Prestor turned around and said in a serious tone, "Korialstrasz, I recognize you. You must be here for your queen, right?"
Before Krasus could ask again, Prestor quickly replied:
"Like you, I have suspicions about Alexstrasza, but I lack evidence. I've dispatched a Dalaran Mages named Rhonin; no one is more suitable. I will assist him in his investigation in secret. I have a feeling the truth lies hidden in the mountains of Grim Batol."
Krasus hesitated before asking, "Why is my queen involved with Orcs?"
Prestor frowned and said, "That's exactly what I can't understand. The Blue Dragonflight has been raising Orcs for ten thousand years, Red Dragon Queen supported the Orcs' invasion of Azeroth. There must be some reason for this. I know some things, but it's not complete. Regardless of whether this investigation concludes or not, I promise to tell you everything."
Having said that, Prestor strode away, but suddenly turned around at the corner, his voice carrying far away:
"Go find Rhonin immediately. King Terenas has dispatched a special force. Believe me, they are not here to provide aid."
Vereesa Windrunner doesn't like to wait.
As the youngest of the famous Windrunner Sisters, Vereesa holds a prestigious position in Silvermoon City. The reason she accepted this escort mission was at the request of Silvermoon City Ranger-General, her second sister Sylvanas Windrunner.
Sylvanas had long been aware of the threat posed by the Dragonmaw Clan and kidnapped the Red Dragon Queen. With the help of the Whelps, the Dragonmaw Clan's situation wasn't too bad and was still within tolerable limits, since the Dwarf Gryphon Riders were capable of fighting the Whelps.
What if adult Dragons are sent to participate in the battle?
Silvermoon City is too far from Grim Batol for the High Elf elves to reach.
This escort mission gave Sylvanas an opportunity, although she was unsure of Dalaran's intentions.
Originally, only an ordinary ranger was needed, but after careful consideration, Sylvanas decided to send a skilled scout to investigate the strife between the Dragonmaw Clan and the Red Dragon Queen. Vereesa Windrunner volunteered to go.
Although she is the youngest of the Windrunner Sisters, Vereesa is already an experienced ranger, especially skilled in jungle and mountain warfare.
To Vereesa's surprise, she waited at the dock for three whole days.
"Are all Dalaran Mages this unpunctual?" Vereesa felt a strong aversion to the mage she had never met before; he was probably an old man with a long beard who needed assistance to walk.
This is a dangerous task, which may require saying goodbye to family and preparing a coffin and burial plot.
Vereesa made malicious guesses, when suddenly, her long ears caught a strange sound. Vereesa nimbly crouched down. Although Elf rangers were not skilled in magic, they knew how to use their surroundings to hide themselves. As if she had vanished, her figure disappeared.
Rhonin saw the slender figure in the distance, taller than a human woman, with thick, beautiful hair revealing long, pointed ears.
It should be the Elf ranger protecting him. Rhonin doesn't think it's a protector; it's more likely a watchdog of Dalaran.
The clever Rhonin used a mage's invisibility spell, intending to bypass Vereesa and let the Elf ranger wait. He would pretend to miss the opportunity and travel alone by boat to Grim Batol, where no one would be watching him, making his actions much easier.
For example, fleeing when things look bad.
He had only taken a few steps when Rhonin was grabbed by the back of the collar, and a cold voice asked:
"So you're the mage sent from Dalaran?"
Rhonin regretted wearing a mage's robe, and could only nod helplessly, asking curiously, "How did you find me?"
Vereesa looked at a row of faint footprints on the ground.
Rhonin really wanted to slap himself.
The Elf Ranger's abilities went far beyond that. What Rhonin considered to be very light footsteps sounded to Vereesa like the scurrying of a Kodo.
"I am Vereesa Windrunner. You are late, wasting three precious days." Vereesa sized him up unhappily.
Rhonin gave a vague reply, "I need to take care of some things; many old friends are seeing me off."
Vereesa had no idea how Rhonin had gotten through those three days.
Three days was the maximum delay they could manage. Rhonin pulled every string he could find to try and get rid of this mission, which was practically suicidal.
Friends in Dalaran, family ties, a certain Archmage 'd only met once—I'd thought of everything I could think of.
Unfortunately, this task was like a stubborn piece of chewing gum, impossible to refuse.
Rhonin could only head there in despair.
"I didn't expect Silvermoon City to send such a beautiful woman," Rhonin remarked.
Vereesa has always been confident in her looks and figure, and knowing that Rhonin's praise was genuine, her anger from waiting for three days subsided considerably.
"We've been delayed for a long time. I find it strange that you, with your secret mission to Dalaran, haven't been provided with a ship."
Vereesa looked at the young Rhonin with suspicion.
In Dalaran Mages's strength is usually proportional to his age; a young mage with low strength would be committing suicide by going to the lands of dragons and Orcs.
Rhonin feigned composure and said, "This is all for the sake of secrecy."
"Is this guy really trustworthy?" Vereesa, somewhat confused by Dalaran's actions. She didn't press further, simply urging, "The ship bound for Khaz Modan won't be waiting for us for long."
Rhonin said nonchalantly, "Why the rush? Perhaps we can take the next ship. Wait, my collar."
Vereesa disliked delays. She grabbed Rhonin by the collar and dragged him forward. The Elf ranger was very strong, and the frail mage was nothing in her hands.
"You can't do this! I'm a mage from Dalaran, Krasus's prized student. Do you know Krasus? He's one of the Council of Six. I'm the next leader of Dalaran! Hey, let me go first, let me have some water."
Although Rhonin tried his best to delay, by the time the two arrived at the dock, the ship had already missed its departure time.
Unfortunately, the Kul Tiras ship bound for Khaz Modan didn't leave, as if it were waiting specifically for Rhonin.
Stepping onto the ship, Rhonin's face was ashen, and he collapsed onto the deck like a rag doll, having lost all his strength.
The ship sailed away from the dock, Vereesa ignored Rhonin, heading off to find her room on her own.
Later that evening, Rhonin knocked on Vereesa's door, his eyes filled with anticipation:
You'll protect me, right?
Vereesa noticed footsteps behind Rhonin. The unfortunate mage was being watched as soon as he boarded the ship, but this was a secret operation, and there were no Orcs on board.
Could he be here for revenge? Perhaps he owes someone money, or maybe it's a romantic debt. I've heard that the Dalaran Mages has a very chaotic private life.
Vereesa had no intention of getting involved, and said calmly:
"If we encounter Orcs or dragons, I will do my best to protect you, but I'm afraid I can't do anything else."
Rhonin's expression immediately fell, and he pleaded desperately:
"You can't do that. I'm willing to pay extra."
Vereesa yawned and said, "I'm not interested in gold coins, and there's nothing about you that appeals to me. I'm sleepy and need to rest."
Rhonin leaned against the wall, slowly sliding down until he landed on his bottom.
"What do I do?"