Chapter Fourteen
The scent of a campfire was Obito's first awareness; he remained still and instinctively reached out with his ranger skills to detect who was nearby. His eyes flew open, his magic was unlocked. A gentle presence entered his mind.
"Welcome back," the voice whispered.
Obito glanced over to the elf that was sitting nearby. The emerald eyes of the other met his gaze. "Uncle Lotheolan?" Obito's hand moved to his throat and relief washed over him, his voice had been returned as well.
His uncle smiled and moved closer, in his hand was a canteen of water which he placed against Obito's lips. The hunter took a couple of sips and then gently pushed it away. He sat up slowly, feeling the healing powers of the other chase away any dizziness.
Two slight arms encircle him from behind and he felt the telltale pressure of ample breasts pressed against his back. "Welcome back to the world of the living, kiddo."
Obito glanced over his shoulder. "You too Aunt Cinada?" he asked.
"Me too," she said hugging him.
Obito rested against her embrace and looked around. There was small campfire burning nearby, it appeared they were back on one of the floating islands of Nagrand. Near the fire he could see a couple of sleeping elves; their scents were familiar to him. One was his mother; the other was the paladin, Vorat, his father had entrusted Obito to.
"First sleep your mother has had in weeks," Cinada whispered in his ear.
Obito noticed the troll hunched over by a tree at the far end of the island. "Zalon is on watch at the moment," Lotheolan said following his gaze.
"And you trust him?" Obito asked.
"The troll nearly gave his life to protect you," Cinada rebuked. "How could we not?"
"But …" Obito sighed and ran a hand through his hair only to pull it back. He touched his crimson locks again this time combing his fingers through the long hairs. "Thank you, Uncle Lotheolan."
"Was easy enough to lengthen your locks," his uncle said. "Your mother asked me too."
Obito nodded and slipping out of Cinada's hold stood, stretching his arms over his head. His body felt fantastic. Light fingers tickled his ribs and he let out a yelp, flipping around. Aunt Cinada had already pranced out of range with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Lotheolan let out a loud sigh and Obito glanced over his shoulder to see his mother sitting up. "She really needed more rest." The priest muttered under his breath.
Amaya looked over at him and smiled. He ran over to her and kneeling they embraced. Her arms held him tightly and for a long moment neither of them spoke. Finally Obito whispered, "I'm sorry I caused you so much trouble, Mother."
"You have too much of your father in you, I should have known better then to try to keep you bridled. He would have lashed out the same way." His mother held Obito near a minute longer before releasing him and composing herself. "First let's get some food into you, I bet you're starving. Then we'll need to hear about your adventures in the Outlands … everything you know about the man you call Grimshade."
A short time later the entire group lounged near the fire, Obito settled between his mother and Vorat … ever so often glancing over at the troll who sat across from him. He threw the remains of a half-eaten fish into the flames and wrapping his arms around his knees started speaking.
"I first heard of the name Grimshade in Shattrath, I had gone there looking for information on my father's final days. I'm not sure exactly what I was looking for at that time, perhaps a reason to how someone like my father could vanish without a trace. He could clearly rival the Grand Magister in his power … he wouldn't have fallen easily." Obito frowned and shook his head. "Sorry, anyway I was directed to the city to speak to a Consortium Trader."
"And what did you want to talk to him about?" Vorat interrupted.
"About a book, which a Sin'dorei had found in Hellfire … maybe," Obito said.
"What Sin'dorei?" Vorat pressed.
"I'd have the name in my journal … he patrols the road between the Marsh and Falcon Watch." Obito said.
"What was so special about this book?" Amaya asked.
"I don't know, neither did the elf that told me about it … said it was sealed with magic that only Father could unlock." Obito sighed. "Anyway I found the trader and he told me to go to the World's End Tavern and speak to a man named Grimshade. He and the bar maiden didn't paint this Grimshade as a very friendly person but I … well you know me." The others were silent so he continued. "I walked up to the table that Grimshade was supposedly at …"
"Was he alone?" Vorat asked.
"No there were two others with him, a dark haired female Sin'dorei and … a troll." He glanced over at Zalon.
"What are you lookin' at mon, dere are more den one troll left in da world, you know?"
"Yeah, but this one looked just like you."
Cinada broke her silence with a laugh. "All the trolls look alike to me."
"Do you have names of those that were there at the table?" Vorat asked.
Obito looked over at the knight, can take the Guardian out of the Silvermoon but he was still a Guardian. He nodded. "Only the troll, I've seen the female twice but her name has never been mentioned. The troll went by the name of Nity …"
Zalon let out a growl and Obito found himself with two massive tusks on either side of his neck as angry eyes glared at him. "Nity?" The troll hissed. "Nityseek?"
"I don't know," Obito said shaking his head. "My father … Grimshade only referred to him as Nity."
"Zalon please move away from my son before I turn you into sheep and shear you," Amaya said calmly.
"Who is Nity?" Obito asked as the troll settled back down across the way.
"If we speak of da same, he's my baby bro." The troll said not offering any more information.
"That would explain my confusion," Obito said. "I swear you look just like him …"
"Think harder, Pup … dese tusks take years to grow dat whelp has barely begun to cut his."
