Grim Views

The Wordbearer of The Grim steps out into the pallid light of Frostfire Ridge, as howling gusts swirl eddies in the snow. He narrows his eyes, although it is not to shade them from the glare of the icy expanse. Strolling leisurely away from his garrison’s Great Hall, he whispers into his hearthstone, his words reaching the ears of a certain troll priestess. “Ah would like ta speak wit’choo, face ta face, sumtime, where we canna be listened in on.”

The reply comes back, a familiar voice expressing a certain amount of curiosity. “Oh yeah? And NOT be listened in on? That’s hard when rogues are always being nosy... but yeah Leyu’jin. Finishing up in Skyreach now...”

He laughs a little. “Ah, joo killin’ da birdmon, huh? Dey sho’ squawk a lot...”

“Yes, we just finished though,” Lilliana whispers, somewhat distractedly. “Let me see if Lupin needs something first though... you want me to come raid your garrison?” The grin that must have been stretching up to her ears is obvious from her tone.

The troll warrior shakes his head, even though he knows Lilliana could not see his gesture. “No, not ‘ere,” he says quietly. “Ah donna trus’ dat der ain’t sum loose ears hangin’ around. We’ll hafta find anotha place.”

Silence greets him for several long moments on the other end of the hearthstone. After a minute or two, the troll priestess’s voice picks up again. “Geeez... Leyu’jin... super secret rogue type troll.”

He laughs to himself at Lilliana’s teasing. He knows the priestess was far more formidable than her antics might suggest, and he always teetered between the three points of fondness, respect, and perhaps a touch of fear while dealing with her. Shaking off those thoughts, he remarks, almost casually, “Ah jus’ wantin’ ta hav a gud talk between joo an’ ah aboot sumting dat bin botherin’ me. We meet in da Outlands, in Zangahmarsh. Ah know a place o’ tree dat will be out o’ notice.”

Even though he means to be unreadable, the priestess catches on right away. Her tone is still pleasant, but her usual everpresent air of silliness fades. “Alright, Leyu’jin. I’ll be there in just a sec.”

Leyu’jin nods. “Gud. Meet’choo der.” Almost immediately, Lilliana’s voice comes back through the hearthstone.

“Did you mean the old outlands... like where the time is right... or Draenor?”

His reply is interrupted by a thunderclap of sound and a flurry of snow. Balancing on its two rear legs, Leyu’jin’s trusted protodrake mount, a prize wrested from the depths of Ulduar, flaps its wings to slow its descent and landing, and roars. He nods and makes a sharp clicking sound with his tongue, and the beast falls forward onto its clawed wingtips. The troll reaches for a stirrup and heaves himself up, catching the horn of the saddle and swinging up and over. With a rebel yell, he snaps the reins and digs in his heels, and the drake soars into the air with a bellow.

“It do be confusin’, donna it? Ah meant da ol’ Outlands, where da mushroom forest be,” Leyu’jin finally replies. Lilliana’s wasn’t far behind.

“The ‘old one’... meaning ours. And like, the only portal to get there is from the Shrine now, right?” Other sounds come drifting through his hearthstone, the sound of laughter and some elf making ridiculous pronouncements. Apparently the priestess is none too happy, as a loud hiss, like a snake, comes through. The warrior shakes his head, landing at a point out of sight of his garrison, in fact, out of sight of anyone who might be watching, including even a wayward fisherman, and activates his hearthstone. In a blinding flash of green light, he disappears, swirling out of luminescent green leaves in the middle of the inn in Warspear. Smiling warmly at the barkeep, he saunters out towards the Orgrimmar portal.

“Aye, da verra same,” he chuckles. Arriving at the portal, he steps through the rift in space-time and out into the bright sunshine, dust and hot, arid weather of Durotar. Snorting, he whistles, and the transportation magics that kept his ride within calling distance summons his drake to his side once more. Careening again into the air, he comes down almost as quickly as he reaches his second destination, the portal to Pandaria. It had been months since he’d last traveled to that beautiful continent. Ignoring the Pandaren mages who maintained the portal, he strides purposefully through, and without hesitation calls again for his mount. The Shrine of the Two Moons awaits him.

