Chapter 17 - Mitternacht Part II


Song: Mitternacht by E Nomine


A/N: okay so a couple people have asked if the story will end with Jaina choosing resurrection/finding a way to live/passing on the title/etc. Nope, it's planned through Legion and into BfA. (I have dozens of Doom references to squeeze into Legion and an equal number of Jurassic Park/World to sneak into BfA content. Can't leave those easter eggs unlaid.) But I haven't played BfA (except the Zandalari intro and Talanji, whew! *fans self*) or Shadowlands yet, thanks to work/school/other writing projects/life, so right now I'm trying to make room in the current plots for lore that I've bumped into while wiki-ing. There will probably be some situations I haven't accounted for which we can chalk up to "it's an AU" when they go sideways ;)

One of my favourite things is stories that continue past "and they lived happily ever after". Well, how did they live? Surely there's more challenges. How do they maintain their happiness? How long is ever after? The first thing I wrote for this story was a far-future scene. (The second thing was Ysadéan's Druid of the Antler song.) That scene will probably change in ways I don't expect and maybe it won't happen at all.

But suffice to say, I hope I can continue to entertain y'all for a hell of a long time. :)


"I'm so nervous." Kinndy rubbed her palms on her hips for the third time in fifteen seconds. "I'm so nervous, I'm so nervous."

"We only need Khadgar's location. This shouldn't take long."

Kinndy shook her head. "Oh, it can. You don't know the Council."

Which was true. Soffriel had only met Khadgar once and while he seemed affable enough, Soffriel was beginning to get the impression that Khadgar- and Jaina- were exceptions when it came to arcane mages.

"They can stretch a meeting on for hours. They had to have a recess while they were meeting to decide whether I could come back to the Kirin Tor if I studied with Jaina."

Soffriel considered her words. "Perhaps we can impress upon them the urgency of our request."

Kinndy didn't seem to hear him. "What if they don't believe us? What if they don't know where Khadgar is? What if-"

"Excuse me- they're ready for now."

A blood elf boy in novice robes and a page's badge stared up at Soffriel.

"Ready for you now. Ready to see both of you. Now."

The novice made a flustered bow. For some reason, Soffriel's mental image of blood elves only included adults who were hundreds of years old with crimson clothes and blond hair. He wasn't sure he'd ever seen a blood elf child. The boy had dark skin, bright red hair, Kirin Tor purple robes, and, when Soffriel nodded and thanked him, a bright pink blush exploded across his cheeks.

Regardless of the blush, the boy spoke in a strong voice as he introduced them to the Council.

Soffriel hadn't expected all five of the available Council of Six to be in attendance. Surely their request for a meeting wasn't that special?

But here they were, a circle of well-dressed elder mages all focused on the pair of them as they entered. All wore serious expressions and one of them looked downright hostile.

The chamber doors clicked shut behind them.

For a moment they were all silent, and then an older human woman stepped forward.

"We are curious why agents of the Scourge wish to hold an audience with the Kirin Tor so urgently." Her tone was more friendly than her words.

Another moment where no one spoke passed and Soffriel glanced down at Kinndy. She was pale and actively keeping herself from wiping her hands again.

Soffriel bowed.

"Thank you for meeting with us on such short notice," he said. "We are here because news of Garrosh Hellscream's escape from justice has reached Icecrown. Lady Proudmoore offers her aid, should it be welcome, but we also bring information which may be important regarding Hellscream's future whereabouts. We wish to share this information with your esteemed selves and with Archmage Khadgar."

The woman resumed her seat. "What is this information?"

Soffriel began to describe the possible parallel between movement through the Emerald Dream and use of the bronze dragon's time manipulation. He didn't name Ysadéan, only explained that some powerful druids were capable of using the Dream in such a way.

Several eyebrows rose and there were solemn looks exchanged.

"We will pass this along to the Archmage."

"Begging your pardons, but Lady Proudmoore has tasked us with explaining it to the Archmage. He may have questions that only a druid can answer."

