Jaina returned to Dalaran still holding the flower that Vol'jin had handed to her. She walked to her office automatically, her mind on the blossom and the Warchief's words. Spirits? On her island? He'd said they were laughing. Jaina wondered if they were drawn by the tree or were they the spirits of those departed.
"Jaina?" Ansirem Runewaver called out as she passed by his door. Drawn from her reverie, Jaina paused. Karlain and Ansirem joined hallway between the rooms the Council used as offices. Jaina set aside the question of who Vol'Jin might have been referring to and turned to her colleagues.
"How'd it go?" Runeweaver asked.
"Well," Jaina said. "He won't stop anyone who wishes to return."
Ansirem's bushy eyebrows raced for his hairline and Karlain's expression was similarly wide-eyed. "Just like that?" Ansirem asked, now frowning.
"Apparently," Jaina answered.
"Well, that does track with what we've been hearing from Khadgar," Karlain said. He was rubbing his chin thoughtfully, the other arm crossed over his chest. "The trolls found the purge understandable if inconvenient."
"This cannot be this easy," Ansirem muttered.
"Oh it isn't going to be, my friend," Karlain said. "And I think we all know it."
Ansirem sighed. "You're right, of course. I think maybe a part of me wanted Vol'jin to have more resistance to the idea. It'd give us time to refine the plans here."
"I think we're all concerned how the rest of the city will react," Jaina said.
"At least now we can move forward," Karlain said with a firm nod. He looked at Jaina. "Shall we begin to execute the plans to tell the various department heads then?"
"We should," Jaina confirmed. "Vereesa and I will be going over things with the Silver Covenant later today. Modera will be in on that meeting. That will take care of the Silver Covenant's leadership. We should be hearing back from Draenor and the assault on Ner'zhul, soon. Assuming all goes well there, it will be the first time we'll have assisted in a successful operation."
Ansirem blew out a breath. "We're really doing this."
Karlain patted his shoulder. "We are and it will be fine. Just need to get it over with and onto the damage control until everyone settles back down. That is what we did last time when Rhonin proposed allowing them in to begin with."
Jaina hoped it would be that simple. She left Ansirem and Karlain to their meetings and checked the time. Vereesa and her seconds wouldn't be here for awhile yet so she sent a quick letter to Khadgar so it would make the mail transfer.
"I've spoken with Vol'jin. He is not opposed to his people returning to Dalaran. If they come or not is up to them, but he will not bar them. I hope this will help settle some of the upset where you are and doesn't add to it.
On a personal note, Modera's given me 'homework' you will be amused to hear. I've chosen to create a shapeshifting spell and wondered if I could examine Atiesh. I understand both the personal nature of this request and if you choose to decline.
-Jaina"
She sent the letter on its way and managed to get some actual office work done before the meeting with the Silver Covenant.
Vereesa looked tired and a bit careworn, but her eyes were clear and there was a softness in her expression that Jaina had only rarely seen in the last year. The high elf's smile reached her eyes and it hadn't in a long time.
"Jaina I think you've met Acinos and Jirella, my second and third," Vereesa said indicating a tall high elf male with wildly spiked dark hair and a smaller, more demure looking elf female with a neat red bob.
Acinos frowned but Jirella's expression was carefully neutral. Jaina knew Acinoa was the older of the two, a peer and longtime friend of Vereesa's. Jirella was younger than either of them and was considered to be a young adult. They'd been good soldiers on Thunder Isle, but Jaina was curious to see how they'd handle the change here where peace and diplomacy would be more required than ability with bow and blade.
Jaina inclined her head and indicated the seating area. They sat, Jaina and Vareesa flanking the two seconds.
"I've told them about the Council's plans," Vereesa said. "There were... concerns."
Acinos' face twisted as if he'd tasted something sour. "Is this really the best idea? The sin'dorei have proven to be just as untrustworthy as the rest of the Horde."
Vereesa spoke before Jaina did, so the archmage folded her hands in her lap and listened.
"Acinos, Kael'thas has been dead for years. Those who sided with him are dead or discredited-"
"And yet they consider the rest of us traitorous," Acinos snapped. "As if we were the ones to made dark pacts with demons!"
Vereesa's jaw clenched and her glowing eyes closed for a moment. "Acinos, not all of them did. The magic addiction continues to be an issue among them and specifically among the Sunreavers-"
"Who were the ones who allowed the attack on our allies in Darnassus!"
"Acinos!" Vereesa snapped, shutting up the other elf whose mouth closed with a click of teeth. "I know." She said, her voice holding ragged notes now. "I know." She held up a hand to forestall his comments and drew in a breath then let it out. "But where in the world is the best place for those who are addicted to magic and who wish for help? Here. In Dalaran" She tapped the arm of her chair. "You know as well as I do they're not objective about it in Silvermoon. When Rhonin allowed them here, he also allowed people to get help. I've seen the numbers since those programs started. A lot of people have been helped."
Acinos made a scoffing sound. "And the rest of the Horde? Why do we need to let them in at all?"
"Azeroth needs Dalaran to be a place for all mages," Jirella spoke up.
"Jirella-"
"Telmar was more like a brother to me than a cousin-"
"The Horde killed him-"
"Yes. But he believed in this place, Acinos. You know he did."
Acinos subsided with a growl. Jirella turned her placed gaze to Jaina and Vereesa. "We'll do what we must, Ranger-General, Archmage. We will keep the peace and we will ensure the safety of our people when the Horde mages return. It was... mostly fine before." A slight look of irritation crept into her expression then was gone.
