--Continued from "The End is Near Pt. 1"
Felora glanced once more around her room before her gaze settled on the carefully packed bag in the center of her bed. A small sigh escaped her; she would miss this place. A feather-trimmed cloak hung on a low hook behind her door, and she reached out to take it and clasp it around her shoulders. Her pack followed, and she made her way gingerly down the stairs to the entrance of the inn. A slight spasm in her back gave her pause only briefly.
Tamar rumbled at her in low tones as she approached the pen in the rear of the building where the mounts were kept. She smiled and rubbed the top of the kodo's broad head as she lay the saddle across his back before leaning down to cinch it tighter around his middle. As she stood back up, she came face to face with Ashenrock. He appeared relaxed, but Felora sense a nagging worry and urgency about him. She gave him a disarming smile.
"Are you ready to leave?" she asked. "We can go anytime."
Ashenrock nodded, trying to hide the concern he felt. He could only hope that Jin'tal would be conscious enough to tell him what he needed to know when they arrived in Revantusk. The news of his blood brother's injuries had unsettled him. Felora touched his arm gently and nodded her head in the direction of the gates, knowing that the sooner they left, the sooner they would arrive, and the sooner Ashenrock's mind would be put at ease.
As Ashenrock and Felora arrived in Revantusk, they could tell that there was a ruckus. Rock quickly dismounted his raptor and looked up at Felora.
"Stay here for a moment," he said, rushing into the large hut that served as an inn. Felora slowly dismounted her kodo, a wry smile creeping across her face. She followed Ashenrock into the hut.
Rock couldn't have been more surprised at what he found. There was his father - who was supposedly missing - arguing with a troll healer. Right beside him stood Jin'tal, his head swathed in bandages and yelling at Salt, trying to calm the old tauren down.
"Dammit ya old fool! Sit wouldja? Let da woman do wat she be havin' ta do!" Jin'tal barked in frustration.
Felora barely managed to suppress her laughter.
"I guess that you can relax a bit now," she whispered to Rock, raising an eyebrow at him. Rock simply furrowed his brow and let out a sigh.
"Are the two of you finished?" Rock growled. Jin'tal and Salt both spun around and stared at Rock, looking like two children that had been caught red-handed doing something they shouldn't.
"Son!" Salt finally found his voice. "It's about damn time you got here! You have no idea what's happened in the last few days!"
Rock ignored his father as he noticed the extent of Jin'tal's injuries. He was missing his left ear. Rock approached the Betrayed and put his hand out to touch his old friend, exasperated by what he was seeing.
"Did our brother do this…?"
Jin'tal waved Rock off. "Nah mon. I be runnin' into sum o' 'is friends though. Dontcha be worryin' 'bout me…it just be some missin' flesh."
He wrinkled his nose and looked at Salt. "I can still be hearin' jus' fine!"
Salt just huffed. Ashenrock was greatly relieved to see that Jin'tal and his father were obviously alright. "Father. Where have you been?"
Salt's eyes opened wide. "Son, do you remember a human warlock that I used to sell some of my collectibles to? His name was Kirtan."
Ashenrock remembered the man well. He was a sinister-looking fellow - though he found all warlocks rather sinister looking - and he had betrayed Salt to the Alliance after a year of purchasing human relics from him. There was much more to the story, Rock was sure, but there was a terrible hatred that burned in his father over the situation. "Yes, what of him?"
"He saved my life from a few of Northrend's finest. It looks like your brother has it out for all of us, now. Kirtan has interests in Northrend, and he knows quite a bit about the place and how it's inhabitants work," Salt revealed.
"How can you trust this human? He is a liar and a traitor!" Rock couldn't believe his ears.
"The story is complicated, son. I'll explain it once we're on the road." Salt suddenly noticed Felora standing quietly behind Rock and his eyebrows went up in curiosity. "Hello there, young lady." He nodded curtly to his son. "And who, may I ask, is this?"
Ashenrock motioned Felora forward to join them. "This is Felora. She was my counsel while I was leader of the Grin, and she's accepted my invitation to join us on our search for Demonaro. Felora, this is my father Saltrock, and of course, you already know Jin'tal."
Salt looked at Rock in surprise. "It is a pleasure, Felora...hold on, son…you said that as if you are no longer leading the Grin. You've stepped down?"
"A story meant for the road, as well," Rock responded. "For now, you should let Felora look at your wounds…both of you. She is an exceptional healer and I trust her with my life. I suggest you both do the same."