"You don't look like much of a druid," said one of the Councillors.

Kinndy made a tiny hiss like a kitten.

"You are correct. I am no longer a druid. But I will answer your questions. Do you have a question?"

The mage now frowned at him through a thick beard. "The Archmage's location is not information that can be handed out so freely. Why should we trust you with it?"

Another long pause, then the same mage leaned over to another and spoke quietly, but not quietly enough for Soffriel's ears.

"Is he a Death Knight? I've never seen a Death Knight in robes."

"Neither have I… Something about him doesn't sit right with me."

Kinndy finally spoke up.

"Khadgar trusts Lady Jaina and Lady Jaina trusts us. What is there to lose by giving Khadgar this information? Learning about magic- all magic!- is one of the main ideals of the Kirin Tor."

Again there was muttering among the Council.

"There's no reason to keep Khadgar's location from them. They're children."

"They're not children, Kalec."

"They're the Lich King's children."

"Ansirem-!"

"Miss Sparkshine makes a good argument. There's nothing to lose and knowledge to gain."

"Nothing to lose? The Lich King-"

"Have you forgotten that Lady Proudmoore was instrumental in capturing Hellscream, Ansirem? You are too quick to anger without reason."

Soffriel made a mental note of the man's name and appearance.

Ansirem ground his teeth. "Have you forgotten that she stood with the Horde while it was done? That she allows the Horde sanctuary within her kingdom?"

Lady Modera stood up. "Enough! This is not some dire question. Your request is entirely reasonable. I will cast a portal for you two. Come with me."

The man- Ansirem- sputtered until another of the Council shook his head at him.

Modera lead them out of the Council chamber, past the still-blushing page, to another smaller room down the hallway.

"Thank you, Lady Modera." Kinndy's voice had lost the edge of building frustration. "We really appreciate this."

"The other Council members may disagree with me, but I've known your Lady King since she was a novice." Modera began to sketch a glittering pattern in the air between them. "Jaina has always strived to use her magic for the good of others, whatever magic that is. I argued for the Kirin Tor to join the battle of Wyrmrest Temple and found myself out-voted. I am glad that Khadgar joined the siege of Orgrimmar. Your Lady King acted with honour."

The lines of light began to form a pattern that Soffriel recognized. When Jaina cast portals, the pattern flashed into existence for brief seconds before the portal itself opened. Watching this clearly accomplished mage take nearly a minute to do what Jaina did in seconds gave Soffriel the same thrill of awe and terror he felt when he first came upon Ysadéan in the Plaguelands.

"There you are. Take care, Miss Sparkshine." Kinndy stepped through the portal. Soffriel moved to follow her but Modera held up a hand to stop him. "I would like to speak with you more sometime, Mr Shadowborn. I didn't know that Jaina had taken a second apprentice. I would like to know you better."

"Of course, Lady Modera. I am flattered by your interest. Thank you."

He bowed again and stepped through the portal.


Jaina left before Kel'Thuzad woke up.

Left quite awhile before, it seemed. Bright afternoon sun reflected off the parts of the floor not covered by rugs and he didn't remember anything from the past ten hours. Ten hours.

He hadn't expected the feedback at all, nevermind with such intensity. He could count on one hand the number of times he had exhausted himself through the use of magic. And he'd used that spell countless times without feeling any part of it. Sometime during the night, during what passed for sleep, his mind chewed on the ramifications and particulars. He'd done serious magic without fully considering the effects; he would never tell Jaina but he had nearly stripped his own soul out of the Helm, which didn't mean freedom- pulling his bound, unwilling soul out of the phylactery was as good as reaching into his own chest and pulling out his heart. (Metaphorically. His current body didn't include a heart.)

He was absolutely certain that Ysadéan realized it though. Sooner or later he was going to need to deal with her and he didn't expect it to be easy.

Kel'Thuzad pushed back the covers and moved to sit on the edge of the bed. The chair he had so often occupied was pushed against the wall, his outer robes folded and draped over the arm, boots neatly paired beside it. Jaina, always trying to tidy things up.

