Chapter Text
Wrathion watched as a hole in reality opened into the newly expanded cellar. The image beyond the portal showed golden sand dunes. A moment later and a waterfall of sand began to pour into the room. His Talons pushed the sand away, spreading it out over the floor, covering the fire-enchantments inscribed into the stone.
It wasn't a proper black dragonflight nesting spot, but the heated sand would work just as well. He didn't have the resources to maintain a cavern filled with magma according to his mages. It was... fine. He wouldn't need this space to be a nesting site for long, after all. Once the eggs had hatched, the space would become a cozy sleeping den. Wrathion nodded his approval and quickly climbed back to the main level of the manor.
Provisions were being laid out in organized bundles in the kitchen. Much of it was hardy campaign supplies as might be found in a military camp or expedition. Evie and Brigette Wildwind, the caretakers of the manor, were overseeing all the cooking. Everything made was being stored in smaller containers and magically sealed. Wrathion nodded to them as he passed by. In the great hall, small personal tents were being opened and examined near stacked camping gear. The mages were hard at work on their own projects and took up the majority of the room.
Wrathion watched as mages Neseema and Sunrise finished enchantments on a crate. From the outside it was normal looking, but the interior was where it got interesting. All of the inner sides were covered in sigils and glyphs. These enchantments secured the crates against temperature change and burning. They were structurally and magically reinforced against being crushed, and were artificially lightened so they would be easier to carry. A soldier in full kit could carry four before they became awkward and physically hard to hold onto.
The materials cost for the enchantments needed had been massive, more than any standing army would have been able to afford, but worth every penny. The most expensive parts had been the high-quality leycrystals used to keep the crates charged. The small number of precisely sourced and cut crystals was also why they only had a limited number of crates; just thirty. Wrathion had wanted to use all of the crates in every trip, but he'd been cautioned that they would need to have spares on hand in case something happened. The creation of these crates was taking more time than they had... so they'd had to cheat.
Neseema and Sunrise had left with one of the Timewalkers and returned two days later, having taken a month to perfect their spells and source the needed materials. The materials had begun to arrive at the Stormwind safehouse the next day. With everything on hand, the two were able to instruct the other mages and assemble everything very quickly. Wrathion had been concerned they would be drained of magic and unable to go, but they had assured him that they would be fine.
They would probably have to cheat a bit before they left, but it was what it was. He gave the draenei and the gnome an approving nod before he turned his attention to the next item he wished to check into - their accommodations for the duration of the excursion.
"Prince Wrathion," a growling voice called out. Grey approached as Wrathion turned. They grey-furred worgen's eyes were hooded as they scanned the area. His ears twitching back and forth in agitation.
"Master Grey."
"We have a situation."
Tess liked mornings in Stormwind. She missed mornings at home- "No," she thought. "I miss when things were simpler and everyone was alive."
Tess shook her head and sipped her morning coffee. Below her, the morning rush of traffic was picking up. Vendors were putting their wares out in front of their shops. Now that the weather had turned, they were doing that more often than not. Still, most of them were also pulling out colorful awnings in case of the inevitable shower. In fall and winter, Stormwind could live up to its name, but the spring was far more gentle. "It's the most like home in the springtime here. Probably why I'm feeling nostalgic." There'd even been some fog this morning.
The bakeries and cafes which catered to the early morning/late night crowds had already been doing brisk business when Tess had returned to the city. She found herself often in their number, usually coming home in the small hours of the morning. She'd tried not to become a regular at any of them, but there were few enough she was recognized at all of them now. "At least they don't seem to know who I am," she mused. "Well, Valeera had warned me I probably couldn't achieve total anonymity without giving everything up, so I supposed it's fine if I get a friendly nod." Tess kicked her feet up on the balcony's railing. She watched the sky change as she ate the pastry she'd picked up in the mage district.
Tess liked her little apartment. She'd bought the building and put it in Lorna's name. One couldn't be too careful, after all. What Gilnean noble would expect to see their princess sharing living space with the daughter of her father's greatest and most infamous opponent? SI:7 probably knew, but she wasn't as concerned about Master Shaw and his ilk. Valeera had suggested letting them have some information would make them stop looking deeper. Lorna's name on the lease also provided a bit of distance between Tess's activities and her father. It was was good for him politically and good for her personally. She loved her parents, but sometimes she didn't like them.
