Kalecgos, Spell-Weaver of the Blue Dragonflight, held back a growl. He was once again shirtless.

He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. These are good kids, he reminded himself. These are teenagers pushing their limits. He glared at the assembled students. A few appeared to realize they'd perhaps stepped out of line and quickly stood straight. The laughter trailed off into awkward coughing.

"I will remind you," Kalec said, trying to keep the growl out of his tone, "That banishing is not part of this exercise." He looked around the room, meeting the eyes of many of his students; apparently the floor and ceiling were very interesting. Kalec knew the feeling of their magic now and it was always the same culprits. He didn't know why they disliked him so intensely, why they stared and why they tried to embarrass him. Each one appeared to look innocent. Kalec tried to let go of the frown. He'd have to speak with Modera once she was out of the meeting.

Hopefully the meeting was going well. Jaina hadn't spoken her fears aloud but he'd seen the anxiety in the tightness of her shoulders, rigidity of her stance, and the way she'd alternately clung to her report or regarded it as some sort of unexploded weapon.

Kalec conjured another shirt and crossed his arms. "Evocations. Team one on cleanup," he ordered. The students sighed and grumbled but formed up into lines and began their drills.

"Archmage," the gnome girl, Helly, called his attention as her line formed up near him. "Can you tell us what the Council is meeting about?"

"My understanding of Dalaran is that the Council's business is confidential," Kalec said. He made a spinning gesture with his hand, indicating she should turn around pay attention to the drill.

"Well, kinda," she said. "I mean we all know they're voting on something big. You know what it is, right?"

"What makes you think I'd know anything?" Kalec asked. "And you're dropping your fire again."

The gnome girl smiled sweetly. Too sweetly, he was learning. "Well you happen to be in a close relationship with the Grand Magus."

"Are you suggesting Jaina would improperly share confidential information with me simply because I'm her consort?" He asked, arching an eyebrow. Half the class giggled, and Kalec suppressed another sigh. Clearly he'd said something inappropriate again. He'd have to ask what it was.

"Well, no," Helly admitted, twisting a lock of bright green hair around a finger. "But my parents talk about stuff all the time with one another so... Is it really inappropriate?"

"You mean as it would be inappropriate for me to share with you even if I did know something? Eyes on your target, Nimar." Most of the class was trying to listen in. Most were also very bad at pretending they were not listening.

"Aw come on, tell us something!"

"We're having class, Helly."

"After class? We wouldn't tell. Well, I know I wouldn't."

Kalec sighed. "I will tell you something after class, provided you all execute these drills correctly," he said, raising his voice loud enough everyone could hear over the bang and sizzle of fireballs hitting targets.

It was impressive just how quickly they could shape up. Kalec rolled his eyes and resumed monitoring their form and output. Truthfully he wasn't an expert at this by any means, but Modera was in session with Jaina, supporting the reintegration position. And in his opinion, what he knew wasn't inappropriate at all. He was Jaina's consort and as far as he had been able to ascertain, being a sounding board and being of assistance was a duty among humans as much as it was among dragons. He wasn't certain how much Lily Runeweaver was consulted by her husband on details, but Kalec had no doubt Ansirem spoke with her of confidential matters. And like it was his duty to be there for his mate when she was worrying late into the night, it was his duty to be silent in public.

They wrapped up their practice and Kalec checked the time. It was only slightly early and truthfully he was anxious to see what the result of the meeting was if Jaina was done. Kalec called for the end and the group of teenagers crowded around, eyes bright for the latest gossip.

Kalec cleared his throat and waited for total silence. Some of the students smacked their peers until they were entirely quiet. Kalec gazed around solemnly.

"I will tell you this," he said, waiting just a tiny bit longer than usual, just so he had their full attention. "Twenty five evocations of each type by Monday in addition to the paper Archmage Modera wants."

The entire class groaned. A few actually sank to their knees in teenage melodrama. "Oh come on!" "Tell us something?" "Is Khadgar coming back?" "Did Hellscream die in agony over days?" "Is Archmage Proudmoore marrying king Wrynn?" "Are you marrying King Wrynn? Dragons have like as many spouses as they want, right?"