He got to his feet and buckled his boots, padded across the sun-warmed stone floor, and stood in front of Jaina's mirror.

What now?

The night before, he had finally come face-to-face with the force that had shaped almost half his life, coaxed and pressed him in turns, until he made irrevocable choices. Choices that benefited its interests. There, at last, in Jaina's breaking mind, was the altar where the Helm of Domination truly rested, asking to be claimed.

Did I ever want it?

The answer was no, over and over. Did he imagine what kind of Lich King he would be? Yes, of course he did. Those contemplations spanned everything from a kingdom of constant war and triumph where he ravaged every corner of Azeroth that had wronged him in some way (ultimately boring and tedious); to retreating into the fortified Citadel to pursue whatever he wished (which he now recognized would be boring without partners and/or servants and/or students), to vanishing into secrecy and isolation (same issue as the previous possibility).

Then there was the inevitability of death.

Kel'Thuzad would not be able to hang onto the Helm for long. Azeroth would come for him. They would find him no matter where he fled or how many minions he raised against them, and no matter how viciously he fought, they would kill him in the end. If the very Aspect of Death could meet his end at mortal hands, Kel'Thuzad would quickly become a historic footnote rather than a chapter.

What he wanted was what the Lich King had promised him so many years ago, when it whispered to his deepest, most selfish, unfulfilled desires. Power. The problem with that was, despite his ambition and intelligence, Kel'Thuzad could not accurately describe what that looked like. A little bit of everything, I suppose. Conquer, study, teach.

He kept going back to parts of his life that would have been made easier if only he could wield some sort of overwhelming power against his problems, but those seemed too mundane for a gift given by such a magnificent master.

Master.

Of course that was what he wanted most. He wanted to be free to do as he wished, to make that army, or pursue those studies, or disappear into the wilderness. That was the only thing he wanted to be if he were crowned the next Lich King. He wanted to be his own master.

That isn't a mundane desire.

Kel'Thuzad leaned closer to the mirror. His eyeliner was smudged. Hopefully Jaina wouldn't mind him borrowing hers.

He really wanted to be a chapter in history. No, a whole book. A biography written by someone who wasn't a pitiful, lying Kirin Tor disciple. Maybe more than one biography. He definitely didn't want his chapter to constantly refer to someone who wasn't him- Kel'Thuzad, servant of the Lich King.

Kel'Thuzad, Headmaster of the Scholomance, Lichlord of Naxxramas, Right Hand of-

Right hand of nobody. Master of himself.

Kel'Thuzad, Betrayer of Humanity. That was just ridiculous and a bit hyperbolic.

Kel'Thuzad, Twice Conquerer of Dalaran. As entertaining as that would be, threatening it was more fun. How many times could he sneak into the city before Khadgar decided to throw down? He had to find out.

Kel'Thuzad, Master Necromancer. He frowned. Not while Ysadéan and her ilk pranced through the mysterious land of Val'sharah. That rankled. He was confident that he could find ways to use her magic, no matter how she insisted that the undead were incapable. She wasn't the only one who could draw forth a soul from nether.

Kel'Thuzad, Professor of Necromancy at Icecrown University. No, Dean of Necromancy. Wait- how much paperwork did being Dean require? Hmm. Then again, he could delegate.

Now that made him smile.

Jaina would probably try to be President, Administrative Director, Research Coordinator, and Dean of Arcane Studies, while teaching and conducting research. Even an undead mage- which she would surely be- had their limits. Trust Jaina to find those limits and then ignore them.

Jaina, Lich King of Icecrown, wouldn't have most of Azeroth bearing down on her. Jaina, Lich King of Icecrown, tripped over herself to offer her strength to whatever current disaster cursed their world.

Kel'Thuzad, Lich King of Icecrown, could care less about the rest of Azeroth unless it actively threatened his pursuits. Even then there were so many other factions and powers that somebody would step up to save the world. He didn't have to do it. (Jaina didn't have to do it either, except that she cared about people and what people thought of her.)

