Jaina's paws crunched on the chilly sand of the shore as she crossed through to the southern coast of Northrend. Kalec joined her. The portal closed behind them. The smell of the sea at low tide was intense; salty spray, fish, seaweed and exposed flotsam rotting in the air assaulted her. Jaina staggered a step.

"Jaina?"

She closed her eyes and winced away, unable to block the deluge. "It's like being hit between the eyes," Jaina said. Scent brought memory with it, punching her in the gut and squeezing her heart. She sat on her rump, facing the water, her new claws sinking into the frigid sand. Kalec sat beside her and draped a wing over her back. She sighed and leaned against his side, trying to live with the smells and the memories.

She knew this smell. Jaina remembered combing the beaches at low tide with her mother and brother, discovering the secrets of the tide pools, hopping over the waves. Smell was so intense as a dragon. New things intruded on the more familiar ones. She sighed and nosed Kalec's shoulder. "Thank you. I'm feeling better now."

"Still feel up to swimming?"

"If I don't freeze," she said, rising.

"You were fine with the snow but take it slowly."

As she approached the water the sand under her paws the ocean grew more soggy. While it was cool it wasn't unpleasant. The ocean here was calm. She waded into the water up to her knees and found it continued to be almost pleasant. "So far so good," she said, looking up at him as she waded further out. She'd seen him swim before and knew the general idea - more serpentine body motion than using her wings.

"Remember you have a third eyelid now. It should blink down in the water. Good training before you try any high speed aerial dives."

"Right," she agree with a laugh. Heading deeper into the water she took a breath and dove in. She could see a bit further than usual and the water but the chill was refreshing.

Jaina was Kul Tiran. As was traditional, her first bath had been in seawater when she'd been only hours old. Jaina had learned to swim at the same time she'd learned to walk. The sea was in her veins. But she'd never swum so fast under her own power, even with the stiff wooden flippers worn for deep dives and long distance swimming! She'd never been able to hold her breath this long either.

Rising to the surface briefly to breathe, Jaina went back under again, speeding through the water to see how fast she could go. She tried turns and flips, finding what worked and what didn't. For something so huge, she found she was rather agile in the water. The biggest change was that unwieldy tail which had plagued her short existence as a dragon was now a powerhouse of momentum. Years of watching marine life swimming off the coasts of Kul Tiras and Theramore helped her have an idea. She saw a school of fish in the distance and wondered how easily she could hunt them down in a flat race or if there was a better way.

Jaina looked around and found Kalec bobbing on the waves like a massive blue swan, his head under the water, watching her. She turned her tail and raced back toward him. Feeling impish, she tried to swim as fast as she could, wondering just how much speed she could get. Could she jump out of the water entirely? She saw Kalec's eyes widen as she raced towards him. Kalec flapped and flailed, lunging out of a potential collision.

Jaina leapt clear of the water, laughing with delight. She opened her wings, trying to hover. She managed it but only barely, her tail in the water, her wings touching the sea. The waves she'd created splashed over Kalec. Jaina landed with another splash and tried to mimic how he'd sat in the water before. She was breathing heavily, her third eyelid was blinking away salt water- a decided improvement on human eyes which could only take so much without additional protection. She fluttered her wings, shaking seawater off.

"Hi!" she chirped, finding floating in the water worked best if she just relaxed her legs.

Kalec stared at her. "Okay, so you can swim."

She snorted a laugh. "Of course I can swim." She tossed her head. "Kul Tiran. They dunk us in seawater minutes after we're born."

He flicked a paw, splashing her. She squealed, flailing in the water. Finding her balance she retaliated. Kalec snorted and splashed her again. Jaina escalated, finding that her wings could generate huge waves. Kalec shielded his head with his own, then he grinned. He was far larger than she, and the waves he could make were likewise larger. Jaina's eyes widened.

