III - Call of the Council

The Lore of a Loremaster

Topic/Postby Liandrix » 06 Aug 2015, 22:53

The stretch of wall was completely empty. No, it was more than empty; it was bare. Whereas all the walls were covered with either violet or golden paint or a collection of paintings, this piece of wall was void of any manner of decoration. Its colour was a dank, stained grey, as if it hadn’t ever been given the courtesy of a cleaning. And yet, Liandrix was looking at it as if it was a priceless work of art.

As it happened, the stretch of grey wall was framed by a painting on either side. One painting depicted the city of Dalaran as seen from a hill, and the other was of a road leading under a dense canopy of trees. Around the grey wall with the paintings were three staircases. Two of them leading up, and the third and widest of them lead down to the atrium of the Violet Citadel.

The Citadel was completely silent, as silent as it had been when Liandrix had entered it by means of a portal from Holden Hill not twenty-four hours ago. It hadn’t been completely peaceful then. Illusions caused by Zul’jin’s magic had plagued the city of Dalaran then. But now all was peaceful once again.

Liandrix was starting to grow impatient. The strip of parchment in his hand had been crumpled out of sheer frustration. He had gotten it only a few hours after returning from the alien world Zul’jin had sent them all to. When they had returned, when the Grand Magus David Spellsword had sent them back from the world of fire and ash, the home of the fire god Jan’alai, Archmage Antonidas had urged their secrecy, telling both Liandrix and Archmage Kel’thuzad that they were not to disclose anything that had happened.

Archmage Kel’thuzad had simply stormed off without a single word. Antonidas had then assured Liandrix that they would speak again on all that had happened, and that he had to wait for his summons. The piece of parchment Liandrix was holding were those summons. They read but three short lines.

The Supreme Council calls you

Where all paths end

Midnight


It hadn’t taken Liandrix more than a few seconds to figure it out. There weren’t many paintings in the Citadel, and these were the only ones depicting paths. Then it had just been a matter of waiting. The slip of parchment said midnight; he had received it at dawn.

Liandrix had been unsure what to do first when he had returned. There had been several things on his mind, not the least of which was Catherine. But as much as he wanted to see her again there were other matters to attend to, other people he needed to pay a visit, despite Antonidas’ orders.

Liandrix first went off to find Aidan Somerset, head of the battlemages. He proved more difficult to find than Liandrix had anticipated. As he had guessed, Aidan had pulled his full array of mages to repel the Troll attack. But being an illusion, the mages had ended up attacking one another. What resulted was quite a battlefield Liandrix was grateful he hadn’t witnessed. He had found Aidan in the House of Healing where mages were tending to dozens of injured.

Making sure to tell Aidan no more than he needed to know he explained that Oliver and Bernadelle were still at Holden Hill. Aidan had not wasted a second and had dispatched a team of five battlemages. Liandrix had offered to lead them but Aidan had assured him it was not necessary. And it hadn’t been. Not six hours later Aidan had sent for him with news that both of the mages had been found in a healthy state, if a bit drenched from the heavy rains that apparently had been raging in Holden Hill.

Next on his list was the debriefing of Krasus. Liandrix realised that this was in stark contrast with Antonidas’ orders but was under the impression that the Supreme Council meant to bury the whole situation to prevent panic breaking loose in Lordaeron. Liandrix felt it important to narrate the entire episode if ever it would occur again.

When Liandrix had met with Krasus he had found the High Elf sitting at his desk amidst stacks of empty scrolls and paper, almost as if he had been waiting for him. Krasus himself had been the perfect narrator; writing as fast as Liandrix could speak, stopping him to ask for detailed accounts at the right points and making careful suggestions where Liandrix fell in doubt. The whole recantation took half the day. The biggest problem had been properly interpreting the spells encountered. Krasus had more experience with spells, but as he hadn’t been present all he had to go on was Liandrix’ account of things. yet at the end of it Loremaster Krasus had pronounced himself satisfied about Liandrix’ detailed dictation.

Afterwards he had gone to Aidan to receive the news that both Oliver and Bernadelle had been found and then he had made his way to Catherine’s cottage, only to find it abandoned. He went back to his own study, hoping perhaps that she had been there, waiting for him, but that had not been the case either. It had been then, after fulfilling the tasks he felt he had needed to do, that he had realised just how exhausted was. The study had brought on such a strong feeling of amenity and refuge that it was all he could do to reach his bed before collapsing on the floor. He had therefore been incredibly grateful to have woken up before midnight.

