The Well of Eternity

14

You are a true servant, the great one told Lord Xavius. Your rewards will be endless…all you desire I will grant you…anything…anyone…

Artificial eyes unblinking, the night elf knelt on one knee before the fiery portal, drinking in the god’s many glorious promises. He was the most favored of the great one’s new minions, one to whom miraculous powers would be granted once the way had been opened.

And the more the Highborne failed to accomplish the last, the longer the god’s arrival was delayed, the more the counselor’s frustration grew.

His frustration was shared by two others. One of those was Queen Azshara, who longed as much as he for the day when all the imperfect would be eradicated from the world, leaving only the night elves—and only the best of that race—to rule the paradise that would follow. She did not know, of course, that, in his wisdom, the great one would make her Xavius’s consort, but the counselor expected any protests to fade once their wondrous god informed her.

The other frustrated with the utter lack of success was the towering Hakkar. Ever flanked by two felbeasts, the Houndmaster marched around the Highborne sorcerers, pointing out the flaws in their casting and adding his own might whenever possible.

Yet even with the addition of his arcane knowledge, only now had they at last achieved some minor triumph. Now at last Hakkar and his pets no longer stood alone among the night elves. Now there were three others, horned giants with crimson visages that some found horrific but that Lord Xavius could only admire. At least nine feet tall, they loomed over the Highborne, who themselves were more than seven feet in height.

These were anointed champions of the god, celestial warriors whose only purpose was to do his bidding regardless of the cost to them. Each was roughly nine feet in height and although built oddly thin, the bronze-armored figures had no difficulty wielding the massive, oblong shields and flaming maces. They obeyed to the letter any command given them and treated the counselor with as much respect as they did Hakkar.

And soon there would be more. Even as Xavius stepped back, he saw the portal flash. It bloomed, growing to fill the pattern over which it hovered, swelling until—

Through it came another of the Fel Guard, as Hakkar called these worthy fighters. The moment he entered the mortal plane, the newcomer bowed his fearsome head toward the Houndmaster, then toward Xavius.

Hakkar signaled for the warrior to join his predecessors. Turning to Xavius, the Houndmaster indicated the four. “The great one fulfills his first promise to you, lord night elf! Command them! They are yoursss to do as you pleassse!”

Xavius knew exactly what to do with them. “As they have been a gift to me, so they will best serve as a gift for the queen! I shall make them honored bodyguards for Azshara!”

The Houndmaster nodded approvingly. They both knew the value of pleasing the queen of the night elves, just as both knew the counselor’s secret desire. “You’d do bessst to bring sssuch a present to her yourssself, lord night elf! The work will continue while you are gone, I will sssee to that!”

The notion of making the presentation himself greatly appealed to Xavius. With a bow to Hakkar, the counselor snapped his fingers and led the four gigantic warriors out of the tower chamber. He knew exactly where he would find Azshara at this time.

And as he departed, the Houndmaster, stony eyes flaring brightly, watched the night elf intently.

Although her lord counselor slept very little—almost not at all of late—as queen of the realm, Azshara had the right and privilege to rest as she pleased. After all, she had to be perfect in every way, especially where her beauty was concerned. Therefore, the ruler of the night elves generally slept through the entire day, avoiding completely the harsh, burning sunlight.

Thus, Azshara did not take well at first to the meek entrance of one of her attendants. The latter fell quickly onto both knees before the rounded edge of the queen’s room-spanning, down bed, the young female almost hiding behind the gossamer curtains that encircled it.

With a languid hand, the Light of Lights indicated that her servant could speak.

“Mistress, forgive this humble one, but the lord counselor requests an audience with yourself, stating he has brought something of interest to you.”

There was nothing which Azshara could imagine desiring at the moment that would make her leave her bed, not even for the counselor. Silver hair draping her pillows, she pursed her lips as she pondered whether or not to send Xavius on his way.

“Make him wait five minutes,” she finally purred, already artfully positioning herself. Well aware of Xavius’s tastes, the queen knew best how to use them to her advantage. The counselor might think himself superior to his monarch, but as a female, she was superior to any male. “Then grant him entrance.”

