A/N: Sorry guys for the delay. Searching for a job is both disheartening and draining, so I kind of lost my writer's mojo for a minute. But now both the Fire Dancer and Sirens of Azeroth will be updated regularly.

This is a double post, so please go straight onto Chapter 26. I just separated them for the sake of length and keeping to my planned chapter outline.

Chapter 25: Lessons

From the crest of the Shrine of Ula-Tek, Ki'ra could see all of Zul'Aman. The sprawling forest city, speckled with pewter gray stone edifices, wooden huts and platforms, and sparkling silver pools of water, reminded the priestess of her native home of Zuldazar. Even in the shrine, which was oddly devoid of the Nature Loa for which it was named, gave her a sense of peace and protection similar to what she experienced often in Zandalar's temple. Sighing heavily, the woman observed the thousands of Trolls that moved throughout the pathways of Zul'Aman. They looked tiny from where she stood, crawling over the mound of earth they tirelessly maintained to protect their kind.

Ki'ra had awoken that afternoon in her private chambers within the temple, momentarily dazed and disoriented. For a moment, she had forgotten where she was or what events had occurred recently. Then, a coppery smell hit her nostrils in a powerful wave and the realization of what she had done came back to her mind. Her body was caked with the slain blood elf's life essence, which had dried into her hair and marred the surface of her skin and collar. It took every ounce of composure for Ki'ra to walk calmly from the temple and submerge herself in the nearest fountain. She remained in the icy waters, rubbing at her flesh to remove the blood until her skin was raw. Yet even after the substance was gone from her hair and body, the smell of death still remained as did the knowledge of the act she had committed. As she floated on her back in the pool, staring up at the blazing Morning Star above her, Atal'Zan responded to the question she pondered in her mind:

It had to be done.

Ki'ra hugged her shoulders, cloaked in the shawl that had been left for her in her room. Her loose thick hair hung around her like a pale shroud, gleaming with wetness in the sunlight. The priestess had known as soon as Zul'jin requested that she perform the Fire Dance she would be taking a life. It was a custom of the ritual: blood for blood, an offering to Atal'Zan the Destroyer. The day before the ceremony, Ki'ra had meditated unceasingly, preparing herself for the gruesome act she would carry out. Yet something had happened during the last phase of the ritual. Her body, already imbued with the power that radiated from the spirit inside her, was buzzing with unearthly energy after the Fire Dance. When Zul'jin had called for the two animal lords to bring forth Jin'rohk, Ki'ra's trembled with excited anticipation. She would finally have the spear!

Yet as soon as she had touched the ancient weapon, Ki'ra felt Atal'Zan's might flare inside of her. The relics were meant to help her channel the Great Loa's power; as she wielded both Zan'rohk and Jin'rohk, the spirit's force reached a crescendo inside her that she had never experienced before. The fiery might raged in her veins almost painfully, but all the while she wanted more. The power was intoxicating and maddening. She craved not only to have all of it, but to use it as well. The blood elf, whose people had ruthlessly murdered and exiled the Trolls, who spoke hateful words of bigotry, was a tempting victim. Lost in wrath-filled and power-drunk insanity, Ki'ra was all the more willing to take his life.

She was not sure if the majority of the rage and bloodlust came from her or the spirit.

Bringing a hand to her lips, Ki'ra's heart sank as she thought of her friends. They had been there, right in front of the clearing at Maisara, watching her. They had seen her, half possessed by Atal'Zan and half herself, drink the blood of the elf that was a comrade them. What did they think of her? Was Akashii's opinion different of her now? She knew that the warrior's view of her was probably vastly different now. How could he still care for her when she had performed something so barbaric, a cultural aspect that her tribe and the Darkspear Trolls had been fighting to change?

"Priestess Ki'ra?"

The Zandalari Troll spun around toward Nyeki, who had entered the balcony from inside the temple. The young shaman's eyes were wary, but she smiled brightly. "You are awake!" she exclaimed. "Ya been sleep for a day and a half now. I was worried 'bout ya!"

So it had only been that long? Ki'ra thought as she smiled weakly at Nyeki. "Yes, the ritual drains me quite a lot," she replied in a drawn voice. "I appreciate your concern, but I am feeling better."

"Ya don't look too rested though," Nyeki observed the priestess's tired face. "I'm sure ya need some food. I can go get ya somethin' to eat!"

