It was early morning in Shadowmoon when Kalecgos arrived on the alternate Draenor. The garrison camp was surrounded by rough but sturdy palisade walls and while there were still many tents around, the first buildings were nearing completion.
Eyes looked at him curiously as he stepped from the portal, got his bearings and headed in the direction of the largest building in the encampment.
"Kalecgos!" Archmage Zaliya, the garrison commander, was seated at a table under an awning with some others eating breakfast. He detoured in that direction when the dark-furred worgen archmage waved him over. "What brings you here?" she asked, conjuring another camp stool with a gesture.
Kalec took the offered seat and accepted the offered coffee. "Ah, the item you wished for assistance with. I'm here to provide that. It means I'll be making a trip out to Taylor's garrison."
"I see. Well, shall we adjourn to discuss the matter?"
"If you have the time. I don't wish to overly disrupt your day."
"It'd be disrupted by something. Might as well be you," Zaliya said, rising with a half-finished pastry held in one clawed hand, a mug of coffee in the other. She led the way back towards the completed building she was using as headquarters. "The crossing wasn't too difficult?" she asked after finishing her breakfast.
"Not at all," Kalec replied, ducking slightly under the doorway.
Zaliya grunted. "They made that a little too short for anyone who isn't a dwarf," she said, nodding back at the doorway. "There are plans to fix it in an update to the building. Though a quarter of the camp is Draenei so I don't know why they didn't build it a proper height in the first place."
She gestured and maps scrolls flew from their neat racks and unrolled on the table in the center of the room. "We'll do business then Tare wants to ask you all sorts of inappropriate things."
Kalec chuckled. "Well, she will have to be content with wondering."
Zaliya's ear flicked, hearing the words Kalec could not, but the blue dragon could easily imagine what Tarecgosa was saying to the worgen mage. Zaliya snorted a laugh. She set her coffee to the side and began to set down tokens on the map of Draenor.
"We've got orcs all over," she said as she placed markers, "and plenty of Arakkoa. Taylor's people and the local Draenei have told us there is a group called the Saberon at these locations as well," she said, laying out more tokens and using her magic to change the sigils on each to reflect the various groups.
"Saberon? I am not familiar with them," Kalecgos said.
"Large saber-toothed, felinoids," Zaliya said. "For whatever reason they did not survive the legion on our Draenor. Perhaps they were twisted into something. Maybe they rallied, fought and were killed. Doesn't matter. They're here. Tribal. Low Tech. Intelligent. Some magical combatants," the Archmage summarized.
"We're here. Taylor's over there," she said, setting down two small tokens with Alliance banners. "Frostfire garrison." She set down a token with a red banner. "We're scouting another permanent installation here on this island off the coast of Hellfire." Three more banners went down, purple, red and blue. "There are ogres on the island. Highmaul affiliated. We also know there are Horde- our Horde- forces on the other side of the island. We haven't engaged them. Yet."
Kalec made a pensive sound. "Personally speaking I hope no one does."
"Current orders are not to engage. They seem to have the same. We're holding steady. For now."
Kalec turned his eyes back to the map. "Is it a long flight to Taylor's garrison? Wrathion liberated a Shadow Council grimoire."
Zalia paused, muzzle twisting in distaste. "That-" she broke off shaking her head, "-That obnoxious whelp. Good on him but dangerous and foolish. He asked for your help or are you going in to save him from himself?"
"He asked for help. But I am going to probably save him from himself."
"Huh. Might be hope for that boy yet then."
"I sent him a temporary binding. I have the means of nullifying the rest of the traps." Kalec patted a travel satchel filled with a few implements to accomplish the task.
Zaliya's ear twitched. She held up a clawed finger then her golden eyes glowed blue. Tarecgosa spoke. "Tools like my father and your mother used?"
"Yes," Kalecgos confirmed. "I think I have your father's rune set, actually. I brought a second set to leave with him in case he comes across more."
The spirit of the blue dragon nodded. "Good." The blue glow subsided and the worgen shook her head, the beaded braids in her mane of hair clicking together.
"Stormwind knows about Wrathion in case there was concern there. We knew about the raid he made in Shadowmoon, but not that he got anything valuable. Taylor thinks he's a brat but he's actually been useful while he's been there. I know that his attack on the shadowmoon orcs has made my job easier. For that, the King said to watch him in case he stepped out of line." The worgen smirked, a tiny flash of white fang against the coal-black fur. "I think Wrynn's just glad he's not on Azeroth causing trouble. At least with Taylor he knows where the whelp is."
Kalec snorted a laugh. "And if he is trying to help maybe he'll actually do something this time."
Zaliya barked a laugh. "Hope springs eternal. Now, I am entirely changing the topic since I know you'll wish to be off soon. Khadgar came back in high spirits last night." The archmage waved a hand and set up a privacy shield around the room. She crossed her arms and leaned a hip against the table. "He told me what the meeting was about when he came back and how the vote went. How much do you know?"
"I know both of those things," Kalec said. "Jaina wishes for it to be on the more discreet side until they know better what the response will be from the Horde. Khadgar's looking into that. Do you have any idea what it might be?"
Zaliya nodded thoughtfully. "I know the garrison commander a little from the campaign in Pandaria, but she's not one for magic. Probably one of the best with a blade, but magic is not in her wheelhouse. Khadgar asked what I knew but it wasn't much. More of interest to me is that he mentioned we might be getting some additional support here. That would be most welcome."
"Is the campaign not going well?"
Zaliya grunted and pointed out several markers. "It's going well enough but anything which could bring it to conclusion faster would be a benefit in my eyes. We're closing in on Ner'zhul. The whelp did us a huge favor by striking out when he did. Not that I am going to tell him that. He doesn't need a larger ego." She and Kalec shared a chuckle.
"Once the valley is secure the local Draenei will be in a better position to help support us pushing further inland." Zaliya looked up at Kalec then down again at the map. "The Horde, our Horde, are up here. We know there is a mess in Shattrath." She drew her fingers over the map, tracing red and blue lines converging on the city at once. "If Dalaran is neutral again, we can facilitate massive troop movements into the area from either side at once."
"Modera and Spellsong are making their plans. I've already been asked to help ferry things over from Azeroth at some point," Kalec said.
