Khadgar's shiver as he left the warm confines of the commander's hut had nothing to do with the chill wind. Teraka would kill him if it was a trap. Fortunately for him it wasn't a trap, but it didn't make her words any less chilling. Shaking himself he looked around. Frostfire's garrison was growing with the aid of the frostwolves, but Khadgar knew that a conflict with the local Ogres was all but assured. Access to a better network of contact would help but perhaps there could be more done here. But first, he had to make good on his current promise.
Khadgar looked around the garrison. Stout palisade walls had been erected and most everyone was clustered around a few small tents, but further amenities were clearly being planned based on the work being done to clear and level ground. There were more tents outside the walls as well so he imagined they would expand the walls at some point. There was a delightful symmetry between the alliance garrison in Shadowmoon and the one here; so similar despite the differences on the surface. But right now he had some work to do, preferably before night fell and Cordana pestered Zaliya into following him here.
He found the two mages who'd been part of the original Horde contingent speaking with another familiar figure. Go'el, once known as Thrall, was conversing with a cluster of people gathered around a large bubbling cauldron. The scent of mulled cider reached Khadgar's nose a moment later, making his mouth water.
"Dere he is now," Va'lket said, noticing Khadgar approach. Go'el turned and smiled in greeting. He picked up one of the mugs from the small camp stool beside the fire, filled it and handed it out towards Khadgar. Most of the others present eyed the human mage cautiously then decided they had other places to be, leaving Go'el, the mages and some of the local orcs who didn't care about humans one way or the other.
The warmth of the mug and the fire was most welcome and the cider even better; spices and fruit mixed together and mulled over a low heat for hours. Khadgar blew on the drink with a touch of frost so it was cool enough to drink.
"Did the commander decide to expand the communication network?" Go'el asked.
Khadgar held up a finger as he drank the entire mug in one go. He sighed and held it out towards the shaman. "Oh Light, that was wonderful. I would love another."
Go'el chuckled and served him a second.
"Commander Teraka did approve of the expansion here," Khadgar said, nodding thanks as he accepted the mug again. He looked across at the Horde mages who'd remained with them. "If you wouldn't mind assisting me we can adjust the connections this evening. We'll be using the same spellwork protocols as used in Azeroth if that'd be acceptable," Khadgar said, looking between the two mages.
Val'ket nodded. He tipped back the last of his mug and unslung his staff from his back. "Ready when you are, mon." He was young but cautious and mellow for a troll male in Khadgar's estimation. His bright green mane in its multitude of braids was pulled back out of his way.
The other mage was a goblin woman with long purple hair currently pinned into an elaborate bun, not a hair out of place. Even abroad in a time and place not her own she'd taken the time to apply makeup and dress well so she looked appropriately impressive. She didn't guzzle the rest of her drink down, but then Gerti Frazzlespark was far too refined a lady for such things as guzzling.
Though Khadgar had heard intriguing rumors of her tavern prowess.
"Let's get it done then," Gerti said. She looked around the walled in portion of the encampment with a critical eye. "We should probably do this outside the walls. Just in case someone bursts into flames again." She wiggled her fingers at Go'el in a little wave and began to walk towards the gates.
"Dat was one time!" Val'ket said, following after her.
Khadgar finished his second mug and thanked Go'el with a nod and small word. The orc looked like he'd wanted to continue the conversation so Khadgar paused.
Go'el's eyes flicked to the other mages then back to Khadgar. "If you would have a moment later, Khadgar I would speak with you."
Ah. Hmm. "If we have the time, certainly," Khadgar allowed. "I wouldn't wish to overstay my welcome here. I know things can get a bit... tense."
Go'el's eyes tightened and he inclined his head. "I understand."
Khadgar smiled and hurried to catch up to the other two mages. When they were outside the palisade walls they found a nice, clear patch of snow and spread out into an equidistant triangle.
"I'm gonna assume you've got someone back at your tower?" Gerti asked as she rolled her shoulders then summoned her staff.
"I do," Khadgar said nodding. "If you will follow my lead?"
The two mages nodded and Khadgar slipped into a light trance to lead the working. He'd never really minded joint workings, finding that he understood his fellow mages much better afterwards. While they could be extremely intimate, for this casting they wouldn't be getting into one another's metaphysical pants this time, he thought with a chuckle. This would be more like being on a rowing team - close but not enmeshed.