The bottom floor was home to a tailor who always paid his rent on time and lived in a small apartment behind the shop front. The second floor had a separate entrance and consisted of a single generous living space with two lofted bedrooms on either side. Tess had claimed the side with the covered balcony. Lorna referred to it as her "perch" but she was of cheeky rebel stock and couldn't be helped, so Tess graciously ignored her comments. It afforded some decent views for watching the foot traffic below, and allowed for very easy access to the city's rooftops. It also gave her some private space to go over her findings.
"So let's see what we can make of this mess," she thought as she spread the documents out before her, using the plate to hold some of the rolled scrolls open. She had the pile of notes summarizing everything she'd learned over the past few nights following Wrathion's Talons. A second document was a very hastily made copy of a SI:7 report on their activity in Stormwind city, proper. She'd acquired a copy of a bill of sale for a manor in the Duskwood area. Tess was far from the only person who bought things and put other names on the documentation. The most interesting documents were the copies of other bills of sale for one thing; leycrystals. Small but of exceptional quality and cut. The ones she knew he'd obtained on the black market didn't have receipts, but the ones purchased in Dalaran and in Stormwind did.
Wrathion's people had been buying many of these crystals in the last few months - always a draenei and a gnome together. Their descriptions changed a little showing they were attempting to employ some manner of disguise, but it was a bae minimum. The gnome always had a shade of dark hair and one of the dranei's horns had been replaced.
Other Talons had been obtaining tents, crates, preservation spells and reagents. They'd been far ranging in use and purchases had been made in many cities across Azeroth. Tess had been able to piece things together fairly well because much of that business had been conducted through Dalaran, even if the final pieces were purchased in Orgrimmar, Stormwind or even Booty Bay.
Since the march on Icecrown years prior, Dalaran had become home to a number of businesses and merchants whose sole purpose was to outfit adventuring parties. Both the Explorer's League and The Reliquary needed many of the same amenities. During the campaign against the Lich King, they'd quickly established offices there as well -- which had only solidified that market in Dalaran. Now, expedition outfitters in other cities inevitably got some of their goods through Dalaran and/or their headquarters were there. If the goods didn't come through Dalaran, the coin eventually did anyway.
Dalaran since it's reopening was once more a very lucrative crossroads, but there had been some lean times prior to the readmission of the Horde. Wrathion's business had been notable. In fact some of the merchants had loudly noted their windfall of business by celebrating in the public taverns. There had been a few grumbling archaeologists who were bellyaching about backordered goods because these new clients had bought the available stock.
Tess spent a lot of time in Dalaran now and had contacts of her own in the city beyond the Uncrowned who were habitually present. Through her various channels, she'd been able to follow the money back to a certain black whelp. "You're up to something big, dragon. What are you doing..."
The investigation into his buying on Dalaran had led her to follow some other Talons. These were far more canny and she'd not been able to get as close as she would have liked. It also meant they were deployed to get the more important things. Gold was being spent almost certainly, but it wasn't obvious what exactly was being bought. These deals were under the table and did not appear in any books. Some, like the conversation she'd observed a Talon having with a farmer's son on market day, didn't appear to have changed anything at all, despite the bag of gold passed between them.
Looking at who had been spoken to, however, there was a clearer picture. She'd noticed the trend after the third person but now after seven... It was as if Wrathion was recruiting people to start a garrison. And while he had some space in Duskwood, and while some of the goods were being moved there, very few of the people were moving there. "You were already in Draenor... So where are you going now? Back?"
SI:7 was aware his Talons were operating out of a safehouse in Stormwind, but they didn't know what they were doing there or about the other safehouse in Duskwood. Or at least Tess didn't think they knew about that one yet. The Talons were very good at evading notice. In fact, if it hadn't been for Wrathion's capture by ogres on Draenor, they probably would have continued to operate without being spotted.