Kalec leaned back as the outburst hit him. "What? No I'm not tell you anything even if I knew something. As far as I'm aware they're still pursuing Hellscream. Marry- Varian? No! Where did you get that idea?" He asked, looking at the blonde elf who'd asked that. One of the ones who hated him and who kept trying to covertly banish bits of his clothing.

She shrugged. "I dunno it's what everyone's saying."

"Everyone?" Kalec asked.

She shrugged again.

"And who is everyone?" the dragon pressed.

She shrugged again, less certain. "I dunno. I heard stuff."

"Like how the Prince of Stormwind is getting married!"
"To a dwarf!"
"I heard to Lor'themar as a peace offering."
"Why would the Kirin Tor be meeting about that? That's a human thing."
"Because of the Horde. Duh."
"Oh. Think Keethri will come back then?"

Kalec spoke over their chatter. "No. Jaina isn't in a relationship with King Wrynn. Nor am I , nor is Prince Anduin being married to any of the dwarves-"

"HE'S MARRYING PRINCESS TESS?!"

There was a great deal of high pitched screaming from a fair number of the students, half in glee, half in wailing lamentation.

"No! No one is marrying anyone, honestly where do you get these ideas? Oh, Light above." He found himself looking heavenward - and seeing the smirking face of Archmage Modera. Archmage Spellsong stood beside her, lips pursed against a smile. "Think I should give them another twenty for being gossips?" he called up to the gallery overlooking the training hall.

The class turned and it was almost worth the indignity of their claims to hear the surprised reaction.

"Sure. I'd give them thirty each, but then you're much nicer than I am." She waved at the students. "Go on you lot. Class is just about over anyway. Get."

They rolled their eyes and stalked away, muttering to one another and casting looks over their shoulders. Spellsong and Modera took the stairs down to the exercise floor. Kalec watched the last student slowly shuffle out, lingering in case the older mages said anything. Kalec gestured and set up a privacy ward around the three of them.

"You're done a lot faster than I expected," Kalec said, frowning.

"It was... eventful," Modera said, glancing briefly at the door where no less than three students were trying to covertly watch. She gestured and brought up a magic colored shield around them so they could not even read lips.

"You do that and the rumors are just going to get worse," Spellsong noted with wry amusement.

Modera rolled her eyes. "Should only be for a few days and this is better than letting those monsters hear us."

"Ah, should I even be hearing any of this?" Kalec asked. Spellsong and Modera glanced at one another and Kalec felt suddenly very worried. "What happened?"

"Khadgar tried to play devil's advocate. Accused our Grand Magus of some rather unsavory things based on what he's been hearing from the Horde," Modera said. "He and Jaina appear to have things straight between them but those same things are going to be said."

"Okay?" He frowned at Modera, working through why she was telling him this. "Oh. And worse will come. And I might be part of it."

Modera patted his shoulder. "You'll both get through this. We all will. But having had a chance to get to know our rather self-sacrificing Grand Magus, I wanted to be sure you knew what was going on, too." She shook her head. "Price of being with a council member or something." She looked over at Spellsong. "Has your husband even noticed you're on the Council yet?"

Spellsong rolled her eyes but there was fond amusement in her expression. "Yes. That managed to penetrate his aura of research and reflection."

Modera snorted. "I swear an infernal could drop on that man's head and he'd continue whatever it is he was doing at the time."

"It was the scourge and you're not wrong," Spellsong said. She shook her head and returned the conversation to Kalec. "We voted to pursue reintegration," she confirmed. "But we're not announcing yet. Not until we've actually spoken to the other side and made some plans here for how things will proceed."

He nodded. "I think that's good. How can I help?"

Modera smirked a little and eyed Spellsong, some message passing between the two. "You continue to be you. I'm also going to need you to handle more of my classes. It looks like I'll be spending some time on Draenor soon."

"We're doing more to support Khadgar?"

"And everyone else," Spellsong said. "You helped open the portal for the garrison supplies, correct?"

"I did."

"Can you do that again on a smaller basis?"

"Yes but I have limits too. It took four of us to hold that portal open for as long as we did," Kalec said. "If you need a portal of that size and duration I could hold something like that on my own, but it wouldn't be for nearly as long."