Val'ket's power was wild and eager but the mage kept it leashed well. There was always something very primal about the magic of a troll mage, Khadgar thought. Val'ket's arcane signature blazed with surprising intensity for someone so outwardly relaxed.
In contrast to Val'ket, Gerti's magic was precise and orderly at it's core, tending to fuzzy chaos at the edges. She too was fairly powerful, but her magic tasted of the Arcane school most of all.
"If we're ready I'll be bringing in Zaliya at the tower for this," he warned the two mentally, using the connection of the spellwork to carry his thoughts. He felt their wordless assent carried back along the same connection then reached out along the leylines of this Draenor to his tower.
Zaliya's power answered back. Or rather, her power and that of her associate. Khadgar had not known the worgen mage before she'd become host to the spirit of the blue dragon Tarecgosa, but her magic was easy to discern. Worgen had a sense of wild willfulness, an almost ferocious aura in their magic. Zaliya did not favor one of the schools of magic above the other and the lack of a distinct impression from any was a signature all its own.
The spirit of the blue dragon leant her power as well; deep and strong, Khadgar could only guess at how immense her power must have been when she'd had a physical body. Tarecgosa's power was cool and deep like a soothing mountain lake, sparkling with what he could only quantify as joy. Khadgar loved working with Tarecgosa and was finding he felt a kinship with the spectral dragon.
Along with their power came Zaliya's amused mental voice. "Took you long enough.".
Khadgar didn't need to see to feel the smirks from the Horde mages. He chuckled.
"Had to ask permission and then we stopped for some lovely mulled cider."
"Bring some back. Your tower is damp." Zaliya retorted. "We'd better hurry though before Cordana comes looking for you. The path she's worn in the dirt outside is impressive."
Khadgar frowned a bit in concern for his babysitter as the other mages present laughed. He drew their attention to the work at hand. "Yes, well, let's not keep the warden waiting shall we?"
He plunged eager metaphysical fingers into the depths of draenor. Frostfire didn't have the deep arcane leylines other places in the world did, but he didn't need a large one when he had such capable help.
The Horde connections weren't as well established as the Alliance ones due to their location but because of this they were a bit more slippery. He drew on the collective power of the mages in the working to strengthen and solidify those connections. Hopefully none of the mail receptacles would explode. It had happened once and Karlain had never let him forget it. He gave those collected energies to Val'ket to watch while he and Gerti laid out the security spellwork.
Khadgar fed the goblin power while she assembled the warding and spellwork, keeping the key details to herself. While it was possible to intercept mail, it was far harder if one didn't have the key signatures needed to unscramble the protections placed on letters in transit. It was an ingenious design which had its basis in the court intrigues of Queen Azshara and her Highborne and had been modified and modernized over the ages. Mailing portals in ancient places could still work! It was fascinating!
Gerti Frazzlespark was a deft hand at assembling what she needed quickly and efficiently. Khadgar hadn't known her at all before she'd been part of the volunteers to cross over with the initial expedition, but Zaliya respected her work and so did Archmage Spellsong it turned out. It was becoming clear to Khadgar why they held her in esteem despite being aligned with the Horde. Khadgar adjusted his draw upon the distant leyline at her deft direction and hoped that one day the Kirin Tor could count on her power. When her work was done she took the -complicated ball of energy and merged it with the lines Val'ket held. When this was done she pushed the lot in Khadgar's direction.
"If you would be so kind," he sent to Archmage Zaliya. Instantly power surged from his tower, reaching out in his direction. He braced himself and caught the pulse, grunting as the wave slammed into him. "Thanks," he replied, even his mental voice wheezing a bit. The writhing energy did not wish to be out of place so he worked quickly, now the one drawing on the support of his fellow mages as he began the final incantation which would link the two lines together. He breathed a sigh of relief as the spell completed. He felt it ripple outwards along the mailing lines they'd already established.
"Well," Khadgar said along the mental link, grinning at his companions, "that does that."
"And the wards check out," Gerti said as she tapped at the spell with a well-manicured fingernail. The goblin grinned up at him. "I had twenty gold on this not being a trap. Thanks Khadgar!"
"Er- You're welcome Gerti," Khadgar said gravely. "Well I thank you all for your assistance in-" Khadgar paused as something Not Right set his teeth on edge suddenly. The goblin and troll tensed in nearly the same moment. Val'ket recovered first, his eyes narrowed as he began hunting for the source.
"Khadgar?" Zaliya asked, her mental voice distant.