"Thank you. Allowing them to return will also enable us to move ahead with our agreement with the Shado-pan," Jaina said. "And I believe the benefits of that will be significant for all of us. It is also an opportunity," she said looking from Acinos to Jirella. "The Horde is unsteady and rebuilding. Think of the influence we could have on them. Most of them hate Garrosh as much as we do. If we view them all the same as him then they'll just hate us more. If we take this moment to instead work with them against the Iron Horde then we lessen the chance of a Garrosh rising in the future. Instead of young soldiers of the Horde fighting members of the Alliance, they fight enemies of all Azeroth."
"And how do we know they won't betray us again?" Acinos asked. He scowled.
"We don't," Jaina said. "We can only do what we can to lessen the chance they will. By the numbers though, we need them. We need them in the economy for the city to continue."
"Telmar believed in Dalaran," Jirella said to the other elf. "You loved him. You know he'd want us to continue."
Acinos sighed. "We will do our duty, Archmage," he said. "When does the rest of the city find out?"
"In a couple days if we can manage it. We'll announce after some actions in Draenor are settled and the Council has had the chance to brief more people," Jaina said. The elves nodded.
"If you'll excuse us, Jaina, we'll go over the last few details before I'm due to return to Kun-Lai."
"Of course."
Jaina watched them go and noted the time. The working day was just about over and she could return home. Smiling she began to neatly order her desk when a missive popped into her mailbox.
Picking up the scroll, Jaina noted it was from Khadgar.
"Jaina, you are most welcome to come examine the spellwork on Atiesh! Dare I guess this means you've chosen to create a flying form? Please come visit my tower at your earliest convenience. I can update you in person on the progress here and we can do some research. Cordana can glare at us both while we talk shop in the nice, safe, confines of my tower.
-Khadgar
PS: I am pleased to hear about Vol'jin's reaction. I too hope that it will serve to calm things here."
Another scroll popped in her inbox, also from Khadgar.
"PPS: We a will soon be moving on Ner'zhul's location and my tower will be used as a portal relay for our guests from Frostfire. Depending on when you arrive I may have updates on that endeavor as well. Or we might not be in a nice, safe tower at all. But don't tell Cordana that."
Pursing her lips in consideration, Jaina checked her schedule and noted she had some time. The formal announcement wouldn't be for at least a day and she could probably catch Khadgar before he was moving troops. She sent a quick reply to Khadgar and then left for home.
Kalec swooped on her as soon as she entered their lab space. He kissed her until she was breathless and broke it with a grin. Jaina laughed making it a bit hard to catch her breath.
He rested his forehead against hers. "Hi."
Jaina continue to laugh. "Hello there. I'm home at a reasonable time."
"So I see. Evening plans?"
"Well, I did want to work a bit more on the shapeshifting spell," she said.
Kalec's eyes lit up. "You should do that!" he said before she could say she was open to changing her plans if he wished to spend time with her. His expression was infectious and Jaina found herself smiling more. He took a half step back. "You've hardly had time to dig into it. Don't let me keep you."
She took his hand before he could retreat further. She did want to spend time on her research, but she also wanted to spend time with him. "I want to work on my project but later we could spend some time together? You could teach me more runes?"
He smiled even more broadly. Kalec loved teaching and Jaina wanted to learn more. He drew her closer to steal another kiss. "I'll go prepare a lesson plan." He wagged his eyebrows then kissed her swiftly again before striding off to his side of the lab, Jaina's laughter following him.
Returning to her workbench, Jaina opened her notes and slipped easily back into the research mindset with a content sigh. Vol'Jin's approval meant that was one less item to worry about and she could fully give herself over to study for a few hours. Modera was right; it was refreshing to have something to retreat to which was unrelated to the running of Dalaran.
Jaina knew she would need to create a tool of some kind - something to act as a fulcrum for the massive powers involved in her transformation spell. Atiesh served as the tool for Khadgar. Her staff was well-made and already laden with spells. Overlaying the transformation spells onto it would not be hard and then when she turned back, she would have her staff on hand. She wasn't entirely certain where Atiesh went when Khadgar was a Raven, and that was one of the questions she had. According to her reports, the Vial of the Sands likewise did a disappearing act.
Something other than a staff was appealing though. If she was disarmed or if there was sufficient feedback during a cast using her staff, the whole thing could break. If her spell was contained in her staff and it broke or was taken, then potentially her shapeshift was another tool she could be without in a dire situation. She wouldn't be a real dragon, but something large and possessing both flight and claws could potentially be useful. Having more of her empowered and enchanted artifacts spread meant it would be harder to disarm her in combat.
Jaina smirked. She was beginning to sound like Modera.
The Vial of the Sands was a small trinket on a chain according to the picture and short report on the object. Jaina wasn't certain how such a small thing could contain all the necessary power to turn the bearer into a stone drake. The item was in the possession of the Horde. Jaina thought it was unlikely she'd be able to study it first hand.
Given the name of the object, she wondered if some of the sands in the Vial might not be empowered by the Bronze Flight's magic in some way - or at least used to create a dimensional fold to contain the rest of the enchanting surface.
A trinket might not be a bad item. But she'd want to wear it somehow to keep her hands free. Paws? Jaina shook her head and let her pen write her thoughts and notes down so she could examine them better.
A necklace. Yes, that appealed. But a necklace might not be sufficient an item to hold the power she'd need to channel, and necklaces were not as good tools as a staff or wand was. It wasn't insurmountable by any means, but it would be something to keep in mind.