Spellsong was already nodding. "I understand. We might just have to do the same thing once we have a good location to set up camp," she said to Modera. "I think I'll go send a letter before the mail exchange happens tonight. See if we can't get some reconnaissance of the area based on what Khadgar said. We can chat in the morning." She nodded to Modera then Kalec. "Night." The High Elf left the confines of the privacy wards leaving just Kalec and Modera.

"How'd class go?" Modera asked, making no move to drop her wards.

Kalec explained how things had gone; fairly well except that once again the small group of students continued to try to embarrass him before the others.

"What are they doing, exactly?" Modera asked.

"Banishing my clothing," Kalec said, shaking his head. "I don't think they understand dragons don't have the same sort of body modesty customs humans and others have. We don't wear anything but our scales most of the time." He huffed out a breath. It was upsetting. "I wish I knew why they hated me."

"Which students? Do you know?" Modera asked. Kalec nodded and listed them off for the archmage. She snorted. "Kalec, they don't hate you."

"Then why?"

She stared at him for a long moment then just shook her head. "Modera," he warned.

"You are aware that this," she gestured to him up and down, "shape you wear-"

"It isn't something I wear, it's me but shaped different," he said, frowning.

She looked at him askance then waved a hand. "Questions later. You do realize this form fits the parameters of what many humanoid races consider to be attractive, right?"

"Yes," he answered hesitantly. "What does that have to- They're taking my shirt because they think I'm attractive?" Kalec pinched the bridge of his nose. "Why?"

"Oh, I imagine they like what they saw," Modera continued to smirk at him.

"They're..." He railed off sputtering. "They're children!" They were hardly more advanced than whelps!

"A few are on the edge of being legal adults," Modera said, shrugging a shoulder.

Kalec made a face. "But they're children. Immature! Even aside from currently being in a relationship with Jaina alone, I have no desire for-" he grimaced. "They're kids."

Modera was already nodding. "And for the most part they all know that and they know that you know that. That makes you safe."

"Safe," he repeated, deadpan.

"Safe. Safe to practice flirting if they're daring. Safe to have an unobtainable secret crush, possibly for the first time."

"What's the point of that?"

Modera sighed. "Because it's unobtainable you can't get into any of the really scary relationship stuff, like sex, or talking or, and this is the worst, rejection."

Kalec frowned at her. None of those things were scary. "I don't follow."

She smiled and patted his shoulder. "Ask Jaina. Tell her, and quote me directly, that Modera said your class is 'hot for teacher' and would she please explain what I mean by that."

"What do you mean by that?" Kalec asked.

"Ask Jaina," Modera said. "She'll have fun explaining and Light knows we need some fun after today."

"Was it that bad?"

Modera blew out a breath. "Some of the Horde think it within reason that she would invite them back into Dalaran just to kill them. A trap like what Garrosh made of Theramore."

"What?" Cold, furious anger filled him. And like a cold snap, the ice cracked and thawed nearly instantly. His heart ached for his mate. "Where is Jaina?"

"Office. Working. Look, about the kids, I'll read them the riot act when class resumes next week. It's inappropriate. If they continue to do it, you have my permission to use feedback and reflection shields." She sighed. "And I hate to say it, but maybe I shouldn't let you be alone with them one on one. I know you'd never do anything, but they're stupid hormonal kids. Call me paranoid but I'd rather you didn't have to deal with one of those brats lying or being told to lie to get at you or Jaina."

Kalec's jaw dropped then he closed it. "I understand." He sighed. "This is far more complicated than I expected."

She smiled sadly. "You're telling me." She jerked her head over her shoulder in the vague direction of the citadel. "Jaina's probably in her office and I imagine she'd like a visit from you." She waved a hand and brought her privacy screens down. Kalec did the same.

"Thank you."

They bid the other farewell and Kalec nearly tripped over two of the boys in his last class as he left the room. Given what Modera had said, he wasn't in a mood for their adolescent boundary pushing, so each boy earned an extra ten exercises.

