The Raynewood Orphanage

Ashenvale

Rayne sat at the table with his face pressed upon his interlocking fingers deep in thought. The story his companion told was a bold one to say the least. Cayden spared no brutal detail in his report. If even half of what he had shared was true, this was not news that should be taken lightly. The young mage was not one to embellish any details and yet this sounded more and more like the nightmares of pure fiction.

"How many of Brann's men were lost in their initial expedition?"

The first question out of their leader's mouth nearly caught him off guard. Rayne was known for ensuring the safety of his own men in battle but his compassion always seemed to extend further than its perceived grasp.

"Initial reports found that nearly ninety percent of his explorers had fallen during their incursion within the fortress. Official numbers are unavailable as Brann has not returned to the expedition base camp since he initially retreated last week. There may have been others who made it back alive and are awaiting the return of their leader but the estimated figure is nearing five-hundred men at this point."

"That many?"

The paladin's astonishment was nearly overshadowed by the growing sense of apprehension with every passing breath.

"The Explorers' League are not soldiers. They adventurers, hobbyists, and intellectuals. Combat is not their specialty but they wouldn't shy away from a fight should one present itself. They were more than prepared to deal with the Iron Lords and their minions. However," the mage took a sullen breath before continuing. "There was no way of knowing what tragedy had befallen the keepers within. They were guardians and the first line of defense. If they have truly been corrupted, then we may very well be already too late."

Silence once again permeated the room. Every word out of the mage's mouth dimmed the mood further and further into the trenches of darkness where no amount of light could ever seep through. The next question would determine whether or not they could sink or swim in the oncoming void. Rayne almost dared not to ask but he just had to know.

"Have you heard from Ademski and Saelena? Are they alright?"

Thankfully, the mage nodded.

"They were not involved with the initial siege of Ulduar. At the time, Brann had asked them to continue to explore the ruins of the Halls of Lightning and look for clues that would lead them to discover how Loken was corrupted in the first place. They're currently waiting at Copperpot Camp and assisting with the delivery of supplies for the League's next trip."

That was a well needed piece of good news. Ademski and Saelena were treasured allies. Rayne wouldn't be able to live with himself if something had happened to them. He had already experienced the stench of failure. That was not one he would dare wish upon himself or his enemies.

There was a small air of silence beginning to bubble. As awkward as it felt, it paled in comparison to the growing tension between the three members of the Templar Knights. The last time Cayden had seen his leader, it wasn't on the most glowing of terms despite the resounding victory they had achieved for their faction. Whether the young mage was being polite by not bringing it up or wanted to bury it just as deep as Rayne had was inconsequential at this point.

"What can you tell us about this fortress called Ulduar?"

Narula's question helped ease the tension a little bit. She sat next to Rayne and just across from the young mage. Though she didn't directly look the paladin in the eyes before she spoke up, the night elf could feel his aura of stress thickening.

"From what we've gathered, Ulduar is one of three cities constructed by the Titans themselves. Brann had discovered this information in the ruins of Uldaman buried within the Khaz Mountains. It is home to both storm giants and Iron dwarves. The city itself has its own production facility and highly sophisticated defense system. However, that is merely the thin shell that hides Ulduar's true purpose."

Cayden paused for a moment to rub his weary eyes. In order to convey the seriousness of this matter, he needed to present it properly and without falter.

"Ulduar was originally designed as a prison. Even with the Titan's seemingly limitless power, they could not destroy the creatures we now know as Old Gods. If their horrific power could not be removed from our world, the least they could do was contain it. Buried deep within the sprawling city, hidden and locked away for centuries is the hideous elder being known as Yogg-Saron."

Narula's glowing silver eyes carefully paid the paladin a quick glance. She was hoping to see something, even if was just a faint flicker of emotion to signal the severity of what they've just heard. Rayne remained stoic in thought. His emotions were unfazed by the chilling news presented.