Felora smiled reassuringly. "He's still alive, as you can see."
Salt stifled a laugh. "Apparently you work miracles, my dear."
Night had fallen over the Hinterlands, and Revantusk had settled down into a low murmur, the resting quiet broken only by whispers and the crackle of bonfires. Felora stepped softly to the doorway of the inn and glanced around. Small waves broke on the shore, bringing with them a light breeze. Felora liked the sound of the sea, it was soothing. A different sound from the sea of grass which was Mulgore. She turned toward the little dock in the west of the village and saw Ashenrock standing at the end of its reach, looking out over the expanse of water. Her hooves carried her to him before she had the chance to think about it.
"Rock," she whispered, and he turned around. She smiled.
"Your father and brother are sleeping now," she said. "Although it took some doing."
"Fairly typical, with those two." Rock gave her a crooked smile. "Thank you, Felora."
Felora nodded as settled herself onto the dock, her legs dangling out over the water. She looked up at him.
"Your father worries after you, I think," she said quietly. "About how this is affecting you."
"And he ought to be worrying about himself," Rock said, looking down at her and frowning a bit. "Making deals with demons."
"He seems a capable tauren," she said.
Rock snorted quietly, leaning down to sit beside her. "I don't disagree with you, but sometimes I question his good sense. This is beginning to look like a fool's errand. Who knows how powerful Demonaro has become. I know my father wants to face him, but I don't like the thought of putting those I care about in harm's way."
His darkened eyes came to rest on her, and Felora found her face grow hot. Her nose caught his scent, a blend of woodsmoke and salt, and a fluttering sensation exploded in the pit of her stomach. She looked down at the water below her hooves.
"I know," she said. "But we're willing to go with you because we want to help you. I don't think anyone knows how dangerous your brother is at this point. We've no idea what he's learned since he left, what he's capable of."
Rock sighed a bit, rubbing at one of his horns. "I suppose you're right. I've just got a lot on my mind."
"As usual." Felora smiled, turning to look at him. "You should try to relax; this should be a reprieve. We will have cause for worry soon enough."
In his quarters, Rock reflected on the moment he had shared with Felora on the dock. He wanted so badly to hold her close and the tension was palpable. He laughed at himself. I’ve charged head-first into scenarios that should have killed me without giving it a second thought, yet this woman frightens me more than Illidan himself, he thought. He sat on his bed and sighed. He knew that he was being foolish. Felora was right…there was always a lot on his mind…and that would likely not change any time soon. Perhaps he simply needed to let go of it for a bit. His father and troll-brother were alive and seemingly well, the Grin was no longer his problem, there was nothing that he could do about Demonaro at this point in time, and the woman whose affection he’d pined for had jumped at the opportunity to travel with him.
A knock came at his door. He quickly opened it but was disappointed to see that it wasn’t who he’d hoped that it would be. Jin’tal stood in the doorway for what seemed like minutes. Finally he furrowed his brow in anger. “’Ey mon! Ya gonna let me in or no?”
“Yeah…sorry, Betrayed, I lost myself for a minute there.” Rock said, moving aside to let his old friend in.
Jin’tal limped over to the bed and sat down. “They really got you good, didn’t they?” Rock said while examining his friend’s wounds.
“Bastards be jumpin’ me. Two o’ da damn t’ings. Dem Death Knights be some crazy powerful bein’s,” Jin’tal responded.
Rock was taken aback by the statement. He remembered back to their fight with Fenris. It had taken all of the skill of some of the Grin’s finest to bring down just one Death Knight…yet Jin’tal had survived an attack by two of them? “How…how could you have escaped them?” he asked, bewildered.
The Betrayed looked up at him…the pain evident in his eyes. “Dey didn’t want me dead, Rock. Dey wanted me ta bring ya a message.”
Rock raised his eyebrows. “Me personally?”
Jin’tal nodded and pulled a piece of parchment from his pocket. He handed the paper to Rock who quickly unfolded it.
'Such a fool you are to think that you could rescue your brother from the grips of the Lich King. The only reason that I return you your troll is to deliver this. Your brother will find you one day when he is ready. Any attempt to rescue him before that day will be met swiftly. We will kill you, and then we will kill your family, friends, wipe out your precious Revantusk, and then hunt down your Blacktooth Grin mates. I’ve removed your friends ear to push my point through. Do not enter Northrend. – Danomolis'
Ashenrock sighed heavily and let the note fall to the floor. He looked up at Jin’tal. “I suppose you’ve read it.”
