Chapter 28 – Shades and shadows

Jaina had no time to lose. She did not bring any belongings, she simply ran. Not that she had much to her name here in Orgrimmar anyway; it had all been left in Dalaran. The young mage felt how the wind flushed through her hair as she ran. Yet, all she heard was her own breath and heartbeat. Sylvanas… Was this what the Dark Lady longed for? How her heart used to pump blood throughout her veins? How her lungs had filled with fresh air when she took a breath? Jaina examined all of what made her feel alive as she ran. A drop of sweat ran from her forehead and down her cheek. Was that it? It could not all be about her. She could not simply accept that she was the reason Sylvanas had set out on such an insane mission.

Jaina ran up the stairs to the tower where she found Zirazi The Star-Gazer. The female troll looked baffled when Jaina stopped before her, gasping for air.

"Lady Proudmoore, what is da matter?" Jaina looked up and met the portal trainer's confused expression.

"Help me make a portal to the Broken Isles. I don't know where… Anywhere will do…" The sorceress still panted from sprinting.

"I can only summon portals to da Thunder Totem. Dat be in Highmountain, ma lady".

Highmountain was perfect, perhaps she could find Orasha, convince her to come with her. Find Sylvanas wherever she was.

"I will take it. I have no time to lose!" Zirazi held up a hand to stop Jaina as she started getting ready.

"I must warn you ma lady, dis portal is weak. You must travel quickly. Do not stop and get caught in da between!"

Getting caught in between locations was something elementary all mages were warned about and taught how to avoid from day one. But weak portals could be difficult to battle even for the most experienced in the field and failure to teleport could have severe consequences. Jaina swallowed as she envisioned being stuck in a nether of nothingness for eternity.

"I am focused, Zirazi. I will ensure my safe arrival at the Thunder Totem". Jaina laid her hand on Zirazi's shoulder.

The troll shrugged in uncertainty. "As you wish, ma lady. After I summon da portal, you have five seconds".

Jaina nodded assertively. Zirazi took a breath and closed her eyes as she started to summon the portal. Jaina could sense the unstable magic in her veins just by looking at it and she braced herself.

"NOW! You must go!"

Without a word, Jaina launched herself into the portal like a rocket. She had always had the strangest feelings when passing through portals, especially the unstable ones. But somehow, this one was different. It felt tainted and corrupted. Only a few seconds must have passed when Jaina opened her eyes. She saw the other side of the portal, the safe insides of the Thunder Totem. However, it was too far to reach and it was like she had stopped. No… She could not have stopped, she had done exactly what she was supposed to.

Out of nowhere, a shade stood before her. A dark power reeked from the creature and Jaina stretched her hand out, reaching for the portal end, but time stood still. An evil laughter filled the nether and the image of a demonic Satyr filled the shade.

"You can run, but you can't hide little mage, HA!"

Jaina screamed, but no sound came out of her mouth. She knew who it was, she had heard of him. The nightmare lord, Xavius!

"Are you looking for your precious dead elf? What is a jewel like yourself doing with such a horrific creature anyway. Look what you have done to her…"

The shade of Xavius waved his hand and an illusion showing Sylvanas wandering around what Jaina could only recognize as how Stormheim had been described. She was alone.

"You gave her false hope, little mage. A false hope of retribution. And now…" Shadows were lurking in the woods where Sylvanas walked.

"Now she is going to die for real instead. Because of you…"

Xavius snapped his fingers and the illusion of Sylvanas disappeared. Jaina screamed in desperation and attempted to perform her best arcane magic, but nothing happened. Never before had she felt so hopeless. The nightmare lord's evil laughter rung in her ears as she unsuccessfully fought the magic overpowering her.

"Sleep tight little Proudmoore. You are mine now…" Xavius stretched his arm out aiming his claws at Jaina and he was centimeters away from piercing her human heart. Jaina Proudmoore closed her eyes and thought of one thing and one thing only. The end of the portal… The end of the portal…

Milliseconds passed and she was grabbed forcefully by her arm. This was it, Xavius had her, she thought. Suddenly she felt her body slam against what she instantly thought was hard wooden floor. Jaina shook and drifted in and out of consciousness. Had he infested her with some kind of demonic magic? What was this… Was she not to have a clean death? Was she to end up like Sylvanas? Sylvanas…

"Grab some water and cold cloths! And you, get me those herbs I collected earlier! Lady Proudmoore, can you hear me?!"