"That would be wonderful, thank you," Ki'ra replied. Nyeki's warm demeanor comforted her slightly.

The shaman smiled again, but Ki'ra noticed she was fidgeting nervously with her beaded cinch. "Priestess," she began softly, her bright eyes gazing at Ki'ra with admiration. "Da Fire Dance…it was da most beautiful thing I've evah seen in mah life! I was filled wit' such passion, such love fo' da spirits dat I cried! Oh, and you should hear how mah tribesmen talked about ya aftah'wards! Everyone feels lifted now! Der is so much hope among da people!"

Ki'ra could not help but feel proud that she had instilled such feelings within her brethren, but she winced as she recalled the Amani's cries of blood lustful rage as she slaughtered the elf. "I'm glad," the priestess murmured.

"Some of da tribal eldahs and spiritual leaders even be waitin' for ya in da temple," Nyeki continued eagerly, unaware of Ki'ra's despondency. "Dey be wantin' to meet wit' ya, but Zul'jin tol' em dat dey have to wait till ya rested."

Ki'ra almost snickered. She was surprised the warlord had thought of her with that much consideration. Yet again, he had been quite accommodating since she arrived in Zul'Aman. Nyeki waited on her hand and foot while she remained in the temple, willing to fetch anything the priestess needed. Zul'jin himself had not spoken with her for a long period of time since their initial meeting. Ki'ra had expected him to come to her before the Fire Dance, but the warlord respected her privacy during her meditation at the shrine and did not request her company. Before the ritual, he spoke only a few words to her and was otherwise quiet if not aloof. It was better that way, Ki'ra felt; he frightened her, as did his shadow priest Malacrass. Yet she refused to be intimidated by the warlord or any other Amani.

"Dat warrior be here too," Nyeki said and Ki'ra's head snapped toward her. "Da one dat's ya Chosen. I tol' him he could'na come into da temple, but he been waitin' outside da gates since we brought ya back here." The shaman flushed as she looked down. "Is he…um…is he ya…?"

Ki'ra ignored the shaman's question and glanced over the walls of the temple. She could not see the entry gates, as they were obscured by the dense canopy of trees, but her heart thudded in her chest all the same as she imagined Akashii sitting there. He must have been quite worried about her to wait outside the temple he was forbidden to enter. She cringed as sorrow gripped her. How could she face him now? How could she confront the atrocity she had committed as well as the questions he surely had?

"Tell him to leave."

Nyeki blinked. "W-what?"

Ki'ra spun around, her crimson eyes narrowed. She felt anger rise in her cheeks, but the feeling was directed toward herself. "Tell him that I am fine and he should go back to his comrades. I don't wish to see him now. Tell him…I have things to attend to."

Frowning, the shaman looked down. Ki'ra knew that Nyeki was afraid of delivering the message to Akashii, as the warrior would probably very angry afterward, but nonetheless she bowed and muttered, "Yes, priestess," and turned away to leave.

Strength, my child. You have done well so far. Now, you must undertake the other task for which I sent you here.

Ki'ra was still weary and unsure if she was prepared to move on to the task Atal'Zan spoke of, but she drew in a deep breath and tried to ward away her tiredness. "Nyeki."

The shaman stopped in the doorway and warily turned back toward Ki'ra. "Y-yes, priestess?"

Ki'ra tried to smile as warmly as she could at her. "The spiritual advisors of the tribes will have to wait for a while. There is something I need to do. Will you also please tell Warlord Zul'jin that I wish to see the Amani's library?"

Nyeki bowed deeply. "Of course, priestess."

The space was huge, even larger than the innermost sanctuary of the Shrine of Ula-Tek where Ki'ra had meditated. It was a square shaped room filled with shelves bearing what had to be hundreds of leather and wood bound tomes and old yellowed scrolls of parchment. The walls themselves were records, etched with runes and hieroglyphs written in Zandali as well as a more ancient language known only by the Loa and those they taught to read and speak it.

"By the spirits," Ki'ra whispered as she looked with awe around the room. "There are almost as many books here as our collection on Zandalar! I never thought the Amani were historians as well!"

"Da Amani have written many accounts of da past of our people, though several of dez belonged to da Gurubashi once," Nyeki said as she watched Ki'ra run her hands along the tightly rolled scrolls. "But afta dey were enslaved by Hakkar, da Amani were afraid dat da histories would be destroyed, so dey took der books and brought dem here."