Jaina's office door was open and the midday sunlight through her window made her hair shine. There were dark circles under her eyes however. Kalec closed the door behind him and went to his mate. She set her pen aside and rose to accept his embrace. She leaned heavily into him, face pressed against the crook of his neck, arms tight around him.

"I saw Spellsong and Modera. You did it." He nuzzled the side of her face, hands skimming soothingly over her back and shoulders.

"Five down," she sighed. "The whole... rest of city to go."

He kissed her temple. "You'll win them over. I'll do whatever I can to help you."

She squeezed her arms around him. "Just be there for me. They- What did they tell you?"

"The worst of what Khadgar brought up," he admitted, gently grooming his fingers through her hair. She made a very tiny sound of pain and he kissed her temple again.

"That hurt," she admitted. "That hurt a lot." She was silent for awhile as he held her and ran his fingers through her hair and over her back. "I might have to step down or step aside."

"Well, I love you for your incredibly sexy mind rather than your lofty titles," he said, trying to get her to smile. "And whatever happens, you've done so much good here."

"My sexy mind?" she asked, arching a silvered eyebrow.

"Sexy other things as well," he admitted easily. That earned him a little giggle. He stole a kiss then set his hands on her hips and leaned back. "Do you need me here or am I distracting?"

"You're a bit distracting," she said, reaching up to draw her fingers through his hair. "I have more work to do, but in a strange and miraculous twist of fate, I don't think I need to stay here late. Once we got everyone to agree, they all volunteered to take on tasks. I'm mostly trying to facilitate." She rolled her eyes. "At least until there are fires to put out and ruffled feathers to settle." She shook her head. "I'm going to bury myself in whatever constructive thing I can find for a few hours and try not to think about anything else."

He tilted her chin up and kissed her sweetly. "Then I'll be home packing up for the move." He kissed her again. "And if you're feeling stressed, just think about that huge lovely library."

She closed her eyes and hummed in pleasure. "So many books by the fire," she practically purred, laying it on thick for effect.

Good that she could joke a little. He kissed her again. "I'll leave the materials out to reconfigure Anduin's hearthstone."

"Mmm. We'll need to get it back from him."

"Oh what a shame. Dinner in Stormwind with Varian's fine selection of wines," he feigned hurt then kissed her forehead. "If you're not back by supper I'm coming for you."

She laughed at the promise, delivered as a playful threat. "Tonight I might need to be distracted," she admitted. "It was... it was hard. I'm holding off really thinking about it until later."

He kissed her forehead. "Are you sure you want me to go home?"

She nodded. "I want to do something before I leave today and I want to be on hand in case anything explodes. Tomorrow I need to speak with Varian about this. I don't want him to be blindsided." She'd done that enough. Jaina closed her eyes. The past was done but the future could be better. When she opened her eyes, Kalec was studying her with concern. She offered up a small smile so he wouldn't worry. "I'll be okay."

"Okay." He kissed her. "Supper." He kissed her again. "Come home when you want to be distracted." He kissed her again. She laughed and shooed him out of her office.

When Kalec arrived home, he picked up the mail and was surprised to see the letter on top was not addressed to Jaina but to him. He couldn't recall the last time he'd received mail. The wax seal had a small depiction of a dragon's paw. Kalec was not familiar with who had a sigil like that as their seal. Looking closely he realized by scent as much as sight that the impression hadn't been made by a seal at all, but by a young dragon's paw. The scent on the wax was faint and unfamiliar. Kalec opened the letter and was surprised to find it had been sent by Wrathion.

"Lord Kalecgos,
I ask that you read this letter and consider my words rather than dismissing them outright. Your sister, the spirit of the dragon Tarecgosa, indicated I should make contact with you. It is at her behest I am sending this letter."

Tarecgosa? Kalecgos frowned. He'd have to confirm with Zaliya that they had indeed sent Wrathion his way. He'd give the whelp the benefit of the doubt. Reading didn't cost him anything.

"Let me first state that I find what Kairoz did at the temple to be regrettable. It was not my intent for anyone to lose their life there and I even took pains to spare the life of Chronormu and the rather ineffective guards posted to Garrosh's cell. I was relieved to hear that the Celestials intervened as they did."

Kalec felt a growl bubble up in his chest. Regrettable? Jaina had died because of his actions.