Kel'Thuzad, independent party, would be content to let the world burn so long as it didn't try to rule him.

And then what?


"Oh my god, Soffriel, that's Tyrande Whisperwind!"

"Y-yes, I know."

There were several other people in the room where the portal deposited them who looked powerful and important but Soffriel couldn't name them. Lady Whisperwind's aura of soft white moonlight left everyone else in shadows.

"She's looking over here." Kinndy made a sound Soffriel was fairly certain only elves and dogs could hear.

"Where's the Archmage? We should make this as quick-"

Khadgar appeared as though summoned. "Miss Sparkshine? And Mr Shadowborn too. Always a pleasure to see you but what brings you here?"

Kinndy gestured to Soffriel. "Soffriel can tell it."

For the second time that day, Soffriel found himself with too many important eyes on him as he spoke. Tyrande Whisperwind was frowning in the corner of his vision, arms folded.

"Lady Whisperwind," Khadgar turned to her. "Is this true?"

"It can be done." Soffriel vigorously ignored her gaze boring into him. "It should not be done lightly, but yes, some do use the Dream so casually."

She hates me.

"Fascinating. And troubling. Perhaps your husband-"

"Malfurion does not treat the Emerald Dream with such nonchalance."

"Ah. Well then, Mr Shadowborn, I would like to ask you about some particulars."

Half of Soffriel's awareness remained in the corner of the room where the High Priestess of Elune smouldered with disgust for his existence, and probably Ysadéan's as well. She knows. She must.

"Soffriel, I'm speaking to you."

"M-my apologies, Archmage-"

"Is there something on your mind?"

"I'm sorry- I- she- Lady- I am... unworthy."

Khadgar laid a hand on his arm. "Let's speak in private."

The Archmage steered Soffriel and Kinndy down a corridor to a cozy room with a round door. He had been so focused on Lady Whisperwind that Soffriel hadn't really been paying attention to where they actually were. Pandaria, judging by the architecture. A large house? A temple? Certainly a basement. A dungeon? The room held a stack of wooden casks, a long table, and several benches.

"Let's start over." There was sincere worry in Khadgar's expression. "Soffriel?"

He took a moment to collect his thoughts. "I have not been completely honest with you and whatever may come of it, I respect you, Archmage. You deserve the full truth."

"Uh..." Kinndy was beside him, pink eyes wide with confusion. "What're you-"

"I'm Kel'Thuzad's apprentice."

There was a too-long silence.

"Jaina's teaching him foundational magic and ethics though!" Kinndy gasped out. "Especially ethics!"

Khadgar put his face in his hands. "By the Light. And here I thought we were talking about fascinating druid magic and a possible orcish invasion. Tell me you're joking?"

"My sense of humour isn't- er. Not like that." Soffriel fidgetted.

"Oh boy." Khadgar stared up at the roof. "And is this controversial use of the Emerald Dream somehow related to that?"

"No. It is very much a kaldorei druid skill." Now, though, it struck him that it might primarily be a Druid of the Antler skill- or one taught by them- but that wasn't the main issue at hand.

"Why did you feel that now was a good time to bring up your education?"

"I don't expect that I will see you often, Archmage. It felt wrong to let you believe that I am completely Jaina's apprentice. I don't think the Council would have agreed to see me if they knew, but I do not like deceiving you, or anyone."

"Well. All right then. Let's... set that aside for a moment. Answer me some questions about this Dreamwalking."

Soffriel kept his gaze firmly focused on the wood grain of the table while he conversed with Khadgar. Kinndy was entirely silent as the Archmage asked questions and Soffriel gave him what insight he could.

Finally, Khadgar sat back. "You were right. This is worth worrying over. There are some parallels with… I will have to look at my notes… I seem to remember- hm. We best not get ahead of ourselves. Thank you for bringing this to me. This is important information." Soffriel felt Khadgar fix his gaze on his face. "Now, about your choice of mentor..."

Kinndy leaned her elbows on the table but didn't say anything.

