Damned if I Do : Chapter 10 (Patreon)

Chapter 10: The Prince

I was staring at a thin strip of silk when the door to the shop rang again.

I didn’t parse it, at first. After all, Jaina and I were in a clothing store; ostensibly it had other customers. I needed to buy traveling robes, and Kel’Thuzad really hadn’t given me enough money to splurge on expensive silks imported from Quel’Thalas.

Ah, being broke: I’d really been looking forward to this part of the college experience.

I was drawn out of my musings by the sound of Jaina’s voice. She was a row over, looking through some new traveling cloaks. Of course, as the daughter of an admiral, she had a few more resources than I did. This place was maybe even a little lowbrow for her, but that seemed to be the type of thing Jaina enjoyed.

I peeked around the corner as I heard her soft murmur. She was closer to the entrance of the store than me, so she’d bumped into the newcomer first.

I recognized that head of blond hair.

The pointy ears were the real giveaway, though.

“Kael.” Jaina gave the archmage a smile as the man breezed into the store. His own robes put everything here to shame, and a quick glance towards the proprietor showed that he knew it as well.

“Jaina.” For his part, Kael’thas barely paid any attention to his surroundings as he pressed a deft kiss to the back of her hand. I imagine he probably didn’t go shopping much, and that wasn’t even because he was a prince. Elves were so few in number, compared to us filthy humans, that most of them bought bespoke items as a matter of course.

Why get something mass produced when you could go to your neighbor who had been weaving for longer than the kingdom of Stormwind had existed as a political entity?

“If you were looking for me, you could have just sent a messenger.” Jaina allowed Kael’thas to greet her before taking her hand back. “We’ll be finished here soon enough.”

“Normally I would have.” No matter how many times I heard him from a distance, I was surprised by how deep and rough his voice was. You know, for an elf. “Yet today I do not seek your companionship, as lovely as it might be.”

“Oh?” I heard the raised eyebrow in Jaina’s tone. “What may I assist you with, then, Prince Kael’thas?”

If the shift in formality caught the man off guard, he didn’t show it. “An introduction to your companion.” His glowing blue eyes tracked over to me. “We have yet to become acquainted beyond my aid in her initial recovery. I am to… rectify that oversight.”

Jaina paused. “That is…”

I sighed, stepping out from behind the cloak rack. “Her companion can make her own introductions.”

Kael’thas’s smile widened by a fraction. “How charming.” As I came closer, he took my hand as well, pressing a kiss against the back of my wrist. “Kael’thas, my lady. Your reputation precedes you.”

I raised an eyebrow. “All good things, I hope.”

He gave a deep chuckle. “It would have to be, for Archmage Kel’Thuzad himself to take you as an apprentice.”

I shrugged. “I don’t see what that has to do with anything. I’m sure there are plenty of worthwhile spellcasters running around Dalaran.”

“Ah, but those who continue to capture the attention of the Council for so long?” He tutted. “Had I known you were this interesting, I might have taken you as an apprentice myself.”

Jaina cleared her throat to the side. I blinked, turning just as Kael’thas took his hand back so swiftly I almost forgot he’d been cradling my wrist that entire time.

“Anyway,” Jaina said. “Prince Kael, this is my friend, Taylor.” She turned to me. “Taylor, you’ve met Kael’thas, prince of Quel’Thalas and Archmage of the Council of Six.”

“In passing,” I said.

“As always, a pleasure,” he replied.

I opened my mouth, before swallowing my first answer to that. “Thank you for the introduction, Jaina.”

“You’re welcome.” She looked somewhat mollified, not that I really understood why she’d been upset in the first place, before returning her attention to the elven prince. “And to the purpose of your visit?”

“I wished to converse with Apprentice Taylor.” He brushed some imaginary dust from one of his billowy sleeves. “I realized that she is the only member of this expedition that I am not directly familiar with, and we plan to depart so quickly as well.” He turned that sharp smile to me. “Forgive me for such a direct approach.”

Jaina’s lips quirked at that.

“I appreciate direct.” I shrugged. “Though I’m surprised you’d admit to knowing Prince Arthas.”

Kael simply laughed. “Of course I know my fellow prince. Indeed, between diplomatic talks and his plans for the Alliance, I may have spent more time with the good paladin than any other member of this college.”

I blinked again, as I realized that comment was directed more at Jaina than at me. “I’m sure we all have duties to attend to.” I placed a hand on my hip. “Far be it from me to expect a chat in the month or so I’ve lived in Dalaran since my recovery.”

“Duty is a beast whose appetite cannot be filled; as I am sure you well know,” he countered smoothly. “Now that duty has pushed us together instead, how could I not take this opportunity to meet the new rising star of Dalaran?”

I raised an eyebrow. “And that would be me?”

“Most assuredly. I wish to speak with you at some length. Perhaps, as a token of my esteem, you would allow me to aid you in your search.” He leaned closer, as if conveying a secret. “Jaina’s tastes in attire trend in very specific directions, but I noticed that you have a discerning eye for ironweb spider silk.”

I cast a glance over my shoulder, to where those silk robes still hung. “Is that what it’s called? I just liked the texture.”

Kael’thas tilted his head. “It is a decent make, but we have better in Quel’Thalas.”

“Oh? Color me interested.” I took a step forward, into his personal space, just to see how he’d react. “I’ve always been a fan of spiders.” And bees, but that was more personal.

As in, if my bees got that personal with you, we’d be having a different conversation.

“We maintain some lovely spider farms, if that is your fancy.” He raised an eyebrow. Kael’thas wasn’t quite tall enough to loom over me like Arthas or most other humans were, but he still had an inch or two on me and he wasn’t going anywhere.

“Like what?”

