Aggra's talbuk was a beautiful blue hue, and seemed feistier. Thrall's was, as she had told him earlier, "A mount suitable for novices like you, Go'el." Another slight from one who seemed to take great pleasure in insulting him just enough but not too much. He looked upon Aggra as one more test he must endure for the good of his people.
He liked his talbuk, Shuk'sar, well enough, and had no complaint to offer. The ride was bumpier than the smooth stride of the wolf, but he was growing used to it.
"Nagrand was lucky. It has not suffered as other parts of what was once Draenor have," Aggra said as they paused for water by a small, clear pool. "Other places are broken and harmed. We do what we can to learn here, and help others to help the elements elsewhere. It will never be the same as before, but it will heal as much as it can."
"I wonder if my world will be able to say the same," Thrall said. "You mentioned a place called the Throne of the Elements?"
Aggra nodded. "When we ask for aid from the elements to enact our will, we touch the spirits of those elements. Spirits of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water."
It was Thrall's turn to nod, and he did so, a little impatiently. "I know this. It was one of the first things Drek'Thar taught me."
"Oh? Good. Just making certain. I do not know how rudimentary your knowledge is, after all." She smiled with false sweetness and he gritted his teeth.
"Geyah said something about the elements having names here," he continued. "On Azeroth, having a name often denotes that these are particularly strong elementals. What is the role of these beings?"
"That's actually a good question," she said, though she offered the praise grudgingly. "These named beings are called Furies. They are extremely powerful elementals, but they are no more all that it is to be earth, or water, than a handful of soil or a drop of water is all that it is to be earth or water. It is a complex idea to hold in one's head."
Thrall sighed. "Whatever you think of me, Aggra, you cannot possibly think that I lack intelligence. Your continual insults are eventually going to harm your ability to instruct and mine to learn, and neither of us wants that."
Her eyes narrowed and her nostrils flared, and he knew he'd hit the mark. Her strong jaw clenched.
"No. You are not stupid, Go'el. I question your choices, your decisions, but I know there is a brain in your skull."
"Then, please, teach me as if I actually have the capacity to learn. It will go much faster and I will be able to return home that much sooner. And surely that is something we both want."
"True," she said bluntly. "If you grasp what I am telling you—"
"Which I do," Thrall said, barely able to be civil.
"—then let us spend the day traveling away from Nagrand. I will show you some of the other parts of Outland. I will showyou polluted water elementals and poisoned earth elementals. You can try to talk to them—or engage in battle with them, for they will not come to your call—and see how they feel to you."
"I have worked with corrupted and twisted elementals before," Thrall replied, nodding.
"Good. Perhaps you will find something familiar in their illness that can help you heal Azeroth."
He blinked. When it wasn't dripping sarcasm or contempt, her voice was husky and melodic. And her face, when not scowling, had a calm beauty that reminded him of Geyah. It was too bad she was so determined to dislike him. He would have liked to have her return with him to Azeroth, use her skill to help the Horde and Azeroth both. But even as these thoughts occurred to him, she seemed to remember how much she disliked Thrall, and frowned.
Clucking her tongue, she turned her talbuks head with unnecessary vigor and headed south.
"Come, Go'el," she said. "We ride to the end of the world."
"Things are changing," said Archdruid Hamuul Runetotem. He sat quietly with Cairne outside of Thunder Bluff, in the area known as Red Rocks. This place of jutting, rust - colored stones was considered a sacred site to the ancestors of the tauren. Cairne came here when he needed to think calmly.
He had therefore been coming here often since Thrall left.
"I agree," Cairne said. "When Garrosh proposed rebuilding Orgrimmar as soon as Thrall left rather than launching some kind of invasion somewhere, I was pleased. I commended him. Told him that showed he was a leader who cared about the well - being of his people, not an orc who was a personal glory - seeker." Cairne snorted. "I wonder, now. Considering what he did with the money."
Orgrimmar had indeed been rebuilt, but it was barely recognizable. All of the damaged buildings had been replaced, but not with the wooden, thatched, or hide - covered roofs that had been in place before. Citing a need to keep Orgrimmar "safe from future fires," Garrosh had commissioned metal instead of combustible materials. One could argue that his choice was a reasonable one.
One could also, as Cairne had upon beholding the new buildings in Orgrimmar, feel a shiver of unease at how very, very much the new architecture resembled the old. He had never traveled to Draenor himself, but he had seen images of Hellfire Citadel and some of the other buildings created by the orcs when they were in the grip of the demonic bloodlust. Black iron, wrought into jutting, pointed, brutal - looking buildings that were practical but unwelcoming. Now, here in the Horde capital city, one could imagine tools of torture lurking within, rather than the simple groceries and items the buildings actually housed.
He had left Thunder Bluff for Orgrimmar upon Thrall's departure to be physically accessible to the new young leader Thrall had appointed against Cairne's advice. As ruler over their people in his absence, Cairne had appointed his son, Baine, a fine warrior with a cool head like his father's. Baine had had no difficulties in his father's absence.
As the time stretched on, Cairne had found his advice was not particularly welcome, and indeed was often ignored. As he watched the hostile - looking architecture go up, Cairne had realized that this was no longer a place for him to be. He had asked to see Garrosh, explained that he was returning to Thunder Bluff, and had been surprised at Garrosh's reaction.
He had expected relief or indifference. Instead, Garrosh had risen and gone to him.
"We fought together well once, in Northrend," Garrosh said.
"That we did," Cairne agreed.
"And yet I know you did not agree with many of my decisions."
Cairne peered at him for a moment. "Both things are true, Garrosh. But I think that my disagreement with your decisions interferes with my ability to aid you."
"I… Thrall entrusted me with the care of the Horde. He is a symbol of it, as are you. I have no wish to offend you, but I have to make my own decisions. And I will do so. I will do what I think best for the honor and glory of the Horde… and its overall well - being."
Cairne liked the words. And he was willing to believe that Garrosh actually meant them. But he knew Garrosh perhaps better than the orc knew himself. Cairne had known of Grom, had known countless other hotheaded youths and watched so many of them come to violent and often senseless ends. He had no wish for Garrosh to join their number, and worse, drag down the Horde along with him.
But it was pointless for him to stay. Garrosh would do exactly as he wanted. If he wished Cairne's advice, he would find a way to justify requesting it so he could do so without losing his pride. And Cairne would let him keep it.
He bowed, courteously, and Garrosh bowed lower, and then Cairne returned home to Thunder Bluff.