"A moment if you please, Archmage," Khadgar replied as he took looked for the source of the ill feeling. "Something is not quite right."
Mage Frazzlespark called out wordlessly and leveled her staff just as spectral hands rent open the air. Her prismatic shield blocked the volley of shadowy void energy that flew from the hands of the advancing ogre. Around them more portals opened allowing Iron Horde and ogres into the area.
"We're under attack!" Khadgar said just as a rather boulder hit him in the side, knocking him off his feet. Dazed, he lost the connection to the other mages. He managed to bring up a shield around himself before the earth elemental dropped an even larger boulder on his head. The rock impacted on Khadgar's shield sending a jolt through his bones. Khadgar gritted his teeth as he held the shield up under the assault.
Horns sounded from inside the garrison and warriors from the Horde poured forth to engage the enemy. The elemental dropped the rock it was holding onto the shield again and Khadgar grunted as it tried to push the rock through. Suddenly the pressure ceased. The elemental picked up the rock and seemed to consider what it was doing. It backed away from Khadgar, turned towards the largest group of Iron Horde and began to assault them. Khadgar scrambled back to his feet and looked around. It was clear one of the friendly shamen had helped him but which- Go'el!
Khadgar's shield blocked a volley of fireballs from the assaulting warband as he fell back to Go'el's position. He and the other shamen appeared to be regaining control of the enraged elementals being used, but the Orcs with firearms and Ogre mages weren't so easily dissuaded.
Gerti's arcane blasts fell with pinpoint precision as the druids called down power from the skies to burn their enemies. The warriors waded into the fray bellowing war cries which were answered in equal measure by the attacking force. Khadgar unleashed his own volley of energy driving back some of the Ogre mages who needed to construct shielding rather than press their attack. The Commander appeared in between the two men suddenly.
"We're deadlocked. Do you see their commander?" Teraka asked, dark eyes scanning the enemy.
On the far ridge the fearsome howl of the Frostwolf riders could be heard. Word had been sent to them but they were still far away by Khadgar's estimation.
"No," Kadgar said as he began to construct a shield trying to encompass as many allies and as much of the garrison has he could. His working was just in time as the Iron Horde managed to bring a cannon to bear against them. The shell hit the shield and shattered on impact. Khadgar leaned heavily on Atiesh as he continued his channel.
"There!" Val'ket said, sending a lance of fire streaking towards the backline of the advancing enemy forces. Khadgar looked and made out the figure the troll had spotted. An orc clad in dark metal and the bones of so many creatures no skin could be seen. Standing beside them was an ogre mage, apparently taking orders.
"Good eye!" Teraka said, slipping away into the chaos.
Death knights and warriors in plate clashed three to an ogre barbarian while druids and rogues ripped and tore at the enemy. The frostwolves who'd been present joined with war cries of their own, their mounts ripping and tearing to hold the line while their brethren ran in to reinforce the garrison until further reinforcements could arrive. Another shell hit the shielding and Khadgar grunted. He looked behind their backline group and saw grunts were pulling the wounded back to be tended by healers. He could possibly assist with devastating force but that would leave everyone in the garrison unprotected. A second canon rolled out of a warlock's portal and Khadgar narrowed his eyes. The energy had come from near the attacking war-band's leadership but he was uncertain by who- No! There! An ogre in dark robes gestured and a small imp appeared in a spout of green fire. It turned and capered towards the enemy, tossing green fire which stuck to armor and burned.
The two enemies were indeed at a standstill for the moment. Something needed to tip the balance. Khadgar weighed his options then grinned as he saw something the attacking force most certainly did not.
The dragon dove out of the sky like a falcon pursuing a pigeon. She flipped her wings and righted at the last moment speeding just over the heads of the enemy. As she passed, she blew out a curious mixture of arcane energy and actual fire. Her pass completed the dragon sped away, quickly outdistancing the weapons and spells of the attackers. She came around from behind the garrison then landed near Khadgar, the mages and cluster of shamen. The spectral form of the dragon faded away as archmage Zaliya leveled her weapon against the attackers and began to systematically shoot lances of fire at whatever target Gerti was attacking.
Closer to him a figure in a long dark cloak was cutting a swath through the ogres and heading his way. The screaming and disruption within the Iron Horde formed a bow wave before the warden. Death remained in her wake. One unfortunate ogre in mismatched armor stood between Cordana and Khadgar. The warden's weapon sliced off an arm then took both heads in three motions, spattering the snow with blood. The owl-shaped helm had a line of red splashed across the front and the warden's glowing eyes were dangerously narrowed as she sprinted to his side.