Ki'ra closed her eyes and inhaled the smell of old parchment, leather, and wood. "Then San'rohk should be here," she murmured almost sadly. "But I cannot sense it. Did the Amani ever have possession of it?"

The young shaman shrugged. "I do'na know, priestess. If anyone would though it's Warlord Zul'jin. He's read every book and scroll in dis room, includin' da ones concernin' da Blood God's appearance and da first war between da Gurubashi and da other tribes. Befo' he was known for joinin' da orcs in da Second War, Warlord Zul'jin was hailed as a great scholar of da Trolls. A great thinkah, he is."

"Really…" Ki'ra murmured. She would have never guessed it. Beyond his involvement in the war between the humans, elves, and trolls, she knew very little of the Amani witch doctor. She assumed that from his title, he had to have an immense amount of knowledge, but she never expected him to be a scholar. However, that fact could help the priestess find common ground with the Troll. "I do hope that I will be able to speak with him soon."

"He apologizes, priestess, for his absence," Nyeki said with a bow. "But he's meetin' wit' Lord Malacrass. He will come to speak wit' ya shortly though."

"Very well," Ki'ra said while skimming the writings along the spines of the books and handles of the scrolls. They were arranged in chronological order. It would be easier for Ki'ra to find writings that would hopefully reveal what happened to San'rohk. "I'd like to be alone for now, Nyeki, but tell Lord Zul'jin that I am ready to meet with him whenever he is ready."

"Of course, priestess," the shaman replied. "I shall bring ya somethin' to eat as well." She bowed again and exited the library she had brought Ki'ra to.

When she was alone, the priestess took her time examining the many scrolls, books, and etchings on the wall. The runes carved into the stone told stories of events that occurred as far back as the birth of the Troll race when the first progenitors first established the great empires. The scrolls included accounts of battles and wars from the time of the Great Sundering and the War of the Ancients to the internal conflicts that raged within the Troll tribes. As she moved past the scrolls, a set of wood bound papers caught her eye. They were wedged between two humanoid skulls and looked much newer than the surrounding histories. When Ki'ra picked up the first book in the series and examined the content of a page, she observed that the paper was not yellowed and barely even wrinkled. These books were fairly new.

"The events of the 'Second War'," she murmured, reading the title written in what looked like blood on the first page. "An account recorded by…" Her eyes widened. "…Zul'jin of the Amani Tribe."

The priestess looked around, feeling somewhat uncertain with reading what was the private story of the forest Troll warlord. She knew that she needed to be searching for evidence that San'rohk had been within Zul'Aman, or where it maybe traveled to afterward, but her curiosity concerning the details of what occurred during the war between the Orcs and the Trolls and the humans and High Elves was strong. Perhaps even knowing more about Zul'jin and his past would help the priestess when she spoke with him later.

Settling down on a woven mat next to a circle of candles, Ki'ra placed the large tome on her legs and began to read.

The sounds of footsteps echoing against stone awoke Ki'ra from her sleep. She was startled for a moment, unaware that she had drifted off. She knew that it had been many hours since Nyeki brought her to the library and she had begun reading the many tomes that were now scattered around her. The priestess had taken a short break when the Amani'shi shaman brought her a plate of food to eat, but hastily returned to the books when she was finished. Several of the candles that had been lit near her were flickering feebly, their wicks nearly spent. Even the torches hanging in racks on the walls were beginning to die out. Groggily wiping at her eyes, the priestess let them adjust to the darkness before stirring from her spot.

Freezing in place, Ki'ra held her breath in the dim light of the library, her long ears listening for the sound that had roused her from her sleep. She sensed the source of the footsteps within the room and knew she was not alone. Her ears perked when she detected the fate hissing of inhaled breath and her crimson eyes darted toward the arched entrance of the library.

"You don't have to stand there in the doorway," she said into the nothingness. "I'm awake now."

A small laugh echoed inside the stone room and Ki'ra couldn't help but shiver. "Did'na mean to wake ya, priestess," came the stony voice from the shadows. The tall hulking figure of Zul'jin slipped from the black doorway like a wraith, the dim light of the torches flickering against his fierce features and muscular body. Ki'ra wondered how long he had been watching her.

