She ducked back inside her room, closing the door behind her. She washed up and changed into light breeches and tunic for traveling, packing away the few loose articles she still had laying about here and there, including the letter from the Stormwind Paladins. Seona did make sure, however, to keep it someplace handy. The gryphon master here near the dock was particularly strict and didn't often allow flights without good reason or direct orders. She did her hair up in its customary loose bun, easy for her after years of practice. A few strands fell loose right away, and she once again wished she were better at the usual braids her people wore as they generally held fast for far longer.
Seona shouldered her packs, blew out the lantern and ensured it was well and truely out, and went down the stairs. The tavern below was entirely empty, aside from a dozing Mikhail and the stout Innkeeper. She smiled sleepily and waved.
"Mornin' lass. 'Ow'd you sleep?" Innkeeper Helbrek asked, no doubt cheerful from the good business last night.
"Very well, thank you," Seona replied, as she pulled out her coinpurse. "How much do I owe you, Helbrek?"
"Fer a night? Seventy-five silver." Seona pulled out the coins and counted them out, for once grateful she worked as a soldier. All who aided the Church of the Light and the Kingdom were often given some discount for rooms and supplies. The coins changed hands and she decided to buy some dried trail rations as well, while she was here.
"'Ow far you goin', lass?" Helbrek asked, curious. Seona shrugged. "Oh, not that far, just to Stormwind, but you never know what will happen along the way." Helbreck nodded knowingly."Aye. Well, you ought'er get goin', then. 'E 'ope ter see you 'gain soon, lassie."
Seona laughed. "Oh, you can't get rid of me that easily, Hel. I'll be back soon enough!"
She left the tavern only to step into a bank of thick fog. The sound of the ocean lapping against the shore came from her left, along with the creaking and soft splashing of a docked ship. She saw the ghostly siluettes of soldiers making their morning rounds of the town, lanterns held lazily at their sides, only to lose sight of them again within moments thanks to the cloudy mist. Already she could feel beads of water trying to cling to her hair, so she made her way carefully towards the dock where the gryphons roosted in their low-lying roosts filled with straw.
As the sounds of the dock grew louder, the gryphon post emerged from the mists, the soft ruffling of feathers almost impossible to hear over the sound of the water, though an occasional impatient growl from one of the gryphons steered her closer. The stern gryphon master, named Shellei Brondir, was feeding some of her flock, cooing softly to a few of the large beasts. So as not to startle her, shuffled her bags and coughed, catching the attention of several of the intelligent gryphons and, thus, their master.
"Who's out there?" the gryphon master asked, quickly finding Seona's form in the fog.
"Sister Seona Lightstone, requesting a flight to Stormwind, Gryphon Master Brondir." She pulled the letter containing her orders out from her bag to present to the tall, firey-haired human. Seona couldn't judge her expression, thanks to the goggles so many of the gryphon riders wore, but she didn't look pleased.
"You want to take one of mine out? And that far?" Shellei shook her head. "No, I'm sorry, I can't authorize it. Most of my current gryphons are very young without the endurance needed for a trip that long. My older, more experienced ones, came down with a coughing sickness, no doubt due to all the damp, and had to be taken back to Stormwind weeks ago. I'm still waiting on decent replacements." Seona was disappointed. There were other routes of travel, but the letter had come to her so late that there wasn't much time left. Her face fell. Shellei's face softened just a little, and she pushed her goggles up onto her head to look down at Seona.
"I'll tell you what. I have one gryphon who's a bit green, but is easily up to the flight to Ironforge." Seona nearly clapped with excitement.
"Oh, thank you! That's more than fine, as the tram under Ironforge will get me to Stormwind just as easily as a gryphon," she then looked over at the beasts who were watching her intently,
"Though not nearly as stylishly." Even the gryphon master laughed and waved at the gryphons.
"Alright, then. Give me your packs, and we'll get my beast loaded for you."
After a few minutes of cajoling and prodding the young gryphon, getting him settled and packed up, Seona was beginning to doubt her decision. The gryphon looked about ready to bolt off without her, and even when he stood still, he seemed twitchy. He seemed far too eager for her tastes, at any rate. Still, this was the fastest way, by far, and she had to make it in time for training or have to wait a whole extra month.
