No Rest at Wyrmrest

Author: Erusi

Wyrmrest Temple

Dragonblight

One Week Later

The temple had been kept in check since they knew not when, guarded over by the various flights and a regular presence of all but their own flight. Maren and Aben spoke with one of the guardians, discussing their tale and pleading for support. The windy precipice upon which they stood gave them full surveil of Dragonblight, and brief glimpses into the neighbouring climates.

“We have not seen many a Blue in this temple since...well, in quite some time.” Cielstrasza commented, reviewing her records. “Kalec made record of his journey to the Kirin Tor, but Dalaran makes no mention of his attendance at last check.” She gazed from her records towards Dalaran, it’s spires barely visible through clouds and peaks beyond.

“The beacon atop the Nexus was ignited not one week ago was it?” Ciel gazed at the two of them. “Perhaps you met a few of your brethren there?”

“We were there” Aben commented, looking down at Maren’s bandaged but nearly healed hands. “But it is Kalec we seek.”

Ciel rolled her eyes, “Well why didn’t you say so? I’ve been scrawling through this. I was about to send you the way of Senegos,” She shut the book. “Seek the Kirin Tor, they will likely know where Kalec is.”

Maren paused for a moment, “Senegos? The old man’s still alive?” She quizzed, met with a nod. “Headed for the broken isles along with a good solid number of the flight, but we’re talking quite some time ago.” Ciel replied, Maren turned to face off the edge of the temple, her back now to Aben and Ciel.

Aben looked towards Dalaran then turned his head towards Ciel, “Thank you for your time Cielstrasza, and your information.” Aben looked round towards Maren. “Are you alright Maren?”

“Senegos will know what to do.” She whimpered, breaking her point with a solitary breath that became a sigh. “I need to go to him. If Kalec isn’t available he will know what to do to break the arcane prisons.”

Aben smiled, nodding. “Daren will be less likely to locate us if we split up, he knows we’re headed for Kalec but I doubt he’ll suspect we’re headed for Dalaran.” He added, “But, if I find Kalec and Daren is put down. I’m coming to find you, okay?”

Maren smiled. “It’s a deal.” She cupped her hands together, gathered a small amount of arcane power and dropped it off the edge of the temple. “I suppose this is goodbye then?”

Aben shook his head, “Never goodbye, always see you later.” With that, Maren stepped off the temple and into the portal. With a sudden gust of wind she was ejected into the skies above the Broken Isles, in a swirl of cloak and a tuck into a dive she roared into her dragon form and darted down. Aben gazed down into the portal with a brief smile before it dissipated.

Aben drew in a deep breath. “Been awhile since I’ve done this…” He dashed forwards, shimmering out of existence at the end of the temple and reappearing almost a mile away atop the mountain. He breathed out hard, bracing himself against the titan structure and turned his gaze up towards the flying city. One more breath in saw him repeat the feat and appear upon a tower balcony in Dalaran.

“What have I told you mages about blinking in up here?!” Alfred Copperworth barked, “The last one of you that tried that got skewered on the railings. I’m not cleaning it up if it happens again.”

“Sorry.” Aben scratched behind one of his ears, ducking his head down. “And the last one before that was still doing terminal velocity after jumping from a gryphon above and forgot the damned spell!” Aben ignored Alfred’s complaints and made for the exit from the Purple Parlour and towards the streets of the great floating city. He was almost at the bottom of the stairs of the great spire, before he connected hard with someone going up the stairs, the shoulder against chest connection spun him round on his feet. Ordinarily a quick buffet of his wings would have rebalanced him, instead he flailed expecting a hard fall but instead was stopped mid air.

“Might want to watch where you’re going next time.” The ginger haired human smiled, a firm and surprisingly strong grip on his hand, holding him off the edge of the steps. “Next time?” Aben quizzed, the firm grip pulling him back to balance. “Pah.” He added, “This is both the first and last time I intend to be here.” The human grinned, looking Aben up and down. “They always say that.” Whilst Aben’s gaze remained fixed on the human, the human’s sly hand let slip a tome into Aben’s empty pocket on his robe. In but a second he let his hand go and stepped out of his field of vision, Aben sniffed a familiar smell. “About Dalaran...or about time?” He turned, the human gone. “Bloody Bronze dragons and their puns…”

Aben took a few steps forwards, reaching into his pocket. His fingers connected with something that felt both strange, but awfully familiar at the same time. “I thought I’d put a book in there.” He convinced himself, pulling it from the pocket he gazed at the shimmering front. “The Ariadris Incident.” He sternly looked at the title, the magic so familiar to the bronze had not the same effect on a blue dragon. “This isn’t mine…” He sighed. “Now I need to find Kalec and that bloody Bronze…”