With Wrathion's capture, their activity had increased enough to be noticed - and it didn't hurt that a member of SI:7 had participated in his rescue. "Or that the crown prince had gone as well." Tess smirked into her coffee. But it seemed that Wrathion had been a busy little whelp once he'd returned to Azeroth and the flurry of activity prompted by his capture hadn't really settled. There were indications some of these plans had been ongoing long before his capture. Or at least, that had been Tess's original supposition. Now she had another theory. A crazy theory. "And if I'm correct, we might be able to make a deal."
She'd been able to observe the manor directly, twice. It was a veritable hive of activity, but they were being very cautious and the guard posted had been quite good. She'd been better. Tess had been forced to use a spyglass from a greater distance than she'd wanted, but she'd confirmed the goods were being packed for travel and he was mounting an expedition of some sort. She'd also seen more dragons, which was probably the most surprising thing. Wrathion did not like other dragons.
Tess put her documents back into their folio and sealed them. The burner enchantment would turn them to ash if they were disturbed, but she doubted they would be. She rose, taking the folio, plate and mug with her. She'd need a shower, a nap and then later she'd be making a little trip to the countryside to go herbing.
There was something off about the tauren picking flowers in Duskwood. His fur was far too shiny and he didn't move like someone deep in the heart of a traditional enemy's territory. No Tauren she had ever seen had golden eyes, either. From afar, she'd mostly witnessed the few red whelps flying in their dragon shapes but at least two liked to be dwarves. She thought she'd found another, and this one liked to be a tauren. He was busy picking medicinal herbs and was far from the manor house. Tess had been out earlier to supplement her herbing from the day before and much closer to the manor house had been picked clean of usable herbs.
Tess retreated back a little ways and then stopped being silent. It was harder than she thought it would be. Every crackle and step in the underbrush made her want to wince, and she could just feel the frown Fethri, the Sentinel who'd been her first teacher in Darnassus, would have given her. It did the job though. The probable-dragon looked up, ears perking and rotating towards the noise.
Tess put on her most charming court smile, the one used at holidays. "Hello, there!"
"Uhm. Hello?"
"Good morning! I see you're picking herbs. I have some silverleaf for you. And some mageroyal. It's not really the season for peacebloom I'm afraid," she said, showing him the basket of herbs she'd collected the day before with some from that morning.
The probable-dragon-but-certainly-a-healer looked keenly interested. "Oh!" He paused, frowning, suddenly concerned. "Thank you, but I don't have any gold-"
Tess waved a dismissive hand as she continued forward. "Don't worry about it. Let's call it a gift. My name's Tess."
"Rustrastrasz," the now confirmed red dragon said. "Though the humans have been calling me 'Rusty,' so I suppose you could call me that as well."
"Well, it's lovely to meet you, Rusty." The smile turned into the one used with the children at holidays. There was something youthful about the dragon so this was probably one of the whelps, though with dragons it was very hard to tell how old they really were. "Even worse than elves."
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Well, I was hoping to run into someone like you, actually. I saw you were picking herbs so I thought I'd bring a little gift to help make the introduction smoother," Tess said. "You see, I'm looking for Wrathion, and I'd hope I could find him or one of his people."
"Why- oh! Wait,- Tess... Are you Tess Greymane?!"
"I am," Tess said, smile faltering as she took a half step back at the outburst.
"Well! It's a pleasure to meet you! I heard all about how you helped get Wrathion away from those ogres on Draenor!" The dragon said, grinning broadly. His face fell a little as he sobered. "Our brother would have been dead for sure if you hadn't come to rescue him."
Brother? Tess wondered. "Kalecgos and Jaina did a lot of the heavy blasting but Valeera and I stabbed the ogres we could," she said airly as her mind spun down new paths. Brother?
"Ah, but everyone helped and for that we're grateful." The dragon nodded and huffed out a satisfied sound. "He's where he belongs. Finally."
"I didn't know Wrathion had any siblings," Tess said cautiously.
"He didn't either!" the dragon said, chuckling at his own joke. He grew more serious once more. "We're not blood, but we're bound together. Rheastrasza was our mother. He was meant to hatch with us."
"I see," she said, though she wasn't certain what the connection was. She proffered the basket of herbs.
"Thank you!" he said, accepting them. "Come on, I'll show you around. I'm sure he'll be happy to see one of the people who helped save him!"
