11. Burnt Offerings.

Dusk formed a dull shade of grey. Kaz strolled down the river north of the Allerian Stronghold, taking frequent minor stops to gaze at the sky. Each and every leaf seemed to mock him, each and every pebble would glare at him. The world around him seemed to close down on him, as if it would implode, tearing him apart soon.

But soon could never be soon enough. He almost wished for it. Oh, what a price it was indeed… She had given him a choice… And he chose what would eventually rip his soul.

Peaches… A hollow word now, a scream of despair echoing in his mind.

The price for a brief time of true happiness was his very soul… He realized now.

The Redridge rundown was a warning…The blackouts he had, were in fact part of his whole existence turning around to something new. He conflagrated a basilisk and sat by the river bank. The same river bank they should be walking together.

She clearly didn’t feel the same. And now Kaz was not the same either.

It was over.

A strange glow showed up in his eyes. And a vouch… “Never again…”

He had lost Lean and their daughter, Anule, upon dying… He came back up fighting.

He lost his best friend in unlife and he came back up fighting.

But… Losing her… was the final blow.

No woman will ever again be allowed to enter this heart. For it lies dead and stiff in his hands now, ripped off seconds ago. Kaz rised up on his feet, shuddering to get used to his new lifeform.

He walked up to a low rock and placed the heart on it. A few steps back and a last sight of it, before closing his eyes. He raised his hands slowly and immolated it.

Burnt offerings.

“Aznar… Don’t even dare to provoke me now…”

The imp widened its eyes and ran to hide behind a tree.

“Y- y- yes, master!”

Kaz glared at the imp.

He needed to find someone new… But not for love this time… He gave up on that. Hate is all that’s left.

He raised his eyes after a few moments… Dusk and her embrace gave Kaz a new way. The moon was cold and cruel. Cold and cruel…? An image struck him.

“Morsters…”

Kaz grinned.

10. Redridge Mind Lapses

The Shadows over Redridge’s from Kaz’s view. Describing the disconnects I had as blackouts in Kaz’s memory, indicating his nature is altering. On it.

9. Corners of Silvermoon

The meeting behind the cart in Silvermoon. Not written yet.

8. The Patriarch

The breeze of Shadowmoon Valley was the same as always… unnerving… It had been days since Kaz had given Edward the note for the Patriarch. Still, no response.

Clouds of worry derailed Kaz’s thoughts into nightmares. What should he do?

Morsters was as cold and unaffected as ever, simply doing what needed to be done. Seemingly unconcerned about the weird look in Kaz’s eyes.

“I need some repairs. I’ll fly to the village.” He said.

Edurne barely turned to look at him, but he knew that was nothing to be expected.

She arrived in the village shortly after Kaz, only to find him in a quite unexpected situation. The Patriarch was there… A twist of fate led them to meet randomly… Apparently, Weyland had not delivered the note.

The Patriarch granted Kaz some time for a private conversation. Morsters snorted, but Kaz wasn’t sure if she snorted for being left out or for being delayed.

The two Warlocks climbed the stairs of the Inn and reached an isolated balcony, offering them the privacy needed for such a conversation.

“I met with mr. Weyland in Silvermoon the other night… I gave him a parchment to deliver to you, asking a meeting. “ Kaz started out.

“Mostly we can’t tell if Edward is in the same reality as we are, but do continue…”

Kaz kept up. “The reason for this was some information I received… Some rather… disturbing information”.

“And what is this information you are talking about?” Timrashal inquired.

“The news received, spoke of your Marshal, Patriarch” Kaz said in a serious and abrupt voice, pausing for a few seconds to see Timrashal’s reaction, as the Patriarch stared down on him.

“I…suppose you are talking about Lordaeron’s ex-Marshal and not the current one?”

“Suppose I am talking about Mordan... if that’s making it clear enough.”

