Aside from the servants bustling about of the servants the Prestor household was deathly quiet, the clinking of cutlery and crockery as the kitchen prepared breakfast and those outside of it offered tea.
"So… you plan to continue with your plan to exterminate the undead at Raven Hill, or are you going to play with ancient artefacts some more?" Lady Katrana Prestor asked blandly, her expression somewhat jaded.
Menma looked at her with a similar expression. "Yes… I figured after spending a month and a bit in the snow, the gloom of Duskwood would do wonders for my complection."
"And why is it, you decided to come to my home, if you're just going to do as you already informed me?" Katrana asked, as the immaculate butler presented the breakfast nook with finger-food before breakfast.
"I need a meeting with the King, to get a decree that I'm not wasting my time by going to hell and back for nothing." Menma said with a quiet severity.
Katrana smirked, finally breaking her blank facade, "So that's it. You believe that I could get you what you need?"
Menma narrowed his gaze, "Because you're in his ear every other minute of the day and if I can't expedite the process by going through you, It's pointless to try."
"Why so eager to get out again? You just returned." Katrana asked, her eyes narrowing to match his own, the boy was eager, too eager.
"Because." Was all he said.
"Because I'd very much like to see the world." Yol cut in, though no one else could see him, and Menma was still somewhat unused to his popping in, the young man's eyes darted to the figure, who grinned brightly.
"Because I need something to do, I don't like sitting on my hands. And that's basically what I've been doing in Khaz Modan this whole time." Menma said with a sigh.
"It wasn't that bad." Trixie assured the woman, who smirked at the gnome but said nothing. Trixie felt for the barest of a moment, that she was standing in front of a towering monster, not a beautiful woman.
And Menma was raised by this woman?
"I suppose I could drag the King to sign a simple document… for the right price." Lady Prestor grinned at her Scion and the young man nodded, no hesitation that was something she liked about him.
"What I want you to do is take young Anduin with you." Menma's brain stopped working for a moment.
"Excuse you?" Demanded the mage, incredulous was one way to put it.
"Yes. The boy needs real world experience, and as he was born before the troubles of the scourge, he needs to be reminded of the dangers the undead and those that dabble with them, pose. So I want you and your little friend here, to take Anduin with you on this little expedition. Fret not darling, guardsmen will be going with you."
"Even if that's the case how in the hell would you convince the Dadliest King of Azeroth to allow his 'golden' boy to leave? This is the same man that after losing his wife, swore a blood feud with the Defias Brotherhood!"
Even if he didn't have issues with taking a 12 year old into the heart of Duskwood, it'd also put a massive damper on another reason for his going.
Raven Hill, the 'safest' place in Duskwood was the only place in all of the massive forest of dead things and cursed creatures that had a registered Flight Master, that meant that not only did it have the protection of its militiamen, it also had a massive flock of dangerous griffins ready and able to tear apart anything.
A few kilometres south of Raven Hill was a chain of silver and the literal gold mines, in the heart of Worgen territory, if he not only had to worry about the eyes from Raven Hill, the Guardsmen and the prince! He'd never make any headway clearing out those mines.
The idea behind the mines, was wholly selfish. He wanted independence and using those mines would get him the means to have such.
Trixie looked like she'd swallowed a lemon, barely present at that point as the idea of escorting royalty became far too real.
"Young Master, your food." Sebastian strode back into the room with a silver tray in one hand, he placed it down and removed the lid, Menma was hit by the heavenly aroma of Angela's cooking, the woman in charge of all kitchen delights within the Prestor house.
"Thank you Sebas'…" Menma said, his gaze gaining some distance as he seemingly stared into the air.
"Is something the matter, Young Master?" Sebastian questioned, a shine of concern in his red gaze.
"No Sebas, but thank you for asking." Menma dismissed the swirl of thoughts in his head and waved the butler off, he had no need to burden his mind with these things when the Prince would likely not even join him, the King was far too protective of his progeny to even let it happen.
