Flinthammer Hall

“Dearest Bael,

“Years ago, when you were still a baby, I wrote you another letter from the shadow of Icecrown Citadel. I don’t know if your mother ever shared it with you, since I and at least some of Ashen Verdict made it back alive.

“Your mother and I are there now. We came seeking a priest your mother knows, Scott the Psycho, who we thought might be able to tell us what’s wrong with your mother’s magic. But before we could, the Banshee Queen ripped open the sky. The veil between the world of the living and the land of the dead got torn to pieces.

“The crew of Skybreaker said the Alliance was sending an expedition across to find out whatever the Banshee was up to and to put a stop to it. They asked Lt. Commander Flinthammer — your ma — to be part of that mission. I’m going along to be her aide-de-camp (her assistant).

“When I wrote you that letter from Northrend, I knew I was walking into certain death, or something close to it.

“No living person knows what’s waiting for us on the far side of the veil, not even Scott the Psycho.

“But whatever’s happening up here is as bad as anything Azeroth’s faced during your life or mine.

“And somewhere on the other side is Kildris. We’re going to find out why your mother’s magic isn’t working, and we’re going to do everything we can to bring Marisi’s mom back home with us.

“Be kind to Marisi. Be a friend to her, a brother if you can.

“I don’t need to tell you to listen to your Uncle Ely while we’re gone. You’re a good boy — a good man — and already a better one than I’ve ever been. You more than make me proud: You give me an ideal to live up to, even though I know I never will fully measure up. Your light will guide us home.

“We’ll be back. Not even death can keep us from you.

“Love, your father,
Ringo Flinthammer”

“Khaz’goroth on a cracker!”

“Beli, such language!” Ringo Flinthammer was shocked. “You ne’er talk like that.”

“I can’t see a thing in this blizzard. Are you sure Rusty knows where he’s going?”

“Aye, he was raised in the Storm Peaks. He knows these mountains and Icecrown Glacier even when he cannae see them hisself. He’ll get us to this Scott person. (Honestly, what sort o’ name is ‘Scott,’ anyway?)”

“Scott the Merciful is a psychopomp. He may be able to tell us why I can’t bring back Kildris from the dead.”

“Only a psycho would have a name like ‘Scott.'”

“Again, a psychopomp is one who helps in the transition between life and death.”

“In that case, mah rifle is a psychopomp, too!”

“Scott stayed here at the Argent Dawn base to study the undead and death and dying. I couldn’t sit around like the the useless wet farts at the Netherlight Temple, whose plan to deal with whatever’s blocking resurrection magic is to ‘pray harder.’ So, Northrend and Scott the Merciful.”

“Even though he’s a psycho.”

Beli sighed.

“At least the blizzard’s letting up. Ringo! Look at the sky!”

“Khaz’goroth on a cracker!”

Darkness.

“Drink it all down, Marisi, that’s my good girl. Lie back; don’t be scared.”

Darkness.

“No, no, don’t cry. You’re doing a great thing. You will open the way for the true master of this world to enter Shadowforge and bring Azeroth to glory.”

Darkness.

“Get away from Marisi, Duerthic, you son of a bitch! Get away from my daughter!”

“Our daughter, Kildris! She’s not going to be the weak and worthless little girl that you –“

“Drop th’ knife an’ get away from her, ye mad bastard, or Ah’ll blow yer — Kildris, stop!”

“Marisi!”

“Kildris!”

Darkness.

“Eonar! Grant me your blessing! Eonar! Damn you, Eonar! Help her!”

Darkness.

Marisi Blackfire opened her eyes, unable to sleep any longer.

Her mother was dead, killed by her father. Her father was dead, killed by her mothers’ two friends, Beli and Ringo Flinthammer and by their great white bear, Frostmaw.

She sighed, and got out of bed, her feet just barely reaching the floor.

…

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