VI
Neltharion's entire body convulsed violently. Before him was his brother, Nozdormu, on the sand, holding his lower jaw, a few fangs missing. The Great Black bellowed loudly and the earth quaked all around him, rocks jutting up from the sand. Wind whipped around him, blowing his long beard around his neck, tangling it up in his spiky scales. As the Time Lord rose to his brassy feet, Neltharion struck. Rocks jutted forth all around him binding his body tightly. Nozdormu grunted as he jerked around, trying to get loose, but the rocks squeezed even tighter each time he squirmed. Neltharion swept his wings back and the sand rose up around him, like a wave. He lunged forward and the wave of sand fell upon his brother. Nozdormu shook his head, poking it out of the sand. He gave his blond beard a shake, spitting the grains from his mouth.
"I can ssssee you're upssset," he said.
"Upset?" Neltharion asked. "Upset? That's a fucking understatement! You're lucky I only gave you a love tap, I could have taken your jaw clean off."
"All braun and barely any brainssss," said Nozdormu. "Yeah, that really issss the very young Neltharion I remember. It took you five thousand yearssss to actually acquire sense."
"Fuck you!"
"Yup, even the inssssultsss are lacking ssssome merit."
Neltharion bellowed a frustrating roar at his elder brother. Nozdormu's glowing cyan's eyes narrowed and he grinned innocently at his younger brother.
"Molten giants!" said Neltharion.
"Yeah, I know."
"Was that it?" he asked. "Was that the horrible thing that was supposed to happen? Is it over yet?"
"Nope," said Nozdormu.
"What else is supposed to happen, tell me right now!"
"I can't."
Neltharion growled. He sensed the vibrations of movement and he turned. Lowering his head, the Black Dragon found one loan Tauren shaman standing just a little ways behind his right hind foot, only a dark speck against the tan, sun-bleached sand. Neltharion rumbled and swallowed. He dipped his head.
"My older brother knew what Garrosh was up to," he said. "If he had told me Garrosh's shamans could summon those elementals, I would have been there to stop him before he did." He turned back to Nozdormu. "And since he is refusing to tell me anything else that will happen, he's going to sit in his little time-out."
"Thingsss mussst happen, Neltharion," said Nozdormu. "Even onesss we don't want to happen. Go home to Calia, brother." The brassy Aspect smiled softly. "Besides, I'm sure you have lots to talk about with Kalecgossss––about that missing thing he's looking for. And your new companion must give Jaina the message about Garrosh's march on Theramore."
Neltharion growled, his lips curling. He pointed his claw at Nozdormu.
"Well, you can stay in the sand for all I care. You belong in it anyways!"
The Bronze Aspect attempted to shrug, though his tight restraints held him still. Though, he had to grin wider.
"I'm only doing what isss bessst for you, Neltharion," he said. "I jussst want to make ssssure you are sssafe, and not doing something irrational––given your mental ssstate."
"Don't patronize me."
Nozdormu grunted as he felt the rocks binding him squeeze tighter.
Little brother, let him go!
Neltharion growled, hearing the voice of his older, yet still dead brother Malygos call inside of his mind.
"You stay out of this, Mal."
Nozdormu looked up and took a deep breath, seeing the very transparent, wavering, ghostly form of the crystalline, deceased Blue Aspect floating above Neltharion's head.
"Hey, Mal," said the Time Aspect.
Hello, No-Doze.
You really need to relax, Nel.
Nozdormu chuckled as he saw another ghostly form standing right beside Neltharion's foreleg, dressed in the armor of a Death Knight.
"You really are being haunted," said the Bronze Dragon.
The little shaman looked around, trying to see exactly what it was that both Neltharion and Nozdormu were talking to. Though, he could not see anything, but he could feel a slight chill in the hot, desert air. He gripped the carefully wrapped hammer in leather tighter.
"I'm not letting him go, Arthas," Neltharion said. "Besides, he can get himself out just by speeding up the time around the rocks and causing them to weather down into the sand."
Completely forgot Nozdormu can do that, said Malygos.
I knew he was weirder than you, Nel, said Arthas, crossing his arms.
"Hey," said Neltharion with grunt.
