Chapter 14

The Final Leg

As the ship neared the northern tip of Kalimdor, Stefan felt the temperature physically drop several degrees, and the air visibly thicken with heavy fog that made the ocean around them float in and out of view in a ghost-like trance. At one point they had come within feet of another ship which had remained invisible behind the thick wall of fog. Afterward, they had spread out along the deck, banging pots and pans to give away their position in the fog. Twice more they glimpsed semi-concealed ships, but both times their presence was recognized, and the favor returned with a second symphony of bangs and clangs. In time, the ocean was silent once more, and the tall snow caps of Winterspring floated into view.

Docking was simple enough. Scaling the steep cliff in a rickety pulley device was a little unnerving. Now, boxes of supplies stacked up next to him, Stefan was worried about the trip back down. The pulley's caretaker assured Stefan that only two trips were needed, and that he had nothing to worry about. There's always something to worry about, Stefan had told the old Troll. But again the caretaker assured him that his supplies would make it to the docks below in good condition.

As Stefan had watched the device slowly descend down the cliff face, he realized the old Troll had said good condition, and not perfect condition. But his fears were misplaced; within half an hour, the supplies had been safely lowered to the docks below and soundly boarded onto the ship. In another hour, the crew was rounded up from Everlook, and everyone was back on board the Tide Strider. Ten minutes later, they were back at sea, heading north.

---

Stefan closed the door behind him. The room was warm, and incredibly cozy. Mae Paledust sat on the edge of her bed, twirling her fingers idly. Stefan stood at the door, watching the Dwarf's worried face rise to meet his gaze.

"Yes, Mae? You wanted to see me?" he inquired.

She nodded. "I did. I'm...well...a little uncertain about this next part of the journey."

"How so?"

"Well," she started, pausing again. "We'll be in Northrend in a day or two. A strong wind's picked up, helping us along the way."

"Is that a problem?" asked Stefan. It was not sarcastic; Mae's worried features concerned him.

"That's not a problem, but..." she paused. "Well, you see...Damnit! I'm scared, Stefan. I'm really scared."

Stefan was surprised, but not taken unaware. "Why are you scared, Mae?"

"We are crossing over into the land of Undeath. The roof of the world, where the Lich King reigns supreme."

"True," said Stefan, taking a seat next to Mae and wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "But it's far from anything to be worried about. We're well out of his reach."

She turned to look at him with a serious expression. "You know that's not true. His powers are limitless."

"Still, what do we have to fear?" asked Stefan.

"Everything, Stefan. Even the cold winds of the Frozen North are at his command. No doubt, the cold waters of Northrend's shores obey him as well," she whispered. "We have everything to fear, Stefan."

"Well until he throws everything at us, I believe you should get some rest. It's late, and we should be approaching the Borean Tundra some time tomorrow."

He squeezed Mae's shoulders assuringly. Stefan stood up and went back to the door. He turned and gave Mae one last nod, then closed it behind him.