She squealed and ducked down into the sea. Swimming around to his other side, she erupted on the surface with a splash. Submerging again she avoided his retaliatory wave and appeared in front of him with another splash. Kalec lunged after her. Jaina dove into the water. She sped away, swimming as quickly as she could. She didn't look behind her to see Kalec following. She knew he was. Giddy, her heart racing, Jaina sped through the water in a twisting and turning course. He wasn't as agile as she for some reason and she took merciless advantage. Turning her attention towards the surface she broke through again, water streaming behind her as she flew. Kalec exploded out of the sea behind her, roaring.

Shrieking a laugh Jaina flew away, several body lengths above the waves. The heavy beat of Kalec's wings chasing her down spurred her onwards. She turned and weaved, trying to fly the way she'd swum in the sea and found some success. Turning abruptly she lost altitude as she regained the rhythm of flight and headed back towards shore. Surprised, Kalec followed, roaring laughter echoing off the waves.

Her wings began to ache so she slowed her flight and landed in the sea with a splash. She dove under the water as Kalec landed behind her. He followed, drawing on reserves she did not have and soon was making playful grabs at her legs and tail. He finally caught her in the shallows of the coast.

She squirmed, not really trying to escape. Kalec hauled her close, chuckling. He nuzzled the side of her neck, licking the salt-water away. A little winded, Jaina laughed with him, pressing her nose against his neck. He smelled of the sea and was warmer than the water. Kalec spread his magnificent wings as he continued to preen and nuzzle her face and neck. The display was as distracting as it was suddenly interesting. One massive wing slid around her shoulders. He held her close for a moment, deep rumbling reverberating in his chest.

They went ashore, shaking off the seawater from their wings. Jaina wondered what they would do next and if it might involve a little bit of a rest. She flopped onto the sand, wings drooping. Kalec nudged her.

"You'll want to wash off the salt, love."

"Need a minute. Don't wanna move."

Chuckling Kalec created a portal. The image beyond was of massive, tall redwoods. A pond sparkled in the sunlight. "Go wash off," he suggested, nudging her again. "I'm going to catch something I'd like you to try then I'll join you."

"Okay," Jaina said, hauling herself to her feet.

The pond was more of a lake on the other side of the portal. It closed behind her as she looked around. She thought she was probably in Northrend still. The forests to the east perhaps. Her flight shoulders ached as she spread her wings a little. The drying salt and sand was becoming itchy on her wings so she hurried down to the water. It was cool and cleansing and deep enough she could easily submerge entirely. She swam around, flexing open her wings under the water. Rinsed, she returned to land and flopped down on a patch of sunny grass, wings extended to either side to dry. She didn't know if she needed to do so, but the sun felt nice. She dozed for a bit until she felt a portal open and Kalec joined her. Something meaty flopped to the ground. The scent of fish followed.

She opened her eyes and saw he'd caught some lunch. A large fish, scales gleaming, lay on the grass. Beside it were a handful of large penguins held in ice blocks. At dragon size they were each barely a mouthful.

"You flew well over the water," he complimented, leaning down to nuzzle her. "Very well! Not as superbly as you swim but it was well done.

Jaina grinned. "I did!" She'd hardly even thought about it, she'd just done it; instinct, or perhaps magic, filling in the gaps and helping her use this new form. She sighed, wings shifting. The ache of a good workout sat in the new muscles of her flight shoulders. "Is it always this tiring?" She stretched a wing out, trying to shake off the feeling.

Kalec was staring at her back.

"Kalec, is- Kalec?"

"Uhm, what?"

"Something wrong with my back?" She craned her neck around to look.

"Oh! No! No, nothing's wrong," he reassured. "Try the fish. I'm going to rinse off," he said, trotting back to the lake and dunking himself under the water.

Jaina watched him for a moment, feeling like she'd missed something. She shook out her wings, folded them, and approached the fish. It was massive even as a dragon. Fish had always been a regular part of her diet but usually it had been cooked in some way. Sushi in Pandaria was delicious but that was different than just... biting into a fish.

Glancing at the penguins on ice, Jaina thought they looked fairly unharmed. She wondered how he'd caught them and if penguin went bad quickly, calling for him to put them in ice. She sniffed the tuna. It did smell delicious. She crouched before the fish and considered it.