“Aye, and ya father too. A bunch of rubbish it be! If ya don’t go in dere, I be doin’ it alone!”
Rock smiled. For the first time for as long as he could remember, he felt like he had the upper hand. Only fear could drive someone to write something like this. The truly powerful would have paid him no mind. There was obviously a weakness that Rock hadn’t thought of yet. Perhaps it was time to talk to his father’s warlock friend.
“Jin’tal, my brother. Nothing will stop our pursuit of Demonaro.” Then Rock chuckled at the thought of Yagyu and the Grin being “pursued” by these Death Knights. That would be a terrible mistake for them…fighting the Grin on their own ground would not be smart.
Ashenrock felt invigorated and ready to take on the world. It was time to plan for their push to save his brother. They wouldn’t fail and he knew it now. Another knock came at the door. Rock opened it to find Felora standing there with his father behind her. “Rock, your father and I…”
Ashenrock interrupted her by placing his hand on her waist and swinging his other arm around her, resting his hand on the back of her head. He pulled her in close and kissed her as he had wanted to do from the day he met her.
Jin’tal beamed and shot a look at Salt, who seemed rather surprised at his son’s actions. “Maybe this is a bad time then,” he said. “I’ll come back later.”
Rock paid him no mind as he felt Felora kiss him back. For the first time in his life, he felt as if he was in control of his future.
Her whole body was practically singing.
Felora wasn't sure how she'd managed to actually walk out of the room later that night, considering how weak her legs were. Did that happen to everyone? She was almost giddy at the idea. She'd been waiting for that kiss for so very long, and the wait had been worth it. One thing's for sure, she thought with a smile, there's never a dull moment.
Ashenrock had changed his mind abut his father's warlock friend. They'd only just arrived in Revantusk, and now they were preparing to leave again. It seemed that Kirtan might have more to offer them than lies and slander. Rock's mood was much improved, which in turn made Felora feel as though nothing could touch them, not even this death knight Danomolis. It had been a long time since she had possessed that sort of optimism. She had been so entrenched in the role of worrying after everyone, the sudden lack of fear or concern was liberating.
She carefully descended the steps at the entrance to the inn and walked along the side of the building, where Tamar was tethered next to Ashenrock's raptor. The kodo bumped his head into her leg and she leaned down to murmur at him, feeding him a bit of mushroom from her belt pouch. Ashenrock's low voice found her ears as he stood near the window talking with his father, and Felora shivered in response.
She turned and walked back into the inn, intending to go upstairs to pack her things. Ashenrock turned to look at her, and Felora smiled at him, unspoken thoughts filling the air between them. She continued into the room beyond, disappearing from his view.
Everything was changing, and for the first time, Felora wasn't apprehensive about where it was going.
Ashenrock watched Felora disappear from his sight just as his father said to him, “Good for you, son. She’s a good woman. I see in her the same strength that your mother carried - though the two of them are quite different in most other aspects. She’s got a kind heart, though, Rock.”
Ashenrock nodded at his father, noting his wistful gaze. No doubt he was thinking about his departed wife, and Rock’s mother, Sindall. Salt was right. While Felora was a pillar of strength, she was quite shy and soft-spoken. His mother had been a fireball of words and outward emotion. She was a shaman and at one with the elements. She fed on constant natural energy that fueled her daily life. Never a day went by that Rock and Demonaro saw their mother frown or give in to a hopeless situation. It was that spirit that probably led to her death, though. The circumstances of her death were never fully revealed, but from what Rock had been able to discover on his own, she had been involved in a plot to help Jaina Proudmore bridge peace between Theramore and Cairne. Sindall had been captured by separatists and it was believed that they had killed her. That was such a long time ago. Ashenrock stood and put his hand on his father’s shoulder. “It doesn’t get easier. I miss her too, pop.”
Salt looked up at his son with sad eyes. “I can’t lose your brother, too.” Salt said. The soft and faint shimmer of Mirage, Salt’s ghostly companion appeared as he plopped his head in Salt’s lap offering condolence.
“We’ll get him back, pop.”