Nevertheless he needed to inform his mentor about this.
Menma flicked his wrist and conjured an Arcane Familiar, the shape of which was dubbed a 'Pseudodragon' about the size of a Faerie Dragon, but was more akin to a winged serpent in structure, small ridged horns rested out the back of the tiny creature's head its scales were a dull brass colour.
Menma rummaged his pouches and produced his reports on the artefacts he'd recovered, with a quick Gemini spell the report duplicated.
A simple spell he'd managed to make during his youth, 'Gemini', simply put, it duplicated whatever you cast the spell on, though if you duplicated the copy it would fizzle out in about a minute.
Menma rubbed its chin for a moment as he presented the report between to his minion. "Now, you know where to take this, go there and bring back any messages he sends."
The Pseudodragon chittered for a moment, smoke rising from its nostrils. "Listen here you little brat." Menma grouched at the creatures defiance, his form looming over it, though he remained seated. "I'll not put up with your trifling greed, you'll get your reward when you've returned, no sooner."
The reptile nodded and snatched the report into its jaws before flying off out a nearby window.
"Interesting creature, Young Master." Sebastian noted, having never seen such a being before.
"It was tricky to bind it, considering how stubborn dragons can be, though I guess the little bugger was some love child between a black and a red given his scales, I could be wrong though." Menma said with a shrug, picking at the remnants of his breakfast.
Katrana snorted in derision, but said nothing else.
Sebastian smiled, though one could clearly see the amusement in his eyes at the idea, he remained quiet.
"Well, I think Trixie and I will take our leave, call on me when you need to, Lady Prestor." The niceties had to be observed at least somewhat, Menma stood up, followed hastily by Trixie and the duo bowed politely, getting a graceful tilt of the head from the Lady before being gestured to leave.
"Have a good on, Sebas'." Menma broke the illusion or propriety by grinning and walking out the door, getting a fond smile from the older male and another huff of amusement from the Lady.
Mage Quarter; Three Hours Later
Menma had bathed thoroughly, when he returned home. Argen awaited and accepted the discarded robe and scarf, the suit of armour collected each piece of collected cloth its master left in his wake towards his tub, drawing the curtains Menma snapped a finger and incense burners began to simmer away, the air slowly filling with particles of glowing mana.
Menma sunk into the waters within, tiny sprites of conjured flame dancing around the bottom of the steel tub, Argen stood at the door with a new set of clothes folded over one of its arms Menma ignored the suit and dunked his head into the water, holding his breath a few seconds and getting some private thought time.
What was Katrana's goal with this little move? Taking Anduid babyface Wrynn out for a stroll in fucking Duskwood of all places? The woman must have lost her mind.
Or she's planning something and the boy can't be around.
Great now he wouldn't be able to sleep properly while the little shit was around, because who knows if the guards are in on it or not!
Damnable woman, that Prestor.
But what to do? He really didn't have enough information to really navigate around her current 'play', so he supposed he had to dance to the tune for the moment and be a good little boy, taking the prince with him.
Nevertheless he was going to try and convince Varian to keep Anduin close… perhaps that could work? Present himself as an ally instead of a servant?
Sure, he'd scuffed Varian's chin with a Scorch spell, but that was a decade ago, the many probably didn't even remember it. Or if he did, he didn't care, because Varian 'UltraDad' Wrynn didn't seem to notice much outside Katrana and Anduin, mostly the latter.
He knew this because of his eavesdropping habit, no one ever seemed to notice a hawk for some reason.
Somewhat the caveat of his skills, the only polymorph he could successfully do was on himself, and it was only birds. For some reason.
Emerging from the waters Menma stood in the tub, the sprites of fire curiously looking up at their creator in all his naked glory. "Argen." Menma said steadily, and firmly, the helmet turned to 'meet his gaze'.
"Please collect my staff from outside." He ordered as he dressed, the suit of armour gripped the staff like a vice and remained unmoving.
"Any reason for that?" Yol questioned, looking at the younger mage with a quirk of his elven brow.