Now he was standing before the grey stretch of wall, waiting. He was still exhausted, the few hours of sleep he had gotten had not nearly been enough and now he had to face the Supreme Council. The Council of Six; although now there would be only five. Wherever David Spellsword was, it was no longer in this world. David had been such a large part of his time in Dalaran, the thought of never seeing him again made Liandrix feel oddly lonely.

Liandrix felt it before he saw the disturbance in the wall. The dirty grey wall transformed a little but not very much. If anything, the stretch of wall now looked like a liquid mass, but only if one would look directly at it. On either side of the wall the paths on the paintings expanded beyond their frames, and below his feet Liandrix saw the top of the staircases elongate until they connected with the grey wall. Liandrix took the hint. Where all paths end. He took a step forward, stepping into the wall with full conviction.

There was a feeling of stepping into a wall of dry water, the sensation of being weightless for a moment, before he stepped out dry on the other side. There he found himself on a pedestal, staring at a storm. The whole room seemed to be a miniscule tornado suspended in mid-air. There was no floor beneath his feet and nothing in sight in the distance. He almost missed the shaded figures displayed around him.

Liandrix started to break a sweat. The room looked like the proverbial storm in a glass of water and it made him feel very small. It was overwhelming. For a moment a vision flashed through his mind in which he was surrounded by a storm of fire and ash, in a plane far away. He strained to return to the storm in the room. He felt tired beyond words.

One of the dark figures, the one right in front of him, stepped forward and the disguise vanished like a shadow before the sun, and Liandrix looked up, and into the old face of Archmage Antonidas. An image of a mage surrounded by a different storm wielding terrible power swam before his mind’s eye.

“Liandrix of Stratholme, of the Kirin Tor, you have come to answer the summons of the Supreme Council,” Antonidas’ voice boomed as if he was speaking to a large crowd.

Liandrix sighed and braced himself as he looked straight into the Archmage’s eyes.

“No.”

A slight frown creased the top of Antonidas’ brow and Liandrix heard himself apologising, though thankfully he did not do it out loud. It was important that he establish his relationship with Antonidas and the Council early on and not play their game, or he would never be able to do what he must.

Liandrix saw Antonidas’ frown and the Archmage opened his mouth to retort, but Liandrix quickly forestalled him.

“I felt it necessary to appear before you all to convey the importance of what needs to be done. I came of my own volition.”

The shrouded figure left of Antonidas coughed. Liandrix ignored it.

“Nevertheless,” Antonidas said after a pause, “we called upon you to be debriefed upon the situation.”

Liandrix folded his hands into opposite sleeves. “I shall await my turn, then,” he said pleasantly.

Antonidas cleared his throat before he continued. “We all regret the loss of David Spellsword. His sacrifice for us is one to be remembered. We should be grateful that Zul’jin’s attempt at abusing the Arcane was unsuccessful. It is important to draw lessons from all that has transpired here. However …”

Now that the rehearsed part was over Archmage Antonidas seemed to have embarked upon the pinnacle of this session. Liandrix kept his face impassive as Antonidas continued.

“Zul’jin’s antics have touched and chafed more of our core than anyone else ever did. He has penetrated our deepest secrets and observed and used sources of our greatest power. No one, not a single soul must ever be allowed such entrance to these artefacts again, and no one outside of this room must ever know what happened in this building or the world the Troll created using the Arcane Root. No one must ever even know of its existence!”

A ringing silence greeted these words. For all purposes the storm might not have been raging around the room at all. Antonidas’ voice had been rising gradually until he had almost been shouting. It showed the usually quiet and composed Archmage in a whole different light. Liandrix decided not to point out that he had known about the Arcane Root for some time now. Antonidas’ tone of voice made it even more difficult for Liandrix to focus on what he needed to say. For this reason he let the silence stretch until the point where he thought Antonidas must surely speak.

“Archmage …”

Grand Magus!” a dark figure on his left snapped angrily.

