Night of the Dragon

Someone was using the other naaru staff... and for a reason the priestess understood all too well.

She tried to dismiss her own, but it was too late. The larger crystal flared bright, but not due to any focus on her part.

'Why are you doing—' Kalec began.

The staff struggled in her grip. She felt its solidity lessen, as if it were dissolving. It was all the priestess could do just to maintain both a physical and mental hold on her gift. Iridi did not even dare direct enough concentration to warn the others.

However, Krasus understood at least part of the trouble. 'Kalec! He seeks to bring her staff to him! We cannot permit that!'

The young fighter seized the staff with one hand. Around him there formed a blue aura. Kalec gritted his teeth as he forced that aura to spread to the naaru's gift.

But the crystal's own aura suddenly flared brighter than ever. It engulfed the blue dragon, who let out a scream and fell back.

At the same time, the staff nearly pulled free. Iridi strained, using all her mental and physical training to keep it with her.

Krasus placed a hand on hers. The tall, robed figure closed his eyes. The aura engulfed him as it had Kalec...but the dragon mage only grunted. The draenei, who knew the forces in play, marveled at the stamina Krasus yet had considering all that he had been through.

A crimson glow began to overtake the crystal's aura. In seconds, not only did Krasus force the battle back to the staff, but his efforts gained for Iridi the momentum that she needed. Now better able to concentrate her strength, the draenei joined with the dragon mage to cut off the blood elf's insidious attempt to double his ill- gotten gains.

And then...the attack ceased. With simultaneous gasps, the priestess and Krasus relaxed.

'Thank—thank you,' Iridi managed.

Krasus looked her over. 'You are well? You have control of the staff?'

'Yes and yes.' For good measure, though, she dismissed the staff, sending it to that place that only the naaru truly understood, that place from which only she could summon it.

Or so the priestess hoped. Iridi had not expected the blood elf to be able to attempt what he had nearly succeeded in doing. She knew from others that his kind were not necessarily spellcasters, but he apparently had excellent skills...or far too much purloined magic. Whichever the case, the draenei knew that she had been very careless. If alone, Iridi would have now been bereft of the naaru's creation.

And very likely dead.

Her concerns shifted to Kalec, who was just rising. He eyed Krasus and her, then growled to the former, 'Nothing is ever simple around you, is it?'

'It would be my fondest wish if for once it would be.'

The priestess stepped up to the younger dragon. 'Let me see your hand.'

'I'm fine,' he insisted, showing the palm to her. The last of a tremendous burnt area was just healing itself. 'You see? Nothing to fear.'

But Iridi was not convinced. She took his hand in hers and touched the palm gently with her finger.

Kalec winced. 'What did you just do?'

'I did nothing but locate the point of entry of the staff's energies. I will need a moment to deal with this.'

'But I healed it.'

'You healed the physical, but in doing so, you let some of the energies be trapped within. You don't want to let it spread.'

With a free hand, the priestess again summoned the staff.

Kalec started to pull back. 'You are going to use that?'

'Cause may also be cure, so it is written. All will be well.' She did not add that such would only be the case assuming that the blood elf did not now try again. 'Please. Be patient.'

Kalec grimaced but let her touch the head of the staff to his palm. To his further credit, he made no protest when she pricked the area in question with the crystal head.

The crystal briefly flared.

A small tendril of energy akin to the crystal's aura rose from the opening in the palm.

'By the lord of magic!' Kalec breathed. 'I never felt that within...'

'No...' was all the draenei replied. As the tendril disappeared into the crystal, she pulled it back. 'You may heal the opening yourself, if you wish.'

He did so. At the same time, Iridi once more dismissed the staff. Only when it was gone did she breathe easier.

'What now?' asked Kalec.

As if in response, something howled. Something not all that far from them.

Something that received, from what seemed every other direction to the draenei, an answering howl....

Zzeraku grew impatient. He now had a plan, but not yet an opportunity in which to implement it. The sorceress and the elf thing who pandered to her had foregone the usual feedings for their creation. Zzeraku had all but gone mad waiting.

Then, he suddenly realized that he was not alone. The other was shielded from the sight of the skardyn—as he had finally learned to call the scaly little vermin—but not from his powerful senses. Of course, there was nothing that he could do with that knowledge, bound as he was.

A shadow moved before his eyes, one that flickered in and out of existence. Ever so briefly, it would take a distinct form.

The elf thing. The blood elf.

The creature called Zendarin.

You can see me on some level, the shadow marveled. How unique! The staff is powerful, yet you can see me... to a point, that is.

The nether dragon tried to thrust the voice from his mind, for it aggravated his thoughts as a sharp pin shoved deep would surely aggravate the flesh of the blood elf.

Now, now, my little friend, Zendarin mocked. This won’t take long and it'll be just between the two of us, eh?

That interested Zzeraku. He had sensed the other's personal ambition, could even appreciate it to an extent.

Let us see what can be siphoned off of you...

In the shadow, Zzeraku glimpsed the odd staff that he knew was not of the blood elf's making. Even its glow was invisible to the skardyn. The blood elf was definitely not doing something that the lady would like.

It's close by, his tormentor continued, but more to himself. I nearly had it, but the others interfered. I need more... and I think that you can give me that....

As the nether dragon had expected, Zendarln wanted to also feed from him. The staff was powerful, but evidently not enough for whatever purpose the blood elf had in mind.

Zzeraku hid his glee. Perhaps he could do with this one as he had planned to do with their creation.

The shadow moved closer. The crystal pointed toward Zzeraku.

Suddenly, Zendarin spun around. With a curse that jolted the nether dragon's mind as if it were thunder, the blood elf slipped away.

A moment later, the only being who truly frightened the nether dragon glided into the cavern. The skardyn quickly dropped to their knees.

'So, my precious child,' the dark lady cooed, 'and how are you?'

She did not truly expect an answer, as Zzeraku's maw was sealed shut. Unlike the blood elf, she made no attempt to touch his thoughts, although he was not all that certain they were kept from her, regardless.

'Have you regained your strength? I want you nice and strong! You want to be nice and strong, don't you?'

Her tone sent shivers through Zzeraku and much of his earlier confidence slipped away. The nether dragon