Tess was fairly certain that would not, in fact, be the case, but she fell into step with a cheerful smile. The dragon's hooves made a terrible racket as they walked through the forest. "So, tell me about yourself?"
And he did. At length. 'Rusty' was the third of four dragons to hatch in his clutch. A fifth sister had died with their mother. They and their father, Voloristrasz, had decided to go with Wrathion after he'd left the care of the Red Flight once his injuries had been healed enough. Tess now had names to go with the dragons she'd seen, including the father and sister who liked to be dwarves, and a confirmed number.
Wrathion's egg had been the work of their mother, Rheastrasza. She had intended to raise him with her brood. She and Voloristrasz had been friends of Wrathion's mother Nyxondra before the flight had gone insane. Deathwing had ruined Rhea's plans. But now it seemed these reds thought it was a grand reunion and had adopted the black whelp as one of their own. Tess had to fight to keep her astonishment and amusement at bay. "I doubt he likes that, but they must be useful or he'd have been get rid of them. One way or another."
Despite his free chatter about learning with the Talons' healers, and the history of his brood with the Black Prince, "Rusty" did manage to avoid talk about Wrathion's current plans. But what he didn't say all but confirmed Tess's suspicions. As did the familiar pandaren-shaped, bronze dragon Tess had last seen leaving the red flight's territory.
"Well, this is a pretty set up," Tess said, as she was led into the heart of Wrathion's operation. The manor house was large but not incredibly so. They had a number of yurts set up and tucked under trees or covered in greenery to avoid notice from overhead. There were a great many Talons on hand packing crates and stacking supplies. An outdoor kitchen had been made to process and smoke meats which were being portioned off and packed. The old stable yard had been cleared and repaired and now served as a small smithy.
Her guide called out to his father, sisters and brother, but they weren't the only ones to take an interest. "Some of them are downright dangerous criminals if you believe their wanted posters," she thought. But for now at least, if she had the dragon on her side, she could eventually get to speak to Wrathion. "Time to make myself useful."
"Here," she said, taking the basket of herbs she'd brought and the one Rusty held. "Let's get started on processing these. These were going into healing potions, right?"
"Yes. You know how to make those?" the dragon asked, curious.
"Top marks in alchemy," she said, heading for the little tent with a canvas covered in drying herbs laid out in front. There was a tauren inside, a real one, who was hovering over a bubbling cauldron. Tess caught a whiff of astringent salve as the wind shifted. She put on her diplomatic smile and bobbed her head in a greeting.as she entered the tent. "I'm here to help. Where would you like these?" She rattled off the herbs collected.
The tauren blinked at her then pointed. "A day or less into the pile on the left."
Tess nodded and began sorting. "Would you like me to strip the stems for more salve or are you using the whole thing for potions?" She asked over her shoulder.
The tauren's ears perked up. "Potions. I think we have enough salve but you can never have too many healing potions."
Smiling, Tess set to work. Her eyes were on the rest of the camp as her hands worked through the familiar motions of preparing herbs. Surprise had given her an opening, but soon enough their lord and master would emerge.
"What is she doing here?"
"The big red kid, Rusty, brought her in a little bit ago. Not sure why. I just got back from patrol and found her like that. My prince," Grey's ears flicked back then forward, "she's a woman of... certain skills."
"I recall." Wrathion looked across the courtyard where the raven haired princess was industriously cutting herbs for his healers. He could spot two knives and it was likely she had at least two, maybe more, he could not see. She'd accompanied the party Right had recruited to retrieve him from the ogres - alongside Valeera Sanguinar. The deadly pair had clearly worked together before. She had been so unexpected an addition, Wrathion had thought to set his people to looking into her more once things were a bit settled. It was too late for that, now she was here. Fortunately, Grey hailed from her country.
"What do we know about her?" Grey did not, as a rule, talk about his former life before he'd become a Talon. Wrathion knew he'd been a guard or a soldier or something, but he had respected the worgen's desire not to talk about his past... But it was important now for him to know what Grey knew.
"Princess of Gilneas and now the sole heir. Older brother died to the Banshee's black arrow at the battle." Grey paused and Wrathion let him have the moment, but hoped Grey would be quick. Wrathion cast a wary eye back at the unexpected intruder.