Liandrix looked at Antonidas and tried with all his might to keep his temper under control. He had expected for Antonidas to take the position of Grand Magus at some point, but the speed with which he had taken it angered Liandrix more than he had thought it would. He felt as if the memory of David Spellsword had been insulted by not leaving the position untaken as a sign of respect. It made the words Antonidas had spoken earlier sound empty and false.

“Grand .. Magus.” Liandrix paused. He had lost his momentum and the stares of the shadowed Archmages were bearing down on him. He felt like he had been driven into a corner. He chose a different tack.

“If someone would actually succeed at using the Arcane Root for their evil ends, what would be the consequences?” Liandrix asked, knowing full well the magnitude of what could be caused.

Antonidas looked straight into Liandrix’ eyes and he felt a surge of both joy and pain as he saw once more the deep compassion that he was used to from the old wizard.

“All of life in this world would be gone.”

Again Liandrix let the silence linger for effect. He hoped it gave the Council the impression that Antonidas’ answer had stumped him.

“Then we must do everything we can to prevent such a breach again, and in order to do so it is of the utmost importance to carefully and completely archive what has happened today. This occurrence must be made public.”

There were loud cries of protest around Liandrix, but nowhere near as loud as from the figure on Antonidas’ immediate right.

“If we do not log what happened then the next time we might not be as lucky as we were today. The knowledge of how Zul’jin entered and was defeated must be spread so that all those who follow in our footsteps will know how to stop the Arcane Root from being abused again.

“How dare you suggest such a thing?” a snide voice Liandrix had no difficulty in recognising said.

The dark figure on Antonidas’ right stepped forward as his guise was cast away and a tall figure was standing before the storm behind him. Prince Kael’thas Sunstrider glared down at Liandrix. It was all he could do not to cringe away from the Quel’dorei’s gaze.

“The Violet Citadel has been home to the most powerful Arcane artefacts on the planet, and you are suggesting that we make them public? That we hand magical knowledge that has been collected for thousands upon thousands of years to the common people? Are you suggesting that we release secrets that the Kirin Tor have kept to themselves for as long as we exist?”

Liandrix felt the power behind the words but did not let it drive him away.

“The publication of these events, of these secrets, is essential in preventing a cataclysmic attack on our world, our way of life! I urge the Council to see reason in this act. Zul’jin, despite all our actions to preserve our secrecy, despite all that we have done to keep such knowledge to ourselves, this one creature has managed to uncover and use the power of an artefact that should not even be known to most of the Kirin Tor itself! And if one small insignificant being can come to such knowledge than surely others will be able to as well. It is essential that you realise your power is not unique, that there are other beings in this world with the ability to harness these secrets and have unknown and untold abilities of their own! We should not maintain our blindness, our ignorance that we alone are in possession of the secrets that this world contains!”

Liandrix suddenly realised that he himself was shouting. He expected that he had at least surprised the Council with his arguments but although Antonidas seemed at the very least a little impressed at his words, or otherwise surprised by his tone of voice, Prince Kael’thas positively expanded with rage.

“I will not allow you to undermine the authority of the Kirin Tor! These secrets are not meant to be known by the faint-hearted. These are our secrets and there can’t be any reason to disclose our knowledge in this way. If there is any being with your so-called power, let them come! Let them try to circumvent our defences again! They will fail.”

This time there really was a silence, and Liandrix was at the wrong end of it, but he had one more spell to cast. He had one last breath to spare, and it was a desperate one.

Liandrix turned to Antonidas. “Grand Magus, members of the Supreme Council, I beg of you to allow this situation to be made public. This occurrence must not be forgotten. It is part of our history now, and it is our history that makes us wise. I ask of you to give me leave to recount these events fully and completely in order to prevent such a thing from ever happening again.”

The Grand Magus sighed visibly as he looked down at Liandrix. But whether his posture spoke of relenting or refusal he could not say.

“My dear boy,” Antonidas said, and Liandrix felt a twinge of anger at being called ‘boy’. David had once called him that. It seemed a lifetime ago.

“Believe me when I say that I understand your reasoning; that I know the stakes that stand on this decision. And I would perhaps consider putting last night’s details on paper … if it had not already been done.”

