Trial by Fire

Chapter Eleven: Witherwinter

The morning sun rising high in the sky of Hillsbrad was most definitely signaling a hot day. Warm squalls were playfully rushing across the small plain leading off to Dalaran, playing a delightful game of follow the leader. Simonee, Aubs, Dagerly, Aeriah, and Garret had started the somewhat long walk before the orange sun vaulted itself above the far horizon; and when it had risen, the five travelers found themselves nearing the halfway point to their destination. In order to pass the time, Aubs had begun to describe events in her week away from traveling, not failing to mention her coworkers at the Gilded Rose. As they walked, they passed by the prowling wildlife touring the countryside. Occasionally, one or two got a bit too close, and Dagerly had put them to sleep with selective poisons when they proved to be less tame than looks had granted.

With some small measure of luck, the group arrived at Dalaran without major incident, still having plenty of time to spare before noon. Simonee led Aubs to the doorway of the priestess' domain, telling her that it was probably best that she talk with the woman alone. Simonee couldn't explain the feeling he felt that caused him to want to keep away from the house. So, with a pat on the arm, Simonee left Aubs in order to search for the rest of his group, who inexplicably had decided to go off exploring. Aubs paused briefly at the dilapidated old oak door. To her, it was almost as if she was making a mistake, meeting with Sira. She hated the uneasy feeling, but yet, there it was, a voice muttering in the back of her mind, telling her it may not pan out to seek what wisdom the woman held.

She lingered for a few seconds more, and then, forsaking the wariness that had all of a sudden built up, she rapped on the door. The same old, warm, and pleasant voice from the contact in the sanctuary called out for Aubs to enter. She did, and disappeared from Simonee's sight.

Turning from his vantage point behind one of the old buildings down the street from Sira's house, Simonee began his search for his group. He didn't understand quite what had happened to him; he originally had wanted to enter the house with Aubs and hear what information the priestess had for her, and he knew his group had as well. But for some unknown reason, all he wanted to do at close proximity to the house was get away from it. Deciding that it was probably Sira's way of telling him that he wasn't supposed to be there, Simonee started his search for his group at the town's ruined center square, and head north. His plan was to explore the city in a circular fashion, moving clockwise and keeping in between the barrier illusion and the edge of the town.

Touring the town of Dalaran was always something Simonee had meant to do, ever since his first visit when he was a child. The urge was something that had rekindled with his last visit, almost four days ago. The first time, however, he had been ushered out by something completely out of his control. Now though, was his perfect opportunity, while he waited for Aubs' meeting with Sira to convene.

The buildings looked similarly in disrepair as the ones Simonee had first encountered upon his reentry of Dalaran – back when he had solicited Sira's help for Krionoso's whereabouts. Large drooping flaps of paint hung loosely away from the wall, leaning as if its intentions were to eventually detach itself completely from the old and rotting wood. There had also been a few sparse houses that looked as if nothing had happened; most likely protected by arcane means, Simonee decided.

Other houses had crumbling pillars of granite that appeared to have no other purpose than to be something pretty to look at. Unfortunately, with many of the columns falling and shifting from their solid foundations, it served more as a reminder of the town's falling. On the east side of the town, the library took up the most space, with only a few houses still standing against the grand building's great size; the library was of vastly immense height and girth, and could easily rival the cathedral in Stormwind. A large and twisting construct extended high into the sky, mingling with puffy clouds. The spiral was one of the best known landmarks in the area, and many travelers would flock to it, many only to gawk at it in wonder. Entrances into the building had long been blocked by large chunks of debris. Simonee had only seen the interior of the library once, but he had never forgotten the beauty. The place had seemed to glow with the radiance of the sun.

Moving past the library, Simonee moved into the southern portion of the city. More houses lined empty and decimated cobblestone streets, and the view hadn't been so much different in the western quadrant. Simonee caught up with his group, who were all looking at a particularly fine house, in stark contrast to even the untouched houses located in the northern sector of the city.