"I don't want Trixie trip on it, it probably fell onto the ground I was a little hasty in putting it up."
"And you don't just have it within in reach?" Yol'Tithian said with a chuckle. "Your so strange."
"I'm in my own home, I don't need to be alert here, besides Argen can find intruders faster than I can." Probably.
Maybe.
Did he enchant the thing to have a patrol function?
…
Fuck.
Wait, no it's fine. The suit listened to commands so it just had to be told.
Wow, he needed to hang out with Warlocks more, their paranoia would help him think of this stuff sooner.
Stormwind Keep; Royal Throne Room
Lady Katrana Prestor was discussing what was to be done about the incursion of Duskwood, and the Defias problems of Westfall, even of the disturbing Horde foothold in Stranglethorn Vale, with the King Varian Wrynn, Lord Bolvar Fordragon and a few other choice nobles within the city.
"We can't let those green beasts get a foothold on our lands, my King." A wealthy noble said with worry, he was a middle aged man and well built for his station, clearly trained to fight if not actively doing so, Lord Burles Wishock, a frequent patron of the Slaughtered Lamb in the Mage Quarter.
"I agree, but what would you have us do, Wishock? There's only so many men to deploy." Another woman said, her hair like spun copper and eyes like a rainstorm, she wore a dark blue dress and had long blue gloves on that reached just past her forearm, Lady Eliza Vanyst.
"Perhaps repurpose some of the men from Redridge and Westfall? Those areas are somewhat quieter than they have been at the moment." A much older man said, with visibly greyed hair, Lord Gregor Lescovar, donned in sublime red and white robe, with a silver circlet on his brow.
"And if we emptied those posts, the trouble would immediately start back up again, Redridge is only just recovering from an orc incursion of its own, Lord Lescovar." Varian Wrynn said with a noticeable frown on his face, making the elder man settle.
"Could we not supplement these holds with adventurers?" The Lord replied easily, "It was one who ended the Blackrock incursion in Redridge, yes?"
Wishock sighed into his beard, "The Redridge… 'incident' was a powerful young mage, not just an adventurer, I believe in the spirit of these people but it would take more than just one of them to make up for so many guards, and most of our usual contractors are dealing with issues around the Burning Steppes and Badlands."
"Ah yes, striking at the heart of the issues, as it were." Lord Lescovar said with a hum of understanding, "A shame."
"My Lords, surely you're forgetting that the 'Incident' Mage is currently inside Stormwind, could we not send him along to Stranglethorn with a small guard contingent as backup? We all know the destructive power they're capable of." Lady Vanyst said
"Yes, but should we be relying on singular adventurers to assist us instead of guilds?" Bolvar Fordragon said with a pointed look.
"If I may, my ward has requested a writ similar to his previous one to cleanse the Raven Hill cemetery area of Duskwood, I'm sure if we add a little sweetness to the pot he'd go and and deal with the Stranglethorn issue, and if he'd preoccupied it gives us time to move around troops." Katrana said.
"That could work… we've long neglected Duskwood." Varian admitted with a frown.
"My King, would it not make more sense to send Paladin's in place of a Mage?" Wishock said with a quirked brow.
"Lord Wishock has the right of it." Bolvar Fordragon said, considering this. "Sadly, the order is still recovering from the last war with the greenskins."
"A small unit of newer Paladins would still be more suitable than a single Mage, surely." the older man rebuked.
"And yet convincing the order would be harder than you'd think, Lord Wishock." Varian interjected with a firm hand, "They're more insular than most would think, and training recruits takes time and effort they cannot afford to waste."
"Hmm." Katrana sounded off thoughtfully, there was always a solution.
Katrana waited until the meeting came to a close, a full three hours later, before approaching Varian once more.
"My King, I've a suggestion if you'd care to listen to it." Varian turned to her and smiled warmly.
"Of course, Lady Prestor. I've always time for you." He gestured her on as she gave him a smile of her own.
