(2021-12-17) Falore

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Author:	OzmaAsimov
Summary:	Auralind meets with Sidhanei to decide if she can be trusted.
Rating:	T for Teen

"Can I get you another, lass?" Only after asking did the dwarven waitress notice that the night elf woman's tankard was still completely full, though the foam had settled considerably.

Auralind shook her head. "Thank you, no. I am waiting for someone. When she arrives she may require drink."

The dwarf nodded with a cheery smile and bustled back downstairs to the main level of the Thunderbrew Distillery. Auralind leaned back in her seat in a conscious effort to appear relaxed, though every muscle remained taut, her arms crossed, feet planted firmly on the floor. Her ears twitched rapidly, listening to the clanking of the pots and tankards below, the cold winds of Dun Moragh trying to push their way through the door with every new patron entering or leaving, the laughter of dwarven soldiers enjoying an ale between shifts.

It was nearly time for the meeting Jocoza had arranged with this Sidhanei. Nearly time to get a measure of the woman.

“I should congratulate you on the vigil kept,” a voice, graveled with age but still holding a touch of elven singsong quality, commented in Darnassian from a far wall. The cloaked figure of a ‘bounty hunter’ unmelded itself from the shadows and walked over to the table. “Arrived early, scoped the place out, still alert, senses undulled by drink,” cold, amber eyes looked Auralind up and down, “picked a location that would encourage drinking from your guest after traveling through this cold, good view of the door, use of purchase to get locals on your side. Full marks,” the judgemental figure sat down across the table. “Your instructor is to be commended.”

Sidhanei waved the wait staff away and pulled back her cloak’s hood, “It would appear that I am a very well-sought after drinking buddy, despite the technicality that I rarely drink anything more than tea.”

A slender, blue eyebrow lifted at Auralind's new table companion, accompanied by a slight smirk of wry amusement. "Let's just say my earliest instructor would accept nothing less than excellence." She crosses a fist over her breast in respectful greeting, "Ishnu alah. I am Auralind Mistwalker. Sidhanei, I presume?" The Sentinel's dimly glowing gaze never quite seems to fix on the other woman's. At this distance, the ambient light is enough to illuminate the faint burn scars around her eyes.

"You presume correctly," Sid leaned in. "What did you want to interrogate me about, falore¹?"

"Your interest in Frostwhisper's books," Auralind said plainly. "I asked about you. A veteran of Hyjal," she nodded with obvious respect, "and a great deal more, from what I can gather. But I am curious about a particular theme that seems to color your history. There are only a few reasons one might have an ongoing relationship with the Watchers."

Sidhanei’s expression remained as schooled and stoic as any good politician. “Just doing my civic duty to help our allies among the dragon flights. This job is for my Lord Malygos, and not a personal interest.”

Auralind's brow tightened with visible suspicion. A politician she was not. "If the books are so dangerous, why not simply let us destroy them? Surely the blue dragons have no need of necromantic tomes."

"Why destroy what you can study?" Sidhanei clasped her fingers together, "if there are other threats like this one, is it not ideal to already know the nature of the problem? And if it is already known, then cataloged for later research to assist other mysteries." She waved a hand, "both are ultimately acceptable. But when the option is available, why not learn what we can?" She leaned back, "or has nothing you've learned outside of your sentinel training, no matter how insignificant the experience, helped you better survive the threats you have encountered?"

"I understand the value of studying one's enemies. But I also understand that some things are too dangerous to be allowed to exist." A deep crease formed in Auralind's brow. "Our people know all too well the danger of sorcery; necromancy is the worst sort. I am already hesitant to allow such tomes to exist. But more importantly, I am unsure about the person asking to take custody of them. You still have not addressed my curiosity about your connection to the Watchers."

“You would mistrust one of your fellow sisters? Over what, my dear?” Sid shook her head in disappointment. “Both options are valid so do what you feel you must. I have already jumped through enough hoops for ‘mere curiosity’.”

"Then consider it more than curiosity. I was doing my best to be polite." Auralind's tone shifts to the stern voice of a commander. "So I shall be blunt. Why do you have this history of a Watcher escort? Are you a Watcher? Or is it something else?"

Sidhanei smiled, “Would you believe it is my charming personality? Or that I am important enough to warrant it?”

Auralind allows herself a wry chuckle. "I believe you may have a charming personality. But all you are convincing me of is that you are trying to hide something. When I spoke with Jocoza, she seemed to be under the impression that you were a mage…but later questioned her own assumption, apparently realizing you had never said as much. I am not about to spread potentially deadly rumors about a sister based on speculation." Her pale, blind gaze fixed with unnerving accuracy on Sidhanei's face. "Help me. Put my mind at ease."

Sidhanei bitterly chuckled, “And if I cannot put your mind at ease?” She leaned back in her chair, “Know that I am trustworthy, you need not have fear of that. And yet, some questions are dangerous, but only because they have answers.

“How badly do you want your answer? After all, falore, forgetting is harder than learning.”

Auralind exhaled a mirthless laugh — a brief sound exiting through her nostrils. "My entire life, I have had a complicated relationship with truth and trust. I know what it is to live with secrets, and how dangerous those can be in the wrong hands. Those hard lessons taught me skepticism…in all things. So, I always want answers. I cannot make informed decisions without a full understanding of the facts. The question you must ask yourself is how much you trust me with those answers."

Sid laughed, “There are many names I could go by, rightfully claim even, but I do not. You see, the name Sidhanei Ambersong is a bright, scarlet badge of shame for me. A branding of my sins. You must have not been looking in the right place. Or time, most likely.” Sid leaned forward and clasped her fingers together, “but, I would not be here if my Lord Malygos believed I lacked in will or capacity to serve this world.”

While she didn’t whisper, she did switch to Elven for their sakes. “Former Grand Magistrix of the Hajiri province, wife and consort to the region’s prince, and High Abjurer among our former Queen’s court.”

The blind Sentinel's jaw tensed. One hand on the table slowly curled into a near fist, as the other dropped below the table. "Highborne," she whispered. Several deep breaths lifted her chest through prolonged seconds of silence before she added, "Abjurer. So…you are a mage after all. That is why the Watchers have an interest in you." Her eyes narrowed, but the predatory scowl made room for a curious arch of her eyebrow. "But they did not imprison you. Why?"

“Oh, they did,” Sid heartedly laughed for a long moment. “For nine-thousand years, they did.” And her amber eyes grew cold, “But that is something I would prefer not to talk about. And you now have your answer. Tell me, child, did it bring you peace of mind?”

Auralind's shoulders drop visibly. Nine-thousand years. A lifetime even for a kaldorei. "Just answer me one more question." The hardness in her voice has fled, nothing but a breathy whisper remaining. "Do you have any remorse for your part in it at all? Never mind the imprisonment. Knowing what the actions of the Highborne led to…do you have regrets?"

“Many,” Sid nodded somberly.

With slow, deliberate movement, Aura rose from her seat and offered a hand. "I believe you, falore."

Sid took the hand firmly and stood, “To leaving the world a better place—as much as one can.”

Footnotes

1. sister — Darnassian