"What would you like to know, sir?"

"Why Kel'Thuzad?"

"He is an accomplished necromancer. He knows what I wish to know and he is a capable teacher."

"And why necromancy?"

"I wish to mend and preserve my undead brethren. I only wish to be a healer for the Scourge. It is… the only magic that I can use anymore."

Khadgar shook his head. "I really should've guessed from the robes…"

Soffriel glanced down. Jaina had brought his robes that morning before she sent Soffriel and Kinndy on to Dalaran.

"Clearly he's been giving it some thought for a while," she said. "All they needed was hemming."

The robes were made of mageweave, which, among other properties, could adapt to the physical dimensions of whoever owned the clothing. The cut was more severe than what Kel'Thuzad wore- the collar higher, tighter through the chest and waist- and a blue-green so dark they seemed black in the shadows, with muted teal embroidery at the cuffs and hems.

"My robes?"

"They certainly don't belong on a Death Knight and such colours are not viewed favourably by the arcane community. Warlocks, perhaps, but they lean towards brighter greens and reds to trim their darker clothes."

"Oh."

Khadgar propped his chin on one hand. "A healer."

"Yes, sir."

He turned to Kinndy. "Obviously you knew."

"I did," said Kinndy in a wispy voice.

"Obviously Jaina approved this."

"She did."

They sat in silence for a minute, each eying the others.

Kinndy spoke up. "A-after the siege," she began and then had to clear her throat when her voice trailed off. "After the siege, Soffriel kept me company when I didn't know how to feel about everything that happened. I'd never been in a fight like that and it scared me. It still scares me. But he has been in battles like that and he understood what I went through and it made it easy to talk about the scary stuff. And, like, he knew that talking about it would help so he offered that opportunity." She looked from Soffriel, to Khadgar, then back. "And Jaina is the one teaching him ethics. Did I mention that? Very important. Jaina's the one doing ethics lessons."

"Yes, you mentioned that."

"A bunch of people at the Citadel already know," Kinndy volunteered. "So far the only people who've attacked him were a bunch of jerks trying to attack some of our Horde friends. Soffriel defended them."

Soffriel met her gaze and smiled. You have a rare heart, Kinndy Sparkshine. I swear I will see that it is never broken.

"Yes, I heard about that." He looked between them. "I won't be keeping this to myself, Soffriel."

"I don't expect you to, Archmage."

Khadgar got to his feet. "I think that's enough surprises for today. I'm going to send you two back to Icecrown and focus on the unsettling possibility that Garrosh Hellscream is not yet done causing problems."

Soffriel followed him. "Archmage, I am humbled that Lady Jaina believes I have the fortitude and skill to be Kel'Thuzad's apprentice. It could not have been a swift or simple decision for her to allow this." He crossed his arms in a kaldorei salute. "I do my utmost to uphold her belief in me, and the vow to harm none that I have sworn to my goddess."

Khadgar drew a portal with one finger. "We're all living in interesting times, aren't we? Until we meet again, Miss Sparkshine, Mr Shadowborn."


Khadgar's portal returned Soffriel and Kinndy to the Citadel's eyrie.

"Well that was a disappointing road trip. And we didn't get to ask anyone about the dragon! Ugh. I'm sorry, Soffriel. My brain just stopped working as soon as we got to the Council."

"We delivered our message. That was the most important part of the trip."

"Yeah." Kinndy held the door open for him as they entered the Citadel. "We should've gone to the library first. Once the Council knows you're Kel'Thuzad's apprentice, they'll probably never let you back into Dalaran. Ansirem Runeweaver is going to absolutely lose his mind."

Soffriel didn't reply. Perhaps I acted too rashly. What if they refuse to allow Kinndy back into Dalaran? Or even Jaina? Not that they could likely keep Jaina out of Dalaran if she really wished to be there. That also held true for Kel'Thuzad but he was less likely to be offered grudging hospitality.

"Does Jaina have any books on dragons?"

"I don't know."