And that proves it, Arthas continued. I suppose if he drives over 88 miles per hour, we'll see some serious shit.
"No, but I do own a blue-colored police box," said Nozdormu.
Would have been more awesome if it was a fancy sports car that flies, said Arthas.
Sorry, dear brother, I have to agree with the Lich King on that one, said Malygos.
"It isss bigger on the inside," said Nozdormu. "That'ssss cool, issssn't it?"
"If it doesn't have a spoiler, it doesn't count," said Neltharion. "And that scarf is ridiculous on you."
"Add insssult to injury," said Nozdormu. "And after all I was trying to help you out, little brother."
"Drugging me to keep me away from Garrosh isn't helping, Nozdormu," Neltharion said. He growled and then lifted his paw up, closing it into a fist. He tilted it and dropped it slightly, opening the paw, facing it down to the sand. Upon his command the rocks and sand loosened around Nozdormu and he was finally allowed to wiggle out. The Time Lord shook the sand free from his scales and looked up at his much larger brother with a smile. Neltharion sneered and then lowered his head to the sand. His green eyes roved over to the tiny Tauren. "I hope you went to the bathroom, because this is a non-stop flight."
"Uh," began Kador. "I––think I already did."
"Gross," said Neltharion. "Looks like I'm dunking my elementium plates in a bucket of disinfectant when we get back to Theramore."
He felt the little shaman took hold of his braided beard and started to scale up his enormous head and seated himself upon the dragon's crown. Then, the Earth-Warder raised his head up slowly and he stepped away from his older brother. Then, he spread his great, wrinkly black wings and kicked off, banking as he gained altitude. Kador held as tight as he could to the scales of the Earth-Warder as the dragon quickly gained speed. Flying around him like strange, blue will-o'-the-wisps, were the spirits of Malygos and Arthas. Below, the land blurred, sand becoming rugged badlands. Kador looked down, catching a sight of the Thousand Needles, tall spiring pillars of rocks that once laid in a great canyon of banded rock. Now, because of the Cataclysm, the canyon had flooded, creating a new, wide fjord. Tauren who still wondered the suspended bridges of the Thousand Needles looked up to the sky as the Great Black passed them.
The Tauren on the dragon's back closed his eyes against the torrent wind and he heard a horrible thunderous boom and Neltharion's speed quickened. He dared to open his eyes and he thought he saw the clouds around the dragon seem to warp just ever so slightly as if he just punctured the air around him upon gaining his new speed burst. A shower of ice feel upon him as he felt the dragons back jerk. Another thunderous boom and the Earth-Warder was pushed even further with a new added speed burst. The Tauren looked to his side, seeing the wings of Neltharion angled out as if he was just gliding. Streaming, condensing contrails of chilled air streaked out from the elementium armored leading phalanges. He could hear the deep beat of the dragon's heart reverberating through the elementium armor upon his neck. It kept time with the Heart of Azeroth, the spiritual being known to Tauren as the Earth Mother. For the first time, Kador felt he was nearly at one with the Earth Mother riding upon the Aspect's back. He felt he was being carried by the Earth Mother herself and it brought him to tears. The wind battered his dark brown mane and the shaman only smiled.
Neltharion banked and the water-drowned Thousand Needles and badlands quickly turned to a tangled, thorny landscape of impassible, spike vines. There the knolls as well as many other horrors crept in the shadows of the parched, twisted land. But he had little to fear of them. He could sense their fear as they fled, ducking into bleak thickets when his great shadow passed over.
Towards the west, the sun was finally setting, casting its orange glow over the land. Neltharion's green eyes spied baleful, black clouds on the northern horizon. He knew what that smoke was from, Northwatch Hold. Even from this high altitude, he could see it right at the rim of the world, growing ever so larger as he made his way north. When began to awaken in Tanaris, he felt something pull at him, dragging him down and down into darkness. He felt the painful heave of Azeroth, calling out with cries of agony and anguish. His body burned, his mind splintered, fractured, and the voices of the elementals begging to be released.
We do not will this! He heard them say. They bind us! They make us do this! They are hurting us!