"Why were the Titans unable to destroy the Old Gods?" The night elf posed. "Is there power so incredible that they simply could not be defeated by even their strength?"

"It's not that," Cayden countered. "When the Titans first arrived to this planet, it was said that the Old Gods ruled every corner of the globe. Their immense evil was only overshadowed by their overwhelming destructive capabilities. In order to remove their influence from the world, the Titans attempted to destroy them but soon realized that was no easy task. The Old Gods resisted but as they came closer to defeating one, they found that their roots were embedded too deep within the planet. Destroying one of them could compromise the entire stability of Azeroth."

The final line in Cayden's statement was more menacing than anything that proceeded it.

"Whether we like it or not, the Old Gods are as much a part of this world as the air we breathe and the water we drink."

All of the evidence presented should have been more than enough to shy away from involvement. The world already had to deal with one threat of an Old God not too long ago. C'thun and his minions wreaked havoc upon Kalimdor. After a merciless war, the combined forces of the Horde and Alliance were destroy the remnants of the Silithid and the Qiraj into extinction. Finally, the Old God was defeated and ended the bloody affair once and for all.

History was quickly repeating itself. It took the combined forces of thousands of soldiers from all over the world in order to achieve victory. Cayden had come here to ask for a minuscule fraction of that amount to achieve the same exact feat. Anyone would be crazy to press this issue any further. No one would blame the paladin for refusing this call.

"What do we know about this Old God?" Rayne asked.

He could feel the night elf's eyes dart towards him with incredible haste. She was right to worry. Even the paladin believed this was an unwise course of action and yet, he continued to persist.

"Our text is limited on the subject," the mage began. "Thankfully, Brann was able to recover some information throughout his initial expedition and put a few pieces together. Yogg-Saron is known as the God of Death. It created the Curse of Flesh that attempted to facilitate assimilation of the elder races into weaker versions of their former selves. Yogg-Saron is vile, tyrannical but most importantly patient. His influence can take years, even centuries to be felt but retains the power to manipulate anyone or anything on this planet. Some even speculate that Yogg-Saron was behind the corruption of the world tree Vordrassil as there was an abundance of saronite ore found near the roots of the tree itself."

"Saronite?" Posed the paladin. "What does that have to do with an Old God?"

"That's another speculative finding," Cayden answered. "The Tuskarr of Borean Tundra refer to the substance as the Black Blood of Yogg-Saron. They believe the Old God's influence flows through the veins of that ore and advise anyone to avoid all contact with the substance. Their legends state that Yogg-Saron's grip on one's sanity strengthens with increased exposure. While we normally would ignore such hasty allegations as superstition, there have been frequent reports of miners and soldiers alike succumbing to strange illnesses near Valiance Keep. Repeated diagnosis has grown so abundant as of late that General Arlos has heeded the warnings of the Tuskarr and shut down all of the local saronite imports and advised other strongholds to do the same."

Based on the current information provided, Yogg-Saron definitely seems like a formidable adversary. Though he apparently lacks the strength in numbers of his fellow elder being C'thun, Yogg-Saron's strength lies in manipulation and corruption. With the titan watchers under its control, they were going to have their hands full and the longer they wait, the worse it will get.

"What about the Valiance Expedition?" Rayne asked. "Are they willing to assist?"

The mage sadly shook his head.

"King Varian made it known to Rhonin and everyone involved that he wanted nothing to do with this. I doubt even you could sway his decision. He made it abundantly clear to everyone within the sound of his voice what he felt about it. Though I am not a fan of the Horde myself, his parting words to them seemed cruel even by their standards."

Rayne only had one more question to ask. It was all riding on this vital piece of information.

"Is this something the Kirin Tor can handle with their resources alone?"

The mage gave his leader a look of grimace. The defeat settling in his eyes said more than enough but Cayden chose to elaborate anyways.

