And like that, the posting has caught up to the same Rough Draft document that I keep, (the 3rd), and we continue onward! nearing the triple digit chapter as well, which is always exciting. R&R, and please enjoy the next chapter! ~F

Chapter Ninety Three

The Maw of Oblivion

Jaina grew more concerned the further their small team went into the Silithid tunnels beneath the ancient temple. It was only the five of them, as the other warlocks, mages and Night Elves stayed to keep the way out clear in case they needed to bid a hasty retreat.

But the distance was not what worried the Sorceress. The more enemies that they fought, the deeper they went; the steadier a change was coming over Nobu'tan the warlock. It was as though the intense presence somewhere yet below them was affecting him, drawing out his hatred and rage and egging him on to greater expressions of his dark magic.

Currently he was constantly ablaze with the green fire of the Fel, and rarely hesitated at the sight of enemies to launch into the offensive. The majority of the insectoid creatures they found were quickly defeated in a fiery manner, but it was rather off-putting.

Jaina was more than certain that Tyrande at the least was concerned that the warlock would turn on them, but it seemed that the presence of Garona was keeping the warlocks temper in relative check. Jaina thought she understood how. The man wouldn't be here except for their mission to stop Cho'Gall, and in the process save the assassin's son from the ogre's clutches.

Eventually the winding tunnels circled around to another structure, set far deeper into the ground than the temple so far above them, and guarded by a pair of obsidian statues. From what Jaina could guess based on various records she had read, these were titan constructs, meant to guard important facilities that still existed all over Azeroth.

These particular ones; however, gleamed with malice and deadly purpose. Of course, Nobu'tan was the first to attack, launching massive, Fel-empowered boulders at the pair of guards, attracting their attention and setting each of them ablaze with the green Fel flames.

Archdruid Runetotem charged in after that, the massive shape shifted Tauren swiping aggressively with his paws, shifting the statues' attention away from the warlock. Jaina, Tyrande, and Garona leapt into action as well. The orc assassin vanished, reappearing above one of the statues, her daggers already biting deeply into the hard stone as though it were flesh.

Tyrande and Jaina unleashed a flurry of arrows and icicles into the other, freezing and shattering large portions in rapid succession. Within moments they crumbled, clearing the way for their group to move on.

The next chamber opened up considerably in all directions, seeming to be a lower chamber of the temple they had initially entered. The floor was coated in many small insects, while two massive figures conversed with some image dominating the middle of the chamber.

The image of a massive, inhuman eye turned and gazed upon them, and Jaina felt the great power that was behind that image glare at them with intense presence. Nobu'tan started to visible shake, almost seeming to vanish within himself as he battled with some unseen force.

Meanwhile, the two figures addressed them. "Only flesh and bone. Mortals are such easy prey…" one of the twin figures said scathingly.

"Where are you manners, brother?" The other retorted sarcastically, "Let us properly welcome our guests…"

"There will be pain," the first commented, even as they started forward slowly, their footsteps nimbly dodging around the swarm of insects littering the floor.

"Oh, so much pain…" the other agreed.

"Come little ones." The first beckoned.

"The feast of souls begins now!" the other said, even as they started running.

Runetotem took the front, even as one of the twin figures drew an overlarge sword and rushed him. The other figure hung back, hands glowing with shadow magic and seeking a target.

Tyrande joined with Hamuul in attacking the lead figure, but Jaina turned to see where Nobu'tan had gone. She was puzzled when she spotted Garona stealthing through the insects toward the caster figure, but Nobu'tan had not moved, seeming to be in a daze.

"Nobu'tan?" she said, but the male was unreactive.

"Ah, lambs to the slaughter!" the figure fighting Tyrande and Hamuul shouted, slamming his sword into the ground, even as the great bear dodged to the side.

"Prepare to embrace oblivion!" the other shouted, and Jaina had to dodge backward as a bolt of pure devouring shadow launched past her.

"Join me brother, there is blood to be shed!" the first said, starting to engage heavily with druid and priestess.

"To decorate our halls!" the other responded, recoiling as the assassin struck, attacking the caster directly and interrupting his next spell.