Even after he bid for their freedom, breaking the forceful bond between the Dark Shaman and the molten giants, Neltharion could still feel the earth writhe with the traumatic afterglow of agony. He cried for it, he wept as he awoke in the Caverns of Time. His heart still quivered after their release. That was why he was furious at Garrosh, but because of what Nozdormu did––he was even more furious at him than Garrosh.
Outside of the free spirit of his brother Malygos, Nozdormu was the only one left. He tricked him.
Why? Neltharion thought to himself. Why did he do it? Why trick me that way? Does he not trust me? Two years have gone by, I haven't even done anything that would lead them to suspect Deathwing ever taking control of me again––and none of that is rewarded? Not even a little bit? Why am I alone in this world? Why can't I have the trust of my brothers and sisters? I trust them, but they seek out ways of always tricking me! They treat me like I'm some stupid child. I feel like I am losing those close to me now. Thrall, he would not help when I ask, now Nozdormu forbids me from even acting as the Aspect of Earth should. Yet, I have to trust them. I'm more forgiving of them than they are of me.
As the sun began to set behind the rolling hills of the marsh, Neltharion landed upon the little island kingdom of Theramore. He landed upon the beach, a long stretch of white sand he built up for him to lay upon and sun himself. Neltharion lowered his head down to allow his passenger off and then shrank himself down to his smaller, humanoid size. He tapped the tauren upon the shoulder.
"You still have Anduin's hammer?" he asked.
"Yes, Worldmender," said Kador.
Neltharion dipped his head and motioned for the Tauren to follow him. Before them laid the tall palisade that was built during the time of Theramore's founding. Neltharion raised his paw, halting their path. Then, with a mighty leap, he came to the top of the wall. Touching the stones that held it together, he brought a line of them down as he jumped to the other side, providing an opening for Kador to walk through. Then, as soon as he was through, Neltharion swished and stomped his left foot, commanding the stone to rise once more, returning to its protective rest as the wall.
"Come on," he said to the Tauren.
The deep yellow light White Lady began to rise behind them, in a waning gibbous. Behind her was the Blue Child, also in a waning gibbous, the two celestial bodies growing farther and farther apart with each passing year since the Embrace. The moons cast their glow upon the stone of Theramore, turning it a pale blue and stark black shadows zigzagged across the courtyard as the two walked into it. Neltharion paused, seeing a familiar form walking towards the gates of Theramore. He was a half elf with blue hair and wearing a leather jerkin, pants, and a white shirt. But there was great arcane power radiating out of that half elf, greater than any mage on Azeroth.
"Kalecgos," Neltharion said. "Kador, it's time for a pop quiz."
"What do you mean?" asked Kador.
"See that half elf there?" Neltharion asked. "Stop him with your earth manipulation before he leaves the city."
"Why?"
"Don't ague with me, just do it."
Kador stomped his foot upon the ground and a large limestone rock rose from the ground upon his command. He took in a deep breath and then thrusted his fist out, hitting the rock and sending it flying towards the half elf. The half elf turned just as the rock smacked right into his head. He fell over, hitting the ground hard. Neltharion grimaced, his green eyes wide.
"Okay, I didn't mean knocking him out!" he said. "Eh, C-minus."
Neltharion rose to his hind legs and swept his tail. The ground quaked and rolled towards the elf. As the elf rose, he found his hands and feet bound in rock. Neltharion and Kador walked up to him. The rock soon let him go and Neltharion kelt to the elf, pinching a pointed ear and lifting him up.
"Hey!" the elf called.
"Kalecgos," said Neltharion. "Whatcha doin'?"
"Neltharion, let me go!" Kalecgos called.
"Kalecgos?" Kador asked. "The Spell Weaver?"
"The Young Spell Weaver," said Neltharion.
"Damn it, Neltharion, let me go!" he said. "I have to get going, I'm in a hurry!"
Neltharion pulled the Blue Dragon Aspect disguised as a half elf closer to him.
"Why are you in a hurry?" he asked.
"Look, it'll take too long to explain," he said.
"Really? Tell me anyways. I heard you lost something. So, why are you needing Jaina Proudmoore's help to find what it is you lost? Hmmm?"
"That's Blue Dragon business!"