"I'm thinking a necklace, but it might not be sufficient," Jaina said, calling across the room.
"No?" Kalec looked up from his pages.
"No," Jaina sighed. "If I want to be something larger than the size of a drake, which is my goal, I'll need to draw more power from the aether or from storage or a combination of both. I need to increase the available flow somehow. I might have to construct a two-part artifact."
Kalec nodded. "You've decided against your staff?"
"For now," Jaina confirmed as she paged through a reference book. "Maybe it's Modera rubbing off on me, but having a second foci feels right. Safer."
Kalec bobbed his head thoughtfully. "Matching bracelets to the necklace? A set would be sympathetic."
Jaine made a thoughtful noise and twirled her stylus in her hand as she considered. "Possible. After I look at Atiesh it might be the case I need to use my staff anyway. There might be a good reason for how that spell is laid out." She rolled her shoulders. "I will need to acquire some higher quality materials than I currently have on hand. I'll probably need at least one battery crystal to help push me over into being able to cast the spell." She set a bookmark in her reference and crossed the room to perch on a stool by Kalec's workbench.
"Done?" he asked.
"For now," she said, smiling at him. She folded her hands and leaned on the table. "So, are we picking up where we left off?"
Kalec smiled and pushed a page of glyphs at her. "You're beginning to get the basic glyphs down. I think you're ready to begin learning some of the specific ones the blues use to define magic."
The crossing from Azeroth to Draenor was oddly itchy for a moment, like sand against her skin, then the sensation passed and she was standing in a small wooded glade. Palisade walls were being reinforced and a group of builders were working on what might be the beginnings of an inn. Troops trained in small groups and she could see the beginnings of a stout stone wall were beginning to be laid. There was a small paddock with gryphons being saddled and soldiers were up and about making things ready, though it appeared to be either late at night or very early in the morning.
"Jaina!" Jaina turned to find Archmage Zalia approaching. The Worgen archmage was wearing the standard battlegear of the Kirin Tor with some adjustments to account for lupine legs and paws. Her staff was strapped to her back and a pair of goggles had been pushed up on her forehead. Beside her was Khadgar, walking with a spring in his step. "Welcome to Draenor," Zaliya said.
"Thank you."
"Crossed just fine I see."
"It's a bit..." Jaina trailed off and self-consciously brushed at her sleeves.
"We've noticed it as well," Khadgar said while Zaliya nodded. "We think it is because of Kairozdormu's magic. In any case you've arrived just in time to see the garrisons off to fight Ner'zul. If you would not mind lending your talents, you could assist me in holding the transfer portals to the staging area."
"Save me a bit of work," Zaliya said with a feral grin.
Jaina began to respond then froze. She had arrived just in time to assist rather than avoiding things as she'd hoped. Jaina closed her eyes and fought down the urge to scream. She drew in a breath. The pre dawn air was moist and sweet and she caught the smell of cookfires and leather oil. Her heart pounded in her ears.
She could leave and reschedule. She'd not be blamed for leaving. And yet... And yet was it right for her to leave? Jaina had said many things and had put things in motion but this would be acting on it personally. She would be the one assisting the Horde even if it furthered her own goals. But it would be helping the Horde.
"Yes," she said before she could stop herself. Then the word was out there and the fist around her heart unclenched a little. She felt suddenly giddy and lightheaded. Jaina let out a shaky breath and nodded. "Yes, I will help."
"Excellent!" Khadgar enthused.
Zaliya made a pensive sound. "Did you wish to participate in the fighting?" she asked. When Jaina opened her eyes again the worgen was regarding her carefully. "We can scrounge up some gear and you can stand in reserve with Khadgar. I am guessing he didn't mention we were about to enter combat." She gave him a sideways glance.
Khadgar managed to look genuinely abashed. "She wanted to talk research!" he said in his defense, again, genuine.
"He did send a second message saying he would be assisting in moving troops. I was honestly hoping to avoid this. I suppose I mis-timed my arrival." She looked from one mage to the other. "How cross do you think Modera will be that I've stepped onto a battlefield without her say so?" Jaina asked, only half joking.
Zalia snorted. "You can play on the backlines with Khadgar."
Khadgar frowned at Zaliya. "Now wait just a-"
"Ah, ah, ah!" Zaliya held up a clawed hand, cutting him off. "Cordana and I made an agreement. You're in reserve on the back line, well out of the line of fire, or she doesn't let you come at all."
"That's absurd!"
"She's got an assignment and unfortunately for her it's you," she said poking him in the chest. "Backlines or you don't take the field at all." Zaliya looked Jaina over. "And Modera will probably to turn me into a rug if I put you on the frontlines before she's had a chance to do it herself. Come on, let's get you into something just in case two armies of angry Draenei and Death Knights don't manage to contain Ner'Zhul."
"I just wanted to study," Jaina muttered to herself as she followed the other archmage.
Jaina tugged at the collar of her outfit. "I should really get my own set," she muttered. "But it's not like I expected to be marching on a necromancer's stronghold when I left this morning." She began to adjust the gauntlets she'd been loaned.
Zaliya snorted a laugh from her perch on the room's lone table. "Khadgar mentioned you wished to study Atiesh."
"Yes. I'm working on a new project and I wanted to see the raven transformation spellwork."
Zaliya's golden eyes lit up. "A transformation spell?"
Jaina finished her adjustments and turned. "Yes. Modera's declared I needed a project and I've never done a transformation before. I'm hoping to create a form that flies so I can accompany Kalec."
