Night of the Dragon

He made a sweeping bow, but ever kept his eyes on her. Those eyes invited—nay, insisted—she likewise introduce herself. The draenei immediately saw that Marcus Windthorne was not someone easily made a fool, that despite his innocent-seeming eyes.

'I’am called Iridi.'

He accepted the short reply. 'My lady Iridi. There is someone you seek in Menethil Harbor?'

Her head turned almost imperceptibly side-to-side. 'No. My task is beyond this place.'

'Beyond this place are the Wetlands, fraught with threat. Little more.'

'That is the direction I must go.'

He shrugged. 'I've no reason to stop you, and if those who command Menethil Harbor have no reason, your doom is your own to decide, my lady.'

He bowed to her, then turned to the task of command. The Stormchild veered about and headed back to the settlement.

Iridi left the bartered boat in the hands of Captain Windthorne, the vessel having served its purpose but of no more use to her. On shore, several dwarves met her, at their head one with a particularly thick, lengthy beard. He and the rest of his band all wore well-honed battle axes strapped to their backs.

'Name's Garthin Stoneguider,' he rumbled after she had introduced herself. Garthin performed a perfunctory bow that greatly contrasted with the sweeping one made by the human captain. 'Not many draenei hereabouts. None, in fact, lady.'

'She's nothing to be afraid of, you old boar!' Marcus cheerfully called from the Stormchild as it began to set off from the docks again.

The dwarf growled at the human, but there was a twinkle in his deep, brown eyes that said he and the captain were friends. To Iridi, Garthin added, 'As I was sayin', none at all, lady. What brings you to Menethil Harbor?'

'It is only a momentary pause. I must journey beyond for my task.'

'And what might that task be? Someone like yourself shouldn't be going out into the Wetlands. There're things worse than raptors there.'

She met his gaze. 'Your concern is commendable, Master Garthin Stoneguider, but have no fear for me. I go where it is destined that I go.'

'I seen your like. Priestess, you are. You commune with somethin' called the noru—'

'Naaru.'

'That's what I said,' Garthin returned obstinately. 'Some mystical beings or somethin'.' He shrugged. 'We've got no reason to stop you from goin' beyond our walls, but the final word'll be decided by the governing council. You'll have to wait until nightfall to hear from them.'

Although her calling had taught her much concerning the value of patience, Iridi did not take well to the thought of waiting for someone else to make a decision on a subject upon which she had already determined her course. She would leave Menethil Harbor and continue on, of that there was no mistake.

Yet, she bowed her head and humbly replied, 'As you say. Where might I seek sustenance?'

He chuckled knowingly. 'Oh, I'll show you the market...and keep you company until the decision's made.'

Iridi's estimate of the dwarf rose. Garthin knew that, left alone, the draenei would buy more than she needed for a meal, enough to continue her journey, In fact. Whether she liked it or not, the priestess would have to wait until nightfall.

But, one way or another, she would leave the town before morning.

Garthin proved more pleasant of a companion than Iridi could have imagined, the dwarf willing to explain most of what the draenei came across in the market. He also gave her a hint of the troubles the town was facing now.

''Tis not Just the Horde these days,' the dwarf remarked at one point while Iridi pretended interest in some stoneware. 'There're other things stirrin' beyond the Wetlands, they say. There've been shadows that blot out the moon and cries like those a demon might make.'

Although her eyes were still on the merchant's wares, the priestess listened very carefully. '’Demons’?'

'Aye, though no one's seen 'em. Still, more than a few scouts've failed to return, and the council's deciding what to do next to investigate. I hear they're sendin' a message to the king,' Garthin said, referring, Iridi knew, to his own kind's ruler. 'But I'm of a mind that if he ain't sent someone out already, he ain't goin' to do so now...'

Through moments such as this and other later ones, Iridi gathered enough information to make her certain that she was on the right track. The 'demon cries' of which Garthin had spoken were enough by themselves to make her eager to move on... if only the council would give word.

They did, but not until late after sunset, as Garthin had said. More important, the word they gave was not the one the draenei desired.

Garthin received the missive from one of his own men, read it, then growled, 'You're goin' nowhere, lady... but you've company. They ain't allowin' anyone toleave Menethil Harbor for the time bein’.'

Iridi molded her expression into one of mild disappointment, although deep inside the draenei was already plotting her departure. 'I will need accommodations for the time being, then.'

'There's an inn that might suit one o' your callin', lady. I'll guide you to it.'

She bowed her head. 'You are being most kind, Garthin Stoneguider.'

He smiled knowingly. 'No... I'm doin' my duty. You will bestayin', lady, even if you end up in the jail. Orders are orders. No one's leavin'. For your own good.'

He obviously meant what he said, both about it being for her own good and especially that he would put her behind bars if necessary. Iridi considered carefully her answer; her intention to leave not in the least lessened despite the dwarf's warning.

'If it is to be so, then it will be so—'

But at that moment, horns blared from the walls overlooking the Wetlands.

With a dexterity and swiftness that the priestess found astounding, Garthin drew his ax. 'Stay here! I'm orderin' you to do that!'

He ran off toward the wall. Iridi hesitated for only a second, then followed.

Atop the wall, dwarven guards under the protection of the roofed battlements continued to blare on the horns while others heldtorches up in order to get some view of the dark lands beyond.

And in those unseen lands, Iridi heard snarls and hisses that set her normally-controlled nerves on end.

Garthin stood at the arched gate, where several other dwarves were preparing to march out into the night. More than twenty fighters hefted their weapons and, as soon as the signal was given by one of their fellows above, charged out.

Unfortunately, something much larger tried to charge inside at the same time.

Iridi only caught a glimpse of claws and teeth before the dwarves beat it back, their axes striking one after another with powerful effect. A pained roar echoed throughout Menethil Harbor. Despite that, Iridi caught a glimpse of one warrior suddenly pulled into the darkness... and for the first time she heard a dwarf scream in utter horror.

Yet, despite that awful cry, Garthin and the others continued to push into the night, quickly followed by at least two dozen newcomers. Aware of the determination and might of dwarves. Iridi knew that the threat had to be a potent one.

Heedless of either Garthin's orders or the danger without, the draenei priestess rushed forward. As she did, she extended her hand... and a staff formed in it, a staff whose head ended in a long, pointed crystal set in a sliver base. The crystal flared a bright blue. At the opposing end, a smaller but identical crystal added to the almost blinding effect.

'Here now! Stop!' shouted a guard futilely as she slipped through the gate. Iridi discovered a wide bridge on the other side of the wall, one leading toward the fog-drenched Wetlands. At the far end of the bridge, she made out the shadowed forms of the fighters... and other creatures who loomed tall over the dwarves.

She raised the staff and uttered the words the naaru had taught her predecessors long, long ago.