Neltharion pinched a bit tighter and Kalecgos flinched in the sharp pain.
"Let go!" he called.
"Tell me and I'll let you go."
Kalecgos' eyes started watering with the pain and he grunted in the Black Dragon's grasp. Neltharion pulled him close to his snout.
"Come on," he said. "Just say it."
"Ahhh!" Kalecgos said. "I––I lost––I lost the Focusing Iris!"
"You what?" Neltharion asked.
He did what?!
Neltharion grunted when he heard the sound of Malygos' voice echo though the night, fury touching every word. The Black Dragon let the new Blue Aspect go and Kalecgos held his hands to his now throbbing, red ear.
"How could you lose Malygos's Focusing Iris?" Neltharion asked. "It was protected by the Nexus."
"I didn't mean to lose it," said Kalecgos.
"Why the hell did you lose it?"
"I was moving it," he said. "I had some trusted Blue Dragons to move it."
Why were you moving my Iris, you idiotic upstart?
"Not now, Mal," said Neltharion. "Okay, you heard your predecessor, why were you moving pretty much the most powerful weapon on Azeroth outside the now destroyed Dragon Soul?"
"Because everyone in the fucking planet knows what the Focusing Iris is and where it is!" said Kalecgos. "That's why!" He breathed heavily. "What's the Focusing Iris? Oh, it's only that shiny lens that Malygos built to destroy all magical users on the planet because he got as paranoid as you, you big black moron! And where is it? The Nexus. Everyone and their grandmothers know how to get to it."
"But the Focusing Iris has never been disturbed since the Nexus War," said Neltharion. "Until you decided to move it. Nice plan. I can see why Norgannon picked you to become the new Spell Weaver."
"Shut up!" Kalecgos said. "You're the one to talk. Look how tightly you kept the Dragon Soul in your hands."
"Oh, oh, don't go there, pipsqueak," Neltharion.
"I already went there, fatty," said Kalecgos. "I went there and bought the T-shirt!"
Neltharion snatched the Blue Dragon up by his collar and dragged him close until they came nose to nose. Solid defiance upon Kalecgos' face soon melted to a chilly, shaking fear as he gazed into the emerald eyes of Neltharion. His lisp puckered, his nose wrinkled and his eyebrows rose. There was a small whimper coming from the Young Spell Weaver as he looked into the Earth-Warder's eyes.
"Alright, that's enough," said a familiar voice. "Break it up, you two."
Neltharion turned to see a human woman with golden, ashy light brown and golden blond locks, pulled back in a short ponytail behind her head walk up to him. She was dressed in a black, short sleeve shirt with a leather tethered gun holster and her semi-automatic pistol right at her side, and a pair of black cargo pants with many pockets and black army boots. She wore no armor because the armor would just slow her down. Beside her was a human with long black hair, the color of night, dressed in the traditional Alliance armor and Theramore tabard with a mixture of the Lordaeron L and a boat anchor upon his chest. However, Neltharion knew very well that this human was not a human at all, seeing the red glow of his eyes under his thick brow. He was a black dragon, one of his flight that lived in the marsh. As a sign of mutual agreement between Theramore and the Black Dragonflight of Dustwallow Marsh, a couple of mature male dragons who could shape shift into mortal forms offered some service as guards in Theramore. However, this particular dragon was assigned to Calia Hastings when she went on her trip––a mission she could not disclose to her husband, the Black Aspect Neltharion.
"Calia," said Neltharion, his eyes lit up and a loving smile appeared upon his face. The Black Aspect dropped Kalecgos right upon the cobble stone road and rushed to scoop her up into his huge forelegs. He started nuzzling her with his snout, purring loudly.
"Oh, I've missed you too, you big lug!" she said, giving him a big hug, smiling under his fluffy, silky beard. She pulled away and kissed him softly upon his lips, caressing his cheeks. It was then that Neltharion heard something rather strange from his human wife. He could hear it vibrate down through the rock, he could smell it upon her skin. What he heard, what his sensitive ears picked up was the sound of two heart beats. A black claw lowered down to Calia's belly and he pressed it against her shirt. Calia looked up at him with those stark blue-green eyes and just smiled. Then she looked to the Tauren who stared upon her with bewilderment and she took a deep breath. "We'll talk later."