Jaina opened her eyes, but her sight was hazy and she could barely see anything. "Sylvanas…" Jaina whispered as she felt herself drifting off again.

It was dark when Jaina opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was a small lantern that filled the corner of the room with light. The young mage frowned as she tried to sit up. She was in a bed, fully clothed, and the walls were of logs and wood.

"Don't sit up!" a familiar voice said.

"Orasha?" Jaina looked towards the door and Orasha stood with a tray in her hands.

"Thank goodness, my lady" Orasha ran towards her, put the tray down and embraced her.

"I thought you were not going to make it! Oh how relieved I am!" Jaina felt somewhat squashed as Orasha's large, green orc arms wrapped around her. But to receive a hug from a friendly face was worth more than a thousand words. When Orasha let go, Jaina smiled at her and she did not have to say anything.

"Am I at the Thunder Totem?" Jaina cleared her throat as she looked around her. Tribal ornaments were placed all around and little "get well" notes and prayers in both Taur-ahe and common hung on the walls.

"You are, my dear friend. Do you remember what happened? You came via portal. We had to pull you out. Luckily there was a mage in the room who sensed the energy of your portal and how you struggled to get out. You had a red mark by your collarbone as well. What happened in there?"

The questions that poured out of Orasha baffled Jaina and she touched her collarbone.

"It has healed now, my lady. But that was no normal scratch. It was dark magic. Demonic perhaps".

Jaina remembered too well. "It was from the claws of a Satyr. The portal was tainted. I don't know how he did it. But he knew I was in it…"

"Who? Who is he, Jaina?" Orasha looked at Jaina who swallowed hard as she looked at her friend.

"Xavius, Orasha. I think the emerald nightmare is spreading from Val'sharah". Orasha stared at the young mage and Jaina could see Orasha's nose flare. Nevertheless, the orc exhaled in an attempt to seem calm.

"How long have I been here Orasha? Since my scratch has healed and everything…" Jaina knew she was not going to like the answer.

"Four days, my lady. But do not worry, we have sent word to Orgrimmar that you are safe. Warchief Windrunner is not to worry". Jaina almost jumped by the sound of Sylvanas' name.

"Four days… No… Sylvanas!" She tried to lift her legs to get out of bed but winced in agony as pain struck her.

"My lady, you must rest! You are not well enough to walk. The claws of that Satyr left more than just a scratch on you. It will take a couple of days before you are well enough for that". Orasha folded the furry blanket in the bed over Jaina's shivering body.

"You don't understand, Orasha! Sylvanas is not in Orgrimmar! She is in Stormheim doing stupid stuff on her own. She will die if we don't help her!" Jaina relived the illusion of the shadows closing in on Sylvanas and she could not bear the thought.

"But.. why would Warchief Windrunner do that? What is she doing?" Jaina just shook her head. "It's complicated, Orasha. It is my fault entirely".

Jaina filled Orasha in on all that had happened since she had left for Highmountain. The two spent the night talking in the small chambers. Orasha explained how the deteriorating situation in Highmountain had led the Drogbar to act in the wildest ways, causing serious destruction to the surrounding lands.

"Look, there is nothing you can do for her until you recuperate from all this. You already risked your life travelling through that portal. It would have taken you twice as long by air or boat. So rest now and we will talk again tomorrow". Orasha placed Jaina's empty cup of herbal tea on the tray she had carried in. Jaina had been given other medication too in order to boost her recovery.

Jaina sighed, but nodded. Orasha was right, there was nothing she could do at the moment. "Good night, my friend. Give my thanks to Mayla Highmountain for accommodating me will you?" Orasha nodded and left Jaina to sleep, although she was not sure she could. Not when the emerald nightmare was lurking in the dark.