"We'll discuss this later," Cordana promised. Khadgar felt it most wise to say nothing in reply.
There was a commotion in the backlines and Khadgar saw the ogre mage was already dead and Commander Teraka was fighting the bone-encrusted orc. Her daggers flashed, sending arcs of bright red blood into the air and to join what was already on the snow. The Orc threw the warlock into the path of those daggers buying herself some time. It wasn't enough. Teraka dodged the warlock and sank her blades into the flesh of the orc commander. The commander staggered, clutching their throat.
Portals opened on the field and the horn of retreat blew. But the warlock had not been the one to cast those portals. Khadgar looked around then saw another figure on a ridge further away. It gestured and the portals closed, blocking off whoever hadn't been fast enough to escape.
The reinforcing Frostwolves swept down on their mounts and the unlucky stragglers were utterly crushed between them and the advancing garrison forces.
The entirety of the battle had perhaps taken five minutes.
Some of the outlying tents had been toppled or set ablaze but the garrison itself stood. The snow was red and wet with hot blood. It was already beginning to re-freeze as the bitter wind picked up. The shamen were soothing the lost looking elementals and sending them away. The wounded began to stagger back behind the walls as everyone took stock of the situation and looked for lingering threats. rangers disappeared into the snow in small groups, looking for stragglers or additional attackers.
Teraka was suddenly there, casually cleaning off her deadly blades. A tauren death knight dragged the remains of the orc who'd been leading the assault closer. Khadgar could now see that the bone had been lashed and bolted to heavy metal plates all over the orc's body. The death knight let the body drop then crouched down to remove the helm. It took some twisting and effort and revealed that the metal plates had been drilled into the orc!
"Blackrock," Draka said as she too crouched by the body. The helm was finally flipped back, an armored faceplate covered by a rylak skull. "Why would they do this to themselves," she wondered aloud. "It's insanity."
"They think it will bring them power and glory," Durotan answered.
"Feh." Draka rose and looked around. "I do not see members of the other Orc clans among the bodies."
"Nor I. They appear to be all Blackrock. This time," Go'el said as he looked around the battlefield. "Those were Bladespire ogres."
"Some of their accursed mages, yes," Durotan said. He eyed the mages present when Gerti audibly 'Harrumphed' at him. "The Bladespire Ogres have long been a problem for the Frostwolves and with the backing of this Iron Horde then have only grown bolder."
"Archmage, we are leaving," Cordana said, interrupting. Rather rudely Khadgar thought.
"In a moment, Cordana," Khadgar said, patting her shoulder. "Is there anything else we can do to assist, Commander?" he asked Teraka.
The orc woman considered a moment then shook her head. "Possibly when we make our final push against the Bladespire's stronghold but right now? No. Go back to giggling in your tower, Khadgar."
The line was delivered with typical dryness but Cordanna practically bristled. Khadgar stuck Atiesh out before her, placing the butt of his staff into the slush at their feet. "My services will be available to you should you need them, Commander."
Teraka nodded then looked over at Archmage Zaliya who was grinning a bit toothily at some of the Frostwolves. The Orcs from Draenor still weren't certain what to make of the worgen.
"Archmage Zaliya."
The worgen looked over, ears perked forward. "Eh?"
Teraka smirked. "The dragon was a bit over the top."
Zaliya shrugged and smirked. "Seemed like a good distraction." She straightened and picked up her staff. "Well. I should return. They weren't attacking us just now, thank the Light, but that doesn't mean they won't sometime soon." She waved a hand. "I was never here."
Teraka snorted. "Of course not. You were eating chocolates in your cozy garrison."
Zaliya's grin got a bit more toothy. "Quite right. Also, because I am not here, you did not hear from me that we've pushed back the Shadowmoon."
Cordana made a strained sound. Khadgar patted her shoulder again.
"Well, if I were aware of such things I might possibly say good riddance," Teraka said, a hand on the hilt of one of her daggers. She nodded subtly to the tall and silent death knight who still stood nearby; the only one not feeling the cold. "Got a few who'd love to see Ner'zhul dead. I wouldn't mind a bit come to think of it. Can't say there'd be any tears if word reached us of his death."
The mage smirked back at her and began to conjure a portal.
"Hey Zal?" Gerti Frazzlespark spoke up, elbow held in one hand as she examined her nails.