Liandrix felt an icy sensation trickle into him. Antonidas could not know that Liandrix had already disclosed all that had happened to Krasus. But the Grand Magus’ eyes flicked to the dark figure in the far right of where he stood and the feeling of cold fear spread. The darkness surrounding the person wavered and vanished. Loremaster Krasus was looking down at Liandrix with a steady gaze.

Liandrix couldn’t believe it. His own master of Lore, whose passion lay in the logging of every historical event concerning the Arcane, who had allowed Liandrix to dictate the events of Zul’jin, had betrayed him to the Kirin Tor.

That Krasus was a member of the Council of Six he found less surprising. In fact he had hoped he had been right in guessing that Krasus with all his historical knowledge was a part of the Council. It could have given Liandrix an opening through which he could make his case. But never had he expected for Krasus to go behind his back and report to the Council. Especially not after listening and carefully writing down everything that Liandrix had said.

It was over. Liandrix knew that the Council would see this as a betrayal. Liandrix had attempted to make public the attack on one of the biggest secrets of the Kirin Tor. He would certainly be exiled from Dalaran for this. Although now that he thought about it he realised that they would probably not be able to let him live with what he knew. Liandrix suddenly remembered how Antonidas had paused at the word ‘situation’ at the start of the session. This session had never been about the debrief. They had wanted to hear for themselves what Liandrix would say. He had walked straight into a trap.

Once again Liandrix felt the weight of the stares from the Six bearing down on him. He had to force himself to look at the Grand Magus. Antonidas opened his mouth and Liandrix braced himself. But at that moment there was a strange sound behind Liandrix that sounded like a boot being pulled out of deep mud pool. When he turned to look he saw Archmage Kel’thuzad emerge from the liquid wall.

“You are late,” Prince Kael’thas said at once. Kel’thuzad ignored him. Antonidas himself remained silent and Liandrix did not blame him. He was trying not to stare himself.

Kel’thuzad was still dressed in the clothes he had worn during the expedition and the fight with Zul’jin. He had been clad in black robes then, but most of the black colour was gone. There were large red stains that were burnt in several places and most of the underside had been torn up to the point where you could almost see bare skin underneath. The largest parts of his sleeves were muddy and ripped to shreds. His hood had completely vanished and the belt was torn and dangled loose from his robes. Liandrix could also discern bloodstains on his gloves, which were already very red from the residue from Zul’jin’s world. To say he looked a mess was a complete understatement. His face was worse.

There was little trace left of the handsome youth. His long dark hair was in complete disarray and seemed to be soaking wet. His fair skin was splattered with mud and blood. There was a wound on one cheek he was sure would leave a scar, and all traces of the calm, controlled demeanour were gone. Instead he wore an expression of disgust, his mouth pulled into a snarl which disfigured his features. His once dark and deep eyes now had a glassy look, as if he no longer perceived the world around him.

Kel’thuzad marched past Liandrix, leaving muddy footprints behind, and faced the Council.

“You – are – late!” Prince Kael’thas Sunstrider repeated.

Kel’thuzad’s eyes flickered back and forth between the Prince and the Grand Magus and eventually settled on Antonidas.

“I received your ‘summons’ moments ago, when I returned. I have important work to do. Why was I summoned in this manner?” he spat the last words.

“Insolence!” Kael’thas said, and he turned to Antonidas. “You ought to reconsider this!”

But Antonidas didn’t take his eyes from the Archmage.

“Kel’thuzad,” Antonidas began gently, using his name rather than his title. “What happened to Cecilia is something we all deeply feel—“

“She was my wife!” Kel’thuzad roared. “And after she was slain like a pig she was left to rot on the ground! None of you even considered sending help for her!”

Prince Kael’thas opened his mouth to retort but Antonidas lifted his right hand and allowed Kel’thuzad to continue. Liandrix was astonished how that simple hand gesture silenced the Prince of Quel’thalas.

“And then my one chance of retribution was denied me as you allowed that monster to live! Zul’jin lives while Cecilia lies dead!”

Antonidas allowed the harsh words to reverberate through the circular room for a moment before he spoke.

“Fifteen years ago you were told that your marriage was controversial at best. You were explained the reasoning behind our initial refusal. You were shown the danger and risks involved with such a binding in this place, and yet you persisted. You chose your future, knowing what it might bring, and now it has.”

