Neighbors

Jul. 18th, 2011 09:51 pm
moonshadows: (Warcraft)
[personal profile] moonshadows

“Kal’shan? There’s someone on the ward.”

He frowns. “On the ward? Not crossing it?” Without waiting for an answer, he strides for the room we’ve been setting up as the control center for the keep’s defenses. Grasping one crystal, he projects his voice through the ward that serves as a silent fence. “Follow the line north until you reach a circular stone platform.”

I can feel the presence obey. Once it reaches the stone, the repaired enchantments leap into action and project the image of our visitor. It’s a naga, a male.

“A naga…” Illidan grasps the crystal again. “What are your people doing in this area?” he asks in the hissing naga dialect.

The naga starts, but bows sinuously. “My people, under High Priestes Veehja, have broken away from Queen Azshara and sworn the Blood Oath of the Horde. This land is wild and abandoned, and the Warchief gave us leave to reclaim what was ours when we walked on two legs. When we discovered this ward, our Sirens determined it to be new magic and I was selected to bring greetings to whoever our powerful neighbor might be.”

“So that you can bring the tale to your Horde masters? What will you do should I not wish my presence to be known?”

“The Blood Oath binds us to report a threat to the Horde. It does not dictate what we should do with one who is not a danger. So long as you have no hostile intentions towards the Horde, we will keep your secret.”

Illidan steps onto the mosaic and activates the magic that will project his image.

“Lord Illidan!” The naga’s face splits into a delighted grin. “I am honored. What would you have me do?”

“Go to your High Priestess and inform her that if she gives her word that none of you will so much as breathe my name, or that of my Champion, to anyone outside of yourselves…I will aid you in whatever way I can.”

“I will go at once, my lord.” But he doesn’t. He hesitates. “Lord Illidan? I…am glad that the rumors of your death were untrue. I was just a boy when the Sundering happened, but I remember your eyes.”

He slithers off hastily, leaving my star stunned.

“Kal’shan?”

“My eyes were gold,” he murmurs. “A sign of great destiny.” In his mind, Icecrown Citadel thrusts one finger into the steely sky and Vashj says, we believe that the time of your destiny has not yet arrived. “To the naga, I am someone inherently worthy of respect for that, on par with Azshara herself. That I have once again triumphed where no victory was thought possible…” By not remaining dead, his mind adds silently. He draws a deep breath, then lets it out, seemingly exhaling a great weight as the worry evaporates into the air. “They will not report our presence here. We will be welcomed and honored.”

His wings relax, and I step closer so that he can hug me idly to his chest. Where the night elves greeted his presence with badly-concealed hostility, the naga will give him the honor and respect that will soothe his abraded psyche and let him re-learn how to not be ashamed of himself. He will be able to prove his worthiness to himself by watching over some of those who were once night elves, and working with them will let him get used to dealing with people who know who he is. Already, fragile hope is unfolding soft petals in his heart.

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