Jaina had no time to try and snap Nobu'tan out of his trance, and had to turn and engage the other figure. Frost and ice erupted from her hands, flying across the chamber and striking the caster. Slowing him just enough so that Garona could out maneuver and dodge his swinging arms as the hulking figure tried to crush her physically.

She only hoped whatever with was contending on the mental plane with Nobu'tan lost quickly, as they would need the strength of the warlock to defeat these foes and press on in their quest.

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Draco smirked at the approaching dwarven force from the far side of the Thandol Span. He had layered his illusions across the bridge, making it appear deserted and demolished, as though the Dark Horde had shattered the bridge to maintain their control of Arathi, and the dwarven forces were mystified at the scattered rubble that they thought was real.

But Draco had gone a step further. He had commissioned some of their precious lumber resources to created burrows and watch towers on their side, along with small barricade walls, and illusioned them to appear invisible. There was a line on the bridge he had drawn with magic at the edge of the illusion, and no defender was allowed to attack enemy forces unless they passed that line.

If they could keep their enemies away through trickery, it would be so much better than having to defend this and the other two potential entrances to their lands.

The only reason Draco had come to witness this himself, aside from it being the first major test of his spell work, was to analyze the dwarven force and see what they had thought to assault them with and why.

From the collection of banners and armor, he could tell that there were members of both the Alliance allied dwarves from the mountain and city of Ironforge, as well as more of the Dark Iron refugees that must have gone to their estranged cousins for aid. It bothered Draco that they had combined two of their enemies into one coalition, but what was done was done.

It didn't seem, from what he observed, that their alliance was terribly stable, as there were commanders for both factions of dwarves, and they were arguing fiercely regarding what do to next. From what he could guess, the Eye of Kil'rogg lacking the ability to overhear their conversation, Draco could guess that the Ironforge commander wanted to go back and report the supposed destruction of the bridge, while the Dark Iron wanted to find another route to attack the Highlands by.

Figuring it was about time for them to disperse from their territory, Draco gave a hand signal, ordering several catapults to wheel forward into view and prepare to fire. The dwarves could see them, and clearly knew that their presence was known. They scattered as the artillery started to fire, striking just beyond the bridge, the boulders sending up large clouds of dirt.

"Hopefully that will hold them off for a time from coming back this way," Draco said, turning to the orc commander of the new fortification, "Keep a strong watch, and notify me if they start probing our defenses here again.

"As you wish," the orc replied, saluting.

Departing back to the citadel in Stromgard, Draco entered the main command chamber, and consulted the large map of the region that they had placed there, carefully drawn by Nobu'tan himself and being slowly added to in order to include all the defensive changes that the Dark Horde made.

Using his wand, Draco added the new defenses to the map around the bridge, and observed the whole of it. The region was well guarded on all sides now, which ought to allow the Dark Horde to finally focus on extracting all the resources they could use from the green, rolling hills and the bountiful basin beyond.

It had been a long fought series of battles, and while they were hemmed in on all sides by their enemies, supposedly, they had what they needed now for ships to cross the oceans. Additionally, they had new quarries and forests to gather all the materials needed in order to build new buildings and fortresses.

In due time he would want to spread more of their forces out to their other holdings, rather than keep them all gathered here in Arathi, but they needed to be certain that another attack was not imminent first.

Hastily writing down the changes and drafting a request to move more peon laborers to Arathi, Draco went to the heavily guarded portal chamber of the keep. A full complement of five elite guards stood in front of this single door, but moved aside on sight of Draco.

This was one obsessive defense that Draco actually agreed regarding. If anyone managed to steal their secret of portals between their fortresses, that could be potentially devastating to them. Any disruption or capture of those portals would isolate one of their outlying outposts, and open a pathway directly into the heart of Blackrock.

Therefore, the most powerful of their elite warriors were on a constant rotation to guard these vital locations. Most probably were not the happiest about their selection, but there were plenty of perks given to these portal guards in order to keep them appeased and alert in their job.

Passing through to the primary chamber hub in Blackrock, Draco nodded at the ogre mage guards that were here, and exiting the portal chamber into the main part of the mountain.

It was a long walk up to Veneficus' chambers, where most of these reports were to be gathered and wait for Nobu'tan's return from Kalimdor, but for the time being it was the most that Draco could do.