"You don't like fish?" Kalec asked from the lake's shallows.

"How do I eat this?" she called back, looking over at him.

He shook out his wings, sending droplets into the air and spreading his wings to dry. His scales glittered iridescent in the sun, massive wings casting shadows on the ground under them, the line of his haunches strong and firm. She watched the way his muscles bunched and moved as he walked up from the lake. Jaina had the oddest impulse to reach out and nip those strong thighs. He stopped in the grass. She met his eyes. He wagged his eyebrows at her, jaw dropping in a very human-like grin as he puffed out his chest and spread his wings wider. Kalec strutted up the remaining distance with far more show than was really required. And why was it suddenly hot? Jaina fluttered her wings hoping to get a bit cooler.

Chuckling, Kalec nuzzled the side of her head. "Just eat the fish. Don't worry about saving any for me. I'm not hungry but I would think you are."

"Starving," Jaina said, turning her attention back to the fish. It was a couple hundred kilos at least. She tapped it with a claw, wondering if she should fillet it. The claw sank into the flesh with no resistance. "Uhm." She unhooked the claw. "Just... bite it? Ignore the bones?"

Kalec considered that for a moment. "They're a bit crunchy. Smaller fish you can just eat whole. Usually I'll eat the head then start stripping the flanks. You can avoid most of the bones if you don't want to bother with them." He shrugged his shoulders. "I'll admit this isn't a conversation I expected. How to fly and move and even swim but not how to eat fish. If you'd like I can conjure something."

"No, no, let me try it," Jaina said. The crunch of the fish's head under her teeth wasn't terribly pleasant but it tasted just fine. She tried to strip off the skin and ended up slapping herself in the face with the fish. She shot Kalec a scowl when he chuckled. He quickly got the message to remain quiet when she growled. Jaina tore into the fish, nipping bites and trying to avoid the bones. It was messy and bloody but the fish did taste good and her stomach didn't rebel against eating something so raw. Though rice and some of that spicy paste wouldn't have gone amiss. It was some sort of tuna and the steak like flesh was satisfying after the workout.

"What are the penguins for?" Jaina asked, flipping the fish over so she could strip the other flank. She eyed her talons and gave a test cut along the spine by the dorsal bone. She could feel the bones and avoid them but her cut wasn't as neat as with a knife.

"They're one of my favorite snack foods," Kalec said. "And they're one of the first things whelps learn to hunt. Unless you'd rather not hunt?"

"You do. I should learn if I'm going to feed this body." She stripped the flank off the fish with a forepaw and ripped off a chunk and ate it. "But feathers?"

"You have tuna on your nose."

Jaina narrowed her eyes at him. Kalec got up and licked the fish off her snout. She snorted, surprised.

"I know a skinning spell but you might be able to do it yourself." Kalec said. He lifted a paw and wiggled the digits. "When I was smaller I could do it with these but they're too large for smaller game. So do you want to try hunting penguins or did you want to try some take offs?"

"Flying," she said, setting the remains of the fish aside. "There's no snow here though."

"We can go back north or you can land in the lake."

"Or I can try to land properly," Jaina said. She gathered her feet jumped into the air, successfully hovering for awhile before landing. Then she repeated the process, determined to conquer the basics.

Katch watched her take off and land with a focused expression. Each time she did better, making fewer mistakes, her motions becoming far more natural. She'd already flown well over the sea. He suspected that some of the magic at work to give her this magnificent form was responsible. Jaina wobbled a bit as she landed, taking a few steps, wings spread for balance. She wasn't yet as adept as flying as an adult but she was making remarkable strides.

The little chase over the water had been fun and... interesting. Exciting. And that... wasn't something they'd discussed. She'd been staring at him though and she'd reacted favorably when he'd put on a little show, feeling saucy. She might wish to lie with him or she might not. EIther way he was quite happy to share the skies with her and was content watching her determination and progress.

"Why don't you try to circle the lake," he suggested while she was hovering.