Neltharion had not seen her in nearly two months now. Her trip took her everywhere across the Eastern Kingdoms of Azeroth, from the Plaguelands of Lordaeron, her home, to even the jungles of the Wetlands. For now, he was just happy to see her safely home again. He turned to the black dragon disguised as a Theramore guard and nodded.
"Thank you for taking care of her, Ruthian," he said.
"An honor, my lord," said Ruthian.
Calia looked to the Tauren again and let go of Neltharion.
"Honey, how many times do I have to tell you?" she began. "Stop picking up people off the streets. We can't keep him."
"Uh," began Neltharion. "No, he's––he's been sent by Chieftain Baine Bloodhoof."
Calia looked from the Kador to Neltharion, and back again: "What does the Chieftain want with Theramore?"
"I am afraid that's only for the ears of Lady Jaina Proudmoore," said Kador. "Forgive me."
"She's going to hear it anyways," said Neltharion. "Kador, this is my Prime Consort."
"Your Prime Consort?" Kador asked. "Is she a dragon too?"
Calia sighed, lowering her head, wagging it in exasperation.
"Well––um," said Neltharion. "It's a long story. Once you're done with Jaina, I'm going to be telling Calia anyways. There's no need for secrecy here. Just everyone else can't know." He turned to Calia. "Can you and Ruthian make sure Kalecgos doesn't leave until I've had a talk with him too?"
"Why are we holding Kalecgos prisoner?" Calia asked.
"Because the idiot lost the Focusing Iris and the ghost of Malygos says I might be able to help him find it better than Jaina could," said Neltharion.
"You can?" Kalecgos asked.
Neltharion looked back at him: "Yeah, I can. There's something you younger blue dragons never knew about me and Malygos, mostly because after your birth, I was already being controlled by Deathwing and he wanted you all extinct. So, I suspect Malygos just didn't say anything." He turned to Ruthian. "Take him down into the caves." Neltharion stomped a foot and a stone slab opened up on a sidewalk, leading down into a dark tunnel. "And hold him there until I talk with him. And make sure he doesn't leave! Calia, go with them, and if you have to, do what you do best."
"You mean break every bone in his body to keep him from escaping?" Calia asked as Ruthian took hold of Kalecgos, dragging him for the opening.
"No," said Neltharion. "Well, maybe that if it comes to it. Tie him up."
"Right," said Calia. "Come on, Kalec, you're getting a timeout."
"But I have to find the Focusing Iris!" said Kalecgos as he was being pushed into the tunnel. "Neltharion!"
"Move it, blueberry," said Ruthian.
"Blueberry?" Kalecgos asked. "I'm an Aspect!"
"Not my Aspect," said the black dragon. "In the hole!"
"I totally don't wanna get in the hole," said Kalecgos.
"Get in the damned hole!"
"Tell me all about it when you get done, hon," said Calia as she disappeared into the tunnel with Ruthian and Kalecgos.
Don't need to be so rough on him, Neltharion, said Malygos.
"Ah, bitch about it to me later, Mal," said Neltharion.
The tunnel closed up. Neltharion turned back to Kador.
"Come on," he said. "Let's go see Jaina."
As they came upon the lavish grounds of Proudmoore Manor, they were halted by the guards. Neltharion's good faith though managed to see them both through and they started inside. Lady Jaina Proudmoore was about to turn in for the night, exhausted in her attempts to help Kalecgos search for the Focusing Iris. She had other things on her mind, though, after the radio communicate had returned that something amiss was happening in Northwatch Hold. Now, Neltharion had returned home from his missions with the Earthen Ring, and he brought with him a Tauren shaman holding something valuable, wrapped up in the finest soft leather and decorated with beads and feathers. She quickly dressed herself in a night robe and sat down upon a chair as Neltharion showed the Tauren in.
"Nel," said Jaina. "Welcome home."
"Thank you," said Neltharion. "Good to be home, but well––"
He stood aside to let Kador come with the bundle he was carrying. He held out the bundle to Jaina and she stood up to take it.
"My Chieftain sends his blessings and––this, Lady Jaina," he said.