"They're spread thin enough as it is. Master Rhonin knows the imminent danger lying ahead but he is unable to dedicate everything they have as the war against the Lich King presses on. Everyone knows how important it is to end this expedition, however, if we allow Yogg-Saron to roam free, we will be condemning ourselves to a fate much worse than death."

This was the final nail in the coffin. Accepting this mission would mean they would be all on their own. There would be no support, no allies, and no turning back once they began. Azeroth couldn't afford to fall to the will of an Old God at such a crucial time and yet, the only people who seem to give a damn are those with such little power and influence to change it.

Rayne quickly stood up and pushed himself away from the table. Adrenaline immediately coursed through his veins. His fist tightened. The threat of utter annihilation of everything he had ever loved was staring him right in the face. And that was exactly what he was looking for.

"Let's go Cayden."

The paladin quickly took his leave towards the bedroom. He hadn't donned his armor since the day of the battle at Wintergrasp. Narula had kindly taken the time to properly clean and polish the stains from every inch of the finely crafted plate. Though there were no visible stains, the memory of what transpired could not be easily washed away with a little soap and water.

"Raymond!"

Narula snapped standing in a quick burst. She followed him into the bedroom where he was already beginning to snap on the intricate pieces of armor to his body.

"How could you come to this decision so quickly?" She pleaded. "Why? Why are you doing this?"

The paladin appeared to be undeterred by her concern and continued to bind the armor to his body in sequential order. If he wouldn't listen to reason, maybe he'd be more willing to sit in on a history lesson.

"Please do not let what happened at Wintergrasp affect your judgment Raymond."

Narula bit her lip after that comment. Her eyes darted away. Even though he wasn't looking in her direction, the thought of staring at him as those words came pouring from her mouth was almost too much to bear.

"I know it is in your nature to help people but perhaps this task is beyond us all. We are not talking about a simple expedition. It would take the might of an army to withstand this threat."

The night elf's voice began to crack. Her confidence waned. Nothing she spouted was working. If he wasn't listening to reason the only thing left was to surround him in fear.

"The power of the Old Gods is monumental. I lost many friends in the Cenarian Circle during the war in Silithis. Mourning their losses was one of the most painful endeavors I had to bear. I can't even imagine the trauma of those who fought. The agony they went through encountering an endless army of ancient warriors. No one in their right mind would willingly repeat history like that again if they truly knew what they were up against."

Not even a whisper over the sound of his casual inhaling and exhaling of oxygen exited the paladin's lungs. Rayne continued don the few final pieces of his armor without deterrence, physically or emotionally.

"Even after hearing all of that, how –?"

Narula abruptly stopped herself. If another word came out of her mouth at that moment she was sure to lose foothold of her emotions and make matters even worse for him.

"How can you stare death in the face and still stand so confidently?"

The paladin finished by carefully sliding his hands into the gauntlets. He flexed his fingers into a fist several times to ensure a proper fit. Rayne casually turned his glance and stared at the emotionally torn night elf standing before him. She seemed so utterly vulnerable in this state that a part of him just wanted to reach out and pull her into a never-ending embrace.

"The Templar Knights were founded on the idea to help those that were too weak to help themselves."

Every syllable oozed with confidence. This was certainly not the man who had been kicking himself for weeks on end. The paladin was evolving past his hopelessly optimistic stance. He was finally stepping into the role of a true leader.

"If the Alliance and Horde do not have the capacity to set aside their pride and work together on this mutual threat, then it is our clear duty to take their place. Old God or not, we cannot sit idly by and allow its influence to grow. I swear by every fiber of my being, I won't allow another tragedy like that befall anyone ever again."

The itch to pull the night elf into his arms still scratched at his heart. However, he knew better than to jeopardize Narula's hard work. The night elf hadn't said those things to him in order to deter him. She was testing his resolve. Rayne needed to hear every word of it and not flinch in the slightest in order to gain her confidence. She did always know exactly what to say to make him feel better. Now, it was his turn to reciprocate the favor.

