Chapter 18 – Deathwing Rises Anew
Lord Grekko Ambrose looked out from the deck of the ship. He drew his cloak closer to his body. It had rained for three days aboard the ship and even as the ship came to Menethil Habor, guided in by the lighthouse light in the dense fog. He sighed and looked out from his cowl. He did not like this part of Khaz Modan anymore than he liked the rest of it. Dwarves were odd folk. If they were not drowning from rain, they were freezing high in the mountains, and when they were not drowning or freezing they were burning from having a city deep within a mountain with lava in the middle of it. The Harbor itself had nearly twelve thousand people working the docks and protecting Baradin Bay.
The boat docked safely, a kind of miracle, and the priest stepped onto the docks looking through the fog and rain. He would have to stay here this night. No gryphon would fly this evening until after the rains stopped. He was exhausted. He had been taking messages for the King of Stormwind since his wife, the Lady Rhenn, did the queen duties of overseeing guilds, disputes, attending concerts, and being very visible to the populous of the great city. He did not envy her works at all and when she had time she would go into the woods with Thrall. The one-time Horde leader taught her about the earth and how to find tune her own shamanistic powers. Though Thrall was the most powerful shaman living and could master any element, Rhenn was of the water, and even she had impressed the great orc with her ability to manipulate the elemental force.
He walked to the inn and quickly paid for a room, a hot meal, and some ale. The only good thing about the dwarven region was their beer and the number of brews they offered. Though he preferred wines, the beers were thick and strong here and would relax his muscles and mind as good as any wine would.
After watching the rain against his room window he walked down to the common room and dropped into a seat at a table by the fire and let himself warm there. A pretty young dwarf barmaid came to him. Her hair was in a thick long braid and he could tell from her facial tattoos she was a Wildhammer.
"What can I get for you today?" She asked. Her accent was think and guttural as many of the Wildhammers whom lived in the Hinterlands sounded, but he could make out her words easy enough.
An advantage to working recently with Moira Thaurissan, as Queen Moira Bronzebeard now styled herself. The queen had decided it was far too hard to run the kingdom by herself. Also with the secret that her father was not dead just turned to stone, she felt in order to keep the dwarves unified she called for a Council to rule. Grekko's own wife, Rhenn, and friend of the young Queen, had helped her call for help. She requested that her uncle Muradin Bronzebeard, and Kurdan Wildhammer. Both accepted making for a unified council of all the dwarf clans. The council had ruled for several years. Rhenn helped mediate if called upon, but it seemed to be a healthy choice by the Queen to unify the clans so. Grekko had aided Ironforge by overseeing to the training of the new gnome recruits whom wished to learn to heal with the power of the Light. The queen's young son, Fenran, was nearly as old as Grekko's own twins and had become a paladin training in Stormwind as much as he could.
Grekko sighed. He hardly saw his beloved spouse these days. Absence did make the heart fonder and when they were alone were like courting teenagers sneaking in dark shadows for a few short moments of bliss in each other's arms.
He smiled and his eyes lifted to the waiting gaze of the young Wildhammer woman. "I will take soup, bread, cheese, ale, and whatever jam or honey you have available." He smiled. "And some tea if you have some." He rubbed his hands together and held them to the fire.
She smiled. "Certainly sir." She looked at him. "I hope she looks so when she thinks of you."
That shot through his guard. He stared at her and she smiled and pushed his bearded chin up so his mouth closed. He had not realized he had it open. He looked at her. Sitting he was still slightly taller than she. He blushed and she smiled more. "What?" He managed hoarsely.
"Men only look so when they are thinking of their lasses." She said. She walked off chuckling to herself as he suddenly became fascinated by the dancing flames on the log.
It was not long after that his food was served. She brought him some cut ham as well and he thanked her. She nodded and smiled before turning to serve some newly arrived soldiers from the keep. Two were human and the other three were dwarves. They were all talking about patrolling the marshes and wetlands. Grekko paid little attention until he heard them talking about a great scar in the land.
As he listened a farmer, his wife, and a young teenage woman walked in from the cold rain. He knew Farmer Saldean and his wife Salma. The farmer family did their best to farm even with the Defias causing chaos in Westfall. Now being the Marquis of Redridge and Westfall as his wife grew in favor, the Defias had become their issue.
Peasants came to Rhenn begging her help when she held court for the people of her lands. She answered to the King, but her people needed help. Since the House of Nobles was nearly useless and hated among the Defias and the farmers for creating the Defias, Rhenn had taken matters in her own hands. She had started a micro loan system for the farmers to return to their farms and farm.
Rhenn employed the militia members already in Westfall, something they had never had before, payment and organization, to keep the Defias at bay. Moonbrook was razed by the Stormwind army, but the Deadmines was still controlled by the Defias and Edwin VanCleef. Rhenn had turned the deserted town into a trade center with a gryphon house, suppliers, and a farmer's market held two days a week. Also the inn was where she sheltered the people who had come looking for work in the cold months. VanCleef tolerated the invasion because his Defias could trade their metals they harvested and make an honest living for themselves.