Zaliya nodded, distantly, eyes still fixed on the map. "Good. Good." She shook herself and grinned back at the dragon. "So. If you fly high you'll probably not have any difficulty getting to Taylor's garrison." She gestured as she spoke, hands glowing faintly with the colors of magic as she wove a duplication spell. "I can give you one of the garrison hearthstones we have on hand so you can return directly here after. I'd appreciate a report on what the whelp is doing before you return home." She finished her cast and with a flash of light and a barely audible "ping' a duplicate map popped into existence in the air above the original. She rolled it up with efficient motions. "This copy will last about a day before it dissolves. Plenty of time for you to fly there."
"How long is the flight?" Kalec asked.
"For a huge beast like you?" She smirked and punched his shoulder lightly, "Call it three hours."
"Thank you. Both of you."
"Of course," Zaliya said, waving a dismissive hand. She paused then rolled her eyes. "Tare wants to fly part of the way."
Kalecgos smiled. "I would be happy to have the company."
Zaliya sent a quick mailed note to Taylor giving him advance warning of Kalec's arrival then the two took off towards Taylor's garrison. They began by climbing high into the sky until Tarecgosa said they were too high for offensive spells or the local rylaks - a strange, two-headed chimeric beast that was native to the world. The dragon and dragon-shaped mage found a nice airstream and settled in to cross the continent.
"So," Tarecgosa said, angling her flight to sail beside him. "How's everything?"
Kalec rolled his eyes. "I am not telling you intimate details about my relationship with my mate, Tare."
"Not even a little?" Tarecgosa asked, pouting.
Kalec groaned. "Tare-"
"If you are concerned for Zaliya she is doing the mental equivalent of sticking her fingers in her ears and singing very loudly." She paused then said, "and for someone who claims she doesn't want to know the details, the shanty she's singing is remarkably lewd."
"We are happy. We've had some rough moments but that had less to do with what is between us and more to do with outside factors."
"Garrosh Hellscream obliterated her entire city using our focusing iris. Frankly, I cannot wait to see him die, too."
"Garrosh was a large part of it, yes. She's healing though."
"Ah, Zaliya reminds me we heard a rumor about something in Theramore. Some big deal ceremony and the island is open again?"
"It is open and not just to members of the Alliance. Jaina has declared it a sanctuary space."
Tare's wings faltered in the air a beat and she had to flap hard to catch up. "She did what?" Zaliya asked, blinking owlishly.
"Ysera has been working with the druids to grow sapling World Trees. She planted one in Theramore during the ceremony to remember those who were lost. I helped with the blessing ritual. It's already as tall as Jaina's tower was," Kalecgos explained. The expression worn on Tarecgosa's face was one of shock and, he was happy to see, hope.
"We can still do that?" Tarecgosa asked, speaking up this time. Her words were quiet and Kalec had to strain to hear her over the wind.
"Apparently we can," he answered back, finding he too felt a rush of hope and pain. So much had been cut from the dragonflights, but they could do this much still. They weren't faded shadows yet. "We needed the help of the druids and the shamen but we can. Ysera wants to plant others around the world." And that too was sad and hopeful. They couldn't do it alone anymore, but they weren't alone.
The other dragon made a pensive sound then flew in silence for a time. "Good," Tarecgosa said. "Good. One day we will not be around at all to keep our charges. It is good we can leave such things as our legacy. So much better than hate, fear and continents rent asunder," she said, tail thrashing a bit in the air.
"Yes," Kalec agreed. They flew in silence for a few moments before Kalec spoke again. "Jaina declared that everyone was welcome on Theramore as long as they came in peace. Everyone. Alliance or Horde. Dragon or not."
"Probably did it to stop the druids from taking over," Zaliya spoke up with a snort. "I am going to admit surprise, though."
"Oh?"
"You didn't see her on Thunder Isle, Kalec," the mage told him. "She was... intense. There was a truce called with that ass Sunreaver and Lor'themar but it was a very close thing." She shook her head. "When Khadgar said the Council's vote was unanimous I imagined that she was bowing to pressure from the others but then he said she was the one who brought up the issue."
"She has been doing a great deal of healing in the last little while. Jaina isn't the same as she was when we first met, but she's been less angry than she's been," Kalec defended.
"So I see!" Zaliya lifted a paw, forestalling further defense. "And I count this as a good thing for Dalaran and the Kirin Tor. You can even tell Jaina that when you see her next. I lived behind Greymane's wall, Kalec. It could be argued isolation has a place, but it also has a time to end. What changed? The tree on her island?"
"The healing for Theramore has helped, but it was the trial."
"Was she really dead like the rumors say?" Tarecgosa asked.
"Yes."
The other dragon crooned a sympathetic sound. They flew in companionable silence for several minutes. Kalec watched the terrain below them change, noting features that matched the map he'd tried to memorize. This world was so unlike the world he'd come to know at Outland, and yet he could see some familiar features.
"So," Tarecgosa spoke up, drawing him from his study of the alternate Draenor, "does this mean you've finally slept with her?"
"Argh!" Kalec sped up, easily putting distance between himself and his bratty little sister-in-law.
Laughing, Tarecgosa surged to catch up to him. She flew above then came down to land on his back, sinking her claws into the back plates as she'd done when she was a hatchling. "Oh, I take that as a yes then?"
Instead of answering Kalec spun to one side, trying to shake her off. The brat just dropped down low and held on, laughing like a hatchling. She was still cackling as he leveled out.
"Brat." He couldn't be entirely angry though. She'd been a much larger dragon before the death of her physical body. The form she and Zaliya could conjure was only a bit larger than that of a drake. It had been centuries since she'd been small enough to ride around on his back.
"Whee!" she trilled back.
"Brat!" He called again, diving then quickly climbing while she continued to laugh. He rolled his eyes and evened his flight out.
"Why are you so uptight, Kalec? Love is a good thing!" She fetched him a light blow on his back with a closed paw. "You've been dancing around her like a perfect gentledrake. It's been like watching a ridiculous courtly romance novel play out. It's sweet but you both needed to get laid. Zaliya agrees with me on that much."
"Tarecgosa!"
"You know I'm right!" She smacked him lightly again. "And besides, if you'd hesitated too much she might have gotten the impression you didn't want that sort of relationship and I think we both know that's not true."
"Tare-" Kalec growled, though she wasn't too far off. Jaina had said she'd worried she was too different, too human, for him to pursue a full relationship with.
"And what is the issue anyway? It's just sex for Eonar's sake!" Her tone turned wry. "Have you been listening to too many prudish Gilneans?"
"It's private! It is something between me and my consort."
"Consort, eh?" Tarecgosa opened her wings and let go, letting the wind carry her into the air. She came back alongside Kalecgos.