"Understand that everything I have done, I have done for the good of Azeroth and to uphold my flight's charge. I believe we must be united under one banner to face the coming Legion. And they are coming. Prince Anduin believes me."

Huffing out an annoyed snort, Kalec sat at the island table in the kitchen. The Legion again. And Anduin believed him. Tapping his hands against the tabletop he took a moment. Tarecgosa had possibly sent the whelp his way. She wouldn't have done that without reason. Was there a letter from her too? Looking through the small stack of mail, he found a second letter, sealed with the eye of the Kirin Tor in blue wax rather than the typical violet. The scene smelled of Worgen and carried Zaliya's mage's mark. He set that aside to read when he was done with Wrathion's letter.

"Gul'dan and his organization, the Shadow Council, are active on the Alternate Draenor. It is my intent to see them dead and to disrupt their corruption. To that end, I have begun my own operations against them. The first such successful foray has liberated a grimoire from one of the warlocks. Such books are personal journals as much as they contain spells. I would use the knowledge of this warlock to gain advantage over the enemy of all Azeroth, the Legion. However, there is concern that such a spellbook might contain traps or other dangers.

As you have no doubt guessed this is why I have reached out to you, Spell-Weaver. You are the most powerful of our remaining mages and I know that in ages past, the Blues were able to nullify and contain dangerous artifacts, including those of demonic origin.

While I think it is clear we do not agree on what needs to happen to secure Azeroth's future, I hope you will see that we do indeed fight for the same cause. I will enclose what observations I have made about this tome and the sigils on the cover. When I handle it for too long I feel ill so I have left it well alone since it was acquired.

No need to trouble Archmage Proudmoore or anyone else with this matter. I imagine the Alliance will be aware of my location soon enough and my request for assistance is genuine and free of ill-intent.

Sincerely,
Wrathion, Prince of the Black Flight

ps: Tarecgosa said to ask you what you know about the Earthmother. Which seems somewhat suspect as it's a shamanistic rather than Arcane topic, but there you are. I have asked."

Well.

That wasn't good.

Kalec flipped to the next page. The whelp had drawn pictures of the book and recreated some of the sigils on the cover and bindings. Kalec swore as he flipped to the second page which had further details. The whelp had no idea what he held and while he had little mature sense, in this case perhaps the Light had smiled on him and kept him from triggering any of the clear and obvious traps Kalec could see. He eyed Zaliya's letter then looked at the time. Mail to Draenor was scheduled for later that day. If he was to get Wrathion something he would have to act quickly, but he could read her letter.

"Kalec, I write this to you on behalf of your sister-of-choice as I understand the word translates into common. Sister-in-law? No matter. Tare says 'hi' and wants to know a number of rather inappropriate things about your personal life with the Grand Magus that I have zero desire to learn so she's going to have to live with not knowing.

We sent the black whelp your way. I saw his letter come in with the rest of the mail dump from Taylor's garrison, he's there for the moment by the way, so he finally took it on himself to contact you. Tare says he's very intense about his flight's charge. Tare is not sure if it's because of whatever happened to him in the egg or if he is just obsessive and compulsive. She's concerned he might do even more stupid things if he doesn't know what Azeroth is, and if he doesn't have someone to guide him.

Having worked with him in Pandaria I can attest that he's growing in power but he seems not to realize what that all entails. He's also damned contrary and stubborn. Tare says you happen to know something about helping stubborn, contrary whelps and to remind you of the seagull incident.

Wrathion is an ass but he's not evil. He's a kid with more power than he should probably have and even more than he knows. He believes he's alone and that the ends justify his means. That combination is already trouble. Tare adds that a whelp having to fend for himself, or feeling he has to live alone, is shameful.

So what we're really saying is that if he asks for help, please give him a hand. If he trusted more people we might not have the mess we have right now on Draenor. "

The handwriting changed from common to the glyphs dragons used.

"Kalec,

I don't expect you to abandon your duties, but this is a whelp who needs an older sibling as you were to me. He hates the red flight with a surprisingly intense passion but he might listen to you or someone else in the blue flight you trust to provide a good example.