The next morning brought a beautiful day, sunny and mild in temperature. Ashenrock met his crew just outside the gates of Revantusk. They were to meet Kirtan here. Hopefully this warlock would be able to offer evidence of the weakness that Rock was sure this Danomolis had. He was unsettled a bit, though, as he knew there would be a price behind it. Humans were hypnotic with their charm…like snakes lulling you into a trance just before they strike. Rock distrusted them immensely. His father wasn’t a fool, though, and if he said that Kirtan was legitimate then he would trust his wisdom.
Felora found her way next to him and gripped his hand with a smile. He returned the smile, seeing a light in her eyes that he’d never seen before. It put a fire in his soul that made him feel invincible.
Suddenly a flaming visage could be seen racing towards them. The guards of Revantusk bristled and gripped their halberds. “Stand down,” Ashenrock commanded, and they did as they were told. Kirtan stopped well short of them and Saltrock walked out to meet him. They exchanged words and finally Kirtan dismounted and followed Salt to them.
He bowed before Ashenrock. “It is an honor to be in the presence of the offspring of such a noble and forthright tauren such as your father. It has been a long time since I saw you Ashenrock, and I am glad that you are alive and well.” Kirtan looked up and offered a convincing smile. Rock noticed that Kirtan had not called upon a companion. Most warlocks he’d met never traveled without one.
“Forgive me if I’m not as honored, Kirtan. You’ve caused my family quite a bit of grief over the years.”
Kirtan grimaced. “Yes. Quite unpleasant business, that.”
The warlock shot a questioning glance at Salt, who simply said, “I haven’t had time to explain yet.”
Ashenrock wasted no time. “So what is it that you can do to help aid us in our quest to find my brother, warlock? And what price will we have to pay for it?”
Kirtan offered a wicked grin. “Tauren, there is nothing that you possess that I want as fee. What I want is to travel with you. My prize lies in the same place that your brother is being held. There are treasures within those walls that could make a warlock a king of his order. If you get me there…I will help you to destroy Danomolis and free your brother from his mental prison.”
Ashenrock was intrigued but wary. “What stops you from going there yourself and claiming your treasure?”
Kirtan raised his eyebrows. “Young tauren, I am but an old man with dark powers. Alone I can’t take down the Dark Knights of Northrend. I am but a piece of the puzzle that can free the minds of the trapped.”
Jin’tal spoke up. “You be da brains…but we be da muscle. Dat it?”
Kirtan nodded. “Yes. If we are to take down Lord Danomolis, I will need to be able to concentrate. You see…Death Knights under the control of the Lich King have a vulnerability that only a skilled warlock may exploit. They draw their powers from corrupt energies that I have learned to manipulate. If I can distract these energies from their natural ebb and flow, it can weaken a Death Knight to the point of futility. Lord Danomolis knows that I posses this knowledge.”
Ashenrock glanced at Felora. “What do you think?”
Felora squinted a bit, searching Kirtan. “He seems to be genuine. His greed is what motivates him.”
Kirtan grimaced again. “Greed, my dear, is mostly a dwarven trait. Humans lust after things that they want, be they carnal, material, or otherwise. We aren’t fool enough to die for our petty wants, though. I wouldn’t propose this alliance unless I was sure that I would leave with my hide intact.”
Jin’tal jumped in. “Your hide ain’t da one we be worryin’ about.”
“Enough. I can tell you that the warlock means no harm to us,” Salt interjected. “He’s telling you all the truth. He’s crossed Danomolis before and he’s just as marked for death as we are.”
Ashenrock thought back to the note he received. If Danomolis knew Kirtan possessed this power, then he must have found out from Demonaro that Kirtan had ties to Salt. This alliance is precisely what Danomolis feared. Ashenrock smiled. “We have him right where we want him. How soon can you be ready to leave, Kirtan?”
Kirtan looked around sarcastically. “Tauren, I am ready whenever you are.”
Ashenrock approached Primal Torntusk, who had been monitoring the meeting. “May I ask that you allow this human to take comfort in one of the guest lodges? I know it’s an odd situation, but I’d rather not keep him exposed outside of the gates.”
The Primal looked uncomfortable. “Ya know yer friends be welcome ‘ere Rock. I not bein’ wary o’ yer judgement…but if he bein’ ‘ere, I want him guarded.”
Rock nodded. “Jin’tal. You will stay with Kirtan at all times. Nothing like a rogue to shadow a warlock.”
Jin’tal nodded and slipped into the shadows. This made Kirtan visibly nervous. “You’ll have no trouble from me.”