Kalec glared. "Do you have a problem with that?"
"Not at all. I happen to respect her quite a bit and you wouldn't be so touchy if it didn't mean anything to you. You like one another and make each other happy which is all I need to know. Besides, we're dragons and we should do as we like." Her voice turned sly, "or who we like." Tarecgosa swept over him and came back to level out on his other side. "Have the others given you much trouble for taking a human mate?"
"I have hardly seen the others," Kalec admitted, the words sighing out. "And when I have seen them, the situation was not brought up."
"Would you name her your Prime?" Tare asked after a long moment. It was a serious question. A Prime Consort was a special position held mutually by the dragon you considered to be your first in love. It was a statement of commitment and even if the power of the Aspects was no more and the blues disbanded, it was a position with potential rank among the dragonflights.
"We have not discussed that. Referring to her as a consort at all is still a bit new," Kalec admitted. The thought wasn't displeasing to him; far from it. But there were likely those dragons who already didn't like he'd taken a human as a mate. To give her further status wouldn't sit well with them. But then the flight was disbanded and barren. Why should any of them care who he bedded?
"Well," Tarecgosa said, breaking into his thoughts, "if you go in that direction please be sure to send me a note." She pointed ahead. "We're coming to where we must part ways." She angled in to land on a barren patch of stone in the rugged mountains. Kalec followed her down. Tare embraced him when he'd landed, a wing extended to his side and her head tucked against his. "Be safe. If you run into trouble, get away and use the hearthstone."
"I will," Kalec said, returning the embrace. "Fly well. Thank you for indulging our conversation, Archmage Zaliya."
"Thank you for sparing me the details of your intimate lovelife with the leader of my order who I will have to sit across from in meetings on occasion," the Archmage quipped back.
Kalec laughed. "I'll send word if I end up staying out there later than expected."
"You should make it by noon without me slowing you down," Tarecgosa said. She stepped back and stretched her wings then shimmered. Her visage faded away, leaving the dark-furred worgen carrying a tall staff that glowed with blue energy.
"I'll be taking the quick way back," she said with a wink. She twisted her fingers and murmured a spell and was gone in a flash of teleportation.
Kalec smirked at where she'd been then gathered his feet under him and launched into the air, rapidly climbing back to a safe cruising altitude. He crossed the distance to Taylor's Garrison by mid-morning, making excellent time. Since they hadn't heard from Taylor's garrison that anything was amiss, Kalec had assumed Wrathion had used the binding properly. However, he didn't want to make it a leisurely flight. It was a serious matter and he knew he'd feel better if the situation was handled. He was drawn from his musings by a guard on a gryphon lifting into the sky to investigate why a large blue dragon had appeared on the horizon. Kalec slowed down and waved at the rider.
"Ah, hello, you're the blue dragon we were told to expect? Lord- uh-?" the rider asked once she'd angled her mount to intercept his flight. Both dragon and Gryphon hovered in mid-air.
"Kalecgos. I am here on behalf of the Kirin Tor and Archmage Zaliya in Shadowmoon. I'd like to speak with Wrathion," Kalec said.
"Oh! Right then, Lord Kalecgos.." She eyed him up and down then shrugged. "If you'll follow me, I'll show you to the Admiral first."
"Of course," Kalec said. He followed her down to the ground where she tossed the gryphon's reins to a stable hand. Kalec shifted into his humanoid form. The guard did a doubletake and stared at him with a strange expression on her face before she turned and marched inside the palisade walls.
Taylor's garrison was coming along well. They had a barracks and a larger central hall. The foundations for other buildings had been sunk into the earth and constructions workers were already erecting the bones of another building. The muggy heat was oppressive but the camp seemed to be in good spirits as Kalec was led into the large building and to Admiral Taylor.
"Have you come to take the whelp?" Taylor asked once Kalecgos had been introduced.
"Actually no," Kalec said, then explained that Wrathion had acquired a dangerous grimoire and had requested help neutralizing it properly.
Taylor grunted. "Huh. Must be why those ogres were after him. Well. He's under house arrest right now, Lord Kalecgos. I'll let you chat with him and if you want to take him into your keeping that's just fine with me. But I'll be having no additional draconic nonsense in my command." He shuffled the papers around on his desk. "Archmage Zaliya mentioned the Warlocks in Shadowmoon are making pests of themselves. Glad to see he got a hit in even if he is a bit of an arrogant prick." He signed a document and shoved it into the waiting hands of one of his staff then rose from his chair.
"Come on, I'll show you to the little prince."
Kalec followed Admiral Taylor outside. Across the Garrison he saw Wrathion and his ever-present bodyguards emerge from a tent. The whelp's steps faltered ever so slightly as he walked towards them. The flash of uncertainty was quickly covered up and the self-titled Black Prince marched up, head held high. Kalec fixed him with a stern look.
"Admiral Taylor. Lord Kalecgos. How might I be of assistance?" Wrathion asked, bowing.
Kalec nodded at Taylor who snorted and waved a hand as he left, apparently happy to leave the dragons alone. "Don't blow anything up." He turned and walked away without a second glance.
"We need to talk," the Kalec said.
The whelp's red eyes widened just a little bit. "Ah, you are here about the book I imagine?"
"Yes and some other items. But let's handle the book first. Did you do as instructed?"
Wrathion narrowed his eyes. "I did as the letter said, yes."
"Good," Kalec said, trying to relax. Wrathion had done the right thing in this case. Kalec was still angry about what the whelp had done at the trial, but that was not the pressing issue. "I brought some runestones which can be used to neutralize the spells we are likely to find." He patted the satchel at his side.
Wrathion eyed him a moment then turned on his heel. "This way."
Kalec followed the whelp, taking note of the area. There was a strong magical field surrounding one of the tents across the way. Someone was using a heavy shielding spell inside the tent. Probably whatever mages who accompanied Taylor were working on something. Depending on the resources Wrathion had, Kalec thought he might have to ask Taylor's mages to support future actions the whelp might make.
"Here," Wrathion said, ducking into one of the nicer tents. Kalec caught the flap as it fell behind the whelp and followed him inside. Wrathion pointed at the chest at the end of one of the cots then crossed his arms. "I put it in there." He lifted his chin and looked away. Either he was that egotistical... or that afraid of what was in the chest.
Kalec gave him a solemn nod. "It was smart thinking to recognized the book for what it was and not open it without some precaution," Kalec said as he cast a few detection spells on the chest. "Better still you not only sealed it with the binding but shut it away so it couldn't accidentally be unbound."