“Yes… Well I must inform you that such business really doesn’t concern you, sir Shadowstep… this is internal Lordaeron business”

“Patriarch, with all the respect. Anything done to harm miss Mordan does concern me.” Kaz left no margin for negotiation, still remaining calm as a baby.

Timrashal smiled.

“Well, suppose I let you in on internal Lordaeron ruling… please ask away…” said Timrashal, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Lordaeron is more than a banner, Patriarch, you know that better than I do.”

Timrashal nodded in agreement.

Kaz carried on “Miss Mordan was a Marshal. You surely know your Marshal better than anyone.”

“A Marshal admitting to cold-blooded murder, yes” Timrashal intervened.

“What would you suggest we did? Pat her on the head and give her warning not to do it again?”

“Did she not give you a reason?”

“She did… not one that justifies it though…”

“And… that justifies Faranel?” came Kaz’s response.

The Patriarch seemed to agree with Kaz’s objections, as Kaz interpreted his reactions to that, but still wanted to keep the flag up.

Kaz brought up the trial issue, to which Timrashal reacted angrily, stating that it was either Thrall’s justice or his.

“And how is Faranel better than any other form of justice, Patriarch? Tear her apart? Do unimaginable things to her?” Kaz’s hands began to tremble at the thought.

Timrashal apparently wanted this conversation to end, so he once again stated that it was internal Lordaeron business.

“So, was there something else?”

Kaz saw no reason to carry on, merely stated:

“Forgive me Patriarch… but as far as I am concerned, this is more than internal Lordaeron business. Miss Mordan concerns me in a great degree… and so does her wellbeing… And I will do whatever I can to keep it that way. So, no… there is nothing else”

Timrashal grunted.

“Well, if it eases your mind, miss Mordan is well, very well even.” Said the Patriarch, unaware that Kaz had already found her in the Caverns of Time, just the day before.

“It would ease my mind to know she will keep being that way” Kaz added.

Timrashal gave Kaz the one answer he was looking for: “She is unharmed, proof has been given to the Horde that Lordaeron doesn’t allow random murdering and she will take up her duties in due time.”

Kaz couldn’t help a smile.

“I take your word, Patriarch. Thank you.”

Timrashal nodded, before Kaz added: “And… be sure to call on my services if you need them. I do believe the Patriarch would not speak anything else but his real thoughts, so… I trust, miss Mordan will no longer be endangered”

“Well, I will not represent those dangers… or not while she doesn’t do anything wrong”

“Be sure to let the ones who represent those dangers… that I will represent their own danger” Kaz replied meaningfully.

Timrashal smiled and said “I’ll try to keep it in mind”

Kaz nodded in respect and turned to leave.

Downstairs, Morsters was waiting impatiently. Kaz beckoned her that all was done.

They set off southeast once more, to infiltrate the Path of Conquest…

Kaz’s thoughts no longer turned around Cybele… As if he had fulfilled his duties towards her… and no longer had reason to let his mind linger around her… It was futile after all… They had both changed…

It was nothing more than a story that never really started…

Kaz smiled coldly at Morsters and hurled a shadowbolt to down a pesky elf that almost killed her.

7. Meeting in flesh and bones

6. Edward

Hardly could Kaz expect the twist in the myth to come, as he was desperately trying to avoid open conflict with the imprudent, arrogant elf who was all over Kimri.

The arrogant whelp was more or less suggesting he could, gods be praised for the laugh of it, outpower Kaz… And the language, dear me, how arrogant can Blood Elves be at times…

Kimri turned to Weyland and asked of his view on the subject discussed, subject being that the Forsaken were some pitiful, smelling pile of bones, according to that sorry excuse for an elf, Astox.

Weyland traveled in his own thoughts.

Kimri’s kind mood towards her fellow elf had gone for a walk now. She was growing very unhappy indeed. “It’s not wise to make the Forsaken dislike you… They can make you suffer with just a move of their hand. Especially this one…” she said to the elf. “You will suffer”

Weyland sprung up at the quote.