A crackle comes through the hearthstone as Lilliana Bloodshine teases him again. “Well gawd, don’t make it easy on me to get there!” A half-chuckle bleeds through. “You taking this seriously.”

Leyu’jin waits until he reaches the Shrine, intent on getting to their meeting place as quickly as possible. Emerging from the portal to Shattrath, he feels a moment’s unease seeing the world this “other” Draenor had become, in their universe. Terrokar Forest was a sad simulcram of Talador. Shaking it off, he sets off in flight for a region that didn’t exist, at least in the same state, on the Iron Horde’s Draenor. Zangarmarsh.

“Ehhh,” he says. It’s like a verbal shrug. He’s almost to the marsh now. Dark clouds lie on the horizon, blanketing the mushroom forest. Rain. He flies over the mountains dividing Zangarmarsh from Terrokar, and all of a sudden slashing whips of water sting his face and patters off his heavy plate armor. A minute or two passes as the protodrake sails through the sky, heading towards a mushroom, the largest mushroom in the marsh. Uncomfortable, unprotected... unapproachable without being detected. He smiles. It’d do.

Lilliana speaks again, surprisingly with a little bit of an apologetic tone. The troll warrior could tell she was taking this seriously. “I’m coming! Honest! It’s like, the old fashioned way. Zeppelins and freaking flight paths... and waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!” Well, even if she is serious there was no stopping her from complaining. He smiles. She wore her heart on her sleeve, that one did.

The troll hauls up on the reins and leads his drake to a flapping halt atop the giant mushroom. Speaking into his hearthstone, he laughs slightly. “Hah, ah know, ah know, it be a bloody pain in da arse. Dat means it’ll be da same fo’ any’un wantin’ ta come stick der nose in, as joo pointed out.”

There is a snort on the other end. “Yeah, no kidding, Ley.”

As he waits for his friend to arrive, the warrior pulls out his hearthstone and examines it carefully. He can tell that his brother’s mate, Xaraphyne, is active, based on the hearthstone’s readings. That was unexpected. It’d been weeks since he’d “seen” her around. Given how much she loved her peaceful existence in Mulgore, at their homestead, he’d thought she might have sat out the combined Horde/Alliance incursion through the new Dark Portal entirely. That she was here, now, was convenient. Inserting the hearthstone into a slot in his helmet, he begins to speak. “‘ey Xara. Not bin seein’ joo on da huntin’ grounds fo’ a bit.”

A surprised voice, friendly, warm, lilting, responds. “Hey, Ley! How ya been?”

With a slow drawl, the warrior says, “Gud! Da Grim ‘as established a strong presence in Draenor, an’ ah’ve bin collectin’ many bones o’ our enemies.”
He listens as Xaraphyne’s response comes back through the stone, with a wry tone. “Heh, of course you have.”

“Where joo bin? Ah woulda tought joo’d be at da forefront o’ all dis.”

“Me?” Laughter ensues. “I’d still be in retirement if I had the choice.”

The warrior sighs. “We ain’t got a lotta choice dese days, wut wit’ da Iron Horde threatenin’ ta cram itself down our throat.”

Another whisper in his ear. “I know. Fhen couldn’t sit by anymore.”

Leyu’jin bit his lip. “Speakin’ o’ joo an’ Fhen, Xara... ah’ve got sum news ah’d like ta share wit’choo, sumtime. Sumplace quiet, where we wonna be ‘eard.”

Leyu’jin hears Xaraphyne’s voice come through again. “Hmm... wanna meet up now?”

The warrior shakes his head. “Not yet. Da pieces ain’t in place. But soon.”

A short silence follows his last words. “Does this have to do with... not-Fhenrir?”

“No, altho’ ah’d like ta catch up on wut’s bin goin’ on wit dat boyo.”

A calm, pleasant, neutral tone greets him back. The troll huntress doesn’t seem to know what to make of his request. “Hmm, okay. Well, just send me a letter or some such whenever ya want ta meet.”

The warrior grins. “Ah will,” he replies to Xara. “Dependin’ on ‘ow dis goes, Lilly will be der too.”

“All righty.”

The hearthstone fades to a vibrational white noise, then falls silent. The troll leans back on his saddle, letting the thick droplets of rain patter against his face.