"Will you come with me Narula?"

The night elf pulled back for a moment. His demeanor had taken such a quick turn it was hard to believe this was the same man who was laughing wildly without regard just a few moments ago outside of these walls.

"Of course Raymond," she sternly replied hoping to mimic the paladin's tone. "I will always be by your side."

Rayne's lips slowly curved into the familiar smile the night elf had come to know and love throughout the years.

"Thank you. I don't think I could have done this without you."

Narula coyly smiled back at him.

"Did you honestly think I would have allowed you to shoulder this burden all on your own?"

The paladin let out a legitimate and heartfelt laugh. It was the first time she's heard him sound like his old self since even before first venturing to Northrend. This is exactly what he needed.

"Cayden," Rayne called.

"Yes sir," the mage eagerly stated while walking through the doorway.

"We'll need to gather the troops. And I mean everyone: Lena, Sam, Zari, Marcus, and of course Weasel. Do you know of their whereabouts?"

"Of course," nodded Cayden. "Lena, Marcus and Weasel are still assisting Commander Zanneth with the expedition in the Vault of Archavon. Samuel's been assisting Arcanist Adurin and Ivrenne catalogue all of the treasures and relics found within. And Zariyana's collecting and itemizing all of the remaining imports at Templar Keep."

"Good," Rayne replied. "I'll leave the first three to you. I need to speak with my father before venturing back to Northrend so I'll discuss our plans with Zariyana while I'm there. We can speak with Sam together when we are making our preparations."

The paladin turned his attention back to Narula.

"Will three days be enough time to take care of your business here and find someone to watch the children?"

Narula couldn't hold back her smile. Even before making plans that could change the lives of everyone he ever cared for, the first thought on his mind was to make sure that the orphans were taken care of.

"I believe that will work. I will speak to the elders in the village this afternoon and make the arrangements."

"Alright, let's plan on meeting at Copperpot Camp in three days time," Rayne stated while directing his gaze towards Cayden. "Make sure to get the word out to everyone as soon as possible. I'm sure they'll need time as well to prepare for this mission."

"I planned on leaving just as soon as we were finished here," the mage smiled.

"Excellent," Rayne replied. "Then I only have one final task for you before we go."

Cayden stared inquisitively at his leader.

"What is it boss?"

"I'll need you to make me a portal to the Wetlands. When everyone is ready and gathered, I'll be waiting for you there as well."

The mage proudly nodded.

"Will do."

All of the pieces were slowly falling into place. Whatever this Death God had in store for them, Rayne wanted to make sure they were prepared for anything and everything. 'Yogg-Saron may have been an ancient evil feared by all that would even dare to speak its name but the Old God has never clashed with the sheer stubbornness of the Templar Knights.

Menethil Harbor

The Wetlands

The salty smell of the grand ocean to the west was saturating the air in full force on this glorious morning. This lively port-town was one of the main coastal hubs connecting the Alliance's resources between continents. Though it was much smaller than most other cities, the citizens here were some of the friendliest and hardest working in the entirety of the Eastern Kingdoms.

A sharp yellow glaze was rising just beyond the horizon. The sun was just about to rise but the harbor was already packed with boats and workers offloading goods from the recently arrived ships. Days were long and hard but the people here knew no other life. To them, a life near the sea with an abundance of seafood and beaches at their disposal was more than enough to bear a little manual labor once and a while. Some visitors complain over the muggy and humid working conditions but these folks wouldn't have it any other way.

Rayne walked through the docks carefully giving the workers a small glance here and there while heading towards his true destination. Templar Keep was amongst one of the largest buildings in Menethil, second only to the huge base directly on the port headed by Captain Stoutfist, leader of the Menethil Militia. This place was not their first home. After the Second War had concluded, the Alliance decided they wanted to keep a strong presence in this area after the Horde had occupied it for so long. Lord Nigel Templar was given this keep as reward for his valiant efforts even though he never set once foot on the battlefield.

