Partners or Enemies

Anger, anxiety, and panic filled Alleria's mind. She looked at her sister with bewilderment. She had been happy to greet Vareesa, but when she learned what had happened, she thought it was a joke. It wasn't until Vareesa produced Sylvanas's handwritten letter that Alleria completely lost her composure. As Quel'Serrar Ranger-General, Quel'Thalas's pride and joy, she lost her composure for the first time in front of her family, revealing her bewildered expression to her sister, and even becoming somewhat incoherent.

"This is impossible! Nathanos... How could this be? Red Dragon... Black dragon! And Gryphon and Paladin. What... What happened? Why didn't they save him?"

Vareesa was clearly startled by Alleria's gaze. She wanted to say something; on the way back, she had carefully considered how to explain things to Alleria, but she held Sylvanas's report in her hand, which already explained everything clearly. The key was whether Alleria could accept it. And now it seemed that the leader of the Windrunner family was simply unable to accept it.

The two Female Elf remained silent, the only sound the hushed breathing of each other. Alleria didn't rebuke Vareesa; it would be pointless. She paced back and forth at her desk, her hands making various gestures—sometimes clasping together, sometimes covering her forehead. Her eyes shifted constantly, filled with a profound sense of despair. For a moment, Vareesa thought Alleria was about to shed tears. But Alleria didn't. She stopped, her gaze fixed on Sathoryl on the weapon rack.

"I'm going to save him."

"I'll go with you!"

Alleria looked at Vareesa in surprise. She should, of course, refuse her sister's request, as it was an extremely dangerous journey. But there was something else hidden in Vareesa's expectant gaze—a sense of responsibility. The High Elf Ranger-General swallowed the words she was about to say. She sighed softly, "Alright!"

"Look here!" Sylvanas pointed to a pine tree that had just collapsed. "The whole tree was uprooted, and there are quite a few marks around it. Something must have flown overhead at high speed to create this scene."

"You mean Deathwing?" Rhonin asked.

The Ranger swordsman nodded in response.

"Looks like we haven't lost our way." Falstad turned to the green-skinned guy behind him and said, "You!" He pointed at the Goblins, whose ears twitched. "Your head is spared for now."

"Thank you, thank you, Dwarf. My name is Kriel, it's a pleasure to meet you," the Goblins introduced himself, flashing an almost maniacal smile.

The Ranger stood up and clapped his hands. "Kriel, how far is it from here to Grim Batol?"

"It's not far, it's not far, Lady Elf. Soon you will see that magnificent fortress."

Falstad grabbed Krell by the back of his collar. The Goblins were tied behind his back, and a rope was tied around his waist, the other end of which was wrapped around Falstad's shoulder. Nevertheless, Rhonin and the Dwarf didn't believe their guide wouldn't try to escape. Falstad kept a close watch.

"I know where Grim Batol is, but I've never been there by land. Why don't we ride Gryphon and Dragonhawk over there? That would be faster, and we could check if this guy is leading us on a detour!"

"Then do we still need this Goblins?" Rhonin reminded him.

"Yeah, I've been itching to smash this guy's head in with my hammer for ages."

"Enough! There are dragons here, you two idiots!" Sylvanas sneered.

Kreel forced a smile, though he almost thought he was about to die. But this smile had absolutely no effect on races other than Goblins.

The Dwarf muttered a few words of resentment and glared at the Goblins with disgust.

Sylvanas deeply questioned why she had even bothered traveling with these two; it was utterly pointless. She looked up at the darkening sky. "If we want to cover as much ground as possible before nightfall, we'd better continue now. But before that..." The Elf pointed her sword at Kreel's throat. "We need to resolve this issue first."

"How do we solve this? Either we keep going with him, or we do something good for the world and reduce the number of these annoying Goblins!"

"No, I plan to let him go."

The Dwarf's thick eyebrows furrowed. "I think that's very unwise."

Standing to the side, Rhonin also objected, "We can't be sure if this Goblins is an ally of the Orcs. If he goes to inform them, we'll be in danger."

"No! I will not kill prisoners, and we no longer need him." She retorted with a sharp look. She knew that if the Dwarf and mages understood Elf, they wouldn't continue arguing with her.

Sure enough, the two of them nodded, though they seemed to be doing so very reluctantly.

"Okay, we'll do it your way."

Sylvanas was pleased. She skillfully cut the ropes binding Kriel's wrists, then loosened the noose around his waist. As soon as he was free, the Goblins jumped and danced around, seemingly overjoyed at his release.

"Thank you, kind lady, thank you so much!"

The Ranger placed his sword against the Goblins's throat once more. "Before I let you go, I have a few questions. How did the Orcs subdue the Red Dragon?"

