Calling for Reinforcements

Taking a deep breath, Fentulk turned away from the docks. The Maiden's Fancy was barely a speck on the horizon; not much point in watching it any longer.

Now that he'd shaken loose his commitment to Captain Wrenchnozzle, it occurred to him that he didn't have a clue where to go from here. When he came through the Portal, he hooked up with a military liaison from the Horde and joined other Mag'har visitors wanting to see the New World. A mage portal took them from the Blasted Lands straight to Orgrimmar, where they were greeted warmly by Thrall himself. Some traveled, others trained. Fentulk was among those who opted for training, and spent some time in the Valley of Trials.

Ghakora. He'd forgotten her. She was learning to be a mage when he arrived, and they became fast friends. She was a little too... ambitious for his tastes, so he never pursued any deeper relationship. Then he went to Sen'jin Village, and she went all the way to Silvermoon City to continue her studies. He hadn't seen or heard from her since.

Being a native of Azeroth, he knew she would at least be able to guide him in the right direction for his quest. It was a start, at least. Nodding to himself, he headed for the inn.

"Hey, Fen!" the bartender called when the orc entered the ground floor bar. "Long time no see! I was hopin' you'd stop by. Gotta question for ya."

"I need a favor, so that works out," Fentulk nodded, leaning on the bartop and peering over to see the goblin shuffling over.

"Hear about that human that got busted outta Stormwind's jail?" the goblin asked. "Rumors is flyin' like crazy. I hear she likes Horde. Really likes Horde. You hear anything about that?"

Fentulk scowled. "Mighta heard somethin'."

"Took ship on the Fancy," Nixxrax pressed, arching an eyebrow. "Ya sure ya didn't hear nothin'?"

Narrowing his eyes and snarling, the orc growled, "I don't wanna talk about it."

The goblin barkeep grinned and nodded. "About what I thought. I kinda figgered you for the 'ain't kissin' and tellin'' kind. I know, I know, don't get your back up. I won't say a word. So what's your favor?"

He hated having to ask, but to be honest, Fentulk had never learned to read or write back home, and never pursued it once he came to Azeroth. His focus had been on honing his hunting skills, then he'd taken ship on the Fancy where there was even less need for it.

"I need a letter sent to a friend," he said in an undertone, darting his eyes around to make sure nobody could hear about his inadequacy. "Could you write it for me?"

"Lady friend?" the goblin asked, waggling his eyebrows and leering.

Fentulk gave him an even more sour look than before. "Just a friend," he snarled.

"Sure, sure." Chuckling under his breath, Nixxrax fetched a parchment, inkpot, and quill. "Who's it to?"

"Ghakora in Silvermoon City."

"Mmm-hmm," Nixxrax hummed as he wrote. "Don't sound like an elfie name."

"She's an orc."

"Heh heh," the goblin snorted. "She. Like I thought."

Sighing and rolling his eyes, Fentulk tried to keep his voice even as he gave the message to the bartender. Nixxrax dutifully scratched out the words, brow furrowing and gaze darting frequently up at the orc.

"Let me get this straight," he asked as he skimmed what he wrote. "You wanna ask this gal to help you find a mate."

"Yes."

"A mate," Nixxrax repeated, just to make sure. "A gal you used to know, ya ain't seen'er for years, ya finally contact her, so she can hunt down some other woman for ya. Is that about right?"

Growling low in his throat, Fentulk snatched the letter from the goblin's hand and roughly rolled it up. "Seal it," he snapped, handing it back.

"Word of warning, kid," the bartender said as he addressed and sealed the rolled parchment. "You get one woman to help you find another, and you're askin' for trouble."

"She don't want me, and I don't want her, so I don't know what the fuck your talkin' about," Fentulk snarled.

"I'm just sayin', is all." Nixxrax handed the letter over. "Women can be real weird about these things. You may think she don't want ya, not now, but wait til she sees ya with another woman. Then it'll get... innerestin'."

"If I'm lucky, I won't care who sees," the orc said stubbornly.

"Yeah, well, hope it works out for ya," the goblin shrugged. "Course, seeing two orc ladies dukin' it out... I'd pay to see that." He leered and waggled his eyebrows again.

"I ain't lookin' for an orc woman," Fentulk replied. "Lookin' for a human."

Nixxrax's jaw fell open. "You ain't serious."

"I am."

The goblin frantically waved him closer, eyes darting around the bar. Luckily, it was still early in the morning. Anyone still in the bar from the night before was passed out. When the orc leaned down, Nixxrax grabbed him painfully by the ear.

"Boy, I don't care what piece of ass you had on your ship couple weeks ago," he hissed, "and I know you ain't from Azeroth, so lemme spell it out for ya. Alliance ass ain't open season for Horde dicks. Not if you don't want war declared."

"I don't want a piece of ass," Fentulk snarled, jerking his head free. "I said I want a mate."

"What are you, stupid?" the goblin asked incredulously. "Humans and orcs have been at war for years. They hate you guys. Think you're a bunch of big, ugly brutes. Yer settin' yerself up for failure, kid."

"The ancestors would not steer me wrong," the orc snapped. "I haven't felt anything... wrong about it. There is a woman for me. I'll find her. They will bring her to me."

Blinking rapidly, Nixxrax just shook his head. "Yer outta yer mind, Fen. You go prancin' into Alliance territory tryin' to pick up chicks, and they'll stick you in their deepest, darkest dungeon and ain't nobody gonna see you again." Poking the orc in the chest with one thick, green finger, the goblin said, "The last person who'd negotiate yer release would be the Warchief. I promise you that."

"It's worth it," Fentulk insisted.

"Crazy bastard," he muttered. "Musta been a helluva good lay you had."

"Do not speak of her that way," the orc growled. "She was... a good woman."

"I'll bet," Nixxrax replied sarcastically. "Look, uh, since yer desperate to get yourself killed or worse, I guess I'll... wish ya luck."

"It is appreciated," Fentulk said stiffly. "I will succeed. You will see."

"Can't wait to hear what happens," Nixxrax said, forcing himself to smile. He sort of liked the big brown lug. It was a shame, seeing him march off to certain death.

Nodding, Fentulk turned and left. He went outside and dropped the letter in the mailbox, then headed back inside and up the stairs to the flight master. Booking a wyvern, he took off for Grom'gol.