"My ward - as we spoke about - intends to cleanse the undead incursion within Duskwood, though we may not have come to a conclusion on conscripting the Paladins to aid, I was hoping you'd do me the favour of sending him aide, from a trustworthy practitioner of the Light."
Varian considered this, it seemed he'd slowly begun to accrue a debt to the young firespitter, service to Stormwind's people was equal to service to the throne, in his eyes. A small favour in return, whether known or not, didn't seem unreasonable.
"I'm certain I can arrange that, though the matter of who certainly stands." Varian said with a thoughtful look on his face.
"I'm sure he'd appreciate that, my king." Lady Prestor said, getting a grin from the man.
"Please, Katrana when we're alone you may call me Varian." The King assured, "I suppose all that's left is to send for one of the brothers from Cathedral Square, hopefully the priesthood is more receptive than I know the Order would be."
"A suggestion if I may, Varian." At his attention once more she continued, "I believe it would be worthwhile to send your son Anduin along, he's a practiced young man and has grown quite quickly in his skills with the light. If a small squadron of guards were to go along as well he'd be completely safe, between the sheer force my ward puts out and the stalwart nature of your knights."
Varian's knee-jerk reaction was to say no, of course he'd say no. It was his son! A boy barely twelve years of age, but something stilled his tongue and he pondered.
If Varian never gave his boy the time to grow like his own father had, he'd be stifled and wouldn't develop properly.
That being said, it would be a massive undertaking and the amount of trust he'd be putting into the young mage would be colossal.
"Before I decide anything, send for you ward. I'd speak with him. Alone." Varian said, his face severe and grave, Katrana blinked but nodded quickly and left the room to dispatch a messenger.
As she left, Bolvar Fordragon returned, and stood at his kings side.
"Bolvar, could you retrieve Anduin for me." Varian asked, not as his king but as his friend, Bolvar nodded immediately.
"Of course, Varian. I'll be but a moment."
Varian Wrynn, son of Llane Wrynn. Contemplated upon his throne.
For every positive to sending his son, his mind railed against this rationale and demanded he keep his progeny close by, safe and secure.
His own experiences were mostly of training, and tutoring, one of the few times the outside world truly struck Varian was as a child, when Stormwind was being burned to its frames and Garona Halforcen slew his father.
Orcs…
Varian's grip on his throne tightened at that memory.
"You wanted to see me, father?" A voice cut Varian from his reverie and he saw his beloved son, all he had left of his family and his wife Tiffin, his sole blood in the world.
Blond, just like his mother, but with Varian's blue eyes, though deeper than the man himself, almost like sapphires.
Varian smiled and gestured the boy forward, hugging his son closely for a few moments his mind refocused.
"How are your studies, my son?" Asked the King, whilst a small boy, Anduin couldn't exactly practice the sword yet, not until manhood began to really show in him, so he kept to his books, and archery, along with keeping to the Light, like any good man.
"They go well father, Father Anderson thinks I'll be able to start casting Power Word: Shield soon." Anduin told him brightly, every time his son smiled, Varian couldn't help but join him.
"Marvelous." Whilst Varian did hold an inherent bias towards magic, seeing steel and mettle as the ultimate weapon, he wanted to encourage his son in all things.
"Uncle Bolvar said you needed me for something though, what was it?" Asked the Prince, curiously.
Varian nodded to himself, getting back on track, though before he spoke aloud an idea formed fully in his head, and he had to resist the grin on his face from interrupting, "There is an opportunity to work alongside Father Anderson and a Magus to cleanse the town of Raven Hill from its various curses and Undead attacks, along with a contingent of Guardsmen I was wondering if you wished to go along? To further your studies but to also know the enemy that will always be there."
Anduin's face went from cautiously excited to abject terror at the mention of the Undead.
Bolvar looked quite distraught himself, though handled himself better, "My King, surely you jest?"
"I do not, an opportunity like this doesn't come along often, to be able to see the face of the enemy, gain context, and yet be safe? How often has that occured for you, Bolvar?" Varian asked rhetorically.