It was a well-build house that looked much like it could have been occupied by one of the nobles of Stormwind. It was completely white, with the paint covering it intact and with no discolorations marring it. The wood had somehow maintained its health, staving off the customary rot that had invaded the rest of the town. It looked as though it had been built early on in Dalaran's existence, with many small details alluding to that conclusion; including ornate plaster carvings on the exterior walls. Columns much like the ones crumbling elsewhere stood proudly here, holding up an overhang that had spread over a small porch. The windows were a pristine clear, without scratches or imperfections ruining its surface, but nothing but a deep black could be seen through them. The door leading into the house appeared to be very strong indeed, impervious to any attempts at a break-in. The house itself was two-floors tall, with an added attic where the apex of the roof lied. It was very stable, not leaning and not sinking into itself, signaling an intact foundation. Whoever lived in the house was either extremely rich or extremely proficient in the schools of magic.

Simonee didn't have to wonder why his friends stood and stared at it. The whole house had seemed as if nothing had truly happened to Dalaran. Before either Simonee or the rest of the group could even think about entering the house, Aubs reappeared, looking both tired and worried.

She tiredly rubbed her eyes. "Well, that meeting revealed much. Certainly answered a few of my questions," she stated

"What do you mean?" Simonee asked, finally coming out of his trance of staring down the beautiful house.

"Well… it seems as though Sira's my mother," Aubs said.

This earned a few looks from Dagerly and Aeriah, but neither said a thing.

"But that's not exactly what I was talking about. Believe it or not, Krionoso's my brother."


Krionoso sat in the tree as he had told Perry he would, waiting silently and enjoying the morning breeze. It was a serene day in Elwynn Forest, with no wailing tempests tossing the trees this way and that, and no rain pouring from the sky. The sun was mildly beating down on the verdant green, but it wasn't hot. Quite simply put, it was a beautiful day.

"Ah, so I see you haven't completely ruined yourself yet!" the priestess Sira chirped inside his head.

"What are you still contacting me for?" Krionoso inquired rather impatiently.

"Well, as you were my patient, it is only regular for a physician to want to check up on their charge," came the strangely delightful reply.

"Okay, well then I'll ask another question: why are you so happy?"

"We shall save that discussion for a later time. Has your chest given you problems lately?"

"There was a prolonged episode two days ago, but other than that, it's been behaving."

"Hmm," Sira grunted. "It seems as though your recuperation will not be smooth. That is, unless you come back to Dalaran so I can fix you up again."

Krionoso sighed. It would be invaluable to have his full health back, but it seemed rather dangerous to return to Dalaran. But, no matter how much he thought about it, the benefits outweighed the risks. He finally conceded, "Okay, I'll come back. But I need to spend some more time where I am. I have rather important business."

"Take your time," Sira said, and Krionoso could feel as her presence lifted from his mind.

"Having a fine morning conversation with your tree?" asked a voice from below. When Krionoso looked, Perry stood with his hands behind his back and wore a satisfied smirk.

"Of course; I was thanking it for providing me refuge," Krionoso replied sarcastically.

"I never knew you were a shaman," Perry shot back, readying himself to climb the tree.

Krionoso chuckled, resting his head against the trunk of the tree. It was a monstrously large thing, with its trunk nearing eight feet around, and branches almost the size of Krionoso's midsection. Climbing it was very much like rock climbing, trying to find handholds and footholds while simultaneously looking upward at the goal. Somehow, Perry managed it within moments, perching himself a branch above his friend.

"Frickin' rogues," Krionoso muttered. It had taken him about an hour to try and find a way up here, and another ten minutes to actually do it. And here was a guy who did it in seconds! Show off. "So, what's going on?"

"Well, I consulted with some of my contacts, and here's what I got: the king sent the majority of his forces to help rebuild Goldshire, though he did send off a small group of four or five off to capture or kill you. From what I hear, the charges are treason, holding a high official as a captive, and murder. You must have done quite a bit in my absence. The king's not letting you go, not even for a moment."