The attendant did not question her mistress’s decision. Azshara watched her depart through slitted eyes, then stretched gracefully, already planning her encounter with her chief advisor.

The young servant nervously returned…but only after Xavius had already been waiting for several minutes. Keeping her head low—and thus her expression all but hidden—she ushered the counselor through the thick, skillfully carved oak doors leading into the queen’s personal chambers.

Only a handful of times had he dared see her in this, her most private sanctum. Xavius knew something of what to expect; Azshara would appear flawless and seductive, all without seeming to notice this herself. It was the game she played and played well, but he was prepared. He was her superior.

Sure enough, the queen of the night elves lay in repose, one arm behind her head, two silken-clad attendants kneeling nearby. A silver stand with an emerald flask of wine stood within reach of the queen and one half-filled goblet gave evidence to her having already sampled its rich bounty.

“My darling lord counselor,” she breathed. “You must have something dreadfully important to say to me to request an audience at such an hour.” The thin, glistening sheet framed her exquisite shape. “I’ve therefore tried to accommodate you as best I can.”

Fist to his heart, he went down on one knee. Gazing at the white, marble floor, Lord Xavius replied, “Light of Lights, Cherished Heart of the People, I am grateful for this time given me. I apologize for disturbing you now, but I have brought with me a most interesting gift, a gift truly worthy of the queen of the night elves, the queen of the world. If I may summon it?”

He glanced up and saw that he had her attention. Her veiled eyes failed to hide both her growing curiosity and anticipation. Azshara shifted on her bed, the sheet ever clinging just so to her torso.

“You pique my interest, my dear Xavius. I grant you the honor of presenting me with your gift.”

Rising again, the tall counselor turned to the doors and snapped his fingers.

There was a gasp from the outer room and two more attendants rushed inside, fleeing to the comfort and protection of their mistress. Frowning, Azshara sat up, almost but not quite letting the sheet slip.

The four fearsome warriors marched two abreast into the queen’s sanctum, so tall that they had to duck through the doorway to avoid scraping the top with their horns. They spread out as they entered, shields before their armored bodies and maces held high in salute.

Azshara leaned forward, utterly fascinated. “What are they?”

“They are yours, my queen! The protection of your life is their duty, their only reason to exist! Behold, your majesty, your new bodyguards!”

He saw that he had pleased her well. There would be more and more celestial warriors sent through by the great one, but these were the very first and they were to be hers. That made all the difference.

“How wonderful,” she murmured, stretching one arm out to a servant. The young maiden immediately reached for Azshara’s gown. The other attendants created a wall, obscuring all but the queen’s head from the view of Xavius and the Fel Guard. “How very fitting. Your gift is acceptable.”

“I am pleased that you are pleased.”

The servants stepped back. Now clad in a translucent, frost-colored gown, Queen Azshara rose from her bed. With calculated steps, she walked up to the towering figures and inspected each, her gown trailing along over the marble floor. For their part, the Fel Guard stood so motionless that they might have been mistaken for statuary.

“Are there more?”

“There will be, eventually.”

She frowned. “So few after so long? How will the great one himself come through if we cannot manage more than a few of his host at a time?”

“We draw from the Well as best we can, oh glorious queen. There are contradictory currents, outside reactions, the influence of other spellcasters elsewhere—”

Like a child reaching out to touch a new toy, Azshara let her fingers just graze the blazing armor of one of her new bodyguards. There was a slight hiss. The queen pulled back her fingers, an oddly pleased expression crossing her perfect features. “Then why haven’t you cut off the Well from such outside interference? It would make your task then much simpler.”

Lord Xavius opened his mouth to explain why the intricacies of the Highborne spellwork would not permit such—then realized that he had no good answer. Theoretically, Azshara’s suggestion had tremendous merit.

“Truly you are the queen,” he finally commented.

Her golden eyes seized his own. “Of course I am, my darling counselor. There has only ever been, only ever will be…one _Azshara .”