Standing before the paladin was a grand splendor of stone and brick. It had been months since he'd last returned to his home. Templar soldiers stood guard just outside the gates. They were stoic in upholding their duties but as Rayne casually passed through the entrance, they couldn't help but give him a knowing smile.

A sharp noise alerted the paladin's attention towards the foyer. Ceramic began to clatter in the hands of short woman as she stared upwards towards the new visitor. She had golden brown hair wrapped neatly into a pony tail and a dusty white apron covered her beige gown.

"Raymond," she gasped. "Is that really you?"

"Hello Ms. Wondelle," Rayne smiled. "It's good to see you again."

Elisa Wondelle was the chief maid and caretaker of the keep. She's been around this place longer than Rayne had been alive and helped raise him into the fine man he had become today. Though most other nobles and lords would frown upon such fraternization between employer and employee, the Templars treated everyone like family.

She quickly burst forward and wrapped the paladin in a tight hug. Elisa's voice started to crack as she erratically broke into a frenzied spiel.

"I'm so glad to see that you're alright! I heard everything that had happened. I can't believe you would actually go out and fight out there in that damned frozen continent. Then dragging Lena into it as well?! And look at your beard! How could you let your face get so sloppy? If you're going to keep it you should at least let it grow out a little more and not halfway –"

"Believe me, everything is fine," Rayne interrupted. "I'm alright as well as Lena and the others."

"Oh," the maid slowly sighed bringing her tirade to an abrupt halt. "Well, I'm happy to see you home again. I wish you would have told me you were coming. We would have prepared a feast and –"

"Actually," the paladin cut in. "I won't be staying long. I just came by to speak with my father. Do you know where I may find him?"

Rage began to swell in Elisa's expression. Rayne knew that look all too well. Whether he was sneaking a piece of cake before supper or arriving home late from curfew, no one was spared from her devastating wrath.

"He's downstairs," she pouted. "A lovely young lady is with him as well."

"Thank you Ms. Wondelle," smiled Rayne.

The wall of anger quickly subsided as the maid formed a new, mischievous look.

"She's spent quite a bit of time with your father lately. Could she be your new fiancé?"

A bolt of lightning cracked against Rayne's spine.

"No Ms. Wondelle," he defended. "She's just a friend and ally."

"Well she is a very pretty young woman. Though her personality leaves a little more to be desired but I'm sure she has more to offer than that. And you're not getting any younger, you know? It's time to start thinking about settling down and continuing your father's legacy –"

"Thanks Ms. Wondelle but I should really get going."

The paladin knew she could have rambled on all day but time was in short supply. He quickly exited the foyer as Elisa's voice continued to trail on in the background and made his way through down to the lower level. This place was designed similarly to a military keep only instead of a dungeon in the basement, his father stored all of their most valuable treasures in this room.

Metal scraped against the hardened stone stairs. Rayne descended the last step leading him towards the vault room only to find the door wide open. A long marble table stood in the center surrounded by four iron doors, two on each side. Various weapons, trinkets, and artifacts were sprawled out over the flat surface. Small pieces of parchment were tied for a few of them on one end of the table while the center was home to several different tools and analysis devices that looked fairly similar to one or two engineering devices Rayne had once used.

At the end of the table, Lord Nigel Templar in his regal garb was hunched over a magnifying glass deeply examining a small jewel resting within the tips of his thumb and index finger. Zariyana Legend was standing not too far behind him. A long white dress with ornate gold trim hung from her shoulders. She was upright with a large tome in one hand and a quill in another. Any time his father would utter a word she would immediately begin jotting down the given notes. They appeared to work very well together. So much so that they hardly noticed the paladin's arrival.

"Good morning father," Rayne began with two hardy knocks on the open door.