Grekko well knew that VanCleef himself had met with Rhenn and made a treaty with her stating if she left the mines to his men, he would leave her peasants alone and punish any who molested them. Rhenn agreed to turn a blind eye to the raiding of ships off the Westfall coast unless they were her own vessels and since her banner was every easy to recognize, that was rare. She also would not do anything about highway attacks on merchants whom did not carry her banner. She would, however, pay them restitution if they came to her, but few did. VanCleef paid a sort of tax to Rhenn for keeping the mine property and thus it was a working relationship of sorts and one Grekko was fairly certain King Varian knew little to nothing about and the House of Nobles even less.
He smiled in greeting as they came to him. He nodded to the vacant places at the table for them to sit. Farm Saldean nodded in thanks and dropped gratefully into a chair.
"Lord Ambrose. A pleasure to see you." He dipped his head.
"Farmer Saldean." Grekko said. "What brings you to the Wetlands?" He asked.
"Traveling to Theramore." The farmer nodded to the young teenager. She was dark haired, small for her age, but her dark eyes watched everything about her as she sat silently across from Grekko. "We are traveling to see if Lady Proudmooore can teach our Hope magic arts." He smiled at his adopted daughter who smiled back at him. She looked nothing like the sand blonde haired man and his golden haired wife. She was raven haired and had quick dark eyes. Adopted, as many children were due to the war going on and families being lost. Rhenn also had commissioned an orphanage to be built. Though currently under construction in Lakeshire, it would house many children whom had lost parents and to relieve the crowded orphanage of Cathedral Square. His wife had gotten the blessing of both the King and Archbishop Benedictus for the building and since it was her own monies paying for it, there was little to stand in her way anyway.
The Ambrose family was rapidly becoming some of the richest in the kingdom and yet Rhenn had a way of giving back to her people. Many people tried to work in her mills, cooperative farms, mines, and lumber yards, so many in fact that Rhenn had had to stop taking people from other districts of the Kingdom of Stormwind and requiring visas to prove residence in order to work. But she was not without mercy for those who had come seeking work. She would pay for their return and she had a welfare program of hot meals, shelter, and blankets for when the months turned cooler and travel in the mountains was impossible.
Grekko took a sip of his ale and watched the girl. She took note of everything. He had seen those quick eyes before in another, but he could not place whom. He smiled at her as she looked at him. "How long have you been living with the Saldeans?" He asked making conversation as the bar maid brought the family warm drinks.
She looked down as if embarrassed to have the Lord speaking to her. Salma smiled and patted her daughter's hand. "She has been with us for ten years. She was six when she came to our door hungry and cold in a rainstorm." She sighed. "I am so glad a Harvest Golem didn't get her or worse." She looked at Grekko. "Thanks to your Lady things have been much better."
The keen eyes met his again. There was something in her eyes, but he dismissed it and continued eating his meal as the conversation fell into pleasantries.
The family retired an hour or so later. They asked after Lady Rhenn's health and when she would next be in Westfall to see her people. Grekko was unsure, but he would bring their greetings and a letter that Salma had written asking for a small loan to start a tailoring business. Grekko was sure that this request would be honored. The family went upstairs and Grekko watched the quiet girl before he took a drink of his ale. He was nearly out. Grekko shifted to join the men of the guard.
The commander nodded to him. "Greetings priest." He said.
Grekko smiled. "Hello." He was not known here as a milord here. So much the better. The courtly duties were more his wife's arena. He dropped into a seat and ordered a round of ale. The men thanked him. They had apparently started playing cards to decide who would pay for the next round. The priest had solved that issue, at least for the moment.
Grekko looked at them as he lifted his mug. "Cheers." He said.
All nodded and drank. Grekko watched them settle back and leaned forward. "Forgive me for listening, but I heard you mention about a burned zone a while before."
"Aye." One said. "We can't make heads or tails of it."
Grekko cocked his head. "What does it look like?"
"Charred earth, like we have never seen before. Lava oozes from it and has moved the ocean away."
"What do you mean?" Grekko asked cocking his head.
"The lava has pushed the bay that used to be to the northern wetlands out. It no longer exists. It has been quiet for years after the great earthquake." The Captain sighed. "Now it seems to have new life, but is not threatening us. At least not yet."
Grekko nodded. "Interesting." He said drinking down his ale before rising. "I beg your pardon gentlemen, I must retire. I am on King's business." He grinned and dropped a few more coins on the table. "Have another round on me before you retire."
"Ahh you work for King Varian then?" a man asked.
"Aye." Grekko said. He smiled. "Don't we all."
"Cheers sir." The Captain said smiling. "Maddie." He called to the bar maid. She walked over. "More ale for the boys." He said and dipped his head to Grekko as the priest walked to the stairs. Grekko appreciated times like this when he was Grekko the priest not Lord Ambrose.