He nodded wordlessly.

She strode back to the bed, seating herself delicately on the edge. “If there is nothing else?”

“Nothing…for now, my queen.”

“Then, I think you must have more work to do now.”

Dismissed, Lord Xavius bowed low to his monarch, then backed out of her chambers. He did not take any umbrage at her regal tone or attitude, did not even grow more than slightly annoyed at her mastery of the situation.

Cut off the Well from interference…

It could be done. If not by the Highborne alone, then with Hakkar’s good guidance. Surely the Houndmaster would know best how to do it. With use of the Well limited only to those of the palace, the power the Highborne drew from it would be more easily manipulated, more easily transformed…

Small matter what havoc cutting off the Well would wreak upon the rest of their people.

“He is definitely one of us…somehow I know this as well as I know myself.”

The words were perhaps the most ironic ever spoken in history, or so Krasus believed at that moment. They had, after all, been uttered by the dragon Korialstrasz, the newest of Alexstrasza’s consorts.

And also Krasus’s younger self.

Korialstrasz did not recognize himself, at least, not consciously. However, the fact that Alexstrasza had not informed him of the newcomer’s true identity raised many questions.

One question possibly related to the others had to do with the male dragon’s present condition. While it was true that Krasus’s memory was full of holes, he doubted that he could have forgotten such an illness as his earlier incarnation seemed to be suffering at this moment. Korialstrasz looked far older, far more feeble than his age. He looked older than Tyran, who was centuries Korialstrasz’s senior.

“What else do you say about him?” Alexstrasza asked her mate.

The other dragon squinted at Krasus. “He is older, very old, in fact.” Korialstrasz tilted his head. “Something in his eyes…his eyes…”

“What about them?”

The huge male drew back. “Forgive me! My head is addled! I am not worthy of being in your presence at this time! I should withdraw…”

But she would not yet let him go. “Look at him, my mate. I ask you this one last thing; with what little you know, would you trust the word of this one?”

“I…yes, my Alexstrasza…I…would.”

Suddenly, a curious thing happened to Krasus. As the dragons continued conversing about him, he began to feel stronger, stronger than he had ever felt since first arriving in the past. Not quite as strong as he should have been, but at least much closer to normal.

And it was not him alone. He also noted that, despite words to the contrary, his younger self also started looking more fit. A bit of color had returned to the scales and Korialstrasz moved with somewhat better ease than earlier. His words did not come out in gasps anymore.

Alexstrasza nodded in response to her consort’s answer, then said, “So I wanted to hear. It tells me much that you feel so.”

“Is there more that you wish of me? My strength is better; being with you, being of assistance to you, has clearly heartened me.”

The smile that Krasus knew so well graced the dragon queen’s reptilian countenance. “Always the poetic one, my loving Korialstrasz! Yes…I wish much more of you. I know it will be difficult, but I must request your presence when I bring this one before the other Aspects.”

She succeeded in stunning both versions of Krasus. The young incarnation spoke first, echoing the older’s surprise. “You would convene a gathering of the Five? Over this one? But why?”

“Because he has told a story that they must hear, a story I tell you now…and you may choose again afterward to answer whether you trust him or not.”

So at last his earlier self would know the truth. Krasus readied himself for the other’s shock.

But as he had startled Rhonin by relating a tale that left out not only part of the truth but also his very identity, so now did the dragon queen tell much the same. She spoke of the disruption and all else Krasus had told the watcher, but of the mage’s true identity, Alexstrasza said nothing. To her consort, Krasus was merely another of the red flight, one whose mind had been torn asunder by the powerful forces that had assailed it.

Krasus himself made no attempt to reveal himself. This was Alexstrasza—his life, his love. Advisor to her he might be, but she still wielded the wisdom of an Aspect. If she felt that his younger self should remain ignorant…then who was he to disagree?

“An astonishing tale,” Korialstrasz murmured, looking and sounding even better. “I would have trouble believing it from any mouth but your own, my queen…”

“So your trust of him has faded?”