Krionoso regained his good humor. "Well, I suppose he would maintain a grudge after I kidnapped him."

"You did what?" Perry hissed. Apparently it was all he could do to keep his voice to a minimum.

Beginning to laugh again, Krionoso repeated, "I kidnapped the king! He was sailing to Theramore for one reason or another, and I followed and captured him!"

"I suppose that explains his disappearance," Perry said, deep in thought.

"Indeed."

Silence reigned for a few moments while Perry ordered his thoughts, and Krionoso sat in self-satisfaction. Of course, his kidnapping of the king had earned him the debilitating injury, but it had been fun while it lasted. Finally he broke the silence by asking, "What else is going on?"

Momentarily startled, Perry replied, "Your Defias forces are starting to scatter. It seems to me as though they lost a large chunk of morale after losing here. Those who've been captured by the guard keep saying something about a mage. Apparently, the one following you has earned quite a reputation."

That sounded like Simonee, alright; always upholding the right and virtuous. Krionoso scowled briefly. His band of brothers was beginning to unravel. A horrible sense of despair flowed through him; he had worked hard to ensure the Brotherhood wouldn't fall after Van Cleef's death. And yet, here it was beginning to happen, out of his control.

"It's not your fault. It may have happened sooner or later anyway," Perry said. It was almost as if he was able to read Krionoso's mind. "That's all I could get in this short amount of time. I hope it helps you out a bit. For now, I'm going to bed. I've been awake all day since your visit last night."

"Thanks, Perry. I owe you one."

"The way I see it, you owe me about three, but it was my pleasure," Perry said, allowing a smirk to invade his features.

"Wait a minute… where'd the third one come in?" Krionoso asked, puzzled. He already knew about the Wailing Caverns and this, but the third favor escaped him.

"Remember when you pulled that prank on Van Cleef, and I managed to keep you from being pulverized by Mr. Smite? That's the one."

"Ah. Thank you." Indeed Krionoso remembered the incident.

Perry dropped from branch to branch, scaling down the tree almost as quickly down as he had going up. When he reached the bottom, he walked briskly to the gates and reentered the city. Krionoso watched him before starting to make his own way down. It was difficult, and in various moments, he was pained by his chest having an impromptu spasm. When the long process was through, Krionoso followed Perry's path into the city. He needed a gryphon so that he could get to Dalaran.


"WHAT!?" Simonee asked incredulously.

"That's what Sira said. He's my brother."

The revelation was more than just a small shock to Simonee's system. It was a true wonder that Aubs herself had been taking it so well. Each member except her had been dumbfounded. It was simply inconceivable that a traitor like Krionoso could be related to someone so loyal as Aubs.

"The best thing about it all is that Sira's agreed to set up an ambush. She's already contacted Krionoso and he's on his way," Aubs said, nonchallant.

"Wait... she's allowing us to kill her son?" Simonee asked. "And you are too, now that you've found out that he is your brother?"

Aubs looked down, locking eyes on a small pebble beneath her. "It wouldn't matter if I didn't know. It's all the same; I won't allow my new-found connection to unravel our mission. He's still my enemy, and if we're to have success in our mission, we need him out of the picture."

It was quite plain to see that she was conflicted, not believing in what she was saying. Letting the matter go, Simonee turned to look at the house.

"So what are we going to do now?" Aeriah asked, looking around at his fellows.

Simonee glanced at the night elf and began to grin. "Wait right here; I'll be back in a minute or so."

The group did as told and sat still, looking perplexed at their leader's behavior. Simonee strode away confidently. He had something in mind, and it could possibly answer a question or two. Moving quickly, he arrived at Sira's house again within a few moments. He knocked twice and listened; as if she was expecting him - and she probably was - she called quietly, "Come in, young sir."

