Warlocks

Title: Warlocks

Part: 1/1

Rating: PG.

Warnings: This is a story inspired by the World of Warcraft online game. So if you don't know about it, this fic might not make much sense to you.

Beta: No beta for this story.

Feedback: Yes please.

Disclaimer: I don't own World of Warcraft. I do however pay Blizzard Entertainment for the right to play my gnome warlock Needl on the Argent Dawn Server.

Summary: This is a short story about how Needl met Synistre, who is played by my husband.

Needl stepped in to the Lion's Pride Inn, nervously scanning her surroundings. Her imp was at her elbow, as usual completely uninterested in human concerns, unless she commanded him to. There were only a few people in the inn. There were a few dwarves gathered at the fire with their pints of beer, a tall night elf chatting animatedly with a draenei at the bar and a lone human woman, sitting at a table by herself, enjoying her meal in the corner.

Movement under the woman's table caught Needl's eye. An imp similar to her own poked it's head around a leg of the table and sniffed the air with a wariness Needl's imp would never ever display. She felt jittery from excitement. This woman was a warlock! She would know where to continue her training.

Needl cautiously approached the table. The blonde, blue eyed warlock looked friendly enough, but was clearly ignoring the rest of the room while sipping her drink.

“Excuse me miss, could you help me?”

The woman set down her drink slowly and Needl was rather shocked when she finally turned to look down at the small creature talking to her. The blue eyes had a very prominent red edge around the iris and the look she bestowed on the gnome was the kind that made you think that looks could indeed kill. Her voice was hoarse and deep.

“That would depend greatly on the nature of the help needed.”

Needl crumbled under the burning eyes and fidgeted nervously.

“Well... you wouldn't happen to know where I might find further training as a warlock in this area?”

The woman glanced at the indifferent imp, nearly as tall as his master. Then she stared with a searching gaze at the nervous little gnome, wringing her hands under her piercing look.

“Are you prepared for the suffering ahead? For the taint? The fear.... the pain...?”

Needl swallowed and looked up at the human towering over her, even when sitting down.

“I... I think so...”

She could have crawled into a mouse hole at the look of fire in the woman's gaze.

“You think so? This path is not one with room for doubts. You can never hope to command, if you are not ready for the sacrifices required.”

Needl bolstered her strength and met the frightening eyes of the human.

“I know so. I'm ready.”

Her eyes flared with something more than their normal pale blue, and despite the freckled friendly face, she looked a lot more dark for a second. To Needl's utter suprise, the woman suddenly smiled a bitter smile at her.

“Very well. I will help you little one. There is a man living downstairs in this very inn who might be able to help you. His name is Maximillian Crowe. If he asks, tell him Synistre sent you.”

With that she turned back to her meal and continued to ignore everyone else. Needl blinked and knew herself to be dismissed. She turned to the stairs, but looked back at Synistre once more before leaving.

“Thank you.”

Synistre did not reply, nor did Needl expect her to.

End.