Richard Knaak - Night of the Dragon

At first, there was no sign of the island settlement for which she hunted, but gradually some shapes materialized on the distant shore. The most prominent of those was the thick, stone wall on the far end of Menethil Harbor that she had already learned protected most of the town from inland incursions. Then, taller structures and huge, shaggy trees made themselves visible through the dissipating morning fog.

One building in particular caught her gaze. Rising above all else, the four towers of Menethil Keep watched over the settlement like stern guardians, their coned tops reminiscent of warriors' helmets. Within their ranks, the almost cathedral-like structure of the main building stood only a story shorter, but was much broader.

And as Menethil Harbor took form before the lone figure, she knew that the sentries in turn were very likely catching sight of her.

Sure enough, only minutes later a ship turned out to meet her. The crew was mostly human, although there were a few daring dwarves aboard as well. Dwarves in general did not do well with the sea, having a tendency to sink like rocks if they fell in, but currenttimes demanded bravery of a different sort.

As the ship reached her, a human leaned over to study the lone intruder. His bearded face stretched into a look of surprise.

"My lady," he grunted. "Not often we get one of your folk in this particular land... and certainly not by such means as I see before me." The man leaned closer, revealing for the first time that he wore a tarnished breast plate marking him as an officer. Despite his beard, he was young for his rank, as young as she possibly. The violence of the past few wars had reduced the number of capable veteran warriors on both sides.

"I seek only landfall, nothing more, from Menethil Harbor," she replied. "Will you permit that?" The priestess did not add that, one way or another, she would achieve that landfall regardless of his answer.

Fortunately, the officer appeared a man of common sense. Draenei were allies; why should one not be allowed entrance to an Alliance stronghold? "You'll be having to answer a few questions once there, but other than that, there's no reason I can see to bar you, my lady."

He had a man toss down a rope ladder near her boat. A hirsute sailor scrambled down to take command of the sailboat while another held the ladder in place as the draenei climbed up.

"Welcome aboard the Stormchild, temporarily ensconced in Menethil Harbor." Up close, the lead human looked even younger. His eyes were a bright, almost innocent blue, but something about them yet told her that he had already become a seasoned fighter, rather than some young noble commissioned because of his bloodline. "I am its erstwhile captain, Marcus Windthorne...."

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."