He had advocated for more dispersal of authority and management over the Horde, but as of yet Nobu'tan hadn't followed through on the concept. Draco knew that Lucius would agree with him on this, but until the Grand Warlock of the Stormreavers returned, there could be no move toward streamlining the chain of authority in their faction.

Therefore, Draco had to just hold things as they were, and from the hulking form of Teg'Ramm, as well as the lean War Master Voone waiting in the same chamber, there were others that were in need of their leader to return and make important decisions.

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"Why do you struggle?"

The voice had started as mere whispers as soon as Nobu'tan had entered the underground tunnels, but quickly they had become clearer and more demanding as they had progressed. As soon as they found the lower chamber, it had become a deafening roar, unavoidable and unignorable.

"Come, little one, and I will show you the ends of oblivion," the voice called, and even though he remotely understood that the others were fighting for their lives, Nobu'tan felt his body turn against his will, and start toward a side door. As he approached it opened, and the host of silithid and Qiraji parting ways for him to proceed, as though sensing the influence of their ultimate master.

The door sealed behind him, and idly Nobu'tan wondered if Jaina and the others would survive, before the thought was brushed away by the powerful being that was calling to him.

The tunnels spiraled even lower, and finally opened to a heavily reinforced tunnel make of carved stone, buried so very deep under the sands. Nobu'tan proceeded down the corridor, unable to resist even as the voice spoke to him once more.

"You are set for the rising and falling of many in this world…" the voice crooned, even as Nobu'tan turned into the first intersection of the corridor, and saw the final chamber.

His rage boiled spotting Cho'Gall, but the voice controlling him prevented him from acting on his anger and attacking the ogre mage. Med'an was there was well, chained to the far wall, but even still Nobu'tan's attention was diverted by the elephant in the room.

Amid a bubbling pool of shadow magic languished a mass of writhing flesh; tentacles and eye stalks weaving around in an intricate dance. "Behold your future, child of another world! Behold C'thun!"

The dark magic washed over Nobu'tan as he approached, and with a shuddered he felt all his spells and illusions melt away, revealing his truest form, the one he had hid away from even himself.

"See who you've become…" C'thun declared and a perfect reflection appeared before Nobu'tan, displaying the Fel-tainted body in all its glory. Horns adorned his head, now shrouded by the wild growth of his hair, while a toughened, dark colored, demonic hide reinforced his body, ending in sharp claws on both hand and foot. Worst of all were his eyes, changed from the vibrant emerald of his youth to the yellowed-green of the Fel.

"You are not human any longer," the Old God taunted, "and you never were one of the Horde… there is no future there for you. Your destiny is in my power, and with the Void!"

The anger that welled up in Nobu'tan at that was visible in his double. Chaotic energy crackled in his eyes, "You have no right to demand anything of me… and my destiny is my own!" he bellowed, breaking free of the spell that held him.

Tapping into the abundant aura of Fel power around him, wings of felflame sprouted around him, and nether rifts tore their way open all around, spilling forth the minions of the Legion. "I will not be denied!" Nobu'tan shouted, hurtling through the air and his great foe.

Cho'Gall seemed to think that his position was safe, behind his master, and therefore did not expect that Nobu'tan would bypass the Old God and go straight for him. The clawed foot tore into the ogre's hide, slamming the leader of the Twilight Hammer backward and away from Med'an

"You cannot stop my plans, little warlock," C'thun taunted, even as tentacles battered away the onslaught of demons, "I have seen to it that a thousand, thousand years will pass before I can be defeated!"

Rending the chains that held the young son on Garona, Nobu'tan glared at the ancient beast, "Then I will stand against you, and your kind, until the end of all time!"

A writhing tentacle swung at the pair of them, but Nobu'tan permitted the Fel rage to surge through him, beams of chaotic magic pouring through his eyes, severing the tendril of flesh at the base and sending it hurtling helplessly through the air to smack into the far wall, leaving a splatter of black blood in its wake.

That seemed to anger C'thun, and more shadowy appendages appeared, waving threateningly at them. From the opposite side of the chamber, a roar sounded, and the hulking bear form of the Archdruid appeared, followed quickly by the other three heroes, victorious from their previous fight and shouting at the monster before them.

