Chapter Eight

After accepting the summons of a warlock Obito appeared in a dimly lit room. He didn't struggle as his arms were roughly seized. Instead he looked around; there were five others in the room with him, the one that held him and four others. They were in some sort of study, with books that lined the shelves. His gaze fell onto the Sin'dorei that stepped in front of him.

It was the female from the bar in Shattrath, her long black hair hung loosely down her back. In her hand was small dagger she twirled around casually. "So we meet again, whelp … well you're persistent, I give you that."

"Where is he?" Obito demanded.

She placed a gloved finger against his lips. "Shh …" she said as the flat part of the blade in her hand traced down his neck. "Your heart is beating so fast, I can hear it. Didn't quite think this whole thing through did you, child?"

The dagger slid lower and he closed his eyes as it cut through the cloth of the robe, revealing his mail armor underneath. The female let out a cold laugh as she removed the weapons she found, tossing his axe and sword onto a nearby table. The staff that had been across his back joined the pile. She nodded and he was released. "Remove your tunic and your boots," she said.

With little choice Obito did as she asked, adding them to table with his weapons. His arms were again grabbed and this time bound behind him with what felt like leather straps. The Sin'dorei moved in front of him, he could feel her breath against his bare chest as her fingers moved lightly down it. Kneeling she ran hands down both of his legs, reaching up his left cuff to remove the dagger sheathed there.

Standing she walked over to nearby table and picked up an iron manacle. His will waived slightly as she approached, opening it and slid it around his neck. A tiny shudder escaped as it was locked, the chain that was attached to it felt like a cold snake down the middle of his back. An armored hand took the chain and a moment later Obito was forced to stand on his toes as it was attached to the rafter above him; he coughed as his breath was stolen.

"You oaf, you have it too tight … if the Master wanted him to hang he would of told us!"

There was a rattle of iron and some slack was given allowing him rest back on his heels, but giving him precious little leeway otherwise. He looked coldly at his captor. "Where is he?"

"I'm right here, foolish one."

Obito glanced over at the man that had spoken. It was one of the hooded men that stood in the corner, when the cover was removed the face of his father glowered back at him. "You are all dismissed; I'll handle this nuisance personally."

The female seemed to pout but nodded and headed for the door, the other two casters in the corner did the same. For the first time he was able to see who had held him from behind, it was the troll from Shattrath. Two icy eyes met his gaze, the lips snarled around his tusks. The troll gestured to a scar on his arm. "I got this little trophy from our last encounter …" He glanced over at his father. "When you finish with him Grimshade I'd like to return the favor."

"Of course," his father said uncaringly.

The troll went to leave but suddenly turned and slammed an armored gauntlet into Obito's unprotected abdomen. The hunter let out a groan as he was knocked off his feet, the shackle around his neck threatened to lynch him. He regained his footing, coughing but held his tongue. His impassiveness seemed to anger the troll even more but a hand engulfed with fire came down between them. "Enough leave us … now."

The troll spit at him and Obito felt the warm spittle land on his cheek. Then with a grunt he left.

Obito turned his attention to his father. The elder took out a handkerchief and walked over to where he was bound, he used the soft fabric to wipe away the grime on his cheek. "You'll have to forgive Nityseek; he's … well a troll. Now, my inquisitive stalker, how did you hear of the Council of Tirisfal?"

"I found it in an old textbook," Obito said.

A sharp slap across his cheek answered him. "You know secret sects are not written in school books, now I ask you again … where did you hear of the Council of Tirisfal?"

"An old scroll … it spoke of the Council and the Guardians in their trust … and your name was listed."

"And where would a child like yourself, find such a vital scroll?" Rater asked as he walked behind him. "And what did you do to your hair?"

"I dyed it when I went to Silvermoon; it's where I found the scroll, in a library. After our last encounter it seems all of Quel'Thalas wants me imprisoned, you wouldn't know why that would be?" His head was jerked roughly back by the braid, and something cool was pressed against his throat.

"And where exactly is this said library?" His father hissed in his ear.

"My family's estate …"

"LIES!" There was another sharp yank and his father walked back around with his braid in his hand, a moment later it disappeared in a burst of flames. "Next time it will be your throat, so I suggest you speak true. Where did you hear of the Council?"

Obit hung his head and remained quiet. He was suddenly deluged with frigid water that cascaded from above his head. He let out a startled gasp as Rater repeated the spell, again raining him with icy water. "Cheap dye job," he said as Obito's face was streaked with the pigment that washed out of his hair. Obito shook head trying to clear the water from his face; it was futile as the attack continued. Finally it stopped and he was left gasping and shivering in the cold.

"Sorry it looked as if you were falling asleep on me, now answer me damn it!"

"In the ruins of Silvermoon there is a small house tucked away in the northeast corner. Years ago I found a trapdoor there, and within the hidden room was a library filled with scrolls and books. It was there I gained the knowledge of your past." Obito words were flat and emotionless.

"Of course, that fool … he would have left his library," Rater turned away rambling to himself. The water poured over him had loosened the leather straps that bound his wrists. Obito quietly worked on bonds, cutting his flesh as he struggled to free his hands.

"So tell me, child … I don't suppose you called this audience just to die … what in the world possessed you to call out to me … the great Rater Grimshade as if I was at your beckon call?"

"I knew my death was likely I had only hoped to gain answers before …" Obito said as his hands came free, he kept them behind him.

"And what answers are you dying to find out?" Rater said with a wicked smile.

"What possess a man to give up everything twice in his life? You gave up your title and power to become my mother's soulmate and my father and then threw us aside like we were garbage … what the hell were we? Some failed experiment? Couldn't you have been content being some grumpy old miser if you no longer wanted to be on the Council?"