“Hey, I don’t think I’ve ever been where you are at... Cool, exploration!” Lilliana again. Peering at his map, he can see that the troll priestess was about to arrive. In fact, it seems she is right on top of him... or right below him. “Are you up on top of a mushroom?” Lilliana asks, slightly incredulous.

Leyu’jin nods gravely, even though she can’t ’see him. “Ah be on top o’ a mushroom. One o’ da tallest.”

His gaze flits upwards as Lilliana rides in laughing. Pointing rudely at the warrior, Lilly looks at him disbelievingly. “Leyu’jin... what....the frack!” She seems to be in high spirits regardless of the pouring rain, and both confused, curious, and of course, teasing. The troll priestess steps her ethereal horse forward a few feet, smoldering with arcane energies. She’s drenched... but then again, so is the warrior. The priestess grins. “We are on top of a mushroom. For real.”

The male troll raises an eyebrow. “‘ey, no rogue gonna git up ‘ere wit’out us seein’, yah?”

Lilliana snorts. “Yah, that’s for sure.”

She slides off her mount and sends it on its way skyward, beyond sight but within reach should they need to leave quickly. She gingerly explores the giant mushroom tree’s texture with her toes.

“You got an umbrella?” The little dramedian makes a great show of displeasure, but all it gets is a smile from the warrior. He pulls a stick out of his bag, whirls it briefly. The incantations written upon its surface activate, and he sticks it into the foamy surface of the mushroom as it unfurls. The banner of The Grim. Lilliana laughs. “Hah!” she says.

Even though he knows the priestess is teasing, Leyu’jin is also aware it’s bloody uncomfortable out here in the open, and he feels a bit foolish that he hadn’t thought of a secure location that also was, for example, out of the rain. He takes a few steps back and shrugs at Lilliana helplessly. “Best ah got,” he says. “Sorry Lilliana.”

Looking up at the giant banner, she pulls the cloth over her head in a makeshift umbrella, laughing at how ridiculous that is for her to be doing that... then lets them go. Eyeing him attentively, she says, “What’s up, Leyu’jin.”

With a wry expression on his face, the warrior gestures to the ground... such as it is. “Please, sit. Make yo’self as comfortable as be possible on a giant mushroom in da pourin’ rain.”

Lilliana places her staff beside her... and giggles over what he said about the giant mushroom. “I’m comfortable. Soaked... but comfortable.” Leyu’jin smiles. Lilliana does nothing but smile back... well... with maybe a bit of a smirk too.

The warrior’s features fade from smile to studied blankness. He catches Lilliana’s eyes and gauges her carefully. “So. Ah wanted ta speak ta joo aboot Atticus Grace.”

She nods slowly, obviously comprehending, but more so digesting what her friend has just told her. “Atticus? Why? What’s up with Atticus?” She sounds completely surprised, but then again, Leyu’jin knows that is most likely an act. Little got past his friend, no matter how she reacted outwardly. His reply is in a steady, serious voice, devoid of mirth.

“Ah wish ta speak aboot wut be Grim, an’ wut not be Grim,” he says. He narrows his eyes slightly, his features becoming taut with visible rage... not directed at Lilliana, but something else. Looking back to the other troll, he states flatly, “Joo know aboot Atticus’s lil’ surprise “gift” ta Xaraphyne.”

Lilliana moves her staff, pushing it away from her. The gaze she turns onto Leyu’jin is a rather calm one, or at least... it looks that way. “Oh yeah. What it means to be a Grim, and not to be a Grim.” She purses her lips and nods her head. Of course she knows, she was on the raid, although she didn’t take part in the dismemberment. “I do.”

Leyu’jin takes his hands, which are balled up into fists, and with great effort unclenches them. Calming his features, he looks at Lilliana in the eyes and asks, “So, wut do joo tink o’ dat behaviah?”

Her gaze leaves Leyu’jin’s to look at his hands before he seems to relax, then she looks back. “I think that even Grims get their feelings hurt and do stupid stuff to ruin relationships that could be fruitful in the future.”

He grins, although not in humor, his mirthless lips exposing jagged canines.

Lilliana takes in a breath, truly considering how upset Leyu’jin is, even if he does have it under control. She is quiet for a bit before she decides to say more. “You want my thoughts on the entire ordeal? Leyu’jin?”