The whelp's stance eased just a little. "Yes. Well. I am not an idiot."
"Not at all," Kalec said, distracted by the results of his spell. The binding was present and it was an easy matter for him to detect his own magic. But there was something else inside the chest; something powerful and dark. "We may need to move the book," Kalec said gravely. He crouched down and opened the chest. The hinge creaked. The book looked innocent enough in the thin mid-morning light. The magical aura of the tome was oozing and oily, dark and sick. Kalec did not want to even touch it but he had to.
"Move it where?" Wrathion asked. "You're not going to destroy it. It's mine! I need the secrets inside!"
Careful of the binding, Kalec lifted the book out of the chest. It felt slimy in his hands. He set it down before it could slide from his grip and fall open. He hastily closed the chest and set the book down on top.
"Is something wrong?" Wrathion sneered.
"The defensive magics are strong. I'm impressed you managed to carry it back." Kaled studied the whelp, opening his magic sight again so he could look at the younger dragon. "How did you manage to do that?"
The whelp's chest puffed and he set his hands on his hips. "I slew the warlock and took it!"
Kalec hadn't really made occasion to take a long, hard look at the young black dragon. It had been years since he'd seen a black dragon at all and he'd never seen one up close that wasn't trying to kill him.
"Would you hold the book a moment, I want to see something."
Wrathion stared at him for a long moment. "Why?"
"Because I want to see if the ambient magic has the same effect on you as it does on me."
"What?"
"It will help me determine what we're looking at," Kalec said. It wasn't entirely the truth but it would give him more points of information.
Wrathion rolled his eyes and picked up the book, mindful of the binding. "There. Now. Disable it."
Kalec could feel the roiling, oozing magic attempt to find a purchase and slide off. The clinging aura was feeble in the whelp's hands. Kalec leaned in, studying the interplay of energies. His father and mother had mentioned the general resistance and resilience of the black flight. His mother had fought them and his father had lamented their loss to the dragonflights. Kalec had fought black dragons himself but rarely. They had shrugged off volatile magics other dragons would have been hindered by, but he hadn't had the opportunity to study the effect for obvious reasons. Kalec leaned in to get a closer look at the vortex of power between the binding, the book and Wrathion's fingers holding the item.
"Are you unable to disable it?"
"I am. I was evaluating how it was reacting to being held by a black dragon with a different energy profile than my own." Kalec straightened, dismissing his vision. "I saw an open area nearby outside the walls of the garrison. Having taken a closer look I think it would be wise for me to do this in an area with a bit more room in case something goes wrong."
Wrathion's eyes widened slightly. "How wrong?"
Kalec considered the tome. "A mistake will probably engulf the book and the user in a column of fire."
Wrathion blinked then his eyes drifted down to the book. "Oh."
"You're likely the best equipped to handle it right now," Kalec said. "I could probably throw up a shield in time, but I would appreciate it if you didn't drop the book all the same." Kalec looked from the whelp to his two bodyguards then back. "You'll need the assistance of a mage to be able to unravel wards in the future. I understand you usually travel with a retinue. Do you have a mage among them? Perhaps whoever is using the shield charms in the tent out there?" Kalec nodded his head in the general direction of the tent in question.
Wrathion blinked at him then followed the direction indicated. His eyes narrowed. "Not Ephial."
Kalec tilted his head. "Why not?"
There was a small beat and then the whelp replied, "He is part of the Admiral's compliment and I cannot speak to his competence. I need competent help if I am to be successful. Which is why I called on you. Though you have yet to actually do anything I've asked."
Kalec gave him a flat look. "I'll be able to disable the wards on the book. I am under no illusion you won't try this again. You need to be able to do this in the future."
"So you won't be staying to help me in this endeavor then." He nodded to himself. "How unsurprising," he scoffed.
Kalec was a little surprised the black had entertained the idea that Kalec might stay. He'd historically been unfriendly with most other dragons. Was there a note of hurt in his voice and was it genuine or a manipulation? Kalec decided he might take him at face value given he had thus far acted in good faith.
"I have duties elsewhere," Kalec explained, trying to use the calm tone he took with anxious students. "While I will not be staying I do want to leave you with tools to protect yourself and the people around you."
Wrathion scowled. "Seems to me that with your flight disbanded you have few duties elsewhere."
Kalec gave him a flat look. There was the prickly whelp he'd heard about, the one who made digging comments and pushed. The words had stung but he wouldn't give the young one the satisfaction of seeing him flinch. "You're on Draenor and our charge was Azeroth. For someone who has used that as his excuse to cause so much harm to others, you're awfully far from home."
The flash of pain was easy to read. As was the defiant glare. "I am upholding my charge by being here! What are you doing?" he snapped.
"Upholding mine," Kalec said, mildly. "Ensuring you are able to properly and safely handle dangerous magical items like that book is part of that. Helping the Kirin Tor is another. Do you have a mage you can call on or should I coordinate with Archmage Zaliya in Shadowmoon so you have that resource."
Wrathion's ire eased a bit when Kalec didn't snap back. He straightened his tunic with his free hand and drew himself up. "One of my Talons is a mage," he said in a more reasonable tone. "She is quite talented."
Kalec his a smirk. He wasn't sure if it was more amusing his group had a name or the possessive pride the whelp was showing. "Is she near?" Kalec asked.
Wrathion tucked the book under one arm. "She arrived with the rest of the supplies I am graciously donating to Admiral Taylor's garrison."
He strode from the tent without a backwards glance. Kalec sighed and followed. The two bodyguards both glared as one followed the whelp and the other held the tent flap open with an air of put-upon patience.
Amid the hustle and bustle of the garrison, there was a motley assortment of people unloading crates from a laden cart. They stopped what they were doing as Wrathion approached, only returning to their tasks when he waved a dismissive hand.
"Neseema?"
A draenei with a fluffy corona of short dark hair, one side side of her face deeply scarred, stopped what she was doing and wiped her hands on her pants. "Your highness?" Her eyes flicked to Kalecgos then back to Wrathion.
"I need your assistance with a magical matter."
She bobbed a slight bow, glancing at Kalec again, then returned her attention to Wrathion. "Of course."
Wrathion waved for everyone to return to their task of unloading a large wagon, apparently of building supplies, and turned on his heel. It was a small matter of informing Taylor that Kalecgos would be taking Wrathion outside of the Garrison's walls to disable the grimoire. The human woman Wrathion referred to as 'Right' was left behind almost as a form of collateral. Or perhaps as a power play between Taylor and the whelp. Wrathion had been annoyed he could not have both of his personal guards with him. One of the garrison guards would follow with Wrathion's mage.