"I'll go ask her. Do you want to meet up to study later?"

Soffriel smiled. "Of course. I'll be in the lab, with my rat."

"You really need to give it a name."

"I'll try to think of something."

She hurried away and Soffriel made his way toward the lab. He spent some time tweaking spells on the rat but it was already quite durable, decay delayed, and all of the weaves that could animate it were strong and stable. He tried the basic commands that any Death Knight could use on a risen ghoul- come, stay, attack. It was odd to see a rat hold still and do nothing but stare blankly in one direction. He called it to run up his arm and settle on his shoulder.

Books about dragons.

Soffriel started at one end of a shelf and worked his way to the other. Jaina kept her books neatly ordered but there were so many that sometimes the only way to fit them was to keep them two deep, with another couple piled on top.

Jaina needs more bookcases.

Four shelves up he found a volume with a thick grey binding and two silver locks, one at the bottom and one at the top. Fortunately, the key was tied to the upper clasp with a piece of wire. He brought it to the workbench and cautiously put the key into the top lock. Books with locks were sometimes dangerous or otherwise bespelled and as the clasp clicked open, silver sparkles puffed out from between the pages. The bottom lock rendered a similar effect, this time gold.

The first page explained the sparkles; it was a spell that changed the book's language to whatever was most familiar to the reader. There was no reason for the sparkles to be different colours; someone did it solely because they could.

Soffriel found several chapters devoted to the bronze dragonflight, retrieved his notebook, and began to read.

Kinndy showed up an hour later, bearing pastries and some variety of herbal tea.

"Jaina says she has a big silver book about-"

"I found it. Here, take a look."

Kinndy set her food on a table across the room, away from the dissecting tools on Soffriel's workbench, and joined him.

"The parts about bronze dragon magic are too complicated for me. Maybe you'll have better luck figuring out what the author means."

She turned the book around and frowned. "Oh, wow. This is really advanced stuff... Well, I'll give it a shot."

"I'll see if there are any other books."

Soffriel started where he found the first book but after half an hour, Jaina's collection yielded nothing more.

"Hey, see if you can find something about portals and summoning. I bet Jaina has a lot on that topic and if I'm reading this right, the whole time travelling thing is kinda like portals."

That search was much more productive.

"Okay, look for chapters about long-distance portal travel..."

Soffriel paged through one book after another, offering Kinndy sections that seemed likely.

"Ugh! I don't understand half of what this says! Listen to this: 'pervasive multi-spatial navigation objectives require the assumption of existing orthogonal planes'- that's the title of one section. And this: 'disabusing the inconsistency narrative with contemporary abstractions'. Also: 'patterns of instability and the capture of arcane traceries'." Kinndy flopped face-down into the book.

"Break time," said Soffriel.

Kinndy looked up reluctantly. "But-"

"It's been two hours. You can't subsist on pastries-"

"Jaina does. I'll just walk around the lab a couple of times to clear my head-"

Soffriel got to his feet. "Go or I'll carry you."

Kinndy blinked at him, then burst into giggles. "Wow. Okay."

They headed off toward the mess hall. "I really wish we'd asked Khadgar about this stuff. It seemed like he knew something, don't you think? He had that look."

Soffriel nodded. "Yes, he- Ah! Of course! Khadgar has been to Outland. Is it not located in another plane? That one book said something about othag- orthing- other planes."

"Outland is in- I don't know exactly. I've heard some say it exists in the astral wind, or the same plane as the Twisting Neth... The Twisting Nether! Oh! Soffriel! I have an idea!" Kinndy flagged down a wandering skeleton. "Can you find Zaphine, please?"

The skeleton halted and stood still, then turned and pointed down another hall.

"Zaphine?" asked Soffriel, almost trotting to keep up with her.

"Yeah! She's a warlock! Warlocks can summon demons-"

"-and demons come from the Twisting Nether-"

"-which is another plane!"

"That's very smart."

"I mean, she told me she's not able to summon a demon minion yet but maybe she knows something about how to- hey! Zaphine! Zaphine! Can I ask you a question? Or maybe a bunch of questions?"

