CHAPTER 5
Within the solitude of his hidden library, Khadgar sorted through the tomes he had summoned, searching for the answer he sought. A glass of conjured wine floated in the air beside him. He waved his hand and leafed through the volume hovering before him.
Finding something interesting, he caught the glass and drank deep, letting the alcohol soothe his tattered nerves. Before he knew it, the wine was gone. He conjured another glass, craving more, something about the latent magic soaked into Karazhan's walls improved even the most basic spell.
Lost deep in thought, he read through the pages, seeking a powerful enough spell to break the wards sealing the entrance and exit to the tunnel leading from the collapsed temple in Hope's End to the Chamber of the Eye. There had to be a spell which could overcome what he had seen, but so far . . . nothing.
Ideally, they would go in quietly, imitating the spells used by the Eredar. Khadgar sighed, and sent another book back its shelf. The wards on the tunnel were powerful. From what he'd sensed, he would need arcane power strong enough to match Gul'dan's fel. Khadgar sat back, and gazed up into the tower, filled with books. There had to be a way. He just had to find the right book. But that was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
A sound, behind him. He turned and listened, footsteps. No, he wasn't imagining things. Someone was here. He caught sight of a shadow behind one of the bookshelves. He threw up a shield as blue light exploded from his hands. A strangled cry, and a woman fell on all fours, scrabbling at her neck, suffocating. He stared, astonished. What the . . .
"Idira! How in the name of—? Oh!" He ended the spell with an abrupt gesture and rushed over to her. She fell back onto her backside, massaging her throat, sucking in air. Tears streamed down her face.
"Forgive me, I thought you were someone else. Are you alright?"
She nodded and looked up, pale and trembling. He fell back onto his haunches. Her eyes. He could lose himself in them. He looked away, wishing he had not had so much wine. He stood and held out his hand, helping her up.
"How did you get into my office?" he asked, sharper than he meant to.
"The door was open," she answered, wary, her voice husky.
He shook his head. "Impossible. I locked, sealed and warded it."
"Well, it was open for me," she shrugged and looked around, curious. "What is this place?"
"Never mind that, how did you even get in here?"
"There was a doorway, like a portal, I walked into it. I was looking for you."
He felt his chest tighten. She was looking for him. Why did he like the sound of that so much? Once more, he cursed his earlier imbibing, it was stopping him from thinking straight. He took hold of her elbow. "Show me how you got in here."
Looking at him like he was crazy, she led him back to where he had stepped through his teleport. There was nothing there. He arched an eyebrow at her, waiting. She sighed and stepped forward. She disappeared. He turned full circle. She must have cast blink. He called her name, annoyed. This was no time for games, he had work to do.
"Yes?" she answered, her voice faint, as though speaking from a great distance.
"Where are you?"
"In your office. In Dalaran. Can't you see me? I can see you." She sounded perplexed, and a little scared.
"Come back to me, if you can."
She stepped through the air, materialising before him. He stepped back, incredulous.
She smiled, shy. "You look surprised."
"I am. What you are doing even I cannot do."
She turned and looked into the empty air. "What do you mean? Can't you see the portal into your office? It's right here." Her arm disappeared up to her elbow.
Disturbed, he grabbed hold of her waist and pulled her away from the invisible rent. He didn't like the idea of something going wrong, and her losing her arm. "Don't do that, it's dangerous."
She came up against him, caught inside the crook of his arm. Her hair smelled like roses. "Alright. I'm sorry, I didn't know." She stepped away, oblivious to what she had just done to him, looking around, her eyes bright. "I like it here. There is so much power. It makes me feel strong . . . like I can do anything."
As she walked along a row of shelves, several books fluttered free and approached her, curious. She reached out, entranced, and touched them. At her touch, the books glowed bright blue. Others slipped free, and surrounded her. Soon she was lost in a torrent of books, circling her, clamouring for her attention. Violet light glowed in her eyes, becoming so bright Khadgar had to turn away.
He fell back into the shadows of a bookshelf and let the books satisfy their curiosity. They wouldn't go to just anyone. He heard Idira laughing, delighted. A dark thought crossed his mind. What if . . . No. Could it be? He tried to stop the thought but it pushed its way forward, settling at the front of his mind. What if she could open the way into the Chamber of the Eye? Her power was astonishing, certainly if she could use echoes of magic, she would be able to open the way in total silence into Gul'dan's lair. It seemed too good to be true, for her to arrive just when he needed her abilities.