“Oh, this and that.” He lifted the sleeve of his robe, practically brushing my chin as he ran a finger over it. “These accents are done in spindleweb silk, though we also maintain a few skitterweb farms, close to the border with Lordaeron.”

I paused, taking a half step back. “Skitter…web.”

He continued to smile, but his eyes flashed as he caught my stumble. “Does it interest you? There is a store here that supplies it as well.” He sniffed. “And in a better cut than those…robes.”

I took a breath, studying myself. “I doubt my purse stretches that far.”

“It is of no import.” He waved a hand. “I believe it is a human custom to make reparations when one does you a favor, is it not?”

I shot him a sharp look. “It’s a bit late to be playing the ‘ignorant of human social norms’ card, don’t you think?”

He smiled implacably. “No, I do not believe it is.”

I fought back the temptation to roll my eyes. Still, if an Elven Prince offered to buy you a fancy set of robes, would you get into his van?

‘No’ would be my normal answer, but I also was going to have to be in close proximity to Kael’thas for the duration of Arthas’s Unity Tour. He also hadn’t done anything egregious or even offensive to me really, even though he often acted like he was above the normal ‘plebians’.

Still, he’d never made the jump to actual rudeness, and I could see where it was coming from…I also wouldn’t want to have some random girl along with me on an important trip like this without vetting her first.

I’d worked with worse people for worse reasons.

“Well, I suppose I can’t argue with that.” I looked over at Jaina. “You said you had something to take care of this afternoon anyway, didn’t you? Want to break early?”

She gave me a long look. “Only you, Taylor.” She waved a hand and turned back to the prince. “Is that it, you come to make remarks about my wardrobe, steal my friend, and leave?” There was a hit of actual annoyance beneath her playful smile.

“The needs must,” Kael’thas replied. “I shall endeavor to make it up to you.”

She sniffed. “I think we’ll both be a little busy for that, in the near future.”

Kael’thas didn’t shrug, because that probably wouldn’t be princely enough for him, but it looked like a near thing. “The future is long, and there are a myriad of diversions available in Quel’Thalas.”

“I’m sure.” Jaina dipped into a perfunctory curtsey. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

“As always, a pleasure.” Kael’thas inclined his head.

I’d have to untangle this mess myself later, wouldn’t I? “See you back at the dorms later.”

Jaina nodded before leaving the store. Kael’thas turned to me, offering his arm. “Shall we?”

“I need to pay for these pouches first.” I hefted a belt with a few cloth sacks attached. Kael’thas tilted his head. I shrugged. “I appreciate the durability.”

“They do look well-suited for travel.” He nodded. “Very well.” He waved a hand, and an invisible familiar deposited a few coins on the counter. The shopkeep just bowed, sweeping them up without saying a word.

Despite my better judgment, I slipped my arm into the prince’s elbow and allowed him to escort me from the store.

The moment we stepped out onto the street, I felt a barrier of air settle around us. It rippled slightly, before settling as if it wasn’t even there. After, the sounds of Dalaran become muted and distant.

“I believe I promised the lady some ironweb silk of higher quality.” Kael’thas led the way.

It was easy to keep pace with him. The crowds, likewise, parted effortlessly around the Archmage.

I held back a sigh. This was going to be worse than the church incident, wasn’t it?

“So.” I flicked a glance towards Kael’thas. “What were you really after?”

“You.” My eyes narrowed at the reply, and he chuckled. “Is it so strange to believe that I did seek you out to know you better?”

“I find it hard to believe that was your only goal.”

“But of course.” He smiled, features controlled as only a being with centuries of practice could be. “Forgive me for not sharing the rest.”

“And the offer of clothes?” I didn’t expect buying some novice apprentice a set of fancy robes would make much of a dent in his pocketbook, but even still, leading with a bribe was an interesting take.

“I simply wondered if you were as amenable to…mutually beneficial deals as your master.”

I looked away. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

He chuckled again, a low, rasping sound that only sounded louder, due to the silence. “I mean nothing by it. Still, it is clear to see that Prince Arthas would never dream of such a compromise, and Jaina is… as honest as she is intelligent.”

I looked at Kael’thas out of the corner of my eye. “That’s high praise, considering you just blew her off a moment ago.”

“I’m out of tickets to the opera, I’m afraid.”

I held back a snort.

“I’m sure that she’ll be happy to hear that, all the same.”

“Oh?” He turned his glowing gaze towards me. “The compliment, or the opera?”

I shrugged. “You’ll forgive me for not sharing.”

This time, when he laughed, it sounded a little less practiced. “I think, if you keep that wit to go along with that keen mind of yours, you’ll do quite well on this expedition.” He smiled again, that mask of peerless control slipping back over his features. “Most excellent.”

I raised an eyebrow. “That’s it? You just wanted to make sure I wouldn’t wreck Arthas’s tour, even though I’m the one who helped get it started?”

“I have found ideals make a poor substitute for ability,” Kael’thas said in lieu of an actual reply. “Rare is the individual who has both.”

I hummed at that. “And what are your ideals, Prince Kael’thas?”

His smile didn’t change. “I believe in many things.” We came to a stop before a much more upscale-looking store than the last one. “Among others, that there need not be a winner or a loser in an alliance of equals, and that instead all may provide something they have but do not need, for something they need but do not have.”

I stilled for a moment at that, before chuckling myself. “Just like our petty little bargain today, huh?”

“It is why I believe in the Alliance.” One of many reasons, I heard in his voice. Then he dismissed the barrier of wind and opened the door in one seamless motion. “After you, my lady. It would be poor form should a prince not uphold his side of a deal.”

“I see you also have a peculiar sense of duty to go along with it,” I said.

Kael’thas smiled sharply.

“As do we all.”