The warlock was wearing a cloak and a bulging knapsack. "Ay, Kinndy! Why you inna hurry?"

"Oh, sorry. Are you going somewhere?"

"Yah. I be goin' home."

"To Sen'jin?" Soffriel asked.

She nodded. "Gonna visit my papa. Show 'em what I become."

Soffriel struggled to keep his expression neutral. Fortunately Zaphine was focused on Kinndy. Would I recognize my parents if I met them?

Zaphine unslung her knapsack and crouched to dig through it. "I probably not gonna use this while am away." She pulled out a tattered black book. There was a red cord wrapped around it several dozen times, secured with a button made from the pointed tooth of some animal. "Careful- I been bit by it sometimes."

"Bit?"

Zaphine nodded. "Yeah- it has teeth 'round the edges."

"Um, yikes. Thanks for the warning."

"Get you leather gloves." She looked up at Soffriel. "Or wear your armour."

"So this is a loan? You're gonna come back to Icecrown?"

Zaphine nodded. "I like it here. An' now I can wear my favourite clothes- don't needa worry 'bout the cold anymore." She resettled the knapsack. "Sides, I got no one to study wi' in Sen'jin."

"Thank you so much." Kinndy opened her arms for a hug and Zaphine crouched again. "Have a safe trip!"

Zaphine stood and cocked her head at Soffriel. "I gonna get a hug from you too?"

The only person Soffriel could remember hugging was Jaina during their Pandarian vacation, and that had been more her hugging him than a mutual embrace. He knew why she did it but there was still the sharp doubt that he didn't deserve it.

In defiance, he stepped forward and pulled Zaphine against his chest. She was a head shorter than him and fit right under his chin. This is nice.

"Well, now I definitely gotta come back." Her tusks peeked over the edge of her smile. "Take care ah my book."

"Don't worry! We will!"

She waved and headed down the corridor toward the Citadel entrance.

They turned back the other direction. Soffriel had to physically steer Kinndy toward the mess hall rather than the lab and the moment they sat down at a table, she was unbinding the black book. She used two forks to open it, which proved to be wise since the book did in fact have rows of pointy teeth edging both covers and took a snap at her.

"Oh no." Her shoulders sagged. She used one fork to flip through the pages. "Most of this isn't… I can't read this language. What is it?"

"Demonic script. Kel'Thuzad has a dictionary."

"Of course he does! For once his creepy stuff is useful."


Kel'Thuzad could hear the apprentices from halfway down the hall. Well, he could hear Kinndy and some silences that he took to be Soffriel's part in the conversation.

"-that makes sense but how does it work?"

"It's more than just brute strength. There are so many layers."

Kel'Thuzad entered the room to see them huddled together over a large book bound in red linen. A handful of paper flags fluttered from one corner.

He cleared his throat. Kinndy made a satisfying squeal and Soffriel immediately sat up straight.

"And how is A History of Planar Misadventure going to help reassemble Jaina's cloak?"

Kinndy paled. "We were looking for information on the bronze dragonflight-"

"That isn't your assignment."

Kinndy looked like she wanted to argue but Soffriel elbowed her.

"Sorry. We just got a little excited by the whole time travel thing."

He didn't say anything but he narrowed his eyes as he passed the workbench. There were hasty gnomish footsteps and the sound of fabric scuffling and then conversation at a more sensible volume.

Kel'Thuzad picked up the History and carried it to his chair with a pen and a little box of newly-cut paper flags.

Peace and scholastic dedication continued for another hour. The apprentices almost succeeded at one point, which led to Kinndy standing on the bench cheering until their attempt fell apart into flowers again. Kel'Thuzad swallowed a compliment.

Then Ysadéan appeared in the doorway, hands tucked into her sleeves.

"Kel'Thuzad."

He glared up from the book.

"Jaina requires our attendance."

He set the book aside. "What's this about?"

Ysadéan smiled broadly. "Call it… ascension."