Chapter 28

Azjol-Nerub

They must have been travelling in awkward silence for nearly an hour. All the while, Stefan kept his eyes to the nape of the Nerubian's neck, taking note of Iyana's soft grip on his waist belt. The tunnel began to widen, and a faint light was slowly growing brighter. Stefan finally re-focused his aching pupils when the whispered gasps from the rest of the group behind him forced him to take a look at what had caught their attention. He rubbed his eyes tiredly, feeling the strain slowly recede from his burning lids. They were standing on a ledge. Beneath and around him was an impressive sight.

It was the biggest underground cavern Stefan had ever seen. Alongside stalagtites and stalagmites, the intricate works of Nerubian masonry emerged from the walls, the ceiling, and the floor. Vast temples of seemingly endless stories littered the ground. Long towers like fat, oversized canines descended from the cavern ceiling. Bastions of stone and wood protruded from the walls, flying butresses similar to Human design, but with sharper angles. The city sounds were not much different than that of Ogrimmar or Ironforge; there was the clamor of blacksmiths, the sizzle of cooks and bakers, the war cry of the warrior under training, along with the many smells that accompanied a booming metropolis.

"Welcome to Azjol-Nerub, chosen," hissed their guide, before skittering off down the a pathway clinging to the cavern wall. Stefan and the others followed as well, but at a much slower pace. Their eyes darted to the path ahead only for a second, returning to the amazing site of the Nerubian kingdom.

Chosen? Stefan only thought about the Nerubian's words later, when they were walking amongst the spider-like people. Chosen for what?

"Travelers!"

The voice was raspy like any Nerubian, but the hiss and accent seemed a bit restrained. They turned to see a Nerubian dressed in a tangle of brightly-colored cloth, each knot and wrap a different color than the last. This must be the livery of a Nerubian aristocrat.

"Welcome to Ajzol-Nerub. I am Ara'borak, Emissary and Consultant of the Azjol-Nerub. Follow me, please."

Did they have a choice? Stefan looked around at the strange world they were in. The others held a similar, cautious expression on their faces, except Mae. The Explorer's League representative was hastily sketching the temple they were about to enter in her journal.

One by one, they disappeared into the shadow of the Nerubian citadel.

---

The temple-like structure turned out to be a war room. Nerubians were moving about, looking over charts and hosting discussion in low hisses and snaps. In the center of the room was a large circular block with a model-size map of the tunnels in and around the kingdom of Azjol-Nerub. The display was similar to the one of Alterac Valley in Ironforge, where Stefan had visited once before. Luckily, he had declined the death sentence of two month's service, and returned to Booty Bay before anyone attempted to change his mind.

"We are here," said Ara'borak, his hooked hand pointing to the large city-model at the center of the construct. His hand began to snake down a series of tunnels. "This is where you came from."

He then pointed to a point near the edge of the model, on the opposite side of the Nerubian kingdom. "This is where you need to go, and all this," his hand weaved through a series of tunnels as it made its way back to Azjol-Nerub, "is controlled by the Lich King's Undead Scourge."

Stefan couldn't help but bulge his eyes at the statement. But something was unclear to him. He pointed to the previous spot the Nerubian had mentioned.

"Why do we need to go here? What's there?" he asked.

"A tomb of the ancient spider lords. It is buried away deep in our old tunnels, and inaccessable to those without a key," replied Ara'borak.

"This key?" asked Stefan, showing the Nerubian the artifact.

"Yes," answered Ara'borak. "And it is you who must venture into the old tomb and recover the treasure. The key serves the dual purpose of opening the tomb, and solving its puzzles and traps. It is an absolute necessity."

The next question sent a chill up Stefan spine, as he recalled the syllables. Though little emotion could be seen in a Nerubian's many eyes, Stefan was certain that Ara'borak knew his next question.

"What treasure, Ara'borak?"

He was sure the Nerubian was smiling. "Kha'Tzeen'Azyr."

Mae visibly shuddered. "It is more than legend? Fortune's Frozen Eye is real?"

"Whatever your people call it, Kha'Tzeen'Azyr exists. But it is not so easily obtained," said Ara'borak, turning back to Stefan. "It exists for a singular purpose: to offset the mortal powers that seek to annihilate the world. Such a time is now, and the chosen one has arrived as it has been told."

Stefan felt all eyes in the room fall on him.

"Stefan Dreis, it is you who bears the key. Justly, it is you who shall bear the burden, as well."

He shifted uneasily. "Damnit."