Outside of the garrison walls, Kalecgos stepped away and shifted into his natural form. He stretched his wings and rolled his shoulders before turning to Wrathion. "I saw a clear area a little ways off." He dipped his shoulder silently extending the invitation to the other dragon.
Wrathion eyed him for a long moment. He looked over his shoulder at the guard already astride her gryphon and the draenei shifting her weight from hoof to hoof. He sighed, put upon, and stalked forward, the book still held firmly under one arm.
He was a bit awkward climbing onto Kalec's back while holding the book. He cursed, shifted into his natural form and flew up to Kalec's back, the book held in both forepaws. To Kalec's amusement, he shifted back into his humanoid form again and the small party flew to the cleared area Kalec had spotted from the air.
Once at the location Kalecgos carefully explained the use of the runes to both Wrathion and mage Neseema. The wards on the book were a nasty business which would have engulfed the a large area in fel flames - at the least. The draenei's scars looked like burns and from the aggressive way she was casting, Kalec wondered if demons were responsible for the injury.
Whatever her story was, she was a competent mage. Kalecgos judged she didn't have the massive power at her command that Modera did, but she had been well trained and there were no issues with her control.
Kalec took time to explain the setup to both of them but it was clear that the whelp had little understanding or interest in arcane matters. It was also apparent that unlike other members of the black flight, Wrathion had done little to no training in the arcane arts. He declared that Neseema would be his proxy then paced around the clearing, ostensibly to keep a lookout. His self-imposed patrol always returned to the two mages.
"What are you doing?" Wrathion asked. The draenei mage's lips thinned ever so slightly at the interruption. Kalec drew some of his attention away from the working to answer. It would slow the process down but Kalec had little interest in allowing a whelp as... adventurous as Wrathion clearly was to go off without proper understanding.
"The magical wards around the book form a sort of trap," he explained. "The lines are held under metaphysical tension and require a specific key to unlock safely."
The whelp digested that for a moment. "Are you looking to pick the lock or snip the wires? Metaphorically speaking of course," Wrathion asked, quickly adding the last.
"A little bit of both actually, which is what makes something like this a bit tricky," Kalec told him. "Once we unlock the mechanism we'll see about unravelling the rest of the warding work, taking it apart bit by bit. Unlike many types of mechanical traps there's a lot of energy still stored in the wards once the mechanism is disabled."
"Is that what those runestones are for, then?" Wrathion stopped pacing and sat on the ground.
"Actually the runestones are lockpicks to continue the metaphor," Kalec said. "Expanding on the analogy, in some ways they're like levers if you are familiar with-"
"I know how basic mechanics work," Wrathion snapped. "I am not an idiot."
Kalec frowned, pausing in his casting. Interesting. "Not all four year olds are familiar with physics and mechanics," Kalec said.
"I am a dragon," Wrathion huffed, climbing to his feet again. "I am well versed in many basic concepts even if I have been on my own." He waved a dismissive hand which was accompanied by a small scoffing noise.
That... wasn't usual. Kalec considered raising the point that not all four-year old dragons were familiar with the concept of how a lever worked. How was Wrathion familiar? Who'd taught him? He tucked those questions away for the moment.
"Runestones like these make the work easier. We still have a great deal of heavy lifting to do, but many of these help. Some of these actually hold some of the metaphysical threads in place while we manually tumble the lock. Er- it's similar to that but all done with power and energy flow."
"I see. Do you often do this?"
"Disable wards set up by warlocks clearly tampering in fel magic? No, not often. I have in the past, though. These runes were made specifically to aid in disabling a number of fel-based threats."
"You will teach Neseema."
Kalec's eyes flicked to Wrathion then to the Draenei. The other mage's expression was intent on the working but she appeared to be mildly irritated by the ongoing conversation. Yet, she didn't stop him. It was curious that few beings seemed to call Wrathion on his poor behavior. Both guards and certainly the mage could easily put the whelp in his place. It was equally curious and strange to Kalec that he had this need to backtalk.
"If she is amenable and I determine she is able to handle this safely. I will not place her in further danger because you have a strong desire to kill the Shadow Council and won't provide her with the necessary backup," Kalec said firmly.
The whelp glared but then nodded once. "Fine," he allowed. He drifted closer again, eyeing the glowing circles and sigils in the air with studied disinterest. Whatever failings the whelp might have, he did possess a healthy curiosity. That reassuring familiarity was welcome to Kalec; he could work with that.
"We're working past the second layer here," Kalec explained, expending a bit more energy to highlight parts of the weave in silvery lines and sigils visible to the naked eye. Enmeshed within the working as they were, Kalec and Neseema needed no indicators.
"How many layers were there?" Wrathion asked. "Is this typical?" He'd seated himself on the grass again, leaving the guarding work to the guard from the garrison and his own bodyguard.
"Four I can see. We'll know in a few moments," Kalec explained. "As for the typicality, I would consider this a medium level of security. That suggests to me you found something fairly valuable. It also likely means the information is dangerous."
"Personal spells?"
"Likely. Also the names of Demons and methods of summoning them almost certainly. Possibly some Shadow Council movement information which is what I assume you are most interested in."
"Yes," the whelp said. He watched quietly for a time then growled. "Well?" He stood at his mage's elbow, peering as close to the working as he dared.
"They've layered in the security like a nesting doll," she commented, her voice absent as she was deep into the casting. "We're nearly done."
"Can you undo it?" Wrathion asked. "Will you be able to do it the next time we capture a prize?"
"We can and I feel confident I can do this again," she said, drawing her power from one rune stone and pushing it through a second as she followed Kalec's direction.
"You're doing well. You've done a lot of intricate casting before," Kalec said. He'd been increasingly impressed by her level of fine control and efficiency.
The other mage glanced at him. "Once upon a time."
Wrathion tore his eyes from the book to glare daggers at him. The message to let it drop was clear. Interesting. Kalec inclined his head but let the subject go.
Unwinding the enchantments from the book took the better part of an hour. Once it was done, Kalec constructed a strong barrier shield then used a remote spell to remove the binding and open the book.
"Did it work?" Wrathion asked.
"It didn't explode, so yes," Kalec said, removing the layers of shielding. He walked over but Wrathion beat him to the book. The whelp picked it up and began to thumb through it, utterly absorbed almost instantly.