The other archmage held up a finger and her head dropped. When it picked up again it wasn't Zaliya in control. It was strange to see even after having seen it before; the worgen's body language changed as Tarecgosa took control, the golden eyes becoming filled with a blue glow and her voice that of the dragon spirit.
"A dragon by chance?" Tarecgosa asked, leaning forward and grinning.
"If I can," Jaina said after a moment's hesitation.
The dragon spirit made a high-pitched, excited noise and wriggled, her clawed paws dancing in place. It looked comically adorable on the worgen. "Oh, that will be such fun! You'll have to come visit once you've managed it and I can tell you all about being a lady dragon." She gave Jaina a dry look. "I love my brother-in-law but he's such a male." She rolled her eyes and scoffed. "You're a mage. I bet you'll be a very pretty blue."
"You wouldn't be offended?" Jaina asked warily.
Tarecgosa snorted. "I certainly won't be. I was in Kalec's faction during the Nexus War and I happen to live in Zal's head. It's only by her kindness and Kalec's power I get to have any sort of existence at all. I know you younger mages are more than ready to uphold the Charge of the Blue." Her voice grew wavering and she paused for a moment. "And besides, you make him happy," she said in a more even tone.
"Kalec has always, what is the phrase I am trying to think of Zal? Something with coats?" She tilted her head and her ears cocked as she listened to Zaliya. "Ah, yes, thank you. He wears his heart on his sleeve. He's been hurt and he's lost so much. You make him happy. Flying is..." She huffed out a breath and looked ot the side trying to find the words. "We are flying creatures, Jaina. It is a fundamental commonality of all the flights." She snorted again. "Even the word we use to describe ourselves, 'flights' of dragons, conveys this. I have no doubt he would be perfectly content to share what he could with you but you've offered to try to share his skies with him. And it's probably going to be a fairly hefty spell, which, knowing Kalec as I do, is also going to be incredibly attractive." She smiled. "So no. I don't have a problem with this at all. If there is anything I can do to help I will." She paused thoughtfully. "And I imagine the magic will be fascinating."
"Thank you for your support," Jaina said. "I don't imagine all dragons will agree, but I am glad you do at least."
The dragon nodded and silently ceded control back to Zaliya who shook her fur out for a moment.
"And you?" Jaina asked the other archmage.
"Eh?" Zaliya tilted her head, one ear cocked. It would have been humorous if Jaina hadn't been feeling somewhat exposed and nervous.
"Would this offend you as a mage?"
Zaliya gave her a flat look. "Jaina I have a blue dragon in my head and I can already assume her form. Sort of. Even if I gave a damn, I'd be pretty hypocritical of me to say you can't try it." She grinned. "And honestly, flying is rather spectacular. If you manage it we might have to consult with you to see if Tare and I can't get to a proper adult size. Being something as large as a drake has advantages but it doesn't have the sheer hefty power and potential as a full adult wyrm."
Jaina found herself smiling back at the grinning archmage.
"Come on, time to get a move on. I'm due at the front and you and Khadgar are going to ferry troops. Let's go learn the endpoint and how to go through my wards and then I'll take you to his tower to you can learn that as well."
Jaina nodded and followed her out of the small commander's quarters and back into the garrison. The birds were beginning to wake with the pre-dawn light. The archmage said a few words to her lieutenants and then created a portal to their destination. Jaina joined her power to Zaliya's and began to get a feel for the location and the way through the wards on the other side.
Magic was strange on Draenor, somehow. Jaina couldn't put her finger on why but it was... odd. She passed through the portal and found herself in the middle of a small staging area which had been heavily warded. Several people slowed what they were doing or outright stopped when they noticed her. Zaliya came through a moment later and Jaina tuned everyone else out as she let the other mage help her get a sense of the area so she could form a portal to their location.
The staging area overlooked the Shadowmoon fortress which was currently protected by a hefty barrier.
"How are you getting in there?" she asked.
Zaliya grinned. "We have a key. Don't worry. We'll have those barrier down." After a quick test run back to Lunarfall, Zaliya took her to Khadgar's tower.
Zangarra was damp and stank of decomposing vegetation, which wasn't terribly surprising since Khadgar's tower was in the middle of a swap. The confluence of leylines was quite nice, though. Khadgar strode out of the tower with a glowering warden on his heels. "Hello!"
"You teach her this location. I'll be ready to receive guests in Shadowmoon," Zaliya said then teleported away once Khadgar had nodded. The confluence was such that finding this spot was remarkably easy and there was some time before true-dawn and the Horde would begin transferring. Cordana had drafted or been assigned a small cluster of sentinels and the handful of Alliance troops appeared to be uneasy. Jaina couldn't blame them for she felt some of the same misgivings deep down.
"They're not going directly there because of the warding?" Jaina asked to confirm her suspicions.
"Yes," Khadgar said. "And I admit a small bit of politicking. If they have to go through here, through me, then they know the Kirin Tor helped. The fact that you are here only helps." He smiled, perhaps a bit smugly.
Jaina narrowed her eyes. "Did you plan this?"
"Well, not entirely," he said. "Once I noticed, I might have been purposefully vague and full of hope that you'd show at the opportune moment." He gave her an apologetic smile in return for her glare.
Jaina sighed and forced her clenched fist to relax. She cast a quick privacy charm around the area. "Please do not manipulate me."
"I-" he paused then frowned. "I apologize."
"Just... Just don't do it again. Give me the opportunity to join in voluntarily. These are things I need to do on my own." She rolled her shoulders and took a moment to breathe in and out. "That said I hope this will do some good rather than backfire spectacularly."