“Ah-ha!”

“Yes, Edward?”

“You shall suffer as I have suffered… That was it! Hmm…”

“What is on your mind Edward?”

Kaz was going to be very sorry he asked.

“Well… Marshal, did call it eh… ‘Ghostminds’… Or something…Quite an accurate word…”

Kaz blinked.

The imprudent, irritating elf was all of a sudden as important as the carpet for Kaz. He lost focus of everything in the room and turned to face Weyland.

“Marshal?”

Weyland carried on. “But then again… Marshal is no longer Marshal it seems…”

“Which… Marshal, Weyland?”

“Yes… Marshal… ah… Marshal who speaks the word of Patriarch of course!”

“Yes… But which?

Kaz was not very familiar with the Lordaeron structure of order.

“Eh? There is only one Marshall.. Always…”

“Just tell me the Marshal’s name, Edward”

Kaz knew that Cybele held a high rank amongst her banner… But not exactly which one… He had to be sure.

“Hmm… Name?” Weyland asked himself. “We always called Marshal… Marshal…”

Kaz’s patience was long gone.

“Edward… Is it… Marshal… Mordan?”

“Mordan? Mordan Mordan Mordan?”

Kaz nodded.

“…Maybe…”

“Think, Edward”

“Yes… Maybe that was it... How so?”

“Where is she?” Kaz said in a slightly noticeable trembling voice.

“Eh… She… is eh… Ah yes!”

Kaz peered searchingly at Weyland, while Kimri muttered something about Astox, the insolent whelp from before.

Then the sky fell off and the ground shattered for Kaz, at the sound of a few words, coming out like poisoned daggers off the madman’s mouth.

“Patriarch made Marshal no more… Sent what remained of her to the Apothecarium, Patriarch did…”

A storm of words flooded his mind… No more? What remained of her? The Apoth-

Kaz froze.

“WHAT?!”

“Yes..”

Weyland kept his unaffected tranquility that his damaged mind offered to him. Kaz liked Weyland ever since he met him on his way to Epitwee, the Auctioneer. But at this particular moment, his calmness drove Kaz mad instead.

“T-The Apothecarium?”

“Well… Yes… We believe so…”

“F-f-f-… Faranel?”

It was all painfully connected now… Nilar’s anger, Faranel’s words, Kaz’s undefined worrying… The one Faranel talked about, must have been Cybele then… The only thing that kept Kaz from falling apart, was the memory if Faranel’s own words… “I need to find her again…”

“Ah… Faranel? Oh we recognize that name, yes…”

Kaz mustered up all his remaining strength to carry on.

“Edward… Listen to me… Pay attention. This is important. Alright?”

Kimri grew tired of arguing with the whelp and greeted the Undead, before she walked away.

Weyland turned to Kaz

“Ah… Alright.. heehee…”

“When did this happen?”

“Hmm… It was at the same time that we met Bloodlord, yes… It must have been…”

Kaz couldn’t even hear the elf’s inquiries.

“Yesterday?” he asked himself, as Kaz dropped to his knees. So it was her, Faranel was talking about. It was her, Nilar was worried about. It was… her.

“Or maybe 10 months ago?” Weyland carried on and led Kaz to the conclusion that nothing more could be learned from this poor fellow. He needed to pull a thread now.

Two meetings were in order. One of them was a sine qua non for Kaz’s future mental health.

He glanced at Weyland and scribbled something on a piece of paper.

“Edward… Take this to the Patriarch.”

5. A mix of worries

The sun was up already for hours… Kaz resumed from his trance. He looked around. Shattrath was once again full… Crowded… Noisy.

Kaz gazed from his ledge above the Aldor rise. The air was drier than in the past weeks. Some wyvern’s occasional fly-by, endorsed a thin, yet much appreciated breeze to caress his face.

