I have no idea how long I sat staring, open-mouthed at Araellor. The smirk on his face told me it must have been a while though. I was brought back to the present by Felenn, who was subtly tugging my sleeve. I shook my head as if trying to disperse what I'd just heard and turned to my fellow Adept. I could tell by her expression that she, too, was taken aback by this revelation; perhaps I even saw a hint of fear in her eyes.

I turned to the hunter, who was now grinning broadly at me, his eyes glinting, obviously enjoying watching me squirm. Arrogant prick.

Archmage Berinand cleared his throat. The sound made everyone look towards him – all except Araellor and myself who were still spouting visual daggers at each other. There was just something about the hunter that irritated the life out of me.

Undeterred by our obvious eyeballing, the Archmage's voice boomed down the length of the room. "It is only fair to tell you, that while the Nexus is home to phenomenal quantities of arcane energies, getting there is wrought with dangers of a more physical nature, thus the reason we have hired Araellor to accompany you."

"So, we three are to venture into the fortress - alone? None of you here are going to accompany us?" Felenn asked. Her voice trembled and it suddenly caused me to wonder what exactly had she read or heard about the Nexus."

"Two of our magi will also be accompanying you," Berinand casually announced.

"As for getting inside, can't we port in?" I asked finally turning my attention to the Archmage.

"I'm afraid not! The Aspect seems to have considered that and has ensured no magic could be used to enter the fortress."

"You know this how?" I pressed.

Berinand may have thought he was being subtle, but I noticed the look that passed between himself and the other magi. "I have studied Malygos extensively, Klara. It is a measure he would take."

Something didn't sit right. That explanation was just too... evasive in my opinion. 

I was about to challenge the Archmage when Araellor added his penny's worth. "Even supposing you could have ported in," he offered. "There are still beasts that roam the complex underground. If you were to expend your magic at such a high velocity, you would quickly be drained, rendering you helpless before long."

The hunter's contribution surprised me. And damn it! The bait was successfully prepped, sidelining me from pursuing my enquiry with Berinand. "And how would you know about our magic depleting our energy?" I challenged. Araellor was rapidly becoming the moth to my flame, or perhaps it was vice versa. At any rate, the result remained the same...he irked me.

"My mother was a mage, for one thing," he replied candidly, swirling his cider in his glass and eyeing me from beneath his dark lashes. "The other being it was a bunch of your magical buddies who hired me. And as a professional, I like to check the baggage as well as the quarry."

Baggage? Did he dare compare us to baggage? I threw him a vitriolic stare. Whatever ground I'd managed to cover with Felenn, I sure as hell wasn't going to be making any progress with Araellor. Judging by his smile, he felt the same way.

It is vexing to admit that a sizable chunk of the conversation then slid off me like water off a duck's back. From somewhere far away, I thought I could hear my mother advising me not to be so quick to judge, but it was impossible to find anything remotely redeeming about this elf hunter. He was full of himself, and he'd mocked me from the moment he laid eyes on me.

Going by the nodding of heads, raised hands, and amiable smiles on their faces, I deduced that the magi around the table agreed with what their leader proposed. Being part of the province that was the Kirin Tor, I really had no choice but to accept their council, although their decision to have this hack of a hunter in their fold was questionable.

Felenn tugged at my sleeve, giving me a gentle reminder that important matters were being addressed; matters which meant the difference between our success or potential demise in completing our task.

I flicked a look her way, gave her a small smile then turned to focus on the others.

"So, you can understand why we feel there is more than just the opportunity to further our understanding of magic," Archmage Berinand said looking at me and Felenn.

Of course, I hadn't a clue what he'd said before, so I had to think on my feet to imply I'd been listening all along. "Can you just reiterate our priorities again, please, Archmage, just so I can ensure we are on the same wavelength?"

I just knew Araellor realised it was a pretence, but I didn't even give him the satisfaction of a scowl. Instead, I smiled and waited for the Archmage to speak.

Berinand cocked an eyebrow, but he humoured me, nevertheless, and this time I heard him. Loud and clear. "It is our belief that somewhere inside the Nexus there is a potential cure for the Scourge."

I felt as though I'd been hit by a woolly mammoth charging me at top speed. The possibility of such a thing had never even crossed my mind, a realisation which left me stunned because it would've been the most practical solution to the problem of necromantic reanimation. Perhaps it affected me so profoundly because I had barely escaped not only the cull but also the very high probability of becoming another undead statistic.

"Klara?" Librarian Tiare enquired; concern written over her delicate features.

I nodded to let her know I was fine – which I wasn't. Gathering my thoughts before I spoke, I took a deep breath. "And what is it that makes you think this cure lies within the Nexus?" My voice was no more than a throaty whisper. And focused though I was, I sensed, more than felt, Felenn's hand resting on my forearm.