Liandrix bit his lip as he looked from Antonidas to Kel’thuzad. Although the Grand Magus had spoken calmly, the words had arrived like a slap in the Archmage’s face. He had as much as told Kel’thuzad that it had all been his own fault.

“Now …” Antonidas continued for Kel’thuzad showed every sign of wanting to retort, “the reason why you were summoned.”

And with that Antonidas lifted his left arm and gestured towards the silent shadow figure on his left. The figure’s shadow was cast away until it had completely vanished. There was no one there.

“We, the Supreme Council of the Kirin Tor, offer you, Archmage Kel’thuzad, a position among our number. The Council welcomes you. The Council has need of you. The Council requests your counsel.”

Kel’thuzad looked briefly at the vacant spot next to the Grand Magus.

“What has happened is now in the past, Kel’thuzad. It is over.” There was a pause in which Antonidas looked at Kel’thuzad imploringly. It was a look filled with such sadness that Liandrix swore the Grand Magus was weeping.

“I beg of you, let it rest. There is naught to see but pain, loss and sorrow behind you, Kel’thuzad.”

A moment passed in which Liandrix saw doubt flicker across Kel’thuzad’s dark eyes, but it quickly vanished, to be replaced by rage.

“This is not over!” He shouted at the Grand Magus. Then he turned on his heels and marched to the exit.

Before he reached the wall he stopped and turned his head to look at Antonidas.

“I accept the offer of the Supreme Council!” Then he was gone in a flurry of mud and blood.

After watching Kel’thuzad leave Liandrix turned in time to see Prince Kael’thas urge Antonidas to reconsider the appointment, but the Grand Magus shook his head.

“I reconsider nothing. And that brings us back to a matter so violently interrupted.”

Liandrix felt goose bumps erupt on the back of his neck. He had almost forgotten that the Supreme Council was about to hang him. In a sudden fit of humour he wondered if Archmage Kel’thuzad would vote against it.

“Liandrix Emmot,” Grand Magus Antonidas began in the same sober and gentle tone as used for addressing Kel’thuzad. “Fifteen years ago you joined the ranks of Dalaran’s scholars and it did not take you long to ‘stand out’ above your peers. Just last year you joined us with your expertise on lore, and aided Loremaster Krasus here in his research.”

Loremaster Krasus was looking blankly at Liandrix. Did he even care that he had sold out his student?

“Your anthropological studies were of paramount importance during the last open council session and your research and knowledge of the Troll species was proven essential.”

Did Antonidas know that his Troll-knowledge started when he and his fellow apprentices had abused Troll magic? How much had David told him about Liandrix? Did the Grand Magus know about his past as well? He did not know. He dared not ask.

“And finally last night, you managed to turn the tide against Zul’jin, preventing him from doing great harm abusing the Arcane Root.”

Liandrix could not claim credit here. True, he had known how to negate Zul’jin’s spell casting , but he was sure David had as well. Liandrix had connected the dots some time ago. David had done almost the exact same thing while freeing him from the rampaging Troll magic fifteen years ago.

“Now, in light of more recent events and the development of others, it is the opinion of the Supreme Council …” Here Antonidas looked around at Prince Kael’thas, who looked bad-tempered; at Krasus, who stood still and impassive; and at the still dark figures, as if he could discern the other Council members; and finally back at Liandrix who stood rooted to the pedestal, waiting for a trapdoor to open up beneath him.

“… to grant you the colours of the Loremaster.”

Liandrix blinked. He must have misheard the Grand Magus, or he had momentarily been lost in thoughts again.

“I understand the trepidation in your new position,” the Grand Magus continued, confirming the fact that Liandrix had in fact been named Loremaster. “Therefore the Council has decided to preserve its right to allocate your new project at once.”

Liandrix felt a weight hanging on these words he didn’t like. It felt like a term he had unwittingly agreed upon.

“You are to leave for Stormwind where you will join a taskforce of Kirin Tor mages who have already established a foothold in the kingdom for us. We have gotten repeated requests for a Loremaster to join their ranks for they seem to have some trouble with an unknown species there. It should be the perfect task for you.”

Liandrix swayed at the enormity of the task that was set before him. Stormwind. That was deep in Azeroth, at the other side of the continent.

“When must I leave?” he heard himself ask.

“At once,” Prince Kael’thas answered. There was something triumphant in the way he had spoken.