The worrying sense was gripping tight his heart. The same heart she once touched in Stranglethorn, before she led his own hand to feel hers as well. It was black now. She was gone for weeks, without a word… He could never imagine it would end like that. Was this the price to pay for a few moments of genuine happiness? An eternity of grief? The savage loss of her altogether?

Fool… He should have known better than to accept that offer… He should have kept a distance… Seduce her… Manipulate her… Make her love him insanely before he did… But… He just couldn’t do that. Not Kaz.

He sniffed the air around him. No scent. This was a new torture to his already torn soul... Much harsher than any he had suffered so far.

Why did she leave no word at all? Not even a letter… He was tempted to contact her many times. But what if she just didn’t want to be contacted by him…? He respected that possibility and refrained from the mailbox altogether.

***

The scenery of Lordaeron drew up as a good distraction seemingly. Nilar was not easily affected, at least the little Kaz knew about him. What could it be that got the surgeon so irritated?

Kaz would avoid dealing with Faranel, if he could help it. So that source of information was out of the question for the time being. He just strolled up and down the Canals, after drinking that Potion of Invisibility a young priestess had given to him in Silvermoon some time ago. It proved of some use indeed. Now he was walking by other Undead unnoticed. Hoping to find a clue as to what disturbing events took place before Nilar’s anger.

“The Patriarch will be furious, Faranel” was the first thing that actually sounded interesting to his ears, while walking near the bank.

Two figures were standing underneath the stairs, trying to remain unnoticed. A magus stopped and looked at them with a strange expression in his face. Faranel returned the look and the magus swiftly turned his back and left through a portal. Kaz thought he clearly saw the Tauren major city through the traveling illusion.

“He should not bring her to me, then. He knows better” came Faranel’s blunt reply in a hissing whisper, shortly after the magus was gone. “But I need to find her again…There are many… things… to do to her still…”

Faranel’s tone made Kaz stumble back and almost fall in the greenish fluid. He was sickened. Infuriated. Worried. Anxious. Yet he knew absolutely nothing about what had happened or to whom Faranel was referring to. All he knew was that the Patriarch was involved in some way, good or bad, he could not determine yet.

Kaz stayed underwater to avoid Faranel spotting him, as his sloppy fall had alerted the twisted Apothecary. Faranel snorted and walked back to his quarters in a hurry.

***

The Brill Inn was Kaz’s next stop. A few sips of Cherry Grog, and the memory of Stranglethorn came back again. He went through his notes. Nothing even remotely close to any assumption as to that weird case of Nilar and Faranel.

But why was he so worried…? Perhaps he simply needed that distraction from the memories… and from his own, silent, inner cries of agony…

He sniffed the air again.

Nothing…

Kaz hang his head, drunk to the bone, and fell asleep on the table.

4. An unknown rival

A small fragment from Steamvaults, where Cybele warns Kaz about some rogue. To be written as well.

3. Another touch of Peaches (Stranglethorn Vale)

Haven’t written down about this second meeting.

2. A touch of peaches… (Tirisfal)

Kaz raised his look and glanced at the rising sun of Feralas. Betrayal, frustration and haunting past.

He had roamed for some time, trying to get the thoughts in his head to some order. The mercenaries asked him to leave due to some unknown devious plot of theirs… or their leader’s. Tyurru had joined them eventually. She must have had her reasons. Kaz was left stranded and alone. Silentbreeze, Runesinger, Fione, Kimri and Aelow stood up for him and he valued their support, but he couldn’t help feeling lost.

“Fight the legion…?” Sounded no different than what he had been doing all along. But who would help him fight his own past and stop clinging on it?

He nodded at Runesinger and retrieved his tabard once again to put on. Echoes of silent cries lingered inside his head. And a word that hurt… Devotion…

***

Kaz walked silently the terrace of light… Shattrath… A distant refuge. He stopped and closed his eyes. There was a scent in the air… a scent of… peaches... He opened up his eyes and looked around. He saw her… A warrior, a soldier, no doubt scarred by countless battles… yet so fragile, so naïve…

They talked for some time, when someone came. She seemed uncomfortable. Kaz felt it appropriate to leave her and her acquaintance and move on to Feralas once again. Little did he know of the future.