Kalec sighed and turned to the mage. "Any questions?"
"You'll really leave me those foci?" she asked.
He nodded. "Yes." He looked at Wrathion then back at Left and Neseema. "I am given to understand this is his new campaign. You'll need them."
"The Shadow Council are allies of the Legion," Wrathion interjected. He handed the book to his bodyguard and turned to face Kalecgos. "Thank you for your assistance in this matter, you are dismissed." He waved a hand at the other dragon.
It was very hard not to laugh either at the situation or the reactions of the others. The mage's eyebrows raced for her hairline. She pursed her lips, turned on one hoof and went to go stand near the garrison guard standing watch with her mount. Wrathion's bodyguard considered her charge for a moment then stood behind his shoulder, but her eyes were bright with her own amusement.
"Actually if you had some time I wanted to know if we could speak a bit."
"Dragon to dragon?" Wrathion asked, arching a suspicious eyebrow.
Kalec shrugged. "If you like. I am not opposed to your guards being present." He stopped before adding 'if it would make you feel more at ease.' The whelp was already defensive and walled off. And obsessive. "I'd like to know more about your hunt for the Shadow Council."
Wrathion lifted his chin. "The less you know the better my operational security is, and aren't you returning to Azeroth?"
"Privacy spells can be cast," Kalec said. "No one outside would hear us speak if we remain at a conversational volume. If you need to get your guard's attention she can hear you."
Wrathion eyed his guard then Kalecgos, eyes narrow.
"You had a question in the post script. I would be able to answer some of that for you," Kalec offered. He watched the whelp's red eyes glitter thoughtfully at the bribe dangled in front of him.
He nodded. "Acceptable. Left, if you would continue at your post. Neseema if you do not need a break would you join her and our guest from the Garrison?"
The mage finished securing the runestones into the satchel Kalec had brought to carry them in then bowed at the waist. She walked a few paces off and took a seat, watching the treeline and the sky for attack. The guard eyed them both, shrugged, then turned to cover the remaining area around the pair of dragons.
Kalec conjured the promised privacy shield then a couple seats for them. "Before we get to the other question, I am truly curious about this new action against the Shadow Council." Kalec took a seat and after a moment Wrathion did as well.
Wrathion crossed his arms. "Why do you care?"
"Well for one, it might have an impact on what the Kirin Tor is doing here."
Wrathion glared. "I won't be in the way of your precious mortal mages."
Kalec was equally unimpressed if he was casually racist or if he was just trying get a response from the other dragon. The blue let that one slide. "Actually I was wondering how I might be able to help."
Wrathion blinked then his eyes narrowed. "You. Helping."
"Not just me, but yes."
"Why would you help?"
"Why are you so suspicious?" Kalec asked honestly. It was curious why he would be so instantly suspicious. Was he up to something else?
Wrathion tossed his head and looked away. "I would think you would have little interest in helping for a variety of reasons."
"Which are?" Kalec pressed.
The whelp's fingers tapped on his opposite arm. "Well. I am a black dragon. You're a blue."
"As far as I am aware you're untouched by the Old Gods-"
"I am perfectly sane!"
Kalec continued as if the whelp had never spoken. "- and in ages past, all the dragonflights worked together to help keep our charges." Wrathion's jaw twitched but he said nothing."We are all fewer and less powerful than before, but our Charges remain," Kalec said. Still nothing. "Anduin has mentioned that you take yours very seriously."
"You've spoken with Anduin?" Wrathion asked, the closed arms loosening just a bit.
Kalec tilted his head to the side. There was more emotion than the whelp had shown thus far in that question. Hurt, pain and hope chief among them if he wasn't misunderstanding. "I have. He came to speak with Jaina and me about your letter in fact."
Wrathion looked away again. "Well." His fingers tapped again and Kalec let him have the moment to gather his thoughts. The whelp's red eyes slid back over to Kalec. "What did he say?"
"He said that he didn't want to see more people get hurt," Kalec began. The other dragon flinched ever so slightly, the muscle in his jaw jumping. "But he also said that he believed you about the Legion returning," Kalec continued. Wrathion relaxed marginally once more. " He said he sent you a letter in return." The stiffness in his posture reappeared. Apparently, despite all his bravado and bluster, the whelp knew he'd hurt a friend and it hurt him.
"Well, he and I disagree on methods," Wrathion dismissed with a lofty air. It was a good act, but it was an act.
"I disagree on some of your methods," Kalec added, gently chastising.
Wrathion glared. "I believe I apologized for inadvertently harming your human. It all turned out in the end."
"No, it didn't." Kalecgos leaned forward. "You have much to apologize for, Wrathion."
"Is that all you are here for? An apology because your human doesn't know how to handle herself in a fight?" His words lashed out and found unexpected marks. The casual dismissal of she who was dear to him drawing out seldom seen ire from the blue.
Kalecgos growled in warning, the sound large enough it filled the space in the clearing and spilled beyond the confines of the shield. Young ones tested boundaries but there were limits of what was acceptable. The whelp's eyes widened but he shut up. For a moment. He continued before Kalec could correct the chastized whelp.
"I will not apologize," Wrathion snarled. "Why should I apologize for anything when it means that ultimately Azeroth will be safe! Why should I when-" he broke off and changed what he was going to say. "A few lives aren't worth losing our world to the Legion!"
Beyond Wrathion, the guards attention was drawn to their exchange. Left and the Mage shared a glance while the Garrison guard pretended not to be trying to listen in. Left waved the Mage off and took a few steps closer to her charge.
"It was wrong-" Kalec began.
"No!" Wrathion stood abruptly. "I have upheld my charge. I am the last of the black dragons, or at least the last sane one. I did not ask for this, but the Charge of my flight falls to me and no other! I will not let the scheming, hypocritical reds take what is rightfully mine! You may be content to let your flight surrender but I. Will. Not. Our world is in trouble. I have seen the green fire falling from the sky. I have seen the army that marches on us, desolation in its scene was very clear Kalecgos. One. Banner." His finger jabbed in the air as he made his point. "We will not survive the Legion if we are divided and weak. We cannot stand united while there is the question of who is mightiest." Smoke curled from the edges of his mouth and nose as the whelp worked himself up further.
Kalec sat back and listened, unable to get a word in edgewise, and concerned he might start spitting flames. He spoke with passion, yes, but there was desperation and fear as well as pride. Even if he was misguided on how, it was clear he believed his views fervently, almost madly. Yet, Kalec judged the tremor in Wrathion's voice was borne of conviction, not the madness of the old gods.