"Hmm?" Zaliya finished her cast the the portal hovered in mid-air, leading back to Khadgar's tower.
"Tavro Shimmershield in your camp by chance?" she looked up.
Zaliya smirked. "He is."
Gerti pursed her lips then waved dismissively. "Tell him I said hello." She turned and sashayed off.
Zaliya snorted and looked at Khadgar, gesturing towards the portal.
"I was thinking perhaps I'd stay-"
"We're going," Cordana said. She grabbed Khadgar's upper arm and dragged him towards the portal.
"Cordana! Really-"
"Keep walking, Archmage," she said, shoving him to the portal's field. Suddenly he was back in Zangarmarsh.
"Cordana! Really!" Khadgar said, wresting his arm away.
"My job is to make sure you stay safe!"
"I was perfectly safe!"
"You were in the middle of the Horde garrison!"
"I was! And nothing happend! I was perfectly safe!"
"You were attacked!"
"The Horde garrison was attacked by Bladespire ogres and Iron Horde," Kadgar said. He set Atiesh down and drew himself up. He and Cordana were of a height and he glared at her helmet shrouded eyes. She glared back at him.
"Wow, look at the time. I have important commandeering to do back in Lunarfall," Zaliya said.
Khadgar had entirely forgotten the other archmage. He turned towards her.
Zaliya made 'finger guns' are the pair and winked at Khadgar. "You two have fun." Then she activated her hearthstone and disappeared in a flash with a small 'pop' as air rushed into the space she'd just vacated.
Cordana sputtered.
"Well, shall we have a civil conversation?" Khadgar asked, turning back to the warden.
"You are not to race off unaccompanied, Archmage!"
"I was hardly unaccompanied! Mages Val'ket and Frazzlespark-"
"Are Horde!"
"Are Mages!"
"How can you deal with them! With any of them!"
"They acquitted themselves well when we first came up against the Iron Horde."
"Khadgar!"
"Cordana if you had been with the initial landing you'd have seen that not only are they talented and powerful mages, they are decent people as well."
"A troll and a goblin."
"Yes. And they are here for the same reasons we are. To stop Garrosh. To stop the Iron Horde, the Shadow Council and anyone else who would invade our word."
"You really believe they won't just rally with Hellscream once they catch up to him?"
Khadgar shook his head. "I do not. I know Val'ket lost a lover to Hellscream during his tenure as Warchief. I believe the fallout from what happened in Darnassus only made him hate Garrosh more."
A sharp scoffing sound came out of Cordana's helm.
"It's true. If you took a moment to see these people as potential allies you might find you have more common than you expect!"
Cordana's eyes narrowed dangerously. "And what do you know of the troubles of Azeroth when you have spent years in a ruined version of this place," she said, gesturing around.
Khadgar flinced. That was a well sunk blade. He hadn't intended to neglect his own world, but he'd been required in Outland. A'dal had needed him there and he'd needed the Naaru's guidance. He was stronger now than he'd been in years and Azeroth needed all the strength he could give.
"This world is not the one you knew, Archmage," Cordana continued, unaware of Khadgar's inner thoughts. "There are dangers here that will be surprising and unexpected. The history of this place has changed. This is not Outland." She blew out a long breath, her gauntleted hand tensing on her crescent before it relaxed out. "Let me do my job."
Khadgar took a moment to center himself as well. She had been given orders. She would follow them; she was a Warden and they were all a bit... focused.
"I have a job to do here as well, Cordana," Khadgar said, able to speak in a lower, gentler tone now.
"Your job is to find Garrosh Hellscream so we can drag his sorry carcass back to Azeroth."
"In part," Khadgar said. He gestured for her to accompany him back into the tower. "But I have taken on some additional, oh, call them side quests?" He arched an eyebrow then it dropped. "No. These are important tasks." He grew serious then cast a privacy spell once they were alone in the main room.
"Cordana, there are terrible things out there. I've seen what some of the worst of those things can do to a world. What they did to this world. I will not allow that to happen to Azeroth. To that end I will embrace whatever means or alliances I can to prevent that."
Cordana stared at him for a long moment. "Even the Horde."
"Even our Horde. They have as much to lose as we do."
"I don't like it."
"You don't have to like it. If you wish you can accompany me and be a paranoid shadow as I do what I must, or we can see if your assignment can be changed. But I cannot stop what I am doing here."
"Your council won't like that."
Khadgar smiled. "Oh, I think you might be surprised."