"Let's say just for a moment, that this insane idea of yours is true and that I was your father … I'd think tormenting you for the past twenty years would have been more enjoyable then living as a hermit."

Still shackled by the neck Obito could do nothing but glower at his capture. "By the Sunwell, I will kill you …"

"I'm sorry … your little adventure ends here … now." Rater moved over to the door and opened it. "I've gained all I need, Nity … he's all yours … have fun."

The large troll entered the room and cracked his knuckles. Rater turned and cast a quick spell; a blast of arcane energy severed the chain from the ceiling letting it fall. "I know you; Nity … you would get bored if he just hung there. But please clean up after yourself when you are done."

"Aye Rater," the troll glanced away for a moment and Obito used that second to place an invisible trap at his feet. He then took a quick step back, putting his arms back behind his back, giving the illusion he was still bound.

The troll sneered as he approached. "Just promise you'll scream … just a little bit, makes the whole thing more enjoyable." The troll found himself frozen in place and Obito moved around to where his weapons and armor still laid. He slipped the boots on; at the same time laying down a second unseen ice trap. He then moved to his tunic and had just finished fastening it when his first trap shattered. The enraged troll charged him, only to once again be frozen in place.

"You know, he was right … you are such a troll." Obito said as he strapped on his weapons and headed for the door. "As much as I'd love to kill you, there is another man that demands my attention first. With luck we'll have our battle soon enough." Obito bowed slightly and then activating his ranger skills, found the hall outside empty. He was slightly curious about that but knew he was running out of time, his ice trap only had seconds left. Stepping outside the room he shut the door and placed another ice trap a short distance away from the room he just left.

He then moved down the hall, behind him the door to the library flew open. He glanced over his shoulder at his angry pursuer. "You don't think I'd be dumb enough to fall for a third trap," Nity snarled as he leapt over the door jam and right into the last trap.

"Yes, I knew you would," Obito replied as he activated the cheetah within and raced out.

Outside the building he found a colorful Sin'dorei settlement. The building he had just escaped from was the only permanent structure, the rest were small multicolored tents. The blood elves roaming outside paid him no heed, in his eyes he was another one of them. He knew that would change very quickly. He ducked into the closest tent and found it unoccupied. Across the sleeping pillow was a robe, the same that the casters from earlier had worn. Obito slipped in on, just as there was a loud commotion outside. He lifted the flap of the tent slightly to observe, at the same hiding his presence from other hunters.

The troll by the name of Nity and the female Sin'dorei were there, surrounded by a dozen other elves. "What do you mean he got away? He was chained and bound … what did you need him unconscious too?"

"He wasn't chained," Nity growled. "Rater freed him so I'd have a bit more fun with him … and he wasn't bound either, the straps must have come loose."

"And who was the one that bound him?" The female said with a nasty tone to her voice.

"Me," Nity said softly with a fearful look in his eyes.

"Well you better pray we find him then, otherwise I'm sure Lord Grimshade will see that you take his place on the bone pile." She looked out to the others that had gathered. "We're looking for a young male Sin'dorei, he has long black hair, and it was braided when he escaped. He's a hunter by profession so be wary but he has yet to reach his full potential so shouldn't be a challenge for the best Sunfury has."

Obito stepped back as hand moved to his now short damp crimson locks. Just then the flap to the tent was pushed aside and an armored Blood Elf entered.

"No time for idle slumber, mage … we have an escaped prisoner. All eyes should be looking for him, he hasn't gotten far."

"Unless he got a summons from a friendly warlock or hearthed back to where his soul was bound," Obito said cockily. "What do I look like a hunter? Ah well, for the glory of the Sunfury … I'll see what I can do." He brushed passed the other and into the courtyard, keeping his gaze down. The small camp was a flurry of activity, Obito watched as a couple of hunters studied the ground in front of the large building, probably looking for his tracks.

He glanced around the unfamiliar terrain; he wasn't sure where he was. Cautiously activating his ranger abilities he could see no trace of his father as far as his tracking could reach. "Damn it," he whispered as he continued to walk. Just then an armored Sin'dorei rode up on the back of a hawkstrider, he dismounted and handed Obito the reins. "Here hold onto my mount, squishy," the other commanded.

Obito took the bridle and nodded. As the other headed over to the main building Obito placed a hand on the hawkstrider's beak and using the gifts the Rangers of Silvermoon graced him with earned its trust. Then stepping into the stirrup, hopped onto the saddle and urged the hawkstrider down the path and out of the camp.

No one made any notice of him and soon he found himself on a deserted road, his tracking picked up all sorts of deadly menaces lurking behind the rocky surroundings. He urged his mount to pick up its gait, at his current strength he would be an easy kill for any of the creatures that called this land home. A road sign pointed south to a place called "Wildhammer Stronghold" it sounded dwarven, Obito pressed on. Soon another sign directed him toward Shadowmoon Village. This one sounded more accommodating and Obito adjusted his path towards it. A short time later he came to a horde encampment, with a sigh of relief he went to enter it when he was suddenly surrounded by dozen well armed orcs.

"You have exactly three seconds to explain yourself, Sunfury scum!" One of them snarled.

Obito was still wearing the robes of the enemy. Before he could enlighten his allies the entire legion of orcs were frozen in place, as jagged ice surrounded their feet.

"This child isn't a Sunfury."

Obito decided a dozen orc defenders wouldn't have been that bad after all as a small army of Silvermoon Guardians encircled the orcs that had him surrounded.

"Though he will be coming with us," Grand Magister Rommath said.