Chapter 772

Chapter 772: The Way to Ironforge

At night, in the top room of the Mage Tower, Jesse rested his head on his hand, staring at the letter paper on the table, frowning deeply.

The Mage Tower wasn’t ready for guests yet, so Jesse sent VanCleef back to the guest room at Stonewatch Keep to rest while he stayed there, preparing to write a reply to Vereesa.

He glanced at what he’d scribbled on a scrap of paper.

"The Storm Altar is still threatened by the Orcs and could be taken back by the Blackrock Spire forces anytime… so I need to move the Demon Lord from the Storm Altar to the Mage Tower soon, which needs a lot of money to get the Tower of Ilgalar ready. Right now, I’m short by two hundred gold coins."

Seeing this, Jesse crumpled the paper and tossed it aside. He sighed and leaned back in his chair.

It wasn’t convincing; the Blackrock Orcs hadn’t even settled their fights with the Dark Iron Dwarves yet, and years later, they still didn’t care about the Storm Altar. Plus, Vereesa had said she couldn’t get any money from her family.

Vereesa knew they might need this Demon Lord Kallez to find a way to the shattered Draenor. If he brought up Kallez, Jesse worried she’d think he was talking about her sister.

Jesse shook his head. He decided to wait until she got to Stormwind to ask about the rewards from the Reliquary mission.

After telling the two Dazhalm to keep patrolling the Mage Tower, Jesse told the patrollers at Stonewatch Keep he was leaving and rode Aarna back to Stormwind.

He reached Stormwind four days later. If Vereesa still needed about a month to free herself, Jesse planned to use the time to visit the Thorium Brotherhood.

In the game, the Thorium Brotherhood lived in a place called Thorium Point north of Blackrock Spire in the Searing Gorge. But since it was over ten years ago, Jesse wasn’t sure if the Thorium Brotherhood was still there.

The game’s mini-map and interface would guide you to the nearest towns and flight points, helping you find Thorium Point. But the game’s terrain showed it was a pretty hidden spot.

After all, the whole Searing Gorge was still held by the Dark Iron Dwarves. They’d built many towers, forts, and dungeons there, with Dark Iron patrols everywhere. As a small group that broke away from Shadowforge City, the Thorium Brotherhood had to keep a low profile.

A month was too short to search for a secret place a thousand miles north. But Jesse didn’t want to waste the time; at least trying to find it was worth it.

So that day, he invited Greed to the Pig and Whistle Tavern. He ordered beer-roasted Hillsbrad mountain lion steak, spicy Redridge vulture wings, Loch Lake wild fish soup… dishes he rarely got to eat more than once every few months.

When he saw Greed at the door, he also ordered mead. All that added up to over ten silver coins, especially the wild fish soup. It wasn’t cheap even in Thelsamar, since that fierce green beast was the deadliest killer in Loch Lake.

Jesse hoped the wild fish soup would stir up some of the evil and rage hidden deep in Greed, making him willing… to go meet the Dark Iron Dwarves with him.

More importantly, with Goergette.

When Greed got to the table and saw the steaming dishes, he gasped. Then he eyed the Stormwind specialty blue cheese he rarely touched and the sweet corn bread that was just for show.

The dwarf leaned on the chair back and whispered, "What’s this mean? You evil warlock finally want me to die for you?"

"I don’t speak Dwarven, Greed," Jesse said. "And you’re the only dwarf I know. If I can’t speak Dwarven, how can I meet the Dark Iron Dwarves?"

"What?!" Greed nearly jumped up. "You want me to help you find Dark Iron Dwarves?! Damn it, just let me die!"

He yelled, but his eyes stayed glued to the Redridge vulture wings on the table.

He kept glancing at them and said, "When you joined the Wizard’s Sanctum, you could’ve picked Dwarven, but you chose Dragon Tongue instead. Now look where you are!"

"Shhh," Jesse looked around. "Keep your voice down!"

Greed shot an annoyed look at a tall human drinking alone nearby. Then he slumped into his chair and lowered his voice. "I told you before… go find the Dark Iron Dwarves yourself. You’re a real pain. I still have to watch over the house repairs, remember?"

"How much longer?" Jesse asked.

"Even for simple fixes, it’s not easy. It’ll take at least a month or two," Greed leaned back. "It’s only been a few days, but I’ll push them. Many Dark Iron Dwarves speak Common, Jesse. They trade with people in Stormwind. And the Thorium Brotherhood folks are smarter than most Dark Iron Dwarves, so they probably speak Common, right?"

"This food’s about to get cold," he mumbled.

"Then eat," Jesse said.

Greed reached for a vulture wing piece but glanced over. "Just because I eat doesn’t mean I’ll go meet the Dark Iron Dwarves with you."

Jesse sighed and said, “Alright, eat up.”

Greed smirked, took out his food, and started gnawing on the bread. Jesse grabbed a piece too, eager to discover the taste of vulture wings.