"Nobu'tan!" Jaina cried teleporting the short distance to stand with them at the other end, while Garona, Hamuul, and Tyrande attacked the host of tentacles nearer to the entrance.

"Take Med'an," Nobu'tan shouted, thrusting the younger male at the Sorceress, "I will end this once and for all!"

Gathering the Fel and the Arcane around him, Nobu'tan tapped into the very core of his magic, forever altered and tainted by the Fel presence within him. It was much like his ability as a warlock, but more intuitive and violent than the standard magic. Combining these three energies, he unleashed his power, even as Jaina teleported with the boy back to the others at the far side of the room.

The earth around them started to quake, responding the dark magic that Nobu'tan was gathering. "No!" C'thun declared, sensing what Nobu'tan planned.

He waited long enough for Jaina to open a portal out for the others, before unleashing his power. With a roar of anger, Nobu'tan let the magic explode outward, shattering supports and breaking up the stone ceiling into massive pieces of rubble and rock.

Have a dozen tendrils of writhing flesh tried to launch out and attack him, but they were caught by falling boulders and crushed against the stone floor of the chamber. The chain reaction to collapse the building set, Nobu'tan tore open a nether gateway back to the surface. "Stay here with your prophecy, and rot away…" Nobu'tan said scathingly as he turned away.

The ceiling collapsed completely as he departed, certainly crushing both the body of Cho'Gall as well as the mass that comprised C'thun, thusly eliminating the pair of enemies to his future. The sun felt glorious on his body, as though his time in that underground chamber had drained all the warmth from his body.

Nobu'tan breathed a deep sigh, relishing the dry air and the strangely sweet taste in the air. "My Lord?" a voice said beside him, and Nobu'tan turned to see Macnair, Yaxley and the others observing him with awe and great concern.

There was no further point hiding what he had become. "You will take word of our accomplishment back to Stormwind. Send my regards to King Varian, and my apologies for being unable to report in person, but other duties have called for my attention. After that, introduce our new allies to the Stormwind Coven of warlocks, and coordinate with Lucius to incorporate them full into the Black Harvest."

"As you wish, my Lord," Yaxley replied, and Nobu'tan turned his mind back to his holdings. It was likely that this delay on his workload had caused a great deal of backup at Blackrock, and he was not looking forward to the mountain of paperwork that would be waiting for him.

But before he could disappear, Nobu'tan wanted to make sure that Garona and her son were well. Approaching the rest of the attack force of Alliance and Horde soldiers, he paused. Appearing before them in the guise of a demon would not be wise, but the thought of illusions disgusted him at this point, when he was just starting to accept his true form.

An eye of Kil'rogg was simple enough to conjure, and send forth to observe for him. Garona was freely speaking with Jaina, Med'an at their side listening closely to their conversation. While Nobu'tan couldn't overhear what they were saying, the closeness suggested that the assassin was preparing to depart with the Sorceress, or at the least send her son with Jaina for his protection.

Nobu'tan approve of this. Lady Proudmoore was a powerful force to be reckoned with, and if any more of the Twilight Cult dared to come after Garona's child, there would be hell to pay just to get their hands on the boy.

And even if they managed it, a whispered spell placed a tracing mark on the boy, which would tell Nobu'tan if he was in danger. Nobu'tan cared for his own, and he considered the young child of Garona as family. Light have mercy on those who removed him from the safety of Theramore against his will, for Nobu'tan would rain the vengeance of the Legion down on them.

Dismissing the eye, and content that his near-mother figure was safe, Nobu'tan tore open another portal back to the east, and stepped through quickly to his chambers in Blackrock. The air shifted to an ashy bitter taste.

As he had expected, there was a large stack of parchment on his desk, but even more surprisingly there were figures waiting for him in the room. War Master Voone, Teg'Ramm, and even Draco were all milling about, and turned as he appeared.

"Do I even want to ask?" Draco asked, glancing over Nobu'tan's unveiled form, before presenting his completed report. "The final defenses are complete in Arathi, and we can use more peons to start operations for resource gathering."

Nobu'tan glanced once more at the large pile of parchment waiting for him, and smirked. "Granted, and I have thought about your constant request to delegate more work to others in place of doing it myself," he said, and Draco momentarily looked relieved, before he realized what Nobu'tan was intending, "I'll have you take care of these reports for me, while I handle the ground work of these personal requests," he said, gesturing at the others waiting for his attention.

