“We meant to give no offense,” Maiev said. “We are strangers passing through this land, and we sought only food and shelter.”
“You should have come to Telaar. Our people would have provided you with both, and perhaps other things beside.” The Broken looked at her camp again. “So many young draenei led by so few strangers. There is a story here that Arechron would like to hear.”
Maiev perked up at that. Perhaps there were allies to be gained—maybe even an entire army. “I am sure we have much to tell each other. If it suits you, I will guide my people to your city and have words with your Arechron.”
“I will leave some of my people to be your guides as I go ahead to give notice of your coming.”
Maiev hoped he was not merely heading off to prepare a trap.
Telaar was an impressively fortified place. Situated on top of a flat mountain peak that rose above a deep valley, it had no need of walls. The only approaches were over rope bridges or from the air. Unless they used magic or flyers, any foe would find it a difficult place to besiege.
The rope bridge swayed beneath the paws of Maiev’s nightsaber. The great cat stalked on, but she could sense its pulse increase as it looked down. Through the slats of the bridge, Maiev could see the ground a long way below. If the Broken wanted to kill her people, all they would have to do was cut the ropes supporting the bridge. Of course, that would mean killing the Broken and draenei with them. Maiev had known enough leaders willing to sacrifice their own people to achieve their ends that she did not discount the possibility.
A crowd lined the edges of the town, trying to get a glimpse of the approaching force. They did not push or shove one another, but they did not have the lassitude she had come to associate with the Broken, either. They appeared to be armed and no doubt would fight if they had to.
It was with a sense of relief that Maiev rode off from the bridge. She paused to look over her shoulder and check on her people. She was happy to see that they were still there. Apparently Arechron planned no treachery. Not yet, anyway.
In the middle of the crowd, surrounded by spear-bearers, stood a particularly huge Broken of noble aspect. He was garbed in impressive armor of orange and purple. Four long tendrils descended from his face. His tail swished as he moved.
“Achal hecta, and welcome to Telaar,” he said. “I am Arechron and I would give you welcome in my house.”
Maiev said, “I thank you for your hospitality and look forward to speaking with you.”
They rode along the mosaic-patterned road, through the open spaces of Telaar. Around them rose the odd, domed buildings so typical of draenei architecture.
Maiev studied it all with the eye of a veteran fighter. She noted the areas where ambushes might be sprung or archers could be placed. Every moment, she half expected to be attacked. She had spent so long in the field these past few years that every town felt like a trap, and every citizen a potential enemy. The knowledge saddened her, but she did not relax her vigilance.
Maiev glanced across the low table, studying Arechron. The Broken had an open, honest face and a welcoming manner, but she had long ago learned that such things could be deceptive. She was determined not to let down her guard even for a moment, although she gave no sign of her suspicions.
The chamber walls curved. Thick carpets lay strewn on the floor. A Broken boy pulled aside a beaded curtain and stared in, quite clearly fascinated by the newcomer. Maiev met his gaze.
“Corki,” said Arechron, “go to sleep. It is past your bedtime and I have business to discuss with our new friend.”
“Yes, Father,” said Corki. He made no move to go.
“Corki!”
“Yes, Father?”
“Do as you are told, or there will be consequences.”
“Yes, Father.” The child’s hooves clopped on the stone floor as he skipped away.
“He is a good boy, but I indulge him too much,” Arechron said.
Maiev agreed, but it did not seem politic to say so. “You are his father.”
“I worry about him sometimes,” Arechron said.
Maiev saw her opportunity. “As a parent, you have a lot to worry about. We live in dark times, and they are getting darker.”
Arechron nodded his head. “You speak the truth, but the Light will preserve us. It always has, and it always will.”
“I wish I shared your faith,” Maiev said.
Before she could say anything further, the Broken interrupted her. “Faith in the Light is open to all. All you need do is believe.”
Maiev saw a quagmire of theological debate yawning before her. “Oh, I am sure that the Light watches over us. I am not so sure that it can protect us for very much longer. The Betrayer seeks dominion over Outland. Already he has recruited tens of thousands of fel orcs and other monstrous beings. I have seen the naga working on great magical engines amid the waters of Coilfang Reservoir. I cannot believe that they are up to anything good. I know their leader, Lady Vashj. Believe me, she is wicked.”
Maiev let her sense of urgency show in her voice. It was a speech she had given many times before, and it had succeeded in convincing the draenei youths who had joined her force. But Arechron was not a youth. He was an experienced leader, albeit with a sentimental weakness for his son. That was her best line of attack. “If you wish your child to have a safe future, you must do something soon, before Illidan the Betrayer has overwhelming forces at his disposal.”
Arechron raised both hands in her direction, palms out. He gave her a good-humored smile and said, “You do not need to convince me of the threat that Illidan poses.”
“Then I can count upon your help in the coming struggle.”
Arechron gave a small shrug. “It is not quite that simple.”
Maiev forced a smile upon her face. “I find that such is nearly always the case in Outland.”
“I have heard of you, Maiev the warden. I have heard of the way you go from town to town and village to village in search of soldiers for your crusade against the one you call the Betrayer. I have heard that some of the younger and more impetuous draenei follow you. I am neither young nor impetuous.”
Maiev was tempted to add nor a fighter, but she clamped her mouth shut and kept her smile in place. She was not back on Azeroth now. She could not simply show up and expect help as she could among her own people. The Broken needed to be convinced to do the right thing. She was used to this reaction from the draenei elders. They were very conservative people and very cautious. The younger ones were braver. That seemed to be the case wherever she went.
“Believe me, I would like to aid you, Maiev. I think that you are right about how powerful Illidan is. I do not wish to draw the attention of such a being to my small town.”
“You are afraid,” Maiev said.
“I am not ashamed to admit it, but not in the way that you think.”
“Fear is fear. If you allow it to rule you, it does not matter what you are afraid of.”
“It is very easy for you, is it not? You ride from place to place, spinning your web of words, and young fighters follow you. You do not have to think of the consequences of your actions. You do not have to think about our young people dying.”
Maiev stared hard at him. “Many of my people have given their lives to end Illidan’s reign of terror. The night elves you see outside, my officers, are what remain of the mighty force that once followed me in pursuit of the Betrayer.”
Arechron steepled his fingers and nodded. “You can fight your guerrilla war and disappear into the wastes to escape the wrath of your foe. I cannot. My people cannot. We have homes here in Telaar. We have children.”
“I wondered why you introduced him into the conversation so early.”