Above the Stars and under the Flames

7. It Begins

Soft, agile footsteps blended with heavy, plate-footed ones as Lorithiel and Koran made their way through the streets of Stormwind, with a baggage-laden Dimpy clopping faithfully behind. Koran's face twisted sourly as they approached Weller's Arsenal, but he said nothing.

"Remember," Lorithiel murmured to him, "he has done nothing against you. The father may have wronged your family, but the son is not to blame."

Koran grumbles something indecipherable beneath his breath. "The whole lot of 'em are fiends, I tell ye. Keep 'im in check, an' I'll still join ye." This earned him a disappointed sigh from Lorithiel, but the two continued onward.

Koran had taken much convincing, but eventually, Lorithiel had managed to assure him that she would keep a sharp eye on Darren during the trip. The elven woman was fairly certain that the dwarf was just being prejudiced, but nevertheless, she agreed to be wary just for the sake of quelling his misgivings.

As they entered underneath the wooden sign, Lorithiel tied Dimpy up outside, and Koran took a deep breath and held it, physically having to contain himself as they both entered the shop.

"Darren White?" Lorithiel called, peering around the store. "It is Lorithiel Shaderunner. I've come to join in your company."

A moment later, a head popped out from behind a corner, an excited grin plastered upon its face. "Miss Shaderunner! Splendid! I'm all packed and ready to-" He stopped abruptly, eyes widening in shock and annoyance. Lorithiel followed his gaze, though she really already knew exactly what he was looking at, and after further investigation, she found that her assumptions were correct.

"What is he doing here?" Darren asked sharply, pointing at Koran with his eyes narrowed.

"Oh, you're one t'a talk, ye cheeky little bugger! The sass of ye, I ought t'a come over there an'-"

"And what? Give me a death glare for absolutely no reason whatsoever? Because that's about all you've been doing every time you lay eyes on me in town. Honestly, it's laughable how much worse your bark is compared to your bite."

"'No reason whatsoever'? What the hell do ye call larceny an' dishonesty, you knave?!"

"I never set a single finger on anything that wasn't mine!"

"Oh, so that's how ye got yer hands on th'bloody sheath that ye sold just a couple of damned days ago? Because it was rightfully yours? Not at all stolen from me grandfather, ye twit!"

Lorithiel was beginning to regret having told Koran where she purchased the sheath while they were walking from Stonethunder Armory to Weller's Arsenal earlier in the evening.

"The sheath was yours? How was I supposed to know?! It came into my possession when my father died without a will! He never told me that he stole it!"

"Oh, because it's that hard t'a guess, is it? It's not like he's a known criminal with an enormous record! Magni's beard, an' I thought yer dad was as daft as they came! I guess I was wrong!"

"I never-"

"ENOUGH!" Lorithiel bellowed, shooting glares at the both of them. "Stop your bickering. If you can't figure out a way to get past your differences, then you can both make your journeys to Kalimdor on your own." Her tone softened a bit. "I appreciate the fact that you both were so eager to accompany me, but if you can't get along, then you'll only serve to give me a headache."

The both of them muttered quietly to themselves, but eventually shrugged a bit and hung their heads. Lorithiel took this as compliance, so she got down to business. "Right," she said, heaving a sigh and placing her hands on her hips. "Where are we off to? The Mage Quarter, I presume? That is where your friend probably is, yes, Darren?"