Falstad didn't seem to like the question. His eyebrows furrowed again. "What do you want?"

She pretended not to hear his question. "Hmm?"

Krall's eyes widened. His face slowly turned a pale green. "This is a trade secret, kind lady!"

"Answer my question," Sylvanas said sharply. She had always believed that only violence could make the Goblins would seize any opportunity to profit, pay even a little less attention to their own lives.

Kriel swallowed hard before shaking his large head up and down. "It's... a golden disc that can control the Queen of Dragons."...

Grim Batol

"A golden disc?" Nathanos stared wide-eyed at Grot, who looked furious. The left side of his face was a dark purple, showing signs of swelling.

"Yes, a golden disc. He was playing with it when I brought Ner'zhul food. But my sudden intrusion seemed to startle him. The lame guy immediately put the disc into the pouch at his waist, accused me of not informing him beforehand, and he also..." Grot stopped, covering his left cheek with his hand. It seemed Ner'zhul hadn't held back at all when he punched him.

"It seems that thing is very important."

"I think so too. Now that I think about it, it seems like Ner'zhul always carried that thing with him."

The human took a sip of hot wine and nodded. "Perhaps that's the device that controls the Red Dragon; it must contain immense power."

"Perhaps you're right, but I have some news about what you asked me to investigate last time..."

Nathanos immediately cast an expectant look at him.

"I should congratulate you, you're about to become a father," Grot grinned, his smile dripping with sarcasm. "That dragon will lay its Dragon Egg in another day." His eyes reflected Nathanos's disappointed and angry expression. The other shook his head frantically.

"No, we must hurry..."

"You can't be serious, Sylvanas," Falstad said in a low voice. He was in such a bad mood that he called the Ranger by her name. "You still want to rescue the Queen of Dragons?"

Rhonin's eyes lit up with delight, thinking that the Female Elf was really as Falstad had said, otherwise why would Sylvanas have asked Kriel this question? But the truth disappointed him greatly.

"No, I'm going to kill her!" The Female Elf didn't care how her words would affect those around her. "The Red Dragon have been enslaved, that's a fact, but it's not an excuse for them to absolve themselves of their sins. I will make them pay for the souls that died in their flames. If they want atonement, they should go and speak to those who have fallen, and I... would be happy to send them on their way." The Female Elf spoke her last sentence softly, sending a chill down Falstad and Rhonin's spine.

"Maybe... but maybe not." Rhonin offered his opinion cautiously, but it still drew strange looks from the Ranger.

"You seem to have a more unique perspective, Master."

"What I mean is..." Rhonin swallowed hard, changing the subject, "Our main objective is to rescue Nathanos, isn't it?"

Sylvanas scrutinized him, the light reflecting from her eyes piercing Rhonin's gaze like rays. The mage wanted to look away, but found he couldn't. To do so would be tantamount to telling Sylvanas he was guilty.

"Of course, this is my primary goal."

Her words pierced Rhonin's heart like a sharp arrow. She said "I" instead of "we," meaning she had never truly believed Rhonin, or that she knew the mage had ulterior motives.

Unbeknownst to him, fine beads of sweat appeared on Rhonin's forehead, but thankfully the Ranger had already shifted his gaze to Kriel. The Goblins, still wearing an awkward and comical smile, cautiously retreated step by step, quickly leaving before the Female Elf's gaze turned cold. Who knew if the capricious Elf lady might change her mind?

"Do you really want to go to Grim Batol?" Falstad asked again.

Without a second thought, the Ranger continued, even though Sylvanas's mission away from Quel'Thalas hadn't required her to do these things. She knew she had to. For... for Alleria, she told herself.

"What kind of question is that, Lord Falstad? You can leave if you don't want to, anytime. From here on, I can manage on my own."

The Dwarf shook his head vigorously. "You want me to leave you in this godforsaken place with this guy?" Falstad pointed at Rhonin, only to be met with a furious glare from the mage. "No, Elf lady! I would never abandon a beautiful lady, no matter how skilled you are... Let's go together!"

"Me too." Rhonin glanced at the Dwarf and continued, "Nathanos is in danger because of me, and I will never abandon him."

Sylvanas nodded, said nothing, and continued on her way. Rhonin followed at the back, able to clearly see the Ranger's back, wondering if she truly believed him, or if she simply didn't. Sylvanas's reason for bringing him along was likely simply because she knew they shared a common goal, and that his abilities might prove useful in a crucial moment. In any case, they could now focus on their journey.

'She's going to kill the Queen of Dragons!' he reminded himself, though he doubted Sylvanas could actually do it, but hatred was a terrible weapon. Rhonin had to be cautious; perhaps Sylvanas was an ally now, but what about later? She could very well be an enemy.