At the news that Baron Rivendare had arrived, everyone immediately abandoned Rhode and surged toward the entrance. 💥👺 🎉👻
Rhode followed along with interest.
A middle-aged man in splendid clothes approached them. His hair and beard were slightly gray; he looked to be about forty.
Behind him walked a man and a woman, one on either side.
The man wore mooncloth robes and was probably a mage.
The woman wore a practical short outfit with a longsword strapped to her back. She looked like a warrior.
"The one in front is Baron Rivendare," Norn quietly explained to Rhode.
"That male mage should be their family's chief mage, Maleki."
"And the female warrior is called Alyane. She's a formidable fighter."
Rhode nodded slightly.
Of course, the name Baron Rivendare was familiar to him.
However, Rivendare was only a baron. He hadn't been present when Rhode was made an earl and then a duke of Lordaeron, so the two had never met.
And wasn't that Maleki a minor boss in the Stratholme dungeon, called something like "Maleki the Pale"?
He wasn't familiar with the female warrior named Alyane.
By then, the three had reached the crowd, and Baron Rivendare spoke:
"Welcome to my home, everyone! I hope you enjoy yourselves before we head north together to witness the duel between two extraordinary mages and cheer Mage Rhode on!"
His words prompted a babble of voices throughout the hall, all praising the baron's generosity.
Rivendare lowered both hands, signaling for quiet.
Then he continued, "However, we'll only be spectators in Quel'Thalas, and that won't be much help to Mage Rhode. We should do our part!"
That set everyone talking again.
"It's a duel between the two of them. All we can do is watch."
"How could we help?"
"Exactly. Even if I were