Leyu’jin nods. “Aye. Fully an’ wit’out reservation. Ah will maintain ma calm troo’out, joo hav ma word as a friend, confidant, an’ Grim.”

She says, “I’m always honest with you, Leyu’jin...” Saying that, she grins, “except when I’m not, but you usually know that.” The warrior actually laughs at that, with genuine amusement. “Atticus was new to his post... even if that was like a post he had before. Syreena was trying hard to impress him, as any undead girl rogue would do to an undead guy rogue like that, I suppose...” Seeing Leyu’jin’s amusement she taps her chin and grins. “When Xaraphyne walked out on Syreena and Atticus, during the instruction to their trial... well... That just doesn’t happen to Irredeemables and Dreadweavers of the Grim. Those without those titles are supposed to ‘supplicate’ themselves at their feet...” At this, she doesn’t sound pleasant, or mature, she sounds a bit foul, because she can... and she is being honest.

Leyu’jin coughs at that, trying to strangle a guffaw. “Mmm, too troo. An’ dat ‘as its place...”

Lilliana continues. “The Grim is known for getting lost in being all zealoty and arrogant... a narrow focus. And when people speak up, or stand up for themselves, that can hurt their feelings. That’s why when people in the Grim fall, they fall so hard.”

The other troll couldn’t disagree. “Aye,” he says.

Lilliana demurs. “Yes, it has its place, I guess... but not as often as I think the Grim leadership demands it.” She gives Leyu’jin a serious look... and if it was anyone but Leyu’jin here, it would be one hell of a challenging look.

Leyu’jin keeps his face a picture of studied neutrality, but it’s obvious he takes her words seriously, and to some extent is in agreement.

“Anyway... Leyu’jin. That night was full of drama. Syreena wasn’t sure if she did the right thing, the triplets got really drunk... and Atticus was concerned, but I couldn’t tell if he was second guessing himself, or just... overwhelmed with it all.” She grinned. “He asked me to help keep everyone calm. It didn’t work, it got worse, but heh, you know.” She plucks at her robes, thinking. “I was with Xaraphyne when she officially left the Grim, you know that?”

Leyu’jin smiles evenly. “Ah figured.”

“She left the Grim, Leyu’jin.” Lilliana stared directly into the troll warrior's eyes, her voice clear and leaving no room for doubt.

“She rejected the Grim, and what it means.” Lilliana gave Leyu'jin a challenging look.“The Grim did not reject her. The Grim is used to doing the rejecting. And they didn’t know what to do with themselves when they were the ones rejected.”

Leyu'jin eyed Lilliana calmly, digesting what she had just said. “Acted like spoilt babbies, wuz wut dey did.”

“As far as the behavior... Leyu’jin...” She looks at him. “I think it was stupid... yes... spoilt babbies... it was the behavior of some little damn child who had their feelings hurt. I went on that raid.” She nods her head. “I didn’t pull off any fingers or toes or other small body parts for the delivery box... but I did speak to Xaraphyne that night, while it was being delivered.”

The other troll does actually look a tad ashamed. “I didn’t tell her a word. What good would it have done? I know it offended them both... but I think it also showed just how much it affected the Grim.” Lilliana had actually cleaned her mace in front of Xaraphyne that night... for although she didn’t dismember any alliance, she was quite intent on getting into the fight and bludgeoning them to death instead of just flaying them with shadow.

“Ah’m not sho’ wut ah woulda dun. Mebbe gone inta a rage, gotten ma’self kicked outta da Grim, o’ worse.”

“If you had been there?”

“Fo’ wut Atticus did. Not da raid. Ah live da Mandate. Dat part wouldna’ hav bothered me.”

Lilliana says, “What Atticus did only told of how much his feelings, and the Grims, had been hurt.”

“PAH!”

“Don’t pah me.” She looks up to him as he rises. “I’m serious.” Leyu’jin seems like he’s going to fly further into a rage, but he remembers his promise, and restrains himself. Slowly, he sits back down. Lilliana narrows her eyes, and watches Leyu’jin intently. “Grump,” She calls him. Lilliana reminds him, “I watched them take the box off to deliver to Xaraphyne and Fhenrir’s home, Leyu’jin.”