Master Grey frowned, ears pricked forward as he watched the princess while gathering his thoughts. "She's smart. That's what I remember most," he said, voice soft with memory. "Head for numbers and complicated alchemical potions, but she caught on quickly to just about anything. Always asked questions, always within what was proper but... She was leashed." He clenched his jaw a bit as if chewing on all the things he could say but didn't want to.
"She wasn't trained before the exile began. That's happened since. I know General Feathermoon had her in Sentinel boot for a while, but that wasn't nearly what we saw on Draenor. Was shocked to see her there. Training like that is not something her father would have approved of. Ever. I tried to do some quiet digging, but I haven't had much time." Grey paused again. His eyes met Wrathion's. "I didn't find much. I don't know what her goals are or who trained her, but she's good . I saw for myself and some things-" He cut himself off and shook his head. Grey's voice dropped lower and he leaned in close, gold eyes very serious. "I do know one thing - she's Uncrowned."
Wrathion's blood ran cold and his stomach dropped. "I see."
"The slayers of kings, the downfall of empires, the unseen blades that write the true history of this world." Or so the saying went. They were a loose organization of some of the finest rogues on Azeroth. Learning they existed wasn't entirely easy; joining their ranks even less so. But it gave Wrathion some hard facts; Tess Greymane was both talented and extremely lethal.
"Well, I think I have kept our new guest waiting long enough." Wrathion squared his shoulders, inclined his head to Grey in thanks for his information, and strolled into the courtyard with studied nonchalance. She looked up as he approached. "Princess."
She inclined her head slightly. "Prince Wrathion. Shall we sit and talk a bit?"
Wrathion ground his teeth. He indicated the long tables used to feed everyone in the evenings. He took a seat but kept a wary eye on her. Left stood close and he knew Right would have found a perch by now. Wrathion took a seat. Greymane finished what she was working on then joined him, sitting across from Wrathion. The courtyard was silent as the two sized one another up.
"Are you here to kill me?" Wrathion asked.
She looked surprised and perhaps a little amused. "No."
Wrathion studied her for a long minute, looking for the deception.
"Killing you now after I helped save your life on Draenor would be somewhat silly," she told him. "I'm here to talk."
"What could we possibly have to talk about?" Wrathion asked. He waved a hand and some of his people dispersed back to their duties while others remained on guard.
Greymane smiled then her expression became serious. "You have had to make some hard choicest. The rot in my nobility isn't quite the same as the madness in your flight, but I understand what you had to do. I am in a similar position and must do what is necessary."
Wrathion frowned. Interesting . It wasn't often anyone said they understood the reason for his actions against his own flight. Few but his Talons had ever expressed such. He gestured for her to go on.
"In particular there is an element which has arisen among the nobles from Gilneas. I think their particular madness has begun to spread into Stormwind. I have been working with others to eliminate this threat but I have recently come to suspect they have been making connections within the more shadowy organizations on Azeroth."
"The Uncrowned," Wrathion said, letting her know he knew. "What does that have to do with me?"
She tilted her head in acceptance of what he knew. "What I want is friendship. Your organization is global, discrete and independant. What I would like is for you to be one of my sources of information. Exclusively. I would want you to decline to answer inquiries into my business, and to decline to make similar agreements with others. In return I will act similarly. Anyone comes to me for information on you and I turn them away. If you might have use for some information I have, well, friends tell one another things, don't they?"
Wrathion snorted a laugh. "A promise of information so you can fight your own war, while I am exposed to whatever enemies you might make? Please."
"Well, I did save your life," Tess said, smiling sharply. "So you already owe me. And then there is what you're doing here. I could be quiet about that. Tell you what I know and how I know it." She nodded to the courtyard at large.
Wrathion rolled his eyes. "And what do you think I am doing here?" he asked rhetorically.
Tess smiled. She folded her hands on the table and her dark eyes glittered dangerously. "You have been making unusual purchases for the last few months. Ley crystals. Reagents. Alchemical things. You are also investing in the components for heating spells and incredibly potent protection spells."
Wrathion fought to keep the sneer on his face.
"You've been buying expedition supplies," Tess continued. Wrathion held a snarl - his agents had assured him anonymity! "Enough to outfit several into a wide variety of climates and locations." Tess paused for a second to let it sink in, then continued.