Liandrix looked at Krasus for support, but the High Elf was simply staring at him, the way he always did.

The Grand Magus had a sober look about him, almost a if he regretted giving Liandrix this assignment, but when he spoke, it was without pity.

“Good luck with your task, Loremaster Liandrix. The Kirin Tor will await your progress. Do not disappoint us.”

*


Liandrix found himself in a courtyard in the light of a crescent moon. He knew from the pale silhouette of the city that he was at the opposite side of Dalaran. He couldn’t tell how long he had been wandering through the city, or which path he had chosen, but dawn was not yet there. His mind had been solely set on his meeting with the Supreme Council. The experience of the meeting alone was enough to make one’s head spin. But to be granted Loremaster colours after a single year in the Kirin Tor was absurd. He had wondered about the Council’s motivation. Had they promoted him to keep his silence? That they would demand their colours back should he blab? Or had they simply granted the title so that they could ship him off to Stormwind and be well rid of him? Eventually he had put the question from his mind. The reason for his promotion was ultimately irrelevant. He was going either way.

More the question was Stormwind itself. There was little Liandrix knew about the kingdom, aside from the fact that its king was called Llane. And if the knights and generals at the open council were an indication they had as much pride as a court full of Quel’dorei Princes.

And then the act of moving to the other end of the continent itself. He would have to abandon most of what he possessed. He had wondered what he would take with him. Oddly enough, the only thing he was certain to bring with him was the book he had taken with him from Stratholme. It wasn’t much in the way of literature, and he had read it forth and back several times, but he found it to be a source of comfort and certainty, and he had read it or at least flipped through its pages whenever he felt out of sorts for any reason. He would also have to abandon all the knowledge he had not attained, and he hoped therefore that Stormwind had its own sources of knowledge.

And then there had been the biggest question of all: Catherine. It might have been a day, but Liandrix was long past being timid. Something had happened to make him realise that time was too short for him to be shy and unsure about his feelings. Perhaps it was because he had witnessed what had happened between Kel’thuzad and Cecilia.

Most of his time wandering and wondering had been spent on Catherine. Should he drag her with him to Stormwind? Uproot her whole life and career here? Or should he make the smarter decision and just leave her here and forget about her?

With a heart heavy with doubts and a mind full of questions he set off towards the cottages on the outskirts of Dalaran. Whatever was decided he thought he should include Catherine in his decisions. Liandrix thought he could make out a silver lining on the horizon through the thick canopy of trees, so dawn was fast approaching. He was surprised, therefore, to see light shining through the windows of Catherine’s house.

He hurried through the front yard Catherine liked to decorate with her self-made dresses on wooden frames. Liandrix had once explained to her that farmers used the same method on their farmland to prevent birds from picking it clean.

Liandrix rapped on the front door and waited a moment with bated breath and in complete silence. He heard a hurried commotion from the inside and then the door was flung open and a wall of light flooded out into the night, completely blinding Liandrix. Something flew against him and wrapped itself tightly around his body.

“I knew something had happened when night fell and you hadn’t returned. And then, when I saw the fires break out in Dalaran I feared I’d never see you again,” Catherine said, her voice trembling.

Liandrix hugged her back, all thoughts of Stormwind blown from his mind, and then he kissed her. He kissed her until he remembered that he should breathe, he kissed her until he was sure the sun must be high in the sky.

“You know,” Catherine began once they had parted, “when I told you to bring back a story I hadn’t expected you to bring me a Loremaster.”

“Yes, well, I hadn’t expected … wait, how do you know about my promotion?”

“Your promotion? What are you talking about?”

“What are you talking about?”

Catherine gestured back into the room. “I’m talking about your master of course.”

Liandrix moved past her into the room and looked down at Loremaster Krasus as he rose elegantly from his seat.

“What are you doing here?” Liandrix demanded bluntly. Somewhere he thought he felt angrier with his presence than he should.

Krasus looked at Liandrix in a level manner. “Waiting for you.”

“Liandrix glared at him. “And how did you know I’d be here?”

Krasus gave him a small mysterious smile. A smile from Krasus was rare to begin with, but this one was different from the few he had seen this last decade and a half. It wasn’t a smile fit for a Quel’dorei, or a human. It appeared to be from a different sort of creature.

