Chapter 756

Chapter 756: Trust in Zardeth

In the morning, at the gates of Stormwind.

The weather was still a bit cool, but spring had come. Small yellow flowers swayed near the pond under the bridge. Birds flew overhead now and then. People had taken off their heavy coats, and the winter feeling was almost gone.

Jesse helped Vereesa put on her cloak. She looked back at the statue of Alleria Windrunner and said, “I missed her, but I wouldn’t risk your lives just to rescue her or even see her, Jesse. About last night… I apologized. I felt like I was out of my mind, losing my senses after learning there was a tiny bit of hope.”

“I mean, don’t do anything dangerous just because I asked. Knowing even a little about her is already more than I or Sylvanas could hope for.”

“I understand,” Jesse said, holding her shoulder.

Just then, a group of Stormwind cavalry passed by. After the sound of hooves faded, he lowered his voice and said, “I would be careful, Vereesa. If the time wasn’t right or the risks were too big, I wouldn’t decide anything lightly. But you must know that if you plan to find Alleria, you’ll have to face risks eventually, and I won’t let you handle it alone.”

The ranger nodded in his arms and said, “Then I’ll go. Eat well, Jesse; you’ve lost a lot of weight lately.” Jesse thought the best food at the Storm Altar was that weird roasted scorpion, which would make anyone lose weight.

Still, he nodded. He watched Vereesa jump onto her horse, take the reins, and head for the gate. She vanished among the waving blue lion banners, and he felt empty inside again.

A Stormwind patrol soldier came over then. He seemed to recognize Jesse, or maybe the ring he wore. He stopped and put his hand to his chest, saying, “Master Jesse Seso.”

“Good morning, sir,” Jesse smiled and suddenly remembered something. He asked, “Any news from Stonewatch Keep lately?”

The soldier replied, “The latest news is we took the Tower of Ilgalar with your help, and everything is fine there. The Gnolls left the woods around Stonewatch. If they had any brains, they’d know they couldn’t stay in that forest without controlling the tower. Will Redridge be back in our hands soon, master? Then we might not worry about Gnoll tribes from the east anymore.”

“I hope so,” Jesse said honestly. “But it doesn’t look that good to me.”

“We made it through the Dark Portal disaster,” the soldier said. “And it was with your… help, Master Seso.”

Here, the soldier seemed to think he said something wrong and looked down. Then he added, “Those Gnoll warlocks only dared to cause trouble with help from Orcs and demons, right?”

Jesse nodded. More people seemed to know he killed that demon king at Nethergarde using Black Magic. After lunch at The Gilded Rose, Jesse went to The Slaughtered Lamb.

Jarel was sweeping the floor at the entrance. He saw Jesse, puffed his chest, and stretched lazily, saying, “Good afternoon, court mage Master Jesse Seso.”

“You all know, then,” Jesse said.

“Of course,” Jarel leaned the broom aside and stretched again. “Zardeth had a meeting to talk about how to handle you. Now you’re the King’s man, and he didn’t want to take that risk.”

“So you decided not to ‘handle’ me?” Jesse asked.

“You mean kill you?” Jarel Moor laughed, his dark face wrinkling up.

“No way. Even Mor’zul, when he left here, we didn’t plan to get rid of him. But Zardeth was really ready to move to Ironforge, afraid you might expose us while clearing your name with Varian Wrynn.”

“So,” Jesse peeked inside and asked, “Can I go in?”

“Sure,” Jarel stepped aside. “But Ursula Deline isn’t downstairs.”

“I’m not looking for her. Is Zardeth here?” Jesse inquired.

“He’s in his room over there,” Jarel said. “Downstairs, it’s just Jalane Ayrole and Ursula’s Basadre.”

“Thanks, Jarel.” Jesse turned and walked down the stairs. Then he asked, “Is Ursula going outside now?”

Jarel replied, “Her troubles seemed a lot less, but I don’t know the details. Ask her yourself when she comes next.”

“Okay.” Jesse nodded.

“One more thing, Jesse,” Jarel said. “I heard you bought a house in the Trade District, right? Does that mean the place you’re renting will be free? I’ve got someone who wants to rent it, so I thought I’d ask.”