"Now, someone might think you were planning on going somewhere, perhaps to acquire something valuable. Given the leycrystals and other alchemical reagents, one might conclude you are following in Nefarion's footsteps, stealing eggs from protodrakes or cloud serpents to enact your plans, whatever they might be," she said. Wrathion relaxed. She might have been connected, but wasn't nearly as smart as Grey thought she was - or even as smart as she clearly thought she was.
The princess continued. "After all, it isn't like you would be able to steal dragon eggs, seeing as there aren't any, anymore." She paused again and Wrathion began to tell her how pitifully wrong she was and to leave, but she held up a forestalling hand. "However, they would be wrong. Because you made a deal with a bronze dragon for access to time."
"That device was taken," Wrathion said. "You saw the bronze take it from me." He could hear blood in his ears. It grew louder as she shook her head at him.
"That device back in your possession," Tess stated with absolute certainty. "So, what I think you are doing here, is you are planning to use that device to steal eggs from the past, probably before your flight was infected with madness or you'd just have to deal with the same problem again. You plan to bring them forward in time to restore your flight. Once they're here you plan to take them elsewhere. Possibly else when . And then the whole lot of you are going to grow up and train before the Legion comes."
She nodded towards the house. "The alchemical supplies are for treatments for potential mental disorders, just in case. The expedition supplies are for your trips into the past. The enchantments and protective wards are for transporting the eggs. You've been recruiting a garrison's worth of more people, probably with the promise of riches if they work for you to provide food and shelter until you can do it yourself in whatever safe pocket of time and space you've found for your flight." She let the silence linger between them. Wrathion's heart was thundering in his chest, a scream was clawing at the black of his throat. "Am I close?" she asked.
Wrathion took a steadying breath. "And you?"
"And me?" she asked, arching a dark brow.
"You, a member of the Uncrowned. A Princess. I cannot imagine how fascinating your father would find that information," Wrathion returned. Had she twitched? Was he imagining the tightening around her eyes. "One has to wonder what manner of training you've clearly had, and who gave it to you, because I do not think your dear father would approve."
Wrathion relaxed a bit as her expression became more flat. Two could play at the informational blackmail game. How dare she waltz into his territory and drop an ultimatum on his lap!
"Your word against mine. Mine is in far better standing," Tess retorted. "After all, we're still fighting a war on Draenor that you started."
Wrathion clenched his jaw. She'd admitted to killing off nobles she didn't like. Wrathion didn't give a damn, but others would. Those deaths had probably been what Grey had been alluding to before. "And killing Lords? Well, that's hardly proper princessly behavior."
Tess's smile was sharp. There was no guilt and no remorse in her eyes. Most disturbingly, there wasn't any fear. "No. It isn't." Wrathion swallowed, because there was pride in her bloody work. "You could tell my father," she said. "He wouldn't believe you."
"But the ones you are hunting would."
Her smile was sharp and cold. "They would. I might have to call in some other favors to make sure my mother and father remained alive. And it would get more messy than I want. But I would survive. It might even solve my troubles sooner to cut through the bullshit. But we would not be friends." She wasn't smiling anymore.
Wrathion silently considered. She had a flank she wished to protect and in return she wanted information. She'd said she was willing to explain how she knew what she did. Wrathion had dismissed the comment before... But she knew a lot. She'd somehow figured very nearly the entire plan. If she had figured it out then who else had?
"What assurance do I have that you won't walk out of here and tell the world what my plan is. There are many who would love nothing more than to see the Black Flight never return to Azeroth." He couldn't kill her. She would be missed and having her go missing was the surest way to expose himself that much more quickly. But could he let her go?
"I can give you my word," she said. She glanced to the side as she thought for an extended moment. She refocused on Wrathion. "I will help."
"Help?" He had to laugh. "You? A princess? Help a black dragon?"
She gave him a sardonic smile. "Don't confuse me with Wrynn," she said, though not which one. "If the Legion does come as you claim they will, I would much rather they face a sky full of angry dragons than not. All the black dragons we've had to deal with have been the corrupted kind, and the sane dragons I've met have been decent people. Besides," she nodded in the direction of Voloristrasz working at his anvil, "you have him and the bronze. This mission is somewhat approved of. You wouldn't have the means to do it otherwise."