He stopped, his suspicions rising. It was too good to be true. Who was she really? She had come out of nowhere. What if she was a demon, hiding among the Kirin Tor, biding her time to destroy the city from within . . . and now she was in his private sanctuary drinking in the knowledge of his books.
Alarmed, he called out the tomes, ordering them back to their places. They fled, rustling, indignant, leaving her standing alone once more. She looked at him, uneasy. He strode back to her, his hands crackling with arcane power.
She stepped back, frightened. "What—?"
He threw a barrier around her, enclosing her. He raised his arm and she lifted from the ground, hanging suspended before him. "Who are you?"
She gaped at him, as though he had gone mad. "I told you, I am Idira, from Westfall."
"Whom do you serve?"
"I . . . No one? You?"
He roared, increasing his power. "I do not believe you. You are demon, pretending to be one of us. No more will you hide the truth from me!"
Her eyes widened, fearful. "Archmage?"
He let go of a blinding bolt of blue. It smashed into her through the barrier. She juddered as it crackled across her body, burning her. She screamed, writhing in agony. Not a drop of fel green showed through. He staggered, filled with disbelief. She wasn't a demon after all. Driven by suspicion and haste, he had attacked an innocent woman—he had been so certain his spell would reveal the fel in her.
He swept up his staff, casting the spell to free her. She screamed, thrashing, desperate to escape, fearing another onslaught. Her violet eyes met his, filled with anguish. Violet light pulsed around her. She cried out as the light gathered, rotating around her torso, building in intensity. It burst outwards, a wall of burning light, throwing him back against the bookshelves. The barrier collapsed, and she fell to the floor with a dull thud.
Khadgar crept towards her, his tunic smoking. He reached out, cautious, and touched her, fearing he had killed her.
She lay on her side, facing away from him. He rolled her onto her back. She still breathed, thank the Light. He picked her up and carried her to his quarters. Once there, he dithered where to put her, the sofa or his bed. The bed was more comfortable. He laid her down. She looked so small and vulnerable. How could he have ever thought her a demon? He found a blanket and covered her, guilt riding him hard.
He withdrew to the other side of the room and paced bakc and forth, unsure what to do with her. Should he keep her here, and let no one know about her, or should he bring her back to Dalaran where the truth about her powers would be revealed. He continued pacing, keeping an eye on her, waiting for her to revive.
He decided he couldn't risk it, she would have to stay here. She could study in the library, he already knew she would have no trouble getting the books to come to her. Within these powerful walls, she could learn to control her powers faster than anywhere else. He would be able to visit her every day, without anyone knowing. It would work. She would be Azeroth's secret weapon. He nodded, satisfied. He had a plan.
He turned, and found Idira sitting up, watching him, afraid.
He went to her. Frightened, she scuttled backwards and pressed herself against the bed's headboard. He knelt beside her, the leather of his boots creaking in the quiet. "Forgive me Idira. I have done great wrong against you. I will make it right, somehow."
"You called me a demon."
He winced. "I did. You have power unlike anything I have ever seen before. We are living in very dark times. You came out of nowhere, you have no family, and you have incomprehensible powers. You managed to breach my domain without any effort. I did what I thought right to protect Azeroth."
"You attacked me," she shuddered. "It still hurts."
He nodded, guilt crashing into him once more. "If you wish, you may hurt me back."
She shook her head. "Never. You are the Archmage."
"What if I told you it would make me feel better?"
Her eyes came to his. She bit her lower lip. He suppressed a groan. Why did she have to do that?
"You want to feel pain?" she asked, confused.
"Yes." He left the bed, and went to the centre of the room. He set aside his staff. "Physical pain will help numb the guilt I feel for what I have done to you." He nodded at her. "Go ahead, I deserve it."
He waited, bracing himself. She closed her eyes and concentrated. Nothing happened. She slumped back onto the bed and shook her head. "I cannot."
"You cannot or you will not?" he asked, gentle.
"I cannot. I . . . don't know how."
He nodded. "Then I will wait until you are able. I won't let you forget." He took up his staff. "I know I do not deserve to ask for your trust after what I have done to you, but I would like you to stay here and study, instead of in Dalaran. You are safer here under my care."
She lifted an eyebrow at him, dubious. "Am I?"