Hearing Jarel Moor say this, Jesse felt uneasy.

He didn’t want his parents mixed up with the people at The Slaughtered Lamb. It would be best if their life here had nothing to do with the things he did outside.

But he knew that was an impossible wish.

Jesse replied, “That house isn’t fixed up yet, so I need to stay in the rented place a while longer. I’ll tell you ahead of time when I plan to leave.”

“Are you going to renovate the house?” Jarel asked. “Aren’t you planning to ask Erlan Drudgemoor about it?”

Jesse thought about his new house. While he didn’t want to give the renovation job to Erlan, he figured asking the Mason’s Guild to help with the new Mage Tower should be fine.

He told himself that if he saved enough money to hire workers and paid them on time, it wouldn’t be a problem, right? “Is he home? At that place in Goldshire?”

Jarel tossed his thick braid behind him and said, “Anyway, he hasn’t been running around lately, Jesse. He should be with Surena Caledon or in Goldshire.”

Back at the rental, Jesse glanced at Molofeel sitting in a chair and reading a scroll. She rested her arm on the chair back, looking at him sideways. Outside sunlight made the magic patterns on her body look dim like dried blood, and her horns seemed dry. In the sharp light and shadow, she didn’t seem like a demon from the Twisting Nether.

“Master, are you planning to go to Kalimdor?” Molofeel asked.

“Maybe. I still need to check my guess,” Jesse said. He changed into plain clothes and hung the Azuresong Mageblade in a simple sheath on his belt. He was getting ready to visit Zardeth.

He looked up at the succubus and asked, “What is it?”

“Are you taking me with you this time?” Molofeel asked.

“Of course I’m taking you,” Jesse said, widening his eyes. “What are you talking about? If we have to search for Ulthalesh… you know what that is, Molofeel. It hides a demon’s soul that even Sargeras can’t handle. I must be ready. Why ask that? Don’t you want to come? Are you scared?”

Molofeel smiled and said, “Master, since we met, it’s always you leaving me behind. I’ve never once abandoned you, no matter what. I just wanted to make sure.”

She reached out to hug him. Jesse grabbed her arms and said, “I’m heading out. Damn it… didn’t you see I just put on my sword?”

“It’s early, isn’t it? Why not use the time?” Molofeel whispered in Jesse’s ear, “That night at the Storm Altar, I’ll never forget it, even back in the Twisting Nether. How about Vereesa Windrunner? Does she feel the same? Did she praise your skills? She must know it’s all thanks to me…”

“What part is thanks to you?” Jesse pushed her away.

Molofeel tumbled lightly onto the bed, looking up and smiling. Jesse knew her strength wasn’t so easy to push aside. After their fight outside the Storm Altar, he remembered it well.

She was always putting on an act.

But thinking it over, Jesse decided to take her to Zardeth. He recalled Zardeth’s place—dark, cramped, and home to another succubus.

Jarel Moor had said Zardeth was wary of him, and Molofeel had mentioned Zardeth’s shadow energy felt wrong. Jesse thought going alone to talk might be too risky.

“Come with me, Molofeel.”

“Where to?”

“To Zardeth.”

“Master’s actually taking me around Stormwind? You’re the human king’s trusted warlock now. Can I stop being invisible…”

“No!”

“Fine… heh.”

They followed the canal south, crossed a bridge, and reached Zardeth’s home.

Jesse didn’t know why he remembered the spot so well, having only visited two or three times. He walked up and knocked. Zardeth’s voice came from inside.

“Who is it?”

“Jesse Seso.”

Soon, the door opened a crack, and Zardeth peered out.

His pale skin looked even whiter, like a vampire’s. He eyed Jesse and said, “Come in.”

After shutting the door, he faced Jesse and asked, “Why are you here? As a court mage, a member of SI: 7, or a friend?”

“At least not as SI: 7,” Jesse replied.

Molofeel appeared in a nearby chair. Her flaming eyes outshone the candles by Zardeth, lighting up the shadow of the other succubus.