Jaina woke a little after dawn and stretched, but did not wish to get up. Her bed was cozy and warm and she'd stayed up far too late the evening before. Kalec murmured in his sleep as she shifted on the bed. Good food and wine and then designing Varian's gift had helped her to finally relax and to put her worries aside. They'd been able to assemble the ward in a single evening which surprised Jaina and perhaps disappointed her a little. Constructing things was fun, especially with Kalec. She'd had most of the components on hand except for the stone and a few reagents, but she and Kalec had made a quick run to the Nexus and had obtained the missing pieces from there.
Entwining their magic on a more complex and powerful working had left them both breathless and wanting. They hadn't necessarily needed to do so but it was fun. She stretched her arms over her head and grinned to herself. They'd eventually made it to the bedroom, but there had been a stop on the couch in the library. When they'd finally settled down afterwards, Jaina had almost immediately fallen asleep.
An arm slipped around her waist. "Do you need to go?" Kalec asked, voice slurred with sleep.
Jaina eyed her clock. She didn't need to be anywhere just yet and it wouldn't do for her to fall asleep in her meetings. She cast a quick spell, setting an alarm for later, and snuggled back down under the thick covers.
He rumbled contentedly and pulled her closer to him. "Mmmm good." Kalec buried his face in her bosom. She laughed sleepily and drew her fingers through his hair.
"Comfy?"
"Mmhmm," he said, nodding. "Dunno if I've mentioned it recently, but I like these." He rubbed his cheek against her chest.
She snorted a laugh. "Think you mentioned something about it last night."
"Good," he murmured. "I like when you run your fingers through my hair. S'nice."
She continued to do so. "It's pretty." Jaina wound a lock around her fingers then let it slip through. It had an iridescent sheen like his scales. "Do you make it iridescent like your scales on purpose or does it require an effort for it not to do that?" she wondered aloud.
"Hmm?" her sleepy dragon asked, opening an eye and looking up at her from his comfy spot.
"Your hair. Does it look like this intentionally or does it just happen?"
"I can make it longer if you like."
"Oh?" she asked, curious.
He grinned. "Remind me next time I shift. If you like it I'll try to remember to keep doing that." He squeezed his arms around her then relaxed again. "Part intention, part it kinda happens. You get used to a form and you do it."
"And the shimmer?"
"I like it," he said. "Bit harder to get it to not do that."
"You rarely wear your horns in this form," she said musing aloud as she drew her nails over his scalp. His eyes shut and he purred in pleasure.
"I don't like drawing that much attention," he said. "And they're not made for this body."
"Oh?"
"M'tall."
"You are," she agreed with a bit of a smirk. They'd needed to get a larger bed in part because of his height. She ran her hands over his broad shoulders. He was quite nice to look at in this form. Kalec said something and drew Jaina's attention back to him. She missed what he said because he'd rolled back into the valley of her breasts again.
"What?"
He moved his head so he wasn't muffled. "I hit my head on doorways."
Jaina laughed. He pouted at her and she soothed the hurt away with gentle petting. "I'm sorry. The image was funny. I imagine it hurts?"
Kalec grimaced and rose up on his elbows. He frowned in concentration and then the horns of his natural form grew out, parting his hair and crowning his head with ice-like bone. The outer set were small and likely easy to manage. The inner set were tall and large, adding to his considerable height.
"It does," he said when he'd finished the partial-transformation. "They're living bone. Knocking them against doorways or ceilings isn't pleasant."
Jaina reached up and Kalec bent his head so she could touch them. They looked like ice or cloudy crystal but were warm to the touch. "The others don't have horns like this," she observed.
"Hm?" he blinked at her, looking up through his lashes.
"Their horns look like bone," she clarified, tracing the spikes to their tip.
"They're not blue dragons," Kalec said. "When we're younger they look like the others. Once we're adults, as we grow in age and power they start to change. They get more pale and start resembling crystal. The exterior layers of the very oldest dragons actually crystallizes. Some of the Elders say it helps accentuate their spellcasting. Mine started to change early but I'm still a ways off before they start to actually crystallize."
"You're powerful." It always crept up on her in small ways. Jaina trailed her fingers through the drape of his hair and wondered at how lucky she was to have him. How lucky they are were. He was powerful but had a very great heart.
He shrugged. "It's a visible sign, yes. But it doesn't happen for every dragon. Tarecgosa's never did." He concentrated again and the horns went away. He shook his hair out and resumed snuggling against her chest. "And if I wear them I couldn't do this comfortably."
