fact that I thought you were someone else," she eyed Pyorin, "and was drunk off my ass, and that you were lying there like a flat board, of course I was all over you. I had to be to make it halfway work."

Daphne giggled. "Oh, that was mean Tempest."

"Those girls… are so bad." Fennore worried.

"Anyways, I wouldn't invite me anywhere anymore, Sunthraze the Sly, not when I wouldn't invite you to roll over my bed again if it was on fire."

"So that's it! Wham bam, thank you… Sunthraze? And I'm a damned catch! What is wrong with you?"

Pyorin walked out of the room, sounding bored. "That was the part where you were supposed to skillfully insult her the way you always do, and walk away with some degree of pride. Poor, poor… Shortstuff."

Sunthraze could only watch, bewildered, as the woman he wanted strutted out of the room triumphantly followed by her friend. He kept opening his mouth to say something, but the fear of losing what little chance left with Tempest overwhelmed him.

Fennore said, "I think I understand what Pyorin means now, by pussy-whipped."

Sunthraze turned on him, but not before Tempest poked her head back in. "By the way, I want my chain back. I need it tonight. Really soon."

"For what?!"

She rolled her eyes, "I'm getting me some Rave tokens, duh. Now be a good little Shortstuff get it fast and just leave it by our room, mmkay?"

Fennore cleared his throat. "I hope you don't pummel me for asking this, O Fearsome One, but a certain account of your night with Brother Sly has left me very curious. Do you use that chain for… What I mean to ask is, are you into…" he flicked his wrist about, "Are you the sort who likes to do the binding of a man's wrists, chaining him down, whipping him, that sort of thing?"

Tempest smiled at Fennore. "As I said… Sunthraze, that's my good chain, and I'm gonna need it back." She narrowed her eyes at him. "Now."

Sunthraze pushed past her. "If I get it quick, then can you show me… You know, before your date?"

One could hear Tempest's rich mocking tone from down the hallway. "I'm not a warlock, Sunthraze. I don't need a small man-pet that chatters in my ear to keep me happy. I just want my damned chain back!"

"Why is you ordering me around like this so hot…"

Alone in the meeting room, Fennore rolled his eyes. "Well, at least I've finally got confirmation that I'm normal. Or wait," he scratched his chin. "Does the fact that I'm going for the real thing with a succubus woman make me worse… No, I fought hard for this small peace of mind. I'll just enjoy it." Then, "I wonder if Tempest will let me borrow her chain, for Mavia… dammit. Oh well, I'll try and be normal again tomorrow." He sighed.