Night of the Dragon

She held up a small, odd blade. 'I was holding this when the blue cast the spell sealing me to the wall. I was fortunate; he seemed only to want to keep me away, not harm me.'

'Kalec—Kalec is no evil force.'

The ranger studied his situation as she continued, 'I managed to move the dagger about enough to cause a weakness in the rock he created, but it was only a moment ago that I sensed my struggling was finally too much for that weakness.'

'Rhonin...Rhonin made that for you.'

'Of course.' Vereesa frowned. 'I do not know how to free you, great one.'

'My life...my life does not matter...drag...drag Kalec from this chamber. It is—is my hope that in the chamber of the eggs, he might recover. The eggs must be—must be protected from the draining or they would all be useless to h-her.'

Rhonin's mate nodded. 'Being dragon eggs, they have magic in them, too, You must be right. Then, when he recovers, Kalec can help you.'

Krasus did not argue with her, although he knew very well that his wound was beyond Kalec's ability. Alexstrasza might have had the power to heal her consort, but she was far, far away and even should they have somehow carried the wounded red out of Grim Batol, he would have been long dead before they could get him to her.

But if I can save these two and they can warn others, then my death will have been worth it....

He watched as Vereesa took hold of Kalec and started tugging him in the direction of the other chamber. There was a good chance that, if Sinestra did not come to investigate, what he had said concerning the blue dragon would prove true.

They were soon out of his sight. Krasus continued to force himself to stay conscious. If not for the fact that he was of the redflight, the guardians of life, he might have already welcomed the relief of death. As it was, despite the inevitable, Krasus sought some miracle. Not for himself, but for all the others.

And, most of all, for Rhonln and Iridi, whom surely Deathwing's consort intended to capture next.

Barely had the roar faded away when another chilling sound filled the cavern.

This time, it was laughter.

Rhonin and Iridi turned in the direction from which it had come to see the tall, slim lady in black. The scars on the one side of her face were evident to them even through the veil.

'You're a dragon,' Rhonin commented.

Iridi showed no surprise at this: after what had happened to Krasus and Kalec, that this female was more than she appeared made perfect sense.

'Very good, Rhonin Redhair,' the dragon in mortal guise purred. 'And do you know what dragon?'

The wizard shrugged, his demeanor quite calm considering that he stood amidst a chaotic battle of dwarves, skardyn, dragonspawn, drakonid, and raptors. 'You have that admirable disposition and manner of dark dress that means you must belong to Deathwing's flight.' He pursed his lips in thought, then nodded. 'And since you're not the rabid dog or his two worst pups, I'd hazard by your grand posturing that you must be one of his prime bitches....'

The lady in black scowled, taken aback by the human's daring affront. Iridi gripped the naaru staff tight, awaiting any signal from Rhonin. The draenei instinctively kept herself between Zzeraku and the malevolent figure.

Flee! Zzeraku warned the priestess. Flee! She is monstrous! Forget me!

I won't! Iridi found Zzeraku's concern for her heartening, even under the circumstances.

The disfigured dragon recalled herself. Once more acting as if empress of all she surveyed, she replied, 'I am Sinestra, first and greatest of the Earth-Warder's consorts....'

'That would explain your lovely complexion. Mating with Deathwing must have literally set your heart on fire.'

'Is it wise to speak to her so?' the draenei whispered.

'He speaks so because he is a fool confident in his master, are you not, Rhonin? You think Korialstrasz— pardon me—Krasus— will save you. But your master is dead, human, his life essence a contribution to the birthing of a new era!'

The priestess caught just a hint of anger at the corner of the wizard's mouth, but Rhonin quickly smothered it. 'Oh, yes! The great family plot! Let's rebuild or recreate or create anew a wondrous flight in our image—or something close enough to it— that will—dare I say it?—take over the world!”

'You remind me of my Nefarian...arrogant, blind, and doomed.'

Sinestra gestured.

A shockwave rushed over all there, including the black dragon's own minions. Not one creature was left standing, so powerful was the invisible wave.

Not one creature...save Rhonin. His face was pale, yes, and his legs wobbled, but he still stood.

'If you think...me the same impetuous upstart...who came here to deal with your mate,' he rasped. 'You're...you're only half-right.'

His gaze shifted to the cerulean cube. It suddenly glowed.

But Sinestra only chuckled. 'Very good! You know Balacgos's Bane...your master taught you well!'

Sweat dripped down Rhonin's forehead. Through gritted teeth, he answered, 'He's not... my master... he's my... friend.'

The cube flared bright...and then melted in on itself, leaving a blue puddle from which sinister vapors of a like color arose.

Sinestra's eyes narrowed to slits. This time, Rhonin could not keep from being thrown to the ground.

'A powerful, valiant attempt...but only an attempt.' She pointed at the melted Bane... and it formed again. 'The secret of it is mine, as are so many other secrets.'

The raptor leader had by this time managed to reach its feet. With a hiss, it leapt with claws bared and maw wide open at Sinestra.

With a contemptuous glance, the black lady pointed at the raptor.

The ground rose up beneath the leaping reptile, catching it. Molten earth engulfed the raptor leader. The reptile's scaled hide blistered horribly, then burned away, quickly followed by the muscles and sinew beneath. The raptor had no time to shriek. By the time the creature collapsed on the chamber floor, it did so as a loose pile of still-smoldering, scorched bones.

'The right temperament,' Sinestra clinically commented. 'But lacking in so much else.' She returned her attention to Rhonin and Iridi.

But the priestess was no longer there. For the first time, Sinestra showed some puzzlement. Her ire immediately focused on Rhonin, who was struggling to rise. 'Where is the draenei? Where is she?' The wizard managed a grin. 'I don't know....'

Zendarin fell back, gasping. He was finished at last, finished with the final step toward his never having to hunger again. It had cost him much of the staff's power, but for that he would have that which would gain him more than he could desire in a hundred lifetimes.

He leaned over the pit. 'You understand me, don't you?' 'Yes...' came the rumbling voice. The blood elf smiled. 'It is time.' 'Yes...' A dark form began to rise toward Zendarin. 'It is time...'

'You will obey my will in all things,' the blood elf went on. 'You will—'

A monstrous sound arose from the pit. It was not a simple roar, as had erupted more than once during Zendarin's efforts, but ratherlaughter... laughter that reminded him too much of the dark lady's.

'I do not obey you....' Dargonax replied with mockery also akin to hers. 'You are little more than the dirt beneath my feet....'

The blood elf could not believe his ears. Enraged, he shouted, 'You've no choice but to obey me! I have