"My daughter, Evanor, also an Archmage, was imprisoned by Inquisitor Salrand, on Amber Ledge. My colleagues based on the mainland, captured one of Salrand's lackeys - a Beryl sorcerer - with a view to grilling him so they could find and rescue Evanor."

I leaned forward, now fully engrossed in the Berinand's tale. In a tone which bore remnants of a frightened father, he carefully continued. "During the sorcerer's interrogation, not only did he reveal my daughter's location and the purpose of Salrand's plan, but he also confessed to being a secret disciple of Kel'thuzad."

I shuddered at the name of the man who'd betrayed the good people of Stratholme; and the Kirin Tor. "So, what exactly did this duplicitous sorcerer reveal?" My voice now had an edge to it. Although my family had escaped Kel'thuzad's cunning, the impact of being uprooted to escape such an atrocity would forever haunt me. I guess that was the first time I fully realised how blessed my parents and I had been, and it also affirmed how much I loathed the former Archmage of the Kirin Tor.

"Kel'thuzad was a clever man..." Berinand began.

"That monster does not deserve any commendation whatsoever!" I felt everyone's eyes settle upon me, including the hunter, but there was no mockery in his eyes this time, just a look of measured intrigue.

Berinand gave me a compassionate smile. "Yes, you're right, Klara, but what I was trying to explain was that he did not do things in half-measures. If his plans were to somehow backfire on him, he wanted a way to expunge his ... 'errors'.

"So, he also ensured there was a cure, is that what you're telling me?"

"Yes. And the sorcerer implied it was in the Nexus."

"Implied?" I bolted up, slamming my fist on the table, causing everyone to jump. "In other words, you're making us risk our lives to locate something which you have no definitive proof even exists, based on the vague ramblings of a tortured man?"

"Those vague ramblings secured the safety of his daughter," Araellor piped up.

I snapped. "You're just a hired protector, supposed to look out for us. Whose side are you on, here?"

The elf shrugged his broad shoulders. "Whoever pays me the coin, lady."

I swear if I had the ability to burn holes in him by just looking, I would have done so there and then. "Typical!"

"I also used the term 'lady' loosely."

My hands curled into fists by my sides. Felenn's delicate fingers curled around my wrist. I looked down at her, my fury simmering, ready to explode. Her eyes were pleading with me to calm down. After a moment, I realised she was right; my outburst had been most unbecoming and very unprofessional. I managed to convey a tiny smile to reassure her. Composed once more, I retook my seat, but when I chanced a glance at Araellor and saw his smug grin, I decided I sure as hell wasn't going to apologise.

Instead, I turned to Berinand. "I guess my resentment towards the Lich for my family being uprooted from our home, still burns deep."

"Apology accepted," Araellor said, stretching and locking his hands behind his head.

How very dare he! My eyes narrowed as I glared at him, that insolent smirk of his causing my temper to almost boil over again. Instead, I kept my voice measured, although its delivery was definitely strained."Hard to do when I wasn't giving it!" I hissed.

"Anyway..." The Archmage interceded, his voice a little raised. We all faced Berinand again. "The point is, that while we don't know for certain that the cure is inside the Nexus, we are confident it is a measure Kel'thuzad would have taken. I knew him when he was... untainted, shall we say, and he was always fastidious in his work. So, it stands to reason, that he would have created a cure to halt his insurgence if it were to somehow threaten to overrule him."

We quietened as we all chewed over the Archmage's reasoning. Then Felenn's sweet voice pierced the silence. "But why would he choose the Nexus to hide it? Would it not be more logical to have it placed within Icecrown Citadel? The Lich King, after all, is the one who commands the Scourge."

"Probably the very reason he wouldn't consider the Citadel a safe place," Araellor offered.

"The Nexus would be the better choice," I finally said, my defensive reactions now back in check. "The very fact the fortress is a hub of arcane energy means it could offer protection which only spell-weavers could counter. The Citadel, on the other hand, will be under siege by the Allies..." And I couldn't resist a swipe at the hunter. "...most of which will be more brawn than brains. If they were to locate such a document, or phial, or whatever format Kel'thuzad has used to store it, chances are it would end up destroyed through sheer brute force."

It took everything I had not to look triumphant with my little dig at the hunter. I could swear someone at the table snickered. Araellor, however, glared at me as he placed his hands on the table, fingers flexing and forming into fists. I think I hit a nerve.

"Good point," Berinand added, with a trace of amusement in his eyes.

Perfect. My comment was received loud and clear. I couldn't suppress a smirk anymore.

"Present company excluded from that last analogy, of course," Berinand concluded waving a hand in the hunter's direction.

My deliberate slur was short-lived and Araellor's eyes crinkled with smug satisfaction.

_______________________________________________________________________

Hmm, what's your opinion? Do you think there's something the Archmage isn't letting on about to the girls? Is he failing to tell them the whole story?

And what about the heated exchanges between Klara and Araellor? I doubt the expedition is going to go very well with them constantly at loggerheads.