"Right!" she turned and made the adjustment from hovering to flying without mishap, the beat of her wings evening out and slowing to true flight. She was a bit wobbly in the air, but she'd been an earthbound creature that morning.

Kalec jumped into the air and flew to her side, flying with her as she circled the lake, heart swelling. She caught his eyes and smiled with a giddy laugh.

"Think you can follow me for a bit?" He grabbed the penguins on ice with a levitation spell and they rose into the air, tethered by magic and trailing just behind him.

"Maybe?"

"This way," he said rising higher into the air while keeping an eye on her. She followed right behind.

He found a gentle current and settled into it, giving her encouragement and advice on how to adjust. She adapted beautifully. The wind took them over the eastern forests in Northrend, high above the trees. Kalec relaxed the last of the tension he'd not realized he'd been carrying. This was wonderful. He'd not realized how much he'd missed flying with a companion. He was quite happy in Dalaran with his clever mate and he enjoyed his half-elf shape quite a bit, but soaring through the sky with Jaina scratched an itch he'd not known about.

He noticed her wingbeats were slowing and judged perhaps it would be wise to land. She had only been flying for hours after all and was doing wonderfully well, but she probably needed a break.

He guided them down to land beside an even larger lake than the one they'd left. She landed heavily but made it down. Kalec hurried over to wrap her in a close embrace, pressing his nose against her neck.

"Not too badly done?" she asked.

"Not at all, love. Jaina," he trailed off, nuzzling her neck. "I'm without words."

She sighed out, leaning heavily into his side. "I'm tired and my shoulders hurt."

"You didn't have wings this morning."

She giggled into his neck. "Do now. It was lovely. I think I understand a little. Flying here was so," she trailed off, looking for words. "It was so nice. And it was fun, too."

"It was very nice," he said. "Thank you."

Jaina yawned. "Think it might be a bit before I'm doing dives and loops."

Kalec laughed. "Considering your progress in just a day I think it won't be so long." He tucked his wings and reached out to grasp her shoulders with a paw, massaging the muscles he imagined would be the most worn.

She squeaked in surprise then practically collapsed into a puddle on the ground with a soft, pleased rumbling purr. Laughing quietly Kalec continued to massage her worn wings. He wasn't surprised when she fell asleep again.

"Well, I think you three will be eaten later," he said, addressing the penguins on ice. They could be held as they were for several more hours. They weren't the best game for a dragon as large as Jaina was, but it was traditional! They'd hunt something more size appropriate later.

He studied her as she slept. Some of her willowy stature has been translated into this form. As she grew more confident her movements harkening back to her birth shape. She was a graceful woman. Kalec had come to understand that such grace was at least partially trained. However the way she spoke about her late mother made Kalec suspect that a young Jaina had tried to mimic her mother before any formal training had come into play. He imagined she would be a elegant flyer once she was entirely comfortable in the air. She was already quick and agile.

He settled down beside his snoozing consort and summoned a book from their quarters in Dalaran. Kalec nuzzled Jaina's cheek then settled down to read in the pleasant afternoon sun.

She was flying. The world was far under her, the wind holding her aloft. Kalec flew beside her. Beyond him were other blue dragons she recognized, young and old. The smallest whelps riding on the backs of the larger dragons. A handful were even riding on on Kalec's back.

They were singing. She didn't understand the words but the melody was joyous and welcoming. She flew closer to Kalec and joined the song.

The land under her changed to the Nexus and some of the dragons departed. Then they were over Azsuna and the others flew away as well. Finally they were near Dalaran and the last of the dragons flew towards the city, disappearing into the distance.

She landed and shifted with Kalec. He swept her up into a dance, swinging her around. The colors shifted as they danced, laughing together. The lights faded to a comfortable, candle-lit twilight, the moons shining outside the window as snow fell. They were in their rooms in Stormwind. The carpet was soft under her bare feet and the fire was warm. She wore a nightgown. Kalec was clad only in the long pants he sometimes wore to bed. The dance had become a small sway as he held her close. Jaina became vaguely aware of others nearby, but her focus was on Kalec's smile and the soft lullaby he was humming. Jaina hurt all over, the tired ache of exertion.