"You talk of the Charges but do you ever keep yours? Did the reds come to take your charge too? Did you roll over and hand it off to that hypocritical bitch of a so-called queen you all worship?" The whelp's hands clenched and his teeth bared. "If you're here to explain why everything that happened in the temple was wrong, you might as well just leave now because It. Wasn't. Wrong."
"It was!" Kalec said, voice raised to match the whelp's. Wrathion's lips pulled back in a silent snarl. "It was wrong," Kalec repeated, a low growl spilling into his words. "Everything about what you did was wrong, Wrathion, except your motivation. Actions have consequences. Your actions led to the deaths of many people-"
"I believe I have apologized for harming your pet human-"
"Jaina is not a pet!" Kalec snapped, silencing the whelp for a moment as Wrathion flinched back, eyes huge. Kalec wrestled his temper back down. He was better at holding his emotions in check than this! He was an adult and Wrathion the child. He should not let his emotions rule over him like a whelp. More calmly Kalec said, "You should apologize to Jaina. To the others who died. And to Xuen and the other Celestials. And you should mean it, but at the moment I don't think you understand how you erred."
"If everything has just gone according to plan, if people had just been rational, none of what happened at the trial would have been necessary!"
"None of what happened was necessary!"
"I was upholding my charge!" Wrathion snapped back. He abruptly shifted into his natural shape, wings whirring as he hovered at eye-level with the other dragon. "That is what I was created for! What we were all created for! What the Titans intended for us, or have you somehow missed that? I have done only what was necessary to see that our world doesn't drown in fel flames and demons. The aspects may have forgotten what we are for but I have not!"
"We have not forgotten-"
"Why has Ysera ceded control of the Dream to the Druids? Why has Nozdormu not intervened to help us survive and left mere mortals to patrol the timeways? Why has even that bitch Alexstrasza given up and disappeared? Why is the blue disbanded? Did you want to forget you were a dragon and pretend at humanity awhile?"
The fervor Wrathion spoke with was contagious and his cutting comments brought to mind some of Kalec's own fears. The image of Jaina, cooling and lifeless, was one which still haunted Kalec. The thought of all his blues dead as had been reported by his maddened alternate self at the trial still appeared in his dark dreams. The shame of not living up to being the leader he should have been warred with the melancholic certainty that it was the right thing to let his people live, at least a little, before they died out. And yet he felt anger burn in his chest as fear and shame ignited into rage over things he could not control- and the few things he could.
Kalecgos banished the seating and shifted shape, filling the area and expanding his privacy shield accordingly. Left moved forward and Kalec waved a paw, encasing the loyal guard in a softly glowing bubble of arcane energy. He set his paws on either side of the frozen whelp, lowered his head and growled, the grass and brush nearby shaking with the sound.
"The Kirin Tor will inherit the keeping of magic in this world when the last of my flight dies. That day may come in ten years or it may come in ten thousand, but I act as I must to keep my Charge." Kalecgos let his aura go unrestrained as he growled the words softly enough his privacy shield would not let them pass. The mage on the far side of the hill yelped and scooted away on her hands and hooves, eyes wide. The guard drew her sword and eyed the two dragons but did not approach. Kalec noted them idly, his attention focused before him.
Wrathion's wings tightened against his sides as he rolled over, unable to escape, placing his claws up in a meager defense against the much larger and older dragon. He shook and a very tiny chirp escaped between his teeth, small and young and frightened.
Kalecgos blinked as if a heavy fog had lifted. Here was a small whelp, one far smarter and aware than even a dragon child should have been, making adult decisions and carrying very real, very adult burdens. And fears. The rage of the little black dragon had truly been contagious. Kalec sat on his haunches and rolled his flight shoulders to ease the tension and shook his head and neck, throwing off the last of the sensation as he would seawater. He drew in a breath and sighed it out. The whelp had hardly moved and was still making the distressed sounds of a youngling. Kalec eased onto his stomach and pulled the smaller dragon close with one forepaw.
"I did not come here to fight with you, truly I did not," Kalec said as gently as he could. "And I did not mean to lose my temper," he said loud enough for Left to hear. He disabled the prison holding her and she dropped to her feet. Her gun was instantly trained on him, her grip unwavering and her eyes blazing.
Kalec regarded her steadily. "He is fine. His anger was infectious." He tilted his head, silently asking if this sort of thing was common. The orc woman regarded Kalec down the scope of her rifle for a long moment then put up her weapon. She rolled her shoulders and nodded. Kalec nodded back and regarded the shaking ball of black scale currently held in the crook of one forelimb.
"I am sorry I lost my temper. Can we start again?" He reeled in his aura and tried to appear as non threatening as he could. Shame burned in his breast. This was a whelp. Even if he was obnoxious and ill mannered Kalec was the older one.
Wrathion glared up at him, angry, wary and embarrassed perhaps. "If you're here to just take me and throw me into a cell get it over with," he ground out.
"I am not here to do that and I am not here to fight you," Kalec said.
"Then why are you here?" Wrathion asked, uncurling only a little bit.
Kalec sighed. "To help you with the book and then to speak with you specifically. I wanted to answer your question about the Earthmother and I wanted to understand what you were trying to accomplish here on Draenor." When there was no comment from the whelp Kalec asked, "Please tell me about the Shadow Council hunt?"
Wrathion stared up at him for a long moment. Finally he snorted and twisted around. He scrambled up so he was sitting on Kalec's wrist. "They will bring the Legion again if they are not stopped."
"And that is why you arranged things at the trial?"
"I did not-" he shouted then attempted to be calm. "The Iron Horde is stronger than the Alliance or the Horde of Azeroth. They will conquer and Azeroth will be safely united under a single banner." He lifted his nose into the air. "And I will see to it they are not influenced by the Legion."
"You didn't arrange this. Kairoz did," Kalec said, musing aloud.
Wrathion glared. "Well what else was I supposed to do when Wrynn turned out to be spineless and weak? He had the Horde at his mercy! Even Proudmoore was talking sense for once and what did Wrynn do? He let them go!" Wrathion began to pace up and down Kalec's arm, each step an angry stomp.
The statement about Jaina brought to mind some of the sharper things she'd said in the last year. She'd done a lot of healing but this was still very much the view many had of her.
"I imagine she'll be quite angry when she finds out you've been here. It might be wise if neither of us told her, don't you think?" Wrathion said with a suddenly toothy grin.