"Have confidence, Archmage," Khadgar said. "A nice joint victory will go a long way. Now as for Atiesh we might not get a chance to look more in depth for a few hours but here," he said, handing her the staff. "Hopefully it likes you. It can be... temperamental."
Jaina blinked as Khadgar practically shoved Atiesh into her hands. The Staff of the Guardian was a tremendously powerful object. She felt the faint questing something that sufficiently powerful artifacts sometimes had. Intellectus. It wasn't quite a spirit or it was, depending on the research. Such things could disappear if they were studied too closely for reasons unknown. It was generally agreed that powerful artifacts could develop quirks and personalities all their own. Jaina stared at the carved head of the staff and focused on being very, very polite.
"The spell is original to the staff as far as I can tell," Khadgar said. He waved a hand and energy unfurled from the staff like great wings, displaying the spell's components. It was complex and looked ornate, but on closer inspection, it was actually elegant and efficient.
"I'm surprised by how efficient it looks," Jaina murmured. "And this part? This is where the staff itself transforms?"
"Yes! Quite convenient, actually," Khadgar said. "Honestly I could probably cast this spell on my own now but the staff makes it easier and carrying items as a raven is difficult to say the least," he admitted with a chuckle. Jaina joined him.
"Now the interesting thing you may have already noticed is just how… invasive the spell actually is," Khadgar said, highlighting several aspects of the spellwork. "This is why I will not be inviting you to try it out for yourself, Jaina. Spells like this sort of... wear grooves on a mage's aura."
"Grooves? Is that why you could cast it on your own now? It's easier?"
"Quite right!" Khadgar said, nodding. "The more you cast this sort of spell the easier it becomes but it makes other transformation more difficult. This spell has granted me some measure of resistance to polymorph due to its nature, but should the cast be successful, I'm in for a world of pain once I come out. And should I voluntarily desire to transform into something else, like a cat for example the results are... Let's just say I was unexpectedly a very interesting but ineffective gryphon for a few hours."
Jaina chuckled. "I see."
Khadgar's eyes grew distant. "When I first used Atiesh, casting the spell took time and the transformation was quite costly on my own personal manapool." His eyes refocused on the present, his voice more firm. "Since then it's become nearly instant and I hardly need to think about it to cast it. That is absolutely a benefit when I have needed to escape or just for getting around. Quite convenient, wings."
"Is this sort of groove wearing necessary do you think?" Jaina asked, mentally committing aspects of the staff's spellwork to memory while it hung in the air before her in ethereal runes and lattices.
"Hmm," Khadgar rubbed at his chin, thoughtfully. "I have considered this myself. Ultimately I find it convenient and the raven form goes on like a very nice pair of boots. We're quite comfy now, Atiesh and I. But need it be so invasive? Possibly not. The power requirements would, I suspect, have to be supplemented by an external source. Druid forms are, for example. Sort of."
"I thought those were attained by communing with spirits of nature and gaining an ability," Jaina said, handing the staff back as she felt its energy writhe in her hands like an annoyed cat. "Does this mean they're channeled?"
Khadgar took the staff back. "Sort of. As far as I can tell, and Kalecgos might be a better mage to consult with on the details as I understand he studies the Grand Unified Theories, a druid gains the blessing of a particular nature spirit. There's a sort of... growing into sync with the spirit which allows the transformation to happen quickly or even at all. But the power is... partially external to the druid. They are channeling the ferocity of the nightsaber or the spirit of the owl or bear or whatever they have chosen, but they have become more like the spirit as well." He waved a hand. "So if you appealed to some sort of nature spirit, you could be a druid of the whatever and accomplish the task that way without an arcane spell imposing a reshaping your aura. Additionally, as you can see," he said gesturing and once again the spell's structure was visible in the air around Atiesh, "this is very differently structured from the polymorph spell though the effects might appear the same to the layman and it does begin to interfere with it and other transformations."
Jaina's lips twisted in a small sardonic smile. She doubted that there was a great dragon nature spirit. Or if there had been, they'd been the Aspects and their power was gone now.
"There are some drawbacks to be aware of. The first is the one I already mentioned; the difficulties with other transformation once you go down a given road."
Jaina nodded. "And the high cost of power?"
"Yes. At least initially it would be wise to have something on hand to help you replenish mana once you've crossed over. Crossing back is a far easier but it is not free."
"Wait, you could get stuck as a Raven?" Jaina blinked at him, surprised.
"Not now, but in the early days? Once I did in fact become stuck until I had a nap and a sandwich. Or at least a bucket of leywater I could soak in for awhile. Medivh had a ley-water birdbath. I never understood why, until it happened I needed it."
Jaina chuckled. "I see. What else?"
"Honestly the cost is not a terribly bad price to pay, but... There are some... side effects to be expected," Khadgar said, looking slightly uncomfortable. Jaina stepped closer with a concerned frown.
Khadgar studied the staff with a thoughtful expression for a long moment. "On the one hand it's somewhat fascinating how the spell has affected me. On the other it can be mildly annoying." He tapped his fingers on the staff and glared at it fondly. "You might have noticed myself of Medivh attract real ravens now. Medivh far more than I but then he wielded atiesh longer than I did. We... The transformation retains your intellect but you gain better understanding of the form which grows over time. It's as if I understand the birds at times. I'm fairly certain Medivh carried on full conversations with the local ravens."
"That doesn't seem so bad."