Kalec kissed her temple and wrapped his arms more tightly around her. "Thank you, love."

She smiled, resting her head on his chest, sleepy and exhausted.

Jaina woke, feeling groggy, the last remnants of the dream slipping away.. Her lips didn't respond well and her back ached. "Hngwha?"

"Sleep well?" Kalec asked.

"Was flying," she said, rising to her feet. She stretched out the kinks in her back and her wings felt less like lead weights after a nice sleep. A long drink from the cool, clear water of the nearby lake had her feeling far more sentient again. She dunked her head in and shook off the water.

She sighed happily and wandered back to Kalec. "I keep falling asleep on you. I'm sorry. What are we going to do next?"

"Uhm, uh, penguins?"

Jaina tilted her head. "Have I done something?"

"No! Why?"

"You're acting oddly," she said, sitting on her haunches by him, tail curling around her side naturally.

"Odd?"

"Staring?"

Kalec cleared his throat, the insides of his ears pinking. "Ah. Well. You are just as exquisite in this form as you are in your other shape," Kalec said sincerely.

Shivers ran down Jaina's spine. She was suddenly aware of which parts of her new anatomy corresponded to intimate parts in her natural form. Her wings shifted.

"Oh," she said, ducking her head. The insides of her ears felt like they were blazing hot. She was certain her cheeks would have been red. She smiled, the configuration odd but still strangely similar.

Kalec sat beside her and nuzzled her ear, a wing stretched over her back. She turned her head and pressed it into his shoulder. He really was much bigger than she, with a fine figure and strength in his form. He'd always claimed that his humanoid form was him but shaped differently. Jaina thought that perhaps now she could see it.

"So. Penguins," Kalec said, drawing her attention to the birds in the ice blocks. "When I was growing up in the Nexus, they were the traditional first kill for a whelp. In Aszuna we brought them in for the little ones."

"You're giving me a whelp's task?" Jaina asked, giving him a look.

"No! I mean, well, yes!" He huffed out a breath then drew himself up. "It's traditional."

"Traditional."

"Yes. Also they are delicious."

Jaina snorted. "Okay. Tradition then. How, er, should I do it? I mean I have these," she said holding up a paw and examining the claws. "Seems like it's overkill for something so small."

"It is," Kalec said. "Perhaps this wasn't a good idea."

Jaina crooned and nuzzled his shoulder. "I like you're sharing traditions with me."

"Whelps are big enough to snap their necks when this is done," Kalec said. "A good shake should do it without making the bird suffer. Is that okay?"

"I have had to kill things for food before, love," Jaina reminded him. "Some of the bigger fish don't come quietly."

"Okay. And after this I can teach you the skinning spell I know." Kalec gestured and with a murmur of power the ice around the penguin melted. The bird was still until a second spell brought it out of whatever trance Kalec had put on it.

The penguin squawked then began to waddle off in a panic at a surprising pace. Jaina watched it go, then scrambled after it. The bird called again and flopped forward, trying to scoot around on it's stomach as it would on ice. On grass that tactic didn't work very well. Jaina snapped the bird up, not really wishing to cause it more distress when she was going to just eat it. Jaina jerked her head to one side to snap the bird's spine and kill it quickly.

Half a shredded penguin hit Kalec in the face. Blood dribbled down her chin and filled her mouth. A streak of blood covered the side of his face, one eye closed as he remained in a startled wince.

"I'm so sorry!" she tried to say. The words came out garbled, more blood dribbled out of her mouth. She dropped the top half of the bird to the ground where it landed with a wet plop. The blood dripping down her chin was unpleasant and she wiped it away with the back of her paw. "Sorry."

"That... was not what I expected," Kalec said, wiping his eye with a careful talon. He chuckled and soon the two were laughing at the situation.

Kalec unfroze and killed one of the remaining penguins with his talons and asked Jaina to do the same with the last. He showed her the skinning spell then had her practice first on the mangled bird.

