Soot buildup on the warped and bubbled glass of the window couldn’t completely obscure the view of the Boomstick Tavern. Ithrene leaned against the window frame of the small room she rented in the Dwarven District of Stormwind watching the street and the pub idly. Traffic was light today and there was none coming in and out of the tavern this early. It would pick up later. The light from lanterns would shine out the windows into pools on the street, the sound of hearty laughter and music would creep from the building touching those within hearing distance. She was pretty sure she’d be able to hear it from her small room.
KaeAskavi, the huge white bear that followed her and was her closest companion, ambled over and leaned heavily against her. She absently dug her fingers into his ruff to scratch him. He growled in pleasure and let his eyes drift shut. The room seemed considerably smaller with both him and Cubby, Kae’s offspring, there but she wouldn’t make them sleep out in the street. It wasn’t right. And Cubby was still too young to understand danger. He might just amble off after the first weirdo he saw and she’d never see him again. She missed the big room she’d had at the manor but there were so few others there anymore. Many of the rooms had dust covers draped over the furniture, the windows shuttered and locked. It just seemed…. Abandoned. Sad. Even the Lady had left. Gone off to become a Warmage.
Perhaps that was part of what contributed to Ithrene’s loneliness lately. A home that used to bustle with friends and family, used to be filled with laughter and friendly voices, now just echoed. Some of the staff still remained and were friendly enough, but never seemed to warm up completely with those who fought. Their reverence always made Ithrene nervous though the Lady seemed to take it in stride.
Then she met the Boomsticks. She had known Fjuinen for some time already. And the sound of his voice always sent a curious little shiver down her spine. When he mentioned the Boomsticks tavern she thought that might be a good place to catch sight of him more often. Though she couldn’t bring herself to talk to him for very long. She always got so nervous and ended up rambling on about Kae.
But when she arrived that first time at the pub she realized quickly that she didn’t just feel comfortable among them, but welcome as well. They treated her with respect despite her youth and were quite friendly. She found herself returning less often to see Fjuinen and more just to enjoy the company of all of the Boomsticks. They even put up with Kae and his nasty bear odors.
Then something happened that completely knocked the wind out of her. She heard the Boomsticks were gathering someplace called Shadowmoon Valley. She had contacts in Shattrath City already through some creative work with a mage and knew it was on Draenor so she set out to join them. Not entirely sure she would be able to, due to her lack of experience. However she did manage to get close enough and when Fjuinen found out she was coming, rushed out to pick her up on his mammoth and carry her to Wildhammer Stronghold. Her heart still fluttered a little about that!
A few of the Boomsticks seemed surprised that she actually made it there in one piece and after seeing some of the things that wandered that dark, acrid valley, Ithrene was a bit surprised herself. However with a laugh, Corise handed her a mug when she arrived and said, “Gal your age willin’ to come all the way out to Shadowmoon Valley for the sake o’ boozin’ it up with us… ya got a standin’ invitation to the Boomsticks any time ya want, far’s I’m concerned.”
It was all she could do to keep from asking for a tabard right then and there. She spent the rest of the evening feeling like she was floating. Later as she thought about it she wondered how serious Corise had been though. After all Ithrene was young, unskilled and Corise had been drinking pretty heavily. But Ithrene clung to that feeling of belonging letting it warm her heart for days afterward.
Even after they invited her to listen in to their channel on the buzzbox, she began to doubt the sincerity of the offer. What would they want with her? She had nothing to offer. Maybe after they learned more about her or after she gained more skills and experience she could be one of them. Perhaps Corise just meant that she could apply when she had gained more skills. That made a great deal more sense to Ithrene.
Until Homrend firmly reiterated the same message over the buzzbox channel. The leader of the Boomsticks himself said that! She felt giddy all over. But still she wondered what she could offer. There were so many who were so much more skilled than she. So much stronger and tougher.
Of course she never let her lack of experience stand in the way of other things. That was precisely what happened the night she ended up stumbling to her sister’s doorstep looking for a place to sleep. During a gathering at the pub a box that had been left there was opened and found to contain a bloody and tattered Boomstick tabard. After some discussion and a determination of whom it belonged to, a group decided to head out to Light’s Hope Chapel to look for Salakayin. She immediately volunteered. She couldn’t, in good conscience, stand aside when one of the Boomsticks was in trouble.
Perhaps volunteering for such a mission hadn’t been the wisest thing she’d ever done. She didn’t fully understand half of what went on except that a Boomstick was hurt and some human female “paladin” seemed to be the cause. Though she’d never seen a human strong enough to toss around so many Boomsticks before. Foolishly (her Pap would say) Ithrene jumped into the fray and found herself thrown aside like nothing so much as a cheap rag doll. She liked to think she at least provided a distraction so someone else could take her down.
Unlikely, but a little daydreaming never hurt. However she had gotten pretty battered in the process. Her mail armor wasn’t up to that kind of beating. The healers had clucked and fussed at her when they found out the story and she’d growled at them until they let her leave after they bandaged up the worst of it. She should have known she would get the same treatment from her sister.
What shocked her most were Homrend’s parting words to her as she clutched her hearthstone to depart. “Lass, y’r now an honorary Boomstick f’r what ye done tonight.”
Ithrene wiped at moisture creeping from her eyes as she continued to stare out the window at the Boomstick Tavern. She could never tell him how much those words meant to her. These Boomsticks were becoming as important to her as family. Maybe she really did belong with them. Maybe it wasn’t all about what she could do for them, but how she fit with them. And how much she cared. She knew she would do anything for the Boomsticks. Maybe that’s all that was needed.
She smiled as she wrapped one arm around Kae and hugged his huge head close. He rumbled affectionately and nuzzled his mistress. “Ah thin’ Ah foun’ us a new family, Kae. Ah really thin’ Ah have.”
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