"That part is fascinating. I did not find corvids to be nearly as interesting until I had to learn to fly as one." He chuckled then struck a little pose. "It absolutely affects my sartorial choices and I'm sure you remember or have seen pictures of Medivh's clothing." He resumed his casual stance, the staff held in the crook of his elbow.
Jaina nodded. The Last Guardian's outfit had been very strongly themed around ravens. She wondered if this meant she would prefer... what? Scales? Wearing leather? Develop a dragon's sweet tooth? Jaina's train of thought drew up short - dressing like Alexstrasza?
"It goes deeper than that, though Jaina. It has affected me in subtle ways I am still discovering There are behavioral impulses that I know come from the raven form. Bits of my own humanity that are... different now. More avian. I suspect it will only continue to grow with time and usage of the spell. I saw how it affected Medivh." He pursed his lips thoughtfully. "Truthfully I find the whole thing to be exceptionally fascinating, but I know others would not."
"It is something to consider," Jaina murmured. She wasn't too keen on losing her humanity. Though dragons seemed like reasonable people, she wasn't one. "You mentioned learning to fly?"
"Indeed. There is some instinct operating but like a fledgling I had to learn to fly. Fortunately Atiesh's spell turned me into something smaller so I believe I tired less early and less often than if I were to have become something larger so it was fairly easy to have the stamina to try often. Oh, you frowned. Were you thinking of something larger?"
"I was," Jaina murmured, her frown deepening. "I was wondering what I might do to reduce what is sure to be an astronomic cost only to find I had sorely underestimated the task."
"Well," Khadgar said, very quietly. "I did have a confounding aspect to my experience. I did not come away from the final fight unscathed." He'd been left aged physically and though he'd appeared to have regained some of the vim and vigour a man of his chronological age should have, Khadgar was still far older than he should have been.
And the experience had probably been exceptionally traumatic. Jaina had some additional understanding and sympathy for such things, now. No doubt it had played merry hell with his abilities too.
"I-" Jaina paused as she felt a questing tendril on magical will. Khadgar noticed as well and they both looked in the same direction as the source of the magic burrowing through the aether and winding through the leylines.
"Ah, that'd be Gerti. If you'd open the portal to Zaliya's staging area, we can continue this conversation a bit later?"
Jaina nodded and stretched out her senses, following the paths she'd just learned through the leylines of Draenor. She brushed up against Zaliya's wards then wove her way through them as she'd been taught. A gesture and effort of will opened a portal wide into the center of the Shadowmoon staging area. Zaliya nodded to her from the other side and both mages stepped to either side of the portal to allow for troops to have easy egress. Rolling her shoulders, Jaina settled in to hold the portal open. Behind her she felt a brush of power as Khadgar opened his own portal.
And then the Horde began to cross over.
Chill air preceded the leading tauren death knight as she crossed from Frostfire into Zangarra. Her armor of dark metal included pauldrons which were iced over branches which held faintly glowing berries made of red gems. The runes of her axe glowed with the same unholy light as her eyes. The dark-furred female advanced on Jaina's position and she couldn't help but tense a bit as the imposing figure drew close. The death knight made no indication she saw Jaina at all, but continued steadily, implacably forward, passing through the portal, the first of several death knights from Horde races.
A troll and an orc followed closely after the tauren. The orc noticed Jaina and stopped to stare, his expression lost behind the deep cover of his helm. He stared for a moment, looked across to the portal then walked forward, crossing over.
Jaina breathed in then out. They were here to kill Ner'zhul, not cause trouble. Jaina had seen members of the Ebon Blade already in the Alliance staging point. She took another slow breath and continued to hold the portal open and braced herself as the rest of the Horde arrived through Khadgar's side.
They were led by an orc woman whose eyes flicked around the area, paused on Jaina, completed her sweep then returned to her. As she drew near, Jaina could feel the sizzling power of the daggers at her sides and knew this to be the Frostwall garrison commander. Jaina inclined her head slightly.
The orc woman was followed by Lady Liadrin and small handful from the regular Garrison. The Paladin and Commander paused by the portal she held open.
"Proudmoore," Liadrin said, fel-green eyes narrowed.
"Lady Liadrin," Jaina said, inclining her head to the paladin.
A tall shadow fell across the group. Jaina looked up then continued to look up as the exceptionally tall tauren in full plate stepped up behind Liadrin. The second paladin, a Sunwalker if Jaina wasn't mistaken, snorted and wove around the smaller elf. She stepped through the portal without hesitation and continued on the other side, joining the Knights of the Ebon blade, a shining spot amid their generally dour colors.
The Garrison commander turned and crossed without another word and the rest of the small warband who had paused behind her began to follow her. Liadrin remained, brow furrowed as she looked over the crossing. A troll with a mass of green braids, a satchel stuffed with bandages, strapped with flasks of healing potions and salves and bundles of herbs crossed over wearing a scowl that didn't appear to be directed at anyone in particular. A tauren wielding an impressive gun trotted by, her white tiger following along at her side. A second hunter, this one a blood elf with dark hair, elaborate goggles and a sniper's rifle followed. Jaina's heart lurched in her chest, the little spot of scar tissue suddenly aching. The sniper eyed her up and down as she passed by, but she crossed the portal without a word. A small group of orcs crossed next, some giving her an unreadable look as they passed. Liadrin's eyes narrowed at Jaina but she finally crossed over with a small sniff.
"That's the last of us," a new voice by Khadgar said. "And- Woah."