He deserved that. He sighed. "I will come back later with food, real food, not the conjured variety. For now, I must go, I am already late." She didn't say anything. He went to the door.
She came after him. "Wait. I am afraid to be here on my own. Please, let me come with you back to Dalaran, I won't tell anyone about what you did."
He knew he was asking much of her, if only she knew how important she had become to him—and to Azeroth—how important it was he protected her, and kept her a secret.
"What if I left a part of me here with you, would that help?"
Her brow furrowed. "An image?"
He cast a spell, and his staff blazed with light. Idira trembled, but stood her ground. A raven flew out of the light and landed on the back of a chair. She went to it. It walked over to her and hopped onto her shoulder. She looked up, confused. "A raven?"
"Ah this is no ordinary raven, I can see through its eyes, and hear through its ears. If you are in trouble, or need me, just call to me. You are never alone, so long as you keep my raven with you."
She held up her arm. It moved onto it. She held it up, examining it, uncertain. "Can it protect me?"
"No, but I can. Nothing in this fortress can harm you, however. You will see. The library is straight down the hall. Once you are feeling better, why not return? The books seemed to like you very much. They will teach you what you need to know, much faster than I can."
She reached into her gown, and fished in a pocket. She held out his ring. "The guards called me a thief. They chased me back to your office. I couldn't understand why they didn't follow me through the door. I think I know why now—they couldn't, could they?"
Khadgar watched her drop the ring into his upturned hand. "No. But they saw you go through a sealed door. I will deal with them." He opened his pouch and placed the ring back inside. "Perhaps now you see why it is best for you to stay here? In this place no one will judge you, or punish you. You are safe here."
She took hold of his arm, her touch sending tingles up his spine. "Promise you will come back to me."
He covered her hand with his. "I promise, Idira. I won't leave you alone."
He knew his words meant more to him than they did to her, but it didn't matter. Ever since he'd carried her to the bed, he'd felt himself falling for her, his heart plummeting towards a place it had no right to be. Despite the world coming apart and the threats facing Azeroth rising to the insurmountable, the feelings she had begun to ignite in him made him feel more alive than he ever had before. Was this love? He had no idea—no one had ever done this to him before—but whatever was happening to him, there was nothing he could do to stop it, and, he realised, he didn't want it to, anyway.
He looked at her one last time as he cast a teleportation spell back to his office, the last thing he saw her do was bite her lip. He closed his eyes, knowing if anyone was in need of protection, it was him who needed protecting from her.
Back in his office, Khadgar hastened to remove the seals and wards enclosing his office. He opened the door. Outside, the other Archmages of the Council waited, talking quietly amongst themselves. He nodded in greeting, stepping back so they could enter. They filed in, looking around his office, suspicious. Modera caught his eye, hers full of accusation. He almost rolled his eyes. What now? He waited until they had settled on the sofas.
He smiled. "I apologise for keeping you waiting."
Modera brushed an invisible speck of dust from her robe and fired the opening salvo. "There is no need to apologise, it was only a matter of minutes. But I think I speak for all of us when I ask, where is the apprentice?"
Khadgar cleared his throat, uneasy. The others watched him, their faces veiled, judging him. Even Kalec's expression betrayed his disapproval. Khadgar stalled for time. "Apprentice?"
Modera stood and walked up to him, answering in a low voice. "Do not make this worse for yourself. You warded yourself in here, and the young woman who was in here earlier—the one who fled when we arrived—was caught with your ring at the library, claiming you gave it to her. She fled, and ran back here, where she walked straight through your door—a door which none of us, alone or together could open."
Khadgar sighed. He hadn't counted on the guards raising the alarm to the other Archmages, but then why would they not?
"Alright. I have hidden her away, somewhere safe. She cannot remain in Dalaran, for reasons I assume you have intuited."
Modera scoffed and crossed her arms. Kalec spoke up, his tone heavy with recrimination. "You know it is forbidden to take an apprentice as a companion. What you are doing is wrong, Khadgar, and unless you can convince us this is not what it looks like, we are prepared to remove you from the Council."
Khadgar moved back to the door, and began casting the same wards he had used before. The others came to their feet, defensive. "How do you think she got through the wards?" he asked, over his shoulder.
Karlain answered, in his deep, quiet voice. "Your ring, we presumed."