Jaina took it and began to carefully unwrap it only to reveal the great, golden hammer that was once gifted to Baine Bloodhoof from Prince Anduin himself.
"Fearbreaker," she said.
"He said you would recognize it," said Kador.
"How could I not?" she asked.
"My Chieftain thinks of you with great respect, ma'am," said Kador. "He remembers the night he recieved such a fine gift from you and the young prince. With that, he wishes to return such kindness with this warning. Garrosh Hellscream means to take Theramore by siege."
"Northwatch Hold," said Jaina. "What happened there?"
"Terrible things," said Kador. "The victory the Horde has won came at a dark price. For that, the High Chieftain despises it. Garrosh Hellscream has gone against the Earth Mother herself in attempt to gain this victory."
"Molten Giants," said Neltharion. "And only a few weeks or so after the Earthen Ring began their big push under my direction not to use such powerful elementals."
"I know you and Thrall had this plan before to prevent anyone from using them," said Jaina, looking back at the Black Aspect.
"Every shaman has agreed that this would worsen the damage already caused by the Cataclysm," said Kador. "What Garrosh has done angers all of us."
"Now he wants to come to Theramore and take it too?" Jaina asked. "Even after––he was there––Garrosh was there with me and your former Warchief Thrall––Go'el––for a declaration of peace between the Horde and Theramore. Despite this being an Alliance stronghold, we are in a way mutual allies. Why would he break this treaty?"
"In the words of my dear wife Calia," began Neltharion. "Why do you think Garrosh Hellscream would want to break that treaty?"
"I wish you would stop listening to her so much, Nel," said Jaina. "It's not healthy for the Earth-Warder to start sounding like Varian Wrynn." Her head lowered and her sparkling, sand-dollar blond locks feel into her tan face. "Of course, he wants everything, doesn't he?"
"His goal is nothing less than every inch of Kalimdor under his rule, my lady," said Kador. "And this even further displeases many among the Horde."
"You already won the war during the Cataclysm," said Jaina. "Most Alliance forces are now just about live and let live. We've––got our own problems to contend without another war to further cause anymore trouble."
"Garrosh is not satisfied, though," said Kador. "My warning is simple. Hellscream's forces are strong and his methods are dirty. As you are now, you will be crushed under its might. He doesn't even seem all that worried about you having the Worldmender to defend you. I am afraid I do not know what other plans he is cooking up. But after what I had seen at Northwatch, he might have the power to even challenge the Earth-Warder."
"Hah!" said Neltharion. "I like to see him try it!"
Kador looked to Neltharion: "The shaman he used to raise the giants, they were from the Twilight Hammer."
Neltharion fell silent, his eyes widening, his ire building. For a brief moment, his eyes seemed to burn like two orange coals amid the darkness. Kador caught the sound of the Black Dragon's deep, rolling growl and for a brief moment, he wanted to bolt right from the room. He could sense the heat in Jaina's chambers rise as Neltharion's anger fumed. The fur along the Tauren's neck began to stand up.
"Deathwing gave many secrets to the Twilight Hammers to ensure the coming of the Hour of Twilight," said Neltharion. "What else have they given Garrosh?"
"I am afraid the secrets that Garrosh holds are vast, Earth-Warder," said Kador. "Orgrimmar has become a police state. Whatever else the Warchief does, it does not leave the city. No other Horde leader knows what he is doing. He tells no one but his Kor'kron and the Twilight Hammer and a few trusted Dragonmaw. The Twilight Hammer and the Dragonmaw, both were once a part of the Old Horde." He turned to Jaina. "Now, they have renewed their allegiance again––to Garrosh Hellscream himself––and only to Hellscream."
"What did Deathwing give the Twilight Hammers?" asked Jaina.
"Knowledge on how to build weapons, powerful ships, dark shamanic magic so powerful that only those who had great strength and connection to the elements could perform," said Neltharion. Then his eyes narrowed and his brow furrowed. "And Titan technology."
The Black Aspect growled and his head lowered into his paw.