"Alright," Brondir said, waving Seona over. "He's ready."
"So I can see." Brondir laughed.
"Oh, yes, Zephyr is eager. He's fast, though, so you'll get to Ironforge in no time, probably by noon, perhaps a bit after." Seona eyed him wearily, but knew better than to back out now. She moved forward and straddled the fidgety gryphon. Shellei whispered a few things into the gryphon's ear, and Seona watched with amusement as the gryphon seemed to listen and understand. She knew the beasts were far smarter than any average animal, especially the older, wiser ones who could memorize many flight paths without any problems. Still, this seemed more like a mother telling her youngest to behave himself in school, than a gryphon master giving directions to an eager student.
"All right, you're set. Give my regards to Gryth, the Ironforge gryphon master. Remind him that I'm still waiting on replacements, will you?" Seona nodded and nearly lost her grip. Zephyr, the all too eager gryphon and bolted and lept up into the air, the only thing Seona could hear was the laughter from Brondir below and the rushing wind. At first she was a little terrified, as the thick fog was still pressing in all around and in the air you couldn't tell which way was which. For a moment, she thought they would crash right into the sides of the nearby mountains.
Then, gradually, she noticed the light growing brighter, only to burst out of the fog into the dazzling morning sunlight. The snow-covered mountains were just ahead, a sea of grey mist below them, and Zephyr growled with delight, climbing ever higher into the cold, mountain air. Even Seona had to giggle at her initial fright, now that she was safely in the air and soaring easily above the wetlands. She looked down at the gryphon and realized that he'd make a very good one someday, provided he learned some patience. Perfectly honed muscles bunched and moved under golden fur, his tail twitching to keep perfect balance in the air, feathers perfect and rippling in the wind. She watched it all work in unison to keep them flying, higher and higher until they were in the mountains, snow beneath them.
As the morning continued, they neared Ironforge, making even better time than the gryphon master had predicted. Seona guessed, by the sun's position, that it was only mid-morning as the lights of the dwarven city winked in the mountains before them. She patted the gryphon thankfully, getting a good-natured growling call in return. The air was cold, and obviously more difficult to fly through, as the gryphon had to flap far more often to stay aloft. Still, he moved well, nearing Ironforge with the same pace he had set before. The gates were looming ever closer, the giant statue in the doorway, his crossed hammers high above signalling the end of her flight.
Zephyr swooped down, lightly turning as he entered the city, his cry echoing along the stone walls of the gryphon flight tunnel. The air was much warmer here, nearly stifling, as the heat from the huge furnace created strong updrafts, the air visibly churning in the lights of the fire and molten rock. The gryphon bobbled a bit in the air, then pushed and found his aerial footing, moving onward into the heart of the city: The Great Forge. The second dark tunnel opened up into the huge cavern, and the flight was nearly over.
Banking around the molten lava pouring down from above, Zephyr landed neatly in fron of the dwarven gryphon master, panting only slightly with the exertions of his flight. Gryth Thurden walked over and patted him, saying gruff praises and unbuckling Seona's packs as she dismounted. Giving her gryphon a final farewell pat in thanks, she shouldered her packs and turned to go.
Remembering her promise, she turned back and bowed to the gryphon master. "Sir, I was asked by the Wetlands post to inquire about replacement gryphons."
Thurden turned around to look her up and down and snorted. "Ach, she'll get 'em soon enough. Better send a letter to the lass, though, to keep 'er from constantly askin'. Thank'ee for passin' the word along, though, miss. No doubt you've better things t'do." She merely bowed again and resettled her packs on her back, turning right, to make her way towards the Military Ward of the city.
Ironforge was bustling, with many stout dwarves, diminutive gnomes, and tall humans in the streets beneath the mountains. Seona had forgotten what it was like to be amongst so many others, and felt a little out of place. She shook of the feeling, though, and made her way along the tunnels, smiling shyly at passersby. The Military Ward opened up before her as she left the Great Forge behind, though there was still plenty of heat coming from a pit of coals in the center of the square. The Hall of Arms, a very large building carved directly from the stone of the mountain, loomed ahead of her. Warriors and Hunters entered and exited the structure, some in groups, but most alone. Seona looked around to the left and found what she was looking for, the entrance to Tinker Town, the last Gnomish stronghold left in the world.
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