Khadgar pulled the ring from his pouch and held it out to Karlain. "Please. Take it. Pass through my wards."
Karlain took the ring, and examined it, to ensure it was the ring in question. Satisfied, he nodded at the others. The ring enclosed in his fist, he went to the door, and pulled on the door handle. The handle didn't move. He pulled harder. The door remained warded.
Modera held out her hand to Karlain. "Let me try."
She put the ring on, and tried the door. Nothing. She turned and looked at Kalec, perplexed. Kalec came next and tried, as did Ansirem, and finally Vargoth. Khadgar took the ring back from Vargoth.
"I was as astonished as the guards must have been when she just walked through my wards. In fact, I was so startled, I almost killed her."
The others shifted, embarrassed, none of them meeting his eyes. Kalec had the decency to look ashamed. Modera, however, pressed on, angry. She pointed at the door. "Then how do you explain what she did, if not the ring, what powers could she have used?"
Khadgar shook his head. "I haven't been able to explain it yet. She doesn't even know what she did. What I can tell you is this, Idira carries power not seen since the age of the Guardians. I do not intend to let her abilities go to waste. She will be key in our fight against the Legion."
Karlain shook his head. "Someone with so much power could be a danger to us, as well."
Khadgar felt himself stiffen, as the others nodded, concurring. Modera said what the he knew the others were thinking. "You cannot keep her isolated from us, we need to test her. If we deem her controllable, we can all take a hand in her training, and—"
"There is no time," Khadgar interrupted, becoming angry. This was not what he wanted to be talking about, far greater issues needed the Council's attention. Modera glared at him, seething. What was wrong with her? Her cheeks had become flushed, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears. Kalec touched her shoulder, but she shook him off. Khadgar's thoughts scudded to a halt as she approached him, her emotions plain to see. Through her anger, jealousy flashed in her eyes. He caught Kalec and Karlain watching her, pitying her. They knew. Khadgar shook his head. How could he have been so blind?
"Where is she, Khadgar?" Modera snapped, fractious.
"Somewhere safe," Khadgar answered, equally sharp. "Enough of this. While I was away, I have learned what Gul'dan is doing with Tyrande, and also, more importantly, I have discovered a backdoor into the Chamber of the Eye from Hope's End—or would you rather we continued to argue some more about the apprentice?"
Modera drew a sharp breath and went to the balcony, quivering, her hands on her hips. Khadgar let her be. The others looked away, uncomfortable at having witnessed Modera's humiliation. Khadgar took his seat behind the desk and rubbed his forehead, trying to soothe the pain growing behind his eyes. One by one the Council members moved back to their seats. After a long, tense silence, Modera returned and sat beside Kalec, impassive.
Kalec broke the silence. "How did you discover these things, then?"
"I followed Gul'dan through the portal the day he took Illidan's body from the Vault."
"You stepped outside of time?" Karlain asked. "To involve Chromie without our knowledge is a breach—"
"Chromie was not involved," Khadgar said, irritable. "You might recall I trained under a Guardian."
The Council members shifted, uneasy. Any mention of Medivh always made them so. He ignored them. He wasn't proud of having used the font, but desperate times . . .
Vargoth cleared his throat. "I think, perhaps we have judged Khadgar enough for one day. I for one, would like to hear him out."
"As would I," Ansirem muttered, shooting a meaningful look at Modera.
Kalec and Karlain nodded in agreement. Khadgar glanced at Modera. She returned his look, implacable, hostile. He shook his head and stood up. "Very well."
He cast a spell, filling the room with the images he had seen while travelling within the font. He said nothing, letting the others draw their own conclusions. They watched, horrified by the things he had only recently witnessed for himself. When the child was struck down, Khadgar caught Modera blinking back tears.
When they saw Tirion, there was a collective gasp of disbelief, followed by murmurs of regret and sorrow. But their true horror was evidenced when he let them see what was being done to Tyrande, held captive in the tendrils of the thing that was to become Sargeras's avatar. He waited until they watched Illidan's transformation, then ended the projection. A heavy silence permeated his office.
Modera stood up, pale and trembling. "Forgive me, Khadgar. I should have trusted you."
He nodded, accepting her apology. "In this time of great danger, the Council must not become divided like the rest of Azeroth. We must stand together, united, or we all will fall."