“Good. We leave in 2 hours. Get your things together. Father, we’ll need both Tycho and Mirage for this trip. We’re headed into snowy territory, so make sure you have the gear for it.”
Ashenrock turned to Felora. “I’m already packed. Care to join me for a drink before we go?”
Felora smiled at him. “I’m packed as well…and a drink sounds good.”
Felora drained the last bit of ale from her mug before setting it back on the tabletop. The alcohol warmed her through, making her a bit sleepy. She smiled to herself. Before she'd joined up with the Grin, her tolerance for drink had been next to nothing. She still had to watch herself, but it wasn't nearly as bad as it had been in the beginning. Still, a flush had found its way across her upper chest.
She was warm and comfortable now, but she also knew that Northrend was far from a temperate climate. She had very little cold-weather gear; the only snowy territories she had ever visited were Winterspring and perhaps the Alterac Mountains. In both cases, she hadn't stayed very long. She had needed to purchase a pair of lined boots and gloves from one of the leatherworkers here in the village; unfortunately her legs and hands were the first parts of her to feel the cold. Hopefully Faquarl's cloak would keep her warm enough.
Faquarl. She still thought of the cloak as his. He had, after all, given it to her - nevermind the fact that he had done so in the Emerald Dream and not here on Azeroth. She wasn't sure exactly how she had managed to bring it across the veil between the worlds, but it lay upstairs with her things all the same. She glanced across the table at Ashenrock. Would Faquarl have been happy for her? Felora thought that perhaps he would.
Ashenrock was watching her from across the table, but she could practically see his brain wrapped around something else entirely. She could feel a buzzing of adrenaline in the back of her head, an anxious excitement that she knew was projecting from him. Felora reached out to cover his hand with her own, and he looked up.
"Relax," she said. "You're not alone."
Rock grimaced. "I know."
Felora traced his knuckles with her fingertips, her violet eyes dark. It suddenly dawned on her that she was very possibly the only audience to his emotions, save perhaps the Earthmother. He was always saving his strength for others; the Grin, his father - all had never seen the side of him that he seemed to reserve solely for her. She looked up at him.
"I'm as ready for this as I'm going to be," he suddenly said, standing from his chair and catching her gaze. She followed suit, brushing a stray lock of hair back from her face as she smiled at him.
"Let's go," he said quietly.
Demonstrike gazed out across the landscape. Danomolis stood beside him, examining the same terrain.
“My brother is in Northrend,” Demonstrike said callously. Danomolis looked up at him, surprised.
“How do you know this?”
Demonstrike squinted his eyes and looked harder over the terrain. “I can feel it…the snow is but frozen water. It still conducts energy. My brother traverses these very lands that are all linked by this frozen blanket. A shaman can feel these things.”
“You are a shaman no more! Remember your place! The damned fool continues his search for you. He aims to come and kill you,” Danomolis snapped.
Demonstrike could hear the strain in his master’s voice. He also knew that he was lying. Ashenrock would never kill him unless it was absolutely necessary. It hardly mattered, though. One way or the other, they would come face-to-face, and Demonstrike would put an end to his brother’s life once and for all. “I am not afraid of my brother, master. If he is to come for me, then he will regret it.”
“Continue your training. I have other things to attend to,” Danomolis said, and rode off towards the keep.
Demonstrike sighed heavily. He couldn’t think clearly anymore…everything was skewed. He had become more powerful than he could have imagined. He had sacrificed much for this power and any time that he tried to rationalize his feelings, his mind was filled with an unnatural anger and rage that kept him from putting those thoughts together.
He pulled the rune blade from its sheath and was about to continue his drills when he felt another familiar presence in the snow. “Jin’tal…but you’re supposed to be dead…”
“THE FOOL CALLED MY BLUFF!”
Danomolis put his fist into the stone wall of his study, breaking off a rather large chunk. He knew full well that there was no way he could use the resources at his disposal to hunt down the Grin and destroy them. The Lich King would not be amused if Danomolis sent out his army on a matter of personal importance. He would have to move quickly to cut them off. Demonstrike was still far too vulnerable to suggestion. Danomolis feared that a full-tilt confrontation with his brother would lead him away from the grasp of the Lich King. He turned to a sentry.
“You. Gather up five more of your ilk and report back to me. I have a task for you.”
Danomolis then pulled his pet raven from its cage and whispered to the bird, “Find the tauren who invades these lands. Quickly…