“Atticus Grace acted in da same mannah as Garrosh Hellscream,” Leyu’jin snarls fiercely, “forgettin’ da trooth dat we be da Horde, an’ da Horde be we. Unless dey acshully go so fah as ta side wit’ da Alliance an’ threaten our own, dey be FAMILY!”

Lilliana’s jaw nearly drops when Leyu’jin compares Atticus to Garrosh.

“E’ shoulda gotten ‘is throat cut,” the male troll spits, “an’ ‘is bloody ‘ead dumped in a ditch like one does ta a mad dawg.”

She opens her mouth and closes it a few times... then she cackles. “Leyu’jin!!”

“Noting mo’ den we shoulda dun ta dat fetid fool Hellscream. If we ‘ad, we wouldna’ be in dis current mess.”

Lilliana says exasperatedly, “Put aside your pissed off troll head, and use a head that thinks.” She reaches forward and actually raps Leyu’jin on the head with her knuckles. “Hellscream wanted to destroy those he didn’t feel were worthy. Atticus played a prank... one in poor form... but a prank! That’s hardly failing to follow the mandate and as bad as Garrosh Hellscream, jeeez... Leyu’jin... get real.” He said he wanted her to be completely honest, and that she is, head bonking and all. “And yes, they are family.” She adds before Leyu’jin goes off the handle, if that is where he’s going, she has no idea.

The troll warrior hisses, not at the head bonking, which he takes in surprisingly good stride, but still obviously pissed as all hell at Atticus. With Lilly’s admonition, he reins himself in, but continues. “A prank e’ played on Fhenrir Phoenix, a Lieutenant-General o’ da Horde an’ thus rankin’ officah, veteran o’ innumerable conflicts... an’ Xaraphyne Nawe, famed adventurah an’ victor ovah many a beast, demon an’ monstah dat threatened da Horde.”

Lilliana spreads out her hands. “We are just mortals here, Leyu’jin... and we make mistakes. No one died... feelings were hurt, and I know that our alliances with Fhenrir and Xaraphyne and their comrades are now strained... I mean, I barely get to battle with them anymore. But it wasn’t the end of the world.” She thinks on what Leyu’jin just said. “Yes, it was VERY disrespectful, Leyu’jin.” She paused, squinting her eyes, then looked back at the warrior. “The Grim is often very disrespectful to the Horde. Not just to Xara and Fhenrir. We ignore the peace treaties put into place, don’t follow the orders of the greater Horde, instead following our own plan for the Horde. That’s kind of rude.” She grins cheekily, although there’s a layer of seriousness hiding behind her mirth. “Even if it’s what needs to be done, it’s totally rude.”

Leyu’jin snorts. “Da Grim BE da Horde, wutevah da rankin’ officahs mey sey. We be noting wit’out dem. A weapon an’ shield wit’ no ‘un ta protect.” He looks askance at Lilliana, then sheepishly nods. “Aye, it do be rude. Ah gotta sey ah donna disagree wit’ DAT aspect o’ our behaviah.” Her expression tells Leyu’jin that she agrees whole heartedly with him... especially regarding wutevah da rankin’ officahs mey sey.

“We are the horde, we are for the horde... and that’s it. Nothing more, nothing less. The Grim does forget that sometimes.” Lilliana then adds. “Um, like all the time, never mind.” She sighs.

The warrior looks thoughtful now, Lilliana’s commentary serving to get him into less dangerous territory than wretched Forsaken playing bloody pranks. He takes one look at Lilliana and lets out a guffaw! “C’mon now, it ain’t dat bad,” the troll male says. “Purty bad, ah’ll admit, but not dat bad.”

Lilliana smiles and shakes her head. “No, I think it’s that bad. But it doesn’t really matter... as long as the job gets done in the end.”

“The Grim has always been full of those that are over the top, the ones below it... then the few that can help create a bit of balance in between. It’s what makes it powerful, I guess. You need all those types. The jerkheads that get their feelings hurt too easily, like Atticus... and the reasonable ones, the followers, the whatevers.... You know what I’m saying.”

The troll warrior grins. “Haha, aye. Ah do.”

