Deception (a World of Warcraft Fanfic)

My Dearest Friend Baine

Saerah's P.O.V.

The breezes felt from the valley were nothing less than a sauna. The oranges, reds, and tans of the city all looked blurred into one due to the heat. In the distance the Orcs of Orgrimmar appeared to be green smudges. It was such a contrast to the mild climate of the Hinterlands I enjoyed just hours ago.

The city was bustling more than ever. There was no denying it was the heart of the Horde. Carts full of baked goods ran up and down the roads, which were lined with chophouses where you could buy meat from the finest butchers in all of Azeroth. The crowd was not welcoming, though. I soon found myself shoved aside by refugees traveling from who knows where in the Horde.

My posse of grateful goblins had vanished, deployed to maintain yet another voyage. I was thankful to be on the ground again. I was told by General Goraff I had the day to rest and prepare for the feat ahead. He hinted that he expected me to train and upgrade my armor. I, however, seized the opportunity to explore Orgrimmar.

I did need new armor, but that could wait. I needed to find an enchantress who could help me decipher how to use my newly acquired orb of deception. A few Kor' Kron guards stood mobbed. They would know where one could be found. "Excuse me?" I said, they turned to face me.

"I'm searching for an adept enchantress or really anyone with general knowledge on the topic. Could any of you point out where to find
One?" There were five of them wearing a typical grunt's apparel, which was uniform throughout the city. Embellishments to the armor distinguished ranks. All were basic soldiers except one, who's rank I'm assuming is a sergeant. They were clustered in a way that made their job seem casual.

The sergeant gazed at me, his skin a paler green, he was very tall. His height almost matched my own. I could tell he had quite the ego, but not the position for it. He chuckled loudly. "What would a kid like you need from such a person? There's a sweets cart down the road if your interested squirt." He uncontrollably laughed at his joke. The others falsely joined in.

"I'll have you know I am a very important person summoned here by Garrosh Hellscream himself. I'm out running crucial errands to our success in the newly found land. Just tell me where I can find such a person and I'll be on my way." I felt snobbish as the words flew off my tongue. They had slipped right past my common spence and just flew out like nothing.

"Listen kid, don't make me angry. It'd be wise to bite your lip and walk away before I decide to publicly expose your lies." Every muscle in me felt moved to punch him, kick him, hurt him in any way I could. It enraged me when I was judged by my youth and not combat skill. Despite mourning over my shortened trip, I was actually great full my skill hasn't gone ignored for once in my life.

I felt three fingers rest upon my shoulder, pulling me away from the angered soldier. Frightened, I turned to see if it was another, trying to keep peace. Relief and joy overwhelmed me when I saw my rescuer. He stood very tall, covered in short, dark brown fur. His eyes were the color of a dessert trees bark. His black horns shone in the late afternoon light. It was Baine! I had almost forgotten he was coming.

"She's no liar," he said to the sergeant, "I can testify." He swiftly pulled me the other way. When they were out of sight he turned to me, "It's not wise to make enemies here."

"They wouldn't tell me where I could find an enchantress because I'm a 'kid?" I argued.

"Next time, ask a commoner. How was the trip? I offered to come get you myself, but the general insisted I stay so you'd have an incentive to come with him."

"It worked." Baine was the closest thing to family I had. Our parents were childhood friends, so when they died Cairne would often visit with Baine to check on me. When Cairne died, I was his shoulder to cry on. Though I was young at the time he claimed I understood the best. Rumors we were a couple spread, but since he's eight years older and I was never in one place, they quickly died. Baine had taken the role of a big brother to me.

"Why do you need an enchantress anyways? I haven't known you to be in to that kind of stuff." Baine's wisdom never let me get away with anything. Nothing went unnoticed by him, which makes Thunder Bluff feel all the safer to me.

"Lard gave me an orb of deception. I think I can use it to help on my mission. If I can look like the alliance, I can spy on them. I'm sure there will be other uses too. But first I need to understand it, learn how it works. Only then can I truly but it to use. "

He still looked dissatisfied. He bit his lower lip, a habit of his when he was stressed, and scratched his head. "Saerah, you must understand that I'm not in charge. These men are highly trained and take no nonsense. Garrosh is a true warrior, merciless. You know how I feel about him, you must understand my worry for you. I don't approve of his ways, but today I am a guest to his parts and must follow his rules. This new land he speaks of, I feel it will test more than the battle abilities you were alone chosen for. Keep your wits as sharp as your arrows, and only trust those with the same intent as you. May the Earthmother be by your side fighting in your favor." It was the way Baine spoke that gave him respect from wise men much older than him. I could tell his father was in mind as he spoke. He felt something wasn't right about this all. And now, deep in my thoughts, I was wary, too.

"Which is why I need them to trust me, find me useful. They can't hurt a know hero," I stated, trying to convince him the orb would do me good later, "this puts me one step ahead, makes me needed. I assure you if this works I'll return safe. Promise." He didn't trust Garrosh. Haunted by memory his view on my journey was bleak. We were each other's family, so I understood his pain, but my crave for adventure could not be satisfied by the borders of the known world.

"I- we, are nomads. Traveling is in our blood. I was not born to be bound to one place, and I never am in one, am I? You of all people, my best friend, my wisest ally, should trust I know what I'm doing." I hoped he'd understand.

He shook his head again, still not confident in me. "I know you know what you are doing, but I fear you are blind to the after effect."

"You should go enjoy the city. I'll find one myself. Perhaps I'll see you at dinner, I'm assuming you received the came guest accommodations?"

"Yes, I suppose I will. Please take caution if not. I doubt there will be time to chat after your appointment with Garrosh." His face was solemn, unreadable. He seemed stunned, his stride shorter and slower, I had to slow my pace to remain at his side.

"Farewell, until later. I'd love to stay, but I have affairs of my own to take care of." I departed, looking back after a few steps. He stood there like a statue, watching. He wasn't all there today, his mind somewhere else. I have never known Baine to be like this, always a very collected person, not easily bothered by something as simple as another of my hunting trips. Did he know something that I did not, or simply didn't notice? His jumpy manor made me feel uneasy.

Maybe mastering my new trinket would restore some faith in me from my dearest friend.