As he entered the house, Simonee noticed that it was remarkably cleaner and more brightly lit. Dust no longer covered the floor or furniture, and some of the woodworks were even stained, laquered, and polished. Candleholders bracketed to the walls held lit candles, most of which standing tall.

Walking to the kitchen table, Simonee remarked, "You've done quite a lot during the past week, ma'am. It looks great."

Sira chuckled, apparently happy that someone noticed. "Indeed. So, what brings you back to my humble abode?" she asked, still smiling delightfully.

"I have a couple of questions that you may be able to help me with."

"Is that so?" the priestess asked knowingly.

Simonee grinned to match Sira's and replied, "Yes, ma'am. I suppose I'll start off with one of my least important questions. Was that you that kept making me want to turn away from your house when I brought Aubs?"

"Yes, it was. I'm sure you can appreciate my need for secrecy. Although I'm sure by now that Aubrey has informed you of some rather unfortunate and untimely news; which I will wait to explain for the right time," Sira replied with a wink.

"Okay, so my second question is; why is that one house on the west side of the town perfectly fine?" Simonee asked.

"Ah... that is a house of some distinction, prior to the Scourge. You see, it once belonged to none other than Jaina Proudmoore. I trust you've seen the monument in the town square?"

Simonee did remember it. Its inscription hinted that Jaina had donated it - "And you would be right assuming that." - though some of it had been blocked by years' worth of dirt and grime. The part of the inscription that was free of the dirt was very special, though.

"She allocated some of her power in that stone, but for the life of me, I can't figure it out. What it does, why she did it, all of it is a mystery to all of us still living here. Anyway, she donated the monument after needing to move on to Theramore. She was the last person of importance to come visit us before the Scourge attacked. That house of hers is one of the only buildings that age hasn't taken. And it won't take it for as long as Dalaran still stands and she still lives."

Simonee allowed for silence to settle in momentarily before beginning his next question. "Okay, I know you've seen this question coming, but I must know. If you're Krionoso's mother, then why are you allowing for his death?"

Sira sighed, preparing mentally for her answer. "He is more powerful than either of you know. I fear that if he should find this dormant power, he would use it for evil and treachery. That is all you need to know right now. The rest will come in due time. If that is all the questioning you have for me, I have tea brewing that needs attending to."

Simonee wondered what Krionoso's power could do, but left the problem alone. He would have to be patient. Bowing toward old priestess, he said, "Thank you, ma'am."

Sira returned his gesture, more flexible than her old figure led on. "Not a problem, young man. Remember, you are welcome to stay in my home while you are here in Dalaran. Besides, I don't want or need you to miss your prime opportunity."

Thanking Sira once again, Simonee turned and exited the building. What was once promising to be a beautiful, clear day was quickly becoming soured by a multitude of clouds creeping toward the sun. It oddly matched how Simonee was feeling at that moment.


As Simonee's meeting with Sira lengthened, Aeriah began to lose patience. He had wanted nothing more than to explore this wonderful house in front of him. It didn't take another fifteen minutes before the last dregs of restraint left him. He began to slowly make his way to the front door of the house.

"What are you doing?" Aubs asked in a whisper.

Aeriah didn't stop, instead he kept moving forward, ever so slowly; in case there was someone inside.

"What are you doing?" The voice sounded deeper, and quite manlier.

Still hunched over, Aeriah wheeled around on his heel and caught sight of Simonee, who had stealthily returned to the group while he was intent on reaching the front porch of the house. Aeriah yelped slightly while Simonee laughed.

"Apparently, this house belongs to Jaina Proudmoore. I wouldn't suggest entering it; it's probably got wards-a-plenty to stave off intruders," Simonee said.

The group collectively groaned, showing that they had mirrored Aeriah's ambition. The only difference being that they were able to restrain themselves.

With the possibility of entering and exploring the house out of the question, the five ambled around, lost. Before long, however, thunder began to rumble and lightning flashed across the sky, hidden somewhere behind the ample mass of gray clouds. Not staying long enough to watch the display of nature, Simonee ushered the group once again to Sira's house. They had barely made it before the torrents of rain began to fall.