“I know many things, Loremaster Liandrix.” Krasus tilted his head a little. “Catherine, my dear, could you give us a moment? There is something that needs be discussed.”

“Liandrix … “ Catherine looked from one mage to the other. “… Why did he call you—“

“I’ll explain later,” Liandrix said shortly.

When Catherine had obliged and gone up Liandrix didn’t waste a second.

“Why did you sell me out to the Supreme Council?” Liandrix demanded once he was sure Catherine was out of earshot.

Krasus gestured for Liandrix to take a seat on the sofa but he stayed on his feet. He was not going to assume an inferior position this time.

“Why did you let me record last night’s events? Why put it all on paper if you were planning on throwing me in front of the Council anyway? Why go through the trouble?”

“Recording your findings was of the utmost importance, Liandrix. The Supreme Council would never have done it themselves.”

“If they would not allow it then why—?”

“Because I serve a purpose other than the Council’s desires … or Dalaran’s.”

Liandrix became very still. Was Krasus spying for someone? Liandrix opened his mouth to demand clarity but Krasus interrupted him with a hand gesture not unlike the one Antonidas had used to forestall Prince Kael’thas.

“Please don’t ask me whom I serve, Liandrix. Rest assured that they have our best interests at heart and that the information you have provided is in safe hands. The Supreme Council is not aware of this. They have been left in the dark.”

“And yet,” Liandrix said gravely, “I am to go to Stormwind.”

And at those words Krasus’ face filled with sadness. It was a shocking sight to behold on a face that was usually so impassive.

“I tried, Liandrix, I truly did. I swayed the Council where I could, but I could not prevent your allocation, nor Kel’thuzad’s admission into the Council.”

“You didn’t want Kel’thuzad as a Supreme Council member?” Liandrix asked amazed.

“If the Council had considered my recommendation it would have been you sitting among the Six.”

“You suggested me as a Supreme Council member?” Liandrix asked in complete shock.

The very idea was preposterous. For him to be in the Supreme Council, the seat of power of the Kirin Tor, the most powerful and knowledgeable wizards in the world. The very notion alone was insanity.

“The chances of my succeeding were minimal, yet I felt I had to try.”

“Why?”

“For reasons unwise to speak of,” Krasus answered shortly. “But now is not the time to ponder the past. You must focus on Stormwind. They need you, Liandrix. They need a Loremaster. They need a source of knowledge in a realm of knights.”

*


Eventually Liandrix managed to delay his departure for several months, which gave him enough time to prepare. And the first thing he had done after Krasus had departed was asking Catherine’s hand in marriage. One could argue that it was too soon, too sudden, too unsure and too far away. But Liandrix saw in none of those arguments a reason not to marry Catherine, and fortunately neither did she. Life was short enough without wasting it on arguing.

Most of his preparations disappeared into research about Azeroth and its history. If he were to go to a place scarcely known to him he might as well go prepared. Krasus had warned him of Azeroth saying that people there had different customs, habits and beliefs. Being an anthropologist he didn’t need to be told twice. Krasus also warned him about the politics of court. But Liandrix would stay well away from that. He loathed politics.

Liandrix found it hard to get used to his being a Loremaster. Aside from the public renown that he hadn’t even got used to as a member of the Kirin Tor, he was now recognised and approached as a Master of the Kirin Tor without donning his colours. Robert found the whole deal more than amusing, spending his time addressing Liandrix as Master and asking him when he would take over as Grand Magus. Fortunately the wedding between Liandrix and Catherine drove most of those episodes away, although he paid for that luxury by having Robert tell even more steamy stories about his own love life than usual.

All too soon the moment of departure had come, and although Liandrix and Catherine were given the luxury of travelling by portal, Liandrix couldn’t help but feel he was about to embark on a journey far away from safety and home. But whatever the life in Stormwind was going to be like he was determined to make something of it. Young or not, experienced or not, he would earn his Loremaster colours. He would strive to improve the knowledge of the Arcane and fight back common superstitions; whether he thought he was worth it or not.
"The motivation to study the Arcane should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it.."

~ Loremaster Liandrix Emmot
User avatar
Liandrix
Rhymer
 
Posts: 1094
Location: The Netherlands

Return to Loremaster Liandrix Emmot



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users

cron