** DOUBLE AWARD WINNER IN THE PROSE FICTION AWARDS 2017**
Imagine finding yourself in Azeroth for real, a parallel universe of the game World of Warcraft and knowing of certain events about to occur. What would you do? Who would you trust? And would...
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When she woke, she was in plush surroundings, very unlike where she had woken the previous morning. Her head was surprisingly clear, although she flinched as she touched her forehead. Was that a new bruise? "Arrgh!" she mumbled to herself.
"She's awake!" Lukha's unmistakable accented voice echoed round the bed-chamber.
Sarah looked towards the door as Khadgar entered. His face was serious, deadly serious and he looked tired as if he hadn't slept all night.
"Get dressed. Now!" he said curtly, then exited the room as quickly as he had entered. Sarah cringed. What had happened last night that made him so brusque with her? Had she offended him? Or anyone?
Lukha laid out a robe of midnight blue silk. "Put this on Sarah," she said. Her voice was shaking. She busied herself placing fresh undergarments and shoes next to the dress.
"Where are my own clothes? And why are you both so...odd with me today?" Sarah dragged herself out of the bed. Once upright she didn't feel quite so good anymore.
"Your own clothes are covered in drunken vomit ..." Lukha said as if it was of no consequence. Sarah made a face, utterly ashamed at that bit of information. How humiliating. Maybe that was what had made Khadgar so short with her. It was hardly lady-like behaviour.
Lukha continued, "... and we are...odd, as you put it because what you told us last night is terrifying - if it is true."
The Draenei took Sarah's arm and led her through to a washroom adjoining the elaborate bed-chamber. There next to a wash-hand basin were some toiletries; soap, facecloth, a tube of what appeared to be toothpaste and toothbrush next to it. A bottle of scented water accompanied them. "I'm not using someone else's toothbrush," she protested, a sneer tracing her lips at the mere thought.
"Everything is new," Lukha retorted. "Khadgar conjured them all for you."
"Oh!" Sarah said, taken aback at the Archmage's thoughtfulness. She opened the scented water and sniffed the fragrance. She smiled. "What is this?" she enquired of her appointed nursemaid.