Wrathion sat back. "And you just want information."
She nodded. "And your promise of exclusivity."
"I want the means you used to uncover my activity."
"Done."
Wrathion thought for a moment. The panic was receding and some other opportunities were being made clear. Could she be an interesting source of information? She'd mentioned reciprocating. "How much do others know?"
She shrugged. Tension eased out of her posture and she relaxed back into her seat across from him. "I'm fairly confident SI:7 doesn't know about this place yet, but your people have been very active since you came back from Draenor. Enough they have shown up in Shaw's activity logs. Given everything that happened on Draenor, some of that seems reasonable, so I think they're just watching for now. He could potentially put it together if he had all the pieces. "
"What pieces didn't he have?"
"Not sure he knows about all the things you're getting through Dalaran. Ley crystals and expedition gear are the big ones. I followed the money there."
Wrathion scowled. He gestured for Right to come over. She left her perch and joined them. Left was listening intently. Tess went over how she'd come to the discoveries she'd made and with each revelation Wrathion grew more concerned someone else might have stumbled onto his plans.
"But the real giveaway is the bronze artifact," Tess said. "One of his people was there on Draenor too. She heard and saw everything I did. When I assumed you had that device again, everything made sense. It was also easier to track down more purchases which just reinforced my assumption." Tess nodded in the direction of the panda-shaped dragon working to rapidly dry meat with her magic. "And she's not really subtle. Once I saw her it was just a confirmation of everything."
Wrathion growled to himself. "What are the chances that your issues will spill over into mine."
Tess inclined her head. "Fair question. Probably very little unless you take an active role in certain circles and get involved beyond information. It sounds like you'll have your hands more than full though, here."
"Yes, we are busy. Thank you for your offer of exchanging information. I accept. We'll be in touch if I need anything."
"We'll be in touch tomorrow to go over the plans," a new voice interrupted. Wrathion scowled up at Jiandormi.
"I don't think we need outsiders helping," Wrathion said.
"She has the skills we need," Jainadormi said. "She is very good."
Wrathion scowled. "I sincerely doubt that is the sort of help being offered, Jian." Wrathion stood up and inclined his head to Tess. "Thank you for dropping by, please never do it again." The princess smirked but rolled to her feet easily.
"We need her," Jiandormi insisted.
"As if she'd want to go with us," Wrathion countered. He waved the princess off with a dismissive gesture.
"I have some conditions," Tess said after a moment of consideration
Wrathion's head whipped around. He scowled at her.
"I won't spend years at your garrison or wherever you're planning on going." Tess was focused on the other dragon. "And I want your guarantee, bronze, that I won't be left in the past. I'll give you some months of time, but not a year."
"You know most people don't think of that part," Jaindormi said, cheerfully. "What makes you think I can promise that."
"You are a bronze dragon. You must know something about how this ends up."
Jiandormi wagged her hand. "Some. Not all. I can say no one is left in the past."
Tess's eyes narrowed. "Or the future?"
The bronze looked delighted. "Or the future," she agreed.
Wrathion glared at Jiandormi. "Must we?"
She nodded. "Our odds of success are better the more people we have who are good at remaining unnoticed."
"How many more do you need?" Tess asked, her tone considering.
"We're fine," Wrathion said.
"Oh, as many as we can get!" Jiandormi said at the same time.
"Tomorrow?" Tess asked.
"Dawn," Jiandormi confirmed, nodding.
Tess pursed her lips, considering. "Might have an extra hand by then. We'll see." She politely nodded at everyone then gave Wrathion a shallow bow as to a peer. Then she turned her back on them all and left the manor's courtyard.
Wrathion waited until she was beyond the gates before turning on Jiandormi. "Are you insane!"
"No. She's very good. We can use her."
Wrathion growled. "I want our traces erased. You heard what she said." Left and Right nodded. He gestured at them. "Then go make sure no one else can come to the same conclusions." They left to do his bidding.
"It'll be fine, Wrathion. You'll see. You're already friends with the prince of Stormwind-"
Wrathion snorted.
"Having a friend in Gilneas can only be a good thing."
"For your sake I hope so," Wrathion said.