Obito thought back to the troll that he had fought twice and realized Zalon was right.
"Okay as fascinating as Zalon's family tree is, can we get back to Grimshade." Vorat said tossing a stick onto the fire.
"The third table at the table was Grimshade but when he turned to look at me it was the face of my father." Obito's eyes closed as he tried to remember the details. "His face looked older, not speaking six-months or a year but a thousand years older. He had scar on his forehead and a small beard … I'd never seen him with a beard before. But he couldn't disguise his eyes … they had the same fire I've known for twenty years. I called out to him but only saw coldness in his gaze. And when I reached for him with my heart … at first I found nothing but then … it hurt." Obito brushed a hair back that had fallen over his face. "He was just sitting there all composed while he let Nity attack me. If it hadn't been for the Peacekeepers appearing I don't know what would have happened."
Amaya wrapped an arm around his shoulder. "That doesn't sound like my Tyilo … but please continue. It's all in the past it can't hurt you now."
"I know, but the betrayal is still a fresh wound." Obito replied and then continued with his tale. "The Peacekeepers separated the troll and me … I was brought to the Scryers, guess because I was pale and had pointy ears. It was there that I was turned over to the Grand Magister. And it was also then I realized something bigger was going … why would he come to retrieve me?"
"Because he was honoring his oath to your father, plus I believe he had business in Shattrath." His mother said.
Obito shook his head but didn't argue. "I escaped from his guards and eventually remembered I had heard the name Rater Grimshade before. It was when I was an elementary student I had been given a report to do. Father's rage just from hearing the name was bizarre, he forbid me to ever speak it again. After that revelation I went to Silvermoon to see what I could find on the name Rater Grimshade in the ancient scrolls. I found out he was one of the magus who first taught human men magic and he was also in a secret sect called the Council of …"
"Silence!" Obito flinched at the strength of the mental command and glanced over at the Sin'dorei that had spoken. "Some things are best left in the past," Vorat finished aloud.
Obito frowned. "Anyway I knew Grimshade and my father were connected in some way if not the same person. And decided to ask him face to face," he continued. "I accepted a summons from a warlock and found myself in a library. There I met the trio from the tavern again. The female and troll bound me and then … I was interrogated by Grimshade. Afterwards he told Nity he could do what he wanted with me but I got away and fled to an outpost by the name of Shadowmoon Village … where I was once again apprehended by the Grand Magister."
"What exactly did Grimshade do to you my son?" Amaya asked.
"He wanted to know where I learnt of the … of his past and when I didn't answer he cut the braid from my back."
"Braid, you never wore your hair up." His mother said.
"When I returned to Silvermoon to look up the information I didn't want to stand out so I dyed my hair black and braided it." Obito said. Amaya nodded and motioned for him to resume. "And when I still held my tongue he started drenching me with ice cold water … over and over. I finally gave him the answer he was looking for and that's when he handed me over to the troll."
"And you escaped, even when you were bound?" Vorat asked.
Zalon snorted. "Nity tis a fool."
"No, Grimshade broke the chain from my manacle before leaving so I'd be more sport and his icy water torture earlier had loosened the straps around my wrists which enabled me to lay down freezing traps to keep the troll locked up while I made my escape." Obito saw the elders looking at each other; he had to wonder if they were conversing mentally. His mother pulled him close and he noticed tears in her eyes. "Mother?"
"You don't see it do you?" she said. "Shattrath City Peacekeepers just happen to show up in the tavern to save you before you get hurt, Rommath just happens to be in Shattrath at the same moment? Your kidnapper just by chance decides to give you a haircut and wash the dye from your hair, changing your appearance? And then frees you from your bonds so you can escape? And once again Rommath was there …"
"Mother but you should have heard the anger in his voice and seen the fire in his eyes …"
"He was probably terrified for your sake and was trying his best to play his part while making sure you stayed safe … I don't know exactly what is going on but I will find answers."
"But if that was true … what he did to you … us."
Amaya put a hand to her chest. "I didn't say I was pleased. He has much to answer to but for now I must think of our next step. It sounds like he balances upon the pinnacle … I just wish I knew who or what his foes were."
"Sounds like Shadowmoon Valley is next for us," Vorat said glancing over at Obito.
"That wicked land is no place for you, son," Amaya said. "I probably can't convince you to return to Silvermoon … Rommath would uphold his pledge."
"Mother!" Obito shook his head pulling back slightly. "That man just tried to kill us a few hours ago!"
"What we saw wasn't even fifty percent of Rommath's power. I came to realize that mid-battle, the reason I called everyone back. He wasn't trying to kill us, only convince us to return. And when he realized my resolve it left him with two choices, resort to deadly force or walk away. He would never hurt either of us …"
Obito rolled his eyes. "He had a blade to my throat!"
"And if he wanted you dead he would have slit it." Amaya said. His mother nodded over at the priest that had been lying quietly nearby.
Lotheolan sat up and beckoned Obito to come to him. The hunter moved over and stiffened slightly as his uncle embraced him. He tried to pull back but the arms held him tight and he could feel the lull of sleep already pulling at him.
"No …" he pleaded.
"We just need to plan and there are things you are best not to know," Lotheolan replied.
"Don't send me back, please …" Obito murmured as darkness over took him.