"So that's the secret!" he said. "Titans damn it, you asshole, Garrosh! The Twilight Hammers know how to see through seismic vibrations in the ground and can generate a frequency that can mute those vibrations." He looked up at Kador. "That asshole was using Twilight Hammer Shamans to create that frequency to blind me so I wouldn't know he was marching on Northwatch. Of course, how could someone like me not miss the movement of an army as big as that? And he's probably doing something similar to Orgrimmar to make sure I don't see what he's doing there, and maybe with a Titan device. My father, Khaz'Goroth, built lots of these devices to help seal away Titan facilities and keep them hidden. And I knew how to build them. And Deathwing knew how to build them. And he shared that with the Twilight Hammer." The dragon growled, banging his head against the wall, causing it to tremble. "Hellscream, damn you, Hellscream! Damn you, stupid Twilight Hammers! What else does Garrosh have?"
"I am afraid I don't know much," said Kador. "All of this you've told me, I––had no idea he was in possession of it."
"Well, this can't get any worse," said Neltharion.
"How can this not get any worse, Nel?" asked Jaina.
"Jaina, my dear, worse would mean Garrosh, in some weird, contrived way, managed to get a hold of the Dragon Soul too," said Neltharion. "And if he did, I'd say just pack up now. Because there is no way you can defeat him with that. I could. He can shoot me all he wants with it and it wouldn't do anything. Everyone else though, might as well take the cyanid pill right now––less painful."
"You're a bucket full of joy, you know that?" Jaina said, sarcasm spiced each word.
Neltharion's eyes turned back to Kador, his mind picking up the Tauren's foolish attempts to hide his own thoughts when he said the words 'Dragon Soul'. Though Kador knew the ancient and very powerful artifact as the Demon Soul, he had heard it be referred to as the Dragon Soul a few times. The Tauren lowered his head as he felt Neltharion's piercing gaze upon him.
"He has the Dragon Soul, doesn't he?" the Aspect asked.
"Well, no, not exactly," said Kador. "Well––"
"Son, you can't hide it from me," said Neltharion. "One way or another, I'm gonna pry that info out of you. Just go ahead and say it."
"A tauren mercenary, back before Deathwing was––um––vanquished from your mind," he began. "Helped Zaela take control of the Dragonmaw from Overlord Mor'ghor. She discovered that one of the Dragonmaw–– Narkrall Rakeclaw had in procession, the chain worn by Nekros Skullcrusher––and that chain bore the Demon Soul––which was given to him by Zuluhed the Whacked, who came to possess it from a goblin––"
"Who was instructed to give it to him by Deathwing," said Neltharion. "Yes, I know the story. And it makes my head hurt each time I'm reminded of it. Oh, damn it, the chain? The chain that held the Dragon Soul, Zaela's got that chain?"
"She calls it the Demon Chain," he said.
"The Dragon Soul has no affect on my flight," said Neltharion. "Deathwing, when he called the Aspects, he told them to empower it. Every member of every flight put their power in it––even Krasus, Alexstrasza's former Prime. They all did it. Except for mine, except for me. Why? So no one would ever use it to take control of my flight. And so that Deathwing could be the most powerful Aspect––because he didn't quite have all my powers when he took over my body. I locked all that stuff away, keeping it from him. She's using residual energies of the Dragon Soul on those black drakes to control them? How? How is she able to do that? It shouldn't affect them."
"I don't know," said Kador. "I just know that she can use its energies to control the minds of weaker dragons––like her black drakes."
Neltharion leaned back and said with a monotoned voice: "Well, this just got personal."
"I think it's always been personal since the Dragonmaw Clan decided to enslave black dragons for the Horde," said Jaina.
"Yeah, but now it's getting real personal," said Neltharion.
"Worldmender," began Kador. "I only give you this information because of our bound through the Earth Mother. For that, I would almost say that you and the Tauren like myself are brothers."
"I thank you," said Neltharion.
Kador nodded. Jaina rose from her chair, placing the hammer down upon her bed. She walked over to the tauren and held out her hand.
"Your chieftain is an honorable tauren to send you here," she said. "His warning will help save innocent lives."
"His last message is to tell Fearbreaker's former wielder that because of what is about to happen, the Chieftain feels that it is no longer his to keep."
"I understand," said Jaina.
"He means no disrespect to the prince."
