World of Warcraft: The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm Page 0,44
then smiled cheerily. “No matter, li’l lion. Today was just about checkin’ yer strength an’ judging yer skills. Ye’ll be with us for a while. We’ll send ye back tae yer father all properly dwarf-tempered, ye’ll see!”
She had started calling him “li’l lion” yesterday afternoon when they had been ambling around Ironforge together, and he hadn’t minded. And he knew her comment just now was intended to be encouraging. Instead, he winced inwardly.
He knew his father did not think he was “warrior material,” knew that one of the reasons Varian had sent him here at all was to “toughen him up” and have the dwarves “make a man out of him.” Anduin was painfully aware—now literally—that he really wasn’t warrior material. He was good at archery and knife throwing, because he had a keen eye and a steady hand, but when it came to the heavier weapons, his slight build just couldn’t seem to manage it. But that was not all there was to it. The swords and polearms never seemed to feel comfortable in his hands. And no matter how hard he trained, no matter how many hours he sparred with this stout, cheerful female dwarf, despite her words, he was not going to become “all properly dwarf-tempered.”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “You’re a fine trainer, Aerin. I’m sure I’ll improve.”
“Och, I ken ye will,” she said, winking at him, and for the first time he realized that she was really quite pretty. He smiled back, sorry to have lied to her. He wasn’t at all sure he would improve, and he felt his mood darken as he anticipated disappointing Aerin. But she had already begun putting things away, whistling and bustling about industriously. He assisted her, hanging up the training weapons and shrugging out of the padded armor, trying not to gasp as overly strained muscles protested.
“I think I’ll go back to my quarters and take a bath,” he said, dragging a hand across his sweaty forehead.
“Aye, I was going to say something,” she said bluntly. He stared at her for a full half a minute, mortified, before a telltale smile curved her lips and he realized she was just teasing him—again. He laughed sheepishly. “Let me know if ye need anything,” Aerin said. “I’ll be happy tae take ye out for a ride later.”
The thought of bouncing around on one of the giant rams that the dwarves favored as mounts made Anduin turn pale. “No, I may just stay inside for a bit, keep up with my studies.”
“Well, if ye want some fresh air, simply send fer me.”
“I will. Thank you again.”
“O’ course, any time!” She bustled off cheerily. Anduin could not help but notice that she hadn’t even really broken a good sweat. He sighed and went back to his quarters.
A good hot bath and a change of clothes later, his mood much improved, he decided to take a walk to the Mystic Ward. He was feeling in need of a little Light.
He knew he’d made a good decision when he felt the constriction around his chest ease as he approached. Somehow, whether it was a trick of the light or the actual materials used in construction, the Mystic Ward seemed brighter to him. Too, the softly lapping pool in the ward was soothing. He wasn’t sure exactly what its purpose was, if indeed it had any other than decorative. He fished out a coin, made a wish, and tossed it in, watching the gold glint in the light for an instant before slowly sinking downward. He was reassured when he peered into the depths and saw that it had many monetary companions. There were stairs—was the pool for swimming, or ritual bathing? He’d have to ask Aerin. For now he was not going to commit any kind of social error.
He walked through the open doorway into the Hall of Mysteries, smiling gently as blue-purple-white light fell upon him. Five pillars, each adorned with a repeating geometric pattern wrought in gold and blue, supported an upper story and a ceiling. Now that he was inside, he found the place not quite as sacred-feeling as the cathedral—but the Light was still there. It had seemed to him yesterday and earlier today that everyone in Ironforge wore plate armor even going about day-to-day tasks. It was a relief to see rooms filled with gnomes and dwarves in soft, flowing robes.
Something small and hard and moving fast slammed into his thigh, and he stumbled backward. “What—”