Chapter Six

The heavy hammer slammed down on the anvil as sparks flew. Obito turned his head away as the hammer fell again. This time the chain between the two manacles broke. His hand was taken roughly into the grip of another, he didn't struggle. The large hands of the orc blacksmith worked on the hook that held the chain to the shackle and a moment later the metal links dropped to the floor with a loud clank. He did the same to other shackle and the dangling chain joined the first.

"You should get a rogue to pick the locks on the shackles themselves, it's lucky you got away from the Bonechewers orcs, they can be a vicious lot."

"Aye, thank you … how much do I owe you?"

"Nothing, anything to help the horde out," he said returning to his work.

"For the Horde!" Obito said, saluting and walking off.

He pulled his hood up and tried his best to hide his tell tale crimson locks. He knew Stonebreaker Hold wasn't the safest for him; it was only a stone throw from Shattrath. However, those here seemed more concerned about defending the keep then worried about wayward Sin'dorei.

With his hands now free he chanted a spell, a moment later grumpy and worried dragonhawk appeared. Obito appeased her with grapes from his backpack while healing her wounds. Then he headed out into the woods and up a nearby rocky cliff, trying his best to stay away from the basilisks that called the stony terrain home.

From his vantage point he saw a small brigade of Silvermoon Guardians marching down the path toward the town he had just left. They were accompanied by a couple of Rangers as well. Swearing Obito searched through his packs and found a small rune stone; placing his hand on Hotaru he triggered it. They appeared at the Scryers inn in Shattrath, the irony of his binding point wasn't lost to him as he called his hawkstrider to him and causally joined the other adventurers coming and going. As Obito neared the great lift that would bring him down to the heart of the city, a large arcane guardian rumbled beside him. "Halt!" It shouted in its robotic voice.

The hunter urged his hawkstrider to run faster dodging under the metal arm of the guard. The elevator had not made its ascent but Obito didn't wait and braced himself as he rode off the side, the fall to the ground startled a gnome and caused his mount to let out a cry of pain. The impact probably broke a few of his own bones but he couldn't tend to them. He urged the hawkstrider on and raced toward the center of town.

Within the Terrace of Light he dashed toward the shimmering portals that led back to Azeroth, with only the briefest moment of indecision he chose the one that would bring him to Orgrimmar. The streets of the orc town were quiet as he made his way through them and out to the rocky lands of Durotar. He didn't slow his pace until he was on the deserted shores of the Great Sea. Once there he slid off of his mount and sat down on the sand. Hotaru settled down beside him, concerned eyes looking up at him.

He rubbed her beak. "I'm sorry, my friend. It seems my curiosity has once again got us into a dilemma. Ah well, first things first ..." He stood and walked over to the shore, his armor was still torn, dirty and bloodied from his earlier encounters. After confirming with his hunter abilities the only living creatures close were a couple of crabs and scorpions he took off his battered armor and dove into the salty water of the ocean.

Hotaru yipped playfully from the shore line as he bathed himself. It felt good to wash off the grime and blood from the Outlands. It wasn't as pleasant as the bubble baths back at Silvermoon but he had learned to find enjoyment in lesser finer things. Afterwards he took his armor into the water with him and washed it the best he could. His tunic would take a craftsman's skilled touch to repair.

When he had finished Obito laid the damp clothes out across the rocks as he stretched out on another to air dry in the sun. Hotaru curled up near him, after asking her to keep watch he gave into the weariness that pulled at him and dozed off. As he slept he dreamt.

He was sitting on the floor in his father's study, a dozen books and scrolls spread out around him.

"If you studied harder you wouldn't have to do these extra credit projects," his father scolded from his desk.

"My grades are just fine, Father … I thought for a little effort I could get even in more favor with the teacher for my placing in the Academy next year." Obito said without looking up from the book he was flipping pages through.

"And what is this report about?"

"Important Sin'dorei that have come before, we all have a different elf." Obito sighed and placed the book he was looking at on a growing pile of dejected study material. "Though it seems mine isn't as important as Mistress Aira led me to believe, I can't find anything."

"Who are you looking for?" Tyilo asked standing. "Our library is quite extensive; surely we have something on them."

"Ah some battle mage that fought in the Troll Wars went by the name Rater Grimshade."

The library exploded in arcane magic. Obito looked over at his father, his body was ablaze. "Father, please no!" He held the book up protectively in front of him, letting out a scream as the skin on his fingers blistered from the fireball cast.

"You will NEVER mention that name again," his father yelled towering over him.

Obito looked at the book that lay in ashes at his feet. "I don't understand …who was Rater Grimshade …" The rest of his words were cut off as his father struck him.

"I said you were to never to mention that name again," Tyilo said as his hands burst into flames.

"Father no!"

Obito woke with a start; the dragonhawk rubbed a beak against his cheek trying to calm him. Obito flexed his hands as the remembered pain faded. "Who is this Rater Grimshade?" He thought aloud as he sat up and looked out across the water. "I think I've figured out a very important key to this whole puzzle but … the answers I seek are in the one place I cannot return to …"