Jaina smiled. Her hands went back into his thick hair. "I appreciate not being stabbed."
He grunted a laugh then sighed out long. It was pleasant but a little chilly for sleeping. Jaina pulled the blankets back up to her shoulders. Kalec grunted another laugh from under the blankets now over his head. He crawled up on the bed and pulled her close.. He tucked her head under his chin and wrapped himself around her.
Jaina kissed his collarbone and sighed into his chest. As pleasant as the other way he'd been cuddling her was, she liked this better right now. There was something very soothing about being held close and hugged. In the warm cocoon they'd made of the bedding, Jaina fell asleep.
She woke to the chime of the alarm two hours later, as did Kalec. He grumbled and sat up on one arm, drawing up his magic for a strike.
"No," she said yawning, bumping his hand away. "Don't destroy my clock because you don't want to get up."
He growled and turned back to her, wrapping his arms around her as he buried his face back into her chest.
Jaina stroked down his hair with gentle fingers, smiling at his antics. It was very tempting to just stay here for the rest of the day, but she had too much to do. She tapped the crown of his head. "I need to get up even if you don't."
He growled and nuzzled her breasts. "I can make a compelling argument for you to stay right here." Kalec sounded far more awake than when he'd done this a few hours before.
"Yes you can, but I still should get up." She tapped his head again and he looked up at her. "Last night did you intend to tire me out so I didn't dream?"
He crawled up and braced himself above her, leaning down to kiss her gently. "That occurred to me after the library." He kissed her again. "Before that it was because you looked and smelled and felt so damn good," he admitted, his voice deep and growling. It shivered down to collect at the base of her spine. She gasped as he lightly nipped her shoulder. "But after the couch, yes. That was indeed my sinister plan." He wagged his eyebrows at her before sobering a little "Did it work?"
She reached up and touched his face, drawing her fingertips over his jaw. He leaned into her touch, rubbing his cheek against her palm. "It did," she said. "Thank you."
He smiled, darted in for another kiss then climbed out of bed and stretched, giving her a view of his very fine assets. He turned and walked towards his wardrobe and the view continued to be nice.
"Are you sure I can't tempt you to stay here all day?" he asked, too innocently as he very slowly put on the dark navy robe he'd acquired someplace. It wasn't conjured and it absolutely swallowed Jaina when she wore it.
Jaina sighed and climbed out of bed to get ready for the day. "Not today, unfortunately," she said, heading for the shower. Kalec snagged her fingers as she passed by and pulled her close. The fluffy fabric of the robe felt marvelous against her bare skin. Kalec kissed her, sweetly rather than intending to start something they didn't have time to properly finish.
"Call if you need anything. I'll swing by around lunch," he said, fingers stroking down her arms.
Jaina showered, dressed and hurried to her office, for once arriving when most everyone else did rather than early. She'd just sat down when Modera knocked on her doorframe then sauntered in. She paused, looking around.
"Late morning start?"
"A bit," Jaina said, trying to keep the blush off her cheeks.
" 'Slept in?' " Modera said, her voice implying a great deal.
Jaina's cheeks blazed. "I was sleeping." She pulled missives from her inbox. "I was up late. Yesterday was... It was difficult but then Kalec and I started working on some Winter Veil gifts. We got wrapped up in the project and ended up working on it until early morning."
"Oh?" Modera asked, interested. She dropped into the chair across from Jaina's desk and leaned back. "Do tell."
Some of the tension in Jaina's shoulders eased a bit. "Varian and Anduin invited us to come for Winter Veil. We made a protective charm for Varian."
"Oh now I really want the lurid details," Modera said, grinning. She gestured for Jaina to go on while she conjured a cup of coffee for them both.
"At the base it's shielding charm that can absorb a great deal of damage and reflect it back. We decided to make it good for both magical and physical. It will transfer the blow into a kinetic blast. That part has to be activated by him, but the rest is passive. He likes to be in the thick of things so something like that being triggered by an attack wouldn't work as well."
"I want the exact details when you're done," Modera said.
"Actually we finished," said. "Kalec helped and between the two of us we devised the structure and imbued the stone we decided to use in one night. It took a lot of energy and several hours but we're finished."
"Oh," Modera frowned a bit. "Too bad. I was actually here to give you homework but perhaps that wasn't a good project for you anyway. Too small."
"Homework?"