Krionoso drifted peacefully in the air atop a gryphon headed for Southshore. The sky grew increasingly menacing, and by the time he landed, the rain began to rush to the ground in sheets. In order to escape the sudden onslaught of water, he ran toward the armory. It wasn't exactly his first choice, but being that the inn was inhospitable to him now, it was one of the only choices available.

Upon entrance into the building, Krionoso noticed that the place was rather empty and devoid of life, save for one single metalworker. It was a warm building, a trait much attributable to the large, glowing furnace in the center of it. It was also quite bright, though he suspected that it was something a bit more than only the furnace that created the light.

The room he was in was large and square, though most of the space in the room had been taken up by the furnace and a plentitude of anvils lying everywhere. The metalworker seemed not to notice Krionoso, rather wrapped up in his work - smashing a molten plate of steel with a large metal hammer. The sight of the hammer brought sharp tingles to Krionoso's chest, but he managed to get past them, moving closer to the armorer. When he was almost an arm's length away, he tried to strike up a conversation.

"I hope you don't mind my staying here for a while. It's a little wet out there," Krionoso said, gesturing out the door.

"Are ye payin'?" the gruff metalworker asked.

"Excuse me?" Krionoso asked, flabbergasted.

"Are ye payin'? Do ye need somethin' fixed, or are ye just wantin' to sit here and gab with me? I'm busy, and I need to get back to mah work. So, are ye payin'?"

Fishing in his pocket, Krionoso forked over a few silver pieces, asking, "Can you make me a blade? I'm in need of a better weapon than this stave on my back."

Finally, the armorer turned around. He was burly, to say the least. He was of above-average height, and had a slender, but dangerously muscular build. The man wore an old off-white shirt, stained black by soot and minerals used for his trade, and dirty brown pants, with the same black stains running down the thigh in the shape of a hand - apparently where he wiped his hands off after getting them dirty. He looked Krionoso up and down, trying to size him up.

"I can. And ye can stay in the armory fer now. When yer sword's ready, I'll have to ask ye to leave."

"Not a problem, sir." It was better than walking out in the cold rain. Handing the armorer the coins, Krionoso turned and walked to a small workbench resting near the furnace. The glowing coals radiated a dry heat, which felt infinitely better than what it had outside.

So, there Krionoso sat, watching the armorer set to work on his new sword. The metalworker was skilled indeed, and it wasn't long before Krionoso was handed his new sword. It was definitely beautiful. It was made of a flexible steel, though not quite too flexible - it was reinforced with a bronze center to keep it from snapping or bending too far - and the armorer had even gone the extra length to detail the blade with a swirling shape, carved from the steel by a small, blunt instrument. Krionoso had seen the detailing before; it was on the tauren's broadsword - the one he had killed not a week-and-a-half ago. Deciding to let the small fact go, Krionoso accepted the sword, admiring the expertly-measured weight placed in the pommel. The handle felt comfortable in his hand, maintaining its straight quality while still looking very beautiful at the same time. The hilt was in the shape of a flame, and Krionoso wondered if the man was just as much a mindreader as Sira had proved to be. Happy with the blade, Krionoso bid the metalworker thanks and farewell, walking happily to the door of the armory and noticing the weather had indeed cleared up in his time in the building.

"Make sure ye see a leatherworker about a scabbard for that thing. If you don't, the elements'll tear the metal apart," were the armorer's parting words.

Krionoso nodded and left the armory, swinging the sword with practiced flair. He would heed the man's advice. He wanted to keep this blade keen. Leaving Southshore once more, Krionoso turned to the northwest and began his trip to Dalaran. It was time to fix his chest once and for all.


A/N: Well, my review crew's gone missing again, but oh well. I hope you've enjoyed the past two chapters, and once again, I have found myself over the four-thousand threshold for this one! Thanks for reading (if you have indeed read), and I shall see you in a week!