"Fo'give me for comin' to ya so late," he said with a deep bow. "But when Nyeki told be dat ya were here in da library, I was certain dat ya was still awake." His narrowed good eye swept up and down her form as he approached her. "Find what ya was lookin' fo'?"

Shaking her head as she rose, Ki'ra began gathering the books she had been reading. "N-not quite," she stammered while placing some of the books on a table. "I was just reading over one of the scrolls concerning the war with the Gurubashi Tribe when I fell asleep and—"

Some of the books fell from Ki'ra's arms, clattering against the dusty stone floor. The female's breath was caught in her throat when one of Zul'jin's very own tomes fell right at his feet. Frozen and stunned, the woman could only watch as the witch doctor bent down and picked up the book. "I-I hope I was not intruding by reading your journals," Ki'ra murmured in a small voice. She could not gauge Zul'jin's reaction, as his half revealed face was shadowed in the darkness. "They were on the shelf and I…I'm sorry if I was not supposed to read them."

The warlord was silent for a moment, staring down at the book. A mirthless chuckle escaped the mouth hidden behind his cowl and he shook his head. "Of course not, priestess," his rumbling voice replied. "Da books be here for whoever has access to da library. Did you read dem all?"

Gulping, Ki'ra nodded. "Yes."

"I see." The Amani's voice was cold and bitter and Ki'ra nearly jumped in her skin. He hissed out a sigh and placed the book on a table. "I guess den I don't need to wear dis."

Ki'ra held her breath again as the warlord's thick fingers pulled at the wrappings around his neck and lowered them. Zul'jin's face was as harsh and as fierce as she had expected. Once, maybe in his younger years, the troll had been handsome, but old age and harrowing experiences had etched deep lines across his skin. Hallowed cheeks made the sockets of his eyes even deeper and shadowed. His mouth was set in what seemed to be a permanent sneer beneath his long hooked nose. Yet the most alarming and apparent characteristic of what had been hidden beneath his cowl was his tusks, or rather lack there of. As detailed in his journal, the blood elves had broken the once long bones from his face without the use of a blade. One had been snapped off so close to his mouth that the flesh there was scarred and warped around the stump of yellowed and decayed bone. Swallowing heavily, Ki'ra let her eyes wander over Zul'jin's face before returning her gaze to his single eye, which looked even wilder.

"Ya look frightened, leetl priestess," he said with a humorless smirk. "Doz dis old mangled Troll scare ya?"

Ki'ra shook her head, but she wasn't so sure she was telling the truth. She tried to keep her eyes away from the broken tusks, but was finding it difficult to do so. Her own mouth ached as she thought of the pain he had endured. "Can…can I ask you something?" she asked in a feeble tone.

"Of course, priestess," the Amani warlord replied.

Hesitating only a moment out of wariness, Ki'ra drew in a deep breath before speaking. "After you escaped the blood elves, why did you never heal yourself? Why did you never allow your body to regenerate?"

Zul'jin glared at her, his eye boring into Ki'ra's without blinking. She was afraid she had been too forward with her question, but after reading Zul'jin's journal she had already decided how she was going to begin her dialogue with the warlord. "I…" Zul'jin finally spoke after a heavy and uncomfortable silence. "…did'na wish for mah limb, mah tusks, nor mah eye to return to me. What da elves did to me, da tortures dat dey inflicted on me…it was punishment."

"…punishment?" Ki'ra spoke in a bare whisper.

The warlord nodded. His eye swiveled toward the direction of the engraved walls, staring at nothing in particular as he mused over dreadful memories. "Fo' leadin' mah people into death," he continued. "Fo' entrustin' da fate of mah people to da orcs and der so called Horde. Dis…" His hand reached for the stump beneath his cloak and then trailed to the empty socket of his face. "…is mah reminder. Our people's powers of regeneration requires will powah to work; I did not wish to heal dez now old wounds because I do not deserve to have dem healed, not until mah people are free of da tyranny of da elves dat have sought to remove us from our lands fo' centuries." Zu'jin's face melded into the darkness as he bowed his head. "Not until I atone fo' what happened to her."

Ki'ra's chest swelled with pity. When the Great Loa had told her there were more connections between her and the warlord than she knew, she would have never imagined what she discovered in Zul'jin's journals. "I…never knew…" she murmured.