Jaina focused. The spell required a delicate touch since she was mimicking fine and controlled knife cuts with a sliver of cutting force. She was feeling up to the challenge of casting in this form. Jaina formed the flows in her mind, feeling pretty good when her power responded quickly. She cast the spell and the lower part of the penguin exploded into small gobbets of meat, blubber and skin with a squelch. Jaina reared back, wings spread. She flails and flapped and ultimately fell over on her back.

"Jaina!" Kallec leaned over, replacing her view of the sky. "Are you okay?"

"Magic. Not the same," Jaina said wiggling her talons. She rolled to her feet and examined the remains of the bird. "I haven't had a magic surge like that since I was first learning. Will this be a problem when I turn back?" she asked him.

"I don't know. I didn't know you might have one now. I would hope not. You've been using magic in that shape for years. I do know that when I first tried to take on another form, sometimes things went... oddly. And sometimes they didn't."

Jaina sighed. "Let me try again." The second half of the bird was skinned without incident. She managed not to explode the second bird but the cuts were not neat. At least now she was aware it could be a problem she could be on guard against it.

Kalec presented the bird he'd skinned to her. "Try it! The breast meat is the best."

Jaina sniffed it. It smelled... fishy. She nipped a chunk of the meat off the penguin. It was tougher than she expected.

It was fishy. And a bit oily. And fatty. She chewed it and swallowed. Kalec was looking at her expectantly. "It's sort of... fishy and gamey?" she said. "Sort of like cod?"

Kalec deflated. "You don't have to like it."

"It's okay? Bit tough. You said you like to eat these wrapped in bacon? I'm sorry, I know they're one of your favorites."

"It's okay if you don't like it. I was sort of hoping you would, but plenty of dragons don't list penguin as their favorite." Kalec sighed. "I'll have to cook one for you when we get home." He nuzzled the side of her head. "And it means more penguin for me!"

Jaina laughed. "It's all yours. I need to wash my face," she said, heading to the water. She also wanted to take a drink. Penguin wasn't bad but it wasn't all that great. Maybe her tastes were too human despite the transformation."

"How about we get some sleep and go fishing in the morning?" she suggested.

Kalec tossed the remains of the mauled penguin into the air and caught it in his mouth. He crunched happily as he eyed the horizon. Night was falling. "Sounds like a good plan. it's getting late. Did you want to sleep this way or shift again?"

"Sleep this way," she said returning to him. "A nap here and there isn't the same as a full night's rest or a full night's testing of holding the shape. I don't expect anything will be different but I should see all the same."

Kalec nodded. "This forest is nice. I've stayed here before. Shall we just stay here by the lake?"

"Let's," she said sitting down beside him and snuggling against his flank. "Should we visit Aszuna?" she asked.

"Do you want to?"

"I think Coragosa would be happy to see the results of her help. Or do you think they wouldn't be happy to see me like this?"

"Cora will be ecstatic. Among the blues of Aszuna I think you've made quite a positive impression. This is a rather impressive magical feat so my guess is that will probably do well in some circles who haven't already decided they like you. You saved one of our kin and our flight's youngest whelp." He nuzzled her head. "That act carried great weight with the dragons there."

"Even though I'm a human mage?"

"The dragons in Aszuna were some of the ones who held views most closely to my own during the Nexus war. They're the most likely to accept actively teaching the younger races."

"Will you invite them to Dalaran?" she asked. "You've made a very good impression." She was of two minds about that. One the one hand she would like Kalec to have some of his own people so he wouldn't feel so alone. On the other she was already dealing with integrating the Horde races again and adding blue dragons - some of whom were hated more than the Horde - wasn't something she wanted to dive into yet. But she would try to make it work for Kalec.

Kalec sighed out. "I think I will, but not quite yet. I need to lay more groundwork both with my people and with yours. And I think that I want the Horde mages to be reestablished first."

Jaina sighed in relief. Kalec chuckled. "I know you would welcome us, beloved but Dalaran needs time."