"You, Archmage Proudmoore, need something magical to work on."
Jaina blinked at her for a moment, certain she'd misheard. "What?" she waved a hand. "Modera I have far too much to do."
The older mage smirked knowingly. "And none of it is magical in nature. You probably haven't had a good magical project in more than a year. I'm not talking about one-off enchantments. You need to get back into something challenging and a little bit more long term."
"Do you have a spare bronze dragon in your pocket to make that happen?" Jaina said with a bit more bite than she'd intended. But she couldn't just drop vital things and go play in her lab!
"Nope. You need to make time and given you don't have to personally oversee the coming and going on Thunder Isle and you've whipped everyone else into doing their fair share, you should have some time available to you."
"Well we've all just taken on a rather large political project," Jaina reminded her.
"You're picking up something you've been working on for years," Modera corrected, "and the rest of us are picking up the slack there too." She tapped her finger on Jaina's desk. "And when you were practically the only person working on that I bet you gave yourself time for research and study even if you were also running a city."
Jaina's lips compressed into a line. She had given herself time to just read and study. By then her people in Theramore had run like a well oiled machine and everyone had free time.
"Antonidas had personal projects. So did Rhonin and Ansirem. The rest of us do."
"Even you? Or is pestering Archmages into homework one?"
Modera grinned back, not taking offense in the slightest. "Even me! Pestering archmages into additional skillsets and study doesn't take up the entire day, you know. You need something, too. Our governmental situation is going to survive this rough patch and I think you'll find more people are willing to move forward than not, Jaina."
"I have a responsibility to-"
"Yourself." Modera finished for her. "You need a magical outlet or it's just going to start creeping out on it's own. It's good exercise for your abilities as well." The older archmage crossed her arms, unwavering, and arched an eyebrow. "You do want to get back to having personal projects, don't you?"
She did. Light, how she did. Now that Modera had brought it up it was almost like a thirst. She'd taken time for herself in Theramore but it was a small city in a remote location, not a world-class hub of activity facing a contentious change in policy and population.
"When was the last time you did any research for yourself, Jaina?" Modera asked, tone as uncompromising as her posture.
Jaina folded her hands on her desk and closed her eyes. It had been before her city had died. Likely the very day before Kalec had walked into her parlor with Rhonin's letter.
"Jaina," Modera called, her tone gentle. The other mage's leather armor creaked a little as she sat forward. "You need this to be healthy in the long run. Pick up something old or maybe find something new and make a fresh start. You spend all day, almost every day here. You'll burn out or go insane."
Jaina wanted to take on something. She wanted to get back into the lovely lab she'd just set up and use the wonderful new library she was still assembling. But it seemed so... Shameful to indulge when so many couldn't, when so many relied on her. It would be so nice to do something... And if others had their own projects too...
"Come on," Modera said, grinning. "You know you want to. Don't make me bring the dragon in on my side. You know he'd agree."
Jaina bowed her head, admitting defeat. "Okay, I will adjust my schedule." She looked up at Modera and quirked her lips. "Anything specifically for my homework, Professor?"
Modera grinned. "Something that challenges you! Your pretty dragon can assist in the research part but you need something that pushes your power. You haven't done anything personal in quite some time so whatever it is, pick something challenging." She sniffed imperiously. "And if he isn't caring for himself either send him my way and I'll straighten out his scaly hide."
Jaina laughed. "Okay, okay. I just-" she stopped and looked around. "It just didn't seem right." Her shoulders sagged as she made the admission.
Modera patted her hand as she stood up with her coffee mug. "It's not only right, it's living well."
Jaina gestured to her desk. "I have some things to take care of but I promise I will give it some thought tonight. As long as nothing explodes."
"I will be holding you to that!" Modera said. "Also, day after tomorrow, unless you have a very good excuse, you're going to attend a battlefield awareness exercise."
"I am?"
"You are," Modera assured her. She turned to leave the stopped. "And another quick question. He's not forsaken but do you have any issues with Archmage Meryl Felstorm?"
Jaina frowned. "No, not at all." Her expression softened a little. "Have you heard from him? I do hope he is well." She frowned again. "Or whatever passes for well for him I suppose."
Modera smirked. "Well enough. Said he might be passing through." Modera turned and walked away, calling over her shoulder, "Pick up a project Archmage!" The elder mage turned back to her at the doorway, her eyes sparkling though her expression was grave."Or I will pick one for you." With that threat she was gone.