Both parties immediately darted their eyes up towards the paladin. Their faces were initial filled with surprising delight but quickly faded as they took a closer look. The scowl on their faces appeared as if he had murlocs crawling out of his ears.

"Raymond?"

Lord Templar's jaw nearly hit the floor. There was a small glisten in his eyes as he peered even further at the paladin.

"I don't believe it."

"Does it really look that bad?" Rayne joked.

"No, it's not that," the elder Templar defended. "It's just, you remind me of someone."

"Really?"

The paladin's eyebrow raised.

"Who would that be?"

Lord Templar closed his eyes and couldn't hold back a smile.

"An old friend."

The look his father gave him was very peculiar. It was as if he was lost in a treasured memory. Before he began sinking in those thoughts, Rayne broke the growing silence.

"Well, I wouldn't get too used to it. It won't be staying for long."

"Right," laughed Nigel. "Well, you are a bit too young to be carrying so much fur around your chin. However, I imagine when you get a little older it would be a welcomed change."

"Thank you father," the paladin smiled while turning to Zariyana. "My apologies, I forgot to properly greet you as well. How are you Zari?"

"Fine Rayne," the silver haired young woman replied. "I have to admit, I almost didn't recognize you as well when you first walked in. I thought a homeless man had stolen your armor and broke into the keep."

"A homeless man?!"

The paladin cringed.

"Do I really look that terrible?"

"No," she nodded. "After further inspection, I must agree with your father. It suits you."

Their reactions were a bit surprising and a little disheartening but most of all, right on point. The most embarrassing fact of which was that Narula watched him slowly decay into this form. If it was really as bad as they said it was, the paladin thought it would be high time to treat himself to a shave.

"Never mind the pleasantries," Lord Templar stated. "What brings you back here Raymond?"

The paladin's tone took a sharp turn from amusing to solemn.

"Actually, I came here to speak with both of you of a matter of great importance."

Lord Templar must have sensed the change in attitude and responded in kind.

"Then let's discuss it in my study immediately."

"Really," the paladin pulled back. "I don't mean to interrupt your work."

"Nonsense," his father dismissed. "It has been a great while since you've returned home. The least I can do is entertain your request by taking a few moments out of my day. Besides, the young girl here is a hard worker in her own right. She was up hours before dawn just to pick up where we left off after sunset. I'm sure she could use a break as well."

The three walked up the stairs following the great haste of the most elder of the group. After winding down a short hallway, the approached a finely carved door made out of solid oak. In the center stood the Templar crest made out of pure gold. This room was one of the few Rayne was not allowed to enter as a child and even as an adult, he would only be permitted if his father was nestled within.

Lord Templar opened the doors revealing a wide and sprawling area. The room itself was at least twice as tall as any other on this level and was packed with books from one end to the other. A large wooden desk brushed and lacquered with the highest quality materials shined like a mirror forged by the Titans. Four chairs faced the desk. The wooden frames were wrapped in silken covers while filled with the softest cotton laden interiors freshly picked from the local farms. Two lamps standing on opposite sides of the desk were the only things illuminating this grandiose study.

"Please, have a seat both of you."

Rayne and Zariyana did as instructed. The paladin did not forget his noble duty and kindly pulled out the chair for the young priest. She graciously accepted the offer without changing her expression in the slightest or offering a word of thanks. Being from a noble house of her own, Zariyana was used to receiving such treatment and responded as she always did.

"Now then Raymond, tell us what's on your mind."

Rayne took a deep breath. He exhaled slowly to calm his mind. Afterwards, he began explaining the entire story in grand detail. The paladin went over every aspect while conveying the absolute seriousness of the situation in its entirety. From the history of the Old Gods, to the denouncement of another potential Horde and Alliance partnership, nothing was spared in order to convey this grim tale.