Draco sighed, knowing he was beaten, "As you wish," he said.

"Once you done summon Lucius and take some time for yourself." Nobu'tan called over his shoulder, even as he exited with Voone and Teg'Ramm.

"Master, your aura in the Fel has grown tremendously," Teg'Ramm commented, and Nobu'tan smirked.

"Yes, it feels as though I have been woken from a deep and unfitful sleep, and am ready to actually take steps toward what is needed."

"The clan you required of us to take has been done, and Lord Tenebrous has returned with something for you," the ogre mage continued, and Nobu'tan nodded. It was likely that Blaise had intended this for a while, as he sensed a greater contingent of Fel magic in the region around the mountain, and it pleased him to sense so many Dark Horde warlocks practicing their magic and learning new skills.

"Boss man," Voone said, approaching, "Da Amani seek you to meet with der leader in Zul Aman. Zul'jin is wid dem."

That was intriguing news, "I see. What time table do we have, or is it just an open threat that no negotiations are possible until I myself come to meet with them."

"De second option." The troll responded. Nobu'tan nodded, thinking.

"I understand. I will go to them by boat, as soon as Lucius is here with us, and we will take care of a great many things at the same time along the way, including taking more peons up to Arathi." Nobu'tan stated, and Voone bowed slightly before taking his leave, the message delivered.

The two matters dealt with, and Draco unhappily finishing the other reports, Nobu'tan was free to gaze out over the expanse of his territory, and ponder the future. It was clear that there were new challenges and enemies that would seek to attack Nobu'tan personally, his connection to Gul'dan notwithstanding.

There were forces in Azeroth that knew of their people's origins, and more of the mortal races were learning deeper secrets about them, which would prove dangerous in the future. Nobu'tan couldn't prevent everything, but he had to make some sort of effort to stem the eventual tide of those who wanted to exploit their power, or else crush the Dark Horde for the threat that it could pose their world.

And of course, there was the continual threat of the Legion looming over all of Azeroth. There were many options to how he could manipulate the scales of balance to his advantage against his former masters, but Nobu'tan couldn't bring himself to trust the other races… not fully in any case. This was the wizarding world's revenge, and he would see it through.

Sending out a plethora of eyes to observe his people, Nobu'tan observed the change in his holdings while he had been away. It pleased him that the rest of the Swamps of Sorrows had been taken control of by Voldemort and his new group of Death Knights. That the mad sorcerer had finally found a calling was testimony that they would achieve greatness in Azeroth, and spread their order through the Eastern Kingdoms bit by bit.

But just because he didn't trust the Alliance or Horde to do what was needed against the Legion, that didn't mean that he could use them as tools to poise the Legion in the perfect position for him to strike, and shatter their power once and for all.

Nobu'tan smirked. Yes, he would do just that, and from what whispers he was hearing about Kazzak in the Blasted Lands, the time would be soon for him to make his opening moves against the demons, in the shadows.

It wasn't hard to notice that there was a buildup of Fel power in that direction, but thankfully his own forces were preventing the Alliance and Horde from taking note of it as well.

Perhaps they needed a few extra nudges to keep their attention away while Kazzak did whatever he was up too… anything nearby was out of the question, but perhaps some commotion farther to the north…

From what he had guessed by Draco's report, they would be facing some measure of resistance from the dwarves, a sort of united from between the Dark Irons and their Bronzebeard cousins. While provoking those dwarves had a touch of karmic justice to it, Nobu'tan had a better idea. The third clan, the Wildhammer Dwarves, lay to the north of Arathi, in the Hinterlands. Laying siege there for an indeterminate time, possible the length that it took for him to conclude his business with the Amani in their stronghold, and then withdrawn when the Alliance found a way around to fight back against them.

This would serve multiple purposes. Firstly, Nobu'tan's discussion with Zul'jin would have the perfect distraction. Second, and more importantly, when the Alliance came to march around Arathi to get to the Hinterlands, they would find the Horde encampment laying siege to his holdings.