***

Shattrath… A vault of hope… The tides of events kept hurling hits upon his heart. Devotion? Right… The paladin had left without a word… He was left behind to wonder why. It had to stop… It had t-

Time freezed and the Aldor and Scryers alike, slided by, like blurred images in a dream, their voices echoing in the distance.

He saw her again. She seemed concerned…

“Meet in the World’s end Tavern?” he said.

The warrior nodded.

They sat and talked. Kaz confessed things to her that noone knew. He even told her his real name and his real story. She was so compassionate. So considerate. So pretty.

And that scent… Peaches…

***

Kaz walked up to the Brill innkeeper. He knew only too well the Brill Inn had no ale to sell, but he was prepared for that. He had some Darkmoon Special Reserve with him. He turned around to find a place to seat and rest his weary head and enjoy his drink… She was right there, across the room, fiddling with her papers.

Kaz walked up and talked to her.

“Cybele?”

She smiled. After some time, Kaz found himself opening up his heart once again. About his past, about the Dogs, about Tyurru…

But he couldn’t help noticing that she seemed burdened as well.

“Would you… follow me somewhere?” she asked.

Kaz nodded, although he appeared puzzled. They rode northwest through the Murloc village and across the sea to an isolated island. She stopped and sighed. “There is someone else there…” She turned around and headed for a hilltop on shore.

She found an open spot and made a campfire. They sat by it.

The moon was lacing the sea with a gracious white.

They spent the following hours there, together. He no longer thought of Tyurru. Only the undead warrior that was leaning on the ground beside him. She had managed the impossible.

Kaz realized she was not like the rest. He touched her hand… He caressed her hair… Kaz was looking for a way to express his feelings… But he just couldn’t. His hand started moving up, towards her face. He took a deep breath and leaned over to her. She closed her eyes and held her breath. Their lips united under the moon. The sound of the sea was all that was heard. She was trembling and unsure.

“K-… Fin’Doras…”

They had only known each other for so little time.

Kaz pulled back and smiled. It was the most beautiful few seconds ever since he died.

He had given up all hope for Lean… Or perhaps… Peaches took her place in his heart. It was the first time Kaz felt that way. He respected her hesitation and refrained from moving on. But god knows he wanted to…

“I won’t rush…”

Maybe the moon was to blame… Maybe that seducing scent of peaches… But he had surrendered to her, either way…

They parted and he headed for the Outlands again to give a helping hand to Kimri and Aelow in a dangerous dungeon. But this time, no betrayal in his mind… no frustration… no haunting past… just those few magic moments…

Cybele…

***

The guild was now set and ready to start off. Kaz walked up to Silentbreeze.

“We are ready to go”

The Tauren nodded.

“We have a lot to do. Let’s start… Sargeras better be prepared… Where is Fione?”

“She is busy setting up ways of communication.”

Kaz nodded.

“Let’s go then…”

***

Cybele…

He woke up in the middle of the night, calling her name.

Kaz was worried that maybe her former… involvement with Artemis would get between them. But he was willing to fight his way to her.

It was no secret that Artemis and Kaz had no love lost between them. He just hoped… that… it wouldn’t be a hindrance…

“I will send her a letter, asking to meet again” he thought to himself.

Kaz fell asleep again, his dreams filled with a gentle scent of peaches… a scent of Peaches.

1. The dawn of a Dusk

It seems I saved the wrong html page upon leaving the Dogs, so my Background story is gone with the Dogs forum. I will have to rewrite it at some point. Basic points are that Kaz was a Quel’Dorei, died during a Scourge skirmish, his wife Lean and daughter Anule were nowhere to be found. Sylvanas saw use in him and helped him break loose from the Lich King, once he became an undead.