After he finished, Rayne allowed his father and the priest a moment to take it all in. This new information would not be easily digested. A threat of this magnitude would require a great deal of time, investment, and manpower to overcome. Unfortunately, they had none of those things. The paladin had presented his initial strategy to combat this threat with only a fraction of the resources at their disposal. Any way you looked at it, this was a suicide mission.

This was no easy sell. Rayne could tell his father was battling countless thoughts and emotions. It wasn't as if he was asking for the Lord's permission to trek on this journey. He just wanted to let him know what his next mission was and wanted to get his honest opinion before setting out.

Lord Templar continued to contemplate. His mind appeared to be stirring with many ideas. It took him a few moments but he finally broke the silence with a devastatingly powerful question.

"Are you sure you are up to this challenge Raymond?"

The paladin was a bit taken back. His father had spent many months prior singing Rayne's praises to anyone within the sound of his voice. This was the first time he had ever showed any doubt whatsoever.

"Please, do not misunderstand me," the Lord stated. "I am not questioning your skill nor your physical prowess, for which you have both in spades. I am speaking of course, of your mentality."

A dark cloud was cast overhead. The paladin was distraught with his initial analysis but after hearing that, would much rather head down that road than travel on the one they were currently facing.

"I had heard a few stories from the soldiers that had returned. Miss Zariyana kindly filled me in on all the details when she came to assist."

Rayne shot the young priest a quick glance. She didn't appear saddened or remorseful over hearing the news. Her heart was as cold and robotic as it ever was. In her mind, she was just doing as she was told. The paladin couldn't blame her for it. In a way, he was a little happy to see her finally opening up to someone that wasn't her brother.

"I know it must be troubling to discuss but it is not something we can easily ignore. You're not talking about sacking a keep or seizing a fort. If the Kirin Tor believe this Old God to be a grave threat as you have laid out, I need to be certain that you are not taking it on half-heartedly."

That was the ultimate question. His father wasn't planning on stopping him personally. He was allowing Rayne to make that decision himself. When presented with enough evidence, you can convince anyone of anything. It was true Rayne had kept a lot of people worried by staying completely inactive for the last month. However, just because he was down did not mean he was out of the picture. Like his comrades in arms, the paladin had something he needed to prove.

"I understand the risks completely father," started Rayne. "I know full well what we may be up against and the potential dangers that lurk within."

"I'm not talking about Ulduar Raymond –"

"Neither am I."

The paladin took a deep breath before continuing.

"I may have been naïve before but I understand the risks we take with each and every mission. My inherent optimism had once blinded me from the reality of our world."

Rayne stood up and locked his gleaming blue eyes upon his father's. His commanding presence illustrated the utmost of sincerity with his next statement.

"Not anymore. I will not allow my personal feelings to stand in the way of what I know must be done. I promise you that."

The penetrating stare of his father nearly burned a hole right through his soul. The paladin remained firm in both his words and presence. This was not a simple declaration or rebounding attitude tweak. Rayne had made his intentions very clear.

"Very well Raymond. I have no reason not to trust you."

Lord Nigel lifted himself away from his desk. He walked over towards the paladin and stood proudly in front of him while placing his hands atop the mighty plate spaulders.

"You have grown up to be a fine young man. I know you'll make me proud no matter where the journey may take you. You have already proven your worth to the world with your incredible victory in Wintergrasp. And made this old man a little richer in the process."

For the first time in a long while, both of them shared a hearty laugh. The air in here was getting a little too thick for either of their tastes. A little levity was good once and a while. It was in the paladin's true nature after all.

"You must have struck some deal with them," Rayne teased. "The vault was practically brimming with new treasures."

"The King had requested use of my finest warriors and only other man on this planet that shares my name. I couldn't have parted with either for anything less than ten-percent of the spoils."

The two Templar men laughed once more.

"Speaking of which, I believe I should get back to work. There's supposed to be another shipment arriving today and we haven't even put a dent into last week's cataloguing."