"Very few do," he interjected in a clipped voice. "Da ones dat did be dead now, murdered along wit' her."

"…who was she?"

Inhaling deeply through his nose, Zul'jin's red eye flickered like a ruby when he raised his head to meet Ki'ra's gaze. "Mah sistah. She was much youngah dan me, probably 'bout da age you be when she died. She was a shaman, no mo' dan a novice when she started havin' da visions, but her faith and spiritual link wit' da Loa was always strong. It's why dey chose her, da same reason Atal'Zan chose you probably."

"After she became a Channeler, she appointed you as her Chosen," Ki'ra said.

Zul'jin nodded. His lips curved into a smile that almost contained some hint of emotion. "Proudest moment I evah had," he reminisced. "At first, I was mo' proud fo' mah sistah. To accomplish somethin' so great at such a young age…" He eyed Ki'a for a moment and the priestess felt a shiver run through her body. "…but den when she appointed me as her Chosen and I felt da powah of da Great Loa dat had given her unimaginable strength and wisdom, I knew dat it was mah destiny to do somethin' great wit' da gifts we shared! Togetha, we could protect our people from da enemies dat once threatened all da Trolls!" He snickered and anger etched more lines in his thick brow. "Once, I had a wish to even unite our peoples…a foolish notion though, one dat has not been achieved evah since da Great Motha walked dis earth."

Zul'jin's gaze deepened and he continued to stare at Ki'ra. "Is dat why ya here, leetl priestess?" the warlord asked with a mocking tone. He had begun to slowly stride toward her, moving like a soundless shadow. Instinctively, Ki'ra began to back away from the large, intimidating Troll. There was something in Zul'jin's eye that frightened her. "To save da trolls from da Burnin' Legion and bring us all togetha again?"

"It is the task I have been entrusted with," she replied, trying to gather strength in her voice. She bumped into the table behind her and almost stumbled.

"And do ya think ya can do it?" Zul'jin asked with a raised brow. "Do ya think dat you, dat Darkspear whelp, and his friends can truly help ya bring down an envoy of da Legion and mend da nonexistent ties between a people dat been slaughtertin' each otha fo' years?" He laughed deeply when Ki'ra's expression slightly darkened. "Dem Darkspears don't be known for strength, leetl priestess. Dey been runnin' unda da tails of da Thrall and his orcs fo' years and befo' den dey barely survived bein' killed by da otha tribes of da Gurubashi Empire, da naga, and da murlocs. Oh, I give 'em credit fo' survival, dat's fo' sure, but do ya really think dat dey be worthy to aid da Loa? Dat Chosen of yours be young, much youngah dan I was when I was a Chosen for mah sistah back befo' da Second War. And he only be a warrior. Ya think he be strong enough to stand at ya side?"

"I do," Ki'ra replied in a voice that held more confidence. It angered her that Zul'jin spoke ill of the tribe that had done so much for her. "It was the Loa that appointed the Darkspear Tribe to be my allies and it was them that guided me to Akashii. I have complete faith in them and the spirits. There is no one who would be more fitting to be my protector."

"No one?" Zul'jin repeated. The warlord had advanced on her further, now standing only a few steps away from Ki'ra and the table she was pressed against.

Swallowing, the priestess furrowed her brows. "You believe the Amani to be a more worthy choice." Her words were more of a statement than a question. She knew Zul'jin's answer already.

"Of course," the warlord laughed. His eye was sweeping over the curve of her neck and the collar above her full breasts. "We are a strong and united empire again. You could have da whole Amani Empire at ya beck and call, leetl priestess, an army of da fiercest Trolls to stand against da Legion and whateva enemies stand in ya way. Through power and force, we could even bring a bit of unity back to doz dat would stand wit us if dat is what ya wish."

Ki'ra snickered, grasping the edge of the table behind her while she shrunk away from the overbearing male. "And what would the Amani ask for in return?" she asked bitterly. "What would you ask for?"

Zul'jin smirked and his red tongue darted out to stroke his lips. "What indeed…" he murmured huskily.

Before she could register what was happening, Zul'jin's face was only a hair away from Ki'ra's. The powerful warlord of the Amani Tribe stood directly in front of her, his broad chest pressed against her body and his head lowered down to gaze into her widened eyes.

He grinned evilly as Ki'ra gasped and trembled. "What indeed…"