Jaina looked over. Khadgar had already closed his portal. A troll and a goblin were the only two from the Horde who remained on this side of the portal. The speaker was a goblin woman in exceptionally well tailored battle gear. Her troll companion was also attired for battle in light leather under a longer outer robe.
"Jaina, you look a bit pale," Khadgar said.
"I am fine," Jaina said, rolling her shoulders and setting her features into what she hoped as a diplomatic, pleasant-looking smile.
"You're really gonna let us back in?" The goblin woman asked.
Jaina nodded, not entirely trusting herself to speak.
The goblin smiled, her eyes lighting up. "Maybe my sis can get her shop back? We can use the libraries?" Her eyes grew even larger. "We can trade?"
Jaina nodded again, momentarily speechless in the face of the other woman's clearly hopeful emotions. "I spoke with Vol'jin. He is not opposed to you returning."
"Huh," the troll mage said. "Dat be somthin'." He said nothing else as he crossed through the portal in the rolling gait of his people. The goblin woman hurried forward double-time to catch up, leaving just the two humans.
"Are you well?" Khadgar asked.
"I'm fine," Jaina said. He continued to look concerned and Jaina sighed. "They had someone who was carrying a sniper rifle. I did not expect to have that reaction but I am fine. I will be fine."
Khadgar made an understanding sound and then hopped across. Cordana and her sentinels followed him then once everyone had crossed over, Jaina joined them.
The assault was already underway once she'd arrived. The Horde forces had set up a small camp of their own within Zaliya's warding but a bit away from the Alliance forces. The troll healer was bustling around giving orders to the few orc soldiers who'd remained behind. The death knights and the local draenei had pressed on ahead and broken the outer defenses already. Alliance and Horde soldiers were cleaning up what remained on the battlefield as the vanguard pressed on into the temple complex. Cordana and her sentinels swiftly set up a perimeter, the Warden herself watching Khadgar from a short distance away, her gauntleted hands flexing on her glaive.
"And now I suppose we wait," Khadgar said as he looked around. "I admit I expected the Ebon Blade to be welcome additions to this party, but I didn't expect they would be quite so... Enthusiastic."
"They don't want to see Ner'zhul cross over. They wish to see him dead," Jaina murmured as she watched the ebb and flow of combat. There were a great many warlocks in the enemy forces, but Alliance and Horde alike were hammering them hard with an array of spells and blade.
"And in this I cannot blame them," Khadgar said, solemnly. The two mages exchanged a look with one another then lent their considerable strengths to the shielding already around the staging area.
The Shadowmoon forces rallied and pushed back against their attackers. Jaina watched the fight, her hand flexing on her staff. Their shield was solid and aside from her and khadgar, there was a draenei priest held in reserve. The presence of the two Kirin Tor mages had freed more Draenei and all of their paladins to become part of the attacking force.
The two mages watched in silence as the battle pressed onward, the front lines breaking the Shadowmoon Clan forces which had risen to stop them. Soon the only sign of their progress into the complex the relayed reports from the druids flying high enough overhead the enemy could not shoot them down. The barrier fluctuated as the team inside began to dismantle the foci holding it in place.
"It occurs to me," Khadgar said, "that I might have frightened you off from attempting this spell."
"No," Jaina said. "But I have a lot to think about."
"This isn't the only method. It is merely one," Khadgar said. "It works well for me."
Silence fell again. A small band of orcs advanced on them but the Sentinels and the troll mage who'd remained behind slew them before they even drew close to the staging area. The barrier fluctuated once more. Jaina could feel it thinning as the forces inside continued to make forward progress.
"You said it has changed you," Jaina mused loud enough only Khadgar could hear.
"The spell? Yes."
"Do you feel you're becoming less human?" Jaina asked, perhaps bluntly, but then this was Khadgar and he wasn't exactly subtle. "That is what concerns me most about the method Atiesh's spell uses," she murmured, eyes scanning and tracking, looking for threats beyond the shielding and wards.
"I worry less about that spell than many other things," Khadgar said. "That said, the companions I was with would have noticed if the change was something abrupt or overly negative."
"The subtle shift is what worries me," Jaina said, eyes scanning over the area. She noticed movement and determined it looked like a Shadowmoon warband coming to flank the forward thrust of the army. She sent a bolt of arcane energy towards their location at about the same time Khadgar did, the two spells acting as flares. They collided with a rough, semi-circle of shadowy magic. The warband was swiftly set upon by the vengeful death knights.
"I wish to do this because it's a challenge," Jaina continued, "but it's also a way for me to spend time with Kalec. If enacting the spell changes me into... not me, then what is the point?" And besides, she thought, I've been not me enough. Kalec deserves better. And maybe I do as well.
The barrier around Anguish Stronghold wavered then dispersed to the cheers of those who'd been fighting at the edge of the barrier. The small army flowed into the fortress.
"Well that looks positive," Khadgar said. "As for the spell, thus far it has been rather innocuous,": Khadgar said. "But I am aware of it which means I can monitor it. Which was my main purpose in mentioning it. Truly I did not mean to ward you off from the challenge."
"I am glad you mentioned it. Perhaps I will develop a different spell than what you use. Already I am considering a two-part artifact rather than layering it into my staff. I'm concerned by the theoretical power cost."
"You'll almost certainly want to have some sort of power storage component," Khadgar said. "Or multiples. There is the issue of transference without loss to consider. What form of artifact were you thinking of?"
"A necklace or something of that sort," Jaina mused.
"Have you heard of something called the Vial of the Sands?" Khadgar asked.