While he did not care one way or another about whether the factions were at peace or at war, having them encounter each other there would work in his favor regardless. Horde soldiers so militarily encamped in supposed Alliance territory, it was perfect for him.

If he could turn them against each other, even for a brief time, he could slip under their notice and start working his own people into their force; operatives that could bend the ears of the leadership of the Horde specifically, but also the Alliance to his own ends in preparing to blindside the Legion.

Smirking at the din skies, blocked from their normal coloration by the volcanic ash that flooded from the mountain, Nobu'tan knew the first thing he needed to do, while waiting for Lucius to arrive.

Turning toward the passage into the very heart of the mountain, where Onyxia had hidden much of her brood. Why the dragon had continued to go through with her original plan, and ended up killed by her own hubris, Nobu'tan did not know. However, she was dead and that left an entire clutch of black dragon spawn, eggs and drakes in his mountain, with no direct dragon to control them in sight.

He would find a use for those black dragons, especially if what Zhulud the Whacked once achieved was already proven a possibility.

Heading into the nest, Nobu'tan was halted by the two hulking dragonkin. "What do you want, human?" one hissed aggressively.

"None but Lady Onyxia is permitted in these halls…" the other snarled.

"Oh, you hadn't heard?" Nobu'tan replied snidely, "You precious mother fell in battle with the Alliance, after provoking their king…"

That earned a reaction. Both dragonspawn flew into a rage, but Nobu'tan flashed his newfound mastery over the Fel, silencing them both.

"As you are now in my home and base, a new deal will be struck to protect you…" Nobu'tan said, smirking, "It would be a great shame to have to eject or kill the lot of you as a potential threat…"

The spawn were angry at that, but they were at least smart enough to recognize the position that they were in. Without Onyxia, they were incredibly vulnerable. They needed the safety of the mountain, and their alliance with the Dark Horde in order for these eggs to actually survive until they hatched. And even then, the whelps would not be ready to go out and defend themselves for a long time afterward.

Even the current residing drakes were still very young, and while Nobu'tan could tell that the desire to rebel and attack was in the eyes of both the guards, they knew better. "What is it you demand of us?" one said, and the warlock knew he had won.

"I seek an official alliance between us, where these black dragons join the Dark Horde altogether, and allow some of my orcs to train as dragon riders." He said. The guards seemed offended at the thought, but Nobu'tan continued, "I do not seek to enslave your drakes, like the Dark Horde did with red drakes previously, but actually have orcish riders learn to work with and fight alongside your charges. It would be a mutually beneficial situation, as your drakes and whelps would be protected in a more direct manner, and also gain experience about the world and its dangers."

The pair of dragonspawn was considering the thought. "We demand to personally vet each candidate, to ensure the protection of our drakes and whelps, before admitting any orc into the inner roost."

"Agreed," Nobu'tan said, having known that some manner of screening would be expected. He had no intention of sending in any orcs that would attempt to force submission to the drakes. If they were to work willingly with each other, then the chosen pairs of orcs and drakes would have to be carefully selected. He knew that many of the Dragonmaw orcs would actually do well to train others in the methods needed to ride and fight astride dragons well, but they had their methods far too close to trying to break the will of their rebellious red drake mounts from so long ago, and would need to be instructed at the difference with their new black dragon allies.

"I will bring candidates in due time, but until then none but myself shall return to this place, and I will take my leave for now." Nobu'tan said, departing before the dragonspawn had the chance to actually insist that he leave.

That settled, Nobu'tan happily retired to his personal chambers to wait until Lucius arrived, and rested. There had been much that had happened, and he felt his entire body whirling with energy, but it was best to conserve it for when action was actually needed.

Although, from what he had come to expect now, rest and sleep would be in short supply very soon.

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Lor'themar wasn't sure what to think of the missive summoning him to the Undercity. As thankful as he and his people were to Sylvanas and the Forsaken for helping save their lands and drive out the last remnant of the Scourge from the Ghostlands, there was still a level of trust that he withheld from the very crafty leader of the free-thinking undead.

Still, he had little choice, and it wasn't as though it took too much out of his time when the Forsaken and Magisters had worked together to establish a teleportation beacon between their cities.

The stench of the Undercity was still something that he had not expected. Delving down to the Banshee Queen's court, Lor'themar wondered how so many living corpses could find enough activity to keep themselves occupied in such a confining and dank place.