"Please, don't let me slow you down," smiled the paladin. He gently rubbed the end of his chin "Perhaps I should go visit the barber and make myself look proper before more people mistake me for someone I'm not."

Rayne's quip got another brief chuckle from his father. He made sure to give Zariyana a knowing look when phrasing that little joke but noticed she did not appear amused in the slightest. In fact, there was something off about the way she was gazing at him. Her golden eyes peered through him as if they were attempting to skin him alive where he stood. The young priest was certainly not known for her friendliness or tactful attitude but this was beyond her previous spectrum. It was beginning to unsettle the paladin in ways he never thought possible.

"Come along Raymond, Ms. Zariyana. Allow me to walk you out."

Lord Templar held the door opened and allowed the young lady and paladin to pass through first before exiting himself and carefully shutting the door behind him. They casually strolled through the hallway without a word being uttered by anyone. Normally this would make anyone uncomfortable but between the two Templar men, it was business as usual.

A small fire began to flicker in the fireplace. Elisa was hard a work making sure the foyer was at the ambient temperature the Lord preferred it at. Rayne didn't notice this upon entering but there appeared to be a new painting hanging on the wall just above the embedded brick stove. It depicted a stoic young man in noble's clothing. His ravishing black hair was short but cleanly combed backwards.

"You commissioned a new painting father?"

"Yes," the old man smiled. "I thought this place could use some livening up so I had an old friend paint this for me."

"Really?" Pondered Rayne. "But why would you hang some random man's face in our home?"

"Random?!" Lord Templar spat. "That's me!"

"You?"

The genuine expression of shock seemed to hit his father harder than any weapon or spell ever could.

"Yes me," he pouted. "I should be insulted you didn't recognize me."

"My apologies father," sighed Rayne. "It's just that, for as long as I've known you, you've always had white hair. I never even thought to ask."

"Well," the elder Templar began seemingly calming down. "That is understandable. I was not a young man when you came into my life. I suppose there is much we still have to learn about one another."

"I believe you are right."

"Of course I am right. Why would I hang anyone else's visage in our home?"

Rayne smiled at his father. He looked back at the painting as it slowly dwindled into a small but noticeable frown.

"You don't have any images of mother anywhere. It would have been nice to see her as well standing next to you."

There was an uncomfortable pause between the two of them. Lord Templar looked fairly uneasy as soon as the very word was brought up.

"Yes well, you know how I feel about that subject."

The paladin knew quite well indeed. He had questioned his father's lack of spouse early on and the story he always heard was that his mother died in labor. In order to give Rayne life, Loretta Templar had to sacrifice hers. It always made his father ill to bring up that tragic day. For that reason alone, the paladin had neglected to celebrate his birthday. Some memories are just not worth keeping despite the fleeting moments of joy they may hold.

The trio bid the foyer farewell with those final thoughts still lingering in everyone's mind and approached the front door. Rayne turned to face them both before exiting.

"Well then father, I'll be off. If you'd like, I can assist on the docks and secure the package for you."

"Really? I have plenty of help there already. I couldn't burden you with such a menial task."

"Not at all father," the paladin grinned. "It's been a while since I've ventured through the city. There are a lot of places and people I've been meaning to visit. It would be no trouble at all really."

The dejected look upon his father's face soon turned to one of bleak acceptance.

"Very well Raymond. The boat should be arriving around noon today. I'll even send Ms. Zariyana to assist you. She's been cooped up in the keep for the last two weeks. The young lady could use a bit of fresh air. Show her around and make her feel at home."

"Yes father," Rayne nodded.

The young priest still projected an eerie aura. That penetrating expression was still plastered on her face though it appeared to be slightly toned down. Something was definitely troubling her. Rayne couldn't quite put his finger on it. Maybe his father was right. A bit of fresh air might be exactly what she needed. That or there would be sharing a very uncomfortable conversation. Normally, the Legend twins were about as socially adept as a peach tree. This just might be more painful than he may soon realize.