"We'll get there," Jaian said, resting her head against Kalec's shoulder. "The stars are amazing already. So clear."

"Just wait until the moons rise," he said, eager and excited to share. Jaina couldn't wait.

The Hostess arrived at the bustling tavern in a heavy cloak. She pushed it off her head and shook off the snow. Inside the tavern smelled of wood-smoke, roasting meat and spilled booze. She looked around and found the contact she was to meet. She was wary but so far this new benefactor appeared to be genuine - resources had flowed into her hands allowing her to take further steps and make more extensive plans. She looked around and found the person with the designated clothing items and markings she had been told to look for. The large bodyguard assessed her coolly as she approached then inclined his head. She gave her invitation to the bodyguard who allowed her into the back room he guarded. There were many such rooms in this establishment for business to be conducted. Some of it legal and some of it less so, but no one here would care.

The gentleman already seated was smoking a cigar, a partially filled tumbler at his elbow. He rose when she entered then indicated she take the seat across from him. He was older for a human, perhaps in his sixties. Given she'd ascertained this benefactor was a person of some wealth it made sense he would be established. His clothing was not ostentatious but was very finely made. His eyes were dark and he wore a fine cropped beard.

The man took out a small crystal in a setting and turned it on. The Hostess knew it was an arcane privacy screener. She'd seen many in Dalaran and they were fairly standard there.

"Now we might speak privately," the man said, his accent placing him as coming from Stormwind. "Thank you for coming." he emptied his glass.

"Your donation to our cause was welcome and your letter of introduction was intriguing," the Hostess said. "I agreed with what you said and based on what my people have been able to independently verify, you seem to be legitimate."

"And the gold spends well." The man grinned and offered her a drink. She declined with a small wave. The man shrugged and refilled his glass. "I lead a small group of concerned citizens who are of a like mind to you and your people."

"Go on."

"We've seen what's been going on in Dalaran and we don't like it. The Alliance is losing its way. Too many weak leaders at the top." He paused but she offered no comment. Nodding to himself he continued. "Too many good men and women have been killed by the Horde. Dalaran won over to our side was a huge victory. We were all cheered when Lady Proudmoore came to her senses, but..." he trailed off.

"But she has recanted."

"She has. It was bad enough King Wrynn showed he was too weak to defeat the Horde when they were at their weakest. We could have set things right. Returned to the proper glory days of the Alliance when we didn't need to worry about a few green-skinned savages." He snorted and sipped his drink. "And while his kid is very nice, he's got no stomach for possibly hurting anyone's feelings let alone leading the Alliance to greatness."

"It's like an infection," the Hostess said with a sneer. "What do you propose and at what cost?"

"Not so much of a cost. Perhaps call it the first steps of a partnership. We have some suggestions for how to drum up support to reverse some of these policies. Things which have worked well elsewhere. Find more like minded individuals. Our numbers are growing but Dalaran presents the newest battlefield."

"Hmm."

"We have to stand together, Lady, or we'll be overrun."

"Dalaran can change. We've seen it. Doesn't mean the rest of the Alliance will."

He puffed on his cigar for a few moments. "King Greymane's a good sort."

"He is involved in this?" She asked, eyebrow arched.

"No, not directly at least," the man said with a sly smile. "But I doubt we'll be hearing anything but support from him. He wants his territory back and he won't get it if Wrynn and Proudmoore are sucking Vol'jin's blue cock like they've been doing."

Crass, but not inaccurate. "You speak dangerous words, sir," the hostess said, eyes narrowing.

"These are dangerous times. There won't be an Alliance left soon enough. We'll be weak and then we'll just be slaves of the Horde."

"So what. You give me gold and instructions? You expect me to follow them like a servant, Human?"

"Gold from a likeminded friend and suggestions. Try them out. If you don't like them consider the gold a gift." He smiled. "But I think you will enjoy the results."

She considered him. He probably had something else to gain but then so did she. And a trial wouldn't hurt anything. She could evaluate if these people were worth associating with.

"Very well, I accept your trial. Prove to me that you can aid our cause and we'll speak of further."