“I will say, Leyu’jin...” Lilliana says. “Atticus does have the Grim’s best interest in mind.” Leyu’jin is still pondering her comment about the Grim being “that bad.” She continues, “If he had been able to think past his stupidheadness... I don’t think he would have done that. No, I didn’t ask him that... this is just what I feel. He does serve, just like you and I do, without thinking... he just does it.” The priestess pauses when she catches Leyu’jin still pondering something.

The warrior taps his chin absentmindedly. “Mmm. Well, ah figure joo feelings count as gud as da trooth, mos’ o’ da time.”

Continuing, Lilliana says, “Xaraphyne made a bigger statement than any ‘supplicant’ ever has in the history of the Grim, Leyu’jin. Atticus had to do something to top that. Xaraphyne left the Grim with her honor intact, and with the respect of the Grim. That does NOT ever happen to Supplicants that ‘fail’. It’s because she didn’t, she simply rejected it all. Think on that. Seriously.”

“And I hope my feelings count!”

Leyu’jin chuckles lightly. “Dey mo’ den feelings, ain’t dey?” He winks mildly at Lilly.

Lilliana doesn’t seem to follow that. “Huh?” Typical.

The warrior doesn’t seem inclined to elaborate and carries on. “An’ ah gotta disagree wit’choo aboot one ting. Ah donna know aboot Xara, but Fhenrir wuz hoppin’ mad, Lilly.”

Lilliana looks away when Leyu’jin says that, but then she quickly says... “Well yeah, he’s like big angry tauren guy.”

Leyu’jin isn’t deterred. “Xara mighta gotten out wit’ ‘er honah intact, but ‘er dignity wuz stained. So wuz Fhenrir’s. Das wut ah canna accept. Das wut ah canna forgive Atticus aboot. E’ potentially made enemies o’ sum o’ our mos’ valuable allies, Grim o’ no.”

She does nod at that. “That is true.” Lilliana then sighs lightly. “Actually, it probably would already be at enemy status if it weren’t for you and I here, in the Grim between them.” Now that is not a statement of arrogance, it just simply is a statement. “But that’s why it takes all types.”

The other troll nods at Lilliana. “Ah agree. But even so. Ah wanna do sumting aboot it. Ah wanna let Atticus know, an’ Fhenrir an’ Xaraphyne ta watch, dat der be tings da Grim *does not do* ta der fellow Horde.”

“Alright.”

Leyu’jin blinks disbelievingly at Lilliana. “Wut?”

“Um... er... ahhh... ah tought ah’d need ta convince joo o’ sumting,” the troll awkwardly stumbles over himself. He looks kinda flustered.

The female troll tilts her chin up and grins at Leyu’jin. “I’ll do whatever you ask me to do...” She tilts her head at his flustered look, quite aware she’s probably just confused the hell out of him. She totally has, and he can’t do anything but throw his head back and laugh. He slaps his face with the palm of his hand and drags it down a bit, grinning sheepishly.

“Aight den. Ah wanna meet wit’ Fhenrir an’ Xaraphyne an’ hav us all talk aboot wut ta do. Do dey know Atticus wuz behind da ‘gift basket’?”

She shakes her head slightly. “I’m not sure. I can’t remember. I think so.”

He replies, “Whoa. If dey do, ah’m surprised Fhenrir ‘asna tried ta remove Atticus’s arms from der sockets.”

Lilliana says, “Fhenrir is smarter than that. But it doesn’t matter, you are going to tell them one way or another at this point.”

Leyu’jin shrugs. “Das troo. E’s gotten a lot bettah wit’ age.” He stares contemplatively off into the distance as he considers their next move.

The troll priestess looks seriously at him. “Leyu’jin, whatever you do... whatever we decide to do... it can’t harm either side. It can’t put Xara and Fhenrir above the Grim, and it can’t make the Grim look like they were ‘wrong’.” He pulls a face and lets out a long, drawn-out sigh. “Shut up, no sighing at me.”

He makes a sour face. “Oh, gud. A ‘balanced’ solution.”

She snorts derisively. “You can still get what you want, it’s just not going to be all black and white. Look, you want a guild war started?”

The warrior puts up a hand to forestall any further admonitions, and shakes his head. “Nah, nah. But ah wuz hopin’ Fhen would git da chance ta take a dump on dat pompous Forsaken, leastways...”

Lilliana ponders for a second. “Mmmmm. Maybe. But it can’t be at the expense of the Grim, his reputation, and ours.”