Kalecgos blinked down at him. Light, the whelp had just tried to coerce him. After Kalec had scared him half out of his wits. Kalecgos blinked. And the whelp thought it might work, too. The child was either touched in the head or remarkably resilient. Or possibly both. Kalecgos sighed. Wrathion should not have been left alone as he had been; Tarecgosa was right.
"Jaina knows I am here, Wrathion," Kalec told him gently.
"What?" He looked around, as if the mage might appear and turn him into a pile of ash.
Kalec shook his head and gently set the whelp back on the ground. "Jaina knows I am here," he repeated.
"Why did you tell her? I told you we didn't need to involve-"
"Because she is my mate, Wrathion. Because it would be wrong not to tell her." He sighed at the scoffing whelp and continued. "You hurt her. Indirectly but you did. You enabled the scenario in which she died and you more directly hurt Anduin whom she thinks of as kin. Aside from that I love and respect her. She is my consort. Dragons do not keep important matters from their consorts."
Wrathion huffed and rolled his eyes.
"Beyond my personal attachments, she is the leader of the Kirin Tor and Archmages Zaliya and Khadgar are already here. She is also in a position to extend help to you as well."
"Unlikely. In enacting far greater and more important matters I stole from her the pleasure of seeing Hellscream die. I doubt she would extend help, as meager as a mortal mage can give."
Kalecgos chuckled. "Wrathion, I think you have a somewhat limited view of the situation. If you show good faith in your actions here then you would find yourself with ample assistance."
"Feh! No one gives anyone anything." He waved a dismissive paw. "And in any case my work is too important to wait for mere mortals to catch up." He sniffed. "We are dragons. We do what we want and as we please."
"We can," Kalec said. "So can everyone," he added emphasizing the point slightly. He let that sink in before continuing. "While such things are more accepted among dragons culturally, we still have to face consequences for our actions. I do. You do. Even Alexstrasza does."
Wrathion scoffed and muttered uncomplimentary things under his breath. "I think we're done here," he said aloud.
"I have a question for you before we depart."
Wrathion rolled his eyes and crossed his forepaws over his chest in a very human gesture. "What?"
"What does your Charge mean to you?"
The younger dragon blinked. "We were given dominion over the earth-"
"Not what I meant. What does it mean to you? Personally?"
Wrathion frowned as if he didn't quite understand the question. "We protect Azeroth," he finally answered.
"But what does that mean?"
Wrathion's wings flapped. "Stop with the word games!"
"No games. I am honestly asking."
Wrathion sputtered. "But- it's obvious! I protect Azeroth." He drew himself up and glared up at Kalecgos. "I am the last of the Black Flight and it is my duty to see that Azeroth doesn't come to harm."
"But what does that mean?"
"I keep answering you! Are you not listening?"
He wasn't ready, Kalec could tell. He also didn't know despite whatever other knowledge might have been gained or granted to him. One day, possibly soon, Wrathion would be able to handle the truth of Azeroth and the reason for the Charges, but not yet. The Charge was a vague compelling notion that almost overrode other ideas.
"Protecting Azeroth is what you do," Kalec said. He touched a gentle clawtip to Wrathion's chest. "But you still need to decide what the Charge means to you. How you feel about it. How you connect to it. How you go about living it."
"I am!"
"To an extent," Kalec allowed. "My charge is the keeping of magic and the management of it, but magic should not be hoarded. That was Malygos' great mistake. Magic should be appreciated and even enjoyed." He smiled, thinking back to the conversation he'd had with Kinndy not that long ago. "I wish to see magic managed well, so I teach my appreciation, and my respect, to others. But these are not actions explicit in the instructions we received from Norgannon."
"We're dragons," Wrathion protested. "This is our purpose!"
"They are guiding forces in our lives and our society," Kalec said, "but they are not strict marching orders."
Wrathion growled. "Speak plainly!"
Kalec considered the whelp for a moment before answering. "When you say your charge is to protect Azeroth, I want you to think about what that means. Is Azeroth just the land or is it something more?"
The whelp fell silent mid-protest. He started to answer but then fell silent again. Kalecgos leaned forward so he was almost snout to snout with the younger dragon.
"Consider that question seriously for a few days." He shifted back into his humanoid form and Wrathion followed.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I want to continue this conversation but you should consider the question seriously." Wrathion looked ready to protest again and Kalec held up a hand. "Figuring this out is something all dragons do, even black ones." The whelp subsided into a grumpy pout. Kalec nodded at Mage Neseema. "You have the tools you need to handle many of the threats here, but I will make myself available to you should you come across something more substantial."
"You aren't going to stop me?" Wrathion asked. "Or drag me back to Azeroth?"
Kalec shook his head. "No. That would serve no purpose." He nodded in the general direction of Shadowmoon. "I don't like the Legion anymore than you do. If you can do some good here in stopping them, then that is time well spent."
Wrathion digested that on the flight back to Taylor's Garrison. When they landed the whelp gave him a gimlet eye but inclined his head very slightly and stalked back behind the palisade walls. Kalecgos made a quick stop in Admiral Taylor's office, thanking him for his assistance. Kalec found the orc bodyguard, Left, waiting to escort him from the garrison when he left Taylor.
"Did your younger master send you?" Kalec asked.
Left smirked, bearing her teeth a little at him before sobering. "No. Threaten my Prince again and I will turn your hide into some very nice leather, make jewelry out of your teeth and use your claws as tableware."
Kalec frowned. "He has no idea he can influence the emotions of people around him, does he?"
The orc woman's cheerfully threatening grin fell in an instant to a dangerously neutral expression. Left glanced to the side, then back. "We think he has no idea. We think most Talons do not realize it." Her expression eased slightly. "Will it cause him trouble?"
"Only if he ends up provoking someone who has little control over their anger. I will be on guard now and he and I should not have further... incidents."
"This is the first time I have witnessed him provoke rage," the orc woman said. "My counterpart believes he should grow into it naturally."
Kalec looked at the tent Wrathion had claimed then back at Left. "Something tells me she is correct. This is a gift he should discover on his own. Here," he said, pulling a slip of paper from thin air. A burst of power inscribed the glyphs of his name on the parchment. A second of focus and he tied the scroll to the location and person he wished. "If he runs into trouble, burn this. Archmage Zaliya will be notified and she can notify me in turn."
She eyed the paper then accepted it silently. She inclined her head very slightly and walked away. Kalec wasn't certain if he'd been successful in opening a line of communication or closing it entirely but he could only move forward. He took the hearthstone activated it and returned to Shadowmoon Garrison.