The eyes of the younger self met the eyes of the older. Even if Korialstrasz did not recognize himself, he must have recognized still the kindred spirit. “No…no, my trust has not faded. If you think he should be brought before the others…I must acquiesce.”

“Will you then fly with me?”

“But I am not one of the Five…I am merely me.”

The Queen of Life laughed lightly, a musical sound coming as it did from a dragon. “And thus you are as worthy as any of us.”

Korialstrasz was clearly flattered. “If I am as strong as I now feel, I will gladly fly at your side and stand before the other Aspects.”

“Thank you…that is all I ask.” She leaned forward and briefly nuzzled heads with him.

Krasus felt a peculiar jealousy. Here he was, watching himself be intimate with his mate, yet it was not him. He wished that for just one moment he could have changed places with Korialstrasz, that for just this one particular moment, he could be his true self again.

With a last lingering glance, the male turned and left the chamber. As the tip of Korialstrasz’s tail vanished into the passage, the mage suddenly felt light-headed. The weakness returned in a rush, causing him to teeter.

He would have fallen, but suddenly a massive, scaled appendage wrapped softly around him—Alexstrasza’s own tail come to his rescue.

“The two parts made whole…at least for a time.”

“I don’t—” His head swam.

“You felt much better in his presence, did you not?”

“Y-yes.”

“Would I were Nozdormu at this moment. He would understand this more. I think…I think that in the earthly realm, no creature can coexist with himself. I believe you and he, being one, draw off the same life force. When you are far from each other, you are halved, but when you are so very near, as just before, the draining is not so terrible. You help each other.”

Nestled safely, Krasus recovered enough to think over her words. “So that is why you requested him to come with.”

“Your story must be told and it will be told better if he is near. As to your unspoken question—why I did not reveal to him the truth—that is because of what may have to be done to salvage matters.”

Her tone grew grim as she said the last, verifying for Krasus his own suspicions. “You think it may come to the point where one of us must be removed from this period…even if that means death.”

The leviathan nodded reluctantly. “I am afraid so, my love.”

“I accept the choice. I knew it from the beginning.”

“Then there is only one more matter to discuss before I reach out to the others…and that is what must be done with this other who came with you.”

Although inside he asked Rhonin to forgive him, Krasus did not hesitate to reply. “If it must be done, he will share my fate. He, too, has those he cares about. He would give his life for them.”

The Queen of Life nodded. “As I trusted your counsel when it came to you, so I trust your counsel when it comes to him. Should the other decide so, he will also be removed.” The dragon’s expression softened. “Know that I will be saddened by this forever.”

“Take no blame unto yourself, my queen, my heart.”

“I must contact the others. It would be best for you if you waited for me here. In this place you will find yourself not so weary.”

“I am honored, my queen.”

“Honored? You are my consort. I could do no less.”

With her tail she guided him to an area of the nest near the stream. Krasus settled into a natural depression that acted for him like a huge chair.

As the dragon queen moved to the passage, she paused and, with a trace of remorse, added, “I hope you will be comfortable among the eggs.”

“I will be careful not to touch any.” Krasus understood the value of any egg.

“I am certain you will, my love…especially knowing that they are yours.”

She left him wordless. As the crimson giant disappeared, Krasus glanced from one egg to another. As consort, he had, of course, bred with his mate. Many of his children had grown to adulthood, bringing pride to the flight.

He slammed his fist against the rock, ignoring the pain the foolish act sent through him. For all he had revealed to his beloved Alexstrasza, he had kept from her several important facts. Most immediate was the coming of the Burning Legion. Krasus feared that even his queen, wise as she was, would be tempted to play with history…and that might create a more horrifying disaster.

Yet, even worse than that, Krasus had been unable to tell her about the future of their own kind, a future in which only a few would survive…a future in which most of the hatchlings of this and successive clutches would perish before they ever had the opportunity to reach full maturity.

A future in which the Queen of Life herself would become a slave, her children the war dogs of a conquering race.