The Highlord paused for a moment, "I could go along as well, I am a Paladin, my King."
Varian considered this, and so Bolvar pressed on, "If I were to go in the stead of Father Anderson - a goodly man but not a fighter - I could protect the Prince as well, should he decide to go along with the Magus."
"Are you capable of cleansing the lands though, Bolvar? Is that a skill your poses? The scourge infestation of Raven Hill cemetery has been there for quite a time." Varian responded, stern.
Anduin seemed to have plucked courage from wherever he was keeping it and said, "I-I know several cleansing rituals, father. If I worked with Uncle Bolvar I'm sure we could do it!" There seemed to be a spark of excitement in his eyes, hesitance tempering but not overwhelming.
"Well then, it seems we have a resolution." Varian smiled lightly, "Bolvar, why did you not suggest yourself in the meeting?"
Bolvar had a pinched expression when he spoke but did so cordially, "I was going to offer myself up, outside of the meeting regardless, my lord. I wished not to share with the other lords, as they may think it unseemly, foolishly."
This seemed to amuse Varian more than anything.
"Guest for you milord." A Knight said, having heard a knock on the other side of the wooden doors leading down into the keep.
"Let them in." Varian sat straighter on his throne as the doors swung open.
It had been many years since he'd seen the boy - now young man - before him. Previously in rags and with fire on his fingers, now dressed in finery and with a cool demeanor.
A staff of ornate and ancient make clasped firmly in one hand and the other freely at his side, though Varian could see the tenseness in his stance.
At his side was a gnomish mage, something Varian didn't expect, all things considered, but she seemed excited to be there nonetheless.
The voice that drew Varian from his observations carried the same barely-contained-fire that it did before, "My King Varian, Prince Anduin, Highlord Bolvar a good afternoon to you all."
"And you, Scion of Prestor, Menma." Varian responded in kind, observing the niceties of nobility.
"May I present, Trixie Blastfuse, of the Ironforge Mystic Order. She's my apprentice." Menma bowed slightly and gestured with his free hand to the gnome, who gave an admittedly adorable curtsy.
"An honour your majesty."
Varian nodded and accepted the greeting, before he begun speaking, "So, your Lady Prestor has informed me of your intent to cleanse a section of Duskwood, might I ask what brought this on?"
Menma straightened up before answering, "Aside from the fact that they clearly need the help, and undead incursion upon my-our lands, is worthy of extermination with extreme prejudice. The only reason I did not request backing beforehand was due to lack of faith in my own abilities."
"And you have acquired this faith now?" Varian asked doubtfully, deciding to play a little hardball.
"Between the artefacts uncovered in Khaz Modan along with the assistance of Trixie and the spectre within this amulet, I'm equipped to deal with a few restless corpses." Menma answered blandly, though his fist clenched tightly on the haft of his staff.
"I see." The King said indulgently, "And what grand difference has this trip given you?"
"Aside from the fact that I could bathe the entirety of the graveyard in fire with only moderate effort, I believe between myself and my apprentice, we can deduce a way to fully lift whatever curse is on the land." The Mage said, only the most practiced would notice the gritting of his teeth.
Varian smiled behind a hand and nodded, "Very well, a reward of four hundred gold upon completion of your task, with the stipulation that Highlord Bolvar Fordragon and Prince Anduin Wrynn accompany you, with a squad of four Stormwind Knights."
The King saw the immediate change in the young man's stance, from severe to exasperated, "The witch actually convinced you to do it…"
Varian had a very private chuckle to himself later about that exact look.
End.
Been a while, but that's because reasons.
Life is a bit fucking mayhem laden right now so forgive me.
I don't know if I'll end up having a proper crew again like in my first swing at a Warcraft story, but more actual crossover elements will come later down the line, so be patient for those.
Hope you enjoyed it, if you did lemme know I always get a kick out of reading your thoughts.
Raxychaz