"I know."
Neltharion looked to Jaina, catching a glimpse of tears falling from her eyes. He could sense her thoughts, how this news distraught her. Most important, he could hear the beat of her heart, what it was saying as she walked over to her wooden desk. She reached under the lamp to turn on the incandescent light and pulled out a piece of parchment from an elaborately carved drawer. Everything she hoped for in making this little kingdom, she hoped to build it to promote healing and understanding between two peoples who did not quite see eye to eye. However, though she knew such friendships were strong, they only went so far. Baine and his people were Horde and were always going to be Horde. Neltharion sensed that Jaina knew how vulnerable the Tauren would be if they stood against Garrosh, and so, they must do what they have to do––they must fight for him. As he watched the leader of Theramore write upon the parchment, he turned into himself with a deep thought. He returned his thoughts to what Nozdormu said. Though Jaina had tried to bridge that gap, even she was bound to fail in this. But Nozdormu believed that perhaps Neltharion could do what Jaina attempted. Perhaps it would not take a member of the Alliance to bridge the gap, but someone who stood in between. Baine has no love of Garrosh, but he is forced to do what the Warchief said, more out of fear of losing his own people's protection.
Then there was that Tauren pride and honor. Baine knew that even going back on the Horde, even if it was because of Garrosh would further deface himself, even among his people. Neltharion knew that the Horde cannot be taken down, it should not be taken down. The problem is Garrosh and how he controlled the Horde. Maybe Baine needed someone powerful to fall back on just in case he decided to step up and face Garrosh.
Then, Jaina rolled up the parchment, and stamped it with a seal. She got up and handed it to Kador.
"You should take this, it will ensure your passage through Alliance territory, if you are ever caught."
"Your concern is appreciated," said Kador. "But––"
"My dragons will return him safely to his chieftain," said Neltharion.
"Thank you, Worldmender," said Kador, though still, he took the parchment.
"Consider it a symbol of my neutrality in this war," said Neltharion. "I cannot get involved with the war between the Alliance and the Horde. However, your Warchief is using dangerous artifacts and spells to fight this war with, that part I must become involved in." He turned back to Jaina. "But know this, what I do is not to give the Alliance an edge, but to stop an idiot from doing something even more stupid. What I may do will protect both lives."
"Many Tauren have died because of Garrosh's molten giants, Worldmender," said Kador. "If he continues to use such reckless methods, there may not be a Horde to celebrate his unwarranted victory."
"Oh, there will be a Horde, alright, but a Horde that's more like the expendable foot-soldiers of the Burning Legion than the Horde that the likes of Cairne and Thrall were proud of creating," said Neltharion.
"Please, take refreshment and rest here," said Jaina. "And return to your chieftain safely."
"The Earth Mother smiles upon you, Lady," said Kador. "I now know why my chieftain speaks of you with kind words and I understand him more for it."
"Thank you," said Jaina. "Light be with you."
"And may barrels of beer be with me!" said Neltharion. "Come on, shaman, I've got food at my place."
Kador bowed respectfully to Jaina as he and the Earth-Warder turned to leave. Neltharion dipped his head.
"I'll be back with Calia and we can start talking about what we need to do when the Horde comes," he said.
"Right," said Jaina. "Tell the guards to send for Tervosh, Pained and Kinndy as well."
"Just as long as Kinndy stays the hell away from me, I will," said Neltharion. "Your pet gnome gives me the creeps. Especially the way she likes to cling to my hind leg."
Jaina gave him a weak laugh as he closed the door. Neltharion motioned for the Tauren to follow him.
"Okay, you and I have a lot to talk about," he said. "But not here. When we get outside, I'll open up the passage to the tunnels that leads down to my lair, where we can discuss things a little further. But know this, what I want to talk about may help you and your chieftain, understand?"
"Yes," said Kador.
"Good, now, follow me," said Neltharion. As they walked from the manor, the Earth-Warder stomped his foot and a passage opened up from the sidewalk. The Black Dragon started to descend down into the passage and motioned for the Tauren to follow him. Then, the passage closed up before the Night Elf Pained and the Gnome Kinndy started to run for the manor, followed by Calia and Ruthian.