Warcraft 3: Broken Blessings

Chapter 13

Kael'thas was readying the last of the ships to go a half day later when he got word that someone required a meeting with him. At the sight of Illidan walking up to him with a sensation of calm around him, he knew that everything had to come out at long last. When Illidan was calm, it meant he was keeping himself from killing the one he was seeking out. "Master. I know why you're here. And there is a reason I didn't say anything about her."

"You have five minutes," Illidan growled.

"When I heard you wanted to meet with her, I was trying to get her back to my side before reporting to you. She was already gone when I heard this," he said quickly. "I had to get her to trust me. I was going to introduce you to her when I knew she would be secure. Look..."

"What?" Illidan asked. He knew that Kael'thas was telling the truth now. When the charged sphere was revealed, he was in shock of the power that radiated from it. He didn't need his eyes to tell him that this particular item was exceptionally powerful. He carefully reached out and took it in his hand. Just by merely holding it, he felt empowered. "What is this?!"

"Her name is Rosalia. Her father was from a bastard child from the Menethil family line. The same line that lived in Lordaeron. She's related to Prince Arthas this way. She is a true princess. Her proof was a ring that her father was given to pass down. Anyways, she has the soul of a Sunwell. When I first saw her, I saw an overflow of raw, undiluted magic unlike anything I had ever seen. With the merest touch, she charged the same sphere that you're holding now. She can save my people just by living with them. And, if she can charge magical artifacts..."

"I see..." Illidan thought aloud. He knew he had to keep the sphere on him for now, and Kael'thas already knew it was no longer being given back. Then Illidan stood up tall. After a moment of controlled silence, he backhanded Kael'thas in front of his troops. "That is for not telling me about her when you first found out about her!"

"Yes...Master..." he winced from where he found himself slumped over from the new pain in his lower jaw. Illidan was clearly pissed about all of it.

"It's the kindest punishment I can give you. Because, if you never planned to tell me about her at all, I would not be leaving here with you alive!"

"I really was...trying to get her back..." he coughed and straightened. The bruise would show for a while, but he would heal it later. "I panicked when I heard you wanted to see her."

"I can get that. Where were you going?" Illidan asked.

"I was given coordinates on where to meet Rosalia at. Here," Kael'thas said and led Illidan to where the chart was. The map was studied, and Illidan shook his head when he heard what the coordinates were. He knew the coordinates were false.

"Who gave you these coordinates?" he asked.

"Perhin did. My Commander," Kael'thas said. "It was confirmed with the others."

"And you believed him to be true? Look," Illidan said when he pointed to a part of the shoreline. He was very accurate in his pin-point for being sightless. His magic guided him. "I know this area. It's only rocks and trees. The only safe places to land are here...and here..."

"They were trying to divert me?!" Kael'thas gaped.

"Yes, they were. Wouldn't you do the same, if you were trying to be kept from being followed?" Illidan snorted. "If we leave now, we can get to this northern-most area. It's the best place to set up a small base camp. I can have Lady Vashj escort us to ensure we are on the right track. I have other Naga waiting for us there. And why didn't you leave with them?"

"They only brought two ships. I offered to get more, but they couldn't wait. With the Scourge coming in from all sides, I was lucky enough to escape with a portal spell with my troops."