Grekko walked upstairs and was making his way to his room when a form moved to him from a room to his right. It was Hope Saldean. She smiled at him. "My father tells me you are the husband of Lady Rhenn, the fair woman who rules our lands." She said.
"Yes." He said looking at her. "She would be happy you are going to learn from Lady Jaina. The Mistress of Theramore is a personal friend of my family."
"Is she as kind as she is rumored beautiful?"
Grekko smiled. "Aye, she is beautiful. You will learn well from her."
She nodded. "You are very kind." She said. Her dark eyes watched him as she absently pushed her thick dark hair more under her mop cap. "Can you deliver a letter for me to her?" She asked. "A friend gave it to me and wished me to have her read it. It has to do with a neighboring farm."
He nodded. "I am flying to Ironforge and then taking the Tram home." He said. "I would be happy to deliver a letter." He lifted his hand and closed his eyes as he cast a spell. Holy Light shone about her and made it look like she had an aura about her. "May the Light Bless you child." He said.
She gave him the letter and a small flower she had picked from the wetlands. It was delicate and small, but was a snap dragon that favored the marshes. Rarely seen because the Mulocs of the area treasured them and gathered them for their rituals, the small offering was a gentle reminder of how beautiful life was even amongst the chaos of the world today.
He bent and kissed her brow before nodding to her to go back to bed and continued to his room. He did not sleep. He lay on his bed for a few moments before rising and going to the window to look out at the rain and the quiet. The harbor had been changed from what it had been from when he first served the King as a priest fresh from training at the Stormwind Cathedral.
The Cathedral. It was home. The center of the faith of Light. The incense, soft chants, and the students learning the ways of the Light whether paladin or priest made it home. It was also home because he had been raised there. Orphaned he was found to have a natural talent for healing and caring for people. But home was also his wife. His wife resided within the walls of the great Cathedral for protection, to draw strength from the Light, and to have a place to be away from the public eye of Stormwind whom adored her.
Rhenn. His Rhenn. His beautiful leveled headed mate. Though they had separated after he had struck her for thinking that she had betrayed him with another man, let alone an orc in Thrall, but his apology and her temper mellowed with time. She had grown closer to Highlord Fordring, Thrall, and King Varian and resided at the Argent Crusade House rather than their chambers in the Cathedral. Tirion who seemed to regard her as the daughter he never had was often in her company when he had spare moments to himself. After their elder daughter's attack they had grown close again and she returned to him as his wife in all aspects, but he made it on her terms. Though they did not bed as often as they had, they had a deeper love that made it so they could speak about anything. He now knew what it was to be as Varian and Tirion had been, a confidant to her. She was powerful and rich, but that mattered little other than working toward peace and keeping order to Rhenn. He was glad to have her back in his arms, at his side, and in his bed, though they were often apart for weeks at a time. She made his homecoming joyous and he never sought the love of another woman partly out of respect for his wife and partly out of fear that Thrall, Tirion, and Varian might murder him in his sleep for such an offense. They nearly had when he had struck her and he still blamed himself for her miscarriage that had happened shortly after. Rhenn did not speak about it often, seeming to wish to forget she had conceived it. That hurt more than her yelling and blaming him for the loss. It was an innocent babe.
They had not conceived again. Rhenn, he was fairly sure was taking measures to prevent such an event from happening. With the powerful shaman in Thrall, the great paladin Tirion Fordring, and the King's own healer at her disposal she no doubt had been able to take such preventive measures. Part of Grekko was thankful. He could not handle the loss of another babe nor how it nearly destroyed his beloved spouse. However, the other half of him truly wished they could have another babe. It would solidify their love once more and he could have an infant to watch. The itch was becoming less since Jamiy had started providing grandchildren.
He sighed and put some logs in the fireplace and lit it to ward off the chill of the night. He then sank gratefully into the blankets. He fell asleep listening to the rain.
The next morning Grekko woke. He had a light breakfast before going and claiming a gryphon. He mounted and steered the beast toward where the guards had spoken of the lava. True enough lava was flowing from a great crater in the earth. He allowed his mount to bank as he looked down surveying the scorched earth.
A strange human seemed to be standing upon the edge observing. Grekko wondered if this person knew anything of what was going on. He spiraled down, but the human caught sight of him and roared. He gasped covering his ears. He shook his head as the sound ceased and looked as a monster dragon behemoth rose in size. The dragon was seated, but was staring at Grekko with undisguised hatred. It then threw back its head and roared again before sending flames barreling at him.
Grekko banked quickly to avoid the flames. He blinked and circled the great beast. Black with a thick beard and a maddening glow to its eyes that put Grekko at unease.
"Leave this place human." A deep rumble growled from the great wyrm. "Leave now or I will destroy you."
Grekko watched as the great beast beat its wings and lifted into the air.
"Do you think I jest mortal? I am Deathwing. Leave before my fiery breath becomes all you know." The dragon blew toward him, but he was able to avoid it.
Grekko banked again and turned toward Loch Modan. Deathwing? Deathwing had returned? He had to inform the king!