How are you personally? Are you happy? How is your mate? I want all the details and ignore Zaliya's protests. Gilneans are too prudish. Have you seen any of my brood? I know Moanagosa wanted to stay in the north with her little ones and Aoigos was in the area. Have you heard from any of the others?

Draenor is strange. We are preparing an observational report.

-Tare"

Kalec set the letters aside and rubbed his temples. He would answer the personal letters later. First he'd address the issue of the dangerous grimoire that the black whelp had found. Rising he made his way into the half-packed laboratory space and looked around with a scowl. He needed something quick which would bind the book and he had something in mind but most of Jaina's equipment was already packed and he had little of his own currently. Sighing, Kalec got to work.

He only unpacked what he absolutely needed and fortunately the reagents case was to be moved as it was so it was easy to find the components he needed. Except for a few. Kalec tapped his fingers against the table then left at a trot.

Archmage Karlain was the third resource he looked for. He'd been directed to another vendor after the first had been out of stock, but when he got there he found the stall empty. They'd apparently closed shop and relocated to Pandaria.

Karlain looked up in surprise when Kalec arrived at his office. "Kalecgos?"

"I've been asked to help assist in binding a grimoire in the alternate Draenor by Archmage Zaliya," he explained. It wasn't precisely the exact truth but he wanted to speak with Jaina about the black whelp first, and the archmage in charge of the Shadowmoon garrison had asked him to assist her by helping.

"I'm guessing you need the felweed and the last supplier moved to Pandaria," Karlain said, closing up his office. "My workspace has some. Do you require anything else?"

"I have the gold and amethyst from Jaina's supplies." Kalec followed the Archmage through a portal into the master alchemist's personal lab. Several beakers and potions were brewing under the careful eye of his apprentice. The young dranei nodded his head at the pair then resumed measuring.

"I hope you're using mooncloth," Karlain said, as he pulled an empty reagent box off a neat stack and began to summon items from the various cubbyholes, cabinets and drawers around the room.

"If I can find it," Kalec said, looking around in open curiosity. "We're moving so I had to unpack half of her equipment."

"Here," Karlain said, pulling off a small bolt and handing it to the dragon.

"Thank you."

"Not at all. You're going to be using Kezziky's binding?"

"I'm unfamiliar with that name but possibly?" Kalec said. He sketched the sigils in the air with a finger trailing silver light, then added their translation in common beside them.

"Interesting. Draconic glyphs?"

"Yes," Kalec said. "What would you suggest?"

"I'm no expert but the one I'm somewhat familiar with is this," he said, golden light trailing after his fingers as he drew in the air. The sigils shimmered beside one another, silver and gold.

"Ah. I see what you mean," Kalec said, nodding. "And in that case they are very much the same."

"Interesting. We'll have to compare notes later. I take it this is rather time-critical?"

"Yes, unfortunately. I got the message in the mail perhaps a quarter hour ago."

"And the return mailing is soon. Understood. Do you need anything else?"

"I wouldn't want to impose-" he was cut off as Karlain waved a hand.

"Demons have no place in this world or any other and if Zaliya has asked you to help bind a warlock's power then I will assist."

With the archmage's considerable resources on hand, Kalec was able to obtain the materials he would need to manufacture a long strip of cloth and decorate it with empowered glyphs. He hoped they would be sufficient to bind the book until he could devise a better solution. Holding the box of reagents, Kalec thanked the archmage and hurried back home.

Jaina sighed and rubbed a hand over her face. She'd cleared out her daily business in record time. Nothing focused the mind on work like avoiding thinking about other things she supposed. The Council had come together on this issue though and it was heartening but there was so much left unknown.

Karlain and Runeweaver had promised her a preliminary outline by the next day but had given her the highlights of their thought process in a quick letter. They were debating how gradual the influx should be and the parameters they might use. Reading between the lines she could see that Ansirem favored gradual reintroduction while Karlain was more in favor of just opening the gates as had been done before. She hoped they would come to an agreement quickly.

Modera and Spellsong's initial report was an outline of what they were going to do. Spellsong had tapped a few archmages who were likewise itching to get to Draenor to do some reconnaissance while not discussing the larger issue of Horde relations. Modera expected they'd have reports and proposals within days. The Isle of Thunder had whetted the adventurous appetite for many mages in the city it seemed and she expected they would have no lack of volunteers - which just meant fewer mages back in Dalaran.