Karlain stood up. "Tell us what we must do." The others came to their feet after him. Khadgar gave them their instructions: gather the leaders of the Horde and Alliance and bring them to Dalaran. Kalec pointed out the others were not in danger from what they could see from Khadgar's projection. Surprisingly, it was Modera who first saw the wisdom of his deception.
"Khadgar says we have one month at the most. How else shall we convince them to unite together for another assault in such a short period of time?"
"We can't," Ansirem answered, grim. "We can make restitution later, when Azeroth is free of the Legion. Until then, I say we do whatever is necessary."
Kalec rubbed his hand over his jaw. "I don't wish to bring up a sore point, but you mentioned Idira has a key part to play in our fight. She is an untried apprentice, which causes me to have some reservations about her having so much importance. I think it is within my rights to know what part you intend her play."
Modera nodded, her face taut. The others murmured their agreement.
Khadgar cast another projection, playing out a scenario. "The tunnel under the channel between Hope's End and the Chamber of the Eye is warded by dark, powerful magic in two places. To get past it, we would need to use massive arcane bombs."
"Which would alert the Legion to our presence, bringing the full fury of all their forces upon us," Vargoth surmised before the scenario finished.
Khadgar gave him a curt nod, continuing, "Our most important objective after getting the faction leaders settled in Dalaran is to get into the Chamber of the Eye quietly and quickly. We need to get Illidan and Tyrande's bodies out of there. Without them, the Legion will be set back to the beginning, granting us the time we need to regroup and attack once more. Gul'dan and Sargeras are counting on their plan to succeed. I am counting on stopping it."
"And Idira?" Modera asked, tense.
Khadgar met her eyes. "She is able to pass through echoes of magic."
Modera looked perplexed. He explained. "To travel through time, I needed to go elsewhere. I made a teleport and left this office. Not only could Idira walk straight through my wards, she was able to use my teleport long after it was gone."
The Archmages gaped, incredulous. He waited.
Karlain recovered first. "No. Impossible."
"I saw her do it with my own eyes, disturbing as it was. As I said before, I have no idea where her power is coming from, but it is powerful. And right now, she is the greatest gift we have. It is as though Azeroth has created her, and sent her to us just for this very purpose."
"She could be a demon and is deceiving you," Ansirem suggested.
Khadgar took a deep breath and forced himself to tell them what he had done to her.
"Again. I am sorry to have doubted you, Khadgar," Modera shook her head. "That poor woman, it seems all the Kirin Tor has done to her is punish and torment her."
Kalec had been quiet for a long time, lost in his thoughts, his arms crossed over his chest. He started, and uncrossed them. "What if—" he began. He shook his head, catching himself, "No. No. It's so unlikely."
Khadgar didn't care how unlikely it was. Kalec had been in Azeroth for thousands of years, anything he thought was worth listening to. "Let us hear it anyway."
Kalec looked up, and scratched his cheek, suddenly reticent. "It's just, well, she looks a little like Aegwynn did. I only ever saw her once, however."
Khadgar felt the pressure in his head begin to lessen. Of course. Aegwynn's magic could not die, even if her body had. Her powers had just remained latent in Azeroth, until the time was right for another to bear the burden of such power. Poor Idira. Aegwynn was a titan among mages, and had defeated Sargeras once all by herself. He couldn't imagine what it must have been like for Idira to grow up alone in Westfall, having to carry the weight of such power, alienated and untrained. How lonely she must have been.
Khadgar suppressed the urge to hasten the others from his office so he could test Kalec's theory. Beside the physical similarities, Idira would have gained latent memories from Aegwynn's life, he was certain of it. How appropriate her energy had returned just when Sargeras's threat had become real again.
"Khadgar?" Modera's voice pulled him back to the present.
"Hm?"
"I asked you what you thought. Could she be carrying Aegwynn's power?"
Khadgar nodded. "It is possible. I will have to find out. If she is, she will have memories, or at least dreams which will be of Aegwynn's life."
"Regardless, what is it you intend to do with her, you still haven't said," Karlain pointed out.
"If she can pass through the echoes of magic, then she will be able to pass through the tunnel," Khadgar replied.
"You will have her open the way?" Ansirem asked.
"That is my intention."
"But how?" Ansirem persisted. "Just because she can slip through, it won't change the fact we can't get in without creating a disturbance."
Khadgar thought of the ancient font, standing alone in its cold, dark room. "Leave that to me. I have a plan."