But one bite in, he regretted it. The wing meat was tough and stringy compared to chicken wings, with a sour stench like it had spoiled.

Watching Greed tear off chunks, Jesse wondered if this was another peculiar "flavor" he just couldn’t appreciate.

Jesse took a swig of mead from the jug to wash away the odd taste, then asked, “Where can I find the Thorium Brotherhood?”

“Ironforge,” Greed mumbled through a mouthful.

“The Thorium Brotherhood’s base is in Ironforge?” Jesse pressed.

“’Course not,” Greed said. “The lot in Ironforge just handle outside trade, and the Bronzebeards watch ’em like hawks. The Brotherhood wants coin, and other dwarves want their tricks. Where the rest are hidin’? I couldn’t say.”

Seemed the Thorium Brotherhood guarded its secrets closely.

Meeting those Dark Iron Dwarves in Ironforge sounded wise; barging into Thorium Point might get them branded troublemakers.

Jesse said, “Even if you won’t take me to the Dark Irons, you could fly me to Ironforge, right? Think: without you, I’d sail to Menethil Harbor, find gryphon keepers to haul me to Ironforge – nearly half a month! With you? Three, four days tops. Vereesa said she’d be ready in a month. I aim to see the Brotherhood then. By ship? Menethil alone would swallow the whole month.”

“Take the Deeprun Tram,” Greed suggested.

“The Tram?!” Jesse exclaimed. “The Dwarven District line’s done? How’d I miss that?”

“Too busy bein’ important to notice city folk,” Greed jabbed.

Jesse stiffened. Greed chuckled at his reaction. “Jokin’! It’s new. Not carryin’ passengers yet – just hauling supplies from Lordaeron, Stromgarde, and Ironforge to Stormwind. Dug it for rebuildin’ the city.”

“No passengers? How’s that get me to Ironforge?” Jesse asked.

Greed grabbed Jesse’s wrist, jabbing a finger at the royal court mage ring. “This ain’t just jewelry, Jesse Seso! Use your pull!”

“Will it work?”

“Try it,” Greed urged. “Heard Explorer Association types hitched rides with Ironforge shipments, callin’ it ‘research.’ They ain’t runnin’ regular service, but special folk, or those on big jobs? Probably get a ride. Go ask ’em. Won’t take long. If they say no, I’ll see ’bout Goergette.”

He sighed heavily. “Goergette’s a handful. Feel like Varian Wrynn duped me. That king plays the simpleton, but he’s scheming through and through. Made it seem like a favor, lettin’ me have Goergette. Just landed me in it, and I can’t even complain.”

“Didn’t he promise a gryphon nest in Stormwind?” Jesse asked.

Greed drained his mead jug and thumped it down. “Think clearin’ a nest costs much? That king offered space *and* feed! But they feed Goergette like any other gryphon. Never fills the beast! Always wantin’ more! Gotta fly ’em out regular – stops ’em goin’ stir-crazy, keeps ’em fit. Just means they eat even more!”

“Hunt while you’re out,” Jesse offered.

“Winter? Nothin’ out there,” Greed grumbled. “Can’t let ’em raid farms. Spring’s here – hope it eases. Tendin’ this one… more trouble than keepin’ a wife. Never had one, mind, but reckon it’s close.”

“What about Kalimdor? How’ll you manage Goergette?” Jesse pressed.

“This trip? Easy,” Greed said. “Find a solid gryphon keeper, pay ’em well. King’s gift – no one’ll slack. Cost more’n doin’ it myself, but what choice is there? But later… if I settle in Kalimdor with Mosa… dunno if Goergette can take the journey or fit in there.”

“Doubt Goergette’ll struggle,” Jesse smiled, nudging the dwarf. “Just a new diet. Kalimdor’s scarce on proper farms. Keep ’em clear of elves? Eat whatever’s handy!”

Greed’s roar of laughter turned their table into the tavern’s spotlight.

Jesse laughed too, but his thoughts drifted ahead – to Greed in Kalimdor. Good friends, close brothers… all start families, live their own lives.

Lucky Greed had Mosa Woodmane. A rare one – kind, brave, selfless. Jesse remembered Eldre’Thalas, facing that near-unbeatable demon bursting with magic. Mosa stepping up, dead set on wrecking the mana core.

Mostly, she truly loved Greed. No elf games with her.

She cherished her kin, her home – never quick to abandon. If she wed Greed, Jesse knew she’d shield him with her life.

Greed held no love for Bronzebeards, wouldn’t plant roots in Ironforge. Aerie Peak? Too many ghosts. Been gone too long to go back easy.

Building a life with a stranger from another world? Likely his best shot. Greed clearly wanted it. Deserved that happiness.

Knowing this didn’t stop the pang in Jesse’s chest. Not that he begrudged Greed joy.

Just then, Greed fell silent too, wordlessly sopping up the last broth with his bread.