"In have but it's held by someone in the Reliquary," Jaina answered, eyes still scanning the horizon. The sun had climbed higher and the concealing shadows were shrinking. It mean there would be less chance of another group under the cover of a veil, but such things weren't out of the question still. "I doubt they would be willing to allow me to take a look."
"Mmm," Khadgar made a thoughtful sound. "Now, perhaps. But who's to say how the situation might change." He inclined his head towards the stronghold. "This is a joint operation and you are here personally facilitating success. As I said, such things go a long way towards changing opinions."
"Perhaps," Jaina allowed. Her eyes tracked up the fortress, following the progress as best as she could. A chill pricked the back of her neck. Beside her she felt Khadgar inhale. The two mages exchanged a look.
"Did you feel that?"
"Yes," Jaina said, looking around even as she pushed more power into the warding around their camp.
"There!" Khadgar pointed to a platform which overlooked the fortress. Void energies clashed with invocations of the Light, Arcane and fire magics. An amorphous form rose, arms out stretched before bringing another terrible pulse of dark energy onto those who fought. A brilliant shield of Light stood out, shining against the tide of darkness. The battle resumed.
"Should one of us go?" Jaina asked.
Khadgar's brow furrowed. "I fear the fight will be decided by the time one of us got there." His eyes searched the platform and Jaina took to keeping an eye on the surrounding area. She probably wasn't doing a professional job of keeping an eye out, but the sniper's rifle had very firmly reminded her of what had killed her on the last battlefield.
She felt it when the void-creature died. Khadgar crowed in exultation. "They've done it! Oh, well done."
Jaina relaxed a little. Ner'zhul was dead. She could return home. A horn sounded from within the walls of the fortress. Then a second. Jaina frowned. The first had been an Alliance retreat. The second, an order from the Horde. Khadgar's gleeful expression fell and he exchanged a look with Jaina.
There was a flash close by and Zaliya appeared, her eyes luminous with arcane energy, her fur practically crackling. Beside her was Commander Teraka, her blades dripping with shadowy energy as if it were blood, a tauren Deathknight, a night elf death knight, a young Draenai female who looked agonized and prophet Velen. Or at least this timeline's Velen.
Zaliya snarled and let her hands fall as the teleport finished. There was another flash and the goblin mage joined the scene with the tauren paladin, a tauren hunter and the sniper Jaina had noted earlier.
"What happened?" Khadgar, Jaina and the goblin asked at near the same time.
"The Iron Horde sails on Karabor. Ner'zhul is going to summon the Dark Star," Zaliya said, her eyes still glowing.
The Prophet sighed then lifted his head, eyes far off. "I can see it already beginning, in the hills to the southeast. Ner'zhul has everything he needs to summon the Dark Star and Grommash sails against our stronghold's harbor. They mean to end Draenei resistance once and for all."
"Not if I stop him," Zaliya said, her voice a savage growl. She grinned at the death knights. "Looks like the party has moved locations. You're still quite welcome to join, Commander Zakrina," she said addressing the night elf. The death knight's replying grin was chilling.
"You want in?" Zaliya asked the Horde commander.
"Only good necromancer is a dead one, and we haven't seen the job done." Teraka replied, placidly. "We didn't come with mounts, though. How are we getting there?"
Behind them the combined forces of the Draenei, Ebon Blade, Alliance and Horde were falling back from the fortress in good order. The garrison forces were substantial compared to the Horde forces, but though the two sides kept to themselves, they didn't attack one another. More people drew around them, listening to hear what the leaders of this operation would decide to do.
"I believe in this case the Kirin Tor might once again be of assistance," Khadgar said, drawing her attention. "If I recall correctly, Archmage Proudmoore has an excellent spell for mass teleports and I believe we have enough magepower to move everyone if Lady Gerti and Master Val'Ket would be so kind as to assist."
Teraka looked over at the goblin. The woman frowned but then nodded. "Yeah. Alright. Let's kill a necromancer."
Cordana stepped forward, her voice low and intense. Jaina could only barely hear it. "What do you think you are doing, Archmage?" she asked.
Khadgar grinned back at her. "Liberating a city."
"Archmage!"
"Cordana we cannot let Karabor fall," Kahdgar said, his expression falling to one of solemnity.
The warden's shoulders rose and fell as she drew in a breath and let it hiss out. "You cannot just teleport into an active warzone!"
"She has a point," Jaina said, interrupting Khadgar. "We can't just drop an army into the middle of a battlefield and expect they'll fight well even if they're the ones prepared for it." She found all eyes on her. "I have a good spell for transporting troops around, that is true, and I will help, but we can't just go, Khadgar."
"We can clear the way," Vindicator Maraad spoke up. "A mounted party can fly ahead and clear the way."
"I'll go," Zaliya said, she stepped back far enough she could assume the visage of Tarecgosa. She shook out her wings and dug talons into the ground. She grinned at Maraad with sharp teeth. "When we've cleared a path I can let Khadgar know and act as an anchor for Jaina's spell." She looked at Jaina who nodded.
"That would make it work much better, yes."
Zaliya's tail thrashed. "Well then, grab your mount Maraad and let's go soften up the enemy!" She pointed a talon at a worgen woman wearing an eyepatch who was among the Alliance personnel. "Thorne! You're in charge! See everyone gets to Karabor in one piece!" She launched herself into the air.
"Mounted corps!" Maraad hollered as she raced for a small group of odd-looking reptillian beasts with wings.
Jaina watched them go, frowning. This was not at all what she'd expected to do when she'd travelled here that morning.