Leyu’jin puts his chin back on his hand. “Why joo gotta be so level’eaded, Lilliana.”

The priestess shrugs her shoulders. “Nothing better to do, I guess.”

“Den we agreed. O’ ah agree wit’choo.” The warrior smiles at Lilliana.

She replies, “We both serve the Grim, and the horde... so if doing something to release the tension that Atticus caused for both sides... then all the more power to us if it works. And then, like... you’ll have to beat Atticus up later to make yourself feel all better. You know that’s okay, right?”

He pulls out his sword and fingers its blade, admiring it then resheathing it on his back. Her eyes follow the blade thoughtfully. The troll winks at Lilly. “Oh, ah know.”

She says, “Hell, maybe I’ll have a go at him. I beat Kogrona twice in a match today... maybe I can take him too.”

He cocks his head to the side. “Still gud on us meetin’ wit’ Fhenrir an’ Xara? Ah tink we two could talk Fhen down from anyting rash, an’ we could den decide da bes’ course o’ action.”

Lilliana replies, “I don’t know if I could ever talk Fhenrir down, Leyu’jin... his mind works differently than yours does.” She doesn’t mean that as an insult, again, it’s simply something that just is... at least in Lilliana’s world. “But maybe you can.”

The warrior nods at her. She nods back, as she’s quite good on meeting with the tauren troll pair.

“Did you mean now?” She looks up at the rain. “Like, someplace out of the rain? Or on top of this damned mushroom?”

“Oh, gud grief, sum’ere outta da rain!” he says. “We gonna catch a dam cold stayin’ out ‘ere like dis.”

The female troll smiles playfully at Leyu’jin. “You certainly know how to take care of a troll.” Says the priestess whose hair is plastered thickly over her face, her robes sticking to her skin, not an inch dry at this point. Leyu’jin stands up and digs in his bag, then finds a large enchanted wool cloak, still totally dry, and hands it over to her.

“Bes’ ah kin do, ah’m afraid. Ah donna carry ma towels on me.” Lilliana grabs her staff and rises easily to her feet. She takes the cloak and throws it over herself.

“Thanks, Leyu’jin.” She drapes it over her head and pulls it down around tightly.

“Hey.”

“Yah?”

She leans forward, looking down at her feet. The rain almost cascades off of her self-made hood. “You think this thing is edible?” She points to the mushroom they stand on. “Or is it one of those woozy type mushrooms people eat and then sit around a fire and drool?”

“Honest-like, if it wuz edible, wouldna’ sumting hav eaten it bah now?” He raises an eyebrow. “Ah wouldna’ try it, be all ah’m sayin’. An’ ah’m a mon who likes mushrooms.”

Lilliana nods vigorously. “OH yeah, duh.” She looks to see if Leyu’jin is using his stones to talk to Xara and Fhenrir... and if Leyu’jin is observant enough, she’s just ready to even find out herself by being an invasive type priest... as priests can be, mind vision type stuff and all. She’s polite though, and doesn’t.

Not paying attention, Leyu’jin slots the hearthstone back into his helm. “‘ey brotha. Lilliana an’ ah hav sumting ta talk ta joo an’ Xara aboot. Sum’ere where nobody gonna ‘ear us.” He looks up from his stone and can’t exactly read Lilly’s face, but he’s close enough and says anyways, “Ah’m messagin’ Fhen.” He pauses. “Not gettin’ any response, tho. Ah kin see e’s battlin’ in Ashran.”

At that, a gruff, familiar voice emanates from his hearthstone. A grunt. “When? Where?”

“Joo know a gud place, where rogues donna got no ears?”

“Our house.”

“Den der. Da time be now, if joo not busy.”

“I’ll be there soon.”

Leyu’jin removed his helm and nodded at Lilliana. “We be meetin’ dem at der house.”

Lilliana keeps herself bundled up... not that she needs to, she’s a tough troll, even if she is a very little one... but she groans up at the rain. “It hasn’t stopped once... does it always rain here?” Pause. “Alright, I think I remember where it is.”

“Gud. Lead da way, Lilly.” The Wordbearer of The Grim unslots his hearthstone and brings it to his mouth. “Rogah, Fhenrir. We be on our way.”