Jaina had decided to spend her time drafting letters; letters to the alliance leaders, letters to the various city leaders here in Dalaran who weren't on the council, and even letters to the Horde. She'd written and burned several of each. A few were now locked and sealed in her desk drawer. The letter intended to go to Vol'Jin remained blank before her

A knock drew her attention from the paper. "Yes?"

Khadgar strolled in, Atiesh in one hand, the pockets of his robes stuffed to bulging, as promised, with pastries. He held four boxes bound in twine with his other hand. Jaina blinked.

"Did you leave any for the rest of us?"

"I'm afraid several stalls are now entirely without baked goods, but I assure you that our people in Draenor will be most appreciative of your sacrifice," he said with mock gravity.

She smiled a little and rose. "Ready to head out?"

"I am if you would be so kind. And before we go," he paused to sigh. When he spoke he was once more the wholly serious person he'd been earlier. "Do you wish for me to attempt to sway opinion about you specifically?"

Jaina blinked in surprise.

"I know I am not always the most diplomatic or even the most tactful person, Jaina, but I have not liked hearing the whispers I hear. Not one bit." He frowned the continued on before she could speak. "I know you can fight your own battles, but my blunder today has just illuminated for me how much I have not been an ally." He huffed out a breath. "We need to be allies, now. All of us."

She wanted to say no, wanted to throw it in his face. The little voice, the one which had grown stronger than the rage, told her to stop. He's right. We all need allies. I need allies. Not just for me but for Anduin and for the people here in Dalaran, it said. You don't need to stand alone.

"I don't think you need to campaign for me," Jaina said finally. "But I would appreciate it if you stood up for me."

"I- Yes. I will do that." He bowed slightly at the waist. "Well." Khadgar awkwardly shuffled his feet. "I am well provisioned for the journey. I will be in the more, ah, northern areas tomorrow. Frostwall and thereabouts."

"Modera's initial report said that you believed extending our power to help mail service would be a good first step towards assisting your campaign. I agree."

"If we were to, say, have some extra power run through my tower and some of it made it to the Horde garrison, well, the leylines of Draenor run as they do."

"Not much you can do about it," Jaina agreed. "None on the council would certainly chastise you for allowing it to happen."

"What a relief! I was terribly concerned by the amount of spillover that might occur as we expand the network."

Jaina smirked. "I'm sure you were. Just... be discreet." For now was unspoken between them.

He nodded agreement and understanding.

Jaina helped him cross time and space with his cargo of baked goods then returned to her office. Modera was lounging by the door.

"I was hoping to catch you before you left for the day."

"I sent a reply-"

"Haven't read it. I'll do that in a bit. I wanted to speak with you about another matter," she said, following Jaina into her office. She shut the door behind them and plonked down into the chair across from Jaina's desk.

"Oh?" Jaina sat in her seat and folded her hands on the desk. "About?"

"Combat training. I may be old- excuse me venerable, but I haven't forgotten I got you to agree to some in a week. It's been longer than that."

"I don't know I have the time-"

"If I can make the time, you can make the time. This is important. Best get it done and over with and then we'll both feel better." Modera smirked. "Besides, blowing up targets is wonderful stress relief."

Jaina sighed and bobbed her head in a nod. "As you like. What, where and when?"

"Tomorrow. Sometime after lunch. I booked the classroom on the fifth floor. The one with all the heavy warding."

Jaina arched an eyebrow. "The one used for experimental warcasting?"

"Yep."

"Do I want to know why?"

Modera grinned. "Because I want numbers."

Jaina looked at her askance. "Okay. I think."

"Good." She rose. "I'll see you tomorrow then. Oh and Kalec has something exciting to tell you about his class. Be sure to ask him about it." She grinned again and Jaina was suddenly very curious.

"I'll remember."

She bid Modera goodnight then resumed staring at the blank document in front of her. Sighing in resignation, she set the paper aside and put her pen away. The workday was largely done anyway. She shut her office and headed home.