"Lor'themar, thank you for coming so soon," Sylvanas said as he reached the raised platform that she oversaw her close advisors from.

"Of course, Dark Lady, it was no trouble at all." Lor'themar replied.

"With the safety of your boarders obtained, I could imagine." Sylvanas shot back, reminding him forcefully of her role in protecting Quel'thalas. Lor'themar could assume that she was going to request something of him, and expect that he was in no position to refuse her.

"I have worrisome news that the Scourge are preparing to attack all of Azeroth once more," the Banshee said, catching the former Farstrider off guard. He turned to look at her, and the cold calculation in her eyes brokered no humor or even the slightest hint of jest. "While I do not think that Quel'thalas will be threatened by this, the Undercity will most assuredly be attacked."

"And you want Farstriders and Magisters to lend their aid if the attack falls and we are unmolested." Lor'themar concluded.

"It would be a powerful front to push back against their attack, and begin our coordinated effort to crush the Scourge's hold on eastern Lordaeron." Sylvanas replied, and Lor'themar saw the wisdom in her words. It would create a unified and liberated buffer for them from their enemies to the south, and make trade routes safe once more between the Undercity and Silvermoon.

Additionally, Lor'themar could think of no single elf that would want to miss an opportunity to face off against the Scourge once more, with new allies at their side and an actual chance of victory.

"We will stand with you, and the rest of the Horde in this endeavor," Lor'themar said, and he couldn't miss the gleam in Sylvanas' eye as he spoke. She thought that she had all the control and power in their alliance. Lor'themar wasn't going to stir that nest if he could avoid it whatsoever.

"Excellent, it is good to know we can rely on your warriors to aid us in coming efforts. But tell me, how are the spying efforts on the Amani trolls?" the Banshee Queen asked.

"We have Farstriders posted in the area around their outlying villages," Lor'themar replied, "while everything at the edge of their territory seems usual for their actions as of late, there is a great deal of movement to and from Zul'Aman itself. We suspect that the trolls are up to something, but I cannot place exactly what."

"Then I suppose you have little choice but to finally eliminate something that has been a thorn in the side of Quel'thalas for centuries." Sylvanas countered, smirking, "If you have need of our aid for it, we will gladly give it."

Lor'themar knew he had been caught. They had had no desire to actually encounter the Amani, as they were still strong despite the ravages of the Scourge, and the Blood Elves would be hard put to oust them completely from Zul'Aman.

"We would be grateful for whatever assistance you are willing to send," the Regent Lord said, keeping himself cordial and polite, despite inwardly fuming. He had a feeling that this was all turning toward a power grab for the Forsaken, in order to take control of the rest of Lordaeron, and therefore consolidate their control of the northern part of the Eastern Kingdoms.

Ironically, it would indeed secure the entrance to Quel'thalas, and keep Silvermoon safe from any new invaders. But would they be trading freedom for security? "I will send a force to the Ghostlands, so that you can prepare your assault of Zul'Aman, and finally have total control of your lands, so that attacking the Plaguelands is the only concern left to your security…" Sylvanas added, and Lor'themar knew he was dismissed.

"I thank you, Dark Lady," he said, turning away and doing everything in his power to merely walk away without expressing the irritation and rage in his heart. The Banshee had done exactly what he and many of the leaders of Silvermoon had feared. She had turned her former countrymen into just another pawn in her great game.

They would attack Zul'Aman, but not because they truly wished to, and from that point on, who knew. The coming Scourge attack would be a welcome change of pace, and the Sin'dorei would want the revenge that it brought to strike back against those who had ravaged their realm and butchered their loved ones.

But personally, Lor'themar wondered if that alone was worth all that would eventually follow. Kael'thas seemed to have abandoned them, wandering the wastes of Outland, and now they were members of the Horde, subject to the whims of their former Ranger General, who was driving closer in disposition to the Lich King himself.

Perhaps if he sent missives to Thrall directly, he could get the advice that he needed in order to divert the wrath and manipulation of the Dark Lady, so that the Blood Elves could be a true and real member of the Horde, rather than just an addendum to the Forsaken and slaves to the will of the undead.